First Speaker of the House of the Oregon Territorial Legislature Asa Lovejoy (1808-1882)
The Oregon Territorial Legislature was the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory of the United States , from 1849 to 1858. The legislature was a bicameral body, including a larger "House of Representatives," headed by a Speaker of the House, and a 9-member "Council," headed by the President of the Council. With the coming of Oregon statehood in 1859, the Oregon Territorial Legislature was supplanted by a new body, the Oregon Legislative Assembly .
This list includes all members of the Oregon Territorial Legislature, divided first by year of the annual session, secondarily divided alphabetically by legislative body. Political parties are indicated when known (D-Democratic , W-Whig , FS-Free Soil Party , R-Republican ).
1849
The 1st Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from July 16 to September 29, 1849.[ 1] Although there were 18 legislative districts for the House, only 17 names appear in archival records of the session, no representative for District 5 being indicated.[ 2]
House (Speaker : Asa L. Lovejoy)
Robert Crouch Kinney , W-Yamhill
Asa L. Lovejoy , D-Clackamas
William Tyndall Matlock , Champoeg
Charles J. Mulkey , Benton
Michael T. Simmons , Clatsop, Lewis, & Vancouver
Green Berry Smith , Benton
Gabriel Walling , Clackamas
Jerome B. Walling , Yamhill
Council (President: Samuel Parker)
Wilson Blain , Tualatin
William Wentworth Buck , Clackamas
Nathaniel Ford , Polk
James B. Graves , Yamhill
Augustus L. Humphrey , Benton
Washington B. Maley , Linn
Samuel T. McKean , Clatsop, Lewis, & Vancouver
Samuel Parker , Champoeg
Wesley Shannon , Champoeg
1850
The 2nd Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 2, 1850 to February 8, 1851.[ 3]
House (Speaker: Ralph Wilcox)
William Parker , Marion
Truman P. Powers , Clackamas, Lewis & Clark
Aaron Payne , Yamhill
William T. Shaw , Marion
Benjamin Simpson , Clackamas
Wayman St. Clair , Benton
John Thorp , Polk
Elias L. Walters , Linn
Ralph Wilcox , Washington
Council (President: William W. Buck)
William Wentworth Buck, Clackamas
Lawrence Hall , Washington
Augustus L. Humphrey, Benton
James McBride , Yamhill
Samuel T. McKean, Clatsop, Clark, & Lewis
Washington B. Maley, Linn
Richard Miller , Marion
Samuel Parker, Marion
Frederick Waymire , Polk[ 4]
1851
The 3rd Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1851 to January 21, 1852.[ 5] The size of the House of Representatives expanded from its original 18 to 22 members effective with this session.
House (Speaker: William M. King)
William Allphine , Linn
John A. Anderson , D-Clatsop & Pacific
Joseph C. Avery, D-Benton
Zebulon C. Bishop , Washington
Daniel F. Brownfield , W-Clatsop & Pacific
Wilie W. Chapman , D-Marion
George Edward Cole , Benton
George Law Curry , Clackamas
James Davidson , D-Marion
Joseph W. Drew , Umpqua
Nathaniel Ford, D-Polk
Absalom J. Hembree, D-Yamhill
James S. Holman , Polk
William M. King, Washington
Robert Crouch Kinney, Yamhill
William Tyndall Matlock, Clackamas
Samuel McSween , Yamhill
David M. Risdon , Lane
Benjamin Simpson, D-Marion
Aaron E. Waite , W-Clackamas
Luther White , Linn
Ralph Wilcox, Washington
Council (President: Samuel Parker)
Matthew Deady, D-Yamhill
Joseph M. Garrison , Marion
Lawrence Hall, Washington
Augustus L. Humphrey, Benton, Lane, & Umpqua
Columbia Lancaster , D-Clarke & Lewis
Asa L. Lovejoy, D-Clackamas
Washington B. Maley, Linn
Samuel Parker, D-Marion
Frederick Waymire, Polk[ 6]
1852
The 4th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 6, 1852 to February 3, 1853.[ 7] The size of the House of Representatives expanded once again, this time from 22 to 25 members effective with this session.[ 8]
House (Speaker: Benjamin F. Harding)
John A. Anderson, Clatsop & Pacific
Thomas N. Aubrey , Lane
Joseph C. Avery, D-Benton
John Carey , Yamhill
Francis A. Chenoweth , W-Clark & Lewis
George Edward Cole, D-Benton
Jacob S. Conser, Marion
Royal Cottle , Linn
James Curl , Linn
Edward J. Curtis , Douglas
Isaac N. Ebey , Thurston
James Monroe Fulkerson , Polk
Addison Crandall Gibbs , W-Umpqua
John R. Hardin , Jackson
Benjamin F. Harding, Marion
H. N. V. Holmes, Polk
Franklin B. Martin , Yamhill
William Tyndall Matlock, Clackamas
Israel Mitchell , Washington
John Richardson , Yamhill
Benjamin Simpson, Marion
Benjamin Stark , Washington
Milton Tuttle , Washington
Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas
Lot Whitcomb , Clackamas
Council (President: Matthew Deady)
Matthew Deady, D-Yamhill
Joseph M. Garrison, D-Marion
Lawrence Hall, W-Washington
Augustus L. Humphrey, D-Benton & Lane
Asa L. Lovejoy, W-Clackamas
Lucius W. Phelps , W-Linn
Levi Scott , W-Umpqua, Douglas & Jackson
Fredrick Waymire, D-Polk[ 8]
1853
The 5th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 5, 1853 to February 2, 1854.[ 9] A 26th member was added to the House of Representatives effective with this session.[ 10]
House (Speaker: Zebulon C. Bishop)
George H. Ambrose , D-Jackson
James A. Bennett , D-Benton
Zebulon C. Bishop, D-Washington
Reuben P. Boise , D-Polk & Tillamook
Lafayette F. Cartee , D-Clackamas
Fendal Carr Cason , D-Clackamas
B. F. Chapman , D-Benton
Elias F. Colby , D-Marion
Albert Alonzo Durham , W-Washington
Luther Elkins , D-Linn
Washington Smith Gilliam , D-Polk
Stephen Goff , W-Lane
La Fayette Grover , D-Marion
Henry G. Hadley , D-Lane
Orlando Humason , D-Yamhill
Benjamin B. Jackson , D-Clackamas
Franklin B. Martin, D-Yamhill
John F. Miller , D-Jackson
Joab W. Moffitt , D-Clatsop
Chauncey Nye , W-Jackson
John C. Peebles , D-Marion
Andrew J. Shuck , D-Yamhill
Isaac N. Smith , D-Linn
Lewis S. Thompson , W-Douglas
Robert Thompson , D-Washington
Alexander B. Westerfield , D-Yamhill
Council (President: Ralph Wilcox)
Augustus L. Humphrey, D-Benton & Lane
James K. Kelly , D-Clackamas
Truman P. Powers, D-Clatsop
Lucius W. Phelps, D-Linn
Benjamin Simpson, D-Marion
James Monroe Fulkerson, D-Polk
Levi Scott, Umpqua, W-Douglas & Jackson
Ralph Wilcox, D-Washington
John Richardson, D-Yamhill[ 10]
1854
The 6th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 4, 1854 to February 1, 1855.[ 11]
House (Speaker: Lafayette F. Cartee)
David H. Belknap , Washington
Hugh L. Brown , Linn
Ira F. M. Butler , Polk
Lafayette F. Cartee, Clackamas
George W. Coffinberry , Clatsop
James B. Condon , Columbia
Clark P. Crandall , Marion
Charles S. Drew , Jackson
Patrick Dunn , Jackson
Luther Elkins, Linn
Nathaniel Ford, Marion
James F. Gazley , Douglas
Ralph Carey Geer , Marion
Jacob Gillespie , Lane
Absalom J. Hembree, Yamhill
Anson G. Henry , Yamhill
Rowland B. Hinton , Benton
H. N. V. Holmes, Polk
Orlando Humason, Wasco
Robert Ladd , Umpqua
David Logan , Multnomah
Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas
Alex McIntire , Jackson
Andrew W. Patterson , Lane
Delazon Smith , Linn
William A. Starkweather , Clackamas
Wayman St. Clair, Benton
Elisha S. Tanner , Washington
Jesse Walker , Jackson
Council (President: James K. Kelly)
E. H. Cleaveland , Jackson
James Monroe Fulkerson, Polk
George W. Greer , Columbia & Washington
Augustus L. Humphrey, Benton & Lane
James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco
John C. Peebles, Marion
Lucius W. Phelps, Linn
John Richardson, Yamhill
Levi Scott, Umpqua & Douglas[ 12]
1855
The 7th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1855 to January 31, 1856.[ 13]
House (Speaker: Delazon Smith)
Major C. Barkwell , Jackson
Reuben P. Boise, Polk & Tillamook
George Briggs , Jackson
George W. Brown , Multnomah
Hugh L. Brown, Linn
Herman C. Buckingham , Benton
Augustus R. Burbank , Yamhill
Philo Callender , Clatsop
Jonathan M. Cozad , Umpqua
Nathaniel H. Gates , Wasco
Bunnell Payne Grant , Linn
La Fayette Grover, Marion
John E. Hale , Jackson
William P. Harpole , Marion
John Harris , Columbia
John M. Harrison , Marion
William Hutson , Douglas
Hyer Jackson , Multnomah & Washington
Horatio Van Veighton Johnson , Washington
Andrew McAlexander , Lane
Isaac R. Moores , Lane
James Officer , Clackamas
Orville Risley , Clackamas
John Robinson , Benton
Andrew J. Shuck, Yamhill
Delazon Smith, Linn
Thomas Smith , Jackson
Hiram Straight , Clackamas
William Tichenor , Coos
Frederick Waymire, Polk
Council (President: Ammi P. Dennison)
Ammi P. Dennison , Multnomah
Charles Drain , Linn
James Monroe Fulkerson, Polk & Tillamook
James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco
Noah Huber , Yamhill
Hugh D. O'Bryant , Umpqua, Douglas & Coos
John C. Peebles, Marion
John E. Ross , Jackson
Avery A. Smith , Benton & Lane[ 14]
1856
The 8th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1856 to January 29, 1857.[ 15]
House (Speaker: La Fayette Grover)
William Allen , Yamhill
Joseph C. Avery, Benton
Samuel E. Barr , Columbia
James A. Bennett, Benton
Alexander M. Berry , Jackson & Josephine
George W. Brown , Multnomah
Hugh L. Brown, Linn
Robert B. Cochran , Lane
Felix A. Collard , Clackamas
Jacob S. Conser , Marion
Thomas J. Dryer , Multnomah & Washington
Nathaniel H. Gates, Wasco
La Fayette Grover, Marion
William P. Harpole, Marion
Horatio Van Veighton Johnson, Washington
Asa L. Lovejoy, Clackamas
William J. Matthews , Josephine
Joab W. Moffitt, Clatsop
James S. Monroe , Lane
William Ray , Linn
Amos E. Rogers , Coos & Curry
Aaron Rose , Douglas
Andrew J. Shuck, Yamhill
Delazon Smith, Linn
Thomas Smith, Jackson
John Stanton Miller , Jackson
William. A. Starkweather, Clackamas
Walter M. Walker , Polk & Tillamook
Andrew J. Welch , Polk
David C. Underwood , Umpqua
Council (President: James K. Kelly)
James R. Bayley , Yamhill & Clatsop
Thomas R. Cornelius , Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia
Charles Drain, Linn
Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco
Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Douglas & Coos
John C. Peebles, Marion
John E. Ross , Jackson
Avery A. Smith, Lane & Benton[ 16]
1857
The 9th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 7, 1857 to February 5, 1858.[ 17] There were also Special Pre-Admission Sessions held from July 5 to 9, 1858 and from September 13 to 14, 1858.[ 18]
House (Speaker: Ira F. M. Butler)
George Able , Marion
William Allen, Yamhill
Ransom S. Belknap , Jackson & Josephine
H. H. Brown , Jackson
Hugh L. Brown, Linn
Ira F. M. Butler, Polk
Eli C. Cooley , Marion
Felix A. Collard, Clackamas
James Cole , Umpqua
Anderson Cox , Linn
Nelson H. Cranor , Linn
Thomas J. Dryer, Multnomah & Washington
Nathaniel H. Gates, Wasco
Samuel P. Gilliland , Clackamas
Benjamin Hayden , Polk & Tillamook
Reuben C. Hill , Benton
William M. Hughes , Jackson
Joseph Jeffers , Clatsop
Horatio Van Veighton Johnson, Washington
William M. King, Multnomah
T. G. Kirkpatrick , Coos & Curry
James W. Mack , Lane
Albert A. Matthews , Douglas
George Rees , Clackamas
Andrew J. Shuck, Yamhill
James H. Slater , Benton
Joseph G. Spear , Josephine
Francis M. Warren , Columbia
John Whiteaker , Lane
Jacob Woodsides , Marion
Council (President: Hugh D. O'Bryant)
Alexander M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine
Thomas R. Cornelius, Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia
Charles Drain, Linn
Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Douglas & Coos
Thomas Scott , Yamhill & Clatsop
Edward Shiel , Marion
Avery A. Smith, Lane & Benton
Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas & Wasco[ 19]
1858
The 10th (and final) Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 6, 1858 to January 22, 1859.[ 20] Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859, becoming the 33rd American state.
House (Speaker: Nathaniel H. Gates)
Benjamin F. Bonham , Marion
Wilson Bowlby , Washington
William W. Chapman , Lane
James Cole, Umpqua
Thomas J. Dryer, Multnomah
Nathaniel H. Gates, Wasco
Dolphes Brice Hannah , Clackamas
Absalom F. Hedges , Clackamas
H. N. V. Holmes, Polk & Tillamook
Daniel S. Holton , Josephine
Berryman Jennings , Clackamas
William S. Jones , Lane
James H. Lasater , Marion
Abraham E. McGee , Douglas
Daniel Newcomb , Jackson & Josephine
Henry B. Nichols , Benton
Wilder W. Parker , Clatsop
Erasmus D. Shattuck , Washington & Multnomah
James H. Slater, Benton
Isaac Smith , Polk
John H. Smith , Yamhill
John H. Stevens , Marion
William Riley Strong , Columbia
William Tichenor, Coos & Curry
William G. T'Vault , Jackson
Stephen Watson , Jackson
Council (President: Charles Drain)
Alexander M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine
Thomas R. Cornelius, Multnomah, Columbia, & Washington
Charles Drain, Linn
Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
James Hendershott , Columbia & Washington
James W. Mack, Lane & Benton
Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Coos, Curry, & Douglas
Samuel Parker, Marion
George H. Steward , Yamhill & Clatsop
Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas & Wasco[ 21]
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1849 Regular Session (1st Territorial): July 16-September 29," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (1st Territorial) 1849 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1850 Regular Session (2nd Territorial): December 2, 1850-February 8, 1851," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (2nd Territorial) 1850 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1851 Regular Session (3rd Territorial): December 1, 1851-January 21, 1852," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (3rd Territorial) 1851 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1852 Regular Session (4th Territorial): December 6, 1852-February 3, 1853," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ a b Oregon Legislative Assembly (4th Territorial) 1852 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1853 Regular Session (5th Territorial): December 5, 1853-February 2, 1854," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ a b Oregon Legislative Assembly (5th Territorial) 1853 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1854 Regular Session (6th Territorial): December 4, 1854-February 1, 1855," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (6th Territorial) 1854 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1855 Regular Session (7th Territorial): December 1, 1855-January 31, 1856," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (7th Territorial) 1855 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1856 Regular Session (8th Territorial): December 1, 1856-January 29, 1857," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (8th Territorial) 1856 Regular Session
^ "Territorial Government Legislators and Staff: 1857 Regular Session (9th Territorial): December 7, 1857-February 5, 1858," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ "State Government Legislators and Staff: 1858 Regular Session (1st Pre-Admission): July 5-9, September 13-14," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (9th Territorial) 1857 Regular Session
^ "Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: Territorial Government Legislators and Staff," Oregon State Archives, office of the Oregon Secretary of State, www.arcweb.sos.state.or.us/
^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (1st Pre-Admission) 1858 Regular Session