Daniel Gault
Encyclopedia
Daniel M. C. Gault was a newspaperman, educator and politician in the U.S. state of Oregon
. A native of Iowa
, he immigrated to the Oregon Territory
with his family as a child where he became a teacher in several locales. A Republican, he served three terms in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
over a period of nearly 30 years. He also worked for several newspapers and founded two others.
, along the border with Missouri
. He was the one of five children of John Gault, a farmer and carpenter, and Lucy McClein. Daniel’s father was from Massachusetts
and his mother from Kentucky
. In 1852, the family moved to the Oregon Territory
to a farm eight miles southwest of Portland
, near what was then Tigardville.
in Forest Grove
. His mother died in 1858 and his father in 1861, and at that time Gault began a long career as a teacher, first in Walla Walla, Washington
. In 1865, he started in the newspaper field as the editor of the Jacksonville Sentinel, continuing until 1868. While editor, he also read law for the three years he was in the Southern Oregon
community of Jacksonville
. In 1867, he married Anna Rebecca Howell, and they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. The family then moved to Salem
and worked for the Daily Statesman
for one year. While in Salem, he also taught mathematics at Willamette University
.
Gault followed this by starting his own paper in Dallas, Oregon
, in 1869. He sold the Polk County Republican in 1870 and resumed teaching school, this time in Yamhill County
. That year his wife died, and in 1872 he moved north to Hillsboro
where he continued working as a teacher until 1880. In 1878, he married a second time to Lydia E. Humphrey, and the marriage produced two sons, John and William. Humphrey’s sister Julia married poet Samuel L. Simpson.
Gault left Hillsboro in 1880 and moved to the Halliday area of Portland and taught two years in there before moving to a farm outside the city. During this time he also worked for the Portland News. He continued teaching until 1892 when he returned to the newspaper industry as part owner and editor of the Hillsboro Independent. In January 1903, he left the newspaper and started a printing company in Salem with one of his sons. The Gault Printing Company was moved to Cottage Grove
in 1905 where the Gaults established a newspaper, the Western Oregon. They sold the paper and printing company to J. C. Howard three years later, with Howard then starting the Cottage Grove Sentinel
.
as a Republican to serve Washington County and District 56. From 1879 to 1880 he served on Hillsboro’s Board of Trustees, now known as the city council. In 1882, Gault returned to the Oregon House, this time representing District 45 and Multnomah County. He only served the one term each of his first two stints in the legislature. Gault was elected one final time in 1902, and served in the 1903 sessions as Washington County’s representative from House District 15.
of Cottage Grove, a position he retained until he died in 1912. His wife served as his deputy during this time at the post office. In civic affairs he was a member of the Congregational church, the International Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen
. Daniel Gault died on April 20, 1912, in Cottage Grove and was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
, he immigrated to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
with his family as a child where he became a teacher in several locales. A Republican, he served three terms in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
over a period of nearly 30 years. He also worked for several newspapers and founded two others.
Early life
Daniel Gault was born on May 8, 1842, in Davis County, IowaDavis County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 8,753 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,600 housing units, of which 3,201 were occupied.-2000 census:...
, along the border with Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
. He was the one of five children of John Gault, a farmer and carpenter, and Lucy McClein. Daniel’s father was from Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
and his mother from Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. In 1852, the family moved to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
to a farm eight miles southwest of Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, near what was then Tigardville.
Oregon
In Oregon, Gault received his education at Tualatin AcademyTualatin Academy
Tualatin Academy was a secondary school in the U.S. state of Oregon that eventually became Pacific University. Tualatin Academy also refers to the National Register of Historic Places-listed college building constructed in 1850 to house the academy, also known as Old College Hall...
in Forest Grove
Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
. His mother died in 1858 and his father in 1861, and at that time Gault began a long career as a teacher, first in Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
. In 1865, he started in the newspaper field as the editor of the Jacksonville Sentinel, continuing until 1868. While editor, he also read law for the three years he was in the Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
community of Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
. In 1867, he married Anna Rebecca Howell, and they had two daughters, Elizabeth and Mary. The family then moved to Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
and worked for the Daily Statesman
Statesman Journal
The Statesman Journal is the major daily newspaper published in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1851, the Oregon Statesman later merged with the Capital Journal to form the current newspaper, the second-oldest in Oregon. The Statesman Journal is distributed in Salem, Keizer, and much of...
for one year. While in Salem, he also taught mathematics at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
.
Gault followed this by starting his own paper in Dallas, Oregon
Dallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
, in 1869. He sold the Polk County Republican in 1870 and resumed teaching school, this time in Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
. That year his wife died, and in 1872 he moved north to Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
where he continued working as a teacher until 1880. In 1878, he married a second time to Lydia E. Humphrey, and the marriage produced two sons, John and William. Humphrey’s sister Julia married poet Samuel L. Simpson.
Gault left Hillsboro in 1880 and moved to the Halliday area of Portland and taught two years in there before moving to a farm outside the city. During this time he also worked for the Portland News. He continued teaching until 1892 when he returned to the newspaper industry as part owner and editor of the Hillsboro Independent. In January 1903, he left the newspaper and started a printing company in Salem with one of his sons. The Gault Printing Company was moved to Cottage Grove
Cottage Grove, Oregon
Cottage Grove is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. It received its name from its first postmaster, G. C. Pierce, in September 1861. Pierce's home at the time was in an oak grove. The population was 9,686 at the 2010 census.-History:...
in 1905 where the Gaults established a newspaper, the Western Oregon. They sold the paper and printing company to J. C. Howard three years later, with Howard then starting the Cottage Grove Sentinel
Cottage Grove Sentinel
The Cottage Grove Sentinel is a weekly newspaper serving the city of Cottage Grove, Oregon, United States. It was established in 1889 and is owned by News Media Corporation. News Media bought the Sentinel from Lee Enterprises in 2006. Lee had owned the paper since 1997...
.
Political career
Gault entered public service in 1874 when he was elected as superintendent of public schools in Washington County, serving one four-year term and leaving office in 1878. In 1876, he was elected to a two-year term in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Republican to serve Washington County and District 56. From 1879 to 1880 he served on Hillsboro’s Board of Trustees, now known as the city council. In 1882, Gault returned to the Oregon House, this time representing District 45 and Multnomah County. He only served the one term each of his first two stints in the legislature. Gault was elected one final time in 1902, and served in the 1903 sessions as Washington County’s representative from House District 15.
Later years
In March 1908, Gault was appointed as the postmasterPostmaster
A postmaster is the head of an individual post office. Postmistress is not used anymore in the United States, as the "master" component of the word refers to a person of authority and has no gender quality...
of Cottage Grove, a position he retained until he died in 1912. His wife served as his deputy during this time at the post office. In civic affairs he was a member of the Congregational church, the International Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen
Ancient Order of United Workmen
The Ancient Order of United Workmen was a fraternal organization in the United States and Canada, providing mutual social and financial support after the US Civil War. It was the beginning of the American network of fraternal benefit societies.-History:...
. Daniel Gault died on April 20, 1912, in Cottage Grove and was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
The Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery is in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Located at the west end of the town along the Tualatin Valley Highway and adjacent to Dairy Creek. The cemetery comprises three formerly private cemeteries...
.