Felix Hathaway
Encyclopedia
Felix Hathaway was an American carpenter and pioneer in what became the state of Oregon
. A native of New England
, he settled in the Oregon Country
where he helped construct the first American-built ship
in what became the state of Oregon. His home was used for the first meeting of the Provisional Legislature of Oregon
in 1844.
. There he became a gunsmith and carpenter. He sailed on the schooner Convoy to the northwest coast of North America. This fur-trading vessel arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River
in March 1829, at the same time as the William and Ann, which sunk after running aground. Hathaway was sometimes incorrectly mentioned as the sole survivor of that wreck.
near the mouth of the Chehalem River in 1835 , and remained there until 1840. In 1841, he married a member of the Molala
tribe named Mary Sargeant. That year he also became involved with the Star of Oregon
. Hathaway was hired by a group that included Ralph Kilbourne and Pleasant Armstrong to serve as the carpenter and superintendent of the shipbuilding project
. The plan was to build a schooner to be used for a venture to buy cattle in California
and then to drive the cattle back overland after selling the ship. Construction began on Swan Island in what is now Portland, Oregon
, but Hathaway quit about halfway through construction partly because he had not been paid for his work. Joseph Gale
and Kilbourne successfully finished the vessel and completed the cattle-buying enterprise.
Hathaway then moved to Oregon City
where he was hired by the Methodist Mission
to build a house on Abernathy Island at Willamette Falls
in 1841. He soon had to stop due to a dispute between the mission and John McLoughlin
of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The dispute—over ownership of both the island and the city—would drag on for years and include legal action and legislation in Congress. In May 1843, settlers in the region voted to create a government at the Champoeg Meetings
. Soon afterwards, Hathaway signed a petition sent to the United States Congress
requesting the United States extend its jurisdiction over the region. The next year, the Provisional Legislature of Oregon
was formed and held its first meeting at Hathaway’s home in Oregon City on June 18, 1844.
for divorce from his wife, which was granted. She had apparently often run away from Hathaway, and had only given consent to the marriage under duress from those whom controlled her at the time of the marriage. In June of that year Hathaway was one of the initial investors in the Oregon Spectator
newspaper, investing $10. He died on March 6, 1856, in Vancouver, California, at the age of 58. During World War II
a Liberty Ship
built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation
was named in his honor.
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 New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
, he settled in the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
where he helped construct the first American-built ship
Star of Oregon (ship)
The Star of Oregon was a schooner sailing vessel of the mid-19th century used on the west coast of North America. It was the first American sailing ship built in what is now the U.S. state of Oregon. Pioneer settlers built the ship from 1840 to 1842 in order to sail it to California and exchange it...
in what became the state of Oregon. His home was used for the first meeting of the Provisional Legislature of Oregon
Provisional Legislature of Oregon
The Provisional Legislature of Oregon was the single-chamber legislative body of the Provisional Government of Oregon. It served the Oregon Country of the Pacific Northwest of North America from 1843 until early 1849 at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region...
in 1844.
Early life
Felix Hathaway was born in 1798 in MassachusettsMassachusetts
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...
. There he became a gunsmith and carpenter. He sailed on the schooner Convoy to the northwest coast of North America. This fur-trading vessel arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
in March 1829, at the same time as the William and Ann, which sunk after running aground. Hathaway was sometimes incorrectly mentioned as the sole survivor of that wreck.
Oregon Country
He settled in the Willamette ValleyWillamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
near the mouth of the Chehalem River in 1835 , and remained there until 1840. In 1841, he married a member of the Molala
Molala
The Molala were a people of the Plateau culture area in central Oregon, United States. Some consider them extinct, though they are one of the Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon, with 141 of the 882 members in the 1950s claiming Molala descent.-Language:The Molalla language...
tribe named Mary Sargeant. That year he also became involved with the Star of Oregon
Star of Oregon (ship)
The Star of Oregon was a schooner sailing vessel of the mid-19th century used on the west coast of North America. It was the first American sailing ship built in what is now the U.S. state of Oregon. Pioneer settlers built the ship from 1840 to 1842 in order to sail it to California and exchange it...
. Hathaway was hired by a group that included Ralph Kilbourne and Pleasant Armstrong to serve as the carpenter and superintendent of the shipbuilding project
Star of Oregon (ship)
The Star of Oregon was a schooner sailing vessel of the mid-19th century used on the west coast of North America. It was the first American sailing ship built in what is now the U.S. state of Oregon. Pioneer settlers built the ship from 1840 to 1842 in order to sail it to California and exchange it...
. The plan was to build a schooner to be used for a venture to buy cattle in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and then to drive the cattle back overland after selling the ship. Construction began on Swan Island in what is now Portland, Oregon
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...
, but Hathaway quit about halfway through construction partly because he had not been paid for his work. Joseph Gale
Joseph Gale
Joseph Goff Gale was an American pioneer, trapper, entrepreneur, and politician who contributed to the early settlement of the Oregon Country...
and Kilbourne successfully finished the vessel and completed the cattle-buying enterprise.
Hathaway then moved to Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
where he was hired by the Methodist Mission
Methodist Mission
The Methodist Mission was founded in Oregon Country in 1834 by the Reverend Jason Lee. The mission was started to educate the Native Americans in the Willamette Valley and grew into an important center for politics and economics in the early settlement period of Oregon.-Foundation:In 1831, several...
to build a house on Abernathy Island at Willamette Falls
Willamette Falls
The Willamette Falls is a natural waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon, in the United States. It is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest and the eighteenth largest in the world by water volume. Horseshoe in shape, it is wide and high with a flow...
in 1841. He soon had to stop due to a dispute between the mission and John McLoughlin
John McLoughlin
Dr. John McLoughlin, baptized Jean-Baptiste McLoughlin, was the Chief Factor of the Columbia Fur District of the Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver. He was later known as the "Father of Oregon" for his role in assisting the American cause in the Oregon Country in the Pacific Northwest...
of the Hudson’s Bay Company. The dispute—over ownership of both the island and the city—would drag on for years and include legal action and legislation in Congress. In May 1843, settlers in the region voted to create a government at the Champoeg Meetings
Champoeg Meetings
The Champoeg Meetings in Oregon Country were the first attempts at governing in the Pacific Northwest by United States European-American pioneers. Prior to this, the closest entity to a government was the Hudson's Bay Company, mainly through Dr...
. Soon afterwards, Hathaway signed a petition sent to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
requesting the United States extend its jurisdiction over the region. The next year, the Provisional Legislature of Oregon
Provisional Legislature of Oregon
The Provisional Legislature of Oregon was the single-chamber legislative body of the Provisional Government of Oregon. It served the Oregon Country of the Pacific Northwest of North America from 1843 until early 1849 at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region...
was formed and held its first meeting at Hathaway’s home in Oregon City on June 18, 1844.
Later life
In 1845, Hathaway petitioned the Provisional Government of OregonProvisional Government of Oregon
The Provisional Government of Oregon was a popularly elected government created in the Oregon Country, in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It existed from May 2, 1843 until March 3, 1849. Created at a time when no country had sovereignty over the region, this independent government...
for divorce from his wife, which was granted. She had apparently often run away from Hathaway, and had only given consent to the marriage under duress from those whom controlled her at the time of the marriage. In June of that year Hathaway was one of the initial investors in the Oregon Spectator
Oregon Spectator
The Oregon Spectator, was a newspaper published from 1846 to 1855 in Oregon City of what was first the Oregon Country and later the Oregon Territory of the United States. The Spectator was the first American newspaper to be published west of the Rocky Mountains and was the main paper of the region...
newspaper, investing $10. He died on March 6, 1856, in Vancouver, California, at the age of 58. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
a Liberty Ship
Liberty ship
Liberty ships were cargo ships built in the United States during World War II. Though British in conception, they were adapted by the U.S. as they were cheap and quick to build, and came to symbolize U.S. wartime industrial output. Based on vessels ordered by Britain to replace ships torpedoed by...
built by the Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation
Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation
Oregon Shipbuilding Corporation was a World War II emergency shipyard located in Portland, Oregon, United States, that built over 1000 Liberty and Victory ships between 1941 and 1945. It was closed after the war ended....
was named in his honor.