Hugh O'Bryant
Encyclopedia
Hugh D. O'Bryant was the first mayor of Portland, Oregon
, United States, serving from 1851–1852. He later served as the President of the Oregon Territory
’ Council chamber of the legislature, and was a member of Washington Territory
’s legislature.
to a missionary father. There he was raised among the Cherokee Indians due to his father’s missionary work. Hugh later moved to Arkansas
where in early 1843 he set out for the Oregon Country
. He arrived at Oregon City, Oregon
, in October 1843 and set up shop as a merchant.
to Portland, Oregon
, where he remained until 1852. In 1847, he volunteered to fight in the Cayuse War
after the Whitman massacre
. During 1848 he served in Second Company of the Oregon Riflemen for the Provisional Government of Oregon
as a first lieutenant.
In 1851, he won Portland's first mayoral election by a mere four votes over challenger Joseph Showalter Smith
, O'Bryant's one-year reign was known for the failure of Portland's first government to effectively govern the city, leading to a new city charter in 1852.
In O'Bryant's only year as mayor, he missed seven out of thirty-one council meetings. Although the council passed resolutions to build roads, build a jail, and purchase a fire engine, none of these materialized under O'Bryant's leadership. Funds for the fire engine were authorized by city-wide vote on May 26, 1851, but it was only a week before his term ended, the following March, that O'Bryant notified the council that the bills authorizing this purchase were sitting on his desk, unsigned. Later he performed justice of the peace duties, and was a gold prospector. However, perhaps his greatest assets in Portland were his carpentry skills, which were in great demand with new immigrants flooding Portland.
In 1852, he moved to Salem
, then to Roseburg
, where he married his wife, Matilda, and had seven children. While in Southern Oregon O'Bryant served in the Oregon Territory’s legislature
beginning in 1855. The following session he returned, again serving as a Democrat representing Douglas, Coos, Umpqua, and Curry counties in the upper chamber Council. Then in 1857 he became the President of that chamber. Lastly in 1858 he was a member of Oregon's last Territorial Legislature as Oregon awaited statehood.
, of the Washington Territory
, where he served in the territorial legislature. Later he moved to Merced County, California
, where he died sometime between 1880 and 1890. O'Bryant Square in Portland is named after O'Bryant.
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...
, United States, serving from 1851–1852. He later served as the President of 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...
’ Council chamber of the legislature, and was a member of Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
’s legislature.
Early life
Hugh O’Bryant was born in 1813 in Franklin County, GeorgiaFranklin County, Georgia
Franklin County is a county located in the U.S. state of Georgia. It became Georgia's ninth county, incorporating on February 25, 1784, and was named in honor of patriot Benjamin Franklin...
to a missionary father. There he was raised among the Cherokee Indians due to his father’s missionary work. Hugh later moved to Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
where in early 1843 he set out for 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...
. He arrived at Oregon City, Oregon
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...
, in October 1843 and set up shop as a merchant.
Oregon
After two years in Oregon City O’Bryant moved across the Willamette RiverWillamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
to 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...
, where he remained until 1852. In 1847, he volunteered to fight in the Cayuse War
Cayuse War
The Cayuse War was an armed conflict that took place in the Northwestern United States from 1847 to 1855 between the Cayuse people of the region and the United States Government and local Euro-American settlers...
after the Whitman massacre
Whitman massacre
The Whitman massacre was the murder in the Oregon Country on November 29, 1847 of U.S. missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa Whitman, along with eleven others. They were killed by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. The incident began the Cayuse War...
. During 1848 he served in Second Company of the Oregon Riflemen for the Provisional Government of Oregon
Provisional 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...
as a first lieutenant.
In 1851, he won Portland's first mayoral election by a mere four votes over challenger Joseph Showalter Smith
Joseph Showalter Smith
Joseph Showalter Smith was a Representative from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana where he attended the common schools...
, O'Bryant's one-year reign was known for the failure of Portland's first government to effectively govern the city, leading to a new city charter in 1852.
In O'Bryant's only year as mayor, he missed seven out of thirty-one council meetings. Although the council passed resolutions to build roads, build a jail, and purchase a fire engine, none of these materialized under O'Bryant's leadership. Funds for the fire engine were authorized by city-wide vote on May 26, 1851, but it was only a week before his term ended, the following March, that O'Bryant notified the council that the bills authorizing this purchase were sitting on his desk, unsigned. Later he performed justice of the peace duties, and was a gold prospector. However, perhaps his greatest assets in Portland were his carpentry skills, which were in great demand with new immigrants flooding Portland.
In 1852, he 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...
, then to Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, where he married his wife, Matilda, and had seven children. While in Southern Oregon O'Bryant served in the Oregon Territory’s legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
beginning in 1855. The following session he returned, again serving as a Democrat representing Douglas, Coos, Umpqua, and Curry counties in the upper chamber Council. Then in 1857 he became the President of that chamber. Lastly in 1858 he was a member of Oregon's last Territorial Legislature as Oregon awaited statehood.
Later years
In 1860, O'Bryant moved on to Walla WallaWalla 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...
, of the Washington Territory
Washington Territory
The Territory of Washington was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from February 8, 1853, until November 11, 1889, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Washington....
, where he served in the territorial legislature. Later he moved to Merced County, California
Merced County, California
Merced County , is a county located in the Central Valley of the U.S. state of California, north of Fresno and southeast of San Jose. As of the 2010 census, the population was 255,793, up from 210,554 at the 2000 census. The county seat is Merced...
, where he died sometime between 1880 and 1890. O'Bryant Square in Portland is named after O'Bryant.