Samuel Parker (Oregon politician)
Encyclopedia
Samuel Parker was an American
pioneer of the Oregon Country
, in what was to become the state of Oregon
. Parker would later participate in the legislatures of the provisional
, territorial
, and state
governments of Oregon
.
, leaving behind their home in Van Buren County, Iowa. The Parkers joined the New London Emigrating Company wagon train that left Independence, Missouri
, under the leadership of wagon train captain Abner Hackleman. The Parker family took the Meek Cutoff that meandered through the eastern and central parts of what is now the state of Oregon. During the journey, in October 1845, Samuel Jr. was born at The Dalles, Oregon
. The infant died there along with his mother, Elizabeth, not long after the death of one of Samuel and Elizabeth’s daughters.
in November 1845, Samuel Parker settled in Oregon City, Oregon
. Samuel re-married in 1846 to Rosetta Spears. Parker would later move to present-day Marion County
.
During the Cayuse War
, a band of the Klamath tribe entered the Willamette Valley while the Oregon militia was on the east side of the Cascade Range
. Parker was one of the volunteers who formed another militia in March 1848 that would battle the Klamath at the Battle of Abiqua, where he served as a captain.
to represent the Champoeg District in the last session of that body before the territorial government was formed in early 1849. At the first session of the Oregon Territorial Legislature
in 1849, Parker served Champoeg as a member of the upper chamber Council, and was elected president of that chamber. He also served in 1850 and in 1851, serving as president of the Council in 1851.
In 1858, he returned to the legislature for the final session before statehood. Parker was elected as a Democrat
to the Council to represent Marion County, the new name for the Champoeg District. His final political office was in the first session of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
in 1860, when he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
pioneer of 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...
, in what was to become the state of Oregon
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...
. Parker would later participate in the legislatures of the provisional
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...
, territorial
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...
, and state
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...
governments of Oregon
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...
.
Early life
Samuel Parker was born in 1806. He married around 1828 to Miss Elizabeth Sutton, and they had ten children together. In 1845, the entire family began traveling the Oregon TrailOregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
, leaving behind their home in Van Buren County, Iowa. The Parkers joined the New London Emigrating Company wagon train that left Independence, Missouri
Independence, Missouri
Independence is the fourth largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri, and is contained within the counties of Jackson and Clay. It is part of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area...
, under the leadership of wagon train captain Abner Hackleman. The Parker family took the Meek Cutoff that meandered through the eastern and central parts of what is now the state of Oregon. During the journey, in October 1845, Samuel Jr. was born at The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
. The infant died there along with his mother, Elizabeth, not long after the death of one of Samuel and Elizabeth’s daughters.
Oregon
Arriving 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...
in November 1845, Samuel Parker settled in 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...
. Samuel re-married in 1846 to Rosetta Spears. Parker would later move to present-day Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
.
During 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...
, a band of the Klamath tribe entered the Willamette Valley while the Oregon militia was on the east side of the Cascade Range
Cascade Range
The Cascade Range is a major mountain range of western North America, extending from southern British Columbia through Washington and Oregon to Northern California. It includes both non-volcanic mountains, such as the North Cascades, and the notable volcanoes known as the High Cascades...
. Parker was one of the volunteers who formed another militia in March 1848 that would battle the Klamath at the Battle of Abiqua, where he served as a captain.
Political career
In 1848, Parker was elected to the Provisional Legislature of OregonProvisional 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...
to represent the Champoeg District in the last session of that body before the territorial government was formed in early 1849. At the first session of the Oregon Territorial 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...
in 1849, Parker served Champoeg as a member of the upper chamber Council, and was elected president of that chamber. He also served in 1850 and in 1851, serving as president of the Council in 1851.
In 1858, he returned to the legislature for the final session before statehood. Parker was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the Council to represent Marion County, the new name for the Champoeg District. His final political office was in the first session of 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...
in 1860, when he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon 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....
.
External links
- Oregon History Project: King Burial and a Letter – information on the Meek Cutoff