Étienne Lucier
Encyclopedia
Étienne Lucier was a fur trader in what is now the Pacific Northwest. At the time it was called the Oregon Country
and claimed by the United States and called the Columbia District
as claimed by Great Britain
. He was one of two French Canadians to vote for the creation of a government for that region at the Champoeg Meetings
. Moving to the Pacific Northwest originally to help establish Fort Astoria
, he would later become the first farmer in what would become the state of Oregon
.
that journeyed overland to the mouth of the Columbia River
to establish a fur trade
outpost for the Pacific Fur Company
. Soon after the establishment of Fort Astoria
on the Columbia, it was sold to the North West Company
. By 1814 Lucier had joined that company and became a trader for them, and then married a Native American woman and moved to the Willamette Valley
by 1814. After the merger of the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), he became an employee of the new company under the HBC name and made a land claim on what is now Portland, Oregon
. Later he established a permanent land claim next to the Willamette Fur Post near Champoeg
on the French Prairie
by 1829. Chief Factor John McLoughlin
of the HBC at Fort Vancouver
helped Lucier with farming supplies, including livestock that helped establish Lucier as Oregon’s first farmer.
’s farm. On March 22, 1836, he and 15 other French Canadian settlers on the prairie representing 77 settlers and their children signed a petition requesting a priest for the settlement from the Bishop of Juliopolis. At that time he had six children.
In 1843, Lucier was a participant at the Champoeg Meetings that lead to the creation of the Provisional Government of Oregon
. He was one of two French Canadian pioneers that joined with the American bloc to vote for the creation of the government on May 2, 1843. Then in 1851 Lucier became an American citizen in order to secure his land claim via the Donation Land Act.
In 1853 Étienne Lucier died, with his sons continuing to operate the family farm. At his death he was a man of some wealth in the region and left behind boats, the farm, farm tools, a threshing machine, and a buggy among other items.
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...
and claimed by the United States and called the Columbia District
Columbia District
The Columbia District was a fur trading district in the Pacific Northwest region of British North America in the 19th century. It was explored by the North West Company between 1793 and 1811, and established as an operating fur district around 1810...
as claimed by Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
. He was one of two French Canadians to vote for the creation of a government for that region 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...
. Moving to the Pacific Northwest originally to help establish Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria was the Pacific Fur Company's primary fur trading post in the Northwest, and was the first American-owned settlement on the Pacific coast. After a short two-year term of US ownership, the British owned and operated it for 33 years. It was the first British port on the Pacific coast...
, he would later become the first farmer in what would 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...
.
Fur trade
In 1810, Lucier joined the Wilson Price Hunt partyAstor Expedition
The Astor Expedition of 1810-1812 was the next overland expedition from St. Louis, Missouri to the mouth of the Columbia River after the Corps of Discovery, led by Lewis and Clark.-History:...
that journeyed overland to 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...
to establish a fur trade
Fur trade
The fur trade is a worldwide industry dealing in the acquisition and sale of animal fur. Since the establishment of world market for in the early modern period furs of boreal, polar and cold temperate mammalian animals have been the most valued...
outpost for the Pacific Fur Company
Pacific Fur Company
The Pacific Fur Company was founded June 23, 1810, in New York City. Half of the stock of the company was held by the American Fur Company, owned exclusively by John Jacob Astor, and Astor provided all of the capital for the enterprise. The other half of the stock was ascribed to working partners...
. Soon after the establishment of Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria
Fort Astoria was the Pacific Fur Company's primary fur trading post in the Northwest, and was the first American-owned settlement on the Pacific coast. After a short two-year term of US ownership, the British owned and operated it for 33 years. It was the first British port on the Pacific coast...
on the Columbia, it was sold to the North West Company
North West Company
The North West Company was a fur trading business headquartered in Montreal from 1779 to 1821. It competed with increasing success against the Hudson's Bay Company in what was to become Western Canada...
. By 1814 Lucier had joined that company and became a trader for them, and then married a Native American woman and moved to the Willamette Valley
Willamette 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...
by 1814. After the merger of the North West Company and the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC), he became an employee of the new company under the HBC name and made a land claim on 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...
. Later he established a permanent land claim next to the Willamette Fur Post near Champoeg
Champoeg, Oregon
Champoeg is a former town in the U.S. state of Oregon. Now a ghost town, it was an important settlement in the Willamette Valley in the early 1840s. It is positioned halfway between Oregon City and Salem and the site of the first provisional government of the Oregon Country...
on the French Prairie
French Prairie
French Prairie is a prairie located in Marion County, Oregon, United States, in the Willamette Valley between the Willamette River and the Pudding River, north of Salem...
by 1829. Chief Factor 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 HBC at Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver
Fort Vancouver was a 19th century fur trading outpost along the Columbia River that served as the headquarters of the Hudson's Bay Company in the company's Columbia District...
helped Lucier with farming supplies, including livestock that helped establish Lucier as Oregon’s first farmer.
French Prairie
On the French Prairie, Étienne Lucier married for a second time and would have eight children combined between both wives. On his farm he raised pigs and hogs, cattle, peaches, and wheat over 80 acres (323,748.8 m²). These 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) were enclosed by a split rail fence. Lucier’s farm had a -story double-hewn log home, a grist mill, a framed barn, and a warehouse used for wheat. His farm was adjacent to Pierre BellequePierre Belleque
Pierre Belleque was a French Canadian fur trader in the British claimed Columbia District, which was also known as the Oregon Country and also claimed by the United States. He settled on the French Prairie in what is now the state of Oregon where in 1843 he participated in the Champoeg Meetings...
’s farm. On March 22, 1836, he and 15 other French Canadian settlers on the prairie representing 77 settlers and their children signed a petition requesting a priest for the settlement from the Bishop of Juliopolis. At that time he had six children.
In 1843, Lucier was a participant at the Champoeg Meetings that lead to the creation of 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...
. He was one of two French Canadian pioneers that joined with the American bloc to vote for the creation of the government on May 2, 1843. Then in 1851 Lucier became an American citizen in order to secure his land claim via the Donation Land Act.
In 1853 Étienne Lucier died, with his sons continuing to operate the family farm. At his death he was a man of some wealth in the region and left behind boats, the farm, farm tools, a threshing machine, and a buggy among other items.