OREGON

U.S. STATE OREGON
In 1818, following a frontier treaty between the two powers, the Columbia 
River region on the Pacific coast of Northern America - known since 1822 as 
"Origon" - became a joint possession of both the U.S. and the U.K. (1)
This agreement lasted until 1846 when the region was finally divided between
the two powers : while the north became British Columbia, the south became
part of the U.S. 
Originally governed by local officials, this part became the U.S. Territory
of Oregon in 1848. In 1859, after the northern and eastern parts had been 
separated and organized as the new U.S. territory Washington in 1853, the
remaining part became a State of the Union in 1859. (2)

(1) The territory was claimed by both powers. British interests
    were represented mainly by fur-trading companies, firstly
    by the North West Company and afterwards, since 1821, by the
    Hudson's Bay Company.
    U.S. presence - which dated from the Lewis and Clark Expedition
    of 1805 but became only really important after 1836 - was 
    represented not only by fur traders, but also by Methodist 
    missionaries and cattlers.

(2) See also the State of Jefferson
____________________________________________________________________________

STATE OFFICERS
Governors

1870 - 1877   La Fayette Grover                              1823 - 1911
1877 - 1878   Stephen Fowler Chadwick                        1825 - 1895
1878 - 1882   William Wallace Thayer                         1827 - 1899
1882 - 1887   Zenas Ferry Moody                              1832 - 1917
1887 - 1895   Sylvester Pennoyer                             1831 - 1902
1895 - 1899   William Paine Lord                             1839 - 1911
1899 - 1903   Theodore Thurston Geer                         1851 - 1924
1903 - 1909   George Earle Chamberlain                       1854 - 1928
1909 - 1910   Frank Williamson Benson*                       1858 - 1911
1910 - 1911   Jay Bowerman*                                  1876 - 1957
1911 - 1915   Oswald West                                    1873 - 1960
1915 - 1919   James Withycombe                               1854 - 1919
1919 - 1923   Ben Wilson Olcott*                             1872 - 1952
1923 - 1927   Walter Marcus Pierce                           1861 - 1954
1927 - 1929   Isaac Lee Patterson                            1859 - 1929
1929 - 1931   Albin Walter Norblad*                          1881 - 1960
1931 - 1935   Julius L. Meier                                1874 - 1937
1935 - 1939   Charles Henry Martin                           1863 - 1946
1939 - 1943   Charles Arthur Sprague                         1887 - 1969
1943 - 1947   Earl Wilcox Snell                              1895 - 1947


HOME
INDEX