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List of members of the Oregon Territorial Legislature

The Oregon Territorial Legislature was the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory of the United States, from 1849 to 1858. The legislature was a bicameral body, including a larger "House of Representatives," headed by a Speaker of the House, and a 9-member "Council," headed by the President of the Council. With the coming of Oregon statehood in 1859, the Oregon Territorial Legislature was supplanted by a new body, the Oregon Legislative Assembly.

This list includes all members of the Oregon Territorial Legislature, divided first by year of the annual session, secondarily divided alphabetically by legislative body. Political parties are indicated when known (D-Democratic, W-Whig, FS-Free Soil Party, R-Republican).

1849

The 1st Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from July 16 to September 29, 1849. Although there were 18 legislative districts for the House, only 17 names appear in archival records of the session, no representative for District 5 being indicated.

House (Speaker: Asa L. Lovejoy)

Council (President: Samuel Parker)

1850

The 2nd Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 2, 1850 to February 8, 1851.

House (Speaker: Ralph Wilcox)

Council (President: William W. Buck)

1851

The 3rd Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1851 to January 21, 1852. The size of the House of Representatives expanded from its original 18 to 22 members effective with this session.

House (Speaker: William M. King)

Council (President: Samuel Parker)

  • Matthew Deady, D-Yamhill
  • Joseph M. Garrison, Marion
  • Lawrence Hall, Washington
  • Augustus L. Humphrey, Benton, Lane, & Umpqua
  • Columbia Lancaster, D-Clarke & Lewis
  • Asa L. Lovejoy, D-Clackamas
  • Washington B. Maley, Linn
  • Samuel Parker, D-Marion
  • Frederick Waymire, Polk

1852

The 4th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 6, 1852 to February 3, 1853. The size of the House of Representatives expanded once again, this time from 22 to 25 members effective with this session.

House (Speaker: Benjamin F. Harding)

Council (President: Matthew Deady)

  • Matthew Deady, D-Yamhill
  • Joseph M. Garrison, D-Marion
  • Lawrence Hall, W-Washington
  • Augustus L. Humphrey, D-Benton & Lane
  • Asa L. Lovejoy, W-Clackamas
  • Lucius W. Phelps, W-Linn
  • Levi Scott, W-Umpqua, Douglas & Jackson
  • Fredrick Waymire, D-Polk

1853

The 5th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 5, 1853 to February 2, 1854. A 26th member was added to the House of Representatives effective with this session.

House (Speaker: Zebulon C. Bishop)

Council (President: Ralph Wilcox)

  • Augustus L. Humphrey, D-Benton & Lane
  • James K. Kelly, D-Clackamas
  • Truman P. Powers, D-Clatsop
  • Lucius W. Phelps, D-Linn
  • Benjamin Simpson, D-Marion
  • James Monroe Fulkerson, D-Polk
  • Levi Scott, Umpqua, W-Douglas & Jackson
  • Ralph Wilcox, D-Washington
  • John Richardson, D-Yamhill

1854

The 6th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 4, 1854 to February 1, 1855.

House (Speaker: Lafayette F. Cartee)

Council (President: James K. Kelly)

  • E. H. Cleaveland, Jackson
  • James Monroe Fulkerson, Polk
  • George W. Greer, Columbia & Washington
  • Augustus L. Humphrey, Benton & Lane
  • James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco
  • John C. Peebles, Marion
  • Lucius W. Phelps, Linn
  • John Richardson, Yamhill
  • Levi Scott, Umpqua & Douglas

1855

The 7th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1855 to January 31, 1856.

House (Speaker: Delazon Smith)

Council (President: Ammi P. Dennison)

1856

The 8th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 1, 1856 to January 29, 1857.

House (Speaker: La Fayette Grover)

Council (President: James K. Kelly)

  • James R. Bayley, Yamhill & Clatsop
  • Thomas R. Cornelius, Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia
  • Charles Drain, Linn
  • Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
  • James K. Kelly, Clackamas & Wasco
  • Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Douglas & Coos
  • John C. Peebles, Marion
  • John E. Ross, Jackson
  • Avery A. Smith, Lane & Benton

1857

The 9th Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 7, 1857 to February 5, 1858. There were also Special Pre-Admission Sessions held from July 5 to 9, 1858 and from September 13 to 14, 1858.

House (Speaker: Ira F. M. Butler)

Council (President: Hugh D. O'Bryant)

  • Alexander M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine
  • Thomas R. Cornelius, Washington, Multnomah, & Columbia
  • Charles Drain, Linn
  • Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
  • Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Douglas & Coos
  • Thomas Scott, Yamhill & Clatsop
  • Edward Shiel, Marion
  • Avery A. Smith, Lane & Benton
  • Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas & Wasco

1858

The 10th (and final) Oregon Territorial Legislative Session was held from December 6, 1858 to January 22, 1859. Oregon was admitted to the Union on February 14, 1859, becoming the 33rd American state.

House (Speaker: Nathaniel H. Gates)

Council (President: Charles Drain)

  • Alexander M. Berry, Jackson & Josephine
  • Thomas R. Cornelius, Multnomah, Columbia, & Washington
  • Charles Drain, Linn
  • Nathaniel Ford, Polk & Tillamook
  • James Hendershott, Columbia & Washington
  • James W. Mack, Lane & Benton
  • Hugh D. O'Bryant, Umpqua, Coos, Curry, & Douglas
  • Samuel Parker, Marion
  • George H. Steward, Yamhill & Clatsop
  • Aaron E. Waite, Clackamas & Wasco

Footnotes