Albert E. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Albert E. Wilson (c. 1813–1861) was an American pioneer and merchant in Oregon Country
. Raised in the United States, he moved to what would become the U.S. state of Oregon
where he operated stores, was involved in politics, and was elected as the first judge of the Provisional Government of Oregon
.
around 1813. In 1842, he immigrated to the disputed Oregon Country aboard the ship Chenamus captained by John H. Couch
. Upon arrival he opened a mercantile in Oregon City
using goods he had brought with him from the East Coast. Wilson co-owned the store with George W. LeBreton.
in Oregon City, and in 1843 was involved with the petition by Robert Shortess sent to the United States Congress
in an attempt to invalidate land claims held by the Hudson’s Bay Company and Dr. John McLoughlin
. The land claims were along the Willamette Falls
at Oregon City where McLoughlin claimed ownership over the islands at the falls, a prime location to utilize water power for mills. George Abernethy
helped to draft the petition, but Wilson was charged with copying the document so Abernathy’s name would not be attached to it for political reasons. Only Wilson and Shortess would sign the petition. Though this petition was ineffective, later efforts by Samuel Thurston in 1850 did remove legal title of the disputed lands from McLoughlin.
Later in 1843 Wilson was a participant of the series of Champoeg Meetings
. At these meetings the settlers decided to create a Provisional Government
, with a determinative vote on May 2, 1843. Wilson voted for the creation of the government, which passed 52-50., and he was elected as supreme judge with probate powers at an election held on July 5. He was to replace Ira L. Babcock who had been selected in 1841 before a government was created, however Wilson declined to serve.
a few miles from Fort Astoria
. In 1846, Wilson opened a store near Astoria, Oregon
, thus was one of the founders of that town, and was the first American merchant at that settlement. In 1847, he sold his property on the eastside of the Willamette River
near Johnson Creek
to Henderson Luelling. Wilson only had squatter’s rights to the land, but Luelling later obtained legal tile through the Donation Land Act. The next year Wilson partnered with David McLoughlin and started stores in Portland
, Oregon City, and Champoeg
under the name of Pettygrove
and Company. He was also involved with the timber industry along the lower stretches of the Columbia River before his death on March 28, 1861. Albert E. Wilson was buried in Oregon City.
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...
. Raised in the United States, he moved to what would become the U.S. 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...
where he operated stores, was involved in politics, and was elected as the first judge 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...
.
Early life
Albert Wilson was born in MassachusettsMassachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
around 1813. In 1842, he immigrated to the disputed Oregon Country aboard the ship Chenamus captained by John H. Couch
John H. Couch
John Heard Couch was an American sea captain and pioneer in the Oregon Country in the 19th century. Often referred to as Captain Couch, he became famous for his singular skill at navigation of the mouth of the Columbia River. He is one of the early residents and founders of Portland,...
. Upon arrival he opened a mercantile in Oregon City
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...
using goods he had brought with him from the East Coast. Wilson co-owned the store with George W. LeBreton.
Political activities
In 1842, Wilson helped to found the Oregon LyceumOregon Lyceum
The Oregon Lyceum or Pioneer Lyceum and Literary Club was founded in Oregon City, Oregon Country around 1840. The forum was a prominent fixture for the leading pioneer settlers during its brief existence...
in Oregon City, and in 1843 was involved with the petition by Robert Shortess sent to the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in an attempt to invalidate land claims held by the Hudson’s Bay Company and Dr. 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...
. The land claims were along the Willamette Falls
Willamette Falls
The Willamette Falls is a natural waterfall on the Willamette River between Oregon City and West Linn, Oregon, in the United States. It is the largest waterfall in the Pacific Northwest and the eighteenth largest in the world by water volume. Horseshoe in shape, it is wide and high with a flow...
at Oregon City where McLoughlin claimed ownership over the islands at the falls, a prime location to utilize water power for mills. George Abernethy
George Abernethy
George Abernethy was an American pioneer, notable entrepreneur, and first governor of Oregon under the provisional government in what would become the state of Oregon in the United States...
helped to draft the petition, but Wilson was charged with copying the document so Abernathy’s name would not be attached to it for political reasons. Only Wilson and Shortess would sign the petition. Though this petition was ineffective, later efforts by Samuel Thurston in 1850 did remove legal title of the disputed lands from McLoughlin.
Later in 1843 Wilson was a participant of the series of 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...
. At these meetings the settlers decided to create a Provisional Government
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...
, with a determinative vote on May 2, 1843. Wilson voted for the creation of the government, which passed 52-50., and he was elected as supreme judge with probate powers at an election held on July 5. He was to replace Ira L. Babcock who had been selected in 1841 before a government was created, however Wilson declined to serve.
Later years
By 1845 he owned a blockhouse along the Columbia RiverColumbia 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...
a few miles from 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...
. In 1846, Wilson opened a store near Astoria, Oregon
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
, thus was one of the founders of that town, and was the first American merchant at that settlement. In 1847, he sold his property on the eastside of the Willamette River
Willamette 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...
near Johnson Creek
Johnson Creek (Willamette River)
Johnson Creek is a 25-mile tributary of the Willamette River in the Portland metropolitan area of the U.S. state of Oregon. Part of the drainage basin of the Columbia River, its watershed consists of of mostly urban land occupied by about 175,000 people as of 2006...
to Henderson Luelling. Wilson only had squatter’s rights to the land, but Luelling later obtained legal tile through the Donation Land Act. The next year Wilson partnered with David McLoughlin and started stores in Portland
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...
, Oregon City, and 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...
under the name of Pettygrove
Francis Pettygrove
Francis William Pettygrove , commonly known as William Pettygrove, was a pioneer and one of the founders of the cities of Portland, Oregon, and Port Townsend, Washington. Born in Maine, he re-located to the Oregon Country in 1843 to establish a store in Oregon City...
and Company. He was also involved with the timber industry along the lower stretches of the Columbia River before his death on March 28, 1861. Albert E. Wilson was buried in Oregon City.