François X. Matthieu
Encyclopedia
François X. Matthieu was a French Canadian
settler of the Oregon Country
who was one of the people involved in forming the provisional government
of what would become the U.S. state
of Oregon
. Later he served in the Oregon House of Representatives
and was the last surviving participant of the Champoeg Meetings
.
, Canada
, to François and Louise Matthieu (née
Daufin). In Canada he was educated under a tutor named Velade and later participated in Papineau’s Rebellion
against Great Britain
. This rebellion was unsuccessful and Matthieu moved to the United States
using a forged passport.
party in 1842, spending his first winter with fellow pioneer Étienne Lucier
and discussing politics and government. In May 1843, a meeting
of the settlers in the region was held on French Prairie
at Champoeg
, and a decision was to be made as to whether the pioneers would form a government to rule over themselves. Having been part of the unsuccessful rebellion against the British in Canada, when the vote was called, Matthieu was one of two non-Americans, along with Lucier, to vote yes to forming a government, as he did not want British rule in Oregon.
Matthieu settled on French Prairie and owned a general merchandising business
in Butteville
. Butteville post office was established in 1850 with name of Champoeg, and with Matthieu as the first postmaster.
In 1874, he was elected as a Democrat to the Oregon House of Representatives
to represent Marion County
. Matthieu returned to the legislature in 1878, again representing Marion County. On April 12, 1844, he married Rosalie Aussant, and the couple would have 15 children. François X. Matthieu died on February 4, 1914, in Butteville. He was the longest-surviving member of the Champoeg Meetings.
French Canadian
French Canadian or Francophone Canadian, , generally refers to the descendents of French colonists who arrived in New France in the 17th and 18th centuries...
settler 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...
who was one of the people involved in forming the 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...
of what would become the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
. Later he served in 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....
and was the last surviving participant of 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...
.
Early life
Matthieu was born on April 2, 1818 in Terrebonne, QuebecTerrebonne, Quebec
Terrebonne is an off-island suburb of Montreal, in western Quebec, Canada. It is located on the north shores of the Rivière des Mille-Îles and of the Rivière des Prairies, North of Montreal and Laval....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to François and Louise Matthieu (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Daufin). In Canada he was educated under a tutor named Velade and later participated in Papineau’s Rebellion
Lower Canada Rebellion
The Lower Canada Rebellion , commonly referred to as the Patriots' War by Quebeckers, is the name given to the armed conflict between the rebels of Lower Canada and the British colonial power of that province...
against Great Britain
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland was the formal name of the United Kingdom during the period when what is now the Republic of Ireland formed a part of it....
. This rebellion was unsuccessful and Matthieu moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
using a forged passport.
Oregon
Matthieu came to the Oregon Country with the Elijah WhiteElijah White
Dr. Elijah White was a missionary and agent for the United States government in Oregon Country during the mid-19th century. A trained physician from New York State, he first traveled to Oregon as part of the Methodist Mission in the Willamette Valley...
party in 1842, spending his first winter with fellow pioneer Étienne Lucier
Étienne Lucier
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...
and discussing politics and government. In May 1843, a meeting
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...
of the settlers in the region was held on 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...
at 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...
, and a decision was to be made as to whether the pioneers would form a government to rule over themselves. Having been part of the unsuccessful rebellion against the British in Canada, when the vote was called, Matthieu was one of two non-Americans, along with Lucier, to vote yes to forming a government, as he did not want British rule in Oregon.
Matthieu settled on French Prairie and owned a general merchandising business
General store
A general store, general merchandise store, or village shop is a rural or small town store that carries a general line of merchandise. It carries a broad selection of merchandise, sometimes in a small space, where people from the town and surrounding rural areas come to purchase all their general...
in Butteville
Butteville, Oregon
Butteville is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Butteville as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely correspond to local understanding of the area with...
. Butteville post office was established in 1850 with name of Champoeg, and with Matthieu as the first postmaster.
In 1874, he was elected as a Democrat 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....
to represent 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...
. Matthieu returned to the legislature in 1878, again representing Marion County. On April 12, 1844, he married Rosalie Aussant, and the couple would have 15 children. François X. Matthieu died on February 4, 1914, in Butteville. He was the longest-surviving member of the Champoeg Meetings.
External links
- Transactions of the Annual Reunion - Oregon Pioneer Association