William Waldo (Oregon politician)
Encyclopedia
William Waldo was an American
politician and attorney in Oregon
. Born in Missouri
, he came to the Oregon Country
with his family that included father Daniel Waldo
. He would serve in the Oregon State Senate
, including as president of the body in 1885. Waldo was also a county judge, while his brother John B. Waldo
would serve on the Oregon Supreme Court
.
, on April 22, 1832 to Daniel and Malinda Lunsford Waldo. In 1843, the family traveled the Oregon Trail
to Oregon Country along with neighbors Jesse
and Lindsay Applegate
. William joined the militia during the Cayuse War
, serving for the Provisional Government of Oregon
in the war against those responsible for the Whitman Massacre
.
In 1849, he headed south to California
for the gold mines. There he worked at Yreka
before returning to Missouri in 1852. Waldo purchased and rove 300 head of cattle to Oregon in 1853 to the family’s farm in the Waldo Hills. For a few years he traveled back and forth from his birth state to what was the Oregon Territory
, even attending the University of Missouri
at one time.
in Salem
. He then read law from future Oregon governor and Senator La Fayette Grover
, passing the bar
in 1863. After practicing law for a period he entered politics.
In 1878, he joined the Oregon State Senate
, representing Marion County
as a Republican. He continued to serve in the 1880 and 1882 sessions of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, with no session held in 1884. During the 1885 regular and special sessions of the legislature Waldo served as the President of the Senate.
and fellow politician John Minto
. His farm is now within the city of Salem. William Waldo died on November 24, 1911 at the age of 79.
Waldo Park
in Salem is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and attorney in 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...
. Born in Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
, he came to 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...
with his family that included father Daniel Waldo
Daniel Waldo (Oregon pioneer)
Daniel Waldo was an American legislator in the Provisional Government of Oregon, the namesake for the Waldo Hills near Salem, Oregon, and the father of two prominent Oregon politicians. He was also a member of the Oregon Rangers militia and fought in the Cayuse War.-Early life:Waldo was born in...
. He would serve in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, including as president of the body in 1885. Waldo was also a county judge, while his brother John B. Waldo
John B. Waldo
John Breckenridge Waldo was an American politician and jurist from the state of Oregon. A native of Oregon, he grew up near Salem as part of a prominent pioneer political family that included father Daniel and brother William...
would serve on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
.
Early life
William Waldo was born in Gasconade County, MissouriGasconade County, Missouri
Gasconade County is a county in the U.S. state of Missouri located on the south side of the Missouri River, which once served as the chief route of transportation in the state. Located in the area called the Missouri Rhineland, the county had a population of 15,342 as of the 2000 U.S. Census. A...
, on April 22, 1832 to Daniel and Malinda Lunsford Waldo. In 1843, the family traveled the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
to Oregon Country along with neighbors Jesse
Jesse Applegate
Jesse Applegate was an American pioneer who led a large group of settlers along the Oregon Trail to the Oregon Country. He took part in the early government of Oregon, and helped establish the Applegate Trail as an alternative route to the Oregon Trail.-Early life:Jesse Applegate was born in Henry...
and Lindsay Applegate
Lindsay Applegate
Lindsay Applegate was a pioneer known for blazing the Applegate Trail, an alternative end of Oregon Trail in the U.S. state of Oregon. The trail was blazed with his brothers Charles and Jesse in 1846.-Early life:...
. William joined the militia during the Cayuse War
Cayuse War
The Cayuse War was an armed conflict that took place in the Northwestern United States from 1847 to 1855 between the Cayuse people of the region and the United States Government and local Euro-American settlers...
, serving for 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...
in the war against those responsible for the Whitman Massacre
Whitman massacre
The Whitman massacre was the murder in the Oregon Country on November 29, 1847 of U.S. missionaries Dr. Marcus Whitman and his wife Narcissa Whitman, along with eleven others. They were killed by Cayuse and Umatilla Indians. The incident began the Cayuse War...
.
In 1849, he headed south to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
for the gold mines. There he worked at Yreka
Yreka, California
Yreka is the county seat of Siskiyou County, California, United States. The population was 7,765 at the 2010 census, up from 7,290 at the 2000 census.- History:...
before returning to Missouri in 1852. Waldo purchased and rove 300 head of cattle to Oregon in 1853 to the family’s farm in the Waldo Hills. For a few years he traveled back and forth from his birth state to what was the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
, even attending the University of Missouri
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri System is a state university system providing centralized administration for four universities, a health care system, an extension program, five research and technology parks, and a publishing press. More than 64,000 students are currently enrolled at its four campuses...
at one time.
Oregon
After returning to Oregon permanently, William Waldo attended Willamette UniversityWillamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. He then read law from future Oregon governor and Senator La Fayette Grover
La Fayette Grover
La Fayette Grover was a Democratic politician and lawyer from the US state of Oregon. He was the fourth Governor of Oregon, serving from 1870 to 1877...
, passing the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1863. After practicing law for a period he entered politics.
In 1878, he joined the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
, representing 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...
as a Republican. He continued to serve in the 1880 and 1882 sessions of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
, with no session held in 1884. During the 1885 regular and special sessions of the legislature Waldo served as the President of the Senate.
Later life and legacy
He would serve as a county judge for Marion County from July 1890 to June 1891, at that time the position was part of the Marion County Commissioners Court. William would spend summers in the Cascade Mountains exploring with his younger brother John B. WaldoJohn B. Waldo
John Breckenridge Waldo was an American politician and jurist from the state of Oregon. A native of Oregon, he grew up near Salem as part of a prominent pioneer political family that included father Daniel and brother William...
and fellow politician John Minto
John Minto (Oregon pioneer)
-External links:* from salemhistory.net...
. His farm is now within the city of Salem. William Waldo died on November 24, 1911 at the age of 79.
Waldo Park
Waldo Park
Waldo Park is a municipal park, located in downtown Salem, Oregon, United States. It is one of the smallest city parks in the world, measuring...
in Salem is named in his honor.