David Hill (Oregon politician)
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| David Hill | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1809 Connecticut |
| Died | May 9, 1850 Hillsboro, Oregon |
| Occupation | farmer, legislator |
| Spouse | Lucinda Wilson Hill Simmons |
David Hill (1809 – May 9, 1850), was a pioneer and settler of what became Hillsboro, Oregon, United States.
Contents |
[edit] Early life
David Hill’s birthplace is listed as Connecticut, but there is no record. Some accounts have him living in Virginia,[1] others in Ohio. One account describes that Hill abandoned a wife and children in Ohio before traveling west.[2] Another account says he had two children by his first wife.[3]
[edit] Oregon
Mr. Hill traveled on the Oregon Trail by wagon train to the Oregon Country.[4] He arrived with Isaiah Kesley, Ralph Wilcox, Richard Williams, and Michael Moore.[5] Once in Oregon he settled a land claim for 640 acres in Twality (sic) County, what is now Washington County, Oregon.[6] The claim is in what is now Hillsboro with the recorded date of the claim is July 4, 1847.[6] According to the claim record Hill started the claim in June of 1842.[6] With Kesley (Kelsey) and Williams recorded as arriving in Oregon in 1841, it is likely Hill arrived then as well.[7] Hill likely arrived in October of 1841 and then wintered with Joseph L. Meek, who he would later serve with in the legislature.[8] David Hill married Lucinda Wilson in 1846 at the Old Scotch Church.[9] On his land claim and built a cabin that was used for a time as the county courthouse.[3] Also in February of 1850 Hill was appointed guardian of five children of the Dunlap clan.[10]
[edit] Politics
Hill got his start in politics in Oregon in 1843 when he was selected as a member of the first legislative committee that draft the proposal for a Provisional Government in the Oregon Country, including time as its chairperson.[11] Then he attended the Champoeg Meeting of May 2, 1843, where he voted for the creation of the Provisional Government.[11] With the creation of this new government Hill then served as one of three members of the First Executive Committee that acted in place of a single governor. [12] Joseph Gale and Alanson Beers were the other two members of this executive committee that served until 1844. After serving in that position David Hill was elected to the provisional legislature, and later in 1849 as a member of the territorial legislature after Oregon became a territory in 1848.[13]
Elected Positions in Oregon:
| Year | Government | Position |
| 1843 | Pre-Provisional | Legislative Committee |
| 1843 | Provisional | First Executive Committee |
| 1844 | Provisional | Legislature |
| 1845 | Provisional | Legislature |
| 1847 | Provisional | Legislature |
| 1849 | Territorial | Legislature-House |
[edit] Hillsboro
Hill sold part of his land to the county for the site of the first Washington County courthouse.[14] This quarter section of his land claim was to be sold off as a townsite. $200 of the proceeds of the sale of the land was to be paid to Hill, with the rest being kept by the county.[15] The townsite was to be named Hillsborough per the court's order on February 2, 1850, several months before Hill died in May.[15] As Hill died before collecting the proceeds, his widow was paid by the probate court.[16]
[edit] Mrs. Hill
David Hill's wife in Oregon was his second wife.[3] Lucinda Hill, however had a total of four husbands. Two before Hill and Wheelock Simmons after, with Simmons the only one to outlive Lucinda.[3] Born on July 2, 1810, Mrs. Hill first married John McWilliams in 1828.[17] After him, she married William Wilson who then died on their journey to Oregon in The Dalles.[17] Lucinda was then the step-mother to William Lewis Wilson, the son of her second husband. Then after David Hill’s death, she married Simmons before dieing herself on November 4, 1879.[17]
[edit] Description
There are no known pictures or portraits of Hill. He was six feet one inch tall with black hair. Slim, with a sallow complexion.[3]
David Hill disliked and opposed the Hudson's Bay Company and its representatives.[2] He also was an opponent of the missionaries.[8]
[edit] Death and legacy
On May 9, 1950, David Hill died of unknown causes. At the time he was still a member of the legislature and they issued a death resolution that resolved that both houses would be in recess for one day in his honor.[18] Hill died without a will and his wife was appointed as administratrix of his estate with Robert and Michael Moore, and Ralph Wilcox as appraisers.[16]
- David Hill Elementary school in Hillsboro, which was established in 1888, is named in his honor.[19]
- Hill is buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery on TV Highway near Dairy Creek.[20]
- David Hill Winery in Forest Grove is named in his honor.[21]
[edit] Gravemarker
- "David Hill
- 1809-1850
- Came to Oregon Country 1842.
- Voted for provisional government
- at Champoeg May 2, 1843.
- Chairman executive committee which
- virtually made him first governor of
- Oregon Country.
- Founder of Hillsboro"
[edit] References
- ^ Lepschat, May Ringle (1975). David Hill, founder of Hillsboro, Oregon.
- ^ a b Gray, W.H. (1870). A History of Oregon, 1792-1849: drawn from personal observation and authentic information. H.H. Bancroft & Co..
- ^ a b c d e Tozier, Albert (1936). Letter to Harriet C. Long. Oregon State Library.
- ^ Pioneer History: In Washington County. Churches of Christ & Christian Churches in the Pacific Northwest. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
- ^ "Hillsboro’s Old Leaders", Final Edition, Oregon Journal, 02-12-1957, pp. 1.
- ^ a b c (2-11-1847) "Land Claim Record: David Hill". Land Claim Records, 1845-1849 4: 174.
- ^ Pioneer Arrivals of 1841
- ^ a b Tobie, Harvey Elmer. No Man Like Joe: The Life and Times of Joseph L. Meek. Binfords & Mort. 1949. p. 100
- ^ Hastings, Terry; Joe Montalbano (1980). Hillsboro: My Home Town. Hillsboro Elementary School District 7.
- ^ (2-06-1850) "Probate Court Records". Washington County Probate Records.
- ^ a b Hussey, John A. (1967). Champoeg: Place of Transition, A Disputed History. Oregon Historical Society.
- ^ Clarke, S.A. (1905). Pioneer Days of Oregon History. J.K. Gill Company.
- ^ SOS:Legislature History
- ^ The Washington County Courthouse: A Brief History. History of the Courthouse. Washington County Circuit Court. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ a b (02-05-1850) "". Washington County Probate Court Records 4: 10.
- ^ a b "". Washington County Probate Court Records Film 24 (Reel 15): 44.
- ^ a b c Genealogical Material in Oregon Donation Land Claims: Supplement to Volume I. Lottie L. Gurley. Genealogical Forum of Portland
- ^ (05-10-1850) "". Oregon Provisional & Territorial Records: 3608.
- ^ David Hill Elementary School. School History. Hillsboro School District. Retrieved on 2006-10-29.
- ^ Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery. Cemetery Transcription Library. Interment.net. Retrieved on 2006-11-03.
- ^ David Hill Winery: History
| Preceded by None (Government established) |
Executive Committee of the Provisional Government of Oregon 1843-1844 with Alanson Beers Joseph Gale |
Replaced by Second Executive Committee with Osborne Russell Peter G. Stewart William J. Bailey |
 |
Pioneer History of Oregon (1806–1890) |
|---|---|
| Topics |
Oregon Country · Oregon Treaty · Oregon missionaries · Executive Committee · Oregon Trail · Oregon boundary dispute · Pacific Fur Company · Provisional Government of Oregon · Hudson's Bay Company |
| Events |
Treaty of 1818 · Russo-American Treaty · Champoeg Meetings · Whitman massacre · Donation Land Claim Act |
| Places |
Fort Astoria · Oregon Mission · Fort Vancouver · Champoeg, Oregon · Fort William · Barlow Road · Whitman Mission |
| People |
George Abernethy · Sam Barlow · Tabitha Brown · Abigail Scott Duniway · Philip Foster · Peter French · Joseph Gale · William Gilpin · David Hill · Jason Lee · Asa Lovejoy · John McLoughlin · Joseph Meek · Ezra Meeker · John Minto · Joel Palmer · Sager orphans · Henry H. Spalding · Marcus Whitman · Narcissa Whitman · Ewing Young |
| Oregon History |
Native Peoples History · History to 1806 · Pioneer History · Modern History |
