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| '''Joseph Lafayette Meek''' (1810–1875) was born in ], near the ]. At the age of 18 he joined ] and the ], and roamed the ] for over a decade before settling in ]. | '''Joseph Lafayette Meek''' (1810–1875) was born in ], ], ], near the ]. At the age of 18 he joined ] and the ], and roamed the ] for over a decade before settling in what was to become the state of ] in the ]. In ] in 1838, he married the daughter of ] chief ]. Her true name is unknown, but Meek called her "Virginia". | ||
| In ] in 1838 he married the daughter of ] chief ]. Her true name is unknown, but Meek called her "Virginia". | |||
| By 1840, as it was becoming clear that the fur trade was dying due to |
By 1840, as it was becoming clear that the fur trade was dying due to overtrapping of ], Meek decided to join fellow trappers ] and ] in Oregon. On their way there, they met a small group of emigrants at ] who were also headed to Oregon. The trappers agreed to guide them to the ] near ]; the single wagon that the group brought became the first ever to make it as far west as the mission on the ], although to get it there they ended up leaving the load behind. | ||
| In Oregon, Meek took to wearing a bright red sash in imitation of the French Canadian trappers employed by the ]. As the French trappers enjoyed good relations with most of the Indian tribes in the area, Meek seems to have hoped that the Indians would take him for a |
In Oregon, Meek took to wearing a bright red sash in imitation of the ] trappers employed by the ]. As the French trappers enjoyed good relations with most of the Indian tribes in the area, Meek seems to have hoped that the Indians would take him for a ] and leave him alone. In 1841, Meek settled in the ], northwest of ], and entered into the political life of the area. At meetings in ] called to form a provisional government, his was one of the foremost voices on the side of the American settlers. In 1843, when the provisional government was formed, Meek was appointed sheriff, and he was elected to the legislature in 1846 and 1847. | ||
| When, in the late fall of 1847, some ] and ] Indians killed ], his wife Narcissa, and 15 others at the Whitman Mission, Meek traveled to ] with the news of the killings (the ]) and the ensuing ]. Leaving in early January, Meek and ] made the difficult winter trip, arriving in ] on May 11 and proceeding to Washington by steamboat and then by rail. While in Washington, where he met with President ] (whose wife ], was Meek's cousin), he argued forcefully for making the Oregon |
When, in the late fall of 1847, some ] and ] Indians killed ], his wife Narcissa, and 15 others at the Whitman Mission, Meek traveled to ] with the news of the killings (known as the ]) and the ensuing ]. Leaving in early January, Meek and ] made the difficult winter trip, arriving in ] on ] and proceeding to Washington by steamboat and then by rail. While in Washington, where he met with President ] (whose wife ], was Meek's cousin), he argued forcefully for making the ] a federal territory. The following spring, ] was appointed Territorial Governor and Meek was made Territorial Federal Marshal. Meek served as Territorial Marshal for five years; in 1855 he supervised the execution of five Cayuse Indians found guilty of the Whitman massacre. He organized the ] and led them in the ] and was promoted to the rank of major for his service. | ||
| ⚫ | In June 1875, Meek died at his home on the land he settled just north of ], at the age of 65. His wife survived him by almost 25 years; she died on ], ]. They are buried near ] ("Old Scotch") north of Hillsboro. | ||
| ==See also== | |||
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| ==References== | |||
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| * from the ] | |||
| ⚫ | In June 1875, Meek died at his home on the land he settled just north of ], at the age of 65. His wife survived him by almost 25 years; she died on March 3, 1900. They are buried near ] ("Old Scotch") north of |
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Revision as of 02:45, 3 November 2006
Joseph Lafayette Meek (1810–1875) was born in Washington County, Virginia, United States, near the Cumberland Gap. At the age of 18 he joined William Sublette and the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, and roamed the Rocky Mountains for over a decade before settling in what was to become the state of Oregon in the Oregon Territory. In Idaho in 1838, he married the daughter of Nez Perce chief Kowesota. Her true name is unknown, but Meek called her "Virginia".
By 1840, as it was becoming clear that the fur trade was dying due to overtrapping of beaver, Meek decided to join fellow trappers Caleb Wilkins and Robert Newell in Oregon. On their way there, they met a small group of emigrants at Fort Hall who were also headed to Oregon. The trappers agreed to guide them to the Whitman Mission near Fort Walla Walla; the single wagon that the group brought became the first ever to make it as far west as the mission on the Oregon Trail, although to get it there they ended up leaving the load behind.
In Oregon, Meek took to wearing a bright red sash in imitation of the French Canadian trappers employed by the Hudson's Bay Company. As the French trappers enjoyed good relations with most of the Indian tribes in the area, Meek seems to have hoped that the Indians would take him for a Québécois and leave him alone. In 1841, Meek settled in the Tualatin Valley, northwest of Oregon City, and entered into the political life of the area. At meetings in Champoeg, Oregon called to form a provisional government, his was one of the foremost voices on the side of the American settlers. In 1843, when the provisional government was formed, Meek was appointed sheriff, and he was elected to the legislature in 1846 and 1847.
When, in the late fall of 1847, some Cayuse and Umatilla Indians killed Marcus Whitman, his wife Narcissa, and 15 others at the Whitman Mission, Meek traveled to Washington, D.C. with the news of the killings (known as the Whitman massacre) and the ensuing Cayuse War. Leaving in early January, Meek and George Ebbert made the difficult winter trip, arriving in Saint Joseph, Missouri on May 11 and proceeding to Washington by steamboat and then by rail. While in Washington, where he met with President James K. Polk (whose wife Sarah Childress Polk, was Meek's cousin), he argued forcefully for making the Oregon Country a federal territory. The following spring, Joseph Lane was appointed Territorial Governor and Meek was made Territorial Federal Marshal. Meek served as Territorial Marshal for five years; in 1855 he supervised the execution of five Cayuse Indians found guilty of the Whitman massacre. He organized the Oregon Volunteers and led them in the Yakima Indian War and was promoted to the rank of major for his service.
In June 1875, Meek died at his home on the land he settled just north of Hillsboro, Oregon, at the age of 65. His wife survived him by almost 25 years; she died on March 3, 1900. They are buried near Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church ("Old Scotch") north of Hillsboro.
See also
References
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External links
- Biography of Joseph Meek from the Oregon Blue Book