Joseph Gervais facts for kids

Joseph Gervais (born October 21, 1777 – died July 14, 1861) was a French-Canadian and later American pioneer. He was a trapper and settler in the Pacific Northwest. The town of Gervais, Oregon is named after him.

Early Life of Joseph Gervais

Joseph Gervais was born in Maskinongé, Quebec, Canada. At that time, Canada was part of British North America. His hometown was along the St. Lawrence River. When he was 20, Joseph left home. He worked as a trapper and hunter near the Arkansas River. He hunted buffalo to sell in New Orleans. This area was then part of Louisiana.

Working for Fur Companies

Joining the Pacific Fur Company

Joseph Gervais joined the Pacific Fur Company. This company was owned by a wealthy businessman named John Jacob Astor. Gervais joined an overland journey led by Wilson Price Hunt. He was hired on August 7, 1810, in Michilimackinac. The group traveled a long way. They finally reached Fort Astoria on February 15, 1812.

Later that year, Gervais went with a group to the Willamette Valley. This trip was led by Donald Mackenzie. Their job was to explore the area. They also taught the native Kalapuya people how to prepare animal furs. Trappers were very interested in getting these furs. During this trip, Gervais had a disagreement with a Kalapuya man. On a second trip that fall, he met Étienne Lucier. Both men later settled in the Willamette Valley. By October 1813, Gervais had married a Chinookan woman.

Working for British Companies

In the fall of 1813, the British North West Company (NWC) bought the Pacific Fur Company. This happened during the War of 1812. Fort Astoria was included in the sale and was renamed Fort George. Gervais stayed at the fort during the winter of 1813-1814. He worked for the NWC.

After trapping for the NWC and on his own, he joined the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) in 1824. He was based out of Fort Vancouver. By 1828, he had claimed land at Chemaway. He lived there on and off until 1831.

Dangerous Missions

In January 1828, Alexander McKenzie and other HBC workers were killed. This happened on Hood Canal in what is now Washington. Gervais and other HBC employees were sent to get revenge. They went after those from the Klallam nation who were responsible. That fall, Gervais also went to the Umpqua River Valley. This was in Southern Oregon. His mission was to get back goods left behind. This happened after 15 members of Jedediah Smith's trapping group were killed by Umpqua natives.

Settling in the Willamette Valley

Building a New Life

In 1831, Joseph Gervais left the Hudson's Bay Company. He permanently settled on French Prairie. This is where the town of Gervais is today. He built a two-story log cabin there. It measured 18 by 24 feet (about 5.5 by 7.3 meters). He also built a barn in a special style called "post-in-sill."

Gervais started an apple orchard. He also grew wheat on his 125-acre (about 50-hectare) land. He had 65 acres (about 26 hectares) of land for farming. He also had several other buildings, including a grist mill. A grist mill grinds grain into flour.

Support and Community

Chief Factor John McLoughlin helped Gervais and other retired French-Canadian workers. He gave them farming tools on credit. However, these French-Canadians had to stay on the HBC's payroll. They could be forced to leave the Oregon Country if they misbehaved.

In 1834, Jason Lee arrived. He came to build the Methodist Mission on the prairie. For a while, he preached to the French-Canadian trappers at Gervais' home. Catholic priests had not yet arrived in Oregon Country. A guest at Gervais' house that year described a meal. It included "Canadian soup, excellent pork, and beaver." There was also "bread made without bolting" and "fine muskmelons." In 1836, Gervais and most Catholics in the valley signed a petition. They sent it to Norbert Provencher, a bishop, asking for Catholic priests.

Community Leadership

In 1841, Gervais was elected as a justice of the peace. This meant he helped keep order and settle disputes. In March 1843, Gervais' house hosted the "Second Wolf Meeting." This meeting decided to offer rewards for hunting predators. It also set up other ways to protect settlers in the Willamette Valley. This was part of the settlers' Champoeg Meetings.

Gervais was also on the committee that organized the Champoeg Meetings. On May 2, 1843, a vote was held to create a government. Gervais voted against forming a civil government. However, the vote passed, and the Provisional Government of Oregon was created. Gervais later became a U.S. citizen. After the Whitman Massacre, two of his children, Isaac and Xavier, joined the settlers' army. This conflict was known as the Cayuse War.

Later Life and Passing

When news of the California Gold Rush reached the valley in 1848, Gervais went south to look for gold. He returned within a few years. Joseph Gervais had several children. His first wife was Chinookan. They had a son named David and a daughter named Julie. After her death, he married Yi-a-must, who was later called Marguerite. She was a daughter of Clatsop chief Coboway. They had four children. She died in 1840. Joseph then married a third time, to Marie Angelique, a Chinook woman. They had one child, Rosalie.

In 1850, Joseph Gervais lost his farm. He died on July 14, 1861. He passed away at the home of David Mongraine and Catherine Lafantasie in French Prairie. Gervais was buried in the Old Cemetery at St. Paul.