Thomas Jefferson Hubbard facts for kids

Thomas Jefferson Hubbard (1806 – April 24, 1877) was an important early settler and politician in Oregon. He was known for being a pioneer who helped shape the early government of Oregon. He was also involved in a significant legal case, one of the first of its kind in the Oregon area, where a court decided his actions were in self-defense.

Early Life of Thomas Hubbard

Thomas Hubbard was born in Kinderhook, New York, in 1806. When he was about 28 years old, in 1834, he left New York. He joined an expedition led by Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth. This group was heading to the Oregon Country to try and set up a fur trading business.

Adventures in Oregon Country

In September 1834, Wyeth's group arrived at Fort Vancouver. This was a main trading post for the Hudson's Bay Company. On Wapato Island, the Americans built their own trading post called Fort William. Thomas Hubbard worked there as the fort's gunsmith, repairing and making firearms.

While at Fort William, Hubbard was involved in a serious incident. Another person at the fort, Thornburgh, came into Hubbard's home at night with a rifle. Hubbard was aware of the danger and had two loaded pistols ready. He shot Thornburgh, who died. A special hearing was held, overseen by John Kirk Townsend. The decision was that Hubbard was not guilty because his actions were in self-defense. On April 3, 1837, Hubbard married Mary St. Martin. The Reverend Jason Lee led their wedding ceremony.

In 1841, Hubbard took part in an exciting project called the cattle venture. He and others built a ship and sailed it all the way to California. There, they sold the ship and bought cattle. They then herded these cattle back to Oregon. This was a big help for the growing settlements in Oregon.

In 1843, Hubbard attended the Champoeg Meetings. These were important gatherings where settlers decided how to govern themselves. Hubbard served on several committees and voted to create the Provisional Government of Oregon. This was an early form of government for the area.

In 1845, Hubbard sailed to the Kingdom of Hawaii on a ship called the Chenamus. Later, when the Cayuse War started in 1847, after the Whitman massacre, Hubbard helped the government. He built and gave them a rifle and a pistol. He later moved to Yamhill County and built a sawmill there. Thomas Hubbard passed away on April 24, 1877.