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Webley John Hauxhurst
Born (1809-01-23)January 23, 1809
Died January 23, 1874(1874-01-23) (aged 65)
Burial place Trout Cemetery, Tillamook County, Oregon
Occupation sailor, soldier, pioneer
Spouse(s) Wattiet "Miss Mary"

Webley John Hauxhurst Jr. (born January 23, 1809 – died January 23, 1874) was an important pioneer in the Oregon Country. He helped build the first grist mill in Oregon. He also took part in the Willamette Cattle Company. Webley Hauxhurst was at the Champoeg meeting where people voted to create a temporary government for the area.

Early Life

Webley Hauxhurst was born in Brooklyn, New York, on January 23, 1809. His parents were Quakers. When he was a young man, he became a sailor. He later left his ship in California. He worked as a carpenter in Monterey, California for three years before moving on.

Life in Oregon

Webley John Hauxhurst traveled to the Oregon Country in 1834. He arrived at Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River on October 17. He came with Ewing Young and Hall J. Kelley from California.

The next year, in 1835, he helped build the first grist mill in the Willamette Valley. A grist mill is a place where grain is ground into flour. He later sold this mill to Thomas McKay. Thomas was the stepson of Doctor John McLoughlin. Dr. McLoughlin was a leader at Fort Vancouver for the Hudson's Bay Company.

Hauxhurst also invested in the Willamette Cattle Company in 1837. This company brought over 600 cattle to Oregon from California. He was supposed to help drive the cattle. However, he changed his mind when the ship Loriot was delayed.

On February 28, 1837, Webley Hauxhurst got married. Reverend Jason Lee married him to Miss Mary. Reverend Lee was from the Methodist Mission. Mary was a Yamhill Native American woman. She was the daughter of Chief Staywich. Webley Hauxhurst became the mission's first white convert.

Helping to Form a Government

In 1843, settlers in the region started talking about forming a government. This happened after Ewing Young died in 1841. These discussions were a continuation of the Champoeg Meetings.

On May 2, 1843, a big meeting was held at Champoeg. People voted on whether to create a government. Hauxhurst was at this meeting and voted to form the Provisional Government of Oregon. This temporary government lasted until 1849.

In March 1844, he joined the Oregon Rangers. This was a group of volunteer soldiers. The Provisional Government created them to protect settlers from possible Native American attacks.

Later Adventures

In July 1846, Webley and Mary divorced. They had 21 children together. After selling the grist mill, he moved to the Mill Creek area. This area is now part of Salem, Oregon.

While in Salem, he helped move the first circus to Oregon. From 1862 to 1866, he moved goods on the Willamette River. He transported items between Portland and Salem. In Salem, he was on the board of trustees for Willamette University.

Later, he moved to Tillamook County on the Oregon Coast. In Tillamook, he claimed land at the Bayocean Peninsula. He worked as a captain on a ship called the Champion. He used the ship to transport goods between Tillamook and Portland. Webley John Hauxhurst died on his birthday, January 23, 1874.

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