William G. T'Vault facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William G. T'Vault
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| 1st Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1858–59 |
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| Preceded by | Position created upon statehood |
| Succeeded by | Benjamin F. Harding |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 26, 1806 Tennessee |
| Died | February 4, 1869 (aged 62) Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Rhoda Burns |
| Profession | Publisher |
William Green T'Vault (1806–1869) was an important pioneer in the early history of the Oregon Country. He became famous for being the first editor of the first newspaper published west of the Missouri River. T'Vault also played a big role in Oregon's government as a politician and a leader.
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Journey to Oregon
William G. T'Vault was born in Tennessee on March 26, 1806. In 1845, he led a large wagon train of about 300 people. They traveled along the Meek Cutoff, which was a branch of the famous Oregon Trail. This long journey brought them to Oregon.
After arriving, T'Vault settled in Oregon City. The Provisional Government of Oregon was the first government in the area. They chose T'Vault to be their Postmaster General. This meant he was in charge of the mail system.
Starting a Newspaper
T'Vault became the president of the Oregon Printing Association. This group grew out of the Oregon Lyceum, which was a place for public discussions and learning. On February 5, 1846, T'Vault helped publish the very first issue of the Oregon Spectator. This was the first newspaper printed west of the Missouri River.
After publishing 13 issues, T'Vault left the Spectator. He said it was because he had different ideas from other members of the association. One of these members was George Abernethy.
A Leader in Government
William T'Vault was a member of the Democratic Party. In 1846, he joined the Provisional Legislature of Oregon. This was an early law-making group for the region.
That same year, T'Vault was part of a group that asked the United States Congress to change land claims. They wanted to stop earlier settlers from owning certain lands. One important person affected was John McLoughlin at Willamette Falls. Their request was partly successful, and McLoughlin's land claim was not fully recognized.
Exploring and Later Life
In 1851, T'Vault led a group of ten people on an exploration trip. They started from Port Orford. Their goal was to find an overland route to the interior of the region. During this trip, the group faced a difficult situation with Native Americans. Five members of the party were killed, but T'Vault survived.
Later, T'Vault moved to southern Oregon. He continued his work with newspapers there. In 1855, he started the Table Rock Sentinel newspaper. Then, in 1858, he started another newspaper called the Oregon Sentinel.
T'Vault also continued his political career. He represented Jackson County in the Oregon Territorial Legislature in 1858. This was the last year for that legislature. He then became the speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives during its first session, from 1858 to 1859. This was a very important leadership role.
William G. T'Vault also worked as a lawyer in Jacksonville. He passed away in 1869 in Oregon.
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