William Packwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Packwood
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| Member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention | |
| In office 1857–1857 |
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| Constituency | Curry County |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
William Henderson Packwood
October 23, 1832 Mount Vernon, Illinois |
| Died | September 21, 1917 (aged 84) Baker City, Oregon |
| Spouse | Johanna A. O'Brien |
William Henderson Packwood (born October 23, 1832 – died September 21, 1917) was an American politician. He was a veteran of the United States Army and served at the Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857. He was also a school superintendent and knew President Abraham Lincoln. Packwood was one of the first people to live in Baker City in Eastern Oregon.
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William Packwood's Early Life
William Packwood was born on October 23, 1832, near Mount Vernon, Illinois. His parents were Larkin Canada Packwood and Elizabeth Cathcart. He went to school for two years. Later, he moved to Springfield, Illinois, where he met President Abraham Lincoln.
In 1848, when he was 16, Packwood joined the U.S. Army. He was part of Company B of the U.S. Mounted Rifles. The next year, his company was sent to the new Oregon Territory. They were stationed at Fort Vancouver.
Life in Oregon
After his time in the Army, Packwood went to California when gold was found there. He returned to Oregon in 1851. He was then sent to Port Orford, Oregon to help with conflicts involving Native American groups. In 1853, he left the Army and worked as a gold miner for several years.
Serving at the Oregon Constitutional Convention
In 1857, William Packwood represented Curry County at the Oregon Constitutional Convention. This important meeting took place in Salem in August and September. The delegates worked to create a constitution for Oregon, preparing for it to become a state. Packwood was the youngest person at this convention.
Moving to Eastern Oregon
After the convention, Packwood moved east of the Cascade Mountains to Eastern Oregon. He helped start the town of Auburn in 1862. Auburn was a gold-mining boomtown and briefly the county seat of Baker County. Packwood helped plan the town's layout.
In 1862, he became the first school superintendent for Baker County. During the 1864 presidential election, he campaigned for Abraham Lincoln in that county. Soon after, he helped name another Baker County town, Sparta. He and his family ran a boarding house there until 1867.
Later Life and Family
In his later years, Packwood continued to mine for gold. He also worked as an assistant postmaster, a clerk for Baker City, and a police judge. He retired in 1910.
In 1862, Packwood married Johanna A. O'Brien. They had five children together. He is the great-grandfather of former U.S. Senator Robert Packwood.
William Henderson Packwood passed away on September 21, 1917, in Baker City. He was buried at Mount Hope Cemetery. At the time of his death, he was the last living member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention.
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William Henderson Packwood
