Frederick Waymire
Encyclopedia
Frederick Waymire was an American
farmer and politician in what became the state of Oregon
. A native of Ohio
, he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
and was a member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention
. He also helped start the La Creole Academy in Polk County
and represented that county in the Oregon House of Representatives
after Oregon became a state.
in the southwestern portion of Ohio
to Andrew and Easter Waymire. Trained as a millwright, he married Frances (Fanny) Chance Cochrane from Indiana
in 1827, and the couple had 17 children. In 1845, Waymire and his family immigrated to the Oregon Country
over the Oregon Trail
and settled in what is now Polk County, Oregon
.
, and Waymire called his house Hayden Hall. In 1846, Waymire was elected as the sheriff of what was then called Polk District, now Polk County. As early as 1853 he supported building railroads in the region, and thus was an early supporter of railroads in Oregon. This included being a commissioner of the Willamette Valley Railroad Company in 1854, though the company never built a line.
and represented District 7 and Polk County during the 1850 to 1851 session. Elected as a Democrat, he served again during the 1851 to 1852 and the 1852 to 1853 sessions, both times still representing Polk County in the Council. After not serving for two sessions, Waymire returned to the legislature in the Oregon House in 1855 as a the representative from District 24.
Waymire, part of the Democrats Salem Clique, was elected to represent Polk County at the Oregon Constitutional Convention
in 1857. The convention drafted and ratified a proposed constitution to allow Oregon to become a state, which the citizens then approved later that year. Waymire represented the farming contingent at the convention and was characterized as a “sort of Far West David Crockett” due in part to his lack of education. During the convention he fought against corporations, high salaries, and high taxes. His opposition to corporations came in part due to his lost investment on a telegraph line built to connect Portland to Corvallis that failed, with the investors left owing the creditors additional funds.
While waiting for approval of the Oregon Constitution
from the United States Congress
, Oregon’s citizens elected officials for all public offices, and Waymire was elected to the Oregon State Senate
in 1858. However, the U.S. Senate did not admit Oregon into the Union, and those legislators which included Waymire did not pass any laws and adjourned until news of statehood arrived. Oregon was admitted as a state on February 14, 1859, and Waymire and the rest of the legislature meet later that year. He served District 13 and Polk County as a Democrat at that first session of the Oregon State Legislature. Waymire returned to the legislature in 1868 as a member of the Oregon House from Polk County and District 34.
. Frederick Waymire died on April 28, 1873, at the age of 66 and was buried on his farm in Polk County. His wife Fanny died on October 15, 1878.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
farmer and politician in what became the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
and was a member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention
Oregon Constitutional Convention
The Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857 drafted the Oregon Constitution in preparation for the Oregon Territory to become a U.S. state. Held from mid-August through September, 60 men met in Salem, Oregon, and created the foundation for Oregon's law. The proposal passed with a vote of 35 for...
. He also helped start the La Creole Academy in Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
and represented that county in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
after Oregon became a state.
Early life
Frederick Waymire was born on March 15, 1807, in Montgomery CountyMontgomery County, Ohio
Montgomery County is a county located in the state of Ohio, United States. The population was 535,153 in the 2010 Census. It was named in honor of Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, Canada. The county seat is Dayton...
in the southwestern portion of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
to Andrew and Easter Waymire. Trained as a millwright, he married Frances (Fanny) Chance Cochrane from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1827, and the couple had 17 children. In 1845, Waymire and his family immigrated to the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and settled in what is now Polk County, Oregon
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
.
Oregon
The family farm was a on a donation land claim located on the Luckiamute RiverLuckiamute River
The Luckiamute River is a tributary of the Willamette River, about long, in western Oregon in the United States. It drains an area of Central Oregon Coast Range and the western Willamette Valley northwest of Corvallis....
, and Waymire called his house Hayden Hall. In 1846, Waymire was elected as the sheriff of what was then called Polk District, now Polk County. As early as 1853 he supported building railroads in the region, and thus was an early supporter of railroads in Oregon. This included being a commissioner of the Willamette Valley Railroad Company in 1854, though the company never built a line.
Political career
In 1850, Waymire was elected to the upper chamber Council of the Oregon Territorial LegislatureOregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
and represented District 7 and Polk County during the 1850 to 1851 session. Elected as a Democrat, he served again during the 1851 to 1852 and the 1852 to 1853 sessions, both times still representing Polk County in the Council. After not serving for two sessions, Waymire returned to the legislature in the Oregon House in 1855 as a the representative from District 24.
Waymire, part of the Democrats Salem Clique, was elected to represent Polk County at the Oregon Constitutional Convention
Oregon Constitutional Convention
The Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857 drafted the Oregon Constitution in preparation for the Oregon Territory to become a U.S. state. Held from mid-August through September, 60 men met in Salem, Oregon, and created the foundation for Oregon's law. The proposal passed with a vote of 35 for...
in 1857. The convention drafted and ratified a proposed constitution to allow Oregon to become a state, which the citizens then approved later that year. Waymire represented the farming contingent at the convention and was characterized as a “sort of Far West David Crockett” due in part to his lack of education. During the convention he fought against corporations, high salaries, and high taxes. His opposition to corporations came in part due to his lost investment on a telegraph line built to connect Portland to Corvallis that failed, with the investors left owing the creditors additional funds.
While waiting for approval of the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
from the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
, Oregon’s citizens elected officials for all public offices, and Waymire was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1858. However, the U.S. Senate did not admit Oregon into the Union, and those legislators which included Waymire did not pass any laws and adjourned until news of statehood arrived. Oregon was admitted as a state on February 14, 1859, and Waymire and the rest of the legislature meet later that year. He served District 13 and Polk County as a Democrat at that first session of the Oregon State Legislature. Waymire returned to the legislature in 1868 as a member of the Oregon House from Polk County and District 34.
Later years
Waymire, a Methodist, was one of the incorporators in 1856 of the La Creole Academy, an early secondary school. He served as one of the early trustees of the school located in Polk County at DallasDallas, Oregon
The city of Dallas is the county seat of Polk County, Oregon, United States. The population was 14,583 at the 2010 census.Dallas is located on Rickreall Creek, approximately 15 miles west of Salem, at an altitude of 325 feet above sea level...
. Frederick Waymire died on April 28, 1873, at the age of 66 and was buried on his farm in Polk County. His wife Fanny died on October 15, 1878.