Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 6.djvu/365

359 THE WINNING OF THE OREGON COUNTRY. 359 Robinson, whose donation is just south of Dayton, Joseph Watt of Amity, who is now dead, and Benjamin and Vin- cent Snelling. Jeremiah Rowland, for many years famil- iarly known as Judge Rowland at McMinnville, and long since passed away, was in the party. James Marshall, the man who discovered gold at Sutter's mill in California and which event made that State a world-wide fame, was also an emigrant this year, coming first to Oregon. There was Thomas C. Shaw of Marion, the Eades, the Nichols broth- ers, J. S. Smith, elected to Congress in 1868, Samuel Mc- Swain, Alanson Hinman, John Bird, who died at Lafayette a few years ago and whose donation lies a short distance north of Dayton and east of Lafayette, Charles Burch of Amity, all names closely and honorably identified with .the pioneer history of this State. The first annual election was held June 3, 1845, at which George Aberriethy was elected governor, receiving only 46 votes from Clackamas, 58 from Tualatin, 51 from Cham- poeg, 22 from Clatsop, and 51 from Yamhill. The total vote cast was only 504. J. W. Nesmith was elected su- preme judge, receiving 473 votes and having no opposi- tion. Joseph L. Meek received 267 votes for sheriff to 215 cast for A. J. Hembree, the latter receiving 61 votes in Yamhill to 15 for Meek. Among the representatives chosen at that election was Abijah Hendricks, who was chosen to represent Yamhill district, receiving every vote polled at the time and which was only 38. The legisla- ture consisted of thirteen members, remaining in session .two weeks at Oregon, City and began its session June 24, 1845. The memorial to Congress was framed by this body, dated June 28, 1845, signed by the members, and in addition thereto by Osborn Russell and P. G. Stewart, of the executive committee, and Judge J. W. Nesmith. Mr. Russell had just been defeated by Abernethy for the office of governor, whose friends by his consent, threw