Ira Babcock
Ira L. Babcock | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 1st and 3rdSupreme Judge of theProvisional Government of Oregon | |
| In office February 18, 1841 – May 2, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | none |
| Succeeded by | Osborne Russell |
| In office June 27, 1844 – November 11, 1844 | |
| Preceded by | Osborne Russell |
| Succeeded by | James Nesmith |
| Chairman/President of the Committee atChampoeg Meetings | |
| In office September 23, 1842 – May 2, 1843 | |
| Preceded by | David Leslie |
| Succeeded by | First Executive Committee |
| Personal details | |
| Born | circa 1808 New York |
| Died | March 21, 1888 |
| Occupation | Physician, judge |
Ira Leonard Babcock(c. 1808 – March 21, 1888) was an American pioneer and doctor in theOregon Country.A native of New York, he was selected as the first Supreme Judge with probate powers in February 1841 in what would become the state ofOregon.[1]
Although the meeting where he was selected did not produce an acting government, he also took over theexecutiveand legislative powers as the first person in Oregon's history. The meeting was the first of severalmeetings,presided by him since 1842, that led to aProvisional Governmentin theWillamette Valleyin May 1843.[1]
Early life
[edit]Babcock was born in the state of New York around 1808 where he received medical training.[2]He came to what was then the unorganized Oregon Country from New York while working for theMethodist Missionrun byJason Lee.[2]Babcock arrived in Oregon in 1840 aboard the shipLausannewith his wife and one son.[3]They traveled with Jason Lee’s reinforcements for the mission that was re-located to present daySalem, Oregon.[3]TheLausannehad sailed around Cape Horn and included future governorGeorge Abernethyand the ReverendGustavus Hines.
Judgeship
[edit]Babcock was selected at theChampoeg MeetinginDavid Leslie's home on February 18, 1841, to be the first Supreme Judge for the settlers of the region.[1]There was a need for a probate court in order to deal with the estate ofEwing Young.[1]Young had become a wealthy rancher due to his economic activities that included participation in theWillamette Cattle Companyin 1837. At the same time Babcock's election had also been a compromise after French Canadians had failed to electWilliam J. Baileyfor Governor as well as English Americans had failed to elect Babcock.[4][5]As the settlers were not able to agree on the form of the discussed government, Babcock also received executive and in fact legislative duties because there had been no copy of the New York laws in the country that had been proposed for usage.[4][5]
In 1842, Babcock helped to organize theOregon Instituteas a school for the children of the American settlers.[2]After holding the Supreme Judge title for two years, in which he had presided over a constitutional committee of six people at several Champoeg or so calledWolf Meetings,Babcock also was President at the discussions on May 2, 1843, when he called for a vote and the settlers thereby gave themselves aProvisional Governmentby narrowly accepting the committee's report with 52–50 votes.[4]Shortly after that he took his family to theSandwich Islandsfor one year.[3]After returning he was elected as Supreme Judge again, but left Oregon permanently in November 1844.[3]After leaving Oregon he joined theUnited States Armyand served as a surgeon.[2]In 1870, he returned to Oregon on a visit.
References
[edit]- ^abcdHorner, John B. (1929).Oregon: Her History, Her Great Men, Her Literature.The J.K. Gill Company:Portland, Oregon.
- ^abcdCorning, Howard M. (1956).Dictionary of Oregon History.Binfords & Mort Publishing, p 16.
- ^abcdFlora, Stephenie."Emigrants to Oregon in 1840".Oregon Pioneers.Retrieved2007-02-22.
- ^abcDR. IRA L. BABCOCKArchived2017-08-08 at theWayback Machine,biography from Oregon Government, retrieved 15 May 2017
- ^abA History of Oregon, 1792-1849,retrieved 15 May 2017
