François X. Matthieu

Infobox Politician
name = François X. Matthieu


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caption = Matthieu in his later years
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office = Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
term_start = 1874
term_end = 1875
predecessor =
successor =
constituency = Marion County
majority =
office2 = Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
appointer2 =
term_start2 = 1878
term_end2 = 1879
predecessor2 =
successor2 =
constituency2 = Marion County
majority2 =
office3 =
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term_end3 =
predecessor3 =
successor3 =
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birth_date = April 2 1818
birth_place = Terrebonne, Quebec
death_date = February 4 1914
death_place = Butteville, Oregon
party = Democrat
relations =
spouse = Rosalie Aussant
civil partner =
children =
residence =
occupation = merchant, politician
religion =


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François X. Matthieu (1818-1914) was a French Canadian settler of the Oregon Country who was one of the people involved in forming the provisional government of what would become the U.S. state of Oregon. Later he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and was the last surviving participant of the Champoeg Meetings.

Early life

Matthieu was born on April 2 1818 in Terrebonne, Quebec, Canada, to François and Louise Matthieu ("née" Daufin).Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] In Canada he was educated under a tutor named Velade and later participated in Papineau’s Rebellion against Great Britain. This rebellion was unsuccessful and Matthieu moved to the United States using a forged passport.

Oregon

Matthieu came to the Oregon Country with the Elijah White party in 1842, spending his first winter with fellow pioneer Étienne Lucier and discussing politics and government.cite book
last = Cogswell
first = Philip Jr.
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Capitol Names: Individuals Woven Into Oregon's History
publisher = Oregon Historical Society
date = 1977
location = Portland, Oregon
pages = 57
url =
doi =
id = ] In May 1843, a meeting of the settlers in the region was held on French Prairie at Champoeg, and a decision was to be made as to whether the pioneers would form a government to rule over themselves. Having been part of the unsuccessful rebellion against the British in Canada, when the vote was called, Matthieu was one of two non-Americans, along with Lucier, to vote yes to forming a government, as he did not want British rule in Oregon.

Matthieu settled on French Prairie and owned a general merchandising business in Butteville. Butteville post office was established in 1850 with name of Champoeg, and with Matthieu as the first postmaster.cite book
last = McArthur
first = Lewis A.
authorlink = Lewis A. McArthur
coauthors = Lewis L. McArthur
title = Oregon Geographic Names
origyear = 1928
edition = Seventh Edition
year = 2003
publisher = Oregon Historical Society Press
location = Portland, Oregon
id = ISBN 0-87595-277-1
pages = ]

In 1874, he was elected as a Democrat to the Oregon House of Representatives to represent Marion County. [ [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1874reg.HTM Oregon Legislative Assembly (8th) 1874 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives, accessed September 30 2007.] Matthieu returned to the legislature in 1878, again representing Marion County. [ [http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1878reg.htm Oregon Legislative Assembly (10th) 1878 Regular Session.] Oregon State Archives, accessed September 30 2007.] On April 12 1844, he married Rosalie Aussant, and the couple would have 15 children. François X. Matthieu died on February 4 1914, in Butteville. He was the longest-surviving member of the Champoeg Meetings.

References