The Corvallis times. (Corvallis, Or.) 1888-1909, 1902-10-08
JOHN WHITAKER IS DEAD
Prominent Figure in Oregon's History
Passes Away.

Ex-Governor John Whiteaker
the first governor of the state O
Oregon, died at his home in Eu
gene at 7-45 o'clock On the enc
inst. Two years ago he suffered
a stroke of paralysis, from which
he apparently recovered. Three
weeks ago he suffered second at.
tack which resulted in death. His
wife and two SONS and one daugh-
ter survive him. The ex-gover-
nor's funeral at Eugene Saturday,
was one of the most impressive
ceremonies ever witnessed in that
locality. That portion of the fuDer-
a1service which was held at the
family residence was conducted by
Rev D E Loveridge of the Episco-
pal church, at the conclusion OF
which a procession formed and
proceeded to the Masonic cemetery.
Here the Masonic fraternity took
charge of the service. Among
friends of the deceased present were
Governor and Mrs Geer, exGov-
ernor J F Moody, and Governor
elect Geo. E Chamberlain.
John Whiteaker was the first
governor Of Oregon under the state
constitution. He was elected at
the June election in 1883 and in
augurated on the 8th of July of the
same year, it being believed that
the bill for the admission of Oregon
as state had passed congress.
There was no railroad or telegraph
ic communication with Washington
and after time it was decided that
the bill for Oregon's admission as
state had not passed congress. AS
soon however as the bill did pass,
early in 1851, an official notification
was received, Governor Whiteaker
assumed the duties of his Office and
was Oregon's chief executive until
the Inauguration Of his successor
in 1862.
John Whiteaker was born in
Dearborn county, Indiana, on the
9Th of May, 1920, and was raised
on farm. He removed to Him
ois in early life, and subsequently
to Missouri, where he married Miss
N S Hargrave in 1847. Attracted
by the mines of California he came
West alone in 134o and remained
till 1851 when he returned to Mis-
souri,. The next year he came to
Oregon with his wife and settled on
a farm in Lane county in 1858. In
1856 he was elected probate judge
and the next year member of the
territorial legislature. In 1883, he
was elected governor of Oregon
and served a full term. In the
contest for this honor he received
5I34 votes to the 4213 cast for E M
Barnum, his opponent, who had
already been Ugh in Office in the
territory. He was elected to the
Oregon house Of representatives
in 1866 1868 and 1870. In the last
session he was made speaker of the
house. In 1876 he was again
called upon to serve the people of
Lane county as state senator for a
term OF tour years, being elected
president Of the senate at both ses-
sions Of the legislature.
In 1873 Mr. Whiteaker had the
honor Of representing Oregon in
the forty-sixth congress, and after
the expiration of his term he again
retired to private life only to re-
sumo public office in 1885 when he
was appointed Collector of internal
revenue at Portland under Presi-
dent Cleveland first administration
At the close of his term as collector
he went back to Eugene where he
spent his remaining days.
Governor Whiteaker was always
an ardent and consistent democrat
in politics and had a large number
of friends and admirers who looked
upon him as one of the fathers of
the democratic party i'll the state.
cb Poou1c