Benjamin Hayden
American politician (1822–1908)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Benjamin F. Hayden (September 11, 1822 – October 29, 1908) was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Kentucky, he moved to the West Coast with the California Gold Rush in 1849 and to Oregon in 1852. A Democrat, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives, including the 1870 session as speaker of the body.
Benjamin Hayden | |
|---|---|
| |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1870–1871 | |
| Constituency | Polk County |
| 7th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1870–1871 | |
| Preceded by | John Whiteaker |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Mallory |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11, 1822 |
| Died | October 29, 1908 (aged 86) |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Zerelda Gibson |
Early life
Hayden was born in Logan County, Kentucky, on September 11, 1822, but grew up in Illinois.[1] As a young man he moved to Missouri before traveling west to California in 1849 for the gold rush.[1] In 1850, Hayden returned to Missouri where he married Zerelda Gibson (b. 1832) who was from Lincoln County, Missouri.[1]
Oregon
In 1852, the couple moved to what was then the Oregon Territory, settling in Polk County in the Willamette Valley.[1] Hayden took up a Donation Land Claim in the Eola Hills near the community of Eola.[1] There he was one of the early settlers and served as the first judge of Polk County in 1852.[2]
In 1855, the Rogue River War began in Southern Oregon, with Hayden forming a company of troops and serving as captain of the company.[1] Following service in the war against the Native Americans, he returned to the practice of law in 1856 and was a prominent lawyer in the Willamette Valley.[1] In 1857, he was elected to represent Polk and Tillamook counties in the Oregon Territorial Legislature.[3]
In 1870, Hayden was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives as a Democrat for a two-year term.[4] Representing Polk County, he was also selected as the speaker of the house for the 1870 legislative session.[5]
Later years and family
Hayden would later move to Salem. He and his wife had six children, Estella, Dora, Benjamin N., Samuel Lee, and George.[6] Oregon historian Ben Maxwell is a grandson.[2] Benjamin Hayden died on October 29, 1908, in Salem and was buried at the Salem Pioneer Cemetery.[7]