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The Oregonian, Jan 6, 1925, p.1 & 7 - Portland Library, Oregon
The Oregonian - January 6, 1925 Champoeg Painting Is Unveiled in Office of Governor by Mr. Gegoux Unveiling of an "Inception of the Birth of Oregon" drew a large crowd of State house employees to the Governor's office Monday afternoon. The history of the painting was told by Theodore Gegoux, the artist. The painting is of great historical value as it commemorates the settlement of Oregon at Champoeg on May 2, 1843, when by a vote of 52 to 50, the early pioneers decided to cast their lot with the United States and not with Great Britain. The painting is on a canvas 7 by 11 feet, surrounded by a frame10 by 14 feet. This in itself is a work of art for it was made by hand by Mr. Gegoux. Ornaments on the frame represent the four States included in the settlement, Oregon, Washington, Montana, and Idaho all four being grouped as the Oregon territory. The border is composed of the Oregon grape, representing this state; rhododendron for Washington; bitter root for Montana; and the syringa for Idaho. In explaining the painting, Mr. Gegoux, who was born in 1850, said in his brief explanation: "The painting before you, entitled "The Inception of the Birth of Oregon", represents a great historical event in our county. On May 2, 1843, these men gathered here at Champoeg, to decide the very important question of what country should own this land, known then as the "Oregon Territory", and which was not claimed by an civilized nation. The Indians were here and of course claimed priority, but the palefaces were also here, and lived among the Indians at the risk of their own lives. "When I came to this country, eight years ago, to paint this picture, I went everywhere available to see how many likenesses I could get of the men present at this meeting. The best I could do was to secure 22 daguerreotypes and tintypes. There were 102 persons present at the meeting, but 22 actual pictures were all I could find. In the information I could gather by close study of history has been embodied in the painting. "The meeting took place in the old Hudson Bay company's warehouse at Champoeg. The voting was done in the old-fashioned way of "yea" and "nay", but the vote was so close that it was hard to tell how the result stood. Joe Meek came out of the house and with up raised hand said, "Everyone in favor of the report of the committee on the organization follow me", and I therefore arrested the picture at the point where Meek comes out and makes the announcement. All the people came out of the warehouse and were made to line up. Those for America lined up to the right and those for Canada lined up on the left. On the American side were 52; on the Canadian side 50. Then they threw up their hands and yelled, "Hurrah for America." "The names of the men represented in the painting taken from actual photographs are: W. H. Willison; Etienne Lucier; W. H. Gray; Rev. J. L. Parish; J. T. Hubbard; Andre Longtain; Alexander Brisbois; Adolphe Chamberlain; Solomon Smith; Joseph Meek; Rev. J. S. Griffin; William Cannon; Sidney Smith; F. X. Mathiew; Dr. Newell; Rev. Gustaves Himes; Walter (George) Gay; Rev. Lesile; and four men whose surnames were: LaChappel; Everett; Lewis; and McKay. |
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