Pioneer Profiles – August 2022
Prior to 1859, individuals seeking the opportunity, riches, and promise of the Oregon Territory were literally leaving the United States. They were also leaving behind their former lives, providing them with a chance to reinvent themselves.
This “reinventing process” might even include a name change; it appears to have occurred often enough to be captured in song lyrics:
Oh, what was your name in the States?
Was it Thompson, or Johnson, or Bates?
Did you murder your wife and fly for your life?
Say, what was your name in the States?
One such prominent early Jacksonville resident who did flee a murder charge and changed—or at least altered—his name several times was William G. T’Vault. Have you ever noticed his grave in Jacksonville’s pioneer cemetery? It’s next to the interpretive center and resembles an open book. However, T’Vault’s life was not all that open!
William Green Hamilton Tevault, as he was originally named, was born in 1806, although both date and location are uncertain. His birth is variously placed as mid-Atlantic during his immigrant parents’ voyage from France; Charleston, South Carolina, where their ship docked; or Tennessee, where he grew up.
T’Vault came from an “unconventional family,” according to a descendant. Family records showed “a continuing stream of marriages with no divorces or deaths…, assault and battery charges, and a proven charge of adultery.” T’Vault was more respectable—or at least initially. In fact, he showed much promise.
By age 23, he was already involved in politics, serving in the Indiana Legislature. Three years later he was also County Tax Collector. That same year, 1829, he married Rhoda Boone Burnes, who claimed to be the granddaughter of Daniel Boone, Kentucky’s famous pioneer. If true, it would have definitely been a step up the social ladder…but then it seems that Rhoda may have done some “reinventing” of her own.
In 1834, we find the Teevaults (as he was now spelling his name) living in Scotia, Pope County, Arkansas where he is practicing law. A year later he is secretary of the Arkansas Territory’s Legislative Council, Colonel Commandant of the local militia, and a Justice of the Peace for Pope County. Soon after, he is elected Prosecuting Attorney for the Territory’s fifth judicial district.
Perhaps success went to Teevault’s head, or perhaps the acorn does not fall far from the oak. In October of 1837, he is charged with “trying to indulge on a thirteen-year-old gal.” Two weeks later, he is arrested and jailed for murder. Claiming he would not receive a fair trial in Pope County, he petitioned for a change of jurisdiction. After being transferred to Lewisburg, he succeeded in escaping jail. The Little Rock Times and Advocate reported in February 1838:
G. H. TEEVAULT, late attorney for the state, in this district, who stands charged with murder, in Pope Co., and is also indicted there for an attempt to commit rape, or sodomy, some days since escaped from the Lewisburg jail. The attorney who defended him, and who also is “commorant” up the country, for some similar indecencies, as it is said, was a few days since shot through the suburbs of his “unmentionables.” Wound said not to be mortal, although a transformation to the neuter gender may be seriously apprehended.
Teevault returned to Indiana where he resumed his practice of law and his role as upstanding member of the community. Rhoda, the good wife, stood by his side. Teevault again ran for local office, but perhaps his past caught up with him. In 1845, he headed for Oregon as leader of a 300 person wagon train. The trek proved long and arduous, following a “guide” part way who had never actually traveled the route.
Arriving in the Dalles after the torturous trip, Teevault wasted no time in establishing himself. The Willamette Valley was a fledging territory and Oregon City, a trading post of the Hudson’s Bay Company, was a growing community that welcomed new leaders, legislators, and lawyers. Within the year, T’Vault was admitted to the Oregon Territory bar and began his law practice.
He soon became the first Prosecuting Attorney for Clackamas County. His legal practice led to politics, and he was elected to the second session of the provisional legislature where he was appointed to the Rules Committee. He subsequently served on the judiciary, post office, and education committees before being appointed Clerk of the House with a salary of $100. Although that position prevented his serving on other committees, he came out in favor of legislative control of “spirits” and made speeches advocating prohibition. It was a popular issue, and T’Vault was a politician—even though he was also known to be a periodic drunk.
In 1846, T’Vault was also appointed as Postmaster General for the Territory and named President of the Oregon Printing Association. The latter had been established to provide a newspaper for the new territory. With little, if any, newspaper experience, T’Vault was hired as the editor of Oregon’s first newspaper, the Spectator.
However, T’Vault’s editorship was extremely short lived—from January 1, 1846, to March 5, 1846. The Oregon Printing Association had decreed that the paper was to be totally objective and express no political preferences. T’Vault was unable or unwilling to keep his political opinions to himself, advocating Jeffersonian democracy and lauding Andrew Jackson. He was summarily dismissed. Rather than citing his political stances, the Association’s Board declared him “unqualified,” citing bad syntax, poor spelling, and a lack of familiarity with the Territory.
About the same time, T’Vault gave up his position as Postmaster General, finding it a less than lucrative enterprise. However, he subsequently joined several partners in establishing an express mail service through the Rogue River Valley to link the town of Winchester with the mining camp of Yreka, California and even led some of the trips himself. He also continued his legal practice in partnership with Sam Thurston, a less than savory character.
After a Dr. John McLoughlin severed his connections with the Hudson’s Bay Company and renounced his British citizenship to become an American, he retained T’Vault and Thurston to establish a donation land claim on his behalf. McLoughlin was already in possession of significant Hudson Bay Company acreage which he desired to retain. However, since Oregon was still a territory, McLoughlin, nor anyone not already a U.S. citizen, was eligible to file a land claim.
It seems that instead of pursuing Thurston’s land claim, each partner set about trying to defraud him. Prominent pioneer Jesse Applegate heard of the scheme and counseled McLoughlin to dismiss his legal advisors. After Thurston pursued the matter, T’Vault broke off the partnership.
T’Vault may have “gotten religion” and become conscious of his “sinful nature.” He joined the congregation of Reverend George Gary III, confessing to being “an adulterer, a gambler, a hard drinker, and a scoundrel.” He began attending prayer meetings, and for the first half of 1847, he was an ardent church attendee.
However, like previous pursuits, that proved to be short lived….
Next month—Indian Wars and Southern Oregon.
Pioneer Profiles is a project of Historic Jacksonville, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit whose mission is to preserve Jacksonville’s Historic Landmark District by bringing it to life through programs and activities. Join us in August for Haunted History walking tours, “19th Century Family Life” at the 1873 Beekman House Museum, Saturday “Walk through History” tours, and weekend “Behind the Counter” tours at the 1863 Beekman Bank Museum.
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