november june prominent american politician soldier early history oregon born missouri moved family young man fought war indian war native americans settled near later named honor whig later republican served oregon territorial legislature following served oregon state senate senate served term president chamber built pass road bears father prominent state politics early life born missouri november elizabeth thomas family traveled oregon trail set farm north community late thomas volunteered militia militia prosecuted war attempt punish responsible killings gold discovered california brief time returning year married children died including son benjamin family settle acres km2 donation land claim near second war native americans started east tribe volunteered militia months led company rank captain elected colonel resigned commission continued colonel end war political career elected upper chamber called council serving whig represented washington columbia counties won election council final session territorial legislature continued holding office newly formed oregon entered union february 33rd state continued republican representing counties legislature service interrupted american_civil_war session authorized president abraham_lincoln raise regiment cavalry federal service chosen colonel troops deployed military post washington assumed command resigned summer returned home legislature selected president won republican nomination governor oregon lost general election later life family wife died remarried moved renamed opened store addition store owned total acres km2 including covering farms warehouse built pass road linked died june age buried
Thomas R. Cornelius