1841
In 1841 the early settlers found themselves in need of a government after the death of pioneer Ewing Young. Young had accumulated much wealth as a successful rancher following the Willamette Cattle Company events of 1837 when he and a group of other settlers herded over 600 head of cattle from California to Oregon. This made him very wealthy and intertwined him economically with many of the other pioneers in the valley. Young had died without a will or heir, thus necessitating a need for a probate court. The first meeting was on February 7, 1841, before Young died, followed by an additional meeting on February 17, 1841. Jason Lee served as chairman for these meetings. The first meeting was a general meeting about the formation of some governing body, to which the need became more acute after Ewing Young's death.
Read more about this topic: Champoeg Meetings