Xavier Matthieu, the noted Oregon Pioneer, who is now staying in Portland, with his son. Mr. Matthieu was born April 2, 1818, in Terrebonne, Canada. In 1838 he came to the United States, escaping from Canada, where he had taken part in what is called the Canadian Rebellion of 1837-8. He was engaged as a fur trader by the America Fur Company, and lived in the Indian country until, at Fort Laramie, he joined the Oregon immigration of 1842. He settled about three miles east of Champoeg. He became well acquainted with Dr. W. J. Bailey. Dr. Bailey was an Englishman of birth, breeding, and education, and was an educated physician and a skillful surgeon, but, by association with wild companions in London, he became almost a dipsomaniac. In an endeavor to reform he came to America with his mother and three sisters. Without their knowledge he shipped as a common sailor on a vessel bound for California. On reaching California he deserted and stayed in different places there, for several years, until he came to Oregon, overland, in 1835. His party of eight was attacked by the Indians, two of the party were killed, two mortally wounded, and Bailey, badly wounded, arrived at the Methodist mission not far from Champoeg. He settled at Champoeg, where he reformed, married Miss Margaret Smith, one of the Methodist missionaries, and resumed the practice of his profession and became a man of affairs. In May, 1844, he was elected one of the Executive Committee to frame a Constitution and laws for a provisional government, in place of Rev. F. N. Blanchet, who declined to serve. In May, 1844, he was elected one of the Executive Committee of three, of the Provisional Government. He was a member of the last Provisional Legislature. He died February 5, 1876, at Champoeg.
Dr. Bailey, as a man of education, inquired into the origin of Indian names. From Michel La Framboise, a well known employe of the Hudson's Bay Company, stationed at Chamr poeg, Dr. Bailey learned that the name of the place was derived from the Indian word Champoo or Shampoo, the Indian
