Benjamin Hayden | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of theOregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1870–1871 | |
| Constituency | Polk County |
| 7thSpeaker of theOregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1870–1871 | |
| Preceded by | John Whiteaker |
| Succeeded by | Rufus Mallory |
| Personal details | |
| Born | September 11, 1822 Logan County, Kentucky |
| Died | October 29, 1908(1908-10-29) (aged 86) Salem, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Zerelda Gibson |
Benjamin F. Hayden (September 11, 1822 – October 29, 1908) was an American attorney and politician in the state ofOregon. A native ofKentucky, he moved to the West Coast with theCalifornia Gold Rush in 1849 and to Oregon in 1852. A Democrat, he served in theOregon House of Representatives, including the 1870 session as speaker of the body.
Hayden was born inLogan County, Kentucky, on September 11, 1822, but grew up inIllinois.[1] As a young man he moved toMissouri before traveling west to California in 1849 for the gold rush.[1] In 1850, Hayden returned to Missouri where he married Zerelda Gibson (b. 1832) who was fromLincoln County, Missouri.[1]
In 1852, the couple moved to what was then theOregon Territory, settling inPolk County in theWillamette Valley.[1] Hayden took up aDonation Land Claim in theEola Hills near the community ofEola.[1] There he was one of the early settlers and served as the first judge of Polk County in 1852.[2]
In 1855, theRogue River War began inSouthern Oregon, with Hayden forming a company of troops and serving as captain of the company.[1] Following service in the war against the Native Americans, he returned to the practice of law in 1856 and was a prominent lawyer in the Willamette Valley.[1] In 1857, he was elected to represent Polk and Tillamook counties in theOregon Territorial Legislature.[3]
In 1870, Hayden was elected to theOregon House of Representatives as a Democrat for a two-year term.[4] Representing Polk County, he was also selected as the speaker of the house for the 1870 legislative session.[5]
Hayden would later move toSalem. He and his wife had six children, Estella, Dora, Benjamin N., Samuel Lee, and George.[6] Oregon historian Ben Maxwell is a grandson.[2] Benjamin Hayden died on October 29, 1908, in Salem and was buried at theSalem Pioneer Cemetery.[7]