William Waldo (Oregon politician)

William Waldo was born in Gasconade County, Missouri, on April 22, 1832, to Daniel and Malinda Lunsford Waldo.[3] In 1843, the family traveled the Oregon Trail to Oregon Country along with neighbors Jesse and Lindsay Applegate.[3] William joined the militia during the Cayuse War, serving for the Provisional Government of Oregon in the war against those responsible for the Whitman Massacre.[3]

In 1849, he headed south to California for the gold mines. There he worked at Yreka before returning to Missouri in 1852.[3] Waldo purchased and drove 300 head of cattle to Oregon in 1853 to the family's farm in the Waldo Hills.[2] For a few years he traveled back and forth from his birth state to what was the Oregon Territory, even attending the University of Missouri at one time.[3]

After returning to Oregon permanently, William Waldo attended Willamette University in Salem.[3] He then read law from future Oregon governor and Senator La Fayette Grover, passing the bar in 1863.[3] After practicing law for a period he entered politics.

In 1878, he joined the Oregon State Senate, representing Marion County as a Republican.[4] He continued to serve in the 1880 and 1882 sessions of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, with no session held in 1884.[3] During the 1885 regular and special sessions of the legislature Waldo served as the President of the Senate.[5]

He would serve as a county judge for Marion County from July 1890 to June 1891, at that time the position was part of the Marion County Commissioners Court.[1] William would spend summers in the Cascade Mountains exploring with his younger brother John B. Waldo and fellow politician John Minto.[3] His farm is now within the city of Salem. William Waldo died on November 24, 1911, at the age of 79.[3] Waldo Park in Salem is named in his honor.[6]

• Waldo Park Redwood