François Xavier Matthieu

Biography

François Xavier Matthieu, born in 1818, traveled from Quebec to the Willamette Valley and became a voice for both pioneer settlers and the deeper sense of place that grew in early Oregon. He stood with others during crucial debates about the region's future, embracing civil order and the democratic processes that would guide the territory.

As he grew older he continued to recount the stories of those first settlers, ensuring that their hopes and lessons were never forgotten even as the community modernized around him. He rests now at Butteville Cemetery, his memory honored by descendants who still cherish the rugged optimism he shared.