Columbia Lancaster

Columbia Lancaster (August 26, 1803 – September 15, 1893) was an American lawyer and politician who served as the first Delegate from the Territory of Washington to the United States House of Representatives.

Biography Early life Columbia Lancaster was born in New Milford, Connecticut, on August 26, 1803. Lancaster moved with his family to Canfield, Ohio, in 1817. There he attended the common schools before he moved to Detroit, Michigan Territory, in 1824. In Canfield, he met and married Roseanne Jones. In Michigan he studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1830 and commenced practice in Centreville, Michigan. He settled in the Willamette Valley, in Oregon Country, in 1847. He took up his residence near the mouth of the Lewis River, Oregon Territory (present-day State of Washington). Lancaster was the sole member of the Council who attempted to establish this minority faction as the legitimate Oregon Territorial Legislature in a session held at the Territorial Library in Oregon City.

When the Washington Territory was admitted to representation, he was elected as a Democrat to the Thirty-third Congress and served from April 12, 1854 to March 3, 1855. His house in Ridgefield survives and is listed on the NRHP.