James A. O'Neil

James A. O’Neil (January 26, 1800 – September 1, 1874) was an American businessman and politician in the Oregon Country and later Oregon Territory. A New York native, he took part in the Champoeg Meetings and helped form the Provisional Government of Oregon. Prior to the formation of a government he participated in the Willamette Cattle Company, and later served as a judge in the Provisional Government.

Early life James O’Neil was born in the state of New York in 1800. He was partly educated in legal studies there. In 1834, James joined Nathaniel Wyeth’s fur trading company, the Columbia River Fishing and Trading Company (CRFTC), that was organized to exploit the fur trade along the west coast of North America. This assistance included selling several legal texts to the legislative committee to help frame the Organic law. In 1845, he was elected as a judge for the district. O’Neil also built a grist mill that year, the first in what became Polk County.

Later years O’Neil then moved to Benton County and lived at Tampico where he operated a store. In 1853, he joined a commission working to build a railroad connection to California, remaining until 1854. The next year he married Tabitha C. Bowman.

James A. O’Neil died in September 1874, at his farm in Polk County near the community of Lewisville. He was buried there, but later moved to the Hart Cemetery.