At this time the condition of Americans in the Northwest Territory was far from satisfactory. They had undergone great hardships and risks in order to establish themselves in the new land, but their home government had done nothing to either protect or organize them. Petition after petition was sent to congress, but without effect. So, on May 20, 1843, the Americans met at a place called Shampoig, near where Salem, Oregon, now stands, and organized a provisional government, designating Oregon City the capital. The first legislature met in a carpenter shop, and adopted the laws of the state of Iowa, because an Iowa man, with a copy of the Iowa laws in his pocket, happened to be present. This provisional government was entirely successful and continued until 1846, when a new government was formed and Hon. George Abernathy was elected governor. In this same year, 1846, Great Britain ceded to the United States her claim to the Northwest Territory, with the exception of the Hudson Bay Company’s holdings and those of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company. In July, 1863, the United States purchased the interests of these companies for $450,000 and $200,000 respectively, the final payments being made in 1865. On March 3, 1853, congress passed an act creating and organizing Washington territory, which included all the Northwest territory except the present state of Oregon. Ten years later to a day, the territory of Idaho was created and organized, containing all of Washington territory, except the present state of Washington. The following year, 1864, Montana was cut off from the territory of Idaho, and that of Wyoming in 1868, when Idaho took her present geographical limits, being three hundred miles long across her southern portion and only sixty across the northern panhandle. In February, 1864, the territory of Idaho was divided into Shoshone, Nez Perce, Idaho, Boise, Owyhee, Alturas and Oneida counties, the last of which included the present county of Bannock. Soda Springs was the first county seat, which was afterward moved to Malad City. Bingham county was created January 13, 1885, out of the northern and eastern parts of Oneida county, the southern part of which was made into Bannock county, March 6, 1893. This county was named after the Bannock Indians, who were its original inhabitants, and who still own many acres within the county limits.