Cornelius H. Hanford
Encyclopedia
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge and the first United States Judge for the District of Washington. He was the younger brother of the newspaper editor Thaddeus Hanford
Thaddeus Hanford
Thaddeus Hanford, Jr. was an American newspaper editor.Hanford was the eldest son of Seattle pioneers Edward and Abby Hanford and the older brother of Cornelius H. Hanford. He work as an editor of the Daily Intelligencer and bought the newspaper in 1878...
. The former agricultural community of Hanford, Washington
Hanford, Washington
Hanford was a small agricultural community in Benton County, Washington, United States. It was evacuated in 1943 along with the town of White Bluffs in order to make room for the nuclear production facility known as the Hanford Site...
was named for him.
Early life
Hanford was born in Winchester, Van Buren County, Iowa. His parents, Edward and Abbie J. (Holgate) Hanford, were natives of OhioOhio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, but were married in Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. Their ancestors were among the pioneer settlers of Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
. His father Edward Hanford was an extensive farmer of Iowa, but in 1853 sold his possessions and moved with family and friends, to Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
and then to Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington
Seattle is the county seat of King County, Washington. With 608,660 residents as of the 2010 Census, Seattle is the largest city in the Northwestern United States. The Seattle metropolitan area of about 3.4 million inhabitants is the 15th largest metropolitan area in the country...
where his brothers, George Hanford and Ebenezer Seymour Hanford, and his brother-in-law, John C. Holgate, were already located. He brought his family there in the summer of 1854.
The Indian troubles of 1855-56 destroyed the stock and improvements Edward, and the boys, of whom there were five, were thrown upon their own resources at an early age. Cornelius attended the village school when not otherwise engaged.
When Cornelius Hanford was twelve years of age the family moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
and there Cornelius secured employment as office boy, and attended the night school. He also took a course in the Commercial College. In 1866 the family returned to Seattle and young Hanford was employed for two years in carrying the mail to Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington
Puyallup, Washington is a city in Pierce County, Washington about five miles east of Tacoma. The population was 37,022 at the 2010 Census. Named after the Puyallup Tribe of Native Americans, Puyallup means "the generous people."-History:...
.
Career
Completing his mail contract, Hanford followed fanning up to 1869, then went to Walla WallaWalla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, and spent three years teaching school, with intervals at farm labor. He then desired to enter the stock business, but on account of ill health, returned to his home in Seattle to recuperate and as his strength was slow in returning, he abandoned the project and in the spring of 1873 engaged in the study of law in the office of George M. McConaha, Prosecuting Attorney for the Third Judicial District. Hanford attended to the office work, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1875.
Hanford became a partner of the firm which continued until McConaha lost his health. Hanford then continued alone for a time, subsequently becoming connected with Colonel C.H. Larrabee, Judge Roger S. Green, John H. McGraw and J.F. McNaught, all prominent characters in the history of Seattle.
In 1875 Judge Hanford was appointed United States Commissioner, and held that office until the following year, when he was elected to the Territorial Council. Serving one term, he declined to be a candidate for re-election, and gave his undivided time to his profession. In 1882 he was elected City Attorney of Seattle, and again elected in 1884-'85. From 1881 to 1886 he held the office of Assistant United States Attorney under Hon. John B. Allen
John B. Allen
John Beard Allen was an American politician from the state of Washington. He was a Republican.-Biography:Allen was born in Crawfordsville, Indiana. He served as a private in the Union Army during the American Civil War. He earned a law degree from the University of Michigan and passed the bar in...
, then United States Attorney, now United States Senator from Washington.
In March 1889, Judge Hanford was appointed Chief Justice of Washington Territory by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
, and held that office until the admission of the Territory to Statehood, when his office lapsed; but he was at once honored with the appointment by the President to the office of United States Judge for the District of Washington.
During the Chinese trouble of 1885-'86 he was a leader of the law-and-order class, and spent much of the winter in advising with Mayor Yesler and Sheriff McGraw, and in prosecuting those leaders who had committed or assisted in overt acts. The Judge was also a member of the Howe Guards, and took an active part in the civic and social organization of Company E, First Regiment, and continued as a member of the company until called to the bench.
In politics Judge Hanford was described as an ardent Republican; during the campaign of 1888 he was chairman of the Republican Territorial Committee.
After the fire of June, 1889, he was the first to publicly propose that the city should turn the disaster into a public benefit by widening and straightening some of the principal streets of the city.
Hanford was nominated by President Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison
Benjamin Harrison was the 23rd President of the United States . Harrison, a grandson of President William Henry Harrison, was born in North Bend, Ohio, and moved to Indianapolis, Indiana at age 21, eventually becoming a prominent politician there...
on February 10, 1890, to a new seat created by 26 Stat. 45. He was confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 25, 1890, and received his commission the same day. Hanford's service was terminated on March 2, 1905, due to assignment to another court.
Personal life
Cornelius H. Hanford married Clara M. Baldwin in November, 1875. They had had eight children. He died in Pierce County, WashingtonPierce County, Washington
right|thumb|[[Tacoma, Washington|Tacoma]] - Seat of Pierce CountyPierce County is the second most populous county in the U.S. state of Washington. Formed out of Thurston County on December 22, 1852, by the legislature of Oregon Territory...
.