Henry J. Bean
Encyclopedia
Henry J. Bean was an American
politician and judge in Oregon
. He was the 24th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
. He served in that role twice during the 1930s. At his death on the bench he was the longest serving justice in the state’s history. A native of Maine
, he also served in the Oregon House of Representatives
.
, on November 13, 1853, to Elizabeth E. Bean (née Swift) and Timothy Bean.
There he attended Gould, Hebron, and North Yarmouth Academies for his primary education. Bean attended Gould Academy
from 1874 to 1878 before spending six years as a teacher. Later he studied law under Maine Supreme Court
justice Enoch Foster
and was admitted to the bar in 1881.
He then moved to Oregon
where he set up a law practice in Pendleton, Oregon
in 1882. In private practice Bean formed a partnership with James A. Fee from 1885 to 1886. In that Eastern Oregon
town, he served as the city attorney
in 1883 and then as city recorder from 1885 to 1886. Bean then served a term in the Oregon State House
in 1889. He represented Umatilla County
in the lower chamber as a Republican. Bean married Mattie Magahey in Pendleton in 1896. They had two sons together.
judge from 1906 to 1910.
In November 1910, Bean was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court where he would serve until his death. He won re-election in 1914, 1920, 1926, 1932, and 1938. His thirty years on the bench made him the longest serving justice on the court until co-worker George Rossman
earned that distinction.
Bean served as chief justice
twice during his tenure. First in 1931 to 1933 and then in 1937 to 1939. He died in office on May 8, 1941 and was replaced by James T. Brand
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and judge in Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the 24th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
. He served in that role twice during the 1930s. At his death on the bench he was the longest serving justice in the state’s history. A native of Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, he also served in the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
.
Early life
Henry Bean was born in Bethel, MaineBethel, Maine
Bethel is a town in Oxford County, Maine, United States. The population was 2,411 at the 2000 census. It includes the villages of West Bethel and South Bethel...
, on November 13, 1853, to Elizabeth E. Bean (née Swift) and Timothy Bean.
There he attended Gould, Hebron, and North Yarmouth Academies for his primary education. Bean attended Gould Academy
Gould Academy
Gould Academy is a private, co-ed, college preparatory boarding and day school located in the small town of Bethel, Maine, United States. Founded in 1835, the school offers skiing and snowboarding programs, although unlike specialized "ski academies" it remains first and foremost a college-prep...
from 1874 to 1878 before spending six years as a teacher. Later he studied law under Maine Supreme Court
Maine Supreme Judicial Court
The Maine Supreme Judicial Court is the highest court in Maine's judicial system. Known as the Law Court when sitting as an appellate court, it is composed of seven justices, who are appointed by the Governor and confirmed by the Maine Senate...
justice Enoch Foster
Enoch Foster
Enoch Foster was a Justice on the Supreme Judicial Court of Maine.Enoch Foster was born in Newry, Maine on May 10, 1839 and was of Puritan Yankee ancestry. He attended Bates College...
and was admitted to the bar in 1881.
He then moved to Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
where he set up a law practice in Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
in 1882. In private practice Bean formed a partnership with James A. Fee from 1885 to 1886. In that Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
town, he served as the city attorney
City attorney
A city attorney can be an elected or appointed position in city and municipal government in the United States. The city attorney is the attorney representing the city or municipality....
in 1883 and then as city recorder from 1885 to 1886. Bean then served a term in the Oregon State House
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
in 1889. He represented Umatilla County
Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2010, its population was 75,889...
in the lower chamber as a Republican. Bean married Mattie Magahey in Pendleton in 1896. They had two sons together.
Judicial career
After serving as district attorney from 1896 to 1900, Henry Bean then served as a county judge for Umatilla County from 1904 to 1906. Following that he was selected to be a circuit courtOregon circuit courts
Oregon's circuit courts are general jurisdiction trial courts of the U.S. state of Oregon. These courts hear civil and criminal court cases.The state has 27 circuit court districts, most of which correspond to the boundaries of the Oregon's 36 counties...
judge from 1906 to 1910.
In November 1910, Bean was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court where he would serve until his death. He won re-election in 1914, 1920, 1926, 1932, and 1938. His thirty years on the bench made him the longest serving justice on the court until co-worker George Rossman
George Rossman
George Rossman was an American lawyer and judge. He was the 29th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court in the United States. The Illinois native served on Oregon’s highest court for the longest time of any judge in the court’s history, from 1927 to 1965...
earned that distinction.
Bean served as chief justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
twice during his tenure. First in 1931 to 1933 and then in 1937 to 1939. He died in office on May 8, 1941 and was replaced by James T. Brand
James T. Brand
James T. Brand was the 31st Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving in that role from 1951 to 1953...
.