James H. Slater
Encyclopedia
James Harvey Slater was a United States Representative and Senator
from Oregon
. An Illinois native, Slater also served in the Oregon Territory’s Legislature, then later the Oregon State Legislature, and was the owner of the Corvallis Union newspaper.
, in Sangamon County
, Slater attended the local schools. In 1849 he moved to California
in before settling in Corvallis
, Oregon Territory
in 1850. There Slater studied law and was admitted to the bar
in 1854.
of the Territory of Oregon for Benton County
from 1853 to 1856. He was a member of the Territorial assembly
in 1857-1858 and was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
in from 1859-1860. From 1858 to 1861 Slater published the Corvallis Union as both owner and editor. He also served as postmaster for Corvallis from 1859 to 1860 followed by law practice there until 1863 when he moved to Walla Walla, Washington
. Slater then moved to Auburn, Oregon
, before settling in the Eastern Oregon
town of La Grande
in 1866.
In La Grande he was district attorney
for the fifth judicial district of Oregon in 1868, as well as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 4, 1873). Slater then returned to law practice in La Grande. He returned to politics in 1878 and was elected to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1879, to March 4, 1885.
and was a member of the State railroad commission from 1889 to 1891. In 1854 Slater married Elizabeth (Edna) Gray with whom he would father ten children including future Oregon Supreme Court
justice Woodson T. Slater
. James Harvey Slater died in La Grande in 1899 and was interred in the Masonic Cemetery.
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...
from 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...
. An Illinois native, Slater also served in the Oregon Territory’s Legislature, then later the Oregon State Legislature, and was the owner of the Corvallis Union newspaper.
Early life
Born near Springfield, IllinoisSpringfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
, in Sangamon County
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
, Slater attended the local schools. In 1849 he moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in before settling in Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
, 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...
in 1850. There Slater studied law and was admitted to the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
in 1854.
Politics
In Corvallis he was clerk of the district courtDistrict court
District courts are a category of courts which exists in several nations. These include:-Australia:District Court is the name given to the intermediate court in most Australian States. They hear indictable criminal offences excluding treason, murder and, in some States, manslaughter...
of the Territory of Oregon for Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
from 1853 to 1856. He was a member of the Territorial assembly
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
in 1857-1858 and was a member of 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....
in from 1859-1860. From 1858 to 1861 Slater published the Corvallis Union as both owner and editor. He also served as postmaster for Corvallis from 1859 to 1860 followed by law practice there until 1863 when he moved to Walla Walla, Washington
Walla 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...
. Slater then moved to Auburn, Oregon
Auburn, Oregon
Auburn was an unincorporated community in rural Baker County, Oregon, United States, now considered a ghost town. Auburn lies off Oregon Route 7 southwest of Baker City and east of McEwen on the edge of the Blue Mountains....
, before settling in the 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 of La Grande
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
in 1866.
In La Grande he was district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for the fifth judicial district of Oregon in 1868, as well as a presidential elector on the Democratic ticket. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-second Congress (March 4, 1871-March 4, 1873). Slater then returned to law practice in La Grande. He returned to politics in 1878 and was elected to the U.S. Senate and served from March 4, 1879, to March 4, 1885.
Later life and family
He resumed the practice of law in La Grande, OregonLa Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
and was a member of the State railroad commission from 1889 to 1891. In 1854 Slater married Elizabeth (Edna) Gray with whom he would father ten children including future 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...
justice Woodson T. Slater
Woodson T. Slater
Woodson Taylor Slater was an American attorney and jurist in Oregon. He was the 38th Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1909 to 1911. Slater was the son of Congressman James H. Slater...
. James Harvey Slater died in La Grande in 1899 and was interred in the Masonic Cemetery.