John N. Williamson
Encyclopedia
John Newton Williamson (November 8, 1855 – August 29, 1943) was an American rancher and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native Oregonian, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
representing central
and eastern
Oregon in the late 19th century. A Republican
, he then served in Congress from 1903 to 1907 and was involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
.
, near Junction City
on November 8, 1855, to Joseph and Minerva Williamson. He earned his education at the local schools of Salem
and then at Willamette University
in that city. Williamson married Sarah V. Forrest in Albany
and they had three children. In 1876, he moved to Eastern Oregon
and started in the livestock trade in Wasco
and Crook
counties. He also owned and edited the Prineville Review in Crook county from 1893 to 1896.
. In 1898, he returned to the House as a Republican during a special session of the legislature and returned for the 1899 session. Williamson was elected to the Oregon State Senate
in 1900 and served in the 1901 and 1903 sessions, but not the special session in 1903. Williamson represented Crook, Klamath, Lake and Wasco counties, and served as president pro tempore
of the Senate in 1901.
He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
from Oregon
and served from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1907. He declined to run for re-election in 1906. In 1905, Williamson was convicted along with Oregon senator John H. Mitchell
and other co-conspirators on crimes involving political corruption and the illegal acquisition of public lands in the Oregon land fraud scandal
. His conviction was overturned in 1908 by the United States Supreme Court in Williamson v. United States, 207 U.S. 425, 28 S. Ct. 163. The court remanded the case for a new trial, but no new trial occurred.
, serving in the position until 1934. John Newton Williamson died on August 29, 1943, at the age of 87 in Prineville where he was buried at the Masonic Cemetery.
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...
. A native Oregonian, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
representing central
Central Oregon
Central Oregon is a geographic region in the U.S. state of Oregon and is traditionally considered to be made up of Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties. Other definitions include larger areas, often encompassing areas to the north towards the Columbia River, eastward towards Burns, or south...
and eastern
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...
Oregon in the late 19th century. A Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, he then served in Congress from 1903 to 1907 and was involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
Oregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
.
Early life
John Williamson was born in Lane County, OregonLane County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siuslaw National Forest *Umpqua National Forest *Willamette National Forest -Government:...
, near Junction City
Junction City, Oregon
Junction City is a city in Lane County, Oregon, United States. The population was 5,392 at the 2010 census.- History :In the 1870s, Junction City was named by railroad magnate Ben Holladay, who decided this would be where the rail line on the east side of the Willamette Valley would meet the rail...
on November 8, 1855, to Joseph and Minerva Williamson. He earned his education at the local schools of Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
and then at Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in that city. Williamson married Sarah V. Forrest in Albany
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
and they had three children. In 1876, he moved to 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...
and started in the livestock trade in Wasco
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
and Crook
Crook County, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 19,182 people, 7,354 households, and 5,427 families residing in the county. The population density was 6 people per square mile . There were 8,264 housing units at an average density of 3 per square mile...
counties. He also owned and edited the Prineville Review in Crook county from 1893 to 1896.
Political career
In 1886, he was selected as sheriff of Crook County, serving in that office until 1888. That year he was elected to serve the county in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon 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 1898, he returned to the House as a Republican during a special session of the legislature and returned for the 1899 session. Williamson was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in 1900 and served in the 1901 and 1903 sessions, but not the special session in 1903. Williamson represented Crook, Klamath, Lake and Wasco counties, and served as president pro tempore
Pro tempore
Pro tempore , abbreviated pro tem or p.t., is a Latin phrase which best translates to "for the time being" in English. This phrase is often used to describe a person who acts as a locum tenens in the absence of a superior, such as the President pro tempore of the United States Senate.Legislative...
of the Senate in 1901.
He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
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...
and served from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1907. He declined to run for re-election in 1906. In 1905, Williamson was convicted along with Oregon senator John H. Mitchell
John H. Mitchell
John Hipple Mitchell, also known as John Mitchell Hipple, John H. Mitchell, or J. H. Mitchell was a controversial American lawyer and politician, who served as a Republican United States Senator from Oregon on three occasions between 1872 and 1905...
and other co-conspirators on crimes involving political corruption and the illegal acquisition of public lands in the Oregon land fraud scandal
Oregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
. His conviction was overturned in 1908 by the United States Supreme Court in Williamson v. United States, 207 U.S. 425, 28 S. Ct. 163. The court remanded the case for a new trial, but no new trial occurred.
Later years
After leaving Congress he returned to Crook County and raising livestock and other agricultural activities. Williamson returned to public life in 1922, when he was appointed as the postmaster for PrinevillePrineville, Oregon
Prineville is a city in and the county seat of Crook County, Oregon, United States. It was named for the first merchant located in the present location, Barney Prine. The population was 9,253 at the 2010 census.- History :...
, serving in the position until 1934. John Newton Williamson died on August 29, 1943, at the age of 87 in Prineville where he was buried at the Masonic Cemetery.