Joseph G. Wilson
Encyclopedia
Joseph Gardner Wilson was a U.S.
Republican
politician
in the state of Oregon
. A native of New Hampshire
, he served as a state circuit court judge and as a justice on the Oregon Supreme Court
, and was elected to the United States House of Representatives
. Wilson died before assuming office in the House.
on December 13, 1826. His family moved to Cincinnati in Hamilton County
, Ohio
in 1828 and then on to a farm near Reading
where Joseph attended the local schools. In 1840, he left the public schools and enrolled at Cary's Academy where he studied until 1842. In 1846, he graduated from Marietta College
in Marietta, Ohio
. Wilson was then employed as a teacher at Farmer's College in 1849, and then studied law at Cincinnati Law School
. He graduated with his law degree in 1852 and passed the bar
.
and immigrated to the Oregon Territory
. After arriving, he was appointed as clerk to the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving until 1855. Wilson married Elizabeth Millar Wilson in 1854, and they had four children together. Also that year he began working for the Willamette Woolen Company as their first secretary. In 1860, he was selected to be the district attorney
for Oregon’s third judicial district (Marion County), serving until 1862.
On October 17, 1862, he was appointed by Oregon Governor A. C. Gibbs
to the Oregon Supreme Court to a newly created position when a fifth seat was added to the court. At that time the justices also rode circuit as trial judges, with Wilson holding court in The Dalles
. Wilson won election to a full six-year term on the court in 1864, before resigning from the court in May 1870.
from Oregon
in 1872 and served from March 4, 1873 until his death in Marietta, Ohio, on July 2, 1873, at the age of 46. He died while moving to Washington, DC, to assume office, just before he was scheduled to give a speech at his alma mater
, Marietta College. Joseph Gardner Wilson was buried in The Dalles, Oregon
, at Pioneer Cemetery. His cousin James W. Nesmith
filled the vacancy in the House.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
in the state of 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...
. A native of New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
, he served as a state circuit court judge and as a justice on 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...
, and was elected 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...
. Wilson died before assuming office in the House.
Early life
Joseph Wilson was born in Acworth, New HampshireAcworth, New Hampshire
Acworth is a town in Sullivan County, New Hampshire, United States. As of the 2010 census, the town had a total population of 891.-History:Originally chartered by Governor Benning Wentworth in 1752, it was called Burnet after William Burnet, a former governor of the Province of Massachusetts Bay...
on December 13, 1826. His family moved to Cincinnati in Hamilton County
Hamilton County, Ohio
As of 2000, there were 845,303 people, 346,790 households, and 212,582 families residing in the county. The population density was 2,075 people per square mile . There were 373,393 housing units at an average density of 917 per square mile...
, Ohio
Ohio
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...
in 1828 and then on to a farm near Reading
Reading, Ohio
Reading is a city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The population was 11,292 at the 2000 census. It is a suburb of Cincinnati. Reading is also the Home of 2003 Division 3 State Boys Basketball Champions...
where Joseph attended the local schools. In 1840, he left the public schools and enrolled at Cary's Academy where he studied until 1842. In 1846, he graduated from Marietta College
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
in Marietta, Ohio
Marietta, Ohio
Marietta is a city in and the county seat of Washington County, Ohio, United States. During 1788, pioneers to the Ohio Country established Marietta as the first permanent American settlement of the new United States in the Northwest Territory. Marietta is located in southeastern Ohio at the mouth...
. Wilson was then employed as a teacher at Farmer's College in 1849, and then studied law at Cincinnati Law School
University of Cincinnati College of Law
The University of Cincinnati College of Law is the fourth oldest continually running law school in the United States and a founding member of the Association of American Law Schools. It was started in 1833 as the Cincinnati Law School...
. He graduated with his law degree in 1852 and passed 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:...
.
Oregon
In 1852, Joseph Wilson traveled the Oregon TrailOregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
and immigrated to the 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...
. After arriving, he was appointed as clerk to 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...
, serving until 1855. Wilson married Elizabeth Millar Wilson in 1854, and they had four children together. Also that year he began working for the Willamette Woolen Company as their first secretary. In 1860, he was selected to be the 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 Oregon’s third judicial district (Marion County), serving until 1862.
On October 17, 1862, he was appointed by Oregon Governor A. C. Gibbs
A. C. Gibbs
Addison Cranwick Gibbs was an American politician. He was the second Governor of Oregon from 1862 until 1866, and previously served in the Oregon Territory's legislative body and later the state legislature.-Early life:...
to the Oregon Supreme Court to a newly created position when a fifth seat was added to the court. At that time the justices also rode circuit as trial judges, with Wilson holding court in The Dalles
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
. Wilson won election to a full six-year term on the court in 1864, before resigning from the court in May 1870.
Congress and death
He ran for Congress in 1870, but did not win the seat. Wilson was elected as a Republican to the United States House of RepresentativesUnited 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...
in 1872 and served from March 4, 1873 until his death in Marietta, Ohio, on July 2, 1873, at the age of 46. He died while moving to Washington, DC, to assume office, just before he was scheduled to give a speech at his alma mater
Alma mater
Alma mater , pronounced ), was used in ancient Rome as a title for various mother goddesses, especially Ceres or Cybele, and in Christianity for the Virgin Mary.-General term:...
, Marietta College. Joseph Gardner Wilson was buried in The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles, Oregon
The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is the largest city and county seat of Wasco County, Oregon, United States. The name of the city comes from the French word dalle The Dalles is...
, at Pioneer Cemetery. His cousin James W. Nesmith
James W. Nesmith
James Willis Nesmith was an American politician and lawyer from Oregon. Born in Canada to American parents, he grew up in New Hampshire and Maine...
filled the vacancy in the House.