Parish L. Willis
Encyclopedia
Parish Lovejoy Willis was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Illinois
, he served as cavalry in the Rogue River War before becoming a lawyer. A Republican, he served on term in the Oregon State Senate
in the early 1890s.
before the family moved to the Oregon Territory
in 1852. During the Rogue River War in Southern Oregon
he served as a private in the mounted volunteers from March to June 1857.
Willis continued his education at the Umpqua Academy in Roseburg
from 1859 to 1861. He then went to Salem
and attended Willamette University
from 1862 to 1865. In July 1865, he graduated from the school with a bachelor of arts degree. While in school he also kept the monthly weather data for Salem from 1863 to 1865. Also while still a student Oregon Governor A. C. Gibbs
appointed Willis as the state librarian
, beginning service on July 5, 1864. He was later elected by the Oregon Legislative Assembly
to the position and served until October 19, 1866.
On September 6, 1866, he married Iren H. Stratton in Salem, and they had two daughters and one son. That same month Willis was admitted to the bar
and began practicing law in Salem in partnership with Richard Williams. The law firm lasted until 1873 when Willis left to partner with Reuben P. Boise
for three years. In 1879, he moved to Portland
where practiced in partnership with Seneca Smith until 1883. Willis then partnered with Williams again for two years and then went into a solo practice.
in 1890 to represent District 17 in Multnomah County. Elected as a Republican, he served one, four-year term in the legislature spanning two legislative sessions. During the 1893 session he served as chairman of the assessments committee.
along with future governor Walter M. Pierce
. They were both accused of fraud by another investor, but cleared by the courts of any wrongdoing in 1918. The former sanatorium
is now the Hot Lake Hotel
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
. Parish Willis died on October 28, 1917, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 78.
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, he served as cavalry in the Rogue River War before becoming a lawyer. A Republican, he served on term in 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 the early 1890s.
Early life
Parish Lovejoy Willis was born on November 3, 1838, in Putnam County, Illinois, to Stephen Daws Willis and Nancy Ann Ross. He was educated in the public schools of IllinoisIllinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
before the family moved 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...
in 1852. During the Rogue River War in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
he served as a private in the mounted volunteers from March to June 1857.
Willis continued his education at the Umpqua Academy in Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
from 1859 to 1861. He then went to 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 attended 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...
from 1862 to 1865. In July 1865, he graduated from the school with a bachelor of arts degree. While in school he also kept the monthly weather data for Salem from 1863 to 1865. Also while still a student 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:...
appointed Willis as the state librarian
Oregon State Library
The Oregon State Library in Salem, is the library for the U.S. state of Oregon. The mission of the Oregon State Library is to provide quality information services to Oregon state government, provide reading materials to blind and print-disabled Oregonians, and provide leadership, grants, and other...
, beginning service on July 5, 1864. He was later elected by 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...
to the position and served until October 19, 1866.
On September 6, 1866, he married Iren H. Stratton in Salem, and they had two daughters and one son. That same month Willis 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:...
and began practicing law in Salem in partnership with Richard Williams. The law firm lasted until 1873 when Willis left to partner with Reuben P. Boise
Reuben P. Boise
Reuben Patrick Boise was an American attorney, judge and politician in the Oregon Territory and the early years of the state of Oregon. A native of Massachusetts, he immigrated to Oregon in 1850, where he would twice serve on the Oregon Supreme Court for a total of 16 years, with three stints as...
for three years. In 1879, he moved to Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
where practiced in partnership with Seneca Smith until 1883. Willis then partnered with Williams again for two years and then went into a solo practice.
Political career
Willis was elected to the Oregon State SenateOregon 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 1890 to represent District 17 in Multnomah County. Elected as a Republican, he served one, four-year term in the legislature spanning two legislative sessions. During the 1893 session he served as chairman of the assessments committee.
Later years
In business he was involved in a variety of ventures as a board member including the banking, telephone, and the mining industries. Willis was a major shareholder of the Hot Lake Sanatorium Company in Eastern OregonEastern 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...
along with future governor Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
. They were both accused of fraud by another investor, but cleared by the courts of any wrongdoing in 1918. The former sanatorium
Sanatorium
A sanatorium is a medical facility for long-term illness, most typically associated with treatment of tuberculosis before antibiotics...
is now the Hot Lake Hotel
Hot Lake Hotel
Hot Lake Hotel is a hotel originally built in 1864 in Hot Lake, Union County, Oregon, United States. The hotel became a popular vacation and resting spot due to its relaxing thermal waters. It was purchased by Dr. W. T. Phy in 1917 who developed state-of-the-art medical facilities including a...
and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
. Parish Willis died on October 28, 1917, in Los Angeles, California, at the age of 78.