W. W. Thayer
Encyclopedia
William Wallace Thayer was a Democratic politician active in U.S. states of Idaho
and Oregon
. Most notably, he served as the sixth Governor of Oregon
from 1878 to 1882 and Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
from 1888 to 1889.
, on July 15, 1827. He received a public education before studying law in college. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1851. He then practiced law with his brother in Buffalo
and later Tonawanda
.
A mining boom in Idaho Territory
caught Thayer's attention in 1860, prompting him to move west. He arrived in Corvallis, Oregon
, in 1861, where he joined his brother and former U.S. Representative Andrew J. Thayer
, at his law firm. In 1863, he would finally move to Idaho, setting up his own law firm in Lewiston
.
to serve for a session of the Idaho Territory House of Representatives. He moved to Portland, Oregon
shortly after leaving the legislature.
, Thayer was a member of the legal team which challenged the certification of J. W. Watts, a Republican elector for Rutherford B. Hayes
. Although successful, this challenge did not help Samuel Tilden prevail in the Electoral College
.
Still appreciative of his assistance in the Watts Case, the Oregon State Democratic Party nominated Thayer for Governor in 1878. Thayer would win narrowly, by a margin of 59 votes.
Governor Thayer often spoke out about the state's finances. Highly criticized by Thayer was the process by which the State Legislature
based its budget appropriations. He called for revenue projections to be based on actual revenues, not what was anticipated as the Legislature had often done in the past. He also refused to fund the completion of the State Capitol Building
, stating that the building was too expensive and lavish for Oregon.
His lasting legacy was reforming the Supreme Court of Oregon into its present incarnation by statute. Previously, Circuit Court
judges served as justices of the Supreme Court. After the statute change, Supreme Court positions were made a separate, directly elected office.
Thayer died in Portland
on October 15, 1899, with interment at Lone Fir Cemetery in that city.
Idaho
Idaho is a state in the Rocky Mountain area of the United States. The state's largest city and capital is Boise. Residents are called "Idahoans". Idaho was admitted to the Union on July 3, 1890, as the 43rd state....
and 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...
. Most notably, he served as the sixth Governor of Oregon
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
from 1878 to 1882 and 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...
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...
from 1888 to 1889.
Background
Thayer was born on a farm near Lima, New YorkLima (village), New York
Lima is a village in Livingston County, New York, USA. The population was 2,459 at the 2000 census.The Village of Lima is in the Town of Lima and is nineteen miles south of the city of Rochester, NY.- History :...
, on July 15, 1827. He received a public education before studying law in college. He was admitted to the New York State Bar in 1851. He then practiced law with his brother in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
and later Tonawanda
Tonawanda (town), New York
Tonawanda is a town in Erie County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the town had a population of 78,155. The town is at the north border of the county and is the northern suburb of Buffalo...
.
A mining boom in Idaho Territory
Idaho Territory
The Territory of Idaho was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from March 4, 1863, until July 3, 1890, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Idaho.-1860s:...
caught Thayer's attention in 1860, prompting him to move west. He arrived in Corvallis, Oregon
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....
, in 1861, where he joined his brother and former U.S. Representative Andrew J. Thayer
Andrew J. Thayer
Andrew Jackson Thayer was an attorney and Democratic U.S. congressman from Oregon. A native of New York state, he previously worked as the U.S. Attorney for Oregon. His brother was William W. Thayer, a governor of Oregon...
, at his law firm. In 1863, he would finally move to Idaho, setting up his own law firm in Lewiston
Lewiston, Idaho
Lewiston is a city in and also the county seat of Nez Perce County in the Pacific Northwest state of Idaho. It is the second-largest city in the northern Idaho region, behind Coeur d'Alene and ninth-largest in the state. Lewiston is the principal city of the Lewiston, ID - Clarkston, WA...
.
Political career in Idaho
In 1866, three years after moving to Lewiston, Thayer was elected District Attorney for the Third Judicial District of Idaho Territory. From 1866 until 1867, he moved to BoiseBoise, Idaho
Boise is the capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Idaho, as well as the county seat of Ada County. Located on the Boise River, it anchors the Boise City-Nampa metropolitan area and is the largest city between Salt Lake City, Utah and Portland, Oregon.As of the 2010 Census Bureau,...
to serve for a session of the Idaho Territory House of Representatives. He moved to Portland, Oregon
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...
shortly after leaving the legislature.
Early political career in Oregon
Upon returning to Oregon, Thayer established a successful law firm in the city of East Portland. At this time, he became an active member of the Democratic Party. During the 1876 Hayes-Tilden Presidential Election disputeUnited States presidential election, 1876
The United States presidential election of 1876 was one of the most disputed and controversial presidential elections in American history. Samuel J. Tilden of New York outpolled Ohio's Rutherford B. Hayes in the popular vote, and had 184 electoral votes to Hayes's 165, with 20 votes uncounted...
, Thayer was a member of the legal team which challenged the certification of J. W. Watts, a Republican elector for Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
. Although successful, this challenge did not help Samuel Tilden prevail in the Electoral College
United States Electoral College
The Electoral College consists of the electors appointed by each state who formally elect the President and Vice President of the United States. Since 1964, there have been 538 electors in each presidential election...
.
Still appreciative of his assistance in the Watts Case, the Oregon State Democratic Party nominated Thayer for Governor in 1878. Thayer would win narrowly, by a margin of 59 votes.
Governorship
Thayer's time in office is remembered as a fiscally conservative, anti-corruption administration, which sought to make the state bureaucracy more efficient. The State Board of Equalization, land law reforms, and the establishment of a state mental hospital were initiated under his leadership. He would completely eliminate the state's debt while in office.Governor Thayer often spoke out about the state's finances. Highly criticized by Thayer was the process by which the State Legislature
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...
based its budget appropriations. He called for revenue projections to be based on actual revenues, not what was anticipated as the Legislature had often done in the past. He also refused to fund the completion of the State Capitol Building
Oregon State Capitol
The Oregon State Capitol is the building housing the state legislature and the offices of the governor, secretary of state, and treasurer of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is located in the state capital, Salem. The current building, constructed from 1936 to 1938, and expanded in 1977, is the third...
, stating that the building was too expensive and lavish for Oregon.
His lasting legacy was reforming the Supreme Court of Oregon into its present incarnation by statute. Previously, Circuit Court
Circuit court
Circuit court is the name of court systems in several common law jurisdictions.-History:King Henry II instituted the custom of having judges ride around the countryside each year to hear appeals, rather than forcing everyone to bring their appeals to London...
judges served as justices of the Supreme Court. After the statute change, Supreme Court positions were made a separate, directly elected office.
Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Thayer declined to run for a second term in the 1882 gubernatorial election. Instead, he successfully ran a campaign for justice of the Supreme Court in 1884, winning a six-year term on the bench. Justice Thayer remained on the bench until 1890, the last two years of that term serving as Chief Justice.Thayer died in 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...
on October 15, 1899, with interment at Lone Fir Cemetery in that city.
Sources
- Oregon State Library
- Klooster, Karl. Round the Roses II: More Past Portland Perspectives, pg. 107, 1992 ISBN 0-9619847-1-6
External links
- Oregon State Archives: Thayer Administration-Photo, and link to two of Thayer's Speeches.