William N. Barrett
Encyclopedia
William Nathan Barrett was an American
politician and lawyer in Oregon
. A native of Washington County
, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly
, including three different times in the Oregon House. A Republican
, he was also a three time mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
.
, to Eliza Jane Barrett (née
Purdin) and William R. Barrett on November 24, 1855. There he attended the local public schools before attending Tualatin Academy
in Forest Grove, Oregon
, for his secondary education. Barrett then attended the affiliated Pacific University
and earned a bachelors of science degree in June 1879.
Following college he read law at the office of attorney and politician Thomas H. Tongue
in Hillsboro
. On November 18, 1882, he married Lucretia H. Parrish. After studying law he passed the bar
in October 1884 and began practicing law. Barrett partnered with William D. Hare
in a Hillsboro firm until 1886 when he opened his own office. In 1892, he created a partnership with Loring K. Adams, lasting until 1897 when he returned to a solo practice.
for Washington County and later as district attorney for Oregon’s fifth judicial district. In 1880, he served as a Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives
serving Washington County. He returned to the House in 1891.
In 1896, he was elected as the 15th different person to be mayor of Hillsboro. Barrett was also the first to serve consecutive terms, holding office from December 8, 1896 until December 5, 1899. He then served on the city council from 1901 to 1902. After a few years away from the mayor's office, he returned as mayor and served from December 2, 1902 to December 15, 1903, when he was succeeded by Benjamin P. Cornelius
.
Barrett returned to state politics in 1906 and was elected to the Oregon House to represent Washington County. The Republican was then elected to the Oregon State Senate
in 1908 and served in the regular and special sessions of 1909. He continued his four-year term at the 1911 secession when his district included Washington, Yamhill
, Lincoln
, and Tillamook
counties.
. William Nathan Barrett died in 1916, and was buried at the family’s plot in the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician and lawyer in 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 Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, 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...
, including three different times in the Oregon House. 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 was also a three time mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
.
Early life
William Barrett was born in Washington County, OregonWashington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, to Eliza Jane Barrett (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Purdin) and William R. Barrett on November 24, 1855. There he attended the local public schools before attending Tualatin Academy
Tualatin Academy
Tualatin Academy was a secondary school in the U.S. state of Oregon that eventually became Pacific University. Tualatin Academy also refers to the National Register of Historic Places-listed college building constructed in 1850 to house the academy, also known as Old College Hall...
in Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
, for his secondary education. Barrett then attended the affiliated Pacific University
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
and earned a bachelors of science degree in June 1879.
Following college he read law at the office of attorney and politician Thomas H. Tongue
Thomas H. Tongue
Thomas H. Tongue was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. Born in England, his family immigrated to Washington County, Oregon, in 1859. In Oregon, he would serve in the State Senate from 1889 to 1893 and was the seventh mayor of Hillsboro...
in Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
. On November 18, 1882, he married Lucretia H. Parrish. After studying law he 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:...
in October 1884 and began practicing law. Barrett partnered with William D. Hare
William D. Hare
William Davenport Hare was an American politician in Oregon. He served as a Republican member of the Oregon Legislature and the 8th mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. His other duties included those of customs collector and presidential elector...
in a Hillsboro firm until 1886 when he opened his own office. In 1892, he created a partnership with Loring K. Adams, lasting until 1897 when he returned to a solo practice.
Political career
Barrett would serve as a deputy district attorneyDistrict 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 Washington County and later as district attorney for Oregon’s fifth judicial district. In 1880, he served as a Republican in 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....
serving Washington County. He returned to the House in 1891.
In 1896, he was elected as the 15th different person to be mayor of Hillsboro. Barrett was also the first to serve consecutive terms, holding office from December 8, 1896 until December 5, 1899. He then served on the city council from 1901 to 1902. After a few years away from the mayor's office, he returned as mayor and served from December 2, 1902 to December 15, 1903, when he was succeeded by Benjamin P. Cornelius
Benjamin P. Cornelius
Benjamin Peyton Cornelius was an American politician and judge in Oregon. A Republican, he served in the Oregon House of Representatives and as the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon. The son of Thomas R...
.
Barrett returned to state politics in 1906 and was elected to the Oregon House to represent Washington County. The Republican was then 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 1908 and served in the regular and special sessions of 1909. He continued his four-year term at the 1911 secession when his district included Washington, Yamhill
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
, Lincoln
Lincoln County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge *Siletz Bay National Wildlife Refuge*Siuslaw National Forest -Demographics:...
, and Tillamook
Tillamook County, Oregon
Tillamook County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for the Tillamook, a Native American tribe who were living in the area in the early 19th century at the time of European American settlement. In 2010, the county's population was 25,250...
counties.
Later years
In 1915, he returned to the office of mayor for Hillsboro, assuming the position on January 5 and serving until his death. He was a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of PythiasKnights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
. William Nathan Barrett died in 1916, and was buried at the family’s plot in the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
The Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery is in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Located at the west end of the town along the Tualatin Valley Highway and adjacent to Dairy Creek. The cemetery comprises three formerly private cemeteries...
.