Alfred S. Bennett
Encyclopedia
Alfred Silas Bennett was an American
judge, educator, and attorney in Oregon
. He was the 49th Associate Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving from 1919 to 1920. Previously he had served as a state circuit court judge and as a county school superintendent. An Iowa
native, he practiced law in The Dalles, Oregon
, with several cases making it to the Supreme Court of the United States
.
on June 10, 1854. In 1865 he and his parents took the Oregon Trail
to Oregon
and settled in Washington County
. By 1870 Alfred set off on his own and eventually ended up in The Dalles, Oregon
where he taught and learned the law between 1873 and 1880. In 1880, he passed the bar
, this was while serving as Wasco County
superintendent of schools from 1878 until 1882.
and remained in that post for two years. He then returned to private practice and married Mary McCauley in 1887. In 1918 Bennett won election to the Oregon Supreme Court. He replaced Conrad P. Olson
who was serving out the remainder of Frank A. Moore
’s term after Moore died in office. Alfred Bennett then resigned from the court on October 5, 1920. He then resumed private practice
in The Dalles before dying on November 28, 1925.
While in private practice Bennett argued several cases in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
. In 1896 Bennett represented Jane Skottowe in Oregon S. L. & U. N. R. Co. v. Skottowe in a personal injury
lawsuit. In 1912, he represented Hamilton H. Hendricks against the government on charges of perjury in Hendricks v. United States.
. Alfred and his family lived in the Victorian house now known as Bennett–Williams House in The Dalles.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
judge, educator, and attorney 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...
. He was the 49th Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
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...
, serving from 1919 to 1920. Previously he had served as a state circuit court judge and as a county school superintendent. An Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
native, he practiced law 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...
, with several cases making it to the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
.
Early life
Alfred Bennett was born in Dubuque, IowaDubuque, Iowa
Dubuque is a city in and the county seat of Dubuque County, Iowa, United States, located along the Mississippi River. In 2010 its population was 57,637, making it the ninth-largest city in the state and the county's population was 93,653....
on June 10, 1854. In 1865 he and his parents took the Oregon Trail
Oregon 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...
to 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 settled in 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:...
. By 1870 Alfred set off on his own and eventually ended up 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...
where he taught and learned the law between 1873 and 1880. In 1880, 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:...
, this was while serving as Wasco County
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...
superintendent of schools from 1878 until 1882.
Judicial career
In September 1882 Alfred Bennett was appointed as judge of the 8th judicial district which covered 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...
and remained in that post for two years. He then returned to private practice and married Mary McCauley in 1887. In 1918 Bennett won election to the Oregon Supreme Court. He replaced Conrad P. Olson
Conrad P. Olson
Conrad Patrick Olson was an American politician and judge in Oregon. He was the 48th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Additionally, the Wisconsin native served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislature during the early 1900s.-Early life:Conrad Olson was born in Clay Banks, Wisconsin...
who was serving out the remainder of Frank A. Moore
Frank A. Moore
Frank A. Moore was an American politician and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 17th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. He is the only person to serve as chief justice for Oregon’s highest court on four different occasions, and he spent 26 years overall on the bench...
’s term after Moore died in office. Alfred Bennett then resigned from the court on October 5, 1920. He then resumed private practice
Practice of law
In its most general sense, the practice of law involves giving legal advice to clients, drafting legal documents for clients, and representing clients in legal negotiations and court proceedings such as lawsuits, and is applied to the professional services of a lawyer or attorney at law, barrister,...
in The Dalles before dying on November 28, 1925.
While in private practice Bennett argued several cases in front of the Supreme Court of the United States
Supreme Court of the United States
The Supreme Court of the United States is the highest court in the United States. It has ultimate appellate jurisdiction over all state and federal courts, and original jurisdiction over a small range of cases...
. In 1896 Bennett represented Jane Skottowe in Oregon S. L. & U. N. R. Co. v. Skottowe in a personal injury
Personal injury
Personal injury is a legal term for an injury to the body, mind or emotions, as opposed to an injury to property. The term is most commonly used to refer to a type of tort lawsuit alleging that the plaintiff's injury has been caused by the negligence of another, but also arises in defamation...
lawsuit. In 1912, he represented Hamilton H. Hendricks against the government on charges of perjury in Hendricks v. United States.
Other
Bennett and his wife had a daughter Anita Bennett who married Harold T. Hopkins, the one time owner of the local paper, The Dalles ChronicleThe Dalles Chronicle
The Dalles Chronicle is the daily newspaper published in The Dalles, Oregon, United States. It serves The Dalles, and much of the eastern Columbia Gorge region, and the outlying areas of Wasco and Sherman Counties. Its first issue was published on December 10, 1890. The Chronicle is currently...
. Alfred and his family lived in the Victorian house now known as Bennett–Williams House in The Dalles.