David Logan (Oregon politician)
Encyclopedia
David Logan was an American attorney and politician in the territory of and later state of Oregon
. A native of Illinois
, he moved to Oregon in 1850 where he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
and in the Oregon Constitutional Convention
. A founder of the Oregon Republican Party
, he also served as mayor of Portland
.
on April 5, 1824. The family later moved to the town of Springfield, Illinois
. His father, Stephen T. Logan
, practiced law as a partner with Abraham Lincoln
in Springfield. David Logan studied law in Springfield under his father and Lincoln passing the bar in 1844 in Sangamon County
. An anti-Democrat and Whig politically, Logan was to become a partner with Lincoln and his father in their practice before his drinking led to a falling out with his father. Due to this falling out, Logan's father sent him to join the army and fight in the Mexican-American War. David Logan also briefly moved to California
. After Logan returned from the war, his father sent him to Oregon.
In 1850, Logan arrived in what was then the Oregon Territory
and set up a law practice in Lafayette
. He moved to Portland
soon after and continued practicing law. The next year he ran for representative office in the Oregon Territorial Legislature for Yamhill County, but lost to Matthew P. Deady. Logan and Deady would have a long-running feud, Logan's drunkenness would continue to plague him, and further troubles included accusations of the rape of a Native American girl. On January 20, 1852, he represented the United States in a customs dispute with the Hudson’s Bay Company at a court in Olympia
, which was still part of the Oregon Territory at that time.
to represent Washington County
, which at that time included Portland and part of what later that year became Multnomah County
. In 1857, he was elected to represent Multnomah County at the Oregon Constitutional Convention
. Held from August to September in Salem
, Logan was on the Judicial Department Committee. Though he voted against the adoption of the Oregon Constitution
, the document was approved and became effective upon statehood on February 14, 1859. He also helped found the Oregon Republican Party
.
Upon statehood, Logan was the new Republican Party’s candidate for the state’s seat in the House of Representatives. He lost in both 1859 and 1860 to Lansing Stout
. Logan was elected as the Mayor of Portland on April 6, 1863, and served until April 1864 when Henry Failing was elected to the office. In 1868, he ran for Oregon’s seat in Congress as the Republican nominee, losing to Joseph Showalter Smith
.
in 1857, and remained a partner until 1874. In 1871, he partly retired to a farm in Yamhill County
. On March 26, 1874, David Logan died in Yamhill County at the age of 49. He was called the “greatest jury lawyer of his time”.
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 Illinois
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 moved to Oregon in 1850 where he served in the Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
and in the Oregon Constitutional Convention
Oregon Constitutional Convention
The Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857 drafted the Oregon Constitution in preparation for the Oregon Territory to become a U.S. state. Held from mid-August through September, 60 men met in Salem, Oregon, and created the foundation for Oregon's law. The proposal passed with a vote of 35 for...
. A founder of the Oregon Republican Party
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
, he also served as mayor of 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...
.
Early life
David Logan was born in the state of KentuckyKentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
on April 5, 1824. The family later moved to the town of Springfield, Illinois
Springfield, Illinois
Springfield is the third and current capital of the US state of Illinois and the county seat of Sangamon County with a population of 117,400 , making it the sixth most populated city in the state and the second most populated Illinois city outside of the Chicago Metropolitan Area...
. His father, Stephen T. Logan
Stephen T. Logan
Stephen Trigg Logan was an American lawyer and politician.He practiced law with Abraham Lincoln from 1841 to 1843. He served as Illinois circuit court judge and in 1847 was elected to the Illinois Constitutional Conevention. He also served in the Illinois House of Representatives...
, practiced law as a partner with Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
in Springfield. David Logan studied law in Springfield under his father and Lincoln passing the bar in 1844 in Sangamon County
Sangamon County, Illinois
Sangamon County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 197,465, which is an increase of 4.5% from 188,951 in 2000...
. An anti-Democrat and Whig politically, Logan was to become a partner with Lincoln and his father in their practice before his drinking led to a falling out with his father. Due to this falling out, Logan's father sent him to join the army and fight in the Mexican-American War. David Logan also briefly moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. After Logan returned from the war, his father sent him to Oregon.
In 1850, Logan arrived in what was then 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...
and set up a law practice in Lafayette
Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States on the Yamhill River and Oregon Route 99W. It was founded in 1846 and incorporated in 1878...
. 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...
soon after and continued practicing law. The next year he ran for representative office in the Oregon Territorial Legislature for Yamhill County, but lost to Matthew P. Deady. Logan and Deady would have a long-running feud, Logan's drunkenness would continue to plague him, and further troubles included accusations of the rape of a Native American girl. On January 20, 1852, he represented the United States in a customs dispute with the Hudson’s Bay Company at a court in Olympia
Olympia, Washington
Olympia is the capital city of the U.S. state of Washington and the county seat of Thurston County. It was incorporated on January 28, 1859. The population was 46,478 at the 2010 census...
, which was still part of the Oregon Territory at that time.
Political career
In June 1854, Logan was elected to the Oregon Territorial LegislatureOregon Territorial Legislature
Oregon’s Territorial Legislature was a bicameral legislative body created by the United States Congress in 1848 as the legislative branch of the government of the Oregon Territory...
to represent 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:...
, which at that time included Portland and part of what later that year became Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
. In 1857, he was elected to represent Multnomah County at the Oregon Constitutional Convention
Oregon Constitutional Convention
The Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857 drafted the Oregon Constitution in preparation for the Oregon Territory to become a U.S. state. Held from mid-August through September, 60 men met in Salem, Oregon, and created the foundation for Oregon's law. The proposal passed with a vote of 35 for...
. Held from August to September in 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...
, Logan was on the Judicial Department Committee. Though he voted against the adoption of the Oregon Constitution
Oregon Constitution
The Oregon Constitution is the governing document of the U.S. state of Oregon, originally enacted in 1857. As amended the current state constitution contains eighteen sections, beginning with a bill of rights. This contains most of the rights and privileges granted in the United States Bill of...
, the document was approved and became effective upon statehood on February 14, 1859. He also helped found the Oregon Republican Party
Oregon Republican Party
The Oregon Republican Party is the state affiliate of the United States Republican Party in Oregon, headquartered in Lake Oswego. The first state party convention was held in Salem on April 21, 1859, and its first nominee for Congress, Portland attorney David Logan...
.
Upon statehood, Logan was the new Republican Party’s candidate for the state’s seat in the House of Representatives. He lost in both 1859 and 1860 to Lansing Stout
Lansing Stout
Lansing Stout was an American politician and lawyer. He was the second person elected to the United States House of Representatives from the state of Oregon. He later served in Oregon’s legislature...
. Logan was elected as the Mayor of Portland on April 6, 1863, and served until April 1864 when Henry Failing was elected to the office. In 1868, he ran for Oregon’s seat in Congress as the Republican nominee, losing to Joseph Showalter Smith
Joseph Showalter Smith
Joseph Showalter Smith was a Representative from the U.S. state of Oregon.-Early life:Born in Connellsville, Pennsylvania, Smith moved with his farmer parents to Ohio and Indiana where he attended the common schools...
.
Later years
In 1862, he married Mary Porter Waldo, and they had several children. Logan entered a partnership with Erasmus D. ShattuckErasmus D. Shattuck
Erasmus Darwin Shattuck was an American politician and judge in the state of Oregon. He served as the 7th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1866 to 1867...
in 1857, and remained a partner until 1874. In 1871, he partly retired to a farm in Yamhill County
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...
. On March 26, 1874, David Logan died in Yamhill County at the age of 49. He was called the “greatest jury lawyer of his time”.