George Augustus La Dow
Encyclopedia
George Augustus La Dow was a U.S. Representative
from Oregon
. Elected as a Democrat
due to a split among Republicans
, La Dow died before Congress assembled.
, La Dow moved with his family to McHenry County, Illinois
where he attended public school and studied law. In 1850, he was admitted to the bar
and opened a law practice in Waupaca, Wisconsin
. From 1860 to 1862, he served as district attorney of Waupaca County
.
In 1862, he moved his law practice to Wilton, Minnesota
and served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
in 1868 and 1869.
, serving one term as a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
from 1872 to 1874.
In 1874, he was selected as the Democratic
nominee for Oregon's seat in the United States House of Representatives
. Though little known outside of Umatilla County
, due to a split among Oregon Republican
s, La Dow faced not only Republican candidate Richard Williams
, but also Timothy W. Davenport (father of political cartoonist Homer Davenport
), who ran as an Independent. Williams and Davenport debated each other all around the state, split the Republican vote, and handed La Dow a plurality and the election.
However, before Congress convened its session, La Dow died on May 1, 1875. He was interred in Pioneer Park Cemetery in Pendleton.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
. Elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
due to a split among Republicans
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...
, La Dow died before Congress assembled.
Early life
Born near Syracuse, New YorkSyracuse, New York
Syracuse is a city in and the county seat of Onondaga County, New York, United States, the largest U.S. city with the name "Syracuse", and the fifth most populous city in the state. At the 2010 census, the city population was 145,170, and its metropolitan area had a population of 742,603...
, La Dow moved with his family to McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County, Illinois
McHenry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Illinois. According to the 2010 census, it has a population of 308,760, which is an increase of 18.7% from 260,077 in 2000. Its county seat is Woodstock. This county is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It is the sixth largest county, in...
where he attended public school and studied law. In 1850, he was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and opened a law practice in Waupaca, Wisconsin
Waupaca, Wisconsin
Waupaca is a city in Waupaca County in the state of Wisconsin. The population was 5,676 at the 2000 census. The city is believed to be named after Sam Waupaca of the Potowatomi tribe....
. From 1860 to 1862, he served as district attorney of Waupaca County
Waupaca County, Wisconsin
-Demographics: As of the census of 2000, there were 51,731 people, 19,863 households, and 13,884 families residing in the county. The population density was . There were 22,508 housing units at an average density of...
.
In 1862, he moved his law practice to Wilton, Minnesota
Wilton, Minnesota
Wilton is a city in Beltrami County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 204 at the 2010 census. Wilton is considered a bedroom community of Bemidji.-Geography:...
and served as a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives
Minnesota House of Representatives
The Minnesota House of Representatives is the lower house in the Minnesota State Legislature. There are 134 members elected to two-year terms, twice the number of members in the Minnesota Senate. Each senate district is divided in half and given the suffix A or B...
in 1868 and 1869.
Congressional campaign of 1874
In 1869, La Dow moved to Pendleton, OregonPendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
, serving one term as a member of 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....
from 1872 to 1874.
In 1874, he was selected as the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Oregon's seat in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
. Though little known outside of Umatilla County
Umatilla County, Oregon
Umatilla County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the Umatilla River. In 2010, its population was 75,889...
, due to a split among Oregon 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...
s, La Dow faced not only Republican candidate Richard Williams
Richard Williams (congressman)
Richard Williams was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he moved to Oregon in 1851 where he became an attorney...
, but also Timothy W. Davenport (father of political cartoonist Homer Davenport
Homer Davenport
Homer Calvin Davenport was a political cartoonist from the United States. He was known for his satirical drawings and support of Progressive Era politics. A native Oregonian, he worked for several West Coast newspapers before being hired by William Randolph Hearst and the New York Evening Journal...
), who ran as an Independent. Williams and Davenport debated each other all around the state, split the Republican vote, and handed La Dow a plurality and the election.
However, before Congress convened its session, La Dow died on May 1, 1875. He was interred in Pioneer Park Cemetery in Pendleton.