John Hugh McNary
Encyclopedia
John Hugh McNary was an American
attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon
. He served as the federal judge
for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
in Portland. A native of Oregon, he also served as a district attorney and as an assistant district attorney in Salem, Oregon
. His brother Charles
would serve as a United States Senator.
in Marion County, Oregon
to Hugh Linza McNary and Margaret Claggett McNary. The McNary family farm was north of Salem, where John’s parents would raise ten children. John’s grandfather was James McNary who immigrated to Oregon Country
from Kentucky
in 1845, while his maternal grandfather immigrated from Missouri
in 1852. John’s father Hugh was a former brickyard operator and school teacher. His mother died in 1878, followed by his father’s death in 1883. John Hugh was educated in the local public schools in Marion County before attending Willamette University
.
John received his college education at the University of Oregon
in Eugene
. In 1890, he was elected as the recorder for Marion County. After college he read law under the guidance of George H. Burnett
, and passed the state bar
in June 1894 and federal bar on July 17, 1901. On January 29, 1893, he married Esther Hall. A Republican, he also served as president of the county's bar association.
in Salem. Charles passed the bar in 1898 and joined his brother in practicing law in Salem. John was in private practice from 1898 until 1913. During this time, he served as deputy district attorney for Marion County between 1898 and 1904, and in 1905 became the district attorney for Oregon’s third judicial district. While in office he helped to prosecute some of those involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
. When John was the district attorney, his brother worked under him as an assistant district attorney. In 1912, he taught at the Willamette University College of Law
as a professor of corporations under his brother who was the dean.
On February 26, 1927, United States President Calvin Coolidge
nominated John to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
in Portland. Confirmed by the United States Senate
on February 28, he replaced Charles E. Wolverton
who had died the previous year. McNary served on the federal court from February 28 until his death in Portland
on October 25, 1936. He was buried at the Salem Pioneer Cemetery
, with his funeral attended by others in the legal community including E. M. Page
, James Alger Fee
, James U. Campbell
, John O. Bailey
, Harry H. Belt
, John L. Rand
, George Rossman
, Percy R. Kelly
, and Henry J. Bean
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and jurist in the state of 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 served as the federal judge
Judge
A judge is a person who presides over court proceedings, either alone or as part of a panel of judges. The powers, functions, method of appointment, discipline, and training of judges vary widely across different jurisdictions. The judge is supposed to conduct the trial impartially and in an open...
for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
in Portland. A native of Oregon, he also served as a district attorney and as an assistant district attorney in Salem, Oregon
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...
. His brother Charles
Charles L. McNary
Charles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
would serve as a United States Senator.
Early life
John McNary was born on January 31, 1867, on a farm near Salem, OregonSalem, 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...
in Marion County, Oregon
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
to Hugh Linza McNary and Margaret Claggett McNary. The McNary family farm was north of Salem, where John’s parents would raise ten children. John’s grandfather was James McNary who immigrated to Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
from Kentucky
Kentucky
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...
in 1845, while his maternal grandfather immigrated from Missouri
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
in 1852. John’s father Hugh was a former brickyard operator and school teacher. His mother died in 1878, followed by his father’s death in 1883. John Hugh was educated in the local public schools in Marion County before attending Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
.
John received his college education at the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. In 1890, he was elected as the recorder for Marion County. After college he read law under the guidance of George H. Burnett
George H. Burnett
George Henry Burnett was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 21st Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court serving twice as chief first in 1921 to 1923, and then in 1927 when he died in office...
, and passed the state 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 June 1894 and federal bar on July 17, 1901. On January 29, 1893, he married Esther Hall. A Republican, he also served as president of the county's bar association.
Legal career
Beginning in 1897 John taught the law to his younger brother Charles L. McNaryCharles L. McNary
Charles Linza McNary was a United States Republican politician from Oregon. He served in the Senate from 1917 to 1944, and was Senate Minority Leader from 1933 to 1944. In the Senate, McNary helped to pass legislation that led to the construction of Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River, and worked...
in Salem. Charles passed the bar in 1898 and joined his brother in practicing law in Salem. John was in private practice from 1898 until 1913. During this time, he served as deputy district attorney for Marion County between 1898 and 1904, and in 1905 became the district attorney for Oregon’s third judicial district. While in office he helped to prosecute some of those involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal
Oregon land fraud scandal
The Oregon land fraud scandal of the early 20th century involved U.S. government land grants in the U.S. state of Oregon being illegally obtained with the assistance of public officials. Most of Oregon's U.S. congressional delegation received indictments in the case: U.S. Senator John H....
. When John was the district attorney, his brother worked under him as an assistant district attorney. In 1912, he taught at the Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
as a professor of corporations under his brother who was the dean.
On February 26, 1927, United States President Calvin Coolidge
Calvin Coolidge
John Calvin Coolidge, Jr. was the 30th President of the United States . A Republican lawyer from Vermont, Coolidge worked his way up the ladder of Massachusetts state politics, eventually becoming governor of that state...
nominated John to serve on the United States District Court for the District of Oregon
United States District Court for the District of Oregon
The United States District Court for the District of Oregon is the Federal district court whose jurisdiction comprises the state of Oregon. It was created in 1859 when the state was admitted to the Union...
in Portland. Confirmed by the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
on February 28, he replaced Charles E. Wolverton
Charles E. Wolverton
Charles Edwin Wolverton was an American state and federal judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 18th Chief Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court...
who had died the previous year. McNary served on the federal court from February 28 until his death 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 25, 1936. He was buried at the Salem Pioneer Cemetery
Salem Pioneer Cemetery
Salem Pioneer Cemetery is a cemetery in Salem, Oregon, United States.-Overview:...
, with his funeral attended by others in the legal community including E. M. Page
E. M. Page
Everill Max "E.M." Page was an American lawyer and judge in the state of Oregon. He was appointed as the 63rd Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court, serving for less than a year between 1949 and 1950....
, James Alger Fee
James Alger Fee
James Alger Fee was a United States federal judge from Oregon. He served as a federal district court judge in Portland, Oregon, and as a judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in the 1950s. A veteran of the United States Army, his first judicial position was with the...
, James U. Campbell
James U. Campbell
James Ulysses Campbell was an American judge and politician in Oregon. He was the 25th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1930 to 1937...
, John O. Bailey
John O. Bailey
John Ora Bailey was an American judge and politician in the state of Oregon. He was the 27th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1933 to 1950. Bailey also served in the Oregon House of Representatives and the Oregon State Senate...
, Harry H. Belt
Harry H. Belt
Harry Hackleman Belt was an American educator, lawyer, and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 28th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court starting in 1945. He served as chief justice for two years. Belt served on the bench for twenty-five years overall.-Early life:Belt’s father John D...
, John L. Rand
John L. Rand
John Langdon Rand was an American politician and jurist in the state of Oregon. He served as the 22nd Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Overall he was on Oregon’s highest court from 1921 to 1942 serving as chief justice three times...
, George Rossman
George Rossman
George Rossman was an American lawyer and judge. He was the 29th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court in the United States. The Illinois native served on Oregon’s highest court for the longest time of any judge in the court’s history, from 1927 to 1965...
, Percy R. Kelly
Percy R. Kelly
Percy R. Kelly was an American attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon. He was the 26th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1930 to 1949...
, and Henry J. Bean
Henry J. Bean
Henry J. Bean was an American politician and judge in Oregon. He was the 24th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. He served in that role twice during the 1930s. At his death on the bench he was the longest serving justice in the state’s history...
.