Lewis Linn McArthur
Encyclopedia
Lewis Linn McArthur was an American
newspaper publisher and judge in the state of Oregon
. He was an Oregon Supreme Court
associate justice and the father of Lewis A. McArthur
, the first editor of the Oregon Geographic Names
publications. He served on the court from 1870 to 1878. Another son, Clifton Nesmith McArthur, would serve in the United States Congress
.
. Born in Portsmouth
, his father was a US naval
officer and hydrologist, Lieutenant Commander
William Pope McArthur
, and his mother was Mary Stone Young McArthur. McArthur's father died at sea in 1850 while returning from a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey mission to survey the Oregon Coast
. His father was the nephew of Missouri
Senator Lewis F. Linn
. Lewis McArthur grew up in Portsmouth and Baltimore, Maryland, before attending Dickinson College
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
where he started in 1857, but did not graduate. He then went to Brown University
in Providence, Rhode Island
. In Rhode Island he passed the bar in 1864 and then moved to Oregon
.
Once in Oregon he began working for various newspapers in Eastern Oregon
before founding the Bedrock Democrat in 1870 at Baker City, Oregon
. He was also the first city recorder for Umatilla, Oregon
, after its incorporation. During this time also mined and practiced law.
. He was re-elected in 1876 to the state’s high court, but the term ended in 1878 when the court was reduced from five justices to three justices. Prior to 1878, Supreme Court justices rode circuit
and sat on the Supreme Court bench. In 1878, the circuit court was split off and Supreme Court justices no longer served as circuit court judges. McArthur returned to the bench as a circuit court judge in 1883, serving until 1886. In 1886, he was appointed as the United States attorney for the state of Oregon serving until 1890.
series, while Clifton would serve in Congress. Clifton is the namesake for McArthur Court
at the University of Oregon
. Harriet was the daughter of Oregon Senator James W. Nesmith
. From 1890 until his death, Lewis Linn McArthur practiced law in Portland, Oregon
. He died in Portland on May 10, 1897.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
newspaper publisher and judge 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 was an 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...
associate justice and the father of Lewis A. McArthur
Lewis A. McArthur
Lewis Ankeny McArthur , known as "Tam" McArthur, was an executive for Pacific Power and Light Company. He was also the secretary for the Oregon Geographic Board for many years and the author of Oregon Geographic Names. His book, now in its seventh edition, is a comprehensive source of information...
, the first editor of the Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names is an authoritative compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon. , the book is in its seventh edition and is compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur, who took over from his father, Lewis A. McArthur, as of the fourth edition...
publications. He served on the court from 1870 to 1878. Another son, Clifton Nesmith McArthur, would serve in the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
.
Early life
Lewis McArthur was born on March 18, 1843 in the state of VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Born in Portsmouth
Portsmouth, Virginia
Portsmouth is located in the Hampton Roads metropolitan area of the U.S. Commonwealth of Virginia. As of 2010, the city had a total population of 95,535.The Norfolk Naval Shipyard, often called the Norfolk Navy Yard, is a historic and active U.S...
, his father was a US naval
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
officer and hydrologist, Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander
Lieutenant Commander is a commissioned officer rank in many navies. The rank is superior to a lieutenant and subordinate to a commander...
William Pope McArthur
William Pope McArthur
William Pope McArthur was an American naval officer and hydrologist who was involved in the first surveys of the Pacific Coast for the U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey.-Early life:...
, and his mother was Mary Stone Young McArthur. McArthur's father died at sea in 1850 while returning from a U.S. Coast and Geodetic Survey mission to survey the Oregon Coast
Oregon Coast
The Oregon Coast is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It runs generally north-south along the Pacific Ocean, forming the western border of the state; the region is bounded to the east by the Oregon Coast Range. The Oregon Coast stretches approximately from the Columbia River in the north to...
. His father was the nephew of 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...
Senator Lewis F. Linn
Lewis F. Linn
Lewis Fields Linn was a Jacksonian Democratic U.S. Senator for the state of Missouri born in Kentucky. He served in that role from 1833 to 1843. Four states named counties in his honor: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Oregon. West Linn, Oregon and Linnton, Oregon also get their name from the ex-senator...
. Lewis McArthur grew up in Portsmouth and Baltimore, Maryland, before attending Dickinson College
Dickinson College
Dickinson College is a private, residential liberal arts college in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Originally established as a Grammar School in 1773, Dickinson was chartered September 9, 1783, five days after the signing of the Treaty of Paris, making it the first college to be founded in the newly...
in Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Carlisle is a borough in and the county seat of Cumberland County, Pennsylvania, United States. The name is traditionally pronounced with emphasis on the second syllable. Carlisle is located within the Cumberland Valley, a highly productive agricultural region. As of the 2010 census, the borough...
where he started in 1857, but did not graduate. He then went to Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Providence, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
. In Rhode Island he passed the bar in 1864 and then moved 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...
.
Once in Oregon he began working for various newspapers in Eastern Oregon
Eastern 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...
before founding the Bedrock Democrat in 1870 at Baker City, Oregon
Baker City, Oregon
Baker City is a city in and the county seat of Baker County, Oregon, United States. It was named after Edward D. Baker. The population was 9,828 at the 2010 census.-History:...
. He was also the first city recorder for Umatilla, Oregon
Umatilla, Oregon
Umatilla is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. It is named for the Umatilla River, which enters the Columbia River on the side of the city. The river is named after the Umatilla Tribe. The city is located on the south side of the Columbia River, and is located on U.S...
, after its incorporation. During this time also mined and practiced law.
Judicial career
In 1870, McArthur won election to the Oregon Supreme CourtOregon 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...
. He was re-elected in 1876 to the state’s high court, but the term ended in 1878 when the court was reduced from five justices to three justices. Prior to 1878, Supreme Court justices rode circuit
Circuit rider (U.S. Court system)
Circuit rider is a term in the United States for a professional who travels a regular circuit of locations to provide services. The term first came into widespread application for judges, particularly in the sparsely populated American West, who would hold court in each town in their circuit on a...
and sat on the Supreme Court bench. In 1878, the circuit court was split off and Supreme Court justices no longer served as circuit court judges. McArthur returned to the bench as a circuit court judge in 1883, serving until 1886. In 1886, he was appointed as the United States attorney for the state of Oregon serving until 1890.
Later life
McArthur married Harriet K. Nesmith in 1878. They had two sons, Clifton Nesmith McArthur and Lewis A. McArthur. The latter would start the Oregon Geographic NamesOregon Geographic Names
Oregon Geographic Names is an authoritative compilation of the origin and meaning of place names in the U.S. state of Oregon. , the book is in its seventh edition and is compiled and edited by Lewis L. McArthur, who took over from his father, Lewis A. McArthur, as of the fourth edition...
series, while Clifton would serve in Congress. Clifton is the namesake for McArthur Court
McArthur Court
McArthur Court is a basketball arena located on the campus of the University of Oregon in Eugene and the former home of the Oregon Ducks men's and women's basketball teams, replaced in 2011 by Matthew Knight Arena....
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 :...
. Harriet was the daughter of Oregon Senator James W. Nesmith
James W. Nesmith
James Willis Nesmith was an American politician and lawyer from Oregon. Born in Canada to American parents, he grew up in New Hampshire and Maine...
. From 1890 until his death, Lewis Linn McArthur practiced law in Portland, Oregon
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...
. He died in Portland on May 10, 1897.