Loyal B. Stearns
Encyclopedia
Loyal B. Stearns was an American
politician, attorney, and jurist in Oregon
. Born in New Hampshire
and raised in Oregon, he became a lawyer and practiced in Portland
. A Republican
, he was a member of the Oregon House of Representatives
and later a judge for several courts.
Fay) on May 2, 1853. One of five children, he was born in Swanzey, New Hampshire
, and sailed with his family that year via the Isthmus of Panama
route to San Francisco, California. In 1854, they continued north to the Oregon Territory
. There they settled in Southern Oregon
in Scottsburg
. The younger Stearns was educated in Roseburg
at the local schools and at Umpqua Academy. He also traveled around the state and into Idaho while working with his merchant father.
In 1871, Stearns relocated north to Portland where he attended Bishop Scott Academy
until 1872. Stearns then enrolled at the Willamette University College of Medicine
in Salem, Oregon
, for one term before leaving to study law. He read law under the guidance of A. C. Gibbs
and William Ball Gilbert at their law firm in Portland beginning in 1873. In December 1876, he passed the bar and began practicing law in Portland. Stearns started as a partner of Gibbs before practicing on his own.
in 1878 as a Republican. He represented District 38 which at that time was located entirely within Multnomah County, and included Portland. His father Daniel Stearns served in the House previously, and then served in the state senate following Loyal's one session in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
. Loyal Stearns then served as Portland’s police judge from January 1879 to 1882 followed by election to the office of city attorney. After a short time in that position, he was elected to a seat on Multnomah County’s court, and served from June 1882 to 1885. In 1885, he became a judge for the Oregon circuit court where he remained until 1898. Governor Zenas Ferry Moody
appointed him to the position, and Stearns won election to a full-term and then re-election until retiring from the bench.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician, attorney, and jurist 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...
. Born in New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
and raised in Oregon, he became a lawyer and practiced 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...
. A 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...
, he was 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....
and later a judge for several courts.
Early life
Loyal Stearns was born to Daniel W. Stearns and Almira Stearns (neeMarried and maiden names
A married name is the family name adopted by a person upon marriage. When a person assumes the family name of her spouse, the new name replaces the maiden name....
Fay) on May 2, 1853. One of five children, he was born in Swanzey, New Hampshire
Swanzey, New Hampshire
Swanzey is a town in Cheshire County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 7,230 at the 2010 census. In addition to the town center, Swanzey includes the villages of East Swanzey, West Swanzey, North Swanzey, and Westport.-History:...
, and sailed with his family that year via the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
route to San Francisco, California. In 1854, they continued north to 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...
. There they settled in Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon
Southern Oregon is a region of the U.S. state of Oregon south of Lane County and generally west of the Cascade Range, excluding the southern Oregon Coast. Counties include Douglas, Jackson, Klamath, and Josephine. It includes the Southern Oregon American Viticultural Area, which consists of the...
in Scottsburg
Scottsburg, Oregon
Scottsburg is an unincorporated community in Douglas County, Oregon, United States. It is located on the Umpqua River and Oregon Route 38, and is about 20 miles from the Pacific Ocean. It was once a growing town but after a large flood in December 1861 the town declined.Scottsburg was named for...
. The younger Stearns was educated in Roseburg
Roseburg, Oregon
Roseburg is a city in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the county seat of Douglas County. The population was 21,181 at the 2010 census.-History:...
at the local schools and at Umpqua Academy. He also traveled around the state and into Idaho while working with his merchant father.
In 1871, Stearns relocated north to Portland where he attended Bishop Scott Academy
Bishop Scott Academy
Bishop Scott Academy was a school located in Portland, Oregon, United States. Affiliated with the Episcopal Church, the school was named for the Reverend Thomas Fielding Scott. The school opened in 1870 to educate young men in good citizenship and prepare them to enter the ministry...
until 1872. Stearns then enrolled at the Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine is a former school of medicine that was part of Willamette University. Founded in 1867 as the first medical school in Oregon, the school relocated between Portland and the main university campus in Salem several times. Eventually the school was merged with...
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...
, for one term before leaving to study law. He read law under the guidance of A. C. Gibbs
A. C. Gibbs
Addison Cranwick Gibbs was an American politician. He was the second Governor of Oregon from 1862 until 1866, and previously served in the Oregon Territory's legislative body and later the state legislature.-Early life:...
and William Ball Gilbert at their law firm in Portland beginning in 1873. In December 1876, he passed the bar and began practicing law in Portland. Stearns started as a partner of Gibbs before practicing on his own.
Political career
Stearns was elected to the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon 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....
in 1878 as a Republican. He represented District 38 which at that time was located entirely within Multnomah County, and included Portland. His father Daniel Stearns served in the House previously, and then served in the state senate following Loyal's one session in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
Oregon Legislative Assembly
The Oregon Legislative Assembly is the state legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. The Legislative Assembly is bicameral, consisting of an upper and lower house: the Senate, whose 30 members are elected to serve four-year terms; and the House of Representatives, with 60 members elected to...
. Loyal Stearns then served as Portland’s police judge from January 1879 to 1882 followed by election to the office of city attorney. After a short time in that position, he was elected to a seat on Multnomah County’s court, and served from June 1882 to 1885. In 1885, he became a judge for the Oregon circuit court where he remained until 1898. Governor Zenas Ferry Moody
Zenas Ferry Moody
Zenas Ferry Moody was the seventh Governor of Oregon from 1882 to 1887.-Early life:Zenas Ferry Moody was born on May 27, 1832, in Granby, Massachusetts, to Thomas Hovey and Hannah Ferry. The family immigrated to Oregon Territory in 1851, traveling the Isthmus of Panama route...
appointed him to the position, and Stearns won election to a full-term and then re-election until retiring from the bench.