Oliver P. Coshow
Encyclopedia
Oliver Perry Coshow was an American
attorney and politician in Oregon
. He was the 23rd Chief Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1924 to 1931. The Oregon native earlier had served in the Oregon Legislative Assembly
.
to Oliver, Sr. and Sarah Cochran. His parents immigrated from Indiana
in 1851. After receiving his primary education in the local schools he attended the University of Oregon
in Eugene
where he graduated in 1885. After graduation he worked in the retail filed in Roseburg, Oregon
and Brownsville before studying law in Albany, Oregon
.
in 1890, Coshow began practicing law in Albany for two years before moving to McMinnville, Oregon
, where he practiced from 1892 to 1897. He then moved back to Roseburg where he was in private practice from 1897 to 1924. During this time he was elected as a Democrat to the state senate representing Douglas County
, serving from 1905 through the 1907 legislature.
On January 15, 1924, Oliver Coshow was appointed by Oregon Governor
Walter M. Pierce
to replace justice Lawrence T. Harris
on the Oregon Supreme Court after Harris resigned his position. Coshow then won a full six-year term in 1924 and his term ended without re-election. While on the court he served as chief justice from 1929 to 1931.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and politician 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...
. He was the 23rd Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the 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...
, serving on Oregon’s highest court from 1924 to 1931. The Oregon native earlier had served 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...
.
Early life
Oliver Coshow was born on August 14, 1863 in Brownsville, OregonBrownsville, Oregon
Brownsville is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 1,668. It is the setting for the fictional Castle Rock, Oregon in the film Stand by Me.-History:...
to Oliver, Sr. and Sarah Cochran. His parents immigrated from Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
in 1851. After receiving his primary education in the local schools he attended 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...
where he graduated in 1885. After graduation he worked in the retail filed in Roseburg, Oregon
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:...
and Brownsville before studying law in Albany, Oregon
Albany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
.
Legal career
After passing the state barBar (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 1890, Coshow began practicing law in Albany for two years before moving to McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville, Oregon
McMinnville is the county seat and largest city of Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. According to Oregon Geographic Names, it was named by its founder, William T. Newby , an early immigrant on the Oregon Trail, for his hometown of McMinnville, Tennessee...
, where he practiced from 1892 to 1897. He then moved back to Roseburg where he was in private practice from 1897 to 1924. During this time he was elected as a Democrat to the state senate representing Douglas County
Douglas County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Crater Lake National Park * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Siuslaw National Forest * Umpqua National Forest * Willamette National Forest -Adjacent counties:* Lane County, Oregon -...
, serving from 1905 through the 1907 legislature.
On January 15, 1924, Oliver Coshow was appointed by Oregon Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Walter M. Pierce
Walter M. Pierce
Walter Marcus Pierce was an American politician, a Democrat, who served as the 17th Governor of Oregon and a member of the United States House of Representatives from . A native of Illinois, he served in the Oregon State Senate before the governorship, and again after leaving the U.S. House...
to replace justice Lawrence T. Harris
Lawrence T. Harris
Lawrence T. Harris was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. He was the 45th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, serving from 1914 to 1924. An a native Oregonian, he also served as a state court judge and in 1903 was the Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives...
on the Oregon Supreme Court after Harris resigned his position. Coshow then won a full six-year term in 1924 and his term ended without re-election. While on the court he served as chief justice from 1929 to 1931.