Richard Williams (congressman)
Encyclopedia
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. A Republican, he was the United States Congressman representing Oregon's at large congressional district
for one term from 1877 to 1879.
to Elijah Williams. In Ohio he attended the public schools before the family moved to Oregon in 1851 over the Oregon Trail
. The family first settled in Milwaukie, Oregon
, and then Salem
where he was educated in the local schools. He also attended Willamette University
in Salem, and was admitted to the bar
in 1857.
Richard Williams then moved to San Francisco, California
in 1857 and began practicing law. The following year he returned to Oregon and practiced law in Kerbyville
in Josephine County
, followed by Corvallis
in 1860, and Salem in 1862. In 1862 he married Clara J. Congle, and they would have one daughter. He partnered with Rufus Mallory
and Parish L. Willis
while practicing law in Salem. The family moved to Portland
in 1872. There he partnered with Lair Hill
and later governor William Wallace Thayer.
for Congress in 1874. He faced Democrat
George A. La Dow and, due to a split in the Republican party, also faced Timothy W. Davenport, who ran as an Independent. Davenport, one of the founders of the Oregon Republican party, and father of political cartoonist Homer Davenport
, debated Williams throughout the state, with the result that the Republican vote was split and La Dow won the election by a narrow plurality. He ran again in 1876, and was elected, defeating incumbent Lafayette Lane
, though the election was contested by Samuel McDowell. Williams prevailed and served one term from 1877 to 1879.
for 20 years beginning in 1890. Williams partnered with Willis a second time for one year in 1885 before practicing law with his brother E. B. Williams. He died in Portland in 1914 and was buried at River View Cemetery
in Portland.
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...
. A native of Ohio, he moved to Oregon in 1851 where he became an attorney. A Republican, he was the United States Congressman representing Oregon's at large congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district
Oregon's 1st congressional district consists of the northwest corner of Oregon. It includes Clatsop, Columbia, Washington, and Yamhill counties, and southwest Portland, part of Multnomah County, which belonged to the 3rd district before the 2002 redistricting....
for one term from 1877 to 1879.
Early life
Williams was born in Findlay, OhioFindlay, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 38,967 people, 15,905 households, and 10,004 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,266.3 people per square mile . There were 17,152 housing units at an average density of 997.6 per square mile...
to Elijah Williams. In Ohio he attended the public schools before the family moved to Oregon in 1851 over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
. The family first settled in Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie, Oregon
Milwaukie is a city in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. A very small portion of the city extends into Multnomah County. The population was 20,291 at the 2010 census. Founded in 1848 on the banks of the Willamette River, the city, known as the Dogwood City of the West, was incorporated in...
, and then Salem
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...
where he was educated in the local schools. He also attended 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...
in Salem, and was admitted to the 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 1857.
Richard Williams then moved to San Francisco, California
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
in 1857 and began practicing law. The following year he returned to Oregon and practiced law in Kerbyville
Kerby, Oregon
Kerby is an unincorporated community in Josephine County, Oregon, United States, north of Cave Junction on U.S. Route 199, Zip code 97531. Although the current population of...
in Josephine County
Josephine County, Oregon
Josephine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the county is probably named after a stream in the area called Josephine Creek, which in turn is probably named after Virginia Josephine Rollins Ort. In 2010, its population was 82,713...
, followed by Corvallis
Corvallis, Oregon
Corvallis is a city located in central western Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Benton County and the principal city of the Corvallis, Oregon Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Benton County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the population was 54,462....
in 1860, and Salem in 1862. In 1862 he married Clara J. Congle, and they would have one daughter. He partnered with Rufus Mallory
Rufus Mallory
Rufus Mallory was an American educator, lawyer, and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of New York, he was a teacher in Iowa before moving to Oregon where he became an attorney. He was a district attorney before he served in the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1860s. A...
and Parish L. Willis
Parish L. Willis
Parish Lovejoy Willis was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he served as cavalry in the Rogue River War before becoming a lawyer...
while practicing law in Salem. The family moved to 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...
in 1872. There he partnered with Lair Hill
William Lair Hill
- External links :* from the History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington, 1889* from the History of Seattle, Washington: with illustrations and biographical sketches...
and later governor William Wallace Thayer.
Political career
Williams ran as a RepublicanRepublican 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...
for Congress in 1874. He faced 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...
George A. La Dow and, due to a split in the Republican party, also faced Timothy W. Davenport, who ran as an Independent. Davenport, one of the founders of the Oregon Republican party, and 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...
, debated Williams throughout the state, with the result that the Republican vote was split and La Dow won the election by a narrow plurality. He ran again in 1876, and was elected, defeating incumbent Lafayette Lane
Lafayette Lane
Lafayette Lane was a Representative from the U.S. state of Oregon. He was the son of Oregon Senator Joseph Lane and an uncle of future Oregon Senator Harry Lane.-Early life:...
, though the election was contested by Samuel McDowell. Williams prevailed and served one term from 1877 to 1879.
Later years
After his one term in Congress, Williams resumed his law practice in Portland and served on the Portland School BoardPortland Public Schools, Oregon
Portland Public Schools is a public school district located in Portland, Oregon, United States. It is the largest school district in the state of Oregon, and in the Pacific Northwest. It is a Pre K-12 district with an enrollment of approximately 47,000 students...
for 20 years beginning in 1890. Williams partnered with Willis a second time for one year in 1885 before practicing law with his brother E. B. Williams. He died in Portland in 1914 and was buried at River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
in Portland.