Riley E. Stratton
Encyclopedia
Riley Evans Stratton was an American
attorney and judge in Oregon
. He served as the 11th Associate Justice
of the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving from 1859 until 1866. He was one of the first group of justices elected to the court along with Aaron E. Wait and Paine Page Prim
as previous members of the court were appointed during Oregon’s territorial
period.
. As a child his parents moved the family to Madison, Indiana
. Stratton graduated from College Hill
in the state of Ohio
. He then prepared to serve in the ministry, but then switched to studying law and was admitted to the Indiana
bar
. After college he returned to Madison and engaged in the practice of law.
, traveling around Cape Horn
and settling in Scottsburg
. There he practiced law and was involved in various business enterprises, and served as a district attorney. In 1858, when the new state government was being formed, Stratton was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court and began his term in 1859. During that time, the Supreme Court justices also rode circuit
, continuing this practice until 1878. Stratton won re-election to a second term on the bench in 1864, but died in office on December 26, 1866 at his home in Eugene, Oregon
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and judge 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 served as the 11th Associate Justice
Associate Justice
Associate Justice or Associate Judge is the title for a member of a judicial panel who is not the Chief Justice in some jurisdictions. The title "Associate Justice" is used for members of the United States Supreme Court and some state supreme courts, and for some other courts in Commonwealth...
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 from 1859 until 1866. He was one of the first group of justices elected to the court along with Aaron E. Wait and Paine Page Prim
Paine Page Prim
Paine Page Prim was an American attorney and judge in the state of Oregon. He was the 6th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving in that role from three times between 1864 and 1878. Prim served on Oregon’s highest court for 21 years...
as previous members of the court were appointed during Oregon’s territorial
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...
period.
Early life
Riley Stratton was born in 1823 to C.P. Stratton in PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. As a child his parents moved the family to Madison, Indiana
Madison, Indiana
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,004 people, 5,092 households, and 3,085 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,402.9 people per square mile . There were 5,597 housing units at an average density of 654.1 per square mile...
. Stratton graduated from College Hill
Marietta College
Marietta College is a co-educational private college in Marietta, Ohio, USA, which was the first permanent settlement of the Northwest Territory. The school offers 42 majors along with a large number of minors, all of which are grounded in a strong liberal arts foundation...
in the state of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
. He then prepared to serve in the ministry, but then switched to studying law and was admitted to the 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...
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:...
. After college he returned to Madison and engaged in the practice of law.
Oregon
In 1852, Stratton moved to what was then the Oregon TerritoryOregon 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...
, traveling around Cape Horn
Cape Horn
Cape Horn is the southernmost headland of the Tierra del Fuego archipelago of southern Chile, and is located on the small Hornos Island...
and settling 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...
. There he practiced law and was involved in various business enterprises, and served as a district attorney. In 1858, when the new state government was being formed, Stratton was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court and began his term in 1859. During that time, the Supreme Court justices also 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...
, continuing this practice until 1878. Stratton won re-election to a second term on the bench in 1864, but died in office on December 26, 1866 at his home in Eugene, Oregon
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...
.