Woodson T. Slater
Encyclopedia
Woodson Taylor Slater was an American
attorney and jurist in Oregon
. He was the 38th Associate Justice on the Oregon Supreme Court
, serving from 1909 to 1911. Slater was the son of Congressman James H. Slater
. The Oregon native also worked in the state’s treasurer’s office and for the Supreme Court prior to his appointment as a judge to the state’s highest court.
, Benton County
, Oregon Territory
to Elizabeth (Edna) Gray and later Congressman James H. Slater
. In 1863 the family moved to Walla Walla, Washington
, and then Auburn, Oregon
, before settling in the Eastern Oregon
town of La Grande
in 1866. There in Union County
Woodson received his primary education in the public schools. In 1883, he graduated from the University of Oregon
in Eugene, Oregon
before being admitted to the bar
two years later. Slater married in 1885 to Mary Price Howe and the couple would have four children.
, and began practicing law in 1886. The following year he moved to Salem, Oregon
, where he worked in the office of the Oregon State Treasurer
until 1890. He then returned to La Grande where he became involved in the mercantile industry, but returned to Salem in 1894 and opened a law practice. In Salem, he taught law at Willamette University College of Law
in 1903 as a professor of torts and contracts. Then from 1907 until early 1909 he was the commissioner of the Oregon Supreme Court
. On February 12, 1909, Oregon Governor
George Earle Chamberlain
appointed Slater to the state supreme court bench when the court expanded from three to five justices. He left the court at the end of the term on January 1, 1911.
, on November 30, 1928 at the age of 70.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
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...
. He was the 38th Associate Justice on 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 1909 to 1911. Slater was the son of Congressman James H. Slater
James H. Slater
James Harvey Slater was a United States Representative and Senator from Oregon. An Illinois native, Slater also served in the Oregon Territory’s Legislature, then later the Oregon State Legislature, and was the owner of the Corvallis Union newspaper.-Early life:Born near Springfield, Illinois, in...
. The Oregon native also worked in the state’s treasurer’s office and for the Supreme Court prior to his appointment as a judge to the state’s highest court.
Early life
Woodson Slater was born on November 18, 1858, in CorvallisCorvallis, 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....
, Benton County
Benton County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *William L. Finley National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 78,153 people, 30,145 households, and 18,237 families residing in the county. The population density was 116 people per square mile . There were 31,980...
, 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...
to Elizabeth (Edna) Gray and later Congressman James H. Slater
James H. Slater
James Harvey Slater was a United States Representative and Senator from Oregon. An Illinois native, Slater also served in the Oregon Territory’s Legislature, then later the Oregon State Legislature, and was the owner of the Corvallis Union newspaper.-Early life:Born near Springfield, Illinois, in...
. In 1863 the family moved to Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla, Washington
Walla Walla is the largest city in and the county seat of Walla Walla County, Washington, United States. The population was 31,731 at the 2010 census...
, and then Auburn, Oregon
Auburn, Oregon
Auburn was an unincorporated community in rural Baker County, Oregon, United States, now considered a ghost town. Auburn lies off Oregon Route 7 southwest of Baker City and east of McEwen on the edge of the Blue Mountains....
, before settling in the 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...
town of La Grande
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
in 1866. There in Union County
Union County, Oregon
Union County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is included in the 8 county definition of Eastern Oregon. The county is named for the town of Union, which is located within its boundaries; in 2010, the county population was 25,748. The county seat is La Grande.-History:Union County...
Woodson received his primary education in the public schools. In 1883, he graduated from 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, 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...
before being 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:...
two years later. Slater married in 1885 to Mary Price Howe and the couple would have four children.
Legal career
Upon becoming a lawyer Slater moved to Pendleton, OregonPendleton, Oregon
Pendleton is a city in Umatilla County, Oregon, United States. Pendleton was named in 1868 by the county commissioners for George H. Pendleton, Democratic candidate for Vice-President in the 1864 presidential campaign. The population was 16,612 at the 2010 census...
, and began practicing law in 1886. The following year he moved to 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...
, where he worked in the office of the Oregon State Treasurer
Oregon State Treasurer
The Oregon State Treasurer is a constitutional officer within the executive branch of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, elected by statewide vote to serve a four year term. As chief financial officer for the state, the office holder heads the Oregon State Treasury, and with the Governor...
until 1890. He then returned to La Grande where he became involved in the mercantile industry, but returned to Salem in 1894 and opened a law practice. In Salem, he taught law at Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law
Willamette University College of Law is a private law school located in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1842, Willamette University is the oldest university in the Western United States...
in 1903 as a professor of torts and contracts. Then from 1907 until early 1909 he was the commissioner 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...
. On February 12, 1909, 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....
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain was an American politician, legislator, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, a United States Senator.-Early life:Chamberlain was born near...
appointed Slater to the state supreme court bench when the court expanded from three to five justices. He left the court at the end of the term on January 1, 1911.
Later years
Woodson T. Slater died in Portland, OregonPortland, 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...
, on November 30, 1928 at the age of 70.