John Newton Williamson (November 8, 1855 – August 29, 1943) was an American rancher and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly representing central and eastern Oregon in the late 19th century. A Republican, he then served in Congress from 1903 to 1907 and was involved in the Oregon land fraud scandal.
John N. Williamson | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Oregon's 2nd district | |
| In office March 4, 1903 – March 3, 1907 | |
| Preceded by | Malcolm A. Moody |
| Succeeded by | William R. Ellis |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1888 1898 | |
| Member of the Oregon Senate | |
| In office 1901 1903 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 8, 1855 Junction City, Oregon Territory |
| Died | August 29, 1943 (aged 87) Prineville, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
Early life
editJohn Williamson was born in Lane County, near Junction City in the Oregon Territory on November 8, 1855, to Joseph and Minerva Williamson.[1] He earned his education at the local schools of Salem and then at Willamette University in that city.[1] Williamson married Sarah V. Forrest in Albany and they had three children.[1] In 1876, he moved to Eastern Oregon and started in the livestock trade in Wasco and Crook counties.[1] He also owned and edited the Prineville Review in Crook county from 1893 to 1896.[1]
Political career
editIn 1886, he was selected as sheriff of Crook County, serving in that office until 1888.[1] That year he was elected to serve the county in the Oregon House of Representatives.[2] In 1898, he returned to the House as a Republican during a special session of the legislature and returned for the 1899 session.[3][4] Williamson was elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1900 and served in the 1901 and 1903 sessions, but not the special session in 1903.[5][6][7] Williamson represented Crook, Klamath, Lake and Wasco counties, and served as president pro tempore of the Senate in 1901.[7]
He was elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives from Oregon and served from March 4, 1903, to March 3, 1907. He declined to run for re-election in 1906.[8] In 1905, Williamson was convicted along with Oregon senator John H. Mitchell and other co-conspirators on crimes involving political corruption and the illegal acquisition of public lands in the Oregon land fraud scandal.[1] His conviction was overturned in 1908 by the United States Supreme Court in Williamson v. United States, 207 U.S. 425, 28 S. Ct. 163.[9] The court remanded the case for a new trial, but no new trial occurred.[1]
Later years
editAfter leaving Congress he returned to Crook County and raising livestock and other agricultural activities.[8] Williamson returned to public life in 1922, when he was appointed as the postmaster for Prineville, serving in the position until 1934.[8] He died on August 29, 1943, at the age of 87 in Prineville, where he was buried at the Masonic Cemetery.[8]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g h Corning, Howard M. (1989) Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 269.
- ^ Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1889 Regular Session (15th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1898 Special Session (19th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1899 Regular Session (20th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1903 Special Session (22nd). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1903 Regular Session (22nd). Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1899 Regular Session (20th).] Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ a b Oregon Legislators and Staff Guide: 1901 Regular Session (21st). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on December 25, 2008.
- ^ a b c d "John Newton Williamson". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. United States Congress. Retrieved December 26, 2008.
- ^ "Williamson-Gessner Fraud". Oregon History Project. Retrieved March 23, 2007.