Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/108



68

diilate for Governor in 186(5, at the time Governor Woods was elected In 1870 he was elected United States Senator, when he served his full term. In 187S, on the formation of a separate Supreme Court, he was appointed Chief Justice, which position he held until the general elec- tion of 1880, when, although the Democratic party candidate, he suffered defeat. Since that time he has settled down to private life and enjoys a lucrative practice in his profession. He is a hard worker and has been a deep student and is thoroughly versed in law. He is tall, somewhat stoop-shouldered, wears only a mustache as a facial ornament, his eyes are set well hnck in his head, and he has a broad, expansive forehead.

ADDISON O- GIBBS, L L. D., Ex-Governor of Oregon, was born at East Otto, Cattaraugus county. New York, July 9, 1825. He was educated at Griffith Institute in Springville, Ne-Av York, and at the Albany, New York, State Normal school, of which he is a graduate. He spent several years as a teacher, daring which time he studied law, and was admitted to practice in the highest courts of New York at Albany in 1841*. Since that time he has been admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the United States. He practiced law in Jefferson county. New York, for one year and came to Oregon in 1850, which has been his home ever since. In 1851 he was a volunteer under Major Kearney in the first Indian war in Southern Oregon. He took a land claim in Umpqua (now Douglas) county, on which now stands the town of Gardiner, where he resided for over four years. In the winter of 1851-2 he was a member of the House of Representatives, and took an active part in having the Code system of practice and jjleadings adopted, he being the only lawyer in the Legislature who had practiced under the Code. He Avas nominated as one of the first Code Commissioners but declined to serve. He was also selected and served as one of the Code Commissioners of the second revision in 1853. He was then oITered the position of Collector of Customs for the Southern District of Oregon, a position he desired, provided he could be permitted to continue the practice of laAv. He went to Washington and got such per- mission on condition that he appointed a deputy at his OAvn expense. He then filed liis bond of .^50,000, and was prepared to enter upon the duties of his oJfice. Before returning to Oregon he married his school mate, Miss Margaret M. Watkins, a graduate of Griffith Institute. For a young man, Gov, Gibbs in New York took quite an active part as a member of the "Free Soil party," and cast his first vote for Martin Van Buren as President, and Charles Francis Adams, Vice-President, for Avhom he made a number of speeches in New York. In 1848 Gov. Gibbs Avas, against his wishes, elected Prosecuting Attorney for the first Judicial District, for Avhich position he did not *ialify, and the vacancy was filled by appointment of the Governor. Upon the adoption of the Constitution of Oregon, he took a decided stand against slavery, and opposed it on the stump. In the fall of 1858 he moved to Portland and opened a Liav office in company Avith Ex-Attorney General George H. Williams, with wlaom he remained as partner for five years. Up- on the breaking out of the rebellion, he took an active pait in org