Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 1.djvu/744



552 THE CITY OF PORTLAND

loyal citizens to all the interests of Oregon, from the day they landed here until death called them hence, as the state ever possessed. Both of these men had been circuit judges in the state of Iowa, both became circuit and supreme judges of Oregon, both were members of the constitutional convention of Oregon, and Olney twice a member of the legislature; so that Iowa not only contributed to Oregon its first code of laws, but also three of its leading lawmakers — Chapman, Williams and Olney.

Of the work of Judge Williams, it is impossible to speak at length in the editorial part of this work. His biography will appear in another volume. It is sufficient to say that he was the most distinguished citizen of the state, holding more official positions of honor than any other man — chief justice of territorial su- preme court, member of the constitutional convention, U. S. senator in congress, attorney-general of the United States, and member of the high joint commission to settle disputes between the United States and Great Britain, and presidential nominee for the office of chief justice of the supreme court of the United States.

Cotemporary with .Williams and Olney was Reuben P. Boise, who was for a brief period a practicing attorney in Portland. But removing soon to Salem he became one of the justices of the state supreme court, under the first election for state officers, and for almost a whole lifetime remained on the bench either as supreme judge, or as a circuit judge after the judges of the circuit and su- preme courts were elected in separate classes. Judge Boise was always esteemed as an independent, fearless and just judge. Outside of his official duties he took a leading part in the development of agricultural interests, the building of woolen factories, and of the establishment of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, of which he was for many years the highest officer in the state — master of the state grange.

Lafayette Grover came to Oregon in 185 1 on the advice of Oregon's first delegate to congress — Thurston, who promised to take Grover into partnership in Oregon. But Thurston, dying, Grover had to introduce himself, which he did with success, and had a long career in public and political life. Governor Grover was born at Bethel in the state of Maine, in 1823, and is now 87 years of age, in a fair state of health, residing in this city. On reaching Oregon he went first to Salem, and afterward came to Portland and engaged in the practice of the law in this city. He was entrusted with many public duties. He was appointed by the legislature of 1853 to gather up, compile and print all the statutes of the provisional and territorial governments, and the records of the provisional gov- ernment ; and but for his industry in this matter, the people would have been without authentic records of the first laws and legislatures. He also prepared and published a book entitled "Public Life in Oregon," which is an authority on the early days, and especially of the character and career of the leading men, all of whom are treated therein with justice and life-like sketches. Governor Grover was a member of the constitutional convention, state legislature, prose- cuting attorney, member of congress, governor of the state and United States senator. After taking his seat in the senate, Ben Holladay, inspired by his in- ability to control Grover while governor, worked up a charge before the senate that Senator Grover had been elected by improper influences. The spectacle of Ben Holladay objecting to anything that was improper in politics or religion, was simply appalling. But Grover's friends promptly demanded an investiga- tion. A senatorial commission was sent to Portland to investigate the matter, of which Oliver P. Morton, who was known as the war governor of Indiana, was chairman. The commission held its sessions in a little "shack" that stood at the southeast corner of Third and Morrison streets. Grover's enemies were invited to bring in their evidence ; and after about a week's investigation of idle ru- mors that had no foundation but the malignity of Holladay and his henchmen, Morton closed the investigation in disgust, and made a report to the senate that completely vindicated the character and conduct of Lafayette Grover as United States senator. One of the persons who had stirred up the false report