former incumbents of the federal offices were displaced except Pratt, and he was made chief justice, with Matthew P. Deady and Cyrus Olney[1] as associates. Before the confirmation of the appointments Judge Pratt's name was withdrawn and Oregon thus lost an able and pure chief justice,[2] and that of George H. Williams,[3] a judge in Keokuk, Iowa, substituted.
With regard to the other judges, both residents of Oregon, it was said that Lane procured the appointment of Deady in order to have him out of his way a few months later. But Deady was well worthy of the position, and had earned it fairly. The appointments were well received in Oregon, and the judges opened courts in their respective districts under favorable circumstances, Deady in the southern, Olney in the northern, and Williams in the central counties. But in October it began to be rumored that a new appointment had been made for a judgeship in Oregon; to what place remained unknown for several weeks, when O. B. McFadden, of Pennsylvania, appeared in Oregon and claimed the 1st district, upon the ground that in making out Deady's commission a mistake in the name had been made, and that there-
- ↑ Olney was a native of Ohio, studied law and was admitted to practice in Cincinnati, removing after a few years to Iowa, where he was circuit judge, and whence he emigrated to Oregon in 1851. He resided at different times in Salem, Portland, and Astoria. He was twice a member of the legislature, and helped to frame the state constitution. He was twice married, and had 7 children, none of whom survived him. He died at Astoria Dec. 28, 1870.
- ↑ The withdrawal of Pratt was a loss to Oregon. He laid the foundation of the judiciary in the state. An able and conscientious official.
- ↑ George H. Williams was born in Columbia County, N. Y., March 2, 1823. He received an academic education, and began the practice of law at an early age in Iowa, where he was soon elected judge of the circuit court. His circuit included the once famous Half-breed Tract, and the settlers elected him in the hope that he would decide their titles to the land to be good; but he disappointed them, and was not reëlected. In the presidential campaign of 1852, he canvassed Iowa for Pierce, and was chosen one of the electors to carry the vote of the state to Washington. While there he obtained the appointment of chief justice, and removed to Oregon the following year. He retained this position till 1859, when the state was admitted. In person tall, angular, and awkward, yet withal fine-looking, he possessed brain power and force, and was even sometimes eloquent as a speaker. Corr. S. F. Bulletin, in Portland Oregonian, Oct. 8, 1864.
