East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1910-04-05
GEO. H. WILLIAMS, GRAND OLD MAN
A SHORT SKETCH OF A RE MARKABLE CAREER OF A RE-
MARK ABLE MAN.
' A RE G.
MARK ABLE MAN.

Judge Geo. H. Williams, the
"Grand Old Man of Oregon whose
long and eminent career vas ended
yesterday morning during a peaceful
sleep, was, without question. the fore
most figure in the political history Of
this state, and is prominently iden-
titled with more than one critical event
in the history OF the nation. The fol-
lowing account Of his life is reprinted
from the Oregon Journal of Portland:
Grant once said to Lee: General
Lee, do you know that man we just
passed, who tipped his hat to us?"
"No," said Lee. THAT man is Attor-
new General George H. Williams, and
there can be no gift in the hands of
the great American people too good
or toe great but what General Will
nams is thoroughly worthy of. The
ruggedness of his character is like un-
70 the martyred president"
A record of the life Of Judge Will
liams. former United States senator
and attorney general of the United
States, is in some respects a history
Of the rise and progress of Oregon. In
1908 It was Just half a century since
ne first cast his lot with the inhabi-
tants Of the then territory of Oregon;
and by reason of his Identification
with the development of its resources
during the pioneer period of the ter
ritory and the construction era of the
state, and likewise through his init
mate association with its most vital
public interests during practically the
entire history of its statehood. he has
for many years been regarded as one
of its foremost citizens, whose rich
experience il the affairs of the nation.
on the bench and before the bar, en-
title his opinions on questions of gen.
eral public interest to the highest con-
sideration.
Judge Williams was born in New
Lebanon, Columbia county, New York,
March rs, 1928, and received an aca-
demic education in Pompey, n. Y,
whittier his parents removed when he
was a child. At the age of 81 he was
admitted to the bar of New York. I'M
mediately thereafter he removed to
Iowa, hen a territory, and opened an
office at Fort Madison. At the first
election after the organization of the
state government in 1s47. he was
elected judge Of the first judicial dis
trict of that state, serving five years.
Chief Justice Of Oregon.
The immediate u of his identi-
fication with Oregon was his appoint
ment in 1853 as chief justice of this
territory, an office to which he was
reappointed in 1857 by President
Buchanan. He became a member Of
the constitutional convention for the
state of Oregon and acted as chair
man of the judiciary committee of
that body. In this capacity he vigor-
ously opposed the introduction of
slavery into this state. and before the
instrument was presented TO the vot-
ers. made an active canvass in behalf
of the anti-salevery clause therein.
In 1850 he became one of the
founders Of the Union party, and SUBJ
sequently %canvassed the country for
Lincoln and aided with all his strength
in awakening sympathy for the Union
cause. His election as United States
senator in 1864 took him to Wash
ington at the most critical period in
the country's history, and it is a nat
ter of record that his services dur
ing that vital epoch were in line with
the policy which, in its contamination,
was productive Of such splendid re- !
suits, In the senate he was a MEM
Der Of the committees on finance and
public lands, and also of the recon
struction committee.
Helped Make Laws.
Among the measures which he was