Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-09-27
Chief Justice Dunbar

OLYMPIA, Sept. 19.-Chief Justice
palph Oregon Dunbar of the supreme
.,rt of Washington, died shortly
.rer midnight this morning in his
INA here He had been i'll for some
linz His death is ascribed to apo
law He spent last summer on his
a,oce in Klickitat county, and had
not been doing court work for
months.
Chief Justice Dunbar had been a
,omber of the supreme court since
washington was admitted to the
Union and for the last three terms
hos served as chief justice He was
oominated without opposition on the
nonpartisan judiciary ticket at the
statewide primary last week to sue
coed himself.
He leaves a widow and three chill
aren-Fred, Ruth and John.
Justice Dunbar was born in Schuy-
lar county, H.. April 26, 1845. His
narents, Rice and Jane (Brisbin)
nunbar, were natives of Ohio and
pennsylvania, respectively, but were
married. in Illinois, where both were
reared from childhood.
Rice Dunbar was carpenter by
trade and followed that occupation in
Illinois until 1916. That year he
purchased a prairie outfit and with
OK teams brought his family across
the plains and mountains to the Will
annette valley, Oregon. He located
on a donation claim in the Waldo
hills, Marion county, and there en-
gagged In farming, continuing his
trade as the opportunity afforded up
to 1863. Then he moved his family
to Salem, where he passed the clos
Ing years of his life.
Judge Dunbar was educated at
willamette university, teaching two
years while pursuing his studies. In
1867 he moved to Olympia and com
Of Hon. Elwood Evand and was ad-
mitted to practice before the terri
torial supreme court in 1869
His career as lawyer was marked
by success. He had an extensive
practice throughout the state and
had gained reputation as a success
full lawyer.
That same year, in 1869. he was
appointed clerk of the United States
district court by Chief Justice Orange
Jacobs and performed the duties of
the office until 1871, when he re-
signed, went to Yakima and engaged
In the practice of his profession, con-
tinuing there thus occupied until
1875. He then moved to The Dalles,
Ore, and passed two years at that
place.
Returning to Washington in 1877,
he opened an office in Goldendale
In 1878 he was elected to the upper
house, or council, of the territorial
legislature and was also elected Judge
OF Klickitat, Yakima, Clarke and
Skamania counties. In 1885 he was
elected to the lower house of the ter
rltorial legislature, and upon the as
cemblage of that body was elected
speaker.
he also served several terms as
city attorney of Goldendale, and from
1889 to 1886 was editor and proprt-
etor of the Goldendale Sentinel, a
paper which zealously supported the
principles of the republican party.
Inc Judge represented the Eleventh
district in the constitutional conyen-
uon in 1889 and was appointed thu
chairman of the committee on tide
and granted lands and was the auth
or or the constitutional article on
SCHOOL lands. He was a prominent
candidate for congress at the first
state convention in 1889, lacking
oniy three votes of the nomination.
Al the same convention he was
unanimously nominated as candidate
ior supreme Judge, to which position
no was elected by a large majority
me Following month. In January,
1888 after serving two years as as
'Oclate justice, he was chosen by his
Orotner judges chief justice
justice Dunbar was married in
iaAima In 1873 to Miss Clara,
laughter of William White, a pio-
user OF 1852. Her father was muir
usred while engaged in farming six
IleS south of Olympia, during the
inoian war of 1855.