History of Rickreall, (Polk County) Oregon United States of America

Our database does not include an historic photo for Rickreall, (Polk County) Oregon, do you have one you would like to contribute? Contact Us!

James Willis Nesmith, senator, was born in Washington county, Maine, July 23, 1820; son of William Morrison and Harriet (Willis) Nesmith, and was of Irish and Scotch ancestry. His parents removed to New Hampshire, where he attended school. In 1838 he went to the Western Reserve and made his home with his uncle Joseph G. Willis, near Cincinnati, Ohio. He started for Oregon in 1842, joined the Applegate party at Fort Scott, and settled in Salem, Oregon, in 1843, where he was influential in forming the provisional government. He studied law, 1843-45, and was appointed judge in 1845. He married Pauline Goff in 1846. He commanded a company on expeditions against the Indians, 1848 and 1853, was U.S. marshal for Oregon territory, 1853-55; superintendent of Indian affairs, 1857-6l, and was elected senator by the Republican legislature as successor to Joseph Lane, serving, 1861-67. He was a member of the committee on military affairs, Indian affairs and of the special committees on commerce and Revolutionary claims, and of a committee appointed to visit the Indian tribes of the west. He also served as a visitor to the U.S. military academy and as an attendant on the funeral of General Scott. He was a delegate to the National Union convention at Philadelphia, in 1866, and was appointed by President Johnson, U.S. minister to Austria in 1867, but his appointment was not confirmed by the senate. He settled in Rickreall, Polk county, Oregon, as a farmer and stock raiser; and was Democratic representative in the 43d congress, 1873-75. He died at Rickreall, Oregon, June 17, 1885.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of Rickreall, (Polk County) Oregon

Biographies: