Cyrus Olney

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Cyrus Olney
6th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office
1853 – 1858
Appointed by Franklin Pierce
Preceded by William Strong
Succeeded by Reuben P. Boise
Born 1815
Ohio
Died December 21, 1870
Astoria, Oregon

Cyrus Olney (1815-December 21, 1870) was an American politician and lawyer in what would become the state of Oregon. He was the 6th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving while the region was still the Oregon Territory. An native of Ohio, Olney later was a member of the Oregon Constitutional Convention held in 1857 and served in the Oregon legislature.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Cyrus Olney was born in the state of Ohio in 1809.[1] In that state he was educated in the public schools and later law school in Cincinnati.[1] After passing the bar he practiced law for a time in Ohio before moving to Iowa.[1] In Iowa he was a judge for four years.[1]

[edit] Oregon

Olney moved to Oregon and began law practice in Portland in 1851.[1] He continued in this endeavor until 1853.[1] In 1853, Olney was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by United States President Franklin Pierce.[2] Olney remained on the court until 1858 when he resigned, though he had attempted to resign in 1853 and 1854.[2][3] During this time, he also served as a delegate to the Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857 representing Clatsop County.[4] At the Convention he excused himself and did not vote on the final resolution.[3] Then in 1866 he was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives from Clatsop, Columbia, and Tillamook counties.[5] Serving as a Republican he was elected after a one session absence in 1870.[6]

[edit] Later life and family

Olney married twice in his lifetime with seven children, and he died on December 21, 1870 in Astoria at the age of 55.[1] He had been addicted to opium and chloroform up to his death.[3]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  2. ^ a b Oregon Blue Book: Supreme Court Justices of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  3. ^ a b c Lansing, Ronald B. 2005. Nimrod: Courts, Claims, and Killing on the Oregon Frontier. Pullman: Washington State University Press. p. 262.
  4. ^ Oregon Constitutional Convention. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  5. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly 1866 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
  6. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly 1870 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on January 25, 2008.
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