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| Orange Jacobs 1 |
The following biography of Orange Jacobs was taken from Elwood Evans' 1889 History of the Pacific Northwest: Oregon and Washington, Volume II (page 389): HON. ORANGE JACOBS. - Hon. Orange Jacobs is a son of new York, a state which is the first in wealth, population, trade, manufactures and commerce, and first in the number of her sons and daught4ers who had gone out to make homes in other regions, and to develop their resources with New York brain and brawn. Virginia claims the proud distinction of being the "Mother of Presidents;" and New York could claim the prouder title of being "the mother of States and Territories." In 1880 the Empire state had more than one million two hundred and fifty thousand sons and daughters who had made homes in newer countries. It is beyond human power to calculate what these armies of New Yorkers have done to found and build up our empire in that vast country west of the Alleghany Mountains. The subject of our sketch is one of the most honored, distinguished and useful of these Empire state children. He was born in 1829, a rugged era of American civilization, which produced and developed rugged and heroic men and women. From New York he removed in early life to the frontiers in Michigan, where he was educated, and where his character was molded. At twenty-three years of age he joined the migratory masses that were moving towards the setting sun; and, following the "Oregon Trail," he crossed the plains and the continental divide, and reached the tides of the Pacific Ocean. His home was first made in Salem, Oregon; but later he removed to Jacksonville, Jackson county, where he pursued the practice of law for a quarter of a century. In 1867 he was appointed associate justice of the supreme court of Washington Territory, and in a short time was made chief justice. On the expiration of his term, Judge Jacobs was offered a reappointment by President Grant; but he declined the position to accept the nomination for delegate to Congress from the Republican party. He was elected to this office for two terms, and declined the nomination for a third term, returning to the practice of law. In 1880 he was elected mayor of Seattle, and served on term, declining a renomination for a second term. In 1884 he was elected to the senatorial council, where he did good service for the people of Washington Territory. Among the many measures he was instrumental in passing may be mentioned the change in the exemption laws, and the appropriations for the territorial penitentiary, insane asylum and university. The appropriations for the university were the largest in the legislation of that territory; and the results of the outlay will be felt to the remotest time. Judge Jacobs is now a member, and the treasurer, of the board of regents of the University of Washington. While living in Oregon he came within one vote of a nomination, which would have been equivalent to an election to the United States Senate. While chief justice of the supreme court of Washington Territory, he made a decision in a case that became celebrated, as it involved the question of the national jurisdiction to the Island of San Juan. Judge Jacobs is decidedly opposed to alien and servile labor, and as strongly in favor of free American labor; but he deprecates violence and lawlessness in the solution of the question. He believes that it is a question of national importance, and that the non-employment of Chinese would result in their removal from this country. Judge Jacobs is a man of large stature, commanding presence, positive views, has the courage of his convictions, but is liberal and tolerant. He has filled a prominent place in the public affairs of Northwest America as a pioneer, lawmaker and judicial officer. Orange Jacobs emigrated to Oregon in 1852. Orange Jacobs was a member of the Maine-Law Party circa 1854 in Oregon. Bancroft writes in his History of Oregon that: "The Maine-law candidates for seats in the legislature were Elisha Strong and O. Jacobs of Marion; S. Nelson, P. H. Hatch, E. D. Shattuck of Clackamas; D. W. Ballard of Linn; Ladd and Gilliam of Polk; J. H. D. Henderson and G. W. Burnett of Yamhill." The following biographical sketch of Orange Jacobs was prepared by Thomas W. Prosch for 1914 necrology report published in The Washington Historical Quarterly: Jacobs, Orange - Born at Genesee, N. Y., May 2d, 1827; died at Seattle May 21st. He came to Oregon in 1852, and remained there until 1869, in Marion and Jackson Counties. He taught school, practiced law, edited a newspaper and did other things in pursuit of a livelihood. Though in the political minority -- a Republican -- he was prominent in the public affairs of that territory and state. He was appointed by President Grant associate justice of the Supreme Court in Washington Territory and still later chief and reppointed the latter. He served as judge six years, when he was elected Delegate to Congress and reelected, serving four years ending in 1879. Shortly after his return to the territory he was elected mayor of Seattle, and when the city became much greater he served the people as corporation counsel. Some years later -- 1897 to 1901 -- he was judge of the Superior Court of King County. He was a territorial legislator. Between times he practiced law. Twice he was president of the Washington Pioneers. He was also a regent of the Univeristy [University of Washington]. A willing, helpful man, a good talker, a writer of ability, genial and sympathetic, he was popular, respected and honored by all. A wife and seven children were left. Orange Jacobs was nominated for the seat of Oregon State Senator in the Oregon Legislature on September 11, 1863. Eleven other men were also nominated to the seat that was soon to be vacated by Senator Stark. Benjamin F. Harding, of Marion Co., Oregon, was elected as Senator. Orange Jacobs was the pioneer school teacher of Phoenix, Jackson Co., Oregon. Marriage: Orange Jacobs mentions Samuel Colver in his autobiography titled Memoirs of Orange Jacbos, published in 1908. Jacobs, who was a cousin of the Colvers by his marriage to Lucinda Davenport, later became Chief Justice of the Washington State Supreme Court, as well as Mayor of the City of Seattle. The following is taken from pages 104-105 of Jacobs' book: "I stopped at a town in Jackson County, bearing the euphonious name of Gasberg. I rested there for a couple of weeks. The people of that settlement were contemplating the erection of a building for a high school or seminary; and they offered me $150 a month to teach a six-months' school. Mr. Culver [Samuel], quite a wealthy gentleman, offered me an additional $50 a month to keep his books posted, a work I could attend to at night without interferring with the school. I concluded as I probably would have to wait until spring for my collections, to accept the offer. The district already had quite a good school-house. My scholars were mostly young men and women, and I taught everything from reading, and spelling, up to and including algebra, and surveying. I never had to do with a finer lot of pupils, and my position was in every way agreeable to me. I ought possibly state that my wife, then Miss Lucinda Davenport, the only daughter of Dr. Davenport, attended that school. This added to my other employments the delightsome one of courting, and we were married on the first of January, 1858. Although we have lived together for fifty years, we have never been reconciled yet, because there never has been any occasion for reconcilation."
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