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WATSON, James F.

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WATSON, James F. (Dubuque, IA, Mar. 15, 1840--June 12, 1897). Watson was born in Dubuque, Iowa, to James and Emily Watson. In 1853, the family moved to Douglas County in Oregon Territory. Watson was educated in Eugene, Oregon at Columbia College. After attempting GOLD mining, he studied law under Rufus Mallory in Roseburg, Oregon and was admitted to the bar in 1863. He served as a prosecutor for Oregon’s Second Judicial District from 1864 to 1872.

In 1872, Watson was elected to the Oregon State Senate as a Republican from Douglas County. He won re-election in 1874. In 1876 Watson won election to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace John Burnett. His term ended in 1878, and he left the bench.

In 1878, the circuit court functions of the Oregon Supreme Court were split off and a separate circuit court was created with the number of judges on the high court reduced from five to three. The following year Watson was appointed to the circuit court where he won re-election in 1880 and served until 1882.

In 1882, Watson was appointed by the President of the United States to the position of U.S. District Attorney for the District of Oregon. He kept that position until 1886 when he returned to private practice in Portland, Oregon.

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Source:

"James F. Watson." Wikipedia

"James F. Watson Biography." State of Oregon Law Library. Online: http://www.oregon.gov/SOLL/Pages/ojd_historyjustice_biographies/j_f_watson_bio.aspx

"James F. Watson." Republican League Register of Oregon, The Register Publishing Company, 1896, page 277.