Oregon Governor. He received notoriety serving two terms as the eighth Governor of Oregon, from January 12, 1887 to January 14, 1895. With his first term, he was a candidate from the Democratic Party and with his second term, the Populist Party. Born in the village of Gorton to a wealthy father, who served in the New York State legislature, he was educated in private schools before entering Harvard Law School, graduating in 1854. By 1855 he was in Oregon establishing an academic career becoming Superintendent of Multnomah County schools . In 1862 he entered the lumber business, and began writing newspaper editorials to the “Oregon Herald.” During the American Civil War, he was a Confederate sympathizer believing firmly in States Rights in what would become a Republican state. He became owner and editor of the “Oregon Harold” in 1869. He played a part in the United States Supreme Court ruling in the 1878 case Pennoyer v. Neff, which remains today a legal and landmark decision. United States Senator John H. Mitchell sued Marcus Neff for legal fees allegedly not paid, while Neff was out of state, thus never served notice of process. Since Neff was not present for the court hearing, Mitchell won the lawsuit by default judgment and within a few months took possession of Neff's homestead . Mitchell sold the homestead to Pennoyer. When Neff returned to Oregon, he sued Pennoyer for his homestead in Oregon and won, but eventually, Pennoyer took the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court but still lost. He was elected Governor of Oregon on an anti-Chinese platform, supporting American laborers, and was loudly at odds with both United States Presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison over State Rights issues. During t he Economic Panic of 1893, which caused an increase in unemployment for four years, he supported a mass protest in Washington, D.C demanding Federal aide for Oregon. He served as Mayor of City of Portland in 1896 to 1898. He died of cardiac disease on his ranch near Portland in 1902. He donated nearly six acres of land to Portland, which was originally known as Pennoyer Park ; it is now called Governor’s Park. He was originally interred in Fir Cemetery, but his remains were moved to River View Cemetery in 1924.
Oregon Governor. He received notoriety serving two terms as the eighth Governor of Oregon, from January 12, 1887 to January 14, 1895. With his first term, he was a candidate from the Democratic Party and with his second term, the Populist Party. Born in the village of Gorton to a wealthy father, who served in the New York State legislature, he was educated in private schools before entering Harvard Law School, graduating in 1854. By 1855 he was in Oregon establishing an academic career becoming Superintendent of Multnomah County schools . In 1862 he entered the lumber business, and began writing newspaper editorials to the “Oregon Herald.” During the American Civil War, he was a Confederate sympathizer believing firmly in States Rights in what would become a Republican state. He became owner and editor of the “Oregon Harold” in 1869. He played a part in the United States Supreme Court ruling in the 1878 case Pennoyer v. Neff, which remains today a legal and landmark decision. United States Senator John H. Mitchell sued Marcus Neff for legal fees allegedly not paid, while Neff was out of state, thus never served notice of process. Since Neff was not present for the court hearing, Mitchell won the lawsuit by default judgment and within a few months took possession of Neff's homestead . Mitchell sold the homestead to Pennoyer. When Neff returned to Oregon, he sued Pennoyer for his homestead in Oregon and won, but eventually, Pennoyer took the case all the way to the United States Supreme Court but still lost. He was elected Governor of Oregon on an anti-Chinese platform, supporting American laborers, and was loudly at odds with both United States Presidents Grover Cleveland and Benjamin Harrison over State Rights issues. During t he Economic Panic of 1893, which caused an increase in unemployment for four years, he supported a mass protest in Washington, D.C demanding Federal aide for Oregon. He served as Mayor of City of Portland in 1896 to 1898. He died of cardiac disease on his ranch near Portland in 1902. He donated nearly six acres of land to Portland, which was originally known as Pennoyer Park ; it is now called Governor’s Park. He was originally interred in Fir Cemetery, but his remains were moved to River View Cemetery in 1924.
Bio by: RB
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