Alfred E. Reames
Encyclopedia
Alfred Evan Reames was an American
attorney and politician from the state of Oregon
. A native Oregonian, he served as a United States Senator for nine months in 1938. A Democrat
, he practiced law in Portland, Eugene, and Jacksonville.
, as the son of Thomas G. Reames and Lucinda Williams on February 5, 1870. He received his primary education in the public schools of Jacksonville. For college Reames first attended University of the Pacific in California
before returning to Oregon and attending the University of Oregon
in Eugene
. In 1891, he married Edith L. Tongue of Hillsboro, Oregon
, the daughter of former representative Thomas H. Tongue
. Then in 1893 Alfred Reames earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University
in Virginia
. That same year he returned to Oregon and began law practice in Eugene after passing the bar
.
, to continue practicing law. In 1895 his wife Edith died, and he returned to Jacksonville where he practiced law until 1902. From 1900 to 1908 he served as the district attorney
for Josephine
Jackson
, Klamath
, and Lake
counties in southwestern Oregon. In 1911 he resumed private law practice in Medford, Oregon
. There Reames became a part owner of the Deep Gravel Mining Company and president of Three Pines Timber Company. Then on February 1, 1938 Oregon Governor
Charles H. Martin appointed Alfred Reames to the United States Senate
to fill the vacancy created when Senator Frederick Steiwer
resigned from Congress. The Democrat served until November 8, 1938 when Alexander G. Barry
was elected. Reames did not run in the fall election.
. After Congress he returned to private practice. He was responsible for the construction of the Jacksonville power plant. On March 4, 1943 Alfred Evan Reames died in Medford and was buried at Siskiyou Memorial Park.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
attorney and politician from the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native Oregonian, he served as a United States Senator for nine months in 1938. A Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
, he practiced law in Portland, Eugene, and Jacksonville.
Early life
Alfred Reames was born in Jacksonville, OregonJacksonville, Oregon
Jacksonville is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States, a few miles west of Medford. It was named for Jackson Creek, which runs through the community and was the site of one of the first placer gold claims in the area. It includes Jacksonville Historic District which was designated a U.S....
, as the son of Thomas G. Reames and Lucinda Williams on February 5, 1870. He received his primary education in the public schools of Jacksonville. For college Reames first attended University of the Pacific in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
before returning to Oregon and attending the University of Oregon
University of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
. In 1891, he married Edith L. Tongue of Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, the daughter of former representative Thomas H. Tongue
Thomas H. Tongue
Thomas H. Tongue was an American politician and attorney in the state of Oregon. Born in England, his family immigrated to Washington County, Oregon, in 1859. In Oregon, he would serve in the State Senate from 1889 to 1893 and was the seventh mayor of Hillsboro...
. Then in 1893 Alfred Reames earned his law degree from Washington and Lee University
Washington and Lee University School of Law
The Washington and Lee University School of Law is a private American Bar Association-accredited law school located in Lexington in the Shenandoah Valley region of Virginia. Facilities are currently on the campus of Washington and Lee University in Sydney Lewis Hall...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. That same year he returned to Oregon and began law practice in Eugene after passing the bar
Bar (law)
Bar in a legal context has three possible meanings: the division of a courtroom between its working and public areas; the process of qualifying to practice law; and the legal profession.-Courtroom division:...
.
Legal career
After practicing in Eugene until 1894 he moved to Portland, OregonPortland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, to continue practicing law. In 1895 his wife Edith died, and he returned to Jacksonville where he practiced law until 1902. From 1900 to 1908 he served as the district attorney
District attorney
In many jurisdictions in the United States, a District Attorney is an elected or appointed government official who represents the government in the prosecution of criminal offenses. The district attorney is the highest officeholder in the jurisdiction's legal department and supervises a staff of...
for Josephine
Josephine County, Oregon
Josephine County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. According to Oregon Geographic Names, the county is probably named after a stream in the area called Josephine Creek, which in turn is probably named after Virginia Josephine Rollins Ort. In 2010, its population was 82,713...
Jackson
Jackson County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument* Crater Lake National Park * Klamath National Forest * Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest * Umpqua National Forest -Demographics:...
, Klamath
Klamath County, Oregon
-National protected areas:* Bear Valley National Wildlife Refuge* Crater Lake National Park * Deschutes National Forest * Fremont National Forest * Klamath Marsh National Wildlife Refuge* Lower Klamath National Wildlife Refuge...
, and Lake
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
counties in southwestern Oregon. In 1911 he resumed private law practice in Medford, Oregon
Medford, Oregon
Medford is a city in Jackson County, Oregon, United States. As of the 2010 US Census, the city had a total population of 74,907 and a metropolitan area population of 207,010, making the Medford MSA the 4th largest metro area in Oregon...
. There Reames became a part owner of the Deep Gravel Mining Company and president of Three Pines Timber Company. Then on February 1, 1938 Oregon Governor
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
Charles H. Martin appointed Alfred Reames to the United States Senate
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
to fill the vacancy created when Senator Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer
Frederick Steiwer was an American politician and lawyer in the state of Oregon. A native of the state, he was county district attorney and member of the Oregon State Senate from Eastern Oregon and a veteran of World War I. A Republican, he was elected to the United States Senate and served there...
resigned from Congress. The Democrat served until November 8, 1938 when Alexander G. Barry
Alexander G. Barry
Alexander Grant Barry was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Astoria, he was a World War I veteran and briefly a United States Senator from late 1938 to early 1939...
was elected. Reames did not run in the fall election.
Later life
In 1923 Reames re-married and had one son with Lillian L. Lanning who was from Albany, OregonAlbany, Oregon
Albany is the eleventh largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon, and is the county seat of Linn County. It is located in the Willamette Valley at the confluence of the Calapooia River and the Willamette River in both Linn and Benton counties, just east of Corvallis and south of Salem. It is...
. After Congress he returned to private practice. He was responsible for the construction of the Jacksonville power plant. On March 4, 1943 Alfred Evan Reames died in Medford and was buried at Siskiyou Memorial Park.