George R. Bagley
Encyclopedia
George Robert Bagley was an American attorney and jurist in the state of Oregon
. A native of Ohio
, he was raised in Washington County, Oregon
, where he practiced law and served as a circuit court judge for nearly 25 years. Bagley Park
in Hillsboro
is named in his honor.
, to William and Sarah Bagley (nee Robinson). The couple had wed in England in 1866 before immigrating to the United States that same year. George was one of six children born to the English natives, which included William H., Harry
, Nellie, and Lillie. George lived in Canton until 1885 when the entire family moved west to Oregon, where his father farmed in the community of Leisyville, just north of Hillsboro in Washington County.
George finished his education in the Leisyville school before setting out to become a lawyer. To that end, George read law at the law office of Thomas H. Tongue
in Hillsboro from May 1, 1892 until June 1, 1895, at which time he was admitted to the Oregon bar. The following year Tongue was elected to Congress. On April 20, 1897, Bagley married Olive M. Hanley, and they had four children, Clifton, George, Jr., Valerie, and Neville. In 1903, Bagley bought a two-story house from his father at 549 northeast 2nd Street in downtown Hillsboro. Built in 1892, he lived in what is now known as the Phelps-Bagley House until selling it in 1909 to William Curry.
for Washington County, with him giving up the position to his brother Harry. Bagley was also a registered insurance agent in 1898. At that time he partnered with William G. Hare
under the firm of Bagley and Hare, and they continued the firm until 1915.
Bagley helped to organize the Oregon Condensed Milk Company in Hillsboro in 1903, and served as the company’s attorney and other corporate offices. The company was sold to the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company and eventually became the Carnation Milk Plant. Bagley also helped start the railroad to Tillamook, now the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
, in 1906. In 1915, George represented a detective who had been hired to investigate a murder by Clackamas County. The detective solved the case and then sued the county after the county refused to pay him for his work. In the lawsuit, George’s younger brother Harry helped represent Clackamas County. George’s client won the lawsuit with a judgment for $2,000 against the county.
. He was appointed to the 19th judicial circuit that was created at that time and covered Washington and Tillamook counties.
Bagley took office on May 22 and presided over his first session of court on May 24 at the courthouse in Oregon City
with a civil suit between Albinia Olds and the Oregon Acetylene Lighting Company. As a judge he oversaw famous trials including the yellow ticket trials and the Bowles trial. Bagley retired from the bench on January 15, 1935, and returned to private practice in Hillsboro and Bagley & Hare.
and the Woodmen of the World
fraternal organizations. Bagley also helped start the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. In 1926, he sold some of his land near downtown Hillsboro to the city for $1 to be used as a park. This land became the city’s second park, and was named Bagley Park
in his honor. Due to his work promoting a railroad to Tillamook
, a station along the Southern Pacific Railway’s Tillamook branch northwest of Hillsboro was named Bagley. George Bagley died on December 26, 1939, in Hillsboro at the age of 68 from a heart ailment and was buried at the cemetery at the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church
.
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 of Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, he was raised in Washington County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, where he practiced law and served as a circuit court judge for nearly 25 years. Bagley Park
Bagley Park
Bagley Park is a two-acre municipal park in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1926, the park covers a half-block at northeast Second Avenue and Jackson Street north of the Washington County Courthouse...
in Hillsboro
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...
is named in his honor.
Early life
George Robert Bagley was born on January 25, 1871, in Canton, OhioCanton, Ohio
Canton is the county seat of Stark County in northeastern Ohio, approximately south of Akron and south of Cleveland.The City of Caton is the largest incorporated area within the Canton-Massillon Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, to William and Sarah Bagley (nee Robinson). The couple had wed in England in 1866 before immigrating to the United States that same year. George was one of six children born to the English natives, which included William H., Harry
Harry T. Bagley
Harry Taylor Bagley was an American attorney and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Ohio, he was raised in Washington County, Oregon, where he practiced law and was a local official...
, Nellie, and Lillie. George lived in Canton until 1885 when the entire family moved west to Oregon, where his father farmed in the community of Leisyville, just north of Hillsboro in Washington County.
George finished his education in the Leisyville school before setting out to become a lawyer. To that end, George read law at the law office of 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...
in Hillsboro from May 1, 1892 until June 1, 1895, at which time he was admitted to the Oregon bar. The following year Tongue was elected to Congress. On April 20, 1897, Bagley married Olive M. Hanley, and they had four children, Clifton, George, Jr., Valerie, and Neville. In 1903, Bagley bought a two-story house from his father at 549 northeast 2nd Street in downtown Hillsboro. Built in 1892, he lived in what is now known as the Phelps-Bagley House until selling it in 1909 to William Curry.
Career
After passing the bar, he began practicing law in Hillsboro. He was a solo practitioner or part of a two-person firm from joining the bar in 1895 until October 1, 1906. From 1896 into 1897 he worked as a deputy district attorneyDistrict 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 Washington County, with him giving up the position to his brother Harry. Bagley was also a registered insurance agent in 1898. At that time he partnered with William G. Hare
William G. Hare
William G. Hare was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, he grew up in the Hillsboro area where he later practiced law. A Republican, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislature, as had his father William D. Hare...
under the firm of Bagley and Hare, and they continued the firm until 1915.
Bagley helped to organize the Oregon Condensed Milk Company in Hillsboro in 1903, and served as the company’s attorney and other corporate offices. The company was sold to the Pacific Coast Condensed Milk Company and eventually became the Carnation Milk Plant. Bagley also helped start the railroad to Tillamook, now the Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad
The Port of Tillamook Bay Railroad is a shortline railroad in northwestern Oregon, United States. Purchased from the Southern Pacific Transportation Company in 1990 by the Port of Tillamook Bay, the railroad was used to transport lumber and agricultural products over the Coast Range between the...
, in 1906. In 1915, George represented a detective who had been hired to investigate a murder by Clackamas County. The detective solved the case and then sued the county after the county refused to pay him for his work. In the lawsuit, George’s younger brother Harry helped represent Clackamas County. George’s client won the lawsuit with a judgment for $2,000 against the county.
Political career
Bagley was a member of the Republican Party, and served as a campaign committee secretary in 1898. About 1911, Bagley was appointed by his brother Harry, who was mayor of Hillsboro, to a commission to study how to replace the city’s old water system. In April 1915, he was appointed as a judge for the Oregon circuit court by Oregon Governor James WithycombeJames Withycombe
James Withycombe was a British-born American politician, a Republican, and the 15th Governor of Oregon. Prior to entering politics he was farmer and sheep rancher in the Tualatin Valley, leading to appointment as the state's veterinarian and then as head of what became the Oregon State University...
. He was appointed to the 19th judicial circuit that was created at that time and covered Washington and Tillamook counties.
Bagley took office on May 22 and presided over his first session of court on May 24 at the courthouse in Oregon City
Oregon City, Oregon
Oregon City was the first city in the United States west of the Rocky Mountains to be incorporated. It is the county seat of Clackamas County, Oregon...
with a civil suit between Albinia Olds and the Oregon Acetylene Lighting Company. As a judge he oversaw famous trials including the yellow ticket trials and the Bowles trial. Bagley retired from the bench on January 15, 1935, and returned to private practice in Hillsboro and Bagley & Hare.
Later life and death
A Republican in politics, he was also a member of the Knights of PythiasKnights of Pythias
The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded at Washington, DC, on 19 February 1864.The Knights of Pythias was the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded by Justus H. Rathbone, who had been...
and the Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World
Woodmen of the World is a fraternal organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, United States, that operates a large privately held insurance company for its members....
fraternal organizations. Bagley also helped start the Hillsboro Chamber of Commerce. In 1926, he sold some of his land near downtown Hillsboro to the city for $1 to be used as a park. This land became the city’s second park, and was named Bagley Park
Bagley Park
Bagley Park is a two-acre municipal park in downtown Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Opened in 1926, the park covers a half-block at northeast Second Avenue and Jackson Street north of the Washington County Courthouse...
in his honor. Due to his work promoting a railroad to Tillamook
Tillamook, Oregon
The city of Tillamook is the county seat of Tillamook County, Oregon, United States. The city is located on the southeast end of Tillamook Bay on the Pacific Ocean. The population was 4,352 at the 2000 census...
, a station along the Southern Pacific Railway’s Tillamook branch northwest of Hillsboro was named Bagley. George Bagley died on December 26, 1939, in Hillsboro at the age of 68 from a heart ailment and was buried at the cemetery at the Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church
Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church
The Tualatin Plains Presbyterian Church, better known as the Old Scotch Church, is a church and national historic site located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The church dates to 1873 while the church structure with an eight-sided steeple dates to 1878...
.