Melvin Clark George
Encyclopedia
Melvin Clark George (May 13, 1849 – February 22, 1933) was a U.S. Representative
from Oregon
.
to Presley and Mahala Nickerson George. He moved with his parents over the Oregon Trail
in 1851 and settled on a homestead near Lebanon
in Linn County, Oregon
. In Oregon he attended country schools, then Santiam Academy
, and finally Willamette University
in Salem
.
He served as principal of the Albany
schools and the Jefferson Institute in what would become Jefferson
. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar
and commenced practice in Portland
in 1875.
In 1873, he married Mary Eckler, with whom he had three children.
from Multnomah County
from 1876 to 1880. In 1880, he was elected as a Republican
to Oregon's At-large congressional district
in the United States House of Representatives
, defeating incumbent John Whiteaker
by 1,397 votes. In 1882, he defeated Democrat William D. Fenton by 3,365 votes to become the first Oregon congressman to be re-elected to a second term. During his term in Congress, George promoted construction of jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River
. He did not seek a third term in 1884.
at Willamette University from 1885 to 1889. He served on the Portland school board, and then in 1891, was appointed chairman of the Portland bridge commission, which sought to provide free bridges throughout the city. In this capacity, George oversaw the construction of the Burnside Bridge
. George Park in the St. Johns
neighborhood of Portland is named in his honor.
George also served as a Multnomah circuit court judge from 1897 to 1905, and then practiced law in Portland until his death in Portland on February 22, 1933. He is interred at Lone Fir Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from 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...
.
Early life
He was born near Caldwell, OhioCaldwell, Ohio
Caldwell is a village located along the West Fork of Duck Creek in Noble County, Ohio, United States. The population was 1,956 at the 2000 census...
to Presley and Mahala Nickerson George. He moved with his parents over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
in 1851 and settled on a homestead near Lebanon
Lebanon, Oregon
Lebanon is a city in Linn County, Oregon, United States. Lebanon is located in northwest Oregon, southeast of Salem. The population was 12,950 at the 2000 census and the 2008 census data shows the population at 15,397.-Geography:...
in Linn County, Oregon
Linn County, Oregon
Linn County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It is named in honor of Lewis F. Linn, a U.S. Senator from Missouri who advocated the American occupation of the Oregon Country. By the 2010 US census the population of Linn county was 116,672 showing a 13.2% growth since the 2000 census...
. In Oregon he attended country schools, then Santiam Academy
Santiam Academy
Santiam Academy was an early primary and secondary school in Lebanon, Oregon, United States, run by the Methodist Episcopal Church.-History:The predecessor of the school was founded by pioneers in 1852 in a log cabin. Santiam Academy was created on January 18, 1854, by an act of the Oregon...
, and finally Willamette University
Willamette University
Willamette University is an American private institution of higher learning located in Salem, Oregon. Founded in 1842, it is the oldest university in the Western United States. Willamette is a member of the Annapolis Group of colleges, and is made up of an undergraduate College of Liberal Arts and...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
.
He served as principal of the Albany
Albany, 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...
schools and the Jefferson Institute in what would become Jefferson
Jefferson, Oregon
Jefferson is a city in Marion County, Oregon, United States. It is part of the Salem Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 2,487 at the 2000 census...
. He studied law, and was admitted to the bar
Admission to the bar in the United States
In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...
and commenced practice in Portland
Portland, 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...
in 1875.
In 1873, he married Mary Eckler, with whom he had three children.
Political career
George served as member of the Oregon State SenateOregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
from Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
from 1876 to 1880. In 1880, he was elected as a Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
to Oregon's At-large congressional district
Oregon's At-large congressional district
Oregon's At-large congressional district is a former United States Congressional District. During its existence, Oregon voters elected a Representative of the United States House of Representatives At-large from the entire state.-History:...
in the United States House of Representatives
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
, defeating incumbent John Whiteaker
John Whiteaker
John Whiteaker was an American politician, soldier, and judge primarily in Oregon. A native of Indiana, he joined the Army during the Mexican-American War and then prospected during the California Gold Rush. After moving to the Oregon Territory he served as a judge and member of the legislature...
by 1,397 votes. In 1882, he defeated Democrat William D. Fenton by 3,365 votes to become the first Oregon congressman to be re-elected to a second term. During his term in Congress, George promoted construction of jetties at the mouth of the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. He did not seek a third term in 1884.
After Congress
Following his term in Congress, George served as a professor of medical jurisprudenceMedical jurisprudence
Medical jurisprudence, or forensic medicine in the broad sense , now embraces all matters which may bring the physician into contact with the law...
at Willamette University from 1885 to 1889. He served on the Portland school board, and then in 1891, was appointed chairman of the Portland bridge commission, which sought to provide free bridges throughout the city. In this capacity, George oversaw the construction of the Burnside Bridge
Burnside Bridge
The Burnside Bridge is a bascule bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon.-Design:Including approaches, the Burnside has a total length of and a center span. While lowered this span is normally above the river. The deck is made of concrete, which contributes to its being one of...
. George Park in the St. Johns
St. Johns, Portland, Oregon
St. Johns is a neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, United States located in North Portland on the tip of the peninsula formed by the confluence of the Willamette River and the Columbia River....
neighborhood of Portland is named in his honor.
George also served as a Multnomah circuit court judge from 1897 to 1905, and then practiced law in Portland until his death in Portland on February 22, 1933. He is interred at Lone Fir Cemetery.