William W. Upton
Encyclopedia
William W. Upton was an American
jurist and politician. He served as Oregon
’s 8th Chief Justice
of the state’s highest court. William Upton served from 1867 until 1874 on the Oregon Supreme Court
before appointment to a position with the United States Treasury in 1877. A native of New York
, he was elected to the state legislatures in Michigan
, California
, and Oregon.
. There he attended Lima Academy. Later he moved to Michigan
, where in 1840 he was admitted to that state’s bar. He also served in the Michigan State Legislature. Then in 1852 he moved to California
. In California he was elected to the state legislature in 1856. Then in 1861 he was the district attorney
for Sacramento County, California
.
as a Republican from Multnomah County
. Then in December 1867, Upton was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by Oregon Governor George L. Woods to replace Erasmus D. Shattuck
who had resigned. The next year Upton won a full six-year term that ended in 1874. While on the bench he was chief justice from 1872 until 1874. He also wrote a 17 page dissent in the legislative delegation case of Brown v. Fleischner, 4 Or 132, (1871), which would be overturned using Upton’s argument in Shattuck v. Kincaid, 31 Or. 379 (1897). Former justice Shattuck would then replace Upton on the court.
made Upton the second comptroller of the Treasury in 1877. He kept that position until 1885 and then died on January 23, 1896 in Washington, DC.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jurist and politician. He served as 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...
’s 8th Chief Justice
Chief Justice
The Chief Justice in many countries is the name for the presiding member of a Supreme Court in Commonwealth or other countries with an Anglo-Saxon justice system based on English common law, such as the Supreme Court of Canada, the Constitutional Court of South Africa, the Court of Final Appeal of...
of the state’s highest court. William Upton served from 1867 until 1874 on the Oregon Supreme Court
Oregon Supreme Court
The Oregon Supreme Court is the highest state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States. The OSC holds court at the Oregon Supreme Court Building in Salem, Oregon, near the capitol...
before appointment to a position with the United States Treasury in 1877. A native of New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, he was elected to the state legislatures in Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, 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...
, and Oregon.
Early life
Upton was born on July 11, 1817 in Victor, New YorkVictor (town), New York
Victor is a town in Ontario County, New York, USA. The population was 9,977 at the 2000 census. The town is named after Claudius Victor Boughton, a hero of the War of 1812.The Town of Victor contains a village, also called Victor...
. There he attended Lima Academy. Later he moved to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where in 1840 he was admitted to that state’s bar. He also served in the Michigan State Legislature. Then in 1852 he moved to 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...
. In California he was elected to the state legislature in 1856. Then in 1861 he was 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 Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County, California
Sacramento County is a county in the U.S. state of California. Its county seat is Sacramento, which is also the state capital. As of 2010 the county had a population of 1,418,788....
.
Oregon
In 1865 William Upton immigrated north to Oregon. The following year he served in the Oregon House of RepresentativesOregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
as a Republican 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...
. Then in December 1867, Upton was appointed to the Oregon Supreme Court by Oregon Governor George L. Woods to replace Erasmus D. Shattuck
Erasmus D. Shattuck
Erasmus Darwin Shattuck was an American politician and judge in the state of Oregon. He served as the 7th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court serving from 1866 to 1867...
who had resigned. The next year Upton won a full six-year term that ended in 1874. While on the bench he was chief justice from 1872 until 1874. He also wrote a 17 page dissent in the legislative delegation case of Brown v. Fleischner, 4 Or 132, (1871), which would be overturned using Upton’s argument in Shattuck v. Kincaid, 31 Or. 379 (1897). Former justice Shattuck would then replace Upton on the court.
Later life
Upon leaving the court, Upton was appointed to a position in the United States Treasury. President Rutherford B. HayesRutherford B. Hayes
Rutherford Birchard Hayes was the 19th President of the United States . As president, he oversaw the end of Reconstruction and the United States' entry into the Second Industrial Revolution...
made Upton the second comptroller of the Treasury in 1877. He kept that position until 1885 and then died on January 23, 1896 in Washington, DC.