William N. Barrett

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William Nathan Barrett
Barrett circa 1910
Oregon State Senator
In office
1909-1913
Preceded byE. W. Haines
Succeeded byW. D. Wood
ConstituencyWashington County
Member of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
1880-1881
1891-1892
1907-1908
ConstituencyWashington County
8th Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon
In office
1896-1899
1902-1903
1915-1916
Personal details
BornNovember 24, 1855
Washington County, Oregon
DiedDecember 16, 1916(1916-12-16) (aged 61)
Hillsboro, Oregon
Resting placeHillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
NationalityAmerican
Political partyRepublican
SpouseLucretia H. Parrish
Alma materPacific University
OccupationAttorney

William Nathan Barrett (November 24, 1855 – December 16, 1916) was an American politician and lawyer in Oregon. A native of Washington County, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly, including three different times in the Oregon House. A Republican, he was also a three time mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon.

Early life[edit]

William Barrett was born in Washington County, Oregon, to Eliza Jane Barrett (née Purdin) and William R. Barrett on November 24, 1855.[1] There he attended the local public schools before attending Tualatin Academy in Forest Grove, Oregon, for his secondary education.[1] Barrett then attended the affiliated Pacific University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1879.[1]

Following college he read law at the office of attorney and politician Thomas H. Tongue in Hillsboro.[1] On November 18, 1882, he married Lucretia H. Parrish.[1] After studying law he passed the bar in October 1884 and began practicing law.[1] Barrett partnered with William D. Hare in a Hillsboro firm until 1886 when he opened his own office.[1] In 1892, he created a partnership with Loring K. Adams, lasting until 1897 when he returned to a solo practice.[1]

Political career[edit]

Barrett would serve as a deputy district attorney for Washington County and later as district attorney for Oregon's fifth judicial district.[1] In 1880, he served as a Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives serving Washington County.[2] He returned to the House in 1891.[3]

In 1896, he was elected as the 15th different person to be mayor of Hillsboro.[4] Barrett was also the first to serve consecutive terms, holding office from December 8, 1896, until December 5, 1899.[4] He then served on the city council from 1901 to 1902.[5] After a few years away from the mayor's office, he returned as mayor and served from December 2, 1902, to December 15, 1903, when he was succeeded by Benjamin P. Cornelius.[4]

Barrett returned to state politics in 1906 and was elected to the Oregon House to represent Washington County.[6] The Republican was then elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1908 and served in the regular and special sessions of 1909.[7][8] He continued his four-year term at the 1911 secession when his district included Washington, Yamhill, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties.[9]

Later years[edit]

Barrett's headstone

In 1915, he returned to the office of mayor for Hillsboro, assuming the position on January 5 and serving until his death.[4] He was a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias.[1] William Nathan Barrett died on December 16, 1916, while in office, and was buried at the family's plot in the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery.[10]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Colmer, Montagu, and Charles Erskine Scott Wood. History of the Bench and Bar of Oregon. Portland, Or: Historical Pub. Co, 1910. p. 85.
  2. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (11th) 1880 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  3. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (16th) 1891 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  4. ^ a b c d Mayors: City of Hillsboro. The Hillsboro Argus, October 19, 1976
  5. ^ "City Councilor History". City of Hillsboro. Retrieved 2009-04-18.
  6. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (24th) 1907 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  7. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (25th) 1909 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  8. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (25th) 1909 Special Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  9. ^ Oregon Legislative Assembly (26th) 1911 Regular Session. Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.
  10. ^ Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery Inscriptions, Surnames A - B. Cemeteries. Retrieved on April 25, 2008.

External links[edit]

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