Obadiah B. McFadden

Summary

Obadiah Benton McFadden (November 18, 1815 – June 25, 1875) was an American attorney and politician in the Pacific Northwest. He was the 8th justice of the Oregon Supreme Court, temporarily serving on the court to replace Matthew Deady. A Pennsylvania native, he later was a legislator in the Washington Territory, and he served in Congress representing that territory.

Obadiah B. McFadden
McFadden while serving in Congress
8th Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
In office
1853–1854
Nominated byPresident Franklin Pierce
Preceded byMatthew Deady
Succeeded byMatthew Deady
Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives from Washington Territory's at-large district
In office
March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Preceded bySelucius Garfielde
Succeeded byOrange Jacobs
Personal details
BornNovember 18, 1815
West Middletown, Pennsylvania
DiedJune 25, 1875(1875-06-25) (aged 59)
Olympia, Washington
Political partyDemocratic
SpouseMargaret Caldwell
Signature

Early life edit

Obadiah McFadden was born in West Middletown, Pennsylvania, on November 18, 1815.[1] He was then educated locally in Washington County, Pennsylvania, at the public schools and at McKeever Academy.[1] Then in 1837 he married Margaret Caldwell.[2] By 1843 he had been admitted to the bar allowing him to practice law.[2]

Politics edit

In 1853, Franklin Pierce sent McFadden to Oregon with a commission making Matthew P. Deady a justice of the Territorial Supreme Court. However, it was subsequently discovered that the commission named "Mordecai P. Deady"; as there was no such person, Deady withdrew from the court on the grounds that the commission was invalid, with McFadden taking his place for the remainder of the term.[3]

McFadden's term ended in 1854 and he left the Oregon court.[4] At the time he was one of three justices on the bench of the court.[4]

In 1854, he was appointed to the Washington Supreme Court when Washington Territory was created out of Oregon Territory.[2] While on that court he served as Chief Justice from 1858 to 1861.[2] In 1861, he would become the president of the Washington Legislature's Council Chamber and would serve on that body until 1864 representing Thurston, Lewis and Chehalis counties.[2][5] From 1855 to 1856, he fought in the Yakima War against the Yakima Indians.[2]

Later years edit

McFadden then returned to private law practice, setting up office in Olympia, Washington.[2] Then in 1872 he was elected as a Democrat to represent the territory in the 43rd United States Congress.[1] He served as a delegate from March 4, 1873, to March 3, 1875, and was not a candidate for renomination to the position. McFadden died in Olympia on June 25, 1875, and was buried at the Masonic Cemetery.[1]

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d Obadiah Benton McFadden. Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on January 22, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  3. ^ Obadiah B. McFadden, Oregon and Washington Territorial Judge, by Sidney Teiser, in Oregon Historical Quarterly; Vol. 66, No. 1 (Mar., 1965), pp. 25-37; via JSTOR
  4. ^ a b Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Supreme Court Justices of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on January 22, 2008.
  5. ^ Members of the Legislature: 1889-2001. State of Washington. Retrieved on January 22, 2008.

  This article incorporates public domain material from the Biographical Directory of the United States Congress

U.S. House of Representatives
Preceded by Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives
from Washington Territory's at-large congressional district

March 4, 1873 – March 3, 1875
Succeeded by