Lafayette F. Mosher Explained

Lafayette Howe Mosher
Office:23rd Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
Termstart:1873
Termend:1874
Appointer:LaFayette Grover
Predecessor:Andrew J. Thayer
Successor:John Burnett (judge)
Birth Date:September 1, 1824
Birth Place:Latonia Springs, Kentucky
Death Place:Oregon
Spouse:Winnifred Lane Mosher
Party:Republican

Lafayette Howe Mosher (September 1, 1824 – March 27, 1890) was an American politician and judge in Oregon. He was the 23rd justice of the Oregon Supreme Court. Prior to joining the state's highest court in 1873 he served in the Oregon State Senate.

Early life

Mosher was born near Latonia Springs in Kentucky on September 1, 1824.[1] The son of Hannah Webster and her husband Stephen Mosher, Lafayette was educated in Cincinnati, Ohio at Woodward College where he received a Bachelor of Arts in 1843.[1] He later moved to Oregon Territory.[1]

Oregon

On May 14, 1853, he arrived in Oregon.[1] Through 1854 he was involved in a movement in Southern Oregon to create a new territory, Jackson Territory.[1] In 1855 he was appointed as a registrar for the Southern Oregon District of the land office.[1] Then on July 1, 1856, Mosher married the daughter of former governor Joseph Lane, Winnifred, with whom he would have eight children.[1]

In 1870, he was appointed to the Oregon State Senate after the winner of the seat accepted a federal position and became ineligible for the legislature.[2] Mosher served as a Republican from Douglas County.[2] In 1873, he was appointed by Oregon Governor LaFayette Grover to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace Andrew J. Thayer who had died in office.[3] [4] His term then ended the following year and Mosher left the court.[4] Lafayette Mosher died on March 27, 1890, in Roseburg, Oregon.[5]

Notes and References

  1. Corning, Howard M. Dictionary of Oregon History. Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.
  2. http://records.sos.state.or.us/ORSOSWebDrawer/Recordpdf/6785264 Oregon Legislative Assembly (6th) 1870 Regular Session.
  3. https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/governors_guides.aspx Oregon State Archives: Oregon Governor's Records Guides.
  4. https://sos.oregon.gov/blue-book/Documents/elections/history-officials.pdf Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Supreme Court Justices of Oregon.
  5. News: Morning Oregonian . March 28, 1890 . 6.