Matthew Deady facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Matthew Deady
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Oregon | |
| In office March 9, 1859 – March 24, 1893 |
|
| Appointed by | James Buchanan |
| Preceded by | Seat established by 11 Stat. 437 |
| Succeeded by | Charles B. Bellinger |
| 7th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court | |
| In office 1853–1859 |
|
| Appointed by | Franklin Pierce |
| Preceded by | William Strong |
| Succeeded by | Paine Page Prim |
| President of the Oregon Territory Council | |
| In office 1852–1853 |
|
| Preceded by | Samuel Parker |
| Succeeded by | Ralph Wilcox |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Matthew Paul Deady
May 12, 1824 Easton, Maryland |
| Died | March 24, 1893 (aged 68) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Education | read law |
Matthew Paul Deady (born May 12, 1824 – died March 24, 1893) was an important politician and judge in the early days of the Oregon Territory and the state of Oregon. He served on the Oregon Supreme Court from 1853 to 1859. After Oregon became a state, he was appointed as a federal judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. He was the only judge for this court in Portland until he passed away in 1893.
Before becoming a judge, Deady was part of the Oregon Territorial Legislature. He even led the Oregon Constitutional Convention in 1857, which created Oregon's first state constitution. Originally from Maryland, he worked as a blacksmith and a teacher before becoming a lawyer. He traveled to Oregon on the Oregon Trail. In Oregon, he helped write many of the state's laws and helped start the Multnomah County Library. He also led the board of regents for the University of Oregon, which later named Deady Hall in his honor.
Contents
Matthew Deady's Early Life
Matthew Deady was born on May 12, 1824, near Easton, Maryland. His parents were Daniel and Mary Ann Deady. Matthew was the oldest of five children. He started school where his father was a teacher.
When he was four, his family moved to Wheeling, West Virginia. They also lived in other places like Cincinnati, Ohio. In Wheeling, his father worked as a teacher and principal. Matthew's mother passed away in 1834.
After his mother's death, Matthew lived with relatives in Baltimore for two years, working in a store. He then returned to Wheeling to live with his father, going to school and working in a music shop. In 1837, he moved to Ohio where his father bought a farm.
Becoming a Blacksmith and Teacher
Matthew worked on his father's farm for four years. He also spent a lot of time reading books. In 1841, he left home after a disagreement with his father. He moved to Barnesville, Ohio.
For four years, he worked as a blacksmith's apprentice. This job helped pay for his schooling at Barnesville Academy. He earned a certificate to become a teacher in 1845.
After teaching for a while, Deady started studying law. He learned law in St. Clairsville, Ohio, with Judge William Kennon. He became a lawyer in Ohio in 1847. In 1849, he began his journey on the Oregon Trail to the new Oregon Territory.
Moving to Oregon
Matthew Deady arrived in what is now Portland, Oregon, on November 14, 1849. The next day, he went to Oregon City. A few days later, he moved to Lafayette, Oregon.
In Lafayette, he started working as a teacher to earn money. He was paid $75 a month for his second term. He also helped the county set up its courts and laws.
Starting a Law Career in Oregon
In March 1850, Deady began practicing law in Oregon. He handled three cases in a local tavern. He sent some of his earnings back to Ohio to pay off a debt.
That summer, he managed a store for Elder Glen Burnett. He sold supplies to local Native Americans and learned some Chinook Jargon.
On June 24, 1852, Deady married Lucy A. Henderson. They had three sons who survived: Edward, Paul, and Henderson. Paul and Edward became lawyers like their father.
Matthew Deady's Political Career
In 1850, Deady was elected to the Oregon Territorial Legislature. He represented Yamhill County as a Democrat. He met important leaders of the Democratic Party in Oregon during this time.
During his first term, Deady worked on the judicial committee. He helped write many of the territory's laws. The Oregon Territory was new, created by the U.S. Congress in 1848.
Shaping Oregon's Laws
After the 1850-1851 session, Deady helped publish the laws passed by the legislature. This became the first collection of laws published in Oregon, called Deady's General Laws of Oregon.
In 1851, Deady was elected to the upper house, called the Council. He became the President of the Council the following year. He served in the legislature for two regular sessions and one special session between 1851 and 1853.
Serving as a Territorial Judge
In 1853, U.S. President Franklin Pierce appointed Matthew Deady as a judge for the Territorial Supreme Court. He was appointed for a second term in 1857.
During this time, judges also traveled around to hold trials in different counties. This was called "riding circuit." Deady was assigned to the southern counties. He held court in each county twice a year.
In 1853, he moved his family to a farm in the Umpqua River valley. He named his new home Fair Oaks. While on the court, he helped set up the court systems in four southern Oregon counties. He traveled about 1,500 miles (2,400 km) each year for his work.
Leading the Constitutional Convention
In 1857, Deady was chosen as a delegate for the Oregon Constitutional Convention. This meeting was held in Salem to prepare Oregon to become a state.
Deady became the president of the convention. He played a big role in shaping the new state constitution. This constitution made slavery illegal but also included rules that made it difficult for African Americans to settle in the new state. Deady supported these rules, which are now seen as discriminatory.
He also pushed for judges to serve six-year terms and for the legislature to meet every two years.
Matthew Deady's Federal Judicial Service
Oregon became a state on February 14, 1859. Soon after, President James Buchanan nominated Deady to be a judge for the United States District Court for the District of Oregon. He was confirmed by the United States Senate on March 9, 1859. He served as a federal judge until his death on March 24, 1893.
His Time on the Court
Deady held the first court session in Salem in September 1859. But by September 1860, he moved the court to Portland. Deady then moved to Portland himself. There, he helped start the Multnomah County Library and served as its president for many years.
He also wrote the rules for how Portland would be run as a city. These rules became a model for other cities in Oregon. At first, Portland didn't have a courthouse. Deady rented rooms until a federal courthouse was built. This building, now called the Pioneer Courthouse, was finished in 1875.
From 1873 to 1893, Deady was president of the Board of Regents for the State University (which later became the University of Oregon). He even designed the university's official seal, which is still used today.
In 1874, Deady made a ruling in a case that became very famous. It was called Pennoyer v. Neff. This case helped define important rules about how courts can handle lawsuits against people who live in different states.
In 1885, Deady allowed Mary Leonard to practice law in federal courts. She was the first woman to do so in Oregon. The Oregon Supreme Court later allowed her to practice in state courts too.
Deady also worked on compiling and updating Oregon's laws. His work, like the General Laws of Oregon (1866), helped shape the state's legal system. He often wrote the laws that the state legislature passed.
Later Years and Legacy
Matthew Deady was a well-known person in Portland. He worked hard to raise money for the library he supported. He also received financial help from friends to support his lifestyle, as his judge's salary was small.
Interestingly, even though he had supported discriminatory views earlier, Deady later spoke out against violence towards Chinese Americans in the 1870s and 1880s. He even called for investigations into groups threatening these immigrants.
Deady helped establish the University of Oregon School of Law in Portland. It was the first public law school in Oregon. He gave a speech when it opened in 1884.
In 1892, Deady had a stroke but continued his work as a judge. He passed away in Portland on March 24, 1893, at 68 years old.
Deady Hall's Renaming Discussion
In 1893, the first building at the University of Oregon was renamed Deady Hall in his honor. This building was built in 1876 and is now a historic landmark.
However, in recent years, there has been discussion about renaming Deady Hall. This is because of Matthew Deady's past views, including his support for discrimination against certain groups.
In 2016, the University of Oregon's president looked into the possibility of renaming the building. In 2020, the president recommended that Deady Hall be renamed due to Deady's racist views.
Images for kids
-
Matthew Paul Deady
