Stephen F. Chadwick

Stephen Fowler Chadwick (born December 25, 1825 in Middletown , Connecticut , † January 15, 1895 in Salem , Oregon ) was an American politician and from 1877 to 1878 the fifth governor of the state of Oregon.

Early years

Stephen Chadwick attended local schools in his home country. He then studied law in New York State . After his admission to the bar in 1850, he moved to Scottsburg , Oregon. There he worked in his new profession and was also the head of the local post office. He later moved to Roseburg , where he was a judge in Douglas County . He also served as the assistant federal attorney for southern Oregon. It was then that Chadwick became a director of the Oregon Central Railroad , which later became part of the Southern Pacific Railroad .

Political career

Chadwick was a member of the Democratic Party . In 1857 he was a member of the Oregon Constituent Assembly. In 1864 and 1868 he was one of the Democratic electors in the presidential elections. In 1870 he was elected Secretary of State in Oregon; in 1874 he was elected to this office. According to the state constitution, the Secretary of State was also the governor's representative; a lieutenant governor did not exist. After the resignation of Governor La Fayette Grover on February 1, 1877, Chadwick had to lead his term to the end. Until September 11, 1878 he was governor of Oregon. During this time there was a conflict with the Indians, with the governor supporting the white settlers and demanding tough action against the Indians. In this regard he was more radical than the federal government.

In 1878 he was no longer seeking political office in Oregon. After his brief stint as governor, Chadwick retired into private life. He returned to work as a lawyer and was active in a Masonic lodge. Stephen Chadwick died in January 1895. He was married to Jane A. Smith, with whom he had four children.

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personal data
SURNAME	Chadwick, Stephen F.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES	Chadwick, Stephen Fowler (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	American politician
DATE OF BIRTH	December 25, 1825
PLACE OF BIRTH	Middletown , Connecticut
DATE OF DEATH	January 15, 1895
Place of death	Salem , Oregon