James F. Watson

James Finley Watson was born on March 15, 1840, in Dubuque, Iowa, to James and Emily Watson.[1] In 1853, the family relocated to Douglas County in Oregon Territory. Watson then was educated in Eugene, Oregon at Columbia College before it closed after two major fires.[1] After attempting gold mining he would learn the law under Rufus Mallory in Roseburg, Oregon, with admittance to the legal bar in 1863.[1] He then served as a prosecutor for Oregon’s Second Judicial District from 1864 to 1872.[1]

In 1872, Watson was elected to the Oregon State Senate as a Republican from Douglas County.[2] He won re-election in 1874 to the same seat in the senate.[3] Next, in 1876 Watson won election to the Oregon Supreme Court to replace John Burnett.[4] His term ended in 1878 and he left the bench, however, his younger brother Edward B. Watson would join the court in 1880.[1][4]

In 1878, the circuit court functions of the Oregon Supreme Court were split off and a separate circuit court was created with the number of judges on the high court reduced from five to three.[1][4] The following year Watson was appointed to the circuit court where he won re-election in 1880 and served until 1882.[1]

In 1882, Watson was appointed by the United States President to the position of U.S. District Attorney for the District of Oregon.[1] He kept that position until 1886 when he returned to private practice in Portland, Oregon.[1] In 1883, he married his second wife, Virginia Kinney. He was previously married to Isabella Flint in 1872, and they had two children.[1] James Finley Watson died on June 12, 1897.[1]