William N. Barrett

William Barrett was born in Washington County, Oregon, to Eliza Jane Barrett (née Purdin) and William R. Barrett on November 24, 1855.[1] There he attended the local public schools before attending Tualatin Academy in Forest Grove, Oregon, for his secondary education.[1] Barrett then attended the affiliated Pacific University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in June 1879.[1]

Following college he read law at the office of attorney and politician Thomas H. Tongue in Hillsboro.[1] On November 18, 1882, he married Lucretia H. Parrish.[1] After studying law he passed the bar in October 1884 and began practicing law.[1] Barrett partnered with William D. Hare in a Hillsboro firm until 1886 when he opened his own office.[1] In 1892, he created a partnership with Loring K. Adams, lasting until 1897 when he returned to a solo practice.[1]

Barrett would serve as a deputy district attorney for Washington County and later as district attorney for Oregon's fifth judicial district.[1] In 1880, he served as a Republican in the Oregon House of Representatives serving Washington County.[2] He returned to the House in 1891.[3]

In 1896, he was elected as the 15th different person to be mayor of Hillsboro.[4] Barrett was also the first to serve consecutive terms, holding office from December 8, 1896 until December 5, 1899.[4] He then served on the city council from 1901 to 1902.[5] After a few years away from the mayor's office, he returned as mayor and served from December 2, 1902 to December 15, 1903, when he was succeeded by Benjamin P. Cornelius.[4]

Barrett returned to state politics in 1906 and was elected to the Oregon House to represent Washington County.[6] The Republican was then elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1908 and served in the regular and special sessions of 1909.[7][8] He continued his four-year term at the 1911 secession when his district included Washington, Yamhill, Lincoln, and Tillamook counties.[9]

Barrett's headstone

In 1915, he returned to the office of mayor for Hillsboro, assuming the position on January 5 and serving until his death.[4] He was a member of the Masonic Order and of the Knights of Pythias.[1] William Nathan Barrett died on December 16, 1916, while in office, and was buried at the family's plot in the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery.[10]

• Republican League of Oregon
• Oregon Office of the Secretary of State (1910). A Pamphlet Containing a Copy of All Measures "referred to the People by the ... W. S. Duniway, state printer.
• Barrett House