Rufus Mallory

Rufus Mallory portrait

Hawthorne, Julian. "The Story of Oregon." Vol. 1. New York: American Historical Publishing Co., 1892. p. 294.

RUFUS MALLORY

Mr. Mallory was born in Chenango County, N. Y., June 10th, 1831. In the fall of the same year the family moved to Allegany county, and remained there and in the adjoining county of Steuben until 1865. At the age of twenty-four Rufus went West and settled at New London, Henry County, Ia. In the fall of 1858 he made up his mind to visit the Pacific coast, and started for Oregon, arriving in the Territory on New Year's Day, 1859. He settled at Roseburg, Douglas County. Having studied law and been admitted to the Bar, Mr. Mallory was elected, in 1860, Prosecuting Attorney for the First Judicial District of Oregon, and served a term of two years. He did his work ably and conscientiously. In 1862 he was elected to the Legislature from Douglas County. Toward the close of the year he left Roseburg and settled at Salem. Mr. Mallory was appointed by Governor Gibbs Prosecuting Attorney for the Third Judicial District, and in 1864 was elected to the same office. Two years afterward he was chosen Representative in Congress from Oregon, and served one term. He was Speaker of the House in the State Legislature of 1872, and was an efficient and impartial presiding officer. President Grant appointed Mr. Mallory to the responsible position of United States District Attorney for Oregon, in 1874, and he was reappointed by President Hayes, holding the office for eight years altogether. In 1882 he was sent on special public business by the Treasury Department to Singapore, and fulfilled his mission satisfactorily. After completing his business in that distant city, instead of returning by the way he went, he determined on circumnavigating the globe. He pushed forward, crossed the Indian and Atlantic oceans, reached New York, and continued his journey homeward. The entire trip lasted five months, seventy-eight days having been actually spent in traveling. Mr. Mallory commenced the practice of his profession at Portland in 1883. He is justly regarded as one of the ablest advocates in the State, and occupies a high place in the estimation not only of his professional brethren, but of the public generally. The many trusts which during a busy lifetime have been placed in his hands have been discharged honorably and faithfully. In the Oregon Legislature, in the National Capital; as prosecuting officer of the State, as well as of the United States; as representative of his country abroad, in all these capacities he has been true to his record as an able, upright, honorable man and public official.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.

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