Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 241.

JUDGE ERASMUS D. SHATTUCK

     One of New England's most honored sons, who, by personal effort has arisen
to prominence and distinction in his adopted State, was born in Bakersfield,
Franklin county, Vermont, December 31, 1824.  His ancestry emigrated from
Belgium to New England early in the eighteenth century, locating at Pepperell,
Massachusetts, whence the different branches of the family diverged.  Uncle
Nathaniel Shattuck was a classmate of Daniel Webster, and was a distinguished
mathematician, and, later, was a competent lawyer and reliable adviser of New
Hampshire.  Oliver Shattuck, father of our subject, and his worthy wife, Sally
(Start) Shattuck, located in Vermont, where his father followed an agricultural
life, and also was Justice of the Peace and Judge, in which capacity he settled
the grievances and established principles of order and justice throughout the
community.
     It was a midst these surroundings that our subject passed his boyhood,
pursuing his preparatory course of study at the common school and Bakersfield
Academy.  In 1844 he entered Vermont University, at Burlington, pursuing the
full classical course, and graduating in 1848.  while in college, he was
dependent on his own resources for means to pursue his studies, and during his
vacations also during some of the school session, he taught school, having
either private classes in the village, or teaching in the country.
Notwithstanding these additional duties, he completed his college course in the
prescribed time, and graduated as third in his class.  He was then employed for
a year as teacher of Latin and mathematics in Bakersfield Academy.  In 1849 he
obtained a situation in Georgia in the Newman Seminary, located about
twenty-five miles from Atlanta, and the following year was likewise engaged at
Laurel, Maryland.  He devoted all his leisure hours to the study of law, and on
his return to the North,  in 1851, he entered the law office of Parmelee &
Fitch, of Malone, New York.  In the spring of 1852 he went to New York city,
where he entered the office of Abner Benedict, where he continued his
preparatory studies, and was finally admitted to the bar in October of the same
year. 
     While looking about for a place of settlement, he decided upon Oregon,
which was, at that time, almost unknown.  Desiring congenial companionship in
the new country he was married, in Fletcher, Vermont, on December 27, 1852, to
Miss Sarah A. Armstrong.  Together they embarked from New York, January 5, 1853,
via the Isthmus of Panama, and arrived at Portland, which was a small settlement
in the woods, on the fifteenth of February.  They then proceeded to Oregon City
on a little river steamer, paying $3 each for fare, and $1 for each trunk.  Mr.
Shattuck was principally engaged during the next four years in teaching in
Oregon City, and also as Professor of Ancient languages in the Pacific
University at Forest Grove.  In 1855 he was elected Superintendent of Schools in
Washington county, and in 1856, was made Probate Judge of the same county.  In
1857 he was elected delegate from Washington county to the constitutional
Convention, taking an active part in framing the constitution of the State.  In
the fall of 1857 he removed to Portland, where he formed a partnership with
David Logan, a brilliant lawyer and pioneer of 1850, commencing here the active
practice of law.  The Judge entered earnestly into the duties of his profession,
and was very successful, soon acquiring a high reputation for legal ability and
eloquence in debate.  As a result of his increasing popularity, he was elected
in 1858, to represent Multnomah and Washington counties at the final session of
the Oregon Territorial Legislature.   After this, his fame was established, and
services were in continual demand by his county and his State.  In 1861 he was
appointed United States District Attorney, and, in 1862, was elected Judge of
the Supreme and Circuit Courts for the Fourth Judicial District.  The latter
office he held until November, 1867, when he resigned.  In 1874 he was again
elected Judge of the Supreme and Circuit Courts, and served until the
reorganization of the State Judiciary by the Legislative Act of 1878.  In 1886,
he was elected Judge of the Circuit Court for Department No. 1, in the Fourth
District, a position he still acceptably fills.  Besides these offices, Judge
Shattuck has served at different times in various minor capacities, doing able
work in all.  He was at one time a member of the Portland city Council, doing
much to advance the welfare of the city.  He was for some time a member of the
Board of Directors of the Portland School District, his extended and varied
experience in that line, amply fitting him to serve the best interests of the
community.  Being a man of education, we naturally find him as one of the
founders and trustees of the Portland Library, which has many thousand valuable
and some rare books, on all subjects of possible interest to any one of its many
subscribers.
     Owing to failing health, in 1881, Judge Shattuck took a brief respite from
the arduous duties of his profession, seeking in rural life a rest from so many
years of continuous activity.  He purchased a farm of 300 acres near the
metropolis, reclaiming 100 acres from primeval forest, for which this State is
so famous, all of which he has brought to a high state of cultivation.  He has
since sold a large part of this property, but still retains a country home, to
whose welcome retreat he frequently withdraws to find that relaxation from
mental pursuits, so necessary to all thus engaged, if a long life is expected,
or eminently satisfactory work desired.
     Judge and Mrs. Shattuck have four intelligent and clever children:  Ira,
Henry, Lucy and Oscar, and two deceased.
     Politically, the Judge was originally a Whig, but, upon the organization of
the Republican party, became an ardent advocate of its principles, remaining
such until 1872, when he favored the election of Greeley.  At that time he ran
as Elector on the independent ticket, since when he has been independent rather
than partisan, acting chiefly with the Democratic party.
     In the distinctive feature of his life, that of public service, he has won
the confidence and respect of his fellow-men, always subserving the best
interests of the community to the extent of his ability.  As a studious reader,
profound thinker and earnest, logical talker, he is distinguished.  His mind is
judicial in tone, and the harmony between mental and moral forces is complete.
In civil and civil life, he is eminently esteemed for unswerving fidelity and
integrity, and for supreme justice tempered with benevolence.  No man has
contributed more to the establishment and maintenance of the high character of
the judicial tribunals than he, and no one has done more to advance the material
and moral welfare of the community or the State.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.