John B. Waldo

Infobox Judge
name = John B. Waldo


imagesize = 150px
caption =
office = 13th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
termstart = 1884
termend = 1886
nominator =
appointer =
predecessor = Edward B. Watson
successor = William Paine Lord
office2 = 29th Associate Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court
termstart2 = 1880
termend2 = 1886
nominator2 =
appointer2 =
predecessor2 = James K. Kelly
successor2 = Reuben S. Strahan
birthdate = birth date|1844|10|6|mf=y
birthplace = Salem, Oregon flagicon|Oregon
deathdate = death date and age|1907|9|2|1844|10|6|mf=y
deathplace =
spouse = Clara Humason

John Breckenridge Waldo (October 6 1844-September 2 1907) was an American politician and jurist from the state of Oregon. He was the 13th Chief Justice of the Oregon Supreme Court from 1884-1886.cite web
last =
first =
coauthors =
title = Salem's Historic Figures
work = People
publisher = Salem Online History
date =
url = http://www.salemhistory.net/people/historic_figures.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ] Part of a prominent pioneer political family, John also served in the state legislature and later was an important figure in Oregon's conservation movement.

Early life

Waldo was born in 1844 in Oregon to parents who immigrated to Oregon Country from Missouri via the Oregon Trail in 1843. The family settled near Salem in an area now known as the Waldo Hills in the Willamette Valley. John’s father Daniel Waldo, was also the father of William Waldo (1832-1911) and an illegitimate daughter America Waldo. America’s mother was a slave of the Waldo family who the Waldos brought with them to the Willamette Valley.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Biographical Sketches of Black Pioneers and Settlers of the Pacific Northwest
work =
publisher = End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center
date =
url = http://www.endoftheoregontrail.org/blakbios.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ] These slaves were some of the first Blacks in Oregon where slavery was later prohibited, and where “Negros” were also banned. Daniel Waldo was also a politician in the early days of Oregon, while John’s brother William was a lawyer, judge, and state legislator, serving as President of the Oregon Senate in 1885.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Oregon Legislative Assembly (13th)
work = Oregon State Archives
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
date =
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1885reg.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ]

John B. Waldo’s education was at Willamette University in Salem, graduating in 1866. He then passed the bar in 1870 and began practicing law in Salem.Corning, Howard M. "Dictionary of Oregon History". Binfords & Mort Publishing, 1956.] On October 8 1877, he married Clara Humason of The Dalles, Oregon. [http://www.salempioneercemetery.org/records/display_record.php?id=6962 John Breckenridge Waldo.] Salem Pioneer Cemetery. Retrieved December 2 2007.] They would have one daughter named Edith.

Political career

Waldo was elected to the Oregon Supreme Court in 1880 to a six-year term. He was not re-elected in 1886. During his time on the state's highest court, he served as Chief Justice from 1884 to 1886.cite web
title = Oregon Supreme Court Justices
work = Oregon Blue Book
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
url = http://www.bluebook.state.or.us/state/elections/elections27.htm
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ] John Waldo was also elected and served one term in the Oregon State House in 1888, representing Marion County.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Oregon Legislative Assembly (15th)
work = Oregon State Archives
publisher = Oregon Secretary of State
date =
url = http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/legislative/histleg/statehood/1889reg.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ]

Conservation

Beginning in 1880, Waldo took annual horseback trips into the Cascade Mountains.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = History - 1800 to 1899
work = Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests: About Us
publisher = USDA Forest Service
date =
url = http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/about/history-1800.shtml
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ] Stops included Elk and Davis Lakes, climbing the Middle and South Sisters, Crescent Lake, Odell Lake, Black Butte and many others before his death in 1907. His brother would often accompany him on these vacations, as would John Minto. In 1888, Waldo and four others traveled from Waldo Lake south to Mt. Shasta along what is now the Pacific Crest Trail. This is believed to be the first recorded journey of this route.cite web
last =
first =
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Sky Lakes in Southern Oregon
work =
publisher = SouthernOregon.com
date =
url = http://www.southernoregon.com/lakes/skylakes/index.html
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ]

These trips helped foster his appreciation for the natural world and spark a campaign for conservation of the Cascades.cite web
last = Mark
first = Steve
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = The Campaign to Establish a National Park in Oregon
work = Crater Lake
publisher = National Park Service
date =
url = http://www.nps.gov/archive/crla/mark3.htm
format =
doi =
accessdate = 2006-12-21 ] He was consulted by William Gladstone Steel when the later was attempting to get federal protection for Crater Lake. Waldo dreamed of a larger goal of preserving the entire Cascade range.

Legacy

John B. Waldo died on September 2 1907, at the age of 62. He was buried at the Pioneer Cemetery in the Salem, Oregon, where other family members such as his father, brother, and wife were also buried. Waldo Lake in the Cascades and Waldo Glacier on Mount Jefferson are named in his honor. ["Snowshoe Routes: Oregon", Shea Andersen, 2001, The Mountaineers Books ISBN 0-89886-833-5] However, Waldo Hall at Oregon State University is not named for him, [ [http://osulibrary.oregonstate.edu/archives/chronology/chron_1900.html Chronological history: 1900-1909.] Oregon State University Archives. Retrieved December 2 2007.] and Waldo Park in Salem is named for his brother William, [ [http://www.oregonlink.com/trees/#smallest Salem Oregon Heritage Trees.] OregonLink. Retrieved December 2 2007.] while Waldo Middle School in Salem is named for his father Daniel. [ [http://www.waldomustangs.org/pages/info.htm#history Waldo History.] Waldo Middle School. Retrieved December 2 2007.]

ee also

*Waldo Lake Wilderness
*Sky Lakes Wilderness

References

External links

* [http://nwda-db.wsulibs.wsu.edu/findaid/ark:/80444/xv49267 Guide to the John B. Waldo papers]
* [http://blog.willamette.edu/stories/archives/2007/08/waldos_wilderne.php Waldo’s Wilderness Legacy]