Multnomah-Polk County OR Archives Biographies.....Stapleton, George Washington June 10, 1863 - May 1, 1925 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 10, 2009, 12:07 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company GEORGE WASHINGTON STAPLETON. With a mind trained to be cautious, accurate in thought and precise in its conclusions, George Washington Stapleton achieved gratifying success as a practicing lawyer and later became one of Portland's leading jurists, serving for eight years as circuit judge. For more than a quarter of a century the Rose city was the scene of his professional labors, and his fidelity to duty, his innate sense of justice and kindness of heart made him universally esteemed. He was born June 10, 1863, in Davenport, Iowa, and was a son of John and Josephine (Sloper) Stapleton. The father was born in Canada in 1833 and left home in 1849, when a youth of sixteen, crossing the border into the United States. In Davenport, Iowa, he married Miss Josephine Sloper a native of that state, which they left in 1864, crossing the plains with a large emigrant train of one hundred and fifty wagons. They settled near Caldwell, Idaho, afterward migrating to Polk county, Oregon, and subsequently to Klickitat county, Washington. Eventually they returned to Polk county, where the father engaged in farming and stock raising until his death in 1900. The mother passed away in 1911. George W. Stapleton was a boy of nine when the family came to Oregon and his public school education was supplemented by a college course at Forest Grove. While living with his parents in Washington he began the study of law at Goldendale, that state, and in 1887 was admitted to the bar. For three years thereafter he practiced in Goldendale and then located in Vancouver, Washington, forming a partnership with his brother-in-law, Judge A. L. Miller. In the spring of 1898 Mr. Stapleton removed to Portland and on April 1 of that year was admitted to a partnership the law firm of Coovert & Moody, the last named being a son of ex-Governor Moody. This association was continued for a number of years, and he was next a member of the firm of Stephenson & Stapleton, which subsequently became Stapleton & Conley. Although a general practitioner, Mr. Stapleton devoted the greater part of his attention to corporation law, a branch of jurisprudence in which he excelled, and was attorney for the Benson and Yeon timber interests as well as other large firms of Portland. His cases were prepared with great thoroughness and care, and he won many verdicts favorable to the interests of his clients. In 1917 he was appointed circuit judge and afterward was twice elected to that office, of which he was the incumbent until his death on the 1st of May, 1925, when he was sixty-one years of age and at the height of his usefulness. As a jurist he was able, industrious, fairminded and honest, and his rulings were seldom reversed. He applied efficient business methods to the dispatch of the court's work, disposing of it expeditiously and yet with just and fair consideration of each case brought before his tribunal, and his wise administration of the law won for him the highest commendation. Judge Stapleton was married June 9, 1886, to Miss Louise Sisson, a native of Deep River, Washington, and a daughter of Charles and Anna Frances (Pickernell) Sisson. During the Civil war Mrs. Stapleton's father joined Company I of the Second New York Regiment of Artillery and reenlisted in 1864. During the period of his service he participated in thirty-two battles, never faltering in the face of danger and miraculously escaping death. He was a timber cruiser and after the war settled in Ilwaco, Washington, where be married Miss Anna F Pickernell. She had previously engaged in teaching and went to Ilwaco to join an uncle. Besides his widow, who resides at No. 445 Hassalo street in Portland, Judge Stapleton is survived by two daughters: Josephine, who is Mrs. Joseph E. Haley of this city; and Georgia Louise, who is in school. Judge Stapleton was a prominent Mason and at one time was potentate of the Mystic Shrine at Portland. He was also connected with the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks and the Knights of Pythias. Of a generous and kindly nature he readily won friends, and his force of character, fine intellect and sterling integrity made him a power for good in the city in which he was loved, admired and respected. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 530-533 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/stapleto633gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/stapleto633gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb