Washington-Multnomah-Clatsop County OR Archives Biographies.....Hare, William G. 1882 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 7, 2009, 6:45 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     WILLIAM G. HARE, one of the leading members of the Washington county bar 
and ably representing his county in the Oregon state senate, is a member of a 
family which has long been prominent and influential in the professional, 
political and civic life of the community and state, and is well worthy of the 
high place which he holds in public esteem.

     Mr. Hare was born in 1882 on his father's ranch at old Farmington, near 
Laurel, Washington county, Oregon, and is a son of W. D. and Henrietta 
(Scholfield) Hare. His paternal grandparents were Joseph and Ellen (Davenport) 
Hare, the former of whom was a native of Scotland and the son of a miller. He 
was educated for the ministry in England but never preached. On coming to this 
country he located in Virginia but later conducted a store at Barnesville, 
Ohio, and subsequently went to St. Paul, Minnesota, where he engaged in 
business, being a pioneer merchant of that city. His death occurred there. His 
wife's father was a judge of the federal courts and was a bosom friend of 
Henry Clay. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hare came to the coast, where 
she passed away.

     W. D. Hare was born at Wheeling, West Virginia, and received his 
educational training at home and in private schools. At the age of sixteen 
years he ran away from home and came to the Pacific coast country, locating 
first in Portland, where he obtained work as a clerk in a store. Later he was 
purser on the Mountain Buck, a small boat plying between The Dalles and 
Portland, and on the organization of Multnomah county he was appointed to go 
to Hillsboro, Washington county, and copy in longhand such portions of the 
county records as pertained to Multnomah county. He established his permanent 
home at Hillsboro and soon afterward was elected county clerk of Washington 
county. While serving in that capacity he became interested in mercantile 
affairs and became a partner in the firm of Archibald & Hare, the senior 
member of which was Judge Archibald, a well known pioneer of this locality, 
and later of Hare & Merriman. In the meantime Mr. Hare had been giving his 
serious attention to the study of law and engaged in the practice of that 
profession, in which success attended him. He was elected to the lower house 
of the state legislature, and subsequently to the senate, in both of which 
bodies he proved an able and judicious legislator. He was for many years 
aligned with the republican party, later affiliating with the free-silver wing 
of that party. He was a candidate for presidential elector In General Grant's 
campaign and stumped the state in the interest of the ticket. Later he was 
appointed collector of customs at Astoria, and on the expiration of his term 
he returned to Hillsboro and bought the Rice donation claim, near Farmington, 
where he engaged in the breeding and raising of registered horses and cattle. 
Subsequently he moved into Hillsboro, where he practiced law, at first alone 
but later with Mr. Barrett, maintaining his office until shortly before his 
son, William G., entered upon the practice of law, when he took over the 
management of the Hillsboro Cooperative Store, which he later bought and 
conducted for some time. Eventually he retired from mercantile business, 
selling the store, and during the last five years of his life was interested 
in mining. He was a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, being a 
trustee of the sovereign grand lodge, and was also a past grand master of the 
Masonic Grand Lodge.

     In Hillsboro W. D. Hare met and married Miss Henrietta Scholfield, who 
was born in Clark county, Illinois, and died in 1889. Her family was 
originally from North Carolina, whence they migrated to Illinois, and in 
Marshall, that state, her father, Thomas Scholfield, made his home. In 1857 he 
started west with his family, driving across the plains with ox team and 
covered wagon, and stopping first in California, where he remained until the 
following year, when he came to Oregon by boat and located at Hillsboro, where 
he bought the rights to a donation land claim. His wife had died in the east 
and he brought four children with him, these being Mrs. Rebecca Hay, Benjamin, 
Mrs. Harriet Adcook and Henrietta, all of whom are now deceased. One son, John 
Scholfield, was a justice of the supreme court of Illinois from 1873 to 1893, 
during a part of which time he was chief justice, and was one of the few men 
who have declined an appointment to the supreme court of the United States. 
From the time Thomas Scholfield came to Washington county up to his death he 
devoted his attention closely to agricultural pursuits, in which he was 
successful.  He was a man of strong character, took a deep interest in the 
affairs of his community but never held public office.
     
     To Mr. and Mrs. W. D. Hare were born seven children, as follows: Thomas, 
decceased; Joseph C., who lives in Portland; Mrs. Frances O'Connor, deceased; 
Mrs. Martha Mann, of Cornelius, Oregon; Mrs. Henrietta Morgan, of Hillsboro; 
Mrs. Ruth Pruyn, deceased; and William G., of this review. After the death of 
his first wife, Mr. Hare married Miss Mary M. Anthony, who died without issue.

     William G. Hare received his elementary education in the public schools 
of Hillsboro and was graduated from Pacific University in 1903. He had 
assisted his father in the store until 1901 and during the summers of the two 
ensuing years had worked on the farm, operating the hay baler. He had wisely 
saved his money and, being ambitious for a professional career, left home and 
went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he entered the law school of the University 
of Michigan. His funds lasted him through his first college year, and in the 
following year he secured a job as superintendent of the Oregon fish and game 
exhibit at the St. Louis Exposition. In this way he secured the means to put 
him through his second year in the law school, and in the following year he 
had charge of the Washington county exhibit at the Portland Exhibition and 
also worked as a traveling passenger agent for the Chicago, Rock Island & 
Pacific Railroad. With his earnings he completed his law course and had some 
money left. He was graduated from the University of Michigan with the degree 
of Bachelor of Laws in 1906 and returned to his home town with no intention of 
remaining but he eventually decided to locate there. He practiced law alone 
for a few months and then he formed a law partnership with Judge G. R. Bagley, 
who had taken over W. D. Hare's practice. They remained together until 1915, 
when Mr. Hare was elected to the lower house of the state legislature and Mr. 
Bagley elevated to the bench. He was alone in practice until 1919, when he was 
again elected to the Legislature, and in 1921 was elected to the state senate, 
to which body he was reelected in 1925 without opposition. As a legislator he 
has been independent and fearless and has strenuously opposed all forms of 
graft and special privilege. Several years ago Mr. Hare took in as a partner 
E. J. McAlear and subsequently R. Frank Peters also became a member of the 
firm, which is now known as Hare, McAlear & Peters and is recognized as one of 
the strongest and most successful law firms in this section of the state. Mr. 
Hare is a forceful and effective pleader, a sound and safe office counselor, 
and commands a large and remunerative practice.

     Mr. Hare was united in marriage to Miss Jane M. Greer, who was born in 
Glencoe, Washington county, and is a daughter of R. H. and Hannah (Goodin) 
Greer, who came to this state from Canada. Her mother is deceased and her 
father now resides in Hillsboro. To Mr. and Mrs. Hare have been born two 
children: Mary Dolores, who is the wife of Gale B. Vinton, of McMinnville, 
Oregon, and they have a daughter, Jane Corin; and John Davenport, who is 
attending school.

     Mr. Hare is a Scottish Rite Mason; is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine; and a 
member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; and the Knights of Pythias, 
which he joined when twenty-one years of age and in which he has passed 
through the chairs. He also belongs to the Rotary Club and the Chamber of 
Commerce. He has evinced genuine interest in everything affecting the welfare 
of his community or county and has never been found lacking in his support of 
those things which tend to elevate the standards of living and promote the 
public good. A man of agreeable personality and cordial manner, he enjoys a 
wide acquaintance, and has a host of warm and loyal friends who esteem him for 
his ability, fine public spirit and genuine worth as a man and citizen. 


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 650-654

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