Lansing Stout (March 27, 1828 – March 4, 1871) was an American politician and lawyer. He was the second person elected to the

United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives is a chamber of the Bicameralism, bicameral United States Congress; it is the lower house, with the U.S. Senate being the upper house. Together, the House and Senate have the authority under Artic ...

from the state of

Oregon Oregon ( , ) is a U.S. state, state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is a part of the Western U.S., with the Columbia River delineating much of Oregon's northern boundary with Washington (state), Washington, while t ...

, serving one term in

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of ...

from 1859 to 1861. A

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York New York may also refer to: Places United Kingdom * ...

native, he also served in both the

California State Assembly The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature (the upper house being the California State Senate). The Assembly convenes, along with the State Senate, at the California State Capitol in Sacramento, Califor ...

and the

Oregon State Senate The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the State legislature (United States), statewide legislature for the US state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. Ther ...

Early life

Stout was born in the state of

on March 27, 1828 (either in PameliaThe Politicians: Lansing Stout.
Documents on Wheels. Retrieved on February 26, 2008. or Watertown) and educated in public schools.Lansing Stout.
Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. Retrieved on February 26, 2008. He then studied law in

Albany, New York Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...

under

Ira Harris Ira Harris (May 31, 1802December 2, 1875) was an American jurist and senator from New York. He was also a friend of Abraham Lincoln. Life Ira Harris was born in Charleston, New York on May 31, 1802. He grew up on a farm, and graduated from Unio ...

Early career

He was admitted to the bar in New York, but in 1851 he left for

California California () is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States that lies on the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. It borders Oregon to the north, Nevada and Arizona to the east, and shares Mexico–United States border, an ...

, arriving in 1852. He settled in

Placer County, California Placer County ( ; ''Placer'', Spanish for "sand deposit"), officially the County of Placer, is a county located in the U.S. state of California. As of the 2020 United States census, the population was 404,739. The county seat is Auburn. P ...

, where he practiced law. In 1855, he served in the

State Assembly State Assembly is the name given to various legislatures, especially lower houses or full legislatures in states in federal systems of government. Channel Islands States Assembly is the name of the legislature of the Bailiwick of Jersey. The Baili ...

. In 1857 he moved to

Portland, Oregon Portland ( ) is the List of cities in Oregon, most populous city in the U.S. state of Oregon, located in the Pacific Northwest region. Situated close to northwest Oregon at the confluence of the Willamette River, Willamette and Columbia River, ...

, where he continued practicing law. In Oregon, Stout formed a law partnership with the

U.S. Attorney United States attorneys are officials of the U.S. Department of Justice who serve as the chief federal law enforcement officers in each of the 94 U.S. federal judicial districts. Each U.S. attorney serves as the United States' chief federal ...

for the Oregon Territory, William H. Farrar.

Politics

Stout was elected to the California Assembly in 1855. His first foray into Oregon politics came in 1858, when he was elected as a judge in

Multnomah County, Oregon Multnomah County is one of the Oregon counties, 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the county's population was 815,428. Multnomah County is part of the Portland metropolitan area. The stat ...

. Later that year Stout was elected to the U.S. House in 1858 after Oregon had submitted to become a state, but months before statehood on February 14, 1859. In this bid, he was supported by pro-slavery factions led by

Joseph Lane Joseph Lane (December 14, 1801 – April 19, 1881) was an American politician and soldier. He was a state legislator representing Evansville, Indiana, and then served in the Mexican–American War, becoming a general. President James K. Polk ap ...

. After breaking ties with Lane, Stout was not re-nominated in 1860 by the state Democrats. While in serving in the 36th Congress, he served on the Committee on Expenses in the State Department and a committee on the rebellious states. In 1868 he was elected to the

as a Republican, representing Multnomah County. He did not win re-election.

Later life

Stout married Susan Plowden in 1861 while back east serving in Congress. The two were married in

Leonardtown, Maryland Leonardtown is a town in and the county seat of St. Mary's County, Maryland, St. Mary's County, Maryland, United States. The population was 4,563 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Historic Leonardtown includes both a Leonardtown Hig ...

, and had two sons.Corning, Howard M. (1989) ''Dictionary of Oregon History''. Binfords & Mort Publishing. p. 235. The two moved to Oregon in 1863. During his time in Oregon Stout was admitted to the

Oregon Supreme Court The Oregon Supreme Court (OSC) is the highest State court (United States), state court in the U.S. state of Oregon. The only court that may reverse or modify a decision of the Oregon Supreme Court is the Supreme Court of the United States.

bar during the

territorial A territory is an area of land, sea, or space, belonging or connected to a particular country, person, or animal. In international politics, a territory is usually a geographic area which has not been granted the powers of self-government, ...

period. After serving in Congress, Stout resumed his private practice in Oregon. He died in Portland on March 4, 1871, and was buried at River View Cemetery. After his death, Susan married Clatsop County Circuit Judge Raleigh Stott.Clatsop County District Court Judges.
Oregon Department of Justice. Retrieved on February 26, 2008.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Stout, Lansing 1828 births 1871 deaths Members of the California State Assembly Oregon state senators Oregon lawyers Burials at River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon) Oregon Republicans 19th-century American lawyers Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Oregon 19th-century members of the California State Legislature 19th-century members of the United States House of Representatives