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NESMITH, James Willis, senator, born in New Brunswick, Canada, 23 July, 1820; died in Polk county, Oregon, 17 June, 1885. He was left an orphan at an early age, received no education, and was forced to earn his livelihood. He removed to the United States, and in 1843 went with the first emigrants to Oregon, where he took an active part in forming the provisional government. He was made a judge in 1845, having studied law during two years in Oregon City. He commanded as captain two expeditions against the Indians during the Cayuse war of 1848, and the Yakima war in 1855. In 1853-'5 he was United States marshal for Oregon. He was appointed superintendent of Indian affairs for Oregon and Washington territories in 1857, and was elected United States senator for the term from 1861 till 1867, serving on the committees on military and Indian affairs, a special committee that was appointed to visit the Indian tribes, of the west, and those on commerce and Revolutionary claims. He was a delegate to the Philadelphia union convention of 1866, and subsequently was appointed United States minister to Austria, but was not confirmed. While engaged in farming in Oregon he was elected to congress as a Democrat to fill a vacancy, serving from 1 December, 1873, till 3 March, 1875.
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