Here Comes the Judge

Walter Sylvester Hufford was born September 7, 1853, in Charleston, Lee County, Iowa  and passed away May 19, 1931, Portland, Multnomah County, Oregon.  He was elected as Corvallis County Recorder  and later as a Corvallis County Judge. Prior to becoming a judge he was also Corvallis County District Attorney

Walter Sylvester is the son of David Hufford and Mary Morris. He married Martha M. Graham in 1876 and together had four children: Edwin Joseph, Walter Graham, Jessie, and Bessie K.

Martha died sometime before 1920, and Walter remarried Mary H. However, I have been unable so far  to find a maiden name for Mary.

Walter was my Great grandpa George Washington Hufford’s older brother. I think that would make him my great-uncle — but I get all that family relationship stuff confused — so I could be wrong.

Anyway, I located an article about Walter in Republican League Register of Oregon, 1896, on page 158: 

“Walter S. Hufford, of Corvallis, was born at Charleston, Lee County, Iowa, September 7, 1853, and came to Oregon in 1873, locating near Albany. He studied law in Corvallis, and was admitted to the bar in December 16, 1875.

He engaged in farming five years, and has been in active practice of his profession sixteen years. He has been a delegate to nearly all county conventions since 1874, to the state conventions of 1890 and 1892, and the league in 1896.

He was elected City Recorder of Corvallis in 1882, 1883, 1884, 1885; was nominated District Attorney in 1888, and was elected County Judge in 1892 and 1894.

Then there is this notice of death from The Oregonian published May 22, 1931:

“Masonic Lodge No. 114, A.F. and A.M. — Special communication today (Friday) at 1:45 P.M. to conduct the funeral services of our late Brother Walter S. Hufford. Services at 2:30 P.M. at Finley’s Chapel, Fifth and Montgomery, with Masonic services at Riverview Cemetery, Visiting brethren welcome. Please bring autos.”