25 Facts About Sylvester Pennoyer

Sylvester Pennoyer was an American educator, attorney, and politician in Oregon.

Sylvester Pennoyer was born in Groton, New York, attended Harvard Law School, and moved to Oregon at age 25.

Sylvester Pennoyer joined the Populist cause in the early 1890s and became the second Populist Party state governor in history.

Sylvester Pennoyer was noted for his political radicalism, his opposition to the conservative Bourbon Democracy of President Grover Cleveland, his support for labor unions, and his opposition to the Chinese in Oregon.

Sylvester Pennoyer later served as mayor of Portland from 1896 to 1898.

Sylvester Pennoyer was born in Groton, New York, on July 6,1831.

Sylvester Pennoyer's parents were the former Elizabeth Howland and Justus P Pennoyer, a New York state legislator and a wealthy farmer.

Sylvester Pennoyer moved to Oregon on July 10,1855, where he resumed teaching.

Sylvester Pennoyer was chosen as the superintendent of Multnomah County schools in 1860, and served until 1862.

Sylvester Pennoyer then shifted to the lumber industry from 1862 to 1868, accumulating a fortune.

Sylvester Pennoyer then purchased the Democratic-leaning Oregon Herald newspaper and served as editor until he sold it in 1869.

Sylvester Pennoyer purchased the land from Mitchell, who had purchased the land at the sheriff's auction, and later Neff became aware of the forced sale.

Neff then sued Pennoyer to regain the property in a case that became the US Supreme Court case of Pennoyer v Neff that defined legal jurisdiction for citizens residing in different states.

Sylvester Pennoyer was compelled to give the land back to Neff, and the property became a part of the Willamette Heights neighborhood in later years.

Sylvester Pennoyer was a Democrat most of his political career, but became a Populist in the early 1890s.

Sylvester Pennoyer was elected in November and assumed office on January 12,1887.

Sylvester Pennoyer was re-elected in 1890 and served in the office until his second term ended on January 14,1895.

Sylvester Pennoyer refused to leave his office to meet Harrison at the state border.

When Harrison came to Salem, Sylvester Pennoyer kept him waiting in the train station and arrived 10 minutes late.

That year the Oregon Legislative Assembly created the Oregon Attorney General office, and Sylvester Pennoyer appointed George Earle Chamberlain to that post.

On June 1,1896, Sylvester Pennoyer was elected the mayor of Portland.

Sylvester Pennoyer was the second mayor to sit in the new City Hall that was completed in 1895.

Sylvester Pennoyer donated land to Portland to serve as a park, originally known as Sylvester Pennoyer Park and now known as Governor's Park.

Sylvester Pennoyer died of heart disease in Portland on May 30,1902, at 4:00 PM in his house.

Sylvester Pennoyer was initially buried at Lone Fir Cemetery in Portland, but in 1924 his remains were moved to River View Cemetery in Portland.