Levi Branson Reeder

Levi Branson "Lee" Reeder (September 7, 1865 – January 26, 1930) was an attorney and Republican politician from Pendleton in the US state of Oregon. A native of Illinois, he served as Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives from 1901–1903.

Levi Branson Reeder
Reeder circa 1910
20th Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
In office
1901–1903
Preceded byE. V. Carter
Succeeded byLawrence T. Harris
Personal details
BornSeptember 7, 1865
Eureka, Illinois
DiedJanuary 26, 1930(1930-01-26) (aged 64)
Portland, Oregon
Political partyRepublican
Spouse(s)Laura L. Zeigler

Early life

Levi Reeder was born in Eureka, Woodford County, Illinois, to Daniel A. and Eliza Reeder (née Kelsay) on September 7, 1865.[1] At the age of nine the family immigrated to Oregon, settling in Eastern Oregon.[1] Reeder attended school in Athena and Weston before enrolling in college at Christian College (now Western Oregon University) in Monmouth.[1] He graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1887, and then earned a B.S.D. degree at the institution.[1] On July 3, 1890, he married Laura L. Zeigler.[1] After a year of course work and the University of Michigan, Reeder then earned a Bachelor of Laws degree from the school in 1891.[1] He was admitted to the bar in Washington on August 1, 1891.[1]

Career

After passing the bar, Reeder entered private legal practice in Stevens County, Washington, remaining there until 1895.[1] From 1893 to 1895 he served as a prosecuting attorney in the county.[1] In 1895, he returned to Oregon where he passed the bar and began practicing in Pendleton until 1904.[1] In 1898, Reeder was elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives from Umatilla County.[2] He was re-elected in 1900, and served as the Speaker of the Oregon House during the 1901 legislative session.[3] In 1904, Reeder relocated to Portland.[1]

Reeder advocated for opening a shipping channel on the Columbia River from Pendleton to the Pacific Ocean.[4] He died in Portland on January 26, 1930.[5]

References
  1. Colmer, Montagu, and Charles Erskine Scott Wood. 1910. History of the Bench and Bar of Oregon. Portland, Or: Historical Pub. Co. p. 209-210.
  2. 1899 Regular Session (20th). Oregon State Archives. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
  3. Oregon Blue Book: Earliest Authorities in Oregon - Speakers of the House of Representatives of Oregon. Oregon Secretary of State. Retrieved on June 9, 2008.
  4. Reeder, Lee B. (1902). "Open the Columbia to the sea". Pendleton Daily Tribune. E. P. Dodd. Archived from the original on May 14, 2008.
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