Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/20

vi and the subject of our sketch went to Salem and was employed for some time as salesman in the firm of J. B. and M. Hirsch. In 1866, having been elected President and business manager of the Eagle Woolen Mills, at Brownsville, he went there and remained in charge of the enterprise for about two years. In 1868 he returned to Salem, where he has resided continuously since. In 1869 he was interested in the mercantile firm of Hermann & Hirsch, of that city, and in 1876 the name was changed to L. & E. Hirsch. In 1878, when the Republican State Convention met in Salem, Mr. Hirsch's name was urged by a host of friends as candidate for State Treasurer. The contest was a spirited one, but Mr. Hirsch was successful, and a few months later was elected by a rousing majority. During the succeeding four years he devoted his entire attention to the responsible duties of his office, and so faithfully did he discharge the trust reposed in him, he was renominated for the same position by the Republican State Convention in 1882 and was again elected by a largely increased majority. His honesty, integrity, high social standing and unflinching adherence to the principles of the political party he espouses have endeared him to the hearts of the public. His honesty is proverbial and his popularity immense, having the respect of all and the enmity of but few. His liberality is acknowledged, although many of his acts of kindness are known to none but himself and the grateful recipient. He is an able financier, guarding with zealous care the interests of the people in all his official acts. Mr. Hirsch is highly respected as a citizen of Salem, and for two terms represented his ward in the Common Council of that city. He was also Chairman of the Republican County Central Committee in 1876. He belongs to both branches of the I. O. O. F., and is P. M. W. of Protection Lodge No. 2, A. O. U. W., of Salem. He was married May 10, 1868, to Miss Nettie Davis, their family consisting of seven children. Mr. Hirsch is destined to many long years of usefulness, and the people will not fail to take advantage of his abilities in the future as they have in the past.

The experience of mankind has stamped with the signet of truth the popular saying that "success denotes merit," and when a young man attains a position of honor and prominence in a community, whether it be in the political or mercantile world, that fact should be taken as proof of merit of no ordinary kind, in the make up of the one winning such honor and distinction. Such an elevation as that of Hon. W. H. Byars to the responsible position of State Printer argues that his past life has been spent to good purpose, and that he has availed himself of his leisure time to store his mind with that fund of literary and political lore which stands him so well before the people of Oregon to-day. He was born in Desmoines county, Iowa, July 7, 1839, his father, Fleming Byars, being a Virginian by birth and his mother, whose maiden name was Anna Deardorff, a native of Ohio. The father died in 1847, leaving the mother with one sou and three daughters. In 1851 she was married to John H. Mires and in 1853 they crossed