Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/62



22

paddlinff his own canoe. In 1872 he opened a drug store in Canyonville, and having meanwhile learned to manipulate lightning, has, in connection with liis drug business, been the manager of the Western Union Telegraph Company's office at that place for years. He is a careful business manager and has succeeded in establishing a lucrative trade in that neighborhood. As a young man he never took any enthusiastic part in politics. Coming of age, he interested himself only as a good citizen should who has his coun- try's welfare at heart. His popularity and integrity, however, made him the most available man to nominate for State Senator in 1876, and he was elected. So well did he discharge his duties as a legislator that he was re- elected in 1880. As a member of that honorable body he is active and en- ergetic His voice is often heard in debate and his vote is generally re- corded on the right side of every important measure. He is a hard worker in the committee room and a popular member among his colleagues. He is a true-blue Republican and stands by his colors through thick and thin. He is an honored member of the I. O. O. F. and P. G. of his lodge. He was married in 1872 to Miss Mary C. Dyer, of Canyonville, and is the father of two girls and a boy. His standing at home is excelled by none.

HON. DUNHAM WRIGHT-

Whatever of praise may be due to the man who has, with the advantages of a collegiate educationjand abundant leisure for after study, risen to a position of honor and trust among his fellow men, we must accord a greater meed of praise to the young man who, without these advantages, has strug- gled with the waves of adversity and, by sheer force of ambition and native integrity, has elevated himself into a position of honor by the suffrages of his fellow citizens. The former is entitled to commendation for the ripened culture of the mind, while on the latter we must bestow the praise dfce to force of character and singleness of purpose. The Hon. Dunham Wright, who, like his cousin, the lamented Lincoln, started in life without any of these advantages, is indebted to no man or institution for the mental gifts which he possesses. They have all been culled from the practical field of every-day life. He is a plain-spoken man, thoroughly independent and honest in his dealings with his fellow man. He was born in Des Moines county, Iowa, and when but a child his father, who was a civil engineer, moved with his family into one of the frontier counties, where the subject of our sketch spent his younger days, deprived even of the advantages of a common school education. His education was received at a mother's knee, and in learning to write he was compelled to use a bullet hammered out to a point for a pencil and a smooth pine board for a slate. Nothing daunted, however, he took advantage of what was offered liim, and, by per- severance, succeeded in conquering those elementary branches most essen- tial in every-day contact with the world. He went to Colorado in 1862, and spent two years in the mines, and thence to Idaho Territory, where he sought for gold a short time and then commenced packing between the Boise mines and Umatilla landing. In 1865 he settled in the Gran