Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 3.djvu/397

Rh chard on the Beninion Roggers place near Milwaukie—all Oregon fruits. In the early '60s his time was fully occupied by his profession, which was now a most lucrative one, and in making and beautifying a home, including the setting out of trees and ornamental shrubs. Withal he was an enthusiastic Mason and now wears the badge of the consistory.

About this time horticultural societies were being organized over the state and Multnomah county had its organization, meeting in Portland, in which Dr. Cardwell was an active and enthusiastic member. As early as the summer of 1858 he was connected with others in organizing the first territorial horticultural society in Portland, which held summer and fall meetings, made fruit exhibits and awarded prizes almost annually until the formation of the state society. The Oregon State Horticultural Society was organized in Portland, January 13, 1889, with a long list of active members and J. R. Cardwell was elected president. Each year he was unanimously reelected for twenty years, when he retired and was made honorary president. In 1893 Portland's first Rose Show was held and Mr. Cardwell, as president of the State Horticultural Society appointed a committee of ladies to promote this enterprise. The following year a large and creditable show for those days was made by the same committee, composed of Mrs. J. C. Card, president; Mrs. Ella Lehigh, secretary; Mrs. Shafford and Mrs. Lambertson. These shows were most popular events and were the forerunners of the splendid shows of later years.

In the meantime other interests and activities featured in the life of Dr. Cardwell. In reminiscences told concerning Portland and her history he speaks of how many of her citizens, including those who were regarded as the soundest and most sagacious business men, were taken in by the well told tales of dishonest promoters and more dishonest manipulators of mining property who told of the wealth to be made in gold, silver, copper and lead mines. He was among the victims and lost considerably through investments. At a later time prunegrowing claimed the attention of many of Portland's citizens as well as others throughout the state, and, as Dr. Cardwell expressed it, "The prune figured better than banking or any business, as the apple does today." Far-seeing business men speculated in prune lands. Dr. Cardwell bought prune lands and from 1870 until 1881, set out one hundred acres of prunes which, it is believed, was the first large commercial prune orchard in the United States. He had previously engaged in the cultivation of plums but found that they were not profitable for shipment and by graft he converted his plum into a prune orchard, met success in the undertaking and in so doing silenced the criticism of the conservatives and those who regarded his work only as an experiment, unjustified by horticultural knowledge. Dr. Cardwell has, indeed, been a leader in the work of cultivating fruit in Oregon, and his broad knowledge, gained from scientific investigation and from practical experience well qualified him for the presidency of the State Horticultural Society and merited his appointment to the state board of horticulture when it was created by legislative act in 1889. He was made the president of the board and so continued for ten years. On his retirement Governor T. T. Geer stated that he "made a record by resigning from a paying position." He was the horticultural commissioner from Oregon to the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893, winning seventeen prizes and turning back to the state several thousand dollars of the fund appropriated for the exhibit.

While various activities and interests have claimed the attention of Dr. Cardwell, he has continued also an active member of the dental fraternity. In 1872 he became one of the charter members of the Oregon State Dental Society and was elected its secretary. Twice afterward he was chosen its president, and for ten years he was president of the state board of dental examiners, after which he reigned. During his service as president over two thousand dollars receipts of the board were returned to the state. He was active in the organization of the Oregon Humane Society in 1872. of which B. Goldsmith became president, while Dr. Cardwell was chosen one of the vice presidents. He was one of the lead-