Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/782

 is the old doctor; the good doctor; Dr John McLoughlin. And this sentiment was applauded by the very men who had given the "good old doctor many a heart-ache along in the forties. "But," concluded Judge Deady, " the political strife and religious bigotry which cast a cloud over his latter days have passed away, and his memory and figure have risen from the mist and smoke of controversy, and he stands out to-day in bold relief, as the first man in the history of this country the pioneer of pioneers!

I cannot close this volume without brief biographies of the following men:

Henry Winslow Corbett, a native of Westborough, Massachusetts, where he was born on the 18th of February, 1827, is of English descent, his ancestry being traced back to the days of William the Conqueror, when the name of Roger Corbett is found among the list of those who won fame and possessions as a military leader. The youngest of eight children, after receiving a public school and academy education, he began life in the dry goods business in New York city, proceeding thence in 1851 to Portland, where he was extremely successful in his ventures, being now the oldest merchant in Portland, and perhaps in Oregon. He is, moreover, largely interested in banking, being connected with the First National bank almost from its inception, and now its vice-president. He was also appointed president of the board of trade, of the boys and girls aid society, and other charitable associations, and of a company organized to complete a grand hotel, to be second only in size to the Palace hotel in San Francisco. On the formation of the republican party in Oregon, Corbett became one of its leaders. He was chosen delegate to the Chicago convention of 1860, and in 1866 was elected to the United States senate, where he won repute by his practical knowledge of financial affairs, his able arguments on the resumption of specie payments, and the funding of the national debt, and his resolute opposition to all measures that savored of bad faith or repudiation. As a statesman he is noted for his boldness, eloquence, and integrity of purpose; as a business man for his ability and enterprise; and as a citizen for his many deeds of charity. In 1853 he was married to Miss Caroline E. Jagger, who died twelve years later, leaving two sons, of whom only the elder, Henry J. Corbett, survives. The latter has already made his mark in life, following in the footsteps of his father, to whom he will prove a most worthy successor.

William S. Ladd was a native of Vermont, born October 10, 1826, educated in New Hampshire, working on the farm winters. He came to Oregon in 1851, and engaged in the mercantile business, later becoming a banker. He accummulated a large fortune, and has ever been one of Oregon's foremost men. His benefactions have been many and liberal, one tenth of his income being devoted to charity. He has assisted both in the city of Portland, where he resides, and throughout the whole north-west, in building churches and schools. He endowed a chair of practical theology in San Francisco in 1886 with $50,000. He has given several scholarships to the Willamette university, and assisted many young men to start in business, In 1854 he married Caroline A. Elliott of New Hampshire, who bore him seven children, five of whom were living in 1888, William M., Charles E., Helen K., Caroline A., and John W. Ladd. The eldest son, William M. Ladd, is in every respect the worthy son of his father.

C. H. Lewis was born December 22, 1826, at Cranbury, New Jersey, where he attended school, working sometimes on a farm. In 1846 he entered