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California in 1849, where he worked in the mines with some success nntil 1851. Desirous of seeing "The girl he left behind him," he returned to Oskaloosa, Iowa, in 1851, and shortly afterwards married Miss Elizabeth E. Coe, with whom he recrossed the plains in 1852, and coming direct to Ore- gon settled on a farm in Jackson coimty, where he has resided ever since. His early education was obtained under great difficulties, but he availed himself assiduously of such as he had, aud by judicious reading in later life he has made himself well posted on all general subjects, and in many ways is a leader among men possessed of greater literary abilities. Stock raising and agricultural pursuits are his main forte, but he has branched out in mer- , chandising and running a tannery with no indifferent success. He was an uncompromising Whig up to the breaking out of the rebellion, and since then a stalwait Republican, and has always taken an active interest in poli- tics, although he has never urged his own claims for political honors with any degree of persistency. He was nominated for Governor on the Repub- lican ticket m 1874, but the formation of a third party gave the administra- tion into the hands of the Democracy, and he accepted his defeat with be- coming resignation. He was appointed Surveyor-General in 1878, and has made a very efficient officer. General Tolman is a low built man, rather spare, of a quick, nervous disposition, sharp features, full whiskers and short thick hair, well nigh whitened with age. He has an interesting fam- ily and enjoys home life. He is a man of strict integrity cind unsullied reputation. He appreciates his friends and has few, if any, enemies.
PROFESSOR THOMAS VAN SOOY, Now President of the Willamette University, is one of the leading instructors of our State, and is rapidly increasing his popularity among the stiideuts and patrons of the institution of learning over which he pi-esides. He is a gentleman of rare literary ability, and as chief executive of the University has surprised even his most ardent admirers. He was born in White county, Indiana, February 13, 1848, his father, William Van Scoy, having emigrated there from West Virginia the year previous. Thomas was the youngest of a family of fourteen children. He worked on the farm with his father, at- tending school in the winter months, till eighteen years of age, when he en- tered school at Battle Ground Collegiate Institute, where General Harrison fought the Indians in 1811 on the Tippecanoe river. After spending two years in this school he attended Brookston Academy in his native county forabout a year, and in 1869 he matriculated at the Northwestern Univer- sity at Evanston, Illinois, from which institution he graduated in a class of thirty in 1875; Leaving college he entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and was stationed at Rensselaer, Indiana, where he spent tliree years in preaching, having received into the church during that time three hundred members. At the close of the ministry in this place, he again entered school at Garrett Biblical Institute. In 1880 he graduated from this school and immediately came to Oregon to take the chair of Greek in Willamette University, which position he occupied for a little more than one year, when he was elected President of the same insti
