Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/147

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dering valuable assistance in framins both of these important clauses in our State Constitution. He was a member of the first State Legishiture and represented Polk county in the Senate of 1868 and a^'ain in 1870, servinj? an President during the former session. He was also a member and the Chairman of the Investigating Committee, appoiuted by the Legislative Assembly of 1870 to examine and report upon the condition of the execu- tive, administrative and financial departments of the State goveriunent. During the administration of Gov. Chadwick, Mr, Burch served as Superin- tendent of the Penitentiary. Such M^as his management of that institution that the joint committee appointed by the Legislative Assembly to investi- gate the affairs of that institution recommended in their report his Cf)ntin- uance in office. He is now an honored citizen in private life, taking such interest only in public affairs as every man should who is interested in the welfare of our country. Mr. Burch is a Democrat in politics and has, here- tofore, taken an active interest in political matters. He is a man of strong executive ability and is generally a leader in any enterprise he may be in- terested in. He rarely follows, as he has a mind and will of his own, and Ms opinions are generally considered worthy of careful consideration. He is of ordinary height and build, plainly dressed, genial and courteous to his friends, and is honest, sincere and earnest in everything he undertakes. There is a vein of good humor in his composition, and a disposition to rel- ish a good joke. He has always endeavored to do his duty honestly and faithfully in the discharge of his official duties, and has won and well merits the confidence and esteem of his neighbors and friends.


DR. ARTHUR INGRAHAM NICKLIN

Is one of the leading physicians and surgeons of the State, and now resides in Eugene City, in Lane county. He at present holds the important posi- tion of United States Examining Surgeon for pensions. He was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, on October 4, 1828, When he was fourteen years of age his parents Avith their children moved to Iowa, where they re- sided for eight years, and then (1850) took a long westward course across the plains, by the old wagon-train means of transportation, to Oregon, ar- riving in Portland about the middle of November of that year, and a few months afterwards the family located in Polk county, where they resided six years, and thence moved to Salem. While yet in Virginia, Dr. Nickliu had begun the study of medicine under the tutorship of his uncle. Dr. I. T. Nicklin, an eminent physcian of that day, and in Iowa and Oregon he lost no opportunity of devoting his spare time to the pursuit of this study, which he had heartily embraced while a mere boy. In the meantime he had not neglected his other studies and when, in 1857, he became a resident of Salem, he was a Aveil-read physician. However, he conclu-ied to become even more thorough and proficient, and for this purpose he took a regular course of three years in the Medical Department of Willamette University, whence he graduated with distinction. In 1862 he was married to Miss Lavina C. Draper, sister to Mrs. Rev. N. Doane. A few years previously he