Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/177

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may expect to see him in the front ranks of polite, intelli^'ent society. Col. Ripinsky was born July 15, 1856, in Rypin, Poland, one mile from StruH- bourg, Western Prussia. He received a good European education and stud- ied in some of the best military schools of Europe. Here he acquired a thor- ough knowledge of draughting and considerable skill in sketching, drawing and painting. Indeed, so skillful was he in sketching that it was the moans of his receiving a handsome souvenier from the Governor of the Province in which the academy he was attending, was located, he having sketcljed his highness and staff while they were examining some of the higher classes during an official visit. After visiting many of the principal cities of Eu- rope, Ml'. Ripinsky came to New York in 1872 and made a partial tour of the Eastern States. Being particularly pleased with the "Sunny South," he located at Shreveport, Louisian, where he engaged in merchandising. Here he remained until that dreadful scourge, " Yellow Jack," swept that fair land. After having and surviviug an attack of the disease he came to Cali- fornia and opened a studio at Sacramento, where he painted several fine oil paintings, one of which, " The battle of Chevy Cliase," sold for a very high price. Mr. R came to Oregon, locating in Salem in 1878, where he has since spent most of his time in various positions until recently, when he opened a fine grocery establishment upon his own account and is, by close atteutiou, fair dealing and pleasant manners, building up a large trade. Mr. Ripinsky, in 1878, received from the State Fair Association and Mechanics' Fair at Portland the first prizes for an emblamatic Masonic chart. In 1879 he ex- hibited, and afterwards presented Oiive Lodge No. 18, I. O. O. F., of which he is a member, an artistic chart of the emblems of that order. During the administration of Governor W. W. Thayer he was honored with an appoint- ment on his excellency's staff as aide-de-camp with the rank of lieutenant- colonel. Salem Lodge No. 4, A. O. U. W., recently presented the colonel as Past Master a handsome gold medal for valuable services to the order, which he wears with commendable pride. He speaks fluently five dillerent lan- guages. In appearance Col. Ripinsky is petite in size, finely-formed, ex- pressive countenance, active and vigorous in his style, and is really a fine- looking man, without the least trace of effeminacy in his make-up.

DR. T. F. SMITH

Is one of the most successful physicians and surgeons m the Willamette valley, and now an honored citizen of Independence. He is one of those happy, good-natured men that we occasionally find in the professional ranks, and who, when we meet them, infuse new vim and vigor into one's self bv some mysterious magnetic power, not visible, but none the less ef- fective. He was born at Smithfield, Peoria county, Ilhnois, August 7, 184/, and with his parents came to this coast at an early age. He enlisted m Companv F, First Oregon Infantry in 18(54, and served until ^m\, during which time he was in several engagements with the Indians, being wounded in the tight of September 19, 1866, in Harney Lake valley. For Ins gal- lantry in that engagement he received special mention. On being mustered out of service in 1866, he was appointed Assessor and Tax Collector for Ada