Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/79

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REPEESENTATIVE MEN OF OREGON. 39

and conscientious, and the pledges be took before the people he has kept faithfully at all hazards. He has proved a hard worker, was always in his seat and had his eyes open to every proposition. Although not particularly fond of speech-making, he has at various times during the session exhibited a command of language and a comprehension of the subject matter in hand which could only have been acquired by years of study and reflection. He is a man of -slight build, pleasant face, with chin whiskers and mustache and brown hair. He was married in 1874 to Mrs. Julia G. Crump, of Salem, and their family consists of three children.


HON. PENUMBRA KELLY

Was born in Kentucky m the year 18i5. His father immigrated to Oregon in 1848, and remained that winter with his family in Oregon City. In 1849 the family, which was a goodly-sized one, Penumbra being one of fifteen children, removed to East Portland, and since then the subject of this sketch has there resided, growing up from boyhood to manhood and earn- ing a reputation for soundness of character and strength of purpose which has frequently made him the recipient of public trust and public office when he would fain have enjoyed the quietude of private life on his pleas- ant and valuable farm two miles from East Portland. Mr. Kelly was mar- ried in 1875 to Miss Mary E. Marquam, daughter of Judge Marquam, and has three interesting children. In "1874 he was elected a member of the House of Representatives from Multnomah, and in 1876 he v/as elected County Commissioner. He was again elected to the Legislature in 1878, and since that time he has been twice re-elected. Mr. Kelly's experience as a legislator, together with the fact that he is a thorough parliamentarian, a deep thinker and sound adviser, has made him one of the most valuable members of the present session, and many times has his counsel extricated the house from troublesome complications.

HON. LUTHER B. ISON Is one of the Representatives from Baker county in the House. He is a medium-sized, well-proportioned and fine-looking gentleman, with a clear eye and a full face. At times you would think this man had genius, but you are immediately confronted with the stern reality that he has not. On entering the House, he goes straight to his desk, takes out his book containing legislation which is up for consideration, and buries himself in the work of investigating the merits and provisions of the various measures. When he proceeds to address the House, the listener is struck with the forcible manner in which he speaks and the great earnestness of his lan- guage. His style of oratory is one peculiar to himself and withal pleasing. Although Mr. Ison is not eloquent, he is, by far, the most acceptable speaker in the present House. He begins to talk in a moderated tone of voice, which gradually changes to one of decision, sometimes appealing, again persuasive, and again endeavoring to convince. His sentences are short, and seldom does he utter a clear-cut, round Edmund Burke construction.