Page:Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon.djvu/118

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kings, he




soon surmounted all the difficulties that loomed up before him, and made The Esmond what his worthy sire had designed it to be— the leading hotel of the Northwest. In doing this, he has been materiaUy aided by the solic- itouH attentions of his respected mother and his accomplished sister, Miss Rose Brenner, both of whom leave nothing undone to make guests feel en- tirely " at home" under their roof. Mr. Brenner is courteous and attentive to everyone ; but he deserves special praise for the filial affection shown to his mother, and for the many thoughtful attentions shown to her and his sister. Other young men of his age, courted and flattered as he is, would be apt to overlook these little amenities, which, after all, speak louder than words in stamping the truly affectionate disposition and noble character of the man. Mr. Brenner is still unmarried. As to his personal appearance, it is only necessary to state that at social gatherings he is always at the highest premium for the "ladies' choice," to know that he is young, hand- some and accomplished.


REV. P. S. KNIGHT. There is, perhaps, no minister on the coast that stands higher in the com- munity in which he lives than does the popular divine whose name heads this sketch. For years past he has been a pastor of the people and a friend to all. He is not hedged in by sectarianism, and is confined to no single line of thought or purpose, save to do that which his Master has given him to do, and to perform such work in a manner dictated by his own con- science, irrespective of what others may think or believe. His sermons are practical and he clothes his thoughts in plain terms. His flights of imagi- nation, while elo(iuent, are none the less easily followed by the imlearned as well as the student. Mr. Knight was born in Boston, Mass., on the 21st day of October, 1886, becoming an Iowa pioneer at the early age of six months. Here be resided until 1853, when, with his parents, he came across the plains with an ox team and settled near Vancouver, W. T. He served a full apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade from IS.jl to 18.57, in which latter year he came to Salem and r.K ended the Willamette University in 18.58 and 1860. He read law under Smith ct Grover in 1861 and 1862 and was ad- mitted to the bar in 1863. That year and the year following he edited the Salem " Statesman." Having always evinced an adaptability for the min- istry, he during all these years was preparing himself for a ministerial career, and in 1865 and 1866 he served as pastor of the Congregational Church at Oregon City, returning to Salem in 1867 in response to a call from the Congregational Church in that city, which he accepted, and which pulpit he has occupied continuously sincte that date. In 187U he interested himself in the organization of a State institution for the education of deaf mutes, and has done more than any other one man to ameliorate the con- dition of this unfortunate class of our citizens. By personal and persistent eflbrt, he succeeded in securing j; small appropriation from the State, and in organizing the school overcame difficulties that would have discouraged most men. He has had personal supervision of the institution since that time, and has, in addition to his ministerial labors, served as one of its