Biography of Hon. Rookey P. Earhart, 1882; State of Oregon

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Pen Pictures of Representative Men of Oregon
Frank E. Hodgkins & J. J. Galvin
Published: Farmer and Dairyman Publishing House; Portland, Oregon; 1882

Hon. Rookey P. Earhart

There is perhaps no more responsible position in the State government of Oregon
than that of Secretary of State, embracing, as it does, the additional duties 
and responsibilities of Auditor and Comptroller in connection with his important 
duties as custodian of the Great Seal, and a more competent man than Mr. earhart 
could not have been found to fill it. He appears peculiarly fitted by nature for 
the duties of public life, possessing that personal magnetism which affects to a 
more or less degree every one with whom he comes in contact. He seems to flow from 
him as naturally aas light comes from the sun, and he is at all times brimming over
with geniality and good humor. He is accustomed to look upon the bright side of 
life, and imparts the sunshine of good cheer to those about him. Wholesealed, 
genial and courteous, he gains staunch friends at every turn. Honest, upright and 
straightforward in all his dealings, he takes it for granted all men are the same 
until they show the cloven foot. He possesses the true instincts of a gentleman 
both in friendship and enmities, and in his official acts personal feelings never 
prompt results. He deals with all alike, and shows neither fear nor favor. Politics
never came between himself and those with whom he has official dealings, and many 
of his staunchest friends and adminirers are found in opposing political ranks. In 
his present position he has no friends to reward or enemies to punish, save such 
as earn favors at his hands which can be bestowed without in any measure 
compromising his official capacity. Punctuality and thoroughness are among the 
leading traits of his character, and it is to these qualities, added to his social 
worth, that he owes the popularity and respect which he has gained from the people
of the State he so able serves. Mr. Earhart was born in Franklin, Ohio, on the 23 
day of June 1837, and came to Oregon via the Isthmus in 1855. His educational 
advantages were received in select schools in his native State, and he made the 
most of the opportunities offered. Arriving here and meeting incidentally with 
someof the public officals of the day, his superior clerical abilities were very 
soon discovered and he received the appointment of clerk under Captain (now 
Commissionary General) Robert McFeely, U.S.A., and Quartermaster (now General) 
P. H. Sheridan, then stationed at Forts Vancouver and The Dalles, under whose 
latter command he was until his promotion and departure from the coast in 1861. 
He was all through the Yakima Indian war of 1855-6, and rendered valuable service 
in the departments in which he was employed. He afterwards went into the general 
mercantile business in Yamhill and Polk counties, until he succeeded Col. Logan as 
United States Indian Agent at the Warm Springs Agency, where he remained until the 
appointment of Captain John Smith, the present incumbent, in 1865. He served for 
some time as chief clerk and Special Indian Agent under Superintendent Huntington 
and was Secretary of the Board of Commissioners appointed by the general government
to treat with the Klamath and Modoc Indians. In 1868 he engaged in the mercantile 
business in Salem, in which he continued until 1872. Mr. Earhart was active in 
conjuction with other citizens in maintaining peace and quietude at the captial 
during the troublesome times when the civil war was raging and when an outbreak 
might have been made in our very midst but for the courage and cool-headedness of
a few of our best citizens who were prepared for active serviec and could be ready
for any emergency at almost a moment's notice. In 1870, when the stockholders of 
the Chemeketa Hotel, then just completed, were looking around for some popular and 
energetic man to manage it, they unamimously selected Mr. Earhart, when reluctantly
accepted, and for year or more was its proprietor. He was chief clerk in the office
of Superintendent of Indian Affairs in 1872-3. He also represented Marion county 
in the House in 1870, and was instrumental in securing the first appropriation for 
the erection of public buildings in this State. He afterwards moved to Portland 
and was for some time engaged n the business management of the "Daily Bulletin." 
In 1874 he was appointed chief clerk of the Surveyor General's office, which 
position he held until 1878, when he resigned to accept the office of Secretary 
of State, to which he had been elected. He enteredupon the duties of that office 
in September of that year, and at once commenced a thorough and systematic 
overhauling of the books and records, and in a few month's time had the office in
better shape than it had ever been prior thereto. So acceptably did he discharge 
his official duties during his first term in that office that he received the 
unanimous vote of the Republican State Convention for renomination and received a 
majority of over 2,500 at the general election in June, 1882. He identified himself
with the Masonic order in 1863, and has held every office within the gift of the 
fraternity, being still active in its interests. He was elected Grand Secretary of
the Grand Lodge in 1872 and served until 1878, when, in recognition of his past 
service in that body, he was promoted from the Secretary's desk to the high and 
honorable position of Grand Master, and was re-elected in 1879. He is at the 
present time Sovereign Grand Inspector and thirty-third of the Scottish Rite in 
the State of Oregon. He was instrumental in organizing the first Commandery of 
Knights Templar established on the North Pacific coast, and served for four years
as its Eminent Commander, being presented on his retirement from that office with
perhaps the handsomest Masonic jewel ever brought to Oregon. Mr. Earhart is also 
connected with the I.O.O.F. and the A.O.U.W. He was married July 2, 1863, to Miss 
N. A. Burden, daughter of Judge Burden of Polk county, their family consisting of 
four daughters, who are general favorites in society circles. Mr. Earhart is a 
gentleman of ordinary height, rather heavy set, weighing abotu 170 pounds, with 
a full face, partially covered with beard, and brown hair. His features are 
pleasant and his manners are such as gain friends rapidly. He is an unusually 
engaging conversationalist, his descriptive powers being vivid and his mimicry 
complete. He tells and can keenly appreciate a good story, and ten minutes; general
conversation with him will make you his friend. No man in Oregon is today more 
popular or has more friends than has Hon. R. P. Earhart. He is but just in the 
prime of life, and we have no hesitancy in predicting for him higher official 
honors than he has yet attained.