Carey, Charles Henry. "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1922. p. 700. DR. WALTON SKIPWORTH Comparatively a young state, Oregon has drawn much of her man power from other commonwealths. North, east and south have sent their sons to aid in the up-building of the west. The last section, in giving Walton Skipworth, D. D., to HillsĄ©boro, Oregon, deprived Louisiana of a notable divine, and contributed incalculably to the religious education of the newer state. Walton Skipworth was born in Louisiana, December 23, 1862, the son of the Reverend N. M. and Cornelia (Bowdon) Skipworth. His father was a physician, who while practicing took up the study of theology and was ordained a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church, South. He became a local preacher, continuing his practice of medicine and operating a farm at the same time. Later he devoted his entire attention to the ministry and became the presiding elder of the Shreveport district. In 1874 he was transferred to Oregon, later becoming a member of the Columbia River conference of the Methodist Episcopal church. He filled pastorates at Prineville, St. John and Corvallis and died a member of the Oregon conference. Cornelia Bowdon, his wife, belonged to an old southern family, her father being a popular citizen and a prominent farmer in his community. Hon. Frank Bowdon of this family was a member of congress from Alabama and an orator of distinction. Mrs. Skipworth was an educator and a graduate of Selma Female College, and her culture, her intellect and her beautiful character made her a true helpmeet to that faithful upright soul, her husband, who gave up the practice of a successful physician to preach the gospel, not only from the pulpit, but as a missionary to the Klamath Indians. Walton Skipworth was educated in the public schools of Independence, Oregon, and at Willamette University, and he took the four years' conference course of study, receiving deacon's and elder's orders. He was ordained elder by Bishop Bowman in 1889. His first charges, of one year each, were at Springfield and Ashland, and later at Lebanon, two years; then Jacksonville circuit including Jacksonville, Medford and Central Point one year. He then became pastor of the Mount Tabor Methodist Episcopal church at Portland, where he remained for three years, until he was transferred to the Idaho conference and was assigned to Union, Oregon, for three years. At this time a change in the boundary lines between the Idaho and the Columbia River conĄ©ferences brought Dr. Skipworth to the Dayton, Washington, church. After two years be went to Lewiston, Idaho, for another period of three years, and thence to The Dalles, Oregon, for four years. He became presiding elder of The Dulles district in 1905 and served as district superintendent for the full term of six years. The Columbia River conference elected him a member of the General conference which met in Minneapolis in 1912, and he was appointed by the Board of Bishops as representative of the Fifteenth General Conference district on the Board of Sunday Schools, which box its headquarters in Chicago. Retiring from The Dalles district in 1911 he became pastor at Sand Point, Idaho, where he served for one year. In 1912 he was transferred to the Oregon conference, and appointed to Newberg, Oregon, for two years, to Grants Pass for one year, and then to Lebanon, where be had been in charge a quarter of a century before. Dr. Skipworth had built a strong church at Lebanon, but, to his increased delight, on his return he found that a handsome new church edifice had been erected. He spent but one year at Lebanon, being appointed at the end of that time to the Hillsboro church, of which he has been the pastor since 1916. In the first parliament of church benevolences or his denomination held in the northwest, Dr. Skipworth represented the Board of Sunday Schools. The membership of the parliament embraced some of the most distinguished churchmen and orators, including three bishops. On January 20. 1909, the degree of Doctor of Divinity was conferred upon Rev. Mr. Skipworth by Willamette University. In the Columbia River conference in September, 1904, Dr. Skipworth introduced a resolution asking the appointment of a commission to confer with a like commission appointed by the Oregon conference, should said conference see fit to appoint such a commission, on the removal of the remains of Jason Lee from Lower Canada and reinterment of his body in the cemetery at Salem, Oregon, which bears his name. The commission, with Dr. Skipworth as one of its members was appointed, and in June. 1906, the Methodist Episcopal church had the profound joy of celebrating the burial of the bones of Jason Lee in the land for which be had done so much in its earlier days. Dr. Skipworth was married in 1885 to Miss Rosemary Royal, daughter of Charles F. and Mary Jane Royal, a prominent pioneer family who helped to lay the foundations of education and religion In Oregon. William Royal of this stock of people was the founder of the Centenary Methodist Episcopal church of Portland. Dr. and Mrs. Skipworth have three children: Ella Elizabeth; Arthur, who is engaged in the drug business; and Rosemary Bowdon, wife of Alfred L. Mansfield. They reside in Portland. Of Dr. Skipworth's immediate family, two brothers, E. R. Skipworth. for many years a well known lawyer of Eugene, is now deceased; and Superior Judge George F. Skipworth, of Eugene, and two sisters, Mrs. Eula B. Wood, of Eugene, and Mrs. Martin L. Pipes, of Portland, are living, Dr. Skipworth has a wide reputation as a gifted speaker and a man of pure character. An assiduous Biblical student, he has at the same time an active, kindly interest in the well-being of his people and he has won the love of whole communities where he has lived and labored. Among his fellow ministers he is accounted one of the forceful preachers of the west. He served as a trustee of Willamette UniverĄ©sity for fifteen years. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.