Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 3. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  pp. 186-7.

JOHN LAWRENCE HERSHNER

The labors of John Lawrence Hershner have constituted a valuable contribution to
central Oregon in its development and upbuilding and his name is therefore
inseparably interwoven with its history. He has been particularly well known in
the Hood River country and he now makes his home in the city of Hood River. He
was born at Blooming Grove, Morrow county, Ohio, in 1857, and in every position
in which he has found himself throughout an active life he has won and merited
the praise of his fellow citizens because of the beneficial character of his
labors and his uprightness in every relation. He was educated in the graded
schools of his native town and in the Lexington Seminary. In 1879 he became a
resident of the Willamette valley. Though but little past his majority, he
decided that the firmest props of mankind were religion and morality and he took
up the study of theology. For two years he served as assistant pastor at
Albany, Oregon, and from 1882 until 1886 at Independence. His next charge was at
Corvallis, where he labored as minister until 1889, when he was called to
Albina, and there remained for five years. In 1894 he accepted a call from the
Riverside Congregational church at Hood River and for ten years labored
untiringly in that field, his efforts being a most potent force in promoting the
moral progress of the community. He won the love of the people of all
denominations, for he is a man not only of scholarly attainments but of broad
sympathy and has the faculty of calling forth the best that is in the
individual.

From 1906 until 1917 Mr. Hershner was assistant superintendent of Congregational
work in the state of Washington. In 1902 he purchased thirty-five acres of raw
land in the Hood River valley, north of the village of Van Horn, which he
reclaimed and developed, planting the tract to apples and pears, and since his
retirement from active ministerial duties he has given a large part of his time
to the further development and improvement of his orchard.

In 1886 Mr. Hershner was married at Monmouth, Oregon, to Miss Rachel Loughary, a
daughter of a pioneer family of the Willamette valley. The children of this
marriage who are still living are: Harold, now the assistant cashier of the
Butler Bank of Hood River; Leila Zoe, the wife of Crawford Lemmon of Yakima,
Washington; Lawrence Scott, who is a student in the University of Oregon; and
Helen, a high school pupil at The Dalles. Mr. and Mrs. Hershner have reared
their children to realize that good citizenship must be shown in active interest
in public affairs; that patriotism is not confined to the singing of "My Country
ÔTis of Thee" on special occasions; that the building of the community in which
they live, the betterment of local conditions and the promotion of material,
moral and religious improvement of each community is a component part of loyal
and progressive citizenship. Following these teachings, Harold Hershner served
his country in time of war as a member of the gallant Ninety-first Division of
the American Expeditionary Forces, doing active duty in France and Belgium and
winning advancement to the position of sergeant. Returning home after twenty-two
months of service, he has become interested in civic affairs with the
determination to do his full duty to his country in days of peace as in times of
war and is now the treasurer of the local organization of the American Legion.
Lawrence Hershner also tendered his services to his country but upon physical
examination was put in the fourth class and was never called. Mrs. Hershner is a
graduate of the State Normal School and following the completion of her studies
there became a member of the faculty. She is now a member of the Hood River
Women's Club and was formerly president of the Ladies' Aid Society of the
Congregational church, with which she is still identified. She is likewise a
past worthy matron of the Eastern Star. Mr. Hershner is a Royal Arch Mason and
is serving as chaplain of Hood River Lodge, No. 105, F. & A. M, and is past
worthy patron of the Eastern Star, while twice he has been president of the
Oregon Congregational Association. His life has been of distinct value to the
state in its mental and moral development.



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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer. 
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.