Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-02-13
DIR. THOMAS coNpoN DEAD.
Passed Away at the Home of His
Daughter--Was 81 Years of
Age and Was Professor In
University of oregon
for 80 Years.


ologlst and for nearly thirty years
professor in the University of Ore
gon, died at the home of his daugh-
ter, Mrs. II. f. Mccormack, west oil
Eugene. of senile exhaustation. He
had been quite i'll for several days
past, but was much better Saturday
and hopes were entertained for his
recovery, but Sunday his condition
became worse and he began to sink
rapidly. All three of his daughters
Mrs. Mccormack, Mrs. +. c. Nolf, OF
Seattle, and Mrs. r. S. Bean, of Eu-
gene, were at his bedside at the time
of his death, which was peaceful and
painless. His younger son, Herbert
| T. Condor, is now on the way here
from Seattle, but his other son, Sey-
mour W. Condor, who Is at Los AN
geles. will be unable to reach Eu-
gene in time for the funeral.
The remains were taken to the
Bean home, corner of East Eleventh
and High streets, where they were
seen by the friends of the family til!
the time of the funeral.
Born in southern Ireland, March
8, 1922, Mr.. Condor was taken at the
age of eleven by his parents to New
York, where he received his early
education and grew to manhood. lie
next attended a Methodist college at
Cazenovia in Madison county, n. Y.
After few years spent in teaching
he studied at the Auburn theological
seminary, from which he was gradual
ed in 1852. He was married the
same year to Miss Cornelia Holt, OF
Buffalo. He with his wife, set sail
with band of missionaries for San
Francisco by the Cape Horn route.
The voyange was long and perilous.
and for three days the courage and
strength of the missionaries was Sc
verely tested in the struggle with a
fire in the smouldering cargo.
Mr.. and Mrs. Condor arrived In
western Oregon in the fall of '52'
where they found many of New Eng
land who had broughttheir apprecia-
tion of schools and churches. After
ten years OF work they removed to
The Dalles.
A minister without study, Mr.. Con-
don climbed the steep bluffs above
the town and thought out his SER
mons while he wandered over the
hillsides. He always carried alonp
geologist's pick and hammer. foI
while in central New York, as stu
dent and teacher, he took deep In
terest and spent much time In the
study and collection an ancient life
forms so common in the limestone OF
that section. A stronger interest was
awakened in the unknown interiof
when an army officer brought home
few trigonia and other fossil shells
When II became safe TO penetrate
the John Day valley without an arm
ed escort Mr.. Condor entered a new
field which kindled an enthusiasm ir
geological research that never ceased
TO be one of hts delights.
A Great Influence.
DIR. Condor stood as a maker o'
opinion, a reconciler of man. Wher
the great battle arose In the intellec
tual world after the publication o.
Darwin's "Origin OF the Species o.
Man" DR.. Condor was ready TO FACE
the conflict. His theory Of evolution
was twenty-five years ahead of th'
world; for a quarter OF a century h'
maintained what thinkers are accept
ling today. He presented to the hu
man mind a wider conception OF Coo
than the world has ever known be
fore. This conception involved a be
, ginning OF simplest forms whie'
gradually unfolded into the mor'
complex, never losing the CONTINUITY
of purpose, with a steady progres
toward elimination, the spiritual III
OF man.
, Believing IL to be his duty to shap'
the minds OF men, DR.. Condor Tel
that the most effective work could b
J done with his cabinet, because at thi
time the study OF science, uninter
preted. was leading young men o
our colleges into materialism. This
= with other motives, led him hnall
in 1876, TO accept the chair OF geol
ogy and natural history at the un'
versity OF Oregon. Here he move
his large and valuable cabinet, gath
cred during his twenty years min
istry In Oregon. and here he r'
NAMED until his death, retiring froi
active work at the university four O
. five years ago.
Mrs. Thomas Condor, wife OF IN
= doctor, died at Newport, Oregon Sci
= FQnN - Funhafd fever.