Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1910-10-28
PIONEER DOCTOR DIES
THOMAS VAN BUREN EMBREE
JOINS SILENT MAJORITY.
Was Oregon Pioneer OF 1914 and State
Commander Of Indian War
Veterans.


pioneer of 1914, and Polk County's
oldest practicing physician, died at his
home in this city Wednesday after
noon, October rs, 1910, aged "A years,
2 months and IL days
Doctor Embree's last illness came as
a great surprise to the members of
his family and to his many friends, as
he had been enjoying his usual good
health and had been actively engaged
in the practice of his profession up to
the day he became sick. Only week
ago Tuesday, he attended the funeral
and burial of his old friend and neigh
Dor, Daniel Richardson. and at that
time he showed no symptoms of the
approaching fatal illness. The next
day he suffered a hard chill and was
obliged to take to his bed. With~each
succeeding day he grew worse, and.
despite the careful medical attention
given him, he passed away Wednes-
day afternoon a few minutes after
three o'clock. He was partially con-
scious until about fifteen minutes be-
fore the end. Death was the result of
kidney trouble, which brought about
complete breakdown of his vital
organs.
Thomas Van Buren Embree was the
eldest son of the late Cary and Lucin-
da Embree. He was born near Fay
ette, Howard County, Missouri, August
IA, 1896. At the age of eight years,
he crossed the plains with his parents,
the family arriving in Oregon City on
the Gath day of December. 1874. This
being one of the earliest immigra-
tions to Oregon, the family suffered
many hardships on the way. The fam
lily owned only one yoke of oxen, and
as all of the room in the wagon was
occupied by household goods and
bed for the invalid mother, he little
lad, Thomas, and his younger sister,
Mary, (now Mrs. T, ]. Hayter,) walked
nearly the entire distance of the 1000
mile trip.
The Embree family spent the Win
ter in Oregon City, moving to Polk
County in the early Spring of 1916.
At that time there were less than
dozen white families in the county
The elder Mr.. Embree selected his
64O-acre donation claim in the LaCre-
ole Valley, about two miles West of
the present town of Rickreall His
son, Thomas, assisted him with the
farm work until the year 1858 and
then began the study of medicine in
the office of Doctor ]. w. Boyle, one
of the best known physicians of pio-
neer Oregon. He continued his course
of reading with DIR. Boyle until 1860
and then went to San Francisco and
became a student in the medical de-
partment of the University of the Pac-
ifc, (now the Cooper Medical College)
Doctor Embree's first experience in
the practice Of his chosen profession
was in the little town of Lafayette in
Yamhill County. Lafayette was one
of the important valley towns of that
early day, and the young physician
soon built up lucrative practice.
Later he practiced in Amity and in
Lewisville and in 1874 he located in
Dallas. In the Winter of 18S0-S1, he
attended the medical department of
Willamette University, and upon COM
pleting the course received a diploma
of graduation from that institution.
He next practiced in Corvallis, living
there nearly four years His next
move was to Burns, Harney County,
where he practiced eight years. He
then returned to Dallas and lived here
until the time of his death. with the
exception of two years residence
in Portland in the early 's0s.
When the Yakima Indian War be-
gan in 1855, Doctor Embree, then a
boy of 10 years, was one of the first
to offer his services. He first enlisted
lin Company G, First Infantry, in COM
mand of Captain Benjamin Hayden,
and. after completing his term Of SER
vice he re-enlisted, his second COM
mander being Captain b. f. Burch, OF
Company B. He remained in the
army until the end of the war and was
ore of the volunteers that saw service
in the famous horse meat" campaign.
Doctor Embree was married in Cor
Wallis in 1868, his bride being Miss
Annie E. Finley, a native of Santa
Clara, California, and a sister Of John
p. Finley. the pioneer undertaken OF
Portland. To this union were born
seven children, three of whom are liv-
ling. The SURVIVING children are CLYDE
and Van Embree. Of Harvey County
and Mrs. Armand Guthrie, of Dallas
He is also survived by two brothers
Mark and John B. Embree. and two
sisters, Mrs. T. ]. Hayter and Mrs
Alice Dempsey--all residents Of Dallas
The Doctor was a lifelong member
OF the church and was licensed min
lister OF the gospel. He was oneiof the
earliest members of Jennings Lodge
A. F. & A. NJ, having been made Q
Mason in that lodge IN the late sos
He was also member OF the Oregon
Pioneer Association. and at the time
OF his death was Grand Commander
Of the Oregon Indian War Veterans
i Doctor Embree was a man OF stronl
j personality. He was an Original
thinker and a ready speaker. He wal
outspoken in the defense Of HIS view
and opinions. but was always ready L
listen to the opinions OF others. HI
enjoyed opposition; IN fact Il some
times seemed az II he courted It. Blu
back Of this brusque exterior ther'
beat a heart filed with love for hi
felIoW-man and with sympathy foi
the adllcted and the distressed. j
at times his manner seemed sOmewha
abrupt, Il was because his long exper
ience in the school Of hard knock
had taught him 20 despise sham ans
hypocriss. Doctor Embree was nm
type Of the sympathetic. self-sacrifc
ing country doctor Of the old school
He earned a fortune; he collected
bare livelihood. and died leaving ny
family little but the heritage Of
good name. Nov. that he is gone. :
IL comfortine 70 those who knew ans
loved him to reflect that blessing
!. ever wait on virtuous deeds. and
though a late. a sure reward succeeds
The funeral VIII be held from IN
/ United Evangelical Church next Tues
! day afternoon. az i.1o o'clock Buria
! vI1l take place IN the family cemeterl