Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1919-1980, 1920-01-28
HOOVERS YOUTH
spent IN SALEM
ASOFF|CE BOY
(From the oregonlan.l J

Although AdntoFItfd -
Herbert Hoover as sort or adopted
s'native son. Oregon. if she cares to
do It. can plead a much stronger case
before the bar Of public opinion II
she wants to proclaim to the world
that Bert" Hoover. by inclination
and training. is progeny Of the Web
fcat state.
Hoover Left Orphan.
Il was back in 1885 that a little
breun-haired, freckle-faced youngster
fumbled off a stage coach down at
Newberg. Ore. and fell into the arms
OF his uncle. DIR. H. j. Minthorn. He
had Just arrived in Oregon from Iowa,
where he had been left an orphan by
the early demise of his father and his
mother. and had come to Oregon to
make his home with his uncle, DR..
Minthorn. who at that time was presi- |
dent of Pacific academy. now Pacific
college
Young "Bert" Hoover was lucky in
having an uncle as president Of the
academy. for although he was much
too young 10 enter the Institution un-
der ordinary conditions, DR.. Minthorn
permitted him to become a student
Then for three solid years 1t was
all work and study for young Hoover.
While other youngsters of his age were
sharing their time between work and
play, he was devoting both day and
night to his books This Is the first
known record Of his ability to Hoover
ize. for he completed his course in
three years at the age Of Ia.
Youthfulness is Bar.
DIR. Minthorn then looked around
for some college or university to which
he could send his young nephew, but
In those days Hoover's youthful age
barred him from every college where
he attempted to enter.
II was In the late fall of 1887 that
q real estate firm opened up offices in
Salem. down on Commercial street
near Chemcketa. Charles B. Moores,
prominent republican leader and for
mer state chairman of the party, was
member OF the firm B. s. Cook, now
Portland real estate dealer with offices
In the Stock Exchange building was
another member Of the firm.
Bert Hoover was neither Junior
partner nor clerk He was the office
boy. and once each month he came
into possession Of a salary check Of ss5
But want to tell you that the Of
nee boys OF today can learn a lesson
and a good one from the life of young
Hoover. said Mr., Cook yesterday In n
reminiscent mood. He didn't 90
sneakfng around the corner for a for
hidden whiff OF the cornsilk cigar
cite. And he didn't loaf away his even
inss with the other young people Of
the town.
Ofshe Boy Enters College,
can ace him now" mused Mr..
Cook. with mis- shoulders hunched up
over the little table In the corner
wrestling with some problem In geom-
etry. lie was always on the jump when
ne had work TO do, but the momcn
ne had finished the task before him.
out would come his geometry or alge-
p'a OF history and In moment he
would be wrapped UP In his studies"
FOR three years Bert" Hoover WORK
90 as office boy for this real estate
hrn, and then In the early fall of 1891.
when plans were being completed for
the formal opening of Stanford univer-
SHY at Paio Alto, Cal, young Hoover
determined to complete his education.
Bert" Hoovers financial condition
Was not q comfortable one, but UNI
daunted, he left for Stanford nearly a
month before the university opened
and saw 10 II that he got a job In order
that he night work his way through
school At the time there was living
in salem, prominent banker, now
deceased. wh) decided to send his son
TO Stanford along with young Hoover.
The banker's son needed special In
stAuction Ia some of the mathmemati-
cal subjects before he could enter SO
sert Hoover contracted TO tutor the
boy TOR the price of a ticket to Palo
Alto. He made good at the lob and
both boys entered the university to-
gether Young Hoover was the first
student 10 enter Stanford
Salary as Engineer S85OO.
For four years Bert Hoover stu
died and worked and came into pos
session Oh mining engineers sheep
skin shortly after he had attained his
majority. immediately after gradua-
tion he was commissioned by n big
mining firm 20 30 to Australia at a sal
ary Of $500 year, and after he had
completed that work, he received an
other offcr which made him the high.
est-priced man OF his age at that time.
m Il only natural that ann taking
great Interest in Barts advancement,
FOR he was almost like son 10 me dur
ing his eacly boyhood at Newberg and
Saiem." said Mir, Cook yesterday "a
was director az Pacific academy
when he attended school there, and /
became more Interested in him when |
saw how hard he worked and studied
while he was our office boy at Salem.
i stiii keep and cherish the little worn