Levi L. Rowland
Encyclopedia
Levi Lindsey Rowland was an American
educator and physician in the state of Oregon
. A native of Tennessee
, he served as the Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
, president of what became Western Oregon University
, and as the Superintendent of Oregon’s insane asylum, now the Oregon State Hospital
. The Republican was also a pastor and farmer.
, on September 17, 1831, the son of Jeremiah and Lucy (neé Butler) Rowland. In 1844, he came over the Oregon Trail
with his parents and settled in the Yamhill District
in the Oregon Country
. After farming for a few years he left what was then the Oregon Territory
in 1849 and headed south to the gold mines of California during the California Gold Rush
. Rowland returned to Oregon in 1851 after accumulating some wealth, but then returned east to Virginia
to attend college. In 1856, he graduated from Bethany College
in Virginia (now West Virginia
) and was ordained as a minister of the Disciples of Christ.
in the Eola Hills
in Polk County
. Rowland worked as the principal until 1861, but in 1860 he became the superintendent of Polk County’s schools. In 1862, he started the first teacher’s institute in Oregon.
He then served as the president of Monmouth Christian College (now Western Oregon University
) in Monmouth
in Polk County from 1866 to 1869. His former school, Bethel Institute, had merged with the later school in 1865, and he became the first president of the school. Rowland left the college in order to start medical school
at Willamette University College of Medicine
in Salem, and where he graduated in 1872. While still in school he served as a professor at the medical school from 1870 until 1878.
Rowland was elected as Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
in 1874, while still working as a professor at Willamette. He was the first person elected to that office, as his predecessor had been appointed when the office was still part of the governor’s office
. He served as state superintendent until 1878 when he then traveled around Europe and Asia. Also during his time in Salem he was the pastor of the First Christian Church. After returning to Oregon from his trip abroad he worked on his farm and started an insurance company, as well as serving as president the State Insurance Society.
. A Republican, he served in that office until 1895 when he retired to his country estate at Mehama
in Marion County
. He later began to suffer from several illnesses and moved to his home in Salem. Levi Lindsey Rowland died on January 19, 1908, in Salem at the age of 76 of dropsy.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
educator and physician in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
, he served as the Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, sometimes referred to as the State Superintendent of Schools, is a constitutional office within the executive branch of the Oregon state government, and acts as administrative officer of the State Board of Education and executive head of the Department of...
, president of what became Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
, and as the Superintendent of Oregon’s insane asylum, now the Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, United States, is the primary state-run psychiatric hospital in the state of Oregon since Dammasch State Hospital closed in 1995. The facility is best known as the filming location for the Academy Award-winning film based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over...
. The Republican was also a pastor and farmer.
Early years
Levi Rowland was born in Nashville, TennesseeNashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
, on September 17, 1831, the son of Jeremiah and Lucy (neé Butler) Rowland. In 1844, he came over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
with his parents and settled in the Yamhill District
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
in the Oregon Country
Oregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
. After farming for a few years he left what was then the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
in 1849 and headed south to the gold mines of California during the California Gold Rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
. Rowland returned to Oregon in 1851 after accumulating some wealth, but then returned east to Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
to attend college. In 1856, he graduated from Bethany College
Bethany College (West Virginia)
Bethany College is a private liberal arts college located in Bethany, West Virginia, United States. Founded in 1840, Bethany is the oldest institution of Higher Education in West Virginia.-Location:...
in Virginia (now West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
) and was ordained as a minister of the Disciples of Christ.
Educator and doctor
After graduation from college, Rowland spent time in the eastern United States as a teacher and as a minister. He married Emma J. Sanders in 1859, and they had five children. That year he returned to what had become the state of Oregon and served as the principal at the Bethel InstituteBethel, Polk County, Oregon
Bethel is an unincorporated community in Polk County, Oregon, United States at the base of the Eola Hills in Plum Valley. Bethel is considered a ghost town as the only remaining structure is a school, now serving as a church. The locale was named by the Rev. Glen O. Burnett for a Church of Christ...
in the Eola Hills
Eola Hills
The Eola Hills are a range of hills northwest of Salem, Oregon, United States. They stretch from the community of Eola about north to Yamhill County.They are divided from the Salem Hills by the Willamette River at Eola....
in Polk County
Polk County, Oregon
Polk County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for James Knox Polk, the 11th president of the United States. In 2010, its population was 75,403. The seat of the county is Dallas....
. Rowland worked as the principal until 1861, but in 1860 he became the superintendent of Polk County’s schools. In 1862, he started the first teacher’s institute in Oregon.
He then served as the president of Monmouth Christian College (now Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University
Western Oregon University is a public liberal arts college located in Monmouth, Oregon, United States. It was originally established in 1856 by Oregon pioneers as Monmouth University. Subsequent names include Oregon Normal School, Oregon College of Education, and Western Oregon State College...
) in Monmouth
Monmouth, Oregon
- History :Monmouth was settled in 1853 by a group of pioneers who made a point of allocating to build both a city and a "college under the auspices of the Christian Church" and proceeds from the sale of these lands were used to found Monmouth University. By the early 1880s the college fell on...
in Polk County from 1866 to 1869. His former school, Bethel Institute, had merged with the later school in 1865, and he became the first president of the school. Rowland left the college in order to start medical school
Medical school
A medical school is a tertiary educational institution—or part of such an institution—that teaches medicine. Degree programs offered at medical schools often include Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, Bachelor/Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Philosophy, master's degree, or other post-secondary...
at Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine
Willamette University College of Medicine is a former school of medicine that was part of Willamette University. Founded in 1867 as the first medical school in Oregon, the school relocated between Portland and the main university campus in Salem several times. Eventually the school was merged with...
in Salem, and where he graduated in 1872. While still in school he served as a professor at the medical school from 1870 until 1878.
Rowland was elected as Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
Oregon Superintendent of Public Instruction
The Superintendent of Public Instruction, sometimes referred to as the State Superintendent of Schools, is a constitutional office within the executive branch of the Oregon state government, and acts as administrative officer of the State Board of Education and executive head of the Department of...
in 1874, while still working as a professor at Willamette. He was the first person elected to that office, as his predecessor had been appointed when the office was still part of the governor’s office
Governor of Oregon
The Governor of Oregon is the top executive of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon. The title of governor was also applied to the office of Oregon's chief executive during the provisional and U.S. territorial governments....
. He served as state superintendent until 1878 when he then traveled around Europe and Asia. Also during his time in Salem he was the pastor of the First Christian Church. After returning to Oregon from his trip abroad he worked on his farm and started an insurance company, as well as serving as president the State Insurance Society.
Later years
In 1891, he returned to public office when he was elected as the Superintendent of the Insane Asylum, now known as the Oregon State HospitalOregon State Hospital
Oregon State Hospital in Salem, Oregon, United States, is the primary state-run psychiatric hospital in the state of Oregon since Dammasch State Hospital closed in 1995. The facility is best known as the filming location for the Academy Award-winning film based on Ken Kesey's novel One Flew Over...
. A Republican, he served in that office until 1895 when he retired to his country estate at Mehama
Mehama, Oregon
Mehama is an unincorporated community in Marion County, Oregon, United States, located on Oregon Route 22 and the North Santiam River. For statistical purposes, the United States Census Bureau has defined Mehama as a census-designated place . The census definition of the area may not precisely...
in Marion County
Marion County, Oregon
Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. It was originally named the Champooick District, after Champoeg, a meeting place on the Willamette River. On September 3, 1849, the territorial legislature renamed it in honor of Francis Marion, a Continental Army general of the...
. He later began to suffer from several illnesses and moved to his home in Salem. Levi Lindsey Rowland died on January 19, 1908, in Salem at the age of 76 of dropsy.