Biography of Oliver N. Denny, 1899, State of Oregon
Surnames: Denny, Hall

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Transcribed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
W. David Samuelsen - December 2001
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Oregon Native Son, Vol. 1, May 1899, page 53-54

OLIVER N. DENNY.
     Judge 0. N. Denny was born in Morgan county. Ohio, September 4. 1838.
and came to Oregon with his parents in 1852, settling in Linn county, near
Lebanon. On December 23, 1868, he married Miss Gertrude Hall, a survivor of
the Whitman massacre, of whom we shall speak at length in another issue. In
1862 he was appointed county and probate judge of Wasco county, but before the
expiration of his term of office he resigned and went to the mines of Idaho,
where he remained six months, during which time he was nominated and elected
to the office again, this time serving the full four years term. In 1873 he
was elected police judge of the city of Portland, and the following year was
appointed by President Grant collector of internal revenue for the district of
Oregon. While holding this office he was appointed consul to Amoy, China, but
declined. During the administration of President Hayes he was appointed consul
to Tien-Tsin, China, to which point he immediately repaired and remained three
years. While serving in that capacity he was promoted to consul-general, with
headquarters at Shanghai, where he remained four years, then resigned and came
home. While in China his relations with officials of the various governments
were such as to attract the attention of the king of Korea, who, through
General Foote, our minister, invited him to become his confidential adviser
and director of foreign affairs.” As matters at the time were in a very
unsettled condition, the honor was declined and he returned to the United
States. After about a year in America, a cable message was received from Li
Hung Chang, who, at the request of the king of Korea, renewed the invitation
to enter the king's service. At first it was again declined, but subsequently
it was accepted and he left for Korea December 29, 1885, sailing from San
Francisco the following month and going by way of the Sandwich islands, where
he was royally entertained by King Kalakaua, whom Judge Denny had entertained
in Shanghai when the king was making his tour of the world endeavoring to
awaken interest in the work of developing the Hawaiian islands. His commission
from the king of Korea was the first and last of the kind ever made out by his
highness.

While in Tien-Tsin Judge and Mrs. Denny entertained General and Mrs. Grant,
and tendered to them one of the most notable dinners ever given in that city.
On occasions of this kind, and at all other times, for that matter, Mrs. Denny
exhibited rare tact in entertainment and in rounding off sharp diplomatic
points that would otherwise cause friction and endless trouble with
representatives of foreign governments, and in many other ways contributed to
her husband’s official success. It was while here that he became in terested
in the ring-necked pheasant, studied its habits, suroundings and the
conditions necessary for its successful propagation, and finally satisfied
himself that they would thrive in Oregon. The first shipment, of about 70
birds, was made in 1881 but they died in transit, owing to the fact that
instructions for their care were not observed. The following year a second
lot, of 10 cocks and 18 hens, was sent, all of which reached their destination
and were turned loose by John Denny near Washington butte, in Linn county.
From this shipment have sprung the thousands that have blessed the Willamette
valley and made Oregon famous for the gamiest bird on the American continent
and one producing an unsurpassed food. Subsequently a third lot was sent,
about 1884, this time to the Rod and Gun Club, of Portland. They were turned
loose on Protection island, where no one looked after them, and it seems they
were finally killed off. This shipment consisted of golden, silver, Elliott
and Darwin bukra from China and copper and green from Japan.

Judge Denny now divides his time between the office in Portland and his farm
in Yamhill county, where, among other things, experiments are being made in
the culture of flax.