This document profiles several prominent women from Polk County, Oregon from the 19th century to present day. It describes their backgrounds, accomplishments, and contributions to the local community in brief biographies. The women came from a variety of backgrounds and occupations, including pioneers, teachers, politicians, writers, and business owners. They played important roles in establishing and developing the county through their leadership, community involvement, and advocacy work over the past two centuries.

1. Polk County Women All sections to appear here

2. Polk County Women Rita Montgomery Rinda Montgomery Conwell August 17, 2009

3. Where Did We Begin? pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

4. Before the trail The first white settlement 1834 By Jason Lee In Wheatland A Mission

5. Willamette Valley Settlers The Organic Laws of Oregon Donation Land Act The Great Migration

7. The Oregon Trail Established 1843 After trappers had come. After missions had been established The Oregon Treaty signed in 1846

8. 1800-1850 pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

12. Sarah SteeprowHelmick Born July 4, 1823 Married April, 1845 Trip to Oregon, 1845 Donation land claim, 1846 Gold Rush Lewis, James, Mary Catherine Henry died in 1877

13. Sarah SteeprowHelmick Land Donation 1922 5.46 acres A later gift of 1.7 acres September 12, 1924 Died December, 1924

14. From the dedication speech: “Through those [early] years, they enjoyed the fellowship of frontier days, a fellowship cemented by a common danger and enriched by sympathy coming from isolation and, hence, abounding in the genuine milk of human kindness. It was Grandma Helmick’s privilege to see the passing of those days, abounding as they did in those experiences that try the souls of women and test the temper of men.”

16. Florence Ruble Wolfe Born in 1850 Walked to Oregon in 1853 Father a horticulturalist Came to Falls City in 1888 Farm in Tater Hill Developed Property Handled fair exhibits Lewis & Clark Exposition 1905 Blue ribbons for peaches Wife, mother, musician, linguist Died, Falls City, 1939

19. 1851-1900 pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

23. Sarah Eliza Morrison Born May 15, 1856 Married 1877 To Oregon 1888 Charter member of Chautauqua One son, two daughters Memberships Taught over 30 years Died August 14, 1935

27. Phoebe Ward Born in 1874 Arrived at age 16 Best remembered for caring for the sick Falls City home a hospital/ maternity home Helped organized Free Methodist Church Sunday School Superintendent Taught music, played, sang Wrote articles Died in 1956

28. FREE METHODIST CHURCH Sunday School 10:00 a.m.Preaching 11:00 a.m.Class meeting 1:00 p.m.Evening service 7:30H. A. Walter, Pastor. Falls City News City Marshal Lewis arrested two Austrians Monday for fighting, each were fined $5 in police court. One man was fined $5 for being drunk.The Parent Teachers meeting will be held Tuesday evening April 13th. All patrons of the school are invited to attend as there will be subjects of interest to be discussed. April 3, 1915

32. Ednelle Collins Born 1875 Bright, well educated Family care giver Niece, Margaret (pictured), still alive Rich letter-writing life Extensive correspondence collection

33. Ednelle Collins Trip to Mt. Hood with students from ONS Monmouth photographer C. C. Lewis Survived TB Teacher, Poet Friend of the first president of the State Department of Education, C. Leonard Starr Died in 1936

36. Irene Hazard Gerlinger Born Came to Oregon 1903 Daughters Georgiana, Irene, and Jean Wrote Mistresses of the White House pub. 1950 Portland’s Woman of the Year, 1957 Died April 5, 1960

38. 1901-1950 pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

43. Ruby Stafrin Irwin July 24, 1904—Born in Dallas Daughter of Conrad and Millie Elliott Stafrin Dallas High School Oregon Agricultural College’s School of Pharmacy (Now OSU) June 1926—Passed the pharmacy boards

44. Ruby Stafrin Irwin February 14, 1926 Married Andrew Irwin Jr. Staffrin Drug Store/Rexall Drugs Order of the Eastern Star, October 18, 1924 Dallas City Park Board Dallas Library Board Dallas Planning Commission on Housing Dallas Women’s Club Polk County Republican Women First Presbyterian Church, Easter, 1918 October 30, 1989—passed at age 85

45. MildridStafrin February 15, 1906, Born in Dallas Conrad and Millie Elliott Stafrin Pharmacist, historian, collector “there are so many unanswered questions about the past, things people we knew would have been able to answer if we had only asked. January 10, 1994, passed at age 87

46. The Stafrin Sisters Both passed pharmacy boards in 1926 Ran the Stafrin Drug Store on Main and Mill Qualified to teach First Aid Ambulance Drivers World War II Airplane Spotters Charter and life members of the Polk Historical Society Collectors of historical objects 1969 First Citizen Award

49. Evelyn Sibley Lampman Born in 1907 OSU 1929 Radio work Wrote for Chet Huntley, Mel Blanc KGW daily broadcast Children’s books Died 1980

50. Evelyn Sibley Lampman Evelyn’s books were often based on personal family stories and pioneer life. Cayuse Courage Bargain Bride The Bounces of Cynthiann

51. Evelyn Sibley Lampman

54. Maurine Brown Neuberger January 9, 19061922—Bethel School 1922-24—Oregon College of Education 1929—University of Oregon 1932 began teaching 1936-37—University of California 1945—Married 1950—Oregon House of Representatives

55. Maurine Neuberger First married couple in U.S. history to serve together in a Oregon legislature. Maurine battled the state's then-powerful dairy industry over a law forbidding the sale of yellow margarine in Oregon.

56. Maurine Neuberger 1955—To Washington D.C. 1960—Widowed 1961—Elected to U.S. Senate 1964—Remarried Professor in Boston 1967—Marriage ended

57. Maurine Neuberger 1969—Returned to Oregon Continued Service February 22, 2000—Passed on, aged 94 Popular, consumer advocate, women’s rights, health and welfare Scholarship

60. Rita Wacken Montgomery 1936—Born in Salem, Oregon Granddaughter of pioneers—Pudding Creek Raised in Salem and Portland 1954—Franklin High School, began at Oregon College of Education 1957—Married 1959—Graduated Oregon College of Education

61. Rita Wacken Montgomery 1960-62—Bethel School Two rooms Rural community All school functions Teacher, bookkeeper, librarian, lunchroom monitor Five grades 1962-68—Daycare Facility, up to 30 children daily

63. Rita Wacken Montgomery 1968-70—Scio Elementary 1970-97—Perrydale 1982-1990—No Nonsense School 1984-97—Polk ESD/Willamette ESD Board Professional/Community Memberships 1974—Spoke before the Oregon Legislature on “Old Folks Program.”

64. Rita Wacken Montgomery Wife, mother of three Teacher of over 1,000 Public servant Musician Historian Volunteer Polk County Resident for 54 years…so far

65. 1950-2009 pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

66. And…

67. Where Will We Go From Here? pptPlex Section Divider The slides after this divider will be grouped into a section and given the label you type above. Feel free to move this slide to any position in the deck.

68. Where Will We Go From Here? Who are among the next generation of prominent women of Polk County? Who do you know contributing to the community? Who is mentoring our young leaders?