Bernard Daly facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Bernard Daly
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| Member of the Oregon State Senate | |
| In office 1897–1900 |
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| Constituency | Crook *, Klamath, and Lake counties (* Deschutes and Jefferson counties were part of Crook County at that time) |
| Member of the Oregon House of Representatives | |
| In office 1892–1896 |
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| Personal details | |
| Born | 17 February 1858 Ireland |
| Died | 4 January 1920 (aged 61) Livermore, California, USA |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Profession | Doctor |
Bernard Daly (born February 17, 1858 – died January 4, 1920) was an important person in Oregon's history. He was a country doctor, a successful businessman, and a rancher. He also served in government as a state representative, state senator, and county judge.
Daly was very dedicated to education. He helped lead Oregon State University (then called Oregon State Agricultural College). His most famous act was creating a special fund. This fund has helped many students from Lake County, Oregon go to college. His amazing gift still helps students today!
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Life Story of Bernard Daly
Bernard Daly was born in Ireland on February 17, 1858. When he was six years old, his family moved to the United States. They settled in Selma, Alabama.
As a young man, Daly went to college in Ohio. Then, he studied medicine at the University of Louisville in Kentucky. After becoming a doctor, he joined the United States Army. He was sent to Fort Bidwell, California. In 1887, Daly left the army. He moved to Lakeview, Oregon, and started his own medical practice.
A Heroic Doctor
In 1894, a terrible fire happened in Silver Lake, Oregon. It was Christmas Eve, and many people were hurt. Dr. Daly drove his horse and buggy 95 miles from Lakeview to help. The roads were bad and covered in snow. It took him 24 hours to get there.
Even after the long trip, he immediately started treating burn victims. He worked without rest until everyone was cared for. News of the fire and Daly's brave actions spread widely. Many people admired him for his dedication.
Building Lake County
Daly also played a big part in helping Lake County grow. In 1897, he started the Bank of Lakeview. He also created the 7T ranch near Plush, Oregon. This ranch became one of the largest livestock farms in the area.
When a fire destroyed downtown Lakeview in 1900, Daly helped pay for the town to rebuild. He also helped bring the Nevada-California-Oregon Railway to Lakeview in 1912. This railroad helped the town's economy.
Daly's Focus on Education
Education was always very important to Bernard Daly. He served on local school boards for many years. From 1889 to 1915, he was a member of the Lake County school board. He also served on the board of regents for Oregon State Agricultural College. This is known today as Oregon State University.
His Final Years
Bernard Daly passed away on January 4, 1920. He was in Livermore, California, on his way to a hospital. He was buried in Lakeview, and over 600 people attended his funeral.
When he died, Daly owned many businesses in Lake County. He was the main owner of the Bank of Lakeview. He also owned the largest ranch in south-central Oregon. His total wealth was almost $1,000,000, which was a huge amount of money back then.
Bernard Daly's Political Career
Bernard Daly was a member of the Democratic Party. He was involved in Oregon politics for nearly 30 years. He was elected to many different government jobs.
Serving in the Legislature
In 1892, Daly was elected to the Oregon House of Representatives. He represented Lake, Klamath, and Crook counties. At that time, Crook County was much larger than it is today. It included areas that are now Deschutes and Jefferson counties.
Even though most lawmakers were Republicans, Daly quickly became well-respected. He was known for supporting education. In 1896, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate. He became known as a leader who wanted to make progress. In 1897, he was nominated for a U.S. Senate seat. However, the Republican-controlled legislature chose someone else. He also ran for Congress in 1900 but lost a close election.
County Judge and Legal Journey
In 1902, Daly was elected County Judge for Lake County. He held this job until 1914. During his time as judge, a new courthouse was built in 1909. In 1916, Lake County was the first county in eastern Oregon to try and raise money for new highways. When the bonds didn't sell well, Daly bought the rest himself. This was a smart move for him and for the county.
Later, the state wanted to create a new court district for Lake County. Everyone thought Daly would be chosen as the judge. However, circuit court judges needed to be lawyers, and Daly had no formal law training. So, the Oregon Supreme Court arranged a special bar exam just for him. A judge named Henry L. Benson gave Daly the exam over dinner. A few days later, Benson said Daly had passed. Because of this, Daly became a lawyer. In 1915, he was appointed as the circuit court judge for Lake County. He served in this role until 1918.
Bernard Daly's Lasting Legacy
Bernard Daly cared deeply about young people getting an education. As early as 1888, he encouraged them to go to college. If families couldn't pay, Daly would quietly cover the costs.
When he died, Daly left almost all his money to the people of Lake County. This money became the Bernard Daly Educational Fund. In his will, he wrote:
It is my earnest desire to help, aid and assist worthy and ambitious young men and women of my beloved county of Lake, to acquire a good education, so that they may be better fitted and qualified to appreciate and help to preserve the laws and constitution of this free country, defend its flag, and by their conduct as good citizens reflect honor on Lake county and the state of Oregon.
It was very forward-thinking for his time that his will specifically said scholarships should go to both young women and young men.
Today, the Bernard Daly Educational Fund is the oldest scholarship of its kind in the United States. Every year, about 40 high school graduates from Lake County receive these scholarships. So far, over 2,000 students have used Daly's generous scholarships to attend college.
Daly's legacy is still remembered. In 2008, two U.S. Senators, Gordon H. Smith and Ron Wyden, worked together. They proposed a bill to name the Lakeview post office building after him. The bill passed Congress and was signed by the President. On October 7, 2008, the building officially became the Doctor Bernard Daly Post Office Building.
