Rufus Mallory

Rufus Mallory (January or June 10, 1831 – April 30, 1914) was an American educator, lawyer, and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of New York, he was a teacher in Iowa before moving to Oregon where he became an attorney. He was a district attorney before he served in the Oregon House of Representatives in the early 1860s. A Republican, he served as U.S. Representative from Oregon for a single term from 1867 to 1869 and then returned to the state house where he was Speaker of the Oregon House. Later he worked for the U.S. Treasury Department, while the Hotel Mallory in Portland was commissioned by him. Portland has additionally honored his memory via Mallory Avenue in the Albina District.

Early life

Rufus Mallory was born in Coventry, New York, 1831 on either June 10 or January 10 to Samuel and Lucretia Mallory (née Davis). One of nine children, he attended the local schools in Allegany and Steuben counties, first at Scio from 1835 to 1837, followed by school in Greenwood from 1837 to 1845. In 1845 he started at Alfred Academy (now Alfred University) in New York, spending a single term each year in 1845, 1846, and 1848. Mallory left at age 16 to begin teaching and reading law. He moved to New London, Iowa, where he taught school from 1855 to 1858.