The Rev. George Fisher Linfield (1846–1890) was an American

clergyman Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the ter ...

and

educator A teacher, also called a schoolteacher or formally an educator, is a person who helps students to acquire knowledge, competence, or virtue, via the practice of teaching. ''Informally'' the role of teacher may be taken on by anyone (e.g. whe ...

. Linfield College (now

Linfield University Linfield University is a private university with campuses in McMinnville, Oregon, McMinnville, and Portland, Oregon. Linfield Wildcats athletics participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA Division III (NCAA), Division II ...

) in

McMinnville, Oregon McMinnville is the county seat of and largest city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States. The city is named after McMinnville, Tennessee. As of the 2019 census, the city had a population estimate of 34,743. McMinnville is at the confluence o ...

, was named in his honor. Linfield was born September 6, 1846, at

Randolph, Massachusetts "To Say What One Feels" , pushpin_map = , pushpin_label_position = right , pushpin_label = , pushpin_map_caption = Location in Massachusetts , coordinates = , s ...

. He was the son of John Porter Linfield and Louisa Fisher, both descended from early New England colonists. Linfield graduated from the

University of Rochester The University of Rochester (U of R, UR, or U of Rochester) is a private university, private research university in Rochester, New York. The university grants Undergraduate education, undergraduate and graduate degrees, including Doctorate, do ...

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, in 1873 and from the Rochester Theological Seminary in 1876. He was ordained as a

Baptist Baptists form a major branch of Protestantism distinguished by baptizing professing Christianity, Christian believers only (believer's baptism), and doing so by complete Immersion baptism, immersion. Baptist churches also generally subscribe ...

minister January 4, 1877, in

Moline, Illinois Moline ( ) is a city located in Rock Island County, Illinois, United States. With a population of 42,985 in 2020, it is the largest city in Rock Island County. Moline is one of the Quad Cities, along with neighboring East Moline and Rock Island ...

, where he served as pastor from 1876 to 1881. He was pastor at Muscatine,

Iowa Iowa () is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States, bordered by the Mississippi River to the east and the Missouri River and Big Sioux River to the west. It is bordered by six states: Wiscon ...

, in 1881 and 1882. He served as the principal of Wayland Academy in

Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Beaver Dam is a city in Dodge County, Wisconsin, United States, along Beaver Dam Lake and the Beaver Dam River. The population was 16,708 at the 2020 census, making it the largest city primarily located in Dodge County. It is the principal city ...

, from 1882 to 1890. Linfield married Frances Eleanor Ross December 4, 1878, in Moline, Illinois. They had had one son, Ross Linfield, who died in infancy. Linfield died April 30, 1890, in Beaver Dam and was buried there in Oakwood Cemetery. During their tenure at Wayland Academy, George and Frances agreed that they should dedicate their life savings to promote Christian education. This purpose was realized in 1922, when Mrs. Linfield gifted real estate she owned in

Spokane, Washington Spokane ( ) is the largest city and county seat of Spokane County, Washington, United States. It is in eastern Washington, along the Spokane River, adjacent to the Selkirk Mountains, and west of the Rocky Mountain foothills, south of the ...

, valued at $250,000, to McMinnville College in McMinnville, Oregon, a Baptist institution. In honor of the gift, the college changed its name to

Linfield College Linfield University is a private university with campuses in McMinnville, Oregon, McMinnville, and Portland, Oregon. Linfield Wildcats athletics participates in the National Collegiate Athletic Association, NCAA Division III (NCAA), Division II ...

.Jonasson, Jonas (Steine). Bricks Without Straw: The Story of Linfield College. Caldwell, Id.: The Caxton Printers, 1938.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Linfield, George Fisher 1846 births 1890 deaths University of Rochester alumni People from Randolph, Massachusetts Linfield University people Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School alumni