FootNote
The new kid on the block, FootNote is known for digitizing historical
documents... many of which are genealogical gems. With naturalizations,
city directories, war records, newspapers, town records, etc... this new
kid is quickly being recognized as an alternative to Ancestry.
While we know our northern friends may not feel it, in the South, Spring is
here. So we thought we'd share a few of our gardening sites appropriate
for this time of the year. Along with gardening, there's grilling, and getting
ready to diet so that you can fit back into that bathing suit this summer!
George W. Vaughn, elected in
1855, was a native of New Jersey, a man who
in his prime was personally very handsome,
with the full and imposing features of the
middle coast people of the Atlantic
seaboard. He began actively in commercial
business and followed this successfully both
in the Eastern States and Canada. He came to
Portland in 1850 and established a hardware
store. His investments were made with good
judgment and brought large returns. In 1865
he built the large brick flour mill on Main
street, which was burned in 1873. By that
fire his losses were reckoned to be nearly
two hundred thousand dollars; nevertheless
they were not sufficient to bring him to
insolvency. He died some years since at
Portland.
James O'Neill, who served as mayor three
terms from 1856, was one of the most popular
men that ever held the seat. He was from New
York State, having been born at Duanesburg,
in Schenectady County, in 1824. Of a
business turn, he came out to Oregon in 1853
and entered into mercantile pursuits at
Oregon City. A few years later he came to
Portland and managed all his affairs with
success. Some time in the early sixties he
accepted a government position as Indian
agent at Port Lapwai. He subsequently went
to Cheweela, in government employment on the
Colville reservation. At the last election
in Stevens county he was chosen auditor, and
now serves in that position. He is a brother
of Daniel O'Neill, of our city, so long
known as a navigator on the lower Willamette
and Columbia rivers.
A. M. Starr, eleted in 1858, was a New
Yorker by birth, and came to Portland as
early as 1850, opening a stove and tin store
on the block now occupied by the business
house of Corbitt & Macleay. He was one of
the parties to the famous suit of Stark vs.
Starr.
S. J. McCormick, who held the office next in
succession, was from Ireland, and for many
years infused into the life of our city much
of his own native enthusiasm and humor. He
first set up in business with a little job
printing office in a room seven by nine on
the west side of Front street between
Washington and Alder. For many years
McCormick's Almanac was a regular
publication, and seemed to be a part of the
on-goings of the city itself. It was a
breezy little pamphlet and of much value
throughout the State. In addition to his
Almanac he began in 1863 the publication of
a City Directory and continued this yearly
until late in the seventies. The historians
of Portland will ever be grateful to him for
the information which he stored away in
these volumes. He first came to Portland in
1851, having with him his wife and his
wife's sister. The latter lady was then
unmarried; but was afterwards joined in
wedlock with Thomas Robinson, who lived upon
the hill now known by his name on the
southern side of the city. Mr. McCormick
moved to San Francisco a number of years
ago.
George C. Robbins, elected in 1860, came to
Portland in 1854 and engaged in business as
a jeweler. He brought with him a family.
Some years since he removed from the city to
Nevada.
John M. Breck, who served in 1861, is at
present one of our well known and active
citizens. He was born in Philadelphia in
1828. At the age of sixteen he went out to
Wisconsin, but in 1850, at the instance of
Aspinwall, president of the Pacific Mail
Steamship Co., took passage on the
Columbia for Oregon. On this vessel he
served as purser for the voyage, and brought
a stock of goods. From 1852 until 1855 he
was in business with W. S. Ogden, of New
York, a well educated young man, nephew of
Peter Skeen Ogden, of the Hudson's Bay
Company. In 1860 Mr. Breck received
appointment as purser on the steamer
Northerner of the Pacific Mail Steamship
Company, which made the trip from San
Francisco to Victoria, Olympia and Portland.
On his second voyage he suffered shipwreck
in this steamer, off Cape Mendocino, on
Blunt's Reef. Reaching Portland after this
disaster, he accepted a position as shipping
agent of the company, and remembers the
immense cargoes of apples with which the
steamships were loaded down-believing the
estimates of shipments usually given as to
that period, much too low. In 1862 he
received unexpectedly the nomination as
county clerk on the Union ticket and was
elected over a very popular opponent.
With the exception of a few years in
California, he has been in business in our
city, and is still one of our most energetic
business men.
W. H. Farrar, the next in order, was a
lawyer of ability and is said to have been a
native of Massachusetts. While a citizen of
Portland he was active in public affairs,
giving evidence of somewhat larger mind and
greater general ability than he usually
chose to bring into action-but nevertheless
bore his share of the burden and heat of the
day. He served two terms.
David Logan, mayor in 1864, was a an of
intense and brilliant mind, popular with the
men of the city on account of his ready
speech and familiar manners. His abilities
as a lawyer were of the first order; as a
political speaker his powers were unrivalled
in his day, and his fame was co-extensive
with the Northwest. He was three times the
candidate of his party for congress, but at
each time may be said to have "led a forlorn
hope," as the opposition was too strong to
be overcome. About the year 1871 he retired
from the practice of the law in Portland,
took a farm in Yamhill county, and died
there a few years later.
In 1864-5, in 1865-6 and again in 1873-4,
Henry Failing was mayor. For a full account
of this representative man of the city the
reader is referred to the biographical
sketch in another part of this volume.
For sketch of T. J. Holmes, reference will
be had to the biographies at the close of
the volume.
Dr. J. A. Chapman was born in Allegheny
county, New York, in 1821. At an early age
he began the study of medicine at Cuba, New
York, and graduated from the medical college
at Geneva, in that State, in 1846. In 1861,
upon the breaking out of the war of the
Rebellion, he placed his services at the
disposal of the government, and was
appointed army surgeon. After serving during
a campaign at the South, he was transferred
to an overland expedition and came with it
to Oregon as acting surgeon, with rank of
major. Returning to civil life he came to
Portland and engaged in the practice of
medicine with Dr. William H. Watkins. He
filled three terms as mayor of Portland, and
was also surgeon-general of the Oregon
militia by appointment of Gov. L. F. Grover.
Hamilton Boyd, who was mayor in 1868-69;
came to Portland about the year 1860. He was
reckoned a good man of business, became an
assistant in the office of county clerk and
shortly afterward took a position as leading
accountant in the banking house of Ladd &
Tilton. In 1868 he was elected county
commissioner, and served two years. He was
elected to the mayoralty by the common
council to fill the vacancy caused by the
death of Thomas J. Holmes. Mr. Boyd died in
Portland in 1886.
B. Goldsmith, who was mayor in 1869-70 and
1870-1, is an old resident of the Pacific
Coast. He came to California in 1851, thence
to Oregon in 1856, and to Portland in 1861.
He has been in business at Portland ever
since. Throughout his career in this city he
has been known as a man of business ability
and energetic character. He bore a leading
part in bringing about construction of locks
at Willamette Falls, and later has been
prominently connected with development of
mining property in Northern Idaho. During
many years he was at the head of a wholesale
dry goods house in Portland. Mr. Goldsmith
was born in Germany in 1832.
Philip Wasserman, elected mayor in 1871, was
born in Germany in 1827, and came to America
in 1849. He has had an active life in
mercantile pursuits. In 1858 he came to
Portland, and still lives here. He served in
the legislature of the State two terms.
Declining further legislative honors, he was
prevailed on to stand as a candidate for
mayor, and was elected by a large majority.
He was a careful and efficient mayor, but at
the expiration of his term decided to
withdraw from further service in office. Mr.
Wasserman has always been known as a worthy
and successful man of business, and is held
in high esteem.
W. S. Newbury, who was elected mayor in
1877, is one whose life has been spent much
in the Old West, or interior, as well as
upon the Pacific Coast. He was born at
Ripley, N. Y., in 1834. In 1850 he went to
Chicago, engaging as salesman with one of
the first firms of that city, on Lake
street. Four years later he went to
Wisconsin, and there pursued a course of
study in law, completing his education at a
commercial college. He soon accepted an
important position as book-keeper and
accountant, and afterwards became manager of
a large business at Sioux City, Iowa, for
the Little American Fur Company, of St.
Louis. Removing to Iola, Kansas, in 1860, he
soon became identified with that town, some
years later being elected mayor. He served
in the Union army, and was assistant provost
marshal of Kansas, and also assistant
secretary of the State senate. He came to
Oregon in 1870, settling at Portland in
1874. Until 1880 he conducted an extensive
business in farm machinery, but since that
date has been practicing law.
David P. Thompson, one of the most widely
known men in our State, was born in Harrison
county, Ohio, in 1834. In his nineteenth
year he came to Oregon, driving sheep'
across the plains and walking every rod of
the way. Upon his arrival at Oregon City in
1853 he took a job of cutting cordwood,
which lasted through the winter. Soon after
he entered upon the profession of a
surveyor, which he followed during several
years. In pursuance of this business he
acquired an unequaled knowledge of the
northwestern country, and laid the
foundation of his present ample fortune. He
lived at Oregon City till 1876, when he
removed to Portland. In 1879, and again in
1881, he was elected mayor, and gave the
city a vigorous and efficient
administration. Mr. Thompson, throughout his
whole life, has been noted for activity and
energy. He is a man of firm and positive
character, tenacious of his purposes, active
in business and successful in his
undertakings. By appointment of President
Grant he became governor of Idaho Territory
in 1875, but resigned the office in 1876. He
is now engaged in the banking business in
Portland.
John Gates, who was elected mayor in 1885,
was a native of Maine. Born in 1827, he came
to Portland in 1851, and passed all his
active life here. His first situation was
that of engineer at the steam saw-mill at
the foot of Jefferson street. When the
Oregon Steam Navigation Company was
organized he became its chief engineer, and
superintended the construction and the
placing of the machinery in all its boats.
He made many inventions, including one which
produced almost a revolution in the
construction of stern-wheel steamers. He
devised the method, now known to be highly
successful, of sluicing out the sand bars of
navigable streams with powerful propellers,
and invented a most excellent and successful
apparatus for applying hydraulic power to
the steering gear of steam vessels. Mr.
Gates was a man of original mind and great
industry. He died, while holding the office
of mayor, in April, 1888.
Van B. De Lashmutt, now serving the second
term, is. a representative man of our city
and time, of whom a full sketch will be
found elsewhere.
The following is the list of officers from
the year 1851 to 1889, inclusive:
1851-Mayor, Hugh D. O'Bryant;
Recorder, W. S. Caldwell; Councilmen-Robert
Thompson, Shubrick Norris, George A. Barnes,
Thomas G. Robinson, L. B. Hastings.
1852-Mayor, A. C. Bonell, Recorder,
S. S. Slater; Marshal, Wm. Grooms;
Councilmen-W. P. Abrams, A. P. Dennison,
Thomas Pritchard, Abell G. Tripp, Hiram
Smith.
In November of that year by a new election,
under change of charter, the following were
chosen: Mayor, S. B. Marye; Recorder, C. B.
Pillow; Councilmen-Shubrick Norris, Thomas
Pritchard, Josiah Failing, P. A. Marquam, A.
P. Dennison.
1858-Mayor, Josiah Failing; Recorder,
A. C. Bonnell; Assessor, S. S. Slater;
Treasurer, W. H. Barnhart; Marshal, William
Grooms; Councilmen-Robert Thompson, W. S.
Ladd, John. H. Couch, W. P. Abrams, R. N.
McLaren, R. N. Field, Charles B. Pillow, H.
W. Davis, Jonas Williams.
1854-Mayor, W. S. Ladd; Recorder, A. P.
Dennison; Treasurer, Thomas Pritchard;
Assessor, Charles P. Bacon; Marshal, W. L.
Higgins; Councilmen--A. M. Starr, James
Field jr., Shubrick Norris, Thomas Carter,
William McMillan, A. D. Fitch, O. J. Backus,
A. R. Shipley, James Turnbull.
1855-Mayor, George W. Vaughn;
Recorder, L. Limerick; Marshal, Thomas J.
Holmes; Assessor, W. S. Ogden; Treasurer,
Thomas Frazer; Councilmen-George Kittridge,
John Green, H. S. Jacobs, Matthew Patton,
Lewis Love, John C. Carson, Thomas Hartness,
E. B. Calhoun, George C. Robbins. (Anthony
L. Davis filled the position of Limerick,
resigned).
1856-Mayor, James O'Neill; Recorder,
A. L. Davis; Treasurer, Thomas A. Savier;
Assessor, Z. N. Stansbury; Marshal, Thomas
J. Holmes; Councilmen-Robert Porter, A. D.
Shelby, A. B. Elfeldt, L. M. Starr, W. S.
Ladd, William Beck, H. W. Davis, S. M.
Smith, James Burke.
