History of Portland, Oregon

Hitherto there has been no attempt to write a History of Portland. Slight sketches of the history of the city have, indeed, been written, but nothing that answers to the importance of the subject has heretofore, been undertaken. For conception and execution of the present work the city is indebted to D. Mason & Co., a firm of enterprising publishers of Syracuse, New York. Read More...

• Preface

• Leading Events in the History of Oregon

  • Growth, Power and Purposes of British Fur Companies

  • Oregon in Control of Hudson's Bay Company

  • Advent of the Missionaries

  • Establishment of a Civil Government

  • Value of the Labor of the Oregon Pioneers

• Position and Advantages of Portland

  • Geographical Position of Portland

  • At the Intersection of the Great Natural Lines of Travel and Commerce of the Northwest Pacific Coast

  • Natural Advantages for Commerce, Manufacturing, and Residence

• Settlement and Early Times

  • General Amos Lawrence Lovejoy

  • Proprietors and Growth

  • Daniel H. Lownsdale

  • New Comers

  • First Newspaper

• Land Title Controversies

  • Causes of Litigation Over the Lownsdale Estate

  • Decision of Judge Sawyer and Concurrent Opinion of Judge Deady

• Growth and Improvements

  • Increase in Population and Wealth, Improvement and Growth From Year to Year

  • Present Development and Importance of Portland

  • Continued Improvements in Portland

  • Value of Portland Property

  • Buildings and Improvements from 1886 to 1889

• City Charter, Government and Mayors

  • Police Department

  • Fire Department

  • Biographical Sketches of Mayors

  • List of City Officials From 1851 to 1890

  • Streets, and Street Improvements

• Commerce

  • Early Sailing Vessels Which Visited Portland

  • Growth of Foreign Commerce

  • Commercial Growth and Development During Recent Years

  • Statistics of Portland Exports

  • Present Character and Condition of Portland's Commerce

• River Navigation

  • Names and Character of Early Steamships and the Men who Ran Them

  • Independent Vessels and Their Owners

• Railroads

  • Provisions of the First Railroad Bill Passed by the Oregon Legislature and United States Congress

  • Interesting Ceremonies in Connection with Commencement of Construction of the West Side Road

  • Advent of Ben Holladay

  • Efforts to Build to the Atlantic States

  • Prominent Railroad Managers of Portland

• Manufacturing

• The Bench and Bar

  • Status of the Courts Prior to Territorial Government

  • Reorganization of the Judicial System after the Creation of Oregon Territory

  • Incidents in the Administrations of Justice During Territorial Period

  • The Holladay Cases

• Churches, Benevolent Organizations and Hospitals

  • Presbyterian Churches

  • Jewish Churches

  • Unitarian Churches

  • Boys and Girls Aid Society

• Educational Institutions

  • Harrison Street School

  • Plan and System of Management

  • St. Helen's Hall

• Financial Institutions

  • Bank of British Columbia

• The Press

  • The Daily Bee

• A General Description of Portland

  • Portland Parks

  • Hotels of Portland

  • Casualties of Nature

• Social Features and Noted Public Events

  • Excursions, Public Festivities and Celebrations

  • Events Connected with the Celebration of the Completion of the Northern Pacific Railroad

• Men of Portland