USA > Oregon > Multnomah County > Portland > History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers > Part 67
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He moved to Oakland and went into the employ of H. P. Gregory & Co., dealers in machinery. While in their employ he came to Portland on business for the firm. At Portland he entered into a contract to put in a hydraulic ram elevator. A large amount of money had been spent in a previous attempt to put in such an elevator, but without success owing to beds of gravel below the surface. After great difficulty Mr. Morey was successful on his contract, although the whole community had predicted failure. Seeing that Portland was not supplied with elevators and that he could be sucessful in such a business, he obtained sufficient backing and organized the
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Portland Hydraulic Elevator Company, for the particular purpose of supplying freight elevators. Mr. Morey has been, since the formation of this company, and is now its vice-president and manager. The success of this company is due almost wholly to inventions of Mr. Morey, making a now perfect hydraulic telescope ram elevator. This telescope elevator is necessary at Portland, owing to the fact that there are several successive layers of boulders and gravel lying beneath the surface. These layers of gravel make it extremely difficult to put in a hydraulic ram elevator unless it be of a telescope pattern.
Mr. Morey has at various times made many valuable inventions. Among his inventions is one for purifying coal screenings, which is completely successful. He and Bessemer, the inventor of the Bessemer steel process, filed caveats in the Patent Office at Washington about the same time. But Bessemer's plan was not feasible and he abandoned it. Mr. Morey secured the patent which he now owns. He has also invented and patented a successful water engine, and a hydraulic pressure valve. The latter is the simplest and probably the most valuable of his inventions. Without springs, adjusted by a set screw, it is invaluable in a water works system for the reason that it acts automatically and allows a large pressure on one side with a smaller pressure on the other. This pressure valve was invented to enable Mr. Morey to operate successfully high pressure water works of which more is said further on.
Mr. Morey lias much of the rare quality of inventive genius which has made famous Ericcson, Bessemer and Hoe. He seems to need only the difficulty to sur- mount it by his invention. Living at Portland his patents have not obtained universal lise, as they undoubtedly would had not other matters engaged his attention.
It is these other matters which have made Mr. Morey so well known at Portland and its vicinity.
In 1883, through Mr. Morey's efforts, after considerable opposition, Portland entered into a contract with the Elevator Company to furnish high pressure hydrants for the extinguishment of fires. It was these hydrants which saved Portland twice in one week from the fires at the Esmond Hotel and Coloma Dock. These fires were both of incendiary origin. But for the elevator hydrants either of these fires would undoubt- edly have been more disastrous than the Seattle or Spokane Falls fires. The hydrants in extinguishing these fires more than paid the contract price for the whole term of ten years for which they were put in.
The success of the Portland Hydraulic Elevator Company, under Mr. Morey's management, aroused the hostility of the Portland Water Company. This water company with its inefficient service and high rates are now merely matters of the past. For years it had defied public opinion and had escaped legislative and munici- pal control. It then determined to crash out the Elevator Company.
In 1885, learning of the plans of the Portland Water Co., Mr. Morey determined to carry the war into the enemy's country. Within a very short period he had made a personal examination of the plan of bringing the waters of Bull Run river into Portland. He made his estimates and plans and proposed to the city of Portland for annual payments for twenty years to supply all water, at sufficient pressure to do away with fire engines, and for all municipal needs.
Immediately after the ordinance authorizing this contract had been duly passed and approved, the water company obtained a preliminary injunction from the United States Court restraining the city from entering into such a contract. Pending these
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legal proceedings a special session of the Legislature was called to elect a United States senator. Fifteen citizens of Portland, seeing the feasibility of Mr. Morey's plan and that the water company had received its death blow from Mr. Morey, organized themselves into a water committee and obtained the necessary legislation to furnish Portland with water, as a part of the municipal authority of the city. The bill confirming this authority made it impossible for Mr. Morey's plan to be carried out.
Mr. Morey's plan was that the city should pay him $40,000 a year for twenty years. In return he was to furnish the city with water at sufficient pressure so that the fire engines would have been discarded and their places would have been taken by hose carriages. In addition the city was to have for twenty years, without extra compensation all the water necessary for all other purposes-sprinkling streets, flushing sewers, etc. At the end of twenty years all water for said municipal purposes was to be furnished free forever. The price of water to private consumers was made about half of the rates charged by the water company and the common council were given authority to reduce all rates so established. In addition the city was given the right to purchase, within five years from the date of the contract, all of the Morey Water Works by paying there- for the actual cost, together with an advance of but six per centum on such cost.
Had Mr. Morey's plan been carried out Portland would now be supplied with water from Bull Run river. The water committee has done better than was thought it would or conld do. Without disparagement to its management, which has been remarkably economical and efficient, still the fact remains that sufficient time lias elapsed to prove that Mr. Morey's plan, under his management would have been far cheaper and efficient for the city and its inhabitants than the water committee's will be even when Bull Run water is brought to Portland.
Without detracting from the praise dne to the water committee it is but fair to say that undoubtedly but for Mr. Morey the Portland Water Company would still be the only means by which Portland would be supplied with water, and that the present abundant supply and low rates would not be in existence.
In 1883, Mr. Morey and others organized the U. S. Electric Lighting and Power Company of Portland, Oregon. With his indomitable energy he made this company successful under the most adverse circumstances. With a foresight, which is one of his strong characteristics, he saw the great future for electric lighting which even now is coming to pass. Stockholders might be discouraged and his financial backers despair of success; Mr. Morey neither became discouraged nor despaired- he succeeded. When the electric light company had become one of the best divi- dend paying corporations for its capital in the State, Mr. Morey saw that its success could not be continuons with the great Willamette Falls, distant twelve miles only from Portland. Finding his opportunity, he entered into negotiations with the syndicate controlling the water power at the falls. Getting the unanimous consent of the stockholders of the Electric Light Company to the measure, that company was merged into the Willamette Falls Electric Company, a new corporation which he assisted in organizing. This latter company, in addition to furnishing electric lights for lighting the streets of the city of Portland and for private purposes, controls the immense water power of the Willamette Falls, at Oregon City. Mr. Morey is the manager and one of the directors of the Willamette Falls Electric Company.
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It is this company which will largely assist in making Portland a great and pros- perous city. Its wires annihilate distance. It makes the power of the Willamette Falls at Portland as well as at Oregon City. Up to the present time the foundation and operations of this company are Mr. Morey's greatest successes.
Mr. Morey is yet young. His successes are, it is believed, merely an earnest of what he will accomplish in the future. To a somewhat over cautious community he has shown what ability and energy can accomplish. Capital is often timid in carry- ing out the plans of such a man. Capital has sometimes given but half-hearted support to such an one-it has sometimes abandoned such a man after having prom- ised full support to the end. But ability and energy-what in the West we call "push" -will succeed and does succeed in spite of the timidity and sometimes the greed of mere money. Such men as Mr. Morey are the capital, the wealth of a comninnity whether it be rich or poor. To the rich they mean a greater abundance, to the poor continuous prosperity.
CTAVER, GEORGE W., president and founder of one of the largest mercantile corporations on the Pacific Coast was born in Brush Valley, Center county, Pennsylvania, November 18, 1836. He is of German and Scotch-Irish ancestry and was reared upon a farm. Soon after his birth his parents moved to Sugar Valley, Clinton county, Pennsylvania, and remained on the same farm until 1854, when they came to Illinois, but a year later settled near Monroe, Green county, Wisconsin. Here his father, Frederick Staver, still resides, at the advanced age of eighty-one years.
Our subject received from his father a most thorough knowledge of farming in all its branches, long before the era of the present improved farming implements. His education was such as was received at that day in Pennsylvania, Illinois and Wiscon- sin by the average farmer's boy. Attendance at the district school in winter with three months at the Academy at Warren, Illinois, in 1861, completed his educational advantages; previous to going to the latter institution, however, he taught school for two terms in Green county. He early became interested in and an expert operator of agricultural machinery. He purchased one of the first threshing machines used in Green county, and during the fall and winter followed threshing. He became very proficient in this line of work and before he had reached his majority did quite an extensive business.
While at school at Warren, Illinois, Fort Sumter was fired upon and President Lincoln issued his first call for troops. Young Staver at once enlisted but before his company was ready to enter the service the requisite number of men called for had been secured and its services were not needed. When the second call for troops was issued, in September, 1861, he enlisted for three years in the Fifth Wisconsin Light Artillery. This battery went into camp at Racine, Wisconsin; left for the seat of war in March, 1862, and remained in active service at the front until the close of the war. Its first service was at New Madrid, Missouri, followed by participation in the siege of Corinth and battle of Farmington. On September 3, 1862, it was trans- ferred to the Army of the Tennessee; took part in the battle of Perryville and the pursuit of the enemy to Crab Orchard, Kentucky. It was also engaged in the battle of Murfreesboro or Stone River, occupying the extreme right, and on December 31, 1862, fired the first gun that ushered in this memorable engagement. During the summer of 1863, it was engaged in the Chattanooga and Chickamauga campaign
M- Stane
Chner
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taking part in the battles at the foot of Lookout Mountain and within the Union fortifi cations at Chattanooga and Mission Ridge. During this entire period Mr. Staver was in every engagement in which his battery participated. By a general order from the War Department all troops having served two years or more could re-enlist for the period of the war. Under this order Mr. Staver's battery re-enlisted in December, 1863, for three years or during the war. The battery, soon after re-enlistment, took part in the battle of Reseca, and beginning with this battle was engaged almost every day in the Atlanta campaign, until that city was captured, September 6, 1864. In Novem- ber following, it started with Gen. Sherman's forces on the memorable marchi to the sea, ending with the siege and capture of Savannah. From this point it marched through the Carolinas and took part in the battle at Bentonville. After a brief rest at Raleigh, the battery marched to Washington via Richmond and Alexandria, and took its place in the grand review of Sherman's army. On June 1, 1865, it arrived at Madison, Wisconsin, where it was mustered out of service. Mr. Staver's record as a soldier was excellent. During the entire period of service lie never failed to be ready for duty; was twice promoted and now holds two honorable discharges.
After his return home Mr. Staver purchased a farmi in Green County, Wisconsin, and besides engaging in farming, followed threshing for three seasons. In the fall of 1867 he sold liis farm, and in the following spring moved to Nashua, Iowa, where he engaged in general merchandizing with S. W. Byers, under the firmn name of Byers & Staver. He disposed of his interest in the fall of 1870, and iu the spring of 1871, returned to Monroe, Wisconsin, where with his brother, H. C. Staver, he embarked in the agricultural implement business under the firin name of Staver Bros. They soon after bouglit a half interest in a hardware store with John S. Harper, combining this business with their own under the firm name of Harper & Staver Bros. Two years later H. C. Staver sold out his interest, when the firm became known as Harper & Staver. During these years a very good business was established. They were agents of several large manufacturies of farming machinery, among which was the well known J. I. Case Threshing Machine Company. In 1877 Mr. Staver was engaged by the latter Company in expert work connected with the operation of their machines. So valuable did his services prove, that in February, 1878, he entered their employ as traveling representative, and disposed of his interest at Monroe. In 1879 he came to Oregon as representative of this company to sell a large stock of goods then at Salem. The Company desired to open up trade in this section of the country, and gave Mr. Staver the option of establishing a business, either on a salary or a com- mission basis. Upon his arrival he was soon convinced that Portland offered the best inducements as a commercial point, and upon his advice this city was selected instead of Salem as the headquarters for commencing operations. The first year he worked upon a salary, but the second year took his pay on a commission basis. In 1881 with W. H. Walker, who had previously been in his employ, he commenced business under the firm name of Staver & Walker. Continued success followed the undertak- ing, and from the beginning to the present the growth of the business has been most remarkable. At first they handled the agricultural machinery of only one manufac- turing company, but at the present time they carry the most complete line of farin, dairy and mill machinery on the Pacific Coast. Their immense warehouse in the New Market block on First Street, extending to Second Street, is one of the largest busi- ness blocks in the city, every portion of which is required for exhibiting their large
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assortment of goods. Branch houses have been established at Walla Walla, Colfax, Spokane Falls, Seattle and Pomeroy, Washington; LaGrande, Oregon, and Moscow, Idaho. A large force of men is employed, and their yearly business reaches the sun of $1,000,000. In 1888 the company was incorporated with a paid up capital of $330,000, at which time the present officers were chosen: George W. Staver, Presi- dent; W. H. Walker, Vice President and General Manager; Frank L. Brown, Secre- tary, and G. L. Walker, Treasurer.
The creation of this immense business within a few years has been an incident of rapid growth, conspicuous in the history of the Pacific Northwest. Mr. Staver, with a full knowledge of the requirements of the business, and practical experience in farm- ing and handling farming implements, was perfectly familiar with the needs of an agricultural community, and well adapted to inaugurate the business with which he lias been so conspicuously connected. Mr. Staver, however, says that Mr. W. H. Walker, his partner, deserves his full share of credit for the success of this business, and that Frank L. Brown, whom they employed as their office man for years, is entitled to not a little of the honor. Both men are indefatigable workers and of good business sagacity.
Mr. Staver's time and energy have been almost solely engrossed by the demands of liis business, and he has had, up to the present time, but little to do with other enterprises He is, however, a director in the Deep Sea Fishing Company, and stock- holder in the Cyclorama Company. For more than twenty years lie has been a mem- ber of the Methodist Church, and since his residence in Portland has been connected with the Taylor Street Church, in which he is one of the trustees, and one of the most active church workers. He is a liberal supporter of religious and benevolent institu- tions, and is President of the Portland Hospital, and the Pacific Christian Advocate. He is also one of the trustees of the Willamette University. He was married in 1858 to Miss Salome Wagner, who died in December, 1860. They had one child, a son, Franklin, who resides in Wisconsin. He was married, January. 1866, to his present wife, Miss Saralı A. Thorp, of Clarno, Green County, Wisconsin, and to them three children have been born.
Mr. Staver is a man of large frame, and of strong and vigorous constitution. He is modest and unostentatious in manner, and one whom prosperity has not changed. He has been a hard worker all his life, and has fairly earned the success which has come to him. In the prosperity of Portland during late years, he has been a valuable factor, and the enterprise which he inaugurated promises to be of still greater benefit to the city in the years to come. He is progressive and public spirited, and begrudges no effort that may contribute to the public good.
URAND, EZRA, was born in Seneca Falls, New York, on March 8, 1833, and is D the youngest of a family of thirten sons and daughters of David and Betsey (Crowell), Durand. His father was a farmer and his early boyhood was passed on a farm. His opportunities for gaining an education were limited to a few winters at the district school At an early age he left home and went to Worcester, Massachu- setts, where he obtained employment in a musical instrument factory. This was followed by similar work in a factory at Norwich, Connecticut. He seemed to have a natural taste for the business, making rapid progress in a thorough knowledge of every branch. At the end of a few years he secured a situation with a Boston firin and traveled all through the New England States, tuning pianos and doing such
& Durand
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other work in connection with musical instruments as the nature of their business required. In later years he was traveling salesman for the well known organ manu- factory of Estey & Co., of Battleboro, Verinont.
In 1881, Mr. Durand came to the Pacific Coast, and for a few months was located in San Francisco, California, but in 1882, came to Portland. He soon after embarked in the piano and organ business and from the very start his venture proved to be highly successful. In 1883, he incorporated the Durand Organ and Piano Company, with a capital stock of $100,000, of which he has since been president and general manager. The business which this corporation has built up within the last few years extends over a vast territory. Mr. Durand has been indefatigable in his exertions and it has mainly been through his thorough practical knowledge of the business and good judgment that such gratifying success, has been attained.
Mr. Durand was married in 1881, to Miss Jennie Smith, a native of Illinois. They have recently erected a fine house on Portland Heights which is an ornament to that delightful residence part of the city.
W TEINHARD, HENRY, the leading and oldest brewer of Portland, was born in Lin- denbroun, Wurtemberg, Germany, February 18, 1830. After serving a regu- lar apprenticeship and working at the trade of a brewer in Stutgart and other places iu Germany he came to the United States in 1851. He first secured employment at his trade in Philadelphia where he remained a year. He then went to Cincinnati and at the end of two years removed to St. Louis, where he remained until 1856, when he came to California and for a short time was located at Sacramento City. In March, 1857, he entered the employ of the John Meney a brewer at Vancouver, Washington Territory, and superintended the erection and fitting up of a new brewery. In 1859 Mr. Wein- hard bought the brewery from Mr. Meney, and for some four years successfully car- ried on the business at that point. In the meantime, in 1862, he bought out the Henry Saxer Brewery, the first established in Portland, and soon after, in partnership with George Bottler, cstablished his present brewery, having at the time a controlling interest in the three breweries in this section of the country. In 1864 he sold out his brewery in Vancouver, and from that time has exclusively confined his operations to Portland. In 1866 Mr. Weinhard bought the interest of Mr. Bottler, and immedi- ately commenced to improve and enlarge the plant, and from that time to the present has constantly been increasing his facilities for meeting the demands of his trade. Refrigerating machines, malt and brew honse and cellars are models of their kind, and in their arrangements throughout are as perfect as in any establishment in the country. The buildings are all of brick, and present a handsome and imposing appear- ance. The brewery occupies a whole square, and is the largest plant of its kind on the Pacific Slope north of San Francisco. In 1870 the output was less than 2,000 barrels, while for 1889 the total output was 40,000 barrels. With the exception of six years, when William Dillenger was a partner, Mr. Weinhard has been sole propri- etor of 1866.
Mr. Weinhard was married in 1859 to Louisa Wagenblast. They have two tlaughters, the eldest of whom is the wife of Paul Wessinger, who is connected with Mr. Weinhard in the management of the brewery. As a business man Mr. Weinhard
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has been very successful. He is a member of the Masonic Order, and of various Ger- man societies in the city which are maintained for social purposes, and for the relief of distressed countrymen. He is a man of generous impulses, and toward every benevolent enterprise cheerfully contributes. Among his own countrymen his popularity is very great. Every project to advance the interests of Portland finds in him a warm friend.
TAMM, JACOB. No history of navigation upon the Willamette or Columbia would be K complete without reciting the part borne by the subject of this sketch. From the time the demands of travel and commerce created business of any magnitude in this direction, down to the present time, he has been more or less prominently connected with this interest, and especially important was the part he bore in the incipient stages of its development.
He was boru in Switzerland, December 12, 1823. At the age of eight, with his father, who had resigned his commission as captain in the Swiss army, he came to America. They removed to Illinois, where for a year his father was employed in farming and milling. From there they went to St. Louis, where his father conducted a hotel for some years, after which they removed to New Orleans. Here, at the age of twelve, young Kamm commenced the earnest side of life in a printing office, where he was employed until after the death of his father during the fearful yellow fever epidemic in the summer of 1837.
In the fall of that year with only a few dollars in his pocket, he started for St. Louis. Upon his arrival he secured a position as a cabin boy on a small steamer called the Ark. In the engineer of this steamer he found a kind friend, and during several following winters he boarded with his family. It was during this time he secured the principal educational advantages he ever enjoyed, going to school in the winter, and spending much time in studying while on the boat in summer. At the age of sixteen he became engineer's assistant, or second engineer on the Camden, and afterwards served in the same capacity on the Illinois, Mumga Park, Gypsy and other boats.
He early developed great taste for mathematics and engineering, and improved every opportunity to advance his knowledge of both. While in St. Louis he joined an engineers' association, an incorporated body, whose object was to raise the standard of efficiency of engineers. Before a committee of this order Mr. Kamını, upon attaining liis majority, passed a most thorough examination as to the duties per- taining to an engineer; was highly commended for his thorough knowledge and qualifications, and given a diploma as Chief Engineer. With this endorsement, which at that time was considered to leave no question as to proficiency, he soon after obtained a position as Chief Engineer, and for several years thereafter served in this capacity on a number of boats, on the Mississippi and its tributaries, among them the Ocean Wave, Edward Bates and Hannibal. Ambitious to succeed, he over-taxed his strength, and in 1848 failing health forced him to stop working. In seeking to gain his health he was advised that a trip across the plains might be bene- ficial, and also desiring to visit the Pacific Coast, which the recent discovery of gold had brought so prominently before the public, he determined to make the long jour- ney. In the Spring of 1849 lie started with a train, and October 10, 1849, arrived in
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