J.M. Breck was Portland's 13th mayor. He was in office for a year that started on April 1, 1861. He was born on April 9, 1828 in Philadelphia, PA. He died on February 23, 1900, in Portland, Oregon.
--------
Oregon Native Son and Historical Magazine, Volume 1
JOHN MALCOLM BRECK Sr.
The ancestors of Mr. Breck emigrated from England in 1635, coming to America in the ship James. Among the other passengers accompanying was the Rev. Richard Mather. They settled in Dorchester, Mass., but some of their descendants left the paternal roof-tree and went to the State of Pennsylvania and located in the City of Brotherly Love. The parents of our subject were residents of Philadelphia at the time of his birth. Mr. Breck's earlier education was received at Bristol College, Pa., and later he attended Nashoth Seminary, Wisconsin, his 'brother, Rev. J. Lloyd Breck, being its principal. In 1850 the firm of Howland & Aspinwall and William H. Aspinwall, of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the latter being the brother-in-law of Mr. Breck, sent him to the distant and then little-known Portland, Oregon, to take charge of a large invoice of goods which they had sent out by sailing vessel. Through his brother-in-law he secured a berth as purser of the steamship Columbia, just recently launched, and ready to make her initial voyage upon the main. She had just been recently built expressly for the Portland and San Francisco trade, and was a side-wheeler of 760 tons, drawing fourteen feet of water, too much in those years for her to make the trip to Portland a portion of the year without often getting aground in the Swan island channel below the city, without lightering. The steamer came through the Straits of Magellan and arrived at Valparaiso on Christmas, 1850, and at Panama two weeks later. At this port her passenger list was greatly augmented by passengers coming via the Isthmus, among the number being Hon. Henry W. Corbett, who was then making his first trip to Portland. On his arrival at Astoria he found that the ship upon which the invoice of goods had been sent had just arrived in port. Making arrangements with the owners of the steamer Lot Whitcomb for trans-shipment of his goods to Portland, he came on up the river to secure a storehouse. Mr. Breck says that this trip was about the second made by the Lot Whitcomb, and that Captain J. C. Ainsworth was master of her, and Jacob Kamm the engineer. At that time business was confined to the west side of Front street, with the exception of a store on the southeast corner of Front and Stark, one building between Oak and Pine, and a small store on the northeast corner of Front and A. This store was occupied by Uncle Bob Thompson, who was afterwards drowned in the Willamette. Captain John H. Couch had a warehouse on the corner of Front and C, and Captain George H. Flanders had just erected a two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Front and B. The lower room of this building was secured by Mr. Breck at a monthly rental of $150. As there were no wharves at that time, his goods were discharged upon the river bank at the most convenient place for the shippers (in this case it was directly in the rear of his store). After getting them on shore, they were hoisted to the top of the bank by block and tackle, swung from the overhanging limb of an oak tree growing there. This was in February, 1851. Within a couple of months thereafter, the firm of Allen, DeWitt & Co., afterwards Allen & Lewis, established themselves directly across B street, where they erected, for that epoch, a fine store. In the '60s Mr. Breck again entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and in 1861 was purser of the Northerner at the time she was wrecked, January 2, 1861, off Cape Mendocino, losing thirty-five out of 100 people on board. He then represented such company as their agent at Portland for a number of years.
During a portion of the time of his residence in the state he has served his fellow citizens in various capacities of responsibility and trust. Among the positions held were those of school clerk of District No. 1, city assessor several terms, clerk of the common council, councilman, mayor of Portland, two terms as county assessor, and, on the organization of the union party in 1861, he was elected county clerk of Multnomah County, defeating the democratic nominee for that office, who had long been the incumbent of it through successive elections. With the exception of three and a half years, Mr. Breck has resided continuously in Oregon since he first came here. During such time he was in California.
In the spring of 1854 Mr. Breck revisited the Atlantic states, and while in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, was married, on January 31, of that year, to Miss Annie Ashmead, of Lancaster. Pa. Shortly after, the newly-married couple returned to Oregon. Five children were born to them, two of whom
are now living—George, aged 32, now in San Francisco, the manager of the large wholesale house of J. B. Cott & Co., and Annie A., who lives at home. Two died in infancy, and John M., whose biography appears and whose portrait is presented in this number, died in 1888.
(With thanks to Laura L for the above biographical information)
--------
Oregon Native Son and Historical Magazine, Volume 1
JOHN MALCOLM BRECK Sr.
The ancestors of Mr. Breck emigrated from England in 1635, coming to America in the ship James. Among the other passengers accompanying was the Rev. Richard Mather. They settled in Dorchester, Mass., but some of their descendants left the paternal roof-tree and went to the State of Pennsylvania and located in the City of Brotherly Love. The parents of our subject were residents of Philadelphia at the time of his birth. Mr. Breck's earlier education was received at Bristol College, Pa., and later he attended Nashoth Seminary, Wisconsin, his 'brother, Rev. J. Lloyd Breck, being its principal. In 1850 the firm of Howland & Aspinwall and William H. Aspinwall, of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the latter being the brother-in-law of Mr. Breck, sent him to the distant and then little-known Portland, Oregon, to take charge of a large invoice of goods which they had sent out by sailing vessel. Through his brother-in-law he secured a berth as purser of the steamship Columbia, just recently launched, and ready to make her initial voyage upon the main. She had just been recently built expressly for the Portland and San Francisco trade, and was a side-wheeler of 760 tons, drawing fourteen feet of water, too much in those years for her to make the trip to Portland a portion of the year without often getting aground in the Swan island channel below the city, without lightering. The steamer came through the Straits of Magellan and arrived at Valparaiso on Christmas, 1850, and at Panama two weeks later. At this port her passenger list was greatly augmented by passengers coming via the Isthmus, among the number being Hon. Henry W. Corbett, who was then making his first trip to Portland. On his arrival at Astoria he found that the ship upon which the invoice of goods had been sent had just arrived in port. Making arrangements with the owners of the steamer Lot Whitcomb for trans-shipment of his goods to Portland, he came on up the river to secure a storehouse. Mr. Breck says that this trip was about the second made by the Lot Whitcomb, and that Captain J. C. Ainsworth was master of her, and Jacob Kamm the engineer. At that time business was confined to the west side of Front street, with the exception of a store on the southeast corner of Front and Stark, one building between Oak and Pine, and a small store on the northeast corner of Front and A. This store was occupied by Uncle Bob Thompson, who was afterwards drowned in the Willamette. Captain John H. Couch had a warehouse on the corner of Front and C, and Captain George H. Flanders had just erected a two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Front and B. The lower room of this building was secured by Mr. Breck at a monthly rental of $150. As there were no wharves at that time, his goods were discharged upon the river bank at the most convenient place for the shippers (in this case it was directly in the rear of his store). After getting them on shore, they were hoisted to the top of the bank by block and tackle, swung from the overhanging limb of an oak tree growing there. This was in February, 1851. Within a couple of months thereafter, the firm of Allen, DeWitt & Co., afterwards Allen & Lewis, established themselves directly across B street, where they erected, for that epoch, a fine store. In the '60s Mr. Breck again entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and in 1861 was purser of the Northerner at the time she was wrecked, January 2, 1861, off Cape Mendocino, losing thirty-five out of 100 people on board. He then represented such company as their agent at Portland for a number of years.
During a portion of the time of his residence in the state he has served his fellow citizens in various capacities of responsibility and trust. Among the positions held were those of school clerk of District No. 1, city assessor several terms, clerk of the common council, councilman, mayor of Portland, two terms as county assessor, and, on the organization of the union party in 1861, he was elected county clerk of Multnomah County, defeating the democratic nominee for that office, who had long been the incumbent of it through successive elections. With the exception of three and a half years, Mr. Breck has resided continuously in Oregon since he first came here. During such time he was in California.
In the spring of 1854 Mr. Breck revisited the Atlantic states, and while in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, was married, on January 31, of that year, to Miss Annie Ashmead, of Lancaster. Pa. Shortly after, the newly-married couple returned to Oregon. Five children were born to them, two of whom
are now living—George, aged 32, now in San Francisco, the manager of the large wholesale house of J. B. Cott & Co., and Annie A., who lives at home. Two died in infancy, and John M., whose biography appears and whose portrait is presented in this number, died in 1888.
(With thanks to Laura L for the above biographical information)
J.M. Breck was Portland's 13th mayor. He was in office for a year that started on April 1, 1861. He was born on April 9, 1828 in Philadelphia, PA. He died on February 23, 1900, in Portland, Oregon.
--------
Oregon Native Son and Historical Magazine, Volume 1
JOHN MALCOLM BRECK Sr.
The ancestors of Mr. Breck emigrated from England in 1635, coming to America in the ship James. Among the other passengers accompanying was the Rev. Richard Mather. They settled in Dorchester, Mass., but some of their descendants left the paternal roof-tree and went to the State of Pennsylvania and located in the City of Brotherly Love. The parents of our subject were residents of Philadelphia at the time of his birth. Mr. Breck's earlier education was received at Bristol College, Pa., and later he attended Nashoth Seminary, Wisconsin, his 'brother, Rev. J. Lloyd Breck, being its principal. In 1850 the firm of Howland & Aspinwall and William H. Aspinwall, of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the latter being the brother-in-law of Mr. Breck, sent him to the distant and then little-known Portland, Oregon, to take charge of a large invoice of goods which they had sent out by sailing vessel. Through his brother-in-law he secured a berth as purser of the steamship Columbia, just recently launched, and ready to make her initial voyage upon the main. She had just been recently built expressly for the Portland and San Francisco trade, and was a side-wheeler of 760 tons, drawing fourteen feet of water, too much in those years for her to make the trip to Portland a portion of the year without often getting aground in the Swan island channel below the city, without lightering. The steamer came through the Straits of Magellan and arrived at Valparaiso on Christmas, 1850, and at Panama two weeks later. At this port her passenger list was greatly augmented by passengers coming via the Isthmus, among the number being Hon. Henry W. Corbett, who was then making his first trip to Portland. On his arrival at Astoria he found that the ship upon which the invoice of goods had been sent had just arrived in port. Making arrangements with the owners of the steamer Lot Whitcomb for trans-shipment of his goods to Portland, he came on up the river to secure a storehouse. Mr. Breck says that this trip was about the second made by the Lot Whitcomb, and that Captain J. C. Ainsworth was master of her, and Jacob Kamm the engineer. At that time business was confined to the west side of Front street, with the exception of a store on the southeast corner of Front and Stark, one building between Oak and Pine, and a small store on the northeast corner of Front and A. This store was occupied by Uncle Bob Thompson, who was afterwards drowned in the Willamette. Captain John H. Couch had a warehouse on the corner of Front and C, and Captain George H. Flanders had just erected a two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Front and B. The lower room of this building was secured by Mr. Breck at a monthly rental of $150. As there were no wharves at that time, his goods were discharged upon the river bank at the most convenient place for the shippers (in this case it was directly in the rear of his store). After getting them on shore, they were hoisted to the top of the bank by block and tackle, swung from the overhanging limb of an oak tree growing there. This was in February, 1851. Within a couple of months thereafter, the firm of Allen, DeWitt & Co., afterwards Allen & Lewis, established themselves directly across B street, where they erected, for that epoch, a fine store. In the '60s Mr. Breck again entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and in 1861 was purser of the Northerner at the time she was wrecked, January 2, 1861, off Cape Mendocino, losing thirty-five out of 100 people on board. He then represented such company as their agent at Portland for a number of years.
During a portion of the time of his residence in the state he has served his fellow citizens in various capacities of responsibility and trust. Among the positions held were those of school clerk of District No. 1, city assessor several terms, clerk of the common council, councilman, mayor of Portland, two terms as county assessor, and, on the organization of the union party in 1861, he was elected county clerk of Multnomah County, defeating the democratic nominee for that office, who had long been the incumbent of it through successive elections. With the exception of three and a half years, Mr. Breck has resided continuously in Oregon since he first came here. During such time he was in California.
In the spring of 1854 Mr. Breck revisited the Atlantic states, and while in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, was married, on January 31, of that year, to Miss Annie Ashmead, of Lancaster. Pa. Shortly after, the newly-married couple returned to Oregon. Five children were born to them, two of whom
are now living—George, aged 32, now in San Francisco, the manager of the large wholesale house of J. B. Cott & Co., and Annie A., who lives at home. Two died in infancy, and John M., whose biography appears and whose portrait is presented in this number, died in 1888.
(With thanks to Laura L for the above biographical information)
--------
Oregon Native Son and Historical Magazine, Volume 1
JOHN MALCOLM BRECK Sr.
The ancestors of Mr. Breck emigrated from England in 1635, coming to America in the ship James. Among the other passengers accompanying was the Rev. Richard Mather. They settled in Dorchester, Mass., but some of their descendants left the paternal roof-tree and went to the State of Pennsylvania and located in the City of Brotherly Love. The parents of our subject were residents of Philadelphia at the time of his birth. Mr. Breck's earlier education was received at Bristol College, Pa., and later he attended Nashoth Seminary, Wisconsin, his 'brother, Rev. J. Lloyd Breck, being its principal. In 1850 the firm of Howland & Aspinwall and William H. Aspinwall, of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, the latter being the brother-in-law of Mr. Breck, sent him to the distant and then little-known Portland, Oregon, to take charge of a large invoice of goods which they had sent out by sailing vessel. Through his brother-in-law he secured a berth as purser of the steamship Columbia, just recently launched, and ready to make her initial voyage upon the main. She had just been recently built expressly for the Portland and San Francisco trade, and was a side-wheeler of 760 tons, drawing fourteen feet of water, too much in those years for her to make the trip to Portland a portion of the year without often getting aground in the Swan island channel below the city, without lightering. The steamer came through the Straits of Magellan and arrived at Valparaiso on Christmas, 1850, and at Panama two weeks later. At this port her passenger list was greatly augmented by passengers coming via the Isthmus, among the number being Hon. Henry W. Corbett, who was then making his first trip to Portland. On his arrival at Astoria he found that the ship upon which the invoice of goods had been sent had just arrived in port. Making arrangements with the owners of the steamer Lot Whitcomb for trans-shipment of his goods to Portland, he came on up the river to secure a storehouse. Mr. Breck says that this trip was about the second made by the Lot Whitcomb, and that Captain J. C. Ainsworth was master of her, and Jacob Kamm the engineer. At that time business was confined to the west side of Front street, with the exception of a store on the southeast corner of Front and Stark, one building between Oak and Pine, and a small store on the northeast corner of Front and A. This store was occupied by Uncle Bob Thompson, who was afterwards drowned in the Willamette. Captain John H. Couch had a warehouse on the corner of Front and C, and Captain George H. Flanders had just erected a two-story frame building on the southeast corner of Front and B. The lower room of this building was secured by Mr. Breck at a monthly rental of $150. As there were no wharves at that time, his goods were discharged upon the river bank at the most convenient place for the shippers (in this case it was directly in the rear of his store). After getting them on shore, they were hoisted to the top of the bank by block and tackle, swung from the overhanging limb of an oak tree growing there. This was in February, 1851. Within a couple of months thereafter, the firm of Allen, DeWitt & Co., afterwards Allen & Lewis, established themselves directly across B street, where they erected, for that epoch, a fine store. In the '60s Mr. Breck again entered the employ of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and in 1861 was purser of the Northerner at the time she was wrecked, January 2, 1861, off Cape Mendocino, losing thirty-five out of 100 people on board. He then represented such company as their agent at Portland for a number of years.
During a portion of the time of his residence in the state he has served his fellow citizens in various capacities of responsibility and trust. Among the positions held were those of school clerk of District No. 1, city assessor several terms, clerk of the common council, councilman, mayor of Portland, two terms as county assessor, and, on the organization of the union party in 1861, he was elected county clerk of Multnomah County, defeating the democratic nominee for that office, who had long been the incumbent of it through successive elections. With the exception of three and a half years, Mr. Breck has resided continuously in Oregon since he first came here. During such time he was in California.
In the spring of 1854 Mr. Breck revisited the Atlantic states, and while in the City of Charleston, South Carolina, was married, on January 31, of that year, to Miss Annie Ashmead, of Lancaster. Pa. Shortly after, the newly-married couple returned to Oregon. Five children were born to them, two of whom
are now living—George, aged 32, now in San Francisco, the manager of the large wholesale house of J. B. Cott & Co., and Annie A., who lives at home. Two died in infancy, and John M., whose biography appears and whose portrait is presented in this number, died in 1888.
(With thanks to Laura L for the above biographical information)
Family Members
Siblings
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
Advertisement
