Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly vol. 3.djvu/259

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In the year 1856 the Willamette Woolen Manufacturing Company was organized and incorporated with Geo. H. Williams, president; Alfred Stan ton, vice president; Joseph Watt, W. H. Rector, Joseph Holman, E. M. Barnum, L. F. Grover, directors; Joseph D. Wilson, secretary, and John D. Boon, treasurer.

In the autumn of this year Mr. W. H. Rector was chosen to proceed to the East to procure the machinery and to employ a competent man to go to Oregon to put in operation the machinery and to superintend the manufactory when in operation. Upon arriving in the East he chanced to meet a woolen manufacturer to whom he stated his business. Finding him free and communicative he asked his advice as to the course to pursue, which he freely gave as follows: In the first place secure your man, one who thoroughly understands every department and also capable of locating and drawing a plan of the building adapted to the machinery and water power, and finding such you will find all else easy. His adviser chanced to be my last employer, for whom I superintended for the last six years. He also recommended and advised him to secure my services if he could. I was also recommended by the machine builders in Massachusetts, with most of whom I was well acquainted. He came to see me and in about twelve hours I had engaged to him to go to Oregon. The first thing required was the plan of the building requisite for two sets of machinery, he giving me a verbal description of the location, fall of water, etc. The draft for a wood building completed was forwarded by mail in order to have the work on the building progressing. Then an itemized bill of the machinery and supplies was made out. This completed, I accompanied him to North

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