Page:Portland, Oregon, its History and Builders volume 2.djvu/794

 786 THE CITY OF PORTLAND

wife of James Carpenter of Vancouver; Lulu Hlancli, Sydney Kyle and Chester Clyde, all at home. By a former marriage Mrs. Blair had one son. William Calder, of 'ancouver.

Mr. Blair belongs to the Ancient Order of United Workmen, his membership bemg m the local lodge at Vancouver. In politics he is a stalwart republican. He is entitled to wear the Grand Army button for he has an interesting military chapter beginning with bis enlistment in Dade county, Missouri, in the Si.xth Missouri 'ohmteer Cavalry in 1862. He served with the western division of the army, participating in the battle of Prairie Grove. .Arkansas, in which Gen- eral Blunt commanded the Union forces and General Hineman the Confederate troops. At the close of the war in 1865 he was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and after coming to the northwest became a charter member of Ells- worth Post, G. A. R. at Vancouver. His loyalty in citizenship is as pronounced toflay as when he followed the old flag on southern battlefields and be cooperates m many of the progressive movements which are of necessity for the benefit and upbuilding of this section of the country. He now has a wide acquaintance in Clarke county and his sterling traits of character have gained him the warm re- gard of many with whom lie has been brought in contact.

REUBEN WEEKS.

Portland has had a goodly proportion of residents whose early connection with the city and subsequent activity in different lines of business here enabled them to spend their last days in retirement. Among this number was Reuben Weeks, who made his home here from 1862 until his death, which occurred Janu- ary 7, 191 1. He was a pioneer of the Pacific coast of 1850. in which year he arrived in California. His birth place was on the bank of the Hudson river in New York and his natal day was February 15, 1829, so that he was nearinj^ the eighty-second milestone on life's journey when called away. His parents were Reuben and Elizabeth (Higgs) Weeks.

While spending his youthful days in their home Mr. Weeks of this review attended the district schools of Dutchess county. New York, and after puttinj? aside his text-books learned the shoemaker's trade, which he followed until after he reached Portland. Gold was discovered in California in 1848 ami the news .spread rapidly throughout the country, leaving hundreds to flock to the mines in the hope of rapidly attaining wealth. Mr. Weeks was among the number that .started for California in 1849, making the long journev around Cape Horn and finally making his way to the Toulumne river, where be followed mining. He met with poor success in this, however, and after fifteen months he decided that be would give his attention to more remunerative work. He then engaged in the butchering business at Yreka, California, and followed it for about two year.s. He then went upon a ranch of three hundred and twenty acres in the vicinity of Yreka and engaged in farming for two years, at the' end of which time he sold out and came to Portland.

In 1862 Mr. Weeks opened a butcher shop at the corner of Fir.st and Taylor streets, conducting the business for two years, when he disposed of his meat market and went to the Sandwich islands for the benefit of his health. Return- ing three months later greatly benefited by his stay in the tropical climate, he engaged m the general grocery and i)rovision business and in this undertaking met with substantial success, carrying on the enterprise until 1892. The record of his mercantile operations was written in the tangible terms of profit and with a handsome competence he put aside business cares, assured that his capital was suflRcient to meet all his needs through the remainder of his life.

On the 24th of May, 1854, Mr. Weeks was married to Miss Clarissa W Churchill, a daughter of William H. B. Churchill, of New York. He took a trip