Page:The History of Oregon Bancroft 1888.djvu/784

 side) for 20 miles, in 1868; located and surveyed the Locks at Oregon City, and estimated the cost of construction more nearly than any one else. In March 1881 he organized the Oregon Boot, Shoe, and Leather company, which received the gold medal for superior work at the Portland Mechanics fair; and was one of the organizers and directors of the Portland Savings Bank of which he was for several years vice-president. Mr Brazee resided in Skamania co., Washington, during all these busy years, and represented his district in the territorial legislature from 1864 to 1875, being at the same time school superintendent.

John Wilson, born in Ireland in 1826, came to Oregon from California in the winter of 1849 on the bark Arm Smith, George H. Flanders, master. His first work in this state was in a saw-mill at the now abandoned site of Milton on Scappoose bay, near St Helen, where he earned $4 per day and board. He remained here until the spring of 1851, when, not being well, he went to the Tualatin plains for a season, where he recovered and re turned to Milton, living there and at St Helen until 1853, when he settled in Portland in the employ of Thos H. Dwyer of the Oregonian as book-keeper and collector. A year later he entered the employ of Allen and Lewis, wholesale merchants, where he had an experience worth relating. He had been suffering much from ague and fever for two years. The first day's work with Allen and Lewis was very severe for a sick man, handling heavy freight, which was being unloaded from a ship, coffee-bags weighing 250 lbs., etc.; but the copious perspiration which resulted from his exertions carried off the ague, which never afterward returned. In 1856 he purchased a general merchandise business on Front street, and took partners. In 1858 the firm erected the first store (a brick one) on First street. After several changes, he was finally established, 1870, alone in a store erected by himself on Third street, between Morrison and Washington. In 1872 he built two more stores on that street, moving into one of them, where he remained until 1878. In 1880 he was elected school director of dist No. 1., which position he still fills. His policy in school matters has been liberal and elevating, After retiring from business he began to indulge a taste for literature and books, making himself the owner of a large collection of valuable and rare publications.

Martin Strong Burrell was born in Sheffield, Ohio, in 1834, where he re sided until 1856, when he came to Cal. in search of health, wintering in the Santa Cruz mountains. In March 1857 he joined Knapp & Co., agricultural implement dealers, becoming associated with them in business, and remaining in Portland to the time of his death, which occurred about 1883. His wife was Rosa Frazier, a native of Mass. Mr Burrell was an excellent citizen, and the family an exemplary one.