Clackamas-Lane-Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Johnson, Tyler May 6, 1886 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/orfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 25, 2008, 7:14 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company TYLER JOHNSON. Although a native of the south, Tyler Johnson is thoroughly western in spirit and interests, for much of his life has been spent in Oregon, and his enterprise, ability and industry have placed him at the head of one of the important productive industries of Milwaukie. He was born in eastern Tennessee, May 6, 1886, and is a son of George and Elizabeth {Stewart) Johnson, also natives of that state. They came to Oregon in 1897 and are residents of Cottage Grove. For many years the father followed the occupation of farming and is now enjoying the fruits of his former labors. Tyler Johnson received his early instruction in Tennessee and was a boy of eleven when his parents migrated to the Pacific northwest. He attended the public schools of Oregon and for a year was a student in the normal school at Drain. His start in life was gained while working in lumber camps of Oregon and for twelve years he was identified with the logging industry, becoming superintendent for J. H. Chambers of Cottage Grove. Later he was connected with the Menefee Lumber Company of Milwaukie, filling an important position, and remained with that concern until 1923, when he purchased the business in which he is now engaged. It was established in 1920 by the Thompson-Bullis Shingle Company and is now conducted by the Milwaukie Shingle Company, of which Tyler Johnson is president and manager. This is a closed corporation, the remainder of the stock being owned by the president's brother, George Johnson, Jr., who fills the office of vice president, and R. M. Rivers, who acts as secretary and treasurer. They have about twenty employes and the buildings cover about five acres. The firm caters particularly to the local trade and has facilities for cutting shingles of various sizes. Orders are executed promptly and the business is thoroughly systematized, reflecting the progressive spirit and high standards of its executive head. The plant is a model institution and has a capacity of one hundred and fifty thousand shingles per day. In 1912 Mr. Johnson married Miss Lennie South, who was born in La Center, Washington, a daughter of J. W. and Mary South, who crossed the plains about 1860, settling at La Center, and are now living near Olympia, Washington. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson are the parents of five children: Thelma, Jessie, Allen, Phyllis and Donna, aged respectively thirteen, eleven, eight, six and four years. The oldest child is a native of Kalama, Washington, and the others were born in Milwaukie, Oregon. In religious faith Mr. Johnson is a Baptist and his political allegiance is given to the republican party. At one time he was a councilman of Milwaukie and is ever ready to further measures for the general good. He is a member of the Community Club of Milwaukie and the Elks lodge at Centralia, Washington. Thoroughness and devotion to duty are Mr. Johnson's salient characteristics and his career is a record of continuous progress that has brought him to the front in his chosen field of labor. His partner, R. N. Rivers, was born in Arkansas June 10, 1897, and when a child of two years lost his father, Richard Thomas Rivers. The mother was Fanny A. (Morris) Rivers and both were members of old families of Arkansas. After her husband's death Mrs. Rivers went to Missouri and later journeyed to Colorado, going from there to Wyoming. She next came to Oregon, locating at Portland in 1917, and in 1922 was called to her final rest. R. N. Rivers was educated in the schools of Colorado and Wyoming and in 1917 responded to the call of his country, enlisting in the Seventh Regiment of United States Engineers. He was ordered to the front and participated in the St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne offensives. For fourteen months he was stationed abroad, returning to the United States in 1919, and was honorably discharged at Fort D. A. Russell in Wyoming, at which time he was a sergeant. In Portland he became connected with the Menefee Lumber Company and was with the firm until the formation of the Milwaukie Shingle Company, becoming one of its capable executives. In 1920 Mr. Rivers married Miss Flora May Smith, a native of Wyoming and a daughter of George Levi and Flora Smith. The father came to Oregon in 1860 and built the first sawmill at Tillamook. Later he operated a furniture factory at Forest Grove, Oregon, and is now living in Wyoming but Mrs. Smith has passed away. Mr. and Mrs. Rivers have two sons, Cole and Morris, natives of Milwaukie, aged respectively six and four years. Mr. Rivers is identified with the Masonic order and the Milwaukie Community Club. Although young in years, he has advanced far on the highway which leads to success and his ability and energy insure his continued progress. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 509-510 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/clackamas/bios/johnson501gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.5 Kb