Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Brandes, F. H. 1860 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 12, 2010, 7:51 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 288 - 289
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     F. H. BRANDES.  One of the oldest and best known building contractors in 
Portland is F. H. Brandes, who for nearly forty years has done his full share 
of the work in his line in this city and is regarded in every respect 
competent and trustworthy. In recent years he has been associated with his 
son, Ernest, under the firm name of F. H. Brandes & Son. He was born in 
Germany in 1860 and was there reared and educated. He learned the joiner's 
trade and in 1878, when eighteen years of age, came to the United States, 
locating in York, Pennsylvania, where he finished learning the carpenter 
trade. He was employed there until 1890, when he came to Portland, where he 
began building houses for himself and others. He soon gained a reputation as a 
competent and reliable workman and the scope of his operations gradually 
broadened until he was erecting some of the best store buildings in the city, 
including a large number along Yamhill street. He did a general contracting 
business until 1922, when he retired. However, idleness is entirely foreign to 
his nature and in 1924 he again entered the contracting business, with his son 
as a partner, and they are doing a large and successful business.

    In 1884, in Pennsylvania, Mr. Brandes was united in marriage to Miss 
Agatha Jewell, a native of Denmark, and to them were born four children. 
Ernest F., born in Pennsylvania, attended the public schools of Portland, and 
learned the carpenter trade. He went to San Francisco after the great fire of 
1906 and remained there about one and a half years, also spending several 
years in Alaska and the Canal zone, and is now associated with his father in 
the contracting business in Portland. He married Mrs. Harry Brandes, of 
Portland, and they have a son, Harry; Julia is the wife of Charles Heacox, of 
Portland, and they have two children, Janet and Shirley; Harry is deceased and 
his widow became the wife of his brother Ernest; Agatha is single and remains 
at home. Mr. Brandes is an earnest member of the Lutheran church and has 
always given his support to all worthy benevolent or charitable causes. He was 
formerly a member of the Board of Trade, the Master Builders and the Builders 
Exchange. In recalling conditions in the building business in early days in 
Portland, Mr. Brandes referred to the fact that when he came here only one man 
was required to handle all the building permits for the city, and at that 
spent only half his time, the other half being devoted to inspection work, as 
the city had not yet created the office of building inspector, though the fire 
department did what it deemed necessary as to fire hazards. Mr. Brandes has 
been an interested witness of the great development of this city and is glad 
that he has had an active part in the improvement of what he regards as the 
best city in the west.

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