Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Chambers, Dr. S. S. 1883 - ************************************************ 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 June 27, 2010, 10:44 am Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 433 - 434 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company DR. S. S. CHAMBERS. One of the leading optical firms in the Columbia River Valley is that of D. Chambers & Sons, of Portland, which has been in existence for nearly twenty-five years and has built up a large and representative business throughout the valley. D. Chambers was born in May, 1855, and after completing his education engaged in the drug business in Ottumwa, Iowa. He was successful in that enterprise and he gradually worked into the optical business. The latter proved very attractive to him and in 1889 he moved to Chicago, where he organized the firm of Chambers-Inskeep & Company, manufacturing opticians and wholesale dealers in optical goods. Mr. Chambers invented valuable optical instruments, one of which is the ophthalometer. In 1904 he sold his Chicago business to F. A. Hardy & Company and, coming to Portland, established the present business, of which he was the head to the time of his death, which occurred in 1923. Since then the business has been conducted by his sons, S. S.; D. A. and F. E. S. S. Chambers was born in Ottumwa, Iowa, in 1883, and received his early education in the public schools of Chicago. In 1903 he entered the University of Illinois and on leaving that institution came to Portland, Oregon, where he taught for two years in the manual training department of the public schools. He then attended the University of California for a while, but was compelled to leave college because of ill health. For two years he taught manual training in Milwaukie, Oregon, after which he took up the study of optics in De Kayser Institute of Optometry, of Portland. On his graduation in 1917 he became associated with his father and brother in the business with which he has been identified continuously since, maintaining the old firm name of D. Chambers & Sons. They have a well equipped establishment and are prepared to give the best possible service. In 1910, in Chicago, Illinois, Dr. Chambers was united in marriage to Miss Jeanette Stratton, who was reared and educated in that city, and to them have been born five children, namely: David Stratton, who is now sixteen years of age; Elizabeth Helen, thirteen years old; Charlotte Anna, eleven years; John Samuel, eight years; and Richard Sunderland, aged four years. Dr. Chambers is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon Association of Optometrists and the Retail Credit Association. He has shown exceptional ability in his line and stands high in the confidence of all who have patronized him, while his excellent personal qualities have won for him many warm friends. D. A. Chambers has been actively associated with the business since its establishment in Portland and has recently opened offices in Bedford, Oregon. He has been prominently identified with the work of the Optometric Association in which he has held several offices including that of president. He married Miss Carrie Gavin, of Portland and they have three children: William Albert, now eleven years of age; Mary Louise, fourteen; and Anne, seven. Fred E. Chambers, who is associated with his brothers in the D. Chambers & Sons business, served in the World war having enlisted in the navy at Chicago. He went into training for radio operator at Harvard University, after which he was on the United States battleship New Mexico for two years. He married Miss Gladys Blaine, of Portland, in March, 1923, and they have one child, Donald, age four years. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/chambers1170gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb