Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....De Neffe, Frederick M. 1 1882 - ************************************************ 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 and July 11, 2006, 11:29 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, Pages 136 - 137 FREDERICK M. DE NEFFE. Endowed with a strong, self-reliant nature, keen intelligence, the spirit of determination and the capacity for hard work, Frederick M. De Neffe rose superior to circumstances, bending them to his will, and has long been numbered among the leading attorneys and influential citizens of Portland. He was born in Cherokee county, Iowa, in 1882 and was but a year old when his parents, Charles and Elizabeth (Riede) De Neffe, journeyed to the Pacific northwest, taking up a homestead near Spokane, Washington, where they spent the remainder of their lives. During his boyhood Frederick M. De Neffe endured many hardships, which were incident to pioneer conditions. He worked on the homestead, performing tasks which taxed his strength to the utmost, and when opportunity afforded he attended the public schools of Spokane, also taking a business course. In 1901, he came to Portland and obtained the position of stenographer with the Hazelwood Cream Company, spending a year with the firm. Afterward he went to Ann Arbor and worked his way through the University of Michigan from which he was graduated in 1906 with the degree of LL.B. Returning to Oregon, he was admitted to the bar and located in Eugene, where he followed his profession for two years. Since 1909 he has practiced in Portland, devoting his attention chiefly to corporation, title examinations, and probate work, and rarely handles criminal cases. He is well versed in statute and precedent and his arguments are lucid, cogent and always to the point. For nearly twenty years he has practiced in Portland and his clientele has assumed large proportions. During its construction, Mr. De Neffe was attorney for the Pacific Great Western Railway, promoted by W. J. Wilsey, who went to London, England, for that purpose. Mr. Wilsey was successful in his mission and secured the financial support of Sir Robert Perks, who had built the Manchester canal and was knighted by the queen. Sir Robert came to this country and in association with the McArthur Brothers of Canada, purchased the right of way, financed the project and made the survey for the railroad. These gentlemen later sold their holdings to the Southern Pacific Railroad Company with the understanding that the Southern Pacific Company must build the proposed line. It was generally thought at first that this was one of the Hill properties, or a promotion scheme destined to prove disastrous to investors, but when it was found that Sir Robert Perks had backed the venture the officials of the Southern Pacific at once began activities on their own account on a line from Eugene to Coos Bay. Throughout that period Mr. De Neffe acted as counsel for the Pacific Coast Great Western and this celebrated case won for him widespread prominence as a corporation lawyer. His client, Mr. Wilsey, insisted that if the project was sold to the Southern Pacific Company the road must be built; and after some negotiations, the latter company made the purchase subject to that condition. In 1914 Mr. De Neffe was married in Portland to Miss Helen Higbee, and they have three children: Frederick Mason, Jr., Richard P. and Helen Elizabeth. Mr. De Neffe casts his ballot for the candidates of the republican party and manifests a keen interest in all matters of public moment, heartily cooperating in measures of reform, progress and improvement. He is a Mason and a life member of the Multnomah County Amateur Athletic Club and the Portland Rowing Club. His name also appears on the membership rolls of the University Club, the Multnomah Golf Club, and the Multnomah County and Oregon State Bar Associations. Throughout life Mr. De Neffe has been a tireless worker, knowing that “There is no excellence without labor,” and his record shows what may be accomplished when effort and ambition combine. His interest centers in his profession and he ably upholds its high standards. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1928 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/deneffe65gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.8 Kb