Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Durham, Gilbert H. 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 May 7, 2009, 11:45 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company GILBERT H. DURHAM. The largest marine insurance business in Portland is that conducted by Gilbert H. Durham, who has been engaged in that line of effort for eighteen years and is now the senior member of the firm of Durham & Bates, with offices in the Board of Trade building. He was born in Portland in 1883 and is a son of Richard L. and Hannah T. (Gault) Durham. His father was born in Oregon City, Oregon, November 23, 1850, and was a son of Albert A. and Miranda A. (White) Durham, of whom the latter was born near Niagara Falls, Canada, and died in 1907, in her ninetieth year. Albert A. Durham was born in New York state and in 1847 came across the plains to Oregon, settling at Oregon City. In 1852 he removed to Oswego, which place he named, and there took up a land claim and built a sawmill. He operated both until 1869, when he sold out to the Oregon Steel Company and went to Washington county, where he built a mill, which he operated until his death, in 1901. He remained actively engaged in business affairs until he reached old age and at one time he represented his county in the territorial legislature. Richard L. Durham attended Willamette University and Portland Academy, and in July, 1870, came to Portland as deputy county clerk, in which position he served until 1876, when he resigned to become deputy city auditor, which office he held for five consecutive terms. In 1882 he resigned and became teller in the Portland Savings Bank, shortly afterward becoming cashier, which position he held until 1886, when, on the organization of the Commercial National Bank, he became cashier and vice president of the new institution. In 1896 the Commercial National sold out and he became vice president of the Merchants National Bank, which position he held to the time of his death, which occurred in 1916. His wife was born in Oregon and was a daughter of Pembroke Gault, who came from Vermont to the Pacific coast, arriving in Oregon in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Durham became the parents of three children: Lillian, the wife of W. E. Jones, of Boston; Roy Gault; and Gilbert H. Mr. Durham was a member of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and in the last named was grand receiver for over twenty-five years. He was vice president of the state board of emigration, was one of the organizers of the Commercial Club, which he served as treasurer continuously until 1898 and as a member of the board of governors until 1890, and was active in the Chamber of Commerce. He and his wife were members of the First Congregational church. Gilbert H. Durham attended the public and high schools and graduated from Bishop Scott Academy in 1899. For seven years he was interested in the lumber business being secretary and treasurer of the Beaver Lumber Company of Portland, and also for a few years was connected with the Merchants National Bank. In 1910 he entered the employ of C. P. Sargent & Company, general insurance agents, though specializing in marine insurance, and later he organized the insurance firm of G. H. Durham & Company, which existed until 1922, when Mr. Durham and D. H. Bates became associated, under the name of Durham & Bates. In their special line, that of marine insurance, they are regarded as experts, and have built up a large and steadily increasing business, due to their enterprising and energetic efforts and their honorable methods. In 1911 Mr. Durham was united in marriage to Miss Dorothy Holbrook, of Portland, and they are the parents of two children, Katherine and Caroline, both of whom are in school. The republican party receives Mr. Durham's support and he is a member of the Multnomah Athletic Club, the Oswego Golf Club and the Chamber of Commerce. A man of sterling character and agreeable personality, he has long commanded the uniform respect and confidence of his fellowmen and is ably maintaining the prestige of the family name in this community. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 655-656 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/durham606gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.7 Kb