Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Gillen, John O. 1872 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com March 8, 2011, 6:19 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 737 - 738
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     JOHN 0. GILLEN.  One of Portland's notable business concerns is the 
Gillen-Cole Company, wholesale and retail dealers in asbestos and cork 
products, roofing materials, paint and firebrick. This company, of which John 
O. Gillen is president, has enjoyed a remarkable growth, due to its 
progressive methods and sound business policy, and is now the largest concern 
in its line in the northwest. Mr. Gillen comes to Portland from the Atlantic 
seaboard. He was born in New York city in 1872, a son of James and Elizabeth 
Gillen, both of whom are deceased. He attended the public schools of his 
native city and had two years of preparatory work in Virginia Academy, at 
Virginia, Illinois. In 1892 he came to Portland and entered the employ of 
Joseph Gaffney, who was engaged in asbestos contracting. In 1899 Mr. Gillen 
and Nick Gaffney entered into a partnership, under the firm name of Gaffney & 
Gillen, and engaged in the same line of business. Six months later Mr. Gillen 
bought out his partner and sold an interest in the concern to W. H. Chambers, 
who was connected with the business until 1920, when Mr. Gillen bought him out 
for seventy-five thousand dollars cash. He then organized the Gillen-Cole 
Company, with the following officers: John O. Gillen, president; Maynard Cole, 
vice president; and Arthur Cole, secretary and treasurer. From 1904 to 1928 
the business was located at Front and Davis streets, but their rapidly 
increasing trade demanded more room and they bought their present three-story 
building, one hundred by two hundred feet, at Fifteenth and Overton streets, 
where they are admirably situated to handle their business. There is trackage 
along the side of the building, which, with a raised, covered platform, 
facilitates the handling of carload freight. The building is well lighted, has 
hardwood floors and fire protection is afforded through an automatic sprinkler 
system. Asbestos products are carried on the top floor, cork and cork fittings 
on the second floor, while paint, roofing, firebrick and other heavy materials 
are on the ground floor. There is also a special room for brake linings, and 
the building contains a double garage for the accommodation of their delivery 
trucks. Altogether the building is well adapted to the purpose for which it is 
used and the Gillen-Cole Company is now in a position to promptly and 
efficiently handle their steadily increasing trade. In addition to the lines 
referred to, the company manufactures and sells pipe coverings, cold storage 
doors and cabinets. They employ over eight people and maintain a branch 
warehouse in Tacoma, Washington, and an office in Seattle. They have six 
traveling salesmen, who cover the entire northwest. Mr. Gillen gives close 
attention to the business of which he is the head and has proven a capable and 
sagacious executive, enjoying the confidence and respect of his associates and 
employees.

     Mr. Gillen is a strong republican in his political views. He is a member 
of the Masonic order, in which he has attained the degree of Knight Templar, 
the Portland Rotary Club and the Chamber of Commerce. Personally he is a man 
of strong individuality and pleasing address, enjoys a wide acquaintance and 
all who know him hold him in the highest esteem because of his genuine worth 
as a man and citizen.

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