Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Hart, Fred A. 1866 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 16, 2008, 10:07 pm

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     FRED A. HART.  The Pacific coast region has materially benefited by the 
progressive spirit and constructive activities of Fred A. Hart, a Portland 
lumberman and steamship owner whose operations cover a wide scope. He was born 
in Woodstock, Illinois, in 1866 and in both the paternal and maternal lines is 
descended, from Revolutionary stock. His parents were William and Susan 
(Wheeler) Hart, the latter a native of New Hampshire. His father migrated from 
Vermont to Illinois in 1839 and during the Civil war was a Union soldier. 
Later he went to Kentucky and became the owner of valuable tracts of timber in 
that state. He was an ardent advocate of educational advancement and aided in 
founding Berea College.
     Fred A. Hart attended school in Kentucky and his higher education was 
received in Olivet College of Michigan. In Kentucky he gained his first 
knowledge of the lumber industry and afterward sought the opportunities of the 
Pacific northwest. Locating in Grays Harbor, Washington, in 1889, he secured 
work in a mill and was paid one dollar and seventy-five cents per day. Through 
systematic saving he accumulated sufficient capital for an independent venture 
and in partnership with W. H. Wood purchased the electric lighting plant at 
Aberdeen, Washington, about 1900. A few years later Mr. Hart sold his interest 
in the plant and in 1905 acquired a mill at Aberdeen. He with Mr. Wood 
organized the Hart-Wood Lumber Company and has since been its president.  In 
the early days the partners found the transportation problem a serious one and 
were obliged to allow the ship owners to sell their lumber. Finally the Hart-
Wood Lumber Company bought a sailing vessel to transport their product and 
later constructed a steamer, the hull of which had just been completed at the 
time of the San Francisco fire. The machinery was purchased in that city but 
was not installed until August, 1906. During the first year the vessel was in 
operation the owners made a profit of fifty per cent on the investment and 
easily secured funds to build more boats. A yard was opened in San Francisco 
and later they established a second mill at Raymond, Washington. They now have 
seven steamers, as follows:  Hartwood, capacity 1,050,000 feet; Solano, 
1,150,000 feet; Willapa, 1,150,000 feet; Claremont, 1,400,000 feet; San Diego, 
1,600,000 feet; Point Loma, 1,850,000 feet; and Quinault, 1,350,000 feet. 
These vessels operate along the Pacific coast and their owners maintain a 
wharf at San Pedro, California. The company has established its headquarters 
in San Francisco and the other offices are located in Los Angeles, that state; 
Portland, Oregon; and Vancouver, Willapa Harbor, Aberdeen and Grays Harbor, 
Washington. The firm conducts an extensive business in wholesale lumber and 
sells direct to the trade. In the operation of the industry Mr. Hart has 
secured maximum efficiency at a minimum expenditure of time, labor and 
material. Its development has resulted from deep thought and study, able 
management and the maintenance of a high standard of service.
     In 1900 Mr. Hart married Miss Claire Weatherwax, a daughter of Jacob 
Weatherwax, one of the pioneer lumbermen of Aberdeen, Washington, and they 
have become the parents of three children: William, who was graduated from the 
University of California and is associated with his father in business; 
Phyllis, a student at Mills College in California; and Ina Claire, who is 
attending the public schools of Portland.
     Mr. Hart has resided in Portland since 1919 and also has financial 
interests in Washington, being a director of the Bank of Raymond. In politics 
he is a republican and has served for two terms in the Washington legislature. 
He is a member of the University, Arlington and Waverly Clubs, while along 
fraternal lines he is identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. 
Stable in purpose, keen in perception and energetic and decisive in action, he 
has registered achievement and stands deservedly high in the esteem of his 
fellowmen.


Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 410-413



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