Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Heitkemper, Frank A. January 8, 1871 - ************************************************ 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 Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 21, 2011, 4:05 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 745 - 746 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company FRANK A. HEITKEMPER is a well known figure in commercial circles of Portland, conducting business at 324 Alder street under the name of Frank A. Heitkemper, Inc. His is the third oldest jewelry establishment in the city, having been in continuous existence since 1888, and throughout the entire period of four decades the house has maintained a reputation as one of the most reliable and progressive jewelry establishments of Portland. Mr. Heitkemper came to the coast from Ohio, his birth having occurred in Springfield, that state, on the 8th of January, 1871. He is a son of G. and Mary (Burger) Heitkemper. The father, who was a native of Germany, came to the United States in 1854, settling in Winneshiek county, Iowa, which was then a largely undeveloped district, his father establishing a home there. In his boyhood G. Heitkemper went to Preston, Minnesota, where, observing a watchmaker at work, he decided that he would like to take up that line of business and with this end in view he entered upon an apprenticeship to the jewelry firm of Duhme & Company of Cincinnati, Ohio, where he thoroughly acquainted himself with the business. There he worked in a shop with John C. Dueber, who later owned one of the largest watch and watch-case manufacturing plants in the United States. Subsequently Mr. Heitkemper removed to Springfield, Ohio, where he engaged in business, and during his residence there he met and married Miss Mary Burger. Because of his wife's health he sought a change of climate, going to Iowa, where he remained for a time, and later establishing his home in Nebraska. He did not find a favorable business field in the latter state, however, and in 1884 came to Portland, Oregon, on a prospecting trip. In May, 1888, he brought his family to this city, which at that time was undergoing a boom, so that it was with considerable difficulty that he found a house and store. Finally, however, he rented the property at 151 Third street and improved the old building by putting in a new front and making other necessary alterations, after which he opened his stock of jewelry there and entered upon what proved to be a profitable business. Owing to the steady increase in his trade he sought larger quarters in 1890 by a removal to a new building at Third and Morrison streets. In 1899 another removal was made to 286 Morrison street, where the business was profitably conducted under the name of the G. Heitkemper Company, for he had admitted his son, Frank A., to a partnership. The death of the founder of the business occurred in 1911, after he had long been associated with the commercial interests of the city and had made for himself a most creditable position among the merchants of Portland. He took a deep interest in public affairs, cooperating in many measures for the growth and benefit of his adopted city and state. In 1889 he became a charter member of Portland Lodge No. 142 of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and was popular among his brethren of the fraternity and his acquaintances in general. His wife, who survived him for a number of years, passed away March 7, 1928. In their family were six children, of whom two died in infancy, the others being: Frank A.; G. H., Jr., whose death occurred in 1923; Anna, the wife of A. R. Wascher, of Seaside, Oregon; and Charles E., engaged in the jewelry business in Portland. Frank A. Heitkemper, accompanying his parents on their various removals, largely acquired his education in public schools of Nebraska and when his textbooks were put aside he became an apprentice to his father, and the business association which was thus begun between them was maintained throughout the remainder of the father's lifetime. Since then Frank A. Heitkemper has been at the head of the business, which has since been incorporated under his own name. He has ever maintaind the sound policy instituted by his father and at the same time has kept pace with progressive methods indicative of modern-day business conditions. In 1894 Frank A. Heitkemper was united in marriage to Miss Maud Allard, who was born at First and Clay streets in Portland and is a daughter of J. J. and Mary C. Allard. Her father, who was a blacksmith, came to Oregon by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1867 and her mother came across the plains to this state in 1852. To Mr. and Mrs. Heitkemper have been born two children: Allard W., who married Miss Margaret Matheson and who is associated with his father in business; and Frank A., Jr., who is a student in the University of Oregon and is a member of the Beta Theta Pi fraternity. In his political views Mr. Heitkemper is a republican and in 1901 was elected on the citizens' ticket to the lower house of the state legislature, in which body he rendered effective service, being a member of several important committees. He is a member of the Benevolent and Protective order of Elks, has belonged to the Rotary Club for many years and is also a member of the Portland Golf Club and the Portland Chamber of Commerce. His name is likewise on the membership roll of the Auld Lang Syne Society, which indicates that he has been identified with business interests in Portland from a period antedating 1891. The methods that he has ever followed are such as commend him to the confidence and support of the public, and not only in business affairs but in matters of citizenship he has shown a progressive spirit indicative of his loyalty to the community in which he has made his home since the period of his later youth. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/heitkemp1394gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.3 Kb