Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Hoggan, David L. January 6, 1890 - ************************************************ 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 February 10, 2011, 1:53 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 868 - 871 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company DAVID L. HOGGAN, whose record is one of outstanding success and who deserves especial mention by reason of what he has accomplished, his life history illustrating the force of enterprise and determination as factors in the world's work, was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, January 6, 1890, a son of David and Martha (Swanier) Hoggan. The father died during the son's first decade. His maternal grandfather was one of the first general contractors in Utah and became one of the largest operators in that line in the state. The grandfather in the paternal line was Walter Hoggan, a native of Scotland, who became a contractor in stone in Utah. It was in the public schools of his native city that David L. Hoggan acquired his education and after his textbooks were put aside he was employed at various places but always in connection with building operations, for he followed in the footsteps of his two grandfathers and has achieved notable distinction along this line. He has at different periods been located in Canada, New York and Idaho, and for a time was in Denver with Smith McCallin, the largest plaster contractor west of Chicago. In 1915 Mr. Hoggan arrived in Portland, where he at once embarked in the contracting business, his first job being the Couch school building. Today his books show that he has done a business amounting to over five million dollars, his pay roll amounting to between twelve and thirteen thousand dollars monthly, the number of his employes averaging from two hundred and fifty to three hundred and seventy- five. Some of the leading contracts which he has secured include the Multnomah County Hospital, the Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children, the new annex to the University of Oregon, the addition to the Good Samaritan Hospital, the Elks Temple, the Masonic Temple, the Knights of Columbus building, the Telegram building, the new Utilities building, the new Pacific building, the Weatherly building, the Oriental theater, the Portland theater and the new Heathman Hotel, while recently he has executed a two hundred and fifty thousand dollar contract on the new Veterans Hospital. This included thirteen buildings there and scores of others elsewhere. At American Lake he erected twenty-eight buildings for the government and he also built the court house at Kelso, Washington, the first National Bank Building, the Elks building, the Parrish high school, two theater buildings at Salem and the Elsinore theater, which is one of the finest in all the northwest. Mr. Hoggan carried on the business independently until 1919, when he was joined by Frank Lanning, this association being maintained until 1924. In the following year the present company was organized under the name of David L. Hoggan, ornamental plaster and stone industries. The business includes both plain and ornamental plastering, ornamental plaster and stone works and also brick and stone construction, and now associated with Mr. Hoggan are his two brothers, A. C. and L. G. Hoggan, and James L. Dorney and Adrian Voisin. In 1925 his present building was erected. It is a unique structure of modified Italian style, recognized as one of the finest in the city, while its odd character attracts wide attention. Mr. Hoggan believes in sharing his profits with his employes and therefore pays high wages, ranging from five dollars and a half per day to eighteen dollars. He has become a recognized authority in his line of work and thus it is that his business has reached extensive proportions, ranking him among the leading contractors of the northwest. Mr. Hoggan married Miss Iris Danforth, of Portland, and they have two children, Patricia and David, Jr., aged respectively ten and six years. Fraternally Mr. Hoggan is a Mason, belonging to Harmony Lodge, the Scottish Rite bodies and the Mystic Shrine. He is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Woodmen of the World and his public spirit is manifest in his connection with the Lions Club, the Portland Chamber of Commerce and the Oregon Manufacturers Association. He is interested in all that has to do with municipal progress and public improvement and supports all projects for the general good, while at the same time his business has been a contributing element to the improvement of the city. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/photos/bios/hoggan1468gbs.jpg Photo Size: 139 Kb File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/hoggan1468gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb