Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....John, Bruno P. 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 10, 2011, 12:42 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 862 - 866
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     BRUNO P. JOHN.  Of notable record is that of Bruno P. John, who rose from 
a very humble position in the business world to the vice presidency of the 
Doernbecher Manufacturing Company of Portland and is now at the head of the B. 
P. John Furniture Corporation, manufacturers of popular priced dining-room, 
bedroom and living-room furniture. His life story constitutes a chapter in the 
romance of business, indicating what can be accomplished when there is a will 
to dare and to do. Mr. John was born in Germany but was brought to the United 
States during his youth, the family home being established in Manistique, 
Michigan, where his father engaged in business as a miller and carpenter. 
After five years in Michigan, Bruno P. John left home and made his way to the 
northwest with Tacoma as his destination. He had previously had some business 
experience, for at the age of thirteen years he had begun working in a box 
factory in Michigan and thus laid the foundation for his later progress in the 
thoroughness with which he mastered the tasks assigned him. With his removal 
to Tacoma he secured a position in a sash and door factory, in which he was 
employed for a year. He next went to Chehalis, Washington, where he obtained 
employment in the sash and door factory of Luddinghouse Brothers, with whom he 
continued until eighteen years of age. He next went to Ainsle, near Winlock, 
Washington, and there became associated with F. S. Doernbecher. This was a 
history-making event in his life, for he continued with Mr. Doernbecher from 
that time until the latter's death and afterward remained with the company. 
When Mr. Doernbecher established a small furniture factory in Chehalis, Mr. 
John went with him, being at the time only twenty years of age. Owing to his 
thorough knowledge of the business, to his understanding of machinery and its 
operation and his ability to handle men, he was made foreman of the plant 
before he had attained his majority. He continued with Mr. Doernbecher at 
Chehalis until 1899, when the factory was removed to Portland and the business 
there continued under the name of the Doernbecher Manufacturing Company. The 
years recorded a steady expansion in the growth of the business and Mr. John 
was made factory superintendent and general manager, thus assuming large 
responsibility in connection with the mangement of what became one of the 
foremost productive industries of the city. As the years passed his earnings 
were more and more largely invested in the stock of the company and following 
the death of Mr. Doernbecher he became vice president and bent his energies to 
administrative direction and executive control until July, 1927, when he 
retired. His contribution to the success of the business was a notable one. 
While Mr. Doernbecher looked after the financial control, Mr. John was the 
general manager of the business and plant and as such traveled extensively, 
investigating similar enterprises in other parts of the country. He adopted 
the latest improved methods and machinery and as a result the factory became 
one of the most modern in the United States and the third largest in the 
extent of its output and trade relations. He was the first to introduce the 
use of cottonwood and alderwood. After his retirement from the Doernbecher 
Manufacturing Company Mr. John organized the Union Lime Company of Grants 
Pass, Oregon, but later sold out.

     The following article, which appeared in the publication "The Pacific 
Northwest Furniture Dealer" of September, 1928, finds appropriate place 
here: "The two biggest deals in the furniture industry on the Pacific coast in 
the past year have centered about Bruno P. John, who is one of the best known 
men in western furniture circles. In July of 1927 Mr. John severed his 
connection after thirty-six years of service with the Doernbecher 
Manufacturing Company of Portland, Oregon. In August of 1928, twelve months 
later, he concluded a transaction by which he became the owner of the modern 
extensive furniture plant of the Carman Manufacturing Company of Portland. In 
the first named transaction it is reliably reported that his associates in the 
Doernbecher Manufacturing Company purchased Mr. John's interest for one 
million, two hundred and fifty thousand dollars. In the recent Carman deal the 
writer has it from equally indisputable sources that the consideration was six 
hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars.

     "Mr. John began his business life as an ordinary worker, starting with 
the Doernbecher Company in 1891. As time passed the late Mr. Doernbecher came 
to the realization that he had in this young man the making of an executive of 
unusual ability, with the result that Mr. John was made foreman. How well he 
fitted this position and how well he prepared himself for the 'job ahead' came 
to light a little later when he was made plant superintendent. In this 
responsible position he remained until the death of Mr. Doernbecher in 1920. 
This event caused a reorganization with the election of Mr. John as vice 
president and general manager of the plant, he becoming one of the principal 
stockholders, controlling forty per cent of the stock. The transaction which 
was consummated with the purchase of the Carman Manufacturing Company Portland 
plant, last month, was the result of negotiations running over a period of 
several months. Involved are eight acres of valuable ground located on an 
ideal site, with the Willamette river on one side and trackage facilities of 
all northern railroads on the other, which makes it practical for bringing in 
logs from the forests as well as increasing the efficiency in all outgoing 
shipments. The plant consists of four large brick buildings, three and four 
stories in height, and completely equipped with modern machinery. In addition 
to this, there is a complete sawmill, veneer machinery and large modern dry 
kilns. All of this equipment being on one piece of property makes it most 
attractive for Mr. John's method of volume production.

     "The dealers on the Pacific coast have been depending upon the east for 
certain high-grade popular priced merchandise, that is, merchandise of the 
1928 and 1929 standard, which they can sell to the masses who have learned to 
appreciate good finish, dependable construction and style. 'This I intend to 
furnish at a price within the reach of all,' said Mr. John. Those knowing Mr. 
John's ability to manufacture furniture at unusually low prices are looking 
forward with keen interest in receiving his first product, as he intends not 
only producing dining-room and bedroom furniture, but something unusual in 
upholstered living-room furniture, as well as a complete line of popular 
priced occasional chairs. While the new organization is completing hundreds of 
pieces that will balance the present Carman stock, they already have in 
process three thousand pieces of the first bedroom number, it being their 
policy to produce fewer patterns and to make volume cuttings. The plant is now 
employing over two hundred workmen, and with shifts starting in some 
departments, will shortly increase the number employed to four hundred. 
Present plans call for expansion in all departments and an additional 
investment of approximately two hundred thousand dollars. W. L. Swearingen, 
who represented the Doernbecher Manufacturing Company in San Francisco from 
1920 until his resignation last July, is Mr. John's sales manager. He reports 
that he already has a sales organization working in California and will 
immediately start his men in the north, as well as the entire territory west 
of Denver. At this writing the new firm remains unincorporated, with but two 
officers, Mr. John as general manager and Mr. Swearingen as sales manager. 
Incorporation will follow. The new concern will be known as the B. P. John 
Furniture Corporation, manufacturers of popular priced dining-room, bedroom 
and living-room furniture. Both men have innumerable friends in the entire 
west who wish them both continued success."

     Mr. John married Miss Helen Kronenberg, of Portland, a daughter of Daniel 
and Mary Kronenberg, early settlers here. They have become parents of two 
children, Imelda and Lester.

     Fraternally Mr. John is associated with the Benevolent and Protective 
Order of Elks and with the Modern Woodmen of America, having been a member of 
the latter organization for more than thirty years. He occupies a beautiful 
home at 881 East Broadway and at the time he took up his abode there purchased 
the entire block, since which time he has erected several residences on the 
property which he has sold. His life record should be of inspirational value 
to others, showing what may be achieved through personal effort intelligently 
directed. Without special advantages at the beginning of his career and 
starting out at a period when most boys are in school, he worked his way 
upward step by step through the shops to a position of administrative 
direction as well as financial control.

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