Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Mann, E. J. 1883 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 26, 2009, 4:25 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 135-136
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     Throughout his career E. J. Mann has given his best efforts to every task 
that he has undertaken and this habit of thoroughness, combined with a natural 
aptitude for commercial affairs, has brought him from a lowly position to the 
vice presidency of the Independent Foundry Company, one of Portland's 
essential industries. A native of Detroit, Michigan, he was born in 1883 and 
left high school at the end of his sophomore year. He became a salesman and in 
1907 allied his interests with those of Portland. In the summer of that year 
he entered the employ of the Independent Foundry Company and has continued in 
its service for over twenty years, working in every department. Trustworthy 
and efficient, he was steadily promoted and for six years has been manager of 
the business. He was elected vice president of the firm in 1926 and is a 
capable executive, equal to every emergency which arises in connection with 
the conduct of the industry.

     This is a subsidiary of the Willamette Iron & Steel Works and the other 
officers of the company are C. E. Pape, president; Homer Carpenter, treasurer; 
and M. H. Insley, secretary. The foundry was started in the '90s at Third and 
Glisan streets and in February, 1907, the industry was moved to the present 
location. The buildings cover two blocks on York street, extending west on 
Twenty-third, east on Twenty-second and north on Reed street. In equipment 
this is the most modern plant in the northwest and furnishes employment to 
about seventy men, fifty per cent being skilled labor. The work is facilitated 
by one twenty-ton and two five-ton electric traveling cranes; sand-handling 
and sand-mixing machines of the latest designs; two modern molding machines, 
and three cupolas of sixty, twenty-eight and eighteen inches respectively, 
with a melting capacity of one hundred thousand pounds of metal per day. The 
core room contains the most improved appliances and the molds are prepared in 
three large furnaces. Most of the pig iron is obtained from the Columbia Steel 
Company, whose plant is situated at Provo, Utah.

     The Independent Foundry manufactures all of the castings for the 
Willamette Iron & Steel Works and its products are made of grey iron, chilled 
cast iron and semi-steel. The output of the foundry is distributed nationally 
by the parent corporation and comprises water main fittings, lamp posts, grate 
bars and brakeshoes. The company ships its water main fittings to practically 
every section of the country and the brakeshoes are sold to all the large 
logging camps in the northwest. These brakeshoes are used by the Spokane, 
Portland & Seattle Railroad, the Northern Pacific Terminal Company, the 
Pacific Car & Foundry Company, the Portland, Longview & Seattle Company, the 
Portland Electric Company and the Willamette Valley Southern Company. The 
sectional grate bars are also in constant demand and these are sold throughout 
the northwest.  No inferior piece of work ever leaves the plant and by 
adhering to high ideals of quality and service the firm has developed one of 
the largest industries of the kind on the Pacific coast.

     In 1920 Mr. Mann married Mrs. Laura C. Cheverier. The other member of the 
household, a son, George Robert, is of a former marriage. Mr. Mann is 
president of the United Metal Trades Association, secretary and a director of 
the Oregon Manufacturers Association and vice president of the American 
Traveling Sign Company, to all of which he has rendered service of importance 
and value. In politics he is a republican and along fraternal lines he is 
connected with the Masons and the Elks. He belongs to the Grotto, the Masonic 
and Elk Clubs, the Rotary Club, the Washington Rod & Gun Club and the Portland 
Chamber of Commerce. Along the path of opportunity open to all he has reached 
the goal of notable success, and the rules which govern his life are such as 
inspire esteem and friendship.

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