Multnomah-Clatsop County OR Archives Biographies.....McMath, George W. June 1, 1882 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 16, 2009, 11:10 am

Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     GEORGE W. McMATH, who is in a very capable manner filling the position of 
right of way agent of the Oregon-Washington Railroad & Navigation Company, is 
a native and lifelong resident of Oregon and has been an active participant in 
the later-day progress of this state, particularly in respect to industrial 
development. He was born on a farm at Westport, Clatsop county, on the 1st of 
June, 1882, and is the eldest son of Robert and Jean (West) McMath, both of 
whom were natives of Scotland. The father was brought to America when a small 
child, the family establishing themselves at Johnstown, Pennsylvania, where he 
began work in the steel mills at the age of nine. When twenty-one, he migrated 
to the Columbia river, and eventually settling at Westport, he has resided on 
and worked the same farm for forty-seven years. His wife, who came to America 
in her teens, is a granddaughter of George West, who, with his brother John, 
emigrated from Scotland and located at the mouth of what is now known as 
Plympton creek, in 1845, calling the settlement. "Westport". The brothers 
engaged in the building of early day river steamboats, of which one was the 
old side-wheeler "Westport." They constructed and operated at Westport one of 
the first sawmills in the Columbia country, powered by an over-shot wheel. 
From this beginning grew the great present day lumber plant of the Westport 
Lumber Company, representing an almost continuous operation of more than three 
quarters of a century. They were also numbered among the pioneer salmon 
packers on the Columbia river, their first product being placed in glass 
containers and finding its market principally in export.

     George W. McMath attended the common schools during his boyhood, and a 
business college at Portland, and is a graduate of the University of Oregon 
Law School.  He began work with the old Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company 
in March, 1903 as a stenographer in the office of A. L. Mohler, then president 
of the company. In 1905 he became secretary to the general superintendent of 
that line, filling that position until December, 1908, when he was made chief 
clerk in the tax and right of way department. In June, 1916, he was made field 
right of way agent, and in September, 1919, was appointed real estate and tax 
agent, under the president, J. D. Farrell, having charge of corporate 
properties during Federal railroad administration, in which capacity he served 
until May, 1920, when he was made right of way agent for the Oregon-Washington 
Railroad & Navigation Company, northwest unit of the Union Pacific system. In 
February, 1927, Mr. McMath was made president of the Portland Terminal 
Investment Company, a subsidiary of the Union Pacific system, with extensive 
industrial holdings in the state of Oregon.

     In August, 1905, Mr. McMath was united in marriage to Miss Maida Ausmus, 
of Portland, daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth (Irvin) Ausmus, pioneer 
settlers of Oregon. By this union was born a son, Robert Borthwick, on October 
19, 1906, now a student in the University of Oregon.

     Mr. McMath is a member of Phi Alpha Delta, national law fraternity, 
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and Woodmen of the World. He is chairman of 
the industries committee of the Portland Chamber of Commerce, in which 
capacity he has taken a prominent part in building up the community. In his 
political alignment he is a republican.

Additional Comments:
History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, 
Pages 697-698

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