Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Powers, Sr., Ira F. May 5, 1831 - September 8, 1902 ************************************************ 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 11, 2011, 7:51 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 619 - 621 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company IRA F. POWERS, SR. In every line of endeavor there are found men who by force of character and intellect rise above their fellows and draw to themselves the admiration and deference which mankind yields to superior ability. Of this type was Ira F. Powers, Sr., a merchant and manufacturer, who influenced Portland's early commercial and civic development to a notable extent. A pioneer in the furniture business, he was the architect of his own fortune and a master builder who erected the guide-post of progress and of success. He had rare judgment and his associates learned to lean upon him with that confidence those men can command who prove that they possess great wisdom and that uprightness of purpose which is the handmaiden of wisdom in accomplishing results of lasting benefit. Mr. Powers was born in Au Sable, Clinton county, New York, May 5, 1831, and was of English lineage. His forbears were among the earliest settlers of Massachusetts and subsequently members of the family migrated to New Hampshire and to New York. His father, Levi Powers, was the eldest of the eight children of Asa and Rebecca (Shippinwell) Powers and was married in Ballston Spa, New York, to Mary Frost. Their son, Ira F. Powers, Sr., received a limited education and at the age of twelve years became a wage earner. He eagerly availed himself of every opportunity to advance and in 1849 joined the gold rush to California. There he engaged in prospecting for a number of years and afterward went to the mining district of Idaho. In 1865 he journeyed to Oregon and decided to locate in Portland, which at that time was virtually a pioneer outpost. The city limit on the west side was Twelfth street. Originally Front street, and later First street, was the main retail thoroughfare, and the buildings were one or two-story structures with iron shutters and no show windows. Several firms which were later dominant factors in the mercantile life of the city occupied humble quarters here at that time. The business of Meier & Frank was housed in a one-story building with a fifty foot front on Front and Yamhill streets. Ben Selling had a store on the east side of Front, between Alder and Washington streets, and The Oregonian was in the same row of buildings. The first Olds, Wortman & King store adjoined one of the buildings in which Mr. Powers was located. It was on June 6, 1866, that Mr. Powers began his business career here in a freshly painted little one-story building which had a twenty-five foot frontage on Front street. The new firm, known as Pragg & Powers, dealt in second-hand furniture and prospered in the undertaking. Later Mr. Powers formed a partnership with A. Burchard and the firm of Burchard & Powers then came into existence. It was continued until the memorable fire of 1873, when twenty-two blocks were burned along the river south of Yamhill street, and some buildings between Morrison and Yamhill were also destroyed. Burchard & Powers, who were located at No. 139 First street, suffered a total loss of their stock. Mr. Powers then opened a store in a four-story building at No. 185 First street and in 1882 this place was also destroyed by fire, resulting in a loss of forty thousand dollars, as he had no insurance. However, in 1876 he had established a business in a three-story brick building at No. 140 First street and in 1881 the stock of this store was moved to the Harker building, three-story brick structure at Nos. 188-90 First street. This was the home of the Powers furniture business until 1911, when the firm moved to Third and Yamhill streets, and has since remained at this location, occupying a six- story building. In 1872 Mr. Powers had become a manufacturer of furniture as a member of the firm of Donley, Beard & Powers, whose factory was located at Willsburg, near Sellwood. This association was terminated in 1879, when Mr. Powers established his own plant at Front & Jefferson streets, Portland, and later the factory covered the entire block at the foot of Montgomery street. In 1884, two years after his retail store was burned, Mr. Powers had another setback in the destruction of his factory at a loss of sixty-five thousand dollars. This plant had become one of the industrial centers of the city and furnished work to eighty-five persons. A new factory was erected on a three- acre tract in South Portland and here the business also made rapid strides, providing one hundred and eighty-five people with employment. In 1890 the factory was swept away by a flood, causing a loss of one hundred thousand dollars. Undaunted by this reverse, Mr. Powers rebuilt on a larger scale and today this manufacturing and warehouse division of the Powers furniture business is housed in a splendid five-story structure which was erected at a cost of a quarter of a million dollars and occupies an entire block facing on East Third street, between Couch and Davis streets. The fine, modern, six- story building at Third and Yamhill streets is filled from basement to roof with a large and comprehensive stock of furniture of all styles and prices. The Ira F. Powers Furniture Company is one of Portland's most enterprising and substantial business concerns and has always stood for all that is best and highest in the ideals of merchandising. Mr. Powers' first wife was Miss Minnie Wilson, to whom he was married in 1860, and their union was severed by her death four years later. They were the parents of one child, Frederick, who subsequently became a resident of Maine. In 1870 Mr. Powers married Miss Mary Sullivan, who was born in New York city. During her childhood her parents, D. and Jessie Sullivan, went to San Francisco, California, and about 1861 she came to Oregon with her mother. Mrs. Powers passed away in 1876, leaving one child, Ira F. Jr., who was born January 20, 1872, and is now president of the Powers Furniture Company. While in California, Mr. Powers joined the Gold Run Lodge of Masons and afterward transferred his membership to Harmony Lodge, No. 12, of Portland, of which he was treasurer for twelve years. He was identified with Portland Chapter, No. 3, R. A. M.; Oregon Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; and Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He also belonged to Pilot Peak Lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and to the Chamber of Commerce, while his political allegiance was given to the republican party. His affection for his city was deep and sincere and prompted his untiring efforts in its behalf. He was an ardent champion of the project for the construction of the Morrison and Madison street bridges and overcame the strong opposition of those who thought them an unnecessary expense. In this and many other ways he gave evidence of the clear vision which was one of his salient traits. A man of broad sympathies, he loved humanity and was a true friend of the unfortunate. Mr. Powers was among the first to realize Portland's need of an institution for the care of Homeless Children. To this end he took a leading part in the formation of the Boys and Girls Aid Society and until this organization had a home of its own he gave his own residence for the care of orphans. During the first ten years of the society's existence he was its president, serving without compensation. He was largely responsible for the organizing of the Oregon Humane Society and in other ways showed the practical side of his philanthropic and unselfish interest in the welfare and protection of society. His life was fraught with good deeds and kind words and his memory is enshrined in the hearts of all who knew him. Mr. Powers remained at the head of his furniture business until his death, September 8, 1902, when he was seventy-one years of age. His character was the positive expression of a strong nature and his name is deeply engraved on the pages of Portland's history. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/powerssr1312gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb