Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Rosenthal, Jacob April 18, 1867 - ************************************************ 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 L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 18, 2008, 12:04 am Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company JACOB ROSENTHAL. For nearly forty years Jacob Rosenthal has been numbered among the successful business men and public-spirited citizens of Portland and during this period has been a leading figure in the development and upbuilding of the city. Though now retired from active mercantile pursuits, he is still interested in affairs of relative importance to the city’s welfare and is regarded as one of its progressive and valued residents. Mr. Rosenthal was born in Germany on the 18th of April, 1867, and is a son of Fiest and Hannchen Rosenthal, of whom the former was engaged in farming and cattle raising, and both of whom are deceased. Jacob Rosenthal attended the public schools and graduated from Darmstadt College. In 1887, when twenty years of age, he emigrated to the United States and located in San Francisco, California, where he obtained employment as clerk in a shoe store. He remained there until 1890, when he came to Portland and engaged in the shoe business under the firm name of Rosenthal & Company, in which he owned an interest. This proved a successful venture and two years later he acquired a half interest. In 1902 Mr. Rosenthal bought all of the remaining stock in the company and continued the business successfully until 1921, when, having amassed a competency, he closed out his interests and retired from active merchandising, after a long and honorable career, during which he won a reputation as an able, progressive and enterprising business man. The store was first located on First street, from which it was moved to Third street, and later to the corner of Broadway and Washington streets, the various moves being necessitated by the increasing trade. In l912 Mr. Rosenthal moved into his own two-story and basement building which he had erected at 129 Tenth street, and which he still owns. As he prospered he wisely invested in real estate, building the Rose-Friend apartments at Broadway and Jefferson streets, one of the first modern apartment buildings in Portland, and in 1924 erected the Biltmore apartment building, which contains forty-nine two, three and four room suites and is modern and up-to-date in every respect. Since disposing of his shoe business, he has devoted his attention to the management of his property interests. In 1905 he sold a half interest to his brother-in-law, Julius C. Friendly, who is also associated with him in the different property interests. In 1892 Mr. Rosenthal was united in marriage to Miss Laura Friendly, a daughter of Charles and Clara Friendly, who were pioneers of Oregon, and became residents of Portland in the ‘40s. Mr. Friendly died in 1903 and his wife in 1910. Mr. Rosenthal gives his political support to the republican party and during all the years of his residence here has shown a deep interest in public affairs, supporting all measures calculated to advance the best interests of the community. He is a member of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Order of Bnai B’rith and the Concordia Club. He has been an interested witness of and participant in the wonderful development of Portland, which contained but sixty thousand population when he came here, and had but few of the conveniences of modern life. Keen discernment and sound business judgment have characterized all of his operations and he has always been regarded as one of his city’s most reliable and substantial citizens, while his excellent personal qualities have gained for him the respect and friendship of all who know him. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 446-447 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/rosentha450gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 4.2 Kb