Multnomah-Marion County OR Archives Biographies.....Shaver, Captain James W. September 2, 1859 - November 29, 1922
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 13, 2011, 11:07 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 899 - 900
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     CAPTAIN JAMES W. SHAVER.  No student of history can carry his 
investigation far into the records of the northwest without learning of the 
close connection of the Shaver family with all that has had to do with the 
development of navigation interests in this section of the country. Captain 
James W. Shaver, now deceased, was prominently and widely known as the 
organizer, secretary and manager of the Shaver Transportation Company, which 
has long owned and operated its own boats, and the development of its business 
has also been a source of gratification in connection with the upbuilding of 
this section of the country. In pioneer times the Shaver family was founded in 
Oregon, and Captain Shaver of this review was born at Waldo Hills, within five 
miles of Silverton, Oregon, September 2, 1859, a son of George Washington 
Shaver and Sarah (Dixon) Shaver.

     Captain James W. Shaver was but six months old when his parents took up 
their abode in Portland, where he was reared and educated in the public 
schools, and in young manhood he became actively interested in his father's 
business, which then included the conduct of a livery stable in East Portland 
and the management of a large cord-wood business — wood yards being maintained 
at East Portland and also at the Shaver dock on the river. It was but natural 
that he should become interested in shipping, therefore turning his attention 
to navigation in 1880 in partnership with Henry Corbett and A. S. Foster. They 
purchased the business of Captain Charles Bureau and organized their interests 
under the name of "The Peoples Freighting Company," of which Mr. Shaver became 
the manager and was also captain of the "Manzanillo," a river boat plying 
between Portland and Clatskanie. After a brief period Captain Shaver acquired 
the interest of Mr. Foster, and Mr. Corbett also withdrew from the business, 
while George W. Shaver became a member of the firm, which was reorganized June 
10, 1893, under the name of the Shaver Transportation Company with George 
Washington Shaver as president, and his son, James W. Shaver, as secretary and 
treasurer. In 1899 they built a boat which was named "G. W. Shaver," and in 
1892 they began sailing the "Sarah Dixon," which was named in honor of Captain 
Shaver's mother. Some time afterward the "Manzanillo" was sold and 
the "Shaver" and the "Dixon" were utilized by the company in its 
transportation business until 1900, when the former was sold. In the same year 
the company purchased a towboat called "No Wonder," used in towing logs, and 
in 1901 the company built the "M. F. Henderson," also used for towing 
purposes. In 1906 they built the new "Dixon" and the "Wanna," while in 1908 
they added the new "Shaver" to their fleet. In 1909 they bought 
the "Cascades," and they also built a hundred-horsepower launch, the "Echo," 
in 1910. The "G. W. Shaver" was the finest steamer on the Willamette in 1889, 
and was launched in Portland for the Shaver Transportation Company. It was in 
1893 that the Shaver Transportation Company was organized and through the 
intervening period of more than a quarter of a century has been one of the 
most important factors in the transportation interests of the northwest.
In 1887, in Portland, Captain James W. Shaver was married to Miss Annie M. 
Schloth, a native of Portland, Oregon, and a daughter of Christian and Dora 
(Yench) Schloth, who were natives of Saxony, Germany, who came to the United 
States at an early day, and located at Dubuque, Iowa, where they were married 
and where Mr. Schloth engaged in the meat business. In 1864 they removed to 
Portland, Oregon, and the father engaged in the meat business on Washington 
street, until his retirement. He later passed away in Portland, Oregon, 
December 10, 1901, at the age of seventy-five years, ten months and nine days. 
He was born in 1826, while the mother was born in 1844, and passed away in 
Portland at the age of seventy-two years, seven days, on November 29, 1916.
Fraternally Captain James W. Shaver was connected with the Woodmen of the 
World and was also a member of the Auld Lang Syne Society. Politically Captain 
Shaver was identified with the democratic party where national issues and 
questions were involved, but cast an independent local ballot. For about ten 
years he was one of the commissioners of the Port of Portland. During the war 
he served on the state advisory board and took a most active and helpful 
interest in promoting various branches of war service, particularly those 
which led to financing the government. The connection of the family with the 
northwest has been one of long duration and the worth of the work of its 
various members is widely acknowledged. They have contributed much to the 
upbuilding and development of this section of the country and their records 
well deserve a place upon the pages of Oregon's history.

     Captain Shaver, on November 29, 1922, met an accidental death, on 
returning from the inspection of a ship's hull at the ship yards, while in 
company with his brother, Lincoln Shaver. In crossing the railroad tracks in 
this vicinity, they failed to see a fast oncoming Corvallis passenger train, 
which hit their car squarely, killing both men, and completely demolishing the 
automobile. Captain Shaver was one of Portland's most highly respected 
citizens, and his untimely death was a blow not only to his family and 
friends, but the Port of Portland lost one of its most valuable men in marine 
circles. He was widely known throughout the northwest as the organizer of the 
Shaver Transportation Company of Portland.

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