Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Steigerwald, Allen N. November 3, 1860 - ************************************************ 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 17, 2011, 1:07 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 673 - 674 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company ALLEN N. STEIGERWALD and Sons have done more to develop and further dairy interests in Portland and this section of the country than almost any others in that line and in the conduct of their private business interests they have acquired success that enables the father to enjoy well earned rest, surrounded by the comforts and advantages that make life worth living. Well defined purpose, keen insight and broad vision have featured in his progress and his course should serve to inspire and encourage others, for he is truly a self- made man, having been dependent upon his own resources from the age of thirteen years. Mr. Steigerwald was born in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, November 3, 1860, a son of David and Salinda (Billman) Steigerwald. The first representative of the name in America came from Germany and settled in Ohio, where members of the family fought through the early Indian wars and afterward removed to Pennsylvania. Early left an orphan, Allen N. Steigerwald faced the necessity of providing for his own support. He was apprenticed to others, but not liking his work soon ran away and decided that he would "go west." From Pennsylvania therefore he traveled until he reached Warsaw, Indiana, in the vicinity of which city there was a German settlement in which he finally secured work as a farm hand at a wage of four dollars per month. Later he returned to his old home but only remained for a short time and then again started for the west, this time proceeding as far as Salina, Kansas. As he traveled westward he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed after reaching Salina. He there worked for a time but felt that he had not yet reached the "west" and once more started upon his journeyings, traveling through Oklahoma and Colorado until finally he reached San Bernardino, California. Many and varied were the experiences that came to him as he journeyed on, earning his living as best he could. In San Bernardino he obtained work on a hotel being built at Harlem Springs and then, unable to secure further employment as a carpenter, he took a job at trimming fruit trees, whereby he earned a dollar per day. Indolence and idleness are utterly foreign to his nature and he willingly accepted any employment that would yield him an honest living. While in Salina, Kansas, Mr. Steigerwald had met and married Miss Etta Brown, daughter of William and Martha Brown, who did not hesitate to accompany her young husband, having faith in him and his ability, recognizing perhaps the unconquerable spirit which has ultimately led to his success, making him a prosperous and prominent man. They lived in California for a time and in 1886 came to Portland, so that Mr. Steigerwald had reached the fulfillment of his hopes by going west, as he was now on the edge of the continent. Portland did not recognize that in the arrival of Mr. Steigerwald she was receiving a citizen who was to play an important part in her development and progress. He had only ten dollars in his pocket but he possessed what is worth far more than money — courage and determination. He sought and obtained work as a carpenter and a little later met a man who wanted to build a home. Mr. Steigerwald undertook the contract, and while he was a stranger and naturally had no credit in Portland, he succeeded in convincing a lumber dealer that he was honest and obtained the necessary building materials. After completing the house he was for a period engaged in contracting and jobbing work and then secured a position with Lipman & Wolfe, with whom he continued for a number of years. After a time he told them if they would supply the mouldings he would make picture frames and thus was instituted one of the departments of their great store. Mr. Steigerwald not only enjoyed his work but felt that he never worked for anyone who showed him such consideration and kindness as the members of that firm. Before the opening of the Lewis and Clark exposition in 1905, Mr. Steigerwald secured a contract and did much of the building on the exposition grounds. In the same year he purchased a tract of raw land which he cleared, situated between Prescott and Alberta streets and between Forty-second and Forty-seventh streets. He there developed a berry and fruit ranch and for several years was an extensive grower of small fruits. He also specialized in handling nursery stock and introduced the Perfection currant into this section of the country. In 1914 Mr. Steigerwald had one cow and his son Ira, realizing that there was more milk than the family could use, began selling to the neighbors. This was the beginning of the extensive dairy business developed by the Steigerwalds. It was not long before the son realized the possibilities for business in that field and soon had a dairy of more than twenty cows. The business grew so rapidly that Mr. Steigerwald and his sons later purchased eight hundred acres of land just east of Washougal, Washington, which was in charge of his sons, Ira and Alvin, until 1925, when they sold the dairy there, and since then all milk handled by them has been purchased of dairymen in the Portland territory. On the original tract of land Mr. Steigerwald erected a beautiful residence and other buildings, including a model dairy barn, and in 1927 their present building on Sandy boulevard at Thirty-seventh street was erected. This is a most novel structure, its outstanding feature being an immense milk bottle carrying out the ideas of his son Ira — a bottle that rises to an elevation of more than seventy-five feet and can be viewed from all parts of the city. Here is one of the most modern and completely equipped dairy plants in the entire country. It is a model in efficiency and cleanliness, every sanitary innovation being used, and the building has received worldwide publicity. Not only have the Steigerwalds, father and sons, developed an extensive and profitable dairy business of their own but they have also labored untiringly and effectively in educating dairymen as to various modern methods, displaying marked friendliness in the assistance and advice which they have given and meeting jealousy and obstacles placed in their path with kindliness and helpfulness. Mr. and Mrs. Steigerwald became parents of three sons, the two eldest, Ira and Alvin, becoming associated with their father in his dairy interests. The former married Gertrude Stephenson and they have two children. Alvin married Beatrice Boisnault and they have four children. The former is president and general manager of the Steigerwald Dairy Company and the latter vice president and assistant manager. The son Fred married Violet Hobson and they have three children. He is now in business for himself, being at the head of the American Credit Association in Portland. Mr. Steigerwald has never been active in politics but in civic matters relating to the welfare, upbuilding and progress of the city he has ever been found in the front rank, fighting for the support of those measures which he deems of vital worth to the community. Though he was left practically penniless when a lad of thirteen years, he is today one of the prosperous residents of Portland, having gained an honorable success through patient toil and determination. If others followed his example like results would be attained. Opportunity is before every individual and the career of Allen N. Steigerwald shows how wisely and well he has utilized the chances which have come to him. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/steigerw1352gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 8.3 Kb