Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Stettler, F. C. 1856 - ************************************************ 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 November 10, 2009, 12:59 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 227 - 228 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company The door of opportunity is ever open to the alert, and the notable success of F. C. Stettler, as a paper box manufacturer, proves what may be accomplished in Portland by the man with the courage to dare and the will to do. He was born in Dayton, Ohio, in 1856 and his parents, Philip and Mary Ann (Bertels) Stettler, were members of pioneer families of that state. The grandfather, Daniel Stettler, resided for a number of years in Pennsylvania and in 1804 went from that state to Ohio. His son, Philip Stettler, was born in Montgomery county, Ohio, in 1812, and followed agricultural pursuits as a means of livelihood. F. C. Stettler received a public school education and remained on the home farm until he reached the age of twenty. For three years he was a school teacher and afterward was connected with the tailoring business for a few years. He was next a traveling salesman and later entered the service of the government, becoming superintendent of the Dayton mail carriers during the first administration of Grover Cleveland. A few years later Mr. Stettler resumed his former occupation and visited various cities in the central west, building up a trade for a Dayton house engaged in making paper boxes. In December, 1889, he was assigned to the northwestern territory and traveled throughout California and other states, covering the Pacific coast. Perceiving the advantages of Portland as a manufacturing and shipping point, Mr. Stettler decided to locate here and go into business for himself. In 1902 he rented the building at No. 74 Front street and began making certain kinds of paper boxes. His appliances were of the inexpensive kind, but he managed to get along until his business outgrew not only his apparatus but his quarters also. In 1905 he moved to a three-story brick building at Tenth and Glisan streets and added a large amount of machinery, as he considered himself settled for many years. His patronage continued to grow and his field of operations was extended to the Mexican border on the south, British Columbia on the north, and eastward to Salt Lake City, Utah, and points in Montana. Finally a second move became imperative and Mr. Stettler secured a desirable site on Oregon street, at the east end of the steel bridge, in 1915. There he purchased a plot of ground, one hundred by one hundred and ninety feet, and on the property erected a fine building, specially designed for the purpose for which it is used. It is a three-story and basement concrete structure, well lighted and complete in its appointments. The comfort and convenience of his employes was carefully considered in its construction. The building is heated by steam and stands far above the railroad tracks, commanding a fine view of the Willamette river. The factory equipment in 1916 consisted of seven printing presses, all of the Miehle make, the others being the jobbers of various sizes, suitable for smaller work. There are cartons of various sizes, all made of coast material, much of which comes from the large paper mills at Sumner and Port Angeles, Washington. A board of superior quality is turned out there and sold at an advantageous price. In an interview accorded a representative of the Oregon Journal in the latter part of January, 1916, Mr. Stettler said: "Not desiring to disclose the volume of my business to my competitors, I prefer not to name the annual output of this factory. Suffice it to say that it is growing larger each year, which is but a natural consequence of the development of the country. To help out at this end I have opened a factory at Spokane. We have a large three-story and basement building there also. This is likewise equipped with modern machinery and is doing a good business. When prosperity mantles the country this business is likewise prosperous. It fluctuates, as you may understand, for the reason that a great number of our boxes are to contain luxuries, such as confectionery, sweet¬meats, oysters, etc., that people can get along without if their purses demand it. Still, the growth of this industry is an index to its permanency." In 1915 the business was incorporated and has since been conducted under the style of the F. C. Stettler Manufacturing Company, of which its founder is the president and treasurer, and the office of secretary is filled by Theodore Rothschild. In addition to making cartons, labels and paper boxes they are well known as lithographers and colors printers who turn out artistic work for which there is a steady demand. They have a complete lithographing plant containing eleven presses, three of which are of the large type. Having facilities for photography, they make all of the plates required and maintain an art and designing department. The company makes labels used on cans and for advertising purposes of various kinds. Its trade now extends as far east as Denver, St. Louis and St. Paul. The firm has one hundred and fifty employes and its payroll varies from one hundred and fifty thousand to one hundred and seventy-five thousand dollars per year. Mr. Stettler has a highly specialized knowledge of the business in which he is engaged and the industry reflects his administrative power, his enterprising spirit and high commercial standards. In 1882 Mr. Stettler married Miss Anna M. Kemp, also a native of Ohio, and they became the parents of two children: Corinne, who is deceased; and Jeannette, at home. Mr. Stettler belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and is a thirty-second degree Mason and Shriner. In politics he is a democrat and takes an active interest in affairs of public moment but has never been an office holder. Recently he returned from a trip to the east and visited the church and cemetery donated by his grandparents early in the nineteenth century. Mr. Stettler has traveled extensively, visiting practically every place of importance in the United States, and is thoroughly appreciative of Portland's superior advantages and attractions. He has given to the city a valuable industry and he possesses those qualities which make for strong and enduring regard. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/stettler995gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.8 Kb