Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Supple, Joseph February 26, 1854 - 
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Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com February 1, 2011, 2:51 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 828 - 829
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     JOSEPH SUPPLE, one of Portland's leading capitalists and influential 
citizens, is president of the Supple Investment Company, the Joseph Supple 
Machine Works, the Supple & Martin Shipbuilding Company and the Supple & 
Martin Lighterage Company and owner of Supple's Dock, which five enterprises 
are the outgrowth of a small shipyard which he established at the foot of 
Belmont street thirty-six years ago. Though he has passed the seventy-fourth 
milestone on life's journey, he is still an active factor in the world's work. 
He was born February 26, 1854, in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, where his 
early life was spent. His father, John R. Supple, was born in Ireland, which 
country he left when quite young, coming to New York state; where he learned 
the boot and shoe business. There his death occurred when his son Joseph was 
only nine years old.

     In 1866 the family removed to Buffalo, New York, and there Joseph Supple 
entered school, thus finishing his education, which had been begun in the 
schools of his native town. Having a predilection for the boat builder's 
trade, at the early age of sixteen he apprenticed himself to the celebrated 
boat builder, Robert J. I. Cooper, in whose yard the young apprentice spent 
many years gathering valuable instruction, and later years, filled with 
business successes, have proved beyond a doubt that these years were well 
spent. When only twenty-three he assumed business responsibilities on his own 
account in Buffalo, establishing a large boat yard at the foot of Porter 
avenue, where were manufactured lake steamers and canal boats. Selling out in 
1886, he removed to San Diego, California, where he had the distinction of 
building the first steamboat ever constructed in San Diego harbor. The 
pleasure boat, Rosevill, was also a product of his yard, and this was later 
used in the South American trade. For the city of San Diego he built the 
Utilisimo. The bursting of the real estate boom occurring about this time, his 
investments proved a financial loss and he decided to change his location.

     The month of June, 1891, witnessed the arrival of Mr. Supple in Portland, 
where he at once began work at his trade. After a year spent in the yards at 
the sound, he again returned to Portland, and in 1892 established a ship yard 
at the foot of Belmont street. Before this was possible, however, an humble 
start in business was necessary as a result of the financial disaster at San 
Diego. Under the spreading boughs of an old cottonwood tree he began building 
rowboats, but he soon outgrew these quarters and in time owned the whole 
block. His yard had a frontage of three hundred and fifty feet and was five 
hundred and fifty feet deep. Two boilers furnished the power for the plant. In 
connection there was a saw and planing mill, also a blacksmith shop. The 
principal product of the yard consisted of large boats and craft, many of 
which have been used in the Alaskan trade. At the time of the great boom in 
that country he built nine stern wheelers for the Yukon river. The Willie 
Irving, which was built in one season, cleared the owner two hundred thousand 
dollars and in fact all boats which hd built for the Alaskan trade met with 
more than usual success. For the Willamette trade he built the Regulator, 
Dalles City, Inland Flyer, Reliance and the Resolute, besides scores of 
others. Besides building a government tender, and most of the barges used by 
the government in that locality, he also built the public bath house, boats 
for Fort Stevens and the quartermaster's department. During the period of the 
World war he constructed thirteen acres of docks and built eleven large ships 
of composite wood and steel for about six hundred thousand dollars each. At 
one time he employed as many as twenty-two hundred men. It was necessary to 
build boilers, engines, etc., as these were not available for purchase 
elsewhere. After the armistice was signed Mr. Supple dismantled the plant and 
disposed of all his interests in connection therewith. As stated above, he is 
now at the head of the Supple Investment Company, with offices at 175-1/2 East 
Water street in Portland, which was organized for handling different 
properties throughout the Columbia River valley. He is also the president of 
the Joseph Supple Machine Works at 177 East Water street, an auxiliary 
concern, and president of the Supple & Martin Shipbuilding Company, with yard 
at Linnton and office at the foot of Belmont street. Moreover, he occupies the 
presidency of the Supple & Martin Lighterage Company and is the owner of 
Supple's Dock, both located at the foot of Belmont street. Thus his labors 
have been crowned with success and Portland has every reason to be proud of 
the business record of this adopted son.

     On January 15, 1923, Mr. Supple was united in marriage to Mrs. Ada E. 
Bradford, of Portland. In politics he has always been a stanch republican and 
has proven a loyal, enterprising and public-spirited citizen whose efforts and 
influence have at all times been exerted in behalf of civic welfare and 
advancement. As a member of the Portland Chamber of Commerce he has served on 
the Oriental trade committee and the special fire-boat committee, and he also 
belongs to the Board of Trade and to the Manufacturers' Association. He was 
one of the original stockholders in the Lewis and Clark Exposition, 
subscribing five hundred dollars. Fraternally he is affiliated with the 
Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Uniform Rank of the Knights of Pythias, 
in which he is past chancellor commander, and Temple No. 117 of the Dramatic 
Order of the Knights of Khorassan, of which he is a charter member. A man of 
rugged strength of character, vigorous mentality and a splendid personality, 
Mr. Supple has long enjoyed the highest measure of confidence and esteem 
throughout the community in which he resides.

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