Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Tomlinson, Ralph 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 28, 2009, 6:15 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 154-155
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     The splendid growth and development of what is now known as the Pacific 
Asbestos & Supply Company represents the outcome of the tireless efforts, keen 
sagacity and sound judgment of its president, Ralph Tomlinson, who is 
recognized as one of Portland's enterprising and progressive business men. The 
business had its inception in 1910, when Mr. Tomlinson established a selling 
agency for asbestos and milling supplies, under the name of the Tomlinson 
Company. He was first located at 47 First Street, where he had desk room only. 
Later he bought out the Pacific Asbestos Manufacturing Company, which he 
consolidated with the Tomlinson Company under the present title of the Pacific 
Asbestos & Supply Company, which he incorporated. He now had a small factory 
near the plant of the Jones Lumber Company, where he manufactured steam 
insulation materials. In about 1914 he rented a place at Fifteenth and Thurman 
streets, where the business remained until 1921, when he came to his present 
location, occupying half of the building. He now occupies three entire floors 
of the building, which is one hundred by one hundred feet in size, and now 
manufactures seventy-five per cent of the goods which he sells. During the 
World war Mr. Tomlinson bought out the Pacific Mill & Mine Supply Company, 
whose plant he operated for some time and then moved the business to his 
present building. He also purchased the business of the Davis-Scott Leather 
Belting Manufacturing Company, and moved it to his present building. Here he 
now makes belting, insulation, corrugated asbestos paper, materials for 
special heating equipment, and is distributor for Pioneer roofing and cork 
refrigeration materials. Mr. Tomlinson furnished the refrigeration cork on the 
Oceanic Terminal dock, this being the largest job of its kind in the city, and 
he has done considerable contracting for insulation work in schools, public 
buildings and apartments. He employs about twenty skilled workmen and has four 
traveling salesmen, who cover the state of Oregon and north to Olympia, 
Washington, and east to Missoula, Montana. Mr. Tomlinson is president and 
manager of the company, C. E. Hoopes is treasurer, and Mrs. Parson is 
secretary.

     Mr. Tomlinson was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a son of E. S. and 
Margaret (James) Tomlinson, both of whom are deceased, the father dying when 
his son was but a lad, while the mother died in Portland, Oregon, in 1926, at 
the age of eighty-six years. Both came of Quaker stock. Mr. Tomlinson received 
his educational training in the public schools of his native city and was 
engaged in the real estate business there until 1908, when he came to Portland 
and two years later embarked in his present business.

     In 1914, in Portland, Mr. Tomlinson was united in marriage to Miss Mary 
E. Martin, who was born in eastern Oregon and is a daughter of John and Mary 
Martin, who were numbered among the pioneer settlers of this state.

     Mr. Tomlinson is a member of Albert Pike Lodge No. 162, A. F. & A. M.; 
Oregon Consistory No. 1, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., and 
he and his wife are members of the Order of the Eastern Star, Mrs. Tomlinson 
being also secretary of the Oregon Women's Golf Association. Mr. Tomlinson 
belongs to the Pennsylvania Society, is president of the Alderwood Country 
Club, a director of the Oregon State Golf Association, belongs to the Chamber 
of Commerce, is president of the Northwest Magnesia Association and is a 
director of the Fidelity Reserve Loan Company. A man of progressive business 
ideas and sound principles, he makes a favorable impression on all who have 
dealings with him and commands the respect of his associates.

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