Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Van Fridagh, Paul December 29, 1864 - July 11, 1925
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Ila L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com May 31, 2010, 11:26 am

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 345- 346
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     PAUL van FRIDAGH.  When Paul van Fridagh passed away on July 11, 1925, 
there was deep and widespread regret in Portland, which lost one of its most 
enterprising and capable business men and a native son whose record was a 
credit to the city. He was born December 29, 1864, and his father, Prosper van 
Fridagh, was a native of Holland. He was born July 24, 1824, and was the son 
of an army officer who died in Dutch Java. The mother was a native of Germany 
and after her husband's death returned to that country, in which Prosper van 
Fridagh was reared. In compliance with laws of Germany he joined the army, in 
which he served during 1849, and was in sympathy with the revolutionists. 
Owing to his liberal education he was appointed secretary to the officer in 
command of the fort at Rastatt, where a number of revolutionists were 
imprisoned. In the course of his secretarial work he handled some papers upon 
which were drawn maps and plans showing secret passages from the fort and was 
thus enabled to aid some of the prisoners in making their escape from the 
fort. In their haste the refugees left behind some of the plans which Mr. van 
Fridagh had copied in his own handwriting and which they had used in obtaining 
their liberty. Learning that these papers had been found and knowing that his 
life was in great danger, Mr. van Fridagh left the army, making his way across 
the frontier into France and thence to Belgium, where he boarded a vessel 
bound for the United States. For a year he worked in a store in Milwaukee, 
Wisconsin, and in 1851 went to Minnesota.

     While a soldier in the German army Mr. van Fridagh had plighted his troth 
to Miss Elizabeth Rumpen, who joined him in this country, and they were 
married in Milwaukee in 1851. In the same year they established their home in 
St. Paul, which then contained but four families, and Mr. van Fridagh became a 
commission merchant, handling farm produce. Fortune at first favored him but 
owing to two years' crop failures he was unable to make collections and 
discontinued the business. Through a brother of Factor Franchette of the 
Hudson's Bay Company he learned much concerning the great Oregon country and 
decided to profit by the opportunities offered in the Pacific northwest. 
Accompanied by his family, Mr. van Fridagh left St. Paul in 1860, proceeding 
down the Mississippi river and across the Gulf of Mexico, and after traversing 
the isthmus of Panama sailed for San Francisco. A year was spent in that city 
and in 1861 he located in Portland, opening a small dry goods and millinery 
store in the Harker building on Front street, near Yamhill. At that time all 
business centered on Front street, as transportation was largely by the 
waterways, and later Mr. van Fridagh removed to No. 109 First street. In 1883 
he secured a more desirable location at the corner of Third and Pine streets 
and there successfully conducted the business until 1887, when he retired. A 
progressive merchant of high standing, he contributed his full quota toward 
the commercial development of Portland during the pioneer epoch in its history 
and in September, 1902, was called to his final rest.

     Paul van Fridagh was a member of a family of eight children and received 
his education in private schools of Portland, also attending a business 
college. For ten years he was a member of the clerical force of the Oregon 
Railroad & Navigation Company, working in the auditor's office, and in 1890 
entered the employ of Boyd & Arnold, with whom he gained valuable experience 
in the fire insurance business. Eventually he was admitted to a partnership, 
becoming a member of the firm of Hall & van Fridagh, and later acquired 
control of the business. The name was then changed to van Fridagh & Company, 
of which he served as president until his death, limiting his activities to 
the sale of fire insurance of which he had a highly specialized knowledge. He 
enjoyed his work and through concentrated effort and efficient management 
created a business of extensive proportions, ranking with the leading 
insurance men of the city.

     Mr. van Fridagh's first wife was Carolyn Wilson, who died in 1902, 
leaving a daughter, Hortense, who is now Mrs. L. W. Seidert, of McMinnville, 
Oregon. Mr. van Fridagh's second union was with Mrs. Gertrude McMillen, to 
whom he was married October 5, 1910, in Portland. By her first husband, 
Kenneth McMillen, she had a son, Murl, who died July 11, 1926, leaving a 
widow, Mrs. Leta (Christensen) McMillen, and a son, Roderick. Mr. van Fridagh 
was a devoted husband and during the last sixteen years of his life was never 
separated from his wife for even one day. Theirs was an ideal union. Mr. van 
Fridagh was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and his religious 
views were in harmony with the doctrines of Trinity Protestant Episcopal 
church. He loved Oregon and its people and heartily cooperated in movements 
for the betterment of his city and state. His success was the merited reward 
of a life of tireless industry, and the firmness, frankness and strength of 
his character won for him a high place in the esteem of his fellowmen.

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