Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Varwig, Herman F. 1825 - 1895 ************************************************ 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 L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com April 15, 2006, 10:30 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, Pages 75-76 HERMAN F. VARWIG. A farsighted, sagacious business man, Herman F. Varwig was long a forceful figure in industrial circles of Portland. He possessed the courage, strength and resourcefulness of the true pioneer and although many years have elapsed since his death, his memory is still fresh in the hearts of those who knew him. A native of Germany, he was born in the province of Hanover in 1825 and during his boyhood came to the United States. He lived in the east for some time and after the discovery of gold in California went to San Francisco in the hope of bettering his fortunes. Later he moved to Sacramento and there engaged in merchandising for a number of years, drawing a large portion of his trade from the farmers of that locality. Much of his stock was lost during a flood and he then came to Oregon, settling in Portland early in the ‘60s. Here he was engaged in the wholesale and retail tobacco business for many years, manufacturing a high grade of cigars, for which he found a ready market, and established a large industry, managed in systematic and efficient manner. In New Orleans, Louisiana, Mr. Varwig married Miss Sophia Wiebusch, who was a native of the locality in which his birth occurred and who died about 1902. Left an orphan, soon afterward she sailed for the United States, making the trip alone, and in this country became acquainted with Mr. Varwig. They were the parents of seven children, three of whom died in childhood. Louis, the first born, passed away in June, 1917. Thomas, who engaged in the wholesale and retail plumbing business in Portland, died in August, 1926. He had married Miss Rose Morrow, who has also passed away, and they are survived by three daughters: Mrs. Elizabeth Martin,, who is the mother of one child; Mrs. Lillian Russell, who has a daughter; and Mrs. Susan Howell, who is the mother of a son. Minnie Varwig, the third in order of birth, was born at Sacramento, California. Most of her education was received in Portland and she has remained a resident of the city, occupying the family home at No. 574 Fourth street. Herman F. Varwig filled a responsible position in the First National Bank and later was teller in the Portland Savings Bank. He married Miss May Eudly and their union was severed by his death in 1904. Herman F. Varwig, Sr., adhered to the Lutheran faith and in politics was a stanch democrat but not an office seeker. He joined the Improved Order of Red Men and was much interested in the activities of the organization. In matters of citizenship he was loyal and public-spirited and in business affairs displayed that spirit of enterprise which makes for public progress as well as individual success. His life was terminated in 1895, when he was seventy-two years of age, and his passing deprived Portland of a citizen of high principles and substantial worth. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Volume II, Chicago, The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1928 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/varwig27gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 3.7 Kb