Multnomah-Washington County OR Archives Biographies.....Wagner, B. F. 1879 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com October 20, 2009, 5:42 pm

Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 31-32
Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company

     One of the old and substantial manufacturing concerns of Portland is the 
Pacific Coast Biscuit Company, which, from a modest beginning, has developed 
into a great and successful organization, including seven plants, so that its 
products are easily distributed to every part of the coast region. Its success 
has been based on the superior quality of its goods and its sound business 
methods and, under the able direction of its manager, B. F. Wagner, is today 
enjoying greater prosperity than ever before in its history. This concern had 
its genesis is the organization of the Portland Cracker Company, which was 
established in 1892, and had a small plant as its first unit. The business 
enjoyed a steady, though not rapid, growth until the late Herman Wittenberg 
became the moving spirit in the enterprise, from which time its progress was 
more rapid and a more progressive policy was instituted branching out both as 
to the number of its products and its manufacturing facilities. The Pacific 
Coast Biscuit Company now makes one hundred and fifty varieties of crackers 
and cookies and two hundred varieties of candies. It employs in the big 
Portland plant two hundred persons, with an annual payroll of two hundred and 
fifty thousand dollars, while its output is valued at a million dollars 
annually. It sells at wholesale only, with the exception of a few small items, 
which are placed with jobbers. Andrew J. Bale was manager of the business 
until January 15, 1927, when he was elected vice president of the company and 
he now lives in Los Angeles, California. The Portland plant is not only one of 
the largest and most complete manufacturing plants in the country in its line, 
but also manufactures tin containers, not only for its own use, but also for 
most of the company's other plants. The sales territory of the Portland house 
covers Oregon and north to Chehalis, Washington, and east to Boise and 
Pocatello, Idaho, which territory is covered by twenty-six traveling 
representatives.

     B. F. Wagner, who was made manager of the Pacific Coast Biscuit Company 
in January, 1928, was born in Washington county, Oregon, in 1879, and is a son 
of B. F. and Sarah Ann (Hammond) Wagner, the former a native of Pennsylvania 
and the latter of Indiana. They came to Oregon about 1872, locating at 
Beaverton, Washington county, where they lived until 1882, when they moved to 
Ashland, Oregon, where the father engaged in ranching, and there both parents 
died. Mr. Wagner attended the public schools and then entered the University 
of Oregon, from which he was graduated in 1904 with the degree of Bachelor of 
Arts. Later he entered the law school of his alma mater, from which he 
received the degree of Bachelor of Laws in 1912. After completing his 
classical course he was employed in a bank until 1911, when he became 
identified with the Pacific Coast Biscuit Company as credit man and office 
manager, in which dual capacity he served until January, 1928, when he became 
general manager. He has shown marked executive ability and, having an intimate 
knowledge of every detail of the business has been able to carry it on to the 
entire satisfaction of all concerned.

     In 1920 Mr. Wagner was united in marriage to Miss I. Carmen Hanneman, of 
Portland. Mr. Wagner is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the 
Woodmen of the World, the Creditmen's Association, of which he is a past 
president, and the Chamber of Commerce. He gives his political support to the 
republican party and during all the years of his residence here has shown a 
keen interest in the welfare and progress of his community. He is a lover of 
outdoor life, fishing and hunting being his favorite forms of recreation. He 
is widely known and commands uniform respect and esteem because of his high 
business qualifications and his creditable personal qualities.

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