Multnomah County OR Archives Biographies.....Wolff, J. E. 1872 - ************************************************ 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 Wakley iwakley@msn.com January 11, 2011, 9:12 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 626 - 627 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company J. E. WOLFF, who enjoys an enviable reputation as a foundryman, is successfully conducting one of Portland's oldest and best known industries and ably sustains the traditions of the family. He was born in 1872 and is one of the city's loyal sons. The father, Fritz Wolff, was born in Germany, November 6, 1842, and his parents, John and Henrietta Wolff, always remained in that country. In 1867 he yielded to the lure of the new world and was employed as an iron worker in New York city for two years. Journeying to the west, he followed his trade in San Francisco, California, for a few years and in May, 1871, arrived in Portland. He secured a position in the Oregon Iron Works and worked for a year or two for the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, being the only boilermaker in the shops at that time. He had also learned the trade of a blacksmith and was an expert mechanic. In 1874 Mr. Wolff ventured in business for himself and in partnership with Herman Trenkman opened a small foundry in Portland. For a number of years they were associated under the style of Trenkman & Wolff and when the senior partner retired his stock was purchased by Arthur Zwicker, at which time the firm of Wolff and Zwicker was formed. The business was first carried on at Front and Oak streets on the west side and later was moved to Flanders and Third streets. There it was conducted for four years and during that period the firm of Wolff & Zwicker built four and a half miles of twenty-four inch pipe for the City Water Company. They constructed two light ships, one torpedo destroyer, two torpedo boats, a freight boat and a large tug. In 1889 they transferred their activities to the east side, erecting a large plant, which was devoted to the manufacture of engines, ice machinery and compressed air machinery, and in addition they conducted a general machine shop and foundry. They also built thirty-four miles of pipe line used in connection with the City Water Works, five miles of pipe line for Spokane, Washington, and twenty- six miles for Butte, Montana. The firm of Wolff & Zwicker passed out of existence about 1901 and in 1902 the Phoenix Iron Works was organized and incorporated by Mr. Wolff and his associates. Early in 1903 the building was destroyed by fire and soon afterward the present plant was erected. Mr. Wolff's first wife, Fredericka Hilmas, passed away in 1880. She had become the mother of four children: Emma, who is the widow of C. H. Fox; John E.; Sophia, who is Mrs. Walter S. Zimmerman; and Helene, the wife of Charles Urfer. All live in Portland. In 1883 Mr. Wolff was married in Portland to Miss Metta Rasmussen, a native of Denmark and a daughter of Rasmussen Jensen and Jacobine Thompson. By the second union there were two children: Freda, at home; and Carl, who was graduated from the Corvallis School of Mechanical Engineering and is connected with the Phoenix Iron Works. The mother still resides in Portland but Mr. Wolff passed away July 13, 1916. He was affiliated with the Masonic order and the Chamber of Commerce, while his religious views were in accord with the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he was an earnest member. He made his own way in the world and his mental attainments and force of character placed him with Portland's industrial leaders. At all points in his career he followed the course dictated by conscience and honor and thus won a high place in the esteem of his fellowmen. J. E. Wolff attended the public schools of Portland and continued his studies in the Van der Nailen Polytechnic School, a San Francisco institution, from which he was graduated in 1893. On his return to Portland he entered the foundry of Wolff & Zwicker and gradually advanced through the various departments. He was associated with his father until the latter's death, becoming thoroughly conversant with the business, and in 1925 was elected president, in which capacity he has since served. The industry is still operated under the name of the Phoenix Iron Works and the other officers of the corporation are William H. Morrow, vice president; and Louis Steinhauser, secretary and treasurer. The business is housed in a half block on Hawthorne street and occupies the entire block bounded by Third street and Union avenue and Stephens and Mills streets, where the foundry and pattern shop are located, while the machine shop is on Hawthorne street. The normal capacity of the foundry is seventy-five tons per month. The firm specializes in repairs on buckets, road crushers and other types of machines and is also engaged in a general foundry, forge and machine shop jobbing business. About forty men are in the service of the corporation, which employs only skilled labor and has the largest and best equipped plant of the kind on the east side. For thirty- five years Mr. Wolff has been identified with the industry, devoting his best efforts to its upbuilding. He closely adheres to the progressive policy and high standard of production maintained by his father, inheriting his business sagacity and administrative power, and his work had been manifestly resultant. In 1914 Mr. Wolff was married in Portland to Miss Harriet Rose Edwards, a native of the city and of New England stock. To them has been born a daughter, Jessie Helene. Mr. Wolff is a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the East Side Commercial Club, the United Metal Trades Association and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He loyally suports all projects destined to prove of benefit to his city and state, whose progress and greatness are matters in which he takes much personal pride, and his fine qualities of mind and heart have established him high in public regard. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/bios/wolff1316gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 6.4 Kb