Multnomah County OR Archives Obituaries.....Loryea, A.M. April 1893 ************************************************ 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: Sheron Faynor nitwittwin@hotmail.com September 20, 2010, 5:34 pm Morning Oregonian April 27,1893 Sketch of one of the Prominent Early Citizens of Portland The death of Dr.A.M.Loryea, which occurred at St.Helena,Cal., on MOnday, recalls many incidents of his life in Portland.He came here in 1859, the year in which Balch was executed for the murder of his son in law. This was the first hanging in Oregon. After the execution Dr.Loryea was summoned to examine Balch, and pronounced him dead. There were many "doubting Thomases" present and some of them did not hesitate to declare that Balch was not dead but had been hypnotized by the "wonderful San Fransisco physician who wanted to save his life" This gained him some notoriety and when he opened and office he easily secured a large practice. Some years later the marriage of Dr.Loryea and Miss Elizabeth Stephens, daughter of the late James B.Stephens, was solemnized. Two sons and a daughter were the result of this union. The sons are now living in San Fransisco. The daughter was married last fall to a young businessman in Helena,Mont., and Dr.Loryea attended the wedding. He stopped over in Portland for a few hours and visited friends while en route to his destination. Dr.Loyrea's first marriage was not a happy one, and in 1868 he was seperated from his wife. He secured a divorce in 1872. Four years later he married a Jewish lady in San Fransisco, who survives him.His first wife was subsequently married to A.McCallis. She is now living in Los Angeles. Early in the 60's Dr.Loryea and the late Dr.J.C. Hawthorne established a hospital for the insane on First street, near the old penitentiary. The care of the stare's patients was awarded to them. The late James B.Stephens then gave them seven acres of land near Hawthorne Ave, East side, upon which they established the first insane asylum in the state. Dr.Loryea was connected with the asylum until 1872, when his interest was purchase dby Dr.Hawthorne. He then went ot San Fransisco and subsequently to Europe. He made an extended tour through France and Turkey, and investigated the Turkish bath system. Upon his return to this country he located in San Fransisco and ocmpleted his plans for the finest Turkish bath establishment in the United States. Mr.Ralston furnished sufficient money to start the erection of the building. The Senator Jones purchased Ralston's interest, and directed Dr.Loryea to carry out his ideas and to apply for the necessary funds. When completed the bath cost between $175,000 and $200,000, most of which was furnished by Senator Jones. In 1883 Dr.Loryea withdrew from the management and established a place of his own, which is now operated by two of his sons. Dr.Loryea was very liberal to charitable organizations. Although he was a Jew, he did not confine his liberality to Jewish institutions, but gave freely to other denominations. He presented a bell to St.David's Episcopla church, East side, and a communion service to the Cenetenary Methodist Episcopal church. He was a charter member of Washington lodge of Masons, and presented that lodge with its first set of jewels. He was also a member of Orient lodge,I.O.O.F. Dr.Loryea made it a rule to find work for all who applied to him for it. Yet he considered no man his friend until he became intimately acquainted with him.He considered every man a rascal until he found him to be otherwise.Friends of Dr.Loryea say that he made large sums of money, but as his purse was open to all who applied for aid, he never amassed a fortune. He loaned money at random,and never called on his debtors for a setlement. In the early days Dr.Loryea was very prominent in business and political circles.Late in the 60's he engaged in banking on the Eastside with James B.Stephens and Huge Logan. He was a member of the first city council of East Portland, and was mayor of the city in 1869. Dr.Loryea was a man of fine personal appearance. He was nearly six feet in heighth, of fine physique. When he was here last fall he appeared to be in perfect health, and his friends were surprised by his sudden death. He was about 68 years old. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/multnomah/obits/l/loryea261nob.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/orfiles/ File size: 4.6 Kb