Washington County OR Archives Biographies.....Imlay, James B. April 21, 1842 - July 6, 1928 ************************************************ 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 October 27, 2009, 12:17 pm Source: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. III, Published 1928, Pages 144-147 Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company JAMES B. IMLAY, a Washington county pioneer, was a resident of Reedville for thirty-seven years, creating an extensive business which has been a most important factor in the development of this locality, and was also active in public affairs. A native of Scotland, he was born April 21, 1842, and his parents, Alexander and Ann Law (Burd) Imlay, were also natives of that country, in which the mother always resided. Alexander Imlay sailed for the United States during the Civil war and his son Robert was killed in that conflict. In 1866, when a young man of twenty-four, J. B. Imlay came to this country and followed the occupation of farming in Illinois for some time. He came to Washington county, Oregon, in 1879 and soon afterward obtained work in the John Milne mill at Hillsboro and a year later allied his interests with those of Reedville, forming which he subsequently used to advantage. For about three years he was in charge of the Milne farm northwest of Hillsboro and afterward managed another farm for two years. In 1890 he purchased an interest in the warehouse of Morgan & Company at Hillsboro and a year later allied his interests with those of Reedville, forming the firm of Imlay & Imbrie. Mr. Imlay built a grain elevator in 1891 and at first handled only wheat and also ground some feed. During the formative period in its history the business was in operation for about four months of the year and Mr. Imlay was employed in various ways in the interim. Later he bought out his partner, who was not active in the management of the concern, and conducted the business under his own name until the style of J. B. Imlay & Sons was adopted. The plant has been enlarged from time to time and the main building is now thirty-six by two hundred and thirty-eight feet. All of the business is transacted on one floor, thus expediting the work, and the dimensions of the hay warehouse are thirty- two by one hundred and fourteen feet. The firm handles and manufactures poultry and dairy feed and does custom grinding, cleaning and mixing, likewise dealing in grain, flower seeds, etc. In the early days everything was shipped out but large quantities of feed, etc., are now imported for local consumption. Each month two carloads of corn are sent to the firm from the east and the extent of the industry is indicated by the fact that the business now averages fifteen thousand dollars per month. This is one of the largest and most efficiently operated institutions of the kind in the northwest and the feed made by the firm has won many awards and ribbons at the Washington County Fair and also at the Pacific International Live Stock Exposition. The business is an imposing monument to the progressive spirit, the administrative power and high commercial standards of its founder, who in his later years was retired, leaving the burden of management in the capable hands of his sons. Mr. Imlay was married in Morrison, Illinois, in 1871 to Miss Isabelle Thom, who was also born in Scotland and remained in that country until a short time before her marriage, making the voyage to the new world in company with relatives. Mr. and Mrs. Imlay became the parents of ten children, of whom Ann Isabella, the first born, died in infancy. Mary is the wife of C. B. Patterson, of Republic, Washington, and seven of their children are living, namely: Lepha, who is Mrs. Carl Viebrock, of Douglas, Washington; Genevieve, who married Thomas Tucker, of Bend, Oregon, and has two children, Bettie Jean and Alfred; Mary, who is the wife of Dennis Sullivan, of Castle Rock, Washington, and the mother of two children, Dennis, Jr., and Marjorie; Dorothy, who was united in marriage to John Sullivan, of Republic, and has a family of three children, Violet, Richard and Gloria May; William, who is a bachelor and lives at Castle Rock; and Versie and Helen, who are attending the public schools. Margaret, the third child of Mr. and Mrs. Imlay, is in Spokane, Washington, and follows the profession of nursing. Mrs. Christina Kelly has two children, James and Grace, and is living in her father's home. Mrs. Agnes Vanderlip resides in Los Angeles, California, and also has two children, Wilfred and Marjorie. James, a grain buyer for the Balfour-Guthrie Company, is living in Walla Walla, Washington, and has a wife and one child, Regina Belle. Robert resides in Portland, Oregon, and is deputy city attorney. Mrs. Grace Anderson, of Suver, Oregon, is the mother of two daughters, Doris and Dorothy. George was in the United States navy for about twenty-three months during the World war, serving on the South Dakota, and was designated for transport work and convoy duty. He is a member of the firm of J. B. Imlay & Sons and has been a school director for six years. He married Miss Lucille Foster, by whom he has three daughters, Helen, Jean and Geneva. Charles, who is also a partner in the business, married Miss Gertrude Haskell, of Colorado, and they have two children, Margaret and Charles Jr. The first four children were born in the east and the others are natives of Washington county. Mr. Imlay was a Mason and his sons, Robert, George and Charles, are also identified with the order. The father was deputy assessor for Reedville township for four years and for Beaverton township for two years. For some time he was clerk of the local school board and discharged his public duties with the thoroughness and conscientiousness which he displayed in the conduct of his private affairs. When he came to Reedville there was but one school district, which has since been divided into three, and time has wrought many other changes of note in this locality. Its progress was a matter of much personal pride to Mr. Imlay, who played a conspicuous part in the work of upbuilding, and the depth and strength of his character won for him the unqualified esteem and respect of all who have been brought within the sphere of his influence. On July 6, 1928, Mr. Imlay died at his home and the business is now being operated by his sons. He was one of the organizers of the Presbyterian church at Reedville and was extremely active in church and Sunday school work, having at one time acted as superintendent of the latter. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/or/washington/photos/bios/imlay938gbs.jpg 49 Kb File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/or/washington/bios/imlay938gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/orfiles/ File size: 7.0 Kb