Clark County WA Archives Biographies.....Blurock, E. M. 1856 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wa/wafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Ila Wakley iwakley@msn.com September 18, 2009, 2:01 pm Source: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company E. M. BLUROCK. Vancouver’s financial growth and strength have been fostered by E. M. Blurock, who is wisely and successfully controlling the destiny of the United States National Bank and at the same time exerts a strong and beneficial influence in civic affairs. He was born in Armstrong county, Pennsylvania, in 1856, his parents being John and Marguerite (Sang) Blurock, who were natives of Germany. In childhood they came to the United States with their respective parents and in Pennsylvania they were married. Later they went to Tennessee, in which state they spent about two years, and next journeyed to Missouri, remaining in that state for five years. Joining a train of thirty wagons, the family made the journey overland in order to bring their stock, and arrived on the Pacific northwest, September 30, 1876. Having friends in Vancouver, Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Blurock paid them a short visit and then rented a ranch near that city. The father engaged in the dairy business and also devoted his land to the raising of vegetables. Later he purchased a half interest in the meat market of Jere Harmer and after the death of his partner took over the business, which he conducted successfully until 1897, when it was acquired by his son, Charles A. Blurock. The father remained in Vancouver until his demise in 1912. The mother passed away in 1922. E. M. Blurock received a public school education and was a young man of twenty when the family left Missouri. He aided his father in the cultivation of the ranch and for many years was engaged in farming and dairying. At one time he was numbered among the leading stockmen of Clark county, raising blooded Durhams and high-grade shorthorn cattle. During 1878-79 he raised two fine crops of wheat on the land on which the post of the Hudson’s Bay Company was situated in early days and he aided in leveling the ground for the government. In January, 1924, Mr. Blurock was elected president of the United States National Bank of Vancouver, which was chartered January 27, 1910. Its organizers were J. M. Langsdorf, now deceased; his son. J. S. G. Langsdorf; and L. M. Hidden, who has also passed away. J. M. Langsdorf was the first president of the bank, of which L. M. Hidden next took charge, and he was succeeded by E. M. Blurock, who has since remained at the head of the institution. At the time of the organization L. M. hidden became the first vice president, and Dr. Wiswall was chosen as his successor. The first cashier was J. S. G. Langsdorf, whose place was later filled by Charles C. Otto. The original directors were L. M. Hidden, Jessie M. Langsdorf, C. S. Shaw, E. N. Green, C. E. Earl, Dr. R. D. Wiswall, F. J. Bailey, J. E. Norelius, T. J. Rederich and E. M. Rands. Of these all are deceased except Dr. Wiswall and Messrs. Earl, Bailey and Rederich. The present officers are: E. M. Blurock, president; Dr. R. D. Wiswall, vice president; and Charles C. Otto, cashier. Their associates on the board of directors are O. M. Hidden and Chapin A. Mills. The institution was started with a capitalization of one hundred thousand dollars and was the first bank in this part of the state with a capital of that size. The capital stock has remained unchanged and the bank now has a surplus and undivided profits amounting to eighty-two thousand dollars, all of which has been earned, while its resources total two million dollars. The business is in a prosperous condition and since 1920 the bank has paid an annual dividend of ten per cent to its stockholders. The institution maintains both commercial and savings departments and is connected with the Federal Reserve System, also with the Washington State and American Bankers Associations. The first quarters of the bank were in the St. Francis Hotel building and since the early part of the year 1913 it has been housed in the finest office building in the city. The business is facilitated by the most modern banking appliances, and the steady growth of the institution is proof of its usefulness and the quality of service rendered to its patrons. In 1891 Mr. Blurock married Miss Gertrude Shepard, a native of Michigan and a daughter of A. G. and Mabel Shepard, who came to Oregon about the year 1886 and are now deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Blurock have two children: Frances, who is society editor of the Vancouver Evening Columbian; and Florence, who is the wife of Walter Hubbard, of San Francisco, California, and has a daughter, Margaret. Mr. Blurock is an adherent of the republican party and for four years has been a member of the city council, exerting his best efforts in behalf of the municipality. The Chamber of Commerce numbers him among its energetic workers, and along fraternal lines he is connected with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His public-spirit has been expressed by word and deed, and time has strengthened his position in the regard of his fellow citizens, for his has been a well ordered, upright life. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 97-98 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/clark/bios/blurock55gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb