Clark County WA Archives Biographies.....MacMaster, Hugh ************************************************ 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 L. Wakley iwakley@msn.com and May 1, 2009, 12:43 pm Author: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company HUGH MACMASTER. The most important commercial enterprise in Camas, Washington, is the general store of MacMaster & Company, which is not only the oldest concern here but is also doing the largest business. The president of the company, Hugh MacMaster, has been very active and influential in matters affecting the welfare and progress of the community and is justly regarded as one of its representative citizens. He was born in Scotland and is a son of A. E. and Elizabeth (Mclndoe) MacMaster. In 1874 the family left Scotland and landed at Quebec, Canada, on the 24th of May -— Queen Victoria's birthday. They lived in Canada for nine years, first Ontario; afterward for a short time just outside of Ottawa; and then in Compton county, Quebec, where they remained until 1883. In the summer of that year the father came to the Pacific coast, stopping first in Portland, where he was employed, for a short time at his trade, that of carpenter and joiner, and then came to Camas, Washington, where he built a house and store combined. He then sent for his family, who arrived in September of that year, and here he and his wife spent their remaining days, the father dying in September, 1888, and the mother in December, 1907. They had thirteen children, of whom four sons died in Scotland, the others being as follows: Elizabeth, who is the widow of A. Duffin and lives in Camas; Hugh, of this : review; Jessie, who was the wife of William Mills, and is deceased; Donald, deceased; who was at one time judge of the court of Clark county; Agnes, who is the widow of Henry Craw, of Newburg, Oregon; Violet, who is the wife of David Burcham, of Long Beach, California; Isabel, who is the widow of John Scott, of Montreal, and is a past president of the Women's Club of that city; Mary, who is the widow of W. F. Bowman, of Scotstown, Quebec, Canada; and Annie, who was bookkeeper for E. P. Edwards in Portland and is now deceased. Hugh MacMaster received a public school education and was employed for one year in a wholesale drygoods house in Montreal. After coming to Washington he spent three years in a paper mill of the Columbia River Paper Company. On the death of his father he took over the management of the store at Camas and has been at the head of the business continuously since. The original store building was an unpretentious affair, the store room being fourteen by twenty feet in size, while the family lived up stairs and in the rear on the first floor. In 1885, the increasing business requiring more room, the father erected a two-story building, twenty-six by fifty feet in size, at the corner of Third and Columbia streets the upper story being used as a lodge hall for a number of years. In July, 1899, Hugh MacMaster took his brother-in-law, Allen Duffin, into the firm and in 1893 a younger brother, Donald MacMaster, was also given an interest in the business. During this period, the business having outgrown the building, a one- story addition, twenty-two by sixty feet, as erected. Having studied law in his leisure time, Donald MacMaster removed to Vancouver to practice his profession in 1898, disposing of his stock to a sister, Violet MacMaster, who early in 1902 sold her share to George Self, who continued a member the firm until 1908. In April, 1915, A. C. Allen, of Ridgefield, was admitted as a partner. On September 1st of that year, Allen Duffin's connection was terminated by a sudden death, he having been a member in the firm for over twenty-five years. Kent L. Chappell entered the firm in April, 1916, and the full membership at the sent time is Hugh MacMaster, who is president; K. L. Chappell, vice president; A. C. Allen, secretary and treasurer; and Mrs. A. Duffin. In 1916, the business having again outgrown its building and the Crown Willamette Paper Company wishing to extend their buildings in that direction, there was an exchange of properties, MacMaster & Company securing two lots on the southwest corner of Fourth and Clark streets and on these erecting a modern store building, two stories high, of reinforced concrete, seventy by one hundred feet in size, with full basement, and having twenty offices and apartments on the second floor. This is a splendidly designed building, of attractive architectural style, and the store room is as light, sanitary and pleasing as could be devised. The firm carries a full line of general merchandise, including dry goods, furnishings, shoes, hardware, groceries and allied lines; employs a force of courageous and accommodating clerks, and draws a large trade from a wide radius of surrounding territory. In October, 1891, at Camas, Hugh MacMaster was united in marriage to Miss Ella Patton, whom he had met in school in Canada, and whom he had again seen while on a visit to his old home there in 1888. Mr. MacMaster has taken an active interest in local public affairs, having served two terms as a member of the city council, one term as mayor and also as clerk of the school board. He is president of the Farmers Cooperative Creamery Company; is a director of the Citizens Bank of Camas, and while the Chamber of Commerce was in existence here he served as chairman of the good roads committee, having always been a strong advocate of improved highways. He is a past president of the Camas Cemetery Association. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and the Kiwanis Club, while his religious connection is with the Presbyterian church, in the work of which he takes an active interest. A man of sterling character and upright principles, an able and progressive business man and an enterprising and public-spirited citizen, he has long commanded to a marked degree the unqualified confidence and respect of his fellowmen and has well merited the prosperity which has come to him. Additional Comments: History of the Columbia River Valley From The Dalles to the Sea, Vol. II, Pages 606-607 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wa/clark/bios/macmaste13gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wafiles/ File size: 6.5 Kb