Josiah Failing

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Josiah Failing
Josiah Failing
In office
1853 – 1854
Preceded by Simon B. Marye
Succeeded by William S. Ladd
Born 1806-07-09
New York
Died August 14, 1877 (aged 71)
Portland, Oregon

Josiah Failing (1806-07-09–1877-08-14) was a businessman and the fourth mayor of Portland, Oregon, United States. Born in New York, he moved to Portland when it was still a small town of a few hundred. He and his son Henry, who also became a noted businessman and mayor of the city, started a general merchandising business that became very successful.

[edit] Early life

Josiah Failing was born in Canajoharie, New York[1] on July 9, 1806.[2] His ancestors were German Palatines who settled in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the early part of the 18th century.[3] He was raised on a farm.[3] Early in life he went to Albany, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer in a move to New York City.[4][3] There he married Henrietta Ellison on June 15, 1828.[3] Henrietta was of English and Dutch ancestry.[3] They had 11 children.[3]

Failing served his apprenticeship in New York and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health.[4] He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work for many years.[4] During this period he served for several years as superintendent of public vehicles of the city.[4]

[edit] Rise to prominence in Portland, Oregon

Failing had been fascinated by the Oregon Country for 20 years when he moved his family there in 1851.[5] The move was risky for a family of modest means, but represented a fresh start.[5] The Failing family settled in Portland and established the mercantile firm of J. Failing & Co.[4] They located the store diagonally across the street from the business of Henry W. Corbett, a future U.S. Senator with whom the Failing business would later partner.[5] Josiah remained with the business until 1864, when, having acquired a modest competency, he retired from active business.[4] (Another source has Josiah leaving the business to Henry as early as 1853, when a New York partner advised a business practice with which he was uncomfortable.[5])

Failing's arrival coincided with a period of rapid changes and growth in Portland, and he became thoroughly identified with the city's progress, and engaged in the management of its public affairs.[4] On April 4, 1853, he was elected as the fourth mayor of Portland.[6] He was particularly concerned with education, and as one of the trustees of the public schools, devoted much of his time to their establishment and management.[4]

An enthusiastic Republican, Failing was a delegate to the Republican National Convention which nominated Abraham Lincoln for a second term (in 1864[1]), and to the convention which first nominated General Ulysses Grant[4] (in 1868[2]). From the time he retired from business until his death on August 14, 1877,[1] he devoted his time to religious and philanthropic work.[4] He was a Baptist.[2] He is buried at River View Cemetery, which was founded by his son Henry and other prominent Portland citizens.[7] Failing School was named in his honor.[1]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d Find-a-Grave page. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  2. ^ a b c (1889) History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. Chicago, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 18.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Scott, Harvey (1890). History of Portland Oregon. D. Mason & Co., Syracuse, p. 522. 
  5. ^ a b c d Cemetery Founders: Josiah Failing and Sons, River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon). Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
  6. ^ List of mayors of Portland, Oregon, Portland Auditor's Office. Retrieved 2008-04-06.
  7. ^ River View Cemetery history. Retrieved on 2008-04-06.
Preceded by
Simon B. Marye		 Mayor of Portland, Oregon
1853–1854		 Succeeded by
William S. Ladd