Josiah Failing | |
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4th Mayor of Portland, Oregon | |
In office 1853–1854 |
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Preceded by | Simon B. Marye |
Succeeded by | William S. Ladd |
Personal details | |
Born | July 9, 1806 Canajoharie, New York |
Died | August 14, 1877 Portland, Oregon |
(aged 71)
Josiah Failing (July 9, 1806 – August 14, 1877) 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.
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.[3][4] 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]
Through letters from early Baptist missionaries, Failing had been fascinated by the Oregon Country for 20 years when he moved his family there in 1851.[5][6] The move was risky for a family of modest means, but represented a fresh start.[6] While the family only intended to stay for a few years or less, they settled in Portland.[5] After waiting five months for his supplies to arrive, Failing established the mercantile firm of J. Failing & Company, with three years of store supplies worth $25,000 from "merchant-shipper-capitalist" C. W. Thomas's Hunt, Thomas & Company, as well as East Coast-backed credit, providing a huge advantage over their competitors who were mainly working on consignment.[4][5] 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.[6] Spring 1853 was problematic, with three shiploads of goods being lost, and the replacements were too late for the busy spring season.[5] Josiah spent less time in his store, not comfortable with the monopolistic practices used by his competitors, turning the business operations over to his son Henry.[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.[7] 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] Failing started the local chapter of the Sons of Temperance in 1856.[5]
Josiah Failing's business split from C. W. Thomas in 1859, giving all profits to Failing after then.[5] He remained with his 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.[6])
An enthusiastic Republican, Failing was a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention[1] which nominated Abraham Lincoln for a second term, and to the 1868 convention[2] that nominated Ulysses S. Grant.[4] 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.[6] Failing School was named in his honor,[1] and Failing Street in Northeast Portland carries his family's name.
Preceded by Simon B. Marye |
Mayor of Portland, Oregon 1853–1854 |
Succeeded by William S. Ladd |