John W. Shute
Encyclopedia
John Wright Shute was an American
banker in the state of Oregon
. He was the founder of the first bank in Washington County, Oregon
, and both Shute Park
and Shute Road in Hillsboro, Oregon
, are his namesakes.
, to Lewis P. Shute and the former Eliza Jane Wright on February 17, 1840. Of Dutch heritage, he grew up on the family and received a limited education in the family of eight children. In 1857, Shute moved to Kankakee, Illinois
, and then later that year began the journey to the Oregon Territory
.
to the Isthmus of Panama
and then by steamer to San Francisco and Portland
. After arriving he worked on a farm in Washington County
followed by farming in Eastern Oregon
in the Walla Walla Valley. Shute then moved to Multnomah County
where he ran a warehouse and mercantile with several partners. After a year he sold his stake in the business and purchased an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) farm near Hillsboro
, the county seat of Washington County. Shute married Elizabeth Constable in November 1867 in Washington County, and the couple would have three children. From 1889 to 1890 he served on the Hillsboro city council.
Over time he increased the size of his farm to 800 acres (3.2 km²) and in 1888 founded the First National Bank in Hillsboro. Starting with $50,000, he operated the bank as president until 1897 when he closed it. This bank was the first in Washington County
. In 1893, the bank survived the Panic of 1893
and a run on the bank. After closing First National, he opened a private bank and was a major land holder in Hillsboro and the surrounding area.
He married a second time, to Mary E. Smith (1877 - 1968), and they had three children. After marrying his significantly younger second wife, local perception was that she married him for his money and that he only married her for her looks. In 1901, Shute donated land within the city limits for the creation of the first Catholic Church in Hillsboro. The following year the church was opened and named after St. Matthew. On December 21, 1906, the City of Hillsboro purchased a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) tract of land from Shute for $1,622, with the condition that the land be used as a park and named in his honor. The city passed a levy to finance the purchase of its first park at 1.8 mills per assessed valuation
. At the time the total assessed value in the city was just over $600,000.
In 1910, Shute was involved in a legal dispute over ownership of some land with John Foote, on old friend and former partner with Shute in a bank, and a third party. The third party claimed Shute and a brother of Foote were dominating Foote's life and exercising undue influence on his financial decisions. This third party, represented by Samuel B. Huston
, was the children of a family that allowed Foote to stay on their farm rent free for many years, and to which Foote deeded land to. The issue in the legal case was if Foote had retained control and the property was only to pass at his death, or if the land passed immediately to the children. The dispute made headlines as Foote was worth about $100,000 and Shute about $250,000 at the time.
. Politician William G. Hare
served as one of the pallbearers at the funeral. Shute's son, Arthur C. Shute, was also in the banking business and was president of the Shute Savings Bank after his father's death. Other children included sons Edward A. and Tracy H., twin daughters Marion and Mary.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
banker in the state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. He was the founder of the first bank in Washington County, Oregon
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
, and both Shute Park
Shute Park (Oregon)
Shute Park is a municipal park in the city of Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Acquired in 1906, the park is the oldest park in the city. Located at southeast Tenth and Maple streets along Tualatin Valley Highway, Shute Park includes an aquatic center, a branch of the Hillsboro Public Library,...
and Shute Road in Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, are his namesakes.
Early life
John Shute was born in Montgomery County, New YorkMontgomery County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 49,708 people, 20,038 households, and 13,104 families residing in the county. The population density was 123 people per square mile . There were 22,522 housing units at an average density of 56 per square mile...
, to Lewis P. Shute and the former Eliza Jane Wright on February 17, 1840. Of Dutch heritage, he grew up on the family and received a limited education in the family of eight children. In 1857, Shute moved to Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee, Illinois
Kankakee is a city in Kankakee County, Illinois, USA. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 25,561, and 26,840 as of a 2009 estimate. It is the county seat of Kankakee County...
, and then later that year began the journey to the Oregon Territory
Oregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
.
Oregon
In January 1858, he arrived in Oregon after traveling by ship from New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
to the Isthmus of Panama
Isthmus of Panama
The Isthmus of Panama, also historically known as the Isthmus of Darien, is the narrow strip of land that lies between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific Ocean, linking North and South America. It contains the country of Panama and the Panama Canal...
and then by steamer to San Francisco and Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
. After arriving he worked on a farm in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
followed by farming in Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
in the Walla Walla Valley. Shute then moved to Multnomah County
Multnomah County, Oregon
Multnomah County is one of 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. Though smallest in area, it is the most populous as its county seat, Portland, is the state's largest city...
where he ran a warehouse and mercantile with several partners. After a year he sold his stake in the business and purchased an 80 acres (323,748.8 m²) farm near Hillsboro
Hillsboro, Oregon
Hillsboro is the fifth-largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and is the county seat of Washington County. Lying in the Tualatin Valley on the west side of the Portland metropolitan area, the city is home to many high-technology companies, such as Intel, that compose what has become known as the...
, the county seat of Washington County. Shute married Elizabeth Constable in November 1867 in Washington County, and the couple would have three children. From 1889 to 1890 he served on the Hillsboro city council.
Over time he increased the size of his farm to 800 acres (3.2 km²) and in 1888 founded the First National Bank in Hillsboro. Starting with $50,000, he operated the bank as president until 1897 when he closed it. This bank was the first in Washington County
Washington County, Oregon
- Major highways :* Interstate 5* Interstate 205* U.S. Route 26* Oregon Route 6* Oregon Route 8* Oregon Route 10* Oregon Route 47* Oregon Route 99W* Oregon Route 210* Oregon Route 217* Oregon Route 219-Demographics:...
. In 1893, the bank survived the Panic of 1893
Panic of 1893
The Panic of 1893 was a serious economic depression in the United States that began in 1893. Similar to the Panic of 1873, this panic was marked by the collapse of railroad overbuilding and shaky railroad financing which set off a series of bank failures...
and a run on the bank. After closing First National, he opened a private bank and was a major land holder in Hillsboro and the surrounding area.
He married a second time, to Mary E. Smith (1877 - 1968), and they had three children. After marrying his significantly younger second wife, local perception was that she married him for his money and that he only married her for her looks. In 1901, Shute donated land within the city limits for the creation of the first Catholic Church in Hillsboro. The following year the church was opened and named after St. Matthew. On December 21, 1906, the City of Hillsboro purchased a 15 acres (60,702.9 m²) tract of land from Shute for $1,622, with the condition that the land be used as a park and named in his honor. The city passed a levy to finance the purchase of its first park at 1.8 mills per assessed valuation
Property tax
A property tax is an ad valorem levy on the value of property that the owner is required to pay. The tax is levied by the governing authority of the jurisdiction in which the property is located; it may be paid to a national government, a federated state or a municipality...
. At the time the total assessed value in the city was just over $600,000.
In 1910, Shute was involved in a legal dispute over ownership of some land with John Foote, on old friend and former partner with Shute in a bank, and a third party. The third party claimed Shute and a brother of Foote were dominating Foote's life and exercising undue influence on his financial decisions. This third party, represented by Samuel B. Huston
Samuel B. Huston
Samuel Bruce Huston was an American politician and lawyer in Oregon. Originally a Democrat and later a Republican, he served in both chambers of the Oregon Legislative Assembly and was twice the mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon...
, was the children of a family that allowed Foote to stay on their farm rent free for many years, and to which Foote deeded land to. The issue in the legal case was if Foote had retained control and the property was only to pass at his death, or if the land passed immediately to the children. The dispute made headlines as Foote was worth about $100,000 and Shute about $250,000 at the time.
Later life and family
A Republican, Shute served as a county commissioner on several occasions. John Wright Shute died on March 19, 1922, at his home in Hillsboro at the age of 82 and was buried at Hillsboro Pioneer CemeteryHillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
The Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery is in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. Located at the west end of the town along the Tualatin Valley Highway and adjacent to Dairy Creek. The cemetery comprises three formerly private cemeteries...
. Politician William G. Hare
William G. Hare
William G. Hare was an American lawyer and politician in the state of Oregon. A native Oregonian, he grew up in the Hillsboro area where he later practiced law. A Republican, he served in both houses of the Oregon Legislature, as had his father William D. Hare...
served as one of the pallbearers at the funeral. Shute's son, Arthur C. Shute, was also in the banking business and was president of the Shute Savings Bank after his father's death. Other children included sons Edward A. and Tracy H., twin daughters Marion and Mary.