Josiah Failing
Encyclopedia
Josiah Failing 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.
, New York on July 9, 1806. His ancestors were German Palatines
who settled in the Mohawk Valley
of New York in the early part of the 18th century. He was raised on a farm. 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. There he married Henrietta Ellison on June 15, 1828. Henrietta was of English and Dutch ancestry. They had 11 children.
Failing served his apprenticeship in New York and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health. He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work for many years. During this period he served for several years as superintendent of public vehicles of the city.
for 20 years when he moved his family there in 1851. The move was risky for a family of modest means, but represented a fresh start. While the family only intended to stay for a few years or less, they settled in Portland
. 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. 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. Spring 1853 was problematic, with three shiploads of goods being lost, and the replacements were too late for the busy spring season. 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.
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. On April 4, 1853, he was elected as the fourth mayor of Portland. 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. Failing started the local chapter of the Sons of Temperance
in 1856.
Josiah Failing's business split from C. W. Thomas in 1859, giving all profits to Failing after then. He remained with his business until 1864, when, having acquired a modest competency, he retired from active business. 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.)
An enthusiastic Republican
, Failing was a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention
which nominated Abraham Lincoln
for a second term, and to the 1868 convention
that nominated Ulysses S. Grant
. From the time he retired from business until his death on August 14, 1877, he devoted his time to religious and philanthropic work. He was a Baptist
. He is buried at River View Cemetery
, which was founded by his son Henry and other prominent Portland citizens. Failing School was named in his honor, and Failing Street in Northeast Portland carries his family's name.
Henry Failing
Henry Failing was a banker, and one of the leading businessmen of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He was one of Portland, Oregon's earliest residents, and served as that city's mayor for three two-year terms...
, who also became a noted businessman and mayor of the city, started a general merchandising business that became very successful.
Early life
Josiah Failing was born in CanajoharieCanajoharie (town), New York
Canajoharie is a town in Montgomery County, New York, United States. The population was 3,730 at the 2010 census. Canajoharie is located south of the Mohawk River on the south border of the county. The Erie Canal passes along the north town line. There is a village of Canajoharie in the town...
, New York on July 9, 1806. His ancestors were German Palatines
German Palatines
The German Palatines were natives of the Electoral Palatinate region of Germany, although a few had come to Germany from Switzerland, the Alsace, and probably other parts of Europe. Towards the end of the 17th century and into the 18th, the wealthy region was repeatedly invaded by French troops,...
who settled in the Mohawk Valley
Mohawk Valley
The Mohawk Valley region of the U.S. state of New York is the area surrounding the Mohawk River, sandwiched between the Adirondack Mountains and Catskill Mountains....
of New York in the early part of the 18th century. He was raised on a farm. Early in life he went to Albany
Albany, New York
Albany is the capital city of the U.S. state of New York, the seat of Albany County, and the central city of New York's Capital District. Roughly north of New York City, Albany sits on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River...
, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer in a move to New York City. There he married Henrietta Ellison on June 15, 1828. Henrietta was of English and Dutch ancestry. They had 11 children.
Failing served his apprenticeship in New York and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health. He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work for many years. During this period he served for several years as superintendent of public vehicles of the city.
Rise to prominence in Portland, Oregon
Through letters from early Baptist missionaries, Failing had been fascinated by the Oregon CountryOregon Country
The Oregon Country was a predominantly American term referring to a disputed ownership region of the Pacific Northwest of North America. The region was occupied by British and French Canadian fur traders from before 1810, and American settlers from the mid-1830s, with its coastal areas north from...
for 20 years when he moved his family there in 1851. The move was risky for a family of modest means, but represented a fresh start. While the family only intended to stay for a few years or less, they settled in 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 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. They located the store diagonally across the street from the business of Henry W. Corbett
Henry W. Corbett
Henry Winslow Corbett was an American businessman and politician in the state of Oregon. A native of Massachusetts, he spend much of his early life in the state of New York before moving to the Oregon Territory where he continued his business interests in retail, and later transportation and banking...
, a future U.S. Senator
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
with whom the Failing business would later partner. Spring 1853 was problematic, with three shiploads of goods being lost, and the replacements were too late for the busy spring season. 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.
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. On April 4, 1853, he was elected as the fourth mayor of Portland. 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. Failing started the local chapter of the Sons of Temperance
Sons of Temperance
The Sons of Temperance was a brotherhood of men who promoted the temperance movement and mutual support. It began spreading rapidly during the 1840s throughout the United States and parts of Canada....
in 1856.
Josiah Failing's business split from C. W. Thomas in 1859, giving all profits to Failing after then. He remained with his business until 1864, when, having acquired a modest competency, he retired from active business. 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.)
An enthusiastic Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
, Failing was a delegate to the 1864 Republican National Convention
1864 Republican National Convention
The 1864 Republican National Convention, the presidential nominating convention of the Republican Party of the United States, took place from June 7 to June 8, 1864 in Baltimore, Maryland....
which nominated Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
for a second term, and to the 1868 convention
1868 Republican National Convention
The 1868 National Convention of the Republican Party of the United States was held in Crosby's Opera House, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, on May 20 to May 21, 1868....
that nominated Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant
Ulysses S. Grant was the 18th President of the United States as well as military commander during the Civil War and post-war Reconstruction periods. Under Grant's command, the Union Army defeated the Confederate military and ended the Confederate States of America...
. From the time he retired from business until his death on August 14, 1877, he devoted his time to religious and philanthropic work. He was a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
. He is buried at River View Cemetery
River View Cemetery (Portland, Oregon)
River View Cemetery in the southwest section of Portland, Oregon, United States, is a non-profit cemetery founded in 1882. It is the final resting place of many prominent and notable citizens of Oregon, including many governors and United States Senators...
, which was founded by his son Henry and other prominent Portland citizens. Failing School was named in his honor, and Failing Street in Northeast Portland carries his family's name.