Philip Augustus Marquam
Encyclopedia
Philip A. Marquam was a lawyer, judge, legislator, and real estate developer in the U.S. state
of Oregon
.
. There Philip attended law school in Bloomington, Indiana
. He went to California
as a "49er" during the gold rush
of 1849, and was elected judge in Yolo County
.
, then a small town of under 1000 inhabitants. For many years he was the largest landowner in Multnomah County, Oregon
, counting among his holdings Portland's Fulton District and his homestead on Marquam Hill in southwest Portland. The hill was part of a 300 acre (1.2 km²) donation land claim
he purchased for $2500 in 1857 from John Donner, brother of George Donner
of the ill-fated Donner Party
. The hill is now the site of the Oregon Health & Science University
.
In 1882, Marquam was elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives
from Multnomah County
. Marquam gained a reputation as a transportation advocate and developer. He was instrumental in the formation of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company in 1887. He built the Marquam Grand Opera House in Portland, later renamed the Orpheum Theater. The theater was torn down in the 1970s.
He is buried in River View Cemetery
in Portland.
Bearing his name is the Marquam Bridge in Portland, opened in 1966, Marquam Hill and the adjacent Marquam Gulch, Marquam Nature Park, and Portland's Marquam Building at SW 6th and Morrison Streets. The community of Marquam, Oregon
is named for his nephew, Alfred. The Marquam Trolley formerly ran between Portland and Council Crest
, a popular amusement park and scenic viewpoint.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
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...
.
Early life
Philip Marquam was born in Baltimore, Maryland, on February 28, 1823 to Philip Winchester Marquam and Charlotte Mercer Poole. The family later moved to IndianaIndiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. There Philip attended law school in Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington, Indiana
Bloomington is a city in and the county seat of Monroe County in the southern region of the U.S. state of Indiana. The population was 80,405 at the 2010 census....
. He went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
as a "49er" during the gold rush
California Gold Rush
The California Gold Rush began on January 24, 1848, when gold was found by James W. Marshall at Sutter's Mill in Coloma, California. The first to hear confirmed information of the gold rush were the people in Oregon, the Sandwich Islands , and Latin America, who were the first to start flocking to...
of 1849, and was elected judge in Yolo County
Yolo County, California
Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city....
.
Oregon
In 1851, Marquam moved to Portland, OregonPortland, 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...
, then a small town of under 1000 inhabitants. For many years he was the largest landowner in Multnomah County, Oregon
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...
, counting among his holdings Portland's Fulton District and his homestead on Marquam Hill in southwest Portland. The hill was part of a 300 acre (1.2 km²) donation land claim
Donation Land Claim Act
The Donation Land Claim Act of 1850 was a statute enacted by the United States Congress intended to promote homestead settlement in the Oregon Territory in the Pacific Northwest...
he purchased for $2500 in 1857 from John Donner, brother of George Donner
George Donner
George Donner was the leader of the Donner Party, a group of California-bound American settlers who became snowbound in the Sierra Nevada in the winter of 1846–1847. Nearly half of the party starved to death, and some of the emigrants resorted to cannibalism.-Biography:He was born around 1784 near...
of the ill-fated Donner Party
Donner Party
The Donner Party was a group of American pioneers who set out for California in a wagon train. Delayed by a series of mishaps, they spent the winter of 1846–47 snowbound in the Sierra Nevada...
. The hill is now the site of the Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University
Oregon Health & Science University is a public university in Oregon with a main campus, including two hospitals, in Portland and a smaller campus in Hillsboro...
.
In 1882, Marquam was elected as a Republican to the Oregon House of Representatives
Oregon House of Representatives
The Oregon House of Representatives is the lower house of the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 60 members of the House, representing 60 districts across the state, each with a population of 57,000. The House meets at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem....
from 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...
. Marquam gained a reputation as a transportation advocate and developer. He was instrumental in the formation of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company in 1887. He built the Marquam Grand Opera House in Portland, later renamed the Orpheum Theater. The theater was torn down in the 1970s.
He is buried in 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...
in Portland.
Bearing his name is the Marquam Bridge in Portland, opened in 1966, Marquam Hill and the adjacent Marquam Gulch, Marquam Nature Park, and Portland's Marquam Building at SW 6th and Morrison Streets. The community of Marquam, Oregon
Marquam, Oregon
Marquam is an unincorporated community in Clackamas County, Oregon, United States. It is located on Oregon Route 213, between the cities of Molalla and Silverton. Marquam was named for pioneer settler Alfred Marquam, who came to Oregon in 1845 from the east . He secured a donation land claim of ,...
is named for his nephew, Alfred. The Marquam Trolley formerly ran between Portland and Council Crest
Council Crest Park
Council Crest Park is a city park in southwest Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Amenities include paved and unpaved paths, a dog off-leash area, picnic tables, public art, a vista point, and a wedding site that can be reserved. The park, operated by Portland Parks & Recreation, is open...
, a popular amusement park and scenic viewpoint.