William H. Wehrung
Encyclopedia
William Henry Wehrung was an American
businessman and politician in the state of Oregon
. A native Oregonian, he was a cabinetmaker, banker, and merchant in Hillsboro, Oregon
. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the Oregon State Senate
and was a longtime member of the Hillsboro city council.
, at Hillsboro
. His father Henry was a cabinet builder and merchant who immigrated to Oregon in 1852 from France, and his mother was Mary Catherine (née Emerick) Wehrung who moved to Oregon in 1848. Henry helped build the first courthouse in Hillsboro, and also built the Tualatin Hotel, the first hotel in Hillsboro, where William was born. William, one of four children in the family, was raised in Hillsboro on the family farm and attended the public schools in that city.
Wehrung also learned to build cabinets from his father, and worked in that profession from 1879 until 1882. He also worked with his father at his furniture store. Later the father operated the largest mercantile in the county, with William and his brother Gus later becoming partners with their father under the firm name of H. Wehrung & Sons. On June 25, 1885, William married Mary Boscow, daughter of Peter Boscow. The couple had two daughters, Ethel Gertrude and Alice Catherine.
. Wehrung was also the chairman of the Democrat’s central committee in Washington County.
On March 14, 1899, Wehrung was appointed to the state board of agriculture by Oregon Governor T. T. Geer. After four years on the board, Governor George Earle Chamberlain
re-appointed Wehrung to the board in 1903. Wehrung also served as president of the board, and was responsible for holding the Oregon State Fair
in Salem
. He served a total of seven years on the board, and also traveled to St. Louis in 1904 to represent the state at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
. Additionally, he was the superintendent of agriculture and forestry at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
in 1905 in Portland, Oregon
, and a member of the commission that put on the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in Seattle, Washington.
Politically a member of the Democratic Party
, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
in June 1900 to a four-year term on the Union platform to represent Washington County, even though the county was predominately Republican. Wehrung served during the 1901 and 1903 legislative sessions representing District 15 and Hillsboro. He did not return to the senate and in 1905 E. W. Hines of Forest Grove
took over the district.
over several transactions at his bank. A member of the Congregational Church
, he was also a member civic groups including the Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
, the Ancient Order of United Workmen
, the Native Sons of Oregon, as well as the horticultural society in Oregon. He briefly served in the Oregon National Guard in the first regiment, and later was the president of the Hillsboro Board of Trade (chamber of commerce
). William Henry Wehrung died in Portland on September 30, 1934, at the age of 73, and was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
businessman and politician 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...
. A native Oregonian, he was a cabinetmaker, banker, and merchant 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...
. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
and was a longtime member of the Hillsboro city council.
Early life
William Wehrung was born on March 22, 1861, in Washington County, OregonWashington 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:...
, at 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...
. His father Henry was a cabinet builder and merchant who immigrated to Oregon in 1852 from France, and his mother was Mary Catherine (née Emerick) Wehrung who moved to Oregon in 1848. Henry helped build the first courthouse in Hillsboro, and also built the Tualatin Hotel, the first hotel in Hillsboro, where William was born. William, one of four children in the family, was raised in Hillsboro on the family farm and attended the public schools in that city.
Wehrung also learned to build cabinets from his father, and worked in that profession from 1879 until 1882. He also worked with his father at his furniture store. Later the father operated the largest mercantile in the county, with William and his brother Gus later becoming partners with their father under the firm name of H. Wehrung & Sons. On June 25, 1885, William married Mary Boscow, daughter of Peter Boscow. The couple had two daughters, Ethel Gertrude and Alice Catherine.
Political career
Wehrung entered politics when he was elected to the Hillsboro City Council (then known as the Board of Trustees) in 1885. He served on the council for a total of six terms from 1885 to 1886, 1888 to 1889, and 1895 to 1899. His father had served on the council in 1879 to 1880. The younger Wehrung also served at times as the president of the council, and was the clerk for the school districtHillsboro School District
The Hillsboro School District 1J is a unified school district located in Hillsboro, Oregon, United States. The district operates 26 elementary schools, four middle schools, and four high schools. Founded in 1851, the school district covers Hillsboro, Scholls, Reedville, North Plains, West Union,...
. Wehrung was also the chairman of the Democrat’s central committee in Washington County.
On March 14, 1899, Wehrung was appointed to the state board of agriculture by Oregon Governor T. T. Geer. After four years on the board, Governor George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain
George Earle Chamberlain was an American politician, legislator, and public official in Oregon. A native of Mississippi and trained lawyer, he served as the 11th Governor of Oregon, a representative in the Oregon Legislative Assembly, a United States Senator.-Early life:Chamberlain was born near...
re-appointed Wehrung to the board in 1903. Wehrung also served as president of the board, and was responsible for holding the Oregon State Fair
Oregon State Fair
-National Register of Historic Places:The state fairground is the site of two historic buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places as the Oregon State Fair Stadium and Poultry Building Ensemble. The 1919 horse stadium and the 1921 poultry building were added to the register in 2002...
in Salem
Salem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
. He served a total of seven years on the board, and also traveled to St. Louis in 1904 to represent the state at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition
Louisiana Purchase Exposition
The Louisiana Purchase Exposition, informally known as the Saint Louis World's Fair, was an international exposition held in St. Louis, Missouri, United States in 1904.- Background :...
. Additionally, he was the superintendent of agriculture and forestry at the Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition
The Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition, commonly also known as the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and officially known as the Lewis and Clark Centennial American Pacific Exposition and Oriental Fair, was a worldwide exposition held in Portland, Oregon, United States in 1905 to celebrate the...
in 1905 in Portland, Oregon
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...
, and a member of the commission that put on the Alaska–Yukon–Pacific Exposition in Seattle, Washington.
Politically a member of the Democratic Party
Democratic Party of Oregon
The Democratic Party of Oregon, based in Portland, is the official Oregon affiliate of the United States Democratic Party. It is recognized by the state of Oregon as a major political party, along with the Oregon Republican Party...
, he was elected to the Oregon State Senate
Oregon State Senate
The Oregon State Senate is the upper house of the state-wide legislature for the U.S. state of Oregon. Along with the lower chamber Oregon House of Representatives it makes up the Oregon Legislative Assembly. There are 30 members of the State Senate, representing 30 districts across the state,...
in June 1900 to a four-year term on the Union platform to represent Washington County, even though the county was predominately Republican. Wehrung served during the 1901 and 1903 legislative sessions representing District 15 and Hillsboro. He did not return to the senate and in 1905 E. W. Hines of Forest Grove
Forest Grove, Oregon
Forest Grove is a city in Washington County, Oregon, United States, west of Portland. Originally a small farm town, it is now primarily a bedroom suburb of Portland. Settled in the 1840s, the town was platted in 1850 and then incorporated in 1872 and was the first city in Washington County...
took over the district.
Later years
Wehrung organized the Hillsboro National Bank and served as president of the bank, which became the biggest in Washington County. In October 1910, he left the family business. In 1922, he was arrested after being indicted on charges of embezzlement by the United States AttorneyUnited States Attorney
United States Attorneys represent the United States federal government in United States district court and United States court of appeals. There are 93 U.S. Attorneys stationed throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and the Northern Mariana Islands...
over several transactions at his bank. A member of the Congregational Church
Congregational church
Congregational churches are Protestant Christian churches practicing Congregationalist church governance, in which each congregation independently and autonomously runs its own affairs....
, he was also a member civic groups including the Masons, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks
The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks is an American fraternal order and social club founded in 1868...
, the Ancient Order of United Workmen
Ancient Order of United Workmen
The Ancient Order of United Workmen was a fraternal organization in the United States and Canada, providing mutual social and financial support after the US Civil War. It was the beginning of the American network of fraternal benefit societies.-History:...
, the Native Sons of Oregon, as well as the horticultural society in Oregon. He briefly served in the Oregon National Guard in the first regiment, and later was the president of the Hillsboro Board of Trade (chamber of commerce
Chamber of commerce
A chamber of commerce is a form of business network, e.g., a local organization of businesses whose goal is to further the interests of businesses. Business owners in towns and cities form these local societies to advocate on behalf of the business community...
). William Henry Wehrung died in Portland on September 30, 1934, at the age of 73, and was buried at the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
Hillsboro 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...
.