June, 1896. He is a member of the American Political Science Association, of tlie Oregon City Commercial Club, and of the National Municipal League. On questions of vital imi)urt he keeps abreast with the best thinking men of the age, and local advancemeiu and national progress are both causes dear to his heart.
JOHN JACOB WINTLER.
Forty-three years have come and gone since John Jacob Winllcr became a resident of Clarke county, Washington. In the earlier period of his residence here he was connected with agricultural pursuits and later was for many years a prominent representative of mercantile interests in X'ancouver, but at the present time is living retired, enjoying well earned rest. He was born July 29, 1837, in Switzerland, and when si.xteen years of age went to Havre, I-'rance, where he took passage on a sailing boat for New York. After a voyage of sixty-nine days, the vessel dropped anchor in the American harbor and soon afterward Mr. Wint- ler went from New York city to Buffalo, New York, where he was employed at harness making for a time. He then learned the trade of a machinist at the Eagle Iron Works, and in 1857 returned to New York city, where he boarded the steamer Republic, bound for the isthmus of Panama, landing at Aspinwall ; he then crossed the isthmus of Panama, and as a passenger on the steamship J. L. Stevens, proceeded to San Francisco, where he arrived in the latter part of August. He continued in that city until November, when he came up tiie coast by steamer to Portland, Oregon, and from there went to Parker's Land- ing, Washington, where he visited a brother for a few weeks. Returning to Portland, he found work at the machinist's trade in that city, and later engaged as engineer on the steamboat Independence, which ran between Portland and Monticello, and afterward between the Jefferson street landing and the Brooklyn landing, being operated as a ferry-boat. This was the first steam ferry- on the Willamette river. Mr. Wintler afterward entered the employ of Mr. Frush as engineer on a ferry-boat, which ran from the foot of Stark street to the east side. He continued in the service of Mr. Frush until i860, and in 1861 entered the employ of Robert Ladd, but after a few months accepted a position with Jacob Kamm as engineer on the steamboat on the Snake river. In 1864 he entered the employ of the Oregon Iron Works, in which connection he installed machin- ery on a ferry-boat built by Mrs. Frush. In i8f)6 he spent a few months as engineer on one of the boats owned by Captain Ankeny, and in (£ he caine to Clarke County, Washington. Here he turned his attention to farming, entering a claim about ten miles east of 'ancouver. For ten years he carried on general agricultural pursuits and then sold out, removing to Vancouver, where he bougjit out a harness and saddlery shop. He conducted this business for twenty-nine years, or from May, 1877, until May, 1906. On the expiration of that period he sold out and has since lived retired. For many years his was a most busy, useful and active life anil his lal)ors were crowned with a substantial measure of success. He has recently erected a two-story business block on Main street near Sixth.
In 1865 Mr. Wintler was married to Miss Lucy Knight, and unto them were born six children, of whom five are yet living: Marion A. is doing retouching in a photograph gallery in Portland ; Michael is a harness maker of Pendleton, Ore- gon; Clvde K. is a commercial traveler, representing a Tacoma (Wash.) house; Rali)h D., a saddler in the employ of the government in Alaska, is a veteraii of the Spanish-American war, having served in the Philippines; Walter D. is a dealer in automobiles in San Jose, California.
The wife and mother passed away in May, 1877. and on the 12th of Novem- ber, 1878, Mr. Wintler was married to Miss Sarah Butler, of Clarke county, who crossed the plains with an emigrant train in April, 1878, from the southwestern
