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'''Louis Gerlinger, Sr.''' was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]] in the early 20th century. Gerlinger became involved in the [[railroad]] business comparatively late in life. He was born in [[Alsace]] (a region between France and Germany) in 1853. At the age of 17, he came to the United States, settling in [[Chicago]]. He married and had three sons ([[George T. Gerlinger|George]], Louis Jr., and Edward) and a daughter. He built a prosperous store and saloon fixture business.<ref name=Baldwin>Baldwin, Cathrine A. ''Making the Most of the Best: Willamette Industries' Seventy-Five Years''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1982. OCLC 8734832</ref>
'''Louis Gerlinger Sr.''' (25 January 1853 – 9 June 1941)<ref name=obit>Obituary published in ''The Historical Oregonian'', June 10, 1941</ref> was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the [[U.S. state]] of [[Oregon]] in the early 20th century.
Gerlinger became involved in the [[railroad]] business comparatively late in life. He was born in [[Weiterswiller|Weitersweiler]], [[Alsace]], in January 1853. At the age of 17, around the time Alsace [[Franco-Prussian War|was annexed by the German Empire]], he came to the United States, settling in [[Chicago]]. He married and had three sons ([[George T. Gerlinger|George]], Louis Jr., and Edward) and a daughter. He built a prosperous store and saloon fixture business.<ref name=Baldwin>Baldwin, Cathrine A. ''Making the Most of the Best: Willamette Industries' Seventy-Five Years''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1982. OCLC 8734832</ref>


At 41, Gerlinger left his comfortable, successful Chicago enterprise to move his family west. He settled in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref name=Baldwin/>
At 41, Gerlinger left his comfortable, successful Chicago enterprise to move his family west. He settled in [[Portland, Oregon]].<ref name=Baldwin/>


In 1894, Louis Gerlinger, Sr. bought the existing [[Young's Brewery]] in [[Vancouver, Washington]]. He promptly renamed it [[Star Brewing Company]] to reflect the change in product line. Thus the original Star Brewing Company (also known as Star Brewery) was founded.<ref name=star>[http://www.beermonthclub.com/newsletters/vol2no8.htm Archived Beer Club Newsletter: Volume 2, Number 8<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Louis Gerlinger, Sr. was the proprietor from 1894-1897.<ref>[http://www.taverntrove.com/breweries/Star-Brewery-Company-Vancouver-1326.asp Tavern Trove: Star Brewery Company of Vancouver, Washington<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>
In 1894, Gerlinger bought the existing Young's Brewery in [[Vancouver, Washington]]. He promptly renamed it [[Star Brewing Company]] to reflect the change in product line. Thus the original Star Brewing Company (also known as Star Brewery) was founded.<ref name=star>[http://www.beermonthclub.com/newsletters/vol2no8.htm Archived Beer Club Newsletter: Volume 2, Number 8<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> Gerlinger was the proprietor from 1894 to 1897.<ref>[http://www.taverntrove.com/breweries/Star-Brewery-Company-Vancouver-1326.asp Tavern Trove: Star Brewery Company of Vancouver, Washington<!-- Bot generated title -->]{{dead link|date=January 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref>


In 1896, Gerlinger organized and built the [[Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad]] on behalf of the Harrimans.<ref name=Baldwin/>
In 1896, Gerlinger organized and built the [[Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad]] on behalf of the [[Edward H. Harriman|Harrimans]].<ref name=Baldwin/>


In the fall of 1901, Louis Gerlinger, Sr. purchased {{convert|7000|acre|km2|0}} of timber in [[Polk County, Oregon]] for a railroad. Just west of [[Dallas, Oregon]], in the [[Oregon Coast Range]], grew hundreds of square miles of untouched [[Douglas fir]] and other commercial timber species.
In the fall of 1901, Gerlinger purchased {{convert|7000|acre|km2|0}} of timber in [[Polk County, Oregon]] for a railroad. Just west of [[Dallas, Oregon]], in the [[Oregon Coast Range]], grew hundreds of square miles of untouched [[Douglas fir]] and other commercial timber species.


He incorporated the [[Salem, Falls City and Western]] Railway Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the [[Willamette River]] at [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] to the mouth of the [[Siletz River]] on the [[Oregon Coast]], a distance of {{convert|65|mi|km|0}}.
He incorporated the [[Salem, Falls City and Western Railway]] Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the [[Willamette River]] at [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] to the mouth of the [[Siletz River]] on the [[Oregon Coast]], a distance of {{convert|65|mi|km|0}}.


On [[May 29]] [[1903]], the first train ran from Dallas to [[Falls City, Oregon|Falls City]]. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile (14 km), forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.
On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to [[Falls City, Oregon|Falls City]]. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile (14&nbsp;km), forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.


Two of Gerlinger's sons, [[George T. Gerlinger]] and Louis Gerlinger, Jr., managed the railway.<ref name=Baldwin />
Two of Gerlinger's sons, [[George T. Gerlinger]] and [[Louis Gerlinger Jr.]], managed the railway.<ref name=Baldwin />


In 1906, Gerlinger purchased the Cone Lumber Company, and renamed it Willamette Valley Lumber Company (WVLC). The WVLC would become [[Willamette Industries, Inc.|Willamette Industries]] in 1967 and part of [[Weyerhaeuser]] in 2002.<ref name=Dunn>Dunn, Cathrine Baldwin. ''Making the Most of the Best: A History of Willamette Industries, Inc.''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1994. OCLC 43799999</ref><ref name=Swindells>Swindells, William., and Catherine Baldwin Dunn. ''The Rest of the Best: Willamette Industries, Inc. 1994-2002''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 2002. OCLC 51027663</ref>
In 1906, Gerlinger purchased the Cone Lumber Company, and renamed it Willamette Valley Lumber Company (WVLC). The WVLC would become [[Willamette Industries, Inc.|Willamette Industries]] in 1967 and part of [[Weyerhaeuser]] in 2002.<ref name=Dunn>Dunn, Cathrine Baldwin. ''Making the Most of the Best: A History of Willamette Industries, Inc.''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1994. OCLC 43799999</ref><ref name=Swindells>Swindells, William., and Catherine Baldwin Dunn. ''The Rest of the Best: Willamette Industries, Inc. 1994-2002''. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 2002. OCLC 51027663</ref>

Gerlinger died, at the age of 88 and after a long illness, in Portland on June 9, 1941.<ref name=obit/>


==References==
==References==
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerlinger, Louis S.}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Gerlinger, Louis Sr.}}
[[Category:1853 births]]
[[Category:1853 births]]
[[Category:Businesspeople in timber]]
[[Category:1941 deaths]]
[[Category:Oregon businesspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century American railroad executives]]
[[Category:American railroad executives of the 20th century]]
[[Category:American businesspeople in timber]]
[[Category:Businesspeople from Oregon]]

{{Oregon-bio-stub}}

Latest revision as of 22:20, 30 August 2023

Louis Gerlinger Sr. (25 January 1853 – 9 June 1941)[1] was a businessperson in the railroad and timber industries in the U.S. state of Oregon in the early 20th century.

Gerlinger became involved in the railroad business comparatively late in life. He was born in Weitersweiler, Alsace, in January 1853. At the age of 17, around the time Alsace was annexed by the German Empire, he came to the United States, settling in Chicago. He married and had three sons (George, Louis Jr., and Edward) and a daughter. He built a prosperous store and saloon fixture business.[2]

At 41, Gerlinger left his comfortable, successful Chicago enterprise to move his family west. He settled in Portland, Oregon.[2]

In 1894, Gerlinger bought the existing Young's Brewery in Vancouver, Washington. He promptly renamed it Star Brewing Company to reflect the change in product line. Thus the original Star Brewing Company (also known as Star Brewery) was founded.[3] Gerlinger was the proprietor from 1894 to 1897.[4]

In 1896, Gerlinger organized and built the Portland, Vancouver and Yakima Railroad on behalf of the Harrimans.[2]

In the fall of 1901, Gerlinger purchased 7,000 acres (28 km2) of timber in Polk County, Oregon for a railroad. Just west of Dallas, Oregon, in the Oregon Coast Range, grew hundreds of square miles of untouched Douglas fir and other commercial timber species.

He incorporated the Salem, Falls City and Western Railway Company late in October 1901 and announced plans to build a railroad from the Willamette River at Salem to the mouth of the Siletz River on the Oregon Coast, a distance of 65 miles (105 km).

On May 29, 1903, the first train ran from Dallas to Falls City. At the end of June, passenger trains began regularly scheduled trips to and from Dallas and Falls City each day; the nine-mile (14 km), forty-minute, one-way trip cost 35 cents.

Two of Gerlinger's sons, George T. Gerlinger and Louis Gerlinger Jr., managed the railway.[2]

In 1906, Gerlinger purchased the Cone Lumber Company, and renamed it Willamette Valley Lumber Company (WVLC). The WVLC would become Willamette Industries in 1967 and part of Weyerhaeuser in 2002.[5][6]

Gerlinger died, at the age of 88 and after a long illness, in Portland on June 9, 1941.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Obituary published in The Historical Oregonian, June 10, 1941
  2. ^ a b c d Baldwin, Cathrine A. Making the Most of the Best: Willamette Industries' Seventy-Five Years. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1982. OCLC 8734832
  3. ^ Archived Beer Club Newsletter: Volume 2, Number 8
  4. ^ Tavern Trove: Star Brewery Company of Vancouver, Washington[permanent dead link]
  5. ^ Dunn, Cathrine Baldwin. Making the Most of the Best: A History of Willamette Industries, Inc.. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 1994. OCLC 43799999
  6. ^ Swindells, William., and Catherine Baldwin Dunn. The Rest of the Best: Willamette Industries, Inc. 1994-2002. Portland, Oregon: Willamette Industries. 2002. OCLC 51027663