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Stephen G. Skidmore

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Stephen G. Skidmore
Member of the Portland City Council
In office
1875–1878
Preceded byE. F. Russell
Succeeded byE. H. Stolte
Personal details
Born(1838-12-28)December 28, 1838
Peoria County, Illinois, United States
DiedJune 18, 1883(1883-06-18) (aged 44)
San Rafael, California, United States

Stephen Griggs Skidmore was an American businessman and politician. He served on the Portland City Council from 1875 to 1878.

His will left funds for the creation of the Skidmore Fountain, which was named in his memory.

Early life

Stephen Griggs Skidmore (middle name Gregg, according to some records) was born on December 28, 1838 in Peoria County, Illinois, to Andrew Reed Skidmore and Sarah Ann Slater. He was the second of six children. In 1850, his family moved from Illinois to Portland, Oregon.

Career

Soon after arriving in Portland, at the age of 12, he began working as a paperboy for The Oregonian, which was recently established at the time. He soon after began working for the druggists Smith & Davis. In 1867, he founded his own pharmacy. Charles Sitton was his business partner.

Skidmore earned a fortune of around $150,000 (about $4.5 million today).

From 1875 to 1878, he served on the Portland City Council, and was a long-time volunteer firefighter. In 1878, at the request of Governor Stephen F. Chadwick, Skidmore represented Oregon at the Paris World's Fair.

Later life and death

Beginning in 1882, Skidmore began suffering from an unspecified lung problem. He began to travel extensively for the last year of his life before dying on June 18, 1883 while in San Rafael, California. His body was returned to Portland and he was buried at River View Cemetery.

Legacy

Skidmore Fountain

Skidmore Street in North and Northeast Portland are named for Skidmore, as are The Skidmore Apartments in the Overlook neighborhood.

Skidmore Fountain

Main article: Skidmore Fountain

In his will, Skidmore left $5,000 to the city. $18,000 were also donated by Skidmore's friends Henry Failing and C. E. S. Wood, as well as his business partner Charles Sitton. The city used these funds to build the Skidmore Fountain. It was sculpted by Olin Levi Warner and has water at different levels, originally for "people, dogs, and horses" to drink out of.

Portland brewer Henry Weinhard offered to pump beer through the fountain for it's dedication, but the city declined the offer.

Skidmore Fountain station is a MAX Light Rail station located next to and named for the fountain.

References

  1. ^ "Where We Live: Skidmore Fountain". KOIN.com. 2018-06-25. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  2. ^ "Death of S. G. Skidmore". The Oregonian. June 20, 1883. p. 3.
  3. ^ "Skidmore Fountain and Stephen G. Skidmore". oregonhistoryproject.org. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
  4. Scott, Harvey Whitefield (1890). History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & co.
  5. Oregonian/OregonLive, Joseph Rose | The (2015-11-19). "Throwback Thursday: The history of craft beer in Oregon (photos)". oregonlive. Retrieved 2025-01-15.
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