Jesse Edwards (businessman)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jesse Edwards
Oregon businessman Jesse Edwards.png
BornFebruary 18, 1849
Hendricks County, Indiana
DiedDecember 16, 1924(1924-12-16) (aged 75)
Newberg, Oregon
Known forFounding Newberg, Oregon
Spouse(s)Mary Edwards

Jesse Edwards (February 18, 1849 – December 16, 1924)[1]) was an American businessman. He is referred to as "the founder of Newberg, Oregon".

Edwards arrived to the area to be later known as Newberg in 1881, and purchased a farm on the Rogers Donation Land Claim, on which he would plat the city of Newberg.[2]

He also founded the First U.S. National Bank of Newberg, Newberg's first university-preparatory school, was one of the founders of George Fox University, acted as the first mayor of Newberg, and was a member of the local school board. He also owned a brick-making company, a sawmill, a drain-tile factory, a mercantile store, and a warehouse for handling wheat.[3][4]

Newberg was incorporated in 1889.[5] The same year, Edwards built a house for his family. Today it is the second-oldest residence still standing in the city. Later, he was a founder of Friends Pacific Academy (now George Fox University). He died in 1924. In 1998, his family gave his house to George Fox University.[6]

Edwards and his wife Mary had three sons: Oren, Walter and Clarence.[2] Clarence went into the brick-making business with Jesse and later established the first electric company in the area.[4][2] Clarence would become the city major on several occasions in the 1900s.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ "Jessie Edwards (1849-1924)". Find A Grave. Retrieved June 5, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c Tom Fuller; Christy Van Heukelem (2010). Newberg. Arcadia Publishing. pp. 114–. ISBN 978-0-7385-8139-2.
  3. ^ "Ghost Level- Data - "The Tinkerer"". osughost.imodules.com. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "History of Downtown Newberg". Newberg Downtown. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  5. ^ "Newberg History | Newberg Oregon". www.newbergoregon.gov. Retrieved May 6, 2020.
  6. ^ "Historical Buildings". George Fox University. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  7. ^ "Newsberg's Past Mayors" (PDF). NewbergOregon.gov.
Retrieved from ""