Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 281.
 
AMEDEE M. SMITH, JR.

     There is no man who occupies a more enviable position in the industrial and
financial circles of Portland than Amedee M. Smith, Jr., not alone by reason of
the success he has achieved but also owing to the straightforward business
policy he has ever followed in keeping with the highest standard of commercial
ethics. It is true he entered upon a business already established in becoming
his father's associate in the Oregon Pottery Company, but since assuming the
management he has enlarged the enterprise and extended its scope and has wrought
along modem business lines in developing one of the leading productive
industries of Portland.
     A native of Polk county, Oregon, he was born at Buena Vista December 16,
1868, and was only twelve years of age on the removal of his parents to Portland
where he continued his education through the grammar grades of the public school
and in the high school until ill health caused him to relinquish his studies
when in the senior year. He fully recuperated during six months spent in
southern Oregon and upon his return home became actively associated with his
father in business. He was at first connected with the Buena Vista factory and
in 1888 accepted the superintendency of the Portland plant, so that he gained
practical knowledge of the business in manufacturing lines and was well able to
direct the labors of those who were employed at the plants. In 1890 he entered
the office of the company as bookkeeper and in 1893 was elected vice president
and manager of the Oregon Pottery Company, remaining as second executive officer
until 1894 when at first father's death he succeeded to the presidency, at the
same time becoming general manager. Later, in 1897, the business was then
reorganized as the Western Clay Manufacturing Company with Mr. Smith as
president and manager, W. H. Britts, vice president, and Blaine R. Smith,
secretary and treasurer. These three gentlemen are sole owners of the stock of
the company and working in the utmost harmony in the establishment and expansion
of an enterprise which is a most valuable addition to the industrial interests
on the coast They are now making shipments not only to all of the states in this
part of the country but as far north as British Columbia and Alaska. Their
export trade reaches the Hawaiian Islands and the product of the house is
increasing year by year.
     Mr. Smith was married in Portland in 1892 to Miss Alice M. Johnson a native
of Point Reyes, California, who was educated in the University of the Pacific
and is a lady of broad and liberal culture. Fraternally Mr. Smith is connected
with Mount Tabor Lodge, No. 42, F. & A. M., and has attained the thirty-second
degree of the Scottish Rite in Oregon Consistory. He has also crossed the sands
of the desert with the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and holds membership in Al
Kader Temple. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he
belongs to the Manufacturers Association and to the Oregon Historical Society,
being especially interested in movements connected with the perpetuation of the
annals of the pioneers. For many years he has been an officer in the Taylor
Street Methodist Episcopal church, was for some time superintendent of its
Sunday school and has also been a worker in the Young Men's Christian
Association. His influence is always on the side of moral progress and he has
been a liberal contributor to good works done in the name of charity and
religion. In all his business life he has never taken advantage of the
necessities of another or gained his success at the cost of another's
prosperity. He has followed constructive measures, building up trade through the
merit of his output and the honesty of his business methods. His name is today
honored wherever he is known and most of all where he is best known.
advantages."


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.