Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 254-7.
Includes portrait.

ALBERT SUTTON

Among the leading architectural firms of the northwest is that of Sutton &
Whitney, of which Albert Sutton is the senior member. Thorough preliminary
study and later practical experience have well qualified him for his chosen life
work and he is regarded as one of the most able architects in the Pacific coast
country. Mr. Sutton was born in Victoria, British Columbia, June 6, 1867, a son
of John and Anna B. (Dolan) Sutton, the former a native of Delaware, Maryland
and the latter of Boston, Massachusetts. The family has long been connected with
the history of this country, representatives of the name having defended
American interests in the Revolutionary war, while John Sutton, the father,
rendered valuable service to the federal government during the Civil war as an
engineer in the Pacific squadron of the navy. Following his marriage in 1850 in
New Orleans, he went with his bride to California in 1852, going by way of the
Isthmus of Panama. He always followed a seafaring life and was lost in Alaskan
waters in January, 1873. In the family were nine children: Julia, Margaret,
Mave, James, Jennie, John, Ada, Albert and Herbert.

In the public schools of Portland Albert Sutton pursued his education, after
which he pursued a scientific course in the University of California. He then
became identified with the Southern Pacific Railroad as architect of buildings
and bridges and remained in the employ of the company for three years. He was
connected with architectural work in Tacoma, Washington, from 1888 until 1895
and in the latter year went to San Francisco, California, where he followed his
profession until 1910. During the next two years he was not active in business,
residing on his ranch at Hood River, Oregon. In 1912 he became a partner of
Harrison A. Whitney, a prominent architect of Portland, establishing an office
in this city under the firm style of Sutton & Whitney and this relationship is
still maintained. Their excellent work and thoroughly reliable and progressive
business methods have secured for them a large and constantly increasing
patronage, so that they have become well known as leading architects throughout
the Pacific northwest. They have established an office in Tacoma, Washington, of
which Mr. Sutton has charge, dividing his time between Portland and Tacoma and
they have erected many of that city's most substantial and beautiful business
edifices. They are now engaged in constructing the Multnomah County Infirmary
at a cost of one million dollars, the Meter & Frank Warehouse, costing one
million dollars and the Scottish Rite Cathedrals in Portland and Tacoma, and
were the architects who designed the Hood River Library regarded as one of the
best arranged institutions of the kind to be found anywhere in the United
States. He also constructed many apartment houses and dwellings and has built up
a large business in California, having remodeled the State Capitol at
Sacramento. He also designed the Farmers & Merchants Bank at Oakland, the John
A. Roebling's Sons Company's building at San Francisco, said to be one of the
best examples of fireproof construction in the country and the Pacific Hardware
& Steel Company's buildings. They have thus extended their interests over a
broad field and are considered experts in their line of work.

Mr. Sutton has been married twice and by the first union he has two children,
Alberta and Anna. In 1909 he wedded Maria L. Hewitt, of Tacoma, and their
children are Rocena and John Hewitt. In his political views he is a republican,
Interested in the welfare of the party but not an office seeker. He is a member
of Zeta Psi, a college fraternity, and is much interested in athletic sports,
belonging to the college baseball and football teams. 

The Oregon Chapter of the American Institute of Architects numbers him among its
members and he is also identified with the Tacoma Chamber of Commerce. He is a
prominent Mason, having attained the thirty-second degree in the Scottish Rite
Consistory and his life has ever been guided by the beneficent teachings of
that order. He is thoroughly familiar with the scientific principles underlying
his profession and his activities have ever contributed to public progress and
improvement as well as to individual success. He resides in Tacoma and is widely
and favorably known throughout the Pacific northwest, his high professional
attainments and sterling characteristics winning for him the respect and esteem
of all with whom he has been associated.



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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.