Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 3. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 900 Includes portrait CAPTAIN DELMER SHAVER The marine history of the state of Oregon would not be complete without some mention of one of its best known and honorable representatives, Captain Delmer Shaver, who has spent practically his entire life in the development of the Shaver Transportation Company, and a great deal of credit is due him for the wonderful strides of progress and success that this company has made under his careful supervision as its president -- he having served continuously with the company since its organization in every capacity of any importance and is considered by good authorities as one of the best posted men on marine Diesel engines and equipment on the Pacific coast. Captain Shaver was born in Portland, on the old Shaver ranch which borders on the Willamette river, December 31, 1866, and is the son of George Washington and Sarah (Dixon) Shaver. His boyhood days were spent on the old ranch, and being ambitious he sold apples from the family orchard, also sold milk, working up a little route for himself, during which time he also attended school and obtained a good education for this early period. Later he assisted his father in raising thoroughbred Herford cattle, which they sold to the various dairymen in this section, and he also looked after the loading of ships with wood to be used for fuel, his father operating large wood docks on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. The first office of the company was located at the foot of Washington street, where the company did a large passenger business, and later the offices were moved to the foot of Davis street, and in June, 1927, the offices were again moved, this time to their present location at the foot of Fessenden street. Captain Shaver graduated from the Columbia Commercial College in the class of 1886. In 1889 he married Miss Nellie McDuffee, daughter of John and Mary (Wells) McDuffee, when he moved onto a farm of his father's which covered an area of from what is now 14th street to 24th street, East Portland, which was known as the "old Allard farm." In 1890 Captain Shaver became associated with his father and brothersÑJames W. (who is now deceased) and George M., and later another brother, Lincoln M. (who is also now deceased) in the steamboat business on the Columbia and Willamette rivers. His first position was on the steamer "Manzanillo," of which his brother George M. was captain, and one year later he received his mate's papers. From then on, his advancement was very rapid, until he became the master of the steamer "G. W. Shaver." For many years the company has operated steamboats in the passenger and freight service on the Columbia and Willamette rivers, but are now exclusively engaged in the towing business, operating about a dozen boats, many of them being high-powered steamers, while others are gasoline tugs. For more than a quarter of a century Delmer Shaver has been a member of the Shaver Transportation Company, and has served in every position of importance, having been captain of the steamer "George W. Shaver," the "Sarah Dixon" and the "Henderson" for sixteen years, and at the death of his father, which occurred October 26, 1900, he was made president of the company, which office he still holds. Their business has become one of the largest and most important on the river, placing them in a position of leadership among the representatives of marine interests in the northwest. Captain Delmer Shaver was obliged to leave the operating end of the business in 1896, and entered the office where he has assumed the duties of president and handles the traffic end for the company. Captain and Mrs. Shaver had three children, namely: James Delmer, who was born December 25, 1903, and who met his death while swimming, when attending school at Corvallis, Oregon; Ellen Louise, who is attending the Girls Polytechnic school; and Doris, who attends the Grant high school. Fraternally Captain Shaver is a member of Portland Lodge, No. 55, A. F. & A. M.; Mount Hood Chapter, No. 50, R. A. M.; Oregon Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; and Al Kader Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S. He also is a member of the Auld Lang Syne Society and is a republican in politics. He and his wife are members of the Westminster Presbyterian church. In 1900 he erected a fine home at Vancouver avenue and Broadway, and in 1914 he built his present residence at 939 The Alameda (Drive) which is one of the finest residences in Portland. Captain Shaver is interested in a number of other enterprises in Portland, and has always been interested in any movement for the betterment of mankind. He is public-spirited and possesses the spirit which is found in the real western-man, and his faithful wife is deserving for her share of her husband's success. He has been a hard worker all his life, and now enjoys the fruits of his efforts of early life. During the attendance of his son James Delmer at the State College at Corvallis, Oregon, Captain Shaver financed the building of the Omega Upsilon Fraternity House for boys at a consideration of twenty-six thousand dollars, and was himself initiated into the fraternity. Submitted to the OR. Bios Project in September 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. The submitter has no further information on the individual featured in the biography.