Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Vol. 2. Chicago-Portland: Pioneer
Historical Pub. Co., 1922.  p. 572-3.

EDWARD J. DE HART

Edward S. De Hart, who developed and was a partner in the largest hardware store
of Portland and was thus closely associated with the commercial interests of the
city for a number of years, passed away November 18, 1916. He had been
identified with the Pacific coast country for more than a half century, having
removed to the west in 1861. He was born at Communipaw, New Jersey, April 1,
1836, a son of Edward and Elinor (Simmons) De Hart, the former a native of
Staten Island, while the latter was born in New Jersey.

Edward J. De Hart acquired a common school education in his native state and
initiated his business career in connection with the hardware trade, serving as
a clerk when but fifteen years of age. He was thus employed for a number of
years and in fact much of his life was devoted to the hardware business.
Attracted by the opportunities of the growing west, he made his way to San
Francisco, California, in 1861 and was there employed by Jacob Underhill &
Company, hardware merchants, Mr. Underhill being his brother-in-law. After a
brief period passed in San Francisco he was sent by the firm to Portland to
establish a branch store here and of this he had charge until 1868. The business
was closed out in October of that year and Mr. De Hart then returned to San
Francisco, where he took charge of the Underhill interests, continuing as
manager thereof until 1873. In the fall of the latter year he went to New York
city, where he represented the firm as buyer, with offices on Chambers street,
continuing a resident of the metropolis until the fall of 1875. At that date he
returned to San Francisco and in the following winter the firm of Underhill &
Company failed. In the succeeding spring Mr. De Hart went to Nevada City,
California, where he remained for a short time but soon after returned to San
Francisco in the spring of 1876, spending the summer there. In the fall of the
same year he came to Portland to look after the interests of R. R. Thompson and
Northrup and later became one of the partners in the business of Honeyman & De
Hart, which in the course of years developed into Portland's largest hardware
enterprise. For a long period he concentrated his efforts and attention upon
the upbuilding and development of the business, promoting the trade along the
most progressive lines and at all times adhering to the highest standards and
commercial ethics. In 1900 he severed his connection with the business and in
October of 1901 went to Medford, where he purchased an apple and pear orchard
and concentrated his energies upon horticultural pursuits, continuing actively
in the business for six years. This he sold in June, 1907, and returned to
Portland, where he afterward made his home. In the succeeding spring he
purchased a country residence at Hood River, which he used as a summer home.

In October, 1857, Mr. De Hart was united in marriage to Miss Elmira C. Thresher,
a daughter of Minord Sprague and Mary (Smith) Thresher. The marriage was
celebrated in New York city and they became the parents of a daughter, Ella,
whose birth occurred in the eastern metropolis.

Mr. De Hart was a lifelong republican, giving unfaltering allegiance at all
times to the party and its principles. He belonged to the Arlington Club and he
was one of the organizers of the Commercial Club of Portland, which elected him
its first president. He stood as a representative merchant and business man of
the city for a considerable period and his activities were ever of a character
which contributed to public progress and improvement as well as to individual
success. His plans were ever carefully formulated and promptly executed. He made
a close study of business conditions and ever looked beyond the exigencies of
the moment to the opportunities and possibilities of the future, both as
regarded his individual affairs and the public good. He is yet well remembered
by many of the older business men of Portland as a forceful factor in commercial
circles here. He had attained the ripe old age of eighty years when "the weary
wheels of life at length stood still," and his entire career was one of activity
and usefulness and the public was at all times either a direct or an Indirect
beneficiary of his efforts.


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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.