Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders."  Vol. 3. 
Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 683.
 
FERDINAND H. DAMMASCH, D. D. S., M. D.

     Endowed with a natural aptitude for the healing art and also with an
abundance of ambition and energy, Dr. Ferdinand H. Dammasch has been deservedly
very successful as a medical practitioner in Portland. Many physicians who have
attained great success worked much longer in securing the same patronage which
now comes to Dr. Dammasch. Being familiar with local conditions from his youth
up, he began among friends and, bringing to his profession a well trained mind
and an up-to-date knowledge of the best methods in his profession, he very soon
attained a position of comparative independence.
     He was born in San Francisco, California, in 1879. When he was three years
of age his parents moved to Portland and here he was reared and received his
preliminary education in the public schools. Having decided to follow a
professional career, he was for two years a student in the North Pacific Dental
College and in 1902 was graduated from the Philadelphia Dental College. He next
became a special student of medicine at the University of Strassburg, Germany,
where he continued for one year. Returning to this country, he entered the
Temple University of Philadelphia and was graduated from the medical department
of that institution with the degree of M. D. in 1905.
     After completing his medical course Dr. Dammasch returned to Portland,
where he has since been engaged in practice and where he has met with a favor
which is the reward of conscientious application and thorough acquaintance with
the principles of a trying profession. In July, 1909, he was appointed health
officer of the city and since that time has devoted much of his time toward
health problems of a public nature. He is a member and trustee of the City and
County Medical Society and is president of the Portland Medical Club. In
fraternal circles he is identified with the Masonic order, being a member of
Washington Chapter, No. 18, R. A. M.; Oregon Commandery, No. 1, K. T.; Al Kader
Temple of the Mystic Shrine, while in social circles he has for many years held
membership in the Multnomah Athletic Club
     It was a result of great effort and repeated disappointments that Dr.
Dammasch, with two others of German extraction, founded and organized the
confederation of German speaking societies of Oregon, now commonly known
The German American Alliance, which has become a member of the national body
of that name. This alliance now comprises thirty-eight German speaking
societies in all parts of the state with a total membership of over eight
thousand men of German Austrian or Swiss antecedents, and is constantly
expanding until ultimately it will be represented in every county of the state
of Oregon. It was truly a great work to bring together such an organization, of
which Dr. Dammasch is today the recognized head, and he and his friends may be
justly proud of their work.
     At Philadelphia, while pursing his studies at the medical college Dr.
Dammasch was united in marriage, on September 1, 1904, to Miss Nellie J.
Cascaden. Two children have blessed the union, Louis and Sarah Josephine.    
     At the outset of a career that gives broad promise of usefulness, Dr.
Dammasch has the confidence and support of many friends and acquaintances who
prophesy for him a happy and brilliant future. He recognizes medicine as a most
absorbing profession and that only he who brings to it unusual talents and
unalterable determination to win can reach the highest rank. He must have
thorough education in his calling and a sound body as well as a good brain. Such
a man is the subject of this review and of him it may safely be said, " he will
succeed because he contains within himself the elements of success."
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.