"Portrait and Biographical Record of Portland and Vicinity, Oregon." Authors: "a
compilation of this work....by a number of writers".  Chapman Publishing Co;
Chicago, 1903. pp. 212 & 214.
 
HENRY FLECKENSTEIN
 
     In the historic city of Worms, in the province of Rhein-Hessen, on the
river Rhine, Germany, Henry Fleckenstein, one of the substantial citizens of
Portland, was born September 14, 1838. In the shadow of the Dom or cathedral,
with its ten towers, and externally one of the finest Romanesque ecclesiastical
structures in the world, Daniel Fleckenstein, the father of Henry, conducted his
business enterprise during his active life; and the youth came and went to the
public schools, and engaged in his pastimes in the ancient streets bustling with
activity long before the coming of the Romans, which were sacked by the French
in 1689, and where the diet of Maximilian was convened in 1495, and that of
Luther in 1521.
 
     Among the occupations to which Worms owes much of its continued prosperity
is that of brewing and wine making, inspired no doubt by the grape raising
possibilities of Rhenish Germany. It was not surprising, therefore, that Henry
Fleckenstein, third oldest of his father's nine children, and the only one in
America, should have turned his attention to a mastery of the brewing business,
at which he was apprenticed at the age of sixteen. Having heard much of the
larger chances to be found in the United States, the young man came to New York
in 1860, the sailing vessel in which he embarked landing on this side after
thirty-five days' contest with wind and calm. Until 1863 he worked at his trade
in St. Louis, also a brewing headquarters, and in May of the same year embarked
at New York for Aspinwall, from where he crossed the Isthmus, and proceeded by
steamer to San Francisco. After a year at his trade in the coast city he went to
the Sandwich Islands, intending to start in business, but owing to his inability
to secure a license, was compelled to work for others similarly employed. After
a thorough test of the prevailing conditions on the islands he found that his
health was impaired and that a change of climate was imperative. Returning to
San Francisco, he came at the end of a month to Portland, where he was employed
for a year or more in the Weinhard brewery as a foreman, after which he started
a bottling works in the fall of 1866. One year later was inaugurated the
wholesale liquor business in which he has since been engaged. From that time
until September, 1876, he was alone in the business. He then sold one-half
interest to S. J. Meyers and this partnership continued until March 4, 1902,
when Mr. Fleckenstein disposed of his interest to Mr. Meyers. He then opened his
present store under the style of Henry Fleckenstein & Co., on April 1st of the
same year. This venture has proved a success and Mr. Fleckenstein is now
supplying a constantly increasing trade in this and other states.
 
     In Portland Mr. Fleckenstein was united in marriage with Christine
Wittmann, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and daughter of Nicholas Wittmann, who
came to Oregon in 1865, and died in the state of his adoption. Four children
have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Fleckenstein, of whom Henry F. and B. F. are in
business with their father; Amelia is now Mrs. Adams; and Ella is living at
home. Great credit is due Mr. Fleckenstein for his practical interest in the
development of the park system of Portland, and as a member of the park
commissioners he has vastly contributed to the good work undertaken by this
body. He has filled a number of political offices in Portland, among them being
that of councilman of the fifth ward for one term. Socially and fraternally he
is well known, being identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks,
the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Ancient Order of United Workmen,
and is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and the Commercial Club. 


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2017 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.