"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. p. 589.
 
HIRAM O. STIPE

     That the City and Suburban Street Railway Company made no mistake in the
selection of Mr. Stipe as their chief engineer is a fact which none will
dispute, as since he assumed the position in 1897 he has proved beyond a doubt
that he is the right man for the place. The plant has increased to three times
its original capital, and in 1901 he was sent to Cincinnati, Ohio, to
superintend the construction of machinery which the company had ordered for the
works in Portland. The boiler and engine have a combined power of thirty-six
hundred horse power, and Mr. Stipe has entire charge of the power plant.
     The first member of the Stipe family of whom we have any record is the
great-grandfather, a descendant of Irish ancestors, who participated in the
Revolutionary war. The grandfather, John Stipe, who was a native of Ohio,
settled near Chester, Ill., upon a farm, where his death occurred. The father,
Henry, was born upon this farm, and there also his death occurred when he was
only forty-seven years of age. His wife, Eliza Roberts, also a native of Ohio,
was the slaughter of James Roberts, a native of old Virginia, who settled in
Ohio in the early days and was also a pioneer wagon manufacturer in Illinois.
Mrs. Stipe makes her home in Illinois. The maternal great-grandfather was a
participant in the war waged with the mother country for the independence of the
colonists.
     Of the nine children, five sons and four daughters, who comprised the
parental family, one is deceased, and all of the sons reside in Oregon. William
resides in Portland, as does Charles, who holds a position with the City &
Suburban Street Railway Company. James died in this city, and J. R. is engaged
in the grocery business here. The third son in this family was Hiram O., who was
born near Chester, Ill., March 5, 1858, and until twenty years of age was reared
upon his father's farm. The district schools of his home vicinity afforded him
all the educational privileges he was destined to receive, and when twenty years
old he was apprenticed to N. O. Nelson, of St. Louis, to learn the machinist's
trade. After serving in that shop for three and one-half years he added to his
fund of experience by working in various machine shops in that city. In 1889 he
went to Anaconda, Mont., as chief engineer in the power plant of the lower works
of the Anaconda, which he held until 1892. In May of that year he came to
Portland as chief engineer and superintendent of the Oregon Pottery Company. He
had entire charge of the erection of all the engines and other machinery
installed in the plant, and after it was in running order he had charge of it
for two years. His next position was with the Union power house, where he was
assistant engineer for about three years. His previous experience had well
fitted him for the position which he now holds with the City & Suburban Street
Railway Company, whose duties he assumed in 1897, and judging by the esteem in
which he is held by his superiors it is safe to predict that he will be retained
in his present capacity indefinitely.
     In Randolph county, Ill., Mr. Stipe was united in marriage with Miss Mary
Wright, who was a native of that county. Six children were born to their union :
John, a baker in St. Louis ; Carrie, who holds a position with the Oregon
Railroad & Navigation Company ; Arthur, who has a cigar and fruit business in
Portland ; Elsner, who is attending Portland Academy; and Ruth and Inez, who
complete the family. Mr. Stipe finds time to devote to fraternal matters and
holds membership in Hassold Lodge, I.O.O. F., the Modern Woodmen and the local
lodge of the American Stationary Engineers, of which latter organization he has
served as president.  Politically he gives his vote and influence to further the
cause of the Republican party.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.