Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 244.

ISAAC SELLING

     Deceased, who was for many years, one of the most prominent and greatly
esteemed merchants of Oregon City, was a native of Germany, where he was born
November 11, 1830.  His parents were Germans and his father was a reputable
merchant in his native land.
     The subject of this sketch, when a boy, assisted in his father's store, but
at the early age of sixteen years came to the United States.  He clerked for
three or four years in New Orleans, coming, in 1851, to Sonora, California,
where he embarked in the general merchandise business.  He continued
successively in that enterprise for twelve years, when he sold out, and came to
Oregon City, where, in 1867, he engaged in the same business, in which he
successfully continued until the time of his death, on January 23, 1890.  He had
been in active business for thirty-nine years, and his success was due to his
energy, thorough knowledge of his business to every detail of which he gave the
most careful scrutiny, and to his honorable methods, which inspired confidence,
and enabled him to build up a large and lucrative trade.
     He was married, in 1857, to Miss Bertha Garde, an estimable lady and a
native of Germany.  They had six children, the widow and a son and daughter,
Simon L. and Rose, now surviving.
     The business is still continued under the able management of his son, and,
out of honor to the father, is still conducted in his name.  The son, Mr. Samuel
L. Selling, is a native son of Oregon, and reflects credit on the land of his
birth, being strictly honorable, highly progressive and possessing a thorough
knowledge of his business.  He was born in McMinnville, July 16, 1867, being but
eight months of age when his parents removed to Oregon city, where he was reared
and educated, after which he was thoroughly taught the mercantile business in
his father's store.  His father early inculcated in the son the strictest rules
of business integrity, by the continued practice or which, this young man has
rapidly risen to a prominent position among business men of his city.
     The Fatherland has sent to America many superior men and women, who have
been distinguished by intelligence, honor and morality.  All of these qualities
met in a happy combination in the subject of this sketch, who died bemourned by
all as a truly worthy and good man.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in May 2005 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.