Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 646. JOHN M. MANN John M. Mann, commissioner of public utilities for the city of Portland, has handled the affairs of his department in a manner that has reflected creditably on his sound judgment and his effective efforts in safeguarding the public interests. He was born in Corning, New York, on the 3d of September, 1872, and is a son of Maurice and Johannah (Dwane) Mann. His father, who was an iron moulder by trade, took his family to England, Ireland and Scotland in 1878, and thence to Australia. In 1880 he returned to this country, landing at San Francisco, where he remained until the following year, when he came to Portland, where he spent his remaining days, both parents being now deceased. John M. Mann, who accompanied his parents on their journey almost around the globe, was about nine years old when he came to Portland and he received his educational training in the Number Two, Harrison street and Park street public schools. At the age of twelve years he began to earn his living as a newsboy, and worked at other occupations until 1887, when he became a printer's "devil," learning every detail of that business. On March 1, 1900, he started a printing business on his own account and, meeting with encouraging success, in 1907 he established the Ivy Press on Fourth street, near the Multnomah 'Hotel, and later moved to the Pittock block, where the business remains, though it is now operated by his son, Maurice R. In 1916-17 he served as a member of the state legislature, and in 1917 was elected commissioner of the department of public utilities, in which position he has been retained, by successive reelections, to the present time. He has devoted himself closely to his official duties, in the exercise of which he has been guided by a determination to render the best possible service to the people of his city. In this he has been eminently successful and is regarded as well qualified for the office which he holds. In 1894 Mr. Mann was united in marriage to Miss Ruth A. Copley, a daughter of Robert and Octavia (Ford) Copley. In both paternal and maternal lines she is descended from pioneer stock, the Copley family have emigrated from England to this state in 1860, while the Ford family came across the plains to Oregon in 1852. Mr. and Mrs. Mann are the parents of a son, Maurice Robert, who was born December 11, 1899, attended the University of Oregon, enlisted in the Students' Army Training Corps, and is now the owner and president of the Ivy Press. Mr. Mann has always given his political support to the republican party, and is a member of the Masonic order, in which he has received the Knight Templar degree of the York rite and the thirty-second degree of the Scottish rite, and is also connected with Al Kader Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S.; the Knights of Pythias, in which he has passed through the chairs; the Order of the Eastern Star, the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the Modern Woodmen of America, the Grange, and the Chamber of Commerce, in which he is serving on the industries committee. A man of sound convictions on questions of public policy, with the courage to stand for what he believes to be right, and honorable in all of his affairs, he is well worthy of the respect and esteem in which he is held throughout the community in which he lives. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.