Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co. 1893. p. 678. JOSEPH PAQUET a reputable and esteemed citizen of Oregon's metropolis, was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on March 19, 1841. His father, Francis X. Paquet, is a native of Canada, where he was born on January 15, 1811. On the 12th of July, 1836, his father married Marie Louise Lannadier de Langdean, a native of St. Louis, who was born in 1818. Both parents were of French ancestry. They had twelve children, only four of whom are now living. His father was a ship-builder by trade. He served with valor in the Black Hawk war, of which he is a respected veteran. In 1852 he made the long, wearisome journey overland to Oregon, and now resides in the metropolis, still happy, at eighty-one years of age, in the society of his wife, the partner for fifty-six years of his sorrows and cares, she being (1892) seventy-four years old. In making the journey to the far West, they started from St. Louis, Missouri, on May 1, 1852, going thence to St. Joseph by steamer, whence they started overland with four wagons, fifteen yoke of oxen, two cows and two horses. After many exciting experiences too numerous to incorporate here, they arrived at the Dalles, on September 22, when at length they made boats of their wagon beds,and floated in them down the Columbia river to the Cascades, and there took passage on the steamer Multnomah, arriving at Portland on October 10, 1852. Here they wintered, moving about the 1st of May, 1853, to Canemah, and in the fall of 1854, they occupied the property since known as the Paquet Donation Claim, on which they have built, and which they have brought to a high state of cultivation. Our subject relates the following reminiscence of the steamer Multnomah: a shaft extended across the deck from wheel to wheel, which was about two feet above the deck, there being steps for the passengers to walk up and over it. At either side of the boat were benches for the passengers to sit on. One day a man went to sleep on the bench, and his coat-tail caught on the shaft, which wound it up, and began to tear it off from him, very near severely injuring the man before the shaft could be stopped. This caused great excitement on the boat. The wagon boxes in which they came down the river, were fastened together, making a kind of raft; but on coming to the rapids, they were obliged to unload, separate the wagons and carry them on their shoulders over the rough mountains, around the rapids; their things having also to be carried in the same way, making it a tedious undertaking, entirely unexpected to them, and requiring the most determined effort to accomplish. On their arrival a Portland, the had no place in which to live, excepting a cheap warehouse near the Ainsworth dock, which had had hogs stored in it, and which was in a very bad condition. They cleared it out, put a partition across it, and spent the winter there, which was a hard one, being a very uncomfortable time for them. They were at Canemah for two years, and he with the other children, were sent to school there. It was taught by Judge Shattock and a lady teacher. She taught the boys, while the Judge taught the girls. Our subject subsequently learned the boat-builder's trade of his father, since when he has been a contractor of boats, wharves and dykes. He built the first wing dam built by the Government on the Willamette river, blowing out the first rock to clear the channel, and making the first rock to clear the channel, and making the first dykes in the Willamette river and slough. He has been, for the past eight years, a member of the firm of Paquet & Smith. They have pile drivers and build railroads, boats, wharves, warehouses, raise sunken steamers, and other matters of the kind, and do a very large business. They built the foundation of the Madison street bridge. Mr. Paquet was one of the incorporators of the Citizen's National Bank, of which he is a director and stockholder. He was one of the incorporators of the East Portland Gas Light Company, and was president for several years, until they sold to another company. Mr. Paquet was also one of the incorporators of the East Side Light and Water Company, of which he was a director until they sold the plant to the city. He has several ranches and considerable city property. He has added much to the interest of the city by the various building he has erected. His own residence in East Portland, is an ornament to the city, being a modern and tasteful structure, surrounded with attractive grounds. He was married in 1870 to Miss Elizabeth Blattenberger, a native of Baltimore, Maryland. They have a son and daughter. Mary R., was born in Canemah; and Joseph D., is a true son of Portland. In politics, our subject is a Republican, taking an interest in public affairs, having been for years a director of the schools and chairman of the Board. During his many years of residence of the metropolis, he has steadily grown in the esteem of his fellow-citizens, as a man of fidelity to trusts, integrity of purpose, and of intelligence and public-spirit. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.