Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 388. J. R. BOWLES J. R. Bowles, a well known capitalist of Portland, has achieved the full measure of success, his business being long classed with the leading steel interests of the Pacific northwest. He is a native of the city and a member of one of its oldest families. His parents were Jesse T. and Minerva (Wilson) Bowles, of whom the former came to Portland in 1855 and soon afterward purchased a tract of land in this vicinity, developing one of the fine ranches of Multnomah county. At one time he lived in Vancouver, Washington, and while a resident of that city was elected to the state legislature. His wife was a daughter of G. A. Wilson, who crossed the plains with the pioneers of 1844 and settled on a donation claim, cultivating a farm in the present suburbs of the city of Portland. In the acquirement of an education J. R. Bowles attended the public schools of Portland and early in his career became connected with the Northwest Steel Company, devoting the best years of his life to the development of that industry. As president of the company he manifested the fine perspective, the rare judgment, the resourcefulness, decisiveness and administrative power of the man of large affairs. His associates were Charles D. Bowles, a brother, Walter B. Beebe, vice president, and William H. Cullers, chief engineer. The following description of the industry was published by Fred Lockley in the Oregon Journal under date of April 18, 1916. "The buildings of this manufacturing concern cover five of its ten acres of ground, entered at the foot of Sheridan street, South Portland. One of these buildings, in which many of its men are employed, is sixty feet wide and seven hundred feet long. The premises have a deep water frontage of six hundred feet, and any ocean vessel may land at the company's spacious dock. Its grounds extend thirteen hundred feet back from the river, to the tracks of the Southern Pacific Railroad. It has an output of from fifteen hundred to two thousand tons of steel a month. It employs one hundred and seventy-five men÷and keeps them busy. "The corporation came into existence in 1903, and from a modest beginning has grown to its present dimensions, which places it among the foremost enterprises of its kind on the coast. As an example of the management's ability to fulfill any demand made upon it, it may be related that when contracts were let for the Interstate bridge now being constructed over the Columbia river between Portland and Vancouver, Washington, its steel work was allotted partly to Pacific coast and partly to eastern contractors. Each agreed to deliver their apportionment at a certain time and, to its credit, the Northwest Steel Company completed its task and had its steel on the ground three months ahead of time, and it had the heaviest members of the structure. They weighed three times as much as those fabricated in the east and were the largest ever made on the coast. "The steel for the Meier & Frank building is another instance of the Portland concern's splendid equipment, also that of the Stevens building. The steel for the fine Wilcox building was supplied by the Northwest people, as well as that for a majority of all the big structures of the city. "At this time the Northwest Steel Company is preparing the steel for the Seattle Times newspaper building, which will be one of the finest edifices in that city, and is fabricating that for the large coliseum being erected there. The steel for the Masonic Temple in Seattle likewise came from the Portland institution. Numerous county officials of the northwest have discovered that this Portland industry has the best steel fabricating facilities on the Pacific coast÷a fact which seems to be conceded by all engaged in that line of work. Its ramifications extend to all parts of Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, California, Nevada, Alaska, etc. It supplies fabricated steel for bridges, steel buildings, steel towers, or for any other purpose for which this material is employed, and that it may expeditiously fill all orders, it carries a stock of eight thousand to ten thousand tons ready for instant delivery or use. "When the plant of this important enterprise was being assembled it was determined to have it complete in all respects. If it would be profitable to establish such a concern at all, its prospects of success would be broadened by being prepared for any task which might be presented. This idea and program was carried out, and as a result there is no job too big, as there is none too small, for the Northwest Steel Company. At its large dock, for example, there is unloaded its importations of pig iron, coming as ballast from Scotland very largely; it is prepared to work four hatches at once, thus expediting the discharge of the cargo and releasing the vessel on the shortest possible time. An immense crane travels back and forth the length of its seven hundred foot structure, handling dozens of tons of steel as readily as if the burden were but a package. Its labor-saving appliances compass all, practically, that's made, and its conveniences are as numerous as the genius of man has yet devised. "'We are prepared to compete with any similar institution in the country,' Mr. Beebe says. The reputation of our plant is well established. Our facilities are the equal of any and we are well known to contractors in all parts of the Pacific northwest. And in addition to supplying structural steel for buildings and bridges, we sell it at wholesale. We likewise wholesale pig iron, coke and coal, and do quite an extensive business in this line. These products are shipped to all sections of the northwest, thus bringing this industry in touch with all parts of the far west region and incidentally broadening the reputation of Portland as a supply point for any human need. Of course those not interested in our line have no reason to contemplate the magnitude of our work, therefore are ignorant of its importance to the community. When the busy season opens, probably in a month or two, we will doubtless have occasion to largely increase our force, thus augmenting our payroll to a considerable extent, and this is what helps to make a town prosperous. "'Portland ought to and doubtless will become the citadel of teeming industries. Every citizen ought to feel it personally incumbent upon him to help in the attainment of this end by buying his necessities from the home made list. This advice, of course, does not refer to our output but to that of every manufacturer of family requirements, no matter what they may be. Northwest Steel products do not go into the home. They are not consumed by women and children, yet each of us should be interested in building up the local industries just the same. If this were accomplished÷if additional factory buildings were to be planted here because citizens of Portland and the state made them necessary by their patronage÷it is likely we would be furnishing steel for their buildings, so this enterprise would, in a roundabout way, become a link in the endless chain. Don't you see it would?'" During 1916-17 the buildings and shipways of the Northwest Steel Company were greatly enlarged and covered twelve acres. The output of the plant averaged over five thousand tons of steel per month and work was furnished to more than five thousand persons. The corporation constructed forty-two steel ships, consisting of eighty-eight ton cargo vessels and twelve thousand ton oil carriers, and the shops also produced a large amount of building and bridge steel. During the World war the firm rendered notable service to the government and completed its ship-building program in 1920. At that time the plant was dismantled and the property was disposed of. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.