Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 782.
 
LAZARUS BETTMAN

     Energy is the key which unlocks the portals of success, and perseverance
constitutes the path to prosperity. Possessing abundantly these qualities,
Lazarus Bettman stands today with those men whose energy and determination
justify their success and whose activity and integrity in business constitute an
example well worthy of emulation. Mr. Bettman was born in Bavaria, Germany,
March 20, 1835. His parents, Moses and Henrietta Bettman, spent their entire
lives in that country, where the mother died during the early boyhood of her son
Lazarus. The father was a merchant and manufacturer and while spending his
youthful days in his father's home Lazarus Bettman attended the public schools.
Later he learned the tailor's trade and in 1854 left Germany for the United
States, landing thirty-three days later at New York. He had made the trip by way
of Liverpool, sailing thence for the American metropolis, where he arrived on
the 30th of June. He engaged in tailoring in New York until November 20, 1855.
when he started for the Pacific coast, sailing by way of the isthmus of Panama,
and then embarking from its western border for his destination. He arrived at
Astoria on the 27th of December, and reached Portland in January, 1856. The town
of a few hundred inhabitants upon the western frontier seemed to promise little,
and yet Mr. Bettman recognized in it the elements which led to development and
ultimate prosperity. He engaged with Baum Brothers, wholesale merchants, and
that he proved capable in clerkships and various subordinate positions is
indicated by the fact that in 1863 he was admitted to the partnership, thus
becoming partial owner of the store at No. 59 Front street. His business
relations with the Baum brothers continued until 1869, when Mr. Bettman disposed
of his interests and removed to McMinnville, Oregon, where he established a
mercantile enterprise. In 1874 he returned to Portland. A short time later,
however, following the organization of the Grange Association, he was solicited
to take charge of the Grange store at McMinnville and remained there until 1881.
He then disposed of the store and returned to Portland, where for a short time
he conducted a grocery store. Soon afterward, however, his wife and son Henry
went to Europe for the purpose of educating the fatter in music under some of
the great masters of the old world. Mrs. Bettman returned after a year but Henry
remained and is today regarded as one of the finest violinists of the northwest,
being now the leader of the Orpheum Theater orchestra at Portland.
     Going again to McMinnville Mr. Bettman remained there until 1885. In the
meantime he had established a young man in business in Corvallis but the latter
was not making a success of the undertaking, so Mr. Bettman took the stock,
which he removed to McMinnville, and there conducted a store until 1899, when he
sold out and went to San Francisco, California. He continued in that city for
seven years, when on account of the earthquake he returned to Portland where he
has since lived retired.
   It was on the 15th of October, 1865, in Portland, that Mr. Bettman was united
in marriage to Miss Caroline Stern, a daughter of Hirsh and Matilda Stern, the
former a manufacturer of Bavaria, in which country he and his wife spent their
entire lives. Mrs. Bettman was born April I, 1844, in the vicinity of her
husband's birthplace and in 1864 came to the United States, landing at New York.
In 1865 she became a resident of California and six months later removed to
Oregon. Mr. and Mrs. Bettman have but one child. Henry, who was born September
3, 1866, and married Miss Lillian Wagner.  Mr. Bettman belongs to the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and is the only living charter member of the
lodge of McMinnville, which was organized in March, 1870.  He has held all of
the offices in the local organization, is the oldest member of Ellison
Encampment, No. 1, of Portland, and his wife is one of the oldest members of the
Rebekah lodge in years of continuous connection therewith.
     Such is the history of Lazarus Bettman.  The clerk of 1856 became one of
the most successful merchants of the northwest,his life typifying the
progressive spirit that has led to the upbuilding of Oregon.  He could not speak
the English language on his arrival in Portland, and attended the Portland
Academy for a time and also took lessons at night from Sylvester Pennoyer,
afterward governor of the state. He had the business ability to recognize
opportunities and the courage to utilize them. To him has been accorded not only
many years of successful business but also a number of years in which to enjoy
those pleasures which his success affords and hopes it is the hope of his
friends that he may be spared for many years to come.
 

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2007 by Diana Smith. Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.