Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 924.
 
ORLANDO B. RIPPEY

     Excellent powers of organization, keen insight into business situations and
the understanding of the best methods of coordinating forces into a unified and
harmonious whole are the salient elements which have brought success to Orlando
B. Rippey and gained him the prominent position which he now occupies in
business and financial circles as president of the Oregon Merchants Mutual
Insurance Company, with the home office in Dayton. His life record had its
beginning in Branch county, Michigan, on the 13th of August, 1856, his parents
being William and Jane C. (Smith) Rippey, the former a native of New York and
the latter of Michigan. They were married in the Wolverine state, to which the
father had removed when a young man some time in the '30s. Orlando B. Rippey now
has in his possession a land warrant which was issued to his father by President
Buchanan. A farmer by occupation, William Rippey devoted much time to the
cultivation of his fields and during the Civil war was also active in public
service as township supervisor, in which connection there devolved upon him the
duty of serving papers drafting men into the army. He also had to see that the
families who were thus left unprovided for were supplied with the necessities of
life. In 1873 he removed to Nebraska but was not long permitted to enjoy his new
home, his death occurring four years later. His wife survived him for about
seven years, passing away in 1884, while on a visit to her children in Michigan.
     In his youthful days Orlando B. Rippey divided his time between the work of
the school room, the pleasures of the playground and such tasks as were assigned
him by parental authority. He was seventeen years of age at the time of the
removal of the family to Nebraska and for two years thereafter he attended
school in the winter seasons while during the summer months he worked upon the
home farm, but, thinking that other departments of labor offered better
opportunities, he secured a position with the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley
Railroad as station agent at Nickerson. Two years later he was transferred to
Ainsworth, Nebraska, where he remained until 1891, when he came to the coast,
settling near San Bernardino, in California. He acted as agent on the Santa Fe
railroad at Highland station and in 1893 he returned to Nebraska, where he
associated with R. M. Nesbit in merchandising, having a store at Ainsworth and
also a. branch store at Oakdale. He was prominently identified with commercial
pursuits in that section of the state until the time when he disposed of his
business interests in the middle west and came to Oregon. In Sumpter he bought a
stock of merchandise and conducted a store at that place for one year, but in
the fall of 1904 came to Dayton, where he has since made his home. Here he
established a store and won a liberal patronage in its conduct because of his
reasonable prices and his straightforward dealing. He continued in the business
until the 1st of January, 1911, and throughout that period was accounted one of
the foremost merchants of this city, his labors constituting an important
element in the commercial progress of Dayton. At length, however, he retired
from that line of business to give his entire attention to the management of his
insurance interests. In February, 1907, he had become the chief factor in the
organization of the Oregon Merchants Mutual Insurance Company, which does a
general fire insurance business, and at the time of the organization he was made
president, in which connection he has since served. The interests of the company
have been carefully systematized. its investments have been judiciously placed
and the safe conservative policy pursued commends it to the confidence and
support of all.
     On the 22d of June, 1881, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Rippey and
Miss Fannie Bostwick, of Woodbine, Iowa, and unto them have been born four
children: Rudolph C., now living in Portland; Jennie, who is employed in the
Security Trust & Savings Bank of Portland; and Fannie H. and Ruth. who are
attending commercial college in the same city.
     Mr. Rippey votes with the democratic party and has served for one year as
mayor, while at the present time he is serving for his third year as treasurer
of the city. He has ever exercised his official prerogatives in support of those
plans and projects which seem to work for the best interests of the community.
He is the secretary of the Commercial Club of Dayton, which was organized only a
year ago with fifteen members and now has fifty-four members. Within this short
time has been erected a five thousand dollar building for the use of the club,
and the progressive methods of the members are bringing about substantial
results in the upbuilding of the city and the exploitation of its resources and
advantages. Mr. Rippey also belongs to Yamhill Lodge, No. 20, I. 0. 0. F., of
Dayton, and holds membership in Nebraska Lodge, A. 0. U. W., at Oakdale.
Perhaps no record in this volume indicates more clearly what may be accomplished
by persistent, earnest effort, intelligently directed. Mr. Rippey has never
feared to venture where favoring opportunity has led the way and his sound
judgment has enabled him to recognize the value of a business situation and its
possibilities. Owing to the extent and importance of his interests, the
constructive policy he has ever followed and his straightforward dealing, he may
without invidious distinction be termed one of the foremost citizens of Dayton.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.