Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders."  Vol. 2.  Chicago
- Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 217.
 
HON. PHILIP A. MARQUAM

     Affection and respect are heartily accorded Hon. Philip A. Marquam who, at
the age of eighty-eight years, is still a resident of Portland. He has been
identified with the west since the early days of mining excitement in
California, has, by his record, written an honorable and creditable chapter in
the judicial history of Multnomah county, and through his real estate operations
has contributed in substantial measure to the material development and
improvement of Portland.  Moreover, what he has accomplished covers a wide
reach, for he started out in life without the assistance of inherited wealth or
the aid of influential friends.
     A native of Maryland, Judge Marquam was born in February, 1823,
representing a family that had resided in that state from a period antedating
the Revolutionary war. His maternal grandfather, Henry Poole, was one of the
most extensive planters and prominent residents of his day. The father of Judge
Marquam removed with his family to Indiana during the boyhood of the future
jurist and they lived upon a farm when that state was a frontier district. The
limited financial resources of the father made it incumbent that the boy should
assist in the farm work, but his alert mind reached out for those things which
stimulate intellectual activity, and as opportunity offered he would take up
such books as he could secure. When following the plow he would often have a
volume with him and con over a self-imposed lesson as he trod the furrows. Again
when leisure was his he would lie under the branches of some wide-spreading tree
and pore over his books. Thus little by little he gained the education which
fitted him for the important positions which he was to occupy in later life. He
thoroughly mastered the elementary branches of learning and some of the sciences
and then took up the study of Latin and the higher mathematics. His inclination,
however, was for the legal profession. The story of eloquent lawyers and eminent
jurists thrilled him and he determined to follow in their footsteps. Securing
the necessary text-books, he studied at home under the direction of G. S. Orth,
afterward representative in congress from Indiana. He completed his studies at
the Bloomington (Indiana) law school and was admitted to the bar at La Fayette,
that state, in the year 1847.
     Judge Marquam practiced for a brief period in Indiana but the discoveries
of gold in California attracted him and with the hope of rapidly realizing
wealth in that state he crossed the plains in 1849, making the long and arduous
journey across the hot stretches of sand and over the mountains. At length he
reached the mines and with pick and shovel began his search for the precious
metal. At times the Indians went upon the war Path and he joined little
companies of miners to repel the redmen, for an almost constant warfare was
waged between the two races. Judge Marquam sustained several serious wounds
while thus engaged and was unable to work for several weeks. When he had
recovered his fellow townsmen, with one voice, chose him to the office of judge
of Yolo county and he served upon the bench for one year, but resigned to come
to Oregon.
     Arriving in Portland, Judge Marquam opened a law office and was soon
successfully engaged in practice.  No dreary novitiate awaited him.  A few cases
served to prove his ability as a lawyer and he was accorded an extensive client.
age. It was found that he was able to cross swords in forensic combat with the
ablest lawyers of the northwest, that his preparation of cases was thorough and
his presentation sound and logical. Again he was called to the bench when, in
1862, he was elected judge of Multnomah county and his services received
endorsement the following spring in his reelection.
     After retiring from office Judge Marquam refused to take an active interest
in politics, concentrating his energies upon his real-estate investments and the
management of his property interests. With remarkable prescience he foresaw the
growth of Portland, realizing that eventually a large city would spring up here
because of the natural advantages caused by its waterways and the fact that it
lay in a most rich and productive section of the state. Feeling sure that its
commercial and industrial prominence would in time make it a city of
metropolitan proportions, and that the property would in consequence
continuously increase in value, he purchased real-estate from time to time in
Portland and its suburbs and still owns much valuable property here. At one time
he became the owner of two hundred and ninety-eight acres known as Marquam's
Hill, constituting one of the most beautiful districts and attractive building
sites in the city of Portland. He has since disposed of much of this large tract
and his own home still stands upon a portion of it, surrounded by a beautiful
lawn. The sale of his property has brought to him a substantial and gratifying
financial return.
     On the 8th of May, 1853, Mr. Marquam was married to Miss Emma Kern, and
unto them were born eleven children, four sons and seven daughters. Mr.
Marquam's delight in his success has largely come from the fact that it has
enabled him to provide liberally for his family. His political allegiance has
ever been given to the republican party and its principles have found in him a
stalwart advocate. He has ever been loyal to its interests but has never
sacrificed the public weal to partisanship nor the interests of his constituents
to self aggrandizement. He has now passed the eighty-eighth milestone on life's
journey and his are "the blessed accompaniments of age˜honor, riches, troops of
friends."

*******************

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