Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders." Vol. 3. Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 192 PROSPER VAN FRIDAGH Prosper van Fridagh, well known among the older residents of Portland, where from 1861 until 1887 he was engaged in the dry-goods and millinery- business, had a most interesting history and through the period of his residence in this city his good qualities commended him to the confidence and regard of his fellow townsmen. He was born in Holland, July 24, 1824, and was a son of an officer in the Dutch army, who died in Dutch Java during the early boyhood of Prosper van Fridagh. The mother was of German birth and after the death of her husband she returned to the fatherland, accompanied by her young son, who was, therefore, reared in Germany. Upon reaching military age he joined the army, with which he was connected in 1849 during the revolutionary period in that country. He took a decided stand in support of the revolutionists and because of his liberal education was appointed secretary to some of the officers who commanded the fort at Rastatt, in which a number of revolutionists were confined as prisoners. His position as secretary to the officers made it possible for him to locate some papers upon which were drawn maps and plans showing secret passages from the fort, and he lost no time in making use of those plans to aid some of the prisoners in making their escape from the fort. The refugees, however, were careless in that they left behind them some of the plans which Mr. van Fridagh had copied in his own handwriting and had given them to aid them in obtaining their liberty. Learning that these papers had been found and knowing that his life, therefore, was in great danger, he escaped from the army, secretly made his way across the frontier into France and thence to Belgium, where he secured passage on a vessel bound for the United States. In safety he reached the new world and located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where for a year he was employed in a store, during which period he mastered the English language, of which he had little knowledge when he came to the United States. In 1851 Mr. van Fridagh went to St. Paul, Minnesota, which at that time contained a population of but four families. While a soldier in the German army he had become betrothed to Miss Elizabeth Rumpen, a resident of the German town in which he had been reared. When forced to flee from Germany she was of necessity left behind, but in 1851 she joined him in Milwaukee, where they were married. In the same year they removed to St. Paul and Mr. van Fridagh established a commission and farmers' produce business, in which he continued successfully until 1858 and 18J9. In those two years there was an almost entire failure of crops. It was customary in his business to advance supplies to the farmers, waiting until after harvest for his pay, but on account of the two years' crop failures, it was impossible for him to make collections, and he was forced to stand by and see the business which he built up in eight or nine years, swallowed up in failure. His resolute spirit, however, would not allow him to consider himself defeated. He knew that all opportunity was not gone, and that chances still remained for success. While in Milwaukee, he had become acquainted with a gentleman who was a brother of Factor Franchette of the Hudson's Bay Company, who at that time was in Oregon. Mr. Franchette had visited his brother in the northwest, and was very enthusiastic concerning the climate and other natural advantages of Oregon, and believed in the future greatness of the state. His enthusiastic reports led Mr. van Fridagh to the determination to make his home in Oregon, and in 1860, accompanied by his family, he left St. Paul, proceeded down the Mississippi river and across the Gulf of Mexico, and after crossing the isthmus of Panama sailed for San Francisco, where he remained for a year. In 1861 he continued his journey to Oregon and, settling in Portland, established a small dry-goods and millinery store on Front street, near Yamhill, in a building known as the Harker building, which is still standing, and is one of the oldest landmarks of the city. At that time all business centered along the river front, for transportation was largely by the waterways, and shipments were facilitated in the proximity of the business houses to the docks. Eventually, Mr. van Fridagh removed to 109 First street, where he conducted his business until 1883, when he removed to the comer of Third and Pine streets, remaining at that location until 1882, when he retired from active life. For twenty-six years he had successfully conducted a dry-goods and millinery establishment building up a trade which increased with the growth of the city. Through this channel he contributed to the commercial upbuilding of Portland, and in other ways aided in the growth and progress of the city, whose welfare was ever a matter of deep interest to him. Here upon the coast he retrieved his lost possessions, and not only gained a comfortable competence, but also an honored name. He continued a resident of Portland until called to his final rest in September, 1902. His wife still survives and yet makes her home in the Rose City. Mr. and Mrs. van Fridagh were the parents of eight children, but only two are now living. Paul van Fridagh, to whom we are indebted for the information used in this article, was born in Portland, Oregon, in 1864, and after completing his education in the public schools, entered the office of the auditor of the Oregon Railroad & Navigation Company, occupying clerical positions in those offices for ten years. In 1890 he entered the employ of Boyd & Arnold, a well known insurance firm of Portland, with which he remained until the death of Mr. Arnold, when the entire business was turned over to him. This was in 1901. He now carries on a general fire insurance business, with offices at Nos. 603 and 604 Concord building, and has an extensive clientage, being one of the prominent representatives of fire insurance in this city. He married Caroline Wilson, who died in 1902, leaving one child, Hortense. For his second wife he chose Charlotte Gray, who died in 1908. As was his father, he is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he belongs to the Trinity Protestant Episcopal church. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2009 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.