Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 469.
 
ROBERT E. MENEFEE

     A pioneer realtor of Portland, Robert E. Menefee has done much important
work as a city builder and has also been active in community affairs. He was
born November 28, 1865, and is a native of Santa Rosa, California. His parents,
James Marion and Sarah A. (Hardesty) Menefee, came to the Pacific coast in 1864
by the overland route and his father engaged in contracting in California, also
developing a farm. In later life he established his home in Portland and died in
1901 as the result of a street car accident. The mother also passed away in the
Rose city, in which three of her sons are now residing. J. S., an elder brother
of Robert E. Menefee, arrived here late in the '70s and is now retired. The
other son, J. P. Menefee, came to Portland about the year 1883 and is one of its
well known real estate dealers.
     Robert E, Menefee was reared in the Golden state and received a public
school education. He became a painter and paper hanger and for a time was
engaged in contracting in California. In 1884 he came to Oregon and spent ten
months in Portland. The Northern Pacific Railroad was then being extended
through this section of the country and Mr. Menefee and his brother were
employed in painting and papering the company's depots. Afterward Robert E.
Menefee located in San Diego, California, where he lived for three years, and in
1888 returned to Portland, becoming a permanent resident of the city at that
time. For two years he devoted his attention to contract work and since 1890 has
engaged in the real estate and insurance business. He platted Hudson Acres and
the Victoria Park addition, also improving Portland by the building of more than
one hundred attractive homes. His investments have been judiciously placed and
many important property transfers have been effected through his agency. Mr.
Menefee is regarded as an expert valuator and his advice concerning real estate
transactions is sound and reliable. He writes insurance of various kinds and the
growth of his business has paralleled that of the city.
     Mr. Menefee's first wife was Mary Lydia Osburn, a daughter of William
Osburn, a California pioneer, who was one of the builders of the Central Pacific
Railroad. Mrs. Menefee passed away in 1894, leaving a daughter, Mary, who is the
wife of Moyer D. Cole, of Fresno, California. Mr., Menefee was married in 189&
to Miss Laura. L. Fenton, a native of Brownsville, Oregon, and a daughter of
Hugh Fenton, one of the early settlers of the state,
     Mr. Menefee belongs to the local camp of the Woodmen of the World and for
forty years has been affiliated with Industrial Lodge, No. 99, of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In Masonry he has attained the thirty-second
degree and is also identified with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, the
Columbia Country Club and the local real estate board. His political allegiance
is given to the republican party and his public spirit was expressed by eight
years' service as a member of the city council. His life has been one of
unabating industry and his worth in the community is uniformly conceded.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has
no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.