Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 385. H. E. AND J. B. STRAIGHT Commercial enterprise in Oregon City is ably represented by the firm of Straight & Salisbury, energetic, farsighted business men and members of one of the old and prominent families of Clackamas county. Hiram E. and J. B. Straight, members of this firm, are grandsons of Hiram Straight, who was born in New York state and crossed the continent in 1843, making the long and dangerous journey to the Pacific northwest in a covered wagon drawn by oxen. There were few white settlers in Oregon at that time and he experienced all of the hardships and privations of frontier life. His donation land claim was situated at what was called Paper Mill Station in the early days and is now known as Parkplace. In the east he had married, and his wife, Susan Straight, was killed about 1870 while crossing the tracks of the Southern Pacific railroad. In their family were six children: Cyrus, deceased; Mrs. Jenny Bingman, who lives in Canemah, Oregon; Mrs. Julia Frost, who has passed away; Hiram (II); John, deceased; and Mrs. Mary Cason, who has also passed away. All of the children were natives of Oregon except Cyrus, who was born in the east. Hiram Straight (II) developed a number of farms, which he afterward sold to advantage. For some time he engaged in merchandising and also practiced medicine and dentistry in the early days before a license was required. He mastered the tongues of various Indian tribes and the redskins came to him from miles around for medical treatment. Toward the close of the '60s he located in Wheatland, Yamhill county, and early in the '70s returned to Paper Mill Station, where he followed agricultural pursuits for about ten years. He then purchased the old Grim place and for several years cultivated that farm, which was situated near Damascus in Clackamas county. About 1882 he opened a grocery store in Oregon City and later sold the business. He spent about a year in Alaska and in 1890 resumed his mercantile activities in Oregon City. Mr. Straight was identified with the Masonic order and shaped his conduct by its beneficent teachings. Late in the '70s he became a member of the state legislature and was deputy sheriff of Clackamas county under Sheriff Schepps. For several terms he was mayor of Oregon City and was also elected justice of the peace, creditably filling every office to which he was called. The greater part of his life was spent in this locality, and his career was terminated by death about the year 1900. His wife, Ivy (Grim) Straight, was born in Middletown, Ohio, and in 1852 came to Oregon with her parents, Jacob and Susan Grim, who bought the rights to a donation land claim situated about two miles from the town of Carus in Clackamas county. To Mr. and Mrs. Straight were born six children: William, who lives in Olympia, Washington; Hiram E., mentioned above; J. G., of St. Helens, Oregon; Mrs. Marguerite Gratz, of Idaho Falls, Idaho, who has two children; J. B., of this review; and J. I., who went with the Hawley expedition to Mexico and was killed during the return trip in 1924, leaving a widow and two children. Hiram E. Straight was born at Wheatland in 1871 and received his primary instruction at Paper Mill Station, later attending the Damascus school and the Oregon City Seminary. His first money was earned while working for the Crown Willamette Paper Company and afterward he was in the employ of Pope & Company, a hardware firm. For twenty years he was thus engaged, mastering the trades of a plumber and tinner, and then formed a partnership with H. C. Salisbury, who had also worked in the paper mill. The firm of Straight & Salisbury existed from 1908 until 1924 and the business has since been conducted under the same name of Straight & Salisbury. Their establishment is located at No. 817 Main street. They have installed the plumbing system in many buildings in Oregon City and enjoy a well merited reputation for thorough reliability and first-class work. In 1900 Hiram E. Straight married Miss Mollie Hawkins, a daughter of T. B. and Elizabeth Hawkins, who migrated from Kentucky to Oregon in the '80s. Mr. Hawkins has passed away and his widow resides in Oregon City. Along fraternal lines Mr. Straight is connected with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his political allegiance is given to the democratic party. During the '90s he was city treasurer for four terms and later was councilman for one term. He is ever ready to serve his community when needed and has thoroughly demonstrated his worth as a business man and citizen. J. B. Straight was born in Oregon City in 1885 and attended the local schools. At the age of fifteen he enlisted in the United States Navy, in which he remained until he was a young man of twenty-one, visiting many parts of the world. In 1906 he entered the merchant marine service, with which he was connected until 1910, and has since been a member of the firm of Straight & Salisbury. The partners are expert plumbers and tinsmiths as well as capable executives, and as a result of their combined efforts the business has constantly expanded. In 1913 J. B. Straight married Miss Julia Schultz and the children of this union are Hiram S. and Ralph J., both of whom are public school pupils. Mr. Straight belongs to the local camp of the Woodmen of the World and is also affiliated with the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He lends the weight of his support to all projects for the general good, and his personal qualities are such as inspire esteem and friendship. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2010 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.