"Portland The Rose City, Pictorial and Biographical." Vol. 1. S. J. Clarke
Publishing Co., 1911.  p. 395.
 
ALEXANDER LUMSDEN
     The problems of life and death are unsolvable to the human mind. It seemed
hard that Alexander Lumsden should be called from this life when he had much
that made life worth living. His business activity and his sterling worth had
gained him the confidence and high regard of his fellowmen and his enterprising
spirit and judicious investment had brought him a large measure of success that
was represented by extensive investments in realty. His property brought to him
a handsome annual income, so that business cares did not weigh heavily upon him,
but death claimed him on the 17th of August, 1910, and Portland lost a
representative and worthy citizen.
     Mr. Lumsden was born in Lefroy, Canada, September 30, 1856. His parents,
William and Jean Lumsden, were both of Scotch descent and spent their entire
lives in Canada, where the father followed the carpenter's trade. Their son
Alexander, who was the eldest of the family, attended school in his native city
and afterward took up the trade of plastering, which he followed there and also
for about a year after coming to Portland. In 1875 he arrived in this city and
some months later became connected with the dairy business, remaining in the
employ of others for a rime but later engaging in the same business on his own
account in Portland. He afterward purchased a farm of about eight hundred acres
on Sauvie's island, where he carried on farming and dairying, conducting an
extensive business. He was also at one time engaged in the grocery business in
Portland for a few years, but about six years prior to his death he put aside
all business cares save for the supervision of his real-estate interests. He had
extensive property holdings in and around Portland and the rapid settlement of
this part of the country brought a rapid increase in realty values. Not only did
he own eight hundred acres on Sauvie's island but also a forty-acre tract on the
Base line road and considerable city property. In its management he displayed
keen business discernment and sound judgment.
     The happy home life of Mr. Lumsden had its beginning in his marriage on the
27th of May, 1879, in Portland, to Lucy A. King, who was born in this city and
is a daughter of Amos N. and Malinda (Fuller) King, who were early settlers
here. Her father was born near Columbus, Ohio, April 22, 1822, learned and
followed the tanner's trade in the east and in 1845 traveled overland to the
northwest, spending the first winter on the Tualitin plains and locating in
King's Valley. In 1849 he took up his abode in Portland, then, indeed, a city in
embryo, and here opened a tannery. He remained a resident of Portland to the
time of his death, which occurred November 11, 1901, but for many years prior to
his demise lived retired. His wife was born in Columbus, Ohio, and journeyed
westward over the plains in the same wagon train with Mr. King.  They were
married in Oregon and here reared their family. The death of Mrs. King occurred
in Portland, January 30, 1887. Their daughter Mrs. Lumsden has practically spent
her entire life in Portland. By her first marriage she had two children: Martha,
is the widow of John J. Moore, whose death occurred in November 1905, and has
two children, Joseph A. and Lucien A., Mrs. Moore now resides in Portland with
her mother; Lillie A. is the wife of W. B. Stevens of Portland, by whom she has
one son, Alexander W. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Lumsden are: Amos E., who
wedded Tomima Moar and lives in Portland; Alexander K., who married Mamie
Stumpp; Mabel, who is the wife of James S. Reeder and has one child. Hazel M.;
and Hazel, the wife of G. E. Humberstone, of Portland.
     Mr. Lumsden was popular in the societies and organizations to which he
belonged. He was a member of Multnomah Camp, No. 77, W. 0. W., and of the
Fraternal Union. He possessed a social genial: nature, was always approachable
and his success was allowed to make no difference in his friendships. Deep
regret was felt when death claimed him, for he had gained many warm friends in
Portland and this part of the state, and his remains were laid to rest in
Riverview cemetery.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
This same biography also appears in the following book:
"Portland, Oregon, Its History and
Builders"                                            
Author:  Joseph Gaston
S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago-Portland, 1911
Vol. 2, Page 720
     

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2009 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.