Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon; It's History and Builders." Vol. 3.
Chicago, Spokane: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 235.
 
BERNARD HERMANN ALBERS

     When Benjamin Harrison was president of the United States he made the
statement that "The gates of Castle Garden never swing outward," which was but
another way of saying that the opportunities of America are so great that the
emigrant to the shores of this land never desires to return for permanent
residence to the country from which he came.  Bernard H. Albers was among the
number of prominent citizens that Germany furnished to Portland -- a man of
distinct and forceful individuality, and of splendid business ability, who left
his impress for all time upon the commercial development of the northwest in the
establishment and control of some of the largest and most important milling and
manufacturing enterprises of this section of the country.  A native of Germany,
Mr. Albers was born in Lingen, in the province of Hanover, March 6, 1864, his
parents being Johann Hermann and Theresa (Voss) Albers, who were likewise native
of Hanover.  The father was a grain merchant of Lingen and remained in his
native land until 1896, when he became a resident of Portland, his death
occurring in this city, August 29, 1897.  His wife died in Germany in March,
1878.  Her father was a miller, so that both sides of the family were connected
with one phase or another of the grain business, and several of the children of
Johann H. Albers are interested in similar undertakings.  Anna, the only
daughter, is the wife of Frank Terheyden of Portland.
     Reared in his native land, Bernard H. Albers who was the eldest of a family
of nine children, continued his education in the schools of his native town
until graduated form the gymnasium of Lingen.  His early business training was
received in connection with the grain trade conducted by his father, and he was
largely familiar with different phases of the business when, in 1887, he crossed
the Atlantic to America, having become convinced by reports which he had heard
that the business opportunities of the new world were superior to those offered
in the fatherland.  He landed at New York and thence made his way to Terre
Haute, Indiana, where for two years he was employed in the wholesale grocery
house of Hulman & Company.  But the far west called him, and in 1889 he came to
Portland.  He had no capital with which to engage in business on his own
account, and here secured employment in the feed store of Rogge & Storp, with
whom he remained for four years.  But his laudable ambition prompted him to
engage in business on his own account and, carefully saving his earnings as an
employee, he at length invested his capital in the establishment of a business
under the firm name of Albers and Tuke, in 1893.  The new enterprise prospered
from the beginning, although established on a small scale.  Mr. Albers had
already become recognized in Portland as a reliable and enterprising young
business man, and his fellow townsmen not only encouraged him by giving him
trade, but continued as his patrons, owing to the reliable methods which he
followed in the conduct of his business.  The growth of the trade demanded
larger quarters, and in 1898 Mr. Albers erected a commodious milling
establishment at the corner of Front and Main streets.  The following year he
extended the scope of his business, establishing the United States mills, which
have since been utilized by the company for the manufacture of rolled oats and
other cereal products.  Changes have occurred in the ownership of the business,
Mr. Tuke withdrawing, while in 1895 the Albers & Schneider Company was
incorporated with Mr. Albers as president and manager.  A different organization
was effected in 1903 and the business reincorporated under the name of the
Albers Brothers Milling Company.  They do business on Lovejoy street, where are
found warehouses and splendid shipping facilities, including a dock property.
Their hay business has proved a source of large revenue.  During the
Spanish-American was the firm was offered the contract for supplying all of the
hay shipped from Oregon to the Philippine Islands for government use there.  A
hay compressing plant was established at Forest Grove by Mr. Albers in 1900.
The growth of the business has been continuous until the Albers Brothers Milling
Company is in control of the most extensive enterprises of this character upon
the Pacific coast.  Their trade covers a large part of the east, as well as
California, Arizona, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Washington, Alaska and British
Columbia.  Aside form the extensive plant in Portland for the manufacture of
rolled oats and other cereal products, the company has mills at Tacoma, Seattle
and San Francisco.  Mr. Albers possessed a genius for organization and an
aptitude for successful management, and the extensive business as it stands
today is a monument to his enterprise, executive ability and administrative
direction.
     Mr. Albers was married twice.  In October, 1892, he wedded Hermina Sommer,
who died in June, 1899, and in April, 1902, he married Miss Ida Agnes Wascher, a
daughter of William Wascher.  There were four children by the first marriage:
Agnes, Theresa, Hermina and one who died in infancy, while the children of the
second marriage are Bernard, Alfred and Ernst.
     Mr. Albers held membership in St. Joseph's German Catholic church.
Fraternally he was connected with the Knights of Columbus and the Benevolent and
Protective Order of Elks.  He also belonged to the Commercial Club, and to the
Manufacturers Association, and in those connection did all in his power to
promote the business enterprises and far-reaching trade interests of the city.
His death occurred very suddenly at Arrowhead, California, March 4, 1908.  Not
only Portland, but the entire northwest lost one of its most prominent and
representative citizens when Bernard Albers was called from this life.  What he
undertook in the field of business he accomplished, and his rise was almost a
phenomenal one, for within only a comparatively few years he rose form the
position of a humble employee to rank with the foremost grain merchants, millers
and manufacturers of the Pacific coast.  His vocabulary contained no such word
as fail.  He knew that honorable efforts intelligently directed will always win
in the end, and he took that method of reaching the high financial position
which his ambition set up as his standard.  He availed himself of every
legitimate opportunity that arose for the promotion and expansion of his
business, and his name became in the northwest a synonym for enterprise and
progressiveness.  Aside form all his splendid business qualifications, he
manifested those sterling traits of character which everywhere command respect
and confidence, possessing an engaging personality and a charm of manner that
won him friends wherever he went.
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
"Men of Oregon"
Published by:  The Chamber of Commerce Bulletin
Portland, Oregon; 1911
 
ALBERS BROTHERS, Cereal Manufacturers.
Came to Oregon in October, 1891, started in business in 1893, and in the milling
business on June 1, 1895.  Now largest concern of its kind on the Pacific Coast.
Mills located at San Francisco, Portland, Seattle and Tacoma.
 
Albers, Henry; Born at Lingen, Germany, April 13, 1866
Albers, William; Born at Lingen, Germany, December 29, 1869
Albers, George; Born at Lingen, Germany, March 12, 1872
Albers, Frank; Born at Lingen, Germany, December 15, 1874

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in January 2006 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.