Gaston, Joseph.  "Portland, Oregon Its History and Builders."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago and Portland, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 733.
 
BENJAMIN F. GILTNER

     Benjamin F. Giltner has since 1904 lived retired in Portland, but fifty-two
years have passed since he came to this state and the history of Oregon's
development and progress is familiar to him, not from hearsay but because he has
been an eye witness of its growth and participated in some of the features of
its upbuilding. A native of Pennsylvania, Mr. Giltner was born in Northumberland
county on the 17th of June, 1833, his parents being Conrad and Rebecca (Snyder)
Giltner. The father was a farmer by occupation and spent his entire life in the
Keystone state. The mother afterward came to Portland, where her last days were
passed. In their family were seven children, namely: Dr. J. S. Giltner,
deceased; Mrs. Mary Bowers, Mrs. Sarah Deidrick, and Mrs. Mary Fox, all of whom
have passed away; Catherine, who became the wife of David Fox; Benjamin F., of
this review; and Mrs. Caroline Wagner, also deceased.
     Benjamin F. Giltner acquired his early education in the country schools and
afterward attended an academy at McEwensville and at Turbotville, Pennsylvania.
He made his way to the Pacific coast by way of the Panama route in 1858 and for
three months was employed as a teacher in Sacramento county. He then made his
way to Oregon, settling in Lane county, where he was again engaged in teaching
for six months. He afterward devoted two years to the profession in Yamhill
county, but the mining excitement in Idaho caused him to leave the schoolroom in
the hope of attaining wealth in that section. He devoted the summer seasons to
mining and finally made his way to Bannock City, now Idaho City. There he
engaged in merchandising and in trading for a short time, after which he
returned to Oregon and in the following year established a store at St. Helens,
in Columbia county. He conducted his enterprise with success for a number of
years, but about 1875 sold out to George W. McBride, with whom he remained,
however, until 1886. Mr. McBride was then elected secretary of state and Mr.
Giltner went with him to Salem, where he acted as assistant secretary of state
for eight years, or during the two four-year-terms of his superior officer. He
was afterward connected with Mr. Kinkaid in a similar capacity and occupied a
clerical position under Secretary of State Dunbar. In 1904 he removed to
Portland and to some extent has since speculated in timber but has largely lived
retired.
     Mr. Giltner was united in marriage to Miss Susan E. McBride, a daughter of
James and Mahala (Miller) McBride, who were pioneer residents of Oregon, coming
to the northwest in 1846, long before the admission of the state into the Union.
Mr. and Mrs. Giltner were married in the state of Washington on the 25th of
June, 1864, and for thirty-five years, traveled life's journey together, when
they were separated by death. Mrs. Giltner was born July 21, 1850, and passed
away on the 18th of February, 1809, leaving two children: E. C., of Portland,
who married Zora Forester who is now secretary of the Chamber of Commerce; and
Georgea, the wife of P. C. Patterson, of Spokane, Washington.
     Mr. Giltner is a republican in politics but has never held office outside
of appointive positions. For more than a half century he has resided upon the
coast, spending the greater part of the time in Oregon, and no one is more
enthusiastic concerning her welfare than Mr. Giltner. He has watched its
development from pioneer times and his labors were a factor in establishing the
public schools and promoting the educational progress of the communities in
which he lived. Later he did creditable work in the offices which he filled and
is now well entitled to the rest which he is enjoying. He has passed the
seventy-seventh milestone on life's journey and is one of the highly respected
as well as one of the venerable citizens of Portland.

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