Lockley, Fred. "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the Sea." Vol. 2. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928. p. 860. EDWARD C. HEXTER For fifty-six years the Hexter family has been actively identified with the commercial interests of Portland, and the present firm of E. C. Hexter & Company is ably sustaining the business prestige which the family has always enjoyed in this community. The business was first established in Portland in 1872 by Hexter, May & Company, of which the partners were Levi Hexter and Levi May, who opened a store on Front street, where they sold the Iron King cook stoves, which were brought around Cape Horn from Philadelphia and were set up here. Later the firm added sheet iron and tinware to their stock and engaged in the sheet metal business, in all of which lines they prospered. In 1898 Levi Hexter died and his son, Alfred Hexter, became the active manager of the business, continuing as such until January, 1919, when he died from the effects of influenza. Levi May died in 1908, and in 1910 the firm name was changed to that of Hexter & Company, under which style the business was carried on until January 23, 1928, when it became E. C. Hexter & Company. On Levi May's death, his interest in the business was bought by the Hexters, and in 1919 Edgar C. Hexter acquired sole ownership. He is now located at the southeast corner of Fourteenth and Johnson streets, where he has thirty thousand square feet of floor space, and here he is engaged in the wholesale stove and household goods business. He has six traveling representatives, who cover Oregon, Washington and Idaho, and the business is showing a steady and satisfactory increase each year, due to Mr. Hexter's progressive and dependable methods and his square dealing. Mr. Hexter was born in Portland in 1892 and is a son of Levi and Laura (May) Hexter. His maternal grandfather, Isaac May, came to Portland, by way of a sailing vessel around Cape Horn, in 1866 and his death occurred in this city in 1893, at the age of ninety-two years. Levi Hexter came across the plains in 1866, locating first, at Lewistown, Idaho, where he became a partner in the Hexter-May Company. The business was carried on there until 1872, when they came to Portland and engaged in the stove business, as already recounted. To Mr. and Mrs. Hexter were born six children, three sons and three daughters, of whom two sons are deceased. Edgar C. Hexter attended the Park school in Portland until 1899, though previously he had spent a year in Portland Academy and the year 1898 in Bishop Scott Academy. He attended Oregon Agricultural College three years, after which he was associated with his brother Alfred in business for a number of years as a traveling salesman and later on the inside. In August, 1917, Mr. Hexter enlisted in the Oregon Naval Militia and in February, 1918, was sent to France, where he served a year, being with the air force. On his return to this country he was honorably discharged, after which he took over the business which he now owns. In 1920 Mr. Hexter was united in marriage to Miss Besse Ridgeway, of Portland, and they are the parents of two children, Laura May, aged seven years, and Alfred Charles, aged two and a half years. Mr. Hexter is a republican in his political views and is a member of Columbia Lodge, No. 114, A. F. & A. M.; Portland Consistory, A. A. S. R.; Al Kader Temple, A. A. 0. N. M. S.; Portland Lodge, No. 142, B. P. 0. E.; the Multnomah Athletic Club and the Chamber of Commerce. An alert enterprising business man, public-spirited citizen and dependable, he holds an enviable place in the confidence and respect of all who know him. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above. ******************* Note added July 2009: Theodore R. Hexter, son of Alfred Charles Hexter, wrote to correct his grandmother's maiden name. In the biography above, her name is listed as Besse Ridgeway. Her maiden name should be spelled ROGOWAY.