Gaston, Joseph. "Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders." Vol. 2. Chicago - Portland: S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911. p. 665. ISAAC NEWTON FLEISCHNER Occupying a notable position in the commercial and financial circles of Portland, the life record of Isaac Newton Fleischner is one of interest to his fellow citizens, indicating as it does the methods which he has practiced in attaining to his present position as a member of the firm of Fleischner, Mayer & Company, the largest wholesale dry-goods house on the Pacific coast. Since becoming a partner he has been active in forming the policy of the house, which, declining all but legitimate methods of trade and recognizing the fact that honesty is the best policy, has builded upon the simple, old-fashioned principles of business and has thus attained preeminence and prosperity. Isaac Newton Fleischner was born in Albany, Oregon, July 16, 1859, a son of Jacob and Fanny (Nadler) Fleischner, both of whom were natives of Bohemia, Austria, and coming to America, established their home in Oregon among its pioneer settlers. Their removal from Albany to Portland made Isaac N. Fleischner a pupil in the schools of this city, and later he was graduated from the St. Augustine's College at Benicia, California, in 1878. Thus well qualified by liberal mental training for onerous duties in business life, he entered the employ of Fleischner, Mayer & company, and gradually worked his way upward with that firm until admitted to a partnership. His personal enterprise and unusual business sagacity have enabled him to take rank with the foremost merchants of the northwest. The house in which he is now interested as a partner has an extensive trade which has been developed through a consistent policy of fair dealing with all of its patrons, the tireless purpose to make and sell goods of standard quality only, and the uniform desire to make every person with whom it has business dealings not only a customer but a friend. Isaac Newton Fleischner has contributed in no small measure to the success of the enterprise through his initiative spirit and carefully formulated and well executed plans. Aside from his connection with the house of Fleischner, Mayer & Company, he is president of several private corporations and a director of various institutions. May a man would feel that his time was fully occupied if he had the business responsibilities of Isaac N. Fleischner, but the subject of this review has entered into active cooperation in movements for the public good, giving of his time, his influence and his means in support of many measures which have been directly beneficial to the city. He was the first vice president of the Lewis and Clark Exposition, and as chairman of its press and publishing committee, he did much in the line of publicity to make the attractions of the beautiful fair known. In the interests of trade, he has served as treasurer of the Merchants Protective Association, was secretary of the Chamber of Commerce for two years, and was chairman of the relief committee of the Commercial Club. He has been president of the school board of Portland, and the cause of education finds in him an ardent and helpful champion. The call of charity never finds him unresponsive, and his efforts in that direction have reached into various fields whereby aid has been given to the worthy. At the time of the great flood at Heppner when three hundred lives were lost, with vast devastations of property and much suffering ensued, Mr. Fleischner was placed at the head of the relief committee organized in Portland and directed the work so well that more than ample funds were raised to help the stricken people of Heppner, and were promptly and effectively disbursed among them. After the San Francisco earthquake, he was chairman of the relief bureau organized by the Portland Oregonian, and was also a member of the general Portland executive committee which raised a relief fund of nearly three hundred thousand dollars and disbursed it . Any movement that has for its purpose the improvement of the social and industrial conditions of the people of Portland or of Oregon, or an advancement of the general interests of the city, or the betterment of the public schools and their pupils and teachers, always finds substantial encouragement from Mr. Fleischner and depends upon him for financial aid and for personal service, all of which is cheerfully rendered. He is treasurer of the Open Air Sanitarium and vice president of the Associated Charities of Portland, and may are his private benevolences which, however, are unostentatiously made, being known frequently only to himself and to the recipient. The Concordia Club numbers him among its valued members, and he is also identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. In 1892 Mr. Fleischner was married in San Francisco, California, to Miss Tessie Goslinsky, and they have two children, Minnie and Elise. their home is the scene of many delightful social functions, and in its beautiful appointments indicates a dominating taste and appreciation for art on the part of Mr. Fleischner and his wife. His collection of paintings is among the finest and most complete in the west. It has been gathered by him in the course of extensive travels abroad until he is a familiar figure in the art galleries and among the leading artists of both Europe and America. Appreciative of all that indicates merit on canvas or in statuary, he has made judicious selections and competent critics have appraised his works of art as today of greater value than at the time of purchase. He is an indefatigable collector of books and a discriminating student of literature. His library contains many volumes of rare manuscripts, curios and beautiful books. Works of art of every description are features of his home, and the arrangement of all indicates a most discriminating taste. A cultured gentleman, with leisure to enjoy those things which lifts the individual above the arduous cares and duties incumbent on gaining a livelihood, he has reached out into the broader realms of intellect and of beauty, and while his own life is enriched by these things, he generously shares his pleasures and his substance with others. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.