Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 38. JESSE F. ERNST is the well known proprietor of a fish market on Resort street, Baker City, which was originally established by his father. He is a native of Portland and a son of Frederick K. and Sarah Frances (Stephman) Ernst. The father was born in Hanover, Germany, on the 21st of February, 1849, and passed away in Baker City, Oregon, on the 31st of May, 1910. For many years he conducted a hotel and restaurant in Baker City, his hostelry being a popular rendezvous with the old pioneers, with many of whom he had been acquainted for long years. Subsequently he abandoned the hotel business and opened a fish and oyster market, successfully conducting the same until his death. His sons, Charles Harrison and Jesse F., continued the enterprise until the former retired to embark in the restaurant business, leaving our subject as the sole proprietor of the fish market. Frederick K. Ernst was a member of the Second Massachusetts Infantry during the Civil war and after reenlisting, on the expiration of his first term of enlistment, entered the cavalry. At one time he served as a member of the Baker City council. His widow, who was born on the Camas prairie, August 12, 1854, still survives and makes her home in Baker City. Jesse F. Ernst obtained his early education in the common schools of Baker City and subsequently pursued a thorough course of study in a business college. After putting aside his text-books he spent one year in the Butler Hotel in Seattle, being in charge of the dinning room. He next allied himself with the Manhattan building Company, managing the Manhattan flats for two years and eight months. Later he attended a session of the legislature at Olympia, acting as enrolling clerk. Returning to Seattle, he remained in the auditor's office until 1909, after which he spent a year as first deputy of the registration bureau. In 1910 he came back to Baker City and following his father's demise took charge of the Ernst fish market in association with his brother, Charles H. When his brother embarked in the restaurant business he took sole charge of the market and has since conducted the same with gratifying success. In 1900 Mr. Ernst was united in marriage to Miss Tillie Foss, a daughter of Martin Foss, a millwright by trade, who passed away in January, 1912. Unto our subject and his wife has been born a daughter, Helen. Mr. Ernst gives his political allegiance to the republican party, while fraternally he is identified with the Modern Woodmen of America and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. He is also a member of the Commercial Club. For a period of nine years he served with the National Guards, his term expiring just prior to the outbreak of the Spanish-American war. His entire life has been spent in the northwest and he is thoroughly embued with the spirit of enterprise and progress which characterizes the people of this section of the county. A young man of genial, cordial nature, he has gained the good will and friendship of all with whom he has been associated and is widely recognized as a most successful business man and public-spirited citizen of Baker county. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in October 2015 by Dale Givens, odg -at- hiwaay.net. More information can be found at: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=bakerco&id=I52835