Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.  p. 599.

LOUIS G. PFUNDER

     Is one of the representative florists of the city of Portland, born in
Baden, Germany, in 1845.  His ancestors were from Brundruit, France, but for
nearly 100 years had lived at Baden, and for sixty consecutive years the family
had been in Government employ as Postmaster and mail-carriers for the city of
Baden.  The family was composed of ten children, our subject being the sixth in
order of birth.  He lived at home and attended the public schools, until his
fourteenth year, when he procured an apprenticeship with Heitz, the famous
florist and horticulturist of Switzerland, whose greenhouses are celebrated
throughout the entire country.  With him our subject remained three years and
learned every detail of the care and treatment of plants.  He then went to
Bulweil, Alsace, and with the celebrated Bauman & Company learned the process of
budding and grafting and the care and treatment of shrubbery and trees.  These
were distinguished nurserymen and applications were made a year in advance in
order to secure an apprenticeship with them, as only a limited number  were
taken each year, and those were bound to remain two years, paying their own
board and expenses.  Completing his two years' course Mr. Pfunder then went to
Munich, where he was employed in the Palace garden for about one year, then to
Frankfort-on-the-Main, where after a brief engagement in the Palace garden, he
was drawn in by the military arrangements and had to return home.  The service
requiring but a limited number of men, our subject was released from all duty
and the following March, 1866, he set sail for America, landing safely in New
York.  His first engagement was with a florist at Union Hill, New Jersey, with
whom he worked for one year, until 1868, when he decided to strike for
California and try his fortune in a new country.  Embarking by steamer via
Panama, he arrived safely in San Francisco, where he followed his profession for
one year and then came to Portland to lay out and improve the grounds of William
M. Ladd, and superintend the construction of his conservatory.
     In 1870 Mr. Pfunder commenced business on the corner of Clay and Third
streets, styling his garden the "City Park," and there remained until 1878, when
he purchased one-half block cornering on Ninth and Washington streets and there
established his garden, and this he calls his "Oregon Homestead," it being the
first land he purchased in America.  Here he erected a series of greenhouses,
heated by hot water and arranged for the forcing of roses and other flowering
plants for the florist business, and also choice semi-tropical plants for
decoration purposes.
     In 1874 Mr. Pfunder was married to Miss Rosa Zeigler, native of Germany,
and in 1883 they made their first trip to their native country.  Returning in
1884 Mr. Pfunder erected his large and commodious house for residence and
florist purposes.  In 1890 he purchased four acres of land at Mount Tabor, for
garden purposes, styled the "Roseville Nursery."  He has built seven large
greenhouses which cover one and one-half acres, all heated by low pressure
steam.  The entire garden will be devoted to roses, carnations and fancy
shrubbery, and owing to the increased value of his city property he contemplates
erecting a business block in town and removing his garden to Mount Tabor.
     Mr. Pfunder was the originator of floral exhibitions in Oregon and he
started the first fair in the skating rink, corner of Fourth and Pine streets,
and from this small beginning resulted the present Portland Industrial
Association, of which he has been a director on garden and music hall exhibits
since its conception.
     Mr. and Mrs. Pfunder are the parents of four children:  Rose, Louise,
Gustave, Lilly Regena, Victoria.  Mr. Pfunder is a member of the I.O.O.F., but,
except as a voter, has given little time or thought to politics, as his
profession has been his life work, and that he has brought to a high degree of
excellency.
 
 
 
Transcriber's additional notes:
 
"History of Portland, Oregon; With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of
Prominent Citizens and Pioneers"
Edited by H. W. Scott
D. Mason & Co., Publishers; Syracuse, N.Y.; 1890
Press of F. W. Baltes and Company; 28 Oak Street; Portland, Oregon
Meston-Dygert Book Mfg. Co.; Binders; Portland, Oregon
 
Chapter V  Growth and Improvements, page 170-171.
 
     "During the following year (1885) there was some decline in improvements,
but as there was also a great decrease in the cost of materials, it was a good
time to build, and those sagacious and able took advantage of the opportunity to
erect some very handsome and costly structures, which have given character and
tone to the appearance of the city.  Among these may be mentioned
............PFUNDER'S unique Swiss residence on Ninth and Washington, ten
thousand dollars."

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2005 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.