Gaston, Joseph. "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912." Vol. 2. Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 664 PAUL FUNDMAN One of the foremost citizens of Willamina is Paul Fundman, an organizer and the present cashier of the Willamina State Bank, who has the added distinction of having been the first mayor of the town and is now serving his third term in this capacity. He was born in Switzerland on the 10th of January, 1864, the only child of Paul and Mary Fundman, both of whom died during his infancy. Mr. Fundman spent the first sixteen years of his life in his native land, pursuing his education in the common schools and a Catholic college. In 1880 he took passage for the United States, coming directly to Oregon. Feeling the need of a better understanding of English, upon his arrival in the state he went to Gervais, Marion county, and made his home with the Benedictine fathers, whose college he had attended in Switzerland. He subsequently went to the Grande Ronde Indian reservation, where he taught for seven years. At the expiration of that period he took up a homestead in this county, but it was very remote and he found it unbearably lonesome, and at the end of two years relinquished his claim and went to Grande Ronde. There he clerked for a time, but subsequently engaged in business for himself. In 1891 he became associated with Andrew Kershaw and they established a store in Willamina, the first general mercantile concern in the town. They were both enterprising, industrious young men and their undertaking flourished in a most gratifying manner from the beginning. In 1907, Mr. Fundman disposed of his interest in this business to Mr. Kershaw, but he still has money invested in the Grande Ronde store. When they opened their establishment at Willamina they had but three thousand dollars' worth of stock, and when Mr. Fundman sold sixteen years later it inventoried thirty thousand dollars, this fact in itself demonstrating in a most practical way their sagacity and foresight as well as their executive ability. During the entire period of his residence here Mr. Fundman has been recognized as a man of unusual business acumen. Every enterprise to which he has devoted his time and attention and to which he has lent financial aid has prospered and proved a credit to his sound judgment. When he went to the Indian reservation as a youth of eighteen years in 1882, all his capital in the world consisted of but one dollar and seventy-five cents. After disposing of his mercantile interests, he turned his attention to real estate and banking and in 1910, together with Dr. J. W. Sifton and D. B. Parks of Portland he organized the Willamina State Bank. At that time T. B. Stone and John Shetterly of Willamina were stockholders and directors. Mr. Fundman was president of this institution until May 24, 1911, when he and Mr. Stone bought out the interest of Dr. Sifton and Mr. Parks. Since that time Mr. Stone has been president, while Mr. Fundman, who is the principal stockholder, is cashier and manager. This enterprise was organized with a capitalization of twenty thousand dollars and now has a substantial surplus. In addition to his stock in this bank and the store at Grande Ronde, Mr. Fundman has extensive property interests, owning six hundred acres of valuable farming land in this county as well as real estate in town. In 1893 Mr. Fundman was united in marriage to Miss Eva Gentry, who was born and reared in Oregon, and they became the parents of one daughter, Pauline, whose birth occurred on June 24, 1897. She is now attending St. Mary's school at Beaverton, Oregon. On the 1st of September, 1910, Mr. Fundman married Miss Elizabeth Frauendiener, a native of Oregon and they have one daughter, Ernestine, who was born on the 22d of June, 1911. Fraternally Mr. Fundman is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is also a member of the Woodmen of the World, and has been clerk of the Willamina camp ever since its organization. Municipal affairs have engaged much of his attention, his support being given to the democratic party. He was the first mayor of the town, entering upon the duties of this office in 1903 and continuing in this capacity for four years. In December, 1910, he was reelected, defeating his ex-partner, A. Kershaw, who was the candidate on the opposition ticket. For fifteen years he has been clerk of the school board, and from 1903 to 1906 he served as postmaster. He has always taken an active interest in all matters pertaining to the welfare of the community, and has prominently figured in the promotion of every public utility during the period of his residence here. Mr. Fundman possesses the perspicacity, powers of organization and executive ability that well qualify him as a leader, while his indomitable will enables him to carry to a successful issue anything he undertakes. Transcriber's additional notes: Census: 1900, June 21; Yamhill Co, OR; Willamina Pct. p 157 Paul Fundman, 36, Jan. 1864, Switz, Switz, Switz, mar 8 yrs, to US 1886, salesman Eva, wife, 24, May 1876, OR, KS, OR, mar 8 yrs, 1 child-1 living Pauline, dau, 3, June 1896, OR, Switz, OR 1910, April 26; Polk Co, OR; Douglass Pct, Grand Ronde Indian Reservation, p 347 Paul Fundman, 46, Divorced, Switz, Switz, Switz, merchant 1910, April 30; Yamhill Co, OR; Willamina Pct, p 186 Louis J. Graves, 42, OR, OR, OR, mar 1, mar 1 yr, own income Eva, wife, 32, OR, KS, OR, mar 2, mar 1 yr, 1 child-1 living Pauline, dau, 13, Or, Switz, OR, att. school 1920, Jan 2; Yamhill Co, OR; Willamina Pct, p 254 Paul Fundman, 55, Switz, Switz, Switz, banker, Willamina, to US 1881 Elizabeth, wife, 38, OR, GER, WA Ernestine, dau, 8, OR, Switz, OR Gwendolyn, dau, 7, OR, Switz, OR Eleanor, dau, 5, OR, Switz, OR Margaret, dau, 2, OR, Switz, OR Lydia Schmid, servant, 19, single, George Frauendiener, boarder, 25, single, mechanic, garage 1930, April 4; Yamhill Co, OR; Willamina Pct, p 215 Paul Fundman, 66, Switz, Switz, Switz, bank cashier Elizabeth, wife, 49, OR, OR, GER Ernestine, dau, 18, OR, Switz, OR Gwendolyn, dau, 17, OR, Switz, OR Eleanor, dau, 15, OR, Switz, OR Margaret, dau, 12, OR, Switz, OR Oregon State Archives; http://genealogy.state.or.us/ 1907, March 30; Divorce of Paul and Eva Fundman; Yamhill Co, OR 1908, December 16; Marriage of Eva Fundman and Lewis J. Graves; Yamhill Co, OR. 1910, September 1; Marriage of Paul Fundman and Elesebath Frauendiner in Multnomah Co, OR. 1915, November 29; Divorce for L. J. Graves and Eva Graves; Yamhill Co, OR. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in August 2006 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.