Carey, Charles Henry.  "History of Oregon." Chicago-Portland: Pioneer Historical
Pub. Co., 1922.  pg. 523.
 
SIDNEY C. CATCHING

     One of the most modernly appointed and popular hostelries in the state is
the Caples hotel, of which Sidney C. Catching is the owner and manager.  A model
hotel in its intricate operations is a mammoth undertaking when run successfully
and no one can question the administrative ability of Mr. Catching, who operates
his smoothly running enterprise without noise or confusion, utilizing the most
modern and progressive methods of inn-keeping.  He is a native of this state and
a representative of one of its honored pioneer families.  He was born on a farm
near Forest Grove, in Washington county, on the 28th of October, 1865, a son of
John S. and Rhoda (Leverich) Catching, the latter of whom crossed the plains
from Indiana to Oregon with her parents in 1852.  She is still living and
resides in Portland, but the father passed away in Douglas county, Oregon, in
1889.  The paternal grandfather, William W. Catching, emigrated from Missouri to
Oregon in 1845, at which time his son, John S. Catching, was but five years old,
the family home being established on a farm in Washington county.  They were
numbered among the very early pioneer settlers of  the state, who through their
labors made possible that superior civilization which is now one of the
characteristics of the commonwealth.  Braving the dangers of the west, the
perils from wild animals and the even more savage Indians, they devoted their
lives to the redemption of the Pacific coast region, counting no sacrifice too
great that was made for the benefit of their home locality.  To Mr. and Mrs.
John S. Catching were born six children, of whom the subject of this review is
the eldest.
     He has two sisters and two brothers residing in Portland and another
brother living at Jervis, Marion county, Oregon.
     Sidney S. Catching attended the district schools, after which he became a
student at the Portland Business College, completing his course by graduation.
On starting out in the world of commerce he took up the fire insurance business
and was identified with Eugene D. White for a period of fourteen years.  In 1898
he accepted a position as bookkeeper with the Merchants National Bank of
Portland, winning promotion to the office of assistant cashier.  He remained
with that institution for seventeen years and in 1915 went to Sherwood, Oregon,
where for about a year he was engaged in business.  He then disposed of his
interests in that locality and returned to Portland, purchasing the Caples
hotel, which he has since owned and operated.  Of a genial, pleasing
personality, nature seems to have intended him for his present calling and he
has made the Caples hotel on of the most popular hostelries in the state, noted
for its warm-hearted hospitality and homelike appearance.  He possesses a shrewd
and discriminating mind and a capacity for detail, combined with an economic
knowledge of modern food values and a specialized grasp of the art of
hotel-keeping which amount to an inborn talent.  The hotel is most modern in its
equipment, its appointments are of the best, showing rare taste and refinement
in the selection of the furnishings, and a homelike air of comfort pervades the
place.  The service her afforded is first-class in every particular, the cuisine
being especially popular with the traveling public.  The hotel is situated in a
quiet, exclusive neighborhood, yet conveniently located near the heart of the
city, and its patronage is deservedly large.
     In 1888 Mr. Catching was married in Portland to Miss Ida N. Iler, a
daughter Of David C. Iler, a resident of Clackamas county, Oregon.  In his
political views Mr. Catching is a republican and fraternally he is a Mason,
belonging to Washington Lodge, No. 46, of Portland and also to the Odd Fellows
lodge of this city.  During the World war he took a prominent part in promoting
the various Liberty Loan drives and his loyalty and patriotism have never been
questioned.  Through concentrated effort and close application he has won
success and as the owner and manager of one of the city's leading hostelries he
is contributing in substantial measure to the prestige and business development
of Portland.  He is widely and favorably known throughout the Pacific northwest
and many are proud to call him friend, for he is a man whom to know is to esteem
and to admire.
 
 
*******************

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