Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 2.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 575.
 
WILLIAM ANDRESEN

     William Andresen, a pioneer merchant of Oregon City, has progressed with
the community in which he has resided for more than forty years and during this
period has filled important public offices. He had no advantages to aid him at
the outset of his career and what he has accomplished represents the fit
utilization of his time, talents and opportunities. He was born in 1866 in
Holstein, Germany, his parents being Carl and Marie Andresen, the former of whom
passed away in February, 1883. Subsequently the mother crossed the Atlantic and
she is now the widow of John Shuldt, of Oregon City.
     Responding to the call of adventure, William Andresen left home when a boy
and went alone to Hamburg, Germany. From there he proceeded to Hull, England,
and thence to Liverpool, where he boarded a ship bound for Montreal, Canada. He
arrived in America in June, 1883, and was handicapped by his ignorance of the
language and customs of the country. Mr. Andresen had worked for a year in a
railroad office and understood telegraphy. Having relatives in Chicago, he
journeyed to that city and obtained a position in his uncle's jewelry store, in
which he was employed for two years. During that period he learned the trade of
watch making and in 1885 sought the opportunities of the Pacific northwest.
Locating in Corvallis, Oregon, he entered the service of a jeweler and also
worked for a time in a flour mill.
     In November, 1886, Mr. Andresen moved to Oregon City and has since been
identified with the business which he now conducts. It was founded by C. H. L.
Burmeister, a watchmaker, who opened a jewelry store in 1879 and continued as
proprietor of the establishment until his death in October, 1885. His widow then
took charge of the business and later formed a partnership with Mr. Andresen, at
which time the style of Burmeister & Andresen was adopted. Mrs. Burmeister
passed away about 1910, and Mr. Andresen then obtained control of the business,
which was incorporated about 1925, the present name of the Burmeister & Andresen
Company being assumed at that time. When the reorganization was effected Mr.
Andresen admitted as partners George M. 'Hankin?, who had served him faithfully
for a quarter of a century, and J. S. Manning, who had been in his employ for
eighteen years.
     The business was originally situated on Main street, at the point where the
Hawley Paper Company now stores its pulp, and in 1890 it was moved to the Odd
Fellows building, in which it was housed for ton years. At the end of that time
more desirable quarters were secured in the Gardy building, which Mr. Andresen
purchased two years later, and it has since borne his name. At first the
watch-repairing department constituted the most profitable end of the business
and later the stock of jewelry and silverware was increased. Following the
removal to the Odd Fellows building a supply of musical instruments was
purchased and later bicycles were added, but that line was discontinued when the
business was established in the present building. About this time the firm began
dealing in phonographs and supplies, retaining the regular lines, and the next
step in the expansion of the business was the introduction of glass and
chinaware, kodaks and supplies, to which leather goods, stationery, fountain
pens, etc., were subsequently added. The optical department has always been an
important adjunct of the business and at first only spectacles were carried.
Later testing instruments and up-to-date equipment were installed, and Mr.
Manning, a graduate optician, now has charge of this branch of the business.
When the firm moved to the present building it had only the corner store and in
1917 secured additional space, which it has since utilized. This is one of the
oldest and most reliable mercantile houses of Oregon City, and the steady growth
of its trade is an eloquent testimonial to the status of the firm and the
quality of service rendered to patrons. Mr. Andresen knows every phase of the
business and in its conduct brings to bear mature judgment, clear vision and the
requisite executive force.
     In 1896 Mr. Andresen was married in Oregon City to Miss Winifred Graham, a
native of the province of Nova Scotia, Canada, and a daughter of J. M. and Mary
Ann (Davidson) Graham, both of whom are deceased. While in Nova Scotia, Mr.
Graham became a master mariner and in 1886 he crossed the border into the United
States, bringing his family to Oregon City. He always followed a seafaring life
and was captain of vessels operating between Oregon City, Portland and
Corvallis. To Mr. and Mrs. Andresen were born three daughters; Marie, who
completed a course in the  University of Oregon, is the wife of Franklin Miller,
Jr., of Albany, Oregon. Helen, who was graduated from the Oregon Agricultural
College, is the wife of Ed Koen and resides in Oregon City. Alice, who graduated
in 1927 from the State Agricultural  College, is assisting her father in his
business.
      Mr. Andresen casts his ballot for the candidates of the republican party
and for a couple of terms was one of the councilmen of Oregon City. As chairman
of the  Oregon City and West Linn committee he was largely instrumental in
formulating plans for the construction of a pipe line bringing water to Oregon
City from the  south fork of the Clackamas river, a public utility representing
an expenditure of  approximately three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. When
Oregon City adopted the commission form of government Mr. Andresen became one of
its first commissioners and was selected for the office of mayor, of which he
was the incumbent for three years. He belongs to the Chamber of Commerce and
during the early days was a member of the fire department and also joined a
local band. Mr. Andresen has served the city faithfully and well and enjoys to
the fullest extent the respect and confidence of his fellowmen, for his life has
been an exemplary one in all respects.

 
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in April 2008 by Diana Smith. Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.