Henry Failing
| Henry Failing | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 15th Mayor of Portland, Oregon | |
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In office 1864–1866 |
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| Preceded by | David Logan |
| Succeeded by | Thomas J. Holmes |
| 21st Mayor of Portland, Oregon | |
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In office 1873–1875 |
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| Preceded by | Philip Wasserman |
| Succeeded by | J. A. Chapman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | January 17, 1834 New York City |
| Died | November 8, 1898 (aged 64) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse(s) | Emily Phelps Corbett |
Henry Failing (January 17, 1834 – November 8, 1898) was a banker, and one of the leading businessmen of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. He was one of Portland, Oregon's earliest residents, and served as that city's mayor in two non-consecutive periods, two-and-a-half years (two 15-month terms) starting in 1864 and later a two-year term starting in 1873. He was a Republican.
Henry Failing was born in New York City on January 17, 1834, to Josiah Failing and Henrietta (Ellison) Failing, one of eleven children. His ancestors were considered, by one biographer, "substantial citizens of the east." He was educated in New York's public schools until the age of 12. He began his business career in a French importing and shipping house, where he learned the French language and business accounting. He then became the junior bookkeeper for Eno, Mahoney & Co., one of the largest wholesale dry goods houses in the city, a few years later. He was also in charge of their foreign business. In April 1851 he accompanied his father and younger brother John in a move to Portland. Mr. Eno, Failing's former boss, would later describe the loss of Henry Failing as a business contact as a mistake.
Henry Failing left New York on April 15, 1851, with his father and younger brother. They traveled via steamer to the Chagres River in Panama, by boat up the river, across Panama by mule train, and then to San Francisco aboard the Tennessee. The final leg of their journey, aboard the Columbia, took them to Portland on June 9. Henry befriended C. H. Lewis, later a business associate, on the last leg of the journey.
At the time, Portland was merely a hamlet, with fewer than 500 residents. He and his father established a general merchandising business, J. Failing & Co., on Front Street (now Naito Parkway), one door south of Oak Street. The business grew rapidly in its first few years. In 1853, Josiah was elected as Portland's fourth mayor, serving until 1854. Henry also became majority owner in the family business in that year. Josiah retired in 1864, and Henry narrowed the business's focus to hardware and iron supplies in 1868. He would remain associated with the business until January 1893.
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