Josiah Failing
| Josiah Failing | |
|---|---|
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| 4th Mayor of Portland, Oregon | |
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In office 1853–1854 |
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| Preceded by | Simon B. Marye |
| Succeeded by | William S. Ladd |
| Personal details | |
| Born | July 9, 1806 Canajoharie, New York |
| Died | August 14, 1877 (aged 71) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Republican |
Josiah Failing (July 9, 1806 – August 14, 1877) was a businessman and the fourth mayor of Portland, Oregon, United States. Born in New York, he moved to Portland when it was still a small town of a few hundred. He and his son Henry, who also became a noted businessman and mayor of the city, started a general merchandising business that became very successful.
Josiah Failing was born in Canajoharie, New York on July 9, 1806. His ancestors were German Palatines who settled in the Mohawk Valley of New York in the early part of the 18th century. He was raised on a farm. Early in life he went to Albany, to learn the trade of paper stainer, and in 1824, accompanied his employer in a move to New York City. There he married Henrietta Ellison on June 15, 1828. Henrietta was of English and Dutch ancestry. They had 11 children.
Failing served his apprenticeship in New York and followed his trade until forced to abandon it on account of ill health. He then engaged in the trucking business, following this line of work for many years. During this period he served for several years as superintendent of public vehicles of the city.
Through letters from early Baptist missionaries, Failing had been fascinated by the Oregon Country for 20 years when he moved his family there in 1851. The move was risky for a family of modest means, but represented a fresh start. While the family only intended to stay for a few years or less, they settled in Portland. After waiting five months for his supplies to arrive, Failing established the mercantile firm of J. Failing & Company with three years of store supplies worth $25,000 from "merchant-shipper-capitalist" C. W. Thomas's Hunt, Thomas & Company, as well as East Coast-backed credit, providing a huge advantage over their competitors who were mainly working on consignment. They located the store diagonally across the street from the business of Henry W. Corbett, a future U.S. Senator with whom the Failing business would later partner. Spring 1853 was problematic, with three shiploads of goods being lost, and the replacements were too late for the busy spring season. Josiah spent less time in his store, not comfortable with the monopolistic practices used by his competitors, turning the business operations over to his son Henry.
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