Failing, Henry, 1834-1898

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Henry Failing (1834-1898) was a pioneer merchant, banker, mayor, civic leader, and philanthropist of Portland, Oregon.

From the description of Henry Failing papers, 1802-1968. (Oregon Historical Society Research Library). WorldCat record id: 39874151

Henry Failing (1834-1898), one of the first citizens of Portland, Oregon, is known for his political business and civic contributions to the city. He lived during a time when Portland transformed itself from a small settlement to one of the great metropolitan and trade centers in the northwest. He was born in New York City on January 17, 1834, the son of Josiah Failing and Henrietta Ellison Failing. His formal education ended at age 12, when he entered the counting house of L.F. Figanere & Co. as an office boy. His training there as well as at a later firm, Eno, Mahoney & Co., gave him a good background in business and accounting. His later successes can be largely attributed to this early training.

Failing left New York on April 15, 1851 in the company of his father Josiah and younger brother John W. They journeyed to Portland via Panama by ship and mule train, arriving by steamer on June 19, 1851. Henrietta and the rest of the family followed two years later in a clipper ship around the Horn. Later that year father and son opened J. Failing and Co., a wholesale hardware business in Portland, at the corner of Front and Oak Streets. At the time, Portland was a small community of approximately three or four hundred people and only two streets. Following a dispute with New York City merchandise supplier Stevens Company, the Failings turned to John A. Hatt of that city for goods. Hatt merged his business with the Failing brothers in 1859, creating Failing & Hatt. In 1864, Josiah Failing turned the business over to his son, Henry, who continued to run it until 1871, when he consolidated the business with that of Henry W. Corbett, his brother-in-law. That subsequent firm, Corbett, Failing, and Company, continued for 22 years.

Henry Failing had numerous business and civic interests. In 1869, he joined his father Josiah and Henry W. Corbett in purchasing a controlling interest in Portland's First National Bank. He served as president of the bank until his death, and during his tenure it became one of the strongest moneyed concerns in the northwest. Failing was also a principal in the Keystone Mining and Milling Company, the Oregon Iron Company of Oswego, and the Willamette Iron and Steel Works. He served three separate terms as mayor of Portland, and during his first term a city charter was established. Also during his tenure a sorely needed system for street improvement was conceived which brought sewer lines to the city.

Failing found many uses for his talents. Always civic-minded, he was one of the first to serve as a volunteer fireman. When a devastating conflagration destroyed much of the city during his last term as mayor, he encouraged its citizens not to accept donations from other cities, believing that Portland should retain its independence. He and other community members contributed money for the relief of fire victims, many of whom had lost homes or businesses. All claims were paid, and money was left over to create a fund for the future relief of disabled firemen.

Failing had a lifelong interest in education, although he was himself largely self-taught. He served as President of the Board of the University of Oregon as well as trustee and treasurer of Tualatin Academy and Pacific University. Many other institutions and causes benefited from his generosity, such as the construction of Skidmore Fountain in downtown Portland. When the Library Association of Portland was established in 1864, Failing joined its board, beginning a fund raising campaign that allowed the Association to find a permanent home. He ultimately served a term as the Library's president, from 1894 until his death in 1898, and he provided the art work which became the core of the Library's present art collecton.

Henry Failing married Emily Phelps Corbett (1836-1870) on October 21, 1858. They had four daughters, three of whom survived to adulthood. They were Henrietta Ellison Failing (1859-1931) and Mary Forbush Failing (1862-1947), who remained unmarried; and Emily Corbett Failing (1867-1922), who married Henry Coalter Cabell (1858-1930) on February 12, 1894. The fourth daughter, Martha Fox Failing, died in infancy.

The Failing home was located on the block bordered by Fifth and Sixth Avenues, and Taylor and Salmon Streets, across from the Corbett mansion. Constructed during 1873-1874, it was a large and elegant house built in the French "Mansard" style. Three years before its completion, Failing's wife Emily passed away, so his daughter Henrietta was then called to serve as the family hostess. In the years 1879 and 1880 Failing and his three daughters traveled throughout Europe, buying furniture and decorative items for the house.

Henry Failing suffered a heart attack in July of 1898. His health then began to decline rapidly, and he died on November 8 of that year. In honor of his importance, Mayor W. S. Mason ordered flags flown at half mast on all city-owned public buildings, and the closure of all the town's businesses. After Failing's death, his daughters Mary and Henrietta lived on in his mansion until 1922, when it was sold, demolished, and soon replaced by the Public Service Building. Some of the house's furnishings were eventually given to the Pittock Mansion and are displayed in what is now called the Failing Room.

From the guide to the Henry Failing papers, 1802-1968, (Oregon Historical Society)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Lewis, Cicero Hunt, 1826-1897. Cicero Hunt Lewis dictations : and biographical materials, 1888. UC Berkeley Libraries
creatorOf Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1827-1903. Henry Winslow Corbett Papers 1851-1944. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn First National Bank of Sugar Pine (Sugar Pine, Or.). First National Bank of Sugar Pine records [manuscript], 1888-1906. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn The Oregon Ephemera Collection, 1834-1961 Lew s & Clark College Special Collections and Archives
creatorOf Henry Failing papers, 1802-1968 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Aune Studio (Portland, Or.),. Henry Failing family and residence photographs collection [graphic], circa 1890-1898. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Buchtel, Joseph, 1830-1916,. Ladies' Relief Society photograph album [graphic], circa 1865-1899. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Failing, Henry, 1834-1898. Henry Failing papers, 1802-1968. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Corbett, Failing, and Company, Portland, Or. Corbett, Failing and Company records, 1851-1898. University of the Pacific, William Knox Holt Memorial Library
referencedIn Corbett, Failing & Co. (Portland, Ore.) Records, 1851-1898 University of the Pacific. Library. Holt-Atherton Department of Special Collections
referencedIn Baker, Dorsey Syng, 1823-1888. Dorsey Syng Baker letters, 1863-1869. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Henry Failing (Ship). Letterpress copybook of the ship Henry Failing [manuscript], 1874-1894. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
creatorOf Failing, Henry, 1834-1898. Henry Failing dictation and biographical materials, 1888. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn Matthew Paul Deady Papers, 1850-1923 Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Henry Villard papers, 1604-1948 (inclusive), 1863-1900 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Buchtel, Joseph B., 1830-1916,. Josiah Failing family photograph album [graphic], circa 1865-1875. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
referencedIn Bell Dubois loan agreement [manuscript], circa 1860-1898. Oregon Historical Society Research Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
correspondedWith Applegate, Jesse A., 1811-1888 person
correspondedWith Baker, Dorsey Syng, 1823-1888. person
associatedWith Cabell, Emily Corbett, 1867-1922 person
correspondedWith Cabell, Henry Coalter person
correspondedWith Cabell, Henry Coalter person
correspondedWith Cabell, Henry Failing, 1895-1972 person
associatedWith Corbett, Failing, and Company, Portland, Or. corporateBody
associatedWith Corbett, Henry W. (Henry Winslow), 1827-1903. person
associatedWith Deady, Matthew P. (Matthew Paul), 1824-1893 person
correspondedWith Failing, Edward, 1840-1900 person
associatedWith Failing, Emily Phelps, 1836-1870. person
correspondedWith Failing, Henrietta Ellison person
correspondedWith Failing, Henrietta Ellison person
correspondedWith Failing, James, b. 1842 person
correspondedWith Failing, James, b. 1842- person
correspondedWith Failing, Josiah, 1806-1877 person
correspondedWith Failing, Mary Forbush person
correspondedWith Failing, Mary Forbush person
associatedWith First Baptist Church (Portland, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith First National Bank of Portland (Or.) corporateBody
correspondedWith First National Bank of Sugar Pine (Sugar Pine, Or.) corporateBody
correspondedWith Hatt, John A. person
correspondedWith Hatt, John A. person
associatedWith Henry Failing (Ship) corporateBody
associatedWith Keystone Mining and Milling Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Ladd, William Sargent, 1826-1893 person
associatedWith Lewis, Cicero Hunt, 1826-1897. person
associatedWith Library Association (Portland, Or.) corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon Iron Company corporateBody
associatedWith Oregon Iron Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Pacific University. corporateBody
associatedWith Portland (Or.). Fire Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Portland (Or.). Fire Dept. corporateBody
associatedWith Portland (Or.). Water Committee. corporateBody
associatedWith Price, John B. person
associatedWith Price, John B. person
associatedWith Reginald R. Stuart person
associatedWith Sessions, David R. person
associatedWith Sitton, Charles E. person
associatedWith Sitton, Charles E. person
associatedWith University of Oregon. corporateBody
correspondedWith Villard, Henry, 1835-1900 person
associatedWith Willamette Iron and Steel Works. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Portland (Or.)
Oregon--Portland
Oregon--Portland
Oregon
Portland (Or.)
Portland (Or.)
Subject
Architecture
Bankers
Bankers
Banks and banking
Banks and banking
Businessmen
Businessmen
City and town life
Universities and colleges
Home and Family
Mayor
Mayors
Mayors
Merchants
Merchants
Merchants
Oregon
Pioneers
Pioneers
Pioneers
Portland
Ships and shipping
Voyages to the Pacific coast
Women
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1834-01-17

Death 1898-11-08

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