Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Wilbur F. Boothby ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Wilbur F. Boothby
LAST NAME: Boothby FIRST NAME: Wilbur MIDDLE NAME: F. NICKNAME: 
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE: Mr. GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 12 Jul 1840 DIED: 18 Apr 1912 BURIED: 21 Apr 1912
ETHNICITY:   OCCUPATION:  Architect
BIRTH PLACE:  Limington, York Co., Maine
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
OSBH DC (Marion Co., 1912) #1130: Wilbur F. Boothby, male, b. Maine, d. 18 Apr 1912 in Salem, Oregon at the age of 72, name of father Arthur Boothby (b. Maine), interment IOOF 21 Apr 1912, undertaker Rigdon-Richardson, informant Charles G. Boothby of Portland, Oregon
BIOGRAPHICAL:
 "Among the pioneers of Salem who used to tell me of early days in Salem were John G. Wright, John Q. Wilson and W. F. Boothby. A daughter of W. F. Boothby married John McCourt, a brilliant young attorney who later was elected to the Oregon Supreme court. When I lived in Pendleton, John McCourt Jr. and my son Lawrence were little chaps and were great cronies. Young John McCourt is now an attorney here in Portland and is a candidate for the lower house, where he served at the last session of the legislature. His grandfather, W. F. Boothby was a state of Maine man. He was born at Limington, Maine, July 12, 1840. He learned the trade of carpenter and joiner. Mr. Boothby left Portland, Maine, in the fall of 1861, coming to California via the Isthmus of Panama. In December, 1861, he landed a job in a quartz mill owned by General Fremont. He came to Salem in June of 1864, his first work there being as a book agent for Abbott's History of the Civil War. Not seeing any fortune in sight as a book agent, he quit that job to be foreman in the sash and door factory owned by Jones & Reed. In 1866 Henry Stapleton, W. F. Boothby and H. R. Myers bought out the Sam Bass' interest in the sash & door factory. Daniel Waldo Bass, the son of Sam Bass is now manager of the Frye hotel at Seattle. Mr. Myers sold out his interest in the sash and door factory, the firm name becoming Boothby and Stapleton. In 1872 Boothby & Stapleton took the contract to build the present Marion county courthouse, which was erected at a cost of $100,000. In 1870 Mr. Boothby went in with Martin & Allen and put in the Salem waterworks, Mr. Boothby becoming president of the company. Later the Salem water company was purchased by R. S. Wallace, president of the Capital National bank. The Wallace interests sold out several years ago and the present company is planning to sell the waterworks to the city of Salem for a million and a half. In 1880 Mr. Boothby was given the contract for overseeing the building of the insane asylum building at Salem. The building was to be of brick and was to accommodate 400 patients. This building was put up at a cost of around $100,000, Mr. Boothby serving as supervising architect and superintendent of construction. On September 20, 1865, he married Miss R. A. Dalgleish, who had come to Salem from Lawrence, Massachusetts". 
Source - Impressions and Observations of the Journal Man by Fred Lockley, Oregon Journal, Aug. 9, 1930.

In 1882, Frank E. Hodgkin, then of Salem, published a book, PEN PICTURES OF REPRESENTATIVE MEN of OREGON. The following is the sketch in full in that book concerning Mr. Boothby: W. B. Boothby:
"The well-known architect of Salem, was born in Linnington, Maine, July 12, 1840. His early life was spent upon his father's farm. He commenced learning the carpenter's trade when he was sixteen years of age. He attended the Fally seminary at Fulton, New York, from 1858 to 1860, when he opened a general commission house in Portland, Maine, where he remained until the war broke out. During the famine in Ireland, in 1860, Mr. Boothby loaded two ships with provisions, which reached there in due season, and a measure relieved the suffering poor. Disposing of his business in 1861, he came to California via the Isthmus, landing in San Francisco in November of that year. He at once started for the mines and was for some time engaged in Gen. Fremont's quartz mill, then the largest in the world. During the next few years he was engaged in various enterprises, contracting for and building houses, stores, etc., running a sawmill, selling goods, etc., and came to Oregon in June, 1864, and settled in Salem. He commenced canvassing the city for the sale of Abbott's History of the Civil War, but the enterprise was too tame for a man of his energy and ambition, and through the influence of old Father Waller, peace to his ashes, he secured a place as foreman in Jones & Reed's sash and door factory, where he remained about eighteen months. In 1866, in partnership with H. Stapleton and H. R. Myers, they bought out Sam. Bass' interest in a sash and door factory. In about one year's time Mr. Myers disposed of his interest in the business to Messrs. Boothby and Stapleton, who afterwards built a new [missing lines] by fire involving a loss of some $20,000. They rebuilt and continued the business for several years, occasionally drafting a house of some importance. In 1872 they contracted with Marion county for the erection of the elegant court house building that is now the pride of Salem and the surrounding country, and which cost in the neighborhood of $100,000. In 1870 he associated with Martin & Allen of Salem and contracted with that city to furnish water for fire purposes and private use; built works in 1876. Mr. Boothby serving as president of the company since that date. In 1879, owing to failing health, he disposed of his interest in the sash and door factory, and shortly afterwards opened an architect's office, in which business he is still engaged. In 1880 he was engaged by the board of commissioners for the erection of a brick insane asylum building, to assume the charge of several plans submitted by other architects and to prepare from them, introducing ideas of his own, a plan for the erection of a building calculated to accommodate 400 patients. How faithfully he executed that work the new and elegant building in the suburbs of Salem is evidence. It is said to be as perfect a building of its kind as can be found anywhere and it has been erected at an expense, thus far, surprisingly small, aggregating only about $100,000. Mr. Boothby's services have been retained as supervising architect and superintendent of construction, and to his economical management and thorough knowledge of his profession is greatly due the success attending the labors of the board. He also prepared the plans for Werner Breyman's elegant new residence, now in course of construction in that city. Mr. Boothby is a pronounced Republican, but has never sought office. He was in 1870 a member of the common council of Salem. He is an exemplary citizen, to whose enterprise and energy Salem is greatly indebted for many of her most important and permanent improvements. His integrity and industry have made him very popular in Salem whre he is best known. He was married September 20, 1865, to Miss R. A. Dalgleish of Salem, formerly of Lawrence, Massachusetts.".
SEE ALSO: http://salemhistory.net/people/p002.htm
OBITUARY: 
WAS SHOCK TO MANY FRIENDS 
Death of W. F. Boothby Removes a Pioneer and Leading Citizen. Niece Attracted by Groans 
Life Story of Well Known Man. 
The news of the death of W. F. Boothby at his home in this city on Thursday evening, April 18, as told in the Statesman of yesterday morning, was a distinct shock to his many friends, especially as the familiar figure of the pioneer and leading citizen had been seen on the streets the day of his death, going about his business as usual. He retired at 9 o'clock, and had not complained to Miss Lizzie Dalgleish, his niece by marriage, who was a member of the household, concerning his health. In fact, he seemed cheerful, and he had passed his usual joke with his friends in the afternoon. Shortly before 10 o'clock, Miss Dalgleish was attracted by groans from Mr. Boothby's room, and when she responded, he complained of a choking sensation and asked for some mineral water. Miss Dalgleish procured this, and Mr. Boothby drank it; but his condition had grown so alarming that she rushed over to the house of a neighbor to summon help. But it was too late. The sufferer had become unconscious, and he expired before Dr. Mercer, who had been summoned, could arrive. United States District Attorney John McCourt and his wife arrived from Portland on the Southern Pacific train yesterday morning, accompanied by Charles G. Boothby. The two latter are the only children of the deceased. Mrs. Boothby died on July 16, 1910. The funeral services will be held at the late residence, 171 Court street, near Front, on Sunday afternoon at 2:30. Rev. P. S. Knight will conduct the services. Interment will be in the I. O. O. F. Cemetery. 
[missing lines] known of Salem's citizens. He had taken an interest in the affairs of this city, even up to the last though for about six years he had been a sufferer, having been stricken with partial paralysis. He was one of the builders of the Marion county court house, the main building at the asylum for the insane, the capitol and many business buildings. He owned both residence and business property in Salem, including the office of the Statesman. He was a good man. His friendships were loyal and sincere. His word was as good as his bond. He will be missed and mourned by those who had known him familiarly through all the years. Sincere sympathy is extended to the bereaved son and daughter. 
Chapman Scrapbook
INSCRIPTION: 
Father 
Wilbur F. Boothby 
July 12, 1840 
Apr. 18, 1912
SOURCES: 
LR 
LD 
OSBH DC (Marion Co., 1912) #1130 
S&H pg 36 
1889-1890 R.L. Polk & Co's Salem Directory 
Hodgkin, pg 151-152 
OJ 9 Aug 1930
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 200 SPACE: 3 SW LONGITUDE: N 44° 55.218' LATITUDE: W 123° 02.733'
IMAGES: