Southwest Portland in Multnomah County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
Benjamin Stark
Jan. 26, 1822-Oct. 11, 1898
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, November 25, 2021
1. Benjamin Stark Marker
Inscription.
Benjamin Stark. Jan. 26, 1822-Oct. 11, 1898. Pioneer Portland merchant and U.S. Senator, Benjamin Stark came to Portland in 1845 on the bark TOULON and established a merchandising business. That same year, he purchased Asa Lawrence Lovejoys interest in a land claim, which, together with Francis W. Pettygroves interest, then constituted Portland. In 1848, he went to the California gold mines, and on his return found his claim disputed; it finally was adjusted by allowing him a triangular strip, extending north from Stark to Ankeny Streets and west from the river to 10th Street. He later made a great deal of money selling town lots from this area. Stark studied law, was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1850, and became a territorial legislator in 1853. He was appointed by Governor Whiteaker to serve the unexpired term of U.S. Senator E. D. Baker, Sept. 1861-Dec. 1862. Stark donated the site for the first Trinity Episcopal Church at 2nd and Oak Streets, and also gave the parish a great bronze bell in 1873. The third Trinity Episcopal Church building, now at N.W. 19th and Everett, still has Stark's bell. Stark Street was named for him. In his later years, he resided at New London, Connecticut, where he had lived before coming to Portland. , This marker stands on the Benjamin Stark Land Claim
Pioneer Portland merchant and U.S. Senator, Benjamin Stark came to Portland in 1845 on the bark TOULON and established a merchandising business. That same year, he purchased Asa Lawrence Lovejoys interest in a land claim, which, together with Francis W. Pettygroves interest, then constituted Portland. In 1848, he went to the California gold mines, and on his return found his claim disputed; it finally was adjusted by allowing him a triangular strip, extending north from Stark to Ankeny Streets and west from the river to 10th Street. He later made a great deal of money selling town lots from this area. Stark studied law, was admitted to the Oregon bar in 1850, and became a territorial legislator in 1853. He was appointed by Governor Whiteaker to serve the unexpired term of U.S. Senator E. D. Baker, Sept. 1861-Dec. 1862. Stark donated the site for the first Trinity Episcopal Church at 2nd and Oak Streets, and also gave the parish a great bronze bell in 1873. The third Trinity Episcopal Church building, now at N.W. 19th and Everett, still has Stark's bell. Stark Street was named for him. In his later years, he resided at
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New London, Connecticut, where he had lived before coming to Portland.
This marker stands on the Benjamin Stark Land Claim
Erected by David R. Williams - Donald R. Stark - Preston C. Hiefield Jr. - Oliver I. Norville - James E. Griffin.
Location. 45° 31.245′ N, 122° 40.258′ W. Marker is in Portland, Oregon, in Multnomah County. It is in Southwest Portland. It is at the intersection of Southwest Naito Parkway and SW Pine Street, on the right when traveling south on Southwest Naito Parkway. Marker is located in front of the Worldmark building at the corner of Southwest Naito Parkway and SW Pine Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 221 SW Naito Pkwy, Portland OR 97204, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge and in the Willamette Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast, in the Pacific Northwest, and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally,
Oregon Historical Society
2. Photo from Benjamin Stark Marker
Second Trinity Church (Episcopal) - Built 1872-73 at 6th and Oak.
it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, November 25, 2021
3. Benjamin Stark Land Claim site
Credits. This page was last revised on September 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on September 15, 2024, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 229 times since then and 47 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 15, 2024, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
