Editing Pengra, William B

Pengra, William B. (1834-[[1895]])

He was born in Genessee county, New York, May 5, 1834, but when quite young was taken to Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he resided eight years, then emigrating to Green county, Wisconsin and afterwards to Winnebago county, Illinois, where he resided until he came to Oregon in [[1853]].

On arrival he first settled on a farm with his brother Hon. [[Pengra, Byron J.|Byron J. Pengra]], in the vicinity of [[Springfield]], [[Lane county]], but in the spring of 1854 he moved to Phoenix, Jackson county, and assisted in the erection of the first saw mill in that place. Moving subsequently to Yreka, Siskiyou county, California, he engaged in mining  operations until 1858 when he returned to Lane county, settled in Springfield  and has since resided there, being one of the owners of the large flouring and saw mills there. ["Illustrated History of Lane County, Oregon." Published A.G. Walling, 1884. Portland, Oregon. pg 488.]


Brother of [[Pengra, Byron J.|Byron J. Pengra]] and, as of [[1872]], co-owner of the Springfield Manufacturing Company. Husband of [[Pengra, Louisa S|Louisa S Pengra]], and father of [[Pengra, William J|William J Pengra]]. 

Shortly after expanding the flour mill, the corporation of the [[Springfield Manufacturing Company]] sold the mills and water power in [[1872]] to Byron and [[Pengra, William|William Pengra]]. It is speculated that the rerouting of the railroad line to [[Eugene]] influenced the shareholders’ decision to sell. The Pengras operated the mills despite the lack of railroad access. In [[1882]], the sawmill was destroyed by fire. Pengra later became the sole owner of the flour mill form [[1884]] to [[1890]]. In [[1890]] [[Washburne, Charles W.|Charles W. Washburne]], a [[Junction City]] banker, purchased the flour mill from [[Pengra, William|William Pengra]].

==Certificate of Election==

Springfield. Or. [[December 12|12th Dec]] [[1892|92]]

Mr [[Pengra, William B|W. B Pengra]]:

This is to certify that at this election held the

5th Dec. I you were elected Recorder for the 

ensuing year.

E. Mandi. Recorder.

Town of Springfield.


=Tombstone=

Located in the [[Laurel Hill Cemetery]] in [[Glenwood]], Oregon.

It reads:

<TABLE width=200><TR><TD colspan="2" align=center>Pengra</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>William B.</TD><TD>Louisa S.</TD></TR>

<TR><TD>1834-[[1895]]       </TD><TD>         [[1851]]-[[1909]]</TD></TR></TABLE>

[[Category:Springfield residents (1800s)]] [[Category:industrial]]