Page "Meier & Frank" Paragraph 4

In 1857, Aaron Meier ( 1831 – 1889 ) arrived in the Oregon Territory at the age of 26 and opened a mercantile store at 137 Front Street in Portland, which had a population of 1, 300.

He had come to California from Bavaria during the Gold Rush, spending time as an itinerant peddler in southern Oregon.

He formed a partnership with a Mr. Mariholtz and began selling merchandise that arrived by steamer from San Francisco and in the covered wagons rolling along the Oregon Trail.

Ten years later, Meier returned to Ellerstadt ( in today's Rhineland-Palatinate ) after his father died, leaving Mariholtz to run the business.

During his extended stay in Ellerstadt, Meier married a local woman, Jeanette Hirsch ( 1843 – 1925 ) and returned with her to Portland.

Meanwhile, back in Portland the dry goods store had collapsed financially, bringing the partnership to an end.

Aaron Meier started a new store with his $ 14, 000 inheritance, in larger quarters of, at 136 Front Street.

He hired Emil Frank ( 1845 – 1898 ) in 1870 and Emil ’ s younger brother Sigmund Frank ( 1850 – 1910 ) in 1872.

A year later, Emil Frank became Meier ’ s partner and the store became known as “ Meier & Frank ”.