Ben Selling
{{Short description|Community leader in Portland, Oregon (1852/53 – 1931)}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Ben Selling
| image = Ben Selling LCCN2014687636.jpg
| image_size = 160
| image_upright =
| smallimage =
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| order =
| office = 27{{sup|th}} Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives
| term_start = 1915
| term_end = 1917
| governor =
| majority = Republican Party
| predecessor = Clifton N. McArthur
| successor = Robert N. Stanfield
| order2 =
| office2 = Member of the Oregon House of Representatives from the 18{{sup|th}} District
| term_start2 = 1915
| term_end2 = 1917
| constituency2 = Clackamas and Multnomah counties
| predecessor2 = Robert W. Hagood
| successor2 = A. C. Callen
| order3 =
| office3 = President of the Oregon Senate
| term_start3 = 1911
| term_end3 = 1913
| majority3 = Republican Party
| predecessor3 = Jay Bowerman
| successor3 = Donald Malarkey
| order4 =
| office4 = Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 1{{sup|st}} District
| term_start4 = 1911
| term_end4 = 1913
| alongside4 = John A. Carson, Hal D. Patton
| office5 = Member of the Oregon State Senate from the 13{{sup|th}} District
| term_start5 = 1909
| term_end5 = 1911
| alongside5 = C. W. Nottingham, John B. Coffey
| pronunciation =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = 1852
| birth_place =
| death_date = 1931
| death_place = Oregon
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| party = Republican Party
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}}
Ben Selling (1852 or April 29, 1853 – 1931) was a businessman, philanthropist, civil rights advocate, and politician in Portland, Oregon, United States. He was a noted leader in the Jewish community, and he owned a clothing store in downtown Portland.{{Oregon Encyclopedia|selling_ben_1852_1931_|author=Friedman, Elaine S.}}
Early life
Selling was born in San Francisco, California. His parents, Caroline Auerbach and Philip Selling, were both German immigrants.{{Cite news |date=18 August 1901 |title=Society |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1901-08-18/ed-1/seq-18/ |url-status= |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregonian}}{{Cite news |date=29 October 1914 |title=Mrs. Selling Is Dead |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1914-10-29/ed-1/seq-19/ |url-status= |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregonian}}{{Cite news |date=14 February 1915 |title=Many Pioneers Die |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1915-02-14/ed-1/seq-14/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregonian}} He arrived in Portland with his family circa 1862. There, his father ran a general merchandise store. Selling attended the Beth Israel Religious School and Portland Academy. Because his father needed his help in the store, Selling was unable to finish his education at Portland Academy.{{Cite journal |last=Berkowitz |first=Henry J. |date=30 September 1932 |title=Ben Selling |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/23601440 |journal=The American Jewish Year Book |volume=33 |pages=156 |jstor=23601440 }}
Marriage and family
Selling married Matilda Hess on March 14, 1880 in San Francisco.{{Cite news |date=21 January 1931 |title="Will Provides For $100,000 Trust Fund" |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/2006260039/1931-01-21/ed-1/seq-3/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=La Grande Evening Observer}} Like her husband, Matilda Hess Selling was deeply involved in Portland's Jewish community. She was a member of the National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW), serving as the president of its Portland chapter from 1906 to 1908.{{Cite news |date=7 May 1908 |title=Work of Jewish Women |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1908-05-07/ed-1/seq-10/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregonian}}{{Cite news |last=Mershon |first=Helen L. |date=1 December 1981 |title=Council of Jewish Women marks 85th anniversary |work=The Oregonian |pages=18}} From 1900 to 1930, she was also president of the sewing school at Neighborhood House, a community organization founded by the NCJW.{{Cite news |last=Mowrey |first=Freda J. |date=12 October 1946 |title=Jewish Group Urged Onward |work=The Oregonian |page=8}} The Sellings had two children; Rae Selling Berry, born in 1881, and Laurence Selling, born in 1882.{{Cite news |last=Hazen |first=David W. |date=18 March 1931 |title=It's the Birthday of – Dr. Lawrence Selling, Who Was Born in Portland in 1882 |work=The Oregonian |page=9}}{{Cite news |date=21 January 1931 |title=Student Loan Fund in Selling's Will |work=The Oregonian |pages=1, 5}}{{Cite web |title=Rae Selling Berry Seed Bank & Plant Conservation Program: History |url=https://www.pdx.edu/seed-bank/history-0 |access-date=30 September 2024 |website=Portland State University}}
Businesses
In 1881, Selling opened a boot and shoe business called Akin, Selling & Company. By 1903, he was running a clothing store called Ben Selling, Clothier.{{Cite news |date=11 March 1903 |title=The Best $3.00 Hat In The World |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1903-03-11/ed-1/seq-8/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal}} He was regarded as "the outstanding Jewish leader in Portland", receiving the first First Citizen Award from the Portland Realty Board in 1928.{{cite book|last=MacColl|first=E. Kimbark|title=The Growth of a City: Power and Politics in Portland, Oregon 1915–1950|year = 1979|publisher=The Georgian Press|location = Portland, Oregon|isbn=0-9603408-1-5}} Portland historian E. Kimbark MacColl remarked the choice of Selling was ironic because he "possessed none of the acquisitive instincts ... associated with the realty trade."
Philanthropy
Selling was known for his philanthropy. He organized kitchens for the unemployed during the Panic of 1893 and Panic of 1907, serving over 450,000 meals. In 1914, he founded the Working Men's Club, which sold meals for five cents apiece to homeless and unemployed men. The club also provided some meals at no cost.{{Cite news |last=Owen |first=C. Jerrold |date=15 November 1914 |title='Down And Out' Working Men Find Cheer At Ben Selling's 'Resort' |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1914-11-15/ed-1/seq-48/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregonian}} The Working Men's Club included an employment bureau, which, according to the Oregon Daily Journal, helped 600 to 700 men find work within a year of opening.{{Cite news |date=15 December 1914 |title=Work Provided For Some Unemployed |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1914-12-15/ed-1/seq-11/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal}}{{Cite news |date=15 November 1915 |title=Working Men's Club To Give Celebration |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1915-11-15/ed-1/seq-14/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal}} Selling closed the club in 1916 due to the improved economy. The Oregonian stated that it had served nearly 400,000 meals.{{Cite news |date=5 November 1916 |title=Memories Of Hard Times Sway Many |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83045782/1916-11-05/ed-1/seq-15/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregonian}}
In January 1916, Selling became treasurer of a committee to raise funds for Jews in Eastern Europe displaced by World War I.{{Cite news |date=25 January 1916 |title=Jewish Campaign Begins Thursday |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-01-25/ed-1/seq-18/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregonian}} He asked Portlanders of all religions to donate to the cause, saying that "for the first time in 50 years I am asking non-Jews to help my people."{{Cite news |date=30 January 1916 |title=Jewish Relief Fund Grows Rapidly As Checks And Cash Contributions Pour Into Office of Treasurer Ben Selling |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042444/1916-01-30/ed-1/seq-7/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregon Daily Journal}} The committee raised more than $14,000 within two months.{{Cite news |date=1 March 1916 |title=Jewish Fund Is $14,000 |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn83025138/1916-03-01/ed-1/seq-7/ |access-date=1 October 2024 |work=The Oregonian}}
Selling heavily supported the Armenian Relief Society, bought $400,000 in Liberty Bonds during World War I, and supported the Waverly Baby Home and Jewish Neighborhood House, both in Portland. MacColl also stated "Suffice it to say, Ben Selling probably gave away more money in proportion to his income than any Oregon citizen since the state was founded."
Political career
He served on the Port of Portland Commission, then on the Portland Dock Commission. After being elected to the Oregon State Senate in 1910, he served as President of the Senate for one session in 1911.{{Cite web|url=https://sos.oregon.gov/archives/Pages/records/legislators_guide.aspx|title = Oregon Secretary of State}} He was also Speaker of the Oregon House of Representatives for one session, 1915. He ran for the United States Senate in 1912, losing by a few hundred votes to Harry Lane.
Death and legacy
Selling died on January 15, 1931 of bronchial pneumonia.{{Cite news |date=16 January 1931 |title=Selling Funeral Is Slated Sunday |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn85042470/1931-01-16/ed-1/seq-1/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Oregon Statesman}} In his will, he left a $100,000 trust fund to provide scholarships for college students.{{Cite news |date=20 January 1931 |title=Leaves Trust For Students |url=https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn99063812/1931-01-20/ed-1/seq-1/ |access-date=30 September 2024 |work=The Evening Herald}} After his death, four of his 40 employees sued his estate, saying he had promised the business to them. Their claims were rejected, as Selling was known for being honest and writing everything down.
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20100419162210/http://www.jewishreview.org/money/Schlesingers-restore-name-of-historic-Selling-Building Selling Building], article from the Jewish Review
- [http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/23/newscolumn1.html Article from Business Journal] on building renaming
- [https://www.csascholars.org/selling/ Ben Selling scholarship]
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{{s-new|first}}
{{s-ttl|title=Republican nominee for U.S. Senator from Oregon
(Class 2)|years=1913}}
{{s-aft|after=Frederick W. Mulkey}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Selling, Ben}}
Category:Businesspeople from Portland, Oregon
Category:Jewish American people in Oregon politics
Category:20th-century Oregon politicians
Category:Presidents of the Oregon State Senate
Category:Speakers of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:Republican Party members of the Oregon House of Representatives
Category:Philanthropists from Oregon
Category:20th-century members of the Oregon Legislative Assembly