George Washington Weidler

Who was George Washington Weidler?

George Washington Weidler was a prominent 19th century transportation agent, investor, and business owner in Portland in the U.S. state of Oregon. Born in Pennsylvania, he moved as a young man to St. Louis, Missouri, where he began a career in merchandising and shipping. His work gradually took him further west, to Utah Territory, Nevada Territory, California, and in 1866 to Oregon, where he remained for the rest of his life.

In Portland, Weidler worked as an agent for Ben Holladay and Henry Villard, both of whom controlled large transportation companies. He was one of the owners of the city's first street railway, and in 1880 he owned a lumber mill that was Portland's largest. He was the first person to sell electric lighting in Portland, and he helped organize a power company that was a predecessor of Portland General Electric.

Weidler was active in the Arlington, Portland, and Commercial clubs in the city. He and his wife, Hattie Louise Bacon, had seven children. Weidler Street in northeast Portland is named in his honor.