Civic Life

Civic Life in McMinnville 1912-2012
Wortman Family

The Wortman family has impacted the McMinnville community economically, politically and socially throughout the years.

By: Samantha Johnson, Dan Hellinger and Jordan Mixsell
Linfield College 2012

Wortman Family Facts

•The Wortman family established the First National Bank of McMinnville, 1883.

•Jacob was elected mayor on March 1, 1887, and was reelected in 1901. In office he authorized the use of alcohol, cigars and cigarettes in McMinnville.

•In 1902 they purchased the first vehicle on the West Coast.

•The family established the first bank in McMinnville.

•First family to own a motorcycle, car and airplane in McMinnville.

 

First National Bank of McMinnville
Today Key Bank occupies 3rd and Davis, where the First National Bank of McMinnville once stood, in 1883. The bank was taken over by Key Bank in 1986 and no longer wanted any of the Wortman family linked to it. Frank Wortman was the last Wortman to work at the bank.

Transportation in McMinnville
•Jake and Eliza purchased the first horseless carriage in the county for their grandchildren.

•It was the first car to cross the coast range mountains to the ocean and get back under its own power.

•It was the cause of the first legislation enacted regulating the use of automobiles in Oregon after it ran over and killed a dog belonging to a city councilman in 1903.

•First family to sign the charter of society.

•Their locomobile was the first vehicle to deliver mail.

Ralph Wortman, banker and author of “A Horseless Carriage Comes To Town” and accepts the first copy of the book from Phil Bladine, a newspaperman who edited the book on June 26, 1966. The book tells the story of the county’s oldest auto, a 1901 steam-powered Locomobile.

  

Wortman Park
Ralph and Frank Wortman thought the city of McMinnville could use a new park so they purchased and donated land to the city. The park was known for its large child play areas. The park became a place for community activities and Wortman family outings.

Wortman Family Impact
Today in McMinnville people can still find lasting impressions that the Wortman family has left in the community. To begin with, there is Wortman Park, which spans around 20 acres. The Wortman’s car can still be found, located at Key Bank, which was once known as the First National Bank in McMinnville, established by Jacob Wortman. Lastly, there are still Wortman relatives living in the area.

“Seldom is the life of any man so thoroughly woven into entire fabric of a community over such an extended period of time as has been that of Frank Wortman. His death last Friday morning marked the end of an era of two brothers…”

 Resources Consulted
Linfield College Library http://www.linfield.edu/linfield-libraries.html
McMinnville Parks and Recreation http://www.ci.mcminnville.or.us/city/departments/parks-a-recreation/
The News-Register http://www.newsregister.com/
Yamhill County Historical Society http://yamhillcountyhistory.org/
Wortman Descendant-Tami Spear