Absalom Barrett Hallock was an American architect and politician. He served on the Portland, Oregon City Council multiple times and designed various prominent buildings and houses in the Portland metropolitan area.
Early life
Absalom Barrett Hallock was born on August 27, 1822, in Utica, New York, to Robert Titus Hallock, a doctor, and Amelia Adams Barrett.[1][2]
Career
Architecture
In 1850, Hallock left New York for Oregon. He established the architectural firm Hallock & Company with contractor William McMillan. He was commissioned to design and build the Washington County Courthouse, and was soon after commissioned by William S. Ladd to build the city's first brick building, which was located on Front Street. Hallock also designed and built homes for many prominent early Oregonians, including Cyrus Olney and Captain George Flanders.[2]
In 1853, the firm was dissolved and Hallock formed Hallock, Lou, Day, & Company with other local architects. This firm designed and built many of Portland's early buildings.[2]
In 1863, Hallock was appointed city surveyor, and established and laid out grades for the streets in Downtown. He surveyed and mapped many parts of the city, as well as the townsite of Astoria, Oregon.[2]
Portland City Council
Hallock was elected to the Portland City Council four different times in 1857, 1859, 1866, and 1870.[3]
Personal life
Hallock married Mary Tiffany Bliss on April 22, 1855. They had two children, Bessie and Edward.
References
- ^ "Early Settler Dead". The Oregonian. November 1, 1892. p. 10.
- ^ a b c d "Absalom Barrett Hallock (c. 1822-1892)". www.oregonencyclopedia.org. Retrieved 2025-01-14.
- ^ Scott, Harvey Whitefield (1890). History of Portland, Oregon : with illustrations and biographical sketches of prominent citizens and pioneers. Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center. Syracuse, N.Y. : D. Mason & co.