Allen Ervin Flowers

Allen Ervin Flowers was the first African-American developer in Portland, Oregon and a pioneer.

He was husband to Louisa Flowers. He was a resident of Portland for 68 years.

Life Allen Ervin Flowers was born in Columbus, Ohio on March 20, 1847.

Flowers was a cabin boy aboard the Brother Jonathon before jumping ship in 1865 as the ship docked in Portland.

In 1901, the Flowers's moved with their four sons to a 20-acre farm located by the north slope of Mount Scott. There, they farmed and raised cattle.

After establishing himself in his community, purchasing and building many properties, and raising his family, Flowers died in 1934. These homes were located in the Eliot neighborhood, a location informed by Flowers profession as a porter-in-charge for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Flowers lived in one of the houses until his death in 1934. Before their demolition in 2019, the homes were owned by Pauline Bradford, a resident of the Eliot neighborhood and member of the Eliot Neighborhood Association.