My WILSON Family History and Genealogy:Information about Clarissa Alice Kyes
Clarissa Alice Kyes (b. 16 May 1873, d. date unknown)
Notes for Clarissa Alice Kyes:
Clarisa's maiden name is found as Kyes, Keys, McKyes or McKeyes. She was born in Roseburg, Oregon in 1873 and was graduated from a normal school, afterward taking a special course in the University of Chicago, and engaged in teaching for a number of years prior to her marriage. Her first union was to a man named A. Rickards who was the Chief Engineer on the Lighthouse Tender, Manzanita. She had one child with Mr. Rickards, Alice Rickards, now deceased. Clarisa Kyes later married Robert D. Inman who was the founder of the Inman-Poulsen Lumber company. During the first fifteen years of the twentieth century, the Inman-Poulsen Mill was considered the world's largest sawmill. She was a Presbyterian in religious faith and contributed generously toward the support of the church. Her interest in social and cultural affairs is indicated by her affiliation with the Oregon Sculptors Society, the Portland Research Club, the Woman's Club of this city and the local Country Club. She retained an interest in the Inman-Poulsen Lumber Company and was a capable business woman. Endowed with creative power, she invented the first electric curling iron and a plant was established in Chicago for manufacturing this device. The business was started with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars and incorporated under the name of the Del Sales Company. Forty girls were employed in the factory, the output of which was sold mainly through the Western Electric Company and Marshall Field & Company. Mrs. Inman received large royalties from her invention and controlled the patent rights therein for about twelve years. She then sold an interest in the curling iron and invested a portion of the profits in Aerial Terraces, a beautiful home on Westover heights. During the holiday season of 1927 the following news item appeared in one of the local papers:
"Hundreds of Portland residents who had not previously viewed the brilliantly illuminated grounds about the home of Mrs. R. D. Inman, 1214 Cumberland Road, journeyed last night. despite the failing snow, to see the sweepstakes winning decorations in their true winter setting. Against the white background the gaily colored lights shone out in extraordinary beauty. The decorations were awarded the sweepstakes prize of two hundred and fifty dollars in the Portland Advertising Club's Christmas outdoor illumination contest for the private display division. Five ever-green trees in front of the palatial residence were tastefully bedecked with many colored electric lights, while on the roof and easily visible was a brilliantly illuminated star. In the windows were electric wreaths. The home is located at the end of the Westover car line."
Donald Raymond Wilson, the nephew of Clarissa Kyes Inman's brother, Charles Kyes, remembers going to this Inman house to visit when Donald Raymond Wilson when was a young boy. He also remembers Clarissa Inman visiting Donald Raymond Wilson's house when he was a young boy in her large Rolls Royce automobile. This created quite a stir in Donald's neighborhood.
Her home at 2884 NW CUMBERLAND PORTLAND is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, Multnomah County, Oregon.
See this web page:
http://216.239.57.104/search?q=cache:mRSJKySEsJYJ:arcweb.sos.state.or.us/s hpo/multnomah_ghi/multnomah_ghi49.html+++Inman+OR+Kyes+OR+McKyes+OR+Mckees +%22Clarissa%22&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
More About Clarissa Alice Kyes:
Date born 2: Abt. 1872
More About Clarissa Alice Kyes and Robert David Inman:
Marriage: 6 October 1912
Children of Clarissa Alice Kyes and Robert David Inman are:
- Ava Mansfield Inman, b. 16 February 1899, d. 31 October 1922.