John W. Shute

John Wright Shute
Shute in 1903
Born	February 17, 1840 Montgomery County, New York
Died	March 19, 1922(1922-03-19) (aged 82) Hillsboro, Oregon
Resting place	Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery
Occupation	Banker
Spouses	Elizabeth Constable Mary E. Smith

John Wright Shute (born February 17, 1840 – died March 19, 1922) was a prominent banker in Oregon and is credited with establishing the first banking institution in Washington County, Oregon. His legacy is commemorated through the naming of both Shute Park and Shute Road in Hillsboro, Oregon.

Early life

Shute entered the world on February 17, 1840, in Montgomery County, New York, the son of Lewis P. Shute and Eliza Jane Wright. Raised primarily on a family farm, his formal schooling was minimal. In 1857, he relocated to Kankakee, Illinois before setting out for the Oregon Territory.

Oregon

Upon arriving in Oregon in January 1858—after a sea voyage through the Isthmus of Panama—Shute engaged in agricultural labor across Washington County, Oregon and the Walla Walla Valley. Subsequently, he managed a warehouse and mercantile business in Multnomah County, Oregon, which he later sold to acquire farmland near Hillsboro, Oregon. He married Elizabeth Constable in 1867, and together they had three children. Between 1889 and 1890, he served as a member of the Hillsboro city council.

Growing his farm to , Shute established the First National Bank of Hillsboro in 1888 with an initial capital investment of $50,000. He held the position of president until the bank ceased operations in 1897. This bank was notable as the inaugural financial institution within Washington County. Despite challenges such as the Panic of 1893 and a deposit withdrawal crisis, the bank endured. After closing First National Bank, Shute launched a private banking enterprise and became one of the leading landowners in Hillsboro and its neighboring regions.

His second marriage was to Mary E. Smith (1877–1968), with whom he fathered three additional children. Their union drew public attention due to their notable age disparity and speculation regarding underlying motives. In 1901, Shute contributed land for the establishment of Hillsboro’s first Catholic church, which opened as St. Matthew's in 1902.

On December 21, 1906, Shute sold a parcel measuring to the city of Hillsboro for $1,622. This land became the site of the city’s first park—later named Shute Park—funded through a property tax levy based on an assessed city value slightly exceeding $600,000.

In 1910, Shute was engaged in litigation involving former business associate John Foote and a third party concerning ownership rights to certain land. The dispute focused on whether Foote retained title or if it had transferred immediately to another entity. At that time, Shute’s net worth was approximately $250,000 while Foote’s assets were valued around $100,000.

Later years and family life

Affiliated with the Republican Party, Shute held the position of county commissioner for several terms. He passed away at his residence in Hillsboro on March 19, 1922, at the age of 82, and was laid to rest in the Hillsboro Pioneer Cemetery. Among those serving as pallbearers at his funeral was politician William G. Hare. Shute's legacy in banking continued through his son, Arthur C. Shute, who took over as president of the Shute Savings Bank. His other children included sons Edward A. and Tracy H., along with twin daughters Marian and Mary.

External links

• Venetian Theatre