An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 119

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172

USA > Washington > Skagit County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 119
USA > Washington > Snohomish County > An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington > Part 119

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MARSTON G. BEARD, a thrifty agricul- turist residing five miles southeast of Anacortes, was born in Illinois, July 8, 1844, the son of Wil- son and Nancy (Douglas) Beard, both natives of Kentucky. Having moved to Illinois in carly life, the father made that his home till 1849, then went to California, and no word has been received from him for thirty years. The mother's death occurred in 1865. Marston Beard spent his early years in the home of an uncle, beginning the active duties . of life at the age of seventeen. Starting across the plains to California, he reached Missouri, where he remained a year, then he drove an ox team to Salt Lake City. He entered the employ of the Overland Mail Company there and drove a stage from that city to Virginia City for the three fol- lowing years, going then to California, where for the ensuing two and a half years he was engaged in teaming in San Mateo county. After a trip to New York made via Panama, he returned to Illi- nois, residing there four years. In 1824 he brought his bride to the West, and settled near Snohomish on a one hundred and sixty acre home- stead, a wild timber-covered wilderness at that carly date. The succeeding nine years were full of arduous toil, amid difficulties and privations known only to pioneers, who yet had their share of quiet happiness. Disposing of his property in 1883, Mr. Beard moved to Santa Barbara, Califor- nia, and invested in land upon which he set out a fine orchard. Ife engaged in fruit raising fifteen years, then again located in Washington, purchas- ing five acres near Anacortes, upon which he still resides.

Mr. Beard was married in Illinois, in 1871, to

Sarah Stevenson, a native of Illinois, as were also her parents, George W. and Amelia ( Byerley) Stevenson, now deceased. Bequeathing to her family and friends the memory of a useful, happy life. Mr. Beard died in 1892. Four children were born to this union as follows: Mrs. Carrie Jacob- son of Lompoc, California; Nellie, at home ; Mrs. Mary E. Canfield, of Vacaville, California ; Edwin S., at home. Mr. Beard votes an independent ticket, and has never had any desire to hold office. He is a prominent member of the Methodist church, contributing liberally to its various benevo- lences. As his farm is especially adapted to rais- ing small fruit, he intends in the future to devote his time to that branch of horticulture, also to en- gage in poultry raising. Ile is known to be an carnest, industrious man, and a loyal citizen, who holds the respect and good will of his many ac- quaintances.

FRANK N. WHITE, a prosperous farmer re- siding five miles southeast of Anacortes, was born in Buchanan County, Iowa, February 25, 1864. His parents, Henry J. and Elizabeth (Richmond) White, were born in Ontario, the father January 24, 1826, the mother May 28, 1834. After work- ing for a number of years at millwrighting in Iowa, the elder White moved in 1872 to Washing- ton, and he is now a resident of Anacortes. He is in very feeble health at present. The mother's death occurred December 21, 1894. Having come with his parents to Washington when eight years old, Frank N. White received his education in the common schools of this state. After residing for a time in Seattle, his father took a preemption clain on Guemes island, and spent the summer of 1873 there, but that fall he purchased one hundred and sixty-three acres on Fidalgo island bordering the bay, part of which is in timber and sixty acres tide lands. That fall the family, which had been in Seattle, rejoined him, casting their lot with the carliest white families to settle on the island. The father until very recently owned this property, save a twenty-acre tract which he sold to his son, twenty acres of hill land donated to the railroad and seven and a half acres given as a bonus to the electric car line in the carly nineties. Mr. White served as probate judge of his county in the carly days and thus acquired the title "Judge" by which lie is best known among his old associates. During the father's residence in Anacortes, Frank White and a brother had charge of the farm for a year, after which Frank became a member of a coast surveying party. A few months later he located in Seattle, where he was employed continuously until 1890, when he returned to Anacortes to re- sume work on his father's farm. In March, 1902, he moved onto a twenty-acre tract of the home

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ranch which he had purchased in 1885, and he lias since devoted his entire time to diversified farm- ing. He has twelve acres in a fine state of culti- vation, and intends in the future to make a spe- cialty of fruit raising.

Mr. White was married September 3, 1890, to Blanche Clark, the danghter of Thomas M. and El- len (Leamer) Clark, both residents of Nebraska. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. White : Marguerite, October 27, 1901 ; and Theodore, March 5, 1903. Mr. White is a Republican, but votes independently whenever he thinks he can better subserve the welfare of state or nation by so doing. He attends the Methodist church, of which his wife is a prominent member. His property holdings include forty-seven acres of farm land and a number of lots in Anacortes. He is an ac- tive, industrious agriculturist, a loyal and progres- sive citizen, a kind neighbor and friend and enjoys in abundant measure the confidence and respect of the community in which he lives.

THOMAS SHARPE, a popular and prosper- ous farmer residing at Rosaria, was born in Ty- rone County, Ireland, November 12, 1850. His father, James Sharpe, emigrated from his native country, Ireland, to the United States in 1853, making his home in turn in New York, Ohio, Iowa and Minnesota. He located in the last men- tioned state in 1861, and died there, March 22, 1879. Margaret (Nelson) Sharpe, his mother, also born on the Emerald isle, was living with a daugh- ter in British Columbia at the time of her death in 1887. Thomas Sharpe left home at the age of fifteen, and found work on steamboats and rafts on the Mississippi river for six years. He then returned to his home, where the ensuing three or four years of his time were spent. Starting for Puget sound, July 12. 1875, he landed in due time at Port Townsend, whence he proceeded to Whidby island. Undismayed by the fact that he found himself in debt to the amount of twenty-five dol- lars, with his usual energy he at once sought and found employment, and later purchased a relin- quishment to a tract of land on Fidalgo island, which he still owns. In 1882 he filed on the home- stead which he now farms. He has eighty acres cleared, and in an excellent state of cultivation, devoted to diversified farming. He owns a mod- ern and well equipped threshing outfit which is operated with profit; and it may be well to add that each consecutive fall for thirty-three years Mr. Sharpe has conducted a threshing business. He has the usual quantity of stock found on a well managed farm. The location of his elegant home, modern in all its appointments, upon one of the most picturesque spots to be found in the state, at the head of Deception pass, speaks eloquently of

his love for beautiful surroundings. The lights of Port Townsend and Victoria, are plainly visible from this elevation, and the view is one of cease- less charm.

Mr. Sharpe and Mary J. Carr were united in marriage in 1882. Mrs. Sharpe was born in Guelph. Ontario, the daughter of Robert and Janet ( Henderson) Carr, now residing at Hamilton, Iowa. Her father was born in Ireland eighty years ago, and came to Ontario in early life. Her mother, born in the highlands of Scotland, has reached the age of seventy-five. Four children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sharpe : Margaret Janette, John Clifford, William Wallace, and Arlie Matilda, all living at home. Mr. Sharpe is a firm believer in Republican doctrines, but is in no sense a politician. For twenty years he has served on the school board, a fact which clearly indicates his deep interest in educational matters. In religious faith he is an Episcopalian. Possessed of a genial disposition and many sterling virtues, he enjoys the largest measure of public esteem, and is recognized as one of the substantial and leading citizens of the Fidalgo island country, as well as one of the most active and enthusiastic pioneers.

WILLIAM H. BURDON, one of the popular residents of Fidalgo island, was born in the north- eastern part of England, March 31, 1844, the son of Thomas B. and Eleanor ( Miller) Burdon, both of English nativity. The father was a well-known merchant of that country who died in 1867. Wil- liam H. Burdon was the sixth of fifteen children. He acquired his education in the schools of Eng- land, and at the age of eighteen was apprenticed to a butcher, becoming thoroughly familiar with all the details of that business during the three years of his service. Having reached his majority he opened a butcher shop in Hartlepool, England, of which he continued to be owner till 1871 when he moved to Canada and purchased a hotel at Saint Thomas. Coming to Washington territory in 1873, he stopped three months at Port Madison, proceed- ing thence to what was then Whatcom, where he was employed by the Bellingham Bay Coal Com- pany to handle meat. He retained this position till the mines closed in 1876, then moved to Fidal- go island, purchasing thirty acres of land and tak- ing the adjoining forty acres as a homestead. Near- ly all was heavily timbered at that time, but now he has thirty acres in a fine state of cultivation. He makes a specialty of hops, the yield averaging one ton to the acre. There still is some fine tim- ber on his farm. During his long residence Mr. Burdon has witnessed some wonderful changes in this locality. Fidalgo was the only trading post on the island at the time he came, the now thriving

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town of Anacortes did not exist, and La Conner was but a collection of a few rude buildings with a store or two. There were no roads, the travel all being by boat. Having been appointed road supervisor, he was instrumental in building the first macadamized road on the island.

In England in August, 1866, Mr. Burdon mar- ried Jane Barker, a native of Yorkshire, England, born October 16, 1844. Iler parents, Lancelot and Elizabeth Barker, were both natives of the same shire and spent their entire lives there. Mr. Barker was a successful veterinary surgeon. Mr. and Mrs. Burdon have the following children : Thomas L., born in England; Mrs. Effie Gillispi, also born in England, now the wife of an engineer and living in Vancouver, British Columbia ; Alice, born at Whatcom, living at home; Minnie, on Fi- dalgo island, for five years a prominent teacher of Skagit county, now taking a four-year course in Portland, preparatory to entering the medical pro- fession ; and Harry, born on the island, now man- ager of his father's farm. Mr. Burdon is a prom- inent member of the Odd Fellows, being past grand of Anacortes lodge which he organized in 1891, and also having been a member of the grand lodge in that year. He and Mrs. Burdon are both identified with the Rebekahs and their son Thomas is also a past grand of the Odd Fellows. The en- tire family attends the Episcopal church. Mr. Burdon is an enthusiastic Republican. Intelligent, broad minded, of a genial disposition, he is a man whom it is a pleasure to know, and few possess a wider circle of friends and acquaintances than does this honored pioneer of Fidalgo island.

ALBANUS D. QUINT, the genial postmaster and merchant at Dewey, Washington, was born in Stark, Somerset County, Maine, October 4, 1849. His father, Joab Quint, born in Maine in 1807, was a farmer and carpenter. He was captain of a militia company in his native state in the early forties. His death occurred in 1851. Elizabetli (Thing) Quint. the mother, was born in 1813, in Maine. She was the mother of five children, all of whom are dead but the one whose name heads this biography. Acquiring his education in the schools of his native state, Albanus D. Quint then learned the carpenter's trade. Before he was fifteen years old he enlisted in Company F, Fourteenth Maine Infantry, serving cighteen months in the Civil War, most of the time with General Sheridan in the Shenandoah valley. Returning home, he went to Wisconsin in 1868, where he worked in the woods and at his trade for nineteen years. During his residence in Wisconsin he held numer- ous official positions, was town clerk for three years, justice of the peace three terms, chairman of the township board, and ex-officio county super-

visor. Coming to Washington in 1887, he took up forty acres of land at Deception, a pre-emption claim, and made it his home until 1896. He was offered ten thousand dollars for this property dur- ing the boom at Anacortes, but not having proved upon it, could not make the sale. He was appointed postmaster at Fidalgo City, formerly known as De- ception, now named Dewey, in 1897, a position which he still holds. He owns and operates a store in connection with the post-office. For near- ly ten years he has been justice of the peace, and he has also been a member of the school board.

Mr. Quint was married in Wisconsin, Septem- ber 19, 1878, to Mrs. Jane Hart, born in Scotland, April 11, 1842, the daughter of John Cameron. Mrs. Quint spent her childhood with her father in the West Indies, he being overseer of a large plan- tation. She was first married in Scotland, and there her husband died. Four children were born to this union: Mrs. Frank Lampman, of Ana- cortes ; Mrs. John Marshall, of San Francisco; John Hart, a well-known business man of Ana- cortes ; MIrs. Cora Iverson, of Fidalgo. Mr. and Mrs. Quint have two children : Mrs. Maud Grant, of Astoria, Oregon, and Jesse Quint, of Seattle, recently married. Mr. Quint has always taken an active part in the affairs of the Democratic party. During his long residence here he has endeared himself to the community by reason of his mani- fold virtues and his unfailing kindness and cour- test. He has in his possession a relic of priceless value, of which the entire state is justly proud, a homespun flag.

"Perhaps not another flag in the United States possesses a more unique history than does the starry emblem owned by A. D. Quint, postmaster at Dewey. This flag dates back beyond 1790, in so far as the fabrics which compose it are concerned and how much usage the cloth it contains will stand is yet to be told by future generations. The blue part of the flag was made from hemp which was combed, spun, woven and worn by Mr. Quint's grandmother at her wedding in 1:90. The red in the flag is wool which was dyed, carded, spun, woven and worn as an underskirt by Mr. Quint's mother at her wedding in 1833, and the white in the flag is cotton woven by Mr. Quint's sister in the first cotton mill established in the state of Massachusetts in 1851, and was worn by her before her death in 1853.

"These relics were made into an American flag by Mr. Quint's mother and younger sister and was used to celebrate the 4th of July at West Mills, Maine, in 1861. and from under it six brothers and stepbrothers enlisted in 1861 and fought until 1865 in the Ninth and Fourteenth Maine Infantry regiments. This flag flew at half-mast for the immor- tal Abraham Lincoln in the state of Mainc. It flew at half-mast for the gallant Garfield in the

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state of Wisconsin, and was draped in its position over the postoffice for the beloved Mckinley in the state of Washington.

"At Dewey, Washington, Mr. Quint's home, and at which place he is the efficient postmaster, this flag is incased and stands above the office fix- tures fronting the door. In a maple burl frame on one side of the flag is a picture of Dewey, de- noting the name of the office, in the center is a maple burl frame with a map of Skagit county, de- noting the county in which Dewey is located, and at the other end in a burl frame is the picture of Washington, making the display read, 'Dewey, Skagit County, Washington.' Mr. Quint had in- tended to send this unique display to the Louisiana Purchase Exposition at St. Louis, but owing to the failure of the county display he will not offer it to any other county.

"The lumber which constructs the frame work which supports this display was sawed by the De- ception saw-mill, the first in Skagit county, and the maple burls which serve as frames for the map and the pictures of Washington and Dewey, are native of Fidalgo island. The flag and the man- ner in which it is mounted would be an excellent exhibit and it is to be regretted that such a unique affair could not be taken to the exposition."

CHRISTOPHER C. BEST, one of the hon- ored pioneers of Skagit county, living a mile and a half north of Dewey, was born in east Tennes- see, May 11, 1834, the son of Emanuel and Susan (Tyler) Best. His father, born in Germany, was a descendant of Tennessee pioneers. Moving to Missouri in 1840 he died there a few years later, where the mother, who was born in North Caro- lina, also passed away. Left an orphan at the early age of ten years, Christopher C. was forced to begin the active duties of life when other boys of his age were occupied with balls and marbles. Employed by the various farmers who had need of a bright, capable boy, he grew to manhood, secur- ing his education in the meantime by diligently improving every opportunity. In 1857 he crossed the plains to California with an ox team, the jour- ney lasting five months. He remained in Califor- nia but a short time, going thence to Yamhill County, Oregon, where he farmed for two years. He then spent a year in the mines of southern Oregon, then, in 1860, went to Walla Walla, Washington, where he remained a twelvemonth, thereupon moving to Idaho, in which state he mined for the following fourteen years. After a brief visit to Oregon he came to Fidalgo island in 1875, and filed on the homestead on which he still resides. He has seventy-five acres, twelve of which are in cultivation, four in orchard, and his farm is well stocked with cattle and sheep.

On Fidalgo island, August 5, 1890, Mr. Best and Mrs. Lizzie Pickins were united in marriage. Mrs. Best, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Costner, was born in Tennessee in 1851, and received her education there. She had two children by her first husband: Charles E. and Cowan R. Pickins, and to her and Mr. Best was born one child, Walter C., a native of Skagit county, born July 16, 1891. Mrs. Best died on Fidalgo island, June 7, 1894. Mr. Best is a firm believer in the doctrines of the Republican party, but has never cared to hold po- litical office. In religion he and his family adhere to the Lutheran faith. A resident of this county for the past thirty years save for a short time spent in Missouri, he has witnessed the wonderful changes that have taken place in that time, and enjoys the consciousness that but for the indomita- ble courage of brave pioneers like himself, these transformations would never have been possible. To the pioneers the younger generation owes a debt of gratitude that can only be paid by accord- ing them the highest reverence and respect.

JOHN S. CONNER. Among the pioneer families of Skagit county who have been promi- nent in its reclamation and development from its wilderness condition to one of civilization, pros- perity and wealth, none has been more active and forceful, none more potent for progress, and none worthier of respect and esteem than that of the man whose name initiates this article. From the time of their advent the Conners have been leaders in the industrial conquest and social regeneration of community and county, while their influence has been more than state wide. With great thorough- ness they have studied the problems presented by local conditions, theoretically and practically, and so successful have they been that first, John S. Conner and in turn his son, came to be recognized as an authority on matters pertaining to tide land reclamation and to farming. The country has re- warded them for their abiding faith and interest by pouring into their garners an abundance of its choicest treasures, and they are also rich in the consciousness of having done a good work and done it well, leaving an indelible impress of the best kind upon one of the grandest counties of the Northwest.

John S. Conner, was born in Ireland, but his residence in the United States began when he was a young boy. He grew to manhood in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, attending the public schools there, but the conditions surrounding him were such that, quite early in life, he was forced into the industrial whirl. As a boy he spent much time driving a team on the Schuylkill canal, and for a time ran a boat of his own; but nature had framed him for a nobler destiny and, spurred by

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the promptings of ambition, he devoted all his spare moments to study, with the result that at the age of eighteen he obtained a teacher's certificate and was admitted to the profession.

During the year 1862 Mr. Conner started West going as far as Missouri, where he took up land and engaged in farming. In 1863, John S. Con- ner was married to Miss Louisa A. Siegfried, the daughter of James and Mary (Willet) Siegfried, who became residents of Liberty, Maryland, when the daughter was four years old. James Siegfried was a manufacturer of wagons, buggies and farm implements. Miss Siegfried was born in Pennsyl- vania, April 6, 1843 ; she was educated in a private school in Maryland, and at the age of sixteen, went with her parents to Missouri where four years later she met and married Mr. Conner.

In 1865 he again took up the westward march, coming by ox team to Colorado in which state, at a place ever since known as Conner's Springs, he engaged in the general merchandise and supply business. He also, for a time, conducted a hotel at Central City, Colorado. But realizing the ad- vantages of life near the seaboard and knowing something of the undeveloped resources of Wash- ington territory, he came to the sound country in 1869. The first stop was made at Olympia, where Mrs. Conner opened a millinery store, exposing for sale goods which she herself selected in San Francisco. A year later they sold their interests at the capital city and came to the site of the pres- ent town of La Conner of which Mrs. Conner was the first white woman settler, and Mr. Conner the first permanent merchant, he having established a general merchandise store there immediately upon his arrival. It was in this pioneer mercantile es- tablishment that the first postoffice was installed, through the efforts of Mr. Conner, who had it named after his wife, combining her initials and surname to form "La Conner." By a continuance of the same studiousness which had made him a successful and accomplished teacher, this pioneer merchant had become also a lawyer, and he soon began to be recognized as the leading man in the community and one to whom it was advisable to go for counsel when in perplexity or doubt. He was always willing to help incoming settlers not only with his valuable advice but when necessary in a more substantial way, and his open-handed generosity still is remembered with gratitude by its recipients and others. In 1873 Mr. Conner sold his store to the Gashes Brothers. Long before this he had become interested in Skagit county realty ; in fact he had taken a pre-emption very soon after his arrival. His cousin, J. J. Conner, had taken the land which forms the townsite of La Conner and in 1872 had laid out a town. This land was purchased by John S. Conner who thereby became interested financially in the upbuilding of the town

of which he had been after all the real founder, having started its first store. From this time until the day of his death he devoted his great energies to the development of La Conner and his real es- tate in the vicinity, which last had to be redeemed from the sea by dikes, for at one time it was pos- sible to pass over it in a row boat. He served one term as county commissioner when La Conner was in Whatcom county; but his bent was for indus- trial rather than for political leadership. His de- mise in 1885 was felt to be a decided misfortune to the entire community while not a few mourned him as a lost friend and benefactor. He was sur- vived by a widow and nine children: Herbert S., Frank J. S., Louis A., Guy W., Martin A., Wil- liam W., Ida R., now Mrs. Wilson H. Talbott, of Ellensburg ; Lillian J., now Mrs. Sylvester P. Kendall, of La Conner, and Mary Viola. Since the father's death, Louis and Martin have passed away.

That Herbert S. Conner is a worthy son of his honored father has been abundantly proven by the efficient way in which he has managed the parental estate and carried on the work since 1885, when, fresh from school, he was summoned by sickness and death in his household, to the larger school of life. His elementary education was obtained from teachers provided by his father in the days when there were no public schools in Skagit coun- ty; later training was had in the territorial uni- versity, his father moving to Seattle temporarily that the benefits of that institution might be en- joyed. After leaving the Seattle institution he went to Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania, and entered the high school from which he was graduated. This was followed by a course in the Eastman Business College at Poughkeepsie, New York, where he fin- ished his studies in 1884. He was spending a few months near the old parental home in Pennsyl- vania when the summons came, calling him to California whither his father had gone in search of health. While the elder Conner lingered, the son was employed as assistant cashier in a large bakery; but when the father had passed away, the family returned to the North and Herbert became manager of the property interests. A year after- ward they took up their residence at Clover Lawn, one of the most beautiful and well known of Skag- it county homes. Possessed of exceptional execu- tive ability Mr. Conner has achieved an industrial success of which any man might be proud. Nor has his whole time been given to the acquisition and improvement of real estate. On the contrary he is unusually public spirited, accepting cheerfully, for the good of the cause, such unremunerative offices as school director and city councilman, and always discharging the duties attaching to these places with exceptional ability and faithfulness. In 1894 he was called upon to represent his district

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An illustrated history of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; their people, their commerce and their resources, with an outline of the early history of the state of Washington, Part 119

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.) Publication date: 1906 Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1172

Author: Inter-state Publishing Company (Chicago, Ill.)
Publication date: 1906
Publisher: [Chicago] Interstate Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1172