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 128

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 128
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 128

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

692

SKAGIT COUNTY

toric log jam from the Skagit river. This "jam," an accumulation of logs, rolled upon each other by the force of the swift river current, until in places they mounted to the height of fourteen feet from base to top, and upon the surface of which grew trees three and four feet in diameter, had been for ages formning, its beginning passing beyond the knowledge, and even tradition, of the Indians of the surrounding country, The vast collection of logs and debris so changed the natural channel of the river as to cause overflow of the rich, fertile valley and worked serious damage to the settlers along its course. The government engineers sent to view the situation had estimated the cost of re- moval of this obstruction way up into the tens of thousands of dollars, the exact amount varying with the different pioneers interviewed from $25,- 000 to $125,000. However, the government failing to take action in the matter, Mr. Wilson and the other bold spirits who became associated with him, determined upon a practical demonstration of pa- ternalism themselves, and at once decided that they would undertake the removal of the jam, without promise of reward from either government, munic- ipality or citizens, other than what might accrue to them from the sale of the logs upon their removal. Upon this plan they began operations, the first part of February, 1816, with but little moral support and few words of encouragement from the citizens in general, and no capital but courage and muscle with which to carry on the enterprise. Believing the project to be feasible, and that with sufficient funds to supply the needed provisions they could carry it to successful issue, Mr. Wilson made a 1 trip to Whidby island to see his old friend. Major Haller, who at once fell in with the idea, when pre- sented to him, and offered to back Mr. Wilson with cash or his name to the completion of the enterprise. Much against the protests of the Major he was given as security for the first $200 that went toward the removal of the famous "jam," a mort- gage on the lots owned by Mr. Wilson in Seattle, which represented so many years spent in hard la- bor on the pioneer elaim on the Skagit river, and which canceled mortgage he has in his possession at this writing, prizing it far beyond its original cost. Major Haller expected that the government would help reimburse the men for their work. From February until August, Mr. Wilson contin- ted to push the work on the jam, and on July 4th had the satisfaction of witnessing the passage through the lower jam in a canoe of Mr. and Mrs. Jasper Gates. Some intermeddling at this time caused differences to arise, and in August Mr. Wil- son withdrew from the work, allowing others to carry it on to final completion. He lost $100 and his summer's work. For several years following this he engaged at work in the logging camp of William Gage and on the Ford ranch, three years of the time operating a saloon in Mount Vernon ;

until in 1885 he took up a homestead on Skiou slough, three miles east of Sedro-Woolley, and en- gaged in farming for himself. Here he continued to reside for thirteen years, at the end of which time, 1898, he removed with his family to Seattle, where he has since resided, an honored and respected citi- zen. He is the only one of the original promoters of the removal of the log jam living to-day, and is per- sonally acquainted with the founding of the towns of Mount Vernon, Sedro and Woolley, and was one of the citizens who went up the Skagit river to in- vestigate the Indian uprising at the time Amasa Everett shot the two Indians.

Mr. Wilson was married in 1876, the wife dying a few months after their marriage. He was united in marriage at Mount Vernon in 1882 to Charlotte Beekman, daughter of Gustave and Hilda (Amon) Beckman, both natives of Sweden, where they died several years ago. The father was a teacher by profession. Mrs. Wilson was born in Sweden in 1858, and came to the United States in 1882. To the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wilson have been born three children, Gustave, Alma and Albert, all na- tives of Skagit county. Mr. Wilson is of a retiring disposition, and little given to talking of his adven- tures by land and sea. He owns some property in Seattle and still retains a portion of his homestead near Sedro-Woolley and holds a position with the Seattle Electric Company, Well and favorably known among the pioneers of Skagit county, it was by frequent mention of his name in connection with the early events in the county that the writer was led to interview Mr. Wilson, and thus spread on the pages of history the honorable part he has taken in helping to redeem Skagit from its wilderness state.

WILLIAM A. DUNLOP. the well known pio- neer of Sedro-Woolley, residing at the foot of Sixth street, was born in Northumberland county, England, October 25, 1848. His father, also a na- tive of England, is a stonemason. Marjorie ( Alex- ander) Dunlop, the mother, was likewise born in England. Apprenticed to a carpenter at the age of fifteen, William A. Dunlop thoroughly mastered the trade, working with his employer three years after serving his prescribed term. At the age of twenty-two he went to Crook. England, and he worked in other portions of the land of his nativ- ity till 18:3, when he emigrated to Syracuse, New York. A few months later he went to Omaha, thence to San Francisco, where he made his home for five years, making two trips to Portland, Ore- gon, in the meantime. In 1828 he made an extend- ed trip through the Northwest, coming up the Skagit river on the steamer "Gem" to Sedro-Wool- ley to join Joseph Hart and David Batey, old friends of his, who had located there a few months previous. It was a desolate country, which, as Mr. Dunlop says, might have been more aptly named

693

BIOGRAPHICAL

"Wildenwoolley." William Wood was the next set- tler. With the exception of the men in a logging camp at Sterling, there were no neighbors nearer than five miles at first, and for several years settle- ment was slow. Having pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, eighty of which he afterward sold, Mr. Dunlop at once began the task of clearing the land, preparatory to cultivating it, and by the time Sedro-Woolley became a town he had cleared six acres. He now rents the portion of his farm that is in condition to cultivate, and devotes his entire time to his trade. Last year he made his first trip cast, visiting the St. Louis fair, where the Pioneer Association with which he is identified was formed. Mr. Dunlop is a loyal Republican, though he has never manifested any political aspirations. He is a thoughtful, intelligent man, esteemed throughout the community as a man of strict integ- rity.

FRANK A. DOUGLASS. druggist, is one of the self-made men of Sedro-Woolley, and success in his profession has come to him as a reward for his courage and strict application to business. Ile was born in Rock county, Wisconsin, September 16, 185%, the son of Albert C. Douglass, a native of Michigan. The elder Douglass, when a boy of fourteen, came with his parents to the Badger state and he used to relate that when en route their wag- on and team were mired at a point now in the heart of the city of Chicago. He was a butcher by trade. He died in 1899 in the state where Frank A. was born. His wife, Mrs. Mary ( Beach) Douglass, was born in Connecticut in 1832. and when a girl came with her parents to Wisconsin, where she died in 1893. leaving three children, of whom Frank A. is the second. Frank A. Douglass, when eleven years of age, went to Broadhead, Wisconsin (where his father opened a butcher shop and meat market) and received his education there, entering a drug store as clerk when sixteen. He thoroughly mastered the drug business by practice in the store and by his own study of pharmaceutical works. When twenty-one he went to Oberlin, Kansas, to clerk for Bariteau Brothers there, and in a few years he and Frank Coard were able to and did purchase this store, which they together conducted for twelve years. Mr. Douglass's capital in this venture was small, but by careful business methods and the exer- cise of professional sagacity, he prospered. In 1890 he sold out his Kansas holdings and came to Wash- ington, stopping at first for a short time at North Yakima. but ultimately proceeding to Woolley. where he opened the first drug store in the town. Increasing business demanded larger and better quarters, so in 1903 he erected the building his store now occupies.

In 1881 Mr. Douglass married Miss Minnie Ormsby, daughter of John and Nancy ( Martin) Ormsby, the former of whom was killed in Iowa in

1866 while sheriff of Fremont county. He was of Irish descent. Mrs. Ormsby, a native of Indiana, died in Sedro-Woolley Oct. 18, 1905. Mr. and Mrs. Douglass have had eight children, of whom the first two, John and Jennie, were in the first and second graduating classes of their home high school, and the youngest in their respective classes. John is now pursuing a course in the Washington State College at Pullman. The living children are: John, born April 8, 1886 ; Jennie, March 21, 1888 ; Arthur, April 6. 1890; Inez MI .. August 5, 1892 ; Nellie, on New Year's day, 1895 ; Frank IL., October 12, 1899; William, April 2. 1901. and Minnie, May 29, 1905. Their one deceased child, David L., was born March 2. 1897. and died December 31st of the following vear. Mrs. Douglass's brother, Norris Ormsby, proprietor of the Sedro-Woolley Transfer Company, was the first mayor of Sedro-Woolley. Mr. Doug- lass is a charter member of Truth Lodge, No. 147, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he has been secretary since its formation ; also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America, and now is clerk of his camp, while Mrs. Douglass is a member of the Rebekahis and Royal Neighbors. In politics Mr. Douglass is a Republican. He was a member of the last city council of Woolley. also of the joint committee which arranged the consolidation of the two towns which compose the present municipal corporation. Ile was the only member of the city council who was re-elected in 1899. Ile also has been town clerk. Mr. Douglass is one of the sub- stantial citizens of Sedro-Woolley, broad-minded in public affairs and energetic in the conduct of his own business.

GEORGE O. WICKER is the pioneer black- smith of Sedro-Woolley, and has seen both Sedro and Woolley grow from mere centers for loggers and traders into the modern city they now form. He has grown with the community and has kept abreast of all lines of development. Mr. Wicker was born in Chillicothe, Iowa, September 4. 1857, the son of Andrew Wicker, an Ohio stonemason, who became a pioneer of Iowa in 1845 and remained in that state until his death. Mrs. Janet (Butin) Wicker, a native of Ohio, was the mother of six children, of whom George was the fourth. Our subject attended the public schools at Chillicothe un- til sixteen years old, when he was apprenticed to the trade of blacksmith and continued three years at the same forge until he had mastered his trade. Ile worked for himself at the anvil in lowa until 1881, then came to Washington territory and joined his brother at Sedro. Ile was blacksmith at the Charles Jackson logging camp, a year later at the Mortimer Cook camp and in the summer of 1886 opened the first blacksmith shop in Sedro. Later he built the first shop at Woolley but sold out to Mr. McCabe. He followed his trade for a num-

691

SKAGIT COUNTY

ber of years, working both in camp and in town. until in 1904 he opened his present shop. lle has secured a long list of customers and secures some of the best trade in the community which comes to him because of the high quality of his work.

In 1883, while still a resident of lowa, Mr. Wicker married Miss Maggie Nelson, daughter of George Nelson, who was of German birth, but was educated and trained in lowa, where he followed the barber trade until his death. Mrs. Wicker was born in Bloomfield, Iowa, in 1867, and received her education there, marrying when seventeen years old. To Mr. and Mrs. Wicker have been born five children, as follows: Frank, January 29, 1885; Bessie, 1889; Mitchell, 1890; Edna, 1896; Ervan, 1902. In fraternal circles Mr. Wicker is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, the Foresters and the Royal Neighbors. The family attends the Methodist church and in politics Mr. Wicker is a Democrat. The "Sedro" part of the present name of the city was selected by Mr. and Mrs. Wicker, Mrs. Batey and Mortimer Cook, the name being the Spanish for "Cedar." Mr. Wicker is a well-in- formed, substantial and respected member of the community.

GEORGE W. RATCHFORD has been a resi- dent of Skagit county for fourteen years, during which time he has prospered in his blacksmithing and in other employments, and he now is one of the respected property holders of Sedro-Woolley. He was born in Prescott, Ontario, April 17, 1863, the son of William Ratchford, a native of Quebec, born in 1816. Mrs. Elizabeth (Wilkie) Ratchford was the mother of eight children of whom George was youngest. The death of his father having oc- curred when he was fourteen, George W. started into the world to fight his own battles at that early age. A rather unusual thing for a boy, he rented a farm and ran it successfully for two years, finding time to attend school in winter. The next three years the young man hired out to other farmers, then he learned the trade of blacksmithing, receiv- ing $50 a year for the three years of his service as an apprentice. He ran a farming business again for a few months, then opened a blacksmith shop and continued in the business eighteen months, re- linquishing it to take a farm on which to keep the cattle he had been compelled to accept in payment for blacksmith work he had done for farmers. He continued on the farm for two years, then ran a shop again for a few months, then crossed the continent to Mendocino, California. This was in 1890. Af- ter passing a year there, he came to where Sedro- Woolley has since grown, finding Sedro a camp with a mill in process of erection. The Fairhaven & Southern railroad, since abandoned, has just been constructed. He worked as mill blacksmith eight- een months, then spent two years barking logs for Smith & Bechtel and for Matt MeElroy, then hav-

ing met with an accident, he came to town, where he worked three years as driver for Hightower Brothers. In 1896 he entered into partnership with Hightower & Kirby in contracting single bolts for the Green Shingle Company, a partnership which continued three years, at the close of which time Mr. Ratchford was bought out by the others. He thereupon returned to town, put up a shop, and be- gan once more the pursuit of his handicraft, which he has followed continuously since. He has added two more lots to his holdings and has built a fine, modern eight-room house.

December 18, 1892, Mr. Ratchford married Miss Clara Miller, who was born in Iowa and who came to the coast with her father, Samuel Miller, and her brother, after her mother's death. Mr. Miller was a Virginian by birth but spent most of his life in Iowa before coming to Sedro-Woolley, where he died in 1904. Mrs. Ratchford's mother also was a Virginian. Mr. and Mrs. Ratchford have three children: S. Floyd, born June 20, 1898; W. Wy- man, May 2, 1900, and George E., May 25, 1902. In fraternal circles Mr. Ratchford is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and of Truth Lodge, No. 112, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, while Mrs. Ratchford is a member of the Rebek- als. In politics he is a Republican. He once served in the city council, having been elected by the largest majority of any one on the ticket. The family at- tends the Methodist church. Mr. Ratchford's real estate holdings are all in city property. He believes in the future of Sedro-Woolley and Skagit county, and is contributing his mite toward the general progress of both, at the same time retaining the re- spect of all for his industry and worth.

NORRIS ORMSBY, the first mayor of Sedro- Woolley, and for the last twelve years a member of the town council, is a native of Illinois, born in Shelby county in 1856. His father, John J. Orms- by, was of Irish ancestry. but a native of Balti- more, Fairfield County. Ohio. In the sixties John J. Ormsby moved to Fremont County, Jowa; he became sheriff of that county and was killed while in the discharge of his official duties. The mother of Norris Ormsby, now residing with him in Sedro- Woolley, is Nancy ( Martin) Ormsby, a native of Indiana ; she is the mother of six children of whom our subject is second. Norris Ormsby attended the lowa schools until his twelfth year, at this time entering the employ of, a merchant with whom he remained for three years. Close attention to his duties and the confinement necessarily incident to his clerkship affected his health to such an extent that a change in his every day life became impera- tive. Ile therefore severed his connection with the store and became an attaché of a livery barn, remaining so employed for fourteen years. He then removed to Nebraska and for two years operated

695

BIOGRAPIIICAL

a hotel at Odell, selling out the business at the end of this period and going to Kansas, of which state he continued a resident for three years or until 1890, when he came to Washington. His first stop- ping point was North Yakima in the arid section east of the Cascades, but in the summer of the year 1891 he came to Woolley and forming a part- nership with his brother-in-law, F. A. Douglass, opened a drug store. A year later he sold his in- terest in the drug venture to Mr. Douglass and at once established himself in the transfer and dray- ing business which he has ever since followed with marked success.

May 11, 1879, while residing in Missouri, Mr. Ormsby married Miss Sena Taliaferro, a native of that state, born in 1859. 'She, however, received her education in the schools of Iowa. Mr. and Mrs. Ormsby have one daughter, Mrs. Hallie Hol- brook, wife of J. B. Holbrook, a partner of Mr. Ormsby in the transfer business. In fraternal cir- cles Mr. Ormsby is a member of the Knights of Pythias, a past chancellor of the local lodge ; in pol- itics he affiliates with the Democrats. In addition to his transfer business he has considerable real estate in Sedro-Woolley, a town in whose future and tributary wealth he has much faith. He is a business man of superior ability and the success that has attended his years has been but the natural result of energy and application, of business capac- ity coupled with strictest integrity and a spirit of fairness in all his dealings. He has many personal friends and holds the respect of all.

JAMES McDONALD, one of the best known and most highly respected pioneers of Sedro-Wool- ley, was born in Lanark, Ontario, April 14, 1845, the son of Archibald and Martha ( Kelsey) McDon- ald, both natives of Scotland. The father moved to Canada in early life and was engaged in farm- ing and teaching there until his death in 1823. The mother, a native of Glasgow, died in Lanark in 18:2. When only thirteen years old James Mc- Donald began to support himself, and he earned his first pair of shoes by driving cattle for a butcher, of whom he learned the trade, remaining with him nine years. After spending twenty-five years in the woods of Michigan and Minnesota, he came in 1889 to Mount Vernon where he worked in a butcher shop, later opening a shop of his own in Sedro. The only homes there at that time were those of William Dunlop, William Woods and Mor- timer Cook, a logging camp and a few shacks comprising the rest of the town. Soon after this the town boomed and real estate advanced with amazing rapidity. The following year the town of Woolley came into existence. Mr. McDonald sold his meat business at the end of two years and for several years thereafter drove a freight team, after which he engaged in contracting and various

other kinds of work. Ile has established for him- self a reputation for faithfulness and ability that secures for him ample employment.

In 1813 Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Irene Jewell, a native of Aroostook county, Maine. Her father. David Jewell, born also in Maine. moved to Minnesota when Mrs. McDonald was a young girl, farming there until his death in 1887. Abigail ( Brothers) Jewell, her mother, was born in Nova Scotia, but was living in New Brunswick at the time of her marriage. Her death occurred in Maine, in 1870. She was the mother of nine chil- dren, Mrs. McDonald being the oldest. Of the eight children born to Mr. and Mrs. McDonald only three are living: Alexander, born in 1829, now in Sedro-Woolley; Mrs. Flora Bresce, born in 1881, residing in Sedro, and Janette, born in 1891, at home. Mr. McDonald loyally supports the Republican party, though he never has accepted office. He is interested in real estate, owning eight dwellings in Sedro, five lots in Sedro-Woolley, and his own commodious home. Mr. McDonald is known throughout the community as a man of thrift and industry.

FREDERICK J. JARVIS, driver on the gro- cery wagons of Howard & Reynolds of Sedro- Woolley, is one of the energetic and enterprising young citizens of that city and resides a short dis- tance west of town. Mr. Jarvis is a native of As- toria, Illinois, born in 1883, the son of George E. Jarvis, an Englishman, who emigrated to this coun- try in 1825 and first located in New York as a rail- road engineer. The elder Jarvis came to Skagit county in 1894, locating at Sedro-Woolley, where he became engine hostler for the Northern Pacific. remaining in that position until his death, in the summer of 1902. Mrs. Charlotte ( Davis) Jarvis, is a native of Wales, and now lives at Sedro-Wool- ley, the mother of five children, those besides Fred- erick being: Thomas, Emily, John and William. Frederick J. Jarvis graduated from the grammar schools of Seattle and immediately thereafter took up the responsibilities of life. He has been in the employ of his present firm for a period of three years.

In 1904 at Sedro-Woolley Mr. Jarvis married Miss Nora McCarthy, a daughter of Michael and Mary McCarthy, and a member of a family of six children, the other members being: George, Mag- gie, Thomas, Lucy and Leo. Mrs. Jarvis was born in Wisconsin and received her education in that state, but came thence to Skagit county with her parents in the fall of 1903. In politics Mr. Jarvis is an independent, in lodge affiliations a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in church membership an Episcopalian. He enjoys the high- est confidence of his employers and is popular with the people with whom he comes in contact, admired

696

SKAGIT COUNTY

for his energy and devotion to the duties which devolve upon him.

GEORGE COX, the superintendent of the Sedro- Woolley lee Company's plant is a man whose life has been one of constant endeavor and steady prog- ress. He was born in Port Iluron, Michigan, in 1850, the son of James A. Cox, a vessel owner of the Great Lakes, who died at the age of thirty-two. The mother, Mrs. Emily (Whiting) Cox, also a native of the Peninsula state, died in the Centennial year. after having borne eight children of whom George was third. When thirteen years old George Cox left school and started in life for himself, be- coming a sailor. His first job was as cook on a boat plying between Chicago and Buffalo, later he went before the mast, still later he was promoted to mate, and he first became a captain when on the "Uncle Sam." Ile afterward commanded the "Dreadnaught," the "E. M. Carrington," and the schooner "Louise." remaining in charge of the last named for two years. When he married at the age of twenty-five he left the lakes and went to farming in summer and lumbering in winter near Port Hope. also studied engineering. He went to South Dakota in 1885. In 1888 he moved to Washington and became engineer at Allen & Horton's mill in Olympia. After spending two years there he be- came engineer in the Olympia Sash & Door fac- tory at Elma, Washington, whence in 1891 he came to Everett to take the position of engineer in the nail works in that place. He afterward was engi- neer for the Rockefeller smelter and for the ice plant of the Washington brewery. Coming to Sedro-Woolley in 1903, he entered upon the duties of engineer of the local ice plant and he has re- mained here ever since, later becoming superin- tendent.

On Independence day. 18:5, Mr. Cox married Miss Delia Birtch, a native of St. Mary's Ontario. born in 185%, daughter of George Birtch, a mill- wright. Her mother, Mrs. Matilda Birtel, is still living, making her home in Everett. In fraternal associations Mr. Cox is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Degree of Honor. also retains his membership in the Shipping Masters' Association, with headquarters at Buffalo, New York. Mrs. Cox attends the Methodist church. In politics Mr. Cox is an ardent Republican. In Sedro- Woolley he is known as a painstaking man of ster- ling qualities, one whose integrity never is ques- tioned. He is the owner of considerable property in Everett.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 128

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