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 132

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 132
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 132

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SKAGIT COUNTY

ceiving pay for them. Mrs. Ann Maria ( Ross) Odlin, mother of our subject, was a native of Phil- adelphia, to which city her mother had gone from her home in Washington, D. C., during the cholera epidemie of 1997. Iler people came from the stock of the Perrys, of which Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, the hero of Lake Erie, was one. She died in 1812, the mother of nine children, of whom Woodbridge was the fifth in order and the oldest SO11. Young Odlin grew up in Dayton, attended the schools and graduated from Kenyon College at Gambier. Ohio, afterwards taking up the study of law. He went to Wabaunsee county, Kansas, in 1856, when Kansas was a territory, and took up a claim a short distance west of the Pottawatomie In- dian reservation. At the time of the breaking out of the Pottawatomie troubles and the Civil War, Mr. Odlin was in Junction City and received ap- pointment as United States district attorney for six counties of Kansas. He had been prosecuting at- torney for Wabaunsee county for a term and a half prior to this. But when the war actually broke out Mr. Odlin enlisted in Company E of the Second Kansas Infantry, which was organized even before Lincoln's first call for troops. He was com- missioned third lieutenant, but resigned to return to Kansas and raise a regiment, which he did, the Second Kansas Cavalry. He rose throughi succes- sive promotions from private to captain. His serv- ice included the battle of Wilson's creek, where General Lyon was killed. At about this time, while carrying dispatches from General Lyon to Fort Leavenworth, Mr. Odlin was arrested as a spy by Price's men, taken to Independence and tried by a court-martial in the court-house, the finding being a sentence of death. Mr. Odlin pleaded for the three enlisted men with him and agreed to acknowl- edge his guilt if they were held as prisoners of war. The scaffold was built under the very window where the prisoner was confined. Owing to ill- ness he was attended by a physician, and through him the prisoner got word to Fort Leavenworth of his predicament. He was rescued by Captain Sully and General Thayer on the morning of his intended execution. The soldiers entered Independence but two hours before high noon, the time set for his execution.

Mr. Odlin suffered cruelties and indignities at the hands of Price's men, being forced by punches in the back to stand by the window and watch the progress of the construction of the gallows upon which he was to be hanged. They even went so far as to suspend a sandbag, in effigy of a man, from the same rope which was to stretch his own neck in a few hours. After the death of General Lyon Mr. Odlin served as a scout under General Blunt. He participated in the battle of Prairie Grove, under that leader, a severe engagement, in which he was slightly wounded. He was sent at

one time to St. Louis in charge of military pris- oners and improved this opportunity to visit his brother, James H. Odlin, a captain in charge of troops at Cairo, Illinois. Here he was made pro- vost marshal of the district of Cairo under General Braman and while acting in this capacity secured thirty-two steamers which were used in conveying supplies to Sherman's army just prior to its march to the sea. In later years Mr. Odlin was in the secret service and he was finally mustered out at New Orleans in April, 1865. Shortly after his re- turn from the south he went to Ohio, where he lived until he came to Skagit county in 1889, and located on his present place ; here he has resided ever since.

In 1854 in Ohio Mr. Odlin married Miss Lizzie Thompson, a native of Preble county, Ohio, daugh- ter of Andrew and Susan (Johnson) Thompson. The mother was a first cousin of President Andrew Johnson. Mrs. Odlin died in December, 1904, just after she had celebrated her golden wedding. She was the mother of three children: Mrs. Eleanor J. Pelham of Washington, D. C .; William T. Odlin, president of the Citizens' bank of Anacrotes, and mayor of that city; and Harry N. Odlin, now re- siding in Vancouver, British Columbia. In frater- nal circles Mr. Odlin is an Odd Fellow and a thirty- second degree Mason. He was born a Whig and raised a Republican and has not wavered in his party allegiance. Since the death of his wife he has retired to his farm and gives his attention to raising hogs and fine horses. Mr. Odlin has never drawn a pension and will not consent to accept any- thing along that line from the government. In his early days in this county he was more active than at present and served as road supervisor for a num- ber of terms, traveling facilities when he first came not admitting of wagon traffic. Under his super- vision the "Cook road," accredited with being a fine piece of work, was constructed; also the Odlin road, which is named for him. Mr. Odlin is highly esteemed by his neighbors, is an entertaining man, with a host of friends among his many acquain- tances. During his sixteen years of residence in Skagit county he has been identified, directly or in- directly, with many of the steps taken in the course of its development and progress. Among business and professional men he has a wide acquaintance, and in these circles as elsewhere he is known as a man of superior intellectual attainments and gen- erous public-spiritedness.

JOHN EGELKROUT, dairy farmer, two miles west of Sedro-Woolley, is one of the energetic young men of the central part of the county and a man who has made his way in the world with very little assistance from others. He educated himself for civil engineering, but relinquished that for the

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BIOGRAPHICAL

life of a prosperous Skagit county agriculturist. Mr. Egelkrout was born in Germany, November 30, 1869, the son of Nicholas and Sophia ( Hero) Egel- krout, neither of whom left their native land. He is one of two children, having a brother, George Egelkrout. As a lad he attended the common schools and the high school in Germany, intending to prepare himself for a career as civil engineer ; but the death of his father spoiled his plans and he came to the United States and worked as a farmhand in Indiana for four years. With the money thus earned he took a course in school in Cincinnati and came to Washington in 1889. He went to Birdsview and later took up a homestead on the Baker river. He worked in logging camps on the upper Skagit and at odd times improved his land. Ile had cleared fifteen acres when a portion of his land was included in the forest reserve. This fact and the isolation of his land .determined him to sell out. Mr. Egelkrout then purchased his present place in the Lindsay tract in 1902. It was unimproved, but he has built a house and barns and converted the place into an attractive farmstead.

In 1891 Mr. Egelkront married Miss Myrtle Reidhead, a native of Minnesota, born in 1882, the daughter of Pearl and Lydia Reidhead. Mrs. Reid- head makes her home with Mr. and Mrs. Egelkrout. To this union have been born two children, Mildred and Alma. In fraternal circles Mr. Egelkrout is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he is a Democrat. Mr. Egelkrout is one of the men who firmly believe in increasing the efficiency of the schools, and he works in their interests. His home farm consists of forty acres of land, which is chiefly devoted to dairving. His herd consists of six milch cows, and his dairy is modern in its equipment. He is a young man of high standing in the community and enjoys the best of repute among the men of the business and social life. Possessing the will to do and the ability to direct, he is making a success of the industries in which he is now engaged, and being a man of cor- rect principles and strict integrity, he will ever com- mand the respect which is now accorded him by all with whom he is associated.

GEORGE WHEELER, dairy farmer, two miles west of Sedro-Woolley, is one of the young farm- ers of the community who have made a recent start in farm life in Skagit county; but he is already recognized by those with whom he comes in contact as a man of integrity and sincerity of purpose, promising success as the years go by. Mr. Wheeler is a native of Pennsylvania, born October 9, 1870. of Yankee stock. His father, Cyrenius Wheeler, is living in the vicinity of Sedro-Woolley, but the mother, Mrs. Abigail ( Bragg) Wheeler, died in 1900. Mr. Wheeler is one of seven children. His in 1889. The brother had come to the United States 39

parents moved to Minnesota when he was a year old and he grew up there and received his educa- tion in the common schools. At eighteen years of age he started for himself, working on farms for several years and then buying a place in Wadena county. He remained there until 1898, when he sold out and came to Bellingham. He lived in the Whatcom county city for two years, working at va- rious lines of occupation. He then came to Skagit county, went to the Baker river and engaged in the shingle bolt camps for a time. Then in company with his brother-in-law, John Egelkrout, he bought eighty acres of land a short distance west of Sedro- Woolley and has lived there ever since.

July 4, 1893, Mr. Wheeler married Miss Alma Reidhead, who was born in Minnesota in 1826, the daughter of Pearl and Lydia Reidhead. Of this union have been born two children: Pearl, born November 5. 1891, and Ruby, born July 8, 1905. In church affiliation Mr. and Mrs. Wheeler attend the Methodist Episcopal. In politics he is a Repub- lican and is now serving as clerk of the school board. In his dairy business Mr. Wheeler has seven cows and separates the cream before putting it on the market. He is a young man who is just getting well started in Skagit county and enjoys the respect and well wishes of all who know him, a man of energy and definite purpose in life, possessing those qualities of mind and heart which ultimately lead to success. Ile believes in the future of his home county, takes an interest in educational mat- ters and in general progressive movements, and must of necessity become a man of influence in the councils of his fellow-citizens.

SIGURD WARSON, farmer and ferryman, five miles east of Sedro-Woolley, is one of the pop- ular Scandinavian-American citizens of Skagit county, who is much respected by those who meet him and are acquainted intimately with him. Mr. Ivarson was born in Norway August 18, 1859, the son of lvar and Ragnild ( Quiten) Ivarson, natives of the land of fjords, who never left their native shores. They were the parents of two children be- sides Sigurd, Mrs. Carrie Hanson and lvar Ivarson. Sigurd lived with his parents and attended school in boyhood, but when twenty-one years of age came to the United States and located in Wisconsin. He worked in the logging camps, in the saw-mills and on the railroads from 1882 to 1885, moving to Ska- git county, Washington, in the last named year. Ile located on a farmi two and a half miles east of Sedro-Woolley on the river and remained there un- til 1900, when he came to his present place of ten acres and engaged to operate Anderson's ferry. Mr. Ivarson's later years have been much clouded by the death of his brother by drowning in the river

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SKAGIT COUNTY

seven years prior to Sigurd's arrival and the two had come to Skagit county and had been insepar- able. In politics Mr. Ivarson is a Democrat and in church adherence a Lutheran. He owns ten acres of land, three of which are cleared, and he makes his home there. This little farm and the revenue received from the county for operating the ferry together give Mr. Ivarson a very good living. He is pleasant and genial, a faithful soul and to those who gain his confidence reveals himself as a worthy man. A reliable and esteemed citizen of his locality, he is entitled to honorable mention in the history of his home county.

DAVID ROSS, residing one mile west of town, is one of Sedro-Woolley's prosperous farmers who is making a success of life. He was born March 18, 1847, in Rosshire, Scotland, which also was the birthplace of his parents, Alexander and Christina (Ross) Ross. The father, all his life, was an agri- culturist in his native land. Both died at their old home, he ten years ago and she in 1900. Young David Ross remained at home for the first twenty- four years of his life, acquiring an education in the schools of Scotland. In 1872 he came to San Fran- cisco, where he made his headquarters for fourteen years, during which time he followed various pur- suits. He worked in a wood and coal yard for six months, was employed in a saw-mill, then on a farm in the San Jose valley. He managed a farm for three years in San Rafael, then returned to San Francisco and with his brother purchased a wood and coal yard which they owned four years. He bought a hay press and for two seasons furnished baled hay under contract. He took advantage of numerous opportunities in California, then in 1884 came to Skamania county, Washington, and took a homestead which he occupied for six years and par- tially cleared. In May, 1891, he bought a few acres of land in Lyman. Skagit county, which he farmed with his brother. Later he came to Sedro-Woolley and purchased his present fine property, which con- sists of forty acres with a splendid orchard of :00 trees ; also rented the adjoining place of 160 acres. He still holds his homestead, but has disposed of his Lyman property.

Mr. Ross and Miss Hannah Anderson were united in marriage October 2, 1886. Mrs. Ross was born in Sweden January 16, 1849, the daughter of Andrew and Hannah ( Jones) Johnson, both na- tives of Sweden. Her father was born and has lived all his life in South Rarum, where he has been a farmer and a packer of fish and meat. The mother, born in 18?7. three years before the father, died in her native land in 1890, leaving six children, of whom Mrs. Ross is the oldest. Mr. Ross is a popular member of the Odd Fellows' lodge and is a member of the Presbyterian church, while Mrs.

Ross is a Lutheran. He is a Republican, but never has sought office at the hands of his party. He is a holder of considerable property and is making a specialty of dairying, having thirty-five head of Dur- ham stock, besides horses, Berkshire hogs, and other high grade live stock. He is a man of upright character, thrifty and industrious, who is achieving a large measure of success, and at the same time is enjoying the confidence and respect of his fellow citizens.

WILLIAM O. GREGORY, the genial post- master and merchant of Burlington, was born De- cember 24, 1844, in Portage county, Ohio, fifty-five miles cast of Cleveland, which was also the birth- place of his father, William Gregory, an engineer, who died in Michigan in 1880. His mother, Mary L. (White) Gregory, was a native of Ohio, and died in Michigan in 1846. Left motherless at the age of two, William O. Gregory was adopted by a fam- ily in Michigan with whom he lived until he was seventeen, then started out for himself as a railroad employee. Of a mechanical turn of mind, he was able after two years service with the railroad to ac- ceptably fill the position of engineer in a saw-mill, and he followed the lumber business for twenty years. Leaving Michigan, the state that had been his home for so many years, he came to what is now Burlington, then only a tiny hamlet consisting of a few rude shacks, a hotel, store and a shed used for a depot. He found employment as engineer in the shingle mill of Larson and Luddington for the first two years and a half; then served as mail carrier for four years. He received the appointment of postmaster at the end of that time, which public po- sition he still fills with eminent satisfaction. Having met the losses incident to most business careers, Mr. Gregory has not always known the prosperity that is his to-day. He now owns five lots and a neat, commodious house.

Mr. Gregory was married in August, 1865, to Fannie Ledwill, a native of Ohio. Her father was Robert Ledwill, born in Ireland. Coming to this country in early life, he settled in Ohio, there en- gaged in farming till the time of his death, some sixteen years ago. Her mother is Rachel (Wilcox) Ledwill, born in New York. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory have one child, Mrs. Emma Read, of Burlington. Mr. Gregory is past grand of the Odd Fel- lows order, of which he is an active and prominent member. Mr. and Mrs. Gregory are actively iden- tified with the Congregational church, while she is one of the moving spirits in the Rebekahs. Pol- itically Mr. Gregory is a staunch Republican, but, with that commendable spirit which so generally characterizes the American citizen. his zeal is tem- pered with moderation and fairness toward his neighbor of opposing views. Ever a firm believer

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BIOGRAPHICAL

in educational progress, he was for six years con- nected with the school directorate of his community, in which capacity, as in his entire connection with the community, he has contended for advancement, and is justly esteemed one of the worthy citizens of Burlington.

JESS H. KNUTZEN, the prominent merchant, farmer and creamery man of Burlington, was born in 1850, in Schleswig, Germany, the birthplace of his parents, Hans C. and Annie ( Peterson) Knut- zen. His father, a manufacturer of brick, was born in 1802, and continued to reside in the old country until his death in 1884. His mother was born in 1816, and after a lifetime of devotion to husband and family of seven children, died in 1886. Leav- ing home at the age of fifteen to become a sailor, Jesse H. Knutzen spent seven years on the sea, re- ceiving frequent promotions until he was at last captain of the vessel. He then decided to find a home in the United States, and came first to Chi- cago, where he worked at whatever he could find to do for the first year, then went to Buena Vista county, Iowa. Employed on a farm the first year, he then purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which he farmed for twelve years. During that time he became the owner of a second farm comprising one hundred and twenty acres. Dispos- ing of all his property, he came to Washington in 1891, first settling in Fidalgo, and later on Olympia Marsh, there renting a farm. The first season he put in twenty-five acres of oats, increasing the acre- age to one hundred and fifty the second year. The first two years the crop was a partial failure owing to its tardy maturity and the frequent rains. The third year he rented another farm, of one hundred and sixty acres, entirely covered with brush. Pur- chasing a mowing machine, which he used to cut down the brush, he cleared the entire farm in the course of a year. In the fall of 1895 his barn, con- taining five head of horses and one cow, was de- stroyed by fire, also five thousand sacks of grain just thrashed. The flood of the following year, so well remembered by the inhabitants of that part of the state, caused him the loss of three thousand sacks of grain. Meeting this accumulation of reverses with the uncomplaining fortitude so characteristic of the man, Mr. Knutzen toiled on, and in 1898 bought one hundred and sixty acres. Two years later he opened a creamery on Olympia Marsh, which was destroyed by fire July 21, 1905. Ile opened his present store in 1901.

In 1823 Mr. Knutzen and Mattie Hanson were united in marriage at the old home, where both had been born. Her parents were Hans F. and Annic K. Peterson, also natives of Schleswig, Germany. The father, born in 1809, died in 1851. The date of the mother's birth was 1811, that of her death

1883. Mr. and Mrs. Knutzen have seven children, as follows: Chris, born in 1821; llans F., born in 1825; Alfred P., born in 1826; William G., born in 1878; George F., born in 1880; Edward H., born in 1882, and Harry S., born in 1887, all of them claiming lowa as their native state. The youngest son, a graduate of Anacortes Business college, is now in the postoffice at Burlington. Mr. Knutzen is a loyal member of the Republican party. For five years he was dike commissioner, an office which he filled with great credit to himself. He has also given his services to the educational mat- ters of the community, serving for some time on the school board. He and his family attend the Lutheran church. The entire family being inter- ested in the business. Mr. Knutzen and his sons farm one thousand acres, six hundred devoted to oats, the remainder to hay. They have an immense dairy, consisting of two hundred head of cattle, own- ing also thirty draft horses, forty sheep and one hundred Poland-China hogs. Mr. Knutzen owns the store, creamery and three hundred and twenty acres of land, which yield him a large annual in- come. A successful agriculturist, a capable and honorable business man, Mr. Knutzen holds an en- viable position in the community.

WILLIAM HURLEY. Among the successful shingle manufacturers of Skagit county is the well known Burlington citizen whose name gives title to this biographical record. For twelve years past he lias been identified in various capacities with the shingle industry of this section of Puget sound and for nearly fifteen years he has resided in Skagit county and partaken in its general development. Under the firm name of Hurley. Marshall & Ritch- ford, he and his associates are now operating a well- equipped mill of medium capacity, having leased. on January 1, 1905, the plant of the Sterling Mill Com- pany, sitnated on the Skagit river three miles above Burlington.

Mr. Hurley is a native of Illinois, born at Ha- vana, October 6, 1852, and comes of good old pioneer American stock. Originally his people came to America from Ireland and England. John Hur- lev, the father of William, was born in New Jersey in 1822. When a young man he sought a home in the newly opened country beyond the Alleghanies, settling on the frontier of Illinois and engaging in farming. At the advanced age of eighty-four he is still living in that state. Julia ( Baldwin) Hurley, his wife, was one of Ohio's pioneer daughters, Cleveland having been her birthplace. She passed away in 1889 at an advanced age. To this union eight children were born, of whom William Hurley, of this review, is the fourth child. Until he was twenty-eight years old he resided with his parents, assisting his father on the farm and in a business

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SKAGIT COUNTY

way, after finishing his education in the public schools of the district. Ile then leased a place and operated it four years, selling out in 1889 to go west as his father had done half a century earlier. While living in Illinois he had learned mechanical en- gineering, so when he reached Jackson County, Oregon, on the very shores of the Pacific, he took up this trade as an occupation and during the next two years was thus engaged in southern Oregon. Believing the Puget sound offered greater oppor- tunities than Oregon, however, in 1891, he came north to Skagit county, settling first at La Conner, where he pursued his trade three years. He became a resident of the little village of Burlington in 1894, while it was only a junction point, hardly more than a hamlet, and with the exception of a few months spent in Santa Rosa, California, in 189, has lived there ever since. With characteristic public spirit and energy, he early became prominent in the com- munity and when Burlington was organized as a city he was selected as one of its first councilmen. In a modest though forceful way Mr. Hurley has continued his public activities for the betterment and development of his home city with profit to his fellow citizens. His home is one of the coziest and most hospitable in Burlington, around which has grown a wide circle of acquaintances and loyal friends. From 1894 until the organization of the present firm, Mr. Ilurley was connected with the Sterling Mill Company, principally as engineer, ex -! cepting during his absence in the South. In political matters he is affiliated with the Democratic party, though a man of liberal views on all subjects, who believes first of all in good government by com- petent, honest men.

Miss Lizzie Shaupaugh, a native of Illinois, too, was united in marriage to Mr. Hurley in 1886, while residing in Kansas. Her father and mother, both of whom died many years ago, were pioneers of Illinois and descended from American forbears. Four chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Hurley, all of whom are at home: Uquinna, born September 14, 1887, employed at present in the Skagit State bank at Burlington: Cline W., Nellie B. and Wil- lard.

ORSON PEASE, hotel proprietor, is one of the old settlers of Burlington, where he has lived and prospered for fifteen years. Webster Pease, his father, was born in New York in 1810 and moved to Illinois in early life, crossing in 1845 into Iowa, where he secured deeded government land which was sixty miles from the nearest postoffice. Orson Pease's mother was Lucy ( Older) Pease, born in Connecticut in 1818. She was the mother of eight children, Orson being third and one of a pair of twins. He was born in Illinois May 14, 1848. He lived at home until twenty-six, when he married and

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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 132

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