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 133

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 133
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 133

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leased an Iowa farm, living in different parts of the Hawkeye state until 1890, when he came to Burlington and erected the first dwelling in the town. It was a logging camp and its only build- ing was occupied by a saloon. The Great Northern railroad was clearing its right of way. Mr. Pease has some interesting reminiscences of those carly days. The smallest coin used was the twenty-five cent piece. called "two-bits." On his arrival he was asked to do some work and was greatly sur- prised at an offer of two dollars and a half a day and board; he had been accustomed to seventy-five cents in lowa. At one time he worked as a butcher for MeKay & Millet. They would kill a steer wherever they found him and haul him into camp on a skid, selling chunks of the carcass cut out of the hide to customers along the trail. The skid road was the best highway in those days. Wild black- berries were plentiful, but the picker had to carry liis gun, for there was "a bear in every clump of berry bushes."

While living in Iowa, Mr. Pease, in 1874, mar- ried Miss Caroline Beaver, who was born in Wis- consin in 1856. She died in 1882, the mother of four children : Ilenry, born in 1875, now a resident of Burlington ; Erve, born in 1812, now living at Fri- day Harbor; Myrtie, born in 1879, who died when twelve years old, and Clair, born in 1881, now living in North Dakota. In 1890 Mr. Pease married Miss M. E. Thomas, daughter of Daniel Thomas, a native of Ohio who moved to Iowa and late in life came to Burlington, where he died in 1901. Mrs. Pease's mother was Philena ( Foote) Thomas, born in Ohio in 1839, now spending the evening of her life in Burlington. Mrs. Pease is one of twelve children. Of this second marriage there have been born three children. Roy, Mossey and Fay, the second dying when five years old. Mr. and Mrs. Pease are Mac- cabees and he is a member of the Masonic order. The family attends the Baptist church. In politics Mr. Pease is an active Republican. For six years he filled the difficult position of road supervisor to the satisfaction of his neighbors and later was a member of the city council for two terms. He owns his hotel and twenty city lots. Mr. Pease's integrity has made him popular among the citizens of Bur- lington, who are glad to have his wise counsel in the city government.

ALBERT LUNDIN. one of the successful hotel men of Burlington, was born at Stromsholm. Sweden, in October, 1849, and first came to Skagit county in 1883. His father, Lars Erick Lundin, was in the government employ as an expert in stock rais- ing. his special study being horses. He died at his Stromsholm home, just outside of Stockholm, in 1860. Five children were born to Lars and Anna Lundin, all now deceased except Albert and his

BIOGRAPHICAL

brother Carl, who is gardener at the Swedish capital. As a lad young Lundin attended the common schools and assisted at gardening, later following the occu- pation of coachman. He came to the United States in 1869, reaching Chicago in June. He had not ex- peeted to remain in this country, but receiving an offer of employment he engaged to the MeCormick implement house and continued there for several years, later entering a grocery for two years until 1814, when he went to Michigan and followed lum- bering for nine years. His last engagement there was with Saling, Hanson & Co., of Greeling, by whom he was sent to the Puget sound country to cruise timber. Following that year he alternately cruised and drove logs on the Skagit river, settling down in Mount Vernon. In 1890 he moved to Bur- lington, built his present home and entered upon his career as hotel keeper. Two years from 1898 to 1900 were spent at prospecting and mining ventures at Dawson and Nome, Alaska. Some of his claims were good, but on the whole his Alaskan experi- ences netted him but little.

In 1888 Mr. Lundin married Miss Anna Beck- man, a Swedish girl who came to this country two years before, and who has three sisters here, Mrs. Charlotte Wilson, Mrs. Alma Bramm and Mrs. Clara Peterson. Mr. and Mrs. Lundin have one child, Carl Gustav Albert Lundin, born March 8, 1889. Mr. Lundin is a member of the Mount Ver- non lodge of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows. In politics he is an active Republican, not seeking office but doing work in the interest of his party at caucus, primary and convention. Mr. Lun- din is an ardent exponent of the view that the school system cannot be too good or too effective, and his service as a member of the school directorate is but one instance of his earnestness in this matter. Mr. Lundin's real estate holdings consist of a half block, which includes his hotel property.

OLE JOHNSON. It is a noticeable fact that many of the most successful farmers of the North- west are natives of the Scandinavian peninsula, as is he whose name forms the caption of this biog- raphy. Born in Norway April 15, 1858, his parents were John and Josie ( Ingobar) Johnson, born like their ancestors for generations, in Norway. The father died there in 1902. the mother in 1890. Starting out for himself at the age of fourteen, Ole Johnson spent three years on a farm, acquiring the practical knowledge that was to prove so valuable in later life. Many of his countrymen having found homes in the United States, he decided to seek his fortune here also, coming to Wisconsin when sev- enteen years old. Working in the woods as team- ster for the first three years, he then went to Seat- tle, locating in I.a Conner five months later. He

rented sixty acres of land, farming it for five years, then rented a farm of one hundred and sixty acres. Three years later, having met with success in his previous business ventures, and having found that he could handle still a larger acreage, he rented three hundred and twenty acres for four years. Prior to this, however, he had invested in sixty acres on Beaver Marsh, which he made his home at the expiration of the four year lease, renting one hundred and sixty acres adjoining his farm. At the end of the fifth year, he moved to his present home, situated just north of Burlington, renting three hun- (red and twenty aeres.

Mr. Johnson was married December 28, 1890, to Hannah Erickson, who made the trip from her na- tive land, Sweden, to the state of Washington, en- tirely alone, in the year 1888. Her father, Erick Erickson, came to Washington in 1893, locating in La Conner, this being his home at the time of his death in 1901. His wife still resides here. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson's children are as follows: Minnie, Alma, Axel. Hulda, Olga, Eveline, and an infant son, who died July, 1905. Mr. Johnson is an hon- ored member of the American Order of United Workmen. In political belief he is a Republican. Always interested in educational matters, he served one year on the school board. Mr. Johnson is a thoroughly practical farmer, giving personal atten- tion to the details of the work on his extensive farm. Ile is thus able to secure much larger returns than would be possible were the responsibility delegated to others less familiar with the duties, or less con- seientious in the performance of them. He has now two hundred and twenty-five acres in grain and pasture. His splendid dairy of one hundred Dur- ham cows yields a substantial yearly income. His farm is also stocked with draft horses, Berkshire hogs and fine poultry. Ile raises only the best stock, believing that to be the only kind that it is profit- able to keep. It must be gratifying to Mr. Johnson to sometimes remember that he has secured his present business standing wholly by his own efforts, and that, too, in the face of heavy losses. The flood of 1894, remembered by many residents of La Con- ner, swept over his farm, devastating the one hun- dred and eighty acre oat field that he had just seeded and the hay fields upon which he was dependent for the winter's supply of hay, causing a loss of more than a thousand dollars. Redoubling his energies in the succeeding years, he is now enjoying the reward of his earnest efforts. A man of strict integrity, and noble impulses, he commands the respect of all who are associated with him either in a social or business way.

T. NELSON OVENELL, the well known and prosperous farmer residing just at the edge of Bur- lington, was born on Whidby island August 25. 1861. the son of the distinguished pioneers. Thomas

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SKAGIT COUNTY

P. and Nancy Adelaide ( Miller ) Ovenell. The father was born in England in 1835, and came to Whidby island, Washington, in 1858. His death occurred in California. The mother, born in Con- necticut in 1838, came with her parents to Whidby island when fifteen years of age, the trip from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn occupying six months and ten days. There were only a few other white families on the island at that time, When fifteen years old, his parents having moved to La Conner, T. Nelson Ovenell did a large share of the farm work, being able to assume the entire charge of the farm at the time his step-father, Joseph S. Kelly, was drowned, five years later. Three years afterwards he purchased a seventy-five acre farm at Stanwood, living there for several years. He then sold it, and leased the adjoining property. In 1889 he located in Avon, he and A. D. Fraser purchasing together a farm of one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity of Burlington. In 1904 the partnership was dissolved and Mr. Ovenell has since farmed his eighty acres alone.

On June 2, 1890, Mr. Ovenell and Hattie Cal- lahan were united in marriage. Born in Aurora, Indiana, Mrs. Ovenell came with her parents to La Conner in 1876. Her father, James Callahan, was born in Limerick, Ireland, and was brought by his parents to Indiana when a child. He later came to Washington, and now lives at Fredonia. Her mother, Harriet E. ( Ball) Callahan, is a native of Ohio, born in Harrison county. She is the mother of nine children, Mrs. Ovenell being the second. Mr. and Mrs. Ovenell have four children, Bertha E., born May 15, 1891; James T., born February 21, 1893; Albert R., born April 18, 1898; George E., born April 4, 1900. Mr. Ovenell is a prominent member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He loyally adheres to Republican principles. The members of the family are regular attendants of the Catholic church. Identified for so many years with this state, Mr. Ovenell has had an opportunity of observing some remarkable fluctuations in real estate valties. When he located in La Conner there were no roads, the only way of traveling being by boat. Land which to-day cannot be purchased for less than one hundred dollars per acre could not then be sold at any price. Believing in the future of Avon, he bought his farms, and the years 1891-2 demonstrated the wisdom of his course, for he could then have sold his lands for thirty thousand dollars. The three succeeding years witnessed hard times and a surprising depreciation in real estate, and he, like many others, was forced to dispose of a portion of his land to save the remainder. The prices have again changed, however, and the land is once more steadily rising in valuation; in the meantime it is yielding him a fine yearly income. Being known throughout the community as a man of industry,

skill and strict integrity, Mr. Ovenell has a host of warm personal friends.

MRS. NANCY A. KELLY, daughter of pio- neers and herself one of the early settlers in Skagit county, is a native of Connecticut, born March 18, 1838. Her parents, Caleb and Esther M. (Pierce) Miller, both born in Massachusetts, made the trip from New York to San Francisco via Cape Horn in 1853, the journey occupying six months and ten days. After a three weeks' visit in San Francisco, they came to Whidby island, arriving January 2, 1854. Here they were met by two sons, who had preceded them to the sound country. There were then only a few white families on the island, their other neighbors being Indians whose language was utterly unintelligible to them. They were forced to learn Chinook in order to be able to make them- selves understood. The dauntless courage of the pioneer father has been the theme of many a song and story, but fewer pens have written the equal bravery of the pioneer mother. Left alone while the husband and father toiled in the dense forests to make a clearing, often with a family of little ones around her, she must learn to still the wild beatings of her heart when dusky faces presented themselves at her door, or entered, uninvited, the little home. Self-reliant, resourceful and cheerful must she be when illness threatened the little circle, for many miles intervened between herself and the nearest physician. She might not even anticipate the visit of a kind, sympathetic neighbor, ready with helpful suggestions. Small wonder that such an ancestry produced a character so worthy of emulation as that of the one whose biography we are privileged to chronicle. Living with her parents till her marriage to Thomas P. Ovenell in 1860, Mrs. Kelly became familiar with all the dangers and difficulties incident to pioneer life. She was divorced from Ovenell in 1864, was married to Joseph S. Kelly in 1865, and in 1867 went with her husband to White river, re- turning to Whidby island six months later. They remained on the island till 1876, when they moved to the Swinomish flats. He farmed there till Octo- ber, 1882, when he was drowned in the Swinomish slough. Upon his death Mrs. Kelly's son, T. N. Ovenell, rented the farmn and also managed her af- fairs when she moved to Stanwood. Five years later she came to Avon, purchasing her present property, located one-fourth of a mile from the city, and consisting of thirty acres partially cleared. She is also interested in Avon city property, owning two blocks. Mrs. Kelly has one daughter, Mrs. Ella R. Larrison, of Preston, California. Her husband, Mr. Kelly, was a native of England, born in White- haven in 1839. His death occurred at La Conner in 1882. He was a Mason and member of the An- cient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Kelly is a

MRS. NANCY A. KELLEY

FREDERICK KALSO

MRS FREDERICK KALSO

₩

OLE J. BORSETH

MRS. OLE J. BORSETH

JOIIN B. GATES

FRANKLIN BUCK

GEORGE J. HANSON

MRS. GEORGE J. HANSON

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, GENOX TILDEN SOUNDATIME

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BIOGRAPHICAL

prominent member of the Episcopal church. A ca- pable, energetic woman, possessed of peculiar gifts and graces, she is one of the best-known residents of Skagit county.

OTTO KALSO, a leading farmer of the Bay View district and a man who has won the respect and esteem of all because of his sterling qualities, is a native of Wisconsin, born in 1856. His father, Frederick Kalso, was born in Germany and spent his early manhood there, working on the farm, learning the trade of shoemaking and attending the German schools, but when still quite young he set sail for the new world. Settling in Iowa county, Wisconsin, he commenced business there as a shoe- maker, from which peaceful occupation he was sum- moned to participation in the stirring events of the Civil War. Ile had objected to military service in his native land, feeling it an injustice that he should be required to spend some of the best years of his life in the army to help maintain the peace of Eu- rope, but when needed to support a cause he con- sidcred just he was quick to respond. Answering the first call of President Lincoln upon the people of Wisconsin, he enlisted in Company G of the twenty-seventh regiment, and thereafter until the close of hostilities he followed the flag wherever it might lead. The war over, he took a homestead in Iowa, and for the ensuing eleven years he was num- bered among the agriculturists of that state, but in 1812 he came to Washington. He lived in Blaine, Whatcom county, for a brief period of time, then came to the Swinomish flats country, purchased a tract of eighty-five acres a mile and a quarter south of Bay View and identified himself permanently with the agricultural industry in Skagit county. His original home in the vicinity of Bay View is still his place of abode, and in April of the current year he celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of his wedding. Though now far on in life's journey he is hale, hearty, active and keenly alive to all that is going on around him. None enjoys, in a fuller measure, the confidence and good will of the people of his neighborhood. The mother of our subject, Hen- rietta ( Hintz) Kalso, was also a native of Germany and was educated there. She was the parent of nine children, four of whom are still living, namely, Otto, Fred, Mrs. Emma Hoppner and Mrs. Minnie Crumrine.

Otto Kalso, of this article, though born in Wis- consin as before stated, received his education in the public schools of Iowa. He has always remained with his parents, never marrying, and at present he resides with his father and brother Fred in the pleasant family home near Bay View. He has, however, accumulated property interests indepen- dent of this home and in which no other person has any share ; indeed his separate estate includes some

of the finest land in an exceedingly rich country, the site of Whitney station being his. For a number of years after purchasing this tract in 1883 he cul- tivated it himself, but recently he has been leasing it to other farmers. It contains two hundred and twenty acres. Mr. Kalso belongs to the Lutheran church and in political faith is a Republican. His influence in the community is always on the side of progressiveness, good government and social good order, and his industry, force and business ability make him a potential factor in the industrial life of his community and county.

FRED KALSO. Among the young men who are carrying forward with efficiency and success the work so well begun by their pioneer fathers in Skagit county is Fred Kalso, who, though born in lowa, is to all intents and purposes a son of the West, having accompanied his parents to Washing- ton when only four years old, and having acquired his education in the schools of this state. He is a brother of Otto, and a son of Frederick and Hen- rietta (Hintz) Kalso, to whom more extended refer- ence has been made elsewhere in this volume. Like his older brother he has always made his home with his father, but his agricultural operations extend beyond the bounds of the parental farm, and at present he is cultivating some two hundred acres of rich Skagit county land. Ever since his twenty- second year he has been in full charge of the home place. His intimate knowledge of the peculiarities of Skagit county marsh land, gained by concentrat- ing the efforts of a lifetime to the mastery of this species of farming, and his natural industry, steadi- ness and business ability have enabled him to achieve an excellent success as an agriculturist. Born in 18:3, he is still a young man, yet he already has a start in life such as many have striven in vain for years to secure, and a standing among agricul- turists that many nearly twice his age might envy.

In 1896, at Padilla, Washington, Mr. Kalso mar- ried Miss Elizabeth Jenne, whose father, George Jenne, was a successful farmer on the Swinomish flats until his death in the year 1902. Though born on Whidby island. Mrs. Kalso, like her husband. acquired her education in the public schools of Skagit county. She and Mr. Kalso have two chil- dren, Melvin, born in 1897, and Willie, born in 1898. In politics Mr. Kalso is a Republican, somewhat ac- tive in the work of his party but not ambitious for personal preferment, though he is serving at present as dike commissioner.

OLE J. BORSETII, of Fir, is one of the solid, substantial business men of south Skagit county, who since coming here in 1882 has accumulated con- siderable of this world's goods in Skagit real estate

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SKAGIT COUNTY

operations and in other fortunate and well consid- ered investments. Nominally, Mr. Borseth is a farmer at Fir, but his hoklings there represent but a small part of his estimated wealth. He was born in Christiansund, Norway, on May 1, 1857, the son of Johan J. and Marit ( Jordal) Borseth, who died in their native land. the former in 1882, aged sixty- seven, and the latter in 1813, aged fifty-three. Four children survive, the subject of this sketch and Marit, both in the United States, and Magnhild and Brit, both in Norway. Ole Borseth lived at home and attended school until he was sixteen years old. He entered the military college at Christiania at the age of twenty-one and at the close of a three years' course he left the army, coming to the United States in 1882, settling in Michigan. He remained there for seven months, working in lumber camps, and then came to Fir and worked in a logging camp for six years. He was of a speculative turn of mind and determined on dealing in real estate. He platted land at the town site of Woolley and dealt in land in a very successful manner. In 1890 Mr. Borseth spent three months in his old home in Norway and on his return bought a store at Fir, which he con- ducted with marked success until in 1902 he sold his stock and leased the store to C. F. Treat. While running the store he continued dealing in real estate at Sedro-Woolley and investing his capital judi- ciously. Early in 1905 he sold out all his real estate holdings except twenty-five acres, which he still re- tains as a farm and home place.

In 1891 Mr. Borseth married Miss Dordi Fur- seth, a native of Christiansund, Norway, born February 18, 1867. Her parents, Ole and Brit (Oien) Furseth, yet reside on their old Norwegian homestead. Mrs. Borseth remained with her par- ents until 1890, when she came to the United States with Mr. Borseth on his return to Skagit county, and they were united in marriage at Fir. Of this union there are eight children, John Daniel, Bertha Malinda, Mabel Gudrun, Ole Alfred, Marit Sigfrid, Nils Bernhard, Clara Dorthe and Gladys Olina. In fraternal circles Mr. Borseth is an Odd Fellow, being now a past grand. The family attends the Lutheran church. While Mr. Borseth has been un- usually successful in his speculative ventures and has built up quite a fortune. he is the last man to boast of his achievements or make unusual display of the same. On his twenty-five acre home he lias a good dwelling, furnished in a comfortable manner and with every convenience afforded. Among his investments in recent years are three hundred and twenty acres of timber land in Oregon. If Mr. Bor- seth has a hobby it may be said to be the advance- ment of the effectiveness of the schools. He has served as school director, giving his time and energy to increase their efficiency. He was largely instru- mental in having his home school at Fir graded and placed on its present footing in the schools of the

county. Mr. Borseth is a quiet and unassuming man, though one of great energy and accomplish- ment, and is recognized as one of the leading factors for progress and advancement in the community.

JOHN B. GATES. Much that recalls times of trouble for the American Union is suggested by the life of the late John B. Gates, one of the pioneers of Skagit county and Whidby island, who died January 12, 1905, after a career full of years of activity and of good deeds. At the time of his death Mr. Gates resided on the place he had cleared of the virgin forest and that is now the home of his widow and those of his children who still surround her. Mr. Gates was a native of Missouri, born in Pike county on October 6, 1831. His father was Abel Gates, a native of Massachusetts and a son of Colonel Gates of Revolutionary fame. It was in the schools of Missouri that John B. Gates gained his education, and it was there also that he imbibed the spirit of loyalty to the cause of the Southern states in their great conflict with the American Union. The year 1862 found him enlisted in the Confederate army, in which he served throughout the war, rising to a sergeancy in his company.

At the close of the conflict he returned to his native state, bringing with him a bride of South Carolina, Sarah Turner, whom he had married at Hamburg in the Palmetto state in the closing days of the Lost Cause. Mr. and Mrs. Gates resided in Missouri until 18:1, when they came to Washing- ton and took up a homestead near Mount Vernon, the place now sheltering Mrs. Gates and on which she has had many unusual experiences incident to pioneer life in a new country. For five years much of Mr. Gates' time was spent on Whidby island, working for others, but during that time he cleared twenty-three acres and commenced the orchard and meadow land home which was his until death. Rob- ert Turner, the father of Mrs. Gates, was a native of Dublin, Ireland, coming to the United States with his parents when eighteen years of age. The Turners settled in Edgefield county, South Caro- lina, and resided there until their death. At the outbreak of the Civil war Mr. Turner cast his for- tunes with those of the Confederacy and during the engagement resulting in the fall of Fort Sumter received a wound from the effects of which he died. Mrs. Turner, the mother of Mrs. Gates, was a na- tive of Wales, but came to South Carolina with her parents when a child. Mrs. Gates was born in South Carolina and received her education there. She was twenty-four years of age when she married. To the union ten children were born: John, Robert, Ed- win, Lamora, Adaline and Dortha, all deceased ; David and Henry A., at home, and two married daughters, Mrs. Mary L. Moore and Lillian M. Slosson, having homes, respectively, near Mount

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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 133

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