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 145

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 145
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 145

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GEORGE H. MANN, the well-known member of the firm of Mann & Wallon, hotel proprietors at Fir, Washington, was born near Lewiston, Maine, January 28, 1871, the son of Orin and Rebecca (Huntington) Mann, both natives of Maine, where the father, a descendant of one of the oldest fami- lies, followed farming till the time of his death in 1899. The mother is now living at Edwards, Wash- ington. Having spent his early life on the farm and acquired his education in the common schools, in 1891 Mr. Mann came to Fir, where his uncle, Charles H. Mann, the pioneer merchant of Fir, was engaged in handling general merchandise. To this uncle belongs the honor of founding Fir, which was then known as "Mann's Landing," he having established a trading post among the Indians on

the west side of the south fork of the Skagit river, when there were but few white settlers in the lo- cality. His death occurred December 15, 1899, at the age of fifty-six years. Employed as a clerk in his uncle's store for three years, George Mann be- came familiar with the business, and later formed a partnership with Axel Anderson, owning a store in connection with the postoffice for some two years, after which they sold out. Later he was pro- prietor of a meat market for several years. He then decided to engage in farming, leased a large ranch of his uncle and devoted his entire attention to that work, having charge also of his own ranch, situated east of town. In 1903 he traded his prop- erty for his interest in the hotel, he and Mr. Wal- lon forming a partnership, which has been a very successful one. His brothers and sisters are as follows : Laura, Roger, Richmond, Main, Frank and Bert, residing near Fir; Lulu Toop of Ballard.

Mr. Mann was married July 22, 1898, to Helena Swanson, who was born in Sweden in 1871, and came to the United States when but eight years of age. Her father, August Swanson, is now living on the J. L. Downs place west of Fir. Three chil- dren have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Mann : Hat- tie, Lottie and Walter. Mr. Mann is a strong Re- publican, actively engaged in furthering the inter- ests of his party. Believing this to be the finest country he has ever been privileged to see, he is enthusiastic over the almost unlimited opportunities for success. He has seen many fields of grain run- ning one hundred and fifty bushels to the acre, some as high as one hundred and eighty bushels ; also hay fields yielding from four to five tons per acre. His own prosperity certainly justifies him in believing that the young man of steady and in- dustrious habits may here find an opening that can be duplicated in but few places in the world.

ALFRED POLSON. Among the young farm- ers of Skagit county who have won for themselves an enviable position in the community is Alfred Polson, the well-known manager of the Polson ranch, situated eight and one-half miles southwest of Mount Vernon, on the Skagit delta. His father, Olof Polson, a native of Hasslof, Halland's Lane, Sweden. born March 23, 1833, came to the United States October 26, 1868, locating near Ottumwa, Iowa. Removing in 1871 to what was then What- com county, he took up a homestead on Brown's slough and transformed it into one of the finest farms in the Northwest. Later he retired from active work on the farm, taking up his residence in La Conner, of which city he was mayor for three terms. Always an active Republican, he at- tended the conventions, lending his influence to every measure that would advance his party's in- terests. He was an earnest worker in the Swedish Lutheran church to the time of his death, which

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR IFVAR THI.DE. A ULT:TIONS

OLOF POLSON

MRS. OLOF POLSON

THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY

ASTOR, LENOX TILDEN S UNEITH

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BIOGRAPHICAL

occurred May 30, 1903. He was married in Munk- agardden, Sweden, June 7, 1853, to Gunhilda Nel- son, a native of Sweden, born September 25, 1832, and now living at La Conner.

The family having removed to Skagit county when he was but a year old, Alfred Polson spent his early years on the farm acquiring a practical knowl- edge of the work and at the same time a good com- mon school education. Early giving evidence of unusual business talent, he was placed by his father in charge of the entire farm when the older Mr. Polson moved to La Conner. One year later, on October 1, 1896, he entered the hardware business with his brother, John, in La Conner. The firm name chosen was "The Polson-Wilton IIardware Company." Another brother, Perry, who was in the wholesale hardware business in Seattle, also had an interest in the enterprise. At the end of a year and a half our subject returned to the farm at his father's request, assuming the management of it, that the elder Polson might be free to retire again to his town residence in La Conner, which he had left to oversee the ranch during his son's absence. This estate, comprising three hundred and twenty- five acres, splendidly equipped with houses, barns and warehouses, which in the distance give it the appearance of being a village in itself, has never been divided. Upon the death of its owner it was not probated, the heirs forming a stock company, cach holding an equal number of shares, and the

mother retaining her interests in her own posses- sion while she lives. Mr. Polson's brothers and sisters are as follows: Perry, president of the wholesale hardware and implement company, o! Seattle ; Nels, a farmer in Skagit county; Mrs. Pauline Nelson of La Conner; Mrs. Christine Bell and Mrs. Josephine Calkins, residents of Skagit county ; William L., assayer and chemist, at Ketch- ikan, Alaska.

Mr. Polson was married December 6, 1899, to Cora E. Hayton, who was born in 1880, the daugh- ter of Thomas and Sarah E. (Sanders) Hayton. Her father, a distinguished pioneer of Skagit county, and a veteran of the Civil War, is still liv- ing, but her mother died November 21, 1896. Mrs. Polson has one sister, Mrs. Laura Hemingway, and six brothers, Jacob, Thomas, Henry, George, James and William. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Polson are Edna May, born May 6, 1901; Florence E., born June 9, 1903, and Genevieve C., born July 1, 1905. Mr. Polson is affiliated with the Ancient Order of United Workmen and Woodmen of the World and is an influential member of the Swedish Lutheran church, while his wife is a Baptist, active in the work of her denomination. He is a member of the school board and being an earnest advocate always of the policy of supplying the best educa- tional advantages is now advocating an enlarge- ment of the school building and the employment of an additional teacher in his district. A loyal sup-

porter of the principles of the Republican party, he is active in its councils and a frequent attendant of its county conventions.

Mr. Polson is the owner of a fine tract of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, which he farms in connection with the family estate. In addition to his own farming operations he is breed- ing Holsteins for dairy and beef purposes. He is the owner at present of eighty head of cattle. He has his own separator and sells the cream product of the herd to the Pleasant Ridge Creamery Com- pany, in which he is a stockholder. He is also in- terested in the rearing of fine English Shire horses.

The conditions under which Mr. Polson operates illustrate how farm life may be made easy and de- lightful in Skagit county. He has every facility for shipping his grain and other products to the markets of the sound, as steamers of a hundred tons burden or even larger come up Brown's slough to his very doorstep. He has a gasoline launch anchored at his landing, making it possible for him to make convenient trips by water as often as he pleases to Mount Vernon, La Conner and other points on the river, sloughs and sound. With rurai free delivery, telephone connections with neighbor- ing towns and cities and every modern convenience for lightening the work indoors and out, he and his family live an almost ideal rural life. They have the splendid satisfaction also of realizing that most of the advantages they enjoy came as a reward of their own labor and planning, and that the public institutions which add to their comforts have al- ways received from them a generous encourage- ment and support.

JAMES B. HAYTON, a prosperous young farmer and stockman, residing seven miles south- west of Mount Vernon, was born in Skagit county on the place where he now lives, February 8, 1877. His father, Thomas Hayton, a retired farmer, born in Kentucky, June 23. 1833, is a well-known pioneer of Skagit county, having come here in 1876, since which time he has been prominently identified with the county and state. He was a member of the constitutional convention when the territory of Washington became a state. He was in active service throughout the Civil War, enlisting in Ken- tucky, and he experienced the horrors of Libby prison. The mother, Sarah E. (Sanders), was born in what is now West Virginia in 1834 and died in Skagit county November 21, 1896. She was the mother of fourteen children, eight of whom are living, as follows: Jacob, in Oregon ; Thomas R., a merchant in Mount Vernon; Henry, in British Columbia ; George, in Kitsap County, Washington ; Mrs. Laura Hemingway of Fir; William of Skagit county, and Mrs. Cora Polson of Skagit county. Born on the old home place one year after the fam- ily had moved there, James B. Hayton completed

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SKAGIT COUNTY

his education in the high school and then took up farming under the supervision of his father. Adapted to the work and thoroughly familiar with the detail upon which success in such a large meas- ure depends, he was soon able to relieve his father of the management of the farm. Three years ago he and his brother-in-law leased the father's placc of three hundred and sixty acres for a period of three years. In 1903 he purchased one hundred and twenty acres, now farming three hundred and twenty acres in all, the majority of which is in oats. The maximum yield of oats per acre on his farm has been one hundred and sixty bushels to the acre, the average about one hundred bushels. Hay yields from four to five tons per acre. His place is well stocked, having on it about seventy-five head of Durham cattle and horses of the best breed.

Mr. Hayton was married December 25, 1901, to Maud M. Good, born in Washington January 4, 1883. Her parents, Edward and Mary ( Forbes) Good, are well-known pioneers of this county. Mrs. Hayton has two brothers, William and Edward. One child, Evelyn, has made happy the home of Mr. and Mrs. Hayton. Mr. Hayton is an active member of the Yeomen fraternity at Mount Ver- non. He is also a member of the Baptist church. In political belief he is a strong Republican, loy- ally supporting the party in every possible way. Earnest and industrious, possessed of youth, health and ambition, it is safe to predict for him a still larger measure of success in the business to which he is devoting his best energies.

ALEX JOHNSON is one of the farmers of Fir who believe in carrying on diversified agriculture, and the sixty-acre place he is master of is the result of his ideas on the best manner of operating a small farm. Mr. Johnson is a native of Norway, where he was born on May 17, 1866, the son of Leonard and Bertha ( Erickson) Johnson. The

parents passed their entire lives in the old country, the former dying in 1893 at the age of fifty-three and the latter in 1891 at the age of forty-seven. There were three children of the union besides the subject of this sketch, George, Hans and Mrs. Kate White. Alex Jolinson attended school until fifteen years of age, then worked on a salary until 1886, when he came to the United States. He first went to Michigan and remained there four years, being employed in lumber camps and mills. Com- ing to Washington in 1890, he located in King county and worked in a saw-mill at Ballard for seven years. He has been a resident of Skagit county since 1897.

In that year Mr. Johnson married at Seattle Miss Mary Johnson, the only daughter of Ole Johnson, who came to this country from Norway and settled in Skagit county twenty-six years ago, where he still resides. Mrs. Alex Johnson's mother

died while her daughter was an infant, and she was brought to this country by her father in 1879 at the age of nine, and lived in Seattle at the time of her marriage. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson: Louise, Olga, Leonard, Alfred and Carl. In politics Mr. Johnson is a Republican and in church affiliation a Lutheran. Mr. Johnson owns the farm which he operates. It is entirely cleared and devoted to general farming. The main features of the products of the place are oats and cattle, though a little of everything demanded by the mar- kets is raised. Six head of cows are milked and eight head of young cattle range the pastures. Most of the land is in oats. The Johnson home is a pleasant one, filled with interest in the children, about whose education much of the planning in the home circle centers.

ANDREW N. CROGSTAD, the owner of a splendid ranch situated one and one-half miles southwest of Fir, is a native of Norway, born in the state of Trondhgem, June 22, 1852. His father, Nils Andrews, immigrated from Norway to the United States in 1880 and is now engaged in farm- ing in Minnesota. The mother, Carrie L. ( Lewis) Andrews, died in 1880. Mr. Crogstad attended the common schools of his country, completing his cducation by a course in the agricultural schools, af- ter which he took up the trade of ship building, working in the iron department until in 1872, he sought the larger opportunities afforded by the United States, locating in Wisconsin. Employed by a sawmill company at Red Cedar Falls, he there re- mained for three years, following which he spent the same length of time at another town. Skagit county became his home in 1827, and the next year he leased Captain Loveland's ranch on the Skagit river for three years. A government survey near Wenatchee, on the Columbia river, and in the vi- cinity of Priest Rapids occupied his time and at- tention for a while. He then removed to Seattle, where he worked in a foundry for several months, returning at length to Skagitt county. After log- ging near Mill Town a short time he bought his present place in 1889, of Jacob Hoyton, together with a forty acre tract off another place, that had been only partially diked and cleared. but is now in an excellent state of cultivation. He owns one huun- dred and twenty acres, a large part of which he de- votes to hay and oats, the remainder to the cultiva- tion of fruits, of which he has a great variety, cher- ries, pears, apples, plums and berries. His ranch is stocked with thoroughbred short horn cattle that give evidence of careful attention. Last year he and his neighbors formed a stock company for the pur- chase of an English shire stallion, that they might be able to breed superior horses. Mr. Crogstad has a brother, Lonis Nelson Crogstad, and a sister, Mrs. Jennie G. Long, both residing in Minnesota.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

In Seattle, March 8, 1889, Mr. Crogstad was mar- ried to Wilhelmina Janssen, a native of Germany, born June 26, 1864. Her father, P. N. Janssen, born on the line near Denmark, immigrated to the United States, locating on White river, near Seattle, in 1813, where he died in January, 1899. Her moth- er, long since deceased, was Wilhelmina Christine Janssen. Mr. and Mrs. Crogstad have the following children : Carrie Elvina, attending school at Ever- ett, having completed the eighth grade at home ; Maurice N., Lottie, Clara and Louis. Mr. Crog- stad is an active member of the American Order of United Workmen. Though not identified with any church organization, he contributes liberally to the support of all. As a member of the school board he is an earnest advocate of modern methods, believing that the educational advantages are a vital force in the development and progress of our civilization, In political belief he is a Republican, reserving, however, the right to vote an independent ticket when he deems best. An earnest, intelligent, pro- gressive citizen, possessed of sterling character, he is one of the substantial members of the community, enjoying the confidence and respect of all.

LEWIS P. HEMINGWAY, a successful farm- er and stockman residing one and one-fourth miles west of Fir, is a native of Maine, born April 23, 1863, in Rumford, Oxford county. His father, Col- man Hemingway, born in Maine, the home of his ancestors for several generations, was a veteran of the Civil War, in the Twelfth Maine Volunteer regi- ment. Having suffered severely from the effects of exposure during his service in the army, he was the recipient of a pension to the time of his death, in 1904, at the age of eighty-one. The mother, Orpha G. ( Pinkham) Hemingway, was born in Penob- scot county, Maine, and died in 1903, at the age of seventy-one. Mr. Hemingway grew to manhood on his father's farm, acquiring a practical knowledge of the work which has occupied his attention these later years. At the age of twenty he moved to La- moure county, North Dakota, there engaging in farming for two years, after which he accepted a position with the Seattle Cereal Company. Later he dealt in feed and grain, spending two years buy- ing oats in Skagit county, which section impressed him at the time as being an especially favored lo- cality for agricultural pursuits. Having made a trip to Maine in 1890, he came to this county two ycars later, he and his brother-in-law, James Hay- ton, leasing the old Thomas Hayton ranch of three hundred and sixty aeres, for a period of three years. They have now divided the ranch, each farming separately. Mr. Hemingway has recently purchased forty acres of the Cobb ranch, erecting a fine new house on it which he is now occupying. He has four brothers, Myron, Charles, Frank and Willis, the last-named following the carpenter trade in

Scdro-Woolley. His only sister, Maydelle Neal, lives in Maine.

Mr. Hemingway was married August 25, 1898, to Laura M. Ilayton, born in Cass county, Missouri, the daughter of Thomas Hayton, a well known pio- neer of Skagit county, born in Kentucky June 23, 1833. He came to this country in 1826, and still makes it his home. Mrs. Hemingway's mother was Sarah E. ( Sanders) Hayton, a native of Virginia, born in 1834 ; her death occurred November 2, 1896. The fifth child of a family of eight, Mrs. Heming- way has brothers and sisters as follows: Jacob, in Oregon ; Thomas R., a merchant in Mount Vernon ; Henry, in British Columbia; George, in Kitsap county ; James B. and William, Skagit county, and Cora, the wife of Alfred Polson. Mr. and Mrs. Hemingway have one child, Edith, born September 7, 1900, and twins, born Ang. 23, 1905, Harold and Hazel. Mr. Hemingway is a prominent member of the Woodmen of the World and the Foresters of America, at Seattle. He is actively identified with the Republican party. Thoroughly familiar with every branch of farming, he is one of the successful ranchers in this section, farming two hundred acres, one hundred and thirty-five of which are in oats, the remainder in hay and pasture. Realizing that diver- sified farming is the demand of the hour, he devotes much time to stoek, owning forty head of cattle and twelve horses. Much of the land in this vicinity will average thirty-five sacks of oats, of three bush- els each, and three and one-half tons of hay, per acre. Farm hands receive good wages, from thirty to thirty-five dollars per month with board being the ustal compensation, thus making it easy for an in- dustrious poor man to gain a footing. Industrious, ambitious, and a man of integrity, Mr. Hemingway is a highly respected citizen, enjoying the confidence of the entire community.

CHRISTOPHER OLSEN is one of the pros- perous and reliable farmers of the Fir district, his farm being located about a mile and a half south of town. Here he conducts a successful dairy busi- ness. Mr. Olsen was born in Norway in 1853, the son of Ole Christopherson, who is still living in the old country, and Mrs. Gunie (Nelson) Christopher- son, who died five years ago in Norway, the mother of nine children, eight living, as follows: Birta, Christopher, Nels, Martin, Ole, Ivar, John and Gun- der. Christopher Olson attended the schools of Norway until sixteen years of age and after leav- ing school entered the fisheries of Norway and con- tinned in that line until his departure for the United States in 1881. He stopped for a year in Michigan and then came on to Skagit county in 1882. He went to work at once in the logging camps and con- tinued at that work for a full decade when he bought his present place and has lived on it ever since.

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SKAGIT COUNTY

At Milltown, in 1889, Mr. Olsen married Miss Lizzie Larson, daughter of Lars and Mary Larson natives of Norway, who never left their native shores and fjords. Mrs. Olsen received her educa- tion in the old country and came to the United States in 1886 and worked at dressmaking at Fir until her marriage. Mrs. Olson died in 1902, leav- ing two children: Minnie, born in 1890, and Ole, born in 1893. In politics Mr. Olson is a Republican and in church affiliations a Lutheran. His farm ccnl- sists of forty acres, all under cultivation, and he has a nice eight-room house. In his dairy department Mr. Olson milks twelve cows, but he has in addi- tion fourteen head of stock cattle, as well as some sheep and a few hogs and horses sufficient to carry on the farm work. He also owns ten acres of land at Fir. Mr. Olson is one of the substantial farmers of the Fir country, sensible in his views of men and things and reliable in all things. He enjoys the es- teen and respect of all with whom he comes in con- tact.

LEWIS JOHNSON, deceased, was one of the men who started in business in Sagit county when there was little except the wilderness to attract ; but before his death he had made a place for himself and family which will not be obliterated in the years to come. Mr. Johnson, during his life in Skagit county, was a respected and honored citizen of the community south of Fir, having his home on Long Island. He was born in Norway January 20, 1849, the son of Christian and Ingelberg Johnson, who passed their lives in that country and were the par- ents of five children : Berta, Andrew, John, Tena and Lewis. Until he was sixteen years of age Lewis Johnson attended school and then for a period of eight years worked at the trade of carpenter. He came to the United States in 1873 and for six years lived in Michigan, where he engaged in logging and lumbering. On coming to Washington Mr. Johnson located in Snohomish county and took a homestead near Marysville ; but at the end of two years moved to Skagit county and rented a place on Brown's slough, where he lived for three years. At the end of that time he moved on his present place, where he lived until his death and where his widow still resides.

January 5, 1881, Mr. Jolinson, at Seattle, married Miss Berta Johnson, born in the old country, daugh- ter of John and Elizabeth ( Brotten) Bransted, na- tives of Norway, who passed their entire lives there, the father being a blacksmith by trade. Mrs. John- son was one of five children, the others being Eliza- beth, Ande, Ivar and Rande. She was born July 27, 1846, and grew up at home, attending school ; she stayed at home with her parents until in 1873 she came to the United States, went to Michigan and passed two years at domestic work. Six more years were spent thus in Chicago, San Francisco

and Seattle, prior to her marriage. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Johnson-Anna, Mamie, Moone and Julia, of whom Mamie only is living. Mr. Johnson was a Republican in politics. The family are Lutherans in church affiliations. The home farm, which is operated by Mrs. Johnson since the death of her husband, consists of 130 acres, fifty of which are tillable. Mr. Johnson is remem- bered in the community as a thrifty, hard working, honorable man, and one in whom his fellows placed the highest confidence. His life in Skagit county was that of the pioneer. His share in the develop- inent of the section was an important one and his name must ever be inseparably linked with those of the sturdy characters who wrought the wonderful changes that have marked the last quarter of a cen- tury.

LEWIS LARSON, a farmer and dairyman a mile and a half south of Fir, is one of the successful agriculturists and stock men of the southwestern part of Skagit county, who have accumulated valu- able property interests. Mr. Larson is a native of Norway, born Dec. 26, 1859, the son of Lars Levek, a farmer who lived and died in the old country and put in the regular term of army service demanded of the young men. The mother was Marat Norvek, who had six children, two of whom have died, the living being Christian, Aldre, Dorde and Lewis. Lewis Larson attended school until he was fifteen years of age; then commenced to work for his brother but made his home with his mother until he was twenty. He chartered a fishing boat and oper- ated that for two years prior to coming to the Unit- ed States in 1882. On reaching this country he stayed for a time in Michigan, but came to Skagit county in the fall, locating at Utsalady, where he re- mained four years at saw mill work. For a number of years he worked in King county mills, returned to Skagit county in 1896 and located on his present place, where he has resided since.

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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 145

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