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 147

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 147
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 147

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THOMAS EDGAR TURNER was one of the first settlers in the Clear Lake section of Skagit county, where, from the wilderness, he has carved out a modern American farm, and now is reaping the reward of his hard work, his frugality and his early hardships. Mr. Turner is a native of In- diana but was taken when very young by his parents to Missouri, where his father and mother still live. The elder Turner was a cabinet maker until he took to farming after he moved to Missouri. Mrs. Catherine A. (Crum) Turner, the mother, was born in Pennsylvania. Her mother dying when she was young, she spent much of her time in carly life working for others. She is the mother of seven children, two of whom died when in infancy. The living are: Francis A., born in 1861; Thomas E., the subject of this sketch, born in 1863; Flora B., born in 1869; Harney W., born in 1873, and Emma C., born in 1876. After attending the common schools in Missouri, Thomas E. Turner continued to live with his parents until nineteen, when he left home and spent a year on a farm in Iowa. In 1883 he came to Skagit county and April 29, 1884. took land on Clear Lake, but kept at work in various logging camps for five years. It is interesting in these days of casy and quick transportation to hear Mr. Turner recite incidents of those carly times. He tells a story of a lamp chimney, which is very entertaining. Mr. Turner had been to Mount Ver- non with a companion to lay in a stock of everyday supplies for their cabin and when crossing the Nookachamp river on their return they nearly cap-

sized the craft and a much needed lamp chimney and some dishes were broken. The Turner cabin was dark at supper that night. The next day an- other trip to Mount Vernon was made, and dur- ing the home coming there was no mishap, but be- fore the lamp was lighted the chimney rolled off the table, fell to the floor and was broken. That night supper was eaten by the light of a flannel wick saturated with bacon fat. Fifty-five miles were traveled before the troublesome lamp was fitted with a chimney. Ferrying across the Nooka- champ river in those days was a hazardous under- taking; the Indians were expert oarsmen, but not at all times was there an Indian on hand when the white man wanted to cross. Mr. Turner also re- calls many troublous experiences he had with bear during the days when he was a pioneer hog raiser in the wilderness. Bruin took many a porker from his band, but Mr. Turner retaliated by causing an appreciable decrease in the bear census, developing in consequence into one of the most famous bear hunters of the valley.

Mr. Turner has two sons and one daughter: Charles E .. John L. and Daisy Belle. The home farm, on the flats southeast of Clear Lake, consists of forty acres, of which ten are in cultivation. Dairying is one of his chief industries, although he is engaged quite extensively in the poultry busi- ness. He sells a great deal of butter. In his day he has practiced the strictest frugality and economy, but now congratulates himself that he is in good circumstances, as the result of self-denial in the days when there was little fat in the land. In the political field Mr. Turner is a Republican. Recog- nized as one of the substantial citizens of the com- munity, he holds the respect of all, as one who has been an active factor in the development and prog- ress of the section.

ALEXANDER B. MELVILLE, whose ranch is a mile and a half southeast of Clear Lake, is one of the young men of that section of the country who believe in diversified farming. He was born in Canada, October 1, 1865, and came to Wash- ington in 1888. His father, Alexander Melville, came from Glasgow, Scotland when a mere lad and grew up in Ontario, Canada. On reaching man- hood, the elder Melville entered the hotel business. He came to Tower City, North Dakota, in 1881, but lived only six weeks after he had crossed the boundary line. Mrs. Melville, the mother of the subject of this sketch, was Miss Grace Brown, also a native of the land of the heather. She came to Canada when very young and lived to a ripe age, passing away in Seattle in May, 1905. She was the mother of ten children, all of whom are living, William, Elizabeth, Alexander, Lily. Mary, John, Bella, Maggie, Grace and James. Before leaving home Alexander had been the support of his mother and the family and two years after his arrival in

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Washington he brought them west. He lived sev- eral years in Olympia, working at masonry, and was in Tenino one year commencing with 1894. He had early learned to run an engine, an accomplish- ment which stood him in good stead at Tenino, for he was engineer in different mills while there. He then spent two years as fireman on a steamboat at Gray's Harbor, receiving U. S. chief engineer's license of lakes, bays and sound, then, in 1897, he came to Clear Lake and went to work as chief en- gineer for the Clear Lake Lumber Company, the largest inland saw-mill firm in Washington, using in its work eleven engines and eleven boilers. This position he held until 1902. He had bought his present place in the spring of 1898 and has lived there since retiring from the mill business. The home place consists of eighty acres of excellent land, a considerable portion of which is now devoted to the pasturing of his forty head of cattle, but the acreage that has been stumped and plowed is truly surprising, and speaks volumes for the industry and ambition of Mr. Melville. His capacity for hard work is marvelous.

While living in Olympia, Mr. Melville married Miss Mamie Justice, the daughter of John Justice, who was born on an Indiana farm, and is now re- siding at Toppenish, Yakima county, this state. She and Mr. Melville are parents of two children, Maudie and Alexander. In politics Mr. Melville is a Republican, in church membership a Baptist. A thrifty, progressive man, he is sure to win a marked success by taking advantage of the excellent op- portunities afforded to the worthy in the sound country. He is one of the most promising young men in his neighborhood, and none stands higher than he in the esteem and confidence of his neigh- bors.

JOHN G. RIEMER, a successful farmer liv- ing three miles south of Clear Lake, was born in Germany, January 20, 1852, the son of John G. and Dora Elizabeth (Kerger) Riemer. The father died in Germany, where the mother was still living at last accounts. They had six children, Gottlieb, Paulina, John G., Carl Fred Williams, Carl Henry, and Juliaetta. Until he was twenty years of age John Riemer lived at home, then he served the usual term in the German army, returning at its expira- tion to the parental roof, where he lived until 1819. then coming to the United States. For several years he worked at various occupations in different parts of the country, coming to Skagit county in 1886, when he located on land he has since devel- oped into a home. The property in its natural state presented many difficulties. Mr. Riemer not only was confronted with great obstacles at home, but liad to devise ways and means of getting in and out of his place from and to the regular highways. He solved this problem by building a road of puncheons which has stood the test of time and

gives promise of supporting travel for many years to come.

Mr. Riemer, in 1898, married Mrs. Frank Bros- seau, whose maiden name was Miss Annie Moll. She was a daughter of Michael and Mary (Bar- inger) Mill, natives of Germany, who came to New York and engaged in farm work. Mr. Moll died in 1898, but his wife lives with a daughter in the Empire state. She is the mother of eight children, all of whom are living in New York except Michael and Mrs. Riemer. Mr. and Mrs. Riemer have no children, but Ralph Brosseau, Mrs. Riemer's son by a former husband, lives with them. In politics Mr. Riemer is a Republican, in fraternal circles an Odd Fellow and in church affiliations a Lutheran. His dairy herd consists of twenty milch cows and eleven head of young cattle, the head of the herd being a thoroughbred Durham bull. Mr. Riemer also raises hogs, but dairying is his chief industry. In addi- tion to operating his farm, he has assisted in dig- ging a canal between Beaver and Clear lakes and at times has packed goods to Clear lake, thence forwarding by canal to the Beaver lake settlement. His life has been one of hard work, but he looks back with pardonable pride on what his own energy and his own hands have accomplished in the past few years.

JAMES H. FELLOWS has passed all his life on the Pacific coast, having been born in San Francisco, May 20, 1864. George W. Fellows, his father, a native of the New Hampshire hills, went to California during the gold excitement of the early 'fifties and later embarked in the dairy busi- ness in San Francisco, selling his milk to custom trade. Ile came to Skagit county in 1885 and set- tled on a homestead, the land adjoining that of his son's present farm. Mrs. Katherine (Hayes) Fel- lows, the mother of our subject, died thirty-three years ago in San Francisco. She was a native of Boston, and the mother of five children, Mrs. Nellie A. Swift, Mrs. Helena Evans, Thomas J., James H. and George W. James H. Fellows, of this article, lived with his parents in San Francisco until twelve years old ; then went to Merced county and made his home with J. Upton until 1879. The two years which followed were passed in the employ of sheep raisers and in working on a ranch; then he came north to Oregon and commenced to learn the trade of carriage painting, but on his father's settlement in Skagit county, he determined to join him here. For several years he worked with and for the elder Fellows and in 1893 purchased of hnm twenty acres of land. Four years later he went to Alaska, where he remained three years, but returning to Skagit county in 1901, he has ever since made it his home, operating a dairy farm southeast of Clear Lake.

In 1892 Mr. Fellows married Miss Martha Buck at Mount Vernon, a daughter of Franklin Buck, a pioneer of the Skagit valley, a sketch of whose life

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appears elsewhere in this volume. Mrs. Fellows is one of ten children: Alrs. Emma Payne, Mrs. Sarah Church, Joseph, Charles F., Mamie, Dora, Henry and Edward Buck. Her sister, Elizabeth Buck, died two years ago. Mrs. Fellows is a native of Skagit county, and received her education herc, remaining at the Buck home until her marriage. She and Mr. Fellows have had two children, Alice, at home, and Elizabeth H., deceased. In politics Mr. Fellows is an independent Democrat and in fraternal connections a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. Mrs. Fellows is a communicant of the Catholic church. The Fellows farm now consists of sixty acres, a portion of which is cleared and under cultivation, the dairy upon it numbers ten milch cows and eight head of young cattle. Mr. Fellows also raises other livestock and keeps enough horses for the work about the place. He is one of the substantial men of the community.

JOHN B. LACHAPELLE, hotel keeper at Big Lake, is one of the most prominent of the citizens of this rapidly developing section of Skagit county, in which he settled late in 1899. Mr. Lachapelle is a native of Montreal, Quebec, born August 27, 1869. His father, John B. Lachapelle, also a native of Montreal, was a successful horse dealer until his retirement a few months ago at the advanced age of seventy-five years. The mother, Mrs. Julia (Le- barge) Lachapelle, is still living in the metropolis of Lower Canada, having attained the traditional three score years and ten. Until he was fourteen years of age young Lachapelle attended school and made his home with his parents, but at that age he set out for himself, going to the woods of Michigan, where he passed five years employed in saw-mills or turning his hand to any kind of work which was available. Then followed a period of a number of ycars in the timber belt of Wisconsin, working in different capacities, until in 1899 he came to Skagit county and engaged in business in Big Lake, where he has ever since resided, being now a popular hotel man of the place. Mr. Lachapelle owns a forty acre tract just outside of town and has erected a fine cottage there in which he makes his home.

In 1903 at Vancouver Mr. Lachapelle married Miss Nora Anderson, the only child of Andrew X. Anderson, a native of Michigan who is now living at Big Lake. Mrs. Lachapelle was born in Michi- gan and lived with her parents up to the time of her marriage. In politics Mr. Lachapelle is a Demo- crat ; in lodge affiliation, a member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and of the Catholic Order of For- esters ; in religion, a Catholic. Mr. Lachapelle has been uniformly and progressively successful in all his business enterprises, now owning his hotel busi- ness, with fixtures and furnishings, a forty-acre tract with elegant two thousand dollar cottage on the outskirts of town, another cottage which he leases, and property in Seattle. Mr. Lachapelle

stands high in the estcem of the people of Big Lake and vicinity, being recognized as one of the ener- getic and reliable citizens of that place.

JAMES LOUGH, who a few months ago went into the dairy business, purchasing a fine piece of property a mile north of Big Lake, has spent all the rest of his life since coming to Skagit county in the timber and lumber industry. He was born in Canada, April 8, 1862, the son of Alexander Lough, a Canadian mechanic born in 1831, now living in Michigan. The mother, nee Mary Wall, born in Ireland in 1833, is also living in Michigan. James Lough is one of twelve children, the others being Samuel, John, William, Hattie, Albert, Susan, Alexander, Mary, George, Robert and Emma. Mr. Lough lived with his parents until he came to Skagit county in 1889, when Mount Vernon, the only town on the Skagit river, was a small village. He was thoroughly familiar with every feature of work in the timber and found ready employment.

In 1888 in Michigan Mr. Lough married Miss Ella MeKay, daughter of Neal Mckay, a Canadian farmer, born in 1836, who eventually moved to Michigan, where he spent the remainder of his days. Mrs. Lough's mother, Mrs. Anna (McGregor) Mckay, born in Canada in 1831 to Scotch parents, is now living in Alpina, Michigan, the mother of nine children, James, Duncan, Alexander, Anna (deceased), Christina, Isabelle, Ella, Kate and Emma. Mrs. Lough was born in Canada in 1869 and lived with her parents until her marriage to Mr. Lough. Of this union four children have been born, James Arthur, Lester Duncan, Katie Leona and Norman Alexander. In politics Mr. Lough is a Republican. He is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America, and in church membership is a Presbyterian. The farm purchased by Mr. Lough in 1905 for his home consists of one hun- dred and forty-five acres, thirty of which have been cleared and prepared for the establishment of a dairy farm. It is located a mile north of Big Lake, in a section of country admirably adapted for dairy purposes. Mr. Lough started his dairy with but five cows and five young cattle, and purposes to develop his place as rapidly as possble, planning ultimately to increase his stock and broaden his work. He is also giving some attention to poultry, having started with thirty selected fowl. Mr. Lough has been successful as a woodsman and has well developed those qualities which are certain to bring good results in the dairy and poultry farming lines. He is a man much respected by those with whom he has worked or has had business connec- tions.

KENNETHI MacLEOD is one of the enter- prising and successful farmers of the Conway sec- | tion of Skagit county, having a large and productive

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farm well stocked in every way. His home is two miles southeast of town and it is one of the fine places of that part of the county. Mr. Macleod was born in Canada July 1, 1862, the son of Ken- neth R. Macleod, a native of Scotland who emi- grated to Canada with his parents and passed his entire life there, until he came to Skagit county in 1902. The mother, Mrs. Martha ( Morrison) Mac- Leod, is a native of Canada and received her edu- cation there. She is still living, at Conway, the mother of eight children : Mrs. Maggie Young, Merdock, Kenneth, Roderick, Annie, Mrs. Mary Finch, Allan and Katherine. Kenneth Macleod attended school in Canada until he was fifteen years of age. His years as a young man were passed in earning a livelihood at whatever presented itself ; in 1885 he came to Skagit county and worked for Richard Holyoke for eight years and eight months. He then bought a place near the Holyoke farm and lived there until 1901, when he sold out and pur- chased the farm on which he has since resided.

Early in the year 1896 Mr. Macleod married Miss Maggie M. Finch, daughter of Linus and Annie (McPherson) Finch, both of whom are now dead. Mrs. Macleod has one sister, Mrs. Ida Mc- Bain, and a brother, George. She was born March 20, 1876, educated in the Canadian schools, taking a high school course, and lived with her parents until marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Macleod have two children: Linus, born in 1898, and Ida, born in 1903. In politics Mr. Macleod is a Republican, in lodge affiliations a member of the Modern Wood- men of America, and in church relations a Metho- dist. The MacLeod farm consists of one hundred and eleven acres, eighty-five of which are bottom land of great fertility. Fifteen cows constitute the dairy herd, while fourteen head of other cattle and thirty hogs constitute the remainder of the farm's livestock, except horses and a carriage pony. Mr. MacLeod is well satisfied with his fortunes since coming to Skagit county, and has made a success through his energy, thrift and shrewd management of his affairs. He is highly esteemed in the neigh- borhood and is recognized as one of the leading men of the community.

NILS DONALDSON, farmer and dairyman a mile and a half northwest of Milltown, is one of the men of Scandinavian birth who have made a financial success since coming to Skagit county. He operates a farm, and his place of about ninety acres is one of the fine- agricultural properties in his section. Mr. Donaldson was born in Norway April 2, 1853, the son of Donald and Gura John- son, natives also of Norway, who are spending the evening of their lives with their children in Skagit county, the father with Nils and the mother with a daughter at Fir. They are the parents of six children : John, Brit, Nils, Christian, Louis and Johanna, the two last named being residents of Fir.

Nils Donaldson attended the schools of Norway until he was sixteen years of age and remained in the old country until 1879, when he came to the United States and located in Michigan, where he worked in an iron foundry for two years. He then came to Skagit county and worked in logging camps for six years. In 1886 he went back to Norway for the purpose of bringing his parents to Skagit county and he also brought with him his future wife. On his return Mr. Donaldson located on his present place and has lived there ever since. The land was raw, with no improvements, not even a dike.

At Scattle July 3, 1887, Mr. Donaldson married Miss Anna Erickson, daughter of Erick Erickson, a Norwegian farmer who lived and died in the old country. The mother was Marit Alingson before marriage. She is still living in Norway, the mother of six children: Aling, Sigfrid and Magnus, who live in Norway: Erick, now a resident of Grays Harbor, Washington; Ole, residing at Fir, this county ; and Mrs. Donaldson. She was born May 28, 1857, and attended school until sixteen years of age. She then worked out until coming to this country, making the trip with her future husband and his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Donaldson have two living children: Gena, born August 25, 1888, and Mabel, born November 30, 1896. A son, named for his father, was born in 1894, but has died. In politics Mr. Donaldson is a Republican and in church affiliations a Lutheran. He has a farm of eighty-six acres, sixty-seven of which are under dike. His dairy herd numbers twelve cows, while he also has nine head of beef cattle and horses of sufficient number to work the farm. Mr. Donald- son is one of the prosperous men of his community, reliable and well esteemed by his associates. For twenty-five years he has assisted ably in the devel- opment of Skagit county and is now aiding ef- fectively in the progress of its people and their industries.

Later.

Nils Donaldson died October 22, 1905, after an illness lasting three months. Since his death the home farm has been sold and Mrs. Donaldson has purchased an improved eight-acre place at Fir, where she and her daughters are now residing.

JOHN ABRAHAMSON, living one mile north- west of McMurray, is of the type of agriculturists who have made a success of land life after having followed the sea for an extended period. His farm home is one of the pleasant places of the Mc- Murray section and the few years he has passed there have shown many improvements. Mr. Abra- hamson is a native of Norway, having been born in the land of the fjords February 8, 1863, the son of Abraham and Grata (Jorgenson) Johanson, farm- ers who died in the old country more than a decade ago. Of their seven children four are dead. The living are John, Jacob and Albert. Young Abra-

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hamson lived with his parents until he was sixteen years of age, when he determined to follow the sea for a livelihood. This he did for a period of eleven years, until in 1890 he decided to land in the United States and continue his life as an American. For the first five years of his life on the Pacific coast Mr. Abrahamson was employed on various vessels run- ning in and out of Seattle, but in 1895 he came to MeMurray and bought seventy acres of land, ten of which are now cleared and the remainder in slashing.

In 1895 in Seattle Mr. Abrahamson married Miss Agnes Londahl. Mrs. Abrahamson was born March 13, 1862, and lived with her parents until 1889, when she went to Minnesota. After remain- ing there a year she came to Seattle, where she was employed until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Abra- hamson have three children, Alma, George and Oscar. In politics Mr. Abrahamson is a Republican and has served as road supervisor in Skagit county for five years. The live stock on the home place consists of cattle, horses and hogs. Since becoming a farmer Mr. Abrahamson has demonstrated his good business ability; has been successful as an agriculturist and has proven a welcome addition to the settlers in the vicinity of MeMurray. Both he and Mrs. Abrahamson are highly respected by a large circle of friends.

HON. BIRDSEY D. MINKLER, the first postmaster of Birdsview, the man in whose honor that town is named, the mill man of Minkler and the merchant of Lyman, was one of the first of the pioneers on the upper Skagit river. For nearly thirty years he has been an active and important personage in the development of the county. He was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, October 9, 1849, the son of Cyrl and Mary Ann (Thradel) Minkler. The father was a farmer, born in New York state, who came to Wisconsin two years before the birth of his son. In 1852 he started across the plains for California, but was seized with the cholera and died on the Platte river. A part of his family was with him, but Birdsey and two brothers had been left in Wisconsin with the grandparents, and under their charge he grew to manhood, attended the common schools, worked on the farm at home and took a two year course in the Lawrence university at Ap- pleton, Wisconsin. In 1871, he went to Kansas, and two years later to California, where for a short time he was employed in the lumbering business. He came to Port Madison on Puget sound in 1874; in 1876 moved to Seattle and in 1877 came thence up the Skagit river and took pre-emption and tim- ber claims at Birdsview. His faithful wife braved the dangers and endured the hardships with him, becoming the first white woman in that part of the country. Charles von Pressentin and August Kim- rich were the only neighbors. By the first settlers he was called Bird and when the town was estab-

lished and he was made its first postmaster, it was called Birdsview in his honor. Soon after coming to the county he built a saw-mill and he was en- gaged in lumbering until 1886, when he sold the mill, moved to Lyman, built another mill and en- gaged in the mercantile business. He has sold the mill business at Lyman to his son and son-in-law, but continues in the mercantile business. The town of Minkler, two miles west of Lyman, where he built a mill in 1897, was named in honor of Mr. Minkler. He secured the postoffice for this town and his son John is postmaster. The two have a store there. Mr. Minkler is president of the Lyman Lumber & Shingle Company at Minkler. In the early days on the river the only travel was by canoe ; later the settlers blazed trails through the dense forests and these trails finally were broadened into passable highways, but he had lived ten years in the valley before there were wagon roads.

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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 147

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