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 178

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 178
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 178

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In the state of Washington, in the year 1889, Mr. Klaeboe married Miss Sarah Jacobson, who was born in Norway in 1860, and was educated in the public schools there, but came thence to Wash- ington in 1888. Their children are as follows : Ragna Marie, born March 17, 1890; Olga Jose- phine. August 21, 1893; John, November 20, 1894, and Sigrid Amanda, October 11, 1896, all in Stan- wood. Fraternally, Mr. Klaeboe is a Mason and a Workman ; in religious persuasion he is a Lutheran, and in politics independent, voting for whatever party seems most likely to reform abuses. He is energetic, wide awake, progressive and public- spirited, and none stands higher than he in the esteem and regard of the people of the Stillaguam- ish valley, a people who have known him for years and whose confidence in him has never been shaken through any act of his. An unequivocal expression of their faith in him was given in December, 1905, when they elected him mayor by a larger majority than was ever before given to any candidate for that office.

A word about the European connections of Mr. Klaeboe is in place in this brief article. Members of the original family are to be found in many dif- ferent parts of Norway, Northern Germany and Denmark, the last mentioned country being the original home of the Klaeboes. The Norwegian branch moved to Norway from Denmark in 1667. A list of all its members, generation after genera- tion, since the sixteenth century, is now in the pos- session of Mr. Kraeboe. While it includes force- ful men of former times, the generation now living and the one immediately preceding it have been especially noted for the number of brilliant leaders of thought they have furnished. Bishop Anthon Christian Bang, the present bishop of the diocese of Christiania, and admittedly the foremost man in the Lutheran church to-day, is a second cousin of our subject. When he was a little past thirty the University of Christiania paid tribute to his splen- did talents and accomplishments by creating for him a chair of church history and ancient lan- guages. No less noted is the late John Klaeboe, an uncle of Andrew B. of this article, famed for his brilliant writings and his accomplishments as a linguist. Our subject's oldest brother, Ivar, who lives on the paternal estate in northern Norway, is a farmer and proprietor of an extensive fish busi- ness. He is very widely known over northern Eu- rope, being a conspicuous figure in politics and economics. Another brother, H. B. Klaeboe, ranks among the leading clergymen of Christiania, while another. Peder Klaeboe, a graduate of Christiania University, is a professor in a college in his native

land. Andrew B., the youngest of the four broth- ers, is the only member of the family so far who has decided to try his fortunes in America.

DANIEL McEACHERAN, M. D., like many other sturdy and substantial citizens of the differ- ent communities of the American republic, has in his veins the blood of the Scotch race, a race hon- ored throughout the world for its stalwart char- acter, thrifty habits and great ability. His father, Archibald, and his mother, Agnes (Stewart) Mc- Eacheran, were both natives of Scotland, born in 1819 and 1827, respectively. Both migrated to Canada in early life, and it was there that they were married. The former, a farmer by occupation, is still living on the British side of the line; the latter died there in 1869, leaving ten children, of whom Daniel is the seventh in order of birth.

After completing the courses offered in both the common and high schools of his native province, Dr. McEacheran followed teaching as a profession for a few years, then, at the age of twenty-three (he was born June 25, 1860), he went to Ann Arbor, Michigan, and entered the medical depart- ment of the state university located there. In 1886 he was graduated with the degree of M. D., and the following fall he opened an office at Mayville, North Dakota, for the practice of medicine and sur- gery. After spending two years there he moved to St. Paul, Minnesota, which was the scene of his professional labors until 1889, in which year he came to Stanwood. Here he practiced uninter- ruptedly until 1894, then for three years he was a practitioner of the healing art in Fosston, Minne- sota, but in 1898 he once more took up his abode in Stanwood, where he has ever since lived.

In the town of Stanwood, in 1892, Dr. Mc- Eacheran married Bertha M., daughter of the well known pioneer, D. O. Pearson. She died in 1896, leaving one child, Donald, born August 27, 1894. On the 29th of August, 1903, Dr. McEacheran was again married, the lady being Mabelle E. Hatch, daughter of Frank M. and Imogine Hatch, natives of Maine. The father, a mechanic, lived in Kan- sas for a time, but came from that state to Wash- ington in 1890, and died here March 14, 1906. The mother is still living, her home at present being in the vicinity of Fir. Skagit county. Mrs. McEach- eran is a native of Osborn, Kansas, born in 1882, but acquired her education in the schools of Seat- tle and Edmonds. In politics Dr. McEacheran is a Republican, but his time is so completely taken up with the duties of his profession that he is not specially active, except to perform his duties as a good citizen. He is a man of sterling worth, respected alike by the other members of his profes- sion and by his fellow citizens generally.

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ANDREW TACKSTROM, harness merchant of Stanwood, has built up a good business in this thriving town in the decade and a half he has been a resident here. He was born in Sweden in 1851, the fifth of the nine children of John H. and Christina Trackstrom, both of whom spent their entire lives in their native land. The father was a sawyer by occupation. AAndrew received his educa- tion in the common schools of Sweden, and at the age of thirteen was apprenticed to the trade of shoemaker. He worked at the bench for four years as a learner, then for four more years as a jour- neyman. When he attained his majority he opened a shop of his own and he continued in business there until he came to the United States in 1881. On ar- riving in this country he put in six months at his trade in Chicago, but in 1882 went to Nebraska and engaged in work on a ranch. He afterward fol- lowed railroad work for a couple of years in Ne- braska, then was transferred to Colorado, where he remained for a year and a half. He then returned to Nebraska and at Creston opened a shop and operated it with success for five years, at the end of which period he removed to Madison and opened a shop there. After a year and a half he determined to leave Nebraska and come to Washington. He settled in Stanwood and has remained there ever since. At first he worked at making and repairing shoes, giving his whole time to that, but in 1898 he opened a harness shop in connection with the shoe business and he has since continued to operate both these lines. In 1896 Mr. Tackstrom was appointed postmaster by the late President McKinley, and he served for two years thereafter, resigning with the intention of going to Nome, Alaska, but circum- stances altered his plans and he remained in the city. continuing in the shoe and harness business up to the present time.

In 1873, before leaving Sweden, Mr. Tackstrom married Miss Hannah Olson, daughter of Ole Ole- son, who lived and died in the old country. Mrs. Tackstrom was born in 1849 and was educated for the profession of teacher, taking courses in the common and high schools, and finishing in the nor- mal school. She commenced teaching when nine- teen years of age and taught for several years. Mrs. Tackstrom died in Stanwood in 1899. She was the mother of four children, two born in Swe- den and two in Nebraska. Hannah, the first born, (lied when four years old, while the youngest two, Mabel and Nellie, have died in Stanwood. The only living child, Oscar, who was educated in Ne- braska, went to Alaska in 1900, and is still there, employed by a transportation company. In fra- ternal circles Mr. Tackstrom is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He attends the Mission church. In politics he is a Republican and, elected by that party, he is now serving his second term as member of the city council. He is

one of the prosperous men of the city, deservedly popular and influential.

BEN WILLARD, furniture dealer and under- taker at Stanwood, is one of the leading men in the commercial interests of his home town, with an enviable reputation for business ability and probity. Mr. Willard was born in Denmark in 1851, the son of Christ and Christina (Christenson) Willard. The father was an Englishman by birth. Both Mr. and Mrs. Willard are dead, the former passing away just before the son was born. Young Will- ard attended the Danish schools as a lad and in 1871 came to the United States and settled in Wis- consin at farm work. In 1875 he went to Michigan and thereafter he followed lumbering in the woods for about three years, after which he went to Chi- cago and worked two years in a book store. He then returned to Michigan for a time, but ultimately went to lowa, where for five years he took charge of a farm for a Lutheran clergyman. In 1885 Mr. Willard came to Washington territory and settled at Utsalady, in the mills of which town he worked for a couple of years, coming then to Stanwood, where for five years he worked as a farm laborer. Dairying attracted him and he was engaged in that line on his own account at Stanwood for eight years. He also took charge of the wharf in Stan- wood ten years ago. In 1890 he closed up his dairy business and in company with B. Lien en- gaged in the furniture business, an undertaking es- tablishment being run in connection therewith. The partnership continued one year, at the end of which time Mr. Willard bought out Mr. Lien, and he has since operated the business alone.

In 1884 in Story county, Iowa, Mr. Willard mar- ried Miss Margaret Skorpen. daughter of Sorn H. and Katherina Skorpen. The mother died in this state, but the father, a mechanic, is still living in lowa. Mrs. Willard was born in Norway and re- ceived her education there, coming to lowa when she was twenty years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Will- ard have six children: Christine, born in lowa in 1885, a graduate of the Whatcom Normal School, and a teacher by profession : Sophia, Anna, Mattie. Alf and Bennie, all of whom but the first were born after the parents had left Iowa. In politics Mr. Willard is a Democrat, and he is a Lutheran in church relations. Aside from his mercantile busi- ness he has an interest in the telephone company. lle is an enterprising man. of ripe experience and of force of character, and he is highly respected by- all members of the community.

WILLIAM CONNERS, the popular proprietor of the Palace hotel in Stanwood, of which city he is one of the most energetic and public-spirited

SNOHOMISH COUNTY

citizens, was born in Maine, on the 2d of August, 1862, the second of the five children of John and Phoebe (Kelley) Conners. Of these the former was a woodsman by occupation. He came to Wash- ington territory in 1862, and for two years was en- gaged in driving team at Port Gamble, then he re- turned to the Pine Tree state, from which, however, he came once more to Washington in 1875, once more accepting employment at Port Gamble. He died at the home of his son, William, in 1904. The mother of our subject was born in Maine, and passed her entire life in that state.

William Conners, of this article, attended the local schools of his native commonwealth until he reached the age of fifteen, then yielding to his long- ing for a life on the ocean wave, he went to sea and thereafter until 1881 he was employed con- tinuously on vessels plying between Atlantic coast ports. The same adventurous spirit which had made him desire the life of a sailor then led him to the "wild and woolly" West, and in the fall of 1881 he became a resident of the Queen City of Wash- ington. Shortly after his arrival he accepted em- ployment in the woods of Snohomish county, and in 1882 he established headquarters at Stanwood, from which point he has operated almost continu- ously sinee, though for four years from 1897 he was engaged in mining in the Klondyke region. On his return in 1901 he bought the Hotel Gilpat- ric, in Stanwood, which he has since operated un- der the name of the Palace hotel. It has become. under his skillful, energetic management, one of the most popular stopping places of the Puget sound country, the Stanwood home of most of the traveling men who make that point.

In 1884 in the town of Stanwood, Mr. Conners married Miss Martha Hewitt, whose parents, Will- iam and Susan (Ellsworth) Hewitt, drove from Iowa to Washington in 1884 and are now residents of Idaho. Mrs. Conners was born In Iowa in 1866 and received her education there, but at the age of eighteen came westward, accompanying her parents on the transcontinental trip by team just referred to. She died in Stanwood in 1896, leaving four children, namely : Mrs. Grue Logan, now in Idaho; Ernest, Lindy and Arthur.

In Seattle in 1902 Mr. Conners was again mar- ried, the lady being Miss Cora, daughter of Thomas and Eliza (Aubrey) Milliorn. Her father, who in early life followed wheelwrighting in Virginia, crossed the plains to California in 1849 and fol- lowed mining in the Golden state for a time, then took up a donation claim in Lane county, Oregon, on a part of which Junction City now stands. For a number of years afterward he worked at his trade there, but being now seventy-seven years old, he is living in quiet retirement at Junction City. Mrs. ·Conners was born in Oregon and was educated in the excellent public schools of that state. In poli-

tics Mr. Conners is a Republican, but he has never manifested an ambition for personal preferment at the hands of his party, though he has always taken an interest in its doings and welfare and watched, as a good citizen should, over matters of public concern.

FRANCIS H. HANCOCK (deceased) was one of the pioneers of Puget sound, a man of the highest integrity. Ile was of the old school of Christian gentlemen who carried their principles into their work and who never worked without principle. Though a resident of Stanwood at the time of his death and a pioneer of this part of the state, Mr. Hancock began life in Virginia. He was born on May Day of 1826, the son of Justice and Harriette (Smith) Hancock, well known in their day and generation. They were the parents of six children. Daniel, Mary, Martha, Samuel, Allan and Francis. The parents died when Francis was very young. He received his education in his native state and lived there until 1857, when, at the age of thirty-one years, he removed to Missouri, where he remained as a farmer until coming to Whidby Island in 1862. The trip was made across the plains by ox-team and the Hancock wagon was one of a train of seven which banded together and ac- complished the long and tedious journey between May 6th and November 11th. Mr. and Mrs. Han- cock passed their first winter in Crockett's cabin and took up a homestead on the island where they lived a short time. They then moved to the Stilla- guamish flats and lived there until, in 1892, Mr. Hancock retired from active business life and re- moved to Stanwood, where he passed the remainder of his days. When Mr. Hancock settled on the flats the practice of diking the land had not been commenced there, but he went to work at once and soon had his entire holdings of 160 acres under dike.

In 1853, before leaving Virginia, Mr. Hancock married Miss Hester A. Hewett, the ceremony be- ing performed on the 27th of July. Mrs. Han- cock's parents were Henry and Jemima ( Howard) Hancock, native Virginians and parents of ten children, three of whom, James, Ellen and Bolin, have passed away. The living are Hezekiah, Mrs. Hancock, Auslum, Ambrose, Elizabeth, Alice and George. Mrs. Hancock was born on the 19th of March, 1834, and lived with her parents until her marriage, receiving her education in the schools of the Old Dominion. To Mr. and Mrs. Hancock were born nine children, three of whom have died, Mary J., Frank, and Oden. The living are: Mrs. Annie Libby, Mrs. Martha Scott, Samuel H., John T., Charles E., and Richard. In politics Mr. Han- cock was a Democrat. He was a Methodist in church affiliations and a faithful member, as is also

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BIOGRAPHICAL

Mrs. Hancock. The home farm consists of 160 acres of bottom land on the Stillaguamish and two acres in Stanwood with a seven-room cottage.

Concerning the death of Mr. Hancock, a pio- neer of the Pacific coast who settled here forty- two years ago, the following is appended from the Stanwood Tidings in its issue of February 5, 1904 : "It is with feelings of the deepest regret that we record the passing away on Thursday, February 4, 1904, at 9:50 p. m., of one of Stanwood's best known and honored citizens, Mr. Francis H. Han- cock, at the ripe age of seventy-eight years. Mr. Hancock's illness was comparatively of short dura- tion, but from the first but little hope was enter- tained that he would recover on account of his advanced age. For days the Hancock home was flooded with anxious inquiries from friends and neighbors, but the answer was always discouraging, and on Thursday evening he drew his last breath. Death came peacefully to him who had lived a long and beautiful Christian life. Always jovial and happy, his jokes and stories of his experiences, and reminiscences of early days on the coast, made him a prime favorite with old and young alike. Francis H. Hancock was born in Bedford county, Virginia. May 1, 1826. He came from an old and distin- guished family of that state, his grandfather, Col- onel Samuel Hancock, having fought with distinc- tion in the Revolutionary War. On July 22, 1853, he married Hester A. Hewett, a lady of excellent family, being a direct descendant of Lord Walden, an English nobleman, and also a relative of General Stonewall Jackson. Four years after their mar- riage. 1856, they moved to Missouri, where they lived for five years. In the year 1862, Mr. Han- cock, having imbibed the spirit of 'Westward, ho!' decided to push further into that wonderland so full of rich promise to one who possessed so en- tirely as he did that unconquerable, optimistic, un- dying spirit that does things, and knows no such thing as defeat, and so on the 5th day of May he began that arduous journey across desert and plain, mountains and streams, to the faraway 'Oregon country.' After a long six months of hardships in- cident to the journey across the plains, following trails and poorly marked roads through a country infested with a treacherous and bloodthirsty race, they finally landed at their destination, Whidby Isl- and, on the 11th day of November, 1862. Here they resided for eight years, and then they moved to the Stillaguamish flats, where they lived con- tinuously until 1892, when they moved to Stan- wood, where they have resided ever since. During these years Mr. Ilancock gathered together a com- fortable fortune and during the declining years of his life was able to take life easy, and in a com- fortable home in Stanwood lived happily with his wife and granddaughter, Edna. He leaves, be- sides a wife, six children : Mrs. Anna Libby, Mrs.

Martha Scott, Samuel Hancock, John Hancock, Charles Hancock, Richard Hancock, and Frank Hancock, all of whom reside in and around Stan- wood, and who, together with their families, were present at his bedside during his last moments. The funeral services were held in the Methodist church at Stanwood, Sunday morning following his death, and were conducted by Rev. E. B. Reese, the pastor.'

Mrs. Hancock passed away in February, 1906.

REV. HELGE M. TJERNAGEL, pastor of the Lutheran church at Stanwood, is one of the forces for good in the community, bringing to his work as clergyman the ripe scholarship of a colle- gian and an understanding of human nature ob- tained by contact with men of the hustling busi- ness world. Although Mr. Tjernagel has been in Stanwood but a comparatively short time, he had made for himself a niche in the community from which emanates a quiet but none the less effective influence over his fellow men. Mr. Tjernagel was born in łowa, May 23, 1811, one of the seven chil- dren of Ole A. and Martha ( Anderson) Tjernagel, natives of Norway, who came to the United States early in life. The elder Tjernagel settled in Illi- nois in 1856 and remained there engaged in farm- ing for nine years, going then to lowa, where he is still living. Mrs. Tjernagel came to Illinois when twelve years of age, and passed her life un- til marriage with her parents. One of her daugh- ters, Bertha, died, and her seven living children are as follows: Lewis J., Peter G., Nehemias, Martin O., Gustave A., Helge M., and Bertha C., the last mentioned bearing the name of her de- ceased eller sister. Helge M. Tjernagel, on the completion of the lowa common school course, en- tered Luther college at Decorah, lowa, at the age of seventeen, having in mind at that time a career as a clergyman. He completed the course in six years, then taught school for two years at Albert Lea, Minnesota. In 1899 he entered the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Hamlin, from which he was graduated in 1902. He came to Stanwood in March of that year and took charge of the church, succeeding Rev. L. E. Foss, now of Everett.

In June of 1904, Mr. Tjernagel married Miss Anna Brie, daughter of Andrew J. and Helena ( Berge ) Brue, natives of Norway, who came to the United States in 1872 and six years later re- moved from Minnesota to Snohomish county, where they have since lived. Mrs. Tjernagel was born in Stanwood in 1882 and received her early education in the public schools of her native town, later completing her studies at the Pacific Lutheran, Academy at Tacoma. Mr. and Mrs. Tjernagel have one child. Olaf A., born in Stanwood on the-

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the surface as it had been tide land, and the task of clearing and getting it in its present splendid shape was an undertaking that would have seemed im- possible to a less resolute and industrious man. His principal products are oats and hay, but he has a fine dairy of forty head of thoroughbred Holstein cattle. His residence is neat and commodious, and like the entire ranch, gives evidence of thrift and energy.

Mr. Leque was married in Norway in 1868 to Maria Lindebrake, the daughter of Gert and Mar- tha ( Hjeltness) Lindebreake, both of whom spent their entire lives in Norway. Mrs. Leque was born there in 1848, and received her education in the common schools. Three days after their marriage she and Mr. Leque started for the United States, -rather an extended wedding trip at that date. The following children have been born to this union : Mrs. Sigri E. Land, born in Dakota, April 19, 1869, now living in Island county; Alfred, October 9, 1878. in Washington, now also residing in Island county : Annie, wife of Rev. O. J. Ordal. December 25, 1882, in Washington ; Hannah, in 1887, Martin, January 1. 1890, and Nels, February 8, 1893. Mr. Leque is a prominent member of the Lutheran church, and in politics a Republican. From 1887 to 1889 he served with credit to himself as one of the board of county commissioners, and he has ever manifested an active interest in the affairs of Snoho- mish county, but being a man of liberal learning and a teacher he has naturally given most attention to the cause of education. During his many years of service on the school board he has contributed not a little to the efficiency of the local schools. To the industrial progress of his section also he has con- tributed his full share, the work which lay nearest his hand being always done with energy and thor- oughness during all the thirty years of his resi- dence on Leque island. He and his estimable wife have the abiding confidence and respect of the en- tire community in which they live and their full share of the honor due always to worthy pioneers.

OLE E. EIDE. Among the well-to-do agri- culturalists of Stanwood is found the one whose name gives caption to this biography. He was born February 1, 1864, in Norway, the native land also of his parents, Eric and Ingeborg ( Iverson) Eide, both of whom are deceased, the mother's death oc- curring in 1903. The youngest of a family of seven children, Ole E. Eide acquired his education in the common schools, and at the age of sixteen left home to become a sailor. Immigrating to the United States in 188%, he located in Washington, and was employed in turn by Lon Larson, Nels Ovenell and Peter Leque. Later, after working for a time in a logging camp, he leased his uncle's farm for three

years. At the expiration of the lease he moved to Bryant and invested in land, which he farmed for three years, then returning to assume the man- agement of his uncle's farm, of which he became owner in 1904. Two years previous he; had pur- chased forty-nine acres adjoining this property. He now holds 105 acres, of which sixty-nine are in ex- cellent cultivation. His chief products are oats. and hay, but he owns a large dairy, and devotes. much attention to that branch of farming.

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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 178

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