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 187

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 187
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 187

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

At Norman in the summer of 1888 Mr. Johnson married Miss Elise Hagen, daughter of Elif and Sigrid Hagen, natives of Norway, who came to Minnesota in 1884 and are now living in the Gopher state. Alrs. Johnson was born in Norway in 1869 and received her education there and in Minnesota. She and Mr. Johnson are parents of four children. namely: Edel, who died when a babe ; Sidney, Ed- mond and Helen. In his lodge connections, Mr. Johnson is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and of the Modern Woodmen of America : in politics he is a Republican. He served as postmaster at Arlington for two years during the early days, also at one time as school clerk of district No. 16. In church membership he is a Lu-

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theran. All his business interests are in Arlington, where he is recognized as an able and enterprising business man and a citizen of the highest standing. The name of Tvete & Johnson will always have a place in the annals of the Arlington country, and in the memories of the men who were there in pioneer days, but while Mr. Johnson then filled a more conspicuous place in the community than now. owing to the fewness of settlers and the newness of everything, he is not less forceful at present in the commercial life of Arlington.

JOSEPH C. BRITTON, proprietor of one of the leading hotels of Arlington, is a product of the Pacific coast. and with his father was one of the pioneers of the Stillaguamish country in the vicinity of the junction of the two forks which unite to form the main river. Mr. Britton was born in San Jose. California, December 21, 18;1, the son of Robert and Barbara Britton. The elder Britton had a very interesting career, which opened with his coming to the United States from the Emerald Isle when but eight years of age to make his home with relatives in Pennsylvania. In the Keystone state he lived for a number of years and in the meantime sent for his mother who was living in the old country. He was working in a woollen mill when the Civil War broke out in 1861, and enlisted in the First Pennsylvania Infantry, serving one year in that command, then being transferred to the navy. In the latter wing of the forces of the U'nion he served three years, eleven months and twenty-three days, receiving his discharge in 1866. Mr. Britton then went to Cal- ifornia, later going to Salem, Oregon, where he as- sisted in the erection of the first flour mill in the Oregon capital. In 1820 he returned to California and was married there, remaining until 1882. when he came to Washington and filed on a homestead a mile and a half below the forks of the Stillagua- mish. The country was wild, virgin forest, with the river as the only highway of traffic and trans- portation, and Mr. Britton assisted in the construc- tion of the first trail. . Here he lived until 1885. when he returned to California for a two years stay. From 1882 until his death in the summer of 1902 at a Seattle hospital, he was a citizen of Wash- ington. respected by all who knew him. Mrs. Brit- ton. a native of Germany, crossed the Atlantic ocean and the continent of America to California to join a sister. While living there she met and married Mr. Britton ; she is now living in the Golden state.

Joseph C. Britton received his education in the graded schools of San Jose, and came to Snoho- mish county when but fifteen years of age. Ile re- mained at home on the farm until nineteen years of age when he went to work as cook's helper in a Jogging camp. Six months later he was promoted to be chief and in this capacity was engaged in vari- vous camps until 1901, when the failing health of his

father compelled him to assume the responsibility of operating the homestead. In 1901 he filed on a timber claim in Oregon and also on a homestead in Douglas county, Washington. In May of 1905 Mr. Britton opened the White House hotel at Arlington, which he is now managing, and has built up a busi- ness second to none in that city.

On the first day of July, 1900, in Seattle, Mr. Britton married Miss Winifred B., daughter of Ira and Sylvia ( Walter) Preston. Mr. Preston is a native of Illinois and in his early years followed the brick mason's trade. Ile early moved to lowa and in 1884 to Dakota, where he passed two years on a homestead, then sold his right and came to Wash- ington, locating at Florence, where he worked at his trade. Later he returned to lowa, then went to Nebraska, then returned to Florence, remaining a year and a half, then passed up the Stillaguamish and after some time spent in a logging camp took a preemption three miles southeast of Arlington on the Big Burn, where he is still living. Mr. Preston has the record of being the first man to freight stock for the pioneer store at Arlington, bringing the goods up the river in a canoe. Mrs. Britton, a native of Iowa, is a woman of general culture, with a special faculty for music, and has taught the musical art. Mrs. Britton was born in Harrison county in 1881, but received her education in the schools of Snohomish county, attending the first school established at Arlington when that institu- tion was in its beginning and there were only five white children on the roll. She took her first steps in music under her mother's direction, and followed up the study until she became an accomplished mu- sician and a teacher of ability. In politics, Mr. Brit- ton is a Republican : in fraternal affiliations an Odd Fellow. a Workman and a Mason, while his worthy helpmeet is a member of the auxiliary orders and an active worker in them, frequently occupying the chairs and being at present chaplain in the Daugh- ters of Rebekah. Mr. Britton is one of the suc- cessful citizens of Arlington, publie spirited and in some respects a leader, esteemed and respected by all his neighbors and fellow townspeople.

JASPER SILL, farmer and merchant of Arling- ton and one of the sterling representatives of the honored pioneer class. was born in Monroe coun- tv, Ohio, in 1818, the second of eleven children of Michael and Susan ( Rake) Sill. The father was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1819, and by occu- pation a farmer. He eventually moved to Ohio and in 1853 migrated to lowa, from which state he came to Washington in Jas2. He died here in 1891. The mother was also a native of the Keystone state but was a resident of Ohio when she met and married Mr. Sill. She died in Washington in 1900.

Jasper Sill remained with his parents until twenty-eight years of age, receiving the advantages

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of a common school course, then assisting for years his father with the farm work, though for four years previous to his separation from the old home he operated farms on his own account. In 1822 hie went to northwestern Kansas, but returned, after a season's absence, to resume his farming in Iowa. Coming to Washington in 1878, he located in Flor- ence in March of that year, and some four years later he filed on a homestead up the river and com- i meneed to clear the ground and establish a farm. In addition to this he also carried on a considerable business in purchasing stock and furnishing meat to the various logging camps in the vicinity. In 1883 he engaged in logging on his own account on the Stillaguamish, and he followed that occupation for six years, proving up on his homestead in the mean- time. He also at one time purchased a general mer- chandise business at Florence, which he operated successfully for a year, then selling to E. A. Havley, who is still in charge of the business. After dis- posing of his mercantile establishment, Mr. Sill re- moved to Stanwood, and he lived there the ensuing twelve months, thereupon returning to Florence where another year was spent. For the two years ensuing he operated a farm on Kent's Prairie, then he came to Arlington, where, a few years previous, he had purchased the land on which he now lives. In 1901 he built a fine two-story building in Arling- ton and opened in it a feed store, to which later he added an agricultural implement department. In the latter line he is still engaged, but the feed business has been discontinued recently. His realty hold- ings besides property in Arlington include 150 acres of farming land, forty of which are in culti- vation, and 460 acres of logged off timber land.

In Adair county, lowa, on the Sth of February, 1876, Mr. Sill married Miss Susie Devine, whose father died when she was very young. Her mother, Sarah (Odonnell) Devine, a native of Ireland, is still living. Mrs. Sill was born in Wisconsin in 1854, but was educated and passed the greater part of her life before coming to Washington in Iowa. She and Mr. Sill were parents of five children, two of whom, Mason E. and Forest C., have died. The living are Jasper F., Icona P. and Marion E. A. In politics Mr. Sill is a Democrat, in fraternal affilia- tions a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. A very active and progressive man in business, he has accomplished much in an indus- trial way and contributed largely toward the gen- eral progress, bitt some of his ventures have proved unfortunate and he has lost a portion of the reward of his toil and effort, yet he is now in comfortable circumstances, notwithstanding, and at the same time has the satisfaction of being rich in the esteem of his old pioneer neighbors and the later comers alike. He is certainly to be classed among the sub- stantial and forceful men who are taking a leading part in the business life and agricultural develop- ment of Arlington and vicinity.

NELS K. TVETE, Arlington's pioneer mer- chant and one of its foremost business men to-day, has been inseparably identified with the develop- ment of the Stillaguamish valley for nearly twenty years now and particularly with the upbuilding of his home city. Those sturdy Norse qualities, hardi- hood, thrift and perseverance, which have done so much toward the reclamation of Snohomish and Skagit counties from a tangled wilderness of forest and swamp, strongly characterize the subject of this review, strengthened by the ability to see and grasp an opportunity.

Born in Norway, July 10, 1854, he is the fourth child of Knut Knutson and Annie ( Iverson) Knut- son, both of whom have passed away, the father at the advanced age of eighty-four. As a lad, Nels K. attended the common schools of Norway and assisted at home until he reached the age of six- teen. He then manfully took up his father's work, that of a sailor, following the sea until 1873, when he sought a broader field for his activities in the United States and here, too, he strengthened his education by attending school four terms. The Red River valley, Minnesota. was his first stopping place. After a season in that great wheat belt lie selected a homestead in the state, upon which he lived during the next five years. Then he rented it, entering the store of his brother at Battle Lake as a clerk, with whom he remained six years. In the spring of 1887 he pushed westward to Washington Territory, visited Stanwood and eventually deter- mined to settle in the valley of the Stillaguamish. At Norman he opened a general store, at the same time becoming its postmaster, and a year later, in 1888, in partnership with N. C. Johnson, he estab- lished another general store further up the valley, near the site of Haller City, Mr. Johnson taking charge of the latter enterprise. Mr. Tvete sold the Norman store in 1890, removing to Haller City to give the business there closer attention. With the rise of Arlington the store was transferred to that site, the year 1895 being the date of the removal, prosperity continuing to follow the enterprise. Mr. Johnson retired in 1898, his interest being pur- chased by Mr. Tvete, in whose name the business has since been operated. As the pioneer store, it occupies a place of honor among the city's estab- lishments, nor has it failed to keep pace with the more exacting standards that come with a greater development of the community.

Miss Gurine Ellefson, the daughter of Ellef El- iefson. became the wife of Mr. Tvete in June, 1885. while he was a resident of Minnesota. Her parents. who are still living in Minnesota, are pioneers of that state, emigrating thither from Norway. Mrs. Tvete is a native of Norway, born in October, 1865, and received her education in the schools of both countries. Four children have been born to the union : Alfield S., born in Minnesota, March 19. 1886; Ella. born at Norman, October 30, 1889;

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Nina, at Haller City, June 26, 1893 ; and Norman F., at Arlington, August 27, 1904. The family are members of the Lutheran church. Mr. Tvete is an active Republican of liberal views, and is at pres- ent a member of the city council. In addition to his store interests, he owns 225 acres of rich river bottom land, some in cultivation, and occupies as his home a highly improved tract of eight acres. Upon the type of men to which Mr. Tvete belongs, square- dealing, aggressive and industrious, the stamp of leadership is placed too plainly to be overlooked by the compiler of these biographical records.

WILLIAM H. FORD, among the leading citi- zens of Arlington, Washington, with whose busi- ness interests and general progress he has been identified for more than a dozen years now, though in the very prime of life, is one of the Northwest's real pioneers. As such and as a pioneer business man of Snohomish county, this biographical review is particularly appropriate in this work. Born at Springfield, Missouri, April 5, 1861, he is the som of Nimrod and Delphia Ann (Patterson) Ford, Tennesseans, of the earliest white stock in that part of the south. Nimrod Ford was born in 1830 and early in life developed unusual business powers, be- coming first a government contractor in stock and produce lines. He removed to Missouri in 1861, and three years later journeyed by ox team to Montana, at that time receiving its first influx of immigra- tion. Mr. Ford at once entered the stock business and had the distinction of reaching a leading posi- tion among the cattlemen of northern Montana, owning at one time the largest herd in that section. His death occurred there in 1873; his widow still survives. Upon the bunch grass plains shut in by Montana's lofty, rugged mountain ranges, canopied by that brilliant blue found only in the higher alti- tudes, held in the grip of a rigorous, yet healthy, energizing climate, the lad William spent his boy- hood years, close to nature and facing the hardships common to all frontiersmen. At seven years of age he joined the men in the saddle and with them rode the ranges continuously until he arrived at the age of sixteen. Then, in preparation for the more ex- acting responsibilities of life, he entered school in Missouri, spending four years in college work. weak eyes finally forcing him to return to his hills and plains. At once he became a government contrac- tor, as had his father, and for a long period fur- nished beef. hay and wood to the forts under com- mand of General John R. Brooks. At the same time he conducted a general merchandise store at Sun river. selling out after three years' experience and entering the law office of Governor Toole under whom he studied two years. A year of practice at Sun River followed, after which, in 1886, he en- gaged in the general merchandise business at Cal-

gary, Northwest Territory, Canada. Success crowned his six years experience there, but he did not care to permanently leave the United States, so came to Everett and organized the Ford-Townsend Hardware Company. This pioneer concern did business on Rucker avenue in 1892, when the pres- ent city was merely in its embryonic state, and later occupied rooms in the Wisconsin block. However, Mr. Ford sold his interests in 1893 and spent six months visiting the World's Fair at Chicago and his old home in Montana. In February, the 28th to be exact, 1894, he again found himself in Snoho- mish county, at Arlington, where he bought a shingle mill. This he operated himself until 1900. then leased it and went to Alaska. Mining and the hotel business at Dawson, on the Yukon, occupied his attention a year or more, after which he again returned to Snohomish county, arriving at Arling- ton in October, 1902. In 1899 he had purchased a particularly desirable tract of land on the edge of the town, half a mile north of the city, which he had previously leased two years and on this farm he permanently settled in 1902. There are 110 acres in the tract, constituting one of the finest places in the community. Dairying and the breeding of Jer- sey cattle receive the special attention of its owner, though his business interests are not by any means confined to farming. The dairy herd at present consists of Jerseys and Shorthorns.

Mr. Ford and Miss Kate Peek were united in marriage at Sun River. Montana, May 15, 1883. She is a native of Michigan, born in 1862, and in the Peninsula state received her education. George Peek, her father, as also her mother, Almira (Dem- mick) Peek, were also born in Michigan. He died there many years ago after a successful career as a farmer ; Mrs. Peek is still living, a resident of her native state. Of the Ford children there are three : Guy N., born in Montana. April 20, 1884; Ulrich S., in Canada, August 16, 1887 ; and Willie B., also in Canada, August 16. 1889. Mrs. Ford is an Epis- copalian in her church affiliations. Mr. Ford, a Con- gregationalist. Fraternally, he is identified with the I. O. O. F .. the K. of P., the Elks, the I. O. F., the K. O. T. M., and the A. O. U. W.

Always a public-spirited citizen, interested and willing to bear his share of responsibility in securing good government, he is at present serving his pre- cinet as justice of the peace, having been elected on the Republican ticket. A keen, conservative busi- ness man, progressive in his ideas and aggressive in action. of varied and thorough attainments, and possessed of social qualities which at once call him to the front among his fellows. he is a son of the west to whose career his associates may well point with pride.

PETER FUNK, one of the leading merchants of Arlington, has been very successful since coming

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to Snohomish county in 1888. He is one of the pioneers of the upper Stillaguamish, having taken a homestead two miles south of where Arlington now is in the days when the country presented nothing to the eye except heavy timber. Mr. Funk was born in Denmark in the early days of 1863. the son of Rasmus and Kersten ( Hansen ) Funk, also na- tives of Denmark. The elder Funk, who was a blacksmith, never left the old country, but Mrs. Funk is now living with a son near Silvana. Peter Funk's early boyhood passed without further inci- dent than his attendance at school until he became fourteen years of age. Then he engaged in herding cattle and doing farm work, still improving his ed- ucation whenever he had the opportunity. In 1881 he came to the United States and for the first year worked on a farm in Brown county. Wisconsin, fol- lowing this with four months at school. Mr. Funk then passed six months at work in a brick yard near Green Bay, leaving that to commence what proved to be a four years' service in a planing mill in Lincoln county. In 1887 he came to Washing- ton. Ile remained for a time in Seattle before con- ing to Stanwood, though his objective point was the home of a brother who had preceded him from Den- mark and had taken land on the upper Stillagua- mish. Mr. Funk commenced at once after reaching the river to work in the logging camp of Mr. Mc- Phee, but in the fall of 1888 he filed on a piece of heavily timbered land two miles south of the pres- ent town of Arlington. He lived on this land for a year and a half, then bought the homestead right of his brother. On the place thus secured he lived for fifteen years, during which he cleared part of it, but selling out in 1903, he came to Arlington and embarked in the hay and feed business, to which the following year he added a grocery line, develop- ing one of the large mercantile trades of Arlington from that beginning.

In 1891 at Arlington Mr. Funk married Miss Harriet E. Bannister, daughter of Samuel and Mary E. (Robinson) Bannister, natives of Canada who had come to Snohomish county where they are still living, Mr. Bannister being a fisherman by oc- cupation. Mrs. Funk was born in Michigan in 1873 and received her education there and in Seattle. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Funk, all of whom are living, namely, Frank, Gil- bert and Mary. The family adheres to the Lu- theran church, and in politics Mr. Funk is a Re- publican, while in fraternal affiliations he is a mem- ber of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and of the Ancient Order of United Workmen. In addi- tion to his mercantile business Mr. Funk owns a ten acre tract adjoining the town and residence property inside the corporation limits. He is one of the typical business men of Arlington, success- ful, energetic and progressive, a man of influence in the community.

ALMON J. SUTTLES, for many years a lum- berman in various states in the Union, now the gen- ial proprietor of the Hotel Royal, at Arlington, Washington, was born in Monroe county, Michi- gan, February 14, 1870. His parents, Don P. ,and Sarah ( Kinyon) Suttles, are both deceased. The father, who was born in Deleware county, New York. in 1821, migrated to Michigan at the close of the Civil War, settling in Monroe county, and there following mechanical pursuits. His death occurred at Evart, Michigan, November 30, 1902. The mother, also a native of New York, was born in Elmira in 1830, and died at Bay City, Michigan, in 1903. Almon J. Suttles is the youngest of a family of nine children. He spent the first fifteen years of his life at home, acquiring an education in the common schools of his native state, then found em- ployment in the limber camps for several years prior to 1889 at which time he came to Washington territory. He worked in the woods at Woodenville Junction the first year after his arrival, then went to Sedro, Skagit county, where he was employed by McDonald & Chisholm in their lumber camps for a year and a half. Going thence to the Samish river district he worked for the Parker Lumber Company for two years, and later, after working in a camp on the Skagit river for one summer, he lo- cated at Arlington, there being in the employ of Gifford & Kelley for a season. Going to Wiscon- sin in the spring of 1893, he remained there during the summer, but in the fall moved to Dakota to work in the harvest fields. At the close of the sea- son he returned to his former occupation, logging, which he still continued to follow when, in 1894, he became a resident of Minnesota. After a brief stay he moved again to Wisconsin, where were abundant opportunities for work in the vast forests. He found, however, as so many others have found, that there is a charm about life in the West, which, when once experienced. can never be wholly for- gotten, hence in the spring of 1895 he once more wended his way to Arlington. Washington. He logged on the Stillaguamish river till the fall of 1896. then made another trip to Wisconsin and Michigan, where he worked in the woods a couple of seasons, going thence to the South for a three month's outing. Returning to Arlington in 1898, he spent his time in the woods, until, in October, 1900, he became proprietor of the Home Bakery. After operating this in connection with a restaurant for two years, he leased the property and for the ensuing twelve months he was engaged as cook in different lumber camps. He then took a homestead in Klickitat county, proving up on it in February, 1905, whereupon, becoming once more a resident of Arlington, he proceeded to tear down the old bakery, erecting on its site a neat two-story hotel. modern in its appointments, known as the Hotel Royal.

Mr. Suttles was married in Arlington, Septem-

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ber 11, 1889, to Mrs. Rosa M. House, a native of Canada. born near Ottawa, and educated in the schools of her native country. She walked to Ar- lington from Silvana, a distance of fifteen miles by trail-a rough one, too-in 1889. Her father, John LaPalm, was born in France, but was brought by his parents to Canada when a child, and there spent the remainder of his life, his death occurring when his daughter was fourteen years old. Rosa M. ( Yandon ) LaPalm, the mother, was also of Ca- nadian birth, and died in the land of her nativity. Mrs. Suttles is very proficient in the culinary art. and is thus able to render valuable assistance to her husband in his present enterprise, which promises to be remarkably successful. She is prominently identified with the Baptist church and with the Re- bekah lodge. Mr. Suttles is also a Rebekah and a well known member of the Odd Fellows fraternity. In political matters he gives his undivided support to the Republican party, believing thoroughly in its doctrines. He is an energetic, enterprising young man, possessing qualities which will enable him to succeed in whatever business claims his attention. just such a man as is demanded by the requirements of a rich and promising. but as yet only partially developed, country.

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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 187

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