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 191

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 191
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 191

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BIOGRAPHIICAL

vivid recollections of the severe flood of 1892, which destroyed his home and nearly all his im- provements, as well as, in many instances, those of his neighbors, inducing a local aggravation of the depression which became so widespread and all pervading in 1893. Some time ago our subject disposed of his homestead and moved into Arling- ton, where he invested heavily in real estate, and where his talents and sound judgment are now being employed to good advantage. He is still an agriculturist, though living and operating within the city limits.

In 1885 Mr. Murphy married Miss Agnes Pearl, a native of New Brunswick, but practically a prod- uct of Wisconsin, having spent her girlhood and been educated there. Her father, Richard, who was also a native of New Brunswick, is now deceased. but her mother, Margaret (Leonard) Pearl, aged eighty-six, a native of Ireland, is still living, a resi- dent of Arlington. Mrs. Murphy came here alone and made her way in the new state unassisted until her marriage. She and Mr. Murphy have two chil- dren, Margaret and Leonard. Mr. Murphy is a respected member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen and in political faith a Republican. In all the years of his residence in the county he has been a leader in every movement of general bene- fit, manifesting his public spirit whenever oppor- tunity offered, and he certainly deserves rank among the most forceful of the pioneers. He has held several offices besides those already men- tioned, among them that of school director for eleven years, justice of the peace for six years and police judge in Arlington for one year. The fam- ily are active workers in the Christian church.

CHARLES ROTH, a prominent citizen resid- ing four miles west and two miles south of Arling- ton, Washington, was born June 26, 1867, in Al- sace Lorraine, now a part of the German Empire. He belongs to a distinguished family tracing its ancestry back to the beginning of the fifteenth cen- tury. His father, Victor Roth, was born in 1821, and was one of the foremost agriculturists of his native town, which had been the home of his fore- fathers for generations. His death occurred in 1871. Magdaline (Clor) Roth, the maternal an- cestor, died in 1887 at the age of forty-four, leav- ing a family of eight children. She was twice mar- ried, Charles Roth being an only child by her first husband. Mr. Roth received a liberal education in St. Marie's Catholic College at Belfort, France, and is able to converse fluently in three languages, English, French and German. After completing his collegiate course he held a clerkship for four and one-half years in the Societe Generale, a bank- ing house in France. Immigrating to the United States, he located in Ohio, March 10, 1889, and spent three years in a business college. For three

years he was successfully engaged in bookkeeping, but farming, the occupation that had claimed his attention in early manhood held an irresistible charm for him which caused him to abandon all other pursuits. Coming to Washington in 1891 he purchased 115 acres of land, the farm on which he now resides, and has devoted his entire attention to it since that time. Only three acres were cleared when he became its owner. He now has twelve acres under plow, and eight in pasture. For some years he has given much attention to dairying, but he intends in the near future to devote his time particularly to poultry raising, an industry in which he has been remarkably successful.

In 1894 Mr. Roth was united in marriage to Josephine Rapp, who was born April 8, 1871, in his native town, Isenheim. Her parents, Joseph and Cecilia (Lamfort) Rapp, immigrated to Ohio when she was but twelve years of age. Later, they lived for a time in Kansas, also in Tennessee. In 1901 they found a home in Washington, settling on a farm not far from where their daughter lives. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Roth, Arthur, aged ten, and Lucien, eight. On political questions Mr. Roth holds Socialistic views, believ- ing that they embody the highest form of truth and justice. Having himself enjoyed unusual edu- tional advantage he is deeply interested in the cause, and is an active and influential member of the local school board. His religious beliefs are summed up in the Golden Rule, to which he strictly adheres in his business dealings. The culture he possesses in such a marked degree bespeaks a noble ancestry, and commands the respect and admiration of a wide circle of acquaintances.

MARION GOODING, one of the prosperous farmers of the Arlington country, was born near Marietta, Ohio, January 12, 1853, the son of Ben- jamin and Ruth Anna (Morris) Gooding, also natives of the Buckeye state. The father died many years ago; the mother, in 1879, at the age of seventy. She was the mother of seven children, of whom Marion, whose name forms the caption of this biography, was the fourth. Ile spent his hoy- hood on his father's farm, and thus acquired a prac- tical knowledge of farming. His education was secured in the common schools of the state and was very meagre, he being able to attend only three months each year. At the age of eighteen he went to Kansas, and for three years worked at whatever he could find to do, in the meantime making two trips to Arkansas. Ile next located at Gold Hill, Colorado, where he mined and prospected for seven years. After visiting in Kansas for a time, he in company with a brother, Harvey, emigrated to cast- ern Oregon, and there spent the winter. In the spring of 1882 he went to Seattle, and thence to Stanwood. He took up the claim on which he now

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resides in the summer of 1883, making the trip up the river with John Z. and Henry Jones, now of Arlington. On the return journey Mr. Gooding had a narrow escape, as the canoe came in contact with a large snag in the river and upset. But for his presence of mind in clinging to the canoe till his mates could rescue him, he would have been drowned. The nearest store and postoffice in those early times was at Stanwood. In bringing their supplies up the river there was one point where a log jam, extending a quarter of a mile, made it necessary to unload and carry them over the ob- struction. Very frequently, in packing goods on his back, Mr. Gooding was obliged to put them on logs which he "cooned" across the sloughs. Mak- ing the trip up the river at one time during the rainy season, when the banks were all tinder water, he had the novel experience of cooking a meal on a cedar stump, his stove also serving the purpose of a table. These are only a few of the trials and hardships that this hardy pioneer encountered in those early years while he was making a home in the wilderness, and preparing the way for the com- forts and luxuries of to-day. In the fall of 1883 settlement in this locality became quite general. The first school house was built three years later. Mr. Gooding has fifty acres in an excellent state of cultivation and devotes it principally to hay and dairying : he has a fine herd of cattle.

In November, 1896, Mr. Gooding and Elmira Hurd were united in marriage. Mrs. Hurd is a na- tive of New York. Her father died in Nebraska some years ago, and since that time her mother. now aged seventy-seven, has made her home with this daughter. Mr. Gooding is a staunch Repub- lican, but has never cared to take an active part in political matters. He and his family are identified with the Free Methodist church. Few of the early settlers have a more vidid recollection of pioneer days than has Mr. Gooding. To hear him relate his experiences is both interesting and instructive, and renders it much easier to appreciate the con- ditions that then existed than to simply read of them. During his long residence here he has be- come well and favorably known, and holds the re- spect and confidence of the entire community.

ROBERT KINNEAR, postmaster at Edge- comb, and member of the firm of Kinncar & Gray, operating a shingle mill at that point under the name of the Edgecomb Mill Company, is of Scotch birth and descent, belonging to a distinguished Scottish family. He was born near Edinburgh, May 21, 1852, to the union of John and Elizabeth ( Bruce ) Kinnear. The father. who followed ag- ricultural pursuits during his long life, was born in 1801, at Cupar, Fife : he passed away in 1871. Elizabeth Bruce was also a native of Cupar, born

in 1806. She was a direct descendant of Robert Bruce, Scotland's famous king, a connection of which every Scotch patriot would naturally feel proud, the Kinnears being no exception. Mrs. Kinnear passed away in 1823. Of seven children born to this union, the subject of this review is the youngest child. He attended school until the age of fourteen, when he engaged in learning the black- smith trade, serving an apprenticeship of three years. Following this he served another term in Glasgow, learning the machinist's trade, thus thor- oughly equipping himself for mechanical pursuits. Having heard stories of the wonderful republic which lay across the Atlantic, when he reached his majority, the young Scotchman determined to cast his lot with the new country. He landed on Yankee soil the day he was twenty-one. New York state was his home during the ensuing fourteen years, during which he resided at Rochester, Buffalo, Brockport and Batavia, and followed the machin- ist's trade, most of the time being with the John- son Harvester Company at Lockport and Batavia. lle came west to Chicago in 1887 and a year later pushed still further westward to Seattle, then just blossoming into a city of size. In the Pacific Northwest he engaged in work for the Columbia & Puget Sound Railroad Company, as a machinist in the shops at Seattle, but nine months later left his trade, came to Snohomish county, arriving at Snohomish September 15, 1888, and shortly after- ward took a homestead a mile and a half east of the present town of Edgecomb. That region was then in its wild state. Supplies were brought in from Stanwood by canoes up the Stillaguamish river and then packed across country on the backs of the few hardy pioneers ; some supplies were also brought in from Marysville by trail. Of five men who came to the Edgecomb region together, Mr.

Kinnear is the only one still left in the community. When he settled there he was married and to the wilderness he brought his family, all sharing the hardships and privations common to the frontier. To the clearing of his homestead Mr. Kinnear immediatley devoted his attention, being provided with some means fortunately. He was among the first settlers on what is known as the "burn," sec- tion of the Stillaguamish. Stock-raising early oc- cupied considerable of his attention ; in fact, to it he devoted most of his activities until 1903. He served as road supervisor for three years beginning with 1892 and for seven years was deputy field asses- sor, thuis contributing much to the upbuilding of his community in a public way. In 1903, he and John A. Gray bought the shingle mill which had been established by G. K. Hiatt at Edgecomb about 1893, and have since operated it successfully. Its daily capacity is 125,000 shingles. Mr. Kinnear secured the establishment of Edgecomb postoffice in 1898 and ever since has served as its postmaster. His fellow-citizens have also seen fit to support him as

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justice of the peace during the past four years, all of which public services he has discharged with fidelity to his trust.

The marriage of Mr. Kinnear and Mary Don- aldson was solemnized at Rochester, New York, August 11, 1811. Her parents, Wiliam and Ann ( Brodie) Donaldson, were natives of Scotland. The father followed the stock business in the old country until death in 1856. The mother came to the United States and resided with her daughter, Mrs. Kinnear, until her death in August, 1904, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. Mrs. Kinnear was born in Perth, Scotland, in 1851. She came to the United States in 1869, after having received her education in the city of Edinburgh. Mr. and Mrs. Kinnear have had two children, both of whom passed away in infancy. Fraternally, Mr. Kinnear is affiliated with the Masonic lodge at Arlington and has been a Mason since 18;1. He is a staunch Republican, chairman of his precinet committee, a position he has held for years, and is an active attendant at all important caucuses and conventions of his party. His property interests are large embracing the old homestead and extensive tracts of timber land, in addition to his valuable mill prop- erty. Mr. Kinnear is one of Snohomish county's industrial leaders and public-spirited citizens whose biography is especially appropriate among these history records of this section of Washington.

CARL W. OSTRAND, of Edgecomb, is one of Snohomish county's pioneer citizens who is pursu- ing general farming. stock-raising and dairying with marked success, after having devoted long years of arduous toil and labor to the clearing up of a place in the Puget sound wilderness. .A na- tive of Sweden, he was born February 23. 1860, to the union of Carl and Carrie ( Sackris) Ostrand, both of whom were also natives of that country. The elder Ostrand was a carpenter by trade. He was born near Karlmar and died in 1900 at the age of sixty-eight years, without having left the old country. The mother passed away in 1902 at the age of seventy-five years. Of the four children that blessed this marriage, the subject of this sketch is the second in age. He attended the common schools of Sweden and between times herded sheep on the range, all the children being obliged to con- tribute to the family's support. At the age of twelve the lad entered a tailor's shop to learn the trade and there spent two years, though he never afterwards followed the trade. When fifteen years old he commenced working for various farmers in the neighborhood and thus spent the ensuing ten years. In the meanwhile his brother, John P. had come to America and settled in Iowa. So. in 1885. when Carl Ostrand began to plan a similar trip to the land of opportunities across the waters, he de-

cided to join this brother. Upon arriving in Iowa that year, he engaged in farming and railroading, which he followed for two and a half years, then set his face toward the far west and soon found himself on the Pacific slope at Seattle. Thence he went to Sultan, on the Skykomish river and there worked in the mines a short time, after which he returned to White river and followed farming until January, 1889. At that time he came north to Sno- homish county and took as a homestead the place he now owns and operates, a portion of which forms part of Edgecomb's town site. He came to this wil- derness via Stanwood and Stillaguamish, now Sil- vana, employing Indians to canoe himself and sup- plies up the river as far as possible. The last stage of the journey was made afoot, the supplies being packed on his back. During the first two years of his settlement Mr. Ostrand was obliged to work for wages in order to support himself, but at the end of that period the railroad was built, thus af- fording him an excellent market for all he could raise and admitting of his devoting his entire time to the improvement of his homestead. Now it is one of the most productive farms in the community and under the thrifty management of its owner is making rapid strides in value and yearly produc- tion. The place consists of 150 acres.

Mr. Ostrand and Miss Annie Carlson were united in marriage at Seattle September 9, 1890. She is the daughter of Carl August and Stina Car- rie Carlson, both of whom are residing in Sweden at present, where also Mrs. Ostrand was born. Mrs. Ostrand came from Sweden to Washington, a quarter way around the earth, to join the young man of her choice who had preceded her to Amer- ica. Two children have blessed the union, Carl Edward and Selma Mary. The former has won distinction in the county's schools, having been pronounced by the superintendent the best scholar of his age in the county when he was graduated from the eighth grade at the age of fourteen a short time ago. The fact was published in the local press. Mr. Ostrand has always given much atten- tion to school work and has served four years on the local board. Ile has assisted in building three school-houses since he came to the county. In fact. he is known as a public-spirited citizen of broad gauge ideas and sympathies in all that concerns the welfare of his fellow men. Politically he is a Re- publican.

JENS G. HELSETH. a prosperous farmer re- siding at Jorden, Washington, ten miles southeast of Arlington, among the valley's earliest pioneers, was born in Norway, November 11, 1855. He is the son of Gunder J. Helseth, a native of Norway. who immigrated to the United States in 1810, set- tling in Dakota. Coming to Stanwood in 18:9. he was here engaged in farming till his death in the

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spring of 188 !. Margaret ( Olsen) Helseth, mother of our subject, also a native of Norway, is now living with her son at Jorden. Washington. Jens G. Helseth acquired his education in the schools of his native country prior to the removal of the family to Dakota, in which state he also attended school for a time. Ile had passed his twenty-sec- ond birthday shortly before he came to Washing- ton, to seek his fortune in the great Northwest. He came first to Tacoma and was there employed by the Northern Pacific railroad for a few months. Going thence to Astoria he followed fishing the next two years, and in August, 1879, joining the United States navy at San Francisco, he served three years, during which time he sailed the Japan and China seas, stopping at many of the important points on the adjacent coasts as a member of the U. S. S. Alert's crew. It was a wonderful experi- ence for the young man, materially broadening his views of life.

Returning to Stanwood in the fall of 1882, Mlr. Helseth purchased fifty acres of land, the present site of the Norwegian church being part of his original ranch. The land was unimproved and it required five years of arduous toil to get it ready for cultivation. He sold this property in 1887. and left the little town which he had assisted to estab- lish, to go up the south fork of the Stillaguamish and take as a homestead the place on which he has resided ever since. Thus he became one of the earliest settlers in eastern Snohomish county as well as in the western part. Of the one hundred and thirty acres he owns, thirty are in a fine state of cultivation, the balance being still in heavy timber.

At Stanwood, in 1888, Mr. Helseth and Mar- garet Rukke were united in marriage. Mrs. Hel- seth was born in Norway in 1850, and there re- ceived her education. She is very deft with her needle, and has won quite a reputation for her beautiful fancy work, which is the admiration of her friends and acquaintances. Her parents, Peter and Brunnell Rukke, were both natives of Norway and the father died there : the mother is still living in the old country. One child has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Helseth, Gunder, a native of Stanwood, who is now serving in the navy on board the U. S. S. Supply, going to Guam Island. Mr. Helseth, well known and influential as a Republican, is now central committeeman for his precinct ; he has held the office of justice of the peace. The family are affiliated with the Lutheran church. During all the years of his residence in the Stanwood and Jorden communities he has been one of the men whose influence could be counted upon as on the side of every worthy enterprise and whatever, in his opinion, was likely to promote the general wel- fare. Honest, industrious, frugal and progressive, he has the esteem and confidence of all who know him intimately.

ERNST EGGERT, the well-known merchant and shingle manufacturer of Getchell, Washing- ton, one of the most aggressive and successful bus- iness men in northern Snohomish county, has fought his way to the front through hardships and disappointments, overcoming obstacles with a grim perseverance that knew no defeat, and surmounting innumerable difficulties with that energy and abil- ity characteristic of our self-made men. Of Ger- man descent and nativity, born in Pommern in No- vember, 1844, he brought to his adopted country those sterling qualities of thoroughness, fidelity and thrift so marked among his countrymen. His father, whose name was also Ernst, was born in 1828, and Anna (Virgin) Eggert, the mother, the same year. The elder Eggert passed away in 1866; Mrs. Eggert is still living in the old coun- try. The subject of this review, the second in a family of three children, secured his education in the public schools of his native land, after complet- ing which he served a three-year apprenticeship in a blacksmith shop, receiving no financial recom- pense. He then followed his trade until 1882, at that time commencing a two years' service in the regular army, upon the conclusion of which, in 1884, he came to the United States. Landing at Baltimore, Maryland, September 5th. he proceeded thence to Watertown, Wisconsin, and remained there some time, then spent six months each in Fond du Lac and Merrill, of the same state. On March 22, 1888, Mr. Eggert paid his first visit to Seattle. Two days later he came north to Marys- ville, then a little settlement consisting of a post- office, store, saloon and a few dwellings. Follow- ing the trail five miles east through the dense for- est he Reached the present site of Getchell and, being favorably impressed with the location and prospects, he took up the homestead of which he is still the owner. For a year or two he was obliged to pack all his supplies in on his back from Marvs- ville, there being no road or railroads at that time. Moving his family onto the claim the hardy pioneer made it his home for two months, and then went' to Marysville to work as bridge carpenter on the old Seattle & Montana railroad. Five months later he returned to the ranch, remaining till spring, when he found employment in Seattle for a few months after the fire had swept over that city. He then went to various camps in Snohomish county, finding work at his trade, blacksmithing. In 1892 he opened a shop in Getchell, which he conducted for the two years ensuing, then resuming work on the farm. In company with four other men, he built a shingle mill in 1895, but he had been run- ning it only a month when it was destroyed by fire and a short time after this the kiln was also burned. As he had mortgaged his farm to secure money to put into the enterprise. the loss fell very heavily upon him, but with characteristic energy he at once rebuilt the mill, and redoubling his efforts,

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he was able in 1902 to purchase his partner's share in the business, and a year later a mill in Whatcom county. To-day he owns in addition to his mercan- tile establishment, two mills, warehouses, and 2,000 acres of land, a part of which is improved, the bal- ance in timber.

Mr. Eggert was married in August, 1881. to Augusta Rohde, also a native of Germany, daugh- ter of Julius Rohde, who is now deceased, as is also Mrs. Eggert's mother. Mr. and Mrs. Eggert have seven children : Max W., now manager of his father's store ; graduated from a business college at Seattle : 1da, Anna, William, Martha, Ileidwig and Edward. Although he has but recently passed his twentieth birthday, the oldest son displays unusual business ability and is already able to relieve his father of a great deal of responsibility. Bright. energetic, and possessed of pleasing personality, he is recognized as one of the most promising young men of the community, destined to achieve a large measure of success, and become a man of influence in the years to come. Mr. Eggert is a member of the Sons of Hermann, Lodge No. 1. also of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he allies himself with no party, preferring to vote inde- pendently. His interest in educational matters is deep and abiding, as may be seen from the fact that lie assisted in organizing the first school in this locality, and for the past fourteen years has been one of its directors. The family attend the Lu- theran church. Surrounded by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances who honor him for his manly, upright character. Mr. Eggert is enjoying to the fullest the prosperity that has attended his untiring efforts.

PETER J. JOHNSON. Getchell's pioneer set- tler, at present engaged in agricultural pursuits at that point, is one of Snohomish county's pathfind- ers, who led the vanguard of civilization into the district of which he is still a resident. As is true of so many of this region's pioneers, he is a native of the Scandinavian peninsula, boru at Joark, Elfs- burgs Lan, Sweden, in April. 1853. His father, Jonas Johnson, a miller by trade, was born in Swe- len in 1809. He operated flouring mills, saw mills and shingle mills until shortly before his death in 1893. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary Johnson, and at the advanced age of eighty-six years is still living in the old country. The subject of this review attended the common schools of Sweden and worked with his father in the mills until twenty-five years old, when he was obliged to seek another occupation, the work not agreeing with his health. Hle learned the wagonmaker's trade and followed it in his native land until 1880. Then he joined the tide of immigration setting in to the United States and soon found himself at New Britain, Connecticut, working as an iron moki-

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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 191

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