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 193

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 193
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 193

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY

full of log jams that even a canoe could scarcely be used with safety. Snohomish was the nearst post office and base of supplies. The fare from that point to Seattle was then four dollars. As it was impossible to earn a dollar, times were very hard for many of the settlers' who had no ready money, but fortunately Mr. Clark had sufficient means to tide him over the first few months. As soon as pos- sible he began clearing his land and now has sixty acres in cultivation. Ile has a large herd of cattle and devotes a share of his time and attention to clairying.

Mr. Clark was married July 18, 1875, to Mary E. Mills, a native of Wisconsin, the daughter of Ilarper and Elizabeth (Foote) Mills. The mother died in Wisconsin ; the father in South Dakota. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Clark. Myrtle and Opal, now at home, both natives of Snohomish county. Although Mr. Clark has been for many years a loyal Republican, he has never had any political aspirations for himself. He is a practical and successful farmer, thoroughly familiar with all the departments of the work. Recognizing him as a man of integrity whose word is as good as his note, his fellow citizens accord him the highest respect and honor.

IRA CARPENTER, the well known and highly esteemed pioneer of Carpenter creek, is not alone a pioneer of this county, but is among the earliest in the Northwest, having come north to Puget sound in 1854. His life has been an eventful one and his experience in Oregon and Washington is coincident with many of the most important occurrences mark . ing the history of this section of the West. He was born at Harmony. Chautauqua County, New York, April 18, 1831, the son of Isaac and Mahetta B ( Matteson) Carpenter. also New Yorkers. The father, who was born February 19, 1:93, was a farmer and lumberman. He served in the War of 1812. His death occurred in New York state in 1852. The mother was born near Troy, February 9, 1797, and passed away April 9, 1889. Ira Car- penter was educated in the common schools of New York. He left home when seventeen years old, go- ing to Wisconsin, but after spending two years there he returned to New York and engaged in work on the famous Eric canal. Soon, however, he went to sea, and served as steward several months, but final - ly disembarked at New Orleans and secured em- ployment on the old river steamer Magnolia. Re- turning at length to Michigan, through which he had passed at an earlier date, he logged one winter. then went to Independence, Missouri, and hired out to Waldo & McCoy, the men who conducted the pony express across the plains to California. Mr.

Carpenter made one trip, replete with hardships but rich in experiences of all sorts. The journey occu- pied five months. Its western terminus was Ione valley, where Mr. Carpenter left the outfit to go to. work in the mines. In the summer of 1854 he went to San Francisco, shipped on board the old "Ella Frances," and shortly afterward he found himself at Port Gamble, then about as isolated a place as there was among the northern Pacific ports. Washington Territory itself had been in existence only a year. After several trips between San Francisco and Port Gamble, Mr. Carpenter was cast adrift with his mates on the ocean, helpless and in a wrecked con- dition. The craft drifted aimlessly for one hundred. and five days with its starving, thirsty, poorly clad crew, before the crude jury mast and temporary sail carried it into the straits and to Port Gamble. There the vessel was sold to parties who repaired and refitted it and took it back to San Francisco,. Mr. Carpenter serving as one of the crew down the coast.

June 5, 1855, Mr. Carpenter enlisted, under an assumed name, at San Francisco in Company A, -regiment under Colonel Wright and with the command came north to Fort Steilacoom and later to Fort Vancouver, whence he was led by the colonel through one of the most memorable campaigns in western Indian history the story of which appears. in this volume. After the war he served as post commissary awhile; later he clerked in Captain Jordan's office at The Dalles, where, eventually, he was appointed assistant packmaster to the Mullan Expedition, which surveyed the historic Mullan road through Washington, Idaho and Montana. Arriv- ing at St. Regis after a difficult, dangerous journey, Mr. Carpenter was detailed to go up the Bitter Root valley where he spent some time, returning to Camp Jordan on the St. Regis one hundred and fifteen miles away, by means of snowshoes. Upon his ar- rival he found the expedition sorely in want of sup- plies. As a result one hundred and thirteen of the command started for the settlements, hundreds of miles away, ninety-nine walking to Colville and fourteen to Walla Walla. Of that last company Mr. Carpenter was the only one to get through without serious injury from the intense cold. One of the others froze to death. The trip was begun in Feb- ruary of the year 1860, in the midst of a very cold, stormy winter season. Mr. Carpenter and another man left the little company in what is now Idaho, intending to get help at the Coeur d'Alene mission, and in fording the Coeur d'Alene river the two waded naked through slush ice waist deep, carrying their clothes and other things in their arms. After innumerable narrow escapes and great hardship they reached Walla Walla, where Mr. Carpenter at once organized a pack train, at the head of which

1039

he went to the relief of those at Fort Colville, mak- ing the trip in sixteen days.

Mr. Carpenter remained at Colville until the middle of May, when, after having failed to agree with his commander, he returned to Walla Walla, arriving June 3d. Immediately this intrepid fron- tiersman headed a party bound for Missouri. After a two month trip, uneventful compared with Mr. Carpenter's previous ones, the party reached its des- tination, and soon Mr. Carpenter had located in Howell county, which was his home thereafter until 1883. He was there married in October, 1861, to Miss Samantha A. Holden, a native of Tennessee, who came to Missouri in 1856 with her parents, Benjamin and Mary A. (Cook) Holden. During the Civil War General Price ruined Mr. Carpenter's farm, taking away everything of value he possessed except a yoke of cattle. Shortly afterward he re- moved to Illinois temporarily, returning to Howell county in 1866, whence in 1883 he drove across the plains to Rockford, Spokane County, Washington. He tarried there eighteen months, coming then to Renton, King county. In July, 1887, the intrepid, restless pioneer again sought isolation, taking a homestead on Carpenter creek, Snohomish county. His nearest neighbor at the time was six miles away and the nearest road was at Machias, likewise six miles distant. He worked all through the summer of 1888 to put through a rough road from Machias. and in the fall of that year brought his family up the creek to the homestead. This place has since been his home and to it he is devoting the remain- der of his years improving it and making it as lucra . tive and comfortable as possible. Mrs. Carpenter. after a long, useful life, passed away September 1, 1892, leaving four children: Mrs. Ellen Chowning. since deceased : Curtis, living near his father ; Na- than, a resident of Machias : and Mrs. Maria Men- zel, the wife of the well known Granite Falls pio- neer mill owner. Mr. Carpenter mainly by his own efforts organized the school district in which he lives, and he served as a member of its board many years. Politically, he is an independent voter. He is known as a public-spirited citizen, interested in every progressive movement in his community and state, and honored as one of the men who partici- pated in foundation laying in the territory.

DANIEL I. CARPENTER, mayor of Granite Falls, was born in Sherman, Wexford County, Michigan, March 1, 184. His father, Isaac N. Carpenter, was born in Chautauqua County, New York, in 1837. He moved to northern Michigan in 1863, in which state he lived twenty-six years ; his death occurred at Granite Falls in 1892. Anna (Clark) Carpenter, the mother, also a native of New

York, was born in Allegany county, in 1812. She is now living in Granite Falls with her son, Daniel T. In the common schools of Michigan Mr. Car- penter received his education. His father having immigrated to the West in 1889, he followed in 1892, coming to Granite Falls where the eller Carpenter had taken up land four and one-half miles east of the town. The railroad had not then been built, and there was little promise of the wonderful progress everywhere apparent to-day. Mr. Carpenter re- mained on the farmin and in the woods until 1901. Renting the ranch which became his on the death of his father in 1897, he located in town, and entered the employ of the Sobey Mill Company, with whom he still remains. He has charge of the river work. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Odd Fellows lodge, No. 191, at Granite Falls. and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. A loyal supporter of the Democratic party, in Decem- ber. 1901, he was elected mayor of Granite Falls entering upon his duties January 1, 1905, the second mayor the city had elected. He was also a member of the first city council. Although still a young man, he takes an active and unusually influential part in promoting any public enterprise that will contribute to the growth and development of this section. In religious belief he inclines to the Meth - odist church, and supports her various benevolences. That he has discharged and will continue to dis- charge the duties of his office in a manner worthy of emulation is a matter of conviction in the minds of those who are intimately acquainted with him. and who are thus permitted to know the ability and strength of character partially concealed by his quiet. unassuming manner.

FRANK NILES. Among the well known edi- tors of Snohomish county is Frank Niles, of the Granite Falls Post. He was born in Ellsworth, Min- nesota, Jime 6, 1826. His father, Lucien B. Niles. born in Maine in 183%, went to Minnesota in early manhood, and remained there till 1586, engaged in farming, logging and hunting. During the Indian troubles of the early 'sixties he did scout duty for some time. Ile has been a resident of Washington since 1ss6, when he migrated to Port Townsend. Four years later he moved to Snohomish, which was his home until his death, February 3, 1906. Carrie ( McKusick) Niles, the mother, is also a native of Maine, the date of her birth being 1815. She is the mother of nine children. Frank Niles acquired his education in the schools of Port Townsend and Snohomish. At the age of eighteen he began learn- ing the printer's trade, working in the office of the Snohomish Tribune until 1899. Going thence to Index, he accepted a positon on the Index Miner.

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY

retaining it two years. A year later he established the Silverton Miner, in which a few months after - ward E. R. Nunamaker purchased a half interest. In May, 1903, he and Roy Moore founded the Gran- ite Falls Post. The following June he purchased the interest owned by Mr. Moore, and he was sole proprietor of the paper until AAugust. 1904, when he formed a partnership with Roy G. Messner of Gran- ite Falls, with whom he is still associated. Having bought out Mr. Nunamaker's interest in the Silver- ton Miner, he closed this office in January, 1904. moving the plant to Granite Falls. Mr. Niles is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Redmen, at Everett, and an active worker in the Good Templars lodge. In political belief he loyally supports Republican doctrines, but for himself has never sought political preferment. He is recognized as a young man of excellent habits and unquestioned business ability. Ile has already established for the Post the reputation of being a clean, fearless, ably edited publication. That in the years to come it will be a still more potent factor in the growth and de- velopment of the town is firmly believed by those who are best acquainted with Mr. Niles and his capable partner.

ROY G. MESSNER, of the firm of Niles & Messner, publishers of the Granite Falls Post, one of the progressive journals of Snohomish county, is one of that city's rising young men. He is practical- ly a product of Granite Falls, having lived there since he was two years old, his parents being among the earliest pioneers of the region.

Lewis A. Messner, the father of Roy G., was born in Wayne County, Ohio, July 1. 1836, the son of Fred and Margaret Messner, both of whom were also natives of Wayne County. Fred Messner, a farmer by vocation, passed away in 1882 ; his wife died when Lewis A. was a boy. Lewis A. Messner lived on the farm until he attained the age of eleven, then left home to make his own way in the world, going first to Indiana and there entering the farming and lumbering industries. When the Civil War broke out, he enlisted in Company K, Forty - Sixth Indiana Volunteers with whom he served throughout the long struggle until mustered out late in 1865, after more than four years of army life. He was first in the Thirteenth Army Corps under Gen- eral Hovey with whom he served until after the fall of Vicksburg. The regiment was then transferred to the Nineteenth Corps under Banks. While raiding the Texas border in .1864 Mr. Messner's division was captured and its members paroled, but they saw some additional service at the front before peace was declared. Because of physical disability brought on by army service Mr. Messner now draws a pen-

sion. After the war he farmed in Iowa, then in 1868 he went to Michigan, farming and lumbering at different points in that state until 1888, when he came to Puget sound. He at once took a pre-emp- tion claim one mile west of the site of Granite Falls, and a little later filed on a homestead two miles east of town. Four years ago he removed his fam- ily to Granite Falls, which is now his home. He is a man of publie spirit and ability, has served his city as councilman, and is one of the city's substan- tial men. He is a member and one of the organizers of William Hall Post No. 102, and is affiliated with the Modern Woodmen of America. In Oceana County, Michigan, in September, 1867, Mr. Messner was united in marriage to Miss Mary E. Marsh, the daughter of Jerome and Minerva (Skinner ) Marsh. Mrs. Messner was born in Genesee County, New York, October 29, 1849, and came to Michigan when a girl. Five children came to this union: Fred, George, Leon, Roy G. and Cora, now Mrs. Hansen, all of whom are residing in the vicinity of Granite Falls.

Roy G. was born on a farm at Fruitport, Muske- gon County, Michigan, February 2, 1887. His edu- cation was obtained in Granite Falls and at Snoho- inish, where he attended high school for a time. He learned the printer's trade in the office of the Gran- ite Falls Post, which he entered as an apprentice February 8, 1904, working for his present partner, Frank Niles. In August of that year Mr. Messner purchased a half interest in the plant and simultan- eously his brother, George L., purchased a half in- terest and the enterprise was thereafter conducted under the firm name of Messner Brothers until De- cember 5, 1904. From that date until July 1. 1905, Roy G. operated the business alone, the partnership of Niles & Messner being formed at that time. Suc- cess has erowned the efforts of the young men, bringing to them not only deserved financial remun- eration but also an excellent reputation among all with whom they transaet business. Mr. Messner is independent in his political views. Fraternally, he is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Women of Woodcraft.

DAVID A RITTER, engaged in farming and stockraising upon his eighty-acre farm just south of Granite Falls, and one of that town's later pioneers, is a native of the Peninsula state, born June 15, 1865, in Cass County, one of the finest sections of that commonwealth. His father, Henry L., a farmer by occupation, was born in Ohio in 1820, of German stock, but came to Michigan in its pioneer days and hewed out a home on La Grange Prairie, one of the finest agricultural parts of the state. He died in 1871 upon the old homestead. The mother of David

1061

BIOGRAPHICAL

A. was in maiden life Elizabeth Shorte. Her de- mise occurred four months before that of her hus- band. Of the twelve children of whom she became the mother only five are still living, two sons and three daughters, the subject of this sketch being next to the youngest child in the family. He was reared on the old farm, attended the public schools of the neighborhood and when a young man en- tered the shops of the Round Oak Stove Company at Dowagiac, Michigan, one of the best known con- cerns of its kind in the union. After three years thus spent he returned to the farm, operating the old homestead several years. Just previous to his im- migration to the Pacific coast in 1895, he worked some time in the stove shops at Dowagiac. Upon his arrival on the coast he came immediately to Granite Falls and entered the shingle mill of Ander- son Brothers with whom he remained five years. . \ year and a half followed with Shaffer Brothers near- by, then six months with the Sobey Manufacturing Company. Upon the conclusion of the latter ser- vice Mr. Ritter, in November, 1902, purchased his present place just southeast of town and moved to it. Since then he has been engaged in developing its re- sources, also doing considerable teaming for others.

Mr. Ritter was united in marriage to Miss Ella Ellis, May 31, 1885, while residing in Michigan. Her parents, Peter and Anna ( Me William) Ellis, came to Michigan in an early day, where the father followed agricultural pursuits. Mrs. Ellis passed away before the marriage of her daughter ; Mr. Ellis resides with Mr. Ritter at Granite Falls. Mrs. Ritter was born in Sullivan, New York, June 9. 1865, and therefore was twenty years old when married. Death entered the Ritter home February 25, 1904. and carried away the faithful wife and de- voted mother, her loss being mourned as a personal one by all who knew her. Three children, Susic. Leroy and Floyd, survive her. Mr. Ritter is a mem- ber of the Odd Fellows and the Modern Woodmen of America. He is one of the community's substan- tial citizens who may be depended upon at any and all times to deal squarely with all, to support any progressive public movement and in general to con- tribute his share toward the betterment of all around him.

MICHAEL DIFFLEY, whose saw-mill and ex- tensive logging camp lie on the Pilchuck river, two and a half miles south of Granite Falls, Washing- ton, is not only numbered among the leading opera- tors of Snohomish County at the present time, but he has been identified prominently with the lumber industry in Snohomish and Skagit counties for more than twenty years past. Hundreds of stump- ridden acres scattered over this section of the sound

bear witness to his great energy in this line of ac- tivity in which he has attained an enviable reputa- tion as a business man of marked ability, unusual aggressiveness and sound judgment. In his veins there flows pure Celtic blood, the inheritance of an unbroken chain of Celtic ancestors, and in County Longford, Ireland, he was born in the year 1868, the son of Michael and Mary ( Ferrel) Diffley. The senior Diffley, a farmer by occupation until his re- tirement from the activities of business life, is still living in Ireland at the advanced age of seventy- eight. The mother is also living, she being now seventy-two years of age. Of the eight children born to this union, of whom two are dead, the sub- ject of this biographical sketch. is the sixth child. His early life was that of most Irish lads raised on the farm and members of a large family. Until he was eleven years old he assisted at home as much as possible and attended the common schools of the district, thus attaining what schooling he could. Then, with his sister Mary, he left the family roof to seek a home with his uncle, Patrick Greeley, who lived in Wisconsin. Here, in the United States, Michael Junior was given further educational ad- vantages, working and attending school five years longer, and also learning the blacksmith's trade. In 1885. thus equipped, he set out to make his own way, coming to Puget sound, Tacoma, being his first stopping place. From Tacoma he went north to Whatcom county and immediately afterwards to Skagit, being engaged during the next few years in driving logs on the Skagit and Samish rivers in the latter county and a little later on the Stillagua- mish and Snohomish rivers further sonth. He worked for Patrick McCoy, E. G. English and Wil- liam Mckay at different, times while in Skagit, these men being among the foremost lumbermen of the time in that section of the sound. For many years after Mr. Diffley came to this section of the state both Skagit and Snohomish counties were hardly more than great logging camps with few roads of any kind and exceedingly poor trails even through the wilderness. When he first saw the Skagit valley it was as yet hardly touched by the great lumbermen and it was a difficult and a danger- ous undertaking to make a trip up as far as the Sauk river. He worked for E. D. Smith, Lowell's pioneer lumberman, before the city of Everett was founded and remembers when there were but three houses on the site of the present city. To have se- cured a claim on the peninsula would have been an easy matter, but, in company with others, he little dreamed that a metropolis would spring up so sud- denly on the uninviting spot. He took off much of the timber from the site of Everett in an early day. Mr. Diffley was engaged in rafting by contract at Anacortes for several years, making a very satisfy-

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SNOHOMISH COUNTY

ing success of it. In 1895 he branched ont in busi- ness for himself and with headquarters in Seattle engaged quite extensively in logging operations up and down the sound. Mr. Diffley abandoned log- ging temporarily in 1896 to go to Dawson City, Alaska, with a partner, Frank Rupp. They became two of the earliest men in that famous camp. Upon their trip inland from the coast, they had to depend upon game principally for their subsistence. Mr. Diffley shortly afterward came south to Atland, on Johnstone Straits, British Columbia, and there took two claims, the Ohio and the Bonnie Belle. First he made money in his mining ventures, but eventually sunk a fortune in exploiting the Ohio claim. In 1899 he returned to his old business in Snohomish coun- ty, taking up lumber operations near Hartford, where he and his brother Thomas had operated previously for some time. In all Mr. Diffley's oper- ations in that vicinity covered a period of seven years. He and Charles Seiffert as partners cut a tract of approximately 2,600 acres near Hartford, or between that place and Granite Falls. Four years ago Mr. Diffley moved his camps up the Pil- chuck to the Frank Gregory place, the timber on which he had purchased, and there he erected a saw- mill and established his present business. He also took a contract to supply the Sobey Manufacturing Company with bolts and supplied both mills belong- ing to that concern while they were in operation. He still furnishes all the bolts used by the present mill at Sobey. Mr. Diffley's establishment bears a high reputation as an exceedingly well managed one that has drawn to it as competent men as can be found in the lumber industry on Puget sound.

The marriage of Miss Kate Wall to Mr. Diffley was solemnized at Everett, March 14, 1903. She is a native of Tipperary, Ireland, who came to the United States in 1901. Her parents still reside in the old country. Two sons have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Diffley, Francis and Lawrence. The family are connected with the Catholic church, Mr. Diffley also having membership in the Catholic branch of the Y. M. C. A. He is also affiliated with the Elks. Politically, he is an independent voter, though normally an adherent of the Democratic party whose conventions and assemblies he attends regularly. His party has often sought to honor him, but he has persistently declined to allow the use of his name, the last occasion being when offered the nomination for sheriff. A lover of good government and a believer in progress he is always keenly inter- ested in whatever pertains to the public's welfare.

In bringing this sketch to a close it is interesting and appropriate to mention an incident which clear- ly and forcibly illustrates the character of the man. While attending the coronation ceremonies connect- ed with the crowning of King Edward in 1898, Mr.

Diffley of course visited his old home in Ireland for the first time since he had left it as a lad only eleven years old. While there he purchased the old home- stead, of which the Diffleys had been simply tenants for five generations, and presented it to his aged parents, thus bringing an undreamed-of joy into their lives and insuring its future possession to the family, provided the wishes of the donor are car- ried out. Mr. Diffley considers this one of the hap- piest acts of his entire life, as well he may, though he but modestly refers to this unusual display of generosity which involved the expenditure of a large- sum of money. His sterling qualities of integrity, justice to all, and broad sympathies have made him deservedly respected and esteemed by all with whom ' he is associated, while his keen abilities and in- domitable will power make him a prominent factor in the local business world and a leader in the com- munity.

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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 193

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