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 82

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 82
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 82

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The venture was an immediate success. The American's independence and aggressiveness, coupled with its modern methods, won golden opinions. By June 12th, according to the sworn statement of its publishers, it had a circulation of four thousand five hundred and sixty copies. The files of this period are a complete diary of the community's progress and condition during the remarkable boom of 1890 and 1891. There was no more progressive institution in the city than the American, certainly none with more faith or more courage in living up to itsconvictions.

Mr. Allmond was left alone in the business after August 12, 1892, when his partner with- drew. During the years of depression the career of the American was in sympathy with the career of Anacortes. Once, when the gloom was darkest, Mr. Allmond tells of going on a two- weeks' fishing trip, leaving the "devil" to issue the editions with purely plate matter. But the American had patience and persistence and not infrequently its issues were filled with articles of various kinds in addition to local news.

Mr. Allmond continued to conduct the Amer- ican with assistance from time to time until the spring of 1902, when Frederick Ornes succeeded him. About the same time prosperity came to Anacortes, thus encouraging the business greatly. The American's present editor and publisher, Frank Barnett, acquired the property January 1, 1904, succeeding Mr. Ornes, who became the publisher of the Mount Vernon Argus.

A year later the American absorbed the Sentinel, and at present it is the city's only newspaper. Under Mr. Barnett's aggressive management the American has won the con- fidence and good will of its community and has attained an enviable position among the news- papers of the state. A daily edition with associated press despatches, etc., is contemplated ; indeed has been partly provided for by the recent installation of a typesetting machine. The plant and offices occupy the whole ground floor of a brick block on the main thoroughfare of the city. The plant is modern and comprehensive, thor- oughly in keeping with the policy of the manage- ment. In politics, the paper has been constant in its adherence to Republican principles.

SCHOOL BULLETIN

The Skagit School Bulletin, as its name implies, was founded as a technical newspaper, devoted to educational interests, particularly to those of Skagit county. It was established in September, 1900, by Miss Susan Lord Currier, now Mrs. Frederick Ornes, and was published by her during her four years' service as superin- tendent of the schools of Skagit county. The Bulletin, under her inspiration, soon became recognized as a very able exponent of school matters in general and an exceedingly bright, breezy little monthly, attaining a large circula- tion. Some of its special issues were noteworthy for their great excellence. The Bulletin's first home was at Anacortes, from which it was removed to Mount Vernon, the county seat, where it is still published. Recently the journal passed into the hands of C. O. Bradshaw, of Bradshaw's Business College, Mount Vernon.

HAMILTON HERALD

Nearly four years ago the present Hamilton Herald came into existence, its founder and pub- lisher being H. F. Wilcox. It was then a four- page, six-column, patent inside paper. After editing it for two years, Mr. Wilcox sold to Hans J. Bratlie, who still publishes it. At present it is a seven-column folio with a patent inside. In politics, as in all else, it is independent.

SKAGIT COUNTY LOGGER

Pioneers of the upper Skagit valley well remember this peculiarly named journal, which

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was closely identified with the exciting times of the early nineties in that section. It was founded May 23, 1889, at Hamilton, by Messrs. W. H. Willis and B. J. Baker. An old army press was first used, and other facilities were in proportion, yet the first numbers of the logger are quite attractive typographically. Their pages are filled with exceptionally good articles, presenting an interesting, vivid account of the period. None of the political organizations were favored, the policy of the owners being to maintain political independence. At that time Hamilton was enjoying a strenuous growth.

In July of the following year the paper was sold to Edward Suiter and H. C. Parliament, ex- perienced newspaper men ; they at once placed the journal in the Republican column, and, August 8, 1890, changed its name to the Hamilton Herald. The Herald passed through the whole range of journalistic vicissitudes during the next five years, finally yielding the struggle in the spring of 1896. At this time it was the Populist organ of the county.

AVON RECORD

The Avon Record was established in February, 1891, as a six-column folio at Avon, by James Power and W. A. B. Sehl, the former acting as editor, the latter as business manager. It was discontinued upon the advent of hard times.

The Sauk City Star was another newspaper product of the rapid development of the upper Skagit during the early nineties. Established at Sauk City in June 1891, it remained there until September, 1894, then was moved by Editor Mitchell to Hamilton and conducted as a Hamil- ton paper until its suspension a year or so later.

Another up-river newspaper of short life was the Birdsview Bell, published by H. A. McBride in 1891.

NORTHWEST ENTERPRISE

Inseparably connected with the early history of Anacortes and the romance of Fidalgo island, is the Northwest Enterprise, the second news- paper established in Skagit county. The story of the Enterprise is in itself a most interesting one.

When Amos C. Bowman, late in the seventies, conceived the idea that some time a great maritime city should make Fidalgo island famous, he at once set to work with a will to found that city.

No man could probably have shown greater zeal than he did in the upbuilding of Anacortes from the time his pioncer store was erected and the postoffice shingle displayed until his death. In 1882, the inhabitants of Anacortes might almost have been counted on one's fingers, so few were there, and no newspaper could possibly have existed on the income from the community alone. A small settlement on Fidalgo

bay, a few scattered settlers in different parts of the island and the resurrected hopes of Ana- cortes ultimately being chosen as the Pacific coast terminus, constituted the chief assets of any newspaper that might have the monumental courage to enter such a field.

Yet, Saturday, March 25, 1882, the first num- ber of the Enterprise was issued in half sheet form, sixteen inches in length, with four pages of five columns each, the outside pages being "patent." A pretentious title decorated the first page, wherein was pictured a steamer tied up at an immense wharf, alongside of which stood a railroad train, while stevedores were busily engaged. The mechanical work of the entire issue was neatly executed. From the intro- ductory remarks made in this initial number by the publishers, Alf. D. Bowen and F. M. Walsh, one may gain some idea of the paper's aims and purposes :

"With this, our first number, we present to the people of Whatcom and adjoining counties, the Northwest Enterprise, hoping it will meet the approbation and kindly support of all those that are directly or indirectly interested in the development of the new Northwest. The Enter- prise will be run on independent principles, will advocate all enterprises that may lead to more rapid and permanent settlement of the Puget sound country ; it will work for the interests of Whatcom and San Juan in particular, Island and Snohomish counties in general, and the whole Northwest over all; it will work to promote our educational facilities, and to perfect the pos- tal, custom-house and transportation service of our district.

"We shall publish general items of news from all parts of the country, as well as to try and give a good local report from throughout the county, and shall endeavor, with the aid of our patrons, to make it a leading weekly newspaper of the Northwest.

"Thinking this introduction will meet the approval of all, and pointing out the stand which we take, we will begin our career, hoping our subscribers and advertisers may grow rich and prosperous out of the Enterprise."

From time to time the size of the paper was changed, doubtless reflecting the financial con- dition of its owners. A noteworthy feat of this pioneer office in 1882 was the publishing of an original map, portraying the Puget sound region quite minutely and setting forth the advanta- geous location of Anacortes with reference to rail- way movements. Mr. Bowman himself drafted this map and engraved the lithograph plates. while the Enterprise did the printing and mount- ing. The result was an accurate, handsome map of which many a modern office might well feel proud. These maps were sent all over the United States and were a mighty factor in first advertising Anacortes to the world.

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The Northern Pacific failing to build its line to the lower sound, thus deflecting immigration from this region, the Enterprise gradually accepted the inevitable. In January, 1883, the business was transferred by Bowen & Walsh to its chief patron, Mr. Bowman, who placed George Riggins in charge. Slowly the Enter- prise dwindled in its service, but still persisted courageously until its publication became a spiritless labor and an increasing financial bur- den to Mr. Bowman.

The last number, bringing to a close the fourth volume, is dated Saturday, March 13, 1586, and contained not more than two sticks (about four inches) of local composition. Thus came to a close the life of this old pioneer news- paper, but it was not barren of substantial results. It had a mission which was modestly accomplished. Three years later the island teemed with struggling humanity, clearing away the forests and laying the foundations for the present city of Anacortes.

ANACORTES PROGRESS

When finally prosperity dawned upon Ana- cortes in 1889, the first newspaper to fill the usual demand in American communities for a local journal was the Progress. The first num- ber appeared August 3, 1889, with C. F. Mitchell as publisher and editor. From the beginning the Progress was a wide-awake, progressive, able factor in the city's development. In August there was a mere handful of buildings grouped around the ocean wharf; by January, 1890, the town had several hundred inhabitants and build- ings were going up over an immense area on the whole northern side of the island. The city grew with wonderful rapidity, so rapidly that the publishers of the Progress in February, 1890, considered the field large enough to support a daily, and on the 11th of that month, the Daily Progress appeared. Its issue was hailed with delight by an enthusiastic public, which gladly paid twenty-five cents a week for its delivery to their homes or places of business. A few weeks later the Progress claimed to have the second largest printing establishment on the sound, a doubtful claim, but indicating that it did possess an extensive plant. Anacortes continued to grow by leaps and bounds, and with it all the Progress kept pace, as a perusal of its interesting old files shows. W. H. McEwen took the daily in April, 1990, Mr. Mitchell remaining with his weekly.

At last, however, the reaction came with deadly effect, and January 22, 1892, the city's second pioneer newspaper, both weekly and daily, simultaneously suspended. There was no tinge of bitterness in the valedictory; in fact, a great future for Anacortes was prophesied. While it lived, the Progress undoubtedly chron-

icled the development of Anacortes impartially yet loyally and optimistically.

Among Fidalgo island's other pioneer news- papers which for one reason and another have long since joined the silent majority, are the following: Washington Farmer, founded by Legh R. Freeman in 1889 at Gibraltar; Ana- cortes Courier, by J. B. Fithian, successor to the Progress in 1892; the Anacortes News, published by C. F. Mitchell a short period during the middle nineties; Skagit County Churchwork, H. L. Badger, about 1895; the Anacortesan in 1902, surviving but a few months; and the Sentinel.

The Anacortes Sentinel was established Sept. 9, 1903, as a Republican paper, by A. G. Morse, formerly superintendent of the city schools. During the campaign of 1904, Thomas & Davis conducted the journal, having succeeded Morse in August of that year, but December 1, 1904, transferred it to Frank Barnett. Mr. Barnett merged it into his newspaper, the American.

SEDRO PRESS

The first newspaper to be published in the town of Sedro-Woolley was the Sedro Press, whose home was in Sedro. George W. Hopp instituted this venture April 18, 1890, and from a copy of the first number it is evident that the publisher understood newspaper making, edito- rially as well as typographically, although the sheet was only a seven-column folio with patent insides. The Press survived five years or until the plant was destroyed by fire.

THE NORTHERN STAR

Much interest always centers around the first enterprise of a given kind in any community. If the Northern Star had no other claim to attention than that it was the first newspaper to establish itself in Snohomish county, it would certainly elicit the interest of the student of local history. One would be disposed to wonder at the courage of any man who might undertake the publication of even a little local sheet in a small, struggling, pioneer logging community in the heart of a dense forest, and to admire his success in case lie succeeded. Imagine, then, the surprise of one who peruses the files of the Star and finds that in the town of Snohomish, in January, 1876, when the dense forest was scarcely a stone's throw from any part of the village and the stumps were still standing in the streets, a paper began to make its appearance which, for literary excel- lence, variety of subjects treated and general ability might safely challenge comparison with the best and brightest weekly papers of the pres- ent time.

"I shall endeavor," said the editor in his sal- utatory, "to make the Northern Star represent fully the interests of Snohomish and afford aid

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in the development of all praiseworthy enterprises of this community. I do not intend to use patent insides or outsides for the paper, feeling that I have already sufficient support raised to get along without such aid, and preferring to make my own selections from ample means at my command. After being fairly under head- way, in addition to local matter, I shall try to give the latest telegraphic news of the day, as fully as it is given by any in the territory."

The man who took upon his shoulders this great task was Eldridge Morse, who is still a resident of the county. He was assisted during the first months by Dr. A. C. Folsom, whose life story is briefly told in another portion of this volume, Morse and Folsom were the pioneer professional men of Snohomish, the one being a lawyer, the other a practitioner of medicine. Both were possessed of more general culture and literary and scientific knowledge than perhaps any other men in the county at the time, and more than one would expect to find among pioneers of a logging village in the depths of the forest primeval.

With men of such resources at the head of the Star, things were accomplished which under other conditions would have been impossibilities. The paper fulfilled all of its editor's promises. It did much more. It published original descrip- tive articles about the various points of interest and various enterprises established around the sound country. Its columns were ever open to almost any writer who had anything inoffensive to say. Its eight large pages were always well filled with telegraphic and local news, scientific articles, religious discussions, etc., etc., and its files give as vivid and perfect a picture of the life of its community and the sound during the period of its existence as it is possible for cold print to convey. The intellectual contests, literary aspira- tions, social life, political battles, and industrial achievements of the early days-all are portrayed with great minuteness and fidelity to truth. The few remaining copies of this old, pioneer paper should be preserved as a treasure in a fire proof vault, for the sake of the light they cast upon a most interesting period in the history of Snoho- mish county and the sound.

The effect of this paper upon the settlement and development of the country cannot be esti- mated at this, late date. It is safe to assume, however, that the Star itself did not vary from the truth when it claimed that its descriptions were always considered authoritative by the press and people of the territory; that business men had been guided by its suggestions in their investinents; that its accounts of the resources of the Skagit, Stillaguamish and Nooksack valleys induced the permanent establishment of direct and regular stream communication between those sections and the older business centers of the sound, and that of the great

number of people it had induced to make Wash- ington territory their home, none had ever com- plained that its descriptions had misled and deceived them, but that on the contrary they united in testifying that they had been assisted by the information furnished, so they knew at once what to do when they arrived.

One noticeable feature about the Star is that it more than almost any other paper of its time of which the writer has knowledge, avoided undue virulence in its utterances and everything like personal abuse. When, however, it was forced to measure swords with its rivals in the journalistic field, it did so with spirit and skill, and when in May, 1879, it decided to suspend publication, it could truthfully say: "The Star's record has been fair and honorable. It has compelled respect from its enemies. It has silenced the voice of ridicule. Of all its numerous rivals and former enemies, not one is left in a situation to boast of his attacks, or to rejoice at its downfall. Its course has been such as to convert most of its enemies into sympathizing friends and well- wishers for its prosperity, There are few even of those who have wished it ill but will be sorry for its departure, while thousands of friends will miss it as their trusted representative."

Perhaps this is as good a place as any to give a brief outline of the career of the man who stood at the helm of the Star during the three years and more of its existence, and by the power of whose personality it was what it was. Eldridge Morse was born in Wallingford, Con- necticut, April 14, 1847. His family was of Puritan stock, one of his ancestors, John Moss (the name was spelled Moss originally ), having come among the earliest settlers of Massachu- setts. Moss, the pioneer American geographer, and S. F. B. Morse, the inventor of the tele- graph, were among his descendants.

Eldridge Morse received his early education in the public schools of his native town. Being raised upon a fruit and vegetable farm, he acquired a knowledge of market gardening and intensive farming, and this has been his most constant pursuit since, though he has been engaged in several others at different times.

Being only fourteen years old the day Fort Sumter fell, he did not have part in the heavy fighting of the Civil War, though on the 6th of April, 1865, he enlisted in Company D, Battalion of Engineer Troops, U. S. Regular Army, and for three years thereafter he served as a soldier, acquiring an intimate knowledge of the theory and art of war. He had inherited a taste for the military, both his maternal and his paternal ancestors for hundreds of years back having been soldiers in France, England and America, rendering faithful and efficient service in their day and generation. lle served in Virginia, Washington, D. C., and New York harbor, and was finally discharged in California, after which

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he returned to Wallingford. Ile regrets that he did not enter Yale College at this time. What he did do was to move westward to Albia, lowa, where he taught school and followed other occupations, meanwhile studying law. In April, 1869, he was admitted to the Iowa bar, and next year he received the degree of Bachelor of Laws from Michigan University, where he studied not only law but medicine and the science of geology.

In May, 1870, Mr. Morse opened a law office at Albia, Iowa, in partnership with Judge W. P. Hammond. It was there on the 26th of April, 1871, that he was first married, the lady being Martha A. Turner. His eldest son, Edward C., who is now a metalurgist and mining engineer of note in Alaska, was born there April 1, 1872.

In September, 1872, Eldridge Morse set out for the Puget sound country, coming by way of San Francisco. He reached Snohomishi October 26, 1572, and his home has been in Snohomish county ever since. In 1873 he, with E. C. Fer- guson, W. H. Ward, Dr. A. C. Folsom and others, organized the Snohomish Atheneum, the first literary and scientific society in the county. A year or so later the Snohomish County Agri- cultural 'Society was organized. Much of the labor of organizing and sustaining these and other societies fell upon Mr. Morse, who, between 1873 and 1877, with the help of his asso- ciates, raised thousands of dollars for public pur- poses. By 1875 the museum and scientific library of the Atheneum were the best in the territory, but the hard times of 1877, by destroy- ing all the "public spirit" of the community, resulted in the overthrow of the Atheneum, the agricultural society and other public institutions in which Morse was deeply interested.

For a number of years after the suspension of the Star, Morse devoted himself to travel and investigation. In 1881, he furnished H. H. Ban- croft, of San Francisco, for his series of Pacific Coast histories, three thousand five hundred pages of manuscript. From 1883 to 1857 S. H. Piles, now United States senator, and Morse did most of the law business of Snohomish county, usually being on opposite sides in contested cases. In 1884, Morse prepared a special report upon all the tide marsh lands of the territory for the Department of Agriculture, which was so highly pleasing to Hon. B. Loring, United States Com- missioner of Agriculture, that he paid double the agreed price for it. Beginning in the year 1889, Morse wrote for the Eye a series of articles on the history and resources of Snohomish couuty and the sound country generally. He says that his article of this series on the Clyde river improvement and its lesson for Snohomish county attracted the attention of Henry Hewitt, Jr., and resulted in the founding of Everett. Later the Everett Land Company requested Morse to write the substance of that article for use as a foundation upon which to base their

application for twenty thousand dollars for Everett harbor improvements. He did so and the appropriation was speedily secured.

Retiring from the practice of law in the latter eighties, Mr. Morse devoted himself to agricul- ture and by 1892 he had a valuable farm. This, however, he lost during the hard times, for those were times when a very little debt would fre- quently carry off a very large property. He has not been able since to recover himself financially and at the present time he is not the owner of very much property, aside from his library and manuscripts. His third wife died in 1900, leav- ing him with five small children, whom he supports by raising and selling vegetables.

Eldridge Morse is one of the unusual char- acters of whom Snohomish county has had a goodly share. His overmastering passion for the acquisition of general knowledge has pre- vented his putting the concentrated effort into any one thing which would have enabled him to win what the world would esteem success. Throughout his entire life he has been an exceed- ingly voluminous reader and his readings have taken a very wide range. From his tenth year he has spent several hours a day devouring the contents of books. Before entering the army he read hundreds of volumes of theological, historic and biographical literature. In the army he read military histories, medical text books, works on military engineering, army tactics, etc., as well as treatises on geology and other branches of science. In later years he attacked the Encyclo- pedia Britannica, but found it unprofitable read- ing in his stage of mental development, so laid it aside for Chambers' Cyclopedia, Appleton's Cyclopedia of American Biography and other works, after a perusal of which he again took it up and read it through twice, making full notes on its contents. He has devoted much time to the reading of books which are usually used for reference only, such as government reports on geological surveys, army reports, etc. Being possessed of a marvelous memory, he has very much of the information thus acquired at his tongue's end and he can discourse entertainingly for hours on any subject, clothing his thoughts in English of almost classical purity and vigor.

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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 82

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