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 97

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 97
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 97

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).

CAPTAIN DAVID F. DECATUR, ex-veteran of the Civil War, carries in his veins the blood of many generations of military and naval heroes, not least in the list of whom is the famous Commodore Steven Decatur. But if the deeds of the many other notables have been eclipsed by the more brilliant exploits of this world-famed commander, they are none the less worthy to creditable mention in the pages of history, as they all emanate from the same fountain head of true manhood and worth, and have been dominated by a like spirit of loyalty and patriotism. Born in Barrington, New Hampshire,

319

BIOGRAPHICAL

January 6, 1838, David F., the subject of this re- view, claims as his immediate progenitor Cyrus De- catur, who was ushered into this world amid the turmoil of the war of 1812, on the old family home- stead, a portion of the Lafayette land grant, which has been in the family since its conferment at the close of the Revolutionary war, upon his father, John, for his creditable services under General Washington. This worthy patriot was at the noted battle of Portsmouth, and there received a severe wound. The buildings erected upon this estate dur- ing the colonial times are still preserved intact, and regular reunions of the direct descendants are held at stated periods at the old homestead, in which the subject of this sketch is a faithful participant. The mother of Captain Decatur. Olive (Woodhouse), was born in the land of the Scot, in the early part of the last century, and came as a small child to the United States with her parents, settling at Sa- vannah, Georgia, where she was reared to woman- hood with the very best advantages. She departed this life in 1866, thirty-one years prior to the death of her husband, who lived to the ripe old age of eighty-five. Captain Decatur was sent at an early age from his home in New Hampshire to the Sunny South, and was brought up in Savannah, Georgia, by his uncle, Charles Woodhouse. Later, however, he returned north for the completion of his educa- tion. While reared in the very hotbed of disunion sentiment, young Decatur had bred in the very fiber of his being distaste for slavery, and this sentiment was so fostered and fortified by the prevailing feel- ing which surrounded him while attending the northern schools, that when he returned south again his staunch advocacy of national union and the abo- lition of slave chattels, was not acceptable to the ul- tra southerners of his community. and in 1859 he was forced to seck more congenial surroundings in the loyal atmosphere of Toledo. Ohio. Going from there to Massachusetts he, on August 22, 1862, en- listed in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, serving under General Burnsides. At the noted battle of Antictam, his company, which bore the colors, was in the thickest of the fight, from which it came forth with decimated ranks but a glor- ious record, however dearly bought. In this cn- gagement the Captain received seven wounds, and was sent to his home to recover. He then enlisted in the veteran reserve of Massachusetts, with com- mission of captain, continuing in this position for twenty-two years, during which time he engaged for a while in the grocery business and also followed landscape gardening. December, 1881, he came west to the Puget sound country, taking up his abode in Mount Vernon. Being forcibly impressed with the great possibilities in lumbering, he em- barked in the manufacture of lumber, crecting the first saw-mill in Mount Vernon and that section of the county. This he sold three years later, and hav- ing in the meantime taken up a homestead, which he also disposed of, he purchased a tract of land

south of the town and engaged in agriculture. Not- withstanding the Captain is handicapped by the loss of one leg, a memento of his war service, he is an unusually active man, his happiness and peace of mind. as well as health, depending in a great meas- ure upon so much outdoor exercise daily, and as a result of this and his systematic methods, he accom- plishes something in his work.

On New Year's day, 1860, under the very shadow of Harvard College, the marriage of Captain De- catur and Miss Kate Morrison was celebrated. Mrs. Decatur is the daughter of William and Katherine Morrison, of Scotch descent. The father traces his ancestry back many generations among the noted Ilighland chiefs, one of his forebears having fought under William Wallace, the famous patriot of the thirteenth century, and still sacredly preserved in the family are the papers received by him in recog- nition of his service. The mother, born in Glasgow, in 1809, lived to the ripe old age of ninety-five. Mrs. Decatur was born in Washington county, Maine, in December of 1837, and has been a wortny nelpmeet in the long and well spent married life which she and husband have passed together, as well as a most helpful and considerate mother to the three children who have blessed their union, William, the oldest son, is a mail clerk on the steamer Seattle, plying between the Washington metropolis and Alaska ; Alice Elwyn Pollock is the wife of the writ- er and newspaper man of that name in Seattle, and Edith Mabel is at home. Fraternally Mr. Decatur is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, and also has the distinction of hold- ing membership in the Legion of Honor. To the many other qualities and characteristics which have distinguished Mr. Decatur, and given him the standing and respect which he holds in his com- munity, may be added that of ultra progressive- ness ; to see things move, and move in the right direction, is the delight of his life, and to accom- plish this end he is ever ready to step to the front and face any and every opposing force.

CHARLES P. WHITNEY, a well-known citi- zen of Mount Vernon, is a native of the Buckeye state, born at Akron, in 183%, the son of William H. and Mary (Bixey) Whitney. The father, of English descent, was himself a descendant of Yan- kee stock and claimed Vermont as his birthplace. He came to Ohio in carly life and in 1839 settled in Columbia County, Wisconsin, becoming one of the carliest pioncers of that section. His death oc- curred in Iowa in 1888. The mother was born in New York state and survived only a short time after the removal of the family to Wisconsin. Mr. Whit- ney, of this article, reached his majority in the Badger state, receiving an education such as the schools of that sparsely. settled frontier afforded and time would permit, after which he went to Wap- ello County, Iowa. There he followed farming for

520

SKAGIT COUNTY

a number of years. In 1813 he took up his resi- dence in Marion, Marion County, Kansas, there devoting his energies and abilities principally to the real estate and insurance business with good suc- cess. He came to the Northwest in 1891 searching for a more satisfactory location, and, becoming im- pressed with the Skagit country, established a per- manent home at Mount Vernon. Ile pursued, un- til 1904, the lines he had followed in Kansas. He was then elected to the office of justice of the peace at the hands of the Republican party of which he has ever been a loyal member, and served his fel- low citizens in that important capacity with credit until the fall of 1905. He then entered upon his present business as traveling salesman for the Spaulding Buggy Company, of Grinnell, Iowa, which business carried him again across the conti- nent.

Mr. Whitney was married at Marion, Kansas, in 1846, to Anna J. McLean, the daughter of Major J. K. and Elizabeth MeLean. Major McLean was a veteran of the Civil War and in that struggle won prominence because of his courage and military skill. Mrs. Whitney was born January 4, 1855. Mr. and Mrs. Whitney have a family of five children : Edith and Inez, twins, born March 12, 1848; Leo C., January 13, 1885; Lois B., July 8, 1888: and George K .. June 27, 1890. Inez is now the wife of R. G. Hanaford, cashier of the First National Bank of Mount Vernon, while her twin sister, Edith, is married to W. M. King, a dentist of Mount Vernon. Leo C. Whitney is engaged in newspaper work on the sound and Lois B. is attending high school. Mrs. Whitney is a member of the Episcopal church and belongs to the Eastern Star and Rathbone lodges.

A man of earnest purpose, able in his business and commanding the respect of his associates, Mr. Whitney is one of the substantial factors in the progress of his community.

JOHN W. ALKIRE, D. O. No one following the trend of modern thought in the field of medical science can fail to observe the changed valuation placed upon medicine as a remedial agent. Belong- ing to a school that goes still farther, dispensing al- together with its use, is Doctor John W. Alkire, the bright young osteopathic physician of Mount Vernon, a native of Greenview, Illinois, born Au- gust 5, 1812. His father, David Alkire, a farmer, was born in Menard County, Illinois, in 1825, though his parents, of German descent, were orig- inally from Virginia, coming as pioneers to Menard county soon after it was formed. His death occur- red December 4, 1902. Mary K. Alkire, the ma- ternal ancestor, born in Illinois in 1842, was a resi- dent of New York prior to her marriage, and is now living in Missouri. Coming with his parents to Nodaway County, Missouri, at the age of four. John W. Alkire there spent his boyhood. assisting his

father with the farm work and meanwhile attend- ing the common schools of the county. Early evine- ing a fondness for learning, he later attended the high school at Maryville, the county seat of Noda- way, removing in 1892 to Des Moines, Iowa, there to attend the Drake University, from which he was graduated with honor in the scientific course, two years later. Returning to Maryville, he made that his headquarters for the following two years which he spent as a commercial traveller. Believing that a professional career would afford a larger measure of success and satisfaction, he went to Anaheim, Cal- ifornia, where an osteopathic college was then locat- ed, receiving his diploma from this institution, which in the meantime was removed to Los Angeles, where he finished his course in the year 1892. Thoroughly equipped for his life work, he opened an office in Portland, and there practiced for two and a half years, after which he spent a short time in Mary- ville, coming at length to Mount Vernon, his pres- ent location. Here he may be considered the pioneer in his branch of the profession, for while others have made it a location for a few months, he is the first one to build up a large practice. Doctor Alkire is a member of the Democratic party, but has never sought political preferment. He is interested in real estate. owning his home and office in Mount Vernon. A thorough student and a gentleman of pleasing address, who brings to his calling the wealth of youth, ambition and enthusiasm, Doctor Alkire is rapidly winning prominence by his splendid success in his chosen profession.

JOHN L. ANABLE, a well-known resident of Mount Vernon, was born at Three Rivers, Michi- gan. February 18, 1864. the son of John and Sarah ( Poe) Anable. His father, a native of New York, born in 1823, of Welsh and Irish parentage, came early to the state of Michigan. Fond of travel and adventure, he made the trip to California by way of Cape Horn. Later he returned to Michigan, fol- lowing which he spent a year in Kansas. As a car- penter and contractor, he was quick to see and profit by the advantages that the West offered, and in 1892 he came to Mount Vernon where he still resides. His wife, of German ancestry, was born in the Buck- eve state and died in 1841. Of her seven children the subject of this sketch is the oldest. Mr. Anable attended the common schools of Michigan, complet- ing his education by a course at the business college in Farmer City, Illinois. That he might have an all- around preparation for a successful life, he had learned the trade of brickmaking, prior to the time he left home at the age of twenty-two. He has been a resident of Mount Vernon since 1886, which has honored him by electing him to various offices. He has been police justice. city clerk for a number of years, and during Cleveland's last administration, lie was postmaster.

Mr. Anable was married to Ida D. Kimble in

521

BIOGRAPHICAL

Mount Vernon, August 2, 1891. Her father, David E. Kimble, was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1828. As one of the oldest pioneers of Skagit coun- tv, a sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this his- tory. His mother, Mary ( Bozarth) Kimble, a native of Indiana, where she was born February 10, 1845, now lives in Mount Vernon. Mrs. Anable was born in Washington June 6, 1815, acquiring her educa- tion in the schools of the state. Mr. Anable is an in- fluential member of the Democratic party, and has held the chairmanship of the Democratic county commitee ; while fraternally he is a member of the Knights of Pythias. He is owner and manager of the opera house of the city, and is a prominent and highly respected member of the community.

MICHAEL PICKENS (deceased) was one of the successful and highly respected citizens of Mount Vernon until his death in 1895. During the eleven years of his activity in this county he had accumulated a competence by his tireless en- ergy and application to work, and he left an cx- cellent heritage to his family. Mr. Pickens was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, in 1852, the son of John Pickens, a Tennessee farmer who moved to Missouri in 1853 and is still living there, retired, at Green City. The mother, Ama Rhada (Varney) Pickens, was likewise a native Tennes- sean, who died in Missouri in 1860. Of this union six children were born : James, William, Michael, Thomas, Jacob and Noah. By the second mar- riage of John Pickens there have been born: Nancy, Dora, Etta, Ida, Alice, Lottie, Sarah and Naomi. Michael Pickens was a farmer in Mis- souri until he came to Skagit county in 1884 and located with his family north of the Grand Cen- tral hotel in Mount Vernon. Ile was a carpenter and by economy and successful dealings in real estate accumulated property aggregating close to $20,000.

In 1822 Mr. Pickens married in Sullivan Coun- ty, Missouri, Miss Mary E. Harland, daughter of Elijah M. Harland, a native of Kentucky, who went to Illinois in boyhood. When twenty-two years of age, with his newly wedded wife, he re- moved to Missouri and became a pioneer farmer of that state. He died in 1892. Mrs. Pickens mother, Mrs. Jane (Combs) Harland, was a native of Missouri and lived with her parents until mar- riage. She died in 1896, only five days after her husband had passed away. To that union fourteen children were born. Those still living are: Sarah 1 .. , Angie L., Stephen D., James F., Henry Clay, Sherman G., Lilian Sheridan, Viola B. and Mrs. Pickens. Those who have died bore the names of Edward T., Daniel \., Millard F., Johanna M. and Cynthia J., the last named being murdered in Ok- lahoma for money. Mrs. Pickens was born in Mis- souri in 1849 and lived with her parents until her

marriage in 1822. Her education in the early days was meager owing to conditions prevailing on ac- count of the Civil War. Mrs. Pickens is the mother of five children: Mrs. Effie E. Fortin, Carlos E., John W., George Washington and Edna Myrtle. She is an attendant of the Christian church. Mr. Pickens was a member of the Bap- tist church, and in polines a Democrat. In 1885 he bought ten acres south of Mount Vernon, pay- ing eighteen dollars per acre. This land was later platted into town property, and with two acres purchased at another time is known as Pickens' Addition, which has sold as high as six hundred dollars per acre. Mr. Pickens was highly respected in Mount Vernon and recognized as a man of business sagacity of a high order. Mrs. Pickens now owns the Grand Central lodging house and three residence properties in town. She also has six hundred and forty acres of very val- uable timber land in British Columbia, one hun- dred and sixty acres of Skagit river land near Lyman, and four hundred and eighty acres in an- other part of Skagit county.

NELSON W. CARPENTER is one of the pio- neer settlers of Skagit county, who turned his at- tention to the lumber industry and is now the suc- cessful manager of the Cedardale Lumber Company at Mount Vernon. Mr. Carpenter was born in Clin- ton County, lowa, in 1855. His father, James Car- penter, a native of Canada, went to Iowa when a young man and later moved to Kansas. In 1860 he was a member of the state militia at Fort Scott and served in that capacity during the Civil War. He came to Washington in 1815 and took up land three miles south of Skagit City. After he had cleared a part, he sold out and moved to Mount Vernon, where he died in 1901. The mother, Mrs. Philey ( Knight ) Carpenter. was a native of New York state who lived in lowa at the time of her marriage. She died when 37 years old, the mother of nine children. Nelson W. Carpenter was edu- cated in the schools of Kansas, whither he had gone with his parents when seven years okt. Remaining on the home farm until he had attained his major- ity, young Carpenter engaged in farming on his own account. When his father removed to Wash- ington the young man took care of the home place until 1822, when he followed his father to this state. Mr. Carpenter at first located a homestead on the south fork of the Skagit river and lived there for seven years, clearing the timber and protecting the marsh land by dikes. Ile sold this farm and started a saw-mill at Cedardale, the second mill in the conn- ty. After operating this mill for seven years, he moved it to Mount Vernon, where it has been turn- ing out lumber since 1890. Mr. Carpenter is man- ager of the mill and under his guidance the business has been a successful one. In 1895 he and M. Pickens built the Grand Central hotel at Mount

522

SKAGIT COUNTY

Vernon. Mr. Carpenter has at different times dealt in real estate.

In 1825, while yet in Kansas, Mr. Carpenter married Miss Maggie E. Springer, daughter of Charles Springer, a native of New York, who went to Kansas in the pioneer days before the Civil War. Mrs. Springer was of German extraction and died in Kansas. Mrs. Carpenter was born in Iowa in 1858 and received her education there, marrying when seventeen years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Car- penter have been the parents of nine children, all born in Skagit county, of whom Charles T., Arthur L., engineer in his father's mill ; Nellie P., Lantra E., Maggie M., Mabel R. and Walter are living. Two sons are dead, Albert, who died when he was three years old, and George, at the age of twenty years. In lodge affiliations Mr. Carpenter is an Odd Fellow. He is a member of the Christian church at Mount Vernon in which he is serving as deacon. In politics he is a Republican. Aside from his investment in the milling business, Mr. Carpen- ter has timber land and other valuable property. He has built up the lumber business of his company from the start made at Cedardale in the pioneer days, to the present successful plant now operating in Mount Vernon.

CHARLES CLINTON JOHNSON, of the Skagit steam laundry, was born in Rock Springs, Wyoming, July 23, 1875, the son of Charles Isaac and Hannah ( Hanson) Johnson, natives of Sweden. The father, born in 1850, immigrated to the United States in 1870, locating in Nebraska where he re- mained eleven years, coming thence to Skagit coun- ty in 1882. He still resides here, owning a fine one hundred and fifteen acre farm valued at twenty thousand dollars. The mother was born in 1848, and at the death of hier father went to live with an aunt. She came to the United States in 1870. She was married in Nebraska at the age of twenty-two. Unusual educational advantages were enjoyed by Charles Clinton Johnson. Having attended the common schools of Washington, he entered the uni- versity, and had but one more year before complet- ing the course when he decided to enter the Seattle Business College in which he took a commercial course. He has also a practical and thorough' knowledge of agricultural matters, thus being splendidly equipped for a successful business career. Purchasing the half interest in the laundry owned by Adolph Anderson, he is now devoting his entire time to that, he and his partner, Oscar Sundstrom, having already established a reputation for doing excellent work. Mr. Johnson's brothers and sisters are as follows: Ellen (deceased), Maggie, Gus, Frederick, Selma, Mary, Emily, and Garfield. He is a Republican, though not a strict partisan. Of the Fraternal Order of Eagles he is a prominent member. An energetic, ambitious young man, of sound moral principles, he is destined to become one of the influential members of the community.

OSCAR SUNDSTROM, a partner in the Skag- it steam laundry, Mount Vernon, was born in west Gothland, Sweden, January 17, 1872, the son of Jolin and Clara (Olson) Sundstrom, also natives of Gothland, the father born in 1833, the mother in 1823. A stone mason by trade, the elder Sundstrom has taken up farming in his later years, still resid- ing in the land of his birth. Left an orphan in early life, his wife grew to womanhood in the home of her guardian, leaving it at the time of her mar- riage. Spending the first sixteen years of his life at home, Oscar Sundstrom then started for the United States, making the entire journey alone. He located at Cadillac, Michigan, working at various occupations until 1891, at which time he went to Seattle. Two years later he visited his parents in Sweden, remaining six months. On his return he stopped at his former home in Cadillac for some time, and there found his bride. Having purchased a farm in Snohomish county he made that his place of residence for several years, moving at length to California, where his wife died after four months' sojourn. Coming again to Snohomish county, he went on the railroad as foreman for the following two years. In 1903, he and a brother-in-law, Adolph Anderson, started a laundry in Mount Ver- non, Charles Johnson purchasing the half interest of Mr. Anderson some time later. By giving care- ful attention to the requirements of their customers, and adhering strictly to upright principles, they are building up a fine business. Mr. Sundstrom has brothers and sisters as follows: John, Carl, Albert, Ida, Enima, and Henning (deceased).

Mr. Sundstrom has been twice married, his first wife being Anna England, born in Paris, Michigan, May 3, 1872. Of Swedish descent, her father is Samuel England, a millwright now making his home in Cadillac, Michigan. Mrs. Sundstrom was the mother of three daughters: Hazel (deceased), Myrtle and Ruth. Her death occurred in California in 1901.

In Seattle, September 28, 1901, Mr. Sundstrom and Sophia Sparing were united in marriage. Mrs. Sundstrom was born in May, 1878. The Republican party claims Mr. Sundstrom as a loyal member. He is also an honored brother in the Masonic frater- nity. Active and industrious, the possessor of youth, health and ambition, he is one of the most promising young business men of the city.

IRA T. PATTERSON, founder and proprietor of Mount Vernon's pioneer meat business, and also one of Skagit county's most successful and popular citizens, is a sturdy son of the Pine Tree state. Maine has furnished a host of Puget sound's pio- neers, especially in the development of its magnifi- cent timber interests, and among those who made Skagit county the field of their activities the subject of this sketch deserves prominent mention. He was born August 21, 1864, to the union of Chauncey R.

523

BIOGRAPHICAL

and Catherine (McCum) Patterson, both of whom are likewise natives of that commonwealth, and of English and Irish lineage respectively. By occupa- tion the father is a lumberman, though he has also been engaged in the hotel business with good suc- cess. At present he is one of Stanwood's well- known citizens. Mrs. Patterson is also enjoying the contentment which comes of a long, useful life, being in her sixty-ninth year. Ira T. is the fourth in a family of twelve children. His early educa- tional training and home rearing were obtained while he was yet living in Maine, and like most frontier lads he assumed responsibilities in his youth. From the age of thirteen until he was cight- een, he worked in the neighboring lumber camps. Then he bade farewell to the rocky shores of the Atlantic and sought fortune on the headwaters of the Mississippi in Minnesota. There he was engaged in logging until July, 1887, when he turned still further westward, stopping at Missoula, Montana. From the camps of that region he went, in Febru- ary, 1888, to Puget sound, where he was employed in various logging operations during the next two years. Then, with keen insight into commercial conditions, recognizing in the growing town of Mount Vernon an excellent opening for a market, he established his present business, the exact date being July, 1890, and this by aggressive, painstak- ing methods he has gradually built up until it is one of the solid enterprises of the community and cx- tensive in its scope.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 97

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