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 98

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 98
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 98

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Mr. Patterson and Miss Martha Schneider were united by the bonds of matrimony at Mount Ver- non. in November, 1903, she being at that time one of the city's popular clerks. Her father. Frederick Schneider, was a native of Germany, and in business a successful meat dealer ; Mrs. Patterson's mother is still living at Alma, Wisconsin. The year 1871 marks the date of Mrs. Patterson's birth and in the state of Wisconsin she was reared and educated. One child, Ira F., born in 1904, has blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Patterson.

Fraternally, Mr. Patterson is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Knights of Pythias in both of which he is an active worker. Recognizing his obligations to identify himself with the public life of his country, he has ever responded to the demands made upon him and in his party, the Democratic, he is well known. Success in busi- ness and influence among his fellows he has attain- ed by long years of strict devotion, square dealing and energetic action, the usual rewards of such a lifc.

FRANK H. STACKPOLE, undertaker and building contractor, is one of Mount Vernon's well- known citizens. A native of Maine, he was born in Albion, Kennebec county, August 21, 1855, to the union of William and Caroline (Wiggins) Stackpole. The father enlisted in the Union army

in 1861 and died in the service that fall. His wife survived until 1896, her death occurring in Maine. Spending his early years at home, Frank H. ac- quired his education in the common schools of the Pine Tree state, going to Waterville, Maine, to learn the cabinet making trade. After remaining there two years, at the age of nineteen, hie crossed the continent, and located in San Francisco where he followed his trade. His health having failed he went to Butte county, and engaged in lumbering in the mountains for three years, after which he re- turned to San Francisco to accept a position in an express office. Two years later he began farming in the Joaquin valley, making that his home until he went to Seattle in the fall of 1883. He settled at Fir, Skagit county, residing there six years, then coming to Mount Vernon where he has since lived with the exception of three years spent in Alaska. Making the first trip to that country in 1897, he traversed the trail, from Skagway to Bennett Lake in forty-five days, thence following the river down to Dawson. The summer of 1898 he spent in Mount Vernon, again sceking the gold fields of Dawson the next year, going later to Nome, in the spring of 1900. Longing to revisit the home of his boyhood, he made a trip to Albion after leaving Nome that fall. He made one more trip to Alaska, in the summer of 1901, returning to Mount Vernon in November. After being employed at his trade for a year, he purchased the undertaking business of WV. S. Anable, and has since combined the two, devoting his entire time to looking after these in- terests. In political belief Mr. Stackpole is a Re- publican. He is an active member of the city coun- cil, lending his assistance to every enterprise that will benefit the town, and is prominent in fraternal circles,' being a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, and the Knights of Pythias. In addition to his large business, he has a substantial home in the residence district of the city. Public spirited, zealous of the prosperity and growth of the community, Mr. Stackpole is recognized as an influ- ential citizen.

Melissa Branch, of Waterville, Maine, became the bride of Mr. Stackpole at Scattle, in 1902. She is the daughter of William and Emiline (Rowe) Branch, both of whom are deceased. The beginning of Mr. Stackpole's romance dates back to his boy- hood when he and Miss Branch were school friends. Upon his return to Maine from Alaska in 1901 this friendship was renewed with the happy result above referred to.

NELSE B. JOHNSON. senior member of the grocery firm of Johnson & Sons, of Mount Vernon, was born in central Sweden, November 16, 1848, the son of Johannes Nelson, a farmer born in 1811, in Sweden, in which country he also died in 1887. The mother, Annie ( Peterson) Nelson, was also born in Sweden in 1819, and departed this life in

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1882. She was the mother of six children: Peter, Neise, Charlie, Annie, Christina and Johanna. It is the custom in Sweden that the oldest son inherits the homestead and receives a good education, whether any of the others are provided for or not ; and it thus fell to the lot of Nelse to get out and hustle for himself, with but limited school opportu- nities. On leaving his father's home he sought em- ployment in a lumberyard, and then it was that he had his first experience in letter writing, in writing home to his parents. After a number of years thus employed, he determined upon trying his fortune in the United States. He had learned of the great advantages here offered the man of limited means with a strong desire to better his condition; and hither he came in 1880, sett'ing first in Kansas, af- ter a brief trip through Nebraska. For eleven years lie continued there, laboring under the disadvantages of drouth and crop failures, ever hoping for and ex- pecting a change for the better ; only to have those hopes blasted. His experiences in that state are anything but pleasant to look back upon. In 1891 he came to the Puget sound country, settling near Skagit City on a farm of twenty-five acres. He had but fairly started the work of clearing this tract of timber when he met with a serions accident, in which both of his legs were broken. For twenty- two weeks he was confined to the house. during which time he learned what it is to have the minis- trations of kind neighbors and loving home folks, and to prize the same at something like their true value. At the end of this period he insisted upon his sons carrying him out to the clearing on a chair, and with that indomitable will and courage which knows not the words "give up," he worked for hours at a time grubbing roots and brush, seated in the chair, from which he was unable to move. It was a full year before he could go about on crutches, and four years elapsed before he was fully recovered : but during all this period he and sons continued to work unceasingly at clearing and pre- paring the land. In the winter of 1904 he and sons, John, Simon and Fred, embarked in the grocery business in Mount Vernon, to which place they moved.

Mr. Johnson was first married to Christina Nel- son who departed this life May 1, 1888. She was the mother of the following children : John. Simon, Emanuel ( deceased). Fred, Theodore (deceased ). Annie and Arthur. Her father. Nelse Pearson, still lives in Sweden, where he was born in 1827. Her mother. Christina ( Anderson) Pearson. died in 1881. To a second marriage contracted in 1889 in Kansas, with Betsy Carlson, daughter of Magnus and Sesilia (Nelson) Carlson, of Skagit City, the following children were born : Minnie, Edith, Lilly and Esther. She departed this life near Skagit City, July 19, 1898. In 1899 he was united in marriage to Mrs. Mary ( Berg) Johnson, widow of J. P. Johnson (deceased ), of Minneapolis, Min- nesota. Her father, Andrew Berg, a prominent

citizen of Christianstad, Sweden, came to the United States in 1891, locating at St. Paul, Minne- sota. Mr. and Mrs. Johnson have one child, Elsie Mary. Mr. Johnson is a loyal Republican, and he and the family are active members of the Swedish Baptist church. In addition to his lucrative grocery business and building. Mr. Johnson owns his farm valued at five thousand dollars, and his town resi- dence. He fully realizes to-day the wisdom of his choice of Washington as a home.

JULES FREDLUND, the young, energetic secretary and manager of the Mount Vernon Creamery Company, was born in Bergen, Norway, August 31, 1842, the son of Ingvald and Mary (Johnson) Fredlund, both natives of Norway, the father born in 1836, and the mother the previous year. The elder Fredlund is a carpenter and farm- er who came to the United States in 1882, settling first in South Dakota, where he lived for eight years, after which he came to Skagit county. Here he bought land south of Mount Vernon, and since then has made it his home except during an extend- ed visit to his native land in 1899. Having spent the first nine years of his life in Norway, Mr. Fred- lund came with his parents to South Dakota where he attended the common schools, later, when the family moved to Skagit county, assisting his father and brothers in the work of the farm. In 1899 the two brothers leased the father's farm, and Mr. Fredlund, of whom we write, took a course in the Agricultural College of Madison, Wisconsin, after which, having sold out his interest in the farm to his brother, he went to Seattle and bought into a grocery and meat market. Convinced at the end of a month that he could be more successful in the business for which he had received special training. he disposed of his property, and returned to Wis- consin, there buying an interest in a creamery in Polk county which he retained until 1903, though he did not remain there the entire time. After com- ing to Mount Vernon and thoroughly investigating the situation, in the winter of 1904 he aided in the organization of the present stock company known as the Mount Vernon Creamery Company, with E. S. Phipps, president, Robert Fredlund, vice-presi- dent, and himself secretary and manager. Having bought the interest of Mr. Phipps, the two brothers so'd it later to W. E. Harbert. Under such wise and careful management the enterprise has grown rapidly, and promises to be one of the most success- ful creameries in this part of the county. Besides the brother associated with him in business, Mr. Fredlund has brothers and sisters as follows: Al- bert, in Alaska, near Dawson; Joseph, in Seattle ; Anna Henry, Edwin and John, residing in Mount Vernon : Mary Wolf, near Mount Vernon, and Charles ( deceased ).

Mr. Fredlund is a member of the Eagle frater- nity. He is a prominent member of the Baptist

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church in which he holds the office of trustee : and politically he is an active member of the Republican party. In addition to his creamery business he has a farm south of town, stock in talcum mines and in the Washington Fire Insurance Company, all of which testify to his excellent business capabilities. Thoroughly fitted for his work, familiar with the details that are especially important in this line, as time develops this into the ideal dairy country, which it is certain to become, his future success is assured.

JOHN L. DOWNS, a prosperous farmer re- siding two and a half miles west of Fir, was born in Great Falls, New Hampshire, April 12, 1865, the only son of Horace P. and Sylvina A. (Guptill) Downs, who were among the oldest pioneers in this section of the state to which they came in 1828. His father is a native of New Hampshire, born in 1840; the mother was born three years later in Maine, and died February 28, 1904. Just preced- ing this will be found the biographies of both par- ents who are widely known in the political and so- cial life of the county. Having attended the Bun- ker Hill grammar school at Boston, Mr. Downs came with his parents to Mount Vernon when thirteen years of age, and here he completed his education in the schools of the county. His grand- father, Paul Downs, was a shipbuilder in Maine, be- queathing. perhaps, to this grandson his talent along that line, for Mr. Downs early displayed great skill in the construction of boats, launches, and works of a similar nature ; and is now building a gasoline launch that promises to be very satis- factory. During the time his father was in office, the complete charge of the farm devolved upon him, since which he has followed that work. Twelve years ago he took up a preemption near Cedar- dale but has never made that his permanent home.

In 1891. Mr. Downs married Miss Leona Moore, daughter of Thomas J. and Mary (-) Moore, who came to this country forty years ago, making the trip in a sailing vessel by way of Cape Horn. Mrs. Downs was born at Fort Dis- covery in 1822. She has one brother, George Moore, a farmer living in Skagit City. Both her parents are deceased. Mr. and Mrs. Downs have three children: Mable, Agnes and Isabella. Like his father, Mr. Downs is a Republican, devoted to the interests of his party, but has never sought po- litical preferment for himself. Financially he is nicely situated, owning his farm near Fir, and also town property in Mount Vernon, while as a citizen and neighbor he stands high in his community.

DR. HORACE P. DOWNS. Among the many prominent pioneer citizens who have materially as- sisted in laying firm and secure the foundation whereupon a better and broader civilization might

be erected in Skagit county, few if any have really contributed more than has the gentleman whose name furnishes the caption for this article, and none have left on retirement from publie and offi- cial duties a cleaner or more creditable record, a heritage more to be prized by the oncoming gen- erations than the dower of a prince. Qualified by education, profession and temperament for leader- ship in a new community, his worth was soon recog- nized and the voice of the people called him to their service. Dr. Downs came among the people as one of them, taking up land on the tide flats a number of iniles to the south of Mount Vernon, and adding to this by purchase, he engaged in the reclamation of the same from the sea without and the river floods witnin, clearing, diking and cultivating ; lab- oring in season and out, undergoing the hardships of flooded home, when for days at a time the house- hold goods were stored for safety in the upper story of the house, while the family sought shelter else- where ; loss of stock and crops, exercising Yankee ingenuity in the construction of floating pens for the preservation of his hogs, and in every way tak- ing the initiative against new and unknown dangers. In the settlement of new countries, as nowhere else, is the resident physician's presence appreciat- ed, and the Doctor's service was a boon of priceless value in those days for many miles around, since it was known that his best skill was to be had for asking, without price. Born in Freedom, New Hampshire, to the union of Paul and Betsey (Rol- lins ) Downs, the former dying in 1855 and the latter many years later in Skagit county. Dr. Downs re- ceived the best of educational advantages, attending first the Great Falls high school, then Phillips A cad- emy at Exeter, and later Bowdoin College, in the latter of which he took a medical course, and short- ly afterward began the practice of his chosen pro- fession at Tamworth, New Hampshire. Fifteen years were then spent in the city of Boston as phy- sician and druggist. Then in 1878 he came to Skag- it county. Mrs. Downs' advent into this country ante-dates that of her husband. Having come west to California on a visit to her father, she fell in love with the sound country. with its salubrious climate, matchless water expanse, and tangle of wild beauty on hill and in valley, and after writing an enthusiastic letter to the husband in the east. filed by power of attorney upon a tract of tide land. This. however, was lost to them and other land was taken in its stead. Sometime after his arrival the Doctor was appointed as tide land appraiser by the legis- lature, and was also called to serve as county com- missioner of Whatcom county before the division and organization of Skagit. When the bill for the division of Whatcom county passed, the Doctor was appointed one of the commissioners by the leg- islature, to complete the details of the same and settle up in an equitable manner the interests of the old and new county. At a special election following this he was chosen the first auditor of the new

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county, and so satisfactorily did he conduct the af- fairs of his office that he was elected three terms in succession to that position. He also served three terms as deputy assessor, and was twice elected mayor of the city of Mount Vernon.

In 1864 Dr. Downs was united in marriage to Sylvina A. Guptill, native of Maine, born in 1843. Her father, William N. Guptill, practicing physi- cian, was one of the argonauts who made the trip to California on one of the first sailing vessels to round Cape Horn after the discovery of gold in that country. Mrs. Downs, who departed this life February 28. 1904, was a lady of culture and re- finement, with unusual executive ability, compe- tent to fill any position social or otherwise. She was known far and wide for her many excellent qualities of heart and mind, and her decease was sincerely mourned by the host of friends and ac- quaintances as a personal loss to the community. In her immediate family she left the husband and son, John L., the only child, who is an extensive farmer on the tide flats, south of Mount Vernon. In fraternal circles Mr. Downs has always been an active Odd Fellow, having passed through all the chairs of the subordinate lodge, and is a member of the Grand lodge. Politically he has ever been a stalwart Republican, but never a narrow partisan, and by this broad minded view of matters, he has won and held as fast friends men of like calibre in the ranks of the opposing political forces. Re- spected and highly esteemed by a circle of acquaint- ances not confined to the limits of his town, or even county, Dr. Downs, in the decline of life, and while suffering under the affliction of a possibly fatal ill- ness, from a stroke of paralysis, can look back on the well spent years of his life with gratification and pride, feeling that his life has not been lived in vain, and with the approval of his earthly course by his neighbors and friends, he can face the judg- ment of that higher tribunal with reasonable assur- ance of the applaudit. "Well done, thou good and faithful servant.'

ELMER A. AXELSON is one of four brothers who have made an unqualified success of Skagit county farming since coming from Sweden. He is a successful grain and stock farmer two miles west of Fir in the Skagit delta, one of the rich agricul- tural sections of the county. Elmer was born in Sweden in 1822, the son of Axel W. Magnuson, who is still living on the farm in his native land. The mother, Sophia Nygin, was born at Atvida- barg, Sweden, and is still living with her husband, both being well advanced in years. She is the mother of eight children, of whom Axel W., Con- rad F., Herman and Elmer reside in Skagit coun- ty ; the others being Mrs. Sophia Wangberg, Mrs. Amanda Johanson, Mrs. Ella Gustafson and Alben Axelson. Elmer attended his home school until fourteen years of age. He was ambitious for a lib-

eral education, but circumstances denied him this for a time and he left home to work on a farm at Norkoping for a year. A short stay at the old home followed and at the age of seventeen years he found himself at La Conner. He was fortunate on first coming to the United States to be employed on the excellent farm of R. E. Whitney, who was one of the largest and most liberal farmers of that sec- tion. He worked here for six years, then went to work for E. A. Sisson, putting in seven years off and on with him. It was during this period of his life that young Axelson realized in part his desire for more education, and he utilized his winters in attending school. Finally deciding to try what he could do for himself, Mr. Axelson rented the George D'Arcy place, on the Samish flats, and operated it for two years. The next seven years were spent in farming on Beaver Marsh at the J. S. Wallace place. In the meantime Mr. Axelson had bought and sold a small place by the Swinomish slough, making some money on the investment and sale. In 1903 he purchased the Captain Loveland place, of 160 acres, all under cultivation, and has since made his home there.

June 11, 1903, he married Miss Gertrude Mor- ris at Tacoma. Mrs. Axelson is the daughter of George A. and Sarah (O'Donnell) Morris, natives of England, who came to the United States eighteen years ago and settled at Avon. Mrs. Morris died early in 1905, but Mr. Morris still resides at Avon, living in retirement, having sold his real estate, which brought him considerable wealth. Mrs. Axelson was born at Nottingham, England, in 1882 and came to this country with her parents when only five years old. She attended the Avon schools and entered the Salvation Army when fifteen, serv- ing for three years in Spokane and Bellingham, Washington, Helena, Montana, and Rossland and Victoria, British Columbia. Before leaving the army she had been commissioned lieutenant. She has two children: Evalina, born March 26, 1904, and Lucille, born August 10, 1905. Just previous to his marriage, Mr. Axelson realized the cherished ambition of obtaining a higher education and pur- sued successfully in 1901 and 1902 a course in the Bellingham business college, getting a training which he highly prizes as an adjunct of his busi- ness. In fraternal circles Mr. Axelson is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Or- der of Good Templars. He is a Republican in poli- tics and with his wife belongs to the La Conner Baptist church. Mr. Axelson is one of the pros- perous and up-to-date farmers of the southwest sec- tion of the county.

HALEY R. HUTCHINSON, prominently identified with the business interests of Mount Ver- non as the proprietor of the Spring Brook Gar- dens, was born in Manchester, Vermont, Novem-

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ber 16. 1858, the son of Robert Hutchinson, of French descent, who was superintendent of the oil refinery at Cleveland, Ohio, at the time of his deatlı in 1881. His mother was Clara Minerva ( Pren- tiss ) Hutchinson, a native of Massachusetts, whose parents were the direct descendants of the Puri- tans. Her father, Zachariah Prentiss, of Akron, Ohio, a man of influence in that part of the state, at one time owned as farm land the present site of the city of Akron, in which he still holds large real estate interests. She died in 1873. at the age of thir- ty-nine. She was the niece of General Prentiss of historic memory. Having moved with his parents to Cleveland at the age of four, Mr. Hutchinson there spent the following six years, and then began his career, when only ten years old, working on a farm and in a nursery. He was a resident of Ohio till 1880, going then to Chicago where he took a six-year course in mechanical engineering, and later locating in Grand Haven, Michigan. After seven years there in which he was engaged in gar- dening and fruit farming, he removed to Placer county. California, in 1896, there pursuing the same line of activity, together with mining. Convinced that the country to the northwest held desirable agricultural openings, two years later, with three teams and camp wagons thoroughly equipped, he started overland, travelling leisurely, viewing the country with the purpose of locating when a desir- able spot was found. The most memorable event of the journey was at Warm Springs, Oregon, where he witnessed probably the largest gathering of Indians ever held. Coming from all over the country they were there holding a religious pow- wow, a scene which once witnessed can never be forgotten. Starting from Sacramento he reached Mount Vernon in the fall of 1898, and for two years leased land till he had demonstrated that this was adapted to gardening. after which he bought his first land of Frank Hamilton. He believed that this locality was especially suitable for the culture of celery, tomatoes and like vegetables, but it re- quired time to prove to a skeptical public the soundess of his judgment. Conceded now to be the largest celery grower in the state, cultivating annu- ally two hundred thousand plants, he has establish- ed a reputation of which he may well be proud.

Mr. Hutchinson was married October 3, 1880, to Miss Cozella Smith, a native of Sandusky, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchinson have six children : Haley S., Karl, Cozella, Pansy, Ruby and Linnet. Haley S., the oldest son, his father's partner in the business, has completed a two-year course at the agricultural college at Pullman, and will remain there for two years more, studying veterinary science. His specialty is thoroughbred stock, and he owns at the present time some fine Jersey cattle and Berkshire hogs, in connection with his father's dairy interests. Mr. Hutchinson has one of the fin- est barns to be found in this section, having accom- modations for forty-eight cows. He owns a

creamery and finds a ready market for his product. In political matters Mr. Hutchinson is an inde- pendent voter. He is an active member of the Knights of Pythias, Woodmen of the World and the Banker's Life. He and his family attend the Episcopal church. Beginning life for himself at an age when most boys are occupied with tops, mar- bles and balls, his long years of industry, enter- prise and skilful management have been duly re- warded and to-day he owns seventy acres of bottom land, thirty-five of which are devoted to gardens ; he also owns fifty acres on the hills, where his home is, besides his greenhouses, creamery and dairy, and he is considered one of the successful business mnen of the county.

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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 98

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