The Stillaguamish valley, spreading out for a considerable distance on
both sides of the wandering river, which starts in the green-clad hills,
looming up in the southeast, and leaps gracefully downward to the city
of Stanwood, where it disembogues its waters, is a fertile plain,
running through the forest for twenty-five miles, adorned with royal
farms and three happy villas--Florence, Norman and Silvana. Thirty years
ago this noble stretch was the home of wild beasts, but now settled by
a jolly populace. Here the Scandinavians found a field that hit their
fancies--plenty of work and rich soil.
The first Scandinavian to brave this wilderness was Sivert Guligson
Brekhus, a native of Voss, Norway, who emigrated to America, 1862, spent
eleven years in the east combatting for success in divers avenues, and
in 1873 entered the mouth of the Stillaguamish river. He proceeded up
the stream which was choked with angry snags and stubborn logs. No less
than four jams impeded his progress. Mr. Brekhus has been a man of
unusual strength, and possessed of a heart that knew no fear. On one
occasion, in early days, a red savage attacked him in Stanwood. Mr.
Brekhus was alone which gave his heathen aggressor, surrounded by a
bloodthirsty horde of his race, lust for blood, and, like a devil in
flames, seized a manageable piece of timber and sought to convert the
white man to a heap of jelly. The brave Vossing approached him and the
following words burst from his lips, "Hvis du inhji parsa dig ska eg
slaa huvu ini majin paa dig." The red skins understood the depth of his
voice, and skulked away.
Ah! picture to yourself the hardship! All the provisions had to be
canoed from Seattle, and four boats were required to reach Mr. Brekhus'
ranch. Many struggles did this valorous pioneer pass through. Once he
carried a barrel of herring on his shoulders over the four jams, and at
another time a big cook stove.
Iver Furness, father of John Furness, the Norman merchant, has also
partaken of the trials and difficulties common to pioneer encounters. As
early as 1879 he dates his first peregrination on Stillaguamish river.
Like other adventurers he endured many days of hardship, anxiety and
worry. Supplementary to the toil for subsistence, the savages cast
chilly currents through his soul. The Sauk Indians, ravaging in Skagit
county, were dreaded like devils. One day the report reached the home
of Iver Furness, while relishing a healthy dinner, that the Sauks were
paddling up the river for a bloody massacre. Mrs. Furness was thrown
into a trance of fright, rushed for the door with knife in hand to take
refuge in the woods. Johnny, her son, grabbed the fire-lock to protect
their home, but, lo! it was only an Indian scare.
[Illustration: IVER JOHNSON.]
Iver Johnson, the pioneer merchant of Silvana, and the popular county
commissioner, was born in Opdal, Norway, 1848. After graduating from the
public schools, he took a course in the higher branches of learning by
private tuition, and in 1869 sailed for the United States, selecting
South Dakota for his first abode in the New World. In 1875 he took
another step westward, locating at Port Gamble, Washington, where he
worked in saw mills for two years. Returning to South Dakota, he was
married to Martha Haugan, a charming young lady, but to his sorrow
she withered for the grave after four years of matrimonial happiness.
He recrossed the Rocky Mountain the same year, settling in the
Stillaguamish valley, worked in logging camps and cleared land for
some time, then embarked in general merchandise at Silvana, the first
store in the Stillaguamish valley. He sold out his interests at Silvana
to accept a clerkship in D. O. Pearson's store in Stanwood, which he
abandoned after five years of faithful service to assume the position as
deputy county auditor. In 1898 he was elected to the office of county
commissioner of Snohomish county in which capacity he is now working
with credit to himself and to his constituents. He was married the
second time, in 1887, to Miss Maria Funk, an accomplished lady of Norse
extraction.
Halvor Helvy, an intelligent farmer near Silvana, figures among the
first pioneers. He was born in Norway, and came to Stillaguamish from
South Dakota, 1878.
[Illustration: E. A. HEVLY.]
E. A. Hevly, the popular merchant of Florence, and one of the brightest
business men on the Sound, was born in Opdal, Norway, February 28, 1866,
came to America, 1878, and the same year landed on the Pacific coast.
After receiving a common school education, he took a course in the
state University of Washington. For years he was employed as clerk,
but in 1891 became the sole owner of a large mercantile establishment,
which he is conducting with marked ability. Mr. Hevly is a congenial
man, honest, honorable and energetic.
[Illustration: JOHN I. HALS.]
John I. Hals, proprietor of Hals' shingle mill, located across the river
from Florence, is a true type of Norse manhood. He was born in Norway,
came to Stanwood, 1882, worked four years in a saw mill at Utsalady, and
in 1889 bought from Munson, Johnson and Company a shingle mill standing
one mile east of Stanwood, the first Scandinavian shingle mill in
Snohomish county. Cedar timber was getting scarce and a change of
location became advantageous. To effect this he sold his mill, bought
eighty acres of land further up the river, and built a new mill, of
which Mr. Hals is the sole owner. The author does not believe in plowing
up the field of exaggeration, and so far as the personage in question is
concerned no occasion affords an opportunity. The men working for Mr.
Hals speak in more eloquent language than my pen. In a word, Mr. Hals is
a gentleman, kind, intelligent and generous.
[Illustration: JOHN I. HALS' SHINGLE MILL.]
Round Florence are also other Scandinavians who have scattered light of
melioration. Flowery meadows and royal dwellings join to pronounce their
industry and rank of intelligence. Mr. Myro is an early pioneer and a
thrifty Dane, Taral Larsen is a prosperous farmer, a native of Norway,
who has shared the struggles of frontier life, Ed. Hanson, also a
Norwegian by birth, has been a valuable factor in the community,
especially in the promotion of education. As we proceed up the river we
find an unbroken settlement of well-to-do Scandinavians, who sought the
wilderness to make homes. Engebret and Sven Stenson, Sivert and Rasmus
Knutson and S. Erickson were among the first. L. O. Stubb, a prominent
farmer and a man of ability and influence, has given valuable service
to the community. He has been one of the foremost men to look after
the interest of education. He was born in Norway, came to Dogfish Bay,
Washington, 1880, and the same year settled near Norman.
[Illustration: THE NORMAN PUBLIC SCHOOL.
The first public school in the Stillaguamish valley above Florence:
built, 1882, burnt 1892.]
Iver N. Prestlien, the pioneer of Prestlien Bluff, so named to
perpetuate his memory, was born in Norway, and settled on his present
location, 1885, when the inviting slope was a gloomy forest. He has done
much for the upbuilding of the community, educationally and otherwise.
[Illustration: PRESTLIEN'S BLUFF.
The schoolhouse is behind the big stump.]
John Furness, previously alluded to, an able business man, in company
with Mr. Engdahl, at Norman, has spared no energy for the good of the
public schools and the country in general. Andrew Estby, O. B. Lee, H.
Hereim and others have also lent willing assistance.
Cornelius N. Langsjoen, Elias Tangen, Julius Lund, Andrew Prestlien,
John Ingebretson, and others have contributed heart and hand to better
frontier gloom. Two fine Lutheran churches, one at Silvana and the other
across the river, emphasize the moral and intellectual standard of the
people.
[Illustration: LOGGING FAMILY STANDING ON A CEDAR STUMP.]
SCANDINAVIANS AT CEDARHOME.