Sweetest and loveliest of flowery vales,
Where plenty teems and joy hails,
Where waving fields of golden grain
Merrily smile in sun and rain.
The Skagit valley is a stretch of inexhaustible fertility, commencing
at the mouth of the river and running northward for scores of miles, and
spreads out, east and west, into a plain beautifully embellished with
proud farms, and mostly populated with Scandinavians. Six miles up the
river rests the town of Fir, a bustling village, surrounded by a
rich farming community. Ole J. Borseth is the leading business man of
the town, who located here, 1883, and in 1891 engaged in general
merchandise. He is a native of Norway, where he was bred and educated.
[Illustration: MORLING HOUSE.
Owned by Knut H. Opdal, the first Scandinavian Hotel
in the Skagit Valley.]
Knut H. Opdal, also born in Norway, arrived in 1888, and shortly
afterward embarked in hotel business. He and his wife are
representatives of Norse simplicity and integrity, imbued with love for
their native country, and patriotic and loyal to the stars and stripes.
[Illustration: J. F. ANDERSON.]
J. F. Anderson was one of the first settlers. He was born in Sweden,
left his native land during the early summer of maturity, and located in
the state of Iowa. In 1874 he landed in Port Townsend on Prince Alfred,
and immediately proceeded to the Skagit valley, settling on North Fork.
After a year of hard work he moved with his family to Seattle in order
to give his children the advantages of good schooling. At the close of
six years they returned to the Skagit, locating on South Fork, where
Fir now stands. In 1883 a flood rushed over the country, swept along
everything save some stubborn buildings, the crop was destroyed, and
havoc spread in all directions. "Never give in," says the sage, which is
applicable to Mr. and Mrs. J. F. Anderson. "Onward" was their motto, and
two beautiful homes shine to their honest efforts one at Seattle and
one at Fir. Their children, who are now combating with the turmoils of
the world, are well educated and highly respected. Jennie is married and
lives in Seattle; Axel and Eric are connected with the Polson and Wilson
Hardware Co., established in Seattle and La Conner; Victor is married
to an esteemed lady, Miss Marie Paulson, and runs the farm; Minnie is
postmistress at Fir and a teacher of music, Howard sleeps in the grave,
and Otto stays home.
[Illustration: ANDREW N. CROGSTAD.]
Andrew N. Crogstad, a leading citizen, a man of honor and intelligence,
has shared the difficulties of the frontier. He was born in Trondhjem,
Norway, 1852, received a good schooling and in February, 1872, left his
fatherland for Dunn county, Wisconsin, and five years later disembarked
in the Skagit valley. He turned his attention to logging and farming. A
beautiful farm, surrounded by a wealthy orchard, stands as a pride to
his energy. He has seen days of romantic awfulness, once hazardous, but
now pleasing reminiscences. The flood has always been a dread, and many
frights has it caused. One Fourth of July Mr. Crogstad went to Fir to
celebrate the independence of his adopted country. The morning was
bright and prognostic of a pleasant time. Returning home during gray
twilight, a seething, rolling sound floated down on the breeze, and ere
they realized the cause, water crept up to their feet. The ladies were
frightened out of their wits and took to screaming, which seems to
be their only alternative in time of danger. Mr. Crogstad and his
companion understood the predicament, slung the ladies on their backs
and pranced home, thus avoiding a disastrous outcome.
[Illustration: MRS. WILHELMINA AUGUSTA CROGSTAD.]
In 1887 he was married to an estimable lady, Miss Wilhelmina Augusta
Jensen, born in Scleswig, Holstein, 1863, of Danish parentage, and came
to America, 1875. They have five children, four girls and one boy;
Alvina, Emma, Lottie, Clara and Maurice.
One not accustomed to pioneer life in the forest can hardly conceive its
many romantic features. To live on the bank of a big river, rolling and
moaning in tireless monotony, and huge trees praying and howling to the
wroth of the wind, and frisky brutes gamboling in wild frolics, and
Indians skulking in stealthy moods, is something awe-inspiring.
On a jolly morning, Charles Mann, the pioneer merchant of Fir,
reconnoitered in the woods behind his store, and to his awe, stumbled
into a hideous infernal, which was afterwards discovered to be an Indian
cemetery. Ah, terror! hundreds of Indians were hanging in the trees,
some nude skeletons, some with the hearts torn out of their mutilated
frames; owls and crows were sailing on evil wings among the ghastly
dead, and horror seemed to reign in every bush. This finding startled
the whole town, and into the woods rushed young and old; flames sprang
into the air and swept through the forest, and the dead Indians dropped
from a hanging hell into a burning one.
The flood of 1887 spread consternation throughout the community. The
water leaped down from the mountains in savage fury and scattered the
dykes to the briny billows, busy hugging the beach below. Houses set
sailing down the valley in tipsy joltings, and logs went chasing each
other in mad bewilderment for the sea. The deluge broke into Mann's
store and rose to the depth of three feet. Mr. Mann was alone in the
store, and to drive away loneliness grabbed the fish line and commenced
angling, caught two mountain trouts by the counter. During the same
flood Mrs. Mann was sitting in the Fir Hotel chatting with some friends,
and before they were aware of the enormity of the water they went
sailing on their chairs around the room.
In and around Fir live a number of Scandinavians who have witnessed
frontier encounters, but their early struggles have become pleasing
revels for a fanciful imagination, as the late years have crowned their
efforts with success. Olof Polson, a son of Sweden, and at present
mayor of La Conner, was along with the first brigade of pioneers that
scattered themselves in the valley. Ole Lonke, born in Norway, and a
prosperous farmer, about a mile from Fir, located here over twenty years
ago. Ole Johnson, also a native of Norway, has resided here over two
decades, and Peter Olson dates his arrival still further back.
Among the more recent settlers who have proved valuable exponents are:
John Hanson, August Johnson, Even Handstad, John Kragnes, Ole Kvande,
Knut Lange, Sivert Sande, Ole Olson, Lars Engen, G. O. Branstad, Lars
and Nils Danielson and Elik Johnson.
Proceeding up the river we find many Scandinavian pioneers who rank
among the most prominent citizens; viz., Peter Egtvet, Ole N. Lee, Frank
Tollefson and Magnus Anderson. At Skagit City, N. Erickson, Alfred,
Edwin and Herman Johnson are representative farmers who have spared no
time for the upbuilding of the country. Rev. John Johnson, presiding
elder of the Swedish Methodist church, who resides at this place, is a
noted man, being a gifted rhetorician and an able pulpit orator.
To the east of this happy village spreads out a fertile plain which
sweeps up into a proud elevation, called Pleasant Ridge, the home of
the old pioneer, Charles John Chilberg, and two of his sons, Isaac and
James. Here we find also a number of other Scandinavians who have shared
the burden of early struggles.
Four miles up the river from Skagit City stands the jolly city of Mt.
Vernon, which has within its boundary many prominent men from the
shores of Norway and Sweden. The two leading merchants of the city are
Norwegians--Louis Foss and N. J. Moldstad.
[Illustration: LOUIS FOSS.]
Louis Foss is well known throughout the Pacific country, being the first
Scandinavian state senator in Washington. He was born in Norway, 1849,
received a liberal education, graduated from college at nineteen, and
shortly after emigrated to America, locating in Wisconsin. He worked
four years as scaler of logs on Chippewa river; went to the Dakota
Black Hills during the excitement of 1875, where he remained two years
working in the mines. From whence he went to Zumbrota, Minnesota, to
assume the management of a large merchandise store, in which capacity
he labored faithfully for five years. His name had acquired a favorable
clang among the people and the city of Fosston was christened to his
honor. In 1887 he disposed of his interests in Minnesota and moved
to Tacoma, Washington, where he engaged in real estate, and entered
mercantile business at Mt. Vernon and Buckley. Five years later he was
elected state senator from Pierce county, and served his state with
honor for four years. At the expiration of his senatorship he removed
with his family to Mt. Vernon, where he now resides, and owns a big
mercantile establishment, The Fair. He has also a large store of similar
kind in Anacortes which his eldest son is managing. Mr. Foss is not only
a man of business aptitude, but also a man of character, fidelity and
honor.
[Illustration: N. J. MOLDSTAD.]
N. J. Moldstad merits the appellation of "progressive business man." He
was born in Vestre Toten, Norway, April 1, 1863, where he obtained his
early education. July 2, 1876, he sailed for America, settling at De
Forest, Wisconsin, and shortly after entered his brother's dry goods
store. His next move was to Lanesborough, Minnesota, where he secured
a clerkship with a big mercantile firm, afterwards assumed a similar
vocation in Minneapolis. From whence he turned his attention to North
Dakota, embarking in store and banking business for himself. The
Pacific had become a fascinating field, sold out, and crossed the Rocky,
locating in Tacoma, where he established a shoe store. Another journey
seemed to emphasize business progress, disposed of his establishment
in Tacoma and engaged in dry goods and clothing in Mt. Vernon. The last
years he has also given due consideration to the Alaska gold fields,
being interested in several claims around Dawson. In 1893 he took a trip
to Europe, traveled in England, France, Germany and the Scandinavian
countries. In 1898 he was married to an estimable lady in Mt. Vernon,
and spent his honeymoon journeying in California, the Southern states
and New York, visited Washington and shook hands with President
McKinley. On returning took in Chicago and other large cities. Mr.
Moldstad is a republican in politics and has been delegate to county and
state conventions, but has scoffed at the idea of seeking any office. He
is like Mr. Louis Foss, of the same city, in being a true gentleman,
respected and respectable.
[Illustration: A MUSICIAN ON SKAGIT RIVER.]
SCANDINAVIANS IN BELLINGHAM BAY.