Site founded Sept. 1, 2000. We passed 3 million page views on Feb. 10, 2009 The home pages remain free of any charge. We need donations or subscriptions to continue. Please pass on this website link to your family, relatives, friends and clients.

Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore Subscribers Edition The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit Covers from British Columbia to Puget Sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan, Snohomish & BC. An evolving history dedicated to committing random acts of historical kindness

Noel V. Bourasaw, editor 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284 Home of the Tarheel Stomp Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug

Volume 9, Issue 49, June 2009 Subscribers Journal Online Sample Issue Launched on Jan. 1, 2001, now with 375+ stories Or . . . additional Contents of Issues 44-48 See table of contents below and click on underlined sample stories

Attention: please consider donating to our research project       Perhaps we have been too reluctant to state the obvious and stick our hand out in the past. We are always woefully under-funded, but we are facing a crucial balloon payment of a loan due, which we must make to continue these free pages at the level they have reached. If you have already donated or are a subscriber, we thank you and do not expect or ask any more. But if you enjoy these pages and want them to grow dramatically over the next year, please consider donating even a small amount to help us keep the shop open. We have a separate subscribers-paid online Journal magazine, now in its ninth year. If you want to donate or subscribe, just click the "Paypal Donate" button to pay by secure credit card, or mail checks to here. Subscriptions are $20/1 year; $35/2 years, or $100 for a "lifetime" 10-year rate. Or you can read details first about how or why to subscribe or donate, by either check or credit card, and how to share gifts with your friends and family. Thank you for your consideration and support.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 49, June 2009 (Under construction)

1880 Snow Nellie Coupe Howard Miller's steelhead

Clippings from the 1980 Seattle Intelligencer newspaper that report on the Ruby Creek Gold Rush Part One, January-May Part Two, May-December Schools history, Whatcom and Skagit First schools in Whatcom County and the area that became Skagit County in 1883 — updated with new data Biography of Nellie Coupe, an educator who made an impact on both Island and Whatcom counties. Profile of the Seabury family and Lloyd Seabury, 1970s Skagit author Skiyou pioneer Lloyd Seabury recalls the rampaging 1909 flood Lloyd Seabury recalls his neighbors, the Van Fleets, and the 1900 Skiyou neighborhood Ron Strickland's fine 1984 book, River Pigs and Cayuses, is long out of print. Here are four stories from it. Look for it in used-book stores. Mark Gilkey, the Skagit River gambler as a youth. Ralph Parker of Lyman explains the moonshine business Howard Miller guides you through the steelhead of the Skagit River Glee Davis and his family at Cedar Bar The Truth newsletter about evil liquor, ca. 1900 in Woolley.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 48, April-May 2009 (Under construction)

The Coon Chicken Inn near Bothell Chief Sealth

Stan Stapp reminds us of the Coon Chicken Inn and Cotton Club between Seattle and Bothell Early Sedro and Woolley Albert G. Mosier recalls platting the three towns Harry L. Devin recalls how the three railroads formed the town lines 1903 story of the 1898 merger that formed Sedro-Woolley Junius Brutus Alexander, wealthy Sedro pioneer who pushed for the 1898 merger Northwestern Skagit County 1932 Obituary of Louisa Ann Conner, namesake of LaConner Obituary and profile of prominent Padilla pioneer Edgar A. Sisson Profiles and civil war memories of Northwest County and Padilla-area pioneers Ed Wells, A.G. Tillinghast and R.H. Ball Indians, Chief Sealth and Dr. Henry A. Smith Chief Sealth/Seattle's famous 1854 speech, in Dr. Henry A. Smith's words Dr. Henry A. Smith, Seattle pioneer, famous for recording the Chief's speech. By David M. Buerge Native Seattle, by Coll Thrush, about Seattle's native population, including Dr. Smith and Chief Sealth.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 47, February 2009 Harrison Clothier Woolley Saloon Fred Hegg Harrison Clothier and Edward G. English, founders of Mount Vernon Part One, the early years Part Two, logging, going separate ways Ed English kidnapped in 1908 and his obituary The first saloons in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit County and up the Skagit River F.A. Hegg and sons, Woolley's most famous grocers Part One, Fred Hegg from Minnesota to Woolley Part Two, Fred and sons become leading grocers Earl "Fuzz" Hegg excels and his Fuzzy Wuzzy Grocery Gust Gilbertson opens Sedro-Woolley J.C. Penney store, 1915 How J.C. Penney came from Missouri to Number One retailer

---

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 46, January 2009 Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties, 1906 This issue is devoted to our most ambitious project so far, the transcription of chapters from the 1906 book that is the most important resource book for Skagit County historians, authors, genealogists and students. We have transcribed the first two chapters of the Skagit County section, nearly 50 pages in all. But most important, we have annotated each chapter with extensive footnotes that will illuminate pioneers, towns and events and provide links for background reading. Introduction to the Illustrated History, with facts about the book that you may not have learned before, and background on its creators, along with a caveat for readers. Chapter One of Skagit County settlement. Part One of this chapter introduces you to the first settlers, especially on Fidalgo Island, and the first women to brave the wilderness. Chapter One of Skagit County settlement. Part Two of this chapter introduces you to more settlers, especially those on the south fork of the Skagit River and the area of the log jams where Mount Vernon would rise. Chapter Two of Skagit County, 1874-83. Part One of this chapter shares details of settlement, logging and early agriculture, and reviews the process of removing the log jams that shut off the upper stretches of the river from exploration. Chapter Two of Skagit County, 1874-83. Part Two of this chapter shares details of the first upriver settlement, sternwheeler steamboats and early mining discoveries, including the exciting, if brief, 1880 gold rush to Ruby Creek. settlement, logging and early agriculture, and reviews the process of removing the log jams that shut off the upper stretches of the river from exploration. These special, extensive transcriptions are shared only with subscribers first as a special reward for support of this research project. If you would like to see samples of features and profiles shared with our subscribers, see the underscored links in Issues 40-45 below.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 45, September-October 2008 We appreciate your patience while we recently ill. To make up for the delay in two issues, the next two will be published back-to-back right after the turn of the New Year. KKK Wedding KKK in the Northwest, 1920s Claudia Lowman writes about the Klan in Anacortes, 1926 Gabriel Mayer writes about the Klan in Bellingham in the 1920s KKK stages a wedding and dedicates a church altar in Sedro-Woolley in 1924-26 Nooksack Tower, 1940 Fire Lookout Towers & Firefighting in the Northwest Introduction to firewatchers and their towers in the North Cascades Maxine Meyers wrote about her season on Mount Josephine Dr. Quentin C. Belles recalls upriver firefighting in the 1940s William Entwistle wrote about the history of Northwest firefighting Josie Bradley Two Claudia Lowman biographies: R. Lee Bradley, Padilla farmer and Anacortes Mercantile Co. owner Josie Bradley, Skagit County's Superintendent of Schools, 1884 Morris Schneider, pioneer Woolley businessman and first Jewish business owner, biography by his granddaughter, Muriel Weissman

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 44, May-July 2008 Fairhaven & Southern Railroad, first standard-gauge railroad north of Seattle. The F&S Depot in old Sedro. Fairhaven & Southern Railroad, Part One. Includes information on the alphabet soup of railroads of Whatcom and Skagit counties, the background of the F&S principals, including Nelson Bennett, C.X. Larrabee and John J. Donovan. F&S, Part Two. Sedro prepares 1888-89, Donovan's horseback ride in the nick of time, details of the Seattle Lake Shore & Eastern, Seattle & Montana and Great Northern lines, James J. Hill and the decline of the F&S, and the decline of the Sedros. F&S, Part Three. Ray Jordan stories about the F&S Christmas gift to old Sedro; the line's original route from Bellingham Bay; and Journal research into the naming of Fairhaven/Graves Street in Sedro.

Capsule biographies of F&S principals: Charles X. Larrabee, the Montana copper magnate, who financed the F&S and bought the Cokedale coal mines. Parts 1 & 2 include: Childhood in New York & Wisconsin; Brother Samuel Edward "Ed" Larabie; Brothers building their fortunes in Montana and Portland; Larrabee's financing of Fairhaven boom and the Fairhaven Hotel; marriage to Frances Payne; their philanthropy. Part 3: documents & external profiles of family John J. Donovan>, the civil engineer who determined the F&S route, and became a famous lumberman on his own Cyrus Gates, Larrabee's assistant who oversaw rail and coal interests, continued Larrabee's philanthropy & also became wealthy

The origins of Lyman, upper Skagit River

Lyman 1889. Lyman, Part One: earliest settlers and homesteaders, including A.R. Williamson, Valentine Adam and Henry Cooper and town namesake, Lorenzo Lyman. earliest businesses, the Skagit River's effect on the town, the Otto Klement and Birdsey Minkler eras Lyman, Part Two: Flynn and Meyers families; capsule histories of 24 early families

Lyman pioneers, including news of converting Minkler Mansion to City Hall Clara Bartlett Cooper. Lorenzo Lyman, country doctor and namesake of Lyman, updated with research about Dr. Lyman. Birdsey Minkler, Part One: his early years in Wisconsin and California, homesteading and his mill at Birdsview, and details of his 1911 funeral. Totally updated. Birdsey Minkler, Part Two: his family moves to Lyman in 1887, death of his wives; mill at Minkler Lake; the Minkler children marry. Totally updated.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 43, March-April 2008

Magazine articles that chronicled the time preceding the birth of Sedro-Woolley. All stories extensively annotated for the pleasure of our subscribers. Articles about booming Sedro, circa 1890 Sedro on the Skagit River, August 1890 Washington Magazine article that introduced readers to the booming town on the Skagit. Sedro's Improvements, October 1890 Washington Magazine article that listed improvements already made to the two towns of Sedro.     The "Improvements" story above includes a fascinating endnote discovery that ties Sedro with Seattle attorney Elbert F. Blaine and the 1994 suicide of Seattle musician Kurt Cobain.     Sedro and the coal mines near the Skagit River, 1890-91 Fairhaven Illustratedmagazine article that explained why the Fairhaven & Southern Railroad was built between Fairhaven on Bellingham Bay and Sedro on the Skagit, with all its resources.

Articles about booming Woolley, circa 1890-91 Woolley, the hub of Skagit Count, November 1890 Washington Magazine article that introduced readers to the booming town where 3 railroads would soon cross. Woolley has a leg up, 1891 Graphic Magazine article from Chicago that provided many details and statistics about Woolley's sudden rise and resources of Skagit Valley.

More columns by Frank Wilkeson, New York Times columnist while living in Hamilton and Fairhaven, circa 1890s Wilkeson's 1884 Sun River (Montana) Sun column of Sept. 18, 1884, about a frontier trader and his dog. Wilkeson's 1885 New York Sun story about Poker on the Wenatchee River and the scamp, Butch the Butcher.

Other new Issue 43 features Updated transcription of an account of Otto Pressentin and his 10 years in outback BC, 1911-21, by Ray Jordan E.R. Million, Mount Vernon attorney and capitalist from 1889 to 1906, associate of timberman Ed English and friend of the high and mighty. The Courthouse Fight of 1909, when Burlington tried to wrest the courthouse from Mount Vernon. George Hopp, editor of Sedro Press, first newspaper, mayor and postmaster, and one of three brothers who published newspapers all over Iowa, Dakota Territory and Washington. In which the reader will learn the history of several Dakota towns; the connection with writer Laura Ingalls Wilder; the history of Marysville, Bridgeport and Camas, Washington, and how a murder led to an important opportunity for George.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 42, January-February 2008

Otto Klement, 1873 Skagit Settler, Father of Lyman Klement Biography updated with genealogy Hogtied! Good Ole Boys boil a pig, Lyman 1881 New: Otto's early years on the Skagit New: Farming methods and earthquakes 1870s & '80s New: winter weather and frozen Skagit River New: early attempts at Cascade Pass Road Edward Eldridge, Whatcom Pioneer 1853 & his mysterious name change Updated biography with new genealogy from descendants and more answers about the secret that almost did him in Updated profile of his son, Hugh Eldridge, & capsule biographies of other early Whatcom children Other new Issue 42 features Walter Washington deLacy, father of the Old Military Road and the Whatcom Trail to Fraser River, and his fascinating life before and after his Whatcom years. Otto Pressentin, his 10 years in outback BC, 1911-21, by Ray Jordan Biography of the Northwest writer, June Burn and her book, Living High.

Issue 41 Menu of Historical Delicacies

The Slipper family of Hamilton R.I.P. Fred Slipper, 1917-2007, son of an early Hamilton businessman and he managed the Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times for many years. The Slipper Brothers and their Sprinkle-sister wives, who influenced the town of Hamilton from 1890 on, and the Slipper Hamilton home, which now serves as a museum. Read John Slipper's hilarious 1942 letter to the Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times, with many anecdotes about Hamilton and the Skagit River in the same issue. The story behind the Hammer Heritage Square family: Isabel Hammer, Kansas and Skagit pioneer — the Blue Lady. The Hammer Mansion, home to Emerson and Isabel Hammer Allen and Roray, town finally explained: Part One — we explain the mystery of the Allen and Roray dueling names for the town and the mill the two men opened there. Part Two — Allen's favorite son, Joy Busha, and a 1959 history of the town from the 1880s on. Ray Jordan: two vanished townships north of Woolley: Town of Hoogdal and the Swedish families who settled there. Capt. John Warner and his beautiful Warner's Prairie. Two pioneer biographies: Horace Condy, Woolley jeweler, optician, music dealer from 1900, father of the Condy clock. George and Dwight Brosseau family, Sterling and Sedro pioneers, and Edna Brosseau who sewed Sedro's first 4th of July flag in 1890.

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 40, August-September 2007 William R. "Blanket Bill" Jarman, the first full study in 50 years about the first Whatcom/Skagit settler and all the myths A profile of William R. Jarman and the legends of Blanket Bill, researched, discussed and debated, Part One A profile of William R. Jarman and the legends of Blanket Bill, researched, discussed debated, Part Two. Ray Jordan's story of Blanket Bill and Jarman Prairie, from his point of view as a young Belfast neighbor. Percival R. Jeffcott's book of Blanket Bill Jarman and the mysteries and legends, some debunked, and a profile of Jeffcott.. Bessemer, Birdsview and the Elliott Hotel, owned by Bill's daughter, Alice, and her husband, James Elliott. Kitsap County, Slaughter County and a Jarman myth debunked Port Townsend, the birth of the town and Bill's first Washington home The history of the S'Klallam and Chemakum tribes of the Olympic Peninsula. William R. Jarman lived with them and met his wife, Alice, and Chief Sehome there. Read the full review of this fine book, Samish Island, a History, by Sue and Fred Miller, which all Skagit history-lovers will want to read, along with those who want to learn about the geology of the Puget Sound area and the "pre-history" of the Indians of the archipelago before the white settlers arrived. We were shocked and saddened just as we went to press, when we learned of the death of Robert Jeffcott, grandson of Percival R. Jeffcott. Our hearts go out to his family, who grieve his passing. A memorial is planned for the afternoon of October 13 at his Lummi Island property. See Issues 37-39 contents below . . . Where to buy the Miller book

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 39 Spring 2007 The Van Fleet family, first pioneer family to settle in the Skiyou area east of Sedro-Woolley, 1880 Eliza Van Fleet summarized her family bona fides for her application to the DAR in 1928 Ethel Van Fleet Harris's 1968 memories of her family's early days in Skiyou from 1880 on. The Van Fleet family floats down the Skagit for the their first Christmas here in 1880 Van Fleet family letter back to Pennsylvania, 1890s, from their Skiyou homestead Eliza Van Fleet's family history from the 1906 Illustrated History. Extensive annotation. More Van Fleet stories will follow. Can you help with copies or scans of articles, obituaries or photos?

Other Issue 39 features

Skagit City, the 1870s city at the forks of the Skagit River that marked the early days of lower-river settlement

The bell tolls for old Skagit City School, 1998. Update 2007: that was premature, join us for picnic on July 15

Genealogy special: history of old Ireland, by Alice Stopford Green

Remembering Herb Larson, guiding light of the Concrete Heritage Museum, and keeper of the flame

Menu of Historical Delicacies, Issue 38, March-April 2007

Daniel Jefferson Harris, the very colorful founder of Fairhaven. We researched the legends about him, confirm some, debunk others, and we found the Dr. Shorb who relieved Dan of his fortune in Los Angeles just before Dan's death.

Jim Rich as Dan Harris

Introduction to Dan and his timeline Dr. Andrew S. Shorb, Part 1: 18th-century immigration     Hohenzollerns Pennsylvania Dutch Dr. Shorb, Part 2: Homeopathy Los Angeles History Criminal record     J. DeBarth Shorb & San Gabriel Winery Don Benito Wilson     George S. Patton. Frank Teck's series about Harris in Fairhaven Herald, 1903: April 4, 1903: Dan's beginnings in Whatcom Fairhaven founded 1883 April 11, 1903: Epochs in Dan history His Fairhaven Hotel Townsite sale to Bennett April 25, 1903: Dan died 1890 Estate sues Dr. Shorb 1890s Depression in Fairhaven Schedule for Dirty Dan Days in Fairhaven April 28-29, 2007

An updated Fairhaven Biography series: Introduction to James Wardner . . . Wardner's Consolidated Black Cat Co. Ltd . . . 1982 Idaho Miner magazine profile of Wardner . . . Frank Wilkeson's 1887 New York Times column about the town of Wardner, Idaho.

The Two-Spot Lokey at the entrance to Woolley. Puget Sound & Baker River Railroad's logging legacy welcomes visitors

Bobby Burns, "Mayor of Fairhaven" and general cut-up, the "Bunnies Man," obituary from 1980.

Charles Woodworth, long-lost but now-found namesake for Sedro-Woolley's street. And a Tacoma promoter.	Charles J. Wicker arrives in Sedro in 1884, on the way to becoming county's most powerful real estate agent.
Go West Young Man: who wrote it? Horace Greeley or John B. Soule?

You can find all stories in Issues 1-30 in these archives Visit our completely redesigned home page for links to Portal Pages that will help you find any feature, person or place you want to read about.

Thinking about gifts for reunions, birthdays or other occasions? Due to continued popular demand, in the interest of furthering our "open source" policy, we are assembling a collection of CDs that will include MS Word files of our pioneer profiles and town profiles from years 1-5, so that you can print them individually at your convenience. They will be organized by region: Sedro-Woolley & surrounding area; Upper Skagit River from Utopia to Cascades plus logging, hunting and fishing; Western Skagit County and other counties. See our site with details of what is offered and the prices and ordering information..

Return to the new-domain home page

Links for portals to subjects and towns

Newest photo features

Search entire site

See this Journal website for a timeline of local, state, national, international events for years of the pioneer period. Did you enjoy this story? Remember, as with all our features, this story is a draft and will evolve as we discover more information and photos. This process continues until we eventually compile a book about Northwest history. Can you help? Remember; we welcome correction & criticism. Please report any broken links or files that do not open and we will send you the correct link. With more than 550 features, we depend on your report. Thank you. Read about how you can order CDs that include our photo features from the first five years of our Subscribers Edition. Perfect for gifts. You can click the donation button to contribute to the rising costs of this site. You can also subscribe to our optional Subscribers-Paid Journal magazine online, which has entered its seventh year with exclusive stories, in-depth research and photos that are shared with our subscribers first. You can go here to read the preview edition to see examples of our in-depth research or read how and why to subscribe.

You can read the history websites about our prime sponsors Would you like information about how to join them? Jones and Solveig Atterberry, NorthWest Properties Aiken & Associates: . . . See our website Please let us show you residential and commercial property in Sedro-Woolley and Skagit County 2204 Riverside Drive, Mount Vernon, Washington . . . 360 708-8935 . . . 360 708-1729 Oliver Hammer Clothes Shop at 817 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley, 86 years. Joy's Sedro-Woolley Bakery-Cafe at 823 Metcalf Street in downtown Sedro-Woolley. Check out Sedro-Woolley First section for links to all stories and reasons to shop here first or make this your destination on your visit or vacation. Are you looking to buy or sell a historic property, business or residence? We may be able to assist. Email us for details. Peace and quiet at the Alpine RV Park, just north of Marblemount on Hwy 20 Park your RV or pitch a tent by the Skagit River, just a short drive from Winthrop or Sedro-Woolley

Looking for something special on our site? Enter name, town or subject, then press "Find" Search this site powered by FreeFind     Did you find what you were seeking? We have helped many people find individual names or places, so email if you have any difficulty.

Tip: Put quotation marks around a specific name or item of two words or more, and then experiment with different combinations of the words without quote marks. We are currently researching some of the names most recently searched for — check the list here. Maybe you have searched for one of them?

Please sign our guestbook so our readers will know where you found out about us, or share something you know about the Skagit River or your memories or those of your family. Share your reactions or suggestions or comment on our Journal. Thank you for taking time out of your busy day to visit our site.

View My Guestbook Sign My Guestbook

Email us at: skagitriverjournal@gmail.com Mail copies/documents to Street address: Skagit River Journal, 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, WA, 98284.