Scandinavians on the Pacific, Puget Sound Part 10

Nature's soul in rapture smiling, Hillocks green the sunbeams climbing; When morning bursts on pearl-set wing, The vocal harps of the forest sing, Sweet freedom's air, In sunshine fair, At Pouls...o...b..y.

Jingle, jingle, ever chiming, Sea and land together rhyming, Sweet poets untaught singing, Nature's G.o.d to me is ringing.

Rapture chiming, Grandeur smiling, At Pouls...o...b..y.

On a sunny slope slowly rising from the merry sheet of golden water, stands the town of Poulsbo, in Kitsap county, about twenty-five miles northwest from Seattle. A smiling tongue of the Sound is rippling into the land, and here and there a green nose is pushing itself into the brine as trying to contest with the elements of the deep. Sweet melodies spring from the laughing ripples, and sail on the wings of lazy zephyrs to cheer the ears of the village. This musical bay is a natural abode for Scandinavians who are wont to the songs of happy fjords. As early as 1875, Ole Stubb stranded his skiff on the sh.o.r.e of this vocal stretch for permanent nestling. He was born in Norway, and has witnessed days of divers struggles, interlaced with days of sunshine.

A year later Fred Landstone pinned his lot to a piece of land about ten miles east of Poulsbo, and in 1883 Jorgen Eliason was attracted to the bay, and has ever since been instrumental in shaping the affairs of the community. He is a native of Norway, landed in Michigan, 1870, and has proved himself a man of honor and intellectual capacity, a true representative of Norse simplicity and manhood. I. B. Moe arrived simultaneously and has been a potent factor in a mult.i.tude of enterprises.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JORGEN ELIASON'S RANCH.]

Torge Jensen, a prominent citizen of Poulsbo, a man of integrity and intelligence, was a member of the early brigade of pioneers. He was born in Norway and came to Poulsbo from South Dakota. He has been one of the foremost men to look after the interest of the place, educationally and otherwise.

Nils Olson, also of Norse birth, merits a footing among the first settlers and deserves the encomium due a man of honesty and n.o.ble aims.

Among the business men of Poulsbo, Adolph Hostmark carries the honor of being the first merchant. He erected a store fifteen years ago, and conducted a general merchandise establishment until his death. Some years subsequent Lars Christensen engaged in mercantile business and his career has been an uninterrupted success, characteristic of industry and uprightness.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LARS CHRISTENSEN AND WIFE.]

Lars Christensen was born in Thisted, Denmark, 1844, received a common school education, spent years on a large plantation as foreman and a.s.sistant manager. In 1872 he emigrated to America, selecting Marquette, Michigan, as his favorable place for dwelling. He worked on the docks and at other manual labor until 1875, when he migrated to Brookings county, South Dakota, where he engaged in farming. After twelve years of varied experiences on the Dakota prairies he turned his attention to the Pacific, arriving in Poulsbo, 1887, where he embarked in clearing land and ranching. A beautiful place in the heart of the smiling villa bespeaks his pluck and industry. In 1893 he launched into general merchandise, which he later converted into a dry goods store. Mr.

Christensen has always been a prominent member of the Lutheran church and a true republican in politics, and in every walk of life a loyal citizen, honest, intelligent and respected. He was married to an estimable lady in Denmark. They have one son, C. P. Christensen, who was born in Denmark, 1868, and came to America with his parents. He has inherited the traits of a n.o.ble father and mother and ranks among the best of men, endowed with a fine intellect and moral integrity.

Poulsbo has achieved what no other community on the coast has ventured to do. While the villa was in its early embryo a knot of pioneers organized and incorporated the Poulsbo Wharf and Storage Company, and built a substantial dock and warehouse, accessible by any steamer.

The first steamer that cleaved the bosom of the deep between Poulsbo and Seattle was the Quickstep, owned by John J. Hansen, who later built Hattie Hansen. But to burst the chains of monopolized transportation, and to usher pecuniary relief to the toiling farmers, a sprinkling of valorous hearts, headed by Thomas Hegdahl and Nils Olson, perfected the organization of the Poulsbo-Colby Transportation Company, and built the beautiful steamer--Advance--which plies daily between Poulsbo and Seattle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: STEAMER ADVANCE.]

The following are officers of the Poulsbo-Colby Transportation Company; J. A. McPherson, President; Peter Erlandson, Vice-president; C. P.

Christensen, Secretary; L. Christensen, Treasurer; J. W. Russell, Manager.

Poulsbo has had its religious upheavals but aside from these fanatical revolutions it has scattered seeds of Christian principles. A fine Lutheran church tops a pleasant hillock as evidence of this statement.

Rev. I. Tollefsen was summoned to the bay as the first gospel expounder who unveiled the gems of the Old Book according to Augsburgian theology.

Into his footsteps dropped Rev. H. Langeland who is yet a beloved representative of the Supreme Being in the charming town of Poulsbo.

Many of the trance reports which have taken speedy wings for other climes have not been absolutely true. In justice to Rev. H. Langeland my pen cannot evade the declaration that he is a gentleman and a true Christian.

The Orphans' Home, organized eight years ago, looms magnificently on a nicely trimmed knoll, overlooking a wizard landscape. Rev. Tollefsen is the father of the inst.i.tution, but the people in general have given to it their unreserved support.

[Ill.u.s.tration: ORPHANS' HOME AT POULSBO.]

During recent years, Poulsbo has made quick strides forward, no less than four stores and two hotels combine to signalize its progress.

Langeland and Eliason are thrifty grocers; Alf Hostmark conducts an establishment of similar nature; Thos. Hegdahl is a prosperous furniture dealer and L. Christensen a dry goods merchant. The farmers around Poulsbo have tendered ready hands to any project tending to advance the interest of their villa. Steiner Th.o.r.eson and T. Paulson have been active exponents in the divers avenues of melioration, and A. V.

Paulson, an ex-teacher of the public schools, has never been lagging when a new enterprise was to be rooted. Ole Thompson, A. Talakson, A. O.

Hagan, Chris. Williams and Ole Nelson figure among the early settlers.

They are thrifty farmers and have contributed their time and energy for the good of the community. Nils Atleson, though recent colonist, has shared the burden of pushing the place to the front. He is the leader of the United Lutheran church, and a man of intelligence and pluck. K. G.

Steen and others have also proved worthy factors where skill and energy shine pre-eminently.

The country surrounding Poulsbo is mostly peopled with Scandinavians.

Pearson, across the bay, is a thriving community, princ.i.p.ally settled with intelligent Swedes, who have spared no time to make their terra firma attractive.

Breidablik, the home of the Paulson family, is an inviting place. As we recede further from Poulsbo we come to Seabold where many Scandinavians breathe happiness and prosperity. A short distance from this village lives C. Sanders, who was born in Sweden and came to Port Madison thirty-five years ago. There are also other old settlers as A. M.

Anderson and Chas. Olson. Across a pleasant elevation of land slowly falling to the sea we find the flower-besprinkled Rollingbay, where some early pioneers contend happily with the wild billows of the world.

Martin Sunnes, Dona Falk, Andrew Sornsen, Nils Peterson, Peter Bye, T.

Siverson, Mrs. Hanna Johnson and C. Johnson were the first adventurers.

There are other scattered Scandinavian settlements, but let it suffice, for this volume, by taking a step to Shelton, Mason county. Here we find the well-known Professor G. B. Gunderson and other prominent Scandinavians. Prof. Gunderson has served the people of his county as superintendent of the public schools and as representative in the legislation, with marked ability and success.