Scandinavians on the Pacific, Puget Sound Part 4

[Ill.u.s.tration: HANS HANSEN.]

Hans Hansen, manager of the Union Fish Company, and a man of indomitable will power, was born in Norway, July 20, 1859, where he laid his foundation for an active career. In 1881 he arrived in Minneapolis and six years later beheld the city of Seattle. He settled on a homestead in the Quillayute valley, but returned to the Queen City after a few years of experience at farming. In 1896 he was elected to the legislature, and became noted for his opposition to fish traps, and his earnest support of Hon. George Turner for United States senator. He has been a frequent contributor to the different papers on political and reform topics. In religion he is a Methodist.

SCANDINAVIANS IN SEATTLE.

CHAPTER IV.

SOCIETIES--PRESS--PROMINENT CITIZENS--CHURCHES.

Scandinavians in Seattle have contributed largely to the social feature of life. They have organized a number of societies, some flourished immensely for some time, then died a natural death, others have continued to prosper through sun and storm. The Normanna Literary and Social Club was among the first Norwegian societies, but alas! only a few days of sunshine then clouds and dispersion. The Baltic Lodge, I. O. G. T., was placed on record February 10, 1888, and has since its birth drank vigor from the fountain of wholesome reform. In a word, it is the healthiest Scandinavian society in the city of Seattle, and some of the members merit grat.i.tude for their indefatigable work. G. Nygard, Gust. Thompson, Ole Finnoy, Martin Erickson, Ole La.r.s.en, James Eggan, Anton Peters, B.

H. Miller, Peter Peterson, W. T. Hillestad, A. Zaar, and Belle and Lena Egge, Christina Newgard, Augusta and Lottie Stromberg, Mrs. Emma Eggan, Ida Peters and Matilda Iverson have sacrificed both time and energy for the advancement of the temperance cause.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE BALTIC LODGE, I. O. G. T., ON A PICNIC.]

A Swedish society, baptized Svea, the 31st of May, 1894, had but a few struggles with the chilly world. The following year it withered into oblivion unsung. Nordmaendenes Sangforening (Norwegian Singing Society) was organized in November, the same year, but soon gave signs of ephemeral existence. The Sagatun was born the year after, lingered on a narrow path for a while, finally fell into an innocent grave.

The Swedish Club, organized in 1892, is a healthy and vigorous society.

From its embryo to the present time it has had a smooth run of sunshine and prosperity. It takes unity of hearts and energy to steer a social fleet through all sorts of weather from the tiny stream of embarkation into the calm sea of triumph. The Swedish Club has accomplished this.

The object of the organization is exclusively fraternal, to unite the Swedish elements in the city by friendly ties, and to extend a warm hand to those coming within its reach from other cities or climes. The first officers were: H. E. Humer, Prest., Rudolph Alm, V. Prest., David Petree, R. Sec., G. Edinholm, F. Sec., Andrew Chilberg, Treasurer, A. T.

Lundberg, Librarian, Hugo Hettengren, M. C. At its rift of morn only thirty-two names smiled on the recording scroll, while now two hundred members in good standing bespeak its strength, with the following inc.u.mbent officers: J. M. Johnson, Prest., N. J. Nyquist, V. Prest., A.

Zaar, R. Sec., H. J. Norden, F. Sec., N. B. Nelson, Treasurer, A. T.

Lundberg, Librarian, J. Nyman, M. C., and P. J. Melin, Otto Roseleaf and D. Nordstrom, Trustees.

The Danish Brotherhood, a national league of high standard, aiming to benefit and to educate, found admission to Washington about eleven years ago. The Seattle Lodge 29, was organized April 8, 1888, with eleven chartered members, which now numbers one hundred and fifty. The Danish Sisterhood, an auxiliary to the Danish Brotherhood, has taken steps in the right direction, working to sweeten and strengthen the ties of love and mutual amicability.

The Norwegian Workingmen's society sprang into existence about eight years ago, and lived through many scenes of joy and pathos, now flourishing, now trembling to its foundation. Alas! detonating meteors exploded within its labyrinth and gloomy melancholy spread her black veil, an oratorical flower dropped here, and a declamatory bloom there, at last the tree of support shivered in chilly desolation, and withered into nothingness.

[Ill.u.s.tration: THE 17TH OF MAY COMMITTEE, 1899.

A. Dahl, H. P. Rude, Erik Frisch, N. A. Christof, Frank Oleson, Jacob A. Hendricks.]

The Norse Club, organized three years ago, has reveled in healthy sunshine, and smiling tendrils have encircled its prop. The 17th of May, 1899, bespeaks its culmination. The celebration of Norwegian independence under its banner was a marked event among the Scandinavians.

Thousands of people gathered at Madison Park, Seattle, from all parts of the Sound, to partic.i.p.ate in perpetuating the memory of the Norse heroes. Honor is due to the following gentlemen for launching and piloting this social ship into a haven of safety: H. P. Rude, C. M.

Thuland, Frank Oleson, Christian Bolgen, A. J. Thuland, A. H. Soelberg, B. A. Clausen, N. A. Christof, A. Scottness, Theodore Pederson and Julius Sunde.

Fremad, the social wing of the Norwegian Lutheran church, has lived through many upheavals, and yet looks forward with unclouded eyes. The other Scandinavian churches have their inviting adjuncts, but of more recent date, which tender valuable aids to their respective mothers.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JAMES EGGAN.]

Scandinavians in Seattle have been fortunate in having men and women gifted and willing to make the social feature of life entertaining and successful. Of all the gaudy society flowers, no one merits more applause than the genial photographer, James Eggan. He was born in Osterdalen, Norway, 1872, came to America in 1880, locating in the city of Minneapolis. From boyhood he evinced unusual talent as a comedian and as an artist. He could have gathered jewels on the stage as well as in the photographic studio. In 1889, he set out for the Pacific, and after taking a survey of the picturesque Puget Sound, selected Seattle as his future abode. Though only a youth of seventeen, yet he soon invited the attention of the public in both the social and the artistic world. Not only is Mr. Eggan possessed of natural endowments as a photographer and as a reciter, but is a true type of integrity and honesty.

Very few cities of three decades in the United States can boast of more short-lived Scandinavian newspapers than Seattle. The Scandinavian Publishing Company was the first on record, and issued two Scandinavian weeklies, viz., Vestra Posten and Washington Posten, which yet live and thrive. This company dissolved, and from its dissolution sprang two others; The Swedish Publishing Company, issuing Vestra Posten and a Norwegian concern of similar nature, publishing Washington Posten.

Vestra Posten was founded by N. P. Lind and T. Sandegren, and Washington Posten by Frank Oleson, a.s.sisted by Julius Sunde. The former is at present in the hands of N. G. Lind, J. W. Martin and A. Olson, who have raised the paper to a high standard. The latter is owned and edited by A. J. Thuland. C. M. Thuland, now lawyer, also gave heed to journalism.

He turned out Seattle Tidende and The North, but both fell into an early tomb.

Julius and Engward Sunde organized and published Fram, which blossomed and bore fruit, but one sad day it was stretched on a lazy bier and wheeled to the grave. Folketidende popped into existence about four years ago but through some intrigue it died and was buried minus tears and ceremony. Folkets Blad was the next of the ephemeral journals; it was born in 1899, lingered through a few sunny months, then swallowed, without pity, by Tacoma Tidende.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GEORGE BECH.]

Anent men of literary ability among the Scandinavians, George Bech, without doubt, stands in the first rank. He is a well-known author, musician and business man of Seattle, born in Roeskilde, Denmark, April 4, 1846. After finishing his education in the State School, 1865, he was awarded the degree of A. M., and the following year took examin philosophicus, Ph. M., at the University of Copenhagen; studied mathematics for some time, then went into business, trading in Norway, Sweden and Germany, but always a.s.siduously at work during leisure writing poems and novels for the different journals of Denmark and Norway. In the latter country he made acquaintance with Olaf Lofhus, editor of "Bergens Tidende," to whose paper he frequently contributed, and Johan Sverdrup, then president of the National Storthing, in whose house he was a welcome guest. In 1887 he left Copenhagen, arriving in Seattle, August 22, where he found a rich field for his literary talent, for some time contributing to local and other papers, then editor of Folkedidende, and later Folkets Blad. He has written an exquisite dramatic work, "Haeng Ham," and a song, "Old Glorious Glory," which he has also put to music. It is Mr. Bech's ambition to have his song adopted as a national hymn. He was married in May, 1880, and has one son, sixteen years old.

[Ill.u.s.tration: GRAEBERT ANDERSEN.]

Graebert Anderson, an eloquent ex-minister of the M. E. church, and a gifted writer, was born in Denmark, 1860. After graduating from the public schools, he spent some time in private study, with a view of entering some academy, but instead of carrying out his plan, he left for America, when about eighteen years old. Shortly after his arrival in the New World, he commenced to prepare for the ministry of the M. E. church at the university in Evanston, Illinois. Here he spent five years, then migrated to the Pacific, where he has been recognized as the most eloquent pulpit orator among the Scandinavians on the coast, and has served as expounder of the gospel in the largest Norwegian-Danish churches, namely in Oakland and Eureka, California, and Tacoma and Seattle, Washington. Two years ago he resigned from the ministry to devote his time to journalism. In 1889 he was married to Miss Lottie H.

Christensen, a lady of fine education, a teacher in the public schools of Racine, Wisconsin. They reside in Seattle, where Mr. Anderson is interested in newspaper business, being secretary of the Tacoma Tidende Publishing Company, with office in Coleman building, First Avenue, Seattle.

[Ill.u.s.tration: REV. JOHN JOHNSON.

Presiding Elder of the Swedish M. E. Church.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SWEDISH M. E. CHURCH, SEATTLE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: SWEDISH BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: NORWEGIAN-DANISH LUTHERAN CHURCH, SEATTLE.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: NORWEGIAN-DANISH BAPTIST CHURCH, SEATTLE.]

Scandinavians have been liberal in their contributions to religious worship. Eight Scandinavian churches in the city of Seattle join to confirm this fact. The various denominations are represented: Lutheran, Methodist, Baptist, and Mission Friends. There are one Swedish and two Norwegian-Danish Lutheran churches, one Swedish and one Norwegian-Danish Baptist churches, one Swedish and one Norwegian-Danish Methodist churches, and one Swedish Mission church.

SCANDINAVIANS IN BALLARD.

CHAPTER V.

Ballard merits the appellation, City of Smokestacks. No small town west of the Rocky has more factories. Saw mills and shingle mills are sending clouds of smoke into the air day and night, and brigades of industrious men are busily engaged. The city has been regarded by many as a suburb of Seattle, but this is a misinterpretation. True, Ballard is near Seattle, and is connected to it by a well-equipped street railway, but has its own government.

The first Scandinavian who touched Salmon Bay, half a mile below Ballard, was probably Peter Friberg. In 1875 Gustaf Anderson pitched his tent on a green spot near the rippling water where he yet resides. He was born in Sweden, crossed the Atlantic in 1864, and spent several years in Chicago before coming to the Pacific. He is a man of intelligence and holds a respectable rank among the people. Ole Schildstad, a native of Norway, and highly respected, arrived simultaneously.

In those early days Ballard was undreamt. The smoke which now curls above its bustle did not enter the calm of the pioneers' hearts.

They were contented with the peregrination of daily necessity. Few Scandinavians then stalked the dense forest which clad the turf where five thousand people now dwell midst noise and progress, but today over one thousand Vikings mingle in the various walks of life in the town.

[Ill.u.s.tration: JOHN JOHNSON.]

John Johnson, the leading merchant and an intelligent and honored citizen, is a native of Norway, being born March 26, 1862, midway between Trondhjem and Levanger, where he received his early education.

At the age of ten he emigrated to America, locating at Muskegon, Michigan, attended the public schools three years, worked in a saw mill four years, and clerked in a grocery store seven years. In 1886 he launched into business for himself which he is pursuing with marked success. During the same year he was married at Muskegon to a cultured young lady, Miss Magna Nelson, whose parents hail from Tromso, Norway.

In 1893 Mr. Johnson moved to Ballard and immediately embarked in grocery business. His large establishment and business method plainly reflect his ability, and a mult.i.tudinous circle of friends bespeaks his generosity and integrity of character.

[Ill.u.s.tration: FRANK ENGQUIST.]

Frank Engquist, the well-known merchant tailor of Ballard, was born in Sweden, 1861, received a fine education in his native country, and in 1882 crossed the Atlantic for the United States, settling at Moline, Illinois, where he remained one and a half years. His next journey was to Minneapolis, where he found employment in one of the largest tailoring establishments in the city. In 1888 he migrated to Seattle, Washington, and shortly after resumed his chosen occupation. He was attracted by the fascinating aspect of the Sound, and abandoned his business to try his hand at agriculture in Rolling Bay. The gigantic trees and stubborn stumps plucked the laurels of his fancy, and in 1896 started business in Ballard, where he is permanently located. Mr.