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(Seattle & Northern 1890)

Skagit River Journal

of History & Folklore
Subscribers Edition Stories & Photos
The most in-depth, comprehensive site about the Skagit.
Covers from British Columbia to Puget sound. Counties covered: Skagit, Whatcom, Island, San Juan. An evolving history dedicated to the principle of committing random acts of historical kindness
Noel V. Bourasaw, editor (bullet) 810 Central Ave., Sedro-Woolley, Washington, 98284
Home of the Tarheel Stomp (bullet) Mortimer Cook slept here & named the town Bug
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Genealogy forum posts, page 1, August 2005

Updated August 3, 2005
      This is the overflow file from our interactive genealogy forum. We planned that you could post a paragraph there and then post your full query here. Please remember: if the email for the person you try to contact does not work, please email to us and we will attempt to track them down. Some addresses are a year or two old.
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Genealogy forum
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Listings below by name of person looking and the people they seek:
      Ed. note: For those of you looking for burial information about Sedro-Woolley-area burials, LE stands for the mortuary below. You can write to them and request both the funeral papers filled out for the family and they may also have an obituary from the Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times newspaper. Lemley Funeral Chapel, Ric Lemley, proprietor, 1008 3rd St., Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.
Leonard C Johnson elsiejay@moscow.com re: Gordon Ellestad
     
Dear Skagit County friends:
      I am seeking information about my second cousins Gordon Ellestad, Ardys Ellestad Mossington, and Wallace Ellestad, or their descendants. Their respective ages, if still living, would be 90, 88 and approximately 80 years. Their mother, Mabel Holm Ellestad, separated from Archie Ellestad shortly before 1930 and left their home in Roberts County, South Dakota, with their three children, and at some point went to live in your county, likely either at SedroWooley or Mount Vernon, where her sister Annie (Mrs. Selmer) Spaberg resided. Mabel may subsequently have been married to a man named Warrenton (Warrington).
      A friend of Annie Spaberg, a resident of South Dakota, told me that when visiting Annie in 1968 she had seen Mabel and her children there. Any information you can provide regarding these kin of mine would be very much appreciated.
      Also trying to trace a relative named Mabel Holm Ellestad, who had a sister named Annie, wife of Selmer Spaberg in Sedro Wooley or Mount Vernon. This may seem ancient information, to be sure, but I know that Mabel was in one of these cities in 1968, and quite possibly before that time, and since. She was separated from my cousin, Archie Ellestad, in South Dakota, and may have gone to live near her sister Annie in Skagit County. Mabel had a daughter, Ardys, born in 1915, a son Gordon, born in 1917, and a son Wallace, born about 1933-35. It may be that Mabel was married to a man named Warrenton, or somthing similar to that name.
      I am seeking information about my second cousins Gordon Ellestad, Ardys Ellestad Mossington, and Wallace Ellestad, or their descendants. Their respective ages, if still living, would be 90, 88 and approximately 80 years. Their mother, Mabel Holm Ellestad, separated from Archie Ellestad shortly before 1930 and left their home in Roberts County, South Dakota, with their three children, and at some point went to live in your county, likely either at SedroWooley or Mount Vernon, where her sister Annie (Mrs. Selmer) Spaberg resided. Mabel may subsequently have been married to a man named Warrenton (Warrington).
      A friend of Annie Spaberg, a resident of South Dakota, told me that when visiting Annie in 1968 she had seen Mabel and her children there. Any information you can provide regarding these kin of mine would be very much appreciated.
      Also trying to trace a relative named Mabel Holm Ellestad, who had a sister named Annie, wife of Selmer Spaberg in Sedro Woolley or Mount Vernon. This may seem ancient information, to be sure, but I know that Mabel was in one of these cities in 1968, and quite possibly before that time, and since. She was separated from my cousin, Archie Ellestad, in South Dakota, and may have gone to live near her sister Annie in Skagit County. Mabel had a daughter, Ardys, born in 1915, a son Gordon, born in 1917, and a son Wallace, born about 1933-35. It may be that Mabel was married to a man named Warrenton, or something similar to that name.
Andria Kennoy ackennoy@direcway.com re: Fred Finsen
      Fred (Frederick) Finsen was born in Norway to Henrick Finsen and Dorthea Thossin-Finsen in 1850. They came to the US in 1866 ending up first in Illinois then to Nebraska by 1878, where he married wife Emma Kerle whos parents came from England. They had son Henry and daughter Stella Finsen-Stewart in Nebraska then moved to Idaho in about 1885 where Fred's father had a lumber Mill . Children Norman Otto Finsen, Ida Finsen-Jeffries, Dorthea "Ethel" Finsen-Sharpe and Wilferd Finsen were all born in Idaho.
      They then moved to Red Deer Lake, Alberta Canada in about 1895 where Fred was a carpenter. In Alberta sons Lester Price Finsen my great grandfather and David Finsen were born. They then moved to Orville in Okanogan County, WA in EasternWash in 1907. Not sure what he did there ,but I am pretty sure he had a apple farm. By 1910 he moved to Port Orchard, Kitsap County, WA (From the 1910 census)and was a carpenter again.
      I also found him in the 1910 census living in Skagit County so he must have just moved in between census taking. He was also a carpenter in the 1910 census. You probably know more about when and where he had his Ferry must have been after the 1910 census and before the 1920 census when he had a chicken farm in Dewey. He also had land in Montana so this must have been in between living gin Nebraska and Idaho or Idaho and Canada in 1890.
      His daughter Ethel married Wallace Sharpe in Dewey and his son Lester married Adaline Bagley daughter to Warren Bagley and Hellen Johnson. Adaline and Lester where my great grandparents and parents to Joyce Finsen who married Cecil Dillard son to Daniel D Dillard of Concrete. Fred Died in June 9, 1928 in his home in Sedro Woolley and is buried in Fernhill, Anacortes. Fred's wife Emma was born in 1855 in Iowa to parents Emma and Robert Kerle. Both parents were born in England and married in the US. Her father Robert was in the Civil War fighting for the North in Illinois and Iowa. This part I am still working on and not sure if it is right. I think he must have been wounded and thought dead so her mother married another man. When he came home he married a much younger woman and moved to Nebraska where he died. Emma's mother lived into her 90's ,but not sure where she died or when since I can not figure out who she married. I think she married a Strome, but can not find out for sure. If you can not print off the photos from the site let me know and I will look for them and scan them in for you and e-mail them.
Peni Ramsey penir@yahoo.com
re: Margaret Felton, William Dannenmiller and Carter Hunter
      I saw your post on the Skagit County genforum. I've been looking for information on three families. I haven't been able to find much on them, but I am tracking them thru obit records and census data. I have most of the information that is available thru the Burlington Library. I haven't had a chance to contact the Genealogy Society yet. The three families I am trying to find information on are Martin and Margaret Felton, William Dannenmiller and Carter Hunter.
      Martin and Margaret Felton came to Harmony, Whatcom County, in 1879 from Minnesota. They have several grandchildren that still live in the area. Leo and Virgil Felton (Sedro-Woolley) and Alice Post (Burlington). William Dannenmiller moved to Skagit County early in the 1900 with brothers Joseph and Andrew. William married Katherine Felton, daughter of Martin and Margaret Felton.
      Carter Hunter came to Skagit County from Kansas in the early 1900s bringing his family with him. The original Hunter homestead was in the Hunter family until just a few years ago. It was sold when the daughter-in-law of the youngest son died in 1993. If any of this is of value, please let me know, I can provide a few more details. Anything you might have on these families would be much appreciated.
Ron Buckinger ron-buck@whidbey.net, Buckinger, Lundeen, Flagg, Smith, Brewster
      I found your great site while looking for information about Skagit County. I've fished most all areas of the upper Skagit County area and as a younger guy (I'm 60 now) duck hunted the Skagit flats every season. My family owned a 'duck shack' (houseboat) along Freshwater Slough (off the South Fork of the Skagit) from the 20s through the 60s, and we had a place at Pull-an-Be-Damned Point from 1954 through 1998, the property where we built was leased through the BIA from local Indian owners.
      I'm retired from the Island County Sheriff's Department and spend much of my leisure time reading and researching local history. On a trip a few years ago to Pleasant Ridge Cemetery I noticed a headstone that was somewhat set apart from others and was leaning, about to tumble over. The inscription indicated it was the resting place of Albert H. Brewster, aged 25, who died in July of 1885 and was killed by a falling tree. Probably because the headstone too was in a falling condition, this individual interested me and I decided to see if I could locate further information about Albert and perhaps specifics regarding his untimely demise. A trip to the Federal Achieves in Seattle revealed his name appearing on the special Territorial census conducted just a month prior to his death. The record indicated he was single, a farmer and born in Canada. Though no address was given, his name appeared with the Flagg and Smith families, also native of Canada and also shown as farmers. Subsequent review of historical records on my part has not turned up any other information regarding Albert, but I'm inclined to believe he may have been a relative of either or both the Smith and Flagg families. I notice the Flaggs had and still have quite a presence in the area, but I haven't contacted anyone to find out if Albert is a twig off a branch of their family tree. (Albert's headstone has since been restored to an upright position, I presume by groundskeepers.)
      My interest is in who Albert H. Brewster was. I suspect he may have been related to the Flaggs only because of the proximity of their names on the special consensus of 1895 and the fact both he and they show to have originated from Canada. Regarding 'South Fork' folks---as you know my personal roots do not go back far in that regard, however, I did know Ted and Betty Lundeen (off Fresh Water Slough) since, I guess, I was born and through the 70s. Also, I knew most all 'regular' duck hunters on 'The Front' during the '50s, and certainly most who owned 'duck shacks' (house boats') such as did we along Fresh Water Slough in those days. I recall some of the major floods and breaks in dikes in 1951 or '52 and 1955. My uncle, Clarence Buckinger, was the last to drive off the island between the South Fork and Fresh Water Slough in '51 (might have been 52) prior to the only bridge to that island being washed away a half hour later.
      For years after that, and before the game department took over the whole island as a hunting preserve, we would take our boat from Lundeen's landing across the and down the slough to reach our 'duck shack'. Then, in 1954-55 we hydraulically washed out a cove along the north bank on the slough (along Lundeen's property, next to the dike) and to that spot towed our 'duck shack'---where it remained throughout the remainder of time we owned it, and may remain to this day. The process of using a hydraulic high-pressure hose to sluice out an artificial 'cove' from the river or slough bank is, of course, illegal nowadays, but was an accepted practice fifty years ago. Boy, did we turn those waters muddy! Yeah, times have changed, and I must admit, some changes have been for the better. Thanks for the information, Noel. You've done a great job with the website.
Terry Reece Terry_Reece@myfamily.com re: Daniel Lewis, Albert and Ira Reece
      We have had three family reunions. The first was in Lyman then we moved to Darringtion following the same path as most of our families. My grandfather Daniel Lewis Reece, first settled in Lyman around 1904-1905. He built houses there, and as we have corresponded before, I believe that Reece street. in Lyman is named after him. My great grandmother, along with an Uncle Ira Reece, are buried in the Hamiltion Lyman cemetery in the northeast corner. My great grandfather returned to NC an died there. The family started in out in Lyman (after arriving from NC) then moved to the Sauk Prarie and spread to Darrington from 1905 or so.
      Our family story is at this site. But you have to obtain permission to read it or post there. Remember, we do not sell or give out any information on our web site, and you can only view the Darrington Reece web site if you are a member. If you want to view it or have relatives that have not joined, please send me your email address and I will send a invitation and password. I hope to get you a time line and history of their settling in Lyman and move to the Sauk Pararie and Darrington. You will find under family history some items.. One is particular by Albert Reece you should read. It is a two page history that uncle A.B>, as he was known, wrote about an early experience coming from Wooly up to the prarie to visit my uncles on Daniel Lewis's place.
JoAnne Tootie Cassingham emeraldrain@verizon.net re: Reece family above
      My Great Grandfather, Jeremiah Marcus Reece (better known as Mark Reece) who moved his family from western North Carolina to Washington, settling first in Skagit County in the little town of Lyman. Before leaving North Carolina he lived in what was called Sunburst, (around Lake Logan area) which is located in Haywood County North Carolina. (Near Canton, North Carolina). He and his brother Lewis Reece operated a sawmill there. His brother moved to Washington before my grandpa, but I don't know the year that Uncle Lewis moved his family out here.
      In 1906 my grandpa sold his home and property in North Carolina to a timber company back there and he and his family ( 6 children ) boarded a train ( I believe, so the story goes that he brought 2 hound dogs with him as well) and they came to Lyman where he and the family resided first. I'm not sure how long he lived there but I think it was awhile. His children attended school there. Several family members are buried in the Lyman Cemetery. Later he sold that property and purchased a piece of ground between Lyman and Hamilton along the river. (That road may be named the Cape Horn Road today.) He cleared the ground with an oxen.
      His brother, Lewis, later moved from Lyman to Darrington via the old Ferry that crossed the Skagit River at Rockport. ( I remember as a little girl how scary that thing was for me) Grandpa heard there was alot of land for sale in Darrington so he decided to have a look around and purchased several hundred acres and built his home in Darrington. He moved his cattle across the river on the old Ferry at Rockport.
Lori Jackson rjsma@yahoo.com re: Marshall Jacob Woodring, Elaine Henderson, Mary Elizabeth Gates
      Hi, Oh how pleased I was to find your website. My name is Lori Walker Jackson. I am Marshal Jacob Woodring's great-great granddaughter. I grew up in Skagit County, but I am currently living in Monterey, CA, while my husband is in the US Navy. I am taking a Genealogy class at Monterey Peninsula College and am putting together some more family history. I know that Jacob was born in Macon County, North Carolina and Joined the Union Army in Tennessee. I have a copy of his civil war papers that came from my Grandmother Doris Woodring Walker. He was married first to an Elaine Henderson and after he came to the Skagit Valley he married Mary Elizabeth Gates (my Great-great-Grandmother).
      Mary was the daughter of Thomas Gates and his wife Martha. Thomas was the brother of Jasper [Mount Vernon pioneer], so as you can see my family has been in the valley for a long time. I grew up hearing stories of the Gates and I knew my Great Grandfather Richard Woodring and he told of how he worked for the Railroad. I found him in the 1920 Hamilton census and sure enough he was living in the railroad camp and working there. In a coincidence my father was seriously injured outside the Hamilton Tavern in 1992 when he was attacked by his girlfriend's ex-boyfriend. He was hit over the head with a blunt object just like Jake was, but he survived only after being airlifted to St. Joseph's and having brain surgery. It left him permanently disabled, but he gets around. Anyways, I would love to swap info. Thanks, Lori Walker Jackson
Rebecca Cannon rcannon1@pacbell.net re: Lillie Reay Allquist, Jack Reay, George Reay, Emil Allquist, John Allquist
      I've only had a few minutes to look at your Website since discovering it last week (via Jon Naito's article in the Skagit Valley Herald on Tonya Senkbeil). In his article he mentioned that you maintained a Web site devoted to the history of the Skagit River, but I had to email him to get your Web site address. I have really enjoyed the few minutes I've been able to take to look over your Web site. This upcoming weekend I plan to give myself over the enjoyment of steeping myself in your Website for several hours of Skagit County/River lore. I have a ton of information, by the way, as well as photographs of the early settler life of Skagit County. My maternal aunt, Lois Allquist Chase, provided quite a bit of info and photos to the Skagit Historical Society many years ago, and some of this documentation was published by the Historical Society in a series of books . I will be happy to share this info with your Website, if it would be useful.
      Lois and my mother's (June Allquist Cannon) family provide the connection to Skagit County. Their paternal grandparents came to the US from Sweden circa 1887. After horsing around in the Midwest, they came to Skagit County and my grandfather (Emil Allquist) was born in the Harmony district in 1890. Granddad's own farm was on the Beaver Marsh and my uncle (John Allquist) still owns the land although he is now retired from farming. My mother, aunts, and uncle all attended primary school in Avon. Their mother's (Lillie Reay Allquist) family also goes back a ways in Skagit County. Lillie's father (Jack Reay) came to Skagit County via Grand Manan Island (Canada) circa 1865 when Jack was a boy (he came with his father, siblings, and grandmother). That family eventually settled out in the Bay View area.
      When I was a child, it seemed that we were related, by blood or marriage, to just about everyone else in the county. When I was age 6, my parents moved to Michigan, due to my father's work, and I have forever since hated the Midwest. I spent every summer thereafter with my aunt (Lois) and her husband (Cleve Chase) - they are the same as parents to me and I spend several weeks with them every year. Cleve worked for Hamburg Iron Works before and after the second World War - and he was often called upriver to repair some piece of heavy equipment or farm machinery. This introduced him to the upper Skagit, Sauk, Suiattle, Baker, Cascade, and White Chuck river watersheds - and all the old logging roads - and he always took me with him. This soon led to all three of us traipsing all over the Mt. Baker Nat'l forest. Later, as a teenager, my brother (Don Cannon) and I hiked and back-packed just about trail there was. When I graduated from high school in Michigan, I went to college in southern California and was immediately relieved to be back in the West. (I haven't been east of Phoenix since 1971 - well, almost). I have been living in the San Francisco Bay Area (Berkeley) for about 15 years now. And as you can probably tell from what I've written, I am perpetually homesick for Skagit County. It's so strange when I come home now and see that is, basically, becoming a suburb. Anyway, I'm looking forward to spending time on your Website this weekend. Are you a Skagit County native and how did you develop your interest in establishing the Website?
      Journal ed. note: You can learn more about the Reay family and the people who migrated here from Maine, New Brunswick and Grand Manan, at this Journal website. Another Skagit county pioneer from the Northeast had roots in the Northwest dating back to the earliest settlement of the Seattle region as early as 1850. Lillie May Anderson Reay of Avon, arrived here as a bride in 1898, but her family may have been one of the first from Maine to settle in Washington. She was born at 2nd and Pine in Seattle and her grandfather Edmund Carr emigrated from Maine to Seattle in 1854. Talk about historical bona fides: Mrs. Carr's mother was Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Holgate, the widow of John Holgate, who filed claim in Georgetown area in 1850 and she may have been the first white woman to ever appear on Elliott Bay. Lillie May's father, Matthew Anderson was a boat builder, and his last project, the Virginia V is still docked in Seattle. Lillie May married George Reay, mentioned above as a Grand Manan Isle native.
Diana Kempf kemland@earthlink.net re: Sumner Hurd, Maynard Hurd
      So pleased to find your site! Gleaned info in Joshua Green in whom I've been interested since working for the former People Natl. Bank in Seattle in early 70s when we celebrated his 100th birthday (despite the fact that he was born in 1869). I'm interested in doing more research into the cast of "characters" who worked there with me between 1970 and '72. Very interesting times. All three Joshua Greens still were still involved in the bank then. My job was to produce the employee publication, so I had access to people and their stories throughout the main office as well as the branches throughout Puget Sound and the state. Got to interview members of the board of directors (Foss tug family, Lamont Bean, et. al). One of those times you value only in retrospect, as the players become historical figures!
      I am also seeking information on a LaConner pioneer, Sumner Hurd. He was an old friend of ours when he lived in North Bend OR, then on Seattle's Queen Ann Hill in the 1970s. I think he would have been born in the 1880s, mostly likely in the La Conner area or Skagit Valley.We lost contact with him, but do know that he went to live with a family in Republic, WA as his health failed, then believe he died in the Veterans' Home in Retzil (sp.) WA, probably sometime in the late 1970s or 1980s. Sumner Hurd was an attorney and I believe a judge in San Francisco. Has married and divorced there, I believe, to a woman named Constance. He was involved with the American Legion at least in his later life. Though he regaled us with many nostolgic stories about growing up in LaConner/Skagit Valley, we failed to write them down. Of course I regret that now. Sumner had a sister named Laura Hurd who, as I recall had been on the staff of Bertha Landis when she had been mayor of Seattle. (I may have her confused with his aunt whose name I cannot recall and who lived with his sister also on Queen Anne during the time we knew Sumner). I see reference to a Maynard Hurd, an attorney in Mt. Vernon, in your web site. I don't know if Sumner is related, but suspect he may be. Thanks for "listening."
Kathy Moser kdmoser@wiktel.com re: Joe Emert, Azilda Lucier, Madore Emert, George H. Lucier
      Hi, what I have on Joe Emert is next to nothing, I hope to obtain more information. Here's what I have: my great Aunt Azilda Lucier born in 1868, married Joe we believe in Michigan in about 1884 or 1885, (the marriage date I derived due to her birth date) it is unknown how or where she met him, they had one son by name of Madore Emert , born in 1886 in Michigan, he died about 1921 in Washington. If one could locate the 1890 census for Skagit county , all three should be listed, as Joe died in the fight in 1891 or 1892 . My Grandfather was George H. Lucier, he was born in CT. and Moved to MN, he never lived in or visited his sister in Washington....sorry this is not more helpfull, I hope if you come across more you will share it with me. please keep in touch.
Merryanne Mosher Brown m3br@yahoo.com re: Fred Finsen
      Was trying to find info on Mosher family who came to Sedro-Woolley around 1910. Your site has helped me to learn about what my ancestors experienced in the area. My family worked in the Veneer plant and logging companies for generation in the area. Living on 6th and 7th & Sterling for generations. Would love to see a map or pic of the area in 1910-1940. Am looking for any info on Mosher and Watts families of the area. thanks great site. Notes on family state that William H. , Emma and children left Iowa in 1902( when son William was 6 years in covered wagon, with cow tied to the back. Arrived Needy, Oregon and lived there about 2 years. From there family went to Goldendale Wa. taking covered wagon and the cow with them, lived there about a year and a half, left there and moved to Big Lake, Wa, moved from there to Sedro-Woolley, Wa. where the wagon and cow we resold. A place on North Central Ave was purchased. William H. and William D. worked at the veneer plant for several years, then when William H. was no longer able to work, he raised and sold chickens and eggs.
      Merryanne's father: William Milo MOSHER 1 was born 18 Jan 1924 in Sedro-Woolley, Skagit Co., Wa. He died 2 19 Dec 1992 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR. [ His Parents] William Dison MOSHER was born 23 Feb 1896 in Clear Lake, Hamilton Co. Ohio. He died 12 Jun 1951 in Sweethome/Lebanon, Linn Co. Oregon. He married Laura Lydia WATTS 22 Sep 1917 in Sedro Woolley, Skagit Co. Wash. Laura Lydia WATTS was born 22 Sep 1901 in Lansing,Mower Co. Minnesota. She died 28 Oct 1983 in Lebanon, Linn Co. Oregon.
      Ed. note: Burial record cards at Lemley Funeral Home, Sedro-Woolley, Lillian Watts D 1950 Age 75 Born Minnesota [1875?] Burial Card LE-14-204 Buried S-W; Milo Watts D 1928 Age 59 Born Minnesota [1869] Burial Card LE-05-095 Buried S-W; There is also and Austin C. Watts, buried S-W 1957.
Gene Woodwick glw@reachone.com re: Phillip and Clarinda Jones
      I am looking for information about Phillip and Clarinda Jones who came on an immigrant train to Skagit County. They first lived at Sterling where he had a butcher shop, then at Rockport and finally at Sedro-Woolley. They both died there and I can't seem to hit any information.
Linda Burns burns@skagit.ctc.edu re: Harry Kelley, Mary Lake Kelley
      My paternal grandparents lived most of their lives in Sedro-Woolley and I can't find anyone around here who knew them. Harry Kelley, Sr. was grandpa and Mary Lake Kelley was grandma. They had 3 children: Harry Kelley, Jr., Dorothy Kelley (married name unknown to me) who had a son "Bud" (real name unknown to me), and Harold Kelley. All of these people are gone now. Except maybe Bud, as he would be just a couple years older than myself. Harry Kelley, Jr. went to Mexico and his girlfriend was found deal alongside a road down there and we have never heard from Harry since. Do you know anyone who knows this family?
      Ed. note: Harry Joseph Kelley, died 1971, age 67, born Washington, LE-26-065
Ann Derner annlynnd@rmaonline.net re: Charles Langendorfer, Anna Albright
      Amy , send me you address before, and I am not sure if you can do any look-up s for me , but I would like some information on Charles Langendorfer and his wife Anna Albright. I understand she was an early pioneer there.
      Ed. note: Lemley Funeral home information — Charles Langendorfer died in 1933 at age 68. He was born in Germany. He is buried in the Sedro-Woolley cemetery and his funeral card # is LE-06-160. Annie Langendorfer died in 1955 at age 85. She was born in Canada. She is buried in the Sedro-Woolley cemetery and her funeral card # is LE-16-271. In addition, Arthur Hollis Langendorfer died in 1986 at age 66. He was born in Washington, [presumably after his parents came here from Germany via Canada]. He is buried in the Sedro-Woolley cemetery and his funeral card # is LE-41-042. Ernest William Langendorfer died in 1976 at age 64. He was also born in Washington. He is buried in the Sedro-Woolley cemetery and his funeral card # is LE-31-140 . LE stands for the mortuary below. You can write to them and request both the funeral papers filled out for the family and they may also have an obituary from the Sedro-Woolley Courier-Times newspaper. Lemley Funeral Chapel, Ric Lemley, proprietor, 1008 3rd St., Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284.
Dorian Yeager dyeager535@yahoo.com re: Fred J. Berry
      I have been doing some research for the past few days after finding a letter from my Grandfather, about a location up on the Skagit River. He mentioned that he knew someone by the last name of "Berry" on the Skagit back in the 50's, who's father had also been up on the Skagit long before. After some further research, it appears the sons name is Fred J. Berry, although I can't be certain of that. I believe that to be correct though because of his name listed on this page under oral interviews, which also happens to contain the name of one of the structures my Grandfather mentioned as being the creation of a Berry family member. Do you by any chance have any history on the Berry family? I'm trying to find out why the Park Service determined one of the sites to not meet the eligibility criteria, when it appears the site dates back to 1875. Thanks for any info you can provide, if Fred Berry is still alive, I'd love to contact him.
      Ed. note: Dorian, you never mentioned your grandfather's name. Please supply that so that people can respond about him. You can write to Gretchen_luxenberg@nps.gov, who is an expert and the author of the site you referenced above
Bill and Myrna Casey mybill@pacifier.com re: Fred Finsen
      I had ancestors, my great and grandparents who lived in Skagit, San Juan and Whatcom Co. Bellingham, where I'm from, but I'm now in Tacoma. I've been trying to locate my Gr.Grandparents and grandparents right before the turn of the century. My Gr.Grandparents came out from MN sometime after 1887 but before 1896. They were located in Anacortes. My Grandmother was married in Fairhaven in 1897, age 18, but I know they had lived in Anacortes as my Gr.Grandmother had a boarding house and millinery shop. They were the W.H. McDonald's. My grandmother was their foster daughter, her mother having died when she was only 4 years old. I don't know why they came west as they had a thriving business in MN.
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