Part 10 (1/2)

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 suns.h.i.+ne 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 pus.h.i.+ng 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 suns.h.i.+ne.

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.