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The Seattle Times
Monday, February 24, 1930
Page 4, Column 5

Pacific Northwest Lumberman Succumbs; Leaves Career of Achievement

Edward G. English, 79-year-old pioneer Pacific Northwest lumberman and one of the founders of Mount Vernon, died yesterday morning at his home, 1161 21st Avenue North.

Mr. English, a native of Massachusetts, came to the Puget Sound region in 1877. Since that time he had taken a colorful part in the logging activities of Western Washington and British Columbia. He was one of the organizers of the Pacific Logging Congress, President of the English Lumber Company of Seattle, President of the Lyman Timber Company of Everett and Vice President of Wood & English Ltd., Vancouver, British Columbia.

The veteran lumberman was a member of the Masons, Elks and Odd Fellows fraternal organizations of Seattle and also belonged to the Arctic, Rainer and Inglewood Country Clubs.

Surviving him are his widow, Mrs. Alice K. English; a daughter, Mrs. T.W. Doan of Duluth, Minnesota and a son, Hugh L. English of this city. Funeral arrangements have not been completed.

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Skagit News Herald
Thursday, February 27, 1930

Masonic Rites Mark Burial of Pioneer

Funeral held Wednesday in Seattle; Camps and Mills shut down; Great throng attends services; Floral tributes many and beautiful Edward G. English, who died in Seattle Sunday morning, was borne to his last resting place in Washelli Cemetery yesterday afternoon. Episcopal services were held at the Bonney-Watson Chapel. Dr. McLaughlin, rector of the church which the late pioneer attended, preached the funeral sermon.

Burial rites were conducted by the Mount Baker Lodge Free and Accepted Masons of Mount Vernon, with N.B. Hannay officiating. Mr. English was a charter member and of the founders of this lodge.

The active pallbearers were James O'Hearne of Mount Vernon; Will Morrison, Anacortes; Guy Buck, Hamilton; Harley LaPlant, Lyman; H.E. Hanson, Seattle; Charles Westrom, Everett.

Among the honorary pallbearers were A.F. McEwan, business associate of Mr. English; E.C. Million, former Mount Vernon lawyer, both of Seattle; H.W. Sessions of Arlington, one time resident of Mount Vernon and formerly employed at the English headquarters camp.

Old-time friends, business associates and employees joined the bereaved family yesterday in Seattle to bid farewell to Edward G. English. The Bonney-Watson Chapel was a vast bower of floral tributes. Hundreds of beautiful floral pieces were massed against the rear and side walls, tributes from hundreds. Here was the bier of one of the Northwest's most widely known old settlers, one of the state's empire builders. The funeral procession to Washelli was more than a mile in length.

Camps and mills with which Mr. English was associated were closed for the day. Besides the Masons, who attended in a body, scores of friends from Skagit County went to Seattle yesterday to be present at the funeral services.

Mr. English was a native of Maine, born in 1850. As a small boy he moved to Wisconsin with his parents, settling at Arcadia. When twenty years of age he came west, inspired by the words of Horace Greeley, "Go west, young man, go west." Some time was spent in California and Oregon, but before the end of that year he made his way to Skagit County.

Mr. English was married soon after coming here, to Miss Alice Kessinger, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Kessinger. Mr. Kessinger was at that time engaged in civil engineering work here. Plunging at once into merchandising and logging, Mr. English soon became heavily interested in Skagit County. In company with Harrison Clothier he ran a pioneer store and bought timber in his neighborhood. A ten-acre tract of land was purchased from Jasper Gages and a store was erected. A petition for a post office was granted and Clothier was appointed the first postmaster. That was in 1877.

The small tract of land purchased by the pioneer firm became the first platted part of Mount Vernon. In 1890 the town was incorporated and a municipal government was organized. The following year Mr. English bought out the interests of his partner.

For some time Mr. English engaged in the logging business at English Spur, now known as English, on the Great Northern line near Marysville. After that he formed a number of partnerships, finally becoming associated with A.F. McEwan of Seattle. At the time of his death Mr. English's interests included stock in the English Lumber Company, the Lyman Timber Company, the Skagit Mill Company, the Fidalgo Lumber and Box Company at Anacortes and Wood & English, Limited, at Vancouver, British Columbia.

The old family home was sold in 1913 to Alfred Polson when the English residence was transferred to Seattle.

Surviving are Mrs. English and a son, Hugh, residing in Seattle and a daughter, Mrs. Thomas Wirt Doan of Duluth, Minnesota. Waldo, another son, who died at the age of five, is buried in the local cemetery.

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The Seattle Times
Friday, March 7, 1930
Page 10, Column 8

Three To Share In English Estate

The $1,000,000 estate of Edward G. English, Seattle lumberman who died here February 23rd, is to be apportioned among members of his immediate family: His widow, Mrs. Alice K. English; his daughter, Mrs. Alice E. Doan and a son, Hugh L. English.

Petition for probate of the estate was filed by the widow’s attorneys, the firm of Peters, Powell, Evans & McLaren, in the Superior Court yesterday.

The widow, under the will, will receive one-half the estate; the son and daughter one-quarter each.

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Generously contributed by: Sheila Simpson