Andersena
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
ANTON ANDERSEN is one of the
pioneer merchants of Okanogan county and was the first to establish a store
in the vicinity of Brewster. The business was located at Virginia
City, which town adjoined the site now occupied by Brewster. And
when Brewster was launched as a new born city, all the Virginia City people
moved to it. Mr. Andersen came with his entire stock and has now
one of the largest stores of the county, carrying a good assortment of
all kinds of goods needed in this section, as groceries, gents' furnishings,
dry goods, hardware, boots and shoes, and so forth. His brother,
C. Andersen, is in partnership with him and they operate a large grocery
in Spokane in addition to the business in Brewster. The Spokane store
is one of the largest in the city and is known as the Pure Food grocery.
Anton Andersen was born in Ribe, Denmark,
on September 26, 1858, the son of Anders C. and Anna Andersen, both natives
of Denmark. There were five children in the family: Christen, in
Spokane; Mrs. Maren Jepsen, near Spokane; Martin, of Portland; Andrea,
in Brewster. Our subject received his education in the common schools
of his native land and at the age of nineteen enlisted in the regular army,
serving until 1881. Then he and his sister, Andrea, came to the United
States, settling in Avoca, Iowa. Soon thereafter, they went to Nebraska
and in the spring of 1888, they came to Spokane. Our subject engaged
as salesman in a grocery store and two years later started a store for
himself. This was just subsequent to the big fire in Spokane.
He operated the establishment successfully for two years then sold out
and engaged with his brother, Christen, in the general merchandise business
in Virginia City. Since the brother's family lived in Spokane, the
firm bought out 0. B. Nelson of that city, and, as stated, they handle
a large grocery store in Spokane now. Mr. Andersen has interests
in various mining properties in addition to their merchandise business
and they are both prosperous men.
Fraternally, our subject is a charter member
of the Imperial lodge of the I. 0. 0. F. in Spokane and also belongs to
the Redmen and the W. W. He is a man of good business ability
and has manifested both integrity and uprightness in all his dealings.
The result is that he enjoys a good patronage, and has hosts of warm friends.
Since the above was written the firm has established
a general merchandise business in Hillyard, Washington, and our subject
is giving his personal attention to the management of the enterprise.