Pflaegingf
Transcribed from "History of North Washington, an illustrated history
of Stevens, Ferry, Okanogan and Chelan counties", published by Western
Historical Publishing Co., 1904.
FRED PFLAEGING has been prominently
connected with the Chelan country for more than a decade and in various
official capacitites as well as in important private enterprises, has rendered
services that have resulted in great good to this section. Long before
Chelan county was organized he was a leader in the Chelan country.
During all his years of residence here he has been known as one of the
substantial and prominent business men whose excellent success in various
lines testify both to his skill and ability.
Fred Pflaeging was born in Louisville, Kentucky,
October 8, 1862, the son of William and Katherine (Schmidt) Pflaeging,
natives of Germany. They came to the United States in the fifties,
settled in Columbus, Ohio, later removed to Kentucky and in 1885 the mother
died in Omaha, Nebraska. The father followed merchandising in these
various places and now dwells with the subject of this sketch. In
the primary and high school at Omaha, at Tabor college, Tabor, Iowa, and
in the Wyman Business College of Omaha our subject received his educational
training. He then entered the empoly of the Willow Springs Distilling
Company as errand boy, and later was advanced to the position of book-keeper,
which he held for fifteen years. In 1891 he came to Lake Chelan as
assistant secretary of the Washington Land and Investment Company, whose
operations are part of the Chelan county history. He had charge of
the books of this company until 1895, when they went out of business.
During this time he filed on a homestead and set out an orchard of three
thousand trees, which property he sold in 1892. In 1896 our subject
operated the largest hotel in Tacoma, then retired to the ranch until 1898.
He was elected auditor of Okanogan county, having run on the Republican
ticket. He discharged the trying duties of this office in a very
becoming manner. At this particular time the office was a very difficult
one to fill on account of the fact that many important questions had to
be settled. In various instances there was much high feeling on both
sides of the matter. He was nominated the second time for the office,
and although he ran two hundred ahead of his ticket he was defeated by
thirty-five votes. Then Mr. Pflaeging returned to CheIan and opened
a laundry business, which he is continuing at the present time. He
owns a handsome and cosy home, with four and one-half acres of land, just
west of Chelan, and is a prosperous business man. Mr. Pflaeging has
one brother, W. T., and one sister, Louise Daly and one half brother, Michael
B.
On November 27, 1892, in Tacoma, Mr. Pflaeging
married Miss Cora H., daughter of Benjamin T. and Phillis A. (Tenkell)
Hull, natives of New York and Ohio, respectively. The father died
on March 17, 1887, aged eighty-two, the mother, who is eighty years of
age, is dwelling with our subject and is hale and hearty at this advanced
age. Mrs. Pflaeging has the following brothers and sisters, Rosell,
Clarence, George, David, Lamott, Mary Millard and Lucretta Smith.
To Mr. and Mrs. Pflaeging two children have been born, both deceased.
Mr. Pflaeging is a member of the K. P. and is past C. C. of that lodge.
He is a stanch Republican and has been a prominent figure in county and
state conventions. Mrs. Pflaeging was well educated and qualified
herself for the post of teaching. Our subject and his estimable wife
are both well respected people and are among the leading citizens of Chelan
county.