| Jacob A. Mudgett, until recently one of Snohomish county's prosperous farmers, on land two miles west of Snohomish on the north bank of the river and on the line of the Snohomish & Everett electric railway, was born at Lynn, Massachusetts, in the summer of 1867, the son of Isaac and Ellen (Little) Mudgett, both of whom were born in Maine, members of families that date back to colonial days and have connections throughout New England at the present time. The elder Mudgett served in the Union army during the Civil War and after he came to Snohomish was one of the leading spirits in instituting a post of the Grand Army of the Republic at this place. May 12, 1883, the Mudgetts throught the influence of John Little, one of the oldest settlers, came to Snohomish, the father taking a soldier's homestead, in the vicinity of that town. For a time Mr. Mudgett operated a shoe store in the city, and he was also connected with the shingle industry, having one of the first mills of that character in the county. In his later years his sons were associated with him in business and on the farm. He died in 1893, but Mrs. Mudgett survives, a resident of Tacoma at present. Jacob A. Mudgett received his primary education in the old Bay State but, having come to Snohomish when fifteen years of age, he completed his studies by a course in the business college there. He at once engaged with his father in various lines of activity, and since the latter's death farming has been his chief occupation until very recently, but he has sold his farm and site on the Everett-Snohomish car line. In the meantime he has taken a logging contract. In Whatcom on the 23d of July, 1897, Mr. Mudgett married Miss Kittie Taylor, a native of Illinois and daughter of Allan and Mary (Rhoads) Taylor. The father was born in Green County, Illinois, and in 1849, came to Puget sound country with his family in September, 1887, and bought land near Lynden, where he continued to farm until March, 1905. He then moved to Skagit county and purchased a farm near La Conner, where he and the family still reside. Mrs. Taylor was born in Jersey County, Illinois, in 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Mudgett have two children, Easton L., and Geneva E. Mr. Mudgett is one of the pioneers of the county, a man of extensive acquaintance, a farmer of ability and a citizen of high standing in the community. John Little, grandfather of our subject, was one of the earliest pioneers of Snohomish county, having come about 1863. He settled a mile southwest of where Snohomish City now is, taking up three hundred and twenty acres on the south side of the river, with one mile of water front. He was born in Newcastle, Maine, February 5, 1813, and died at Snohomish, March 23, 1889. |