C. X. Larrabee
Charles Xavier Larrabee(November 19, 1843 – September 16, 1914) was an American businessman and a co-founder of the town ofFairhaven, Washington.Later in life, Larrabee and his wife Frances donated much land for civic purposes, including schools and parks, and were considered stewards of the city ofBellingham.[1][2]
Early life
[edit]Larrabee was born in 1843 to William and Mary Ann Larrabee inPortville, New York.He was six years old when the family moved toOmro, Wisconsinin 1849, where his father opened ageneral store.[3]Once he was old enough, Larrabee traveled toPoughkeepsie, New Yorkto take a course at a business college to add to hispublic education.[4]Starting in 1869, Larrabee and his brother, Samuel E. Larabie (1845–1914), operated a bank inDeer Lodge, Montana.[5][6]
Business career
[edit]In 1875, Larrabee went toMontana,and in 1887, his efforts as a prospector were rewarded by the discovery of the valuable Mountain View nearButte.After selling this property to theBoston & Montana Company,[7]he moved toPortland, Oregon.In 1890, he arrived inBellingham, Washingtonand associated himself withNelson Bennett,the founder ofTacoma, Washington.[3]
Together they founded the town of Fairhaven and formed the Fairhaven Land Company, which was financed by Larrabee,[8][9]who was also president of the company in 1896.[10]Larrabee later purchased the land company holdings of his partner and retained control of the corporation until his death, doing work in land development, including building the Fairhaven Hotel, described by one reporter of theFairhaven Heraldas "million-dollar edifice."[11][12]
Larrabee founded the Citizens Bank of Bellingham, and was that institution's first president. He was also a member of the firm of Larrabee Brothers, a group of private bankers inDeer Lodge, Montana.Larrabee organized the Roslyn-Cascade Coal Company ofRoslyn, Washingtonand developed what was known as one of the finest coal mines in the state of Washington. Larrabee was one of the first area businessmen in thePacific Northwestregion to realize the possibilities of thesalmon-fishing industry. He also owned a stock ranch known as Brook-Nook, nearDillon, Montana,[13]where he raisedtrotting horses.
Later life
[edit]On August 3, 1892, Larrabee married Frances Frazier Payne (January 15, 1867 – June 11, 1941), a daughter of Benjamin and Adelia Payne, residents ofSt. Louis,Missouri.The Larrabees had four children: Charles Francis; Edward Payne, who served as a lieutenant inWorld War I;[14]Mary Adele; and Benjamin Howard.
In 1914, Larrabee hired Seattle architectCarl Gouldto design a house in Bellingham and christened Larrabee Manor, nowLairmont Manor,upon its completion.[15][12]Charles Larrabee died in September of that year before construction even began.[8]The house was finished under the supervision of his wife, Frances, and is now on the United StatesNational Register of Historic Placesand maintained by a non-profit trusteeship.[16][1]
Legacy
[edit]In 1890,a Bellingham grammar schoolwas named in Larrabee's honor. The school was closed down in 2014.[17]
Soon after Larrabee's death, his family donated 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land to the state of Washington for the creation of astate parkinLarrabee's name.[18]
Charles and Frances Larrabee are interred at the Acacia Mausoleum nearSeattle.
References
[edit]- ^abKahn, Dean (May 12, 2014)."Historic Lairmont Manor in Bellingham celebrates centennial".The Bellingham Herald.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
- ^Currier, Al (November 1, 2003)."Larrabee a ceaseless promoter of region – YMCA was gift from Larrabee to the community: Wisconsin native moved to Fairhaven in 1889".Bellingham Business Journal.Archived fromthe originalon June 12, 2018 – viaHighBeam.
- ^ab"C.X. Larrabee".bham.wednet.edu.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2007.RetrievedDecember 27,2015.
- ^Bourasaw, Noel V. (2008)."Charles Xavier Larrabee, Part 1 of 2".Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
- ^"Brother of Portland Capitalist Is Dead".The Oregon Daily Journal.Portland, Oregon.April 27, 1914 – viaNewspapers.
- ^"Larabie Bros. Bankers".The Anaconda Standard.Anaconda, Montana.December 15, 1907 – via Newspapers.
- ^"A Montana Mining Deal"(PDF).The New York Times.July 23, 1887.
- ^ab"Charles X. Larrabee House – City of Bellingham, WA".City of Bellingham. Archived fromthe originalon December 3, 2013.RetrievedDecember 2,2013.
- ^Larrabee family papers,Center for Pacific Northwest Studies, Heritage Resources,Western Washington University
- ^"Local and Personal".The Islander.Friday Harbor, Washington.July 2, 1896 – via Newspapers.
- ^Bourasaw, Noel V. (2008)."Charles Xavier Larrabee, Part 2 of 2".Skagit River Journal of History & Folklore.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
- ^ab"Charles" X "Larrabee profile".fairhavenhistory.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
- ^"Brook-Nook Stock Farm".The New North-West.Deer Lodge, Montana.January 16, 1897 – via Newspapers.
- ^"Lieut. Larrabee Was In German Prison".The Oregon Daily Journal.Portland, Oregon. November 27, 1918 – via Newspapers.
- ^"Lairmont Manor – The Larrabee Story, Charles and Frances Larrabee".Lairmont Foundation. Archived fromthe originalon July 23, 2012.RetrievedMarch 14,2008.
- ^"National Register Information System".National Register of Historic Places.National Park Service.November 2, 2013.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
- ^"Folks at Larrabee Elementary turn closure of school into learning lessons".bellinghamherald.RetrievedMay 28,2018.
- ^"Larrabee State Park".Washington State Parks.Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.RetrievedApril 9,2016.
On Oct. 23, 1915, Frances Larrabee deeded 20 acres to the state for $1 for the property that is now Larrabee State Park. On Nov. 22, 1915, the property officially became the first state park in Washington. Frances and her son Charles later donated another 1,500 acres to increase the size of the park.
^19https:// historylink.org/File/20271
External links
[edit]| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
- 1843 births
- 1914 deaths
- People from Bellingham, Washington
- People from Kittitas County, Washington
- Businesspeople from Washington (state)
- Businesspeople from Montana
- People from Deer Lodge, Montana
- People from Omro, Wisconsin
- 19th-century American people
- 20th-century American people
- 19th-century American businesspeople