The Settlers of Oak Harbor, Island County

SETTLEMENT OF OAK HARBOR BEGAN IN 1849. The first settlers at what is now Oak Harbor were three bachelors; Martin Tofteson, a Norwegian; C.W. Sumner, a Yankee; and Ulrich Freund, a Swiss who had served as an officer in the German Army. They met at Fort Steilacoom, Washington Territory in 1849, became friends and set out together in a canoe paddled by Indians to find homes. They traveled by way of Saratoga Passage and landed at what is now Crescent Harbor at the Big Springs, later known as Erkes Springs. They landed there because their Indian paddlers were not on friendly terms with the Harbor Indians and refused to go any farther. They were paid and the three settlers traveled on foot to the Harbor, which they named for the Oak trees growing there. They made friends with the Harbor Indians, and lived with them until they took up claims and built cabins.

Ulrich Freund took up a 320-acre claim on the west side of what is now Oak Harbor; C.W. Sumner took up the adjoining 320 acres and Martin Tofteson took the next adjoining claim. Their deeds were signed by Ulysses S. Grant. While Ulrich Freund was serving in the Indian uprising 1855-56 the Indians burned his log cabin and took his stock. When he returned he had to make another start. He dyked his marsh land, the rest of his claim was prairie. The first school at Oak Harbor was built on land belonging to Col. Freund as he was then called. In 1864 he traveled in a canoe with Mrs. McCrohan, her son David and son-in-law Maurice O'Leary to Penns Cove to attend an auction sale. He bought a looking glass and as the canoe was already overloaded walked around the cove on the beach to his home. When the canoe was about halfway home the wind blew up and the canoe overturned. All aboard were drowned including the Indian paddlers. The mirror hung for years on the Arnold Freund back porch. On one occasion the Indians attacked Col. Freund's home intending to kill him. He fired a gun from a small opening in the log cabin and frightened them away. Col. Freund employed a Mrs. Scott, a widow with a young son, to keep house for him, he was very fond of the boy. The boy died and was buried in the Freun Cemetery which he gave to the county. The tombstone of Col. Freund and the Scott boy can be seen from the highway. Mrs. Scott married Mr. Thos. Hastie and eventually they settled in La Conner. Capt. Adams took the family up the Skagit River to their home. Col. Freund sent to Switzerland for a niece and nephew to come to America and make their home with him as he was getting along in years.

Arnold Freund and his half-sister Elsbeth left Switzerland in 1872. They sailed from Antswerp, Belgium to Philadelphia. Their father had purchased a second-class ticket, but being able to speak only German they were relegated to steerage, where Arnold became ill and remained ill to the end of their journey by boat. From Philadelphia the girl and boy went by train to San Francisco where they spent two weeks trying to learn where Oak Harbor was. They stayed at a hotel run by a German, who was very kind to them and Arnold recovered his health. They finally found out Oak Harbor was near the Caribou Mines in British Columbia. They took passage on a boat to Victoria, where they awaited word from their uncle. Col. Freund had asked a neighbor, a Mr. Walker, who was going to Victoria, to look out for the travelers. Finding them in a hotel he took them in a small boat for Oak Harbor. They were then taken to the home of Col. Freund. Arnold Freund had been a telegraph operator. Elsbeth had worked in an embroidery factory, they knew nothing of farming or cooking. They spoke a German dialect which made it hard for their uncle to understand.  Arnold Freund became a farmer and later worked for J.W. Izett. He became engaged to Mary Jean Izett but she took sick and passed away. On March 31, 1886 he married Blanche Watson and they had one son, Ralph Freund.

Elsbeth Freund remained for a time with her uncle and then went to Port Townsend where she was employed in the home of a German family by the name of Eisenbeis, who spoke only German. Elsbeth learned the English language from English textbooks of their children.  It was in the Eisenbeis home that she met Capt. Jonathan Adams, who was master of a schooner doing freighting on the sound and British Columbia. They were married at the State Hotel in Coupeville, April 1, 1878. The wedding party included Mr. & Mrs. Nunan, Capt. & Mrs. Barrington.  They went to Coupeville from Oak Harbor in an Indian canoe. Capt. & Mrs. Adams made their home in Port Townsend. They had five children. Three born in Coupeville, Ollie, Warren and Irvin, and Elsie, born in Port Townsend. An infant son passed away in Port Townsend. In 1886 Capt. Adams sold his schooner and retired. He built a large store in Port Townsend adjoining his home. In 1896 he removed his family to Oak Harbor to live on the Ulrich Freund Donation Claim which had been divided between Arnold and Elsbeth. The claim is the only one on Whidbey Island held by members of the original settlers. In 1951 relatives living on the Ulrich Freund Donation Claim were: Ollie Adams O'Leary and her daughter Verelle Jungbluth. Mr. & Mrs. Walter Pasek (Elsie Adams), C.I. Adams and daughter Bernice. Mr. & Mrs. Ralph Freund and Mr. & Mrs. Arnold Freund Jr., two daughters and a son. Edwin Pasek, wife and two daughters.

		Capt. Adams passed away July 29, 1902. He was born April 26,1830 in Boothbay, Maine. Elsbeth Adams passed away October 19, 1920. She was born in Alstatten, St. Gallen, Switzerland.
		Ulrich Freund passed away in 1876.  He was born in Switzerland in 1822.
		Arnold Freund passed away February 13, 1918.   He was born April 20, 1855 in Switzerland.

Source:  Oak Harbor Settlers, by Verelle Jungbluth.
Transcribed by Nancy Christie Reeves