St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1918-06-28
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kindly and generous nature, he
was a prince among men. No
matter when or where one met
Peter Autzen he was always the
same pleasant, genial, and in
good humor. No one ever went
to him in distress in vain. His
helping hand was ever ready TO
relieve destitution. He was
keenly interested in the growth
and development Of st. Johns,
and he devoted much Of his time
toward this end. He was
possessed of splendid business
ability and judgment, and his
dealings with his fellow men
were all of the fairest and sluar
est, and he never took advantage
of any man. Few men had more
friends than he, and it is with
the deepest regret they now
realize that his kindly and
familiar figure will no more he
seen upon this earth. The world
is the better for having had men
like Peter AutZen live in IL.
Peter Autzen was born of
Danish parents May /. 1854.
in SchleswiR.llolstein when that
province was under Danish rule.
During the War of 1866 between
Denmark and Germany. young
Peter, though only eleven years
Of age, was sent alone 10y his
father with a four horse team
Co deliver supplies TO Danish
soldiers who were then near the
German border TO resist the in.
vasion Of their country by the
German army. I'm an early con
flict, German arms prevailed. |
resulting in a rout Of the Danes |
and choking the highways with |
fleeing men and wrcckagc of
war. Much to his fathers sur
prise and delight, young Peter
was the only tpamstcr tO return
with his load OF provisions all
others overturned and abandoned
their wagons in nm effort 20 cs-
cape capture. From that time
on. he nurscd a hatred for the
German military rule.
Responsive 10 his innate de
sire for absolute freedom of nc,
tiOn. Mr. AutZcn came To Amer
lea soon after reaching mature
manhood and swOrc allegiance
TO the United States as soon rs
he was IN position to do so.
On August 9Th. 1889. he was
married To Miss Anna Wcgnerl
al San Francisco. and immcdi
ately departed with his bride
for the Gray's llarbor Country |
in the employ of the Simpson |
Lumber Company The young !
couple began housekeeping at |
Hoquiam. Wash, in the fall of
1882. Three children were born
TO them, The first died when
three years of age, their daugh.
tor Alice. Mrs. Morris, died in
August, 1917, Ills wife. and son
Thomas. survive him.
The loyalty. hospitality and
joviality of Mr. and Mrs. Aut-
zen. soon won for them a host
of friends. who. from 1890 Ia
1897. insisted upon showing
their appreciation hy impress
ing Mr.. AutZen into public of
flee. lie, during that time.
with the hearty approval of
the public. filled with fidelity
and credit. the respective offices
of Collector Of Customs for the
Port of Gray's Harhor. Post
Master and Mayor of lloquiam. /
and County Commissioner of Che |
halls County, Washington. Many
courtesies were offered him
while i'm public Office i'm the ma
ture of free railroad transporta-
tiOn. etc, which WAS customary
in those times. but they were
always politely and uuceremo-
declined the reason he
ing that he did not want 10 feel
embarrassed should il become
his duty TO withhold public con.
cessions that might he request.
ed of him. These acts, with 9th
ers. indicative of his untliuch- ;
ing integrity. soon earned for
him the name of Honest Pete. "
I'm 1897 Mr.. Autlrn. i'm com
pany with Mr., W. l.. Adams.
now president of the First Ma
tional Bank of lloQuiam. Wash. .
and ", ID. Mack organized the /
Mack Logging Co, which had ,
for It's object the buying of tim. ,
ber and logging. That was
his first real business adveu- ,
ture, and il was i'm the 0dmin- /
istration of the affairs of that ,
company that he first demon I
strated his wonderful executive ,
powers and business acumen. \
Under his leadership and push. /
and his dogged industry, the \
business OF the company sue
ceeded far beyond the most san h
gulne hopes of his associates v
and friends. Mr.. Mack died e
in 1903. Mr.. AutZen and MIR. i
Adams purchased his interest a
and become sole owners of the h
In 1906. they dis. a
continued active logging opera. o
ions and conveyed their tim. G.
Der lands to a corporation form II