Proceeding up the river we find many Scandinavian pioneers who rank among the most prominent citizens; viz., Peter Egtvet, Ole N. Lee, Frank Tollefson and Magnus Anderson. At Skagit City, N. Erickson, Alfred, Edwin and Herman Johnson are representative farmers who have spared no time for the upbuilding of the country. Rev. John Johnson, presiding elder of the Swedish Methodist church, who resides at this place, is a noted man, being a gifted rhetorician and an able pulpit orator. To the east of this happy village spreads out a fertile plain which sweeps up into a proud elevation, called Pleasant Ridge, the home of the old pioneer, Charles John Chilberg, and two of his sons, Isaac and James. Here we find also a number of other Scandinavians who have shared the burden of early struggles. Four miles up the river from Skagit City stands the jolly city of Mt. Vernon, which has within its boundary many prominent men from the shores of Norway and Sweden. The two leading merchants of the city are Norwegians--Louis Foss and N. J. Moldstad. [Illustration: LOUIS FOSS.] Louis Foss is well known throughout the Pacific country, being the first Scandinavian state senator in Washington. He was born in Norway, 1849, received a liberal education, graduated from college at nineteen, and shortly after emigrated to America, locating in Wisconsin. He worked four years as scaler of logs on Chippewa river; went to the Dakota Black Hills during the excitement of 1875, where he remained two years working in the mines. From whence he went to Zumbrota, Minnesota, to assume the management of a large merchandise store, in which capacity he labored faithfully for five years. His name had acquired a favorable clang among the people and the city of Fosston was christened to his honor. In 1887 he disposed of his interests in Minnesota and moved to Tacoma, Washington, where he engaged in real estate, and entered mercantile business at Mt. Vernon and Buckley. Five years later he was elected state senator from Pierce county, and served his state with honor for four years. At the expiration of his senatorship he removed with his family to Mt. Vernon, where he now resides, and owns a big mercantile establishment, The Fair. He has also a large store of similar kind in Anacortes which his eldest son is managing. Mr. Foss is not only a man of business aptitude, but also a man of character, fidelity and honor. [Illustration: N. J. MOLDSTAD.]