"A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of the City of
Seattle and County of King, Washington." New York and Chicago: Lewis Publishing
Co., 1903.  p. 365.
 
HARALD BLEKUM

     The rough and precipitous land of Norway has ever been productive of the
world's best seamen, the earliest records of history recounting the daring
adventures of the hardy Norsemen in their viking ships; and some of this blood
still flows in the veins of Captain Blekum, all his senior life a sailor and now
manager of the firm, Stevenson & Blekum Tug Company, proprietors of the tugs
Mystic, Harry S., Doctor, Oscar B. and Magda, and doing a general towing and
jobbing business, furnishing ballots, renting skows and barges, of which they
have a large number.  W. H. Stevenson is the secretary and treasurer of the
company.
     Captain Blekum was born at Horten, Norway, November 30, 1865; the blood of
his ancestors asserted itself early in life, and at the age of fourteen he went
to sea as a deck boy on a deep sea voyage lasting about thirty-five months, in
the course of which he visited Scotland, England, Russia, the West Indies and
Panama, and returned rated as a seaman before the mast.  After his return he
entered the school of navigation at Mandal, Norway, where he completed a
thorough technical training and received first class papers.  He then became
mate on a voyage to France and then returned to his home in Norway.  His father,
Olaus Blekum, had meanwhile removed to Lindesnaes, to take charge of the
government lighthouse there.  And here it may be well to speak a few words of
the father of our worthy subject.  He had started in the navy of Norway as a
lad, and passing through all the various degrees he became an officer when King
Oscar was yet a boy; he afterwards promoted to the lighthouse department and
until 1878 was traveling inspector of the lighthouses; he was then placed in
charge of the lighthouse at Lindesnaes, one of the largest in the world, which
position he still retains.  Our subject, after the event last mentioned, served
as second mate of three different vessels, cruising to France and Spain and in
the Baltic; he was soon promoted to first mate and engaged in navigation in the
North Sea until 1884, in which year he came to America.  From here he made three
voyages in the Brittanic from New York to Liverpool.  In the fall of 1884 he
came to the Pacific coast and engaged in navigation on the Pacific until 1889.
In that year Mr. Blekum took out his full naturalization papers, since which
time he has been on the Sound; in 1890 he became master and commander of various
vessels in the Sound coasting trade, among them the Michigan, Vulga, Chinook and
the Mystic; and for the last three years he has been harbor pilot for all the
large naval and merchant vessels.  The present company was organized in 1890 as
the Stevenson Tug & Barge Company, and Captain Blekum became a partner in 1893.
     Mr. Blekum is one of the most thorough business men and highly respected
citizens of Seattle; he bears an enviable reputation as an expert navigator, and
his long and successful experience as a seaman makes him absolutely reliable.
His marriage occurred on the 8th of August, 1891, Minnie Thomson becoming his
wife, and she was the mother of four children:  Oscar, Clara, Edna and Karen
Petrea.  In the same year he erected his comfortable and sightly residence at
1611 Tenth avenue, west, where he lives in the happy enjoyment of all the
domestic comforts.  Mr. Blekum was confirmed and reared in the Lutheran church;
in politics he has maintained an independent position.  He is now candidate for
Norwegian vice-consul in Seattle.

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Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in August 2005 by Diana Smith.

Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.