"Seattle and Environs, 1852-1924." Vol. 2. Hon. C. H. Hanford, Editor. Pioneer Historical Pub. Co., 1924. p. 522. JOHN A. SODERBERG Coming to Washington thirty-five years ago, John A. Soderberg has since taken an active and prominent part in the upbuilding of the state, and his enterprise and initiative have found expression in the upbuilding of one of the most important industries of Seattle—the West Coast Monument Company, of which he is the president. A native of Sweden, he was born June 30, 1862, and his parents, John Peter and Amanda Soderberg, spent their lives in that country, the father being a farmer by occupation. John A. Soderberg obtained his education in Sweden and when nineteen years of age his venturesome spirit led him to leave his native land and seek his fortune in America. Making his way to the west, he first located at Minneapolis, Minnesota, and secured employment with a well known building contractor of that city, for whom he worked until 1888, gaining a thorough knowledge of the trade. In that year he came to Seattle and he at once became an active factor in its business affairs, entering the field of general contracting. He next turned his attention to the manufacture of wood stave pipe, being the originator of that process, and this was the first industry of the kind established in the country. His plant was located at Eighteenth and Dock streets in Tacoma and for a number of years he successfully conducted the undertaking, which was operated under the name of the Soderberg Pipe Company. After selling his interests in that city he established a granite quarry at Index, Snohomish county, Washington, and is now the president of the West Coast Monument Company, with offices in the Alaska building in Seattle. He furnished the stone used in constructing the North Bank road; the dry dock at Bremerton, Washington; the King county courthouse, which is located in Seattle; and the Burke building and the Great Northern and Northern Pacific Railroad station in this city, in addition to which he has supplied the stone for many other public buildings in various parts of the state. His plans are carefully formulated and promptly executed and his powers of organization and administration have resulted in the development of a business of extensive proportions. Mr. Soderberg was largely instrumental in securing the erection of the fine structure which houses the Swedish Hospital of this city and for the past fourteen years has been a member of its board of directors. On July 20, 1906, Mr. Soderberg was married in this city to Miss Martha Anderson, and they have four children: Marian, whose birth occurred in 1907; Ruth, who was born in 1909; John A., whose natal day was January 5, 1911; and Andrew Clifford, born October 19, 1912. All are natives of Seattle and pupils in its public schools. Mr. Soderberg is an independent republican in his political views and since 1892 he has been a member of the First Swedish Baptist church. With a mind commercially comprehensive, quick to perceive and act, he has taken advantage of circumstances and bent them to his will. He is forceful and resourceful and his efforts have been resultant factors in whatever he has undertaken. His labors have been of a constructive nature, contributing to public progress and prosperity as well as to individual success, and he never fails to win respect for his ability, confidence in his integrity and admiration for his strength of character. ******************* Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in July 2016 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.