"An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties."  Interstate
Publishing Company, 1906.  p. 576.
 
MATTHEW BESSNER

     one of Skagit county's pioneer citizens, now engaged in agricultural
pursuits at his fine farm on the Skagit delta, is the son of another well known
pioneer of this region, John Bessner. Born in Luxemberg, Germany, December 5,
1829, the elder man came to the United States early in the fifties, settling
ultimately in Minnesota. There he followed farming until 1875, that year coming
west to Puget sound in the hope of bettering his condition. At Whatcom he
entered the coal mines, in which he spent two years, in the meantime sending for
his family in 1876. A year later he removed to the town of La Conner, worked out
a year, then rented a farm two years, at the end of which period he bought a
tract, diked and sold it. In 1880 he removed to the Skagit delta, renting a half
section of school land, then in its wild condition. After many years of toil and
hardship, he reclaimed the entire tract, sold half of it (he having purchased
the 320 acres), and on the remainder successfully farmed and raised stock
until his death, February 12, 1905. Mrs. Mary (Beninger) Bessner, his wife, also
a native of Luxemberg, was married in Ohio, and with her husband underwent all
the privations common to pioneer life on the American frontier. Her death
occurred in April, 1904.
     Matthew Bessner, fifth in a family of twelve children, was born October 16,
1867, in Dakota County, Minnesota. When only a lad of nine years he accompanied
his mother and the family west to the new home founded on the shores of Puget
sound by the father, and in Whatcom and Skagit counties received his rearing and
education. He remained at home on the farm until twenty-two, working the last
year for wages, then rented one of Edward McTaggart's farms near Edison. A year
and a half later he removed south to the Skagit delta, where he rented a place
owned by a brother. Subsequently he rented land three years from his father and
following that the old Rollins place for five years. In 1902 he purchased his
present farm, embracing 120 acres of as fine land as there is in that section,
upon which he has erected an excellent seven-room dwelling and substantial
outbuildings, thus giving him a most convenient as well as a valuable piece of
property. It lies ten miles southwest of the county seat. The stock includes
sixty neat cattle and nine head of horses.
     Miss Annie Summers, a daughter of Henry and Sarah (Cleverly) Summers, well
known residents of Skagit county, was united in marriage to Mr. Bessner, at
Mount Vernon, June 18, 1902.  The Summers family is of English descent, both
parents of Mrs. Bessner being natives of England, born in 1848 and 1849
respectively. They became early settlers in the Swinomish country and were
prominently identified with the subjugation of the tide lands. A comprehensive
sketch of their lives appears elsewhere among these biographies. Mrs. Summers
passed away at Pleasant Ridge, Skagit county, December 9, 1889. Mrs. Bessner was
born near Fir, December 17, 1878, and is, therefore, one of Skagit's own
daughters. Her education was obtained in the schools of her native county. Two
children have blessed the union: Herbert D. born April 14, 1903, and Mildred C.,
August 27,1905.  Mrs. Bessner is a member of the Baptist church her husband, a
communicant of the Catholic. Politically, he is a Republican, liberal in his
views and in matters of public interest is ever active. Successful in his
business, a citizen shirking no obligation placed upon him, and esteemed by his
associates, Mr. Bessner is identified with that type which is steadily pushing
Skagit county to the front.

     
*******************

Submitted to the Washington Biographies Project in March 2008 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.