Hunt, Herbert and Floyd C. Kaylor.  Washington: West of the Cascades.  Vol. 
III.  Chicago: S.J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1917.  p.600-601.

ORGAN, WILLIAM E.

	William E. Organ, a contractor and builder of Everett, has always 
lived west of the Mississippi river.  He was born Washington county, 
Minnesota, October 18, 1874, a son of Pierce Organ, a native of ireland, who 
came to America in 1842 and cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of 
Washington county, Minnesota, where he engaged in business as a lumberman and 
farmer, meeting with a fair measure of success.  He there passed away in 1893 
at the age of sixty-five years, having for two years survived his wife, who 
died in 1891 at the age of fifty-four.  She bore the maiden name of Bridget 
Chute and was born in Quebec, Canada, representing an old family of that city 
of Irish descent.
	Mr. and Mrs. Organ had a family of eight children, of whom William E. 
was the sixth.  At the usual age he entered the public schools of his native 
county and he remained upon the home farm until he reached the age of twelve, 
when he was apprenticed to learn the carpenter's and builder's trade.  He 
showed mechanical skill and ingenuity in his work and for ten years was 
employed as a journeyman, entering the contracting and building business in 
Washington county, Minnesota, in 1903.  His first contract was for the 
erection of a thirty-seven hundred dollar residence there.  Believing that the 
west offered better opportunities, he made his way to Everett, Washington, 
arriving on the 10th of March, 1906, an entire stranger.  He immediately 
entered the contracting and building business in that city and has since 
carried on operations along that line.  That success has attended his labors 
from the beginning is indicated in the fact that he was erected over two 
hundred residences here and the consensus of public opinion names him as one 
of the leading contractors and builders of Everett.  He is thoroughly 
conversant with every phase of the work and in construction is able to combine 
beauty and convenience with utility.
	On the 7th of May, 1904, at Sacred Heart, Minnesota, Mr. Organ was 
united in marriage to Miss Anna Ballard, and they have two children: Edward, 
who was born in Washington county, Minnesota, July 30, 1905; and Katherine, 
born in Everett, Washington March 24, 1909.
	At the time of the Civil War Mr. Organ enlisted for service but owing 
to illness did not join his regiment.  He was for seven and a half years 
connected with Company K of the First Minnesota National Guard as a private.  
In politics he is independent and has never sought or filled office.  His 
religious belief is that of the Roman Catholic church.  His life has been one 
of diligence and determination and his well defined activity and enterprise 
have established him as a representative citizen and business man of Everett.

[Transcriber's note:  obviously, William E. Organ could not have fought in the 
Civil War if he was born in 1874, so perhaps this is in fact a reference to 
his father.]

Submitted by: Jenny Tenlen

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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.