"An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties."  Interstate
Publishing Company, 1906.  p. 515.
 
WARREN SHEA

     of the well known firm of Dale and Shea, Abstractors, of Mount Vernon,
was born in Holton, Maine, July 26, 1868, the son of Charles and Maria
(Tompkins) Shea, both of English descent. The father was a native of Woodstock,
New Brunswick, to which section his parents had moved from Nova Scotia. He came
to Seattle, Washington, in 1876, here following his life occupation, that of
lumbering. Later he removed to Whatcom county, where he died in 1895. His
maternal ancestors crossed the ocean and settled in New York long before the
Revolution. Loyalists during the war, at its close they bought up large land
grants from the soldiers, owning at one time nearly the entire county of
Tompkins. Charles Shea, likewise an extensive investor in real estate, owned a
large part of the town site of Woodstock; while to his father belonged the large
"Shea Flat," about the only level flat in that locality of New Brunswick. The
mother came also of an old pioneer family of distinction, residing in Canada at
the time of her birth. Moving with his parents to Canada when five years of age.
Warren Shea there spent his early years, securing his education, later joining
his father, who had come after his wife's death, in 1885, to the coast. His
first venture was in the lumbering business at Lynden, and here he remained two
years. His mill was destroyed by fire in 1891. When the wonderful discoveries of
gold in the Alaskan fields were made in 1897, he was one of the first to sail
for the land of promise, and he assisted in loading the first shipment of gold
from Dawson which created such wild excitement when it reached Seattle. Dawson
was then only a little mining camp numbering fifty people who, like himself, had
packed their outfits and entire stock of provisions on their backs over sixteen
weary miles. Subsisting entirely on canned goods, most of the miners suffered
from scurvy. After spending six years in Alaska, during which he had been quite
successful, Mr. Shea returned to his native country in 1903, locating in his
present home, Mount Vernon, where he engaged in the abstract and real estate
business, forming a co-partnership with William Dale, his present partner.
     Mr. Shea was married February 17, 1903, to Bella B. Soules, the daughter of
Thomas W. and Eliza (--------) Soules, both born in Canada. Her father was one
of the founders of the town of Burlington, Washington, and since his residence
in Skagit county has devoted the greater part of his time to milling. He is now
the manager and secretary of the Cedardale Lumber Company, of Mount Vernon, a
business man of large influence. Her mother is also living. Mr. and Mrs. Shea
have one child, Ruth B., bom February 6, 1903, in Mount Vernon. Mr. Shea's
brothers and sisters are as follows: John G., Smith S., Alice Bolan, Helen M.
Guiberson, Charles E., Sarah McKee, Frank, and Pauline B. Stevens. He is a
member of the Masonic and Odd Fellows fraternities, and in political beliefs, an
adherent of the Republican party. lndeed there are few in this part of the state
who are more enthusiastic in political matters than is Mr. Shea, always in
attendance at the Republican conventions, in which he takes a prominent place.
Realizing the advantages to be gained by united effort, he lends the strength of
his influence to the Commercial club, of which he is a member.  Of Episcopalian
parentage, he is an attendant at that church, of which his wife is a member.
Interested in every advance movement in local matters, the owner of a fine home,
he is justly esteemed as one of the most progressive citizens of Mount Vernon.

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