Frank Everett (August 28, 1861 – August 25, 1920) was a hardware businessman, furniture manufacturer, and social activist of Chehalis, Washington. As a prominent member of the Citizens' Club, Everett lobbied various development projects through Chehalis City Council. As a businessman, he built the biggest hardware store in the county, which he owned for many years under the name Frank Everett & Company. It is now considered a historical building and is a part of Chehalis historical tour. Everett was also a stockholder and president of the Chehalis Furniture & Manufacturing Company, providing work for hundreds of local people.

Early life, family and education

Frank Everett was born on August 28, 1861, in Allegan, Michigan. His father, John Everett, was a merchant and farmer from Peru, New York, and his mother was Charlotte Root, born in Ohio; she died while Everett was still an infant. Everett studied in the Allegan public schools, and later visited and lived in a number of cities with his father. In 1873, they settled in Lyons, Kansas, where both father and son were engaged in farming. In 1882, they briefly visited

Tacoma, Washington Tacoma ( ) is the county seat of Pierce County, Washington, United States. A port city, it is situated along Washington's Puget Sound, southwest of Seattle, northeast of the state capital, Olympia, Washington, Olympia, and northwest of Mount ...

, and in 1883 came to Chehalis, Washington, to live.

Career

Hardware business

Chehalis Chehalis may refer to: People * Chehalis people, a Native American people of Washington state **Lower Chehalis language **Upper Chehalis language * Sts'Ailes people (Chehalis people), a First Nation in British Columbia * Chehalis First Nation, Bri ...

, Everett was engaged in the hardware business. He opened his own store, but sold it later to Deveresse & Maynard to be able to go to California, where he spent eighteen months. After his return, in 1889, Everett bought the store again, and with his partner, F. M. Power, established Everett & Power. Later, Everett bought his partner's share and paired up with Charles W. Maynard, renaming the firm Maynard & Everett. In 1900, Maynard ran for state treasurer, leaving Everett the sole owner. Lewis county treasurer A. C. St. John eventually bought Maynard's share, and after that it was called Frank Everett & Company. Despite the turnover in partners, Everett remained head of the firm until his retirement, and was credited for its success. By 1903, the store had become the largest in the county. The size of the main building was , and there was also an annex and storage building, sized . The firm provided large stocks of wagons, carriages, farm machinery, stoves, and some builders' hardware; it was also engaged in the plumbing business. Everett retired from the hardware business in 1909 to engage fully in furniture manufacture. Meanwhile, the hardware company kept the name Frank Everett & Company and continued to grow. Everett's share was taken over by his previous partners, F. M. Power and A. C. St. Jones. By 1916, the main building was renovated and expanded, and the foundation for a three-story warehouse on Pacific Avenue was put in, covering the piece of land. By 1920, it was successfully operated by the Hansen-Scott Company. Its establishers, J. D. Hansen and W. E. Scott, had previously worked for Frank Everett & Company as vice-president and travelling representative. In 1924, the Hansen-Scott Company's purchase of the Frank Everett & Company three-story warehouse was called "one of the largest real estate transfers in Chehalis." As of 2020, this building, located at 546 Northwest Pacific Avenue, was featured on the official Chehalis history tour.

Furniture manufacture

By 1903, Everett became stockholder and served as president of the Chehalis Furniture & Manufacturing Company. The company produced bedroom sets, tables, and kitchen furniture; its facilities included a factory,

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houses, and various machinery and appliances. By 1903, about 175 men worked in the factory and mills. After his retirement from the hardware business in 1909, Everett gave his full attention to furniture manufacture. He worked as a manufacturer until he developed health problems.

Memberships and social activity

In Chehalis, Everett was a member of the Citizens' Club, an organization, that actively participated in the city's life and development. In 1900, he joined the committee empowered to communicate with the City Council regarding the building of a city park. In 1903, he was elected treasurer of the club. Everett was also a member of the

Ancient Order of United Workmen The Ancient Order of United Workmen (AOUW) was a fraternal organization in the United States and Canada, providing mutual social and financial support after the American Civil War. It was the first of the "fraternal benefit societies", organizatio ...

and the

Knights of Pythias The Knights of Pythias is a fraternal organization and secret society founded in Washington, D.C., on . The Knights of Pythias is the first fraternal organization to receive a charter under an act of the United States Congress. It was founded ...

Personal life

In 1887, Everett married Josephine Fesenfeld, a woman of German and English descent, born in Melbourne, Australia. They had a daughter. The Everetts were communicants of the Episcopal church, where Everett was a vestryman. Throughout his life, Everett supported the Republican political party. Everett died on August 25, 1920, at his home in

Pasadena, California Pasadena ( ) is a city in Los Angeles County, California, northeast of downtown Los Angeles. It is the most populous city and the primary cultural center of the San Gabriel Valley. Old Pasadena is the city's original commercial district. I ...

, after a brief illness.

References

Literature cited

External links

Frank Everett & Company warehouse as the Chehalis historic landmark
{{DEFAULTSORT:Everett, Frank People from Allegan, Michigan People from Chehalis, Washington Furniture manufacturers 19th-century American businesspeople American manufacturing businesspeople Hardware merchants