The Sellins

Olaf Ferdenand Sellin and Emma Christina Sellin married in Boden, Sweden in 1899. Olaf arrived in New York, USA on the vessel Ivernia on May 11 1903. He had sailed from Gothenburg, Sweden through Liverpool, England to New York, USA. Olaf returned to Sweden in 1905 and Emma and her first two children joined him and came on the same ship, two years later in May 1905, arriving in Boston, MA. There, they boarded a Great Northern RR train and traveled across the country to Everett, WA.

They came from Gidea, Sweden where 2 out of the 5 children were born, Signe (Swanson), Jennie (Swanson), Donnie, Violet (Kibby), and Harold Sellin. In the United States, they first lived in Snohomish County. Olaf was a logger and moved where the jobs were. Emma wasn’t much for the logging camp life of 1905 so she moved with the two girls to Everett, WA. Olaf would stay in camp six days a week and come to Everett on Sundays.  After a few years, Emma moved her three children to the bustling little town of Machias, WA. It was closer to the logging camp but was still ‘a town.’ As a better job became available, they moved to Swansonville around 1915. Olaf and his family lived in a home on Werner Road. Signe and Jennie both married Swanson boys Arthur and David, all of Swansonville.

Olaf worked for the Jefferson Logging Company at that time and started hauling logs or lumber with a team of horses. After living the life of a logger, and moving with the work every few years, he enjoyed the teamster life and moved his family back to Seattle to live in 1921.

Olaf’s brothers followed him to the United States.

After Olaf died, Emma traveled between her daughter’s homes, staying with them for a couple of years and then moving on to one of her other daughters. Emma ‘Ganny’ Sellin passed away on April 23, 1972.

Olaf and Emma Sellin’s Children

Signe Sellin Swanson: Signe was born in Boden, Sweden on February 21, 1900 and came with her parents to the United States in 1905. Signe finished the 8th grade in Port Ludlow. She met her future husband Arthur Swanson at the corner of Werner Road and Swansonville Road above Port Ludlow. She was part of the first graduating class at Chimacum High School in 1919. She went on to Bellingham Normal School for one year, received her teaching certificate, and became a teacher in Thorndyke Bay WA for one year then in Port Ludlow WA for part of a year until she married Arthur Swanson on October 3, 1921. Arthur and Signe moved into the house in Swansonville on Werner Road that was first owned by her parents as her parents moved to Seattle, WA. Signe raised 5 children, four boys and one daughter. Arthur was the timekeeper and payroll clerk at Pope and Talbots Puget Mill from 1920 to 1936. He was manager of the Company store in Port Ludlow from 1936-1940. He owned the Port Ludlow General Store from 1940 to 1958. When Arthur started working in the Jefferson County courthouse as an assistant treasurer in 1957, they built a new house on Beaver Valley Road in Chimacum, WA. Signe continued her interest and involvement in education as she served on the Chimacum School Board. Arthur was elected county Treasurer in 1958 and served in that capacity for thirteen years. After moving to Chimacum they became members of the Irondale Evangelical Free Church and Signe sang in the choir until February 1996. Arthur died on April 17, 1980. Signe died September 9, 1996. 

Jenny Sellin Swanson: Jenny was born in Boden, Sweden on October 26, 1901 and came to America with her parents when she was about 3 ½ years old. In 1915, they settled in Swansonville for 6 years as work brought her father there. Jenny attended school at Port Ludlow during that time. She moved back to Seattle with her parents in 1921. That didn’t stop a romance that began in Swansonville. David Swanson married Jenny on May 22, 1922. After a short period in Seattle, they bought a house at 5653 S J Street in Tacoma where they raised their four children. David worked for Seattle Cedar then Dickman mill as a lumber inspector and tallyman. Unfortunately, he was involved in an industrial accident and died January 30, 1968. Jenny died the next day, January 31, 1968! 

Donnie Sellin

Violet Sellin Kibby: Met and married Howard KIbby, a navy man. They resided in Smith River, CA for many years.

Harold Sellin: Married and lived in West Seattle, WA for many years.

Historic Homesteads

The Coopers

The Courseys

The Fultzes

The Klockers

The Sellins

The Swansons

The Thorens

The Werners