The story of the White River Lumber Company is a story of the Hanson family, beginning with their patriarch, Carl M. Hanson who emigrated from Sweden to Washington in 1883. After working in the Black Diamond coal mines, Carl in association with his three sons, Axel G., Charles S., and Frank G. Hanson, opened a sawmill at Lake Wilderness in 1890. Seven years later the family moved to Enumclaw and purchased the White River Mill Company, which was reorganized and incorporated into the White River Lumber Company (WRLC). Enumclaw was home to many of the Hanson offspring.
The Hanson sisters, Anna, Olga, Ellen, and Selma all married prominent men, who furthered the company’s interests. John Anderson (Anna) was a saw-filer with the company for 40 years. Archie McKinnon (Olga), started work when a boy as coal miner and timberman in Franklin and later held executive positions with WRLC. Louie Olson (Ellen) was president of the company in the 1920s. Dr. John James Smith (Selma) was Franklin’s coal company doctor and later a state senator who died tragically in 1910. His name still graces an Enumclaw school, J.J. Smith. The Hanson brothers, Axel, Charles, and Frank were officers and managers of the company. Their final merger with Weyerhaeuser was commemorated with this photo of three generations of Hanson family shareholders on the day of corporate transfer in 1949.
From left to right: 1st row –Annie Anderson, Edna Hanson, Selma (Hanson) Smith, Alice Hanson, Ellen (Hanson) Olson, Helen (Hanson) McGovern, Mrs. Vena Nickerson. 2nd row –Louis Olson, Margaret Ann Olson, Dorothy Hanson, Harold (Bill) Hanson, Charles Hanson, Paul McKinnon. 3rd row – Garfield Olson, John Anderson, George Hanson, Jack McKinnon, Ralph Flemming, Anthony Nickerson, Rufus Smith, Phillip Olson.
