Almerion Page Stockwell (1864-1942)

Portrait from the 1899 Washington legislative composite.

   One term Washington state representative and Mayor of Aberdeen Almerion Page Stockwell is another recent name discovery, as his name was located just yesterday via the 1899 edition of the Legislative Manual and Political Directory of Washington. A native of Michigan, Stockwell was born in Medina, Lenawee County on May 6, 1863/1864,  a son of Levi and Helen A. Stockwell. Listed by most sources under the initials "A.P. ", Stockwell's education occurred in the state of his birth and at age twenty-one left Lenawee County to begin work as a bookkeeper for lumber firms. This work would see him take up residence in Montague, Michigan and Wisconsin, and in 1890 he moved to Washington, settling in the then-burgeoning city of Aberdeen.

   Following his relocation, Stockwell married in 1896 to Carrie A. Jones (1875-1930), to whom he was wed until her death. The couple would have two sons, Richard P. and Malcolm Fuller. Within a few years of his establishing roots in Aberdeen Stockwell had firmly implanted his name in the city's business sector, being a founder of the C.E. Burrows Co. in 1897. As a partner and general manager of that business, Stockwell saw it become a leading firm in the steamboat and transport lines on Grays Harbor and the Chehalis River. The company continued to expand through the establishment of logging sites and lumber mills and following company namesake C.E. Burrows' death in 1907 Stockwell succeeded to its presidency.

   Stockwell's business savvy saw him become affiliated with a number of other business concerns in the Grays Harbor County area, including being secretary-treasurer of the Aberdeen Timber Company and president of the Grays Harbor Boom Company, which he had helped purchase in 1897. While still connected to the C.E. Burrows Co. Stockwell saw that firm take over operations of the Bryden and Leitch Lumber Co. in 1907, and in that year took office as its president (serving in that capacity until 1910.)

   In 1898 Almerion P. Stockwell made his first move into the political life of Washington, being elected as a Republican to the state house of representatives from Chehalis County. Serving during the 1899-1900 session, Stockwell was named to the committees on Claims and Auditing, Federal Relations and Immigration, Fisheries, Miscellaneous, and Tide Lands. During his time in the legislature, Stockwell would pull political "double duty" due to his election as Mayor of Aberdeen in 1900, holding that post for one term. Other than the mention of his election as mayor, little information could be located on Stockwell's time in office.

   Following his brief time in politics, Stockwell resumed his extensive business interests and became connected to the Humptulips Driving Company, a logging firm on the Humptulips River. Taking the reins of secretary and treasurer of this business, Stockwell remained with this business after it had incorporated as the Humptulips Logging Company, being the manager of its offices at Aberdeen and its logging areas in Grays Harbor. Stockwell later added the title of "dairy king" to his resume in the 1900s, being the owner of Meadowbrook Dairy. Specializing in Ayrshire cattle, Stockwell would proclaim that he was "a dairyman for glory, a lumberman for recreation, and a logger for profit."

   Widowed in 1930, Almerion P. Stockwell continued to reside in Aberdeen until his death on April 25, 1942. He was interred alongside his wife at the Fern Hill Cemetery in that city.