C. X. Larrabee facts for kids
Charles Xavier Larrabee (born November 19, 1843 – died September 16, 1914) was an important American businessman. He helped start the town of Fairhaven, Washington. Later, he and his wife, Frances, gave a lot of land for schools and parks. They were known for helping the city of Bellingham grow.
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Charles Larrabee's Early Life
Charles Larrabee was born in 1843 in Portville, New York. When he was six, his family moved to Omro, Wisconsin. There, his father opened a general store. Charles went to a business college in Poughkeepsie, New York. In 1869, he and his brother, Samuel, ran a bank in Deer Lodge, Montana.
Building Businesses and Towns
Discovering Riches
In 1875, Larrabee went to Montana. By 1887, he found a valuable mine called Mountain View near Butte. He sold this mine to a large company. After that, he moved to Portland, Oregon.
Founding Fairhaven
In 1890, Larrabee came to Bellingham, Washington. He teamed up with Nelson Bennett, who founded Tacoma, Washington. Together, they created the town of Fairhaven. They formed the Fairhaven Land Company. Larrabee helped pay for it and was its president. He later bought out his partner. He kept control of the company until he died. He worked on developing land, like building the Fairhaven Hotel. People called it a "million-dollar building."
Other Business Ventures
Larrabee also started the Citizens Bank of Bellingham. He was the first president of this bank. He was part of Larrabee Brothers, a private banking group in Deer Lodge, Montana. He also started the Roslyn-Cascade Coal Company in Roslyn, Washington. He developed one of the best coal mines in Washington state. Larrabee was one of the first people in the Pacific Northwest to see how big the salmon-fishing business could become. He also owned a ranch called Brook-Nook near Dillon, Montana. There, he raised special trotting horses.
Family and Home
On August 3, 1892, Charles Larrabee married Frances Frazier Payne. She was from St. Louis, Missouri. Charles and Frances had four children: Charles Francis, Edward Payne, Mary Adele, and Benjamin Howard. Edward Payne later served as a lieutenant in World War I.
In 1914, Larrabee hired an architect named Carl Gould to design a house in Bellingham. This house was named Larrabee Manor, and it is now called Lairmont Manor. Charles Larrabee died in September 1914, before the house even started being built. His wife, Frances, made sure the house was finished. Today, the house is on the United States National Register of Historic Places. A non-profit group takes care of it.
Lasting Impact
School and Park
In 1890, a grammar school in Bellingham was named Larrabee Elementary School in his honor. The school closed down in 2014.
Soon after Charles Larrabee died, his family gave 20 acres (8.1 ha) of land to Washington state. This land became Larrabee State Park, named after him. It was the first state park in Washington.
Resting Place
Charles and Frances Larrabee are buried at the Acacia Mausoleum near Seattle.
