The Tolle Anderson family
Tolle Anderson was a shrewd early-Issaquah businessman, who succeeded by sheer hard work. He was born in Sweden in 1864, and immigrated to the United States in 1887. He worked in the iron mines in Michigan, on the railroads out West, and then in the local coal mines for 12 years.
When he left the mines, he operated the Superior Trading Company, a draying and livery business, until his retirement. He was also one of the founders of the local milk condensary, which is now Darigold.
While Tolle labored in town, his wife Christina and their four sons worked just as hard on the family homestead at Echo Lake and then on the town farm. During the five years on the homestead, Tolle would commute by foot or horse from the mines just on the weekends. During the week, Christina would cope with the wilderness, the farm, the weather, the wild animals, and the little boys all by herself.
Their first house in Issaquah was built too close to the train tracks on Rainier Boulevard and caught fire from an ember from a passing train. They rebuilt, and that house still stands today next to Issaquah Creek. It is occupied by members of the family. Today, 15 of Tolle and Christina’s descendents representing three generations still live in the Issaquah area.
