Archives West Finding Aid

Iver Botten was born in Norway on September 13, 1872. He was the fourth of eight children born to Einer and Marie Botten. Iver immigrated to the United States in 1892 with his twin brother Peder. Iver and Peder first settled in Stanwood, Washington, where they worked cutting lumber shingle bolts during the winter months. With the income he earned from his lumber job, Iver spent his summers attending classes at a Seattle business college. Upon graduating from the business college in 1897, Iver moved to Florence, Washington and opened a general store with Peder. A year and a half later, the twins bought out the Haugen & Company general store in Silvana, Washington and relocated there.

In 1899, Iver served as treasurer and Peder as president of the Salem Lutheran Church ('Little White Church on the Hill') in Silvana, Washington. Clara Prestlien, and her younger sister, Marie were also on the church's program committee roster dated May 5, 1899. Iver and Clara were married on June 14, 1899 at the Salem Lutheran Church. Shorty after, Peder and Marie were married March 18, 1900 in the same church. Iver and Clara had four children: Sylvia, Einar, Carl, and Esther.

Clara Botten died September 29, 1945 and is buried at Valley View Cemetery in Stanwood, Washington. Iver Botten died on November 8, 1962 (aged 90) in Stanwood, Washington. Peder Botten died January 27, 1940 and is buried in Bayview Cemetery in Bellingham, Washington.