Birdsey DeWight Minkler was one of the earliest and most influential pioneers in the Skagit River Valley. Born on October 9, 1849, in Omro, Wisconsin, he married Hannah Belle Chisholm in 1873 in Susanville, California. Together they had at least three sons and five daughters, including Mary Belle “Matie” Minkler, born in 1885 in Birdsview.

In the spring of 1877, Minkler explored the upper Skagit River with Native guides and claimed land near the river, where he built the first sawmill in the Upper Skagit Valley, powered by Mill Creek. This early mill was instrumental in attracting settlers, loggers, and adventurers to the region. The area around his mill became known as Birdsview (originally “Minkler’s Landing”), serving as a hub for river traffic and timber operations.

Minkler also played a role in civic development. He served in Washington’s first state legislature and later as a state senator, reflecting his leadership in both business and government. Around the late 1880s and early 1890s, Birdsey moved downriver toward Lyman, where he and partners—including Frank Ries—established another mill and a small village near Minkler Lake. While the mill burned in 1920 and most of the original town has disappeared, the Minkler Mansion, built in 1891, remains a lasting symbol of his pioneering presence and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Birdsey Minkler’s work in lumber, community building, and politics helped open the Skagit River region to settlement. His family continued to play a role in the area, and his descendants carried on the legacy of the early pioneers who shaped Lyman and the Upper Skagit Valley. Minkler passed away on May 18, 1911, leaving behind a lasting impact through both his family and the communities he helped establish.