Jessica M. R. Bylund has resided in Mount Vernon since 2007. A native of Lexington, Kentucky, and an avid writer, she saw the opportunity to work on Mount Vernon as a great chance to connect with her new hometown. She even discovered that some of her husband’s ancestors settled in Mount Vernon after migrating from Sweden in the late 1800s.
Dr. Bylund graduated from Transylvania University in 1994 with a BA in chemistry and from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998 with a PhD in analytical chemistry. Although her background as an analytical chemist might not seem a natural fit for writing a history book, her research skills were vital in compiling this collection.
Kari Hock was born in Seattle, WA. Since the age of five she has spent many summer days at her family’s cabin on Guemes Island—passing through Mount Vernon on each trip. Little did she know that when her husband left the military service, he would be offered a job in Mount Vernon. Since 2009 Kari and her family have called it home.
Ms. Hock is a graduate of the University of Washington in 1991 with a degree in Political Science. She received her J.D. from Gonzaga University School of Law in 1994. She has practiced law in the Territory of Guam, Michigan and after an eight-year hiatus to raise her twin boys, she has resumed the practice of law in Mount Vernon, WA. She feels fortunate to have had the opportunity to give something back to this community and work with her co-author on such an enjoyable and rewarding project.
Photo Credit: Rebecca Parker
