USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 1
USA > California > Lake County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 1
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ALLEN COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY 3 1833 01103 6479
GENEALOGY 979.401 M52C
HISTORY OF Mendocino and Lake Counties
CALIFORNIA
WITH Biographical Sketches OF
The Leading Men and Women of the Counties who have been Identified with their Growth and Development from the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY AURELIUS O. CARPENTER AND PERCY H. MILLBERRY C
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
1914
1714326
CONTENTS
--
CHAPTER I.
ORGANIZATION AND LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY 17
Topography of the county-Assessed valuation-Soil-Spanish grants- Boundary settlements-First county officers elected-Division into super- visorial districts-Bonds issued for purchase of bridges-Appropriations for support of institutions-Resources-Rain abundant-Crops plentiful-Early real estate transactions-State and county officers.
CHAPTER II.
ANDERSON TOWNSHIP 37
Comprises the watershed of Navarro river-Area-Climate and products- Early settlement-Township heavily timbered-Sawmills-Access to town- ship-Yorkville, Boonville, Philo, Hermitage-Lodges-Notable citizens of former days.
CHAPTER III.
ARENA TOWNSHIP 41
Location and area-Products-Timber outlook-Point Arena the chief town -Early settlement-Gualala, Bourne's Landing, Fish Rock, Manchester, Bridgeport-First mill in the township-Other mills-Secret societies- Building of the lighthouse-Newspapers-Chronology.
CHAPTER IV.
BIG RIVER TOWNSHIP. 50
Township boundaries-Rivers and streams-Early settlement-Mendocino the chief town-Business houses and newspapers-Secret societies-The harbor-Salmon Creek, Albion, Little River and Caspar-Chronology.
CHAPTER V.
TEN MILE TOWNSHIP 61
Township heavily timbered - One of the longest beaches in the county- Story of township centers around Fort Bragg-Early history and settle- ment of the township-Business enterprises-Chronology-Cleone, New- port and Glen Blair-Banks-Secret societies.
CHAPTER VI.
I 'KIAH TOWNSHIP 69
Lies in valley of Russian River-Soil and climate-Products-Early settle- ment-First deed placed on record-Newspapers-First store and first church-Ukiah incorporated-Banks-Chronology-Mendocino State Hos- pital for the Insane-Watering places and health resorts-County farm- Fraternal orders.
CHAPTER VII.
POTTER VALLEY TOWNSHIP
83
Location and general characteristics-Incorporation of Potter Valley- First settlers in the valley-Early happenings-Snow Mountain Water and Power Company-Soil and Products-Fraternal orders.
vi
CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII.
SANEL TOWNSHIP 88
Lies on tributaries of Russian River-Soil and Climate-Township formerly covered by grant-Hermitage and Hopland-Railroad facilities.
CIIAPTER IX.
ROUND VALLEY TOWNSHIP 92
Takes its name from the valley-Early settlement-First sawmill-Nome culture station-Covelo-Lodges-Features of interest outside of valley proper.
CHAPTER X.
LONG VALLEY TOWNSHIP 99 Boundaries and shape-First settlers-Cahto and Laytonville-A bear story-Mud Springs.
CHIAPTER XI.
CUFFEY'S COVE TOWNSHIP 103 Origin of name-Navarro River and other streams-Greenwood-The L. E. White lumber interests-Beneficial societies-Navarro.
CHAPTER XII.
LITTLE LAKE TOWNSHIP 108 Area of township-Early settlers-Town started on the Baechtel Ranch- Sawmills in the township-Willits-Secret societies-Willits visited by fire-Chronology.
CHAPTER XIII.
WESTPORT TOWNSHIP 116
Nature of soil and climate-Beginnings of the town of Westport-Milling interests-Game abundant.
CHAPTER XIV.
EARLY HISTORY OF LAKE COUNTY 120
This county often referred to as Switzerland of America-Topographical features - Early Indian inhabitants - Legend of Konocti - Mexican land grants.
CHAPTER XV.
FIRST WHITE SETTLERS IN LAKE COUNTY 124
Salvador Vallejo first settler-Adventurous career of Stone and Kelsey-A night attack upon the Indians-The massacre of Stone and Kelsey-Govern- ment punishes the Indians-First permanent settlement-Establishment of government.
CHAPTER XVI.
ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY 131
Act defining boundaries and providing for organization of county-Peregri- nation of the county seat-Lower Lake Township-Destruction of Cache Creek dam-Vigilance committee seize officers and tear ont dam-Water company sues the county.
vii
CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVII.
LAKEPORT AND OTHER TOWNS 137
First store in Lakeport-Clear Lake College instituted-Clear Lake Union High School-Banks-Newspapers-Lakeport incorporated in 1888-
Kelseyville-Upper Lake-Bean canning-Middletown.
CHAPTER XVIII.
SOME OF THE RESOURCES OF LAKE COUNTY 143
The Sulphur Banks Quicksilver mine-Mineral springs-Roads-Fruit growing-Clear Lake water utilization-The Central Counties Land Com- pany bubble-The Yolo Water and Power Company operations-County development-Railroad projects.
CHAPTER XIX.
OFFICIALS, SCHOOLS, CHURCHES AND FRATERNITIES. 151
Officials who have served Lake County since its organization-History of schools in the county-Methodist Episcopal the pioneer church-Odd Fellow and Masonic organizations.
INDEX
A
Boggs, Lilburn H 345
Boggs, Hon. Lilburn W. 314
Boggs, William F 633
Bond, John T 351
Bonham, John W. 893
Bonham, Richard D 994
Boone, Peter T. 285
848
Allen, W. Ivy 266
Bourns, Richard T.
848
Alley, Samuel H. 1010
Allison, Lorence E 201
736
Anderson, Hans
347
Anderson, Rush M
929
Branscomb, Benjamin F 1022
665
Anker, Neil 340
511
Armstrong, Louis O
516
Armstrong, William J 403
Aulin, Frank F 811
B
Babcock, Lyman W. 259
Baechtel, Gordon 440
Baechtel, Luther S. 849
Baechtel, Samuel S. 936
Baker, Martin V. 329
Balderston, Thomas D 365
Balfour, William C.
956
Ball, Dreeme L.
842
Bank of Willits
839
Banks, John R.
749
Barnard, Leonard
262
Barnes, Thomas L
540
Bartlett, Nathan
688
Burke, Isaac C. 684
Burke, James H 339
Burriss, Lewis C. 895
Burton, Mrs. Sarah E. F. 963
Bitsch, John G. 962
Byrnes, Ralph R 300
C
Cameron, George A 396
Cameron, William A 944
Camp. Frederick H., D. D. S. 452
Carothers, Thomas L 184
Carpenter. A. O 652
Carpenter, Mrs. Helen M
653
Bingham, Charles W
701
Bishop, Howard
815
Bittenbender, Stephen K.
852
Blosser, Daniel
Blosser, Jacob
587
Christy, John H.
861
Church, Joseph M
Churchill, Heher B 361
573
Blue Lake School District. 881
Cittoni. Clemente 691
Clark, Byron
195
Clarke, Joseph H
1019
993
Brien, John
612
Briggs, Moses C.
270
Briggs, Ulysses N
579
Broback, Clarence W.
748
Broback, Fernando W
591
Brookes, Samuel E.
627
Brower, John D.
621
Brower, Joseph T
687
Brown, Edward E.
342
Brown, Lloyd W.
892
Brubeck, P. W
1014
Brundige, Joseph A
382
Brush, Dennie A
927
Bruton, Josiah J
775
Bruton, W. W. P.
586
Bucknell, Charles M 371
Burbeck, Charles L 958
Baylis, Percy 250
Beggs, Thomas H 924
Behr, Capt. John. 1007
Belio & Allue. 989
Berkowitz, Harman
915
Bernhard, Clarence A 477
Berrettini. Pietro 902
Berry, John E. 985
Berryhill, Joseph T. 308
Biaggi, Bartholomew
675
Biggar, George M
930
Biggar, William J. 942
Biggerstaff, Mrs. Harriet C. 298
Biggerstaff, William J.
791
Cary, Earl J
671
Cary, George E
563
Cary, Louis H.
671
Chambers, Alfred J
889
Blosser. John A 654
Blosser, J. Tobias 640
Boardman, Wilfred ] 824
Boggs, James W 964
Abramson, John 882
Adamson, Edward F. 582
Adamson, John M. 416
Akins, Augustus M 181
Albonico, Lorenzo 900
Aldrich, Charles A 746
Bourns, Richard
Boyd, George 1012
Boyle, Thomas E 409
Bradford, Christopher W. 410
Brandon, David 833
Andreani, James
669
Branscomb, Charles W.
886
Brennan, Rev. Sebastian
Annette, James W.
Brett, James
Anderson, George P.
655
Bryant, E. E 941
x
INDEX
Clayton, William J 636
Clear Lake Railroad Company 968
Cochard, Oscar 643
Cocking, Nicholas 710
English. Wylie 676
Exley, Mrs. Rosa D
222
F
Farmers Savings Bank, Lakeport 288
Farnsworth, Silas B 441
Favreliere, E. 539
Fee, George H 996
260
Finne, Louis
838
First National Bank, Fort Bragg. 799
990
Flowers, Prof. Chester D. 265
Ford, James A 662
294
Ford, William K
981
Forse, William H
412
Foster, A. W.
863
Foster, R. N
863
Foster, W. A. S.
839
Foushee, Edwin C.
697
Foye, Henry M
518
Franklin, David, M. D
325
Fraser, John K. 317
Fraser, Lyon 388
Frazer, James
778
French, James A. 988
Fuller, William
704
G
Galletti, Charles 927
Gamberg, August 922
Gambrel, Edward 193
Garner, Fred W. 931
Garner, John F.
608
Garner, John R.
252
Dixon, William H
951
Dodge, William K
506
Donnelley, William F.
840
Donohoe, Jeremiah H.
796
Donohoe, Robert E.
796
Donohue, Michael
692
Dooley, Elijah 492
Dooley, Franklin W 788
Dowd, John E. 649
Drewry, Irvin H. 495
495
Drewry, Sarah E.
495
Dryden, Robert J. 333
Duffield, Jesse C. 661
Dunbar, Walter S
853
Duncan, Frank 364
Duncan, George W.
735
Granholm, John I.
976
Grant, George W.
656
Gravier, Edward A
790
Green, Arthur W.
467
Greenough, Ralph C.
628
Gregory, Lester C., M. D.
841
Grindle, Joshua
911
Grist, John W. 987
Grothe Brothers 1043
Gruwell, Will W. 894
Edmands, William O
166
Guenza, John 550
Gummerus, John F. 900
Elliott, William B
683
Gunn, James A
281
D
Dahl, Charles E 966
Daily, George L
782
Daniels, George A 1013
Dartt, Robert J. 910
Davidson, Allen
869
Davidson, Allen
945
Davidson, William C. 445
Del Grosso, Amadeo. 901
Denison, James H
227
Dennis, Amos
569
Devereux, John 907
Devilbiss, George A 548
Dewell, Benjamin 809
Dewell, Mrs. Celia H.
681
Dewell, Samuel M 810
Dickie, Walter B 400
Dill, John M 1017
Dilling, Andrew Albert 446
Dilling, Joseph H
1021
Garner, Leland J.
574
Gaspar, Manuel
901
Gavin, John
953
Gibbs, George H.
956
Gibson, Edwin
431
Gibson, John R
829
Goforth, Frank M 908
910
Golden, George 613
Goldsmith, William C. 188
797
Goodwin, Charles
790
Gordon, George R 405
Gowan, Ernest A 874
Graham, Nathan 532
Graham, Willis 770
Duncan, Ralph T. 245
Duncan, Samuel
246
Duncan, William 368
Dunlap. James I. 1032
Dutcher, Ida
694
E
Ells, George H. 464
Enderlin, Ernest 200
English, Daniel P 451
Commercial Bank of Ukiah 400
Connolly, P. 842
Coombs, Silas 1035
Coombs, Silas W. 559
Coombs, William B
1029
Cotton, Joel S.
733
Cowen, John W 906
Cox, Dabney L.
505
Cox, Thomas W
1001
Crawford, John
950
Crawford, Wayne L
952
Cruickshank, George
534
Cummings, Frank A
1025
Curley, Charles M 547
Curtis, Carleton A
490
Ebbinghausen, Frank
702
Ebbinghausen, Henry F 702
Edwards, James 979
Goforth, George W
Good, Prof. Roy.
Drewry, John P.
Fifield, George W
Fitch, Ernest E
Ford, William
x i
INDEX
H
Hall, Frank K
926
Hall, Parker
828
Halliday, Joseph C. 224
Ham, John 946
Hamer, George L.
759
Hammond, Col. Charles M
160
Handv. Fred C. 291
Handy, Percy W
806
Handy, Philo
806
Hanen, William
789
Hansen, Chris 390
Hansen, Hans P
635
Hansen, Henry 719
922
Hanson, Rufus T
914
975
Hargrave, Charles M
617
Hargrave, Walter
570
Harrington, Harry
798
Harris, James A ..
276
Harris, Joseph W
800
Haskett, Guy
372
Haskett, Mrs. Miranda B
540
Haun, Andrew 1027
Haydon, Mrs. Eugenia. 988
Haydon, Hiram B 875
Heckendorf, Henry D 859
Heeser, William 850
Helm, Mrs. A. M. 727
Hemenway, Charles L. 670
Hendricks, Greenbury
470
Hendricks, John B
470
Hendricks, LaFayette 207
Herrick, Hamlin W 458
Herrick, Silas B 459
Hewlett, George
1033
Heyward, George T. 174
Heyward, Jesse 442
Hildreth, William J. 744
528
Hoberg, Gustav 595
Hoberg, Max G. 595
Hoberg, Mrs. Mathilda 595
Hoffman, John P. 320
Hogshead, John S., M. D
601
Holbrook, Eugene E. 307
Holzhauser, L. J. 747
Hopland Stock Farm
863
Hopper, Laurance C.
858
Howard, Peter M
378
Howe, Newton P.
729
Hudson, Taliaferro F 738
Huggins, Eri 804
Hunter, William C. 871
Hurt, Andrew J.
484
Hurt, Charles H
178
Hutsell, Robert T. 730
Hyvari & Karjamaki
903
I
Incerti, Romeo 907
Ingram, Daniel C. 677
Irvine, Charles A 666
Irwin, Hettie 303
Iversen, M. H 373
Jago, Louis 995
Jefferson, Alexander 428
Johnson, David T. 199
Johnson, Hans C. 525
Johnson, John C. 457
Johnson, Matthew
939
Jones, Alpheus : 249
Jones, Eli V.
872
Jones, Herbert M 885
Jones, John W 728
Jones, P. C.
K
Kaarto, Rev. Otto. 982
Keeling, Herbert V. 377
Keithly, Jacob A 1000
Kelley, James W. 967
Kelly, William H 846
Kennedy, Albert H 222
Kennedy, Alexander W 221
218
Kennedy, Thomas
217
Kerr, James M. 346
Kesey, James A 1009
Kiblinger, George W. 1030
Kimball, John S 754
Knight, Charles L 965
Kuhn, Charles 1013
L
Lake County Title & Abstract Co. 982
Lakeport Public Library 694
Lamb, Mrs. Elizabeth A 882
LaMotte, Harry D 918
Langermann, Fred 356
Langland, Mrs. Clora.
25.5
Lappinen, Andrew 966
Larsen, Carl L 870
Lendrum, Birney A., M. D. 1002
Le Valley, Don Z .. 906
Lewis, George C. 304
959
Liftchild, Judson, M. D
384
Lind, John 447
Lindstrom, John H 971
Little, Henry W. 721
Lobree, Philip 582
Long, Edward H. 214
Loring, Fred N. 581
Lovell, Henry S 818
Lowell, A. J. 1024
Lundquist, Amelia 1005
Lundquist, Levi 1003
Lynch, Martin L
821
Lyon, George A 825
M
MacKerricher, Duncan 499
McAbee, Samuel T. 867
McCabe, William B 938
868
McCarty, Eugene G.
Mc Cowen, Hale 171
McCracken, Joseph L. 873
McDonald. Alexander C. 432
629
Hanson, John E
Hardell, P. O
Kennedy, Hiram 1016
Kent, Nathaniel W
Lewis, William
Himmelwright, Edwin Y
J
xii
INDEX
McDonald, A. W. 908
McElroy, Harry L ...
765
Norton, Frank J
891
McFaul, Charles A
544
Nott. J. Ridley, M. D .. 949
0
McGlashan, John
193
McIntire, Charles
O'Neal, Philip 944
887
Olson, A. B.
888
Olson, Mrs. A. B.
1041
Ordway, Ed
817
Ordway, Ira
880
McKinney, Harold H
812
McPeak, Eugene 324
357
McSpadden, James O
355
Mannon, James M
243
Manzini, A. & Co 876
P
Packwood, John I 468
644
Packwood, Samuel T
1004
Parker, Thomas
Parr, Eugene 538
212
Parrott, Benjamin R
592
Mathews, Charles W
313
Mathews, Charles WV
405
Mathews, Shafter
238
Mathison, Charles J
1017
Mattern, Herman
553
Percy, Edwin H., Jr
651
Meddaugh, Oscar F
362
Persico, Francisco
996
Mendenhall, Adolphus
272
Mendenhall, Joseph
823
Mendocino State Hospital
172
Phillips, Charles W
881
Middleton, Granville
510
Phillips, Walter L
460
Millar, David
947
Phillips, W. S.
517
Miller, Curtis A 483
720
Piner, Mrs. Sarah S
433
Miller, G. Milton
743
Pitner, Oron
411
Milliken, Horace F.
211
Mills, Mrs. Lucinda M
387
Montague, Henry W
992
Montgomery, J. A.
740
Moore & Bacon
707
Morgan, Lauriston
835
Morrell, Albert F
933
Morris, William
602
Morris, W. R
196
Morrison, Frederick L.
533
Morrison, George E.
708
Morrison, Samuel L
708
Morrison, William S
883
Morton, John J.
834
Mosier, Francis L ... 991
Moulton, Arthur F
1042
Muir, Henry B 659
Mulson, Henry
522
N
Neal, George H 229
Nelson, Gust 414
Nelson, J. A. 832
Newman, John G. 630
Rantz, William D 771
Raudio, Charles 921
Rawles, Alexander N 785
Noel, Mrs. Alonzo E 983
Noel, Frank W. 176
Rea, Joseph N
937
Ornbaun, William F. 760
Orr, Samuel
760
Orr, Samuel M.
439
Osborn, George K., M. D
974
Overholser, John
Markkula, Matt 183
Marshall, Robert E 1027
Martella, Pietro
234
Martin, Stephen B
737
Martinazzi, Martin
877
Mason, James D. 575
Paulson, Christ
899
Pedretti, Charles
980
Peirsol, Frank C., M. D
1037
Pemberton, Bennett
1037
Pemberton, James E
967
Peterson, Lorenzo S
Pettis, John A 798
639
Phelps, Warren H
388
Mero, Charles W 915
Millberry, Percy H.
699
Pickle, John W.
Pinches, Samuel 1026
902
Poage, William G.
843
Polk, Robert T.
162
Porter, Edward
366
Potter, Elijahı R
271
Potter, William
879
Prather, Hale
173
Preston, Howard P
237
Preston, John W.
5.59
Puett, William L.
781
Pullen, James 447
Pullen, Wilder S.
764
Purcell, George E 862
Purlenky, George P., M. D. 624
Pyhaluoto. Seth A. & Erick S
898
Q
Quarteroni, Giovanni
....
941
R
Rannells, Warren B 912
Rantala, August 905
Nichalson, William J 693
515
Mc Intire, David F
512
McIntire, Murdock
622
McKinley, Charles
489
McKinley, George E
486
McKinley, Sidney H
954
McGee, Hugh P.
512
Nonella, Peter 980
Preston, Russell W., M. D.
Miller, Fritz F.
869
May, Charles
Malpas, Lathrop, M. D
iii
INDEX
Read, Joseph L.
419
Smith, Andrew 390
Redemeyer, J. A.
753
Smith, D. Clair 1023
Redwine, George R
381
Smith, Howard B.
278
Reed, Cyrus W
473
Smith, John P. 930
Reid, Capt. James M
713
Smith, Peter C. 925
565
Rice, Samuel H.
413
Smith, William H.
206
Richards, Robert L., M. D
172
Snickers, Edward I.
1036
Richardson, George W.
943
Snow, John
756
Riffe, Clyde A
531
Snow, Matthew M.
508
Robinson, Jesse B., Sr
819
Snow, William F.
957
Robinson, Jesse B
821
Spurlock, Thomas F
763
Robinson, John I
820
Squires, George E 580
Rocca, Andrew
422
Staheli, John J. 837
Rodgers, Terence
978
Standley, William M 543
Rogers, James B.
501
Rohrbough, John
205
Rose, Eugene W
808
Stewart, George F. 925
Stokes, Frederick G. 269
Stone, Solomon C. 786
Stornetta, Antonio 560
Stout, George W., M. D 168
Stubbs, John I 1039
Swanson, Gustav H 989
Swensen, Peter 452
T
Tallman, George T 890
Taylor, Porter H 827
Terwilliger, Newton C .. 1044
Thatcher, William \ 367
Thomas, William P 399
Thompson, Ira 948
Thurman, Henry 5.37
Tocher, Robert 597
Toepfer, Rev. Philemon 698
Toney, Mrs. Amanda McCabe 928
Turner, Cyrus G. 187
769
Sartori, Augustus
750
Sawyers, David L
309
Sayre, Burt G. 707
Sayre, Morton S.
165
Schaffer, Charles C.
678
Scott, Alonzo D
521
Scott, Edwin S.
1018
Scudamore, Dick
903
Scudamore, Godwin
955
Seaholm, Otto H
807
Seman, Emil 1012
Seymour, Wright 453
Shafsky, Abraham H
960
Shafsky, Samuel 961
Van Damme, Jolin. 415
Van Nader, Henry H 772
Vassar, Michael 1016
Vincent, Mrs. Nancy M 448
Voss, George H. 507
W
Walker, Carolus M 618
Wallace, William L .. 363
Walter, Simon W. 986
Wambold, Henry V 935
Wambold, Milton 923
Ward, Charles M. 395
Weigand, William 293
Weldon, Hon. Thomas J
803
Smart, George A 826
434
Sherwood, Oscar W., M. D 932
Shirley, John E.
527
Shoemaker, John W. 866
Short, James G. 1038
374
Simonson, Zacharias
500
Singley, John E 787
Sleeper, D. O. 579
Sleeper, Ellery D.
479
Sleeper, Jerome M. 478
Sleeper, Van Buren 480
856
Russell, Sullivan S.
854
S
St. Mary's Catholic Church 886
Sailor, Edward P 814
Sailor, LaFayette 830
Samuelson, Allen
292
Sandahl, August
1014
Sandelin, Frank
566
Sanford, John B.
175
Turner, Thomas G.
TT
Ukiah Times 863
Upp, George W 865
Upp, Philip
865
Upton, William E., M. D 794
V
Valenti, Gaudenzio 251
Van Allen, L. K., M. D 739
Van Allen, William. 739
Shattuck, Dickson S. 614
Shaul, Aaron B. 394
Shaul, Benjamin F. 563
Shelton, James K. P.
650
Ruddick, Lewis M
991
Ruddick, William O
816
Rupe, John M.
977
Rushing, Joel W.
896
Ross, John S
326
Ross, William H.
233
Rossotti, Dominico
924
Rowe, Thomas F
Stanley, A. Mortimer 190
Starkey, William H 461
Ross, Rev. John S.
230
Russell, Archie M
485
Smith, Tracy H., M. D.
Reynolds, Charles O
Simonson, Ole
Weller, J. E.
341
xiv
INDEX
Wells, E. H.
884
Williams, Lee J. 1028
Wemple, Laurence A
1031
Williamson, William
836
West, Wells W.
860
Willits Steam Laundry. 989
Whipple, Frank A.
297
Windlinx, Frederick
588
White, Chester
845
Witherspoon, Henry E.
333
White, James N
1040
Woelffel, George A., M. D
878
White, Judge John Q.
Wooldridge, Josiah E.
463
White, William O
984
Whited, Charles
348
Whited, LeRoy
406
Wilcox, George L.
904
Yeary, George
427
Wildgrube, Henry L.
239
Williams, Ernest L.
268
Young, Charles M.
286
Williams, James H
495
Young, Swan W
357
159
Y
Dorfunter
HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I
Organization and Legislative History of Mendocino County
Mendocino county is an integral part of the State of California which was created out of territory ceded to the United States by Mexico in 1848, as a penalty of and recompense for the expenses incurred by the United States in the war between the two countries in 1846-7. At that time the country comprised therein was little valued by either of the contracting parties, and the acquisition thereof was belittled and scouted by the opponents of the war, very much as Seward's acquisition of Alaska has been in later years So, too, has the value of Mendocino county been underrated in past years, and only within the last five years has its true value to the nation received recognition at the hands of capitalists, who are generally the first to acquire an understanding of the availability of any section of a new country for purposes of profit from land investments. Mendocino's southern line is eighty-four miles north of San Francisco, and stretches one hundred miles along the Pacific coast to Humboldt and Trinity on the north. It contains sixty townships, by United States survey, nearly one and a half million acres. Only about 80,000 acres of this vast area is in cultivation, the rest being grazing land, timber, brush, and lake and watercourse. Timber covers nearly one-third of its area; chemissal one-third, and the open land the remaining third. Of the brush and timber land a large percentage is fit for man's uses, growing fruit and cereals when once cleared. The greater part of its timber area is covered with redwood, tanbark oak, madrona, all evergreens, reproducing themselves from the roots after having been cut down for man's use. The range of mountains north and south through its center divides the county into two nearly equal sections-the coast and the interior, the first being mostly timber, the second mostly open land. On the ocast is a number of rivers flowing into the ocean, mainly in a northerly course-the Gualala, the Garcia, Navarro, Big river, Noyo, and Ten-Mile, all considerable streams about thirty miles long. The interior section covers the watershed of Russian river on the south, and Eel river on the north, either much larger and longer than the coast streams. The one southerly branch of Eel river, where it enters Mendocino, from a short digression into Lake county, through the winter has a breadth of two hundred and twenty-five feet and depth of ten feet, and in high water has measured at the same spot, two hundred and fifty feet wide and twenty-five feet deep, with a velocity of over five miles an hour. And this is but one of four forks of Eel river in the county.
The assessed valuation of the county for 1913 was $16,346.314; population in 1910, 23,929; acres wheat, 12,000; oats, 9,000; barley. 7,500; hay, 30,000; hops, 2.352; alfalfa, 4,000. There are in the county 15,682 cattle; 5,760 hogs ; 252 mules; 4,389 horses ; 90,785 sheep; 4,279 goats; 35,000 poultry. Of fruit trees there are 98,000 apple; 56,000 peach; 50,000 pear; 26,000 prune; 1,400 walnut. And it is safe to say that all the foregoing figures, except as refers to 1
18
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
assessed value, may be considered twenty per cent. too low. The assessed value is undoubtedly forty per cent below the real cash value. Land values have more than doubled in the last two years, and in many sections have quadrupled.
According to Indian tradition, this county and Humboldt were once one vast mesa, level and waterless in summer, but the coyote (their representative of power and energy) caused an upheaval into its now broken state. Winter rains filled the chasms, washed down the silt, overflowed, and broke out from one to another, forming lakes and rivers, which former eventually became the present valleys. Hence the soil in each is determined by the character of that of the surrounding hills. Some are sandy loam, and some the black loam approaching the adobe. Either is rich in the qualities which make for heavy production of cereals or root crops. There is much red soil in the hills, evidencing volcanic origin, and this is unsurpassed for fruit and vine.
In Ukiah valley. the virgin soil has been known to produce one hundred and twenty-five bushels of oats per acre, and sixty bushels of wheat. Corn yields well in the river bottom lands, without irrigation, often not having a shower of rain upon it from planting to harvest, and hops yield from eighteen hundred to twenty-two hundred pounds per acre.
The various branches of Eel river afford but meagre bottom lands, the hills shutting in too precipitously. This is also true of the coast streams, except the Navarro, which in Anderson broadens out sufficiently to afford some level cultivating land. Russian river, on the contrary, has a succession of valleys along its several branches, the principal of which are Walker, Redwood, Coyote, Potter, Ukiah, and Sanel. Little lake and Long valley and Round valley are on the extreme headwaters of the South Eel river.
Unlike the greater part of the southern and central parts of the state, Mendocino was only slightly cursed with Spanish grants, as there were only three located in the county, and one of these incurred final rejection, and one of the others was undoubtedly fraudulent, though finally confirmed through the effect of perjured testimony. The Richardson grant, as it was generally styled, lying along the immediate ocean bank, was finally rejected, but those persons who had bought acreage of the claimants, in good faith, and were occupying and using the same, were permitted to enter, as government land, such premises as they held at the time of the passage of the enabling act. This grant covered the country one league wide from Garcia to Big river, but was overlapped by the Garcia grant from Mal Paso to the Garcia river, which never was seriously urged, and was not considered at all by settlers, and, as far as can be learned. none of it was ever purchased by any of them, while of the Richardson grant hundreds of acres were purchased in good faith, and fenced, and much of it cultivated.
The Yokayo grant was made to Cayetano Juarez, May 24, 1845, by Pio Pico, and duly approved by the Mexican assembly June 3, 1846. His claim was rejected November 7. 1854, and confirmed on appeal April 17, 1863, and again confirmned on appeal by the supreme court in December, 1864. It covered the valley of Russian river from the southern end of Ukiah valley to the northern end of Redwood valley, from one to two miles wide. and approximating sixteen miles in length, and containing 35,541 acres. The name, Yokayo, was as near that of the Indian tribe inhabiting the territory as white men could pronounce it: but which was still farther removed from
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