History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 113

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1328

USA > California > Humboldt County > History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 113

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Mr. Hansell is a native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, born April 21, 1852. His father was also Amos Hansell, a pioneer of Humboldt county, who died in Rohnerville, January 25, 1911. He came to Eureka in 1851 under an engagement to build the old Picayune mill, which was the first saw-mill built in Humboldt county. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born at Philadelphia, in 1824, and enlisted from there in the Mexican war, serv- ing throughout the war on board the sloop Dakota, as the captain's cock- swain. After the close of the war he returned to Philadelphia, and was there married to Miss Abigail Fox, and soon thereafter started for Califor- nia, making the trip by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He had learned his trade of carpenter and joiner in his home city before going to the Mexican war, serving an apprenticeship of five years, and becoming a master of his trade. Arriving at Panama in the fall of 1851, he found thousands of miners stranded there awaiting the coming of the steamer to take them on to California. Mr. Hansell took employment as master carpenter on the erec- tion of a large store building for a wealthy old Mexican, receiving $16 per day for his work. Upon arriving at San Francisco, he was soon engaged at his trade until the spring of 1852, when he was engaged by his cousins, Captain and Charles May, to come up to Eureka and build the old Picayune mill, before mentioned. Finishing this work, he went down to San Fran- cisco to meet his wife and son, the subject of this article, and then returned to Eureka, where he continued to work as contractor and builder. At this time several prominent men in this section organized and employed Mr. Hansell as their builder. He employed a large force of men, and had erected a number of residences and mills when the company failed, owing him about $7,000. The matter was ready for court, when they compromised with promises to pay, and he received enough to pay his men off at 100 cents on the dollar, but he himself received but a few dollars for many weeks of hard work. He continued, however, to follow his trade as con- tractor and builder, meeting with much success. He was a friend of Colonel Pratt of old Fort Humboldt, and erected several of the buildings at the fort. He served as deputy sheriff for two terms, and was justice of the peace for many years. He was well informed on all points of law and jurisprudence and could easily have gained admittance to the bar.

In 1855 a second son, Harry, was born, and in 1859 his wife died, leav- ing him with these two small boys, aged respectively four and eight years. They were put to board in the home of Charles Wiggins on Humboldt Hill for two years, and then Amos was put with Jacob Showers, at Rohnerville, where he remained until 1872, working on the farm, and attending school for a few brief months each year, the average school term being three months. In 1872 both the brothers came down to Camp Grant, to join their father, who had just taken a homestead near that point, and two miles

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south of Dyerville, on the Eel river. Here the father and sons cleared up thirty acres and planted it to apples, pears, prunes and peaches, and also established a nursery. There is now on this place, where Mr. Hansell makes his home, a black walnut tree with a spread of ninety feet, and a diameter of three feet and three inches. Here the father and two sons con- tinued to do a flourishing nursery business, until the father retired, in the early '90s, and removed to Rohnerville, where he continued to reside until the time of his death. In 1905 he was married to Mrs. Gutherie, of Rohner- ville, who died there in 1913.

In 1904 Amos Hansell bought the interest of his brother in the business and in 1906 he bought out his father's interest, and since that time has con- ducted the ranch and orchard as an independent enterprise. His marriage occurred in 1906, uniting him with Mrs. Frances Randle, the widow of George Randle, and the daughter of Willis and Menah (Hurlston) Whitaker, both natives of Kentucky. Mrs. Hansell was born in Hazleton, Ill., and was but three years of age when her mother died, and but seven when she lost her father. She was then taken by an aunt up to Wisconsin, and was reared in Grant county, that state. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hansell have many friends in their community, and take an active part in all that pertains to the welfare and improvement of the valley. They are both keenly inter- ested in the progress and development of Humboldt county and are recog- nized as citizens of ability and worth. Mr. Hansell is a member of Eel River Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M., at Rohnerville, and in his political prefer- ences he is a Progressive Republican, and is all that the name implies in progressiveness.

TOSALDO JOHNSON .- Undoubtedly the foremost citizen of the Bull creek country is Tosaldo Johnson, pioneer of that locality, and the one who has done more than any other to demonstrate the adaptability of the Bull creek country to the production of apples and other fruits, for which it is now justly famous. He has been prominent in Humboldt county politics for many years and is still looked upon as a leader. He is looked up to as an authority and is highly respected, as is also his estimable wife. They are very hospitable and have many warm friends in their part of the county.

Mr. Johnson is a native of Missouri, born in Newton county, 1843. His father, James Johnson, was a Kentuckian, and died when Tosaldo was a babe of eighteen months. His mother was Martha Hamilton, a relative of Alexander Hamilton, and died in California, having lived in Butte county, Colusa and Sierra counties. Tosaldo was the youngest of a family of three children, there being one sister, Eliza, who became Mrs. French and re- turned to Missouri to reside; and a brother, James. In 1850, when Mr. Johnson was a lad of some seven years, his mother crossed the plains with her family, and after a journey of six months, located in Butte county in the fall of that year. There were one hundred eighteen wagons in the train as far as Fort Bridges, where they separated, some going on to Oregon, while others continued to California. The brother, James, was then a man grown, and Tosaldo went with him to El Dorado county, where they remained for two years, after which he was with various other families until he was thirteen years of age, when he began to work out for himself. Previous to that time he had acted as chore

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

boy with the families where he had lived and had never been allowed to go to school. Later he entered school, although many years behind his fellows, and within four months he was at the head of his classes. He showed a great desire for learning and was a splendid student. When he was seventeen he enlisted in the Kibby Rangers under Gen. Kibby, and served five months and was honorably discharged. He then went to Nevada and Idaho, where he engaged in prospecting, and later went to Texas after cattle. While in Texas he met and married Miss Addie Stewart, remaining in that state for several months. He then went to Idaho, Montana and Eastern Oregon, where he followed the cattle busi- ness, and also prospected for gold and silver, his wife accompanying him from place to place.

It was in 1872 or 1873 that Mr. Johnson came from Idaho to Cali- fornia and located in Humboldt county, renting property at Eagle prairie for a year. Following this he homesteaded a claim of one hundred sixty acres on Bull creek, known to this day as the Johnson homestead. Two children were born to them there: Birdie, now the wife of William A. Smith, a farmer and dairyman at Vancouver, B. C., Canada ; and Georgine, the wife of F. C. Lane, contractor and railroad builder, also residing at Vancouver, B. C. Mrs. Johnson lived here for six or seven years before her death, which occurred on the homestead. At the time that Mr. John- son located in this district there was an abundance of wild game, and he holds a record for the number of bears, panthers, deer, and other such game that he killed. There were also a few Mad river Indians, but they were not troublesome. Mr. Johnson was one of the first men to engage in the sheep business on Bull creek. He had about two thousand head, and the bears, panthers, and other such beasts of prey killed off a thousand head in one season. This led him to engage in hunting, and many and inter- esting are the tales that he can tell of his experiences while in pursuit of big game.

The second marriage of Mr. Johnson occurred some three years after the death of his first wife, uniting him with Miss Roxanna Jane Hanlon, a native of Iowa. She bore her husband two children: Martha M., who became the wife of Herman Matlock, both being now deceased, leaving two children, Harold and Cora, whom Mr. and Mrs. Johnson reared from childhood and have recently adopted; and Grace, the wife of Arle Baxter, a rancher on Bull creek.

Mr. Johnson was one of the first men to demonstrate the adaptability of the Bull creek country to the raising of apples, and has prospered ex- ceedingly in his ranching enterprises, and especially in his interests as an orchardist. He now owns three fine ranches, comprising in all some three hundred twenty acres, one hundred eighty-four being in the homestead, one hundred thirteen in the property known as the Look place, where he makes his home, and twenty-three up on the creek bottom, where he has a fine orchard of apples, peaches, pears and prunes, with a splendid variety of small fruits, such as berries, etc. He is enthusiastic over the possi- bilities offered to the orchardist in this vicinity, and is certain that there is no other locality that can compare with it. Besides his orchard interests

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Mr. Johnson is engaged in diversified farming, and has about forty head of cattle, a hundred hogs, and several horses.

The political affairs of the district have always interested Mr. Johnson and he has taken a prominent part in all the concerns of his party. He is a Jeffersonian Democrat, of the old school, but is well informed and an independent thinker, and in all local matters gives his support and co- operation to the best man for the place. He served as deputy sheriff and constable for fourteen years and has a splendid record for efficient ser- vice. He was very conscientious in the discharge of his duty, and never allowed a law-breaker to escape him. He made many arrests and was especially keen on all measures that acted as a prevention of crime. He has also served as a member of the Democratic Committee for the county. He is a member of the Odd Fellows, at Hydesville, and of the Encamp- ment and Veteran Odd Fellows, and is also an influential member of the Farm Center at Dyerville.

JOSEPH O. BRANSTETTER .- Well known in Rohnerville and vicinity as a carpenter and builder, farmer, and business man, Joseph O. Branstetter is descended from one of the old pioneer families of the county, his parents having crossed the plains in 1849, and in 1854 located in Hum- boldt county, where they resided until the time of their death. They were among the most highly respected of the early settlers, and their children are well known and honored citizens of the county. The home estate was located near Capetown, and is still in the possession of the family. Mr. Branstetter is also connected with another pioneer family through his mar- riage, his wife having been Miss Elizabeth Williams, the daughter of Mrs. Thomas Williams and the granddaughter of J. H. Decker, of Rohnerville, one of the oldest pioneers of the valley, and a man of splendid character and reputation.

Mr. Branstetter was born at Ferndale. Humboldt county, Cal., July 28, 1874, the son of Martin and Rachael (Kerry) Branstetter, the father being a native of Missouri, and the mother, of Switzerland. His parents were married in Missouri and came to California at the time of the gold excite- ment in 1849, crossing the plains with a party in charge of Oswald Kerry, a brother of Mrs. Branstetter. He was a soldier in the Mexican war and an experienced Indian fighter, and it was largely due to his care and ability that the party escaped serious difficulties with the Indians, coming off victorious in their numerous skirmishes with the redskins. He settled in California and lived to be eighty-three years of age. Locating in Bear River valley in 1854, Mr. and Mrs. Branstetter, Sr., improved a large ranch of government land, which they located, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising. They experienced the customary exciting and dangerous times of the early settlers in this vicinity, but prospered and both lived to a good old age, the father dying at the age of sixty-five years, while the mother lived to be seventy-six, passing on in 1906.

Joseph O. Branstetter is the youngest of a family of twelve children, all of whom are living save Walter, who died in 1913, and all well known in Humboldt county, Daniel A. Branstetter, of Ferndale, and Louis P. Branstetter, of Capetown, being especially prominent in their localities. Joseph O. grew to manhood on his father's ranch at Capetown and after-

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ward on a farm near Ferndale, receiving his education in the public and high schools of Ferndale. He has been especially successful in business and is prosperous, energetic, and progressive. He is one of the best known carpenters and builders of the vicinity of Rohnerville, where he makes his home, being especially engaged in the building of barns. He also owns a splendid twenty-eight acre farm near Rohnerville, which he operates as a grain and dairy ranch, where he is meeting with success. He also owns the garage in Rohnerville, which is equipped with machinery for the repair of cars, and also deals in gasoline, oils and automobile supplies.

The marriage of Mr. Branstetter took place in Rohnerville, in Decem- ber, 1904, and his wife has borne him three children: Maxine, Clifton, and Van, the two oldest of whom are attending the public schools, where they are proving to be exceptionally bright and studious. Both Mr. and Mrs. Branstetter are popular with a wide circle of friends, and take an active part in social and fraternal affairs. Mr. Branstetter is an influential mem- ber of the Odd Fellows, and is noble grand of Eel River Lodge No. 210, I. O. O. F., at Rohnerville, there being an active membership of ninety-six members. Both he and Mrs. Branstetter are members of the Rebekahs. In politics Mr. Branstetter is a Progressive, and the broadest meaning of the term is exemplified in his life and activities. He takes a keen interest in whatever is for the welfare of his home town, the community or the state, and is broad-minded and fair in his judgments and opinions. He owns a comfortable home in Rohnerville, which he maintains in a manner that is a credit to the community and to himself.

EDWIN JOSEPH INMAN .- For more than forty years a resident of Humboldt county, and during all that time actively engaged in pursuits that have been developmental in their character, Edwin Joseph Inman has been an active factor in the affairs of his community and is closely asso- ciated with the history of the county since the time of his coming to Cali- fornia, in 1874. He built the first house in Blue Lake and moved his family there when there was no thought of a town. He has been associated with several of the big lumber companies and has built many of the saw- mills and shingle mills throughout the county. At the present time he is managing his different interests and is living in Blue Lake, where he has a host of friends of long standing.

Mr. Inman is a native of Vermont, having been born in the town of Peacham, Caledonia county, June 22, 1852. His father was Joseph Inman, born in Bangor, Me., in 1823 and died in 1873. He followed the occupation of working in the woods and the sawmills for the greater part of his life, at first in the forests of Maine and Vermont. A son, Jerry Inman, had come to Humboldt county about 1860, and had been engaged in contract logging, so in 1870 the elder Inman came to California and took charge of his son's logging business in Humboldt county for two years and then returned to Vermont, where he died the next year. He was a veteran of the Civil War, having volunteered in a Vermont regiment in response to one of the first calls of the president for troops. His son Charles was also in the Civil war, and was wounded on three different battlefields. Mr. Inman's mother was Sylvia Martin, a native of Vermont; she died in Peacham.

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

The early life of Edwin J. Inman was passed in his native state, where at that time his parents resided on a ranch. He attended the district schools until he completed the grammar grades and then went into the village several miles distant and attended the high school. During vacation times he worked in the sawmills to pay a part of the expense of his educa- tion. At the end of a year and a half in Peacham Academy, he returned home and worked with his father on the ranch until the time of the latter's death.

It was in 1874 that Mr. Inman determined to come to California in an endeavor to better his condition. Learning through his father and brother Jerry that there were greater opportunities on the coast for a young man than in New England, he accordingly made his way west and located in Humboldt county. For two years he worked for Joseph Russ in the butcher business in Eureka, at which time he went to Klamath river district to work in the mines, he having bought considerable stock in these same mines. Here he remained for two years, but the mining venture was not a success and the investors, Mr. Inman included, lost everything that they had in- vested, which with Mr. Inman was all that he had. The next year he went to work for John Vance in the lumber mills and remained with him for four years. Later he helped build the shingle mill for Fay Brothers. In 1883 this company moved to Blue Lake and Mr. Inman was sent for to help install the machinery in the new saw mill. He arrived, expecting to remain but a short time, but was employed by the company as their mill- wright and later built himself a home there, this being the first house erected on the present site of Blue Lake. Later this company removed their interests to Riverside and Mr. Inman again took charge of their mill there.

At this time the company changed hands and was thereafter known as the Jackson-Graham Company. They retained the services of Mr. Inman, and ten of the seventeen years of his employment there he was foreman of their mill. Later he removed his family from Blue Lake to Riverside and for many years they made their home there. In 1900 he purchased property in Blue Lake and again built a home there for his family. That year he left the mill at Riverside and went to work for Isaac Minor, con- tracting for the building of houses and mills throughout the county. For four years he continued thus and during that time erected four shingle mills on Warren creek and on Little river. He was also employed on the construction of the Knights of Pythias hall and also of the Catholic church in Arcata. Soon after that time he sold his home place in Blue Lake, this being the fourth house that he had built and sold there.

Mr. Inman has been twice married, the first time to Ella Mallory, a native of Iowa, born February 21, 1863. She bore him three children: Ida May, Jessie Louise and Ralph Eugene. Their mother passed away in Jan- uary, 1885. The second marriage took place in Oakland, Cal., October 27, 1907, to Evelyn N. Bunker, a native of California, born in Ukiah, Mendocino county. She is the daughter of Charles Albert Bunker, born in Maine in 1847, and who came to California via Cape Horn in 1860. He followed contracting and building. The mother, Amelia Fields, was born in Illinois. They are both deceased.

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Since coming to Humboldt county Mr. Inman has been very successful in his various business enterprises. He has always taken an active part in public affairs in Blue Lake and is known as a progressive and public spirited man. He is a member of Humboldt Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., in Eureka, and has also affiliated with other local organizations of a public nature.

DAVID WILSON TEEL .- There is no profession which brings a man more closely into touch with the actual conditions of the country, its topography and its possibilities, than does that of the surveyor, and as David Wilson Teel has been a surveyor for practically all the years of his manhood, and as he has been engaged in the pursuit of his profession very extensively throughout California, Oregon and Washington, there is scarcely a man to be found who is more thoroughly versed in accurate information concerning the resources of these states, and especially of the localities where he has been engaged in running property and government lines. He came to California in 1875, and has lived in this state since that time, with the exception of seven years spent in Washington; and for the greater portion of that time he has resided in Humboldt county, which he unre- servedly declares is the garden spot of the west, and one of the richest counties in the state in natural resources, many of which have not yet been touched. He has also been engaged in farming and stockraising. both in this state and in Washington, and at present owns valuable farming lands in Humboldt county. He now makes his home in Garberville, having leased his farms some time ago, and being engaged only in surveying and in timber cruising, in which he is also an expert.

Mr. Teel is a native of Indiana, having been born in St. Joseph county, August 31, 1846, near South Bend. His father was also David Wilson Teel, a native of Pittsburg, Pa., and his mother was Mariah Louisa Mallett, a native of Medina county, Ohio. They were married in Medina county, Ohio, the elder Teel being engaged in farming at that time. Later they moved to Indiana, into St. Joseph county. In the pioneer days the father was employed as an Indian interpreter at Fort Dearborn, Chicago. In the late '30s from Fort Dearborn they removed to Fort Madison, Iowa, while Iowa was yet a territory, they crossing Illinois by teams and wagons, following the furrow plowed by government dragoons as a mark for the road. Crossing the Mississippi river there, they located on Skunk river, Washington county, and farmed for a time. Later Mr. Teel laid out the town of Brighton, and after living here for four or five years, returned to Mishawaka, Ind., and bought an interest in the Studebaker foundry, in the early '40s. Later still (in 1852) the family migrated back to Lee county, Iowa, and there the present citizen of Garberville grew to manhood. He was but six years of age when this move was made, and so all his early recollections are of the Iowa farm. There were eight children in the family, all of whom are deceased save David Wilson and an elder brother, William H. Teel, who resides at Spokane, Wash.

David Wilson Teel received his early education in the public schools of Iowa, later attending the best select schools which the state afforded at that time. From 20 to 22 years of age he studied surveying and civil engi-

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neering under Orrin Baldwin at Keokuk, Iowa, and did some practical work there.

The marriage of Mr. Teel took place in St. Francisville, Mo., April 2, 1871, uniting him with Miss Sarah Alma McCormick, a native of Lee county, Iowa, and the daughter of Joseph and Lucinda (Stephens) McCormick, natives of Ireland and Indiana, respectively, and who were pioneers of Iowa. To Mr. and Mrs. Teel were born six children, namely : John Ernest, a rancher of Kern county, married Gertrude Logan, of Humboldt county, and they have one child; Ida, wife of John A. Weeks, a rancher at Bear Butte, Humboldt county, is the mother of three children ; Amy and Maimic are twins, the former now Mrs. Charles Combs, of Garberville, and the mother of three children, while the latter is Mrs. Frederick Duckett, of Coos county, Ore., where her husband is engaged in farming, they have two chil- dren; Jesse, a rancher of Kern county, married Katie Smith, of Garberville; and Otto Edwin, teamster, residing in Garberville, married Verna Herman, they have one child.

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Teel came to California, making the change in 1875, and locating in Butte county, where he remained for a short time, and then went north, locating in Whitman county, Wash. He worked as a surveyor in Butte county, and later in Whitman county, Wash., at the same time being engaged in farming and stock raising. He came down from Washington in 1886 to Humboldt county, locating at that time on the south fork of the Eel river, in the Bear Butte section, near Phillipsville. In the spring of 1886 he homesteaded one hundred sixty acres of land, which he still owns. He resided on this place for many years, raising cattle, and farming and raising fruit. He also rented a tract of one hundred twenty acres adjoining, which he also farmed. In the fall of 1912 Mr. Teel gave up the care of his farm, leasing the property, and moved into Garberville, where he has since resided. He now gives his entire time to surveying and to timber cruising, in both of which professions he is an expert.

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History of Humboldt County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present, Part 113

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company Number of Pages: 1328

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1328