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 116

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

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JAMES M. LEAVER .- For the past six years the assistant manager of the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia, one of the largest lumber com- panics on the Pacific coast, J. M. Leaver, Sr., is prominent in public affairs at Scotia, and is recognized as a man of ability and personal power. He is probably the greatest "system" man when it comes to handling lumber that there is now living on the Pacific coast. He has a peculiar ability for the discharge of large affairs, and keeps every detail in his mind at all times, and without apparent effort. He has charge of the construction of buildings and the installing of power engines and machinery connected with this enormous plant. He is an authority and expert in the operation of saw mills, and dry kiln plants. At this time the Pacific Lumber Company has large planing-mills at Oakland and Wilmington, but is now constructing a gigantic planing-mill at Scotia, and will close the mills at Oakland and Wilmington, and all this work will be done at the home plant, under the direction of Mr. Leaver, thus concentrating the work at one place. Since the completion of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad into Eureka, the lumber is all kiln dried before it is shipped in order to save freight charges, and in this particular Mr. Leaver is an expert, having invented the Leaver system of drying redwood, which is patented by him, and which is a decided advantage over other methods. The plans of this great company include the

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building of ten additional dry kilns, which will give them a total of thirty- eight, there being twenty-eight now in successful operation. This will give them a splendid equipment, and all lumber to be shipped by rail will be kilndried, thus working an enormous saving in freight rates.

Mr. Leaver is a native of Scotland, born at Glasgow. He came to America when he was about thirty years of age, and made his first start in the lumber business at Buffalo, N. Y., commencing in office work, and working his way up to his present position of responsibility. He has been engaged in this business now for thirty years, and is thoroughly familiar with its details. From Buffalo he went to Saginaw and Bay City, Mich., where he managed a large box factory, and sash and door plants, and from there came to the Pacific coast ten years ago. At first he was with a large lumber company at Sonora, Tuolumne county, and then in the service of the Pacific Lumber Company, starting the plant at Wilmington.

The dry kilns and various other valuable devices for the manufacture of lumber are manufactured by the Leaver Manufacturing Company of Oakland, Cal., of which Mr. Leaver is president and his son James is manager. This company is engaged in introducing the Leaver patented dry- ing system, and is a partnership between father and son. Mr. Leaver, Sr., has invented many useful and valuable devices for various uses and in his work at the Pacific Lumber Company plant at Scotia he has accomplished remarkable savings with electrical and steam devices for the handling of lumber. He is well liked in Scotia, both by his employers and by the men under his management, and has many warm personal friends.

HON. B. H. McNEIL .- Capitalist, ex-member of the state legislature, and still active in business, the Hon. B. H. McNeil, of Rohnerville, is a well preserved man of keen intellect, splendid judgment and broad and generous outlook on life in general. Ilis friendship is highly valued by all who know him, and his council and advice are often sought. He has served his home city, his county, and his state with honor and distinction in the law-making body of the commonwealth. He is interested in real estate in Humboldt county, especially near Rohnerville and Fortuna, where he also has varied commercial interests. It is interesting to know that originally Mr. McNeil was ordered to California by his physician for two years, and came reluc- tantly, determined to stay the necessary time and return at the earliest pos- sible moment to his home in Iowa. At the end of the two years, however, he was so thoroughly imbued with the California spirit that he has not cared to return to his former home state.

Mr. McNeil is a native of Ohio, born in Adams county, near Ripley, March 6, 1848. His father, Nelson B. McNeil, was a land-owner and farmer in Ohio, and moved with his family to Iowa in 1855, settling at New London, that state, where he engaged in farming and in the grain business until within a few years of the time of his death at the age of seventy-five years. He was a native of Virginia, but of Scotch descent. His mother's maiden name was Miss Nancy Foster, who came of English and German ancestry. Her brother, Jeremiah Foster, of Kentucky, was a slaveholder and a Whig, a most contradictory combination. But he became convinced of the error of slavery and freed his slaves before the war. There were six children in the McNeil family, of which the present honored citizen of Rohnerville was

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the fifth born. One of the brothers, Samuel, enlisted in the Union army during the Civil War and was killed during the siege of Vicksburg. The oldest brother, Jeremiah, is still living at New London, Iowa, at about the age of seventy-five years, he being the only other living son.

B. H. McNeil was seven years old when his parents moved to Iowa, and there he grew to maturity, attending the public schools and later taking a business course at Burlington, Iowa, where he learned telegraphy. He then became a telegraph operator on the line of the C. R. I. & P. Railroad, being in the train-dispatcher's office at Burlington. He worked very hard and, being ambitious to rise in his chosen line, overtaxed his strength and his health was broken. The attending physician ordered him to go to California and live in the open air for two years, and accordingly he came west, accom- panied by his wife, by way of the Northern Pacific and Central Pacific to Marysville, near Sacramento. There he went to work on his father-in-law's farm near Marysville, remaining for a year, and then going to Butte creek, where he preempted one hundred sixty acres, and after improving it, pur- chased an additional traet of the same size from the railroad company. He was located here at the expiration of the prescribed two years, but was by that time an enthusiastic booster for California, with no desire to return to Iowa and a telegrapher's desk. Mr. MeNeil's ranch was near Gridley and he farmed there until 1882, when he disposed of his property and went to Los Angeles, where for a number of years he engaged in the building and contracting business, making a great success of his undertaking. In 1887 he came north again, locating this time in Humboldt county where he bought the furniture and undertaking business then owned by Seth Crabtree, one of the pioneer settlers of the county. He also became postmaster at Rohnerville in 1887, serving in that capacity for ten years. In 1903 he became deputy internal revenue collector of the fourth district, serving until 1912, when that district was merged with the first district. Mr. MeNeil owns extensive property in Rohnerville and vicinity, and also holds stock in var- ious banks in Eureka. He is also half owner of the cigar factory at Fortuna, the firm being known as Smith & MeNeil. They manufacture a line of well known and popular cigars, probably the favorite being the justly popular "Fortuna", a 5-cent cigar. Other brands are the "Large Americana", the "Small Americana", "Porto Rico", and "La Diesta." Mr. MeNeil is himself on the road for the firm, selling to the Humboldt county trade, among whom he is a prime favorite.

Mr. MeNeil was elected to the state legislature in 1900, and served in the Assembly of 1901, and was re-elected in 1902, serving in the Assembly of 1903. He made an enviable record for himself and won the praise and appreciation of his constituency. He was particularly interested in the law which allowed the state to lease the China Basin, in San Francisco, to the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and it was through his strenuous support of this bill that it eventually was passed, although he was not its author. He introduced a bill for an appropriation for the Steel Head Hatchery at Wey- mouth, in Humboldt county, which became a law; and together with State Senator Selvage introduced jointly a bill for the riprapping of the banks of Eel river, which also was passed. It is a noteworthy fact that this ener- getie legislator succeeded in having passed every bill that he introduced,

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and as the interests of Humboldt county were very near to his heart it goes without saying that his home county profited by his service. He was rec- ognized at Sacramento as a man of ability and was placed on many important committees. Among these were the committee on Agriculture, of which he was chairman ; the committee on Commerce and Navigation; and also the committee on Fish and Game, this being in 1901, while even more important posts were assigned him in 1903. Mr. McNeil was and is a loyal Republican, having unwavering faith in the Grand Old Party and its ability to steer the affairs of the state and nation in ways of prosperity and peace. He has always been interested in the cause of education and has served almost continuously as school trustee of Rohnerville district since 1887.

The marriage of Mr. McNeil was solemnized in Iowa in 1868. uniting him with Miss Mattie Miller, born near New London, Iowa. A son was born to them in Iowa, William A., who is now postmaster at Rohnerville. He is married to Miss Mamie Reinhart, and they have one child, a son, Brice, aged twenty-one years, and an employee of the Pacific Lumber Company, at Scotia, where he has a clerkship in the office. This grandson is a favorite of Mr. McNeil, Sr., and they are great friends and companions. After coming to California a daughter was born to Mr. and Mrs. McNeil, she being Clara, now the wife of Fred Smith, a partner with her father in the cigar manu- facturing business, and also a partner in the hardware firm of Leach & Smith, at Fortuna. They have one child, a daughter, Reva.

Mr. McNeil is a favorite throughout Humboldt county, and is one of the best known traveling men of that part of the state. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of the Eel River Lodge, No. 147, F. & A. M., at Fortuna, of which he has twice been master. Both he and Mrs. McNeil are members of the Eastern Star and take an active part in the affairs of that order. Mr. McNeil is also keenly interested in all that pertains to the welfare of Rohnerville and is always to be found in the van of any movement for the up-building and improvement of the city and community. He is an ardent advocate of education and has done much for the cause of the schools of the county. Mrs. McNeil is highly esteemed throughout the com- munity and is loved by all who know her.

CHARLES D. BUCHANAN .- As master mechanic for the Pacific Lum- ber Company at Scotia, Charles D. Buchanan occupies one of the important positions with that great corporation, the wonderful smoothness with which the machinery in their various plants runs being largely due to the skill and efficiency of this man. This company has some $14,000,000 invested in its plant at Scotia and the care of all this vast machinery and the installation of the new machinery which is constantly being added is no mean task. To the lay observer it seems an almost impossible thing that one mind should grasp the multitude of intricate details that must be involved in so stupen- dous an undertaking, but to the clever master mechanic it is all in the day's business. He is a man of superior intellect, well trained and perfectly poised, with a knowledge of machinery that places him in perfect accord with every detail of his work. It is especially worthy of note that the larger of the company's mills, Mill "B," is known to be the most smoothly running mill on the coast, and that here as nowhere else the maximum of efficiency is realized from the minimum of outlay and labor.

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Mr. Buchanan is a native of California, born at Cuffey's Cove, Men- docino county, December 31, 1879. His father, Colin James Buchanan, was a native of Canada, born in Nova Scotia. He was a lumberman there and later in Maine, where he was known as the best axman in the state. He came to Point Arena, Mendocino county, in the early days and went to work in the lumber woods on the Garcia river. He was married to Miss Mary McMasters in Mendocino county, the bride being a native of Maine, where she had been the sweetheart of Mr. Buchanan before he came to California. After his marriage Mr. Buchanan, Sr., engaged in the livery business at Cuf- fey's Cove, and later at Greenwood. He retired from business at Green- wood, where he and his wife now make their home, two of their sons con- ducting the business. Mr. Buchanan also owns a large ranch near Green- wood which he now rents. There were seven children born of this union, five of whom grew to maturity and are now well known in Mendocino and Humboldt counties. They are: May, engaged in teaching school in Men- docino county ; Charles D., the subject of this sketch ; Colin J. Jr., engaged in the livery business at Greenwood; Edward, who died in July, 1913, at the age of twenty-nine years; Hugh, who was drowned seven years ago in the Navarro river; Flora E., a teacher at Albion, Mendocino county; and Frank, who is in the livery business in Greenwood, in partnership with his brother, Colin J.

The boyhood days of Charles D. Buchanan were spent in Greenwood, where he assisted his father in the livery business, and attended school until he was sixteen years of age. He then spent a year at the Sacramento Insti- tute, which is a branch of St. Mary's College, of Oakland. Following this he was apprenticed to learn the machinist's trade under James Britt, then foreman for the L. E. White Lumber Company at Greenwood, where he served an apprenticeship and then became a journeyman machinist. He worked in different shops for various companies at San Francisco and in the lumber mills of Mendocino county, always with the greatest success. In 1902 he was married in San Francisco to Miss Louise Elizabeth Meade, a native of Albion, Mendocino county, who was orphaned at the age of six years, and was reared by an aunt, Mrs. J. Conway, at Greenwood. For two years before and five years after his marriage Mr. Buchanan was a machinist for the Union Lumber Company, during which time he purchased a resi- dence property there which he still owns. In 1907 he went over to Albion and became machinist for the Albion Lumber Company mills, and in 1908 was promoted to the position of master mechanic, which position he held until 1910, when he was offered the position of master mechanic for the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia, which he accepted, assuming his new duties in December of that year, since which time he has held this position of responsibility and trust.

Mr. Buchanan is very popular in Scotia, both with his employers and with his co-workers in the mills and shops, and among his many personal friends. His work in the mills brings him in contact with the employees of practically every department, and his own workmen are loyal to him, almost to a fault. He is possessed of wonderful executive ability and is a true leader of men. Both he and his wife are well known socially, and have many warm friends. They have three children: Delphine Ruth; Charles D., Jr., and

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Colin E. Mr. Buchanan is a member of the Catholic church and an influ- ential member of the Knights of Columbus. In his political connections he is a stanch Republican, although in local questions he follows his own judg- ment as to the men and measures in question. He is progressive and broad minded and keenly alive to all that will benefit the community.

JOSEPH C. BARKDULL .- Although a native of Oregon, Joseph C. Barkdull is a California pioneer of the truest type, having come to California from his native state with his parents in 1860, when he was but two years of age. They located in Humboldt county, in the Mattole valley, where his father became the owner of Barkdull ridge stock range, and since that time Mr. Barkdull has been a resident of this county, and is one of her most loyal and enthusiastic supporters. He owns much valuable property at this time, and is residing at Rio Dell, where he has a valuable farm of thirty acres. Other property includes two well improved ranches of forty acres cach at Pepperwood, a stock range of one hundred sixty acres back of Pepperwood, and three hundred twenty acres in the upper Mattole valley.

Mr. Barkdull was born at Butte Disappointment, near the city of Eugene, Lane county, Ore., April 29, 1858. His father, John L. Barkdull, was a native of Ohio, and crossed the plains to California in 1850, locating at Hangtown, of carly day fame, and was one of the gold miners of that period. In 1853 he went to Oregon and settled at Butte Disappointment where he engaged in stock-raising. While there he met and married Miss Nancy Bagley, the daughter of Eli and Nancy (Belt) Bagley. The parents of Mrs. Barkdull were both natives of Indiana, who came first to Iowa, and later to Missouri, eventually crossing the plains and locating in Oregon. There were ten children in the family of Mr. Barkdull's parents of whom he was the second born. They were all well known in Humboldt county, where most of the living members have been, or are now, associated in bus- iness activities of various sorts. They are: (1) Enoch J., who died at the age of forty years, at Table Bluff, where he was engaged in ranching, he was married to Miss Delia Smith of Lake county, and they had five children ; (2) Joseph C., the subject of this sketch; (3) Mendocino, who was the first white girl born south of Cape Mendocino, in Humboldt county, and is now the wife of Mr. Breitweiser, a contractor, at Alameda, Cal .; (4) Nancy, who died in San Francisco; (5) Mary, who died at the age of sixteen years ; (6) Sarah, residing in Oakland, and the wife of Charles Hamilton, a car- penter ; (7) E. R., residing at Eureka, where he is secretary and bookkeeper for the Humboldt Brewing Company; (8) Calvin, who is in Alaska, located near Petersburg, where he owns the hotel and valuable gold mines and is also engaged in raising silver, black and blue foxes, having five hundred in all, and having rented for the purpose two islands near Petersburg, and who is the first to have made a success of fox farming, and he is preparing a book on the subject for the government ; (9) George, who was accidentally killed by a horse at the age of twelve years, and (10) Daniel, who died at the age of six. The father was engaged in farming until the time of his death at the age of seventy ; the mother having passed away in 1885, at the age of forty-four years.

It was in 1860 that the parents of Mr. Barkdull came to Humboldt county and located in the Mattole valley. During the years from 1862 to

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1866 they ran a dairy farm, making butter and cheese which they sent over the mountains to the mines at Weaverville. They remained in the valley continuously up to 1874, save for a brief time when the Indians were on the warpath and Mr. Barkdull, Sr., was obliged to seek refuge for himself and family in Eureka. At this time the Indians killed Mr. McNutt and corralled all of the Barkdull cattle, killing all the calves and yearlings. Later the father bought a ranch at Table Bluff, where Loleta now stands.

Young Joseph Barkdull attended the public schools at Table Bluff and later Forrester's Business College in Chico. When he was twenty-one years of age he went to Sacramento where he entered machine shops, but not caring for the machinist's trade, he commenced buying and selling cattle, horses and mules in the Sacramento valley, sometimes bringing them over into Humboldt county. He rented his father's farm on "Niggerhead", and fol- lowed this business until in 1892, when illness necessitated his leaving the low country around Loleta and he removed to Pepperwood, where he pur- chased forty acres which he cleared and improved. Next he bought the old J. H. Montgomery farm at Pepperwood, which he cleared and improved, and afterward bought the range land. While on the Pepperwood ranch he kept a stopping place for travellers and stock, known as the Travellers' Inn ; he ran this for ten years in connection with the farms and it became well known. In 1907 he located on his present place at Rio Dell, where he follows stock-raising.

The marriage of Mr. Barkdull occurred in 1888, uniting him with Miss Minnie Brown, a native of Humboldt county, and the daughter of Thomas Brown, of Grizzly Bluff, one of the pioneers of the county, going through the Indian wars, having come to California across the plains in 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Barkdull live very quietly at their home at Rio Dell, where they dispense a charming, old-fashioned hospitality, and have many warm friends and ac- quaintances in their section of the county. In his political affiliations Mr. Barkdull is a republican and is one of the influential men of the vicinity. He is well informed on all questions of the day and is an independent and force- ful thinker, being especially well posted on all local issues of importance. He was made a Mason in Eel River Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of Rohnerville Chapter, No. 76, O. E. S.

JAMES THOMAS CLEARY .- The popular young manager of the Metropolitan Redwood Lumber Company's store at Metropolitan, James Thomas Cleary, is a man of brain and brawn, clever, capable, and energetic, with a pleasant and genial manner which draws and holds friends and so adds greatly to his value to the company in his present capacity. His bus- iness ability is well above the average and his management of the company store is capable and efficient, it having been especially profitable under his supervision. He is also postmaster at Metropolitan, this office occupying space in the store building. Mr. Cleary received his appointment as post- master April 1, 1911, and since that time has discharged the duties of this office with ability and dispatch. Both he and his wife are deservedly popu- lar with a wide circle of friends and are among the most prominent people in this thriving little town.

Mr. Cleary is a native of Tennessee, having been born at Aetna, March 17, 1888. He remained in Tennessee until he was six years of age, and then

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went with his parents to Marquette, Michigan, where they remained until he was sixteen. In 1904 they came to California, locating first at Sacramento, living later for a time in Los Angeles, and eventually coming to Humboldt county and settling at Eureka. Young James Cleary attended school first in Michigan, and later in Sacramento and Los Angeles, completing his edu- cation by a course in the Eureka Business College. His ability as a stenog- rapher and bookkeeper secured him his first position with the Metropolitan Redwood Lumber Company, and his capabilities and careful application to business resulted in his promotion to his present position of responsibility and trust ; Mr. Cleary has enjoyed some very unique experiences for a young man, being something of an adventurer and having traveled extensively. In 1906 he joined a whaling expedition bound for the Arctic, shipping from San Francisco for the Herschild Islands. They went a thousand miles into the Arctic and during their cruise of nine months secured six large bow-head whales. That the trip was one of thrilling experiences and narrow escapes goes without saying.

The marriage of Mr. Cleary occurred in July, 1911, uniting him with Miss Alice L. Thompson, a native of Humboldt county, and the daughter of Robert Thompson, of Metropolitan, one of the well known farmers of this part of the county, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Cleary have two children, Leota Jane and James David. Mr. Cleary is a Democrat in his political associations, and takes an active and influential part in all local affairs. He is a man of sound judgment and advanced views and follows the dictates of independent thought rather than strict party lines, and is always to be found advocating local progress, social betterment and improvements of a permanent character, building for the future rather than for the present. He has always been active in fraternal affairs, and is a member of the Eureka Lodge of Elks, and also of the Knights of Columbus, at Eureka.

ROBERT THOMPSON .- Although for many years prominently asso- ciated with the lumber interests of Humboldt and Butte counties, Robert Thompson turned farmer more than a quarter of a century ago, and since that time has been a tiller of the soil, meeting with splendid success. He purchased his first farm in this county in 1888 at Pepperwood, which he sold in 1892, and soon thereafter bought his present place near Metropolitan, on what was then known as McDiarmidt prairie. He is engaged in general farming and dairying, keeping a string of high grade Jersey cows, and a registered Jersey bull. He is a patron of the Grizzly Bluff creamery, and separates his cream at home. His home place is one of the most attractive in the- vicinity, and all the improvements have been made by Mr. Thompson. At the time of purchase the land was entirely unimproved and largely cov- ered with a heavy growth of pepperwood trees. It is now under a high state of cultivation, with comfortable dwelling, barns, and other improvements.

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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 116

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