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 120

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 120

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Jose, continuing there until 1909, and meeting with much deserved success. At that time he became the traveling salesman for the California Compound- ing Company, carrying a general line of lubricating oils, and remaining with this firm for some two years.

. It was in 1911 that Mr. Pecbles bought an interest in the Pacific Oil and Fuel Company, a corporation capitalized at $10,000. Since the association of Mr. Peebles with the company they have added an extensive line of lubri- cating oils, under his special direction, and are now supplying many of the boats at Eureka and also many of the sawmills in the vicinity. The company has acquired a large business in the sale of refined oils, carrying all grades of Pennsylvania lubricating oils, including Peerless automobile oils and Peer- less valve oils, as well as gasoline and kerosene. They also deal extensively in wood and blacksmith coal. They have extensive wharfage and railway switching facilities, which adds greatly to their ability to handle their trade and to give prompt and efficient service in the matters of delivery, thus adding materially to their business. The offices and warehouses are on the water front as well as on the line of the Northwestern Pacific Railway Com- pany, and are located at the foot of K street.

Mr. Peebles is one of the most energetic and progressive young men in Eureka today. He is a loyal and devoted son of his adopted state and has an abiding faith in the future development of the commonwealth, and of Eureka and Humboldt county in particular. He is a thorough optimist, and with his bright and cheerful disposition makes friends readily and holds them always. While in business at San Jose he was married to Miss Lelia Turner, a daughter of the late J. W. Turner, a prominent attorney of Eureka. Mrs. Peebles has borne her husband one child, a daughter, Lelia Lois. Fraternally he is a member of the Sons of Veterans and the Modern Wood- men of the World.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Peebles are prominent in their social circle, in Eureka, as they also were in San Jose, while residing there. Mr. Peebles is closely allied with the progressive interests of Eureka and is taking a prominent part in all matters which tend to the general welfare of the city, its develop- ment and upbuilding. He is a member of several of the best known of the local fraternal organizations, and is well liked wherever he is known.

GEORGE EDMONSTONE .- The Edmonstone brothers, Donald and George, are now ranked among the well-to-do landowners in the vicinity of Petrolia, Humboldt county, to which locality they came in the summer of 1869, to take advantage of the opportunities offered to settlers in the stock- raising industry in this section. They are Scotchmen by birth and endowed with the sturdy characteristics of the Highland race from which they spring. For generations the family was established on the river Dee, about thirty miles north of Aberdeen, Scotland, and Donald Edmonstone, father of Donald and George, was there engaged in the live stock business, dealing in cattle, sheep and wool. He was a thrifty and intelligent business man and in very fair circumstances. Born in Aberdeenshire, he passed all his life in his native heath, dying there at the great age of ninety-five years; his wife, Jane (Mc- Pherson), a native of the same county, lived to be seventy-five years old. We have the following record of their seven children: John, a farmer, who died in Scotland, was married and reared a family of five children. James,

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

a farmer, also deceased in Scotland, had but one child, a daughter. Peter, a miller at Broxburn, died in Scotland in 1913, leaving eight children, two sons and six daughters. Jane married James Emslie, a turnpike road contractor, of Aberdeenshire, and died in Scotland leaving two sons and one daughter. Donald, born May 15, 1841, settled in Humboldt county in 1869 and became well known here, but is now living at Palo Alto, Cal. ; he was married in this county to Miss Maggie McCombie, and has two sons and one daughter. Alexander, the first of the family to come to America, died of yellow fever in 1867, at Galveston, Texas. George completes the family.

George Edmonstone was born November 27, 1845, on the river Dec, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, and obtained his education in the local public schools. Brought up on a stock farm, he naturally learned the business thoroughly, his experience proving very valuable to him in his later ventures in Humboldt county. In company with his brother Donald he came to America, the young men first locating in Canada, at Chatham, county of Kent, Ontario, where they were employed at teaming and farming for two years. Then they came out to the Pacific coast by way of the Isthmus, and on the trip north from Panama, made in a steamship, narrowly escaped ship- wreck by an immense waterspout which overtook the vessel. It was sighted in the morning off to the west, as they were approaching Manzanillo, Mexico, and several others made their appearance also, but the one which struck the vessel about noontime was exceedingly large and violent. The boat shot into it when right opposite Manzanillo, and it broke just before reaching the ship, which was drenched and injured but not disabled, being able to continue on to San Francisco and land its passengers safely, in May of 1868. From that port the Edmonstone brothers proceeded north to Napa, where they found work on ranches and at teaming, hauling cordwood for Sam Brennan in Napa county during the fall and winter. In the spring they went up to Puget sound, where they found employment in sawmills and lumber camps until the summer of 1869, when reports that a new railroad was about to be built and plenty of land in Humboldt county made available for settlement attracted them southward again. They came down to Eureka, this county, and from there made their way to Petrolia, where each filed on a one hundred sixty-acre preemption claim on the north fork of the Mattole river, working out to make a living while proving up on the same and undertaking the expense of necessary improvements.

From the time of their arrival in the county the brothers labored together to their mutual advantage, and as they became more extensively interested in ranching and cattle raising acquired possession of considerable land, now owning two tracts, one of fifteen hundred acres on Taylor's Peak, on the north fork of the Mattole river, and called the Taylor Peak ranch, and the other a ninety-acre tract on the Eel river bottoms between Fernbridge and Ferndale. Both are now rented, the tenants operating them as the owners did, the larger tract as a stock ranch for the production of beef, the other as a dairy farm. The Union oil well was sunk on their Taylor Peak ranch and oil was obtained and shipped in the '60s. It was necessary at that time to pack the oil out on muleback, but this being too expensive the enterprise was given up. The difficulty of transportion is the principal reason for the non-development of the Petrolia oil fields. This was one of the few wells

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sunk in the vicinity which produced sufficient oil to justify further attempts at operating in the Petrolia field.

George Edmonstone, with John McCombie, owns a thirty-five-acre ranch on the Mattole about half a mile west of Petrolia, which he operated until December, 1914. Though he still owns his interest in the ranch he now makes his home in Eureka, where he has just completed a modern bungalow at Ninth and N streets, where he resides with his wife. In maidenhood she was Georgia Fulmore, born in Nova Scotia, the daughter of Samuel Fulmore, who migrated to Humboldt county with his family in 1869. Mr. Fulmore is extensively engaged in dairying on Eel River Island, owning one hundred sixty acres of bottom land. Mrs. Edmonstone was educated in Humboldt county, having spent her life here from childhood. Mr. Edmonstone has always taken a public-spirited interest in the general welfare of his locality, and has rendered excellent service to his fellow citizens, being in a position to give time and attention to matters of importance to the community, and sincere in his intentions towards bettering conditions in the county. He is a Democrat in his political associations and an ardent party worker, and he is usually a member of the local election boards, on which he has served for thirty years. His influence is always given to worthy movements, and per- sonally he is well liked for his kindliness and trustworthy character, while his successful business carcer has helped very materially in the improvement of his section of Humboldt county.

REV. LAWRENCE KENNEDY .- The work of brave and worthy priests formed the foundation upon which the Catholic church stands today in Eureka and Humboldt county. In this pioneer work the name of Father Croke is worthy of mention. Father O'Reilly was the first resident priest and was followed by Father Maurice Ilickey, he being succeeded by Father Crinnion, both of whom succumbed to the arduous and fatiguing work con- sequent upon their duties. Following these pioneer priests came Father Grace, the present bishop of Sacramento ; Fathers Henneberry, Kelly, Nulty, Lynch and Sheridan, the last as well as the first one named taking a vital part in building up the church which embraces the parish of St. Bernard. The present church edifice is large, 125x64 feet, with a seating capacity of seven hundred and fifty, being a great contrast to the first church, which was only 48x24. There is another church building in a growing part of the city seating about three hundred, adjoining which is a convent and school. In the early days the parish of Eureka consisted of Arcata, Fortuna and Fern- dale, each of which is now a separate parish.

The present rector of St. Bernard's parish is Very Rev. Lawrence Ken- nedy, V. G., a man of intellect and breadth of character who is well fitted to bear the title of "First Citizen of Eureka," a title which all (regardless of race or creed) agree to be a fitting one. As vicar of the diocese he holds the rank of Monsignor and is given recognition as a leader among the fore- most intellectual men of the church in the west. Forty years have brought their changes to Humboldt county since Father Kennedy came here, in the flush of young manhood, educated thoroughly in the Roman Catholic institu- tions of learning, and consecrated to the work of the church. His has been a busy life, loyally given to the advancement of Catholicism, and now, in the afternoon of a helpful existence, with strength undimmed and energies

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unflagging, he is still in the forefront of every worthy movement and still leads his denomination in this section of the state. Father Kennedy made his preparatory studies for the priesthood in All Hallows College in the city of Dublin, Ireland, but the greater part of his ministerial work has been connected with Humboldt county. However, he had a previous experience as assistant pastor at Marysville, where he was ordained in 1867 by Bishop O'Connell, and also at Grass Valley, coming from the latter parish to Hum- boldt county in 1874 and engaging as pastor at Eureka. From 1878 until 1892 he was pastor of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Ferndale and since 1892 he has held the pastorate of St. Bernard's Church in Eureka, at the present time receiving the helpful and capable assistance of two subordinate priests assigned to his parish in order that the heaviest burdens of the work may be somewhat lightened for his willing shoulders.

It may be of interest to the general public as well as to the Catholics themselves to know that the first services of the church were held in Hum- boldt county as early as 1854. At that time the population of the county was very small and so few Catholics as yet had sought this section of the country that when Father Croke came up from San Francisco services were held in a private home in Bucksport, and the house, although small, was amply large to accommodate the few communicants present. It became the custom for a city pastor to come by boat to Eureka and hold services at least once a year. Thus the few members were kept united and interested. As their numbers increased they formed a congregation and erected a small house of worship on the site of the present church home, facing Sixth street.

It was about 1870 that the first convent was established in Humboldt county. It was presided over by the Sisters of Mercy, who purchased the old seminary building on a block of ground between G and F and Seventh and Eighth streets, where they carried on an academy until about 1904, when it was discontinued. Some six years ago, with a view to establishing and building a convent and academy, Father Kennedy purchased the present site of a block of ground between Henderson and Dollison and Williams and C streets. On June 22, 1912, a school was opened in the Y. M. I. Hall on Sixth and I streets by the Sisters of St. Joseph. In 1913 the present new convent and school buildings were erected at an expenditure of about $50,000, and for the convenience of the members of the congregation living in that vicinity he also built a church edifice where services are held regularly every Sunday. The convent and school buildings are modern, being equipped with up-to-date facilities, and opportunity is afforded for the most modern educational advan- tages to the two hundred boarding and day pupils. The curriculum also includes a regular graded high school course. The control of the institution is under Sister Bernard, formerly of Chicago, as Sister Superior, assisted by fifteen sisters trained in different departments of work and admirably quali- fied to cooperate in the progress of the convent from the standpoint of physical training and mental culture as well as spiritual uplift.

SAMUEL WARTH .- One of the successful business men of Eureka, Cal., was Samuel Warth, whose death occurred in January, 1913, and whose business interests since that time have been successfully carried on by his wife, under whose guidance and practical management they are attaining large proportions, and holding a high place among the industries of the town.

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Though the son of a native of Germany, John Warth, who came to Cali- fornia when but fourteen years old, in the early pioneer days, Samuel Warth was truly a native son of the state, having been born at Salinas, Cal., in 1871, and brought up at Salinas and San Miguel, receiving his education in the public schools of these towns. His entry into the business world was made in New York city, where for a time he followed the shoe business, on his return to the west spending some time in Los Angeles, Cal., and also in Arizona. He was married in San Jose, Cal., in 1899, to Ora Holloway, who was born in Gilroy, a daughter of Steadman and Salona (Miller) Holloway, who were also pioneers of California. About the year 1900 Mr. and Mrs. Warth settled at Fresno, Cal., where Mr. Warth started the Fresno City Towel Supply, a business which under his splendid management became an enterprise of importance and worth. In the year 1907 he removed to Eureka, where he organized the Warth Towel Supply, the first of its kind in the city, and built up for himself a large business in this line. Four years later, pur- chasing property at the corner of Tenth and I streets in Eureka, he built for himself a comfortable and pleasant bungalow home and also a large bunga- low building, in which he installed a modern laundry fully equipped for handling linen supplies. The business grew rapidly, and became a very suc- cessful enterprise, but the death of Mr. Warth occurred while he was en- gaged in the active management of the establishment. Since then his wife has very successfully carried on the business, in this way proving herself a woman of fine business acumen and practical sense, well fitted to continue the work of her husband. A Republican in her political interests, her fra- ternal associations are with the Ladies of the Maccabees, her husband having been a member of the Knights of the Maccabees, and both Mr. and Mrs. Warth have earned for themselves the esteem of all in the community where they made their home.

JAMES HERNDON STILL .- As engineer at the Bayside mill, Eureka, where he has been engaged for the last six years, James H. Still has a responsible position for which he has proved well qualified. His experience in that line of work began about thirty years ago, and has been sufficiently varied to make him self-reliant and competent. Personally he is a man of high character, commanding the respect of his fellow citizens at Eureka, where he has lived for some years. The larger part of his life has been spent in Humboldt county, for he was but nine years old when he accompanied his parents from Missouri to the coast, the family making the trip overland.

J. E. Still, father of James Herndon Still and a native of Kentucky, moved from that state to Missouri in the early days and thence to California in 1865. He followed farming in Humboldt county the rest of his life, owning a dairy farm at Willowbrook which still belongs to his widow. His death occurred twenty-two years ago. He married Mrs. Susan (King) Marr, who was born in Tennessee and who still survives, well and hearty though now eighty- four years of age (1914), and makes her home at Eureka. James Herndon was the eldest of the three children born to this couple. His birthplace was Missouri, where he first saw the light July 22, 1855. Reared on his father's farm in this county, he followed agricultural work in his early life, about thirty years ago beginning to follow his present calling. For a period of about eleven years he ran a "donkey" engine in the woods, and he has been

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employed as a stationary engineer for the last twelve years, six years ago taking his present place as assistant engineer at the Bayside mill, at Eureka, where he has gained the reputation of being a thoroughly dependable worker. IIe performs his duties with painstaking attention to every detail, and devotes himself untiringly to his work, rising at four every morning to be at his post in good season. He has charge of the steam engines at the mill, two of two hundred and fifty horsepower each, which drive the mighty machinery at the plant. Some years ago Mr. Still held the position of agent for the North- western Pacific Railway Company at Singley (Fern Bridge), Humboldt county, being thus engaged for five years.

Mr. Still was married to Miss Emma Knight, of Detroit, Mich., and three children have been born of this union: George, who is now employed as filer at the Occidental mill at Eureka; Mrs. Louisa McDirmid, who lives in Portland, Ore. ; and Vincent, who works in the filing room at Samoa. The family have a very pleasant home, Mr. Still owning the residence they occupy at No. 1533 Dean street, Eureka.

HARRY A. GRIES .- The celebrated Ocean House ranch, near Cape- town, Humboldt county, a valuable property belonging to Mr. Joseph Russ, of Ferndale, has been under the capable direction of Harry A. Gries since July, 1913, and in his excellent services on that place he is adding to a reputa- tion for reliability and trustworthiness which secured him the position.

Mr. Gries is a native of Butte county, Cal., where his parents were residing at the time of his birth, September 23, 1870. They were old-time pioneers in this state, sharing the freedom and the hardships of the early days before the country was opened up to civilization. Eventually they settled in Humboldt county, where the father became the owner of a dairy ranch which he conducted for several years before his death. The mother is also deceased. Industrious, honorable people, they led worthy lives and by all who knew them were thoroughly respected for their thrift and estimable character. Of their three children, George now operates a farm in the state of Washington; John resides in Ferndale; and Harry A. is foreman of the Ocean House ranch.

Harry A. Gries was a boy when his parents removed to Humboldt county. He had a common school education, and when old enough to begin work took employment in a humble capacity, being promoted as he acquired famili- arity with ranch work and showed himself responsible and willing to take hold of the more important duties. His intelligence, foresight and confidence, combined with a faculty for hard work which makes his executive qualities particularly valuable, have gained him a strong place in the esteem of his employer, who made him foreman of the Ocean House ranch in July, 1913. The ranch is very appropriately named, being romantically situated just south of Cape Mendocino, the westernmost point on the mainland of the United States, in full view of the majestic Pacific. The property comprises more than eighteen hundred acres, and all its operations are looked after in the most business-like manner by Mr. Gries, who attends to his work with the utmost fidelity. Yet he is never too busy to lend a helping hand to a neighbor or do a good turn to any of his fellow men, and in public matters, as in his personal relations, is ready to show the right spirit whenever called

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upon, supporting the best interests of his county and state with his ballot or influence as necessary.

JUDSON WILLIAM CRAIN .- Eureka's superintendent of streets came to California from Illinois but claims Michigan as his native commonwealth, having been born in the city of Detroit, January 5, 1860, receiving fair advan- tages in the public schools and through the development of native ability becoming skilled as a mechanic and able to install and repair machinery of every kind. While yet a very young man he became a locomotive engineer and ran a locomotive on a railroad out from Saginaw. In the course of a few years he left the railroad and went to Illinois, where he alternated work on a farm with the running of an engine in a paper mill, continuing at such employment for a brief period. When twenty-two years of age, in the fall of 1882 he came to California and found employment with the great house of J. I. Case & Co., manufacturers of threshing machines. During the four years of his connection with the corporation he was engaged in installing machinery and setting up threshing machines in different parts of the state. When he first came to Humboldt county he ran a locomotive on the jetty. After two years at that work he went to Tuolumne county and engaged in work on the dam across the Tuolumne river, also aiding in building the irrigation system connected with the dam. Following that period of employ- ment he went to Trinity county and engaged in mining for about three years.

The year 1898 found Mr. Crain a permanent resident of Humboldt county, where for some years he conducted a growing business in teaming and dray- ing. From the time of his arrival in the county he has been interested in its growth, and particularly has he been devoted to the progress of his home city. Recognition of his loyal citizenship and energy in work came with his election in 1907 as superintendent of streets. During his term crushed rock was first used for street work in Eureka and the new Vrooman state law became operative. After an interval of a few years he was again elected to the office in 1913, and has since devoted his entire attention to the duties of the position, which is one of great responsibility, demanding high qualities of character as well as the most unwearied industry. His fraternities are the Eagles and the Woodmen of the World, and to each he has contributed when called upon to aid in their charities. Through his marriage to Annie Shafer, a native of Trinity county, he has four children, August, Louis, Ethel and Allan.

BENJAMIN FRANKLIN FLINT .- The present supervisor of the first supervisorial district of Humboldt county, Benjamin Franklin Flint is one of the most popular and capable men in the county, with a business record of which he may well be proud. He is discharging his new duties as super- visor with much ability and bids fair to make the same class of record here that he has always made in other undertakings. He has tried many occupa- tions during his lifetime and his varied experiences have given him a broad grasp of the affairs of men and an outlook on life that is at once sympathetic and comprehensive. Having been selected by Governor Johnson to fill the vacancy left by the death of his predecessor, George Hindley, his commission bears the date of March 18, 1914, when he assumed the duties of his office. In the fall of 1914 at the primaries he received the majority vote for super-

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visor to succeed himself, and at the November election was elected without opposition.

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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 120

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