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 122

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 122

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DENVER SEVIER .- With one of the many expeditions that crossed the plains during the summer of 1850 there came to the then unknown and undeveloped regions of the Pacific coast a stalwart young man, a native of Indiana, Abner D. Sevier, by name, who in the year following his arrival in California joined the few isolated frontiersmen then established in Hum- boldt county. Already logging camps had been established in this section of the state. The vast forests were beginning to be devastated for the up- building of the west. For a time he had work as the driver of an ox-team in one of these camps, but later he went to the Eel river section and took up a government claim. In the early period he endured many hardships. To earn a livelihood from the undeveloped land was most difficult, nor was it easy to find a market for such crops as could be secured. Determination, perseverance and unceasing hard work brought their merited results and eventually he became a prosperous farmer and a man of wide public in- fluence, serving for two terms as county sheriff and also filling the office of county supervisor with recognized efficiency. For almost thirty years he was a resident of Humboldt county, and his death, March 24, 1888, was recognized as a distinct loss to his community. Fraternally he held mem- bership with the Masons. By his marriage to Sarah A. Stringfield he be- came the father of four children, of whom only one is living, Denver, born at Eureka, Cal., February 19, 1860, educated in local schools, admitted to the bar in 1889, and since then a member of the brilliant company of attor- neys practicing in Eureka. In this city he married Miss Minnie Bullock, daughter of Nathaniel Bullock, and of the union there are two sons, Donald B. and Kenneth D.

CHARLES CROSS .- The ranch owned and occupied by Charles Cross is situated on Van Dusen river, two miles from Carlotta, and is one of the most attractive in the county. It comprises two hundred ten acres of fertile land, which he has acquired by hard work and frugality, so that the term self-made applies to him in its truest sense. Like so many of those of eastern birth who have turned their attention to dairying and farming in this land of sunshine, he has been very successful and today his dairy of twenty fine milch cows is one of the best equipped in the county. In every transaction of life he has been honest and upright, kind and generous to a fault, a respected citizen and good neighbor. He was born at Hampden, Penobscot county, Me., August 30, 1860, the son of William and Sarah (Morse) Cross. The parents, who were farmers, were natives of Maine, the father of Welsh and the mother of English ancestry. In 1869 they moved to Grinnell, Iowa, three months later removing to Smith county, Kans., where the father homesteaded and resided ten years. In 1882 the family removed to Oregon and one year later to Humboldt county, Cal.

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On account of poor health the father removed to Nevada, thence to Oregon, where he died. The mother died in Rohnerville, Humboldt county, in 1898. They had two children, namely, A. N. and Charles, the former residing with his brother.

Circumstances were such that Charles Cross had very limited educa- tional advantages, for when he was quite young it was necessary for him to become self-supporting. For several years he was in the employ of the Pacific Lumber Company at Scotia and afterward worked for the Holmes Lumber Company of Eureka.

Imbued with the qualities which usually bring success, young Cross saved his earnings and in due time was enabled to purchase a ranch of twenty-five acres at Rio Dell, which he improved while with the Pacific Lumber Company, making it his home for seventeen years. After selling it he bought his present ranch on Van Dusen river, most of the place being bottom land, on which he raises grain, hay, carrots, beets and alfalfa. Many of the progressive movements of the county have enlisted his influence and his career throughout is worthy of emulation. Frater- nally he is a member of the Hydesville Lodge of Odd Fellows, and in poli- tics votes with the Republican party.

While living in this county Mr. Cross was married at Rio Dell July 10, 1889, being united with Miss Hattie Corning, born in St. James, Watonwan county, Minn., December 22, 1870, the daughter of Smith P. and Orpha M. (Smith) Corning, born in New York and Ohio, respectively. They were married in Minnesota. Mr. Corning served in Company B, Second Minnesota Volunteer Infantry, through the Civil war. Until 1873 he resided in Minnesota, then removing to Ottawa county, Kan., where the family resided for a year. In that year Mr. Corning came to Humboldt county, the family joining him in 1875. A millwright by trade, he helped build various mills in the county. He spent his last days at Rio Dell, passing away in 1910, the mother having died at Shively in 1882. Of their seven children, Mrs. Cross, the fourth oldest, received her education in Humboldt county. Mr. and Mrs. Cross are the parents of seven children : Ruby (Mrs. Guy Stapp of Carlotta, the mother of one child, Albert Ever- ett) ; Earl Everett; Irene Elizabeth; Florence Marie; Agnes Zella and Anna Ella (twins) ; and Cecil Wilbur. Mrs. Cross is a member of the Hydesville Lodge of Rebekahs, No. 98, and is interested in the cause of education. Mr. Cross was formerly a member of the board of trustees of Rio Dell district.

JAMES E, NEIGHBOR .- Though a comparatively new resident of Eureka, Mr. Neighbor has become so intimately associated with the affairs of the city and of Humboldt county as well that he has been welcomed as an acquisition in the best circles. The promptness with which he entered into local movements for the general welfare has been a source of gratification to his fellow citizens, for he is a worker of trained ability, with several years of successful service to his credit, principally in the activities of the Young Men's Christian Association. As a business man also he has a high record, and has added to his reputation in that line by his able management of the Bayside lumber mill at Eureka. He "arrived" in the milling business by a rather roundabout route, having for

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a number of years been engaged with a saw manufacturing firm in the east, through which he made acquaintances which led to his present con- nection when he decided to settle in California.

Mr. Neighbor is of English ancestry, his father, grandfather and great- grandfather having been born in England. Edward Neighbor, his grand- father, brought his family to America when the Rev. R. E. Neighbor, father of James E., was a boy of twelve years; Robert Neighbor, the great-grandfather, also accompanied them. They settled in Racine county, Wis., where Edward Neighbor, formerly a school-teacher, took up a farm and followed agricultural pursuits. R. E. Neighbor was born in 1842 at Wisbeach, England, and began his education in his native land. He passed his youth on his father's farm in Racine county, Wis., attended Racine College, and later took a course at the University of Chicago, from which institution he was graduated. Having prepared for service in the Baptist ministry, he was ordained, and his first pastorate was in Kane county, Ill. Having been appointed to do missionary work for his denomination in India, in the province of Assam, he gave up his charge and for the next eight years served in the India mission field of the Baptist Church, during that time residing principally at Nowgong, Assam. His son James was an infant, when he went out, and three children were born in India, so he and his wife concluded it best to return to America in order to give their children proper educational advantages. For a time the family lived at Chicago, Ill., later at Elkhart, Ind., and then at Indianapolis, and Rev. Mr. Neighbor is still actively engaged in the service of the Baptist Church, doing special work. He resides at Indianapolis, but is called to various points. For twenty-five years he was connected with the Baptist State Convention of Indiana, and he is well known through his contributions to the several church periodicals, having written considerably on religious topics for the Baptist Observer of Indianapolis, the Baptist Review of New York City, the Bibliotheca Sacra of Oberlin, Ohio, and The Review and Expositor of Louisville, Ky. At two different periods he has been editor of the Observer. His able services in every capacity have received flatter- ing recognition in the church.

Rev. Mr. Neighbor was married at Chicago, Ill., in 1868, to Miss Anna Maria Bell, who was a native of Ireland, of Scotch-Irish descent. She lived to be over seventy years old. Five children were born of this mar- riage, viz .: James E .; Arthur, of Rosenberg, Texas, a physician and sur- geon ; Robert W., manager of the branch house of E. C. Atkins & Co. at San Francisco, and living at Oakland; Agnes D., wife of George T. Purves, of Indianapolis, bookkeeper for the Marion County Construction Company ; and Ethel M., who was born at Elkhart, Ind., and who is unmarried.

James E. Neighbor was born February 2, 1870, at St. Charles, Kane county, Ill., where his father was stationed until he took up missionary work in India. He was but seven months old when he landed with his parents at Calcutta, and a boy of nine when they returned to America. He attended school in Chicago for one year, was in the high school at Elkhart, Ind., six months, and completed the four years' high school course at Indianapolis, graduating when seventeen years old. Two months before graduation he had been offered a position with E. C. Atkins & Co., saw

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manufacturers of Indianapolis, and he entered their service as mailing clerk. After one year he became billing clerk, making out all the invoices, besides which he waited on all outside customers who came to the house and filled the position of office salesman. At the time the Spanish-Ameri- can war broke out he was a member of the Indianapolis Light Artillery, and enlisted for service with that organization, which went into the army as the Twenty-seventh Indiana Light Artillery, but he was rejected at the federal examination. At this time the president of the Indianapolis Mercantile & Trust Company offered him a position as manager of the Indianapolis office. This concern later developed into the Merchants' Association. For four years Mr. Neighbor devoted his time to Y. M. C. A. work. Having taken the position of assistant secretary, he held it for two years, and during the next two years was acting general secretary. At the end of this period he became superintendent of the Badger Furniture Company at Indianapolis, holding that position for four years, when his health broke down and he found it necessary to have rest and a change, to recover from an attack of nervous prostration. With that end in view he made a visit to his brother Robert, at Oakland, Cal., in 1908, and was delighted with the climatic and other attractions of the coast. In the course of his stay he formed the acquaintance of R. O. Wilson, manager at the San Francisco offices of the Bayside Lumber Company, which has a mill at Eureka. During the ten years of his connection with E. C. Atkins & Co. he had become quite familiar with sawmill supplies and other details of the lumber business, and his work in the association brought him a wide acquaintance, so that he did not come to the west by any means as a stranger.

In December, 1908, Mr. Wilson sent Mr. Neighbor up to Eureka, and the following February he became assistant manager of the Bayside Lum- ber Company, in which capacity he has charge of the Eureka mills. The San Francisco offices of this concern are in Rooms 613-621 Santa Maria building, at No. 112 Market street, and the sales offices are also in that city. The officers of the company are: Levi Smith, president, of Warren, Pa .; Charles A. Shurtliff, vice president, of San Francisco; R. O. Wilson, secretary and treasurer, as well as manager. The latter lives at Oakland. The company is engaged in the manufacture of redwood lumber and shingles, and the industry is of such proportions as to be highly important to the prosperity of Eureka, where it is considered one of the stable assets of the city and county. Mr. Neighbor's able administration of its affairs at this point is sufficient comment on his talents and executive ability.

From the time he settled at Eureka Mr. Neighbor has demonstrated his sincere interest in the work of raising social and living standards in the community and his efficiency in accomplishing such objects. Un- doubtedly his early home training and influence predisposed him for such service to his fellows, and he has lived faithfully up to the high ideals of generosity and helpfulness to others instilled by his parents. He is chair- man at present of the Humboldt County Progressive Temperance League, which office he has filled for the last three years; is a member of the Eureka Development Association, working for what he considers the best interests of a cleaner, larger and better Eureka; and is a prominent member of the 45

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Baptist Church, serving that organization as deacon and member of the board of trustees, and the Sunday school as superintendent. Mr. Neighbor has attempted to labor along broad lines, attacking wrong and vicious principles and breaking down evil institutions, rather than directing his immediate attention to the victims of these conditions entirely. He be- lieves in going to the root of an evil, rather than nipping its buds, and his success in the various undertakings which have been intrusted to him would seem to indicate that he has a grasp of the more effective methods.

In 1902 Mr. Neighbor was married to Miss Anna M. Wright, of Mount Pleasant, Ohio, and they have two children, Margaret Annabel and James Edward. They reside at No. 130 West Cedar street, Eureka. Mrs. Neigh- bor is, like her husband, a zealous worker in the Baptist Church, and also a prominent member of the Ladies' Aid Society and vice president of the Women's Missionary Society of the Eureka congregation.

MATTHEW CARROLL .- A prominent farmer and stockman in the vicinity of Arcata, Cal., Matthew Carroll has carved out for himself a farm from the forest land, where he now produces big crops on land which, when he first settled there, was mostly timber. He cleared the ground for farming, and still owns valuable timber land there, and has become known in that community as a liberal and public-spirited man, ready to help any project which has for its aim the upbuilding of the county where he has made his home.

On January 23, 1854, Mr. Carroll was born in Kingston, Ontario, Can- ada, the son of James, born in County Wicklow, Ireland, who came with his parents to Ontario at the age of five years, where he was educated in the local public schools, being engaged during the winters in logging in the woods, and purchasing property consisting of four hundred acres of raw land, which he cleared of beech and maple and improved for farming purposes. His wife was formerly Mary Rowley, a native of County Kil- dare, Ireland, who as a child removed with her parents to Ontario and is still living upon the old home farm in that province. Of her twelve chil- dren, only two are living, and Matthew Carroll was the second eldest in the family. He grew up on his father's farm, and attended the public schools of the vicinity, and at the age of sixteen years began logging in the woods with his father, driving ox-teams, etc., until over twenty years of age. In May, 1874, he came west to California, settling first at Eureka, in Hum- boldt county, where his knowledge of logging stood him in good stead, he being employed for about three years by Evans & Mckay on Salmon creek, being foreman of their road-builders. When this company failed, Mr. Car- roll entered the employ of James Gannon at Arcata, as foreman and head road-builder, in which capacity he remained for a period of five years. In December, 1881, he made a return trip to his old home, the following January being married to Miss Bridget Whalen, a native of his home town, and daughter of Daniel Patrick Whalen, a pioneer farmer of the place. With his bride Mr. Carroll returned to Arcata in April, 1882, purchasing a small farm near that city, which he operated for three years, then selling it to homestead the present place. He began at once to improve his new property, cutting shingle and stave bolts, shipping the latter to San Fran- cisco and selling the former to the shingle mill run by Harpst, Spring &

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Co. Having cleared this land, he purchased adjacent property, having now about three hundred seventy acres in all, of which one hundred fifty acres are cleared and under the plow, there still being about two hundred acres which are heavily timbered. Here Mr. Carroll engages in general farming, stock-raising and dairy business, milking a herd of seventeen cows, and besides raising cattle of Durham and Holstein strain, also engaging in the raising of fine horses. He is the owner of the English shire stallion Captain Tom, weighing fifteen hundred pounds, well known as a fine draft horse.

For about twelve years Mr. Carroll was a trustee of the Cedar Springs school district, and was one of the builders of the first school house in this vicinity, and continued as clerk and trustee of the school until turning over these offices to his son. In his political preferences .he is a member of the Democratic party. He is the father of eleven children, of whom the five youngest are at home with their parents: Mary, now Mrs. Thomas Dillon, of Eureka; James, who resides in San Francisco; Joseph, who lives in Arcata; John, who died at the age of sixteen years; Anna, a bookkeeper for the Humboldt Cooperage Co., Arcata; Daniel, who lives in Montana; Matthew, Peter, William, Oswald and Catherine.

JOHN MACINATA was born in Bagolino, Province of Brescia, Italy, May 11, 1881, the fourth in a family of six children born to Charles and Margareta (Bazzani) Macinata. The parents were farmer folk in Brescia, and resided on the home place until they passed away, on the same day in 1912, only four hours apart.

John Macinata, who is the only member of the family in the United States, was brought up on the old home farm, and in his native district he received a good education. When his schooling was over he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed in connection with farming. Having a desire to see California and try the opportunities offered here to indus- trious young men, he came to Eureka, Cal., in April, 1907, and for the first eight months was in the employ of C. E. Sacchi at Bayside, then at the Bucksport dairy and the Mckay dairy, Ryan slough, for like periods. After another year spent on a dairy farm at the head of F street, Eureka, he resolved to engage in the business for himself and in December, 1910, he rented the William Harmon place, where he ran a dairy of eighteen cows until March 22, 1914, when he leased his present place at West End, near Blue Lake. It is splendid bottom land, which gives him ample pas- ture, and upon it he raises an abundance of hay and green feed. His herd of Holsteins is well bred and numbers forty head of milch cows, which he feeds with great care in order to achieve the best results.

Mr. Macinata was married in Eureka June 7, 1914, being united with Miss Brachi Ambrosini, born at Bormio, Province of Sondrio, Italy. After finishing her studies in Italy, before coming to California, she spent several years in Graubunden and St. Gallen, Switzerland, where she learned the German language and is a woman of ability, being very much of a helpmate to her husband. Politically he is a Democrat.

B. JAMES BIASCA was born at Lodrino, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, January 29, 1881, the son of Charles and Ellen (Bernardi) Biasca, both na- tives of that place. The father was well educated and became a successful dairyman in Humboldt county, whither he came in about 1882, the family

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joining him later, while he was located on Bear river. In 1905 his health failed and he returned to Ticino, Switzerland. They were the parents of eight children, six of whom are living, James being the oldest. His educa- tional advantages consisted of about eighteen months in Lodrino schools, at the end of which time, at the age of eight, he came with others of the family to join the father in Humboldt county, Cal. He immediately went to work for others on a dairy ranch to help his father make a livelihood for the family, and when eleven years of age he went to work for the Russ Company on the present place, while his father was foreman, and he has continued on this ranch ever since. He worked for his father after he leased it and since 1905 he has had a lease of the place himself and is operating a dairy of. eighty-three cows, and is also engaged in raising cattle and hogs, poultry and turkeys. Central Park ranch, as it is called, is located on Bear river and is well adapted for the purpose to which it is devoted. It is equipped with a creamery with steam power for the making of butter, which is shipped to the San Francisco market.

Since he came to this ranch at the age of eleven years, Mr. Biasca has never lost a day, and by his industry and close application to business has won for himself a competence. Politically he is a Republican.

JOHN D. AMBROSINI was born at Lodrino, Canton Ticino, Switzer- land, March 25, 1883, the fifth oldest of six children born to Nicola and Elena (Sachi) Ambrosini, who reside on their farm in that country. John D. was brought up as a farmer's son and received his education in the public schools. Having heard reports of better wages and opportunities in Cali- fornia than could be found in his native Ticino, he determined to try his luck in the Golden West. January 21, 1903, he left his native land and arrived in Humboldt county February 10, 1903. He found employment in a dairy at Loleta for two years and then spent three seasons in a dairy on Bear river ridge. Next he worked for Ambrosini Brothers for a year, when, having saved some money, he determined to start in business for himself. In 1908 he leased his present place (known as the Centennial ranch) of two thousand acres, and has since engaged in dairying with suc- cess. He milks eighty-five cows and is manufacturing butter, which he sells to the Elk River Mercantile Company at Scotia. His success is in no small degree due to the assistance of his wife, who was in maidenhood Ida Bernardi, born on Bear river ridge, Humboldt county, the daughter of Moses and Louisa (Sachi) Bernardi, both natives of Lodrino, Switzerland. On coming to the United States they settled in Humboldt county, where they followed dairying, but later they returned with the family to Lodrino. There the father died soon after his arrival. The mother still makes her home in Ticino. Mrs. Ambrosini is now the only immediate member of lier family in Humboldt county. She was educated both in Humboldt county and in Lodrino. In 1909 she returned to Humboldt county, where she afterwards married Mr. Ambrosini, the ceremony taking place in Fern- dale. To them have been born four children, Daria, Hazel, Susie and Ethel. Politically he espouses the cause of the Republican party.

ANGELO BONOMI .- Many representative sons of Italy have come to California, among them Angelo Bonomi, who was born in Livemmo, Province of Brescia, Italy, in 1890, and there he received a good education

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in the public schools. He was reared to the life of a farmer and dairyman and followed that line of work in his native land until he concluded to try his fortune in California. In 1912 he came to Humboldt county and for eighteen months was employed on a dairy at Stone lagoon. After spending two months at the Buhne ranch he leased his present place of two hundred acres near Fields Landing, on South Bay, where he is conducting a dairy of thirty cows.

Mr. Bonomi was married in Livemmo, Italy, May 24, 1912, being united with Miss Theressa Toreni, who was also a native of that place, and they have two children, Marie and Eva. Both himself and wife are members of the Catholic church in Eureka.

PIETRO CANCLINI was born in the town of Piatti, near Vale de Sotto, Province Sondrio, Italy, May 20, 1883, and is the fourth oldest of twelve children born to Christopher and Candida (Canclini) Canclini, also natives of that place, who still make their home there. After completing the public schools, Pietro was apprenticed to the shoemaker's trade under his father, continuing the same until he came to California with the excep- tion of the time he served in the Italian army. It was at the age of twenty that he entered the Sixteenth regiment of artillery, serving three years, when he was honorably discharged as trumpeter. In 1906 he came to Humboldt county. For six months he was employed in the woods at Philbrook and then started in the shoe business in Arcata, running a shoe repair shop on the plaza. He makes a specialty of shoe repairing and has a complete line of machinery for sewing and repairing shoes, the motive power being electricity. From the first his success has been steady and is still increasing.

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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 122

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