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 126

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 126

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WALTER HILTON PINKHAM .- Now that the opening of the Panama Canal is practically an accomplished fact, and the ship that sails from New York or other Atlantic ports, will find herself within the Golden Gate in a fraction of the time that was formerly required to make the journey from our greatest Eastern seaport to the greatest Western gateway, the men who took this same route half a century ago are recalling memories of their trip "across the Isthmus", when that stage of the journey was especially tedious and fraught with many dangers. There are many of the pioneers of an early day, nevertheless, who chose this route rather than face the danger and hard- ship of the trip across the Indian infested prairies, and to these the completion of this greatest undertaking of the age, assumes a peculiar interest. One such pioneer is Walter Hilton Pinkham, well known citizen of Humboldt county, where he has resided for many years, and in which he has extensive property interests.

Born at Lexington, Somerset county, Me., April 24, 1849, the childhood and early youth of Mr. Pinkham were passed in the little village in Maine, where he received his early education, attending the public schools until he was sixteen. His father was Wright Hale Pinkham, a native of Brunswick, Me., who was for the greater part of his life engaged in the peaceful art of farming. At one time he owned and operated a saw mill in the Maine woods, and for a number of years he worked in the woods in winter, tilling his farm in the summer time. After leaving school the son assisted his father on the farm for a number of years, but letters continually received from two older brothers, giving flattering accounts of the opportunities offered for young men to rise in almost any chosen occupation, filled Walter with a growing desire to seek his own fortune in the golden West, and as soon as he was able to secure the consent of his parents, he joined his brothers in California. As said before, he made the journey by way of the Isthmus, landing in San Fran- cisco in 1867, from which he went into San Mateo county, where his brothers were located, and secured work in Pescadero, teaming. IIe remained in this vicinity for a number of years, operating his own teams and meeting with appreciable business success. He was constantly on the outlook, however, for opportunities to better his condition, and on January 8, 1873, he removed his family to Humboldt county, where he went to work in the lumber camps, teaming and logging for various lumber companies for four years. He was next associated with the Hooper Lumber Company, at Trinidad, where he was also employed in logging and teaming, remaining for five years. While with this company he was sent to Trinidad in 1882, and the following year, he entered the employ of Jim Kirk and Issac Minor, logging on Mad river. Again in 1884 he worked at teaming for J. M. Gannon.

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The roving nature of this employment did not please Mr. Pinkham and in 1885 he gave up such work and located in Trinidad, where he opened a hotel, which he conducted for many years. In 1902 he sold his interest in the hotel, retaining the saloon business, which he conducted separately. He still owns this business, but has retired from active participation in its manage- ment. Mr. Pinkham has been particularly successful as a hotel proprietor, and has secured possession of some valuable real estate, among which may be mentioned several timber claims in the mountains.

Mr. Pinkham has been twice married, the first wife being Miss Martha Knowles, a native of Maine, their marriage taking place November 26, 1872. Three children were born of this union, two sons, George and Melvin, both deaceased, and a daughter Grace, Mrs. B. P. McConnaha, of Trinidad. The second marriage occurred June 26, 1902, in Trinidad, when Miss Mary Stewart, a native of New Brunswick, was the bride. One child has been born of this marriage, a son, Wright Hale Pinkham, named for his paternal grandfather.

For over thirty years Mr. Pinkham has been a resident of Trinidad, and for nearly fifty years a resident of California. He is a man of sterling worth, a member of the old school, and a type of the early pioneer, which is fast passing from the scene of action. He is exceedingly proud of his young son, and is preparing to live life all over again in the fortunes of his heir.

FRANK EUGENE FALOR .- California may well be proud to claim as one of her sons a man of as fine attributes as Frank Eugene Falor, who at the time of his death had been for twenty-five years a trusted and esteemed foreman of the Elk River Mill Company in charge of the Bucksport wharf and lumber yard of the firm. The Falors were pioneers of Alliance, Cal., and Frank Eugene was brought up on the old Falor farm above Alliance, having been born in Hoopa, in the same county, April 26, 1861, and was a brother of A. A. Falor, well known in Alliance. The education of Mr. Falor was received in the public schools in the vicinity, after which he entered the employ of a lum- ber company and remained in that business until the time of his death. From 1887 he was associated with the Elk River Mill Company as foreman of their Bucksport wharf and lumber yard. Mr. Falor was a man of integrity and uprightness devoting his entire time to his business, to the exclusion of all other interests, and enjoyed the esteem and trust of all who knew him. His death occurred January 17, 1913.

In his political preferences Mr. Falor was a Republican, and his fraternal associations included the Eastern Star, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks and the Humboldt Lodge of Masons No. 79. By his marriage in Bucksport, on January 23, 1890, he was united with Miss Nina E. Cave, a native of Arcata, Cal., where her father, Richard Cave, a pioneer from Iowa, who had crossed the plains with ox-teams in 1849, had cleared and improved a ranch, after some time spent in mining in this state. The parents of Miss Cave had been married in Arcata, her mother having been Caroline Dodge, a native of Iowa, who had come with her parents to Arcata where they died at the home which they had made and improved. Miss Cave, the next to the oldest in their family of seven children, received her education in the pub- lic schools of Arcata, where she was later married to Mr. Falor, and is at present a member of the Presbyterian Church and the Arcata Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star. She became the mother of three children, Richard

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Irwin, Frank Eugene and Mac Falor, and since her husband's death has con- tinued to make her home in Bucksport.

DANIEL WALTER McGOWAN .- Of Irish descent, Mr. McGowan was born in the state of Washington, near Seattle, October 25, 1863, and is the son of Terence McGowan, a native of Ireland, having been born there about the year 1818. On coming to America, he first located in Portland, Maine, where he engaged in the tailoring business, and from there he came to the Pacific coast, settling in the state of Washington, where the city of Seattle now stands. Here he enlisted in the army and became the company tailor, but on being transferred to San Francisco he retired from the army and moved to Humboldt county, where he followed the tailoring trade until the time of his death, passing away at Arcata. He married Ann Rigney also a native of Ireland, who came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama and located with her husband in Arcata where she passed away December 10, 1904. Daniel McGowan received his education in the public schools of San Fran- cisco but in 1870 the family moved to Arcata and here his education was com- pleted, his teacher being Mrs. Todd. Leaving school, he first became em- ployed by W. H. Murphy on his cattle ranch, driving, and later he entered the butcher shop of A. Chapman in whose employ he remained eight months, but on the nineteenth of October, 1880, he entered the shop of J. C. Bull, Jr., and there he has remained ever since, rising from a helper to the active man- agement of the business. During his thirty-three years of service with Mr. Bull he has served in every branch of the business and at the present time he has full charge of all affairs. There were only a few people in the vicinity of the store when it first opened and it is now doing a large and flourishing bus- iness, being the only butcher shop in Arcata. His rise was entirely due to his own ability, trustworthiness and hard work and the model shop stands as a monument to his industry. Ife is the only man in the vicinity who has been employed for the length of time that he has, thirty-three years, and he is justly proud of his fine record. He has always taken an active part in all political matters, serving as City Trustee on the Republican ticket, and he is also a member of the Blue Lodge, F. & A. M., F. O. E. of Arcata, and Mrs. McGowan is a member of O. E. S. He was married in San Francisco, November 3, 1904, to Louise McClough, a native of England. He has always been an industrious, hard-working man and is admired and respected by the entire community.

WILLIAM NELSON SPEEGLE .- Remarkably well fitted both by instinct and training, for the newspaper profession, William Nelson Speegle is the president, editor and general manager of the Standard Publishing Com- pany, publishers of the Humboldt Standard. Yet, a man endowed with native attainments as Mr. Speegle is, cannot well escape the calls of other activities, and so it comes that his name is linked closely with many of the leading activities of Eureka, his home city.

Born in Monterey county, December 29, 1871, the son of M. M. Specgle and wife, California pioneers, William N. Speegle was educated in the public schools of Salinas and of Santa Rosa. On leaving high school he immediately found his way into a newspaper office and he has never yet found a desire to leave it. He first became a printer's apprentice on the Santa Rosa Repub- lican, but after learning the mechanical end of the newspaper business he

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showed talents for other departments of the work and soon found himself in the "front office."

In August, 1893, he came to Eureka to enter the employ of the Humboldt Standard and has been with that paper, in every executive capacity, until the present time when he is at its head. Conservative, intelligent and far-seeing in his business methods and dealings, to Mr. Speegle goes a large measure of the credit for building up in Eureka a newspaper of the high class which has been reached by the Humboldt Standard.

But, as said before, his personal qualities have caused a heavy demand to be made upon him in lines of civic, social and fraternal activities. He was one of the charter members of Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E., and has held every office in his lodge. He was one of the first to suggest the building of a lodge hall by the Eureka Elks, and the beautiful Elks' Club is the result. He was a member of the Elks Building Association at the time the hall was erected and still retains his membership and is prominent in its work. Mr. Speegle is also a Mason, being a member of Humboldt Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M .; of Humboldt Chapter No. 53; Eureka Commandery No. 35, K. T., and a member of Oakland Consistory of Scottish Rite Masons, and of Islam Temple of the Mystic Shrine. He is also a Native Son and a member of Humboldt Parlor No. 14.

In 1911 Mr. Speegle's work in the community was recognized when his appointment as postmaster at Eureka by President Taft was received with expressions of deep satisfaction throughout the city. Although he has long worked for the interest of the community, this is the only public office he has held with the exception of a brief term of service as a deputy county clerk. Mr. Speegle has always devoted his efforts to furthering the interests of others and it is not in his nature to seek personal reward. An attainment which has done much to bring the name of William Speegle into prominence is a naturally wonderful and well trained tenor voice, with which he often pleases Eureka audiences, being generous in giving his time and ability towards the pleasure of the community.

His wife was formerly Miss Cora A. Thompson, a daughter of one of Eureka's most prominent families.

LOT M. BROWN .- One of the enterprising and progressive residents of Humboldt county is Lot M. Brown, who for nearly forty years has made his home on the Pacific coast. Born in Winslow, Me., December 22, 1852, he was the son of Samuel W., also born in that town, and grandson of Dr. Ezekiel Brown, also a native of the state of Maine, who served as surgeon in the Revolutionary war and was a physician at Brown's Corners, in the town of Benton, Me., dying in the year 1844. His son, Samuel W., the father of Lot M. Brown, served in the War of 1812, and was engaged in farming at Winslow, Me., during the greater part of his lifetime. The mother of Lot M. was Abigail Crosby, of Maine, daughter of Jesse Crosby, a farmer of that state, and she died at Winslow, having been the mother of nine children, three of whom are at present living : Mrs. J. M. Burrill, of Eureka; Lot M. Brown, and Mrs. Tozier, of Waterville, Me.

Brought up at Winslow, Lot M. Brown received his education in the local public schools, and at the age of thirteen starting out to make his own

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way in the world. His first employment was upon neighboring farms, until the age of sixteen years, when he went to work on the river and in the woods ; on the former as a river driver, and in the woods driving bull teams. He also spent some time in Pennsylvania in the same work, and was likewise em- ployed in driving on the Merrimac and Connecticut rivers. It was in 1876 that Mr. Brown came to the Pacific coast, locating first at Tacoma, Wash., where he was in the employ of Ezra Meeker in the construction of the North- ern Pacific Railroad for a year, going thence to Vancouver, B. C., where he drove ox teams for the hauling of logs in the woods. In 1879 he became proprietor of the Dayton Hotel at Vancouver, where he continued until 1881, in which year he sold his interests there and came to Eureka, Cal., which has been the principal place of his business ever since. Here he purchased the liquor business of Mr. Dabey in the Bay Hotel, on the present site of the Bank of Eureka, and continued it until 1888, when he sold out and built the Alton Hotel at Alton Junction, in Humboldt county, which hotel he con- tinued to run until the year 1892, at which time he sold out his interests at Alton and returned to Eureka. Soon afterwards he went into partnership with C. L. Pardee, the two men becoming proprietors of the Vance Hotel, which arrangement continued until 1897, when Mr. Brown sold out to become proprietor of the Union Hotel at Healdsburg, Sonoma county. Abandoning this in 1900, he spent some time at Verdi, Nev., running a hotel, returning to Eureka in 1902, where he opened his present establishment, where his enter- prise and popularity have caused it to be known always as Lot's Place. With his son-in-law, F. G. Hinds, he built the Sequoia Tavern at the entrance to Sequoia Park, Eureka, which is a beautiful and popular establishment, built upon a block of ground adjoining the giant redwood trees, and has in con- nection with it a ball room, ice cream parlor and refreshment room.

In his political views Mr. Brown is a stanch Republican, and in fraternal circles he is known as a member of the Knights of Pythias and the Loyal Order of Moose, while his interest in the progress of the city is shown by his membership in the Eureka Development Association. His marriage with Miss Annie M. McDonald, a native of Calais, Me., was solemnized in Eureka, and they have one child living, namely, Ruby, now the wife of Frank G. Hinds, an accomplished musician, who plays the clarionet and is president of the Musicians' Union in Eureka. Mr. Brown is the happy grandfather of four children, Charles E., Nina, Archie and Tot Hinds.

JOSEPH CRIPPEN ALBEE .- California is always proud to remember the brave pioneers by whose efforts in the early days of the settlement of the country this western land of ours has come to its present prosperous con- dition-pioneers whose courage was not dampened by the hard and dangerous journey across the plains, by the struggle for existence in a new land, nor by the depredations of hostile Indian tribes. None holds a higher place among the early settlers of Humboldt county, Cal., than the father of Joseph Crippen Albee, Joseph Porter Albee, who like his wife, Calthea (Putnam) Albee, was a native of Huron county, Ohio, she having been descended from the same family as Israel Putnam, and members of her family having taken part in the Revolutionary war. The parents of Joseph Crippen Albee were married in Ohio and removed to northern Illinois, where they carried on the occupation of farming. In 1849, at the time of the discovery of gold in Cali-

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fornia, the father crossed the plains with ox teams, and became one of the first settlers in Weaverville, Cal., where he followed mining, his wife and three daughters joining him in California, coming westward via the Isthmus of Panama in 1850. In the autumn of 1852 Mr. Albee with the family re- moved to Humboldt county, making the journey on horseback over the mountains, accompanied by pack mules and a few cattle, and in this new section made his home at Table Bluff until 1856, when the family moved to Redwood Creek, where he engaged in stock raising. He also conducted a hotel on the pack trail between Arcata and the Klamath mines, and later, when the Indians went on the war path, the government sent soldiers to guard the house, the family staying there until 1862, when the soldiers were removed. After that Mr. Crippen moved his family to Arcata, he himself going back and forth to his ranch, feeling no fear personally of the Indians, whom he had always treated with the utmost kindness, but during one of his trips to the ranch, in the fall of 1862, while plowing near the house he was shot by Indians in ambush and killed. After his death his wife con- tinued to reside for a time at Arcata, later removing to Eureka, where she remained until the time of her death in 1905 at the age of ninety years.

It will thus be seen that Joseph Crippen Albee, now a well-known resi- dent of the vicinity of Blocksburg, Cal., comes of truly pioneer ancestry on his father's side and patriotic forbears of Revolutionary fame on his mother's side of the family, he himself being a native son of California, where his birth occurred in Humboldt county, at the old Albee ranch at the junction of North Fork and Redwood Creek, on February 19, 1858. One of a family of eight children who lived to grow up, he found it necessary, at the time of his father's sudden death, to assist his mother financially in the care of her large family, and accordingly, having completed his education in the public schools of Eureka and Arcata, he early secured employment on the ranch of W. S. Robinson at Bridgeville, Cal. The seven brothers and sisters of Mr. Crippen were: Mrs. Annie Monroe Chisholm, of Eureka ; Mrs. W. S. Robinson, of the same city ; Mrs. D. E. Baker, of Petaluma, Cal. ; D. P. Albee, of Rock Creek, Idaho ; L. H. Albee, of Eureka ; George B. Albee, city superin- tendent of schools of Eureka ; and Mrs. Mary Parry, who died in San Fran- cisco. With two of his brothers, Joseph Crippen Albee started in the sheep industry at the age of twenty-two years, he having at that time located a homestead on the Little Van Dusen river, the venture prospering financially until the hard winter of 1889 to 1890, when all the stock perished. Mr. Albee, however, started over again with C. T. Schreiner, of Ferndale, this time in the cattle business, the partnership having been carried on continuously since that time, Mr. Albee having the management of the cattle raising. He is now the owner of four hundred eighty acres at his home ranch, where he has made all necessary improvements for the betterment of the place, besides owning and leasing with his partner over five thousand acres and taking out a forest permit, the cattle on their estate being entirely of the Durham strain. As the locality about the Little Van Dusen is becoming popular for trout fishing and as a summer resort since deer are plentiful there, Mr. Albee and his wife have of late years conducted a hotel during the summer months, which has already attained a great measure of popularity and is well filled

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during the vacation season, the hotel being reached by trail from Fort Seward and Blocksburg.

The marriage of Mr. Albee occurred in Eureka, on June 3, 1907, his bride being Miss Mary A. Dickinson, a native of Liverpool, England, who has proved herself a woman of rare business and executive ability and a splendid helpmeet to her husband in all his undertakings. They are the parents of two sons, Joseph Porter and Jack Neville Dickinson. In her religious associa- tions Mrs. Albee is a member of the Episcopal Church, while the political affiliations of her husband are with the Progressive party.

FREDERICK JOSHUA PRESTON was born in Arcata, Cal., October 2, 1865. His father, John C. Preston, born near Cincinnati, Ohio, came to California with his two brothers, Miller and William, in 1849, crossing the plains with ox teams in company with Joseph Childs. He mined on the Trinity river until 1850, then came to Uniontown, now Arcata, Humboldt county. The brothers took up claims and engaged in stock raising. Miller Preston, who was a tanner, built and operated a tannery for many years until he retired, having become very wealthy. After three years William returned to Illinois. John C. Preston was a successful farmer and became well-to-do. He died in 1885. His wife was Sarah J. Lindsay, a native of Iowa, and also crossed the plains in 1849, coming with her parents to Weaverville, and in 1853 she came to Uniontown, where she was married. After she was widowed she married Miller Preston. His death occurred in Arcata. She now resides in Blue Lake. Of her first marriage were born twelve children, all living, as follows: Catherine, Mrs. Hough, of Washington; Sarah, Mrs. J. R. Graham, living near Korbel; John F., a rancher at Blue Lake; Frederick J .; Elizabeth, Mrs. Marsh, of Korbel ; Martha, Mrs. Green, of Del Norte county ; Eva, Mrs. Brown, of Arcata; Hannah, Mrs. Gault, of Eureka; Plonnie, Mrs. Taylor, and Maple, Mrs. Harrison, living in San Mateo county ; Charles and William, living in Arcata.

Frederick J. Preston received a good education in the Arcata schools. After his father died he continued to help his mother on the farm until twenty- three years old, when he entered the employ of the Z. Russ Co., on Bear River Ridge, riding the range, and became foreman, a position he filled for them on different ranches. In 1898 he started for the Alaska gold fields, going in over the Chilcoot trail, then down the lakes and river to Dawson, remaining about one year. When the Cape Nome excitement came he im- mediately followed the rush and mined on the beach until it froze up, when he returned to llumboldt county, having spent two years in the frozen north. After his return he engaged as a dealer in cattle and hogs, and a few years later began sheep growing, of which industry he has made a decided success. He now leases the Dublin Heights and Mountain View ranches, on which he runs sheep, keeping about two thousand head.

Mr. Preston was married in Eureka to Miss Grace Briscoe, a native of Nebraska, and they have two children, Maple and Elvan. Fraternally he is a member of Blue Lodge No. 347, as well as the Rebekahs. Politically he is a stanch Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY BOWDEN .- The vice-president and manager of the Shelter Cove Wharf and Warehouse Company, W. H. Bowden, is one of the most enterprising and leading men of southern Humboldt county. He

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was born at Lincoln, Me., September 24, 1871, the son of William Henry and Carrie (Philbrick) Bowden, also natives of Maine. The father was a farmer and died in 1877. The mother is now making her home in San Luis Obispo, Cal., and her five children all reside in the state. They are as follows: Charles Collier, of San Luis Obispo ; John W., farmer and oil operator at Garberville ; William Henry, of whom we write ; Della, living in San Francisco; and Belle, in Los Angeles.

William Bowden's childhood was spent on the sterile New England farm, receiving a good education in the public schools. When sixteen years of age he came to California with his mother. His brother, John W., had come to San Luis Obispo some years previous and they joined him at that place. During the first three years William was employed on a ranch, then came to San Francisco, where for three years he was employed on the San Pablo avenue car line and afterward for a like period on the Market street line. In 1897 he started north in the rush to the gold fields of Klondyke. He prospected in the vicinity of Skagway and Wrangle Narrows, but found nothing, and as he was not justified in staying there he returned to San Francisco in 1898 and was again with the Market street railway until 1900. In that year he again made a trip to the frozen north, going to Nome City, Alaska, where he was engaged in mining on the beach for one year. At the end of this time he returned to San Francisco, being employed in the Union Iron Works as a ship riveter for three years. In 1904 he came to Garberville, Humboldt county, and engaged in the general merchandise business until 1908, when he sold out and purchased an interest in the Shelter Cove Wharf and Warehouse Company, becoming vice-president and manager. He makes his home in Shelter Cove and devotes all of his time to the advancement of the company's interests. The wharf was built more than thirty years ago. The present company incorporated and purchased it in 1902. The wharf is eight hundred sixty feet long and large steamers dock alongside. Mr. Bowden superintends the repairs of the wharf, the building of warehouses and other buildings. The company has a pile driver and runs a blacksmith shop, also a bark mill run by a steam engine, where tanbark is ground and shipped to foreign countries. A private wagon road has been constructed four and one-half miles to connect with the county road. Shelter Cove is the shipping point for southern Humboldt and northern Mendocino counties and is the best harbor between Eureka and San Francisco, and the second best harbor in the county. The company also owns and operates the Shelter Cove Hotel.

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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 126

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