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 128

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 128

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A Kentuckian by birth, Mr. Hamilton is the eldest of three children born to Hance and Mary (Richardson) Hamilton, both also natives of Kentucky. The father was a farmer, living and dying in Meade county, that state. The mother came to Humboldt county, Cal., in 1909, arriving December 19, and died here in 1910. The two other children born to them are: James W., who continues to reside on the old home property in Meade county, Ky .; and a daughter, Mattie, who came to California with her mother, and is now

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the wife of Ernest R. Linser, a rancher of this county, on the east branch of the south fork of the Eel river.

John W. Hamilton was born August 31, 1873, at Brandenburg, Meade county, Ky., and grew up on the home farm. Though he is interested therein as one of his father's heirs he has not yet taken his share. He finished his studies with a course in the state college at Lexington, and lived in his native state until 1896, when he came to California for his health, suffering from malarial fever. At San Francisco he met Ezra Reed, a friend of his father, and in April came up to Humboldt county with the Reed brothers and Lem Dale (all business men of Garberville), making the trip by way of Ukiah, overland. They arrived at Garberville, April 19, and Mr. Hamilton went to work as a clerk for the Reed brothers, in whose employ he continued four years. By this time he had become familiar with local conditions, and in company with C. W. Conger, who was from Long Creek, Ore., he bought out the Reeds' store, Conger & Hamilton doing an extensive general mer- cantile business there for the next four years. In 1904 Mr. Hamilton pur- chased his partner's share therein, and carried on the business as sole pro- prietor until the year 1911, when he sold to the Garberville Mercantile Com- pany, of which he has since been a stockholder. He has been secretary of the company from the time of its incorporation. This is an important local enterprise, but Mr. Hamilton has been obliged to make it secondary to his responsibilities, assisting in the management of the Woods ranch, now giving the greater part of his time to its operation.

The Western Live Stock Company, which is incorporated under the laws of the state of California, is a Humboldt county concern, all its officers being of this county, viz .: William G. Dauphiny, of Ferndale, president ; John W. Hamilton, of Garberville, vice-president ; and George T. Toobey, of Eureka, secretary and treasurer. This company owns the Woods ranch, which contains about twelve thousand acres, devoted to the raising of cattle, horses, hogs, sheep and fruit on an extensive scale. It lies a mile and a quarter south of Garberville, on the south fork of the Eel river.

In addition to his other interests Mr. Hamilton owns about one thousand acres of timber lands, containing redwood, pine and tanbark lumber of great value, which he will exploit as convenient or conserve if necessary. He is also interested in two stage lines in the county, one from Garberville to Dyer- ville, the other from Garberville to Thorn, both owned and operated by the Garberville Mercantile Company in connection with the store business. All in all, there are few young men more directly associated with typical activi- ties of this region than he.

In 1906 Mr. Hamilton was married to Miss Stella F. Toobey, a native daughter of Humboldt county, born at Rohnerville, and the daughter of George J. and Louisa (Hart) Toobey, born in England and Fond du Lac, Wis., respectively, who were early settlers of Humboldt county. Mrs. Hamil- ton is a young woman of pleasing personality, and is a devoted helpmeet to her husband.

PETER DELANEY .- A native of Canada but a resident of Humboldt county since 1884, Peter Delaney, sole proprietor of the business conducted under the name of Delaney & Young, wholesale dealers in wines, liquors and mineral waters, is one of the progressive, prosperous and highly esteemed

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citizens of Eureka today. In his business he makes a specialty of purity in his liquors, and of maintaining an especially sanitary condition in his bottling works, store rooms, warehouses and sales rooms. He is also engaged extensively in the manufacture of soda water, for which he finds a ready market throughout Humboldt county. In his various industries he has met with much success and has accumulated an appreciable wealth, which is largely invested in real estate in and near Eureka, and at present he is the owner of much valuable property in this vicinity.

Mr. Delaney was born June 29, 1863, near Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, where he grew to manhood and received his education. Upon coming to Eureka in April, 1884, he worked for a time in the lumber woods, and then engaged in the wholesale liquor business in Eureka. He conducted the establishment alone until 1903, when he took in C. W. Young as a partner. Mr. Young, however, died three years later, and since that time Mr. Delaney has continued to conduct the business under the old firm name of Delaney & Young. He handles only the choicest wines, liquors and beers, and has been complimented by the pure food inspector for the splendid sanitary con- ditions which he maintains. He employs seventeen men, with four teams of horses, and has two large warehouses to accommodate his large stock.

The marriage of Mr. Delaney took place in Eureka, uniting him with Miss Catherine McGaraghan, the daughter of Michael McGaraghan, a pioneer drayman of Eureka, and one of its most respected citizens. They have one daughter, Helen. Both Mr. and Mrs. Delaney have many friends in Eureka, where they are popular in their social circle. Ten years ago Mr. Delaney erected a commodious residence on ITillsdale street, where the family now makes their home.

During his long residence in Eureka Mr. Delaney has been at all times interested in all that makes for the general welfare of the city. He is pro- gressive and constructive in his ideas and has done much for the upbuilding and improvement of the community and for its general development. He has an abiding faith in the splendid future of Humboldt county and of Eureka and vicinity in particular, and is one of the most enthusiastic boosters that the thriving little city possesses. He is a member of several of the best known of the local fraternal orders, and also of various political and social clubs and societies, and is one of the influential men in local civic affairs.

LAWRENCE FRANCIS PUTER .- The alluring call of distant cities and the possible recognition of professional ability by centers of influence and progress had no weight with Mr. Puter when put in the balance with the associations of a lifetime and the claims of his own native county. Accord- ingly we find him at the head of his profession in Eureka, warmly espousing any movement, professional or otherwise, for the benefit of Humboldt county, where he was born November 3, 1867, and where his parents, Patrick F. and Margaret (Hoar) Puter, natives of Ireland, were pioneers of that now long- past period of early American occupancy. Although his carliest recollections are of a farm, where the family carried on a serious struggle for a livelihood, in an earlier day his father had engaged in mining and had wielded the pick- axe and shovel, belonging by right of such work to the interesting group of men connected with the first important development of California. There

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were three children in the family, of whom the eldest, Stephen A. D., is now a resident of Berkeley ; the youngest is Mrs. Lucy Sawyer, of Eureka.

In attending the State Normal School until his graduation with a high standing, it had not been the intention of Lawrence F. Puter to enter upon teaching as a life-work; rather, he wished to secure for himself an education so thorough and broad as to make a firm foundation for the activities of a useful career. The trend of his ambition showed in his matriculation as a student in the law department of the University of Michigan. With char- acteristic perseverance he continued his law studies until 1891, when he was graduated with the degree of LL. D. Later he was admitted to practice in all the courts, including the United States supreme court, and since taking his first case he has remained at Eureka, where his comprehensive pro- fessional knowledge has brought him to a place at the front of that interesting group of lawyers making their headquarters in the county seat. The chair- manship of the county Democratic central committee, a position that he filled for eighteen years, indicates not only the nature of his political views, but also his prominence as a local leader in the party. In fraternities, no less than in politics, he has become a local factor of power, being past exalted ruler of Eureka Lodge of Elks and past president of the Native Sons of the Golden West, also a well-known figure in assemblies of the Eagles and a prominent member of all branches of the Odd Fellows. As a presiding officer, whether in fraternal gatherings or in exciting assemblies of politicians or in more routine-filled meetings of the general public, he has been most efficient, combining leadership with fellowship which eliminates antagonism and secures cooperation. In the capacity of private citizen he has quietly but firmly favored all movements for the permanent upbuilding of Eureka and Humboldt county, and whatever progress city and county shall make in future years it will be due to the cooperation and leadership of such men as Mr. Puter.

WILLIAM T. OLMSTEAD .- Eureka, the county seat, has been the home of William T. Olmstead for the last thirty-five years, and he lived else- where in Humboldt county for over twenty years previous. Having come to California in the year 1850, with the idea of making his fortune in the mines, he has had all the typical pioneer experiences of miner, cattle man and business man, in turn, and when the country had emerged from primitive conditions was one of the foremost to take up the work of development. He has shown his faith in the local situation by investing heavily in real estate in Eureka, and has exerted himself to assist the town in striving to establish attractive commercial and residential conditions. Many of the wise measures taken in the early days were adopted through his influence, which has always been used unselfishly to further the best interests of his fellow citizens.

Barnwell Olmstead, the father of William T. Olmstead, was a native of New York state, where he grew to manhood and married. His wife, whose maiden name was Lovina Thorp, was born in Vermont. They were an industrious couple, and ambitious, as one illustration will show. In his youth he had no advantages, and had to begin work early. So much assistance was required of the boy that he could not attend school even in the winter months, as was customary at the time, when children could be of material service during the busy seasons. At the time of his marriage he could neither

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read nor write, but his wife, who was fairly well educated, grounded him in the elementary branches, and he was able to enjoy reading and keep informed on current events the rest of his life. For some time after their marriage he and his wife made their home in New York state, adding to the acreage of their farm as prosperity made such progress possible. In 1835 the family moved to Michigan, and some time afterwards Mr. Olmstead purchased a small farm in Macomb county. He and his wife passed the remainder of their lives in that state, she dying in the spring of 1855, and his death occurring in 1862. Both were members of the Baptist Church. In politics he was originally a Whig, later a Republican. In spite of the hardships and deprivations of his youth he had a moderately successful career, and reared his family of ten children in comfort.

William T. Olmstead was the third child in his parents' family. Born August 30, 1829, in Cayuga county, N. Y., he was in his seventh year when the family removed to Michigan, where he was reared, remaining there until he attained his majority. The year 1850 he set out to cross the plains with three of his boyhood friends, starting April 3. They had horses, and made good progress until they ran short of provisions, which obliged them to work for funds to proceed. They stopped at Salt Lake City, and found work in a harvest field, Mr. Olmstead finding quarters with a man to whom he had been given letters of introduction. As soon as possible the young men con- tinued their journey, arriving at Hangtown (now Placerville), Cal., August 30. By this time Mr. Olmstead's capital had been reduced to $16, and the tools he found necessary if he wanted to begin mining, with supplies, cost him $75, a spade costing $8 and other things being proportionately high. It was not long, however, before he had more than squared himself, the $75 being earned in four days. . Mining proved all he had hoped for. In the fall he went to the Middle fork of the American river, near Greenwood valley, and in December started for the Gold Bluff region, near Trinidad, Humboldt county, going by boat. The vessel in which he made this trip was wrecked three days after her arrival at Trinidad. Subsequently Mr. Olmstead carried on mining operations around Junction City, Canyon Creek and Weaverville, at which latter point he spent the winter. He was saving his money, and when he had about $2000 he went into the butchering business, buying most of his cattle in the Sacramento valley, where he had his headquarters. In April, 1852, he went up to Oregon and purchased one hundred twelve head of cattle in the vicinity of Albany, driving them to Weaverville, where he slaughtered them ; though he paid as high as $100 a head for his cattle and $16 a head for sheep, the investment was very profitable. Having accumu- lated considerable means, Mr. Olmstead decided to take a trip cast, returning by way of Panama, and he spent the winter in Michigan and Ohio, looking for likely cattle investments, but without success. In April, 1853, he went to Illinois for that purpose, with $7000, and in company with William and A. C. Freeland he bought four hundred fifty head, with which he started across the plains, via Salt Lake City. He reached the Sacramento valley in Novem- ber, 1853, and locating near Tehama grazed his cattle there for a couple of years, remaining until it was apparent that section was not beneficial to the health of his family. Then, in 1856, he moved his cattle to the Bear river, in Humboldt county, and settled with his family at Hydesville (twenty-five

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miles from Eureka), this county. In the meantime he had started a meat market as an adjunct to the cattle business, at Eureka, spending part of his time there and part at Hydesville, and also traveling considerably, buying and selling cattle. For a time he was somewhat incapacitated by injuries he received defending his property against the depredations of the Indians, and when he was able to ride about again he opened a grocery and commission business at Eureka, which he carried on for four years. Later he returned to Hydesville, in 1880, however, moving to Eureka and establishing his home there permanently. During the next seven years he drove sheep for the market and also had a sheep business of his own, keeping about three thou- sand, and supplying mutton to the local markets. In these years of pros- perous dealings he had acquired an immense ranch, comprising sixty-eight hundred acres, which he sold in 1899 to engage in the more convenient busi- ness of operating in city real estate at Eureka. His purchases there, and the development of his properties, have had a material effect on all such activities

in the city. Among the numerous holdings of value in his name are the Olmstead building, a quarter block on Sixth and C streets, and a butcher shop at the corner of Fifth and J streets.

So much for Mr. Olmstead's personal business interests. Naturally his self-evident efficiency has made him a welcome candidate for official honors, which he has accepted reluctantly, however, preferring to aid his town and fellow citizens with advice on important matters rather than in an executive capacity. But responsibilities have been thrust upon him from time to time, and he has always measured up to their demands. While he was still on crutches after his memorable experiences with the Indians (mentioned be- low) he ran for the office of sheriff of Humboldt county, as an independent, but failed of election by only one vote. When the affairs of the city of Eureka were being placed upon a permanent basis he manifested sincere interest in their proper adjustment, serving a term in the city council, and helped to put through a number of measures highly important to the well-being of the municipality and its residents. He surveyed the town and put it on its present grade, established twelve-foot sidewalks, and constructed the first stone sewers. He has been an enthusiastic member of the Humboldt County Pioneers' Society, attending its meetings regularly and promoting its objects with his customary zeal for whatever enlists his interest. Few of its members have had more exciting adventures, yet with all his activities Mr. Olmstead has kept his health and faculties unimpaired in advanced age.

One of Mr. Olmstead's dangerous experiences happened in Humboldt county, while he was in camp on the Mad river. The Indians surprised him and his three companions, killing one of them, and Mr. Olmstead received two wounds in his right thigh. Though he was so badly wounded his two remaining companions left him to save their own lives, and with five Indians in pursuit he managed to reach the brush, getting behind a rock and firing as they approached. He had only a small revolver, but he managed to kill one of the red men, and the others took to the brush to follow him at a distance. When night came on he crawled to a canyon and hid until rescued the next day by four white men who had news of his plight from the two men who had escaped. The Indians afterward told that he was a good shot and "heap mad," so they were afraid to attack him at close range. One of

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the rifle balls is still in his right thigh, crippling him permanently. He also lost considerable money on this occasion. Other experiences, before and after, taught him to distrust the savages. In 1852, while he was out for cattle in Weaverville, Mr. Anderson was killed by the Indians. In 1854, while he was camping near Tehama, the mules and cattle near Dyer's ranch, on the east side of the Sacramento river, were stolen by the Indians. It was then that Mr. Olmstead, as captain, led eight men against that band of thieving Indians, following them to near Red Bluff, and twenty-one dead Indians resulted. On this trip Mr. Olmstead had a very narrow escape. In 1856, when he was on Bear river, a man who was stopping at his cattle ranch, was shot in cold blood. Mr. Olmstead's record in all the relations of life has been creditable. Beginning with no special advantages of education or fortune, he has prospered beyond his early dreams, and no citizen of his community is more honored.

Mr. Olmstead was married, April 5, 1854, to Miss Lucinda Garrison, who was born near Three Rivers, Mich., and crossed the plains in the same train with Mr. Olmstead, who was acting as captain of the party. They had a long and happy married life. Three children were born to them: Alice is the widow of J. W. S. Perry, of Los Angeles; Adelaide is the second daugh- ter; William E. is a miner, operating on Trinity river, this county. Mrs. Olmstead, who died in 1902, was an earnest member of the Christian Church.

WILLIAM H. WALLACE, M. D .- Association with the beginnings of professional advance in Eureka indicates the prestige and prominence of Dr. Wallace, as well as his early connection with the town as a citizen and physician. The Humboldt general hospital, that stood on the corner of Seventeenth and H streets, was established by him three years after he came to the city, and long afterward he became one of the founders of Sequoia hospital, with the active management of which he since has been connected. Additional prestige comes to him through the fact that he aided in founding the first county medical society, also in the founding of the Humboldt Club, of which he has been a director from the start and was the third member to be honored with the presidency. He also served two years (1893-94) as county physician. His public efforts and private benefactions have given prominence to his name throughout all of Northern California.

The lineage of the Wallace family is traced to Scotland. Tradition has it that certain of the name fled from Scotland during the religious persecu- tions and sought refuge in the North of Ireland, where several of the follow- ing generations remained. During the latter part of the eighteenth century James Wallace sailed from Ireland to Canada and settled in Nova Scotia. Still later he removed to New Brunswick and in that province occurred the birth in 1805 of William Wallace, who for forty-four years held the office of collector of customs at Hillsborough, entering upon its duties about seventeen years prior to the confederation of the provinces in 1865 and continuing to serve until his death in 1892 at the age of eighty-seven. In marriage he was united with Jane Steeves (whose family name originally was spelled Steiff), a woman of exceptional strength of character and depth of religious belief. Her death occurred when she was seventy-two years old. Of her six children Dr. William H. Wallace was the only one to settle in the United States. Mary married Rev. William E. Corey, now deceased; Martha died at the age of

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fifty-four: James died in Australia at the age of twenty-one; Kate is also deceased ; and Emma still remains in New Brunswick.

Born at Hillsborough. Albert county, New Brunswick, May 2, 1852, primarily educated in the grammar schools of St. John, a student in the scien- tific department of Harvard University from 1872 to 1876, and then of the medical department of the University of New York, Dr. Wallace received his degree February 19, 1878, and then embarked in practice in his native town. With the exception of a year in Boston he continued in Hillsborough until 1883, the date of his arrival in Eureka, Cal., where since he has followed his profession with encouraging success. For a time he practiced with Dr. Reuben Gross and next had Dr. F. A. Lewitt as a partner, but since 1888 he has been alone, until his eldest son recently became his partner in practice. While professional enterprises have taken his time to a very large extent, he also has had considerable business experience and has invested from time to time in redwood timber, the latest of these investments having been made in 1910, when he bought a ranch in Redwood valley, Mendocino county ; this he improved and in a few years sold at a fair profit. Before leaving New Brunswick he was made a Mason in Howard Lodge No. 39, F. & A. M., at Hillsborough. Since coming west he has identified himself with Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. Dr. Wallace was brought up in the Baptist church, but since coming to Eureka he has attended the Episcopal church.

The marriage of Dr. Wallace, October 1, 1879, united him with Marietta C. Tufts, a native of Arlington, Mass., and a daughter of Ephraim and Susan (Scott) Tufts. Finely educated in Boston and in Europe, Mrs. Wallace is a distinct accession to the most select social circles and her beautiful home is the center of many hospitable functions. The four children of the family are Carl Tufts, Muriel Steeves, William Lloyd and Romayne. The eldest son, a graduate of the medical department of McGill University, at Montreal, Canada, is now county health officer of Humboldt county and on the staff of Sequoia Hospital, and is regarded as one of the rising young professional men of Eureka.

JAMES McDONALD .- The stories of pioneer life in California are . always of interest to the later dwellers in this state who are accustomed to pleasant cities and handsome residences where, but a couple of decades ago, dense forests flourished or fields of wild flowers were to be seen, and the lives of the pioneers themselves, who have helped to build this yet new and rapidly growing country are well worth remembering.

Few men have a better claim to pioneer descent than has James McDon- ald, of Orick, Cal., himself a native son of the state, son of a California pioneer and grandson of an emigrant from Scotland who became one of the early settlers of the state of New York. Grandfather McDonald and his wife, who came from Scotland, settled in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and in that county their son Thomas was born, who came to California in 1849, at the time of the discovery of gold, later becoming the father of James McDonald, who has always resided in this state. It is interesting to read of the modes of travel to California in the early days of the Ameri- can settlement of our West, the journey across the plains being made in long trains of ox wagons which took months for the trip, while the journey by water was hardly less tedious, it being either by way of Cape Horn or

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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 128

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