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 129
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the Isthmus of Panama, which latter had to be crossed by mules in the earliest days, the route being continued by inconvenient boats up the coast of California to San Francisco. Yet the number of people was surprising which the discovery of gold attracted to this new part of our country, despite the inconveniences and even dangers of travel in those days. Thomas McDonald, the father of James, made the journey by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and arriving in California in 1849, for many years followed mining in Tuolumne, Calaveras and Trinity counties, in 1855 re- moving to Humboldt county, where he followed the same pursuit at Gold Bluff. Later he located a claim on the Big Lagoon, where, upon his farm of three hundred twenty acres, he followed farming and the raising of sheep and cattle until the time of his death. His wife was formerly Catherine Maurey, a native of Gold Bluff, and of their seven children, six of whom are now living, James is the third oldest and was born at Big Lagoon, June 7, 1867, where he was brought up on his father's farm and received his edu- cation in the public schools. At the age of fifteen years, James McDonald started out for himself in the world, working first in a saw mill and later logging in the woods about Humboldt bay, until 1905, when he gave up working in the woods and commenced dairying independently at the town of Orick, after a short time removing to Del Norte county, where he con- tinued the same occupation for a period of six years. Returning to Orick, he carried on dairying there as formerly, applying himself closely to the business and thereby making a success of it, he being an energetic and in- defatigable worker. Having rented a part of the Cornelius Thompson ranch, he is engaged in raising stock, as well as in the milking of thirty cows, which number he is constantly increasing, the cream from his dairy being sent to the Central Creamery Company at Eureka. In his political interests Mr. McDonald is a supporter of the principles of the Republican party, and while living in Del Norte county his interest in educational affairs was evidenced by his membership on the board of school trustees.
The marriage of Mr. McDonald took place in Blue Lake, his wife being Laura (Shaffer) McDonald, who was born at Big Lagoon, the daughter of John Shaffer, a native of Germany and a pioneer of Humboldt county, and his wife Anna (Charles) Shaffer, who was born in Humboldt county. Mr. and Mrs. McDonald are the parents of six children, namely, James, Lillian, Irma, Evan, Tessie and Thomas.
FRANK L. HUFFORD .- One of the old-time settlers in the vicinity of Orick, Cal., Frank L. Hufford has made for himself a reputation there as an enterprising business man, and liberal and active in the furthering of any project for the betterment of the community where he resides. Mr. Hufford is truly a native son of California, having been born in Contra Costa county, this state, November 24, 1866, the son of David Hufford, a native of the state of Ohio, and grandson of David Hufford, a pioneer of this state who came from Ohio across the plains in 1852, and made his home in Butte county, where his death occurred. The father of Mr. Huf- ford was a cooper by trade, who made the journey to California in 1849, three years earlier than his father, and followed mining in the Sierras, in which occupation he attained a good measure of success. Later he bought land and improved a farm in Contra Costa county, where he was the owner
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of about seven hundred acres of property whereon he raised wheat and grapes. In 1877 he removed to Humboldt county, locating for one year at Gold Bluff, near where the town of Orick is now, going thence to Trinidad, in the same county, where he bought twenty acres of land, selling the same after four years and locating at Arcata, where he became the owner of sixty acres, which property likewise he sold, removing to Alliance and thence again to Arcata, where he died at the age of seventy-seven years. In 1888 he made butter kegs for Griffin & Swan at Gold Bluff (now Orick), for the shipping of their butter to the San Francisco market.
Of the five children by David Hufford's first marriage, his son Frank was the fourth in age, his mother dying when he was only three years old, his brothers and sisters being: Walter, an attorney-at-law, who now lives in Oregon; Lydia, now Mrs. Sweem, of Stockton, Cal .; Rosa, now Mrs. Ferril; and George, who resides at Bridgeville, Cal. By the father's second marriage, there were four other children. Frank L. Hufford grew up on his father's farm. He was deprived of school advantages, but by self-study and observation he has become a well-informed man, possessed of note- worthy business acumen. At the age of eleven years he moved with his family to Humboldt county, where he assisted his father in his work, also being employed on a dairy in Orick for five years and working in the woods for four years. In 1897 Mr. Hufford started to work independently, renting a ranch from Peter Hansen where he conducted a dairy for three years. His wife received from her father's estate eighty acres of wild land, at the mouth of Redwood creek, two miles from Orick, which Mr. Hufford im- proved. He also took up a homestead of one hundred sixty acres within one-fourth miles, to which he added by a purchase, thirty-eight acres more, thus becoming the owner of two hundred seventy acres in all, upon which he engaged in the dairy business and the raising of stock. Mr. Hufford was likewise employed for six or seven years in hauling freight from Bald Hills to Arcata with a six-horse team, and he has been for the past eighteen vears overseer of roads in District No. 5, which comprised the country for fifteen miles around Orick, also being school trustee of the same town for a period of time, in all amounting to sixteen years. In his political interests he is a member of the Republican party. Mr. Hufford's first marriage was to Miss Ella Montgomery, a native of Humboldt county, who died leaving him two children: Floyd, of Bridgeville, this county, and Mrs. Josephine Gallon, of Clinton, Mo.
The second marriage of Mr. Hufford, to Miss Myr Griffin, took place at Eureka, June 18, 1892. Like himself, his wife is a native of California, hav- ing been born at the mouth of Redwood creek, near the present town of Orick, her father, George Griffin, having been a native of Pennsylvania, who came to this state as a pioneer. After being engaged in gold mining at Gold Bluff for a time Mr. Griffin took up land on Redwood creek, where he also followed mining, later engaging in the dairy business upon his ranch, and afterwards taking Robert Swan into partnership, living here until his death occurred ; and here his daughter, later Mrs. Hufford, was brought up. Mr. and Mrs. Hufford became the parents of seven children: Ida; Blanche, wife of John Francis, a farmer living near the mouth of Redwood creek; Vina, Walter, Leslie, Elmer and Kenneth, all of whom, with the exception
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of Mrs. Francis, make their home with their parents in Orick. Mr. Hufford has built a five-thousand-foot sawmill on his property, where he engages in the manufacture of lumber, and also runs a blacksmith shop on the place. He also engaged in mining near Gold Bluff, where he owns one hundred fifty acres, with an ocean front of three-fourths mile, and is extracting gold from the black sand on the beach. By his business enterprises and public- spirited acts Mr. Hufford has won a high place in the esteem of all who know him. He attributes no small degree of his success to his wife, who by her aid and encouragement has been an able helpmeet in his different enterprises.
GEORGE E. WRIGLEY .- Since the year 1884 George E. Wrigley has made his home in Humboldt county, Cal., having been prominently identi- fied with the advancement of this part of the state and well acquainted with the various events which have taken place in the progress of its history since that date. Having retired now from active business life, Mr. Wrigley is known as a fine old man, full of energy and enterprise, who has improved a fifteen acre ranch in this county, whereon he has the best apple orchard in the vicinity, besides being a successful raiser of berries. His wife, who has all along been a faithful and efficient helpmeet to her husband, is a good business woman, as well as being liberal and hospitable, and Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley hold an enviable place in the good will and esteem of all who know them.
Of English ancestry, Mr. Wrigley is the son of George Wrigley, a native of Cheshire, England, who came to New Brunswick in 1852, with a party of English colonists, and, being a contractor, was engaged in the construction of different portions of the first railroad built in New Brunswick. His wife, Mary Hewitt, was born in that province, although her parents had come from Belfast, Ireland, both Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley now being deceased. Of their six children, five are now living, George E. being the third oldest, and another son, James, having also come to California, where he settled in Humboldt county in 1886, and was for eighteen years superintendent of the Bucksport and Elk River Railroad, until the time of his death. George E. Wrigley, also well known in Humboldt county, Cal., was born near St. Stephen, Charlotte county, N. B., September 11, 1858, and grew up on his father's farm, receiving his education in the public schools, and at the age of sixteen years was apprenticed to the blacksmith's trade, which he followed until 1884, the time of his removal to California, when he entered the employ of N. H. Falk on the Elk River in Humboldt county, in the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company, following the trade of blacksmith at the company's plant at Falk. The mill, built in 1884, was burned in 1900, and a new one erected, Mr. Wrigley being instrumental as blacksmith in the erection of both mills, as well as acting as head blacksmith in charge of his department until March 20, 1906, when he was taken seriously ill, losing the use of his hands and feet for the time being, and was unable to continue his work, though at the close of the summer he was able to get around, but since that time has retired from business life, confining his attention to the manage- ment of his ranch. Mr. Wrigley is school trustee for the Jones Prairie district, a member of the Congregational Church, and of the Republican party in politics, and was made a Mason in the Humboldt Lodge No. 79,
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F. & A. M., at Eureka. During his long residence in Humboldt county, he has seen some exciting times; and was in Eureka on the night when the Chinese killed Kendall, which caused a riot, and after a public meeting at Centennial Hall, the settlers rounded up the Chinese and locked up a num- ber of them on account of other shootings which had taken place. On account of the unreliability of the Chinese, it was decided unwise to give them a trial, and all were ordered to be at the wharf at a certain hour, when they were transported from the county, since which time there have been no more of their race in the locality. This occurred on February 1, 1885, about four hundred of these undesirable residents having been deported at that time.
At the present time, since retiring from business, Mr. Wrigley is at- tending to the cultivation of his fruit orchard, whereon he raises many varieties of apples, such as Duchess, Wealthy, Red Astrachan, Gravenstein, King and Greenings, his fruit having received two blue ribbon prizes at the Watsonville exhibition of apples. The marriage of Mr. Wrigley took place in his native town of St. Stephen, N. B., uniting him with Miss Mary Esther Glew, who was born at that place, her father having been John Glew, a native of Yorkshire, England, who came to New Brunswick, where he engaged in railroad construction; the mother being Mary (Thompson) Glew, who was born in New Brunswick of Scotch and English parentage. Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley were the parents of nine children, of whom the eldest, Ella Bernice, now the wife of Jess Barnes, of Falk, was born at St. Stephen; the eight younger children having been born in California; Winfield James, now secretary and treasurer of the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company at Falk, and represented elsewhere in this book; Mary Esther, now Mrs. Rus- sell of Eureka; George Edward, D. D. S., of Dixon; Henry F., a law stu- dent at San Francisco; Pearl, a graduate of the Eureka business college; Ruth; Theodore R .; and Irving Edwin.
HIRAM LAMBERT RICKS .- It means much to say that Hiram Lam- bert Ricks is a typical representative of his name. In Eureka that name stands for high citizenship, strong character, forceful intellect and personal qualities above criticism. Mr. Ricks is a son of the late Casper S. Ricks, whose life work and efforts in behalf of Eureka and Humboldt county generally, are detailed elsewhere in this volume. His father's high reputa- tion naturally gave him an enviable position in social and business circles to start with, but he has maintained it by his own achievements, and has not failed to make good in the rather large responsibility of living up to the traditions of honored ancestors. Mr. Ricks was born at Eureka July 29, 1859, at the corner of Second and F streets, and has passed all his life there. He had good educational advantages, but his business career began early, for when he was but seventeen years old he was given charge of the build- ing of the Ricks water-works, which his father installed at Eureka in the year 1877. The work required mechanical as well as executive ability, and the youth showed a surprising amount of both. The supply of water, at the time of the construction of the plant, was four hundred and fifty gallons every twenty-four hours, and was obtained from a large surface well and four artesian wells, three Knowles pumps being used. Hiram L. Ricks continued to superintend its operation until he sold his interest, in 1903,
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and during that time the facilities were greatly enlarged to meet the increas- ing demands of the community. He had purchased a half interest in the water-works when a young man and become superintendent, and under his progressive policy Eureka has been given as fine service as any town could wish. His active mind sought opportunities for improving the plant constantly, and as a result he made many changes to conform with modern scientific ideas. In 1889 he obtained patents on tank and filter, and installed same. The nine miles of piping originally laid were extended until sixteen miles of main pipe were in use, and the capacity was increased to one and a half million gallons every twenty-four hours. The pumping was done di- rectly from the Elk river into the mains.
In 1895, on account of the serious illness of his brother, Casper S. Ricks, Mr. Ricks took charge of his father's large estate, which under their wise management had grown and increased in value, and his intelligent insight of its numerous details, and careful administration of the affairs of magni- tude, have won him the unbounded respect of his business associates who have had the opportunity of observing his judgment and promptness to act when necessary. The care of the estate has been his principal occupa- tion for the last twenty years.
Like his father, Mr. Ricks has given the community the benefit of his talents and his advanced ideas on municipal affairs, and his fellow citizens have shown their appreciation in the most substantial manner. He has been an active member of the fire department from early manhood, having been engineer of engine No. 1 since 1878, during part of the time donating his salary ($15 a month) therefor to the fire company. He served under Governor Budd as a member of the board of harbor commissioners, an office of great importance, as the prosperity of Eureka and Humboldt county de- pends largely upon its advantages of location on Humboldt bay. In 1906 and 1907 he held the office of mayor, in which he gave a model administra- tion, gaining in favor with each demonstration of his public spirit in his efficient discharge of the high duties entrusted to him. He has long been a prominent member of the chamber of commerce, in which he has held the office of vice-president.
Numerous and notable as have been Mr. Rick's accomplishments, probably nothing to which he has given his time and thought has benefited as large a number of people as has the Northwestern Pacific Railroad. It was while he was filling the office of mayor that he began agitating the railroad project. From the start he met with opposition from citizens less optimistic, who declared the project could not be worked out. His optim- ism, however, remained unchanged, and he determined to take immediate steps to get the work under way. In March, 1909, he went to San Diego to see E. H. Harriman, and so well did he put the case and the value of the railroad to Eureka that Mr. Harriman was won over. On Mr. Ricks' return to Eureka a call was issued for a public meeting in the city hall and at that meeting the Humboldt Railroad Promotion Committee was formed. After four months' hard work the committee produced the report, showing the gross earnings from the Humboldt extension of the Northwestern Pacific to be $2,179,000 for the first year after completion. The following members of the executive committee, H. L. Ricks, F. W. Georgeson, L. F. Puter and
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E. H. Brooks, secretary, went to San Francisco and laid the matter before Captain A. H. Payson, president of the Northwestern Pacific, and A. H. Palmer, the general manager. The plans were favorably received and were recommended for consideration with President Ripley of the Santa Fe. The illness and death of Mr. Harriman followed, and it was feared that the con- summation of the extension of the road would be delayed, but a telegram from Mr. Payson assured the citizens that construction on the Eureka con- nection had been authorized and an appropriation made to cover the cost of line south to Dyerville, and north to Covelo bridge over the Eel river. The road was built and complete connection made in October, 1914. The com- pletion of the road was followed by ceremonies in which the driving of the golden spike on October 23, 1914, was an important feature. Mr. Ricks was chairman of the celebration committee, and it is safe to say that no one who witnessed the ceremonies understood and appreciated their significance any more fully than did he.
Politically Mr. Ricks is a Democrat. His likable personality has made many warm friends for him, and he is strongly appreciative of the loyal support they have given him when he has made a stand on matters of vital interest to the community. Fraternally he holds membership in Humboldt Lodge, No. 77, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand; and is also a mem- ber of Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. His other social connections are with the State Pioneers' Association, the Humboldt County Pioneers' So- ciety, and Humboldt Parlor No. 14, N. S. G. W., which he helped to organize, in 1883, serving as its first president.
On November 18, 1884, Mr. Ricks was married, at Blue Lake, Cal., to Miss Matilda J. Puter, daughter of Patrick Francis Puter, who came to California in 1849. She died in 1904, leaving four children: Adaline Amelia Fouts, Mrs. W. M. Murphy of Pasadena; Hazel Margaret, wife of Captain Harry Emerson, serving in the War Department; Hiram Lambert, Jr., who graduated from the University of California with the degree of A. B., J. D., and is now practising law in Eureka; and Carson Stinemets, deputy collec- tor of internal revenue at Eureka. The eldest daughter is highly gifted as a musician, and has had the best possible training, having studied two years at the Conservatory of the University of the Pacific, in San Jose, from which institution she was graduated in May, 1903. On March 27th of that year she gave a piano recital in the Victory theatre at San Jose, under the auspices of her teacher, Professor Douillet, dean of the conservatory, and her brilliant rendition of several difficult numbers won the unqualified ap- proval of the large audience and the highest compliments of the press.
The second marriage of Mr. Ricks occurred June, 1913, nine years after the death of his first wife, uniting him with Miss Mary A. Bell, a native of Trinidad, Humboldt county, Cal. She is a woman of splendid qualifi- cations, being a graduate of Cornell University, and was very prominent in educational work in Eureka and Humboldt county, at the time of her mar- riage being principal of the Eureka high school.
WINFIELD J. WRIGLEY .- Prominent in the lumber trade in Hum- boldt county, Cal., Winfield J. Wrigley, a native son of that part of the state, is well known as the efficient secretary and treasurer of the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company in that county. Born on Elk river, August 25, 1885,
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Mr. Wrigley is the son of George E. and Mary Esther (Glew) Wrigley, both natives of St. Stephen, N. B., Canada, well known pioneer settlers in this part of the state. Of the family of nine children, Winfield J. is the second oldest, and grew up at the Wrigley home on the Arcata road near Ryan slough in Humboldt county, receiving his education in the public schools of the vicinity and in the Eureka Business College, where he was graduated in October of the year 1902. His first employment in business lines began two days after his graduation, when he became assistant book- keeper for the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company at Falk, later becoming head bookkeeper, and in May, 1908, being elected to the positions of secre- tary and treasurer of the firm, an honor to which he had risen by honesty of purpose and close application to business, an office which he has filled faithfully and with distinction ever since.
The marriage of Mr. Wrigley took place in Eureka, uniting him with Miss Grace Shaw, who was also born on Elk river, and was the child of pioneer parents, her father having been John D. Shaw, one of the old set- tlers of the region, and a prominent rancher there, his death occurring in Eureka, in 1906. Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley are the parents of two children : James Merced and Grace Dorothy. In his political views Mr. Wrigley is a Republican, while his fraternal associations are with the Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E., the Fortuna Lodge No. 221, I. O. O. F., at Eureka, the Mount Zion Encampment of the same at Eureka, and the Eureka Parlor No. 14. N. S. G. W. The state of California is proud to number among her residents the sons of the old settlers of her counties, which have been cleared and brought to fruition by the endeavor and energy of many old-timers such as the parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Wrigley, who put all personal comfort and convenience aside in their effort to bring the new land to a state of cultivation and prosperity.
WILLIAM BOYES .- A prosperous farmer and dairyman on Prairie creek, seven miles north of Orick, in Humboldt county, Cal., William Boyes was born near Montreal, P. Q., the son of George B. and Mary (Lytle) Boyes, both of whom, now deceased, were natives of England. William Boyes is one of ten children, three of whom are now residents of California : William; George, a farmer, who resides on Boynton Prairie, ten miles from Arcata; and Mrs. Jane Aldrich, a resident of Glendale, in Los Angeles county. Another son, Silas, resides in Salem, Mass.
The second son in this large family, William Boyes, grew up on his father's farm, receiving his education in the public schools, and remained at home until the year 1880, when he came to Mendocino county, Cal., where he found employment at the town of Albion, and also for a year at Little River, where he worked in the woods. In November, 1884, he removed to Blue Lake, Humboldt county, where he purchased a ranch across the river, cleared and improved the land and carried on farming for twenty years, but after the river flooded his property and washed most of it away he came to Prairie creek in 1906, where he is at present located, bought his ranch here of three hundred twenty acres and engaged in the dairy business and farm- ing, also keeping a hotel which is well known to traveling men throughout Northern California and is called by them Elk Tavern, on account of a tame elk which Mr. Boyes kept and brought up from a calf. Elk Tavern
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ranch, as the place is still called, was originally homesteaded by Andy Harris. The ranch, although surrounded by beautiful tall redwoods, is a natural open prairie, the stream (Prairie creek) taking its name from that fact. The estate is very beautiful and a delight to the eye as one emerges from the redwoods into the opening, where one hundred sixty acres is bottom land and is under cultivation, and where Mr. Boyes has built his dairy, equipped with gas-engine power for the separation of the milk. Water is piped from a mountain stream to his pleasant residence. His dairy herd consists of Jersey and Durham cows, of which he milks about twenty-five. Aside from being a successful farmer and dairyman, as well as the proprietor of a hotel well spoken of for its good food and other comforts, Mr. Boyes is also prominent as road overseer of District No. 5 in his county and takes pride in keeping the road in good shape, and is an active supporter of the Republican party in politics.
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