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 139
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Mr. Turner was born in Humboldt county, Cal., in 1879, and was reared and educated within its confines. He attended the local schools and later assisted with the care of the farm, he being the youngest son in the family, and so remained to care for his father in his declining years. His father was Noah Hatton Turner, commonly known as N. H. Turner, a native of Missouri, born in Marion county, in 1835. He came to California in 1852, crossing the plains in the famous prairie schooners, and located first in Sonoma county, where he met and married Miss Mary Ross, who died when Jasper was ten years of age. The parents came up to Bull creek in 1875, and purchased the present place when it was public school land, the original tract containing two hundred forty acres. Of this an acre and a half were given for school purposes and several acres were sold, leaving the present amount two hundred thirty-two acres. Several years before his death the father became paralyzed, and he willed this property to the present owner in consideration of the care which was given him during his illness, the payment of doctor bills, and other expenses, and the raising of a mort- gaged indebtedness which it carried. Mr. Turner is now engaged in diversi- fied farming, orcharding and stock raising, and is meeting with the greatest of success. He has forty head of stock, eight or ten horses and colts, and about a hundred hogs, on an average.
Mr. Turner is the youngest son in a family of ten children, there being two sisters younger than himself. The members of the family are all well and favorably known in Humboldt county, where they spent their youth, although they are scattered at this time. They are: Kate, the widow of John Myers, residing at Dyerville, and the mother of cight children; Jesse, residing at Gold Beach, Curry county, Ore., where he is engaged in stock raising ; Nellie, who became the wife of Charles Bulger, of Fortuna, and died leaving one child; Ezra, a stockman of Gold Beach, Curry county, Ore .; Annie, now the wife of Robert Kelly, a dairy farmer of Rio Dell, there being four children in their family ; William, a dairy rancher at Shirley, Humboldt county ; Ida, now the wife of A. B. Lewis, a rancher of the Bull creek district, with a family of six children; Jasper N., the subject of this sketch; Lenora, now the wife of Louis Forley, of Santa Clara, and the mother of four children ; and Leona, the wife of George Martin, an employe of the Newburg Mills at Fortuna, and the mother of three children. The last two mentioned are twins.
At Scotia, in 1898, Jasper Turner was married to Miss Agnes Rann, a native of Oregon. They have three children, Ila, Donald and Leonora.
JOHN C. BULL, JR .- Humboldt county has her share and more of able men, captains of industry and finance who have found it well worth their while to put their energies into local enterprises, and none more deserving
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of note than John C. Bull, Jr., whose achievements have a definite place in the story of her development. Shipping has always played a large part in the prosperity of this part of the coast, and harbor facilities are as important as natural advantages of location. Mr. Bull's contribution therefore will have a permanent value, for it was he who built the jetty to the Humboldt harbor, a work with which every sailor who makes this port, and every other person interested in the success of Eureka as a maritime city, is familiar; and for a number of years he has been at the head of the H. D. Bendixsen Shipbuild- ing Company, which has the reputation of producing some of the largest and finest steam and sailing vessels built along the coast. Nor has his ambition kept within the bounds of these interests, extensive as they have been. Other business undertakings, public utilities, official duties, fraternal associations, and more of the integral parts which unite to constitute the complete life of the community have been included in his busy career, well rounded by his contact with all the phases of local activity.
Mr. Bull is a native of Boston, Mass., in which city his parents, Capt. John C. and Melissa (Chapman) Bull, were reared. The father was a sailor for many years, shipping when a small boy on a whaling vessel, as so many New Englanders of his generation did. He rose to be a captain, and in 1845-46 had command of the bark Olga, in the Pacific coast trade, carrying hides and tallow to California and Mexican ports. About the time of the rush for gold he had an experience quite typical of the times, his crew desert- ing in a body in the bay of San Francisco. Moreover, he was unable to recruit enough new hands to man the ship, being obliged to abandon her. Returning to Boston he did not remain there long, bringing his family out with him around the Horn to San Francisco, where they arrived in May, 1850. After a few years' residence in San Francisco he came up the coast to Eureka, Humboldt county, and in 1856 settled at Arcata (then Union Town), this county, where he remained until his death, which occurred when he was eighty-three years old. He had kept hotel at Arcata until shortly before that event. He devoted all his attention to his private affairs, taking no part in public matters beyond the casting of his vote, with which he supported the Republican party. His wife died when fifty-six years old. Their two children, born before they came to this state, were John C. and Amanda, the latter now the widow of W. F. Hustin.
John C. Bull, Jr., was born in April, 1840, and was in his eleventh year when the family made the memorable trip around the Horn. While yet a boy he commenced to learn the trade of plumber and coppersmith, remain- ing in San Francisco to complete his apprenticeship when the family re- moved to Eureka. In 1856 he joined them at Arcata, but after a few months returned to San Francisco to continue his education, attending the college at that city for a couple of years. He then gave his time to the cultivation of a ranch near Arcata, also conducting a meat market, and was thus occu- pied until 1892. Meantime he was on the lookout for opportunities, and though he had been carrying on his affairs modestly he had acquired con- siderable business experience and judgment, as his subsequent operations well prove. Thus it was that he came to take the government contract for the construction of the jetty to the Humboldt harbor, a work of great magni-
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tude and one requiring executive qualities and intimate knowledge of local conditions possessed by few. The contract was for two million dollars, and the jetty was seven years in building, a statement which will be more easily under- stood when it is known that one million, three hundred twenty thousand tons of rock alone were required. So conscientiously and scientifically did he perform this task that it is considered one of the most substantial pieces of harbor work along the coast, and its success has been a most appreciable factor of the popularity of Eureka as a shipping point. Humboldt bay is being more favorably looked upon from year to year by those having mari- time interests, and there is every evidence that the outlook is better now than it ever has been, so that the expenditures which have been made in the improvement of its harbor will be more than repaid as time proves their value.
After the completion of the jetty Mr. Bull put considerable capital into the shipbuilding industry, purchasing the shipyard in which he has ever since had such large interests. He is president of the H. D. Bendixsen Ship- building Company, which employs a large number of skilled workmen, and which has acquired and maintained a leading position among concerns of its kind. It would be the exception to find a capitalist of public spirit in Humboldt county who has not at one time or another had some transactions in redwood timber, and Mr. Bull is no exception. He was vice-president of the Redwood Land and Investment Company, and had a quarter interest in the Bayside Mill and Lumber Company ; was one of the incorporators of the Bank of Arcata, and has served as one of the directors of that institution ; and was owner of the Eurcka Street Railway Company, of which he has been president. His cooperation in the establishment and conduct of all these was heartily welcomed and considered invaluable, for the influence of his support alone was sufficient to insure their being well received in the com- munity. Moreover, his shrewd judgment and ability to carry out large enterprises instilled confidence in everything with which he was connected, inviting the good will which is the spirit of success. Other projects not directly connected with his private affairs, yet conducive to the general well- being, have received as generous a share of his attention. He has been a prominent member of the chamber of commerce and served as one of the board of directors, and he has been one of the directors of the Humboldt county fair.
A stanch Republican in political matters, Mr. Bull has enjoyed party activities, has served a number of years as chairman of the Republican county central committee, and although he has never sought public position for himself has been influential in assisting the candidates of his party and is well known among officials. He served one term as sheriff, in 1875-76.
Mr. Bull has joined various fraternal bodies, holding membership in Arcata Lodge, F. & A. M .; Eureka Commandery No. 35, K. T .; Arcata Lodge, I. O. O. F., of which he is a past grand ; Eureka Lodge, K. P .; and a charter member of the Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E.
Mr. Bull was married when but nineteen years old to Miss Mary Hunt, a native of Baltimore, Md., who died in the west when forty-four years old. She left a family of five children.
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HUGH B. STEWART has been engaged in educational work during his entire life, choosing it as his life work while a student in the high school, and since that time all his activities have been carried on with that end in view, his aim being to acquire the latest methods for the instruction of pupils in the public schools. A native son of Humboldt county, Hugh B. Stewart was born in Eureka, March 21, 1878, the son of E. J. and Caroline S. (Dresser) Stewart, natives respectively of Quebec and Maine. The father came to Humboldt county in the early '70s. He followed the lumber industry principally as tallyman in the old Jones mill and afterwards in the Vance mill. He died in 1881, when his son Hugh was only three years of age. His widow some years afterwards was married to T. J. Alverson, and after this mar- riage she continued to make her home in Eureka until shortly before her demise, having gone to San Francisco on account of her health, and there she died, March 21, 189I. Of her first marriage were born three children: J. D., a resident of Walnut Creek, Cal .; Hugh B., of this review; and E. J., Jr., tallyman for Dolbeer-Carson Lumber Company, in Eureka. The three chil- dren born of the second union are: Edward R., residing in Haywards, Cal .; Ruth, Mrs. J. A. Cummings, of Eureka ; and Caroline, Mrs. Robert Wilson, of Centralia, Wash.
Hugh B. Stewart, who was reared in Eureka, was orphaned at thirteen years of age, after which he lived with his maternal grandmother. When he had finished his studies in the grammar schools he entered the Eureka High School, from which he was graduated in 1897. Obtaining a teacher's certifi- cate, he immediately began his career as teacher in the Bull Creek district, after which he taught in the Glendale district and the Myers district, and then began teaching in the Eureka schools. During that time, ten years, he was principal of the Grant, Lafayette, Washington and Jefferson schools, respectively. In January, 1911, he was elected principal of the Arcata gram- mar schools, and has continued at the head of the schools ever since, and as principal has endeared himself not only to the scholars, but to all residents of the place. During this time the Pleasant Hill school building was built. Four separate buildings house the grammar schools of Arcata, in charge of a corps of eight teachers, besides the manual training department, which will be opened in January, 1916, with one instructor.
Mr. Stewart has continued taking advanced courses with different educa- tional institutions and he is now doing work in the Humboldt State Normal School.
The marriage of Mr. Stewart occurred in Eureka, February 21, 1909, uniting him with Miss Georgia A. McLean, a native daughter of Eureka, and they have three children, Esther, Byron and Janet. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Humboldt Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M., of which he is past master, and with his wife is a member of Arcata Chapter No. 207, O. E. S. He is also a member of Eureka Lodge No. 636, L. O. O. M.
L. C. LORENTZEN .- In his residence on his beautiful farm in a bend of the Mad river lives L. C. Lorentzen, who has been a resident of Humboldt county since January, 1898. He was born in Töndern, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, October 17, 1863. His parents, Jorgen and Maria (Schmidt) Lorentzen, were also natives of that place and were descended from old and honorable families there. The father was a farmer in well-to-do circum-
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stances and resided there until his death in 1898. The mother is still living in the old home.
Of their five children L. C. Lorentzen is the oldest and was reared on the farm until the age of sixteen years, his education being obtained in the public schools. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to the shoemaker's and harnessmaker's trade, learning both trades during his apprenticeship. When twenty years of age, as was the custom and law of the country, he was mustered into the German army and served three years, after which he was honorably discharged in 1886. He then established himself in business in his native place and ran a shoemaking as well as a harnessmaking establish- ment, continuing actively in the business until 1898. He had a brother, Hans Christian, who had migrated to Humboldt county in 1886 and had returned to the old home on a visit. His favorable reports of the country and the splendid opportunities that awaited young men who were energetic and eager to engage in business made a great impression upon the mind of L. C. Lorentzen, and it was natural that he should determine to come to California also. It was in January, 1898, that he arrived in Eureka with his wife and two children. For two years he worked for his brother, who was a dairyman. Then he worked another year in the same line of work on ranches near Fern- dale. Having accumulated some means, he determined to start in dairying for himself. He leased a dairy farm near Ferndale and operated it for three years, and then moved to Arcata bottoms and leased a ranch of sixty acres on Mad river. Later he leased thirty acres more, thus farming ninety acres on which he had a dairy of forty cows. At the end of seven years he sold his lease and purchased the Luther G. Crawford ranch of one hundred acres on Mad river and has resided there ever since. IIe has improved the place, one-half being under plow and rich bottom land, where he raises sufficient hay and green feed for his dairy herd of forty cows. He also leased one hundred acres of the Shaw place, which he farms in connection with his own. The ranch is beautifully located in a bend of the Mad river about three and one-half miles north of Arcata and is a splendid farm.
Mr. Lorentzen was married in Töndern, Germany, to Miss Annie C. Jacobsen, and they have five children living, as follows: John, Christian, Andrew, Leonard and Anton.
Mr. Lorentzen is a member of the Danish Brotherhood and of the Wood- men of the World, and is a member of the Danish Lutheran Church at Arcata, being a member of the board of trustees. Politically he is a stanch Republican.
MANVEL BRAZIL .- A young man who is meeting with success in his chosen occupation, Manvel Brazil was born at Topo, St. George, Azores, August 8, 1882. His father, Antone Brazil, was a farmer at Topo, and Manvel as a boy learned farming and dairying, receiving his education in the local schools. He remained at home assisting his parents until he came to Cali- fornia. He had relatives in the state, among them an aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. Manvel Faustino, in Humboldt county, and young Manvel heard such flattering reports of better opportunities and wages in the new country he determined to try his fortune on the Pacific coast. In 1900 he arrived in San Francisco and came immediately on to Humboldt county, where he found employment on his uncle's dairy at Petrolia. Six months later his
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uncle removed to Elk River and the young emigrant continued with him for another year. Coming to Freshwater he was employed on the dairy farm of Harry Marks for two years, and then for George Walker at Walker's Point for thirteen months. For the next three years he worked for the Freshwater Company, having charge of the creamery on their dairy ranch.
Having saved sufficient money to start in dairying for himself, in 1907 Mr. Brazil leased the Zane ranch of two hundred seventy acres on Elk river and ran a dairy of sixty cows, continuing there for seven years and meeting with success. In the fall of 1914 he sold his lease and came to the Bayside district and leased the present place of two hundred seventy acres. This is on the Arcata road about eight miles from Eureka. The entire ranch is devoted to dairying, having a herd of seventy-two milch cows, which he is gradually increasing, with the intention of having a herd of one hundred. The ranch has over two hundred acres of bottom land, which gives him ample pasture as well as raising plenty of hay and green feed for his splendid herd of cows.
Mr. Brazil was married in Eureka, June 20, 1912, being united with Miss Annie Wagner, a native daughter of Humboldt county, born at Freshwater, the daughter of John and Rose Wagner, who were carly settlers of Humboldt county, and engaged in farming and dairying. Mr. and Mrs. Brazil have one child, Manvel, Jr. Politically Mr. Brazil is a stanch Republican and takes pride in having become a citizen of the United States.
WILLIAM A. RICHMOND is a native son of California, born at Somersville, Contra Costa county, February 3, 1866, and was there reared until twelve years of age. His father, Thomas Richmond, was a native of Wales, where he was married. He then removed to Australia, where he followed mining, but later returned to England. In 1862 he came to the United States, landing at San Francisco. For a few years he engaged in mining in Sierra county, then removed to Contra Costa county, where he engaged in coal mining at Mount Diablo, being superintendent of the Inde- pendent Mining Company's coal mines. He divided his time between coal mining and gold mining until the time of his death, about 1881. His wife Ann died about the same time.
W. A. Richmond was the youngest of four children. He was reared at Somersville, Contra Costa county, up to the year 1878, when he made his first trip to Humboldt county, remaining one year and then returned to Somersville. His education was obtained in the public schools of California. In 1882 he returned to Humboldt county and this has been the scene of his operations ever since. For a time he went to school and then entered the employ of W. B. Alford, working in his drug store in Ferndale for three years. In 1887 he was employed by the Excelsior Redwood Company on Gunther's Island and became tallyman. In 1888 he went to Scotia with the Pacific Lumber Company as tallyman, remaining for eighteen months. He then returned to the Excelsior Redwood Company, having charge of the shipping and also of the steamer Phoenix engaged in general towing on Hum- boldt bay, but principally in towing barges of rock for the government jetty. In 1896 Mr. Richmond became associated with Flanagan & Brosnan Com- pany in their mills at Bayside. They were also furnishing rock for jetties. Mr. Richmond was bookkeeper in the office until 1900, when the company sold out to the Bayside Mill and Lumber Company. Mr. Richmond took
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charge of the latter company's operations as superintendent of the plant until it was sold to the Bayside Lumber Company in 1905. He continued with the new company in the same capacity until 1907, when he resigned and accepted the position of bookkeeper in the office of the Humboldt Commercial Company, a position which he held until 1910. He then spent some time traveling on the coast in recuperating his health. In April, 1912, he accepted the position of superintendent of M. A. Burns Manufacturing Company's plant at Camp No. 4 near Fieldbrook. The mill is engaged in manufacturing shingles and shakes, also getting out ties, with a capacity of 250,000 shingles per day and 15,000 shakes.
Mr. Richmond was married in Eureka, November 2, 1891, being united with Miss Lulu Johnston, a native daughter of the county, born on Bear river. Her father, Richard Johnston, a native of County Fermanagh, Ireland, was a merchant in Australia. In 1849 he came to California and followed mining. In 1855 he came from Weaverville to Humboldt and thus became one of the pioneers of the county. Fraternally Mr. Richmond is a member of Ferndale Parlor, N. S. G. W., and Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. In his political views Mr. Richmond is a straight Republican.
JOHN BRAZIL .- The dairy industry has become one of the most important in Humboldt county and has made it the leading county in the state as far as dairying is concerned. There has been a material change in the methods employed in this business since the early days. When Mr. Brazil first came to Humboldt county many people were still panning the milk and skimming the cream by hand, and now the separators are universally used, there are numerous creameries located at convenient places in the county, while there is also a large condensed milk plant where are manufactured evaporated and powdered milk. Among the men who have engaged in dairy- ing actively and with success is John Brazil, a resident of Humboldt county for twenty-seven years.
John Brazil was born in Rio Janeiro, Brazil, June 15, 1866, the son of Joe Enos and Mary Brazil. The father was in business in Rio Janeiro for many years, but returned to St. George, Azores Islands, where he was born, and there he became a substantial farmer. He passed away in 1914, and his widow died in 1915. Of their seven children John was the second oldest. The scenes of his first recollections are clustered around Rio Janeiro, Brazil. When a lad he went to the Island of St. George, Azores, with his parents, where he assisted on the home farm and attended the local public schools. Being desirous of trying his fortune in the land beyond the seas, he migrated to Massachusetts in 1883. There he found employment in cotton mills in Lawrence and afterwards also worked on farms there. After remaining in Massachusetts for five years he came to Humboldt county, Cal., in 1888, and has since made his home here. By industry and perseverance he has become a man of affairs. For a while he was employed on dairy farms and later as a woodsman. About 1897 he leased a ranch on Kneeland Prairie, but un- fortunately the year proved disastrous to him and he was compelled to return to work in the woods to make another stake. After several years of steady work and economy he again found himself in a position to start dairying on his own account. For this purpose he leased four hundred acres near Fields Landing, where he engaged in farming and dairying for six years, having
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a dairy of forty cows. In March, 1913, he came to his present place, having leased the Henry Devoy ranch of three hundred twelve acres on the Fresh- water Marsh, where with the aid of his sons he is operating one of the largest dairies in the county, milking one hundred thirty-five cows during the season. The herd is of high grade stock, the animals having been carefully selected for their yield of rich milk. The separator is run by an electric motor and the cream is shipped to the Central Creameries Company, Eureka. The ranch is all bottom land, which gives Mr. Brazil not only ample pasture, but an abundance of green feed for his herd of cows.
The marriage of Mr. Brazil occurred in Lawrence, Mass., uniting him with Miss Mary Mendoza, a native of the Azores. To them have been born eleven children, ten of whom are living, as follows: John, Abel, Ida (Mrs. Costa), Enos, Fred, Louis, Frank, Joseph, Sadge and George. Fraternally Mr. Brazil is a member of the I. D. E. S. All of the family are ardent members of St. Bernard's Catholic Church, Eureka. Politically Mr. Brazil believes in the principles of the Republican party.
JOHN HOWARD JORDAN .- A man with thirty-five years' experience in the lumber industry in Humboldt county, John Howard Jordan is an able and valuable man in his chosen occupation, holding the position of fore- man of the woods at Fieldbrook for the Dolbeer-Carson Lumber Company, his many years of experience fitting him admirably for the place. He was born at Oak Bay, near St. Stephen, Charlotte county, New Brunswick, May 18, 1860. His father, John Jordan, who followed farming and logging in New Brunswick, spent five years on Humboldt Bay, when he returned to Oak Bay and again followed farming and logging, continuing this until his death.
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