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 144

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 144

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Mr. Hale was married in San Francisco, being united with Miss Violet I. G. Jackson, a native of Honolulu, and they have one child, James W., Jr., a native son of Eureka.

Mr. Hale was made a Mason in Pacific Lodge No. 136, F. & A. M., San Francisco, and is also a member of Lodge of Perfection No. 10, Scottish Rite. He is also a member of Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. In his political views he espouses the principles of the Republican party.

CHRISTOPHER JOHN WEBER was born in Dyerville, Dubuque county, Iowa, March 29, 1873, the son of Valentine and Barbara (Christoph) Weber, who were prosperous farmers in Newwine township. The father was township assessor for thirty-five years and there both parents passed away. The mother's brother, the Hon. John Christoph, was a member of the Iowa State Senate for two terms, and was the owner of several large farms in that county.

Christopher J. Weber was the second youngest of a family of seven children and was reared on the Iowa farm, receiving a good education in the public schools and the Dyerville high school. On completing his studies

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at the latter he became employed in the sash and door factory of Farley & Loetchers in Dubuque, Iowa, running various machines for them for about four years. Hearing of better opportunities and wages to be obtained in the new land of California, he determined to see the Pacific coast and July 11, 1895, found him in Visalia, Cal., where he was employed on farms for about two years.

In 1897 Mr. Weber came to Eureka, Humboldt county, and was first employed by the Eel River Valley Lumber Company of Newberg Mills. Afterwards he engaged in farming on Table Bluff for two years, when he moved into Eureka and entered the employ of Mckay & Co. at the Occidental mill. He has continued with the company ever since, for the last eight years holding the position of yard salesman, in which capacity he has established a good record for accuracy and reliability. He is optimistic for the future growth of Eureka. He has built three different residences in the city, all of which he has sold, besides which he owns other property here, and is now improving a ten-acre ranch on the Arcata road at Walker's Point. On this property he is engaged in intensive farming and dairying. His small dairy herd comprises full-blooded Jersey cows. He makes his home on his ranch, which lies about six miles from the city, and he makes the trip morning and evening in his car, thus obtaining the keenest enjoyment from country life.

Mr. Weber was married in Eureka to Miss Ella Keith, a native of the state of Maine, and they have one child, Mary Louise. In his political views Mr. Weber has always been a Republican.

WILLIAM HENRY COLWELL was born in Princeton, Washington county, Me., July 29, 1855, the son of William and Dorcas (Bonney ) Colwell. The father, who was a farmer and lumberman, died at the age of seventy-six years, while his wife lived to be ninety-six years of age.

William H. Colwell was the youngest of twelve children. He received his education in the public schools and from a lad worked on the farm and in the woods with his father, continuing this until he came to California in 1877. He followed lumbering for the Sierra Flume Company in Tehama county for three summers, and then decided to try his hand at mining. In Tombstone, Ariz., he began prospecting, locating and opening the Bradshaw mine, which proved to be a rich silver property. After about six months he sold it for a large sum. Following this he made a trip back to Maine, remaining about six months, when he returned to Tombstone, Ariz., and again began prospecting, but this time he did not meet with much success. In 1881 he proceeded to Lake Valley, New Mexico, where for three years he prospected and mined and did very well.

In March, 1884, we find Mr. Colwell in Sonora, Mexico, whence three years later he went to Chihuahua, remaining there for seven years. Next he spent two years in Durango, then a like period in Costa Rica, South America. His next location was in El Oro, Old Mexico, where he was fore- man of the Esperanza mine, and while thus employed he was the victim of an accident that caused the loss of his left arm. By the caving in of rock he was buried underneath the debris. Inasmuch as a brother, Charles, and a sister, Mrs. Laura A. Farrar, resided in Eureka, he concluded to come to Humboldt county and arrived here in November, 1901. He engaged in teaming and ranching until June 21, 1915, when he was elected city superin-

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tendent of streets of Eureka, and assumed the duties of his office July 12, 1915. Since that time he has given all of his time and attention to the care of the city's streets.

Mr. Colwell was married in Eureka December 12, 1906, being united with Miss Eva Burwell, born in Zanesville, Ohio, the daughter of Samuel and Malinda (Brown) Burwell, who took their family to Judsonia, Ark., and afterwards to Humboldt county, Cal. Mr. Burwell is now living retired. He served as a drummer boy in an Ohio regiment in the Civil war. To Mr. and Mrs. Colwell have been born three children, as follows: Ruth, John and Homer. He is a member of Fortuna Lodge No. 221, I. O. O. F., in Eureka, and is also a member of the Encampment. Politically he is a Socialist and it was on that party's ticket that he was elected to his present position.

MARTIN GROSS .- Foreman of the woods for the Northern Redwood Lumber Company of Korbel at Camp No. 12, and a resident of Humboldt county since 1885, Martin Gross was born December 2, 1863, at Flekkefjord, Norway. His father, Edward Gross, was a native of Germany, but went to Norway, where he was superintendent of a manufacturing plant in Chris- tiansand until his death. Martin's mother was Martine Christensen, a native of Norway, where she was married and spent her entire life. Of her two children, Martin, the eldest, spent his childhood in Flekkefjord, receiving a good education in the public schools. When fourteen years of age, like the majority of the lads of that seaport town, he too went to sea, following it for six years and sailing to many foreign ports. On his last long voyage from Savannah to Liverpool in the barque St. Lawrence, owned by parties in Arndal, Norway, the ship was wrecked off the coast of Fleetwood, England, being lost, but the crew was saved. Returning to Norway, Mr. Gross followed the coasting trade for a time, then concluded to come to America to try his luck in a new country. From San Francisco he came immediately to Eureka, arriving May 1, 1885, and went by stage to Trinidad, where he worked in the woods for Peter Hansen. After continuing with that employer for two years he was for one year with the Excelsior mill in Eureka, and then with Cutten & McDonald, shingle manufacturers, a year. Following this he accepted a position as foreman of the bolt camp with Ole Hansen at Walkers Point.

During these years Mr. Gross purchased his present ranch of fifteen acres near Indianola, where he built a residence and improved the place with a family orchard. In 1901 he resigned his place with Mr. Hansen to accept a place with the Northern Redwood Lumber Company of Korbel as foreman of the woods, and has continued with the company ever since, being now in charge of Camp No. 12.

Mr. Gross was first married December 2, 1893, to Miss Mary Mullen, a native of County Cork, Ireland. At her death she left three children : Anna M., Martin E. and Ralph. Mr. Gross was married in Eureka May 10, 1901, to Miss Mathilda Nelson, also a native of Flekkefjord. After coming to the United States she spent nearly eight months in Wisconsin and in 1901 came to Eureka. Mr. and Mrs. Gross have one child, Edwin Selmar. Fraternally he is a member of Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., and also a member of Eureka Aerie No. 130, F. O. E., and the Sons of Norway. In religion the

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family are Lutherans, having been reared in that faith. In politics Mr. Gross is a stanch Republican.

ABRAHAM LARSEN has become prominent in the upbuilding of Eureka and in developing the resources of Humboldt county, being engaged in the manufacture of shingles, besides which he is interested in the real estate business. He was born in Flekkefjord, Norway, September 21, 1863. His father was a successful boat builder and house carpenter. As a youth Abraham Larsen received a good education in the public schools of his native place, continuing his studies until fourteen years of age, and then, as was the custom and ambition of lads of that seaport town, he went to sea, running on boats engaged in the lumber trade. During the two years that he followed this business he entered various European ports, and at the end of this time concluded to come to America. The first year in this country was passed in Cedar Falls, Dunn county, Wis., and from there he removed to Eau Claire, following the lumber industry until 1884. In that year he came to Humboldt county, Cal., having an acquaintance here. From Eureka he proceeded to Trinidad, where he was employed in a shingle mill for Peter Hansen. Thereafter he worked in different shingle mills around Humboldt bay. Desiring to engage in business for himself, in 1896 he formed a partner- ship with four others under the name of Trinidad Manufacturing Company, which built a shingle mill in Trinidad with a capacity of 150,000 shingles. Mr. Larsen was superintendent of the mill, which was operated for seven years, or until 1903, when, having used up all the available timber, the proprietors sold out and dissolved partnership.

Returning to Eureka, Mr. Larsen engaged in the real estate business. He laid out the Buena Vista addition of ten acres on Hodgeson street, much of which has been sold and built up. In 1913 he again became interested in shingle manufacturing. With others he incorporated the Freshwater Manu- facturing Company, of which he is secretary. The company owns eight hundred seventy acres of land on Freshwater creek, where the mill is located. Mr. Larsen was also one of the incorporators of the Waldner Fruit and Land Company, which owned four thousand acres of land near Fort Seward suit- able for horticulture, Mr. Larsen being secretary of the company.

In Eureka in 1906 Mr. Larsen was married to Miss Mary Glatt, a native of Eureka and the daughter of Bartlin Glatt, a pioneer and prominent up- builder of Eureka. Mr. Glatt was born in Baden, Germany, January 23, 1834. On coming to the United States, in 1849, he went direct to St. Louis, Mo., where he had an uncle living. In March, 1852, he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia in an ox-team train, walking all of the way but one hundred miles, and paying the head of the train $80 for his passage. He mined for several years and met with good success. Returning to Illinois, he was there married to Henrietta Hotzen, also a native of Germany. Following their marriage they came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, and for three years Mr. Glatt followed mining. About 1865 he came to Humboldt county and invested his money in real estate in Eureka. Later, selling his city property, he purchased one hundred sixty acres south of town, then covered with timber. The latter was logged and when the city expanded he laid out the land into blocks and acres and sold it. Most of the property is now built up, the forty acres remaining forming the beautiful Sequoia Park. Mr. Glatt 55

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died in March, 1913, and his wife in April, 1915. They had a family of eight children. Mrs. Larsen is a graduate of the Eureka High School.

Mr. Larsen was made a Mason in Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Sons of Norway. In religion he is a Lutheran and in politics a stanch Republican, always taking an active part in county politics.

JAMES CAMPBELL COPELAND .- The foreman of the woods for the Elk River Lumber Company and a resident of Eureka since December, 1883, James Campbell Copeland was born at Durham, Ormstown, Province of Quebec, March 6, 1860. His parents, Donald and Elizabeth (Campbell) Copeland, were natives of Scotland, coming to Ormstown when they were young folks and where they were married, rearing their family on the farm. They continued to make that their home until their demise.

Of their ten children six are living, James C. being the third oldest. His childhood was spent on the farm, attending the local public schools and receiving a good education. He assisted his parents on the home farm until he was twenty years of age, when he resolved to come west and located in Carson City, Nev. There he had his first experience in the lumber industry, working in a sawmill and becoming edger man. In December, 1883, he arrived in San Francisco and from there came on immediately to Eureka, Humboldt county, landing from the steamer City of Chester. He at once found work with the Vance Lumber Company, which was then logging near Essex, and he continued with the company for four or five years. Next he went to work for McKay & Co. on Ryan slough, continuing with the company for seven years as head swamper. He resigned this position to accept a similar one with the Elk River Mill and Lumber Company and devoted his time faith- fully to the building of roads until May, 1903, when he was made foreman of the woods, and since then has had charge of the selection, falling and logging of the timber. For eighteen years without interruption he has been with the company, doing his duty faithfully and well.

Mr. Copeland makes his home in Eureka, where he built a residence at No. 1737 Fourth street. His marriage occurred in Eureka, where he was united with Miss Anna McGowan, who was born in New Brunswick and came to Eureka when a child with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Copeland have three children, James Leland, Zelda and Elinore. In his political views Mr. Copeland believes in the principles of the Republican party as being for the best interest of the greatest number of people.

WILBUR P. WEST .- Another of the prominent dairymen and stock raisers of Humboldt county is Wilbur P. West, of Waddington, where he owns a dairy farm of ten acres and operates twenty-three acres, making up in care and application for the deficiency in acreage, and is making a success of his undertaking. He also owns a ranch of one hundred sixty acres in the hills near Ferndale, which he devotes to the raising of live stock. He is a man who has always been noted for his close attention to his business affairs, and for practically his entire life he has been associated with dairy enter- prises and the breeding of stock, in both of which lines he is proficient and well informed. He considers the dairy industry the safest in which one can engage, and also is certain that Humboldt county is peculiarly fitted for this industry. He is very popular among his neighbors and friends, much loved by the members of his family, and respected by all who know him.

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Mr. West is a native of California, born in Marin county, December 17, 1870. His father, W. O. West, who was then engaged in dairy farming in Marin county, came to Humboldt county in 1873 and settled at West Point, Pacific township, and for nine years ran a part of the Russ ranch known as West Point. A native of Bangor, Me., during his earlier years W. O. West followed the sea, commencing as a cabin boy as soon as he was old enough to hold such a position, and when he was thirty-five years of age he was made captain of a sailing vessel. He plied up and down the Atlantic coast and to the West Indies, and at one time owned a half interest in a sailing vessel of which he was first mate. This vessel was wrecked, and with it went the fortune that the young mate had accumulated, as there was no insurance. He died in Humboldt county in 1907, at the age of seventy-four years. The mother was Miss Mary J. Bishop in her maidenhood, and a native of St. Johns, New Brunswick, and now a resident of Eureka. There were five children in the family, Wilbur P. being the second born. Of the others, E. B., the eldest son, is a carpenter in Eureka; E. C. is a street car conductor, also living in Eureka; W. O. is employed in the Libby, McNeill & Libby creamery at Loleta; and Bertha E. is the wife of John Reynolds, a teamster, of Fortuna.

The boyhood of Mr. West was spent on a dairy farm and he early mastered the details of the business. Practically his entire life has been passed in Humboldt county, and he has always been more or less closely connected with the dairy and stock business. He is classed among the well informed men in the community, and his opinion on questions pertaining to this industry is worthy of consideration. In 1911 he purchased the property on which he now resides. His wife owned five acres at this place, and he bought another tract of the same size, and also rents an additional tract of thirteen acres. Besides caring for this ranch, on which he has eight cows, he manages his foothill stock farm, near Ferndale.

Mr. West and Mrs. Emma Frost were married in Eureka in 1906. She is the daughter of John Reynolds and was born in Amador county. By her first marriage she was the mother of one child, a son, Robert Frost, of Ferndale. Both Mr. and Mrs. West have many friends in Waddington and vicinity, where they are well and favorably known. Mr. West is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America at Fortuna. In his political views he is a Republican.

C. S. EPPS .- It would be impossible to make extended mention of either the Pacific Lumber Company of Scotia or the Holmes Eureka Lumber Com- pany, whose extensive holdings are in this county, without considerable reference to C. S. Epps, whose association with the former great corporation lasted for twenty-three years and was conducive to the profitable develop- ment of the holdings of the company. Since 1910, however, he has been foreman of the latter company, whose saw and shingle mills are located at Eureka, while the lumber lands and camps are near Carlotta. His intimate association for so many years with the lumber industry of the county has enabled him to be of great value to his company, whose extensive interests he looks after with such profitable results. The Holmes Eureka Lumber Company have a private track running from their camp to the mills, which conveys the logs on cars. Everything about the camp is neat and methodical ;

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the sanitary conditions are of the best and indeed the entire plant contains such modern improvements as reflect the systematic and orderly oversight of Mr. Epps. The laborers are comfortably housed and during the busy season they are able to care for one hundred fifty men in their snug bunk houses. Mr. Epps is a man who is never idle, occupying his quiet moments with reading the best current magazines and daily newspapers. A man broad and charitable in his views, he has aided every movement for the advancement of education, morality or the well-being of his community. He is very optimistic as to the future of Humboldt county and is the owner of twenty-four acres of fertile land, set out to fruit; owns a quarter section of valuable timber land and a most comfortable residence at No. 1206 M street, Eureka, where he resides with his family.

It was but natural that young Epps should show skill as a woodsman when a mere lad, for he was brought up to a thorough knowledge of the business by his father, Philo Epps, a prominent logging contractor of New Brunswick, where C. S. was born at St. George, August 20, 1862. His first work in the woods was in his native place, where he was employed by his brother Henry, who for eighteen years was foreman of the river drive. Although the youngest man in the camp he was a hard worker, and the practical experience which he gained was of great value to him in later years. The parental family numbered ten children, five sons and five daugh- ters, of whom C. S. was next to the youngest. The father lived to the advanced age of eighty-two years.

Mr. Epps came to California in 1886, locating in Humboldt county, and from the years 1887 to 1892 scaled logs for the Pacific Lumber Company. Hc became an expert in thus preparing the logs and was advanced from time to time until made foreman of the company, which he served in this responsi- ble position for over twenty years. The lady who became his wife, in 1887, was Miss May Donaldson, a native of Ottawa, where her father, Robert Donaldson, was foreman of a flour mill for twenty-five years. To them have been born four children. Franklin P. married Ethel Zane and makes his home in Eureka, where he is employed in driving the Smythe auto bus south from Fort Seward. Irene is still at home with her parents. A. Bryan, who was graduated from high school with the class of 1911, is running a logging donkey in the camp of which his father is foreman. Donald, the youngest of the family, is prosecuting his studies in the schools of Eureka.

HON. THOMAS HENRY SELVAGE .- The life of ex-Senator Selvage, of Eureka, now assistant United States Attorney, with headquarters at San Francisco, affords the interesting and admirable spectacle of a straightforward adherence to principles of right and justice, making possible a rise from obscurity into political and professional prominence. Exemplifying in his career the lofty ideals characteristic of generations of ancestors identified with the early upbuilding of New England, he has the heritage of rugged, positive mental traits that form the foundation of all permanent national progress. The sterling qualities that were his by inheritance became deepened and broadened through his own early experiences of self-denial and privation amid the rigorous climatic conditions existing along the northern boundaries of Maine. It was not until seventeen years of age that he left Aroostook county, that state, where he was born April 22, 1857, and came with his

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parents to the more genial climate of the Pacific coast. Thus his identifica- tion with Humboldt county dates back to 1874. For a time he studied in the Arcata public school and later he attended St. Louis College in British Columbia.

An ardent desire to take up the study of the law was delayed in its fulfill- ment only until the necessary expenses could be met by personal efforts and protracted continuance at other employment as a means of raising the little fund of capital. Having studied law in the office of J. D. H. Chamberlain of Eureka, Mr. Selvage passed a very creditable examination and was admit- ted to the bar in March, 1888, since which time he has practiced in the courts of the state. During his active association with the Eureka bar he was first in partnership with Denver Sevier as a member of the firm of Selvage & Sevier, then with Judge C. H. Connick under the title of Selvage & Connick, and lastly with Charles P. Cutten as Selvage & Cutten. He entered pro- fessional work with a mind well equipped by thoughtful study of the law. In the later handling of many cases he acquired a grasp of legal technicalities, a quickness in reasoning and a breadth of knowledge that easily place him in the foremost ranks of the attorneys of Northern California.

From the outset of his professional career Mr. Selvage has been a party leader among the Republicans and from 1887 to 1891 he served as secretary of the county central committee, while in the latter year his party elected him to the office of district attorney in Humboldt county. Again in 1899 he was the choice of his party to represent the first senatorial district in the state senate. Elected by a fair majority, he served with such zeal and efficiency that he was chosen to be his own successor and thus continued in the office for two terms. Meanwhile in 1902 he had carried his county as a candidate for congress, but had suffered defeat in other parts of the district. The period of his service in the senate stands out for devotion to the interests of his constituents. To him was due the credit for the passage of bills for improving the condition of the lumbermen in the California redwoods. The credit also belongs to him of introducing and securing the passage of the bill for the building of the Trinity highway. The first appropriation received in California for river improvement was secured by him in the interests of Eel river improvement, and he also merits the credit for the passing of the bill for the survey of that stream and for the protection of its banks. Resigning from the senate in 1906, he accepted the office of postmaster at Eureka and continued in that capacity for five years. In 1912 he was appointed assistant United States attorney and has since filled that office, making his head- quarters in San Francisco.

No measure for the permanent advancement of Humboldt county has lacked the hearty cooperation of ex-Senator Selvage, who has the distinction of having organized the Chamber of Commerce of this county and also of officiating as its first secretary. Not the least of his interests is that of horticulture. Recognizing the adaptability of the soil to fruit-growing, he has made a special study of the kinds of fruit best suited to the land and by his intelligent efforts along this line has promoted the welfare of the entire county. Other resources of the county also have been studied by him with the intention of putting them to practical use, should they prove available for profitable development. By his marriage in 1890 to Luna May Shattuck,

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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 144

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