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 145

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 145

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a native of Grand Rapids, Mich., he has two children, namely: Merle M., born in 1891, and Eugene S., in 1896. His fraternities are the Elks and Odd Fellows of Eureka. The qualities that have brought him prestige in public life have made him a conspicuous figure in fraternity organization and have led to his selection for the important office of grand master of the grand lodge of Odd Fellows in the state of California, a post in which his splendid qualities of mind and heart, his ability in organization, his tact as a leader and his skill as a parliamentarian and executive have been brought into con- stant and successful use.

MONTE LUCAS .- As one of those who has wrested a competence and standing out of his own appreciation of opportunities, Mony Lucas, as he is familiarly called, is entitled to the credit so readily accorded by all who are familiar with his earlier struggles with adversity. He was born December 29, 1893. at Scotland, S. Dak., and there remained with his parents, Jacob and Catherine Lucas, until their removal to California, at which time they located at Santa Rosa. They are residents of Sonoma county at the present time, where the father is the owner of a valuable vineyard.

When in his teens Monte Lucas temporarily suspended his education in the public schools, because of the necessity of beginning to think about his own support. He therefore started out to learn the carpenter's trade, and after completing the same continued to work thereat for five years. During this time he was employed by his brother, who had the contract for building a Carnegie library. While on a hunting trip Mr. Lucas and his brother-in- law, L. E. McConly, visited Humboldt county, and so favorably were they impressed with the opportunities offered those engaged in agricultural pur- suits, that Mr. McConly purchased a tract of two hundred acres, near Blocks- burg, and engaged Mr. Lucas to manage the same. This he did with un- qualified success for one year, when he came to Blocksburg and entered the employ of the Helmke Mercantile Company in the capacity of clerk. His upright business methods and high regard for the success of his employers have won for him an enviable standing and many friends. In March, 1915, he was made manager of the company's office at Fort Seward, a promotion which demonstrates the regard in which he is held by his employers. He is associated with the Fraternal Order of Eagles, holding membership with the lodge at Santa Rosa. His marriage with Miss Nola Canon, of Trinity county, was celebrated July 1, 1914.

FREDERICK A. TUTTLE .- One of the most interesting ranches in southern Humboldt county is the Tuttle place, about ten miles northeast of Harris, developed by Lucius C. Tuttle, who still retains the ownership though he lives retired at Eureka, the management being now in the hands of his son, Frederick A. Tuttle. This extensive estate comprises about five thousand acres, well improved as to buildings and equipment, but little cul- tivated, most of the land being devoted to grazing purposes for the four thousand sheep usually pastured there.

Lucius C. Tuttle was born April 29, 1837, at Brockport, N. Y., and was only about four years old when his parents moved out to Illinois, settling at Plainfield, in Will county. He obtained his education in the common schools and academies there, and in young manhood learned the carpenter's trade, which proved extremely useful in his later experience in California.

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On May 29, 1860, he married Miss Leah J. Rutan, a native of New Jersey, born August 17, 1837, and in 1862 they started across the plains to California. After working at his trade a short time Mr. Tuttle engaged in farming along the Cosumne river. A few years later he removed to Mendocino county, in March, 1865, settling on a stock ranch of five hundred forty acres there, where he continued to make his home for the fifteen years following. Meantime, in 1867, he was appointed postmaster at the Sherwood Valley office in Mendo- cino county, being the first to hold the office at that point. When he moved northward into Humboldt county he spent a number of years in the improve- ment of the valuable property he had acquired, moving to Eureka when he retired from its active management. The buildings on this place, all con- structed under his direction, are notably substantial and convenient in arrangement, so well finished that they have needed little repairing in all these years, and so suitable for their various purposes that they attract the attention at once as eminently fitting in every particular. They have been erected on solid stone foundations, and the forethought and extreme care which Mr. Tuttle gave to their proper construction have been more than repaid in the years of service already had, and the many years for which they will undoubtedly be sound. The large frame barn, built of hewn native timbers, and splendidly framed, mortised and joined together with wooden pins (after the fashion of Mr. Tuttle's New Jersey ancestors), is the principal farm building, and has its full complement of ranch buildings, sheds, smoke- house, etc .; the sheep shearing, wool compress and ware house, all one large building, is most commodious, having room for ten shearers to work at once. The dwelling house is roomy and equipped with modern plumbing through- out for hot and cold water service, supplied from a nearby spring which was walled up and provided with a hydraulic ram, throwing an abundance of pure spring water into a large tank, whence it is drawn for household uses. The surplus water is diverted to the vegetable and horticultural gardens, which afford a luxuriant supply of berries of all kinds and choice vegetables for the home table. In this mountain section cherries, peaches, apples, plums, grapes and pears reach an exceedingly high standard of flavor and color, and the forty acres of the ranch under cultivation yield abundantly.

About four thousand sheep is the average amount of stock kept on the Tuttle ranch, and large quantities of wool and mutton on the hoof are sold annually. The bountiful provisions for home comforts as well as business arrangements on this place are reminders of the old days when ranchmen were dependent almost entirely on the products of their own estates. The choicest home-cured hams and bacons are on hand all the year round, and it is not uncommon for the host to treat his visitors to a feast of venison, for deer in considerable numbers still frequent the vicinity.

Frederick A. Tuttle has lived on this place for the last thirty-one years. He was the only child of his parents, born February 18, 1863, in Sacramento county, and was very young when the family settled in Mendocino county, where he grew to young manhood on his father's stock ranch. He had the advantages of the local public schools, attending high school at Ukiah, and rich practical experience in the work which he has adopted, having been familiar with ranch operations from boyhood. As his father's assistant for years he had the benefit of thorough training under a most successful stock-

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man, so that his capability is as much the result of education as inheritance. His faculty for keeping things in "apple-pie order" is a large item in economy- of operative labor as well as expenditure, and he has shown extraordinary executive ability in facilitating work at the seasons best adapted for its accomplishment. Personally, Mr. Tuttle is a man of honest opinions and generous nature which have attracted many friends to him in the course of his busy life.

Mr. Tuttle married Miss Florence Torrey, of Eureka, Humboldt county, daughter of the late A. W. Torrey, one of the most popular public men of that city, where he was twice elected mayor, serving with distinguished ability. Mr. and Mrs. Tuttle reside at the ranch.

LUTHER DRURY GRAETER .- Humboldt county has her share of selfmade men, prominent among whom is L. D. Graeter, a native of Vermont, having been born in Highgate, Franklin county, July 28, 1862, the son of Augustus F. and Emily Munson (Drury) Graeter, born in Allentown, Pa., and Highgate, Vt., respectively. The grandfather, Augustus Graeter, a native of Germany, settled at Allentown, Pa., where he married Sarah Hoffman, a native of that place. They removed to Warren, Trumbull county, Ohio, where Mr. Graeter improved a farm on the Western Reserve, upon which he and his wife spent their last days. The place is now a part of the city of Warren. The maternal grandfather, Luther K. Drury, was also a native of Vermont and was a farmer there all his days. He was descended from an old Massachusetts family, which migrated from England to the colony in its early settlement.

Augustus F. Graeter was reared in Ohio. Soon after his marriage to Miss Drury he went to Denver, Colo., where he followed mining, and about a year later found his way to the new mining region of Alder Gulch, Territory of Montana, crossing the plains with ox teams. Later, in 1864, his wife and little son Luther joined him, making the trip by steamboat from St. Louis to Fort Benton, the head of navigation, being about five weeks en route, thence by ox teams to Alder Gulch. In 1865 they removed to Bannack, Mont., where the father mined and also engaged in merchandising, being the junior partner in the firm of Smith & Graeter, until Mr. Smith's death, when the business was sold out and the partnership dissolved. He then continued mining and ranching in partnership with his son Luther. This has been his life work, being still interested in mining though he now lives retired in Dillon, Mont., at the age of eighty-two years. His wife died about 1881, at the age of forty-two years. Of the children comprising their family two attained maturity and are now living, Luther D., the subject of this sketch, and Blanche Alice, Mrs. C. E. Falk of Eureka.

Though he was born in the Green Mountain state, the early life of Luther . D. Graeter was passed at Bannack, Mont., where he was taken by his mother at the age of three years. The facilities for an education in a mining territory are far from the best at any time, but fifty years ago they were meager indeed. It was under such conditions that L. D. Graeter under- took to secure an education, but notwithstanding the unfavorable outlook he made the most of the opportunities offered. When thirteen years of age he went to Syracuse, N. Y., where he attended Putnam College, from there going to the Warren (Ohio) High School for about one year, after which he

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attended Notre Dame College at Montreal, Canada, for a year. Later he was privileged to attend the Pennsylvania Military Academy at Chester, Pa., for one year, going from there to Worthington University at St. Louis, Mo. He was in the latter part of his second year when he was called home on account of the death of his mother. His business career began at this time, when he took up mining and stock raising with his father, they owning a large cattle ranch on Horse Prairie.

L. D. Graeter carried on mining in their old properties in Bannack under the title of the Pioneer Ditch Company, operating by hydraulics until the property was reorganized as the Chicago Gold Dredging Company, in which he and his father retained a large interest. They installed not only the first successful gold dredge in that state, but the first installed anywhere that made a success of saving the gold. The dredge was named the A. F. Graeter and continued in operation until the ground was all worked. During these years L. D. Graeter was superintendent of the property, giving up the position only when the work was all accomplished. In the meantime, in 1885, he had made his first trip to California and in 1886 he came to Humboldt county. For a time he was in the employ of Isaac Minor of Arcata at the Glendale mill, later becoming manager of the Glendale & Warren Creek mills, a position which he held for a period of ten years.

During this time Mr. Graeter was married in Arcata, January 13, 1887, being united with Miss Bertha Augusta Minor, the daughter of Isaac Minor, the pioneer lumber manufacturer of Arcata, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Graeter was born near Arcata and received her education in the public schools of that city and at Mills Seminary at Oakland.

After ten years in the lumber business Mr. Graeter retired to Montana to resume mining, which resulted in the dredging of the ground as stated above. After completing it he engaged in merchandising in Dillon, Mont., under the name of the Graeter Grocery Company. He continued in the management of this business for eight years, when he resigned to return to Humboldt county, retaining his interest, however, until 1913, when he sold out. Meantime, in 1906, he returned to Humboldt county and engaged in merchandising and farming at Mckinleyville, continuing in business there for nine years, when he sold both mercantile establishments as well as the farm and located in Arcata, where he now resides, finding his time fully occupied in looking after his interests. He is still interested in mines in Montana, as well as Alaska. His farm at Mckinleyville ultimately became one of the show places of the county, a specialty being made of horticulture and poultry. The poultry yards were the most extensive and modern in the county.

Mr. Graeter was made a Mason in Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., in 1888, and is a member of Eureka Chapter No. 53, R. A. M. He was raised to the Knights Templar degree in Santa Rosa Commandery, afterwards was a member of St. Elmo Commandery at Dillon, Mont. He is now a member of Eureka Commandery No. 39, K. T., and a life member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco. He is further affiliated with Lodge No. 652. B. P. O. E., at Eureka. With his wife he is a member of the Episcopal Church at Arcata.

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To Mr. and Mrs. Graeter were born six children, as follows: Emily Drury, who died at two years of age; Fred Saxe, an apprentice machinist with the United Verde Copper Company at Jerome, Ariz .; Margaret Bertha ; Lucile Drury ; William Keith, and Luther Augustus.

ALBA G. ROBINSON .- One of the venerable residents of Humboldt county is Alba G. Robinson, who has been settled on his farm in Hydesville township for thirty-five years. He has made a thorough success of its im- provement and cultivation, and has long been regarded as one of the sub- stantial citizens of his section, where his industrious life and integrity of character command universal respect.

Mr. Robinson is a native of Livingston county, N. Y., born August 4, 1829, son of Richard and Charlotte (Green) Robinson. His parents were both born in Vermont, but moved from that state in early life, the father following farming and the lumber business in New York. He had every promise of a successful career when death took him, in his prime, at the age of forty-five. Alba G. Robinson remained at home until eighteen years of age, when he began farming on his own account, having been trained to that vocation from boyhood. He was thus engaged in New York state until 1856, in which year he moved to Illinois, locating at Rockford. From that place he enlisted, September 2, 1862, in the Union service, joining the Seventy- fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, which was attached to the command of Gen. J. C. Davis and saw service in Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia and Alabama. Mr. Robinson was with his company in its various operations in this territory, and among the important engagements in which he took part were those at Nashville, Franklin (Tenn.) and Stone River. Receiving an honorable discharge he returned to Illinois, but did not remain there long afterward, disposing of his holdings and moving to Iowa. There he made a settlement in Story county, where he lived until shortly after his marriage, he and his wife coming to California almost immediately thereafter. They at once took up their residence in Humboldt county and have since been citizens thereof. During the first two years Mr. Robinson had a hotel at Blue Lake, whence he moved to Rohnerville in the fall of 1873. Six years afterward he purchased the property in Hydesville which has since been his home, a tract of one hundred fifty-six acres in the vicinity of Scotia, pro- vided with comfortable improvements and well adapted to general agricul- ture, to which all but the four acres set out in fruit is devoted. Mr. Robinson has attended strictly to his work and to his private affairs, but though his disposition has made him prefer a quiet life it is through no lack of public spirit, for whenever occasion offers he is ranged on the side of right and good government. His integrity and honorable dealings in his relations with his fellowmen are sufficient to entitle him to be classed with the worthiest citizens of his community. Politically he votes with the Republican party, but takes no further part in its activities.

Mr. Robinson was married in Story county, Iowa, to Miss Mattie E. Ward, who was born in 1839 in Ohio, daughter of James L. Ward, who died in 1855 in Ohio, where he had settled in young manhood ; he was a native of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have had four children: William A .; Minnie C .; Hattie, who married U. Steward; and Georgia, who married William Holton.

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JAMES A. YOUNG, M.D .- Among the younger generation of physicians and surgeons who have achieved success in northern California is James A. Young, M. D., of Alton, Humboldt county. Dr. Young was the descendant of eastern forebears, and himself was a native of that section, his birth occur- ring in Boston, Mass., September 20, 1869. He was primarily educated in the common schools of that city, and subsequently graduated from the Latin scientific course of the East Greenwich Institute in Rhode Island, receiving his diploma in 1890. For some time he had cherished a desire to take up the medical profession as his life work, and it was following his graduation from the institution just named that he set about his medical studies in earnest. He was fortunate in securing as preceptor Dr. J. M. Solomon, a physician of high repute in Boston, and after studying under him for some time he entered the medical department known as Tufts Medical School in Boston, a branch of Tufts University in that same city, and in June, 1897, he completed his course and received his diploma.

Dr. Young's first professional work was as examining physician in the Spanish-American war service, stationed at Boston, and later he was sent west and examined for the service in different towns in Colorado and Wyom- ing, and still later was sent to the Presidio at San Francisco for examination also. The test proved satisfactory and he became a surgeon in the marine service. During the time he was in the service, from 1900 until the latter part of 1904, he visited Central and South America, Mexico, Japan, Honolulu, the Philippine Islands, Hong Kong, China, and all sections of eastern Asia. After resigning from the service in 1904, he took up private practice, locating in San Francisco and continuing there for about nine years, during which time he built up a large practice. It was following this that he came to Alton, Humboldt county, which has since been the scene of his professional labors.

In 1904 Dr. Young was married to Mrs. Florence (Morris) Berringer. In the line of his profession Dr. Young is affiliated with the Humboldt County Medical Association, the State of California Medical Association, and the Americal Medical Association. His fraternal affiliations include membership in the Druids, Knights and Ladies of Security, Daughters of Liberty, and the United Order of American Mechanics. Mrs. Young is a member of the Rebekah Lodge at Hydesville.

While in San Francisco Dr. Young became interested in a drug store, the St. Ann Pharmacy, at Twenty-ninth street, and he still retains this interest, his partner, however, having the entire management of the storc. Not all of Dr. Young's interests have been mentioned until something has been said regarding his accomplishments in the matter of fire protection to his home city. He it was who organized what is known as the baby fire department, the name indicating that it was the first attempt at fire protec- tion in the city, and he was also instrumental in organizing a company at Hydesville. Each company comprises about twenty members, and each company is fully equipped with hose. Still another enterprise that has materialized through the efforts of Dr. Young is the Eel River Valley Chamber of Commerce, which was organized in 1914.

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CLARENCE JOHN McCONNAHA .- Born in Arcata, Humboldt county, January 6, 1877, Clarence John McConnaha received his education in the public schools of his native village, graduating from the grammar school, and afterward, there being no high schools in the county, taking a course in a business college in Eureka. Here he graduated in 1895, and immediately started out for himself, his first employment being with the shingle mills of the Humboldt Manufacturing Company. This work was congenial and profitable, and young McConnaha remained with this company for ten years, being promoted several times and otherwise receiving acknowledgment of the confidence which was reposed in him by his employers. He did not feel content, however, to remain indefinitely in the capacity of a hired employe, and in April, 1904, he resigned his position and opened a general merchandise store in Trinidad. This he owned and operated independently for a number of years with great success, but in October, 1909, he entered into partnership with his brother, Burr P. McConnaha, the firm since being known as Mc- Connaha Brothers Company. The business has since been enlarged and extended and many improvements made, until at the present time it is one of the largest and best equipped general merchandise stores in the county, with a thoroughly up-to-date stock of goods in every department. The brothers, both of whom are natives of Humboldt county, have many interests in common, and together they are accumulating a vast amount of property which is constantly increasing in value. They are joint owners of a livery business which is one of the most flourishing, as well as one of the largest, in the county. In connection with this they own and operate several stage lines, all of which are profitable investments. Together they have built, own and operate a shingle mill which is one of the most modern and complete plants of its kind in the county, in connection with which they also own and operate an aerial cable line which runs from Trinidad into the woods.

One of the most valuable pieces of real estate owned by Mr. McConnaha and his brother is a ranch on the Klamath river, which they purchased in May, 1909. Here they originally engaged exclusively in stock raising, but at the present time a tract of one hundred acres is under a high state of cultivation. As an experiment, and one which is being watched with great interest by horticulturists all over this part of the state, two hundred walnut trees were set out in 1912, and dairying is also followed on a small scale. The entire property is of great value, and rapidly becoming more so.

On March 18, 1900, C. J. McConnaha was married to Miss Rose Cakasch, in Arcata, then the home of the bride. Mrs. McConnaha was born in the town of Salmon Creck, Humboldt county, July 22, 1881, and in September of that same year her parents removed to Arcata, where she resided until 'the time of her marriage. She has borne her husband one child, a daughter named Greta.

Mr. McConnaha has always been interested in all matters that pertain to the public welfare of his community. In politics he is a Republican, but in practice he is first of all a good citizen, placing the welfare of the public before all other considerations. For some time he has served ably as a school trustee in his district, and is also a member of the town board of trustees, and is now president of that body. Another phase of social activity

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which appeals strongly to Mr. McConnaha lies in the affairs of the local parlor of the Native Sons, of which he is a charter member.

LEONARD A. ROBERTSON .- Though still a young man, Leonard A. Robertson has been managing the large sheep ranch owned by the family in southern Humboldt county for the last twenty years, during which time he has maintained the best traditions of the name, which has been synony- mous with success in the sheep raising industry from the early days. Owing to his father's untimely death, Mr. Robertson assumed the responsibilities of the large property at an early age, and proved equal to its many demands. Now he has one of the model estates of the region, he and his neighbor, Mr. Tuttle, being looked up to as the leaders in their line in this section. A

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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 145

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