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 27

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 27

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In 1910 Mr. and Mrs. Francisconi came to Eureka and a year later Mr. Francisconi purchased the Italian-French bakery at No. 732 Second street, where he has built up a large business in his line. Mr. and Mrs. Francisconi have two children, Olga and Tosca. Fraternally he is a member of the Druids and politically is a Republican.

George Zehnrechner

Christene Zehndnes

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

GEORGE ZEHNDNER .- To the biographer there is always interest in tracing the successive steps which have led a pioneer from poverty and obscurity to influence and prosperity. No advantages of education or oppor- tunity came to Mr. Zehndner in his old German home in Bavaria, where he was born June 22, 1824, of humble parentage, and where he became inured to hard labor on a farm. To have a chance to cross the ocean in 1849 seemed the first opportunity to this self-sustaining youth and he was eager to avail himself of the advantages which he hoped would await him in the new world. A long voyage of three months on an ocean sailer did not daunt his high hopes, for he was of the sturdy blood of Teutonic warriors and philosophers, and the privations of a steerage passage could cause only a very temporary inconvenience. His father, Nicholas Zehndner, had fought in the Napoleonic war of 1812-14 and had been in the German regular army from 1821 to 1827, the family meantime remaining on a small farm to which he made frequent visits during seasons of furlough.

Arriving in America with a very small sum of money, it was not easy for George Zehndner to reach Indiana, but by dint of considerable patience and prolonged effort he arrived in that state and found work on a farm, where he remained until the spring of 1852. Meanwhile he had become familiar with the English language and was thus better fitted to cope with the difficulties of life in a strange country. Leaving the Indiana farm, he walked to Dayton, Ohio, and thence to Cincinnati, where he took passage on a river steamboat bound for New Orleans, and from the latter city he worked his passage to Havana. Next he sailed for the isthmus. He was obliged to walk across the isthmus, and when he landed at the Pacific coast he found about three thousand persons waiting for boats to take them to San Francisco. After some time he secured passage on an old whaling vessel, which was obliged to put in at Honolulu owing to the scarcity of provisions. There again the young emigrant met with difficulties, for he was without money. Finally he was taken on board the schooner Lena, which brought its one hundred sixty passengers into the harbor of San Francisco in August of 1852.

Memories of the first day in California still linger in the mind of Mr. Zehndner. After wandering about until he was almost exhausted he stepped into a bar-room, where he was permitted to spend the night. The next day he earned seventy-five cents, one-third of which was paid out for a loaf of bread, and it is doubtful if he ever appreciated food in his entire life to a greater degree than on that memorable occasion. By working for his passage he managed to get to Sacramento, where he had employment in a brickyard for a month. Next he went to Marysville, from there walked to the American river and worked in the mines for three weeks, but lack of success caused him to return to Sacramento and secure work as a wood-chopper. The spring of 1853 found him at Weaverville, Trinity county, where he met with moderate success and invested his earnings in a pack-train. During 1854 he traded his twenty mules for twenty cows and drove the herd across to Humboldt county, where he settled on Angels ranch, twelve miles from Arcata, and embarked in the cattle industry. For a time he was prospered, but a most discouraging incident occurred March 22, 1862, when he was shot in the hand and back by Indians. He succeeded in making his escape to the house of a neighbor, but his ranch-house was burned and all of his cattle stolen. For two years he was ill, as a result of wounds received in the attack. At the subsidence of

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the Indian troubles in 1866 he returned to his ranch from Arcata and resumed dairying and cattle-raising, but in 1870 he sold the property and again estab- lished a home at Arcata, where he has ever since resided. Near town he formerly owned a ranch of forty acres, but this he sold after conducting it for many years. He still owns another ranch comprising one hundred eighteen acres, which he rents to tenants, and he now lives retired from agricultural cares. Besides his country holdings he owns valuable business property in the heart of Arcata.

Republican in his political faith and an ardent admirer of the late William McKinley, during 1906 Mr. Zehndner erected a bronze life-size monument in memory of the martyr president and this memorial, which he presented to the city of Arcata, now stands in the center of the park and, mounted on a granite square, commands the admiring attention of passers-by. In matters Masonic he is identified with Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., also Eureka Chapter No. 52, R. A. M. Mrs. Zehndner, whom he married December 8, 1874, bore the maiden name of Christene Rossow, and was born and reared in Branden- burg, Germany, whence she came to California during 1873. By a former marriage she became the mother of two children. The son, Frederick, was killed at Korbel while in the employ of the railroad, and the daughter, Mary, now the wife of Capt. C. C. Hansen, is living at Berkeley. Mrs. Zehndner is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

THEODORE DWIGHT FELT, M. D .- Few residents of Humboldt county have enjoyed as great a degree of affectionate esteem among their fellow citizens as the late Dr. Theodore Dwight Felt, who was a "forty- niner," during his first years in the state a miner, a typical physician of pio- neer days and also took a hand in the development of the county's industrial resources. An exceptionally skillful physician and surgeon, possessing per- sonal courage, and unselfish to a fault in administering aid whenever it was needed, Dr. Felt's character won him the love and respect of a wide circle of admirers, and his achievements will long be quoted among pioneer reminiscences. The period of his practice here covered forty-seven years- until his death, although he lived to be over eighty. He maintained a posi- tion among the leading members of his profession throughout that time.

Dr. Felt was a native of Massachusetts, and of old New England stock. The family is of English origin, his emigrant ancestor in the paternal line, George Felt, having been born in England in 1601, and, according to tradition, came to America with John Endicott, who arrived at Salem, Mass., with a party of colonists in the year 1628. George Felt's name appears upon the town records of Manchester, Mass., in 1633.

Theodore Dwight Felt was born March 22, 1817, in Everett, and passed his early years upon a farm in the western part of Massachusetts. He began his education in the district schools, and took up the study of medicine under a physician in the locality, later taking a course at the old Transylvania Col- lege, Louisville, Ky., from which institution he was graduated. This college has since passed out of existence. Surgery seemed to be the branch of his work for which he was best fitted by nature, and for several years after his graduation he traveled over the eastern and southern states, doing orthopedic surgery and operating on crossed eyes, club feet and other deformities. In 1849 he came out to California, across the plains, and for a time joined the search for gold, following mining in Trinity county for two years with en-

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couraging success. In 1851 he came to Humboldt county and made a loca- tion at Hydesville, taking up land ; he was among the original settlers in the Eel river valley. Here he found the opportunity to indulge in one of his hob- bies, his fondness for horses, and he became interested in raising cattle and horses, gaining some reputation for his success with the latter especially. His medical training, however, was too valuable in a new country to be allowed to go to waste. He and Dr. Jonathan Clark, of Eureka, were then the only physicians in the county, and his services were soon in demand all over this section. He had the usual experiences of physicians in a new country, being called upon at all hours to make trips wherever he was needed. He had to travel horseback, and most of his rides were long. There were no bridges in those days, rivers and streams being forded, and he was known to swim the Eel river on horseback when the water was so high the ferryman would not risk taking him over even in a small boat. But he had all the conscientious scruples regarding his duty of his New England ances- tors, supplemented by a rugged constitution and hardy physique, and he could never refuse to visit a sick or injured person because of the physical hardships it would entail. It is said he "never found a night too dark, or the Indians too numerous or hostile, to prevent him from traveling almost any distance to administer to the sick, were the patient rich or poor." The latter part of this statement explains much of his popularity and also the thorough respect in which all classes held him. He took advantage of the many oppor- tunities his profession afforded for assisting the poor and needy, not only with his medical services, but with other aid when necessary, and none ever had to hesitate about sending for him because of lack of funds to pay for his services. His experiences never dulled his sympathies or the generosity of his nature-rather they were kept alive by such things. He had the faculty of doing the best possible in an emergency, and he saved a man's life on one such occasion by improvising a surgeon's saw from an old wood saw, and using a butcher knife for cutting, being far from home and without means of procuring any regular surgical instruments for the operation-the amputa- tion of a man's leg at the hip joint. This readiness was of great value to him in the old days especially, and gained him confidence which never waned through all the years of his practice. The four different sets of saddle bags which he used in his practice in those early years are now the property of his son, Dr. Rae Felt.

In 1871 Dr. Felt sold out his ranch at Hydesville and his practice at that point and located at Rohnerville, this county. In 1876 he removed to the place now known as Felt's Springs, a piece of property which he had acquired on an original grant, where there is a valuable medicinal spring. He imme- diately undertook the development of the property, erecting a good hotel and a number of cottages, but he had the misfortune to lose them by fire within a short time, the loss amounting to about $50,000. This disaster left him about $10,000 in debt, but he was undiscouraged and rebuilt before long. Again his buildings were destroyed by fire, and he returned to the practice of his profession, to which he devoted himself principally thereafter. He was located at Rohnerville until he opened an office at Eureka in partnership with his son Rae, in 1891, and there he continued to reside and practice the rest of his life. He attended to his work regularly, retaining his physical

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and mental vigor until ten days before his death, which occurred April 8, 1898, in his eighty-second year.

In spite of the fact that he was negligent about collecting for his pro- fessional services (thousands of dollars owing him were never paid), Dr. Felt was a successful man from the worldly standpoint, although he met with many losses through no fault of his own. In the early days he recog- nized the possibilities of many enterprises, and one of his unfortunate ven- tures was a sawmill project which cost him considerable money. He built a mill dam on Yager creek, went east and bought machinery for a sawmill, and had the misfortune to have his dam washed away before the mill equip- ment arrived. It was then in San Francisco, and he paid for it, but the man who acted as his agent sold it and disappeared with the proceeds.

Dr. Felt was a Mason, a member of Eel River Valley Lodge, F. & A. M., and was buried with Masonic honors. He was a strong Republican in his political views.

No mention of the Felts would be complete without some reference to Mrs. Felt and the noble part she played in her husband's career and in the life of the community wherever her lot called her. Her maiden name was Catherine Miller, and she was born August 4, 1828, in Philadelphia, Pa., where her parents, John and Sarah (Kinsley) Miller, passed all their lives. Her father was a glass manufacturer and a prosperous business man. She was reared and educated in her native city, and in 1850 came with a brother and a sister to Colusa, Cal., where she met Dr. Felt, and where they were married June 23, 1851. During their life on the ranch at Hydesville she shared all the hardships of pioneer days, doubled by his frequent absences on professional trips. The Indians were still numerous, and they often lost stock through their depredations, but though Mrs. Felt was frequently left alone with her small children, with only a dog for protection, the savages seldom molested her. She devoted considerable time to reading medicine and familiarizing herself with pharmacy, and thus was able to assist the Doctor greatly and to be of real service to many sick people in the neighborhood. It is said there was always some poor cripple or invalid staying at their house. Truly charitable and benevolent, they gave many a poor emigrant food, medicine and clothing, and helped him on his way. Mrs. Felt helped her husband also to keep his books, but she admitted it was never easy to get him to give her the names and amounts that should have been booked from day to day. When his fortune was so seriously impaired by the fires above mentioned, she nobly came to his aid by conducting a drug store, at Fortuna, which she carried on for several years. After the Doctor's death she occupied her home at Eureka, her son Rae and his wife living there with her. She was an active member of the Episcopal Church, but her benefactions and donations were not confined to her own denomination, for she gave towards the building of almost every church in Humboldt county. She died June 25, 1914.

Of the children born to Dr. and Mrs. Felt five survive: Delos, born April 19, 1853, is a resident of Eurcka ; Thcodore Dwight, born December 25. 1854, is a resident of Stockton, Cal .; De Ette, born August 4, 1856, is the wife of George A. Kellogg, of Eureka; Guy, born October 12, 1866, is in charge of the drug store at Sequoia Hospital, Eureka ; Rae is a practicing physician at Eureka, and mentioned in a separate article in this work.

Jacole Zahndare

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JOHN JACOB ZEHNDNER .- A native of Germany, coming to the United States in 1854, to California in 1859, and having lived on his present home place near Arcata since 1868, John Jacob Zehndner is today one of the most honored and respected citizens of his community, as well as one of the most influential. During his more than half-century of residence in Humboldt county he has proven himself to be a man of sterling qualities of heart and mind and has been a constant influence for good in the community where he has made his home, and a power in the development and upbuilding of this section. He has seen the changing of the county from a wilderness, terror- ized by marauding bands of Indians, to a land of peace and plenty and beauti- ful homes, and in all this he has been a part, contributing his full share in labor, encouragement and faith. His home place is today one of the best kept and most attractive in the community, and is a credit both to its owner and to the town.

Mr. Zehndner was born near Baireuth, Bavaria, Germany, January 15, 1833, the son of Nicholas and Margaret (Beilein) Zehndner, his father being a wealthy farmer of that section. He was given the best schooling that Ger- many afforded at that time, and remained at home with his parents until he was twenty-one. He then came to the United States to visit a brother who lived at Fort Wayne, Ind., and has since that time (1854) made his home in this country. At Fort Wayne he took up the cooper's trade, becoming a pro- ficient workman in this line, also worked at contracting and clearing land, and for a short time engaged in farming.

It was in 1859 that Mr. Zehndner came to California to make his home. Another brother, George Zehndner, was at that time residing in Humboldt county, and the reports sent back by him made the younger brother anxious to visit the new acquisition on the coast. Accordingly he made the long journey, leaving New York and sailing down the coast to Aspinwall, whence he crossed the Isthmus of Panama, and there set sail for San Francisco on the John L. Stevens, arriving there March 17, 1859. Going at once to Eureka by the water route, he was soon located on Angels ranch, the property of his brother, the ranch consisting of stock and hill ranges and being located some distance back in the mountains. Mr. Zehndner remained here for several years in the employ of his brother, but the isolated location of the ranch in- vited the attacks of the savages, and in the spring of 1862, while there was much trouble with the Indians generally, they swept down upon Angels ranch and destroyed and carried off everything on the place. The only hope for safety for the dwellers thereon lay in flight and the abandonment of the property, and on March 22 they left their home and went down to the coast near Arcata, where they remained for a year. During these troubles Mr. Zehndner himself was never actually engaged in any of the skirmishes with the Indians, but his brother George received the baptism of their fire on several occasions.

The trouble with the Indians continued along the coast, and in 1863 Mr. Zehndner determined to seek a locality where such trouble could be avoided. Accordingly, with two other young men, he decided to go to the Washoe Territory, now Nevada, making the journey across the mountains on horse- back. The way was rough and dangerous, but the trip was full of interest. The first night they camped at Lyscum Hill, the next evening they reached Hoopa, and the following night they spent at a ranch near Trinity river.

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From there they proceeded to Weaverville, then on to Red Bluff, and from Red Bluff to Oroville, from which point they crossed the Sierra Nevada moun- tains to Washoe City. Arrived at their destination, Mr. Zehndner found work in the woods, remaining in this occupation for two years, and for the two following years worked on a farm near Washoe City. While living here he took out naturalization papers and became a citizen of the United States.

In 1867 Mr. Zehndner received word from his brother to return to Hum- boldt county and take charge of Angels ranch, in order that the latter might go to the old home in Germany for a visit, and accordingly Mr. Zehndner returned to California, and has since that time made his home continuously in Humboldt county. The brother was in the Fatherland for a year (1867- 1868), and shortly after his return Mr. Zehndner purchased his present home place of sixty-eight acres a short distance from Arcata. This is all improved land, situated in Arcata bottom and is especially well adapted for dairy farm- ing, which line is the one followed at the present time. During his long resi- dence on this property Mr. Zehndner has taken the greatest pride in keeping up his home, which is one of the most carefully kept places in the valley. He has spared neither effort nor expense in keeping it so, and is justly proud of the result of his labors. For many years after purchasing this property he engaged in clearing and improving the land, and it was in 1892 that he became especially interested in dairying, and since the organization of the creamery, toward which he was one of the first subscribers, he has been interested in that enterprise. He was the treasurer of the creamery at the time that A. N. Hunt was interested in the same, and in fact held this position until the con- solidation of the several creameries under one head. The interests of Mr. Zehndner in agriculture and his ability in this line were recognized many years ago as was evidenced by his appointment in 1889 as United States horti- cultural commissioner for this section, being the first appointee to that posi- tion. Mr. Zehndner is deeply interested in the subject of forestry, his interest finding expression in the raising of eucalyptus trees on two hundred acres of land at Mckinleyville. There he is endeavoring to demonstrate to the people of Humboldt county the practicability of raising the blue-gum trees for all purposes, hardwood piling and for building wharves. Without doubt Mr. Zehndner is engaged in a work that will ultimately mean much toward furthering the future prosperity of the county and will be of ines- timable value to future generations.

In fraternal circles Mr. Zehndner is one of the most prominent and influential men in this section of the state. He has been a member of the Odd Fellows since October, 1867, having joined that order in Arcata as a member of Anniversary Lodge No. 85, I. O. O. F. When the lodge was first organized he was one of the most faithful members, never failing in his attendance at all meetings, either for wind or weather, and has since then always been an active and a faithful member of the lodge. In 1870 he had advanced in the chairs of the lodge, and was at that time noble grand, and in 1889 was appointed deputy grand master of district No. 29. He has truly been prominent in Odd Fellowship, having at eight different times been representa- tive to the grand lodge, and he also holds membership in the Rebekahs and the Veteran Odd Fellows Association in San Francisco. Mr. Zehndner has always been musically inclined, and for years he has filled positions as tenor singer in choirs in Arcata.

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In politics Mr. Zehndner is a progressive Republican. He is well in- formed and an independent thinker, and is always to be found on the side of progress and general upbuilding of the community and of the municipality, regardless of party lines and affiliations.

The marriage of Mr. Zehndner took place in Arcata December 2, 1875, uniting him with Miss Louisa May Rossow, who was born in Prussia, Ger- many, January 13, 1849, and who died at Arcata June 7, 1904. Her parents were farmers in the old country, and she lived at home with them until she was twenty-one, at which time she came to California. After remaining a few years in New York she came to California, where she was shortly afterwards married. Mrs. Zehndner bore her husband four children, three sturdy sons and a daughter. They are: George N., who is running the home dairy ranch ; Theodore H., an electrician at Niles; Edward A., who is at Chowchilla; and Louise Mary, Mrs. McClasky. All of the children are well and favorably known in Arcata, where they were born, reared and educated, and where they have many warm friends.

IRA B. THOMSON .- Throughout the thirty-six years of his residence in California Mr. Thomson has been a citizen of Humboldt county, most of the time living at Eureka, where he is one of the most successful of the local representatives of the building trades. That he has had a creditable share of the construction work in the town is shown by the many substantial build- ings, principally residences, which he has put up, and which in workmanship and convenience will compare with any in the city. At present he has under way the new Christian Science church, and other important contracts show the extent to which he is trusted by those who have had the opportunity of observing his work and its permanent character.

Mr. Thomson is a native of western Pennsylvania, born ten miles north- west of Newcastle, in Lawrence county, where his ancestors settled in the early part of the last century. He is of the fourth generation of his family in this country, his great-grandfather, Alexander Thomson, of Scotch descent, having come hither from the north of Ireland. His son, Alexander, grandfather of Ira B. Thomson, was the pioneer of this line in western Pennsylvania, settling in the neighborhood already mentioned, two miles east of the Ohio line. He was a militia captain, and as such took part in the battle of Lundy's Lane during the war of 1812.

Robert Thomson, father of Ira B. Thomson, was a house carpenter, and in his day was considered a first-class builder. He lived on the old homestead settled by his father, and died there in his ninetieth year. By his first wife, Betsey McClain, a native of Mercer county, Pa., he had a family of eight children, of whom Robert was the youngest; the eldest brother, Albert E. Thomson, was a minister, and at one time supplied the Congregational church at Eureka for three months; another brother, John S. Thomson, well known as "Honest John," a resident of this section, a former county clerk, and for two terms assessor of old Klamath county, is buried at Arcata, Humboldt county ; a third brother, Joseph A. Thomson, was at one time associate judge of old Klamath county, and he, too, is buried at Arcata. Two of the daughters of Robert Thomson's first marriage survive. Mrs. Betsey Thomson died when forty-five years old, and Mr. Thomson remarried, having five children by the second union; of these one son and one daughter still survive. The mother died ten years ago.

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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 27

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