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 36

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 36

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

After having operated an exclusive passenger service for the first two years, Captain Coggeshall then bought one small lighter. At the present time, either through purchase or by building, he has come into the owner- ship of eleven. The first lighter carried fifteen tons cargo and the last one was built for two hundred tons. The company, which is now capitalized at $50,000, owns the six launches and eleven lighters, employs a superintendent and from sixteen to twenty men, and has the reputation of working its men the shortest hours and paying them the highest wages of any company of a similar nature operating on any Pacific coast port. About 1911 the com- pany purchased the ferry steamer Antelope from the Hammond Lumber Company, together with their lighters and good-will, that concern being a competitor in a way.

The Marine Exchange of Humboldt bay was started by Captain Coggeshall about 1909. Finding that the general public were in ignorance concerning the movement of vessels in San Francisco harbor and along the coast, he established the exchange in order to systematize such information and to serve as an auxiliary to the general business of the shippers. From its nature it is of course not a money-making proposition. About 1907 the Captain made a contract with the government to operate as United States mail contractor on all the steam schooners running between Eureka and San Francisco. Prior to that time the mail had come to Eureka on two steamship lines exclusively. Through his system every steamer between this port and San Francisco became a mail steamer and the efficiency of the service was greatly enhanced. It had not been uncommon for an interval to occur of three days between mails, but under the present system the port practically has one mail in and one mail out every day, the exceptions being infrequent. All the lighters and launches of the company were designed by the Captain and built by Mr. McDade. During the Pacific coast visit of the

301

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

great American fleet the Captain took the Nantucket and Wannacomet to Monterey bay and San Francisco, where they attracted perhaps a greater degree of admiring attention than any other boats in evidence. The reputa- tion of the company for reliable service is fully established and each year they handle three hundred thousand passengers between Eureka and the various places of call on the bay.

When the company took over the New Era park about 1910 its only claim to notoriety was a broken-down wharf, a redwood open dance platform and several acres of fine trees. Within three months from the date of trans- fer New Era park opened up with a casino, 70x150 feet, with a fine floor and modern appointments. In point of excellent floor and size of the building, Humboldt bay now has the best recreation park and Casino north of San Francisco. The first Chautauqua ever held in northern California had its headquarters on these grounds, the Casino being used as the auditorium. This article is not written for the purpose of exploiting the Coggeshall Launch & Tow Boat Company ; yet it is impossible to treat of the bay transportation business without dwelling upon the individual and the concern responsible for the remarkable transformation of the past decade. Business made the great improvement in transportation and Captain Coggeshall happened to be the man to work everything out to a definite end. There will always be an opportunity at this port. Humboldt bay will be a standard in marine matters as long as there are practical men to take advantage of the local opportunity. Shipping and commerce are here and the bay business therefore must neces- sarily prosper as long as it is under the superintendence of men who thor- oughly understand the work and its requirements.

J. S. MURRAY .- Though not one of the oldest citizens of Eureka, Hum- boldt county, Mr. Murray holds the record among its present inhabitants for longest continuous residence-from 1858 to the present time. For several years previously the family had been settled in Humboldt county. He is now living retired, but by no means inactive, his beautiful lawn, flower and vege- table gardens making his home one of the features of the neighborhood in which it is located, and all cared for by his own labor. The Murray family have contributed much to the best citizenship of the place, and the father, the late John S. Murray, the first representative of the family, made many of the original surveys in Humboldt county.

John S. Murray was a native of Scotland, born at Dysart, near Edin- burgh, where he passed his early years. When a young man he went out to New Zealand. There he married Janie S. Deuchar, who was born in Aber- deenshire, Scotland, and they continued to live in New Zealand until after the birth of their eldest two children. Attracted by the stories of gold discov- eries in California, these adventurous young people determined to try their fortune, and in 1849 came to this country, arriving at San Francisco. After two years' residence in that city they came up to Humboldt bay, which Mr. Murray had first visited in December, 1850, during the gold excitement at Gold Bluff. He returned to San Francisco, and in the spring came back with 1461 his family, landing in what is now Humboldt county May 31st with his wife and two children. They first lived at Arcata (then called Union) for several years, in 1858 moving to Eureka, where a permanent home was made. Mr. Murray was engaged almost exclusively at his profession, surveying, for which he found plenty of demand, and was considered so skillful and reliable

302

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

that he was chosen county surveyor several times. He lived to the age of sixty-four years, surviving his wife, who died when about fifty-five years old. J. S. is the eldest of their four children ; Margaret S. died in Humboldt county ; George D., of Eureka, born at Arcata, is judge of the Superior court; Lucy A., born at Arcata, is the wife of Daniel O. Barto, who resides at Urbana, Ill., being connected with the University of Illinois.

J. S. Murray was born March 17, 1848, so he has lived in Humboldt county from the age of three years. His education was begun at Arcata, but acquired mostly at Eureka, where he has lived ever since he removed thither with his parents in the year 1858. During his business life he was engaged principally in clerical work, being a bookkeeper by profession. He began in the employ of L. C. Schmidt & Co., hardware merchants, was subsequently with the H. H. Buhne Company, in the same line, and later became connected with A. W. Randall, real estate operator, who afterward had a private bank and in time a state bank. After Mr. Randall's failure, he took a position with Belcher & Crane, who carried on an abstract business, remaining with them for a period of five or six years. He is now living retired, one of the most esteemed residents of Eureka. During his long association with various busi- ness houses of the city he became acquainted with many residents of the place, by all of whom he is regarded with the utmost respect, for his kindly disposition, modest character and sterling personal qualities. Mr. Murray built the pleasant cottage home at No. 1407 Fifth street which he and his wife have occupied for many years, and the beautiful lawn, profusion of flowers, shrubbery and vegetable garden show the loving care which Mr. Murray bestows upon them. The place is a veritable landmark of Eureka. Fraternally he is a Mason, and a past master of the blue lodge at Eureka.

In 1872 Mr. Murray was married at Eureka to Miss Mary W. Cutten, a native of Nova Scotia, who came to this city in the '60s with her father, Robert D. Cutten, at that time a widower with a family of six children, three sons and three daughters. Mr. Cutten was a ship carpenter and spar maker, and after a time became engaged in the manufacture of shingles. Mr. and Mrs. Murray have had three children: Jane, who is the wife of H. A. Buck and living in San Francisco; Edward S., of Eureka, and Keith C., who lives at San Francisco. The parents are members of the Unitarian Church, with which all the family have been associated.

EDGAR C. COOPER .- Since the world began, affairs of state and of government have ever attracted the attention of the most able men of the age, challenging their greatest powers, and closely associating them with the intimate details of the life of city, state or nation, and ultimately, in its largest sense, with the progress of the world. This is particularly so in these later days when the science of government has been recognized, and the political life of a man lasts only so long as he serves the people-or at least keeps them thinking that he does. This last, however, is increasingly diffi- cult, and it is quite safe to say that in the commonwealth of California, the men who today hold offices in the state are of the finest that are to be found here or elsewhere. Among this class may be named the present president of the Great Republic Insurance Company of Los Angeles and late state insurance commissioner, Edgar C. Cooper, of Eureka, who was appointed to this im- portant position by Governor Gillett during the latter part of his term of office, and whose term expired in June, 1914.

303

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

In addition to requisites of character and ability, it seems especially ap- propriate that the people should have confidence in, and be served in such a capacity by, a native son, which Mr. Cooper is. He was born in Eureka, Humboldt county, October 6, 1868. He is the son of Solomon and Eliza (Wilder) Cooper, natives of England and Maine, respectively, who were mar- ried in Massachusetts and came from that state to California in 1852, locating in Humboldt county in 1856, and thereafter making that their home. The father taught school and later became receiver of public moneys in the United States land office at Eureka, which position he held for nineteen years. Edgar C. received his education in the public schools of Eureka, graduating from the Eureka Academy, and afterward from the Hastings College of Law, in San Francisco, in 1891.

After completing his law studies and being admitted to the bar, young Mr. Cooper returned to Eureka, where he began the active practice of his chosen profession in partnership with Arthur W. Hill. The private practice of the law was not destined to be his life work, however, for his strongest inclinations were toward public service, and obtaining the nomination for district attorney of Humboldt county on the Republican ticket, in 1898, he was elected by a handsome majority. He served in this capacity for four years, and in 1903 he was elected city attorney of Eureka, again polling a decided majority. He continued to occupy this position until 1906, when a wider field opened as the natural result of his unusual ability and his splendid grasp of the affairs of the state, and he went to Sacramento as private secretary to Governor Gillett. In this new capacity Mr. Cooper made many friends and again proved his ability to handle difficult situations and to hold in his magnificent mind the multitude of details to be summoned when they were of vital importance to his chief. As a further recognition of his merit, Governor Gillett, in June, 1910, appointed him insurance com- missioner of California, which position he filled until June, 1914, when he resigned to assume the presidency of the Great Republic Life Insurance Com- pany of Los Angeles. To this company's interests he is giving his active attention and the benefit of his years of professional experience.

Mr. Cooper was married in Eureka, being united with Miss Margaret Johnson, a native of Humboldt county, who died in Sacramento in 1909, leaving two children: Elizabeth Marie and Dorothy Prescott.

Always keenly interested in the affairs of his city, county and state, Mr. Cooper has been a factor in the affairs of his party for many years, and in Eureka, which he still claims as his home, and where he holds large financial interests, he is recognized as one of the most influential men in the civic affairs of the city. He is progressive and aggressive, broad-minded and clear- headed, with a wonderful faculty for grasping a situation in a few moments and retaining the details.

Another phase of affairs which interests this genial statesman is the fraternal life of his home city, where he is a member of several of the promi- nent orders. Although he has necessarily been away from Eureka for sev- eral years, his present official headquarters being in Los Angeles, and his secretaryship to the governor requiring his entire time in Sacramento, and as insurance commissioner with an office in San Francisco, he has retained his several memberships in the orders where he was initiated as a young man, feeling that there he would be more at home in the organization. Among

304

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

such fraternal orders are the Masons, Elks, Odd Fellows, Woodmen of the World and the Foresters of America, and it goes without saying that he is prominent in the Eureka parlor, N. S. G. W.

The services that Mr. Cooper has rendered his county and state have been clean and energetic. He has never faltered in the execution of his duty, and the affairs of his office have always been conducted in a manner that has defied criticism, rather demanding praise and appreciation, even from his political opponents.

HARRY W. JACKSON was born in Abbot, Piscataquis county, Maine, the son of Elisha B. and Corrilla (Kendall) Jackson, both of whom were also born there. The father came to California by way of Panama, in 1851, and followed mining at Grass Valley until 1859, when he returned to Maine, where he was married. Besides being successfully engaged in the mercantile busi- ness, he also manufactured shingles at Abbot, Maine. In 1875 he brought his family to Arcata, Humboldt county, where he entered the employ of Falk, Chandler & Co., lumber manufacturers, near Arcata, where he became a contractor for the logging department and afterwards was similarly engaged with the Elk River Mill and Lumber Co. at Falk until he returned to his home in Arcata. In his death in 1905 there passed away one of the old time lumber men. In 1883, associated with George W. Chandler, and others, he started a mill at Blue Lake under the firm name of Chandler, Henderson & Co., which mill was moved to the north fork of Mad River in 1886, the present site of the Riverside mill, and in the Blue Lake mill in 1883 his son Harry W. Jackson began his career in the lumber business. E. B. Jackson was interested in the mill until his death. His wife's demise occurred in Arcata in 1897.

The only child born to his parents, Harry W. Jackson was born Jan- uary 28, 1863, and was reared in Abbot, Maine, attending the public schools until 1875. It was in that year that he came to Arcata with his parents. After completing his studies in the public schools, he entered the Oakland High school, from which he graduated in June, 1883. Immediately thereafter he returned to Humboldt county and in the following month entered the employ of Chandler, Henderson & Co. as bookkeeper, at the time the mill was started at Blue Lake. Besides having charge of the office he incidentally had charge of the goods also. In 1886 the mill machinery was moved to River- side, where a new mill was built and at that time Mr. Jackson bought Hender- son's interest, and the firm became Chandler-Jackson Co. He continued as general manager and operated the mill under the above firm name until 1889, when Mr. Chandler sold his interest and retired. The remaining partners then incorporated the Riverside Lumber Co. with Mr. Jackson as president, and under this title business was carried on until 1903, when they associated themselves with Charles Nelson Co. of San Francisco and purchased the Korbel Mills, also the Arcata & Mad River railroad, at the same time incor- porating the present company, Northern Redwood Lumber Co., with H. W. Jackson, president and general manager; L. Everding, secretary ; Frank Graham, vice-president, and Charles Nelson Co., treasurer. It is significant that after twelve years the officers are still the same as when the business was started.

Since then the company has operated both mills and each has been enlarged until its capacity has doubled, having at present a combined capacity

مينى

Jackson.

307

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

of about two hundred thousand feet per day. Dry kilns have been erected so that dry finished lumber is shipped from the mill. The company owns exten- sive holdings of two billion feet of standing redwood timber accessible to the mill. Mr. Jackson is vice-president and general manager of the Arcata & Mad River railroad, which operates a standard gage road of twelve miles from the two mills to Arcata wharf, their shipping point, where vessels are loaded for all parts of the world. The mill company has also built many miles of railroad through the woods, at present operating about twelve miles for bringing the logs to the mill. The town of Korbel has a population of about four hundred fifty people, who are housed in buildings erected and owned by the mill company.

Aside from this company Mr. Jackson is interested in the Charles Nelson company of San Francisco, of which he is vice-president. This latter com- pany owns and operates mills at Mukilteo and Port Angeles, Wash., and Merced Falls, Cal. For the past twenty-nine years Mr. Jackson has been general manager of the company and has always been on hand not only in immediate touch with the two mills, but also in close touch with the lumber industry on the Pacific coast. For the last few years he has also had the general supervision of the manufacture of lumber for the Charles Nelson company's plants. He is president of the Humboldt Manufacturers Associa- tion of Eureka, which owns and operates the tugs on Humboldt Bay, and is also president of the Humboldt Stevedore Company of Eureka. He is also a stockholder and director of the Bank of Arcata and a stockholder in the Arcata Savings Bank.

Mr. Jackson was married in Oakland, being united with Alica M. Betan- cue, a native of that city. Mr. Jackson was made a Mason in Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., is a member of Humboldt Chapter No. 52, R. A. M., of Eureka; Eureka Commandery No. 35, K. T., and of Oakland Consistory, Scottish Rite, Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco, and with his wife is a member of the Order of Eastern Star. Mr. Jackson is also a mem- ber of Anniversary Lodge No. 85, I. O. O. F., Arcata, as well as Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. He is an active member and supporter of the Arcata Chamber of Commerce and also the Eureka Chamber of Commerce. He believes firmly that the principles of the Republican party are for the best interests of this county.

GEORGE HENRY MINER .- Some seven miles south of Petrolia lies the ranch of George Henry Miner, a young cattleman whose success has gained him a position among the substantial operators in his section, where he controls eight hundred acres of grazing lands upon which he is raising beef cattle and hogs. Mr. Miner has made his way by hard work, but he has found time to interest himself in the general welfare, and besides giving due attention to his own affairs, encourages all local enterprises which are aids to progress, and is looked upon as one of the promising citizens of his vicinity, the kind which constitutes the backbone of any community.

Mr. Miner's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Allen Miner, were early settlers in the Mattole valley and among the most highly respected residents of that region in their day. Both are deceased, and they are survived by five children : Bertha, now the wife of Harry E. Hurlbutt, of Alton, Humboldt county ; Annie, wife of Harry Cowan, of Briceland, Humboldt county ; George Henry ; Lee, who lives in the state of Washington; and Della, wife of S. Nielson, a

308

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

groceryman at Eureka, Humboldt county. These are the heirs to the Miner estate, which includes the larger part of the ranch now operated by George Henry Miner.

George Henry Miner was born December 6, 1879, in the Mattole valley, where all his life has been passed. He attended the local public schools, hav- ing very good advantages, and since he began agricultural pursuits on his own account has been doing well, both as farmer and stockman, though cattle- raising has been his specialty. He owns an undivided two-fifths interest in six hundred and forty acres as one of the heirs of the Miner estate, and leases one hundred sixty acres adjoining. His beef cattle and hogs are in good demand in the market, and he is extending his operations as his increas- ing capital permits, progressing conservatively but steadily. His property lies to the right of the road from Petrolia to Upper Mattole. Mr. Miner is a man of friendly, hospitable nature, generous in his relations with his fellow men and socially inclined, and he is a member of the Farm Center and one of its enthusiastic advocates. He is particularly concerned over the public school conditions of his locality, and is at present serving as school trustee, in which position he has given efficient service. Politically he supports the principles of the Republican party.

At the age of twenty-five years Mr. Miner was married to Miss Belle Lowry, a native of Humboldt county, who has proved a congenial companion, sharing the estimation and friendly regard in which her husband is held by all his neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Miner have four children, Edith, Allen, Doris and Ruth. Fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World at Petrolia.

FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF ARCATA .- A distinct advance was made in the financial affairs of Arcata and vicinity with the opening of the First National Bank in October, 1913, and with the chartering of the institu- tion to conduct a general commercial banking business. Local association with the new enterprise appears in the fact that the capital stock of $50,000, fully paid up, is held almost wholly by Arcata citizens, only small blocks of stock being in the hands of outside people. The first officers of the bank, the men who are guiding its financial policy in these early years of growth and development, are as follows: President, Isaac Minor; vice-president, Peter Johansen ; and cashier, J. C. Toal. The president and vice-president also act on the directorate in conjunction with A. N. Hunt. Frank Graham and Thad A. Smith.

The structure occupied by the bank, owned by President Minor and leased to the bank officials for a term of years, was erected especially for banking purposes and contains every equipment suggestel by modern banking necessities. In exterior appearance it is simple but substantial, the re-inforced concrete being not only fireproof, but also able to withstand the ravages of time for several generations. On the northeast corner of Tenth and H streets, occupying a space 35x75 feet, in a large lot, the building with its cheerful finishing of light tan stone paint, with its illumined sign over the large double doors and its large windows lettered in gold, forms a durable and modern addition to the business section of the town. Entering the bank one finds an L-shaped lobby 10x25 in the south end and 10x65 on the west, finished with a six-inch marble base and three oak wall desks. The floor is a variety of

309

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

mosaic known as the Terranzo finish. Around the walls are plaster pillars twelve feet apart, surmounted by ornamental caps. A beam ceiling, together with a five-foot wainscoting, of native pine in the working space and fumed oak in the lobby, and a quartered oak counter and partition separating the working space and lobby, complete the interior woodwork design.

The electric fixtures of the bank are modern and the ground glass globes give a soft and mellow light. Artificial light, however, is not often found necessary, for the building is exceptionally well lighted by large windows on the south and west and by two skylights, each ten feet square, over the main working space, together with another of the same size over the directors' room. The vaults are of modern construction, with sixteen-inch re-inforced concrete walls, ceiling and floor, and steel railroad iron set a few inches apart in concrete, giving a strength that even a modern sixteen-inch gun would have some difficulty in battering to pieces. The outer door is of very heavy design and is fitted with a seventy-two-hour, double time lock, and also a combination lock of most modern design. The safe deposit department is equipped with one hundred and forty-eight modern safe deposit boxes, weigh- ing twenty-five hundred pounds and lined with heavy steel. Some of the boxes are fitted with combinations and others with keys, and all are adapted to the storage of valuable papers, jewelry or coin. A private room known as the coupon room has been fitted up for the use of people desiring to rent boxes. A strong steel grill and a steel door separate the safe deposit depart- ment from the bank vault, in which is the Diebold coin safe, the last word in burglar-proof safes. It is fitted with a seventy-two-hour triple-time lock, working automatically from the inside, no bolts being exposed on the outside of the safe. The interior is equipped with chests for gold and silver with combination locks on each. The interior of the vault is lined with Bessemer steel, with a four-inch space between the steel and the concrete, which keeps the interior of the vault entirely dry. A feature of the bank interior is the ladies' rest room, in the north end of the public lobby, where may be found a desk telephone for the free use of women, also writing materials and easy chairs. In the rear of the building there is a directors' room twenty feet square, while opening off the public lobby is the office of the vice-president. In the construction of the building it was the aim of Mr. Minor to utilize the services of the workmen of Arcata as far as possible, and he also en- deavored to secure the materials in Humboldt county, thus proving his loyalty to the people and products of his own locality. In the modern structure with its substantial equipment he has realized his ambition to secure the best facilities and has made it possible for the bank to adopt for its slogan the motto, "Equipped for service."

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 36

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