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 45

Author: Irvine, Leigh H. (Leigh Hadley), 1863-1942
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Los Angeles, Historic Record Company
Number of Pages: 1328

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tically every other nation in scholarship and in the business and professional world they quite hold their own. One of the citizens from the little kingdom who is well and favorably known in Humboldt county is Martin Larsen, of Arcata, whose home is situated some two miles north of the town. He has resided in this county for many years and has won many sincere friends by his sterling qualities of mind and heart and he is ranked as a citizen of which the community may well be proud.

Mr. Larsen was born in Kedeby, on the Island of Langeland, in Den- mark, March 12, 1878. He attended the public schools of his district for a short time, but the circumstances in the home were such that at fourteen years of age he was forced to start out for himself. He worked for a year or more on the neighboring ranches and then determined to come to America, where he hoped to find better conditions and greater opportunities for ad- vancement. He landed at New York and came directly to California, locating in Marin county, December 10, 1893. Here he found employment on a farin, remaining in Marin county for four years. In 1897 Mr. Larsen removed to Humboldt county, locating at Blue Lake, where he again found employment on the dairy and stock farms of that vicinity. From Blue Lake he later removed to Ferndale, where he was in the employ of J. M. Hanson on his dairy ranch for some time. For two years he also worked for his brother John Larsen, on Salmon creek, where he was engaged in dairying and gen- eral farming. From Salmon creek Mr. Larsen moved to Arcata Bottom and leased the ranch opposite the United Creamery No. 1, and engaged in dairy- ing for himself. Ilere he remained for seven years and met with much suc- cess. He increased his herd of milch cows from time to time, until he owned about twenty head. Later he leased sixty acres of improved land from the old Clark estate and again. engaged in dairying and general farming. He moved to this place in the fall of 1912 and has resided there since. He has increased his stock to thirty head of milch cows and is being very successful in his undertaking. He is a stockholder in the United Creameries, Inc., and was a director for three years.

Aside from his business enterprises, Mr. Larsen is a man of much public spirit and takes a keen interest in all matters of general welfare. He is a Democrat in politics and is well informed on all current issues. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World, and is affiliated with the lodge at Ferndale. He is also a prominent member of the Danish Lutheran church in Arcata and secretary of the board of trustees, taking an active part in all the affairs of the denomination and in all their church work.

The marriage of Mr. Larsen took place at Salmon Creek, Humboldt county, October 14, 1905, uniting him with Miss Matilda Christine Olsen, also a native of Denmark, born July 8, 1879. She came to Humboldt county in 1903. She is the mother of three sturdy children, two sons and one daughter. These are Curtis Merwin, Martin Randolph, and Laura Matilda. Both Mr. and Mrs. Larsen have a wide circle of friends in their community where they are respected and admired.

Mr. Larsen is the son of Lars and Karen Petersen, both natives of Den- mark; the father was born July 12, 1822, and followed dairying the greater part of his life and always resided in his native country. The parents are both demised.

Seo I Pray

Mrs Marta & Gray

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GEORGE H. GRAY .- As one of the most practical and successful of the pioneer farmers and stockmen of Humboldt county, George H. Gray is entitled to mention, being a man of splendid attainments, forceful, enter- prising and intelligent above the average. He is a native of Indiana, born in Rush county, November 22, 1832, and is descended from a long line of English ancestry. His father, Isaac Gray, was born, reared and educated on the Isle of Wight, England, and there he married Sarah Hawkins, also a native of the island. Seven children were born of this union before they migrated to the United States, locating in Rush county, Ind., where George H., the youngest child, was born. In 1838 they removed to Illinois, settling near what is now Coatsburg, in Adams county, where they took up a prairie farm, improving and cultivating it for many years. Here the youngest son grew to young manhood, receiving his education in the public school of the district, this being held in a log cabin of the most primitive type, without window glass, heated by a huge fireplace, and furnished with log-hewn fur- niture, and tables made from splits. Up to the time he was twenty-one he worked on the farm with his father and at that time he determined to come to California. He made the trip across the plains in 1854, paying his way by driving an ox-team. Arriving in California he stopped at Diamond Springs, El Dorado county, for a year and did well in the mines, but spent his savings in unprofitable prospecting the following year in Amador county. He then went to Santa Rosa valley and worked on a ranch for wages, saving his earnings, until he was able to buy a herd of young cattle. These he drove into Humboldt county, in 1859, herding them on the hills at Fort Baker and on the Van Duzen river. The same year he took a claim in the Bald hills district and drove his cattle there, and commenced the erection of a house. He went into Hydesville for supplies and when he returned it was to find that the Indians had raided him, killing most of his cattle and scatter- ing the rest. He gathered together what few were left and in 1860 drove them to the Bear river, where he leased them on shares until 1861. He rented a farm at Hydesville for a year and in 1861 returned to Larabee creek, and that winter, through severe weather and Indian raids, he lost the rest of his cattle, and spring found him $200 in debt. He again commenced to work for wages, paid off his indebtedness, and made a new start. Later he bought a claim at Iaqua, in 1864, where he engaged in stock-raising. He took in a partner, and they purchased more land, owning quite a large range, with large numbers of stock. Leaving his partner in charge of the stock range, Mr. Gray, in 1868, purchased one hundred sixty acres in the Eel river valley, near where Alton now stands, and engaged in agriculture for three years, this being his first attempt in this line.

It was in 1871 that Mr. Gray purchased his present home place near Hydesville from Dr. Theodore D. Felt, paying $10,000 for the two hundred seventy acres that made up the estate, which is one of the finest in the county. In 1878 Mr. Gray sold his interest in the Iaqua stock ranch to his partner and has since given his time and attention to the care of his home farm. He has made many valuable improvements and has been engaged in diversified farming and dairying. He also owns much other valuable prop- erty in the valley, including a dairy ranch at Van Duzen, containing four hundred acres, which he leases ; a part of the old Quick ranch near Carlotta ; some time ago he purchased the old Porter place in Hydesville, where he

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makes his home, this containing six acres, and having one of the best resi- dences in town, which Mr. Gray renovated and improved before taking possession.

The marriage of Mr. Gray took place in Eureka, September 1, 1868, unit- ing him with Miss Martha C. Creighton, the daughter of Thomas H. Creigh- ton, one of the well known pioneers of Humboldt county. She is a native of Santa Clara county, but had lived in Eureka for some time before her marriage. She has borne her husband two children, a son and a daughter, both of whom have been reared and educated in Humboldt county and well known and highly respected. Of these, Mary is now the wife of Rasmus Beck, a farmer of Hydesville, and is herself the mother of two children, Luella and Everett; and George, who died after his marriage to Miss May Cuddeback, leaving his widow and one child, Laura Merl, now fifteen years of age and residing in San Jose with her mother.

The record of Mr. Gray throughout his long residence in Humboldt county has been one of enterprise, integrity and industry. His many reverses have not embittered him, but rather have only developed the magnificent strength of his character, and made him what he is today. Although well along in years he is strong and active, both in mind and body. He is recog- nized as a citizen of unimpeachable honor and integrity and his word is as good as his bond, and better than the bond of most men. He has taken an active part in the affairs of the community, and is a stanch supporter of the Republican party, although he has never sought official preferment. He is prominent in fraternal circles, being a member of the Odd Fellows, Hydes- ville Lodge, No. 250, and also of the Encampment, and has passed through all the chairs of these orders. Both he and Mrs. Gray are members of the Rebekahs and Mrs. Gray is also a member of the Christian Church.

FRED A. LEACH .- The Leach family has been settled in this region from pioneer days, Fred Leach, the father of Fred A. Leach, now a leading business man of Fortuna, having located in Trinity county, of which Hum- boldt county once formed a part, in 1853, and moved from there to Rohner- ville in 1864. He opened the first blacksmith shop in that part of the Eel River valley, and was successfully engaged at his trade until his death. Fred A. Leach was also in business at Rohnerville for a time, but for over twenty years he has been established at Fortuna, where he has acquired a variety of interests which indicate a progressive and energetic spirit. He has en- couraged and supported a number of local enterprises which have proved of distinct benefit to the town, bringing better business facilities and improved conditions of living.

Fred Leach, the father of Fred A. Leach, was born on a farm in Michigan, October 10, 1828, and was very young when he accompanied his parents to Cleveland, Ohio, where they died. His father was a blacksmith, and he learned the same trade, which he continued to follow throughout his life. In 1849 Mr. Leach was married in Cleveland to Miss Alameda Cordelia Foster, who was born in that city June 7, 1829, and they lived there a few years longer, until Mr. Leach caught the gold fever. In 1853 he brought his family across the plains, making the journey by ox team, and that year located at Weaver- ville, Trinity county, where he soon found work at his trade in the mines. Employment was plentiful and well paid, and he was successful during his residence at that place, whence he removed to Rohnerville, Humboldt county,

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in the year 1864. Here he started a blacksmith shop of his own, the first in that part of the Eel River valley, and he became one of the substantial, highly respected citizens of the town, where he remained the rest of his life, dying there August 20, 1893. He long survived his wife, who passed away in 1880. Of the nine children born to this couple only three survive at this writing (1914). Mr. Leach was one of the early settlers in Trinity county, and as a man of high character and real worth deserves a place among the founders of civilization in this part of California.

Fred A. Leach was born July 5, 1870, at Rohnerville, Humboldt county, where he grew to manhood, living with his parents until he reached the age of nineteen years. Meantime he attended the local public schools, also assisting his father in the blacksmith shop, thus early acquiring a familiarity with mechanical work which has aided him greatly since he took up his chosen line. When he left his father's employ he commenced to learn tinning and plumbing, and after giving two years to the trade went to San Francisco and followed it there for one year. Returning to his home town he bought out a store and commenced business on his own account, in 1890, and he did business there for the next three years, though in the meantime, in 1892, he had acquired similar interests at Fortuna. At the latter place he began very modestly, continuing to run his establishment at Rohnerville also for a year, until he concluded the one at Fortuna had sufficient promise to justify him in giving all his attention thereto. With the growth of the town his patronage increased, until he now has a large number of customers, and he has also put in a fine stock of hardware. He entered the latter line in 1904, in which year he built the commodious place of business which he still owns and occupies, and he has taken in a partner, the firm name being Leach & Smith. Other enterprises have been added as conditions seemed favorable. For a short time Mr. Leach conducted a garage, and he now has the agency in the Eel River valley for the Studebaker cars. For a number of years he was active in the management of the Bank of Fortuna as a member of its board of directors, serving from 1905 to 1912, and he has also been a director of the Fortuna Water Company. Successful in the management of his own affairs, his participation in those controlled by others is sufficient to gain for them the confidence of the citizens of the town, who feel that his approval is sincere and his opinion of real value.

Mr. Leach was united in marriage, on July 22, 1900, with Miss Clara E. Kehoe, who was born December 10, 1870, at Clinton, Pa., and came with her parents to Humboldt county in the year 1883. No children have been born to this union. Fraternally Mr. Leach is a member of the Freemasons. Originally a Republican in politics, he has of late been in sympathy with the Progressive wing of the party.

G. HOSKINS, M. D .- One of the most important personages in any community is always the physician and surgeon, the man to whom people must turn in their hour of greatest need, and whose judgment and wisdom and honesty they must trust unquestioningly in matters of the greatest import. Is it small wonder, then, that such an one is subject to the most rigid scrutiny and that he is always more or less under the microscope of the public eye, and that his good points and also his faults are somewhat magnified, accord- ing as the observer finds there the qualities that he trusts or distrusts? It is a pleasing condition, therefore, when a young physician enters into a new

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community and finds there a welcome and makes for himself a place in the hearts of the people. This is the case with Dr. G. Hoskins, physician and surgeon, who came to Ferndale in April, 1914, and who already has established himself in the confidence of the people. He is a man of skill and learning, and this is coupled with a natural adaptability to the practice of medicine, and is aided and abetted by a keen studious mind and a great love for his calling.

Dr. Hoskins is a native of Iowa, having been born at Buena Vista, October 8, 1886, the son of Fred and Mary L. Hoskins, who at present reside at Santa Rosa, Cal. The family left their home in Iowa when the son was six years of age and went to Grand Junction, Colorado, where the father engaged in the hardware business. It was here that young Hoskins grew to manhood, com- pleting the common and high school course, and for two years attending the University of Denver. It was in 1905, when he was nineteen years of age, that the family migrated to California, and he at once matriculated at the Uni- versity of California, at Berkeley, where he completed his college course. In 1906 he entered the Cooper Medical College at San Francisco, graduating with honors in 1910. He then served as interne at the City and County Hospital for one year, following this with another year of similar service at the St. Mary's Hospital. He then opened offices for himself in San Francisco, and for a time enjoyed a lucrative practice in the city. He felt, however, that greater opportunities, both from a point of service and from general advance- ment in his profession, were to be found in a smaller community, where he might establish himself and "grow up" with the town, and accordingly he came to Ferndale and established himself here, with the avowed intention of making this place his home. His offices are in the Williams block, and already he is enjoying a lucrative practice.

The marriage of Dr. Hoskins took place in San Francisco, May 19, 1912, uniting him with Miss Ruth Lesser, the daughter of J. Lesser, a San Fran- cisco merchant. Mrs. Hoskins is a woman of rare charm and, quite inde- pendently of her husband's professional standing, is making a warm place for herself in the social life of Ferndale, where she is an acknowledged addition to any circle.

It is well worth noting that Dr. Hoskins is descended from one of the best known surgeons of the Civil war, his paternal grandfather, Dr. Henry IToskins, having been a very successful physician and having seen much service during that troubled period. One of the strongest points in the professional equipment of this young physician at Ferndale is his splendid ability to diagnose a case correctly, almost from the beginning. This seems to be a natural talent, and realizing its wonderful value, Dr. Hoskins has cultivated and developed it for the good of suffering humanity.

JORGEN C. CHRISTIANSEN .- The dairy interests of the celebrated Ferndale district in Humboldt county have always received a splendid impetus and support from Jorgen C. Christiansen, who since 1882 has been a resident of this county, having come here directly from his home in Schleswig, Ger- many. He is a pioneer in the creamery business in Ferndale, and is also the father of A. H. Christiansen, the farm adviser of the county, Humboldt being the first county in the state to take advantage of this provision of the state law. The sketch of the younger Mr. Christiansen appears elsewhere in this volume, but it is worthy of note that he received his first impulse toward a scientific study of farm and dairy conditions from his splendid, capable father,

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and the admirable record that he has made throughout the county in his official capacity is a living tribute to the faith of the older man.

Mr. Christiansen is a native of Tonder, Schleswig, Germany, and was born January 16, 1852, when that part of the present empire was a part of Denmark, the transfer not taking place until 1864. Ilis father, Andreas Christiansen, was a small farmer, and owned his own little home and plat of ground. He died in Schleswig at the age of sixty-nine years. The mother, Annie Marie Christiansen, lived to be ninety-five years of age, also passing away in Schleswig. There were four children in the family, Jorgen C. being the only son. Of the three daughters, Anna Christine is now the wife of Jacob Trulsen, a farmer and dairyman in Schleswig ; Annie Marie died in the old country, unmarried ; and Katrine D. is now the wife of Jens Jensen, a dairyman, of Grizzly Bluff. The son of this family was brought up to work. and at an early age he learned the practical lesson of industry and application. He attended the public schools of his native village and was reared and con- firmed in the Lutheran church. When he was still a lad he was apprenticed to a shoemaker and mastered that trade, serving in all three years. Following this he opened a shoemaker's shop of his own, where he continued in business for many years. When he was twenty-six years of age (1878) he was married to Miss Marie Christine Nissen, the daughter of Hans M. Nissen, who lives in Ferndale and is now past the age of eighty-seven. His wife, whose maiden name was Annie Schmidt, is also living, and, like her husband, is almost ninety years of age. They were both born in Schleswig, as was their daughter, her marriage to Mr. Christiansen being solemnized at the Nissen home place, June 29, 1878.

It was not until 1882 that Mr. Christiansen was seized with the American fever and determined to come to California. Up to that time he had continued to conduct his modest shoe shop. He disposed of his interests and, leaving his wife and son in Schleswig, sailed from Hamburg for New York, crossed the continent by rail to San Francisco, and from there went by the steamship Humboldt to Eureka, arriving June 16, 1882. The following day he went to Ferndale, to work on a dairy farm, where a position was awaiting him. He soon sent for his wife and child. Mrs. Christiansen, with her small son, then only eighteen months old, made the long journey alone, joining her husband October 21, 1882. For some time Mr. Christiansen continued to work as a farm hand, but the fourth year of his residence in Humboldt county he rented land and commenced farming and dairying for himself. For many years he continued to rent, but fourteen years ago, in 1900, he purchased his present home place of twenty-five acres, where he has since resided. He has been a prime factor in the organization of several creamery companies and in the general development of this great industry. He helped to organize the Ex- celsior Creamery Company, which was one of the first in the Eel River valley, being a prime mover in this enterprise, and also later on in the organization of the Capital Creamery Company, the Excelsior having been sold to the Central Creameries Company. He is now president of the Capital Creamery Company, which is located on the Grizzly Bluff road, about a mile and a half east of Ferndale and which uses the milk from about one thousand cows daily. They manufacture extra fine creamery butter, which is mostly sold in the San Francisco markets, their selling agents being Witzel & Baker, com- mission merchants, of that city. They also manufacture a high grade of

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casein. The Capital Creamery Company was organized February 26, 1902, the officers at the present time being: Jorgen C. Christiansen, president, having served since the organization of the company; Christian Terkelsen, vice-president ; F. A. Nasher, secretary ; H. G. Sweet, treasurer, and Bernard Crowley, manager.

In addition to his prominence in the commercial world, Mr. Christiansen has also acquired a place of power and influence in social, fraternal and edu- cational circles. He was active in the organization of the Danish Brother- hood in Ferndale, and was the first president of that order here, and is now trustee and librarian of the Gimle Lodge No. 95 in Ferndale. He is also a member of the Dania Society, and of the Danish Sisterhood, Mrs. Christian- sen also being a member of this latter organization. Both Mr. and Mrs. Christiansen still adhere to the Lutheran faith in which they were reared and take an active part in the affairs of the church in Ferndale. Besides their eldest son, who was born in Schleswig, and who takes such a prominent part at this time in the affairs of Humboldt county, there are two other children, both born in Humboldt county. Of these Annie is now the wife of John Rossen, a dairyman of Point Kenyon, and Jorgen M., who makes his home with his parents, is associated with his father in the management of the farm.

FRANK B. JACOBS .- Another of the early pioneers of Humboldt county, and a man who has been a vital factor in the development of the county, is Frank B. Jacobs, manager of the Arcata lumber yards of the North- ern Redwood Lumber Company. He has been with this company for a period of years and has been steadily advanced in positions of responsibility and trust. For some time he has been talking of resigning his position here and retiring from active business pursuits. Whenever he does resign there is no question but that his loss will be keenly felt by the company.

Mr. Jacobs is a native of Maine, having been born in Kennebec county, May 19, 1847. He is the son of Bailey and Lucy (Chandler) Jacobs. His father was a native of Winthrop, Kennebec county, Me., and for the greater part of his life followed the trade of a shoemaker. For a short time he was engaged in farming, but soon returned to his shoe shop as the more profit- able occupation. He died in Maine in July, 1877. The boyhood days of the son, Frank B., were spent in close association with his father and much of his time was passed in the shop, where he learned at an early age the shoe- maker's trade. He attended the public schools in his district, graduating from the grammar school. When fifteen years of age he went to Massachu- setts and for a few months was employed in a factory making shoes for the army. The conditions in his native New England did not suit him, however, and he determined to seek his fortune in the larger field of opportunity offered by the west. Accordingly he left Maine in 1868, coming directly to California and locating at first in San Mateo county. Later he removed to Santa Cruz where he found employment with the Chandler & Harrington Lumber Com- pany, working in the woods.

It was in 1881 that Mr. Jacobs first came to Humboldt county, where he has since made his home. He secured employment with Chandler & Jackson (a logging firm), and for some time worked in the woods at Jolly Giants. The following season he was transferred to the mills of Falk, Chand-

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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 45

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