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 57
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).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119 | Part 120 | Part 121 | Part 122 | Part 123 | Part 124 | Part 125 | Part 126 | Part 127 | Part 128 | Part 129 | Part 130 | Part 131 | Part 132 | Part 133 | Part 134 | Part 135 | Part 136 | Part 137 | Part 138 | Part 139 | Part 140 | Part 141 | Part 142 | Part 143 | Part 144 | Part 145 | Part 146 | Part 147 | Part 148
The marriage of Mr. Goff and Miss Beatrice Stone, of Ferndale, was celebrated March 4, 1913. Mrs. Goff is, like her husband, very popular with a wide circle of friends, and is well known in social circles.
JOHN N. CHAIN, M. D .- The somewhat accidental circumstance of association with a gentleman skilled in the science of materia medica turned the thoughts of Dr. Chain to that profession in the formative period of youth and led to a course of classical and professional preparation that now places him in the list of brilliant practitioners in Humboldt county, where he is associated with the Northern California Hospital at Eureka and maintains a general practice in that city that brings him into friendly touch with all classes of people. Much of his early life was passed on the frontier and in the saddle, for although a native of Illinois he was scarcely a year old when the family removed to Nebraska, then almost beyond the boundaries of civilization. The privations of the isolated country home, the poverty of the environment, the long day's toil for the necessities of existence and the struggle to secure a common school education in a region none too blessed with schools, all this lingers in his memory of youth, but against it he places his love of animals, his delight in horseback riding and the rugged health that came from the outdoor life of the prairies. His father, Jacob M. Chain, was a native of Ohio and his mother, Amelia (Simms) Chain, of Illinois, while his birth occurred at Lewistown, Fulton county, in the latter state, August 14, 1876. After having lived on the homestead near Lincoln, Neb., from 1877 to 1895 (in the meantime, from 1893 to 1895, having studied medicine in that state), in the year last mentioned he came to California with his preceptor, Dr. Fred R. Breed, and studied under him in San Diego, where he laid the foundation of his broad professional knowledge.
Through his own efforts John N. Chain acquired the highest educational advantages. After he was graduated from the high school he matriculated in the University of California, from which, after seven years' study, he re- ceived the degrees of B. S. and M. D. in 1904. A period of practical experience
-
the W. Chain M.S.
505
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
in hospitals of Sacramento and San Francisco was followed by his location in Eureka in 1905 and after three years in the office of Dr. Rea Felt in February, 1908, he opened an office of his own in the Ellery building, where he has been located ever since. While skilled in every department of the science, perhaps his greatest reputation has been obtained in obstetrics and gynecology, but he makes somewhat of a hobby of healthful and sanitary conditions. As a physician he advocates prevention of disease. He thoroughly believes in the old adage that "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Fre- quently he has lectured on sanitation and health, the proper observance of the laws of which he believes would greatly lessen community illness or con- tagious diseases. A service on the Eureka Board of Health covered four years and gave him an opportunity to publicly advocate the most stringent municipal rules in regard to sanitation. Professional societies of which he is a member are the Humboldt County, California State and American Medical Associations, while his fraternal affiliations are with Humboldt Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M., and Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. In 1902 he was united in marriage with Miss Fannie M. Squires, a native of Seward, Neb., and they have two sons, John and Jere.
FRANK J. BERNARDI .- One of the leading men of Eureka, and sole proprietor of the leading blacksmith shop in the city, is Frank J. Bernardi, a native of Switzerland, but for many years a loyal citizen of the United States. In 1884, when he was a lad of sixteen years, he came to Eureka, and ever since has made his home in Humboldt county, being well known in Eureka and also in Alliance, where he made his home for two years.
Mr. Bernardi was born in the Canton of Ticino, Switzerland, March 19, 1868, the son of John and Mary Bernardi, both natives of that country, the former a cabinet-maker by trade. Of his mother Mr. Bernardi remembers nothing, as she died when he was a child of but five years. He was given such advantages as the local schools afforded and when he was a lad of fourteen years came to the United States in company with a younger brother, Titus. They left Switzerland in September, 1882, and in December of that year Frank J. came to Humboldt county. During his youth he learned the cabinet-maker's trade in his father's shop, but on arriving in California he went to work on a dairy farm near Mattole, this county, where he remained for two years, in the meantime learning the language and manners and cus- toms of the country. After returning to Eureka in 1884 he worked in saw- inills in and near that city for a time. For several years it had been his desire to learn the blacksmith's trade, and the opportunity offering, he began an apprenticeship under J. P. Holt, under whom for one year he acquired the rudiments of the trade. Going to Marshall, Marin county, he worked at the trade for a year, then returned to Humboldt county and worked in the mills in Eureka for a time. Subsequently he was engaged in the blacksmith- ing business in Alliance for two years, at the end of that time returning to Eureka, where he has since made his home. May 1, 1896, he opened a black- smith shop in Eureka and in July of the same year entered into partnership with A. S. Kerr under the firm name of Kerr & Bernardi. Under this name business was conducted for seventeen years, their establishment in the mean- time becoming Eureka's leading blacksmith and wagon shop.
On January 1, 1913, Mr. Bernardi purchased the interest of his partner and has since that time been sole owner of this flourishing establishment.
506
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
The shop is located at No. 217 Third street, and occupies a two-story build- ing, 30x110 feet, and all the latest machinery required in such an establish- ment has been installed. This includes a power drill for iron and steel, emery wheels, electrical portable drills for wood, iron and steel, trip hammer, tire crimping machine or setter, two forges, clipping machine, rimmers, band saws, wood boring machine, planing machine, as well as other machinery necessary for their wagon-making shop and for their automobile repair work, with electricity for the motive power. In connection there is a fully equipped and first-class paint shop. Mr. Bernardi makes a specialty of the manufac- ture of three types of wagons-delivery wagons, logging wagons and heavy trucks-the kinds turned out by his shop being well known and of acknowl- edged value in the locality. He also employs an expert horse-shoer and his work in this line is also of superior grade. He is himself in constant charge of the work, whether it be the repairing of a wrecked automobile, a broken wagon, or the manufacture of a new one, and nothing leaves the shop that is not up to standard.
The marriage of Mr. Bernardi took place in Eureka in 1896, uniting him with Miss Delma Ada Thomas, the daughter of William and Mary Thomas, pioneers of Humboldt county, where Mr. Thomas has been engaged in logging for many years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bernardi have many friends in their home city. Mrs. Bernardi is a member of the Christian church, and a regular attendant at its services. In fraternal circles Mr. Bernardi is especially popular. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias and past chancellor of the local lodge. In politics he is a Republican, and is keenly alive to all that is for the best interests of the community, although he has never been actively interested in party affairs. He is one of the best boosters that Eureka has, and as is befitting with one who believes fully in the splendid future of the city and county, he has invested in real estate and now owns valuable prop- erty in and near Eureka.
JOSEPH MORANDA .- The population of California is indeed very cosmopolitan in its nature, many nations being represented by its citizens and among them is Mr. Moranda, a native of Switzerland, having been born near Locarno, Canton Ticino, March 19, 1864, where he received his educa- tion in the public schools of the vicinity and where he spent the earlier part of his life engaged in farming on the home place. At the age of nineteen he decided to come to America to try to better his condition, having heard good reports from his father and other returning countrymen. His father, Bartolo- meo Moranda, had come to California about 1869 and was engaged in gar- dening near Stockton for fourteen years when he returned and resumed farming in Ticino. Hence, Joseph naturally early conceived a strong desire to see the land of gold and sunshine. On leaving Switzerland he came directly to Marin county, but he did not feel satisfied with conditions there. So in January, 1884, he moved to Humboldt county and began work on a dairy farm located on Bear river ridge and known as the Russ ranch. Remaining there only a short time, he was then employed by the Clark brothers on their dairy ranch at Grizzly Bluff. Later deciding to enter the business for himself, he leased a tract of land comprising one hundred and sixty acres on Eel river, known as the Dungan ranch. He purchased his stock and entered earnestly into the dairying business, which he followed for twenty years
507
· HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
on the one ranch. He milked as high as one hundred head of cows, and his land being in the extremely fertile section caused by the overflow of Eel river, it was unusually fine for farming. In 1906 he gave up his lease and purchased the ranch which is now the home place in Arcata. In this ranch there are one hundred and five acres, all highly improved and well adapted to farming and dairying. Here Mr. Moranda is at present engaged in gen- eral farming and dairying and owns a fine herd of forty cows. All the im- provements and equipment on the ranch are of the finest and most modern, and he has attempted to make his ranch the best in the district. He has built a large residence on this place. In all political matters he has entered with a will, always following the ideas of the Republican party, and is a member of the F. O. E. He was married in Eureka, October 6, 1892, to Henrietta Hammitt, a native daughter of Humboldt county, having been born at the foot of Table Bluff near what is now Loleta. Mr. and Mrs. Moranda have been blessed with three children, two of whom. are now living : Joseph Edward, who died October 5, 1910; Hazel Lucille, and Charles Walter.
Mrs. Moranda's father was Elwood Hammitt, born in Ohio, 1832, and one of California's pioneers, crossing the plains in 1851, in search of the new El Dorado, his method of transportation being the then favorite ox team. He did not succeed in finding the gold he hoped for and hearing of the fields of Alaska he started ont on another hunt for treasure, taking passage on a sailing vessel with seventy-five companions, for one of the small islands off the coast of Alaska. Returning to California he entered the mines of Yreka, but in 1854 he went to Oregon, remaining there for a few years. Next he heard of the opportunities of Humboldt county and in 1866 he came here, and engaged in farming until the time of his death, which occurred March 5, 1908. Her mother is Charlotte (Gordon) Hammitt, a native of Missouri, but crossed the plains when nine years of age, with her parents ; and is at present living in Loleta. Mr. Moranda is an industrious, progressive farmer and has been very successful. However, he attributes his success, in no small degree, to the assistance of his wife, who has stood nobly by him, encouraging and aiding him in every way by her help and counsel. When he first came to the county he did not have money enough to start in business, so was employed for a few years by others, thus saving enough of his earnings to start for himself. His present financial standing is a silent tribute to his ability both as a business man and successful farmer.
CHARLES I. HARPST .- One of the well known lumbermen of Hum- . boldt county, and one who has been very actively associated with the devel- opment of the lumber industry in this section of the state, is Charles I. Harpst, who at present is engaged in farming, and owns a handsome place adjoining Arcata on the west, where he makes his home. He has been asso- ciated with the lumbering business since coming to California in 1882, until within the past few years, when he retired from active participation in com- mercial lines, and took up farming. He has been interested in various well known lumber companies in the county. In his business undertakings he has always been very successful, and throughout the county he is known as a man of reliability and integrity of character.
Mr. Harpst is a native of Ohio, having been born in Hancock county,
508
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
twelve miles from the town of Findlay, on his father's farm, May 29, 1861. His father was Edward Harpst, a native of Pennsylvania, born in York county, March 28, 1822, and died October 19, 1908. He lived with his parents in York county until he was eight years of age, when they removed to Franklin county, Ohio. Here he attended school for a short time, but spent the greater part of his time working on the farm. For a few years he followed the carpenter's trade, and later as a farmer he was very success- ful. In 1894 he made a trip to California to visit his son and other relatives here, remaining for a year. He returned to Ohio and resided there until the time of his death. The mother of the present worthy citizen of Arcata was Sarah N. (Brown) Harpst, a native of Pennsylvania, born April 5, 1822. She was the eldest child in the family, and was married in Franklin county, Ohio, early in 1850. She became the mother of six children, four of whom are liv- ing at the present time, two residing in California and two in Ohio. The mother is still living.
The early life of Charles I. Harpst was spent on his father's farm in Hancock county, Ohio. He attended school in his district until he was nine- teen, assisting in the meantime with the farm work, and remaining at home until he came to California in October, 1882. He came direct to Humboldt county, where he had relatives living, and soon after his arrival he went to work for a relative in the Harpst & Spring shingle mill. Within a short time he was advanced to the position of foreman of the mill, which position he held until 1886. At that time he took charge of a dairy ranch for this same company, occupying this position for some four years. In 1900 he gave up the care of the dairy farm to engage in business with the new company known as the Union Shingle Manufacturing Company. Mr. Harpst was manager of this company continuously until it closed down in 1911. having worked up all the available timber. During this time he was also interested in the Bayside Lumber Company, being one of the original board of direc- tors, and continuing in this capacity as long as he retained his interests in the company. He sold his interests in the Bayside Lumber Company four years ago. Another of the industries in which he has been interested and to which he has given material support is the Devlin Tannery Company of Arcata, of which he is a stockholder and a director.
In all his business undertakings Mr. Harpst has been unusually success- ful, and he has displayed quite marked ability as a business manager. Since he retired from active business pursuits, Mr. Harpst has taken up general farming. In November, 1909, he removed with his family to the home place of thirty-eight acres, all improved land, adjoining Arcata, and here he has resided since. He is especially well informed on all the details of farming, this having been the training of his boyhood, and his earliest busi- ness ventures having been in this field, so has met with his customary suc- cess in this last undertaking.
The marriage of Mr. Harpst took place in Arcata, July 16, 1895, uniting him with Miss Nora Seaver, a native of Shelter Cove, Humboldt county; Cal. She is the daughter of Daniel A. and Anna (Briggs) Seaver, pioneers of Cali- fornia. Her father came to the coast by way of the Isthmus of Panama in the early mining excitement, and located in Humboldt county, where he resided for many years. Mrs. Harpst is the mother of one child, a son, Charles W. Harpst.
Mrand Mrs James Mc Cready.
511
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Both Mr. and Mrs. Harpst are well known socially in Arcata, where they have a wide circle of friends. Mr. Harpst is prominent in fraternal cir- cles, having been made a Mason in Arcata Lodge No. 106, F. & A. M., of which he is a past master ; he is also a member of Humboldt Chapter No. 52, R. A. M., and of Eureka Commandery No. 35, K. T .; also of Oakland Con- sistory and Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S. He is also a member of Anni- versary Lodge No. 85, I. O. O. F., Arcata, of which he is past grand. Politically he is a Progressive Republican, but locally he is an independent voter, pre- ferring to support the men whom he deems best fitted for the various offices.
JAMES McCREADY .- Although a native of New Brunswick, James McCready has been for almost fifty years a resident of Humboldt county, and is one of the honored pioneers of the state and well known throughout his section thereof as a man of sterling worth and unwavering integrity. He has been engaged in various pursuits, but for the greater part has been engaged in farming or been connected with the lumbering industry. He is at present retired from active business life and lives quietly on his ranch near Blue Lake, where several of his children also reside, the ranch itself being run under the management of his sons.
Mr. McCready was born at Wawweig, St. Andrews Parish, Charlotte county, New Brunswick, February 26, 1843. Here he spent the early years of his life on the farm of his father, attending school in the winter and work- ing on the farm during the summer months. When he was fifteen he gave up his school attendance and went to work regularly. At first he worked in the woods driving logs and received for this $16 a month. Later this was increased to $1.25 a day, which to the lad seemed a very large sum. He made his home with his parents on the farm up to the time he came to California, · working with his father when the work in the woods was closed down. At the age of twenty-three, on March 27, 1866, he was married to Margaret Simpson, a native of New Brunswick, born January 3, 1849.
It was in 1868 that Mr. McCready determined to come to California. This determination was arrived at through the receipt of letters from a brother, John McCready, who was then living in Humboldt county, stating that the wages paid on the coast were much higher than received in New Brunswick, and the climatic conditions also far superior. Accordingly Mr. McCready made the long journey with his family via the Isthmus of Panama, landing from the old Aspinwall in San Francisco, and came on to Eureka on the Hesperian, arriving with only $16 in May, 1868, having been nine days en route from San Francisco. He immediately went to work at Freshwater for his brother, John McCready, who had come to California in 1859 and was well established and acquainted with conditions and people in Humboldt county. Through him James McCready later secured employment with John Connick and George Carson, remaining in their employ for several months, and though he had hired to them for $50 a month they were so pleased that they paid him $60. Later John McCready and Dan Morrison secured his services to work in their logging camps and for seven years he was thus employed. In 1876 he went to Salmon creek and found work with Dave Evans and Harvey Marks in the woods, remaining with that company until the firm dissolved in 1878. In 1871 he had homesteaded one hundred sixty acres of land where Wrangletown now stands, and had also purchased thirty- five acres of rich bottom land.
10
512
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
In 1872 trouble came upon Mr. McCready in the illness and death of his wife, who left two small children to be cared for. The expense of sickness and death had been very great and Mr. McCready was obliged to sell his property to clear off his debts ; then placing the children, William John and Margaret Ella (now Mrs. Montgomery), in the care of a family in town he continued in the employ of his brother. In 1876, as above stated, he worked on Salmon creek until the firm failed, then he went to Arcata and worked for James Gannon for four years, after which he purchased forty acres of land at West End, where he built his home, meantime being employed by Isaac Minor in the woods on Warren creek. He prospered in his undertakings, and soon was able to again purchase land, this time choosing a forty-acre tract along Mad river. The land was all unimproved and thiekly covered with a heavy undergrowth which made travel across it impossible save in the beaten trails. There was no road up that side of the river and the only way to reach the homes located there was by fording the river or by boat. Mr. McCready moved onto this place March 24, 1883, and that same night heavy rains fell, rendering the river impassable until the first of June. It was several years before there was any other way of reaching Arcata, and as the Mad river was apt to be impassable much of the time during the winter the settlers in that section were often cut off from supplies for many months at a time, and so were obliged to lay in their winter supplies early.
For a few years after taking up his residence on this place Mr. McCready worked for Isaac Minor in the woods during the winter, and in the summer months cleared his land and brought it under cultivation. He purchased additional land from time to time and now owns two hundred forty-four acres, eighty of which is bottom land. The first summer he bought a few eows and engaged in dairying on a small scale, farming what land was then cleared. In 1886 he made a handsome profit on the farm and in the fall of 1887 he gave up working in the woods and thereafter devoted himself to the care and development of his own property. At present he has a herd of forty milch cows and makes a specialty of the dairy business. A number of years ago he built a new home about a quarter of a mile from the old place, and located on a bluff overlooking the river. Of late years he has retired from active life, and his sons are operating the farm. He owns a residence in Arcata, but has never made it his home.
The second marriage of Mr. McCready took place in Humboldt county November 8, 1879, uniting him with Phinattie Eliza Connick, a native of New Brunswick, born in Bailey, Charlotte county, May 24, 1857. She came to California with her parents in April, 1876, and has since resided in Humboldt county. She has borne her husband nine children, three daughters and six sons. They are: James Melvin, David Clifton, Fred Herbert, Jennie May (Mrs. Baumgartner), George Connick, Ray Grant, Laura Gertrude, Leslie Paul and Lola Pauline, the last two being twins. All the children are living at this time and all are well and favorably known in Humboldt county, where they were born, and where they have received their education and grown to manhood and womanhood.
Mr. McCready is proud of the record that he has made in his many years of active service. He has never been discharged from any position, and could always return to a former employer and receive employment at any time. He is industrious and earnest in all matters that he undertakes and is a good
513
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
neighbor and a true friend. He has never been active in public matters, having always been exceedingly busy with his personal affairs, but he is well informed and progressive in his ideas, and wide awake to anything that tends for the betterment of local conditions. He is a member of Humboldt Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F., at Eureka, and has been a member of the order for more than forty years. He is also a Veteran Odd Fellow and a member of the Rebekahs. He declares that this is the only place in which he cares to live, and is certain there is no other place that can compare with it.
JAMES BAIRD HILL .- Among Humboldt county's native-born sons is James Baird Hill, who has been a successful dairyman and farmer most of his life. Born in Bald Hill, Humboldt county, March 8, 1862, he attended the public schools of the district until fifteen years of age, when he first engaged in farming with his father. Neal Hill was born in County Antrim, Ireland ; attended the schools of the county and then decided to come to America. After spending some time in New York City and Philadelphia he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama, about the year 1851, coming direct to Humboldt county and there he engaged in mining for a number of years on the Salmon river ; later he took up a range and engaged in stock-raising at Bald Hill, supplying the miners with beef. About this time the Indians became troublesome, so he took his family to Arcata, he going to Idaho to mine for himself and later to Montana. He returned to Humboldt county in 1865 and again went to the mines in Montana, remaining eight years ; on his return he purchased the home place where he engaged in farming, and serving as a supervisor of the county. He later engaged in the dairy business till he retired, living in Alliance until he died. His wife, Nancy Baird, was born in County Antrim, and now makes her home in Arcata. The son, James Baird, was raised in Arcata and educated in the public schools. When he was fif- teen they moved onto the farm, James working for his father, and later they farmed in partnership for about three years, after which he started for himself, renting the Nixon ranch and engaging in farming, which occupation he successfully followed for seven years. He then purchased forty acres of unimproved land and started to clear the land, this taking him four years, but notwithstanding the nature of the land he started dairying on a small scale, having only five cows at the time. It was not long before he had increased his herd to thirty head of finely graded stock. Then he entered into the creamery business and two years after he purchased the home place. Creamery No. 1, of the United Creameries Company, was built, and he was given the contract for hauling all the butter from this branch for six years. He is now engaged in the dairy business and farming, and has been very successful, sparing no expense in making his farm the finest in the vicinity. He also leases twenty-five to forty acres of land on which he raises grain, hay and feed. He is a stockholder in the United Creameries Company, and is also a stockholder in the Savings Bank of Arcata. He is a charter member of the Arcata Parlor No. 20, N. S. G. W., and a stanch Progressive politically, fostering all movements for the good of the community, but has never sought any office. He is a Presbyterian in religion. Mr. Hill is a man who has labored untiringly and unceasingly, and his ranch today is a monument to his industry and perseverance, his success only coming after years of hard work and diligence.
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.