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 59

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 59

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).

Jacob Rasmussen

525

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Bear river ridge, and here he formed a partnership with his brothers-in-law, N. C. and E. P. Nissen, for the purpose of renting the Mountain Glenn ranch of six hundred acres of improved land. Here they engaged in dairying with one hundred fifty cows, making their own butter, which they shipped direct to the San Francisco markets, hauling it about sixteen miles to Hookton on South bay and shipping by water from there. The lease of the ranch expiring in two years, Mr. Rasmussen purchased what is now his home place of one hundred thirty-seven acres three miles west of Ferndale, later purchasing eighty acres additional adjoining the original property. At the time of purchase only fifteen acres of the ranch were improved, the rest being cov- ered with a thick growth of brush and timber. At first he engaged in dairying on a small scale, but as he cleared and improved the land, he enlarged his business. He was the first man to engage in dairying in the Eel river valley, successfully following the business for a number of years, but during the last few years he has lived retired from all active affairs to enjoy the rest he has so justly carned. He was interested for a time in the Chapin, Peterson & Rasmussen Company, engaged in general merchandising in the Odd Fel- lows building in Ferndale, but because of carrying too many accounts which proved to be worthless it was not a success and he sold out and dissolved partnership. He was also a stockholder in the Ferndale electric light plant, but he later sold his interest to Mr. Barnes. At the present time he is a stockholder in the Bank of Ferndale and has been a director in the bank since its organization. His son, Frank N., is cashier of this bank. Mr. Rasmussen was one of the organizers of the Humboldt County Fire Insurance Association, of which he has been treasurer from its inception. The company was started about twenty years ago and has grown steadily, and now has over one million dollars of insured buildings among the farmers of Hum- boldt county at a very nominal rate of insurance, thus creating a great saving for the people of the county. Mr. Rasmussen was made a Mason in Fern- dale Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., in 1875, is a member of Ferndale Chapter No. 78, R. A. M., of Ferndale Lodge No. 220, I. O. O. F., and with his wife is a member of the Eastern Star and the Rebekahs. Mr. and Mrs. Rasmussen have four children : Frank M .; Jennie, Mrs. L. C. Erickson, of Centerville ; Roland T., a draughtsman in Oakland; and Dora J., who resides at home. Mr. Rasmussen is one of the most prominent men in the section and is a thrifty, industrious farmer, one who is surrounded by a large circle of admir- ing friends. He has always taken an active part in all matters pertaining to the upbuilding and uplifting of the community.

JOSEPH J. WEISS .- The Hurlbutt Market, on Fifth street, Eureka, conducted by the firm of Weiss & Baumgartner, is one of the most up-to-date provision houses in the city, and the sanitary, neatly kept establishment has set a high standard for merchants to follow in its modern equipment, con- venience of arrangement and facilities for prompt service. Mr. Weiss has been a resident of Eureka for more than a quarter of a century, and from the time of his arrival here until he bought out the business was in the employ of L. S. Hurlbutt, the former proprietor. He is a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, and of German extraction, his father, Joseph Weiss, having been born in Germany, whence he came to this country when twelve years old, living in Ohio from that time until he came to California. IFe learned the butcher's trade in Cincinnati and afterward conducted a meat market there for a

526

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

number of years. Now he is a resident of Eureka, and, though seventy-five years of age, is actively assisting his son at the Hurlbutt Market.

Joseph J. Weiss was born September 18, 1864, and was reared and educated at Cincinnati, living there until he attained his majority. Then he came to California, in the year 1885, first locating at San Diego, where he found employment in a butchering establishment. After a year in that city he came to San Francisco, where he worked in a meat market for about two years, in 1888 arriving at Eureka, which has since been his home. Entering the employ of L. S. Hurlbutt, he remained with him until he took over the business on his own account in 1900, buying out the Hurlbutt Market, which name he has since retained. He has a partner in the ownership and conduct of the establishment, Fred Baumgartner; they do business under the firm name of Weiss & Baumgartner, and their enterprise has attracted a large trade, which systematic methods and accommodating service have not failed to hold. They have a large trade in fresh and pickled meats, sausages, butter and eggs, and put up large quantities of bacon and lard, doing their own slaughtering: the slaughter house is located on Elk river, about five miles south of the city. In 1914 they erected, at Nos. 312 and 314 Fifth street, the substantial and finely appointed business building which they now occupy, commodious and specially arranged for the needs of the business. It is a one-story structure, 30x70 feet in dimensions, of concrete, and strictly sanitary in every respect, easily kept clean and carefully looked after. A large share of the success which the firm has enjoyed may justly be attributed to Mr. Weiss, whose long experience and thorough familiarity with the ins and outs of the local trade have been most valuable. Progressive and energetic, he has not only demonstrated the proper spirit in the conduct of his business, but has proved himself equally wide-awake in matters affecting the welfare of his adopted city, where he is held in high esteem by a wide acquaintance.

Mr. Weiss was married at San Francisco, in 1890, to Miss Laura Brandt, of that city, and they are the parents of two children: Joseph C., who is employed at the Hurlbutt Market ; and Olive, who is now engaged in teaching in the Eureka Business College. With his family Mr. Weiss resides at his well-kept home, No. 918 J street, where he and his wife entertain their many friends, and their hospitality and good will are appreciated by all. Mr. Weiss was made a Mason in Humboldt Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M., of which he is past master. He is a member of Humboldt Chapter No. 52, R. A. M .; is past eminent commander of Eureka Commandery No. 35, K. T., and also a member of Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., San Francisco, and a charter member of Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. He is progressive and enter- prising and very optimistic for Eureka's greatness and is ever ready to give of his influence, time and means toward its upbuilding commercially, socially and morally.

CHARLES CLIFFORD FALK, M. D., F. A. C. S .- Born in Hancock county, Ohio, November 17, 1872, Dr. Falk was brought to Humboldt county, Cal., by his parents at six years of age. He inherited his mechanical ability from his people, who were skilled machinists, blacksmiths, millwrights and carpenters ; and during vacations he worked at these various trades, in which he was proficient at an early age. Completing his education in the public schools of Eureka, the higher branches were taken up at Phelps Academy, and at the age of twenty-one he entered the Cooper Medical College in San

527

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Francisco, receiving the degree of M. D. in 1897. For four years he served as county physician ; one year as county health officer, and two years as a member of the city board of health. In this capacity he was instrumental in securing the passage of ordinances requiring inspection of meats, slaughter houses, meat and fruit markets, restaurants, hotels, etc.

Recognizing the advantage of air, light, heat and sanitation as important aids to nature in the cure of disease and injury, Dr. Falk spent several months in careful study of the construction of various institutions in the larger Eastern cities, and in 1910 he perfected plans for one of the most modern hospitals in the West. In the Northern California Hospital means for ventilation, sanitation, light and heat are incorporated to the highest degree known. By the natural ventilating system the required three thousand cubic feet of fresh air are changed three times in one hour; this being accomplished with an air current of less than three linear feet per second, without what is known and recognized as a draught. In addition, the lower strata of air containing the contaminating organisms are removed by means of an outlet in the form of a steel flue located near the floor. This method of ventilation originated, so far as is known, with Dr. Falk and his father, E. H. Falk. The result is so perfect that it has attracted wide attention, and is believed will play an important part in improved systems of ventilation in future.

Along the line of his profession Dr. Falk is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons ; is associated with the Humboldt County, California State and American Medical Associations, while fraternally he is a charter member of the Eureka Lodge, B. P. O. E.

THOMAS W. SWEASEY .- One of the oldest, if not the oldest living pioneer in Humboldt county, is Thomas W. Sweasey, prominent business man of Eureka, where he has made his home for many years. Although now well past eighty-two years of age he is hearty and robust of health, and his intellect is as bright as in the days of his prime, when he was proving such a factor in the development of his county and state. He is a man of great force of character and has accomplished many things of importance and has accumulated a large fortune by his endeavors. He has suffered severe re- verses at times, through the loss of valuable timber lands and also in mining ventures in Alaska, but has always recouped himself and continued, with splendid success in the end. He has had many exceptional pioneer ex- periences and his tales of the early days read like a romance. He and his father and family blazed the trail, cut the brush and trees, and brought the first wagon to Eureka that ever came overland, all those before having been shipped in by steamships. He also established and ran the celebrated over- land stage from Eureka to Ukiah, carrying the mail for more than twenty years, and was also one of the pioneer hotel keepers of Hydesville. He is noted throughout the county for his integrity of character, as well as for the active part that he has taken in all the affairs of the city and county for so many years. He is now the manager of the Fashion livery barn, owned by Richard Sweasey & Co. (Richard Sweasey being his brother), and is part owner of the Fashion stable, corner of Fourth and G streets, besides owning other valuable property in and near Eureka.

Mr. Sweasey was born in London, England, July 6, 1832, the son of William J. and Anna (Crouchey) Swcasey, both natives of England. When he was but four years of age his parents came to America, settling at Har-

528

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

mony, Posey county, Ind., where the father engaged in farming. The family at this time consisted of three children, three others having been born in America. They were: Margaret, later Mrs. James Henderson, of Sacra- mento, who died about a year ago; Esther, now the widow of Henry Axton, residing in Eureka: Thomas W., the subject of this sketch; Louisa, Mrs. Powers, of Fresno, now deceased; Anna, Mrs. Gillette, of Stockton, now deceased ; and Richard, one of the most prominent men of the county and also one of the wealthiest, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this edition.

It was in the fall of 1849 that the family left their home in Indiana for the long journey across the plains to California. They came as far as the Missouri river, wintering near St. Joe, Mo., and early the next spring con- tinued on their way. There was a train of ten wagons, with three yokes of oxen to each, and much loose stock, including cows and horses. The father was the captain of the train, and practically its owner. They wintered that year on the Calaveras river, and the following spring moved near San Fran- cisco, where the father took up government land and engaged in farming. In 1854 he came to Eureka and engaged in the general merchandise business, and also for a time farmed on the O'Neil river. He built the steamboat Hum- boldt in partnership with his son Richard, who still owns the vessel, which is running from Seattle to Skaguay. The opening of an overland trail for wagons from the "outside" into Eureka marked an important step in the history of the county, giving a new means of travel. Over this trail the Sweaseys, father and sons, brought six of the wagons that they had brought from Indiana, about three hundred head of cattle and fifty horses. They crossed the Sacramento river at Benicia, where were then the only white settlers on the trail into the Eel river valley. This road is still traveled.

The farm on which the elder Sweasey located his family was on the Eel river, near the present site of Hydesville, and here they resided for a number of years. When the father and the son Richard went to Eureka and engaged in the merchandising business, Thomas W. remained in charge of the ranch, conducting it with much success for a long time. He established, in addition, a stage line from Eureka to Hydesville, later extended it to Blocksburg, and at a yet later date extended it through to Ukiah, this being the famous over- land stage, which for twenty years carried the mail between Eureka and Ukiah under his management.

The marriage of Thomas W. took place in 1853, uniting him to Miss Sarah Davis, of Redwood City, San Mateo county, Cal., the daughter of a well-known pioneer family of the state. Mrs. Sweasey bore her husband four children, all natives of Eureka, and well and favorably known throughout the county. They are : Elizabeth, now Mrs. S. F. Bullard, of San Jose ; William, married to Catherine Forse, and living at Rohnerville ; Ellen, now Mrs. Foss, residing at Samoa ; and Daisy, now Mrs. Nelson, residing at Hydesville.

From 1897 to 1900 Mr. Swcasey was engaged in gold mining in Alaska, being located at Dawson. He made his way over the Chilcoot Pass, packing his grub over the mountains ; he built a scow from lumber he had whipsawed and went down the Yukon to Dawson. He was fairly successful in his ven- tures, but failed to find the wealth that he had so ardently hoped to locate there. For the past eleven years he has been in the livery business in Eureka, and in this line has been especially successful. In addition to his business ability Mr. Sweasey is popular with many friends throughout the county.

529

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

He is a stanch Democrat, and although he has never been actively engaged in the politics of his party he is well informed and takes an influential part in all questions of public interest, especially when they are local issues that affect the welfare of the community. He is also well known in fraternal circles, and is a prominent member of the Masons, having united with that order when he was a young man.

The boyhood days of Mr. Sweasey did not afford him much in the way of educational advantages. He was nineteen when the family came to Cali- fornia, but Indiana was also a frontier country at that time, and the schools were few and inferior. He received most of his training from his mother, and attended school but four months in his entire lifetime. The mother died in Indiana, and after coming to California there was no further opportunity for educational pursuits. In spite of this handicap, however, Mr. Sweasey has done his full share in the development of his section of the state, and is well informed on all questions of the day. The standing of the family has always been high, and he has done much to keep it so. The county bears many marks of his industry and application, and he is esteemed as one of the leading citizens of Eureka and Humboldt county.

GEORGE W. WATSON .- It would be difficult to mention any im- portant progressive movement of permanent value to the industrial, com- mercial or educational advancement of Eureka that has not received, at some period in its development, the practical co-operation of George W. Watson, who as president of the Eureka Foundry Company, part owner of the Ameri- can Shoe Company and a leading member of the local group of realty men, has contributed variously but effectively and efficiently to civic growth. Nature adapted him for commercial pursuits, thorough apprenticeship pre- pared him for industrialism, habits of close observation fitted him for skilled work, while the possession of keen mental faculties enabled him to develop his varied talents not only to his personal advantage, but also in the interests of the community. Through long residence in Eureka and close, continuous study of property conditions, he is an expert judge of values and exception- ally well qualified to handle real estate deals with intelligence and discretion.

Although a native of Scranton, Pa., Mr. Watson passed his early life mostly on a farm near Flemington, N. J. At the age of eighteen he went to Boone, Iowa, where he became an apprentice as a machinist and remained until he had mastered the trade. Upon returning east he secured employ- ment in his native city of Scranton, where he worked as a machinist in the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western and Lehigh Valley Railroad shops, also in the shops of the Dixon Manufacturing Company, large locomotive works. The year 1889 found him in California, where he settled at once in Eureka. Working as a machinist successively for the Humboldt Iron Works, the Vance mill and the old Excelsior mill, he finally bought the Humboldt Iron Works, which he operated for ten years and then sold it to the Eureka Foundry Company. After a service of four years as chief engineer for the Eureka Lighting Company he bought an interest in the California Iron Works of Eureka and served as president of the company operating the plant. Upon the consolidation of the concern with the Eureka Foundry Company he be- came president, which position he still holds. Under his oversight a large business has been developed that gives steady employment to a number of skilled men. In addition to the presidency of the foundry company, he with

530

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

a brother, John G. Watson, conducts the American shoe store at No. 313 F street, Eureka, and he also maintains a real estate and insurance office in the store.

The marriage of Mr. Watson in Eureka in 1890 united him with Miss Millie Langford, a native of Scranton, Pa. They are the parents of three children, all born in Humboldt county, namely: Eunice J., who has received an excellent education and at present is engaged in teaching school ; Charles, a graduate of the California State Agricultural College at Davis; and Allan, attending the University of California. The family hold membership with the Methodist Episcopal Church of Eureka, in the maintenance and support of which Mr. Watson is a leader, as he is also in the local temperance move- ment and other measures that he believes to be for the permanent religious, moral or general welfare of city and county. The Independent Order of Odd Fellows is the only fraternal organization with which he holds membership, being a member of Humboldt Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F. Active in the associations for exploiting the natural advantages of Humboldt county, he is a member of the Eureka Development Association and the Eureka Cham- ber of Commerce. Direct in his dealings with his fellowmen, optimistic concerning the future of this section of the state and glad to be a part of the forward work of development, his long life in Humboldt county furnishes an example of stanch fidelity to the duties of citizenship and a growing com- munity spirit of mutual helpfulness.

GEORGE WILLIAM SWEET .- Among the prosperous men in the Eel river section of Humboldt county is G. W. Sweet, who was born in Hants county, Nova Scotia, November 8, 1840, the son of John Sweet, also a native of Nova Scotia and a very successful farmer all his life. Mr. Sweet received his education in the public schools of his native county until thirteen years of age, when he left school to enter the ship yards of the vicinity, taking up the trade of ship carpenter. He did not serve an apprenticeship, but entered at once into the activity of carpenter and at this trade he worked for eleven years. He was steadily employed by one company for seven years, by the Church-Ilill Company for two years and the remaining two years for other companies in the district. At one time he was carpenter on the barque Gazelle, but gave this position up to come to California.

In 1869 Mr. Sweet came to Humboldt county and followed his profession in the ship yards, but in a few years he went to Bunker Hill, where for a time he engaged in building. While there he became desirous of engaging in farming and dairying for himself, and accordingly he rented the Lone Star ranch on Bear river from Joseph Russ. In the fall of 1869 he leased a ranch of one thousand acres, and entered actively into farming and dairying. All of the cattle on the ranch were unbroken to domesticity and had to be broken to milk, an undertaking that took considerable time, but he persevered and succeeded in breaking them all, from which he selected a good herd of one hundred cows. After running the place for eleven years he gave it up, having purchased a ranch in 1882 of one hundred thirty acres of land on Pleasant Point. Of this only a few acres were improved, the remainder being covered with a dense growth of brush and timber, but this tract he ultimately cleared and improved. He was one of the first men in the vicinity of Grizzly Bluff to engage in dairying, and today his dairy is the model for all the valley to copy. In 1900 he purchased ten acres of land on the main road to Grizzly

&. TV. Sweet

533

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Bluff, upon which he built a fine home, which today is one of the best in the county. Later he purchased fifty acres adjoining the original purchase and to this small ranch he has retired from all active labors, having rented the old home place, for he prefers to live on the smaller ranch in the neighbor- hood of Grizzly Bluff. He is one of the founders of the Grizzly Bluff creamery, and has been one of the directors ever since its organization. When they first operated the creamery they made their own butter and during this time Mr. Sweet was manager of all the affairs pertaining to the creamery. He was made a Mason in Ferndale Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., in 1875, and was exalted in Ferndale Chapter No. 78, R. A. M., in 1897. He has always been interested in Republican politics and takes an active part in all matters for the good of the community. In Nova Scotia, November 28, 1867, he married Mary Jane Fox, also a native of Nova Scotia and the daughter of Oliver Fox, a successful wheelwright of the province. They were blessed with seven children, namely : Harry G., a rancher near Ferndale; Maggie May, deceased ; Sarah Inez, Mrs. Edeline, of Grizzly Bluff; Irene Amelia, at home; George A., deceased ; Ralph Elmer, on the home place; and Mary Blanche, Mrs. Anderson. Mr. Sweet has been very successful since coming to Humboldt county and is one of the leading men of his community.

GEORGE MANSON MOORE .- The representative of the fifth ward of Eureka in the city council is a native of Oak Bay, Charlotte county, New Brunswick (born September 16, 1863), but has lived in Humboldt county from the age of fourteen years and is thoroughly familiar with the resources of this section of the state. During the year 1874 his father, Benjamin Moore, a ship-carpenter by trade, came to the Pacific coast and found employment at Eureka, from which point he sent back such favorable reports to his family in the Canadian province that in 1877 they joined him here. To the lad of fourteen years the journey from the shores of the Atlantic to the land beside the sunset sea was filled with unending interest, and even now his mind often recurs with enthusiasm to the events of that long trip westward. Later years gave him further experience in travel and enabled him to see much of the vast region embraced by British Columbia, as well as the mining country of California and Alaska. In 1897 he made his way to Dawson over the Chil- coot Pass, and returned by way of St. Michaels. However, he has seen no place which has appealed to him with sufficient force to cause him to leave Humboldt county. The home of his boyhood is his preferred home in mature years.

Many varying occupative activities have engrossed the attention of Mr. Moore, who gained some experience in farming in Humboldt county, for six years engaged in buying and selling cattle, and for two years carried on farming and dairying with fair results. For nine years he worked in the lumber woods and is himself the owner of timber lands in this county. For a considerable period his chief work has been that of contractor. With his father he was engaged in taking contracts for bridge building and since his father's death has continued the business, enlarging it and also adding con- tracting for street grading and sewer work, as well as private residences and store buildings. In this he is assisted by his son. The Alderpoint bridge, the largest single span bridge in the United States, forms a permanent memorial to the efficiency of George M. Moore, who also built bridges over tributaries to Eel river, Mad river and the Van Dusen. Mrs. Moore was in

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 59

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