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 77

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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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Olive, who married George W. Cox, a rancher of Blocksburg, and has one child, Laura May.

WILLIAM O. PERRY .- Descended from early pioneer families, and himself an early pioneer of California, William O. Perry is one of the best known of Humboldt county ranchers, and one of the most highly respected. He is a native of Sonora, Tuolumne county, Cal., born February 28, 1855. His father, Stephen B. Perry, was a native of St. Louis, Mo., and his mother was Margaretta L. Sutton, of Illinois. After his marriage the father started from Peoria, Ill., in 1852 and came across the plains to California with ox teams, locating in the mines of Tuolumne county. Later they removed to Sacramento county, where the father followed ranching for a number of years. After a time they again moved, this time going into Humboldt county, where they passed the remainder of their lives, the father passing away at the age of fifty-three years, and the mother living to be sixty-three. There were seven children in their family, of whom the subject of this sketch was the second born. They are all well known in California, and especially in Humboldt county, where they were reared and educated. They are: Viola, deceased, who was the wife of E. J. Robertson, of San Francisco; William O .; George O., attorney at law, in San Francisco; Ella, now the wife of L. H. Wheat, residing at McCanns mill, Humboldt county ; Alva, now the wife of D. F. Noonan, residing in Oakland ; Ethel, Mrs. Jensen, residing at Shively : Ida, the wife of George G. Curless, manager of the Z. Russ & Son Company's ranch at Blocksburg.

When William O. Perry was a boy of eighteen years he was engaged as mail carrier and delivered the mails across the mountain trails long before there were any wagon roads or regular traffic, the country through which he rode being wild and dangerous. He met and married Flora Curless, the daughter of Biar Curless, a California pioneer, who came to Blocksburg in 1869 and died there at the age of seventy-seven years, and whose sketch appears elsewhere in this edition. After his marriage Mr. Perry engaged in ranching, paying particular attention to the raising of sheep and cattle, having as many as fifteen hundred head of sheep and one hundred head of cattle at one time. Ile was exceptionally successful, but wishing a change of location he disposed of all his interests and removed to New Mexico, but he returned to Humboldt county at the end of eighteen months and has been more than content here since. He now owns a handsome property on the road between Alderpoint and Blocksburg, which he has improved and keeps in splendid condition. He homesteaded this property in 1890, and also bought land adjoining.

Mr. and Mrs. Perry have four children, all natives of Humboldt county, where they have been reared and educated. They are: William O., Jr., a stock-buyer, residing at Ferndale and married to Miss Ethel B. Mc Rae, and the father of two children : Glenn and Everett ; Clara, now Mrs. E. O. White, of Trinity county, and the mother of four children: Beulah, Lois, Wilbur and Helen ; Albert, a stockman of Humboldt county : and Flora L., residing at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Perry have many relatives in Humboldt county, Mrs. Perry being a member of the Curless family, which runs through four generations in this section, and is well known throughout the county. In his political affiliations Mr. Perry is a Democrat and takes an active interest in all that pertains to the welfare of the community, being well informed and

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a judicious and clear-headed thinker, giving his support to the men and meas- ures that in his opinion are best fitted for public service.

ROBERT O. DICKSON .- Mr. Dickson is prominently identified with the banking interests of Loleta, being president of the Bank of Loleta, also postmaster, which office he has held for twenty years, having served since 1894. He was born in Colchester county, Nova Scotia, August 15, 1867. When only thirteen years old his parents died, and having a brother in Hum- boldt county he was desirous of joining him and accordingly set out for the west, arriving in Humboldt county in 1882, where he attended the Phelps Academy. He then lived on the ranch belonging to C. C. Dickson, but when twenty years of age he started out for himself and his first employment was as clerk in the store of the Pacific Lumber Company, at Scotia, where he remained three years. He was then offered the position of manager of the store belonging to John Vance at Mad river, where he remained for two years, then going to Loleta. Here he purchased a half interest in the store owned by a relative, W. F. Dickson, who had operated the store since 1888, and the firm became known as Dickson & Dickson. This was the first mer- chandise store to be opened in Loleta, and at the time of purchase he assumed the active management of the business. In 1910 he was among the men who opened the Bank of Loleta, the first and only bank in the town, organized with a capital of $25,000. The present board of directors is as follows : R. O. Dickson, president ; W. F. Dickson, vice-president; E. E. Hill, cashier ; H. C. Hansen and John Holst. Mr. Dickson is still interested in the general mer- chandise business and also is postmaster. He owns ten acres of land in Porterville, Tulare county, planted to orange trees and is the owner of a dairy farm in Oregon, consisting of three hundred twenty acres of valuable land. He is a charter member of the Odd Fellows, is a member of the Wood- men of the World, in which lodge he has passed all the chairs. He favors the principles of the Republican party, and enters actively into all matters pertaining to the good of the community. He is a citizen of whom Loleta is proud and is one of her leading men.

Mr. Dickson was united in marriage with Margaret Gibson, a native of Hydesville, Humboldt county, Cal., their marriage taking place November 26, 1899. One child has blessed their union, Catherine.

BIAR CURLESS .- Prominent among the carly pioneers of Humboldt county, and a man who for more than forty years resided on his ranch near the present town of Blocksburg, and was especially well known and highly esteemed in that part of the county, was the late Biar Curless, whose death September 3, 1911, came as a great shock to his many friends. He came to Humboldt county in September, 1869, and homestcaded the place at Blocks- burg which was thereafter his home. He carned the unique distinction of having crossed the plains three times in as many years, but finding no place where he desired so much to reside as in California. During his entire life- time Mr. Curless took great pride in his farm and surroundings and also was equally interested in the affairs of the community, making the concerns of the public weal his personal interest.

Mr. Curless was a native of Indiana, born January 20, 1834. On reaching man's estate he removed to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where in 1855 he was mar- ried to Miss Lovina D. Shaw. Four years later, in 1859, he and his family started across the plains to California, driving cattle and other stock before

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them. The trip was made via the Salt Lake route, and after reaching the coast region the party turned down the valley to Los Angeles. So far they had not found what they felt they wanted, and so, in January, 1861, they again started across the plains, this time by way of the southern route, with Texas as their objective point. Hearing on their way of the fall of Fort Sumter and the breaking out of the Civil war, they abandoned their project, and turning northward, eventually reached Omaha, Neb. A week later they again turned westward, making their third trip across the great plains, and on their arrival in California they settled in Placerville, where they continued to reside for nine years. They then came into Humboldt county, taking up a homestead on September 26, 1869, near what is now Blocksburg, and on which Mr. Curless resided at the time of his death, forty-two years later.

Mr. and Mrs. Curless became the parents of seven children. They are : Mrs. Flora Perry and Talburt Curless, of Blocksburg: Albert Curless, of Fruitland ; Paul Curless, of Mendocino county ; George G. Curless, of Blocks- burg : Mrs. Rose Langlin, of Fortuna ; and Henry Curless, of San Bernardino county.

The widow, Mrs. Lovina Curless, made her home with her son, George Curless, who then resided in Eureka, after the death of her husband ; and it was there that she passed away, February 4, 1912. She was born in New York, October 10, 1836, and was past seventy-six years of age at the time of her death. She was married to Biar Curless, September 11, 1855, and from that time until the time of his death she shared the fortunes of her energetic husband, crossing the plains with him three times, in 1859, 1860 and 1861, and being in every sense a true helpmeet in the days of the pioncer life. She was a woman of ability and worth and is remembered by many warm friends.

CHARLES W. SEFFENS .- Prominently identified with the lumbering interests of Humboldt county will be found Mr. Seffens, vice-president of the Eel River Valley Lumber Company, of Fortuna. He is one of California's native sons, having been born in Dutch Flat, Placer county, October 3, 1867, and removed with his parents when a child to San Jose. He attended the public schools of San Jose and San Francisco, starting out in life for himself as a clerk in a grocery store in San Jose, where his parents had purchased a ranch. While attending school he found employment, during the summer months, on the neighboring ranches, and when eighteen years of age he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railway, remaining with the rail- road for seven years, working up from fireman to engineer. In 1892 he first came to Humboldt county and found employment as bookkeeper and cashier for the Eel River Valley Lumber Company, and in 1901 he was made manager of the company, which position he still holds. The Eel River Valley Lumber Company was established in 1884 by E. J. Dodge and has been in operation for over thirty years. Mr. Seffens has also been vice-president of the com- pany for a number of years. He has also been clerk of the school board of Fortuna for the last twelve years ; is financially interested in Porter & Hansen Company, undertakers, in Eureka, and is a member of the Fortuna Lodge, N. S. G. W .; also the Eureka Lodge of Elks. He is a man of high standing and influence in the county and his success is due entirely to his own per- severing efforts.

Mr. Seffens' father, Charles Seffens, was raised in Ohio and while there followed the trade of stone mason, but in 1848 he joined the historic band of

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Argonauts in their terrible journey, filled with hardships, across the plains to California in search of gold. He located first at Dutch Flat and engaged in mining, and also built a hotel in the vicinity. Two years later he re- turned to Ohio, and, accompanied by his wife, returned to California via the Isthmus of Panama, locating in Dutch Flat, where they remained until their removal to San Jose in 1868; he died in 1872. Mrs. Seffens was the first white woman to take up residence at Dutch Flat, Placer county.

JAMES CAROTHERS .- Living quietly on his little farm of forty-three acres on the state highway, on the Eel river, about four miles south of Dyer- ville, is James Carothers, one of the earliest of California pioneers. having crossed the plains with his father, Thomas B. Carothers, in 1853 and settled in Petaluma, when he was but four years of age. His mother had died at their home near Danville, Ill., and the little lad later lived with an uncle and aunt at Petaluma until he was thirteen years of age, attending school there. Mr. Carothers has been a resident of Humboldt county for nearly fifty years and many are the friends who have known him all their lives. He finds his greatest enjoyment in performing on the old-fashioned accordion and is especially popular as a musician for impromptu dances and harvest festivals, and other neighborhood affairs where dancing is a favorite amuse- ment. His property, lying as it does on the state highway, is very valuable, especially as it is beautifully located and heavily timbered, save for a few acres where he raises vegetables and fruit. In the vicinity of his home he is familiarly known as "Jimmie" Carothers, and his kindheartedness and con- siderate friendliness have endeared him to all who know him, and their name is legion. His residence is a quaint little house barely perceptible from the road, and here he dwells apart, being a living example of Bolton Hall's "Three Acres and Independence."

Mr. Carothers was born near Danville, Ill., November 26, 1849, the son of Thomas B. and Susan (Morton) Carothers, his father being a native of Ohio, born in Brown county in 1821, and his mother a native of Wisconsin. The father never remarried after the death of his young wife, and there was a close bond of companionship between him and this only son. In 1868, when he was nineteen years of age, young Mr. Carothers came to Humboldt county, arriving in Rohnerville on June 10. Ten years later, in 1878, when the land was opened up for settlement, he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres, of which his present ranch is a part. He proved up on this property and later sold off parcels of it until he now has only forty-three acres left. In addition to this Mr. Carothers is one of the heirs to a ranch of one hundred sixty acres of splendid land near Terre Haute, Ind., which was the estate of an uncle, now deceased. He is also his father's sole heir and considerable cash came to him from his father's estate. The elder Carothers took up a homestead, a part of which is at this time owned by Louis M. Burnell, an attorney of Eureka, which "Jimmie" sold after his father's death. Three acres of his home place he devotes to the cultivation of fruit, principally apples, and various garden vegetables, the remainder being heavily timbered with redwood. Mr. Carothers is esteemed as one of the real pioneers of the community, a man who has retained amid the hurry of modern civilization the simplicity and straightforwardness of a day gone by, living his life in quiet peacefulness amid the beauty of his surroundings.

James larothers

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

WALTER MERTON CHURCH .- A native of Humboldt county, Cali- fornia, having been born within its generous confines considerably more than half a century ago, and through all the years of his manhood having been a resident of this same county, and actively engaged in business enterprises which have tended to develop its resources and promote its financial standing, Walter Merton Church may well claim the honored title of California pioneer, while his county and state may well be proud of his record and of achieve- ments in his chosen fields of endeavor. Mr. Church, now in the prime of life, is one of the substantial members of society in his community, and his influence is always exerted for progress and social betterment. For more than thirty years he has been a prominent member of the Knights of Pythias, having passed through all the chairs. For twenty years he has been an equally influential member of the Woodmen of the World, while for an equal period of years he has been a Mason of Royal Arch degree. In business and social circles Mr. Church is also well known, and in the Methodist Episcopal Church, where, with his family, he is a member, he is actively associated with the church work.

The father of Walter Merton Church was Lemuel Church, who was also well and favorably known in Ferndale and throughout Humboldt county generally, he having been a resident of that section for over a half century. Mr. Church, Sr., was a native of Rhode Island, born in August, 1827. During his younger years he followed the trade of cabinet-maker in his native state, but finally enlisted on a merchantman and for many years followed the fortunes of the sea, making many long voyages, and at one time being on the water for twenty-seven months. At another time he had an exciting voyage on a whaling vessel in northern waters. After his marriage the roving life of the sailor lost its charm for him and he settled for a brief time in Rhode Island, later moving to Humboldt county, Cal. Here he took up land at Grizzly Bluff and engaged in farming and stock-raising. The grain-raising industry was then fast growing in importance, and he purchased a threshing machine, which he and his son operated for a number of years, and which was always in great demand. Dairy farming after a time, however, claimed his entire attention and he continued to reside on the home place until the time of his death, April 27. 1897. Mr. Church, Sr., was an exceedingly active and industrious man throughout his entire life, and was esteemed as one of the successful and enterprising men of his community, where he had many friends and admirers.

Walter Merton Church was born April 27, 1859, soon after the family located at Grizzly Bluff. After completing the public schools there, he attended the Eureka Seminary, finishing there in 1879 and, returning to the farm, assumed his share of the labor and responsibility under the direction of his father, for several years, the farm and the operation of the threshing machine completely filling the time of both father and son. May 27, 1891. young Mr. Church was married to Miss Kate Newman, and started out in life for himself. Mrs. Church was the daughter of A. J. Newman, who was engaged in the hardware business in St. Helena, Napa county, the daughter being a teacher in the public schools there.

In his home, as well as in matters of business, Mr. Church has been crowned with success. His wife is a charming woman of education and culture. She is a native of Des Moines, Iowa, born February 21, 1859, and

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came to California with her parents when but a young girl. The family settled in St. Helena, where she was married to Mr. Church. They became the parents of two children: Joseph Newman and Mary Rebecca. Mrs. Church died at Grizzly Bluff, May 16, 1906.

Shortly after his marriage Mr. Church rented his father's place of one hundred sixty acres, at Grizzly Bluff, and engaged in farming and dairying. Mrs. Church was a helpmeet to her husband in the truest sense of the word, aiding materially in the establishment of the new home.

When the creameries were built at Grizzly Bluff and on Eel river, Mr. Church became financially interested in them. He remained on the home place of one hundred acres at Grizzly Bluff, which he still owns but leases. In March, 1908, he engaged exclusively in the creamery business, taking charge of the Eel River Creamery for the Grizzly Bluff Creamery Company, and of which he is still manager. Another of his enterprises was a grist mill at Grizzly Bluff, built by his father, and which the son operated for a number of years.

BURR PEYTON McCONNAHA .- Among the many young business men who are making Humboldt county a center of wealth-producing activi- ties, and one whose great number of such activities, nurtured by his hand and fostered by the skill with which he does everything that he undertakes, makes him of especial prominence in his community, is Burr Peyton Mc- Connaha. This rising young man (in reality he has already "risen," but as he is not yet by any means through with his progress upward the present participle is necessarily used in connection with him) has done many things for the good of his county and state, in the way of developing natural re- sources and fostering natural industries, and there are yet many more which he is planning to do. Quite naturally he is making a name for himself, and much wealth, but these are but the just reward of such service as he is rendering, and for all that is diverted into his own coffers, an appreciable amount goes into the purse of his many employes, and out into the general circulation through many natural channels of distribution. For the indus- tries with which Mr. McConnaha are most intimately associated are those which make raw material into finished product, and which create activity and wealth where before there were neither.

A native son of California, Burr Peyton McConnaha was born in Arcata, Humboldt county, July 3, 1870. He attended the public schools here for a short time, and when sixteen years of age started out for himself. For a few years he engaged in teaming and hauling in and around Arcata, and then went to work in a shingle mill as a packer. In 1902 he made his first inde- pendent business venture, owning and operating a stage line from Trinidad to Requa City. He was successful in this venture and after a few years he extended his interests by the purchase of a livery business in Trinidad, operating this in connection with the stage line. This livery business, formerly the property of John Flaherty, proved a profitable investment, and he remained in active management thereof up to 1909, when other interests demanded his attention, and he placed it in the charge of a paid manager.

It was during this year (1909) that Mr. McConnaha first became actively engaged in farming. In connection with his brother, Clarence J. McConnaha, he purchased a farm consisting of three hundred fourteen acres at Martin's Ferry, on the Klamath river, and engaged in stock-raising, and later in general

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farming and dairying. One hundred acres of this ranch have now been brought under a high state of cultivation, and an experiment in the extensive culture of walnuts is now being tried out there. In 1912 two hundred walnut trees were planted, and the result is being watched with much interest by orchardists in this section of the state. The brothers also own and operate a sawmill in this same region, while in Trinidad they built, in 1910, a shingle mill which is one of the most modern and up-to-date mills in the county. In connection with the shingle mill they also own and operate an aerial cable line which runs from the mill into the woods.

Mr. McConnaha is also in partnership with this same brother (Clarence J.) in several other undertakings, prominent among which may be mentioned a general merchandise store in Trinidad, which since 1909 has been known as the McConnaha Brothers Company, and which is one of the largest, most prosperous and well stocked houses of its kind in the county. These brothers are also associated in the livery business which Mr. McConnaha has owned for so many years, and in the stage lines which are operated in connection with it. Since the advent of the automobile as the most popular stage coach, Mr. McConnaha has caught the spirit of the times and with his usual enter- prise has equipped his line with four high-powered Pierce-Arrow autos, three auto trucks and three Ford cars. The routes are from Trinidad to Crescent City, seventy-five miles, and from Trinidad to Orleans Bar, eighty miles, being both a passenger and mail route. The livery stable has been remodeled into a garage with modern equipment for the care of motor cars, and is a boon to automobilists. In the division of the labor B. P. McConnaha has entire supervision of all the outside interests, including farms, general real estate investments, lumbering interests, cable line, and the purchasing of material and supplies of logs for sawmill and shingle mill, while the younger brother attends to the inside interests of the partnership.

Since taking up his residence permanently in Trinidad, Mr. McConnaha has been identified with all matters of civic concern, and is a power in the community. He stands at all times for social uplift and for municipal im- provements of a substantial character and permanent worth, and all legisla- tion which tends to place business on a firm footing. He is a Democrat, and has been for years keenly interested in politics and a faithful supporter of the policies of his party. He is a charter member of the Knights of Pythias of Blue Lake ; he is a member of the board of trustees of the city of Trinidad, and is also the city treasurer.

The marriage of Mr. McConnaha to Miss Grace Dell Pinkham occurred in Arcata, May 8, 1902. Mrs. McConnaha is a native of Humboldt county, born in Arcata. Their home is one of the delightful residences of Trinidad, where Mr. McConnaha is recognized as one of the most successful young business men. He is progressive, industrious and enterprising, and his native county does well to do him honor.

FRANK W. BELCHER .- The foremost fire insurance man in Eureka, in which enterprise he has but followed in the footsteps of his father, is Frank W. Belcher, to whom the terms efficient, honest, popular, successful are frequently and justly applied by his fellow citizens. He is a native of Eureka, and has spent his entire lifetime here, being variously engaged in business, and always successful and highly esteemed. He is not only popular in a business way, but is also prominent in local musical, church, and in social circles.

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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 77

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