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 86

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 86

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BENJAMIN FANEUIEL PORTER .- Tireless energy and a resolute spirit have enabled Mr. Porter to advance step by step from the time when, a lad of twelve ignorant of life and the world, he began to earn his own way by illy-paid, humble work, up to the present time, when he is efficiently dis- charging his duties as assistant general manager of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad, with headquarters at Eureka. To a large extent he may be denom- inated self-made, yet he owes much to the inheritance of splendid mental qualities from a long line of southern ancestors and to the heritage of the honorable and even eminent record of his father, an attorney, who for many years served as a jurist on the supreme bench of Alabama. Withal that the

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

family was intellectually preeminent, in the days of their prestige the south was stinted in money and they suffered the handicap of poverty, so that Benjamin F., who was born at Tuscaloosa, Ala., April 15, 1842, was obliged by force of circumstances to become self-supporting at an age when schooling was desirable, and in November of 1854 he became connected with railroad- ing. In the following years he rose rapidly. After service as flagman for an engineering expedition he served as foreman of construction work on the Tennessee & Coosa River Railroad from February, 1860, to December, 1862, and was foreman of construction and conductor of work trains on the Mobile & Great Northern Railroad from January, 1862, until the close of the Civil war in the Confederate service, detailed into government transportation depart- ment, continuing after the close of the war. In 1865 Mr. Porter became assistant agent at Greenville, Ala., for the Mobile & Montgomery Railroad. From October, 1868, until December, 1869, he was superintendent of con- struction for the Selma & Gulf Railroad. From January, 1870, to December, 1873, he was passenger conductor on various roads in Alabama and Mis- sissippi.

After having been interested in other lines of business for a period of twelve years, in January, 1887, Mr. Porter became superintendent of track- laying from Maricopa Junction to Phoenix, Ariz., on the main line of the Southern Pacific Railroad. In July of the same year he was promoted to be roadmaster, a position which he filled with the efficiency characteristic of him in every responsibility of business. From January, 1898, to December 1, 1902, he was general superintendent of the same road. He then resigned to accept the position of general manager of the San Francisco & Northwestern Railroad at Eureka, the road having been taken over by the Santa Fe from the Eel River & Eureka Railroad. Later the interests of the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe on the northern coast were consolidated as the Northwestern Pacific and Mr. Porter became assistant general manager. January 1, 1915, on ac- count of age and physical infirmities, he was honorably relieved from service on a pension, after a continuous service with the Southern Pacific and Santa Fe of twenty-eight years. During the last few years he has been very active in the building of the connecting link between Eureka and San Fran- cisco, and on October 23, 1914, the day the line was completed, he saw the fruits of his labors. Mr. Porter is a member of Humboldt Club. During the period of his residence in Arizona he was prominent in the Elks and the Masons of Commandery and Shrine degrees. By his marriage to Miss Mary E. Thomas, who was born in Mississippi but reared in Alabama, he has three sons, young men of recognized ability and high promise, viz .: Walter K., manager of the Porter-Hansen Undertaking Company at Eureka; Ben- jamin F., Jr., now with the Bayside Lumber Company ; and Joseph R., at present in the office of the United States Engineers at Eureka.

EDWARD FOSTER PETTINGILL .- The trade of ship-joiner which Mr. Pettingill learned at the port of Machias in his native state of Maine, he followed for many years both in the east and the west, besides for a brief period with the Alaska Fur Company in Siberia. He came to California in 1875 and found employment at his trade in San Francisco, from which city he came to Eureka in 1876 and a year later returned to San Francisco, where he followed ship-building until 1881. In that year he was with the Alaska

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Fur Company on Behring and Copper island in the Russian possessions for about nine months, returning to San Francisco, and in the spring of 1882 returned to Eureka, where he again secured a position in the ship-building yards of H. D. Bendixsen. With the exception of a period of employment in charge of the dry docks on an island in the Puget Sound he has continuously lived in Humboldt county. He devoted twenty-five years of steady work to the ship-building industry as foreman of the finishing department in the Bendixsen yards and at the expiration of that time turned his attention to the building of houses and to specializing in interior finishings. An unusual degree of skill has been manifest in all of his work and much that was done years ago still retains the substantial and satisfactory appearance of its first construction. After the first three months of the building of the Bank of Eureka he was given full charge of that important contract. Other important contracts were in connection with the Federal building and the residences of L. F. Puter, William Carson and David Evans.

The marriage of Mr. Pettingill united him with Miss Eloise Scott, who was born in Auburn, Cal., of an old Southern family. She was reared in Eureka and received an excellent education in private schools. Three children were born of the union, namely : Clarence S., deceased; Russell Edward, who married Roberta Parks and lives in San Francisco; and Allan D. Mrs. Pet- tingill is a daughter of the late D. Clinton Scott, the pioneer dentist of Eureka and a man of considerable prominence in the early history of the town. Having given his attention closely to occupative duties, Mr. Pettingill has had neither leisure nor inclination for political affairs, nor has he been interested in fraternal societies aside from being a member of Humboldt Lodge No. 79, F. & A. M., of which he was master in 1901.

HENRY FREDERICK HARBERS .- Actively associated with the creamery interests of Humboldt county for a number of years, Mr. Harbers is probably one of the best known men in the vicinity of Ferndale. He is of German birth, having been born in Oldenburg, Germany, September 22, 1858, and is the son of John B. Harbers, also a native of Oldenburg, Germany, who was engaged in the milling business, After attending the public schools for a number of years, Henry F. decided to come to America. Leaving Bremer- haven on a steamer for Baltimore, Md., he landed in May of 1875, and imme- diately proceeded to Henry county, Ohio, where he obtained employment on a farm, remaining for four years, then moving to Washington county, that state, where he continued to follow farming. Being desirous of visiting his parents and the scenes of his childhood in Germany he returned there in 1880 and remained two years, returning to the States in 1882. He came direct to Humboldt county, Cal., where he had a brother, J. B. Harbers, at Ferndale, at which place he arrived in August, 1882, and engaged in farming and dairying for himself on the Hill ranch. This ranch he entered as a home- stead and improved it and also, in 1886, purchased his home place of twenty acres of highly cultivated land near Grizzly Bluff and continued in the dairy- ing business, still retaining his old homestead. Prior to 1891, before the creamery was built, the farmers had to make their own butter, but after the creamery was put into operation matters were greatly simplified for the farmers. In 1896 the Grizzly Bluff Creamery was destroyed by fire, but it was immediately rebuilt. Being offered the position of bookkeeper at the

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HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

creamery in 1904, Mr. Harbers accepted, but as at first the volume of busi- ness done by the creamery was not large enough to occupy all of his time, he still continued to manage his dairy. The business grew to such an extent, however, that in a few years his entire time was devoted to the creamery, and for the past three years he has been secretary and manager of the Grizzly Bluff Creamery Association, which is now the oldest in operation in the county, the average output a year being 750,000 pounds of butter. It has grown from its modest beginning with a capital of $11,000 to its present pro- portions.

Since 1886 Mr. Harbers has been a member of Ferndale Lodge No. 220, I. O. O. F., of which he is past grand master, and is a member of Humboldt County Veteran Odd Fellows Association. Politically he is a Democrat. He has always taken an active interest in educational matters, serving as a member of the board of trustees of Grizzly Bluff District for several terms, and is now a member of the board of trustees of the Ferndale Union High School, to which he devotes considerable time and his best efforts. In 1909 he was one of the organizers of the Ferndale Cow Testing Association and was one of the original board of directors, and president of it one year. He is an active member of the Humboldt County Dairymen's Association.

Mr. Harbers was married at Port Kenyon, November 19, 1890, being united with Miss Matilda Blohm, a native of Washington county, Kan., and the daughter of Herman F. Blohm, a native of Oldenburg, Germany. Mr. Blohm was a veterinary surgeon for a number of years in Germany and in 1870 he moved with his family to Kansas and then, in 1881, to Humboldt county, Cal., where he continued to follow his profession until 1897, when he removed to Santa Cruz county, where he now makes his home.

Of the union of these two fine families there are five children, Otto Henry, Harry B., Raymond F., Leland G., and Henry R., the latter now deceased. Mr. Harbers is a progressive, public spirited citizen and a man well liked by all in the community in which he resides.

MARTIN P. PETERSEN is the owner of one of the largest dairy ranches in the Eel river section and has devoted practically the whole of his life to the study of dairying and farming in general. He was born April 10, 1861, near Tondern, Sleswick, Denmark, but later a part of the German Em- pire. He received his earlier educational training in the public schools of Germany, and when fifteen years of age began to work on farms in the neigh- borhood of his home. Having a brother, Christian, in Humboldt county, Cal., who had written glowing accounts of the opportunities here, he decided to come to America and join him. In July, 1878, he came direct to Humboldt county and located in Ferndale, where he found employment on the ranch of Jacob Rasmussen, remaining with him for two years. In 1880 he moved over to Bear river ridge, and for the following three years was employed on the ranches of the farmers there. Returning to Eel river valley, he entered the employ of Peter Nissen, but in 1884, desiring to go into business for himself, he leased a ranch from G. M. Robarts and actively engaged in dairying. This ranch consisted of one hundred acres of dairy land and Mr. Robarts furnished him the stock, milch cows at the time being valued at only $25 a head. During the five years that he leased the property he was quite successful, and hearing of fine land to be had in the district surrounding Loleta, he went there in

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1889 and again leased a ranch for a term of five years, but this venture proved a failure. He then returned to Eel River Island and purchased one hundred fifty acres of farm land, thirty acres being under cultivation. He set to work clearing the remainder and rendering it suitable for dairying pur- poses. In a few years he purchased one hundred ten acres adjoining the original property and at the present time this ranch of two hundred sixty acres, all bottom land, is one of the largest on the island and adjoins the new Fern bridge. It is well improved with suitable buildings erected by him. His dairy is installed with Sharpless milking machines. When Mr. Petersen first engaged in dairying he had only twenty-five head of cows and now he is the owner of a herd of ninety head of the finest milch cows in the county.

Mr. Petersen was married in Ferndale in October, 1889, being united with Miss Bothilde Petersen, also a native of Sleswick, Denmark. She died in June, 1913, at the age of forty-six years. She was the mother of six chil- dren, as follows: Hans, Theresa, Annie, Petrca, Frode and Lille, all remain- ing under the paternal roof. Mr. Petersen is a member of the Dania Society, of which he is past officer, and a member of the Independent Order of For- esters of America, and he is also a member of the board of trustees for Salt River District. In national politics he favors the ideas of the Republican party, and he is also a devout member of the Danish Lutheran Church. His success is due to his own untiring and unceasing labors and his fine ranch stands as a fitting monument to his faithful perseverance.

MRS. ARRABELLE HAZELWOOD FALOR .- A native of Kentucky, having been born on a farm near Greensburg, Green county, July 27, 1862, Mrs. Arrabelle Falor has been a resident of California since 1884, having located in Humboldt county in June of that year, and having since that time made this county her home. Since the death of her husband several years ago she has continued to live on the home place, and for a time managed it with much success. Recently she has leased the land, but continues to make the place her home. Living with her is her son, Leland.

The girlhood of Mrs. Falor was spent in Kentucky, where she attended the public schools of her district. Her father having died when she was a child, she was raised by her grandparents on the Hazelwood side. She re- mained with them until she was twenty-one, and then came to California with her sister and brother-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. John Dolson, and located with them in Arcata, Humboldt county. For a time Mrs. Falor (then Miss Arra- belle Hazelwood) was the housekeeper on the old Falor ranch, and on March 27, 1885, was married to Albert Allen Falor.

Albert Allen Falor was born in Hoopa valley, Humboldt county, Cal., June 6, 1860, the son of Milo and Caroline Falor, both well known California pioneers, and for many years residents of Humboldt county. They came to Arcata in an early day and purchased ninety acres of bottom land, upon which they engaged in dairying and farming. Here their son was reared, and here he received his education in the grammar schools, assisting his father on the farm in his spare time and during vacations. Their united efforts brought them success and father and son continued to manage the farm until the father's death, when the son took charge, continuing to conduct it along the lines that had been followed before. The property, which at the time of its purchase was unimproved and heavily timbered, is now under a high state of cultivation and is in splendid condition for farming.

albert a. Falon

Belle Hazelwood Valor

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Aside from his business interests and his success as a farmer Mr. Falor commanded the respect and confidence of his neighbors and fellow citizens and was regarded as a man of ability and worth. In politics he was a Re- publican, but he was never actively associated with the affairs of his party. His death occurred at the home place, January 5, 1907. Since his death Mrs. Falor has resided on a ranch of ninety acres a mile north of Alliance, leasing the home ranch for a dairy.

The parents of Mrs. Falor were well known in Kentucky. Her father, John Hazelwood, died in that state when Mrs. Falor was a very small child. Her mother, Clarissa Warren, was born in Green county, Ky., June 16, 1834. By her marriage to Mr. Hazelwood five children were born, four of whom are living at the present, three daughters and one son, Mrs. Falor being the second youngest. She is the mother of two children, Clarissa Bell, now Mrs. James B. Johnson, living in Fieldbrook, and Leland Lenore, residing with his mother.

The Falor family is one of the oldest and most highly esteemed pioneer families of Humboldt county. Both father and son were men of sterling character, industrious, energetic and trustworthy. They were important factors in the early development of the county and are remembered with greatest respect by those who knew them.

EDWARD B. PETERSEN .- The dairying interests of Humboldt county are managed chiefly by men of Danish descent, they being farmers and dairy- men by instinct, and being industrious, their farms are models. Among these men of the Eel river valley Edward B. Petersen has established a fine dairy farm and it is indeed a model for all to copy. He was born near Rodkiobing, on the island of Langeland, Denmark, August 17, 1880, and there he attended the public schools of the district. His parents, Jens and Maria Petersen, came to America in the fall of 1892, and first located in the town of Union Grove, Racine county, Wis. There Edward attended school for a short time, familiar- izing himself with the English language. He then obtained employment on the neighboring ranches, doing general farm work, his first position being with John Clague, in whose employ he remained for two years. Later, in the fall of the year 1895, he decided to come to California in the hope of better- ing conditions, and settled in Marin county, where he again followed dairy- ing. In a short time, hearing of the wonderful opportunities in Humboldt county, he came to Eureka and was employed in the Excelsior mill, but seeing greater opportunities in the occupation of dairying he again returned to that branch of farming and was employed on the dairy ranch of John Nielsen, where he continued for six years.

Having married about this time, he determined to engage in the business for himself, for this purpose renting forty acres of land. Subsequently he purchased the property, and this is now the home place, all under a high state of cultivation. He has made every modern improvement on the place, sparing no expense in making it one of the finest small ranches in the vicinity. He is a member of the Dania Lodge, W. O. W., at Ferndale, and is a stanch Progressive Republican, but has not entered actively into political affairs, preferring to devote his entire time and energies to his ranch.

Mr. Petersen was united in marriage November 27, 1906, with Lillian Currey, a native daughter of California, having been born in Stockton, Cal.,

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the daughter of Thomas and Margaret Currey. Mr. Currey was born in County Donegal, Ireland, in February, 1836, and came with his parents to Philadelphia, Pa., where he learned the harnessmaker's trade. August 24, 1861, he enlisted in Company A, Sixth Pennsylvania Cavalry, serving in the Seven Days battle, and was taken prisoner at Hagerstown, Md., and confined in Libby prison. Afterwards he was transferred to Belle Isle, where he was detained ten months. He was honorably discharged in 1863. In 1866 he came to Petaluma, Cal., remaining for a year, then lived in San Francisco until 1878, when he located at San Rafael. He married Margaret Thompson, a native of Scotland, by whom he had six children, Mrs. Petersen being the second youngest. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Petersen there are two chil- dren, Arleene Katherine and Edward Clifford. Mr. Petersen is an energetic, industrious young man, one whose success in business is due to his own unceasing and untiring labors.

FREDERICK M. HELMKE .- As president and general manager of the Helmke Mercantile Company, of Blocksburg, Frederick M. Helmke is one of the most influential men in this part of the county. He is a native of Cali- fornia and the son of one of the well known old pioneer families. For several years he has been owner of the Helmke Mercantile Company, and conducts a general merchandise business at Blocksburg and at Fort Seward; for years he conducted a stage line which ran as an auxiliary to the larger cor- poration. Mr. Helmke commands confidence and respect wherever he is known, and is thoroughly familiar with every detail of his business and is also particularly well fitted by temperament and disposition for the manage- ment of large mercantile enterprises. In both his stores he maintains a high standard, both for quality and service, nothing but the best being offered for sale, and all transactions are absolutely "on the square." He is a man of great energy, a booster for the community as well as for his own business. The older residents are glad to find in him a strong resemblance to his late father, who for many years conducted the business.

Mr. Helmke is a native of Sonoma county, born at Fisk's Mill, January 2, 1870, the son of Martin Frederick and Arabella (Shone) Helmke. The father, who followed the sea from a boy, was a native of Germany and came to America when a young man. In 1851 he came around Cape Horn to San Francisco on a sailer and first drifted into the mines. Later he operated saw- mills at Timber Cove and Fisk's mill, then built the first sawmill on Green- wood creek, at the present site of I. E. White Lumber Company's plant at Greenwood, and shipped the lumber from Cuffey's cove. At the same time he purchased considerable land at Bell's Landing, now known as Westport. The financial depression of 1877 and 1878 caused him to suffer severe reverses, and in 1878 he came to Blocksburg and bought out the interests of Simon Sweet, who owned a general merchandise store. From 1878 to 1905 Mr. Helmke, Sr., conducted the business which bears the family name, in the latter year disposing of his interest to his son (who had been his partner since 1898) and retired to Berkeley, where he died, June 9, 1909, at the age of seventy-nine years. He is well remembered throughout Humboldt county, and the greatest compliment that one of the older residents can pay to the present head of the Helmke Mercantile Company is to say that he is like his

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father. The mother is a native of Wisconsin, descended from Welsh ancestry. She now makes her home in Santa Rosa.

Frederick M. Helmke was eight years of age when his parents moved to Blocksburg, where he attended school until he was fourteen, then starting out in the world for himself. By hard labor at various kinds of work he earned enough to go through Heald's Business College, San Francisco, where he was graduated in 1889. When he left home at the age of fourteen his father gave him $25, and when he came back in 1897 he returned to his father the same identical $25 that he had received thirteen years before. At that time his father gave him a half interest in the mercantile business at Blocks- burg, and from then until 1905 they operated under the firm name of F. Helmke & Son. In 1905 the father retired, the son purchasing his interest and paying a handsome price therefor, in remembrance of the gift of the interest in the business a few years previous, which had made this transaction possible. In 1911 the business was incorporated under the firm name of the Helmke Mercantile Company, with an authorized capital of $75,000, and an actually paid-in capital of $38,000. The branch business at Fort Seward was started in 1911, this being known as the Helmke Mercantile Company, Store No. 2. Both houses are doing a large and profitable business, and are selling an extensive line of general merchandise, handling practically everything needed in any community.

For sixteen years, in addition to the mercantile business, the firm con- ducted an auxiliary enterprise in the nature of a stage line which operated from Harris to Carlotta, via Blocksburg, making daily trips, and conveying the mail as well as passengers. This business was one of great importance and kept Blocksburg in close touch with the surrounding towns. The Helmke Stage Line was abolished June 1, 1915, on account of the through mails being carried by the new railroad.

The marriage of Mr. Helmke occurred in Oakland in 1894, uniting him with Miss Mina Janssen, a native of that city. Of their union have been born two children, namely Rae Frederick and Guy Martin. Both Mr. and Mrs. Helmke have many friends in Blocksburg. Mr. Helmke takes an influential part in the fraternal life of the county, being a member of Eel River Lodge No. 147, F. & A. M., at Fortuna, and Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. He has rendered valuable service as a member of the school board at Blocksburg, and has served on the grand jury. He is a consistent Republican and a mem- ber of the executive committee of the county central committee. In all local affairs he is on the side of progress, standing for the general betterment and upbuilding of the community.

PETER JOHANSEN .- An example of the opportunities afforded by Humboldt county to men of tireless energy and sagacious judgment is found in the successful activities of the vice-president of the First National Bank of Arcata, a native of Germany, born May 21, 1868, and from 1887 a resident of the United States and of Humboldt county. Having no means with which to embark in any occupation demanding capital, he leased a small tract of land and bought a few cows. Hampered by poverty, compelled to endure privations and hardships, in a strange country far from the scenes beloved of his youth, he took up the battle of life with resolution and industry. Little by little he began to be known as a farmer of intelligence and a German-

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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 86

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