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 87
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
794
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
American of splendid force of character. His resolute efforts to win inde- pendence brought him the confidence of associates and, in the end, the object of his early ambition. On a tract of forty acres near Ferndale he maintained a herd of twenty milch cows and managed the dairy so capably that it became the source of considerable profit. By degrees he increased his herd until he had eighty cows in the dairy. Meanwhile there came to him a keen knowledge of the needs of proper marketing of the products of the dairy. Study of the matter caused him to found the Capital Creamery at Ferndale and in this he owned a one-half interest up to the time of removing to Arcata.
In the new location Mr. Johansen bought one hundred sixty acres of land and embarked in the dairy industry, which he continued with profit for a number of years. Here as at Ferndale he became a recognized authority in the marketing of dairy products and in every phase of the industry which brought him financial success. As manager of the United Creameries at Arcata he gave five years of faithful, efficient and satisfactory service to the creamery business at this point, a task for which previous experience well qualified him. More recently, however, he leased his dairy ranch, disposed of his herd of cows and his interest in the creamery. Upon the founding of the First National Bank of Arcata he assisted in its incorporation, and since it was opened for business, in October, 1913, he has been vice-president and general manager, giving practically his entire time to the efficient oversight of a concern undoubtedly destined to be a leading financial factor in this part of Humboldt county. While his wife, who bore the maiden name of Meta Duholm, is like himself a native of Germany, all of their children are Californians and have the distinction of being natives of Humboldt county. They are as follows: Lily, Amos, Peter, Maria, Christine, Christian and Meta.
LEVEN C. ERICKSON .- Among the successful young men engaged in the dairy business in Humboldt county is Leven C. Erickson, who was born in Manistee, Mich., November 18, 1875, the son of Eli C. and Maria (Jacobsen) Erickson. The parents were natives of Abenrade, North Sles- wick, then a part of Denmark, but since 1871 belonging to Germany. In their native country they followed farming, but gave this up to come to the United States, settlement being made in Manistee, Mich., where for ten years the father was employed with a lumber company. The year 1878 witnessed his removal to California, settlement being made in Humboldt county on Bear river ridge, on property known as the Mayflower ranch. A residence of two years on this property was followed by his removal to the Eel river section, where he purchased the old Farrier ranch at Centerville and engaged in farm- ing and dairying up to the time of his death in 1902. Faithful to the teachings of his childhood he was a devoted member of the Danish Lutheran church, as was also his wife, who passed away two years prior to his demise, in 1900, leaving two children, a son and a daughter.
The eldest of the parental family, Leven C. Erickson, was primarily educated in the schools of Centerville, later attending St. Mary's College, Oakland, for a year and eight months, when his schooling was suddenly terminated owing to the death of his father. When he took charge of the home place he had about thirty head of cows on the ranch, which comprised thirty-five acres of bottom land. Realizing that he must have more land to properly carry out his plans he bought seventy-two acres of swamp land and twenty-four acres of hill land, making a total of one hundred thirty-one acres
To Erickson
797
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
under his control. However, time and experience proved that the land was too low for successful dairying, and to correct this he constructed dams in Russ creek, which diverted the overflow to his advantage, the sediment grad- ually building up his property. It is estimated that in the last ten years the land has been raised over six feet, so that it is now unexcelled as dairy land. Mr. Erickson has eighty head of high-grade cows, and now owns all of the homestead ranch, having purchased his sister's interest in the property. He has built a new residence, thus giving him two sets of buildings on the ranch.
As an evidence of his deep interest in the dairy business, as well as show- ing the confidence reposed in him by his fellow-dairymen, it may be stated that for the past nineteen years he has been secretary of the Ferndale Cream- ery and since 1910 has also been manager, tester and bookkeeper, his knowledge of the business making it possible for him to fill these several offices with ability.
Mr. Erickson was made a Mason in Ferndale Lodge No. 193, F. & A. M., of which he was master for two years ; a member of Ferndale Chapter No. 78, R. A. M., which he served as high priest for three years, besides which he is affiliated with the Odd Fellows and the Woodmen of the World. In politics he is a Republican. In Ferndale, October 30, 1901, he was married to Jennie I. Rasmussen, a native of Humboldt county and the daughter of Jacob Rasmussen, one of the pioneer dairymen of this section, a sketch of whose life and accomplishments may be found upon another page in this work. Mr. and Mrs. Erickson have one child. Harold. Mr. Erickson has been actively associated with all movements for the upbuilding of the community, and is held in the highest esteem throughout the county of his adoption.
ISAAC NIXON MINOR .- A native of Humboldt county, a pioneer, and the son of one of the best known pioneer families in the county, Isaac Nixon Minor has spent his entire lifetime in Humboldt county, save for brief periods when business or pleasure have called him away temporarily. He has been actively engaged in business enterprises of various sorts which have closely identified him with the life of the county and have made him an integral part of the history of this region. For many years he was actively engaged in lumber manufacturing and of late years was manager of the Minor Mill and Lumber Company, until 1912, when they closed down on account of having used up all available timber. However, this leaves him by no means inactive, for he still has large property interests with which he keeps thoroughly in touch and which he is improving, engaging also in cattle raising. He resides on his farm about six miles above Arcata on the banks of Mad river.
Mr. Minor was born in Arcata, March 12, 1858. Here he spent his boy- hood days, attending the public schools of Arcata, and after graduating from the grammar school, he went to San Francisco to complete his education, graduating from McClure's Military Academy, Oakland, and also from Heald's Business College, San Francisco, in 1875. He then returned to Arcata and took charge of the stock range of the Redwood ranch, which was owned at that time by his father. Here he remained, successfully managing this extensive property for about three years, or until it was sold to Tom Bair. Following this he had charge of his father's home ranch at Arcata for a year, and then took over the management of another of his father's properties and later farmed for himself a year. In 1884 he gave up farming to engage in
29
798
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
the livery business in Arcata, continuing in this undertaking for two years and meeting with much success. He then disposed of these interests and removed to Glendale, where he worked for his father in the Minor Mill and Lumber Company as foreman of the woods, being under the supervision of his father, Isaac Minor. He remained with this company for twenty-nine years, being for the most part in the same department. The last eight years of his service here was as manager of the company, a service which terminated when the mill closed down. He was president of the company when it was dissolved in 1914. During the active days of the mill its capacity was 100,000 feet of lumber and 100,000 shingles a day, about $25,000 a month being paid out for help, and at times the yard had eight million feet of lumber stacked up. During the time he was in the mill Mr. Minor cleared some five thousand acres of land. Glendale ranch comprises 4,640 acres of land located on the Mad river and is devoted to dairying, breeding Durham and Hereford cattle. The range is gradually being cleared up, giving ample pasturage for a large herd. For many years Mr. Minor was engaged in raising standard bred horses and owned Morosco, which made the best record of any horse at the breeders' meeting in California in 1903.
The marriage of Mr. Minor occurred October 9, 1880. in Arcata, uniting him with Miss Mary Adams, a native of Humboldt county, born in Eureka, February 7. 1863. They have become the parents of two sons, Issac S. and George C., both assisting Mr. Minor on the ranch.
Mrs. Minor is the daughter of Bary Maxwell Adams, a native of Ireland, and born in Belfast, August 2, 1826. He left Ireland and went to Australia during the great gold excitement there in 1846. Arriving in Australia he did not find the conditions as he had expected and so gave up his intention of mining and found employment as a bookkeeper for a cattle firm, remaining there during his entire stay in Australia. In 1850, hearing of the gold excite- ment in California, Mr. Adams resigned his position and immediately set sail, landing in San Francisco that same year, and from there going into Yuba county, where he engaged in mining for himself for a short time. In 1852 he decided to remove to Humboldt county and bought a herd of cattle, which he drove over the mountains, and engaged in stock raising, locating on Bear river. Here he went into partnership with Joe Russ and engaged in the butcher business in connection with stock raising for twenty years. At a later period he purchased the Three Cabins ranch on Mad river in partner- ship with A. Wiley and engaged in stock raising there for a short time, then disposed of his interest in the ranch and drove his cattle to the Sacramento valley, where he sold stock for a time. His death occurred September 23, 1888, on his home place near Arcata, he having been retired from active busi- ness for a number of years previous. His wife, and the mother of Mrs. Minor, was Caroline Armstrong, a native of Indiana, born in Indianapolis, April 12, 1840. She crossed the plains with her parents in 1851, taking six months to make the trip. They located in Humboldt county, where the father. Thomas Armstrong, was one of the sturdy pioneers. He built one of the first houses in Arcata, this being unique in that it was constructed entirely from one tree, all the lumber used being whip-sawed by Mr. Armstrong, and very few nails being used in the building. This house is standing today. When Mrs. Minor's mother came to Arcata the trip from San Francisco required twenty days. She was married here to Mr. Adams.
799
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Mr. Minor has been actively engaged in business enterprises in Hum- boldt county for almost forty years, and is well known throughout the county. His efforts have always been of such a nature that they have developed the natural resources of the county, adding to its intrinsic wealth and making it a pleasanter habitat for men. He has been keenly alive to all matters of public interest, and he is a man of broad mind and progressive ideas, always to be found in the vanguard of movements for public welfare and general social betterment. His father, Isaac Minor, is one of the best known men in Humboldt county, and for many years has been prominently identified with the lumbering industry of the state, and also owns much valuable real estate. some of the finest ranches in the county being his.
JOHN ROBERT JACOBSON .- So much of Mr. Jacobson's life has been passed upon the water that he can scarcely be called a landsman, but nevertheless he has an abiding place on terra firma, as his pleasant home in Eureka testifies. For generations the home of the family had been in Sweden, and in Westervik, Smaland, that country, John R. Jacobson was born January 23, 1858, the son of parents who never left the Scandinavian peninsula. The father was an engineer by trade, and it so happened that after the son had completed his schooling he also took up the same trade, and while still quite a youth had a splendid working knowledge of stationary engineering. With this knowledge as his chief asset he started out on his own account when about eighteen years old, in 1876, going to sea on the Norwegian bark Theo- dore. On this vessel he continued for three years, during this time making port in the West Indies and Mexico. Altogether three trips were made to Mexico, where the vessel was loaded with mahogany for England and Scot- land, and on one trip to the Americas, cotton from Savannah, Ga., formed the cargo for Kronstadt, Russia. Another voyage of the vessel was to Rouen, France, on the Seine river, where Mr. Jacobson left the vessel and instead went on board the full rigged English vessel known as the Rock City. On this he made one trip from England to Montreal and return, and then sailed on the German bark Theresa to the West Indies and Florida, returning in due time to the port of departure. The next vessel on which he shipped was the Ocean King, one of the largest American sailing vessels of that day, which left Shields, England, in November, 1880, for San Francisco, via Cape Horn. In just one hundred and thirty-three days from the time of leaving the English port anchor was dropped in San Francisco, March 3, 1881. Whether the resolve was ever taken or not the records do not state, but nevertheless it is a fact that after entering the Golden Gate ocean travel for Mr. Jacobson was at an end. Instead he became interested in the coastwise trade, sailing on various vessels, and his interest in Eureka dates from December. 1881. For two years he sailed out of this city in the coasting trade, and then gave up the business to become proprietor of the American bakery and restaurant on E street. Two years of life on land and the con- finement of business as compared with the life which he had led for so many years made him restless for his former occupation, and as soon as he could dispose of his business he once more sought an occupation connected with the water. In 1885 he took up steamboating on the ocean, beginning as fireman, and from this he worked up to engineer, and it was while employed on the Santa Maria that the rock for building the St. George lighthouse off
800
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
Crescent City was taken from Eureka to St. George. Following this he re- turned to Eureka and for some time thereafter he was engaged on the Buhne line of tug boats, following this being connected with the steamer Humboldt for four years. It was on this vessel that he was advanced to engineer, and remained as such on this vessel until she was wrecked off Point Gorda in 1896. After this disaster Mr. Jacobson returned to San Francisco and sailed as marine engineer on the bay and on Sacramento river boats, continuing this until he was given the opportunity to go to Alaska in 1911. During these years he accumulated some means and built a residence in San Bruno, San Mateo county, which he still owns. As engineer of the Unamake he went to the north for the Alaska Packers' Association, an experience which had its compensation, but since returning to California he again came to Eureka and has been contented to remain within close range of his adopted home, in the meantime acting as chief engineer of the Antelope. His experience in Humboldt county has been exceedingly pleasant, he having formed many warm friendships, and he enjoys this country more and finds it more desirable than any other place of his travels. This opinion is shared by his faithful wife and helpmate.
It was after coming to California that Mr. Jacobson formed domestic ties, his marriage in Eureka uniting him with Miss Odine Petersen on De- cember 13, 1884. She was born, reared and educated in Stavanger, Norway, which country she left with a brother and sister bound for the United States, and January 1, 1882, reached Galveston, Tex. The following year she came to San Francisco, Cal., and to Eureka in January of the year following, and it was in the last month of the same year that her marriage occurred. Six children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Jacobson, as follows: Carl, who died when six months old ; Axel Fredolph, who runs an automobile stage out of Eureka ; Ruby Roberta, Mrs. Madsen, of San Francisco ; Frank P., who also resides in that metropolis ; Marguerite Otellia and Janetta. Besides his membership in the Marine Engineers' Beneficial Association, Mr. Jacobson is affiliated with the Woodmen of the World and the Druids, while Mrs. Jacob- son is a member of the Women of Woodcraft. Both are members of the Lutheran Church, in the tenets of which they were reared in their childhood.
THOS. H. PERRY .- During the many years of his association with the insurance business in Eureka the name of Thos. H. Perry has become well known, for few there are indeed who are not familiar with his catchy adver- tising over the signature of "Your fireproof friend Perry." Neither has the name proved a misnomer, for Mr. Perry has been a friend indeed in many instances in which he has written insurance for clients, as well as being instrumental in securing homes for many others, for in addition to writing insurance he also engages in the real estate business.
The history of the Perry family is traced to England, Grandfather Perry being the first progenitor of the family in the United States. He located in Boston, Mass., and there reared his family. Among his children was Thomas L. Perry, born in Boston, and who early in life displayed a taste for the sea. It is related that when a mere lad he went to sea and practically continued upon the water throughout his life, in time becoming cap- tain. In the early '50s as master of a vessel he came around Cape Horn and landed at San Francisco. After remaining in the city for a time he decided
Steve Giulieri
803
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
to give up the sea and for some time engaged in mining, but the venture not proving as profitable as he had anticipated he gave it up and came to Eureka. Foreseeing a profitable outlook in the decorating business he opened a paint- ing, graining and decorating establishment in the city and followed it with success throughout the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1887. In his marriage he was united with Mary Riley, a native of Ireland, but who for some time had been a resident of Massachusetts, and is now making her home in Eureka. Of this marriage six children were born, equally divided as to sons and daughters, but one son and one daughter have passed away.
Next to the oldest child . in the parental family, Thos. H. Perry was born in Eureka April 26, 1872, and up to the time of his father's death he was privileged to attend the public schools of his native city. This bereave- ment throwing him upon his own resources he began carrying papers for the Daily Humboldt Times and Humboldt Standard, and following this he began to learn the printer's trade in the Times office. After serving his appren- ticeship he worked at the trade for eight years, or until hand work was supplanted by the more rapid work of the linotype machine with which the office had been equipped. It was at this juncture that he became interested in the insurance business, and through his unique method of advertising, to say nothing of the care and precision with which he looks after the details which the writing of insurance involves, he has developed a creditable busi- ness in this line, as well as in the real estate business, which has been added more recently. His office is conveniently located at No. 515 F street, Eureka. In the line of fire and life insurance the following well-known companies are represented : Royal, Connecticut, Sun of London, New Zealand, Michigan Commercial, American Central of St. Louis, Maritime of Liverpool, South- western Surety Company, Northwestern Life of Milwaukee and New York Mutual. He also has the agency for bonding and automobile insurance. The confidence the different insurance companies have in his integrity, fairness and ability is shown by their having him give his personal attention to the adjusting of losses by fire in the case of policies issued through him, a matter which is much appreciated by his clients. For the last twelve years, or since 1902, Mr. Perry has held the commission of notary public.
Various fraternal and social organizations claim Mr. Perry's attention and they in turn benefit by his kindly and pleasing personality. He is a member of Eureka Aeric No. 130, F. O. E., of which he was financial sec- retary for eight years and treasurer for two years; Eureka Lodge No. 652, B. P. O. E. ; Hoopa Tribe No. 146, I. O. R. M .: Knights of Columbus ; and Humboldt Parlor No. 14, N. S. G. W., and Woodmen of the World. Mr. Perry's name is among the charter members of Eureka Lodge No. 636, Loyal Order of Moose, of which he has been secretary ever since its organization, June 17, 1911. He is also a member of the Humboldt Club.
STEPHEN GIULIERI .- The oldest of a family of five children, of whom all now reside in the state of California, Stephen Giulieri was born in Cognasco, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, June 24, 1855, the son of Dominic, a farmer of that country, and Rosa (Calzascia) Giulieri, both of whom are now deceased. The boyhood of Stephen was spent upon his father's farm, and he received his education at the local public schools, in the year 1874 removing to America, and settling in Marin county, Cal., where for four years he was
80+
HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY
employed on a dairy farm. In 1878 he came to Eureka on the steamer Pelican. The following three years were spent in the same line of work at Bear River Ridge, in Humboldt county, after which time he was for three years employed in a sawmill, returning, however, to Bear River Ridge for a year in the employ of Mr. Russ, the owner of extensive ranches in that vicinity, and continuing in the dairy business. Mr. Giulieri was for a period of twelve years the manager of the Mountain Glen ranch. Determining then to start in business for himself, in the year 1897 he removed to Salmon Creek, where he leased the J. M. Tierney ranch for the space of ten years, an estate which comprised an area of one hundred twenty acres, and two years later took in his brother Charles as partner, an arrangement which continued for two years, when he sold his interests in the business to his brother and secured employment himself upon different dairies in the vicinity for a few years. After a year spent thus at Ferndale, and another at Bear River, at which place he was also for two years manager of the Mazeppa ranch, Mr. Giulieri leased sixty-five acres on Cannibal Island, being a part of the Dillon ranch, where he conducted a dairy of forty cows. His present place, which consists of sixty acres located on Salmon creek, he bought in the year 1909, in partnership with his brother Charles, with whom he had formerly leased the Tierney ranch at the same place, and here Mr. Giulieri now makes his home, having built a new bungalow and enlarged and increased the number of buildings and improved the property. The soil consists of fertile bottom land, and he is enabled to raise thereon all the hay and green feed required by his fine dairy herd of Jersey and Durham cows. In his political interests Mr. Giulieri is a member of the Republican party, for, though the business at his farm occupies much of his time, he yet takes an active part in the upbuilding of the new country where he has chosen to make his home and which is proving such a profitable land in which to reside. Indeed, he may be rated among the old timers in the county, which his steady industry and ability have helped to bring to the front among the counties of the western coast.
W. H. HELLARD, JOHN H. HELLARD .- The first improvements made at Alderpoint were made by W. H. Hellard, of the firm of Hellard & Son, and were in the shape of a two-story hotel building, built in 1911, at the cost of $4500. This firm, which is composed of W. H. Hellard as senior partner, and his son, John H. Hellard, as junior member, is one of the most enterprising and progressive in Alderpoint, and is doing much for the devel- opment of the town and surrounding country. Both father and son arc wide awake to all business opportunities and have diversified interests. They are. besides the operation of the Alderpoint hotel, interested in farming, and in portable saw mills, and John Hellard is also clerk in the local post office, having held this position since the organization of the office in 1909. He is a young man of more than ordinary ability, of strong character, and of exceptionally high business principles. He also possesses those rarest of qualities, sane judgment and common sense.
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.