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 95

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 95

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).

872

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

which he bought a ranch at Shively and became interested in fruit-farming. As had been the case in Kansas, his ability for office holding became recog- nized by his fellow citizens and in 1906 he was appointed deputy county clerk under George Cousins, an office which he held for one year, after which he returned to his ranch, in addition to the management of which he also served as deputy county assessor for three years. Thereafter he received the appointment of deputy United States marshal and came to Eureka. How- ever, after six months he resigned the office to accept the appointment of under-sheriff to Sheriff Robert A. Redmond, a position which he has ably filled since January, 1910. He has disposed of his ranch at Shively, but he still retains his buildings and shingle mill at Holmes, in the running of the latter having a capable partner in George R. Young of Pepperwood, who operates the mill whenever the price of shingles justifies their manufacture. The mill has proved a source of profit to both partners, each in his own name owning redwood lands. With what has preceded regarding Mr. Helms' public life it is needless to state that he is a stanch Republican. However, he is liberal in his views and recognizes good even in his opponents. Fra- ternally he is a member of Hoopa Tribe, I. O. R. M., of Eureka.

GATLIFF & THOMPSON .- The leading photographers in Eureka at the present time are Gatliff & Thompson, whose studios are located in the Connick & St. Clair building, at the corner of Fourth and F streets. Both of the partners are thorough masters of photography and artists in their line. Their work is the best and all the later styles and types of photography are to be found in their studios, which are artistic and attractive to a degree. They enjoy the patronage of the best people in Eureka and Humboldt county, and are always careful to have all their work up to their established high standard. The partnership is composed of Bertram Gatliff and Joseph G. Thompson, the former being the senior partner, and a resident of Eureka for many years.

Both Mr. Gatliff and Mr. Thompson are popular with a wide circle of personal friends in Eureka, and their standing among business and pro- fessional men of the city is very high. Their business is prosperous and is conducted along modern lines, and they themselves are both progressive, wideawake young business men. They are enthusiastic and energetic boosters for their home city, and take an active part in all that tends for the welfare of the municipality.

GEORGE S. SHEDDEN .- A native of Scotland, but a resident of America since early childhood, George S. Shedden is today one of the most prominent and prosperous of Eureka's business men, and is one of the most highly respected of her citizens. Ile came to Eureka as a drug clerk, but very soon bought out the business from his employer, and has since continued to conduct it as an independent enterprise, with the greatest success. His thrift and conscientious industry have reaped a splendid reward, and today he is well on the high road to wealth. He is interested in copper properties in Humboldt county, together with other prominent business and professional men of Eureka, which bid fair to make all the stockholders therein inde- pendently wealthy within the near future.

Mr. Shedden was born in Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland, December 23, 1863. His father was John Shedden and his mother was Margaret (McCall) Shedden, both natives of Ayrshire, Scotland. They were married at Ayr,

873

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

Scotland, and the present honored citizen of Eureka was the youngest of seven children. The father was gardener at Airdrie House, and held this position for many years. He removed to the United States with his family in 1873, when George S. was ten years of age, locating in Newport, R. I. There the son grew to manhood, receiving his education in the public schools. In January, 1883, when he was twenty years of age, he came west to For- mosa, Jewell county, Kans., where he was engaged by an elder brother, Thomas Shedden, as a drug clerk, he being the owner of a drug store there.

It was in 1888 that Mr. Shedden finally came to California, locating at Santa Cruz, where he was employed in the drug business. He remained there until 1895, when he went to San Jose to accept a position in the drug firm of Perrin & Stephenson, remaining with them for ten years, and making an enviable reputation for himself for reliability and trustworthiness. In 1905 he came to Eureka with Mr. Stephenson, his former employer in San Jose, who had purchased the store of W. E. Moore in Eureka. Almost immediately Mr. Stephenson desired to dispose of his interests and leave Eureka. Accord- ingly, Mr. Shedden bought a half interest in the business, paying for it the first year from the profits of the store. Later he bought the remaining one- half interest, which has since been cleared away by the profits of the en- terprisc.

The marriage of Mr. Shedden took place in Eureka, August 13, 1911, uniting him with Mrs. Helen Beckwith Skinner, the daughter of Leonard and Caroline Beckwith, and a native of Hydesville, Humboldt county. Her father is one of the oldest settlers in Eureka, where he is held in especially high estecm, having been closely associated with the upbuilding of Humboldt county for many years, and being a man of more than ordinary ability and worth. Mrs. Shedden is the mother of one daughter by her first husband, Margaret Skinner, who makes her home with Mr. Shedden.

The copper property in which Mr. Shedden is interested is owned by a corporation of fifteen prominent business and professional men of Eureka, and is known as the Humboldt Copper Mining Company, of which Mr. Shedden is a director.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Shedden are popular members of their social circle in Eureka, and are the center of a wide circle of warm friends and admiring acquaintances.

WILLIAM LIGHT .- Lying on the Briceland road two and a half miles west of Garberville, Humboldt county, is the Light ranch of three hundred twenty acres, where Mr. and Mrs. William Light have resided continuously since 1883. They have been residents of California, however, for a much longer period, both having come to this state during the sixties. Mr. Light, in common with many emigrants from the eastern states in his day, tried mining when he began life on the Pacific coast, but a very brief experience in that line, and a better understanding of the varied resources of the country aside from its mineral wealth, convinced him that it was not the only road to prosperity, and he has followed agricultural pursuits with highly satis- factory results. He and his wife are counted among the most esteemed resi- dents in their section of the county.

Mr. Light was born in Broome county, N. Y., January 16, 1842, and lived on his father's farm until he reached his majority. Then he decided to come out to California, and made the trip by the Nicaraguan route. He was soon

874

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

at work in the gold fields in Placer county, but he became disgusted after a week's trial of mining and went to work for his uncle, Elijah Light, on a farm in Marin county, remaining with him one season. Proceeding thence to Sonoma county, he rented a dairy ranch comprising one hundred acres situated in the Coleman valley, and was successfully engaged in agricultural work on his own account in that county until his removal ao Humboldt county, in 1883. That year he bought the ranch of three hundred twenty acres where he has since had his home, and which during his ownership has under- gone steady and intelligent improvement. Besides cultivating it carefully he has put up two sets of buildings, one occupied by himself and wife, the other by their daughter, Mrs. Hinckley, to whom the property was turned over recently, Mr. Light having retired from active labor to enjoy the com- fortable home and competence he acquired during his busy career. Mr. Light's honorable life, his pleasant relations with his neighbors, and thrifty management of his property, all combine to establish him as one of the highly desirable residents of his locality.

During his residence in Sonoma county Mr. Light married Mrs. Cynthia (Williams) Barton, who came to California with her parents in 1865. By her first marriage she had two children : Clara, Mrs. Good, who died in Oakland, March 12, 1909; and J. W., living at Eureka. One child has been born to her union with Mr. Light, Amy, now Mrs. AAlexis Hinckley, and they have two children, George and Clara. Politically Mr. Light is a Democrat, his wife a Republican. She is a Christian Scientist in religious belief, and pos- sesses estimable personal qualities which have endeared her to a large circle of friends and acquaintances. Even-tempered and serene, and accustomed to accepting her duties philosophically and her pleasures gratefully, she has a disposition which attracts friendship, and her generous nature is appreciated by all who have had the opportunity of knowing her.

Mrs. Light was born at Hyde Park, Vt., the third child of Mr. and Mrs. William Williams, farming people, who moved to New Hampshire during her carly life. The father came to California alone in 1853, and became interested in farming at Tomales, Marin county. Some time later he returned to Hebron, N. H., for his wife and family of four children, whom he brought . to the Pacific coast in 1865. They were at sea when news was received of Lincoln's assassination, and the diversity of opinion among the passengers regarding the affair nearly caused a riot on board.

Just as this goes to press Mr. Light died, July 18, 1915. His loss is mourned not only by his dear ones, but by all who knew him. He was a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows for forty-two years, being a member of Occidental Lodge, Sonoma county.

EDWARD STUART FORBES .- It would be difficult to find a young man more emphatically in accord with the true western spirit of progress or more keenly alive to the opportunities awaiting the industrious and in- telligent man of affairs in Humboldt county than Edward S. Forbes, junior member of the firm of Forbes Bros. They have built up a far-reaching stock and dairy business and identified themselves with the best interests of their district. Out of his own experience Mr. Forbes has evolved the theory that any young man with ambition and the correct theories of life may attain unto his goal, providing his diversions do not include gambling, drinking and kindred destroyers of happiness. He is a fine type of young manhood, of

875

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

athletic build, six feet five inches in height. Besides renting the old home place of a quarter section, Forbes Bros. operate eleven hundred acres of the Beaty range, which they rent, and also have leased eight hundred acres from Dick Mason. Their properties are located near Blocksburg. They devote their time to general farming and dairying, having on their ranch a fine herd of ninety cattle of the best breeds. The progressive spirit possessed by the brothers is shown in the improvements which they have introduced, as it is their desire to have only the very best in farm machinery and dairy equipment.

A representative of a fine old Scotch family which was among the first to locate in Humboldt county, Mr. Forbes was born at Elk River, February 23, 1895. His father, Alexander Forbes, came to America when a young man and during the early fifties became a resident of California at a time when Humboldt county was wild and almost entirely uncultivated. However, in spite of hardships and obstacles, in spite of having to start for himself in a strange country without friends, he gained a success that reflects credit upon his sterling Scotch characteristics. He lived to the advanced age of eighty- six years, passing away in 1908. To himself and wife, Harriet Honora (Creek) Forbes, were born four children: Robert Bruce, the senior member of the firm of Forbes Bros., married Miss Rosina Curless, a native of Van Dusen township, this county ; Fred Victor, foreman of the Howard Auto Company, makes his home in Portland, Ore .; Myron C. married Miss Florence Barrett and is living at Fortuna ; and Edward Stuart. On the death of her husband Mrs. Forbes married Frank B. Morey and is making her home in Fortuna.

WILLIAM E. SMITH .- Since the spring of 1914 the books of the Pacific Oak Extract Company, at Briceland, have been under the care of William E. Smith, who though yet a young man has acquired a very high reputation as bookkeeper and accountant. His training and the responsible positions he has held were thorough preparation for his present duties, in which his work has been up to the high standards for which he has become known. Mr. Smith was born November 24, 1892, on a ranch seven miles west of Briceland, son of the late Abraham Smith. The father was a typical westerner and experienced ranchman. From the time he was eleven years old he was a great rider and a good pistol shot, could spin a lariat to perfec- tion, and had the various other accomplishments acquired in riding the ranges. He was thus engaged, as a cowboy, in Montana for years before coming to California, settling in Humboldt county in 1888. He married Miss Julia Calkins, of Briceland, this county, and two children were born to their mar- riage: Mrs. Katie Teel, who lives at Bakersfield, Cal. ; and William E. After the father's death the mother remarried, being now the wife of WV. Q. Louk, and living at Garberville, Humboldt county.

William E. Smith grew up at Garberville, where he attended public school. He was only ten years old when his father died, but his mother reared him carefully and gave him all possible advantages. When a youth he took the commercial course at the Eureka business college, from which he was graudated in 1909, following immediately with the post-graduate course. He now holds a teacher's certificate, being not only a proficient bookkeeper and accountant from the practical standpoint, but also an expert instructor in the art. During 1910-11 he taught in the Eureka business college, and then took a position with the Shelter Cove Wharf & Warehouse Company, keeping their books two years. For the next six months he was similarly employed

876

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

by the Garberville Mercantile Company, on April 1, 1914, taking his present position, with the Pacific Oak Extract Company. This company conducts the most important industry in southern Humboldt county, fifty men being employed at its works in Briceland and in the woods getting out bark. Its product, oak extract used in tanning, is made from the bark of the oak growths on the edge of the redwood belt, which for many years were considered un- worthy of commercial exploitation. Thus the business has a double value, having converted what was once looked upon as a waste product of this region to an article for which there is steady demand. The extract company at Briceland is subsidiary to the Wagner Leather Company, of Stockton, Cal., which uses all the output of the works. Mr. Smith has taken his place among the valued employees of the company, and his reliability and capability are receiving just appreciation. He has made an excellent beginning in business.

On May 16, 1914, Mr. Smith was married, to Miss Pearl Landergen, of Upper Mattole, this county, daughter of R. R. Landergen, a rancher of that region. Socially Mr. Smith holds membership in the lodge of Modern Wood- men at Eureka, and in Hoopa Tribe, Improved Order of Red Men, of the same place.

LEOPOLD FREDERICK GROTHE .- The justice of the peace of Briceland township in Humboldt county, Cal., a popular and enterprising man in that vicinity, and the owner of extensive property in that county, Leopold Frederick Grothe is a native son of California, having been born at Bell Springs, Mendocino county, on August 15, 1880, the son of Frederick August Grothe, who, with his brother Ferdinand, came from Germany to New York and two years later to the northern part of California in the early days, they being among the first permanent settlers of northern Mendocino county.

Berlin, Germany, was the native home of Mr. Grothe's father, and there he grew up and learned the blacksmith's trade, in 1867 coming to the United States, where for two years he remained in Long Island City, N. Y., in the year 1869 making his way to Sacramento, Cal., where he commenced farm- ing operations in company with Messrs. Chittenden and Weinkauf. With his partners he removed to Mendocino county, locating claims at or near Bell Springs, and with them engaged in stock raising, continuing the part- nership for a period of about seven years, when it was dissolved and by the division of the property Frederick August Grothe became the owner of the ranch at Bell Springs. Building up a well improved ranch there, he added to it from time to time until he had in his possession about ten thousand acres of land at the time of his death. With the aid of his sons he engaged in cattle and sheep raising on an extensive scale, meeting with remarkable suc- cess and erecting a comfortable residence on his ranch at Bell Springs, which has for many years been the stopping place for travelers between points in Humboldt county and the Bay region. Both Mr. Grothe and his wife were devoted to the Lutheran faith, in which they had been reared, his wife having been Anna Weinkauf, a native of Germany, who died in June, 1891, the death of Mr. Grothe occurring in January, 1910. They were the parents of nine children, as follows: Louise, now Mrs. Linser, residing near Bell Springs; Selma, who was formerly a teacher, but now presides over the Bell Springs home; Otto, engaged on the home ranch; Leopold Frederick, the owner of an extensive ranch in Humboldt county : Franz, who remains on the home

P. +

LA. Grothe.

879

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

ranch ; Henry, engaged in the dairy business at Woodland, Cal .; Paul and Weinkauf, who are also on the home ranch ; and Rose, a teacher, who makes her home on the Bell Springs ranch. The father is remembered as having brought the first drove of sheep into northern Mendocino county, and as being the last to go out of the business on account of the coyotes which brought destruction to so many of the flocks of that region. The ranch is still owned by the family and is operated under the firm name of Grothe Brothers.

The son, Leopold Frederick Grothe, who was brought up on the Bell Springs ranch, receiving his education in the public schools, from a lad was well acquainted with the business of stock raising and continued at the home ranch until accepting the position of foreman of the Ramsey Home ranch near Bell Springs for Harry Ramsey, after the great fire in San Francisco, however, removing to that city, where for a year he followed the carpenter's trade, returning to the Ramsey ranch for a short period of time. In 1911 he came to Briceland, Cal., to assume the management of the Ferdinand Grothe ranch which his family had inherited from the uncle, Ferdinand Grothe, who in the early days had settled at Bell Springs, where he home- steaded with his brother and carried on stock raising for several years, selling out his business and removing to Briceland, where he purchased the William Marshall place. Here he engaged in sheep raising, meeting with success until the inroads of the coyotes caused him to give up the raising of sheep and devote himself to his cattle, wherein also he was successful. A well known and popular man, active in local politics and an ardent admirer of the Republican platform, Ferdinand Grothe was a prominent member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined the Cahto lodge No. 206 soon after coming to California. He was never married, and his death occurred in 1911, at which time his nephew, Leopold Frederick. assumed charge of his property, where he has since resided, in 1914 selling his interest in the estate at Bell Springs and purchasing the Briceland ranch of the estate, by which transaction Leopold Frederick is now sole owner of his uncle's Briceland ranch, which comprises over fifteen hundred acres located on Red- wood creek, and is known as the Heart G ranch, Mr. Grothe's brand being a G within a heart. On this estate range over one hundred twenty-five head of cattle, Mr. Grothe making a specialty of high grade short horn Durham cattle and also raising hogs. The property is splendid grazing land, well adapted to stock raising, and besides the advantages of Redwood creek, there are numerous small streams and springs upon the land, including a sulphur spring, and Mr. Grothe is placing redwood troughs in convenient locations for the stock, the water being brought thereto by iron pipes, so that his cattle have ample drinking facilities.

A member of the Cahto Lodge No. 206, I. O. O. F., and in politics an enthusiastic and stanch Republican, Mr. Grothe is actively interested in the welfare of the community where he resides, having been elected justice of the peace of Briceland township by a handsome majority, assuming the duties of his office in January, 1915.

HARRY COWEN .- The prosperity of the little town of Briceland has been materially aided by the operations of the Pacific Oak Extract Company, which affords employment to some fifty men, supplying the Wagner Leather Company, of Stockton, Cal., with a high-grade extract of oak bark used in the tanning of its superior products. Harry Cowen, one of the most respected

880

HISTORY OF HUMBOLDT COUNTY

citizens of this place, is the efficient woods foreman for this company, whose employ he entered in 1906, and his varied duties have been so capably performed that he is recognized as one of the men whose conscientious efforts and intelligent understanding of the requirements of the business have been the foundation upon which its success is laid. He has been a resident of southern Humboldt county since 1901.

Mr. Cowen is a native of Pennsylvania, born November 15, 1871, near the center of the state, on the Susquehanna river, at Clearfield, Clearfield county, and was the sixth in the family of fifteen children born to Robert and Hannah (Henchbarger) Cowen, who were married in Pennsylvania ; the mother was born in that state. Robert Cowen made an honorable record as a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting in 1863 in the One Hundred Tenth regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and serving until 1865. At one time he owned five hundred acres of timber land in Pennsylvania, but his patriotism cost him his property, for he lost his land and home on account of accumulated interest debts. Subsequently he rented farms in that state. In 1898 he and his wife moved to California.

Harry Cowen was brought up in Pennsylvania and began to make his own living when only a boy, becoming used to hard work carly. His first experience in his present business was acquired there, cutting and peeling hemlock bark, and being large for his age and very strong he did heavy labor when a mere youth. When eighteen years old he began to follow the log drives on the Susquehanna river, from the lumber regions, being thus engaged for ten seasons. Having concluded to settle in the west he spent some time deciding on a location, looking over twenty-two of the north- western states and eventually making his home in Mendocino county, Cal. For the several years following he was employed there by the Usall Lumber Company, at Usall. In 1900, at the time of the rush to Nome, he went up to Alaska for a season, and upon his return to California in the fall of that year he located at Garberville, Humboldt county, renting the Swithenbank place, four miles north of that town. He remained on that property five years, during which time he was very successful. The year after the big earthquake, 1906, he took the contract from the supervisors to fix the road to Shelter Cove, a large undertaking and difficult to carry out for many reasons, and his highly satisfactory completion of the contract was a proof of executive ability, it being done in the thorough manner typical of every- thing he handles. He was then induced to help out a friend who had entered into an unusually responsible contract with the Pacific Oak Extract Company to furnish a large quantity of tanbark, and then began to work for the company on his own account, in the fall of that year. His valuable qualities were soon recognized, and in the spring of 1907 he took the position of woods foreman, which he has since filled. Most of his time and attention is given to his work in this connection, which includes a variety of arduous and important duties. The cutting and peeling of the oak tanbark, and its delivery to the works, which are located on Redwood creek half a mile from Briceland, are intrusted to him, with all the incidental business of buying tanbark timber as needed, or when there is a favorable opportunity; of looking after the curing systematically and economically ; and of laying out and building the roads necessary to facilitate its transportation from the woods, which must usually be accomplished over long and difficult mountainous trails. The

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 95

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