USA > California > Humboldt County > History of Humboldt County, California : with illustrations descriptive of its scenery, farms, residences, public buildings, factories, hotels, business houses, schools, churches, etc., from original drawings, including biographical sketches > Part 37
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, His next venture was to buy goods, take in a partner, and open a store at Volcano, Amador County. In speaking of this enterprise Mr. Russ says in his peculiarly qniet, humorous way. " we did an excellent credit business, and left the profits on the books where they stil remain uncollected." Of course this business did not continue long. Mr. Russ and his partner closed up business, and Mr. Russ purchased a number of beef cattle and drove them to a place on the Yuba River, then known as Onion Valley, where he sokl his cattle at a fair profit and went to mining. He continued mining about four months with good success. From there he went to Sacramento Val- ley, put up a large amount of hay which he took to Colusa, and opened a hay-yard. This venture proved profitable, and Mr. Russ purchased a number of teams and commenced freight- ing goods from Colusa to Shasta City. While engaged in this business he was attacked with chills and fever. He closed out bis business and departed for Placerville.
Here he purchased a drove of cattle and started for Hum- boldt in the fall of 1852. He first remained at Rohnerville, then visited Table Bluffs, but thinking there was some valua- ble territory ou Eel River, near where Ferndale now is, he. determined to explore it. Accordingly he purchased a skiff hauled it to Eel River and set out for Centerville. The party
RES. OF JAS. E. MATHEWS, 5TH ST. BET. DA E STS. EUREKA, CAL.
RES. OF J.L.SOUTHMAYD, COR. OF BROADWAY & CEDAR. ST. EUREKA, CAL.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COUNTY PIONEERS.
arriving at the mouth of Eel River, made their boat fast and went into camp. After three or four days spent in the most toilsome labor, they reached the present site of Ferndale, where they went into winter quarters, subsisting chielly on elk meat and potatoes, the little flour obtainable being scarce at fifty cents per pound.
On the site of the old camp ground, Mr. Russ now has a fine brick store which is well stocked with all kinds of goods, and the constant ticking of the telegraph apparatus may be heard at alnost any time of the day. A wonderful change l'or twenty- four years! In the spring of 1853, Mr. Russ went to Sac- ramento with Mr. Berry Adams (now of Arcata), and returned with a large drove of beef cattle. Soon after their return to Humboldt County Messrs. Russ and Adams opened a meat inar- ket in Eurcka. After two or three years this business was discontinued, and Mr. Russ followed the rush to the Salmon River mines, where he remained three years. At the end of this time he went to Oregon and purchased a large drove of cattle which he brought to Bear River in this county. He started a meat market in Eureka in 1859.
Tul 1870 he erected the saw-mill of Russ & Co., in which he still owns a large interest. While at Salmon River he was elected .Justice of the Peace. His native good sense and clear judgment stood him in stead while holding this othce, and in a great measure compensated for the lack of special reading, so necessary to properly filling a judicial position.
In 1873 he was elected to represent Humboldt County in the California Legislature. His well-known character for thoroughness and sincerity, as well as his high social position at home, made him respected among his fellow members, and gave him at ouce an acknowledged position and much influ- ence in the House. He was active and zealous in the work of the session, and the Canada Thistle Bill, as well as the Hum- boldt County Road Law of that session were due mainly to his efforts.
Iu 1875 he was the Republican nominee for the Senate by aeclamation. He received a flattering vote, running far ahead of his ticket in Humboldt County, but, owing to the weak- ness of his party in Mendocino County, as well as the great popularity of his opponent, Judge MeGarvey, in his own county, Mr. Russ was defeated by a small majority.
Mr. Russ still resides uear Ferndale on his farm. His pos- sessions are very large. He owns some 50,000 acres of land, over which roam some 3,500 head of cattle, 2,000 of which are dairy cows; 13,000 sheep, 400 hogs, fifty horses, and twenty- five mnules The land is divided into twenty-one dairy ranehes.
His meat market in Eureka is a very large establishment, and his store at Ferndale, with his mill at Eureka, represent a very large capital, and do an extensive business, giving em- ployment to about 300 mnen, thus being a great benefit to the common people. He has never failed in business, although not always as successful in his ventures as he would have wished.
He is now one of the largest land owners and wealthy men of California.
II» is a great friend of education, has contributed liberally to every educational institution that has ever lxen erected in Eureka and the county, and is now the principal stockholder in the Humboldt Seminary of Eureka. In person, Mr. Russ is five feet eight inches in height, and stoutly built llis com- plexion is dark and his whole appearance indicative of great strength and vigor. He is yet in the prime of life, and his gen- cral health excellent.
He was married in 1854 to Miss Zipporah Patrick, a native of Illinois, but a resident of lIninboldt County, an excellent lady, and has been blessed with thirteen children, ten of whom are still living.
In 1876, accompanied by his family, he visited the C'entri- nial, and made an extensive trip to the scenes of his childhood in Maine. Socially, Mr. Russ is allable, cheerful, and hospita- ble. There is a quiet humor about him which is very agreea- ble without being at all showy, and which makes him a very desirable half-hour companion.
The long continuance of his business associations shows that he wears well, and the regard his employes have for him shows that he iloes not abuse the power his wealth gives him. He is a Protestant in religion, and in politics a strong Re- publican. Mr. Russ is, in every sense, a self-made man. He is pleasantly situated in his home, surrounded by his family.
In 1880 Mr. Russ was one of the delegates from California for the Republican party to the Chicago Convention; he was instructed to vote for Blaine, and continued to do so until Gar- field's nomination was assured, thus showing his true Republi- can spirit. He has figured prominently in politics for some time, and is honest in his purpose.
ELIAS H. HOWARD.
E. H. Howard was born July 10, 1818. near Poughkeepsie, County of Duchess, New York. After some years spent at school at Burlington, New Jersey, he was matriculated in the University of the City of New York, from which he was grad- uated in the Class of 1837, receiving one of its commencement honors. In the same year entered on the study of law at Richmond, Virginia, in the office of Sidney S. Baxter, Attorney- General of the Commonwealth. Soon after he became editor and proprietor of the Richmond Herald, a paper devoted to news and literature and published in the interest of an as- sociation of young men mostly engaged in professional studies, and which was afterwards continued as the Richmond Lyceum Journal. In May, 1840, Mr. Howard was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the Commonwealth of Virginia, and located in practice in the circuit of L. Summers, Superior Court Judge. Was in the same year married to Miss Elvira A. daughter of Col. R. Willburn, of Parisburg. Was ap- pointed District Attorney for the county of Logan and eleeted member of the State Convention in 1841.
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HII'MBOLDT COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
Mr. Howard removed to the West, and in 1844 settled in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. During his first year's residence there he was ocenpied on special ,luty as assistant to Lieut. Joseph D. Webster, U. S. corps of Topographical Engineers, (since Brig- adier General U. S. A.). Mr. Howard then resumed practice of his profession in partnership with Elisha Fox Cook and at the beginning of President Polk's alininistration was commissioned Postmaster for the city of Sheboygan, which office he held un- til near its close, February, 1849, at which time he resigned and in the following spring started for California with his fam- ily (wife and child), by the Santa Fe and Gila route. On reaching the Gila River at the Pima Villages he determined to test the practicability of navigating the stream, and accord- ingly he launched the boly of his wagon, which had been pur- posely modeled for amphibious service, and now was to be tried on a new element, as a family barge on the Nile of Arizona. The after-part was a cosy apartment handsomely fitted and upholstered and specially appointed for family usc. Having embarked, with Dr. J. M. Ball, of Louisville, Kentucky, and the Rev. Mr. Stephens, a Baptist clergyman of Hannibal, Missouri, as compagnons les voyage, Mr. Howard successfully made the passage, arriving at Fort Yuma in three and one-half days from place of embarkation ; a distance, by the river's course, of 225 miles.
FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN ARIZONA.
On this imrt of the journey, September 20, 1849, a little rumpus happened by reason of a stowaway being found aboard. A lady was at the bottom of it. But as Mrs. Howard declared the stranger to be her best beloved, and that she would be responsible for his fare as well as good behavior as her own dar- ling bube, he was at once admitted to the houors of the ship, and voted to be the first child born of American parents in Arizona.
Arriving at San Diego Mr. Howard was compelled to a delay of one month, for passage to San Francisco. The Pan- ama line sailed monthly and the last steamer had then just left port np the coast. By permission of Major Heintzleman,* Mr. Howard occupied quarters in the Missiou Church at the head of San Diego Valley. In this venerable sanctuary was his first house-keeping in the State. He has told the writer, that he always feels a twinge that necessity compelled him to profane with the fumes of the treneher and the kitchen, that altar which had been dedicated in clouds of incense to the Virgin and St. James ; but after all, poetic sensitiveness had no busi- nuss to intrude itself at such a time.
On the month following (December), having reached San Francisco, he at once entered into law practice associated with Stephen J. Field, Esq .; + their office beiug on the corner of Clay and Montgomery Streets, in what was then known as the " Belden Block."
March 19, 1830, he formed a co-partnership with Lieut. Douglass Ottinger * in an expedition up the coast. Uuder the auspices of the " Laura Virginia Association," the schooner Laura Virginia was dispatched with Ottinger as master, and it is due to this expedition that the first re-discovery of, and entrance from the ocean was made to, the harbor now known as Humboldt Bay.
From its contingent fund the L. V. A. as an acknowledg- ment of the special services of Ottinger & Howard iu this enterprise awarded to each the amount of $1,500, or its equiva- lent.
NAMING OF HUMBOLDT BAY.
At a meeting held April 17th on (now) Humboldt Poiut, of which Captain Ottinger was Chairman, and E. H. Howard, Sec- retary, it was thought to be tique to fix on some naine for the bay. Various names were proposed. Among others, "Ottin- ger," " Folsom," "Laura Virginia;" but all were voted down. The Secretary then presented the name of "Humboldt," in honor to the great philosopher and traveler, whose visit to the Central and South American States on the Pacific had enlarged and enriched the field of enthnological and physical science, but as yet had not been recognized by any local appellation bear- ing his name.
It was adopted without opposition.
THE FIRST ALCALDE.
At the same meeting E. H. Howard was elected Alcalde; in 1852, was elected Public Administrator for the County of Trinity, then inelnding the present territory of Humboldt; in 1856 and 1857, was District Attorney, and in 1858 and 1859, County Superintendent of public schools.
In 1864, he was appointed to county office which the records do not clearly state.
In 1854, was a candidate for District Attorney, Walter Van Dyke, Esq., his competitor, and was defeated by a majority of forty-three. He was candidate for the Assembly in 1863, A. Wiley, Esq., his opponent, being elected by a handsome major- ity.
For several years Mr. Howard was Chairman of Republican County Committee, and previous to the Grangers' Organization in the county, was President of the " Farmer's Union."
Until 1873, Mr. Howard had always lived upon his farm on Humboldt Bluff, at which time having leased his place, he removed to Eureka, where in the enjoyment of that competence which makes him independent of wealth, he, with hisfamily of wife and daughter now reside on a pleasantly situated home- stead at the corner of G and 6th Streets.
He held the office of Police Judge for the city, to which lie was elected in 1876, for a term of two years.
At the commencement of the Rebellion, he was a " Douglass Democrat," since which time he has prominently contributed to
· Commanding a detachment of soldiers on escort duty to Mexican Boundary Survey.
+ Now Justice of the United States Supreme Court.
* On leave of absence-of Revenue Cutter Frolic.
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BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COUNTY PIONEERS.
the organization and support of the Republican Party, and the defense of its principles. The writer of this (who has enjoyed the acquaintance: of its subject for over thirty-five years, has failed to get Mr. Howard's consent to what he had further pre- pared touching his personal characteristics.
But at the risk of his displeasure we will add that Str. How- ard is a gentleman of varied antenttivated attaininents, dleliber- ative and sound judgment, a graceful writer, of warin attach- ments, and never disposed to surrender his own convictions for the sake of popular success. In the several public positions he has ocenpied, ability and faithfulness have marked the discharge of his duties.
1
Mr. Howard has six children living-daughters, Laidee (MErs. Fred Axe), Bertha (Mrs. Thomas Tomlinson;, and Helen Howard, and Gila, Thomas, and .Norman Howard.
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WHEN VANCK.
John Vance, Esq., is in the prime of life, having been born in the province of Nova Scotia, October 1, 1821. His father was a ship-buihler of the vicinity of St. Johns, New Bruns- wick. He had the advantages of a common-school coluication, and at sixteen years of age he began to learn the trade of ship and house carpentering. In the meantime he attended the night sessions of the St. Johns' Mechanics' Institute. At the nge of twenty he had finished his trado aud struck out For himself, as a builter and contractor, and located in Roxbury, Massachusetts.
He remained in Massachusetts until 1849, when he joined the tide of adventurers for California. He took passage in the steamer Ohio. The vessel put into Havana and was detained and confiscated. The passengers were transferred to the Georgia, Capt. Rogers was in command, who has since been lost at sea. After crossing the Isthmus on foot they re-em- barked in the Panama, Capt. Baily. He reached San Fran- cisco July 6, 1849, and engaged in house and mill-building. Ho nfterwards mined on Yuba, at Foster's Bar, in the spring of 1851, with very good success.
He came to Humboldt Bay, July 24, 1852, and has ever since been actively engaged in mill-building, lumbering and railroad construction, and other general business. He has built houses, mills, steamboats, ships, hotels and railroads, and says he finds in the latter the most intellectual field for men- tal labor of any other undertaking in his experience.
Mr. Vance has a fine tract of some 5,000 acres of timber on Mad River, and on it is a saw-mill that will cut 40,000 feet per day. He has a railroad seven miles long to transport the lumber to lighters on Mad River Slongh, whence his steamer Ada hnuls them to Eureka for shipment. He also has a saw- mill in Eureka with a capacity of 30,000 feet per day, and gets the logs for it by bauling them seven iniles on his railroad from Mad River Slough where they are put in the water and made in a raft and towed with his steamer Ada to Eureka, where they are manufactured into Inmber of all kinds.
His mills are fully described chewhere, but we will add an itein here in reference to the shingh capacity of the Mad River Mill where, on February 17, 1582. W. G. Ran laHl and the sawyer, E. B Rittenhouse, ent a larger muuber of shingles than had ever been ent before in Humboldt l'ounty in a day's run, running the figures up to 65,000. We think this has never been beaten, though they say that if the machine had been in first- class order they could easily have made it 70,000. They chal- lenge the sawyers of the county to cyjnal it.
Mr. Vance erected a bridge for bis railroad across Mud River, in 1875, at a cost of $10,000, but in the winter of 1877-8 it was swept away. Ho was still determined to have a superior bridge, and in the summer of 1878 he re-constructed it at n cost of $15,000. It is a fine structure, and the only Howe truss bridge in the county. It is inclosed with redwood and is fireproof. It formis one of our fiuest illustrations.
Mr. Vance is a public-spirited citizen and has done mnuch to develop the resources of Humboldt County. He was tho first to construct a railroad. His lumber and shingles are found in the markets of Australia, New York, Mexico, Central and South America. He has been sending humber to Tahiti for the past twenty-five years. In Arizona and all along the Pacific slope south can be found lumber bearing his brand.
To conduct all of Mr. Vance's business matters requires a clear head and great executive ability. He keeps employed about 150 men, forty work-oxen, and twenty borses, in his various business enterprises. He requires and uses a telephone line of twenty-two miles. His hotel is described elsewhere.
Mr. Vance is in politics a decided Republican, and in relig- ion he believes in being useful to himself and his fellow-men.
ISAAC MINOR.
It is really pleasant and instructive to young men to read the biographies of successful and prominent men. Their exan- ples should be imitated by all who complain of being roughly handled by fortune and nature.
Isaac Minor is one of the many examples, proving that even if unsuccessful at first, by energy a person may attain a compe- tency, and become a useful and influential citizen.
Mr. Minor was born on a farın in Fayette County, Pennsyl- vania, in 1830, and followed farming until of age. He left Uniontown, Pennsylvania, by way of New York and the Isth- mus, for California, the passage consuming two months and ten days, owing to detention on the Isthmus. He reached San Francisco, March 4, 1852, and like nearly everyone else at that time, proceeded to the mines. He went to Tuolumne County and was tolerably snecessful, aod in December, 1853, he came to Humboldt County, where he has since resided and been actively engaged in business. For the first six years he engaged in packing and trading with the mines and interior towns. He then settled on a ranch and engaged in stock- raising until the Indian war broke out, in 1862-3, when by Indian raids and the war he lost all he possessed. .
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BIOGRAPHIES OF THE COUNTY PIONEERS.
His loss did not dishearten him and with commendable energy he next located on his farm one mile from Arcata, which is rep- resented in the sketch we have made of his property which forms one of our largest views. The farm is composed of 140 acres of rich bottom-land, producing wheat, oats, barley, and pota- toes, which will average per acre, of wheat, 60 bushels, oats 100, and barley 80 bushels ; of potatoes 100 sacks per acre. In the view of his farm, at the side of his residence, will be noticed the orchard of 100 apple trees, 25 cherry, 12 plum, 12 pear, etc. At the right of the view will be secu the rail- road as it passes through his farm, and the distant timber-belt farming a fine background. He keeps some stock on the place, generally 100 head of cattle, 30 hogs, 30 thoroughbred rams, and 15 horses.
He was married in 1855 lo Miss H. C. Nixon, a native of Pennsylvanin. They have six children living, Theodore H., Isaac N., David W., Mary E., Bertie A., and Jessie I. Minor. That fearful disease, scarlet fever, claimed six children, Alice L., Florence, May, Lottie F., Maggie 1 .. , and Sarah L. Minor.
He engaged in the lumber business in 1875, in company with N. Il. Falk, and Imilt two steam mills near Arcata. First the Dolly Varden and next the Jolly Giant. Both of which he sold to Chandler, Erington & Co., of Santa Cruz. In 1881, in company with Isaac Cullberg and James Kirk, built the Warren Creek Mill, which has a cutting capacity of 35,000 feet per day. It is six miles from the shipping point to which the lumber is carried by the railroad owned and operated by Yorum & Fernald.
HON. CASPER S, RICKS.
C. S. Ricks was born at Rome, Perry County, Indiana, in 1821. After the age of fifteen years he engaged in the busi- uess of flat-boating on the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers until about 1842. He then removed to New Orleans, where he was engaged in the lumbering and commission business until the year 1847. After a short interval spent at Natchez in the superintendence of a saw-mill, resumed his former occupation at Now Orleans. Iu 1849 he came to California by the Isth- mus route, arriving in San Francisco after a passage of thirty- five days, ou the 18th day of August. Immediately thereafter went to the mines on the Yuba, remaining there about four months and meeting with moderate success. After leaving Yuba he was varionsly occupied in different parts of the State until he came to Humboldt Bay, where he settled (at Enreka) about the 1st day of July, 1850.
His first venture at the latter place was with a general assortment of merchandise, in which he opened business under the firm of Crozier & Ricks. This firm at once 'acquired an undivided one-half interest iu the original town site of Eureka. Soou after, having purchased the interest of his partner therein, Mr. Ricks devoted his energies and special attention to develop and secure to Eureka those natural advantages of loca- tiou, which he foresaw would soon enable it to distance and
«lefy all competition from rival business points on the Bay. By liberal advancements in land and money, Mr. Ricks had stimulated the establishment and growth of manufacturing enterprises, of which lumbering has been chief, and largely contributed to invite carly investments which have proved a source of permanent success to the owners therein, and pro -- perity to the town. In 185+ he attendedl at the session of the Legislature in the interest of the town site location of Eureka. and successfully exerted his influence towards the passage of the Act " to provide for the disposal of lots in the towns and villages on the public lands in the county of Humboldt."
In 1855 he represented the county in the Assembly of the State Legislature, to which position he was chosen his own snc- ecssor for the second term. At the first term was passed the act locating the county seat at Eureka.
He was also, in 1861, appointed to fill a vacancy as District Attorney for Humboldt County, which office he hold for one term. Subsequent to the more active participation in public affairs, his time and supervision have been given chiefly to his private interests, and particularly to the improvement of his real estate in the eity.
EUREKA WATER-WORKS.
Deserving of prominent mention is the construction of water-works, with elevated reservoirs, supplied from an arte- sian well, by steam power, and distributing by three miles of mains the best of water to the principal business part of the city. While it is remunerative as an individual enterprise it greatly adds to the private convenience of citizens and to the general security in case of fires. His son "Lam" is superin- tendent of them. The "Palace Stables" built, stocked and equipped by Mr. Rieks, is one of the largest, and most complete in its appointments of any on the coast, and is conducted under the personal care of his son Thomas F. Rieks.
To the numerous dwellings wbich he had built before, Mr Ricks, within the last ten years, has added two fire-proof brick blocks, one of two stories, having three capacious rooms on the first floor for business purposes, with suits of office apartments on the second floor; the other block containing six large busi- ness subdivisions, with open, ornamental and attractive fronts, and all situated in the very beart of tradc.
Mr. Ricks is probably the largest owner of improved real estate sitnated in the city. He has always been among the foremost in affairs of public enterprise and in his own private concerus, devoting the acquirements of a varied business expe- rience in early life so as to pluck success from opportunities which others might altogether fail to see. His extensive and almost sole interest being within the limits of the city, Mr. Ricks' natural ambition is to contribute, as far as may be, towards its growtb and prosperity. To this end be has not besi- tated to risk pecuniary investments, although they might not prove of immediate profit to himself. Mr. Ricks, however, never shelters bimself behind a pretense to unselfishness in his
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