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 39
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In 1864 he removed to Eureka, having purchased the Hum- boklt Times, and was engaged in this business up to the time of his death.
During his residence in Humboldt County he served as County Judge for fourteen years. Having joined the order of Odd Fellows at the age of twenty-one years, he remained an active member of that order nutil the time of his death, a period of thirty-six years.
Was one of the founders of Anniversary Lodge, I. O. O. F., of Arcata, and Fortuna Lolge of Enreka. Was a member of Mt. Zion Encampment; of the Veteran Odd Fellows of San Francisco, and a member of Humboldt Chapter Royal Arch Masons. He was also a member of the Society of Humboldt County Pioneers.
He died November 5, 1880, after a long and painful illness. All that remained of a kind and doting father and affectionate and loving husband, a true friend and a noble man, passed From the gaze of mortal eye.
JOHN J. DE HAVEN.
The subject of this sketch was born March 12, 1845, in St. Joseph, Buchanan County, Mo., which place his parents left in the spring of 1849, for California, and reached Sacramento in August of that year, crossing the plains. He resided there from August, 1849, to May, 1853, when he came to this county which he has since made liis- home.
In 1862 he commenced work as a printer, and worked at his trade for four years. While working as a printer in the office of the Humboldt Times, he for part of the time aeted as edi- tor and displayed ability in preparing articles and managing the paper.
He read law with the late Judge J E. Wyman and was admitted to the Bar in March, 1866, and now occupies a lead- ing place among the attorneys of the county.
He was married in 1872 to Miss Z. J. Ball, a native of Ohio. They have two children, Jotham J. De Haven and Saralı Louisa De Haven.
In 1867 he was elected District Attorney, which office he resigned in 1869, to take his seat in the Legislature, baviug been elected to the Assembly that year.
He was elected to the State Senate in 1871 and served two session3. He has since been engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in Eurcka. In 1878 he was by a few votes defeated as a candidate to the Constitutional Convention from huis county. In politics Mr. De Haven is Republican.
ALEXANDER BRIZARD.
A. Brizard was born in Bordeaux, France, March 17, 1839 At the age of four years his father, being a sea captain, moved his family to Lima, Peru, where he located and embarked in a stage line from Callao to Lima, until 1848, when he reached San Francisco and was soon afterward followed by his family, who arrived September 25, 1849. Thence he left for Hnu- boldlt Bay, arriving August 25, 1850, and located at Arcata Soon after Alexander accompanied his father to the Trinity mines.
STARVATION TIMES IN THE MINES.
In the winter of 1852 and 1853, while Mr. Brizard was at the quines on the Trinity River, the snow was so deep that all communication between Uniontown (now Arcata) and the mines was shut off, and consequently all provisions at the mines were soon exhausted. One dollar a pound was charged for flour, and ouly five pounds could be obtained by one person. It soon gave out, and all other provisions, excepting barley, which the merchants sold at sixty-five cents per pound. This was ground in a coffee-mill and made into a paste, and was all they bad to eat excepting the mules and jacks, with now and then a fox or deer or wild cat.
Early in the winter they killed all the Jacks and mules, and salted tbem down for future use. They endured these hard- ships from November, 1852, until March, 1853, when a pack- train came in loaded with provisions. Flour was seventy-five cents per pound, and all else in proportion. No one died from starvation, however. In 1857, Mr. Brizard concluded to em- barked in a more lucrative pursuit, and engaged in packing at a good salary, and in 1858, secured a position with Roskill & Co., who were then the leading merchants of Arcata. Then wben they disposed of their business in 1859, he engaged with Spencer, Manhiem & Stern. They carried on the business until the death of Mr. Stern, when the firmn dissolved, selling out to Mr. Brizard and James C. Van Rossum iu 1862. In 1865, they purchased the business of William Codington & Co., and fol- lowed the business until 1871, when Mr. Brizard bought out his partner and carried on the business until 1875, wben he was burned out at a loss of $+0,000 with only $10,000 insurance. He soon opened a store by tbe material assistance from parties in San Francisco, wbo had confidence in his business abilities.
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HUMBOLDT COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
lu 1879, he purchased his present store, of which we have marle an illustration. He also has three other stores in Hum- bollt County in the interior, and one in Trinity County, and oue in Siskiyou County. He owns, or is interested in the above stores, five in number. He also has an interest in a pack-train of 100 mules, used for transporting merchandiso to the interior to the branch stores.
He lias a farin of 400 acres of first-class timber land easy of access.
Ile married Miss Maggie Henry in 1871, who was a native of Iowa. They have three boys, named Paul Alexander, Mar- cial Brousse and Henry Francis Brizard.
Mr. Brizard is a very energetic and wide-awake business man, and deserves great credit for his successful career. He is a generous citizen, and all public charities find in him a generous support.
T. M. BROWN.
Tho anbject of this skotch has the honor of having held the offico of Sheriff for a longor period than any other man in the Stato. He came to Trinity River in March, 1850, and to this section long lieforo any county organizations, and has resided in parts of tho territory which formed Shasta, Trinity, Klam- ath, and Humboldt. He has witnessed all the changes that havo taken place in this part of the State and participated in thom. He has assisted in developing the resources of this sec- tion both in agriculture and mining. He has now a valuable mining claim near tho old county seat of Klamath which we have described elsewhere.
Mr. Brown was Sheriff of Klamath County for thirteen years and of Humboldt four years, making a term of seven- teen years. This fact speaks volumes for his ability and intogrity, and nothing we can say will add any luster to his carcer.
He was born in Overton County, Tennessee, January 26, 1829, and followed a pioneer life on the frontier of Illinois and Missouri.
He left Harrison County, Missouri, by the overland route, in 1849, consuming over five months on the journey, reaching Sacramento October 5, 1849. He re-crossed and returned with his family in 1860.
He was married in 1847 to Miss S. J. Poynter who was born iu Kentucky. They have one child, Martha J. Brown.
CHARLES WILLIAM LONG.
C. W. Long was born on a farm in Kingsclear, York County, New Brunswick, February 26, 1826, and followed the business of farming until 1845, when he engaged in the lumber business. He then worked two years at carpentering previous to start- ing for California, which be did from St. Johns, December 13, 1849, on board the bark James via Cape Horn, and arrived in San Francisco, Angust 24, 1850, after a passage of 254 days.
He came to Humboldt on the first steamer, the Sea Gull,
that entered the harbor on September 25, 1850. She was after- wards wrecked on Humboldt Bar. He has resided in Eurcka since coming here, except about ciglitcen months of 1855-56, when he engaged in farming in Hoopa Valley, at that time in Kłamatlı County. In 1850 he engaged first in lumbering and afterwards in 1852-53, in general merchandising and again tried lumbering in 1855.
He was married to Miss Francis Ann Snider in 1854, a native of New Brunswick. She died November 10, 1874, and he married Mrs. Matilda Angeline La Grange, October 28, 1878. The children's names are Charles Edwin, Katie, Harriet, Mary E., and Milton Long.
HENRY ROHNER.
Henry Rohner, whose history we give in brief, was born in Switzerland, in the year 1829. He was raised on a farm, and at suitable age learned the printer's trade, and in 1847, at the age of eighteen, emigrated to the United States, landing at New Orleans, where he followed his trade for two years.
In 1849 he went to Louisville, Kentucky, from whence he went to Sacramento, and in 1851 to Humboldt County, where ho has since resided, making himself an honorable name and for- tunc, and rising from obscurity to a position of prominence and trust.
At St. Joseph, Missouri, with four others, they purchased a yoke of oxen, wagon and outfit for the journey overland, their route being across the plains, by Fort Hall and Truckce River to Sacramento, arriving on the 18th of September, 1849, just four months from the time of starting. He walked the whole distance except a half-day when he was sick, traveling mostly from 2 A. M. until noon. Five men composed the party and owned jointly the team and outfit. At the end of the trip they had left of their store, two pounds of bacon, five pounds of flour and a little coffee.
Mr. Robner mined on the Yuba, Feather, and Trinity Rivers with moderate success. In the fall of 1852, he located a place on Eel River, and operated in the Trinity River mining region. He has resided in Humboldt County since, at or near Rohnerville, excepting a few months at Arcata in 1854, and nine months at Eureka in 1855 ; also resided at the latter place from October, 1865, to October, 1867.
In 1862 lic commenced merchandising at Rohnerville, under the firm name of Rohner & Fagenbaum, continuing till 1865. Since then he has followed farming, and general merchandising in Eureka, under the firm name of Rohner & Ellery.
He owns an interest in the saw and flouring mills at Spring- ville, manufacturing 20,000 feet of lumber and forty barrels of flour daily.
Mr. Robner bas 200 acres of valuable land situated near Rohnerville, twenty miles from the county seat and eight Iniles from water communication. He raises on an average sixty- five bushels of oats, thirty-five of wheat, sixty-five of barley, fifty of peas, and four tons of potatoes per acre. He has an
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HUMBOLDT COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
orchard of 120 trees, mostly apple. He generally keeps about four cows, thirty sheep and seven horses.
He married Miss Mary A. Bulkely, a native of Pennsylvania, in 18G1. They have four children, two boys and two girls named: Annie, Henry, Lizzie, and Frank Rolmer.
The village of Rohnerville derives its name from him. He was Postmaster there when engaged in business. He built the first house there used for merchandising.
W. S. ROBINSON.
On the left bank of the Van Duzen River, at Bridgeville, we found the fine farm of W. S. Robinson, which he bought in 1870, from Mr. Silas Ilogland, and which cumprises 1,520 acres of good grazing land, uf hilly formatiou. The residence is. pleasantly situated and the surroundings improved. It has an orchard of 120 trees attached, which brings a variety and an abundance of fruit to tho owner. Mr. Robinson is engaged in stock raising. He keeps all kinds of stock, but his greatest pride is taken in his flock of 1,600 sheep, which are of a high grade and amongst which can be found some fine merino sheep.
Mr. Robiuson married, November 18, 1862, Miss E. L. Albee, and they have three boys and six girls.
He is one of thoso men who started life with nothing, and made a capital with hands and energy. We will give a short sketeh of his life.
Born on a farm in Virginia, February 4, 1828, ho was brought up thereun until 1836, when his parents moved to Tennessee and aftorwards, in 1843, to Missouri. He stayed with them until 1850, when he concluded to emuigrate to Cali- foruia. He camo per ox-team via Fort Laramie and Bridges and Salt Lake City, and Truckee River, and arrived in Nevada City, California, Septomber 26, 1850.
Mr. Rubinson mined awhile at different places, hut not find- ing it very profitable, he left the mines and went to Colusa in 1851, where he teamed between that and Shasta City. Hear- ing tbat Humboldt County was a fine place to settlo down, he, in 1852, disposed of his property and in company with Mr. Joseph Russ and others, came to this county. At first Mr. Robinson resided in Ferndale for two years, then moved to Union (Arcata) where he stayed nine years; then to Eel River whero ho remained five years; then to what is called the " Red- wood House," wbere he remained two years, and then to his present home, of which we havo made an illustration.
G. A DUNGAN.
It is a well-known fact, that most of the prosperons men in this country, are men who were bronght np to hard labor. Here we introduce another of those men who toiled until they con- quered. Mr. C. A. Dungan, lives on a farm owned hy him, consisting of 222 acres of land located witbin nineteen miles of the county scat, two miles from water communication, and within three miles of Ferndale. He was born in Harrison
County, Kentucky, July 18, 1829. Before coming to this coast, Mr. Dungan worked in several States as a farm hand until 1830, when he left Ixe County, lowa, his last stopping- place, and came across the plains to California, and nrrived at Hangtown (Placerville), August 20, 1850. It took him over four months to accomplish the trip.
The first job he got was to make shakes at $2.00 per day and dinner. The other meals he had to cook himself. After- wards he mined in several places, but what money he made in ono he lost in the next; so after stopping in several places as Nevada City, Forest City and Downieville, he at last took his course to this county, where he arrived in May, 1853. At first Mr Dun- gan engaged in salmon fishing, and in 1858, bought his present larm, which is of a deep, rich soil, a clay loam, and averages- oats from sixty to 125 bushels, wheat from thirty to righty, and potatoes from three to fifteen tons per acre. He also owns sixty acres of land two miles away from his residence, and an orchard close by containing 150 apple, twenty pear, twenty-five plum, and fifteen cherry trees. He keeps ten head of cattle, 252 sheep, and nine horses on hand at present. Mr. Dungan's home is presided over by his amiable wife, whom he married in 1863. She was a native of Illinois, where she was known as Miss Mary L. Jenkins. They have two boys and two girls named Eleanor, Garland Albert, Joauna, and Ceorge Cny Dun- gan,
NATHANIEL BULLOCK.
The careful readers of our history will find a description of the large saw-mill of J. Russ & Co. One of the partners and the head book-keeper of this large business is Nathaniel Bul- lock, a native of Yates Center, Orleans County, New York, where he was born September 26, 1834.
Mr. Bullock is a Notary Public for Humboldt County and agent for the Union Insurance Company.
His residence is an ornament to the village of Eureka, where he resides. His wife, Sarah M. Huestis, is a daughter of one of the pioneers of Humboldt. She was born in the State of Vir- ginia, and their children are: Minnie A., Nellie C., Blanche, Certie, Bertram N., and Russ R. Bullock. They were marriul in 1864.
Mr. Bullock's motive in coming to California was to improve his health, which he has accomplished in the fine climate of Humboldt. He left his native State in June, 1860, coming by way of Nicaragua, which formed a very pleasaut and agree- able trip.
He arrived in San Francisco in July, 1860, from whence he went directly to Arcata, where he stayed until November 1861, after which he came to Eureka, where he lives now. He was engaged in diverse occupations; at one time he mined, at another he farined, and at another he was engaged in a mechanical business, and is now book-keeper and manager for J. Rnss & Co's. market. He has been a member of the firm of J. Russ & Co. in the lumher business since 1875.
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HUMBOLDT COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
ISAAC CULLBERG.
In bringing the different citizens of this county before the public we must not omit to mention Mr. Isaac Cullberg, a prosperous merchant who resides in Arcata. He is a native of Gotenburg, Sweden. He went to Antwerp, Belgium, at the age of twenty-one, and remained there nine years as a elerk ; during four years was engaged in merchandising. In March, 1853, he arrived in Philadelphia; from thence he went to Platte City, Missouri, aud with ox-train across the mount- ains to Sacramento, and by way of Shasta to Hayfork and this county. He located in Arcata in November 10, 1853, and engaged in farming for three years, and in April, 1857, engaged in mercantile pursuits, in which he has become suc- cessful, and is classed among the prominent business men of the county.
He was married in 1860 to Mrs. H. M. Fales, who was born in Woburn, Mass.
HON. AUSTIN WILEY.
A. Wiley camo to California from Cincinnati, in 1852. In October, 1853, he camo to Humboldt Bay, and entered the Humboldt Times office as a printer in 1854, and, in company with Walter Van Dyke, bought the paper in 1855. He bought ont Van Dyke in 1857, and moved the paper from Arcata to Eureka in 1858.
He was elected to the Legislature from this county in 1863; was Chairman of Committee of Indian Affairs iu the House.
Iu April, 1864, he was appointed by President Lincoln Superintendent of Indian Affairs for California. He located the Hoopa Indian Reservation in August, 1864, which virtually terminated tho Indiau war that had been going on in the counties of Triuity, Klamath and Humboldt, for a few years.
Iu 1865 he bought a one-fourth interest in the San Fran- cisco Morning Call, aud occupied a position on the editorial staff for a little more than one year, during which period he served for four months, by appointment, as School Director for the Eleventh Ward. He sold his interest in the Call in 1860, and removed back to Humboldt, where he engaged in lumber- ing, merchandising, and farming with varied success until December, ISSO, when he assumed control of the Arcata Leader, which be published for one year. On the 21st of Decem- ber, 1881, he, in company with Will L. Heney, commenced the publication of the daily and weekly Telephone,, in which business he is engaged at the present time, and which is described elsewhere.
JOEL SCOTT WHITMORE.
Joel Scott Whitmoro was born in Oceanville, Hancock County, Maine, where he had a good opportunity to learn the details of lumbering, continuing there till 1852, when he came to California, stopping in Trinity County, where he resumed his former occupation of lumhering. The first business he engaged in was a joh of logging for Messrs. Sturdivant &
Whitmore. We next hear of him in Humboldt County, in 1861, locating on Bear River Ridge, engaged in raising cattle and dairying. He rented a farm for two years of Joel Bur- nell, one mile from Hydesville. Afterwards rented for two years, the Langdon Mill, near Hydesville. He then started a team for freight, which he followed for two years. He then rented a place of Sturdivant & Whitmore for two years, a ranch and mill property.
He soon after took up a ranch just outside of the redwood country in the Bald Hills, where he rented 2,000 sheep of Sal- mon Brown for two years; in the meantime he bought 2,000 acres of laud contiguous to the Brown Rancb; cultivates fifty acres for hay ; keeps a feed stable and public house.
This place is forty-three miles . from Eureka, thirty from Hookton, the nearest shipping point, eighteen from Hydes- ville, and four from Bridgeville Post-office. A daily mail passes each way on the overland route.
Mr. Whitmoro says the county was kept haek from settle- ment up to 1870. Previous to that date stock was killed and run off, houses rohhed and many lives lost, making improve- ments or permanent settlements very hazardous; since that date that section has progressed rapidly.
Mr. Whitmore has now one of the most valuable farms in that part of the county. His residence is in a beautiful local- ity, at the foot of a mountain covered with a dense growth of forest, the whole forming one of our hest views, to which atteu- tion is called. He keeps 2,000 sheep, and usually a dozen horses and twelve cows, besides hogs and poultry. He culti- vates about fifty acres, the balance being used for his stock. His orchard consists of 125 trees, all young and of all varieties, such as apple, peach, plum, cherries, apricots and prunes.
They have had children as follows: Frank Leland, Lowena Frances, Carrie Agnes, Anna Louisa, Myrtle, Willie Edwin, and Joel Cushman Whitmore.
ABNER. DOBLE.
Abner Dohle did the first blacksmith work on Humboldt Bay, where he landed August 1, 1850. He had a amall shop somewhere about where Eurk a now stands, but no streets were laid out. He made an ox-yoke ring and staple for J. Ryan, and received fifty dollars for it. Since that time rings and staples have come down in price ! Ahner Doble was born in Shelby County, Indiana, and reached San Francisco June 25, 1850. He went to Humholdt Bay and returned with a load of lumber, which he sold on thirty days' credit, and at the end of that time the purchaser failed. Being without means he was unable to return to Hnmholdt as he intended, and went to work in San Francisco. He was prospered and now conducts a large iron establishment at 13 and 15 Fremont Street. He is the owner of a large ranch of 15,000 acres in Fresno County, where he has spent a great deal of money in introducing water and preparing the land for market.
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SAMUEL WINTONS, DAIRY & FARM SMITH RIVER VALLEY, DEL NORTE CO.CAL.
RESIDENCE OF WALTER PIERCE, COR.OF H.& 7.TH. STS. EUREKA.CAL.
RECORD- PRINTING OFFICE
OFFICE OF DEL NORTE, RECORD. J.E. ELORIDGE, PROPRIETOR.
COVE, FLUME & RES. OF JOHN CHAPMAN,GOLD BLUFF.
HUMBOLDT COUNTY PIONEER SOCIETY.
W. F. BUESTIS.
The subject of this sketeb, an early pioneer, and the present Secretary of the Society of Humboldt Pioucers, was born in Buckingham County, Virginia, July 24, 1836. Like most old Californians, Mr. Huestis has experienced the ups and downs of pioneer life in its varied forms. With him expo-ure, trials, struggles, fortunes and misfortunes have not been strangers. In 1843 his father, the Ilon. A. J. Huestis, moved with his family to Mt. Pleasant, Jowa. An institution of higher barn- ing, of which he was the founder, and now known as the lowa Wesleyan University, admitted the son to the advantages of carly intellectual training, and supplied those educational equipments with which, as a mere lad, he was to enter on the new sphere about to be opened to him on these distant shores.
By the overland ronte, in the great exodus of '49 to Cali- foruia, he ide the toilsome journey, and arrived at Sonoma lato in the fall of the same year. Early in the spring of the following year, he was again on the move, and in June, 1850, with his father, located in Humboldt County, where, with a alight exception, of timo, he has resided ever since. The dan- gers and hardships of travel, and the trials of pioneer life, wero not lost in their influence on his character, Though but a more boy, not unfrequently had devolved on him the duties of a man. He had been taught to sharo tho risks and respons- ibilities of 2,000 miles of a wilderness journey, and the early development of his mental manhood, and robust self-reliance, was hut the natural offspring of rugged experience during this formative period of his active life. At the age of twenty- one Mr. Huestis visited Santa Clara County, where he was engaged to teach in oue of the district schools of that county. Fulfilling this engagement and returning to Humboldt, he again engaged as teacher in one of the public schools.
About this tiwie he was selected by a nominating couven- tion as a candidate for the office of Superintendent of Con- mon Schools for Humboldt County, and, although the ballot did not record n popular victory, yet he won a compliment for himself under defeat, by the display of an energy aud tact in the canvass that would have been creditable to maturer years.
With an ambitiou that was not content to be idle in the ranks of private life, Mr. Huestis soon became identified with local polities, in which he always took an active part. As a lield more favorable to his desire for political observations, and for more enlarged experience in public affairs, Mr. Huestis, at the commencement of the session of the Legislature of 1859. 60, paid a visit to the State Capitol. Without the usual help of an extended acquaintance with its members, or the prestige which personal influence or political affiliations as a pro- uounced partisan might give, but by a tact and atfability all his own, he secured a situation in the organization of the Sen- ate, that introduced bim to a succession of appointments in tbe State Legislature, from year to year, only ending in 1877.
In 1865-66, MIr Huestis was Deputy Clerk of the Uuitel States Circuit Court and U. S Commissioner at San Francisco.
In 1867, his name was submitted for nomination as State Senator from the Twenty -~ venth Senatorial District, com- prising the counties of Humboldt, Klamath and Del Norte, llon. 1. 11. Murch being the rival candilate. An obstinate ballot for two or three successive days resulted as it had begun, with a tie vote ; Mr. Huestis, in the interest of what might be cou. sidered as a concession due to nu older candidate, authorizeel the withdrawal of his name, and thus broke the dead-lock that threatened the harmony of the party. Mr. Murch was then unanimously nominated, and no one entered the campaign more vigorously for his election than Mr. Huestis.
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