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 42

Author: W.W. Elliott & Co
Publication date: 1881
Publisher: San Francisco : W.W. Elliott
Number of Pages: 344


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 42


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Mr. Case eame to this county in 1866.


AMASA M. GILL


Turning our attention to Rohnerville, Humboldt County, we there notice Mr. Amasa M. Gill, who is one of the prosperous merchants of that place. He is a wide-awake gentleman and business man. As it may be of interest for many of our read- ers, we will give his history.


Mr. Gill was born May 16, 1848, at Mallorytown, Leeds County, Ontario, where his father's family resided until 1857. His father was in California fromn 1852 to 1857, when he re- turned home and took them to Wisconsin where they lived for three years. In 1860, Mr. Gill, Sr., who got a liking for Cali- fornia at his previous stay there, resolved to try his fortune once more in the golden State ; so he, with his family, left Evansville, Rock County, Wisconsin, on the 4th of April, 1860, and journeyed across the plains, per ox-team, until they reached Eureka, which happened November 6, 1860, just seven months and two days from the day of starting. As Mr. Amasa Gill was then too young to stand guard or drive ox-team, he had all his time to himself and therefore enjoyed the trip immensely, not being able to appreciate the dangers or hardships of it.


Mr. Gill worked on his father's farm until 1865, when he was seventeen years of age, then made himself useful by teaching schools at different places in the County. He then went to San Francisco and San Jose to attend the State Normal School; after which he taught school in Placer County, and finally, in the summer of 1873, came to this town where he engaged in the drug business which he sold out in 1876, when he bought his present business.


The same year Mr. Gill was married to Miss Ida J. Look, of San Francisco, born in Westfield, Wisconsin. They have two children named James Selah, after his grandfather, and Jennie Florence Gill.


THOMAS DEVLIN.


In the village of Arcata, corner of Ninth and K Streets ix located the large residence of Mr. Thomas Devlin. The rail- road passes directly in front of it.


Mr. Devlin is an enterprising business man and tanner of Arcata, whose tannery is to be found on Eighth Street near .J Street, and is described elsewhere. He has 480 acres of land containing an abundance of oak trees which furnish him the bark, necessary to manufacturing first-class leather. Near his residence is an orchard of 150 fruit trees hearing apples, plums and pears; and a number of varieties of berries.


Mr. Devlin is a native of Perth, West Canada, where he was born June 13, 1834. He lived on a farm until he hecame an apprentice to a tanner which happened when he was eighteen years old. He learned for four years, and became a skillful and efficient tanner. He followed this calling in diverse States East, until he reached New York, when he con- cluded to go to California. He left Watertown, New York, in April and arrived in San Francisco, May 18, 1861, after a journey of thirty days, by way of Isthmus of Panama. The


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journey across the Isthinus was pleasant, but from there to San Francisco it was almost imbearable, tbe boat was too crowded. Tho whole trip lasted thirty days.


Mr. Dovlin did not care to go to the mines, as he had an un- pleasant experience in that line, by buying stock which proved worthless. He went first on a dairy ranch ncar Marysville, then went to Healdsburg where he stayed until 1866 and afterwards came to Arcata where he located for good.


Mr. Devlin is a self-made man, he had only his hands as capital, when he started life in California, and now has quite an amount of property and an interesting family. In 1861 he married Miss Hannah Daven, of Ogdensburgh, N. Y. Tho union proved a happy one, and was blessed with seven children naincd: Catherine L., William Grant, Lizzie, Nina Jane, Thomas D. Wallace and Bruce Devliu; the last two being twins.


ROBERT W. ROBARTS.


One of the finest houses in Ferndale which we have illus- trated is owned by Robert W. Robarts, a young man of business habits and energy. From the veraudas of the residence, one can enjoy many fiue views, as the house faces the hills which aro covered with timber and ferns ; his orchard near by fur- nishes him with an abundance of fruit.


Mr. Robarts owns also the livery stable in Ferndale, where he keeps twenty-five fino horses and numerous buggies of style and comfort. The little farm of ten acres, Mr. Robarts devotes to the production of vegetables, etc., for his private use. As Fern- dale is only cighteen miles from the county seat and has its church and school, one can easily perceive that Mr. Robarts' judgment in locating himself was a good one.


Mr. Robarts, although only twenty-two years of age, having been born in County Kent, England, May 30, 1860, is already a man of family, having in 1879 married Miss Amelia Francis, a native of Ferndale. They have two children, named Grace M. and Robert F. Robarts.


Mr. Robarts came to California in 1876, he landed at San Francisco but soon eame into this county where he started busi- ness as a buteber, but after eighteen months disposed of it and went ont of active business until 1881, when he bought his present business and commenced to build his residence. He is the brother of Mr. Percival Robarts, whose biograpby will be found elsewhere.


S. LEWIS SHAW.


" Ferndale" is the name given to the beautiful residence of Mrs. Isabella Armitage Sbaw, the wife of S. Lewis Shaw, de- ceased. The residence is an ornament to the county, and one of the handsomest of our illustrations. Mrs. Shaw devotes a large share of her time in beautifying the place. She has only one living child, named Joseph Armitage Shaw, who graduated at the State University in Berkeley, with high honors, and holds at present an important position on the railroad.


The founder of the home, whose death the county mourns, was a native of Vermont, where he was born March 22, 1818. He was brought up on a farm until fourteen years of age, then learned the cabinet trade; but after finishing his apprentice- ship, he thonght that he had more love for art than anything else, and therefore took lessons and became quite an adept at portrait painting and photographing.


Before coming to California, he located in Nashville, Ten- nessee, where he became acquainted with the lady he after- wards married.


He made the trip across the continent in a wagon train, and arrived in Sacramento in 1850, three months after lie started. He mined for a while; but being unsuccessful, he went to San Francisco where he opened an extensive photograph gallery, which proved very successful. In 1853 Mr. Shaw was per- suaded by his brother, who was one of the discoverers of Hum- boldt Bay and returned with glowing accounts about it, to dispose of his gallery and to settle in this county. He at first farmed near Table Bluff, but afterwards came to Ferndale where he acted as first postmaster. The village takes its name from his farm, which he named " Ferndale."


Mr. Shaw died November 22, 1872. He was a kind husband and indulgent father. He had three children, two of whom are resting with him. Being an artist, he was not as successful as he would otherwise have been at farming, yet he left a good farm of 160 acres, and succeeded in laying the foundation for a good home and competency for bis family. The products of his farm arc wheat, barley, oats, and potatoes. The orchard has fifty apple trecs, all kinds of pears, peaches, plums, cherries, etc. GEORGE L. BENEDICT.


That Ferndale is one of the nicest spots in Humboldt County is proven by the fact that there are so many good residences in and around it. Within the outskirts of the town, we find Mr. George L. Benedict's residence, which is one of the handsomest howes that surround Ferndale. It is on the Rohnerville and Ferndale road, is delightfully situated near the foot-hills and is sheltered from the coast winds.


Mr. Benedict was born in Otsego County, New York, May 22, 1842, on a farm; was taken to Broome County when seven years of age, and remained there on a farm until 1861. As soon as the civil war broke out, he left his home in order to participate; and he showed his love for his country by serving her until tbe war was over, in 1865. He was in the battle of Bull Run and several other minor engagements.


After the war Mr. Benedict returned to Broome County, but having acquired a desire for traveling, he visited several of the Southern States, and finally made up his mind to come to California.


He left Broome County aud arrived in San Francisco No- vember 1, 1872, after a pleasant trip of thirty days' duration by the way of the Isthmus.


Mr. Benedict was first engaged on a dairy ranch at Lake


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Tahoe. And finally, in 1874, lived at "Little Nigger-head Prairie," after having previously visited this county, and find- ing it what he desired, came to hiis present home where he is engaged in dairying. He owns 1,000 acres of land, grazing and farming, quite a number of cattle and other stock.


In 1881, Mr. Benedict married Miss Katie Dorsey, wbo is a native of 'Trinity County, California.


PERCIVAL W. ROBARTS.


Within three-fourths of a mile fromn Ferndale is the home and residence of Mr. Percival W. Robarts. His family consists of himself, his wife, formerly Miss. Florence N. Smith of Quebec, Canada, and their son, named Henry St. Albans Robarts.


Mr. Robarts' business is that of raising fine Merino sheep. His flock is small, only fifty in number, but of exceedingly fine stock of the Spanish Meriuo breed. They were purchased in Haywards, Alameda County, and thrive well in our county. At the late 9th District Fair, Mr. Robarts was awarded the first premium on all his sheep, his buck." Restless," being undoubtedly one of the best in the State. Sheepmen prefer home raised bucks to those raised in warmer climates. Mr. Robarts bas quite a number of home-raised bucks on his farm, which are very fine animals. The farm consists of 262 acres of fine, rich soil, which produced at one time eighty bushels of oats per acre. There is a small orchard containing various kinds of fruit trees.


Mr. Robarts came to this county in 1880. He is a native of Kent, England, where he left in 1874; he resided in Canada before coming by the way of Panama, to California. The trip was unusually pleasant.


A. PUTNAM.


Mr. A. Putnam deserves to be mentioned amongst the enter- prising residents of this county. He owns one of the attractive homes in the pleasant village of Ferndale, where he is engaged in merchandising. Mr. Putnam is a native of Nova Scotia, where he was born November 19, 1847. He was raised en a farm, but when fourteen years of age, went into the busi- ness house of his brother-in-law, where he remained until six- teen years of age. In March, 1867, Mr. Putnam thought he might make his fortune in California, and accordingly left Hali- fax, and journeyed across the Isthmus toward the Golden State, where he arrived in April, 1867, being just thirty days on the trip. So far as we cau judge he has succeeded to his satis- faction in establishing himself in business, and has become a worthy citizen of his towu and county. After landing in San Francisco Mr. Putnam went to the mines for a sbort time during the White Pine excitement, but made most of his fort- une since iu raising cattle and merchandising in this county, to which he came in 1870. He married Miss Mary Johnston in 1877, wbo was a native of Humboldt. They have two chil- dren named William Mason, and Edwin Putnam.


JOHN ANDERSON.


Mr. John Anderson was formerly of Alsen, Schleswig, Ger- many, where he was born February 5, 1846. and is now, a citizen of this county worthy to be mentioned amongst the enterprising men. He went to sea when fourteen years of age, and was ten years before the mast, then was made an officer, which position he held five years. He visited all parts of the world, but while stoping at Japan, resolved to settle down in California. Accordingly he took passage on the City of Tokio which made the trip in twenty-one days, arriving in San Francisco, June 20, 1874. He located at first on Mad River where he was engaged in sheep raising. In 1878, he made a visit to his old bonie in Germany staying ten months, and tben came back and bought Mr. John Duncan's farm for $7,000, on Eel River. It is four miles from Table Bluff near the ferry on the Rohnerville Road, and easy of access to all parts of the county. There is a small orchard of thirty trees, forty acres of fine farming land cultivated, and 236 acres or grazing land in Mr. Anderson's possession. On his land he usually keeps twenty cows, twenty hogs, 400 sheep, and three horses. Mr. Anderson married Miss Mary C. Lind of Schleswig, Germany, in 1882.


GEORGE H. SHAW.


Undoubtedly all the people of Humboldt County will be acquainted with their genial County Assessor, George H. Shaw, who was elected by the New Constitution Party in 1879, and is holding tbat position still, to the satisfaction of bis fellow- citizens.


Mr. Shaw is a Kentuckian, born November 22, 1831, but had lived in several States before he came to California. He lived in Kentucky until 1836, in Illinois until 1846, and Iowa till 1852. From there he came to California by the way of Council Bluffs, thence to the north side of Platte River, Salt Lake, Humboldt aud Downeyville, making the trip in six months, not without coming in contact with the Indians and the other general hardships attending such a journey.


He mined in Downeyville and several other places with medium success. In 1860 he went to Virginia City, Nevada, where he was one of the first Councilmen of that city, in 1860. He held that honorable positiou for four consecutive terms, until he left the State. in order to come to this county.


He established himself six miles from the county-seat in 1865, where he owns now a fine farm of sixty acres, and an orchard. He also owns 530 acres of land not cultivated. His home farm is of an excellent character, of free black soil, pro- ducing large crops averaging eighty bushels of oats, tbree tons of hay, and five tons of potatoes. He has at present twenty head of cattle, fifty hogs and six head of horses. In the orchard are 200 apple, ten cherry, and thirty plum trees.


Mr. Shaw was married in 1872, to Miss Margaret A. Farrill, a Jative of Sonoma County, California. They have three boys: George Henry, Frank Clinton, and James Clifford Sbaw.


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RES OF HENRY ROHNER SLIDE, HUMBOLDT CO. CAL.


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W.S.ROBINSON'S BRIDGEVILLE RANCH HUMBOLDT CO.CAL.


FARM RESIDENCE OF JACKSON SAWYER,TABLE BLUFF HUMBOLDT CO.CAL.


FARM RESIDENCE OF BEN. CAMPTON, ROHNERVILLE, HUMBOLDT CO.CAL.


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GEORGE H. GRAY.


Another thrifty citizen, Mr. George H. Gray, was born in Rush County, Indiana, November 30, 1832. When five years old, his parents took him to Illinois where they settled on a farm in Adams County, sixteen miles from Quincy.


In 1854, Mr. Gray came by way of north side of Platte River, and Salt Lake, to California ; he had a pleasant jour- ney, and arrived at Diamond Springs, October 4th, in the same year. He mined for three years at the Springs; realized $2,000 the first year and losing that amount in the next two years. Afterwards he went to Volcano where he had hetter luck, and left in order to take up a farm at Santa Rosa ; he stayed there until 1869, when he moved towards tbis county where he has been a citizen ever since.


In 1869 Mr. Gray married Miss Martha C. Creighton ; she is a native Californian, their two children are named George H. and Mary C. Gray.


Mr. Gray now owns a farm of 275 acres, the land is hlack loam, with clay sub-soil ; it averages fifty bushels of oats, and twenty of wheat; of potatoes, five tons per acre. His resi- dence, which is pleasantly situated, is surrounded hy an orchard of 300 fruit trees and bearing apples, peaches, plums, and pears, as represented in our sketch. It is within one and one-half iniles of Hydesville, and twenty-five miles distant from the county seat.


Mr. Gray is chiefly engaged in stock-raising, he owns at pres- ent 15 head of cattle, 18 hogs, 1,500 sheep, and 12 horses, also one mule.


RICHARD JOHNSTON.


The subject of this sketch was born April 18, 1822, in Enes- kellen, Ireland. In 1841, with an older brother, the family emigrated to Sidney, New South Wales. In the year 1849 he came to California. San Francisco was a few scattered houses and tents. Gold was the one absorbing topic. Every day brought shiploads of people rushing for the mines. Vessels were deserted, and all hands went to the mines. Mr. Johns- ton made his way to Marysville from Sacramento in a whale boat and footed it up to Park's Bar and Foster's Bar. He was tolerably successful this year and returned to San Francisco. Here ho decided to return to Sidney, and was eighty-four days on the way, calling at the Sandwich Islands.


After remaining a short time he determined to return to Cal- ifornia and took passage in March, 1850. On board the vessel lie became acquainted with the lady who afterwards hecame his wife. On his arrival he was married to Miss Mary Lan- caster, of Lancashire, England, who was accompanying a married sister to her hushand tben in California. They were sistersto John Lancaster, now owner of Belton Grange, owned at one time by tbe Tichborn family. Mr. Lancaster and his brotbers are owners of large coal and iron mines, and manufacturers of steel. One of her brothers is considered an expert in the man-


ufacture of Bessimer steel. Mr. John Lancaster was the owner of the yatch Deerhound, and rescued a part of the crew of the Rebel cruiser Alabama.


He was married hy the noted street preacher, Rev. William Taylor, on the 3d of July, 1850. Mr. Johnston went again to the inines with little success, and returned to the city but found it very difficult to ohtain employment. But after a while opened a store of dry goods, &c., at the corner of Stock- ton and Clay streets. But Mr. Jobnston says he came to Califor- nia to mine, and as the Salmon River mines were then coming into notice, he concluded to go. He started for Trinidad, leav- ing his wife to dispose of the goods and follow on. At the mines everything in the shape of provision was from one dollar to a dollar and a half a pound, and the most that any miner or company of miners were making was not more than eight dol- lars per day to the pound, and some not half that amount ; the greatest portion not making anything, and were the very picture of wretchedness, with not much to eat and very little money. He then went on to Trinity River and worked a week. The gold was scale gold and weighed very light; they only had an ounce apiece for their week's work. They then moved from there up to Weaverville, which was quite a contrast from Salmon River, everybody looked well and cheerful. Mrs. Johnston was the first married woman that lived in Weaver- ville. He opened a hoarding-house and trading post, and as it was customary in those days, kept a har. He afterwards huilt one of the largest log buildings in the State, called " Sidney Hall." After several mining operations he returned to Huin- boldt in the summer of 1856, and rented a dairy farm on Eel River.


In 1857 he moved onto the place where he now has a valu- able property of 1,392 acres of good grazing land, on Bear River, capable of supporting between two and three hundred cows. It is divided into two dairies, and is fully described elsewhere. He keeps 200 head of horned stock. He has five children, three sons and two daughters.


ALEXANDER ROBERTSON.


Alexander Robertson was born in Perthsbire, Scotland, in the year 1823. At the age of twenty he emigrated to Amner- ica, and settled near the town of Simcoc, Canada West, where he married Miss Jennette Forhes, and engaged in lumhering and farming.


Not being very successful, and California promising a more extensive field of operations, in the spring of 1850, he started with a party to cross the plains, arriving at Salt Lake without mecting any serious drawbacks, remaining there three weeks being hospitahly treated by the Mormons. The halance of their journey was attended with all the horrors of overland travel; being at one time near the verge of distraction for want of water, the thoughts of suicide were seriously entertained hy some of the party. On another occasion it was left to vote whether they should


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go on or not, and being carried in the affirmative, they pro- ceeded, and the result was they had cause to regret it. Their water gave out, and with swollen tongues they toiled on and wonhl undoubtedly have perished if a slight shower had not pravidentially fallen. Every expedient was resorted to, for the purpose of saving a few drops of that precious fluid. At night they lay down in their tracks, and the rising sun only revealed to them another day of desperation. Out of water, out of provisions, they subsisted altogether on what food fortune threw in their way. Mr. Robertson, with a Delaware Indian as guide, was some distance in advance of the main party, following the trail defined by an occasional bean, which must have dropped from a dilapidated sack carried by the party preceding them The Delaware killed a small hird, of the duck species, which they almost instantly devoured without removing the feathers or subjecting it to the action of fire. Eventually as a last resort " they gave their horses their licad " and they found a spring and thuy ended their sufferings.


He was engaged in mining for several years, with fair suc- cesH. Then went to Elk Valley, in Del Norte County, where Crescent City now stands, and took np 160 acres of farming land, and a vessel arriving from the East about that time, loaded with freight and passengers, mnade things lively and soon the town of Crescent City sprang up. Mrs. Robertson and child joined him December 24, 1855, arriving by way of the Isthmus of Panama.


After thirteen years of prosperity he concluded to remove to Humboldt County, where he arrived on the 19th of May, camping on the present location of his ranch, having brought with him a large number of cattle, and making it a perma- nent home, selling off' his eattle and stocking his ranch with sheep. The ranch now coutains between G,000 and 7,000 acres of deeded land, nearly all under fence.


On the 28th day of April, 1880, he was one of the party surveying a road around what is known as Whitmore's Bluff, on the Van Duzen River. The party wishing to eross a deep ravine, could save a long trip around by jumping across on the logs which lay partly over it. Several had got over and Mr. Robertson, who, though over fifty, always felt as young and active as anybody, made the jump forwards and about five feet down. He felt something give way witbin him. Those near noticed a change in his face as of pain and weakness ; he be- came sick and vomited some. He was taken to Mr. Whit- more's house, where after lying down he never moved again. His loss was deeply felt not only by his family but hy a wide circle of neighbors aud friends.


Mr. Robertson took an active interest in all public improve- ments aud always had an open hand in forwarding the same. Liberal to a fault, he was kind and sympathietie in his neigh- borly intercourse. He died in the fifty-eighth year of his age. Since then the ranch has been carried on by Mrs. Jennette Robertson successfully, and now affords pasture for 5,000 sheep


of fine quality. Mrs. Robertson has four children. The elder son, Mr. Alexander Robertson, Jr., is now engaged in sheep- raising near Garberville, this eounty, has four children, and is doing well.


The Robertson ranch is located on the Overland Stage Road, seven miles from Bridgeville, which town is the post-office of the surrounding country.


LORENZO PAINTER.


Of the many go-ahead and enterprising men of Humboldt County, Mr. Painter stands conspieuous. He was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, December 27, 1817, on a farm, where he lived till seventeen years of age, when he left for Kala- mazoo, Michigan, traveling the distance, 350 miles, on foot, where he lived eighteen months. He then went to Cass County, Miehi- gan, where he learned the carpenter's trade. He afterward went to Van Buren County and engaged in mercantile and lumber business.


In 1864 he started for California with a drove of borses, being fifteen months on the way, wintering on the Humholdt River, and arriving at Napa County, July, 1865. He bought a farm in Santa Clara County, raised one erop and sold out and returned East hy way of Panama. After doing mercan- tile business at South Haven, Michigan, a short time, running two vessels from there to Chicago, he starts a second time for California, coming by railroad to San Francisco, thence by steamer to Humboldt Bay, arriving in July, 1870.


RIO DEL HOUSE.


After looking the country over, he located near Eel River, a place now called Rio Del Rancb, where he has a mineral spring and public house, prepared to accommodate parties seek- ing a pleasure resort. The natural inducements to draw vis- itors are, heing almost surrounded by mountains which shut out the cold fogs, mineral spring, hunting, fishing, hathing, and sailing on the river. See view of this fine resort.




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