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 43
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Mr. Painter has a half section of land equal to any in the county, mostly level, and an orchard of 700 trees, of most kinds of fruits as well as herries. He has forty head of cattle, 140 hogs, eight sheep and eight horses.
He was married to Miss Elizabeth Bourman in 1838, a native of Ohio. They have one girl, named Louisa Painter.
JACKSON SAWYER.
Jackson Sawyer was born near Mooreshurg, Montour County, Pennsylvania, December 25, 1824, of Scoteb-Irisb parentage. When eighteen months old, both parents died and he was adopted into a very worthy family named Kerr, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, during whieb time he learued the practical part of farining. He was always fond of hooks and had access to a much better library than was com- mon in farm houses. Like most hoys raised on a farm, he thought the life of a farmer too slow and plodding and resolved that he would become a machinist.
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He went to Pottsville, a mining town in the anthracite coal regions of Pennsylvania, and worked about one week when one of his eyes was cut by a picee of steel from a chisel which de- stroyed the sight. In the spring of 1852 he worked in the roll- ing mill in Danvillo. The iron business at this time was not very good and he set out for California, taking the Panama route. The passago to the Isthmus was pleasant, which he crossed partly by railroad, and by boat, and on foot.
He arrived in San Francisco May 2, 1853 ; after remaining in the city three or four days he went to the Weaverville mines, by boat to Sacramento, thence by stage to Shasta, and on to Clear Creek. He worked with rocker with very moderate sue- cess, and health failing he left for San Francisco.
MR. SAWYER ARRIVES IN HUMBOLDT.
About August 1st, ho started for Humboldt Bay to work for James T. Ryan, where he worked but a short time. At Eureka he engaged to work for a man, calledl "Long Joncs," in 1852. After some three hours' sailing they arrived at his cabin, a sort of connecting link between a cabin and a wood pile. Jones' place was a boating point at that time. He kept a boat and carried freight and passengers to and from Eureka, as the trail around the bay in winter was alnost impassable. Settlers from Eel River Valley would turn their animals into Jones' pasture and go by water. Freight at that time was $7 per ton. Jones kept a few staple articles for sale, sueli as salt pork, sugar, and flour. Tho supplies were not very abundant in the grocery line, as much of Jones' coin was spent on cards and whiskey. Flour was sold that winter as high as $40 per barrel.
In tho winter of 1853-54 lie gave $200 for a claim to the place now known as Hookton. Ho thought as lie was not able to do hard work, that in the course of time, it would grow into a place of business that would afford a living. He didn't think the place of mnuch value for farming but put in a crop of six acres. He improved the shipping facilities as fast as required. During the summer of 1855 the Government had the land surveyed.
The Land-office was at Marysville. He inquired of the Sur- veyor what he would be required to do to secure the pros- pective business point of Hookton. He directed him to enter the high land, the marsh being fractional it would be thrown on the high land. But failing to secure the shipping point, he lost all interest in the place and traded it for a leifer, and the heifer for a live of honey-bees, valued at $60. He then secured a pre-emption on the 160 acres where he now lives, making various improvements as fast as his means would per- mit himu.
There were several favorite camping places for the Indians on the bay side of Table Bluff. They never remained long at any one place, moving around sometimes for fish, at other times for elams or whatever might suit their faney. When moving by water they used canoes to carry their goods, but
if by land the sqnaws were made to serve as beasts of burden. All the trouble the whites had from the Indians in this section was their stealing and constant begging. They were always cold, always hungry, and could uever get enough for what they had to sell. If the Indians judge the moral standing of the white race by the conduct of some white men of early days, their estimate must be low.
One of the annoyances of pioneer farming was the large flocks of crows and blackbirds. They picked up the grain when sowed and often the ground required to he resown. One of the greatest troubles of those days was the bears. They had no respect for a fence but would tear it down whenever they eamne to it. They were very destructive animals to have on a farmi, eating and tramping through the grain, rolling down large patches as flat as a floor. Bears were very fond of pork and they could dispose of quite a large hog at one meal. Whatever remained after their hunger was satisfied they always covered up with fern or grass or whatever else came handy. It was no pleasant amusement to get out nights and help the dogs scare the bears from the logs. He says lic "rec- ollects one night he had to get up three times for that purpose. Ho always found them willing to run and he was always willing to let them go."
CHARLES S. COOK.
One of the energetic business men of Humboldt County is Mr. C. S. Cook, who was born March 12, 1846, in Tompkins County, New York, who like mnost of the early emigrants to this country by the overland route suffered almost incredible hardships while on their way seeking to obtain a competency and a home in this land of gold. His boyhood life from the age of sixteen until twenty-one was spent on the Michigan Central Railroad, running from Detroit to New Buffalo. After- ward we hear of him in Morrow County. Obio, from whence lie starts for the Pacific Coast, in February, 1852. On May Ist we find him at St. Joseph, Missouri, on the way with an ox-team which be drove across the plains, which at that time was a great undertaking, consuming almost four months' time, arriving at Foster's near Oregon City, August 22, 1852. He was attacked with the cholera on Green River and came very near dying. His first business was mining on Althouse, in Southern Oregon, where he met with good success. He came to Petrolia, Humboldt County, in 1859, and engaged in dairy- ing and raising stock. He has a very productive farm of 1,600 acres, turning off yearly five tons of butter and from 800 to 1,200 bushels of oats, and about forty tons of hay. It is located fifty miles from the county seat, 150 miles from rail- road and two from church and schools. He has an orchard of 150 trees of apples, pears and plums. He has 150 head of cattle, thirty hogs, eight horses and two mules.
He married Miss Ann E. Walker, who was a native of Illi- nois, in 1857. They have two boys whose names are Levant and George W. Cook.
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J. G. KENYON.
J. G. Kenyon was born in Upper Canada, of American parents, on the 23d of March, 1833. He then removed with his parents to York State when about two years old. When about fourteen years old he commenced giving ventriloquial entertainments, and traveled extensively through the northern States and Canada.
In the year 1855 lie came to California and traveled through all the mining camps and towns of California, Oregon and Washington Territory. In the year 1857 he purchased 800 acres of land in Eel River Valley, Humboldt County, and settled there.
In November, 1869, he invented the fluid pencil, or what is substantially the same, and now known as the " Mckinnon Fountain Pen." Mr. Kenyon holds letters patent for the pencil.
In May, 1858, he started for the Frazer River mines, during the first gold excitement. When he arrived at Victoria, B. C., he abandoned the idea of going to the mines on account of unfavorable reports, and then went to Puget Sound, Seattle, W. T., and invested in town lots, which are now in the city of Seattle.
In tho year 1856 Mr. Kenyon went to San Francisco and entered into an agreement with Messrs. Whitelaw & Hawley by which they were to run their stcamcrs regularly between San Francisco and Eel River for the term of two years, which was the first establishinent of Eel River navigation. In this he inet with many discouragements, and in order to induce the parties to undertake the venture it became necessary for him to advance considerable monoy for the construction of a ware- house and wharf at " Port Kenyon," which derives its name from Mr. Kenyon. He also sold lots to about thirty families on which they have built homes,
In March, 1879, he started the first cash store in Humboldt County, south of Eureka, and has continued in the general merchandise business ever since. The steamers having ceased to run to Port Keuyon, lie removed his store one and a half miles east of Port Kenyon, on the Eureka and Ferndale road, This place is called " Arlynda." Arlynda is an Indian word, signifying merchandise or property.
ROBERT BURNS.
This biography presents to the good people of Humboldt County a prominent and successful business man-one who by correct habits of living, industry and frugality made him- self a name, and set an example that others may safely follow, especially young men. We tiud that in early youtb he learned a trade and adopted such habits of living, which was the secret of success in after life. He early made the Bible his study, and its precepts his guide. Having musical talent, he improved and used it in God's praise.
Mr. Burns was born in Manchester, England, January 16,
1832. At the age of fourteen he went to learn the tinner's trade, working tbree and a half years, when he with his father's family left Old England and sailed for the New, May, 1849, and after a voyage of forty-five days landed in Boston, Massachusetts, July 10th. From there he went to Fall River, Massachusetts, where he worked a few months at his trade. From there he went to Providence, Rhode Island, where he worked one year, then back to Fall River wbere he worked three and one-half years. He then did business for himself in Somerset and Pawtucket, where he exercised his musical talent as a member of a quartette choir in the Congregational Church.
In 1857 he caught the gold fever, and the 19th of July prepared to go to California. In 1858 he left Pawtucket and took passage on a steamer on the Sound for New York, where he secured a passage on board the steamship Moses Taylor, sailing the 1st of August, 1858, arriving at Aspinwall in nine days. After crossing the Isthmus of Panama he took a steamer for San Francisco, arriving August 28, 1858, and after one day he went to work for Morris & Doberzinsky, making gas-meters, where lie stayed seven months.
From there he went to Humboldt County and worked for Major Murdock, of Arcata. After seven months he went back to San Francisco and worked for Messrs. Locke & Montague, till February, 1861. On February 5, 1861, he went by steamer to Eureka, from there he went to Arcata, where he purchased the stock and trade of the only. tin shop in Huin- boldt County, of I. J. Newkirk, for about $800, conducting the business successfully ever since.
In the year 1862 he helped to raise a company of militia to protect the people from the Indians of Humboldt County. In July, 1865, he was elected Captain, and held the office for two years, receiving his commission from Governor Low. In May, 1870, he visited New England on an excursion train of the Central Pacific Radroad.
September 15, 1873, he married Miss Jennie Pouleur, a native of Lille, France. They have two boys named Robert and Paul Burns. On July 9, 1875, his store and four of his other buildings were burned.
In May, 1878, he took part in a musical festival in San Francisco, representing Humboldt County, and was appointed one of the " Bouquet of Artists."
In 1869 he became a member of the Anniversary Lodge, No. 85, I. O. O. F., in Arcata, which has a fund of $10,000. It has a membership of 131. He has had the honor of repre- senting the lodge three times in the Right. Worthy Grand Lodge of the State
He has conducted the Presbyterian Church choir four years, in a very successful manner.
He has 340 acres of timber and marsh land which is eight miles from the county seat; churches and schools within two minutes' walk from his house. He also has several building
DAIRY & FARM OF SAMUEL T. YOUMAN, 500 ACRES, DEL NORTE CO. CAL.
*
JOSEPH G.ANTHONY'S HOME & MILL. SMITH RIVER VALLEY, DEL NORTE CO. CAL.
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lots and business houses which are illustrated in this work and muore fully described elsewhere.
BENJAMIN CAMPTON.
Benjamin Campton was born June 8, 1849, in Wisconsin, and came to California when hut three years okl, so that it may be said that he is alinost a native of California. He, as most others who came by the overland route, had a telious time, being six months on the way, and with others, came hy the Fremont route, arriving at Shasta City September 25, 1852. His first business was general farming, which he con. tinues till the present time. In 1857 he went to Rohnerville Humboldt County. He farms 100 acres of laud, consisting of black loam, with clay bottom and is very productive, aver- aging sixty bushels of oats, sixty hushels of barley, and forty bushels of wheat per acre. It is located twenty-two miles from the county seat and one-fourth mile from church and school. He has an orchard of 100 trees, consisting of apples, pars, plums, cherries and peaches. He usually has on the ¡Jace about ten head of cattle, ten hogs. and eight horses.
In 1873 he was married to Miss Sarah Melissa Kay, a native of Michigan. They have four girls named Mussadora, Ger- trude, Lucy and Pearl Campton.
WILLIAM CAMPTON.
William Campton, a pioneer resident, was born near Mineral Point, Lafayette County, Wisconsin, November 13, 1846, where he was engaged in farming and stock-raising. He came to the Pacific Coast by way of the Fremont route, meeting with the usual hardships of a journey across the uninhabited country, much of it a desert, to this land of plenty, arriving at Shasta City September 25, 1852. In 1857 he came to Rohnerville, in this county, and has followed farming ever since he arrived in the State. He has 160 acres of rich, black loam land, giving an average yield of forty-five bushels of oats or barley, and thirty-five of wheat per acre. He has an orchard of 150 trees of' apples, pears, peaches, plums and cherries. He generally keeps ten hogs, ten head of cattle and about a dozen horses.
He married Miss Ellen Lindley in 1874, who was a native of Oregon. They have two children, one boy and one girl, named Benjamin Forrest Campton and Ada Louisa ('ampton.
The farm is located twenty-two miles from the county seat and only one-fourth mile from church and school, thus possess- ing inany advantages for residence.
SETH KINMAN.
One of our most striking illustrations is that of the noted Seth Kinnan and his " buck-horn chair " which was presented by him in person to President Buchanan. This celebrated hunter and presidential chair maker was a uative of Union County, Pennsylvania, where he was horn September 20, 1815. In April. 1849, he left his home with rifle, Colt's six-shooter, knife and fiddle. On the journey he acquired the title of " Arkansaw " from the fact that he could play the " Arkansas
Traveler " better than any one che. He reached Sacramento and visited the mines, but concluded that the country was full of gold, and at the rate it was then being taken out, would not be worth much after a while, so he turned his attention to hunting. In the spring of 1830 he joined Major Reading's company on its way prospecting the Trinity River. In the fall of 1850 he returned East, and in 1832 he again came to California and pushed immediately for Humboldt Bay. He inade a contract with C'ol. R. C. Buchanan to furnish meat of bear and elk for the Fort, which contract. he faithfully exe- cuted.
He made a second visit East, and returned in October, 1834, to this county and Imilt a small house, where Hon. ] Russ now lives, and afterward took up a small place near Table Bluff; for his mother's home. In the spring af 1855 he took up a ranch on Bear River, which was near a pond still called Kinman's Pond. Here he resided and acquired his skill at. chair making, which gave him national renown.
We learu that Mr. Kinman is preparing a history of his life for publication, and we deem it best to ouly give the above brief outline of his career.
KINMAN'S CHAIR ON EXHIBITION.
The chair received mauy flattering notices from the San Francisco press, where it was on exhibition at a fair. Some leading gentlemen of that city, among whour was Peter Dona- hue, took charge of the matter aud procured a free pas- sage both for the chair and Kinman to Washington. The San Francisco Herald, in speaking of the buck-horn chair, con- cludes as follows :-
"Seth Kinmau is about as extraordinary as the chair. He is the beau ideal of one of the advance guard of civilization, or Rocky Mountain hunters, being iu the prime of life, over six feet high, a large pair of whiskers, buckskin pants, dittu coat, and a heavy bowie-knife attached to a belt around his waist. Here," says the Herald. "is part of his conversation while showing the chair: 'Anybody can make a cheer, but I take credit for the design of this. I kill deer and elk meat up in Humboldt County. My range is from Bear River Valley into Oregon. This winter I killed considerable meat, so I thought I would take it easy and set about making this cheer with the view of sending it to Washington for " old Buck." After I got it finished though, the hoys up there in our parts thought it would do to travel ou, so I thought I would try and go on with it to Washington myself, and left iny mother and four children behind and started with nothing but my rifle and powder-horn. Nobody has ever sot in this cheer and never shall till after the President loes. I was told that they would help me get through with it, and here I am to see. If they don't why I will have to put back to Humboldt County. I would like to see the President though, and I have several friends in Washington. Jim Denver is an old friend of mine; it was him who recommended me to go in Humboldt County
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for game. Here's the cheer, gentlemen; the more you see it the better yon'll like it.''
THE BUCK-HORN CHAIR PRESENTED.
'The Washington Union, May 23, 1857, says: "The hand- some buck-horn chair which was brought from California hy Seth Kinman, of Ininholdt County (a real Rocky Mountain Imuter), was presented this afternoon to the President of the United States, in the presence of a large number of delighted spectators, not a few of whom were ladies. Mr. Kinman was the observed of all observers, and many were the complimen- tary remarks that were made of hitn.
limnediately after the entrance of the President Mr. Kin- man was introdneed to him by General Denver. Mr. Kinman thereupon addressed the President hrietly, aud feclingly, allud- ing to the reverence in which he held him as a statesman, aud expressing the pleasure with which he hailed him as Chief Magistrate of the Union.
" He himself was a Pennsylvanian, and was horn in Union- town. When quite a youth he had gone to the Great West, siuce which time he had heen a pioucer. He had twice crossed the Rocky Mountains and had come to the city of Washington with that chair, pointing to the curiously-fashioned massive antlers at his side, which was securely fastened with iron of their own State, Pennsylvania, to present it to the President, and he hoped that ho would accept it."
" The President responded in the courteous manner for which he is so distinguished, and said that he had no doubt that Mr. Kinman was honest and sincere and hrave like the people of the frontier, to which he belonged, who could be led by kind- pess but never could he driven by force. He would accept the chair with a great deal of pleasure, and would keep it as a momento of the occasion. He would now sit down in it. It is needless to add that in the act of sitting he was loudly applauded. General Denver then introduced to the President Dr. O. M. Wosencraft, of California, who spoke on hehalf of the Californians."
The chair ocenpied a central position in the celebrated east room, and was the greatest attraction of the President's inan- sion. The Washington letter-writers to the papers throughout the country spoke of it in the highest terms. In Frank Leslie's newspaper for June 3, 1857, the front page is devoted to a picture of Kinman and his huck-horn chair. He is rep- resented in full hnekskin rig, rifle, powder-horu, etc. He stauds in an easy and natural position, reclining on his old rifle. The chair occupies a separate cut. Our portrait is from au original photograph.
Seth Kinman, in return for his huck-horn chair, presented to the President, received a Government appointment to assist in removing the Indians in California and Oregon to their reservations.
Kinman made a chair out of elk-horns which he took to
Washington aud presented to Abraham Lincoln, in 1864. He made oue out of grizzly bears' remains and presented it to Andrew Johnson in the White House, September, 1865. The next was made of elk-horns and presented to President Hayes in 1876.
HON. JAMES E. MURPHY.
The Hon. James E. Murphy is acting Judge of the Superior Court of Del Norte County, having been elected to that ardu- ous and responsible position in 1879, for a period of five years. Although he has hut fairly entered upon the duties of the office, it is the unanimous opinion that a wise selection has heen made hy the voters, and doubtless the position which he occupies will prove a creditable one to himself and satisfactory to the people who elected him. He is a lawyer of acknowl- edged ability, and has proven himself the possessor of those noble traits which enables him to easily discriminate hetween right and wrong.
He was horn in Calais, Maine, January 12, 1846. He is of Irish descent, his ancestors having emigrated there in 1816. He moved with his parents to Del Norte County in 1860. Here he attended the public school at Crescent City for one year, when having hecome proficient in all the studies taught in the public schools in that place, he was sent hy his parents to St. Thomas Seminary, an ecclesiastical college situated then at the old Mission Dolores, San Francisco. Here he remained ahout four years, receiving a thorough classical education. He afterwards taught the public schools at Crescent City, Smith River, and Happy Camp. Happy Camp heing a mining town, he taught school during summer and mined during the winter.
In 1866-67 he read law and was admitted to the Bar hefore Judge Turner. He is not only learned in his profession, hut is a gentleman of superior literary tastes and acquirements.
In 1867 he received the nomination for District Attorney hy the Democratic party and was elected. In 1869-70 he rep- resented Del Norte and Klamath Counties in the Assembly. In 187I he was again elected District Attorney for Del Norte.
From 1873 to 1878 he represented Del Norte County in the Legislature, occupying the position of Speaker pro tem. during the last two sessions.
He was the author of the Bank Commission Bill, which has worked incalculahle benefit to the people of California.
At the election of delegates to the Convention to revise the Constitution of this State in 1878, he was chosen delegate to that hody, which assembled at Sacramento and framed a "New Constitution," which was adopted by popular vote of the people.
There is prohahly no man in the State of the age of Judge Murphy that has been elected to so many responsible positions as he has. He is now thirty-six years of age, and has heen a member of the Legislature at four sessions, thrice District Attorney, once a Constitution inaker and now a Superior Judge.
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EDGAR MASON.
Erlgar Mason was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, May 17, 1849. While yet an infant, in 1852, his father's family emigrated to the Goklen State, crossing the plains and! arriving at Marysville in the fall of that year. The next year they came to Crescent City, then a thriving little village just bud- ‹ling out and bidding fair to be a rival to the largest city in the State. At that time Crescent City was in Klamath County, out of which Del Norte was carved in 1857. What education Mr. Mason received was in the public schools of Del Norte County which in those days were under the management, at different times, of several able. professors, some being gradu- ates of Yale College aud Edinburgh University.
He has made Crescent City his home ever since the time of his first arrival in 1853, with the exception of an absence of two years when he was in the lower part of the State pursuing the study and practice of dentistry for which profession he was educated. In the year 1870 he returned to Crescent City where he first commenced the practice of dentistry for himself.
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