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 44
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He was married in 1871 and settled down for a quiet, steady, uueventful life. Although he has met with success as a den- tist, yet the small income which was derived from the practice of that profession was not sufficient to keep up his expenses, and ill-health having overtaken him, he was in a measure forced to abandon that business as a means of livelihood.
Having devoted some time to reading law, he was elected District Attorney of his county in the year 1875, which office las occupied his time until now. During the six years he has held the position, he has contributed largely to the advance- inent of local interests. He has met with unprecedented suc- cess in the prosceution and convietion of criminals in Del Norte. Before his election it was often said, " if you want to commit a crime go into Del Norte, no one is ever convicted there." He was instrumental in sendiug six men to the State Prison in the year 1880. It is a notable fact that not a single criminal prosecution for a crime amounting to a felony has been necessary for about eighteen months last past.
Mr. Mason is one of the prominent and permanent citizens of his county. He has always been a Democrat. He is a member of the Masonie fraternity, and has filled the highest positions in his lodge.
FRANK BURTSCHELL.
Frank Bortschell was born in Germany in 1825, residing on a farm till twenty-two years of age, when he came to New York City in 1846, where he lived for two years. In 1848 he went to New Orleans, and from there to Philadelphia, and New York in 1851; from there he went back to Germany, staying six months; then returned to the State of New York in 1852, remaining for one year; then started for California by way of Nicaragua route, coming to San Francisco in the fall of 1853, where be stayed two years.
In 1835 he weut to Weaverville and kept a restaurant with good snecess; after a year and a half came to Del Norte County in 1856, and was in the Cushing House for four months. He then bought the house and has been engaged in keeping a hotel since.
He has a farm of 644 aeres in Smith River Valley, eighteen miles from county seat, one mile from the mouth of Smith River, three-fourths of a mile from school, and tive fromn church. His farm is for dairying; keeps ninety head of cat- tle, sixty hogs and four horses. He has an orchard of 150 trees of various kinds.
He was married to Miss Eliza Brougham in 1860, who was a native of Ireland. In 1865 he married Miss Carolina Mo- sher. They have six girls.
Among our illustrations will be found a view of the hotel of Mr. Burtsehell, situated on Front Street, Crescent City. This hotel is now first-class in every particular. A few of its advantages are that it possesses extensive facilities for aecom- modating a large number of guests, and is provided with large and well-ventilated rooms and excellent beds. The propri- etor's long experience in attending to the comforts of the traveling publie will not fail of appreciation. We advise any one visiting Crescent City to make their home at this hotel.
HENRY WESTBROOK.
Mr. H. Westbrook is one of the active and prominent farm- ers of Del Norte County, having derived his knowledge of farming in early life in Germany, and many years of practical farming in Del Norte County. He was born in Westfog, Prus- sia, in 1829; he left his native home at the age of twenty, and landed in New York City in April, 1849. He came direct from New York to Naperville, Du Page County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming for three years.
In April, 1852, Mr. Westbrook started overland for Oregon. The mode of travel was by ox teams exclusively; this slow mode of travel required much patience for that long distance of five or six months. When on the Platte River, that dread- ful disease, cholera, made its appearance among the company, and the road was frequently marked with the grave of one of its vietims. He continned with the company until they reached Salmon Falls; here he started in company with four others ahead of the ox train; making good time, he reached Oregon City in October, 1852. He remained here only about two months, when like many others who had east their lot in Oregon, he started for the gold mines of California; he arrived at Sailor Diggings, Oregon, in the latter part of De- eember, 1852. Sailor Diggings was then one of the lively mining camps of the Pacific Coast, but provision was very scarce, and Mr. Westbrook and many others lived on nothing but acorns and wild meat for two months. He remained at Sailor Diggings for one year; the Rogue River Indians being very troublesome, be returned to the Willamette Valley, where he remained for two years, and again returned to Sailor
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Diggings. The day before Mr. Westbrook arrived at Sailor Diggings the Rogue River Indians had broke ont and indis. criminately slaughtered most of the inhabitaut., Here the miner was found killed with his own pick ; here the defence- lexx women were tomahawked in their houses, and their chil- dren's brains dashed out against the walls. Such atrocious crimes were too horrible for the subject of our sketch to pass by without resenting, and he enlisted the next day as a soldier to fight the ludians. The war lasted for six months, and Mr. Westbrook heing unsuccessful in mining he resolved to quit the mines.
He came to Smith River Valley and took up a part of the ranch that he now owns The original tract of land was 160 aers, but he has added to his farm until he has 1,600 acres, lifteen miles from Crescent City, 150 miles from any railroad; but has water communication with the entire world, the Pacific Ocran being the western boundary of his land.
He has the best arranged dairy ranch in northern Califor- nia, his churning being done with water-power from an over- shot wheel, the water being brought a distance of three-quar- ters of a mile. Ile also raises wheat with an average yield of forty bushels to the acre. On his dairy ranch he milks 225 cows which prodnee 32,000 lbs of butter annually.
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It is not to be supposed that Mr. Westbrook has lived alone all this time; he was married to Mrs. O'Langhlin in 1856. Mr. Westbrook has two sons, William and Henry; William, the oldest, like his father, is engageil in farming and dairying, while his secoud son has chosen the legal profession. He is a young man of bright intellect and promising future, and will no doubt win laurels of which his father and mother may feel juslly proud.
J G. ANTHONY.
1. 1. Anthony arrived in San Francisco March 3, 1850. He engaged in mining at Grass Valley, Nevada County, with but little success. On his first arrival, he worked in Meigg's planing mill in San Francisco for some time. He was born in Carolina County, Maryland, in 1830, where he lived with his father, who was a miller, during his boyhood. He resided, before starting for California, at Wilmington, Delaware. He sailed from New York in 1853, and came by Nicaragua. He resided at Grass Valley two years, came to this connty in 1859 and engaged in milling at Smith River. His farm consists of 320 acres, fourteeu miles from Crescent City. It is very desira- bly located, being only three miles from water communication with: markets, and half a mile from school and church. On the place is a valuable orchard of fruit trees consisting of the most choice kinds of apple, besides plnms, pears and other fruits; about 140 acres is suitable for cultivation, the balance forming excellent grazing land. He keeps forty head of cat- tle and forty sheep, and usually about forty hogs, six horses, and other stoek.
He married Miss Emma C. Bailey in 1860, who was a native
of Knox County, Illinois. They have three boys, and two girls, whose nantes are Ella, Mark, Joseph, Kate and Fred. Anthony.
SAMCEL WISTON.
Mr. S Winton was born in Sangamon County, Illinois, November 26, 1835, and moved with his parents to Kane County, Illinois, where he remained until seventeen years old, then moved to La Fayette County, Wiscousin.
He started from Lafayette County, Wisconsin, April 4, 1860, and was five and a half months on the road, and arrived at Ashland, Rogne River Valley, Oregon, September, 1860. He was engaged in farming for one year, then he mined fonr years with but little success. In 1865 he engaged in farming which he followed for ten years. He has been engaged in dairying ever since. He has 120 acres of land, fourteen miles from Crescent City and two miles from water communi- cation, and half a mile from school, and one mile from church. He has eighty acres of farming land, and forty acres of timber, situated in the redwood forest ten miles from Crescent City. In his orchard are 150 choice fruit trees, apples, cherries and plums. He keeps about thirty head of cattle.
He married Miss Cordelia Beam in 1855, who was a native of La Fayette, Wisconsin. They have three boys and four girls, whose names are Howard, Thomas, Sara E, George, Charley, May and Mina Winton, who are all living with their parents at the present time.
H. F. SIMON.
H. F. Simon, a pioneer of California, was born in Tilseit Prussia, in 1827. He sailed from Antwerp in 1850, and came by New York and Panama to San Francisco, in 1850; was a saddler by trade, which he followed for ten years. In 1861 he went to Montana and from there to Brice, Idaho, where he remained for five years, working in the mines with good suc- cess. In 1862 he was in the saddlery business in Crescent City. From 1876 to 1879 he was engaged in merchandising at Smith's River, in Del Norte County.
S. T. YOUMANS.
Among the substantial enterprising men of Del Norte County we find Mr. Youmans; well qualified by his early training to stand in the front ranks of the agriculturists of the county, born of Quaker parentage in Schoharie County, New York, instructed in the details of farming, he is just the man to develop the resources of the county where he makes his home. Instead of going to the mines as many before have done, he engages in farming where his experience and skill tell with gootl results. He resided in Schoharie, New York, till March 5, 1852. He then went to Otsego Connty and followed farm- ing from 1852 to April 17, 1858, wben he sailed on the steamer Philadelphia from New York to Havana. There be changed to the steamer Grenada, and when about twenty miles from Aspinwall the vessel collided with a schooner, but no lives
6 OdgarMason DIST, ATTY,
Das. & Murphy SUPERIOR JUDGE
DEL NORTE COUNTY OFFICERS
W. H. Modbring ASSESSOR
William Laville TREASURER
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were lost, and arrived in San Francisco May 13, 1858. He came to this county in 1858, residing in Crescent City one year, driving team in a logging camp. He then located on a . farm three miles from the mouth of Smith's River, where he has 200 aeres of prairie land, very rich, producing, on an aver- age, eighty- five bushels of barley and eighty hushels of oats per acre. It is located eleven miles from the county seat, three miles from water communication, 200 from railroad, one from school house and three from church.
He has a productive orchard of 120 trees of different varie- ties. He has rented his ranch, but reserves his residence. He las 100 head of cattle and five horses.
He married Miss Ruth Sweat, in 1842, who was a native of Albany County, New York. They have one boy and three girls. Their names are Alvenia Harriet, Amanda, and May E., who are married. Samuel Yonmans remains at home with his parents.
FRANCIS FRANCIS.
Francis Francis, of Ferndale, a pioneer settler, was born in Wales, in the year 1818, and came to the United States in 1841, and went to work in the coal mines of Pennsylvania. He became tired of the Eastern States, aud determined to fiud a home on the frontier of the far West, and in 1843 he arrived in the town of Galeua, Illinois, and went to work in the lead mines near that town, where he worked for about three years, when he married au excellent young lady of English birth and good parents, the daughter of his partner in business, and for two years lived very happily in Galena and then moved to Kentucky, where he remained until 1850 when he returned to Galena with his family, and when he saw them comfortably settled and provided for he started to the new gold-fields of Califoruia.
Traveling across the plains in a wagon takes all the romance out of that part of one's life. Once on the way provisions were short and they were obliged to go on half rations for five weeks, until they could get a fresh supply. ' It required about six months for the trip, and he arrived at Nevada City in the fall of 1850, with rags around his feet, bis boots having worn out, destitute of clothes and dead broke. He then said if Cal- ifornia would only afford him enough to eat and wear be would be satisfied. He began to look around and first went to work on Gold Run, but soon tired of that, thinking more could be made elsewhere. About this time his wife and little girl came to California by the way of Panama. This journey was full of adventures from the first, but the roughest experi- ence was at Panama. One steamer had arrived the day before with 1,200 passengers, and their steamer had 1,000 passengers aboard; and of course every available conveyance was quickly engaged, and it was her lot to ascend the Chagres River in an open canoe, which took a whole week, and at the end of this long. tiresome journey she was obliged to sit all night in a
terrifie rain-storin with her little girl in her lap, and no pro- tection but an umbrella. The next day she crossed the mount- ains on a mule and went aboard the steamer Tennessee which brought her safely to San Francisco. Those were the days of slow mail communication, and although she had written some time before starting, he had not received the letter, and she was much disappointed at not meeting her husband. But being a brave little woman, she made hier way to Nevada City where her husband was much surprised aud overjoyed to meet her. Here they lived very happily for six years. Mr. Francis for some time prospected on the Yuba, but without success. He then went to Shelby Hill where he took a claim which turned out tolerably well. He was one of the firm which brought the Snow Mountain Ditch to Nevarla City, and was partner with the Lillard boys in the Nebraska Mine, and also owned an interest in the Caynga Mine.
"Hearing of the wonderful resources of Humboldt County he sold all his possessions iu Nevada County and started for Humboldt, and with his family landed in Arcata, then called Uniontown, in 1856. In a short time concluded to settle where the town of Ferndale now stands; but it then was very sparsely settled. He bought a claim of S. W. Shaw, of Sau Francisco, and also took claims adjoining. Ferndale is built on the northwest corner of the claim.
FERNDALE WATER-WORKS INTRODUCED.
He did some farming and kept from eight to ten cows for dairy purposes, and when the town began to grow he supplied customers with milk. Water being scarce in town, and there being plenty of water on his place, he built tanks and began to supply the town with water in 1875. The next year he built a reservoir and laid pipe down to town, which is about a quarter of a mile. In the spring of 1877 Mr. Francis died, and the business, which has been increasing every year, has been managed by his wife, and now almost the whole town and some in the suburbs are supplied from this reservoir.
FIRST CHILD BORN IN FERNDALE.
They had a family of ten children, six of whom are living. Eugene Francis, Mrs. Clara Brice, which was the first white child born in Ferndale, Mrs. Amelia Roharts, Henry Francis, Frederic Francis, Decima Francis. The youngest is about six- teen years old.
The farm contains 220 acres, and is designated as "Brook Farm," and forms one of our illustrations. Forty acres of the place are farmed, 100 acres are pasture land and the rest tim- her land. A tenant has twenty cows on the place, conducting a dairy. Mr. Francis was County Assessor in 1868-69.
J. HETHERINGTON.
Among the residences of Eureka will be found the home of J. Hetherington, who is a comparatively new-comer of Hum- boldt County, where he arrived April 7, 1877. He was born
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in Carlisle, England, and caine to America at an early age, settling in the town of Webster, Worcester County, Massachu- setts. He served his adopted country during the late war, in the Twenty-first Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers. Since coming to Humboldt he occupied the store on the corner of F and Second Streets, in Eureka, doing an extensive tailoring business. He was very prominently identified with all musical matters of the county.
E. C. CUMMINGS.
E. C. Cummings was born in Oneida County, New York, August 18, 1837, and lived on his father's farm till seventeen years old. He thien engaged in teaching school, which he followed for five years. He thien went to Coldwater, Michi- gan, and farmed for one year. He started from Peoria, Illinois, for California, viu New York and the Isthummus of Panama, being twenty-eight days from New York to San Francisco, where he arrived May 19, 1861.
Ile kept books two years for a fruit and produce house in San Francisco, aud spent the year 1863 in Inyo County, pros- pecting and figliting Indians. In April, 1864, he went to Idaho aud spent four years iu miniug with fair success. He resided iu San Francisco in 1861-2; in Inyo County iu 1863; Idalio, 1864-5-6-7; in Oregou in 1868.
He came to Humboldt County February, 1869, where he has resided ever since, teacbing school at first for several ycars.
In 1873 he was elected Superintendent of Schools, holding the office for two terms, and until 1878. He gave up tbe pro- fession of school teaching and engaged in the furniture and undertaking business in Ferndale.
In 1868 he married Miss A. A. Hill, who was a native of California. They have three boys and one girl, whose names are, Mary May, George Elliott, Charles Edwin, and Willis Everette Cummings.
H. D. SMITH.
Thic subject of this sketch resides in Capetown, thirty-five miles from Eureka. He was born in Truro, Province of Nova Scotia. He came to California by way of Boston, New York and Panama, arriving in San Francisco April 29, 1865. Upon his arrival he went to French Camp, San Joaquin County, and worked there on the first combined header and thresber in the State, for Mr. Baxter, now an extensive farmer, in Mereed County, and inventor of other improved maebinery.
He left tlere in August, 1865, and arrived at Eureka and began farming with Mr. Dixon, on Eel River, and continued there for two years. At present be has a farm on Bear River of 160 acres. During 1867-S he followed the business of log- ging. In the winter of 1869 be resided in Sierra Valley, Plumas County. Wbile there be took charge of Meiggs Brothers' stock ranch. He returned to Humboldt County in June, 1869. In January, 1870, he was in partnership with Mr. Putnam, and rented a dairy ranch from Mr. Josepb Russ
for a term of three years. In the spring of 1874, in company with Adam Putnam and J. Smith, he drove 1,000 head of cattle fromu Humboldt County to Oregou, and remained there threc years. He then sold out at a fair advantage. From Oregon he went east, and from there took a trip home, during the winter of 1877-8. He returned to Humboldt County in the spring of 1878. During that summer he drove a band of beef cattle from Humboldt County to Napa City.
He was married in 1878 to Miss Carrie Flint, and they have two children named, Robert H. Smith, born September 28, 1879, and Agnes E. Smith, boru October 8, 1881.
He was employed on one of Mr. Russ' ranebes during the fall of 1878, and in the fall of 1879 bought the property of Mr. Russ on wbich be now resides.
JONATHAN FREESE.
Jonathan Freese came to Humboldt County in June, 1853. He was born in Orono, State of Maine, and reached California by way of Panama. In Humboldt he was engaged for a good many years in the lumber business. On the 14th of October 1875, he met with a serious accident, which, unfortunately terminated fatally. He was at bis logging claim watching the men as they were rolling a log upon the trucks, wben by some means the dog on the chain became loosened, tearing out a piece of wood aud throwing it with great force. The piece struck Mr. Freese in the stomach, knocking him senseless, and injuring him to the extent that he died in ten minutes. A courier was dispatebed for Dr. Schenck, but it was too late to be of avail.
Mr. Freese was one of the pioneers of Humboldt; one who came to this county in its infancy, and shared the trials and triumphs of his time. He came with a band of California's bravest, sturdiest men, having in their bosoms bearts of oak when called upon in time of need; the kindest of the kind when called upon to aid suffering humanity; men who have undergone the heat and burden of the day. But he is no more. The great Father, in his infinite mercy bas taken one of the most enterprising citizens, a kind and affectionate busband and fatber. What a feast death bas bad within the past few years, dining off the lives of our old pioneers! How many of those faces, so familiar for the past quarter of a cen- tury will meet us with a smile and word of good cheer no more. Through a period equaling almost an average life- time these active, energetic men bave played their part-a very active and important part, too- and bave built up fort- unes for themselves as well as for otbers. Many of them made names that deserve to live honored for what they did and wbat they tried to do. But one by one, as the leaves fall from the tree in autumn, tbey bave faded from our view.
Although the band of true-hearted pioneers was small at first, yet tbeir numbers have been thinned so that but few remain to repeat the story that should be most dear to the hearts of all -- tbe founding and settlement of our county.
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Mr. Freese leaves a wife and three children to mourn his loss. The sympathies of the public are extended to his sorrowing family in their bereavement.
Mr. Freese's name frequently occurs in the early history of the county, and his record, either private or public, is of spot- less purity. He was a member of the Common Council of the city of Eureka at the time of his death. He was elected County Treasurer in 1861, and was a member of the Board of Supervisors in 1859.
His wife and three children, Benjamin F., Adele A., and Charles W., are living in their own residence in Eureka.
FREDERICK AXE.
Frederick Axe was born in Philadelphia, January 17, 1840. From the age of nine to that of fourteen years, the principal opportunities of education of his life he obtained from the public schools of the time. At the latter age he engaged as an apprentice to the business of silver plating, in which he was employed until at the age of twenty-two, when he enlisted as private in Company "C," Second Regiment of Infantry of Pennsylvania Res., belonging to what was known during the war as Governor Curtin's pet division. Under this command his first ten months in the "tented field," proved no holiday serv- ice, having shared the heat of conflict in the battle of second Bull Run, and the fierce encounters with the enemy during the seven successive days and nights in the execution of Gen. McClellan's order for change of base from Chickamauga to Harrison's Landing, at the camp near Fredericksburg, Vir- ginia. He got a discharge from his company on the condition of joining another arm of the service, which he did, by enlist- ing in Battery " M," Second Regiment, U. S. Artillery, on the 10th day of December, 1862, for the period of three years. On the expiration of his full term he received his discharge from the regiment, Lieut. Col. William H. French, com- manding, indorsed with the highest testimonial as to character that could be awarded to a soldier in the ranks.
An official list of twenty two battles and skirmishes in which Mr. Axe was engaged while in this command accompa- nies his discharge.
With an aggregate of four years "to the front" in the bloody field of the Rebellion, though luckily he survived with- out a memorial scar of the strife upon his person, it may be said with equal truth, that during the long period of that severe experience, not a single act of dishonor or reproach is recorded against his reputation as a soldier and a man.
The close of the war found Mr. Axe in California, where for the first two years he served in the position of horse guard at San Quentin Prison, after which he settled at Eureka, Hum- boldt Bay, where he has acquired a moderate property, and permanently established his home.
In the private relations of life Mr. Axe is noted for his re- tiring modesty of manner, and in his home circle as an affec- tionate husband and father. He was married at Eureka,
October 20, 1873, to Laidee, daughter of E. H. Howard, Esq., and has a family of three children.
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