USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 58
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Stephen W. Knowles, Whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Washington county, Ohio, September 13, 1822. Here he received his education, and resided until 1855, when he, leaving his parents behind, came, via Nicaragua, to California, arriving at San Francisco after a trip of twenty-one days from New York, and landed June 20th of that year. After spending a few months in the mines, he engaged in dairying about seven miles from San Francisco, in San Mateo county. Here he remained about one and one-half years, then moved to Sonoma county and engaged in the same business near Petaluma until 1859; thence to Mendocino county, ten miles north-west of Cloverdale, where he lived thirteen years, engaged in dairying and stock-raising. He named his place the "Hermit- age," and was the postmaster several years. In 1872 he settled on his present place, consisting of four hundred and twenty acres of land, in Anderson valley, Mendocino county, where he has since resided, farming, keeping hotel and a stage station. He was married December 5, 1861, to Miss Cynthia M. Clough, a native of Washington county, Ohio, who was born February 14, 1824.
James W. McSpadden. Was born in Washington county, Virginia, January 26, 1810, and resided at his birthplace till he was twenty-three years of age, receiving his education in the common schools of the State.
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In 1833 he moved to Calhoun, McMinn county, Tennessee, and was there during the exodus of the Cherokee Indians, being engaged in merchandising and hotel-keeping. In 1837 he returned to his native place, and purchased his father's old homestead, on which was located a saw and grist-mill. He remained here till January, 1847, when he returned to McMinn county, Tennessee, where he farmed for three years. He then began merchandising at Athens, Tennessee, which he followed for eight years. In 1854 he moved to Missouri and engaged in farming there till 1859, when he began the broker and banking business, which he followed till the war broke out. In the spring of 1865 we find him engaged in planting a vineyard near Kansas City. He disposed of his interest in this and in 1871 engaged in merchan- dising, which he conducted about one year when he was burned out. In 1873 he came to California and took the position of clerk for McGimpsey & Cox, of Booneville. In 1874 he returned to Missouri, and in 1876 came the second time to California where he has since resided. Mr. McSpadden was married January 27, 1831, to Miss Elizabeth Orr, a native of Virginia, born May 19, 1810, and died January 10, 1846. His children by this marriage are James O. born May 16, 1836, and Elizabeth, born November 28, 1845. He was married secondly September 10, 1846, to Miss Lucy Ann McAnnis, a native of Tennessee, born January 17, 1817. The children of this mar- riage are Sarah R. born October 2, 1847, and Nannie W. born September 30, 1849.
John W. McAbee, Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Indiana, November 5, 1826. When fifteen years of age he, with parents, moved into Henry county, Missouri. Here he, with his father, followed farming for about four years, at the end of which time his parents were both dead. He then enlisted in the Mexican war and served about fifteen months. He then went to Kansas City, where he made his home, follow- ing different occupations until 1850, when he crossed the plains to Cali- fornia with ox-teams, in company with a brother Jerome. They arrived at Nevada City about the first of September, where the subject of this sketch followed mining for about two months. He then spent about four months in Sacramento, after which he returned to the mines, where he remained until December 1, 1851. He then took the steamer Republic for the Atlantic States. When near Acapulco the steamer sunk, and all the passengers, numbering about seven hundred and fifty, were taken ashore, where they remained about fifteen days while the Republic was raised and newly coppered. She was then towed to Panama by the steamer Panama, with the passengers on board. Mr. McAbee, after spending some time in Cuba arrived in Missouri in the following March. Here he speculated in stock until the spring of 1853, when he again crossed the plains with one hundred and seventy-five head of cattle, accompanied by his wife. He came direct
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to Sonoma county, arriving in November. He followed farming and stock- raising near Bloomfield until 1859, when he came to Mendocino county and settled where Yorkville is now located. Here he engaged in dairying, which he followed eight years. He then changed his occupation to that of raising horses and mules. After four years of this he moved to Booneville, where he has since resided, and is postmaster. He has two sheep ranches. Mr. McAbee married in August, 1852, Miss Susan M. Weaver. Their children are: John, George, Marcus, Delena, Norredden, Mary, Emma, Minnie, and Samuel J. T.
Alexander C. McDonald (deceased), Whose portrait appears in this history was born in New Jersey, October 5, 1814. When he was but a child his father died. Alexander then lived during his boyhood with his grandfather, Jacob DeGroot, after which he went to New York and engaged in merchandising. He came to California in the year 1847, as Sergeant- Major in Col. Stevenson's New York Regiment, and served during the Mexican war; was honorably discharged in San Francisco. He then located at Sonoma, where he engaged in merchandising, and while living there married Mrs. Anna Scott nee Anna Smith, on the 7th of April, 1850. In the fall of 1859 he moved to Mendocino county and bought the property now known as the " Mountain House," located about eight miles from Clo- verdale on the road leading to Ukiah City, where he kept public house, also raised cattle and sheep, until his death, which was April 4, 1880. Mrs. Anna McDonald was born in Missouri on the 1st day of April, 1833, and died at the " Mountain House " February 15, 1877, leaving eight children as follows: Mary H., born 1851; Alice, born 1853; George H., born 1855; Richard, born 1858; James A., born 1864; Lillian, born 1866; Flora, born 1868; Anna, born 1871.
Cornelius Prather. Was born in Jennings county, Indiana, April 5, 1826. He resided in his birthplace till sixteen years of age, when he moved to Scott county, that State. When nineteen years of age, he, with his parents, moved to Keokuk, Iowa, where he resided one year, and then moved to Jefferson county, that State, where he resided till 1855. He then moved to Union county, that State, where he resided till the spring of 1862. On the 5th of May of that year, he started across the plains for California, and was five months in making the journey. He first stopped at Healdsburg, where he sojourned one month, and then came to Anderson valley, Mendocino county, and settled on his present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres. Mr. Prather has held the office of School Trustee several terms, and at present is Justice of the Peace in Anderson valley. Married, January 1, 1851, Evaline D. Ford, a native of Ohio, born October 16, 1826. James H., born Septem- ber 27, 1851; Alice A., born October 4, 1853; Emma L., born April 12, 1858;
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
John L., born February 11, 1863; Nancy E., born May 18, 1865, are the names and births of their children.
William Prather. Son of John L. and Mary Johnson Prather, was born in Jennings county, Indiana, February 16, 1832. When he was ten years of age, his parents moved to Scott county, Indiana, from there to Iowa, the fall before Iowa was a State, where he resided till the spring of 1852. He then came to California, crossing the plains, and after a tedious journey of six months, he, on the 20th day of September, arrived in Sacra- mento City. For two weeks he engaged in prospecting, and then went to Solano county and worked at farming till 1855. In November of that year he came to Anderson valley, which was then part of Sonoma county, where he has since continuously resided. He now owns five hundred and thirty acres of land, upon which he is engaged in farming and sheep-raising. Mar- ried Miss Diana E. Ingram, August 5, 1860, a native of Pike county, Ohio, born February 16, 1836. By this union, they have the following children: Hattie E., born July 11, 1861; John T., born December 17, 1863; Earl, born March 27, 1868; Millie, born March 27, 1870; Maurice, born July 23, 1873; Carl, born November 10, 1875 ; Maud, born February 3, 1877; and Eva I., born November 25, 1879.
Joseph Rawles. Was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, April 14, 1808. Here he grew up on a farm, and continued to reside with his parents until he was twenty years of age. He then went to Indiana, leaving his parents behind, where he followed farming and stock-raising for ten years. He then moved to Missouri, where he followed the same occupation for the next decade. His next move was to Iowa, where he engaged in his former occupation. In 1856, he went to Nebraska, and remained a year, and then returned to Iowa and made the necessary preparations for a trip across the plains to California, starting hence, June 1, 1857, with ox-teanis, and bringing with him a drove of cattle. His family, consisting of his wife and seven; children, accom- panied him. He spent his first winter in California in Butte county, and in the spring of 1858, went to Sonoma county. In July of that year, he moved into Anderson valley, Mendocino county, and purchased a farm from Walter Anderson, the first settler in the township, and has since resided on his homestead. He owns now, one thousand six hundred acres of farming and grazing land, which is stocked with three thousand one hundred and sixty head of sheep. Mr. Rawles was married in June 1830, to Miss Cynthia Bilderback, a native of Ohio. They have six children living, Mary, Jane, Robert, Thomas, Alexander, and Susan, and have lost two, Elizabeth and Joseph.
R. H. Rawles. Was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, January 23, 1845, and when he was quite young his parents moved to Mills county, Iowa, where they resided for four years. They then moved to Nebraska, and settled
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near the Platte river, where they remained one year. In 1857, they crossed the plains to California, and the winter of 1857-8 was spent in Sonoma county, near Santa Rosa. In June, 1858, they moved to Anderson valley and began the business of stock-raising. In 1870, they added a flock of sheep to their stock, and in partnership with his brother, A. N. Rawles, he has three thousand head of sheep, and owns about two thousand four hundred acres of land. Mr. Rawles was married June 28, 1874, to Miss Blanche Brown, who was born December 5, 1850, and died June 12, 1875. Mr. Rawles has held no offices in the county, but has always taken a deep interest in the welfare and prosperity of the section in which he resides. His education was received at the Alexander Academy at Healdsburg.
Albert G. Ruddock. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Onondaga county, New York, January 12, 1839, and was the youngest child of Justus and Rhoda Damon Ruddock. When about eight years of age he, with his parents, moved to Berlin, Green Lake county, Wisconsin, where he resided till 1853, where he received the advantages of a common school education. In March of that year he sailed from New York City on the steamer Illinois to the Isthmus, and thence to San Francisco on the John L. Stevens, arriving in the following April. It was his intention to reside with Dr. Calvin Rud- dock, who was his uncle, and the man who established the first hospital in the State of California, but he was unable to find his location. He then went to the mines in El Dorado county, and began book-keeping for Messrs. Henderson & Co. Ex-Governor Standford had a small store just across the street at that time from where young Ruddock was at work. After awhile he went into the mines and worked a short time. He then went to Jim- town, Tuolumne county, and mined for about three years. He then located in Mariposa county, where he was engaged in mining for about a year. He then went to Santa Cruz county and embarked in the lumbering busi- ness, where he remained till 1862. In that year he went to Tulare county and began operations in the cattle business, remaining there till 1864. He then came to Mendocino county and located at the Mal Paso, and remained there for three years, being engaged in farming. He next went to Nevarra Ridge, where he farmed till 1870, when he moved to Booneville and began merchandising, under the firm name of Carney & Ruddock, which business he conducted for two years. He then began the stock and sheep business at the Soda Spring, and remained there till 1875 when he settled on his present place, where he is engaged in stock-raising and farming. His farm comprises one thousand two hun- dred and eighty acres of fine land in Anderson valley. He has been postmaster at Booneville, road overseer for that district, and is at present chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Indian Creek school-district.
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He is an enterprising gentleman of sterling qualities of character, and such as go far towards the upbuilding of the community in which he resides. March 3, 1863, he was married to Permelia Curtis, a native of Coles county, Illinois, born May 16, 1846. Their children are Simon Taylor, born February 20, 1865; Rhoda, born June 16, 1867; Emily J., born Nov- ember, 11, 1868 ; Sarah A., born August 4, 1870; Albert S., born July 4, 1872; Melinda M., born May 8, 1874; Leona, born December 27, 1875; Charlotte A., born April 13, 1877; and Calvin J., born August 23, 1878.
William Wallach. Born in Austria March 8, 1837. When fifteen years of age he emigrated to Philadelphia, where he spent about fifteen months. He then went to St. Louis, where he spent six months. We next. find him in the coal mines of Alabama, where he remained about fifteen months. He next went to Illinois, where he followed the same occupation until 1867, when he came to this State and mined in Nevada county until June, 1868, when he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place, consisting of six hundred and forty acres, located on the road from Ukiah to Booneville, where he follows wool-growing and farming. Mr. Wallach married July 2, 1862, Miss Catherine Prillar, a native of Germany, born March 16, 1843. Their children are: Frank, born June 28, 1864; John, born May 29, 1869; William, born November 14, 1870; Jacob, born September, 19, 1875 ; Kate, born January 25, 1866; Mary, born December 26,1872.
R. H. York. Born' in Tennessee January 14, 1830. . Here he spent eighteen years on a farm. He then went to Missouri, where he farined un- til 1854, at which time he came to California, crossing the plains with ox- teams. He arrived at Sonora on the 5th of September. After mining for one year, we find him farming in San Joaquin county, where he remained nine years. In October, 1865, he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place, consisting of seven hundred acres, located at Yorkville on the Cloverdale and Mendocino City road. Here he has since resided, being engaged in farming, stock-raising and wool-growing. Mr. York .married February 26, 1863, Miss Mary Stublefield, a native of Missouri, born April 11, 1835. Their children are : Vanderson H., born December 22, 1863; Viola, born December 6, 1864; Leona, born June 20, 1867; Laura, born September 20, 1872.
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ARENA.
Charles Richard Arthur, Son of Pleasant and Agnes Timberlake Arthur, was born in Highland county, Ohio, October 23, 1829. He resided in his native county till he was twelve years of age, and during that time attended the public schools. In 1841 he immigrated to Iowa City, Iowa, in company with his parents, where he remained till 1846. He then returned to Highland county, Ohio, and engaged in clerking in a store which occupa- tion he followed till 1850. In April of that year he started across the plains bound for California and arrived in the State in September of that year. Began mining at once at Hangtown (Placerville), El Dorado county, which he followed for the period of two years. He then started a pack-train across the mountains to supply the mines at Gold Canon and trade with the im- migration from Salt Lake and the States; in the fall of that year bought a drove of cattle, and in company with I. G. Wickersham drove them to Peta- luma, Sonoma county. He remained in Petaluma for the next three years and during the time engaged in merchandising in company with Messrs. Wiley & Overton. In 1856 he moved to Tomales township, Marin county, and began the business of dairying and farming. In 1859 he disposed of his interest there and went to Bloomfield, Sonoma county, and opened a store which he continued till 1873. He then went to San Luis Obispo county; after an absence of two years returned to Bloomfield, and in 1875 moved to Point Arena and began merchandising and conducting the wharf at that place in connection with the business of the store. In January, 1880, the partnership was dissolved. Mr. Arthur retaining the wharf as his por- tion, to which business he is now attending. April 15, 1855, he married Miss Elizabeth Vanarsdale, a native of Keokuk, Iowa, ¡born February 5, 1835. Their children are : Alice, born January 11, 1856; Edwin, born Jan- uary 25, 1859; Margaret H., born June 27, 1860; Charles R., born Septem- ber 26, 1863; Frederick A., born August 10, 1865; and Emma B., born Octo- ber 3, 1867. They have four children deceased.
Robert Caughey, Son of William and Margaret Orr Caughey, was born in County Dundass, Canada West, Ontario District, October 29, 1835. He remained at his birthplace until 1863, receiving his education at the com- mon schools. At the age of seventeen he began the millwright and car- penter trades, which he followed as long as he remained in Canada. In 1863 he came to California, sailing from New York City February Ist, on
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the steamer Ariel. From the Isthmus he sailed in the steamer Golden Age, and arrived in San Francisco March Ist. He went at once to Bloomfield, Sonoma county, and followed the carpenter's trade in Sonoma and Marin counties till 1868, when he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place of two hundred acres, and has since been engaged in farming, dairying and stock-raising. He has been extensively engaged in road con- tracting also. He has always taken an active interest in the school interests of his section, and is at present a member of the Board of Supervisors. He married Miss Margaret Munroc, August 21, 1858, in Canada, who was a native of that Province, being born September 2, 1838. Their children are : William, Donald, Fraser, Grace Ann, Ella May, Robert Henry and Gertrude.
Martin Denman. Was born in Sullivan county, New York, February 2, 1839. He received his early education in the common schools, and at the age of seventeen went to the New York Conference Seminary, in Schoharie county, New York, and remained in school there for the next three years. In 1861 he came to California, arriving in San Francisco November 25th. He at once proceeded to Sonoma county and began farming, which he fol- lowed in connection with teaching school till 1866. He then went to Men- docino county and located at Manchester, Arena township, where he fol- lowed farming for three years. In 1869 he purchased his present ranch of two hundred and ninety acres, where he has since carried on farming and dairying. In 1872 he was elected County Recorder of Mendocino county, which office he filled for one term of two years. In 1875 he returned to his ranch, where he has since resided. September 26, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Antoinette Schofield, a native of Connecticut, born August 5, 1848. Their children are: Fannie E., born July 10, 1877, and Charles Edward, born December 12, 1878.
Sylvanus Sanford Hoyt. This worthy citizen and pioneer of Mendo- cino county, whose portrait will be found in this work, was born in Bakers- field, Franklin county, Vermont, May 11, 1813, and is the oldest son of Guy and Hannah Tyler Hoyt. He resided at his birthplace until he reached his majority, receiving the education which was afforded by the common schools of the day. In 1834 he went to Lancsborough, Berkshire county, Massa- chusetts, and worked at farming for about two and a half years, at the end of which time he returned to Vermont and sojourned there for the next eigh- teen months. This brings him up to 1838, when he went to New York City and embarked in the dairying business, where he remained till 1849. He then went to Hudson county, New Jersey, where he continued in the same occupation till 1853; March 19th of that year he sailed for California from New York City, on board the steamship Prometheus, bound for Nicaragua- He came up on the Pacific to San Francisco, arriving on the 21st of April. He settled in San Francisco, and engaged in the milk business, which he
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continued till 1859. In December of that year he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place in Arena township, where he has since been engaged in farming, stock-raising and dairying. His farm consists of three hundred acres of land. In 1872 he paid a visit to the Western States of three months' duration. July 10, 1850, Mr. Hoyt was united in marriage with Miss Sarah M. Van Winkle, a native of Geneva, New York, who was born January 31, 1831, and from this union one child, Charlotte Isabel, now Mrs. Scott, was born April 6, 1851, in New York City.
J. C. Holliday. Was born in the Province of Nova Scotia, Feb- ruary 1, 1854, and resided at his birthplace till he was fifteen years old, when he began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade and served three years. In 1873 he emigrated to and settled in Providence, Rhode Island, and for one year he worked in a machine shop. In 1874 he came to Cal- ifornia, and took up his residence in Santa Clara county, where he worked at his trade for one year. In 1875 he came to Point Arena and began his present business of carriage making and blacksmithing, and in 1877 united with his present partner, Mr. Spaulding, and they have since continued in the business. Mr. Holliday married Miss Kate Hiett, February 10, 1879, who was born in Cedar county, State of Iowa. July 16, 1858. They have one child, Mary Edith, born March 1, 1880.
William B. Heywood. Was born in New Brunswick, August 15, 1830. When he was five years of age his parents moved to Washington county, Maine, where he received his education. At the age of eighteen he began the mason and bricklayer's trade, which he followed till he came to Califor- nia. In May, 1858, he sailed from New York City on the steamer Northern Light, for Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the steamer Orizaba, arriving June Ist, of that year. He immediately embarked in the lumber- ing business in San Francisco, connecting himself with the present firm. In 1872 he came to Gualala, and has since been superintendent of the mill at that place. He was united in marriage in April, 1858, with Siloam Brad- ford, a native of Maine, born in 1834, and from this union there were two children, William H. and Zimri B. Mrs. Heywood was among the unfor- tunate number who met their fate at the Oakland wharf, July 4, 1868, when the apron of the ferry slip gave way and precipitated them into the bay. He married a second time, Miss Vienna Thompson; they have no children.
John A. Hamilton. This worthy pioneer and gentleman, whose por- trait will be found in this work, was born in Keene, Cheshire county, New Hampshire, April 30, 1827, and was the third son of John A. and Jane Newell Hamilton. When he was only fourteen years of age he went to live with his uncle near Boston. His early education was attained at the Chel- sea village school, and at a more advanced age he entered Harvard Uni- versity, in which he spent three terms. Possessing a restless spirit, the dull
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routine of a student's life became very monotonous, and at the age of eighteen he began as helping agent for Flint & Peabody, of Salem, Massachusetts, to purchase nuts, hides, and tallow, obtained in South America. This he continued till 1849, when in April of that year he came to California in the old sailing craft, the Cleora. They were on the way one hundred and sixty days, but had a smooth and pleasant voyage. San Francisco was still in its swaddling clothes at that time, as the whole town did not exceed forty wooden buildings. He followed ship carpentering for the next four months, making his head-quarters at the famous Cuningham wharf. November 10, 1849, he started to the mines. The Yuba river was the base of his opera- tions for the next year and a half. In August, 1850, we find him in part- nership with one Dr. Wall, erecting a hotel at Onion valley, Plumas county. Here he remained till the spring of 1851, when he sold out and returned to the mines, at this time on the Feather river. He remained here. for one year, when he began farming in Yolo county. He changed to stock-raising and remained there till 1855, when he purchased his present farm, bringing two hundred and eighty-four head of cattle upon it when he came. The stock increased so rapidly that in 1862 he drove a portion of his cattle to Shelter Cove, Humboldt county, but he lost them all, and his brother-in-law, William Oliver, also a pioneer, was killed by the Indians. In 1868 he built several schooners, the Maria G. Atkins, of one hundred tons burthen, at a cost of $14,000; this vessel still floats; the schooner Helen, of one hundred and twenty-five tons burthen, at a cost of $17,000, was wrecked a year later at the place where she was launched. In 1869 he built the Lizzie Wilde, of one hundred and eight tons burthen, at a cost of $13,000. In 1869 she was sent out under Capt. Jefferson, and nothing was ever heard of her afterwards. He has five hundred and five acres of land in his farm, and is principally engaged in stock-raising and dairying. Shortly after coming to Point Arena he was elected Justice of the Peace. April 30, 1853, he mar- ried Miss Helen Oliver, a native of Picton county, Nova Scotia, born April 30, 1826. Their children are as follows: Clara, born in Yolo county, Janu- ary 1, 1854; Robert, born in Yolo county, December 31, 1855; Nettie, born in Mendocino county, March 26, 1857; William, born in Mendocino county, October 12, 1859; Eva, born in Mendocino county, May 17, 1860; Archie, born in Mendocino county, September 25, 1862; Douglas, born in Mendocino county, April 7, 1864.
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