USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 60
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
laus county. The fruits of this union are two bright and beautiful children, Clarence Lafayette and Lela Pearl. At the time of his marriage the subject of this sketch had no money or property, the droughts and expenses at col- lege having exhausted all his property. But he had numerous friends and an unlimited credit. Many friends offered him assistance, but he refused most of their offers. In the fall of 1871 he bought the possessory title to five hundred acres of land near Modesto on twelve months' time for five hundred dollars, giving his note for the same, and, with the assistance of his wife, succeeded in cultivating all of it that fall and winter, a great undertaking for two without a single dollar. From his crop he saved several thousand dollars as profit besides paying for his land. He then leased his farm to a neighbor and moved with his family to San Fran- cisco, to attend medical lectures at the Medical Department of the University of California. Prior to graduating his funds were exhausted, and he was compelled to secure more means before he could complete his medical educa- tion. He therefore asked advice of his uncle, the late Jeremiah E. Howard, of Modesto, as to what course he would suggest to pursue, and was advised to commence the practice of medicine, which he did till he had accumulated sufficient funds to complete his medical education and graduate, when he at once proceeded to New York City in order to attend Bellevue Hospital, the largest hospital in America. While in attendance at Bellevue he also attended the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary, and also took the army and navy course preparatory to entering the United States Army as an army surgeon. Immediately after completing this course Congress reduced the salary of army surgeons. He then concluded not to enter the army and at once proceeded to Philadelphia and attended a course of lectures at the Uni- versity, and graduated there in 1876. He then returned to the Pacific coast. After arriving in California, and being armed with an Allopathic diploma, he concluded to secure a Homeopathic parchment, and at once commenced the study of Homeopathy, and in the winter of 1876 he was examined by the State Board of Examiners selected by this popular school of medicine, answering promptly every question propounded by the examiners. He received his license from them after being highly complimented upon the examination he had just passed. In 1877 he located at Bodie, in Mono county, a flourishing mining town, at the request of many of Bodie's best citizens, and there did one of the largest practices of any physician of the State. The climate being too severe for his family he moved to the coast in April, 1879, and is now located at Cuffey's Cove in this county. Dr. Berry is one of the most successful surgeons in the State, having performed some of the most difficult surgical operations known to the profession with success, and there are numerous parties living in other counties of the State, as well as in this, that owe their lives to his professional skill. He now enjoys one of the largest practices of any physician in this portion of the State. Re-
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cently he has been a prominent candidate for nomination by the Democratic party for the Legislature from this county, a position not sought for by him- self, but urged by his numerous friends. Dr. Berry is a "self-made man," being less than thirty years old and in less than fifteen years, by his own exertions, has lifted himself from the humble position of a shepherd boy on the " sand plains " of Stanislaus county to the foremost ranks of the medical profession. Dr. Berry is nearly six feet high, and weighs about one hundred and seventy pounds. He has excellent health, and is capable of enduring an immense amount of hardship, which is so common in his profession. He is always ready to go and attend to the wants of the sick whether paid or not. In the sick room the doctor invariably secures the confidence of his patient, and his cheering words to the suffering add greatly to his success in his profession and secure the profoundest regard from his patients.
Len Barnard. Was born in Union, Lincoln county, Maine, April 8, 1856. When ten years of age he, with his parents, came to California and settled in Mendocino City, where he has since resided. At nineteen years of age he began the stage business, which he has since followed, and now owns the lines from Ukiah to Mendocino and from Mendocino to Westport. He is unmarried.
C. J. Buchanan. Was born in Inverness county, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, April 15, 1849, where he resided till May, 1863. Moved to Glouces- ter, Massachusetts, and resided till 1866; moved to Penobscot county, Maine, where he engaged in lumbering, which business he followed, together with building railroad bridges, dans, wharfs, and driving logs in the rivers till 1875. He then came, via Panama, to California and settled in Point Arena. Engaged in work in the woods till March, 1876, when he went to San Francisco and engaged as conductor on the Market Street Railroad, which he followed till September of the same year, then returned to Point Arena and opened a saloon, which he kept till February, 1877, when he moved to Cuffey's Cove and engaged in the same business till July of the same year. Became engaged to be married in 1876, but the lady declined to marry him whilst in the saloon business. He quit it and bought in a livery stable. He was married, August 1, 1877, to Mary A. McMaster, who was born in Cherryfield, Maine, July 1, 1856. Her parents moved to Orono, Maine, in 1860, where they resided till August, 1875, when they came overland to California and settled in Point Arena. He is a Deputy Constable and still in the livery business. Their children are: May, born May 1, 1878; Charley D., born December 31, 1879.
Henry Colby. Was the youngest child of Abner and Nancy Stewart Colby, and was born in Genesee county, New York, December 5, 1827. During his early youth he was sent to the common schools, and at an early age he began working at the machine and engineer's trade, under
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
his father. At eighteen years of age, on account of his health he went to sea, sailing before the mast on a whaling voyage, and going to the Arctic regions, on the ship South America, and was absent four years. He then returned to New York, but immediately proceeded to Charleston, South Carolina, where he followed the trade of engineer for two years. He then returned to his native county and embarked in the manufacture of staves and the cooperage business, which he followed till 1862. In April of that- year he, with his wife, came to California. From New York they sailed on the steamer Ocean Queen to Panama, and there they took the steamer Golden Gate, arriving in San Francisco May 19th of that year. He worked at his trade in San Francisco for seven months, and then went to Mare Island Navy Yard, where he was employed as engineer till the spring of 1863. He then returned to the city, where he worked at his trade till 1865. He then came to Mendocino county, and for two years filled the position of engineer and machinist at the Noyo Mill. In June, 1867, he returned East. with the intention of remaining, but only stayed seven months. He then returned to California, and once more settled in San Francisco, and there took charge of a stave factory for a short time, when he went into the sash and blind factory of Prescott & Co., which he superintended for two years. In April, 1871, he returned to this county and took charge of the Albion Mill for three years. He then, in 1875, purchased his present ranch of one hundred and seventy-nine acres, and has since been engaged in farming. Married September 1, 1853, Miss Mary Root, who was born in Utica, New York, March 30, 1829. They have no children.
John Cummings. Was born in Canada, February 18, 1840, where he resided till 1868, during which time, and when of a proper age, he learned the carpenter trade, which he followed till he came to California, for which place he started November 4, 1868. He located at Caspar, Mendocino county, January 3, 1869, and worked at his trade till 1872, when he re- turned to Canada and sojourned four months, and in September of that year he with his wife returned to California, locating again at Caspar. He then worked at his trade one year, when he went to work in the Caspar Mill, fill- ing the position of sawyer. He worked at that one year, when he was made foreman of the mill, which position he filled for four years and a half. He then left the mill and embarked in the liquor business, which he has since. continued. He married August 24, 1872, Miss Catherine Williams, a native of Canada, born October 10, 1852. Their children are: John Albert, born October 22, 1872; Lottie May, born May 4, 1874; Margaret H., born May 6, 1877; and James Kinned, born April 25, 1879.
Silas Coombs. This gentleman, whose portrait appears in the body of this work, was born in Lincoln, Maine, June 17, 1817, and was the son of Richard and Elizabeth Fossett Coombs. At the age of twenty-two he began
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business operations on his own account, embarking in a lumber speculation, in connection with which he conducted farming operations. He remained here till April, 1856, on the 3d of which month he sailed from New York city for California, coming via Panama. He arrived at the latter place just in time to suffer all the ill effects from the riot which occurred in that year between the natives and the emigrants, losing all his earthly posses- sions, save the very clothes on his back. On his arrival in San Francisco, like a true Maine-ite, he proceeded at once to the lumbering regions, making his first stopping-point at the Albion Mill, in Mendocino county. He worked here for six months, and then concluded to try his luck at mining, and with that object in view he went to Tuolumne county, engaging in that busi- ness for a period of eight months. He then very wisely concluded that min- ing would not pay as well in the long run as working in the woods; so he returned to Albion and took the logging contract for that mill which he con- tinued for sixteen months. He then worked a year in the mill and woods on wages, at the end of which time, in connection with Mr. Ruel Stickney, he took the contract for furnishing the mill with logs, at which business he continued for the next seven years. In 1864, Messrs. Coombs & Stickney erected the mill at Little River; continuing in the lumber business till 1874. Mr. Stickney sold out to C. H. Perkins; they built another mill one mile below town. They now have two mills at Little River. Mr. Coombs also has an interest in a mill at Salmon Creek, and is quite largely engaged in navi- gation, owning quite a number of fine vessels. He has a very nice res- idence, with conservatories, verandahs and all the modern improvements of an Eastern home, and is one of the wealthy men of the coast. He is one of of the first mill-men along the coast, and a man of sterling worth in the county where he resides. April 7, 1864, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Boyd, a native of Bristol county, Maine, born October 26, 1837. Their children are: Susie, born April 12, 1866; Annie, born May 13, 1868; Silas, born March 28, 1870; and William, born November 21, 1872.
James S. Corrigan. Was born in Thorso, Ottawa county, Canada, February 22, 1840, and was the oldest child of James and Nancy Pinkerton Corrigan. He was educated at the common schools of his native place, and resided there till 1867, when he immigrated to California via Panama, and located in Caspar, Mendocino county. There he resided for one year, when he came (in 1868) to Little River, and in 1871 began his present mer- cantile business, which he has since followed with marked success. Married November 24, 1874, Emma Harris, daughter of Seth Harris and Delia A. Betts, who was born in Ripon, Wisconsin, May 26, 1851. They have one child, James C., born June 25, 1878.
Peter Colbert. Was born in Denmark, December 9, 1829, and resided in his birthplace till he was eighteen years of age. He then sailed before
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the mast in American ships, and followed a sea-faring life till 1853, in which year he landed in San Francisco. He soon after went to sea again, however, and followed it till 1862, when he once more found himself in San Francisco. During that year he came to Mendocino City, and has since resided in Mendocino county. In 1870 he settled on his present place of one hundred and sixty acres, where he is engaged in farming and teaming. He is unmarried.
John E. Carlson. This pioneer of pioneers, whose portrait will be found in these pages, was born in Colson, Sweden, June 20, 1827, where he resided till he was sixteen years of age, attending the common schools of his native country in the meantime. In 1843 he began the sea-faring life, which he followed till 1849. In August of that year he left the ship and proceeded to the mines, but remained there only two weeks, when he returned to the city and began sailing a schooner on the Sacramento river, which he followed one year. He then boarded the bark Susan Jane, intending to return home on a visit, but when he got as far as Rio Janeiro he changed his mind, and returned to California on the ship Game Cock. His next move was to make a trip to China, being absent some four or five months. He then made a trip to Panama on the steamer of that name. May 29, 1852, he shipped on the brig Ontario, bound for Big River, Mendo- cino county, leaving San Francisco June 19th and arriving at their destina- tion July 19th, being just one month in "beating" up the coast from the city. He sailed as a seaman with the privilege of working on the mill, the machinery for which was on board the vessel .. He began work at once on the mill, which was the one erected by Harry Meigs, and was the pioneer mill of the Mendocino coast. He remained at work in the mill at various employments for the term of six years. In 1857 he began the hotel business, which he has since continued. On the 17th day of October, 1870, his place was totally destroyed by fire; loss, $14,000; uninsured. He at once erected his present building, and has outgrown the blow of the loss. He is so well known and generally liked along the coast,-and in fact all over the county,-that a stranger is always told to go to his hotel for the best of accommodations. Honorable mention should be made of his two daughters, Misses Katie and Bessie, who have had charge of the dining-rooms since early girlhood, and who have contributed very much indeed toward the upbuilding of the justly high reputation the hotel has earned. He married Mrs. Copp, July 29, 1859, and they have three living children: Katie, born April 19, 1860 ; Bessie, born April 19, 1860; and Edward, born September 29, 1862.
Osro Clift, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Orleans county, New York, April 4, 1823. At his birthplace, he was educated and resided till 1842, when he sailed on the bark Dr. Franklin, on a whaling
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voyage, being absent about one year. On his return, he joined the ship Phocion of New Bedford, on another whaling voyage, and was absent thirty- one months .. He then returned to his home and remained one year, and then went into the merchant service, his first trip being to the West Indies, on which he was absent three months. He next sailed to Europe, and was absent some three months, when he returned to New York. He then joined the schooner Star of the West, and went to New Orleans, where he joined the United States ship Suviah, in which he sailed for eight months. We next find Mr. Clift on the police force of New Orleans, in which business he served for six months. April 28, 1849, he sailed to Panama, where he was delayed for two months, on account of fever and cholera. At that port, he took the steamer California, and arrived in San Francisco, July 16th of that year. He immediately proceeded to the mines known as the Stockton mining district, where he sojourned some four weeks. He then joined the schooner Plymouth, and sailed from San Francisco to Stockton for five months. He then went to the Government post (Benicia), where he joined the schooner Londressa, and sailed on the Bays of San Francisco and San Pablo for four months. He then, in the spring of 1850, went to San Rafael, Marin county, where he built one among the first houses in that place. Here he remained only three months, when he again took charge of the schooner Londressa (acting in the position of Mate and Captain), where he remained till February, 1851. He then returned to the Benicia post, and began work- ing on the farm owned by the Government, on Mount Diablo creek, and there he remained for five months. He then took charge of the Government sloop General Brady, which he run five months. In December, 1851, he, in partnership with R. M. Johnson, proceeded to Corte Madera, Marin county, and there erected a hotel, which he conducted for one year. He then began running packets from San Rafael to San Francisco, in which he continued till 1857. He then sold his interest there and went to the Lagu- nitus, in that county, when he embarked in the dairying business, which he followed till February, 1858. He then came to Mendocino county, and settled on his present place, known as Clift's Ridge, where he owns two thou- sand and forty acres of land, and is engaged in stock and sheep-raising. Mr. Clift married, February 13, 1865, Mrs. Margaret Ryan, widow of Thomas Harper, who was born April 13, 1829. By this union they have Charlotte, born November 21, 1865; and Lizzie S., born May 15, 1867.
Michael Donohoe. Was born in County Tyrone, Ireland, October 23, 1823, where he resided till September, 1847, when he immigrated to America. He landed at New Orleans and remained there till 1852, when he came, via Panama, to California, arriving at San Francisco, February 20th of that year. He went at once to Downieville, Sierra county, and began mining, where he remained till 1861, meeting with fair success in all his enterprises.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
During the last-named year, he came to Mendocino county, and settled on his present ranch, comprising six hundred and forty acres, and is now engaged in general farming and stock-raising. April 14, 1858, he married Catherine Donalley, a native of County Tyrone, Ireland, born in 1825. Their children are as follows: Alice, born February 12, 1859; Mary, born June 5, 1860; Rosanna, born April 25, 1863; Elizabeth, born January 15, 1865; Frank, born January 13, 1867; John, born December 8, 1868; Katie, born July 16, 1871.
Abram Everson (deceased). Was born in Christiansund, Norway, February 13, 1816, where he resided till fifteen years old, and during that time he worked some at the ship-carpenter's trade. At the age of fif- teen he immigrated to America and settled at Eastport, Maine, and for several years sailed as ship's carpenter to European ports and to New Orleans. Feb- ruary 15, 1847, he was united in marriage with Mary F., daughter of Gideon and Mary Atwood Cook. They made their home in New York City until the intelligence of the gold excitement in California, when, in 1850, Mr. Everson came via Cape Horn to California, and for a short time was engaged in the piloting business on the bay. He then proceeded to the mines at Mari- posa, where he engaged in mining for about eighteen months. He then re- turned to his wife who, during his absence, had taken up her residence in Newburyport, Massachusetts. After sojurning there three months, he re- turned to the golden slope of the Pacific, this time coming via Panama, and again began mining in Mariposa county, which he continued two years. Again in 1854, he returned East and purchased a farm near Bridgewater, Massachusetts, and followed farming for three years. He once more returned to California and stayed one year and a half and then returned East, and after staying one year he, with his family, in 1860, returned to California and settled at Mendocino City, having visited the place in 1858. For a short time he was employed by the lumber company, after which he opened a gen- eral variety store, which business he followed until his death, which occurred April 4, 1879. Mrs. Everson was born in York county, Maine, July 4, 1829. By this union they have one child living, Oscar W., born at Bridgewater, Massachusetts, June 18, 1855, and two children deceased.
Thomas P. Furlong. Was born in Longland Cottage, Pembrokeshire, Wales, February 13, 1832, being the third child of John and Caroline Ann Currey Furlong. He resided at his birthplace till 1847, when he went to London, England. He shipped from there on board the John Munn, his uncle, Alexander Pearson, master, for Sydney, Australia. While in port there the report of the gold excitement in California reached them and the vessel was chartered to bring passengers to San Francisco, where they arrived September 25, 1849. After a short stay aboard the vessel young Thomas deserted for the purpose of trying his luck in California. He worked in a
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hotel for awhile, then went to the southern mines and worked in Columbia for a short time. He then returned to the city and found employment at many things till at last we find him on the ranch of William Hood, in So- noma county. In 1854 he took charge of the Russian River ranch belong- ing to Captain Stephen Smith, as vaquero. In 1856 he went on a surveying expedition with one Eastman, to Benicia and Vaca valley, Solano county. He then worked for William Bihler at Black Point, Sonoma county. In 1858 he came up the coast to Mendocino county, going to Mendocino City. Here he had charge of cattle for Mr. Hill till 1860. In 1865 we find him in the redwoods at Caspar. In 1870 he came to his present place and began the trade of harness-making, and has followed it ever since. He was married July 26, 1866, to Miss Elizabeth Butcher, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio, born April 8, 1833. Their children are: Edward James Anderson, born Novem- ber 16, 1868; and Arthur Thomas, born January 14, 1871.
Prince W. Gray. Was born in Lincoln county, Maine, July 14, 1844, and resided there till he was seventeen years of age. In 1861, he came to Cal- ifornia via the Isthmus, and soon after began driving team for the mill company, which he followed for four months. In 1862, he took the contract of logging for LeBallister. At the end of four months he went to Caspar and worked in the mill for fourteen months. He followed different occu- pations at various points along the coast till 1866, when he went to sea, sailing for eighteen months as mate, and then took charge of a vessel and remained at that business till 1878. In that year he began the erection of his present shingle mill. He also owns an interest in the Salmon Creek saw- mill. He was married in 1875, to Sadie Pitcher, a native of New York.
Jasper S. Gray. Was born in Palermo, Waldo county, Maine, September 18, 1846, and remained at his birthplace till he was eight years of age, when with his parents he moved to Windsor, Kennebec county, that State. He received his education at the common schools, and in the Maine Western Seminary. At the age of twenty he began teaching. In the spring of 1867, he came to California via Panama. He came at once to Little River and worked in the woods and mill till the fall of 1871, when he returned home, and followed farming during the summer, and teaching during the winter till December 13, 1875, when he returned to California overland, and again located at Little River, and accepted a position as book- keeper for Coombs & Perkins, which position he still holds. He is unmarried.
Leonard L. Gray, Whose portrait appears in this work, the oldest child of James and Hannah LeBallister Gray, was born in Lincoln county, Maine, in 1812. He resided at his birthplace till he was twenty-one years of age, at which time he left home with seventy-five cents, with which to begin the battle of life for himself. He sought and obtained employment in
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
a lime kiln at West Thomaston, Maine, where he labored for two months, when he sailed before the mast, which he followed till his twenty-fifth year. He then returned home with money enough to purchase a small stock of goods and began the merchandising business in Whitefield, Lincoln county, Maine, which he continued for two years. He then began contracting to quarry stone for the erection of light-houses, and erected the light-houses known as " Owls Head " and "Three Beacons." He continued at that for five years. He then began merchandising at his native place, which he followed for about two years, and then moved to Augusta, Maine, and resided two more years. In December, 1853, he started via Panama for San Francisco, arriving April 1st of the following year. On his arrival he went to the northern mines, at Timbuetoo, and remained two months. He then proceeded to the Wyandotte diggings, where he followed the same business for a short time, and then returned to San Francisco. In Septem- ber, 1854, he came to Mendocino and began working in the redwoods, which he continued for nine months. In 1855 he went to San Francisco, but remained only a short time, when he returned to the mill in Mendocino City and worked till the failure of Harry Meigs. He then went to Petaluma and began the wood business, condueting it for nine months, when he returned to the Albion Mill, where he worked for six months. He then went to the city, returning to Mendocino in June, 1856. In the fall of 1856 he visited his birthplace and sojourned two and one-half years. In 1858 he returned to Mendocino, and in 1861 settled on his present place, where he owns ninety-nine aeres. He was a passenger on the ship Independence, which was burnt on the 16th of February, 1853, with five hundred and fifty-five pas- sengers on board. They were one-half mile from Marguerita island, and on reaching the island there were two hundred and twenty-four all told, the rest having been drowned. Eighty-one were buried the first day on the beach. Married Elizabeth LeBallister. She died in 1860. Their two children are Prince W. and Charles F.
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