USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 61
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Andrew Winslow Hall, Son of Jeremiah and Huldah Winslow Hall, was born in Cumberland county, Maine, November 9, 1825, and resided at his birthplace till 1850. He received his education in the Westbrook Sem- inary and the Yarmouth Academy. At the age of twenty-three he began operations for himself in the mercantile business at West Falmouth, Maine, which he continued till 1850. In March of that year he sailed for Cali- fornia via Panama, and arrived in San Francisco the following month. He immediately proceeded to the mines, where he engaged in mining operations till July of that year. He then began farming and merchandising in con- neetion with John M. Neville, at Benicia and Suisun, Solano county. He continued here till 1854, when he went to Sacramento City and established a grain warehouse in connection with his Suisun business, and opened a
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wholesale grain and flour store, manufacturing all the flour for his own trade. He remained in Sacramento till 1858, when he moved his family to San Francisco, where they resided till July, 1861. His next move was to Point Arena, Mendocino county, where he opened the first store in that place, which business he continued to conduct till 1870. He remained in Point Arena till 1873, when he moved to his present ranch in Big River township, ten miles north of Point Arena, where he has since been engaged in farming and building the Mendocino railroad, of which he was superintendent till May, 1880, when he resigned. Mr. Hall is not a professional politician, but few men have taken a deeper interest in matters pertaining to the welfare of the county than he has. He is a genial gentleman, a man of intellect and refinement, and one with whom it is a pleasure and a profit to meet. Sep- tember, 26, 1853, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia M. Wilde, a daughter of Rev. John and Julia Forbes Wilde, and a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, born July 6, 1834. They have had one son, John Wilde, born December 4, 1859.
C. C. Hamilton. Was born at New Milford, Connecticut, December 15, 1851, of Irish parents. At the age of three years his father removed to New York City, where he resided until February 21, 1868. While at New York he attended Grammar School No. 8 of that city, from which he graduated at the age of twelve years. After leaving school, he worked as errand-boy for a short time, and then commenced learning a trade-shoemaking-at which he continued employed until he left New York. While working there during the fall and winter seasons he attended night-school, in accord- ance with the desire of his father. February 21, 1868, the family left New York for San Francisco, at which place they arrived about a month later. He worked in San Francisco in the Lick House for a short time as bell-boy, after which he left home and went to Contra Costa county, near San Pablo, where he worked on a farm during the harvest of that year. The following winter was spent on a dairy in Marin county, and the succeeding summer found him harvesting once more in Contra Costa. The next two seasons were passed in the same way, when at the end of the latter he started for Mendocino county. He entered it with his blankets on his back, and met Mr. H. L. Hensley, a farmer near Ukiah, who gave him employment as a farm hand for a short time upon his farm. He then worked for a Mr. Peck, a shoemaker in Ukiah; and afterwards for W. H. Barnes, also a shoe- maker, whose kindly manner and good advice wrought a lasting change in his ambition and mode of life. While working with Mr. Barnes, he took up his books once more, commenced attending school, working nights and Sat- urdays to pay his way, and finally, at the March term, 1874, succeeded in obtaining a first-grade county certificate to teach school in Mendocino county. He continued his studies while teaching, and in the intervals attended school.
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An opportunity presenting itself through the kindness of Judge R. McGar- vey, he commenced the study of law. On April 2, 1876, he was united in marriage to Mrs. Ella Burger, of Ukiah City. On the 3d of April, 1877, a son, James Callaghan, was born to them. On the second Monday of August, 1877, he was admitted to practice law in the District Court of the Twenty- second Judicial District in and for Mendocino county. On the 25th day of August, 1878, a daughter, Retta Jane, was born to them. On the 20th of March, 1880, a daughter, Ella, was born to them. On the second Monday in May, 1880, he was admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the State of California.
Peter Hansen. Was born in Norway, November 23, 1826, and resided there till 1849. When at the age of seventeen he became an apprentice to the shoemaker's trade, which he followed at his birthplace till 1849. He then proceeded to the city of Copenhagen, Denmark, where he followed his trade till the summer of 1853. He then immigrated to America, landing in New York August 10th of that year, and immediately opened a boot and shoe store on Washington street, where he continued business till 1857. In Jan- uary of that year he sailed in the steamer St. Louis to Panama, and from there in the Golden Gate to San Francisco. He immediately proceeded to the mines in Siskiyou county, which business he followed for four years, or till 1860. He then returned to New York and began his old business on Cheney street, which he followed till 1864. He then came to California, accompa- nied by his family, and settled in Mendocino City, where he has continu- ously followed his trade. March 19, 1853, he was united in marriage to Nico- line Caroline Augusta Hincheldey, daughter of Metjor Edward V. Hinchel- dey, who was born in Denmark in 1820. Edward Hincheldey Hansen, born in New York City January 1, 1854, and now residing in San Fran- cisco, is their only child.
N. E. Hoak. Was born in Franklin county, Maine, December 8, 1833. When he was still quite young his parents moved to Penobscot county, that State, and there resided for ten years. He remained with his parents on a farm until he was seventeen years of age, receiving in the meantime a common school education. At that age he sailed before the mast, and followed the sea until he came to California in 1859, arriving in October of that year. He came at once to Mendocino 'county, and engaged with Stickney & Coombs, who were then logging for Macpherson & Weather bee, and remained with them for three years. In 1862 he took up the claim on which he now resides, in company with J. B. Rice, and in 1873 he purchased Rice's interest. He now owns three hundred and twenty acres. He has held the positions of Road-master and School Trustee, and the post-office at Comptche was established July 24, 1879, with Mr. Hoak as postmaster. October 24, 1870, he was married to Miss Lizzie Hatch, a native of Maine,
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born May 27, 1839. Their children are: Lottie May, born October 24, 1874; Alice, born June 14, 1877; and Carrie Emma, born May 22, 1879.
Augustus Heeser. Was born in Germany, August 10, 1829, and resided at his birthplace till he was thirteen years of age; and was educated in the German schools. In 1847 he came to America, and, after four years' residence in the Western States, he, in May, 1851, sailed from New Orleans for San Francisco. In that city he was engaged in merchandising till March, 1858, when he came to Mendocino City. In 1868 he paid a visit of six months' duration to his native place. He was one of the organizers of the Mendocino Discount Bank, in 1870. He is unmarried.
Gebhard Hegenmeyer. Was born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Decem- ber 1, 1831, where he resided till the spring of 1852, being educated in the common schools of the country in the meantime. At an early age he began the trade of gunsmith, blacksmith, and machinist, his father being a mechanic before him. In the spring of 1852 he sailed from Rotterdam to England, and at Liverpool he shipped on board the sailing vessel Henry Clay for New York. From there he sailed on the steamer Illinois to Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the steamer Northerner, arriving in August. He then went to Sonoma, Sonoma county, and from there proceeded on foot to Mendocino City, arriving early in September of that year. He came in company with his older brother, Joseph, and they joined their eldest brother, George, in the occupation of getting out piles. George had begun operations at that business on the Big river in connection with Mr. Scharf. They were badly provided with the necessary appliances for work of that kind, and when the rains of 1852 came their piles were washed out to sea; and a short time afterwards the whole outfit was washed away, and they were compelled to leave the place.
William Heeser, The oldest son of Eberhard and Julie (Heusler) Heeser was born in Coblenz Rhenish, Prussia, Germany, on the 28th day of August, 1822. He attended the public schools till he was about eight years of age, after which he received private tuition at home on account of ill health. From thirteen to fifteen years of age he attended a private board- ing school at Neuwiedt in the same Province, after which he worked in his father's counting room. In 1842 his father died, and in 1843 he came to the United States, landing in Baltimore in November, 1843. After a stay of about a month in that city, he went to Kentucky, merchandising for several years in Providence, Hopkins county, in that State. In the spring of 1847 he went to Germany on a visit, returning in July of the same year, and then moved to Wisconsin, merchandising for sometime at Benton, and then at Elk Grove, Lafayette county, from where he moved to Cordova, Rock Island county, Illinois, in the fall of 1848, engaging in merchandising there. In the spring of 1850 he crossed the plains with a horse-team, arriving in
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California about the first of August, 1850. Selling the team at Coloma, he came to San Francisco, where he was engaged in merchandising till 1854, when he went to Sierra county, returning to San Francisco the following year, and after a short stay moved on to a ranch in Napa county, residing there about two years, when he sold his lands, returned to San Francisco, and from there went up in the steamer Goliah to Mendocino, in Mendocino county, arriving at that place on September 11, 1857. There he forthwith purchased a lot, built a store, and engaged in merchandising for several years. In the spring of 1858 he, together with his brother, purchased a farm adjacent to the town, purchasing. also his brother's interest in 1865, and continued farming on the land up to the present time, but at once adopting a plan, under which he gradually opened streets and sold town lots as the demand required. In the fall of 1858 he was elected Justice of the Township, and subsequently appointed a Notary Public, the first office he held for six consecutive years, after which he served three years as Super- visor of the county, succeeding which he served four years more as Justice, serving another term of three years as Supervisor in 1877, "78, and "79. The office of Notary he held, with the exception of an interval of one or two terms, up to the present time. By the force of circumstances he was thrown into the conveyancing and office business, engaging a great portion of his time. Iu 1870 he organized the Bank of Mendocino as a Mutual Savings Bank, and in 1871 the Mendocino Discount Bank, to supply the business not within the legitimate sphere of the former, both incorporated under the laws of the State, and has been acting since, first as President and subsequently as Secretary of both banks. Having in the fall of 1877 started the Mendo- cino Beacon as a weekly newspaper in the town, he purchased in June, 1878, the interest of his partner Wm. H. Meacham, and thenceforward ran the paper in his own name. On the 18th day of December, 1865, he mar- ried Laura A. Nelson, a native of Bangor, Maine. They have one child living, August Alfred, born February 5, 1877.
Austaf Hansen was born in Denmark, September 11, 1822, and at- tended school till he was fourteen years of age. He was then apprenticed to the cabinet-maker's trade, which he followed for ten years. He then began farming which he followed till 1868, when he came to California, and settled in Comptche, Mendocino county. He followed farming here until June, 1880, when he took possession of the Half-way House on the road from Ukiah to Mendocino City. He was married April 28, 1852, to Miss Annette R. Penta, a native of Denmark, born May 23, 1823. They have one living child, Ida, born July 10, 1852, and one child deceased.
William Handley, (deceased). Was born in the State of Virginia in 1836. . When quite young, he with his parents moved to La Fayette county, Missouri. He received his education at Lexington, that State, and
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at a proper age began an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, which he followed for several years. In March, 1851, he was married to Miss Mary Ish, who was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, November 28, 1831. In the spring of 1852 they came overland to California, and settled in Napa valley, where he engaged in farming, and buying, and selling stock, which business he continued for five years. In 1857 they returned to Missouri, where they resided for three years, and again in 1861, they recrossed the plains, bring- ing with them a drove of cattle, and settled in Contra Costa county, where they resided till "the dry season (1863) when they went to Washoe City, Ne- vada, where they resided two years. In the fall of 1865 they came to Men- docino county and settled on their present ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, in connection with which they have a chute, and keep the Albion Ridge Hotel. Mr. Handley died at his home, January 26, 1876, and the business is now conducted by his two sons, with whom their mother lives, Thomas, born November 29, 1852 and Henry H., born January 18, 1856.
Alexander Jefferson. This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this work was born in St. Andrews, county of Argentile, Province of Quebec, Canada, February 21, 184]. He remained at his birthplace, on a farm, till he was sixteen years of age when he entered a country store in his native place, where he remained till 1867. He then came to California, sailing from New York on the steamer Ocean Queen to Panama, and thence to San Francisco on the Montana, arriving June 20th of that year. The next day after his arrival he hired to James Hunter, of Vallejo, and worked on his farm for two months. He next worked for E. T. Farmer, staying with him for a period of two months. In September of that year he came to Caspar, Mendocino county and went to work in the woods at that place, which he followed for fourteen months. He then went to work for A. Gordon, on the ranch and driving his butcher wagon, which he continued till 1873. During this time he purchased a small farm of sixty acres, now owned by S. Bur- wash. In October, 1873, he visited his birthplace, and in the spring he returned to California, coming to Caspar and settling there permanently on his little ranch. At the end of a year he disposed of it, however, and purchased his present place of one hundred and eighty-five aeres from A. Gordon, and also Mr. Gordon's butchering business, which Mr. Jefferson has conducted sinee. Mr. Jefferson is a thorough-going business man and is very successful in his enterprises and he justly deserves to be. He is a gentleman in every sense of the word, and honorable and upright. On the 14th day of February 1872, he married Miss Eleanor Mathews, who died August 30, 1872. December 24, 1873, when on a visit in Canada, he married Miss Eliza Gibron, a native of Canada, who was born on the 26th day of April, 1840. Their children are Annie Louisa, born February 13, 1877; Mary Elena, born August 30, 1878; and an adopted son, Gregor Albertson Jefferson, born December 21, 1871.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
John King. Was born in Germany, September 3, 1837. He began the ship-carpenter's trade at the age of sixteen, and continued it till he was twenty- two years old. He then sailed as ship's carpenter on German and American vessels till 1863. In that year he landed in San Francisco, and for one year longer he sailed up and down the coast, and on the Sacramento river. In 1864, he came to Mendocino City and found employment in the redwoods, where he worked till 1871. In that year, he opened. his sample and billiard room at Caspar, where he has since continued. Mr. King married August 16, 1874, Mrs. Alice Christinson, whose maiden name was Alice Larbern, She was born in Germany, August 6, 1847, and by her first marriage, she has one child, Freddie, born October 4, 1867. There are no children by her marriage to Mr. King.
William H. Kent. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, is the oldest son of Nathaniel and Mary Hunt Kent, and was born in Mount Vernon, Kennebec county, Maine, January 15, 1821. He remained at his birthplace until his majority, receiving, in the meantime, a common school education. In 1842, he went into the woods in Penobscot county, Maine, where he continued till 1845. He then began farming, and remained engaged in that business till 1850. May 24th of that year, he set sail from New York City, bound for the land of gold, on board the steamship Ohio, via Panama. At Chagres, he was detained for two weeks, and finally took passage on a Baltimore bark for San Francisco. After a passage of sixty days' duration, he arrived in San Francisco on August 24th. He immediately proceeded to the mines on the American river, where he continued mining till November, 1852, when he came over- land to Mendocino City, having to leave the mines on account of ill-health. When he arrived, Harry Meigs had not gotten his saw-mill completed, and so he went to Anderson valley, and remained there till April, 1853, when he returned to Mendocino City and began working in the mill. After follow- ing this for six weeks, he began teaming for the mill company, and in November, 1853, he went into the redwoods, and began sawing for Millakin & Smith. In April, 1854, this firm took the contract for furnishing the mill company with logs, and Mr. Kent took the job of scaling the logs, and remained here till the failure of Meigs. About this time, April, 1855, he was joined by his wife who had just arrived from the East. When the mill was started up again, he assumed his former position in the woods, which he fol- lowed till May 19, 1857. He had then bought the title to his present place, and moved upon it. He then began farming and dairying, there being, at that time, no dairy within a radius of one hundred and twenty miles. He followed dairying for a period of four years, when he discontinued that branch of his business, but continued farming and butchering. In 1866 and 1876, he, with his family, visited his old Eastern home, attending the
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Centennial at Philadelphia, the last time. In 1863, he was elected Supervi- sor of the third district, which office he filled to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. He has always been a very public-spirited and enterprising man, and now in the declining years of life, he resides in his beautiful home and enjoys the fruit of the many years of hard toil. He was married to Charlotte C., daughter of Nathaniel and Sarah Greely Coffran, November 9, 1847. She was a native of Vienna, Kennebec county, Maine, born August 13, 1824. Their children are: Everett William, born September 26, 1858; and Warren Nathaniel, born June 10, 1864.
Boy Petor Rolaf Kaisen. Was born on the island of Föhr, on the coast of Schleiswig (now a province of Germany) June 4, 1840, where he re- sided till 1857. He then sailed in a mailship as cook for one year. In 1858 he went to Greenland on a whaling voyage, and was gone for two years. In 1860 he sailed as seaman to New York; thence to Rotterdam; thence to Savannah, and from there to Galveston, Texas, being absent two years. He then returned to his native land and in 1863 shipped from Bre- menhaven in an American ship to Quebec; thence to Liverpool; thence to Cape Good Hope; from there to Ecjob and back to London, being absent six- teen months. After remaining at home for a few months, he shipped from Hamburg to England; thence to Calcutta and from there to Boston; thence to Hong Kong, China, and sailed along the coast of China in the ship Gestic for eleven months. In September, 1865, he arrived in San Francisco, where he left the ship and joined his brother in the redwoods, in Mendocino county, and now owns three hundred and twenty acres of timber land.
Christian R. Kaisen. Was born on the Island Föhr on the coast of Schleiswig (now a province of Germany) March 17, 1832. There he resided with his parents and received the advantages of a common school education till he was sixteen years old. In 1848 he sailed before the mast, his first and second trips being made on a whaling vessel, and he was absent about five months each trip. In 1850 he made a voyage to the Danish colonies in Greenland, Godhopï and Fiskernæs, being absent four months. The winter of 1850 and 1851 was spent at home with his parents. In the spring of 1851 he proceeded to Hamburg and shipped in the Johann Julian to Valparaiso, and was absent on this trip for twelve months, and again, in 1852, he shipped in the same ship to the East Indies and city of Bolivia, and was absent eighteen months, and then returned to Hamburg. He then shipped in the ship St. Paul to Rio Janeiro, thence to the city of Yackup, and from there to Calcutta; thence to London, and from there to New- port, Wales; thence to St. Thomas, in the West Indies, and back to Ham- burg, this time being absent over three years. After spending a short time with his parents he, in the spring of 1857, came to America, arriving in San Francisco in September of that year. For a short time he sailed along the
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coast in the lumbering trade, and in July, 1858, he came to Mendocino county, and has since been engaged in the lumber, wood and fencing busi- ness. He now owns one hundred and sixty acres of redwood timber. He is unmarried.
James Kenney. Was born in Ireland in April, 1829, and when eleven years of age came to America with his brothers and sisters and settled in New York City. In 1847 he went to sea, and late in 1848 he landed in San Francisco. His first business was to run a small ferry-boat from the city to Saucelito, Marin county. In 1850 he was employed in the saw-mill at Saucelito. In the fall of 1851 he returned to New York, and after a stay of three months he returned to California. He then, in partnership with Captain Peck and Dudley Schelling, erected what was known as Peck's mill in Marin county, near Bolinas. In 1853 he came to Mendocino county and began farming on Dry creek, where he remained two years. He then purchased five hundred and ten acres on the site of the present town of Cuffey's Cove, where he engaged in stock-raising and farming. In 1868 he purchased his present chute and wharf, and has since been engaged in the shipping business. He also laid out the present town of Cuffey's Cove, and is one of its foremost citizens. He married, in 1858, Miss Catherine Shannon, a native of Ireland. Their children are Catherine, Mary, Nellie, James, John and Annie.
John S. Kimball. Was born in Belfast, Waldo county, Maine, June 14, 1840, and received his education in the common schools of that State. March 1, 1859, he sailed from New York for California, coming via Panama, arriving in San Francisco March 23d. He went at once to the mines in El Dorado county, and remained in that and adjacent counties till the spring of 1862, when he returned to Maine, where he remained till the fall of that year. He then returned to San Francisco, and in the spring of 1863 came to Mendocino county, and was engaged as clerk for L. E. White & Co. for two years at Albion. In 1865 he began merchandising at Salmon creek and Nevarra, associating with him Charles Wintzer. In 1870 he estab- lished his present business at Cuffey's Cove, in connection with F. W. Welle. In 1873 he sold this interest and located at Bridgeport, where he remained three years. He then returned to Cuffey's Cove and purchased his former business, and has since remained there. He was married, in 1869, to Miss Helen N. White, daughter of L. E. White, a native of New York. Their children are: Alice, Helen, Charles and Dorsey.
Frank Kelley Bennett. This gentlemen, whose portrait appears in this work, is generally known by the name of Frank Kelley only, but his name is the same as given above. When he was a mere child, his father died, and in the course of a few years his mother married a Mr. Kelley, and Frank was naturally called by his step-father's name, and thus grew up in
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