USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 62
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the name, and never cared to attempt to correct the matter as it might lead to more confusion than to let it stand as he was known. We append this explanation that Mr. Kelley (Bennett) may not appear in a false light in our work. He was born in the Province of Canada East, July 12, 1848. He resided at his birthplace till 1861, being so busily engaged at his farm labors that he had not an opportunity to acquire even a common school education. In that year he went to Thurso, Province of Quebec, where he served an apprenticeship at the shoemaker's trade during a period of four years. Dur- ing all the time of his apprenticeship he devoted his spare moments to his books, thus acquiring a fair knowledge of much more than the rudiments of an education. In 1865 he opened a shoe shop of his own at Thurso, and continued business till 1869; on the 17th of October of which year he arrived in California, and on the 21st of that month came to Caspar, Mendocino county. Here he found employment at the mill, working at piling lumber at the port, which he followed for a couple of months. He then began to "peg away" at men's " soles," "foxing" their boots and " tap- ping" them for the full price, "stitching" to "save the rent," until at " last,"" March 6, 1876, he threw the business up " awl"-together, and, uniting with Joseph Lampitt, he embarked in a mercantile enterprise. At the end of a year the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Kelley (Bennett) purchasing the entire stock. He has since conducted the business, and with a great degree of success; and well he deserves success for he is a genial, obliging, and, withal, a gentleman of high order, while his sense of honor is not to be excelled by any one. From a boy on a farm, deprived of even the advan- tages of a common school education, he has developed into one of the first business men along the Mendocino coast, and all through his own personal energies and indomitable will. He was married March 6, 1871, to Miss Georgenia Mathews, a native of Clarance, Canada, who was born November 3, 1846. They have one child, Eleana Isabella, born July 23, 1874.
Anson Bonfoey Lake. Is a native of Livingston county, New York, and was born May 7, 1833. In 1833 his parents moved to Livingston county, Michigan, where the subject of this sketch was educated and resided till 1860, with the exception of two years spent in Illinois. In 1860 he crossed the plains to California and settled near Bloomfield, Sonoma county, where he engaged in farming till 1864. He then went to the John Day mines in Oregon, which mines are on Cañon creek; then went to the Coatney Mines in British Columbia; then came back through Washington Territory, and then went into Oregon again to what was called the Olive Creek mines. He then returned to Sonoma county, California, in 1866, and engaged in farming until 1868, then moved to Mendocino county where he engaged in dairying for three years on the farms of G. W. and L. R. Wright. He then went to Michigan, but returned to California in about six months. He then
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bought the farm of William Cureton, and has lived on it ever since. Married Prudence J. Hall, February 8, 1877. They have one child, Fred A.
Elbridge G. Lenfest. Was born in Lincoln county, Maine, August 15, 1831, and resided at his birthplace till 1849, during which time he attended the common schools of his native State. In 1849 he left his home and went to Thomastown, Maine, and began the ship-carpenter's trade, which he followed there till 1859. He then went to sea, and followed it for the next six years, coming to California in 1867, and began working in the mill at Nevarra as a carpenter. He worked at this for eighteen months, when he took charge of the filing. In 1877 he was made foreman of the mill at Nevarra, which position he still retains. Married Miss Belle S. Gliddon, June 16, 1869, who was born June 6, 1843, in Waldo county, Maine. Their child- ren are : Lelia A.,born March 24, 1876; and Algernon, born August 17, 1879.
August F. Mahlmann. A native of Germany, was born April 14, 1821. At the age of six years he was sent to school, and attended till he was fourteen years of age. He then went to Imbeck, Germany, and there was apprenticed to the baker's trade, and served three years. It being the custom in Germany that when a young man has completed his trade he is to travel through the country to learn the different ways of the world and people, therefore at the age of seventeen he proceeded to Hamburg, thence to Stralsund, on the Baltic Sea; thence to Berlin, and from there to Danzig, Prussia, and then to Riya, in Russia; thence to Moscow, Russia; thence to Yamia, in Australia; thence to Pesth, Hungary; thence to Belgeraft, Turkey; thence back to Yamia, and from there to Tricas, in Italy; thence to Venice, and from there to Rome, and thence to Born, in Switzerland; thence to Zing, Switzerland; thence to Suzteran; thence to Basel, and from there to Paris; from Paris to Metz, in France. During his travels in Switzerland the people pledged themselves to do away with crowned government, and he was obliged to sign his name with his own blood, to fight for liberty. In 1848, during this trouble he was wounded in his legs and captured, and placed in prison for four- teen months in the city of Spandau, Prussia. He was then banished, and came to America, landing in New York in July, 1850, where he remained till January 1852, being engaged in stuffing birds, he having learned that trade in Hamburg. In 1852 he sailed via Panama to California, and arrived in San Francisco early in March. He at once went to Nevada City and mined for one year, and then came to Mendocino county, and for eight years was working in the saw-mills along the coast. In 1864 he built his present hotel in Little River and has since conducted that business. Married Amelia C. Anderson, April 26, 1867, who was born May 2, 1835, in Denmark, and by this union they have Bertha, Frederick, Amelia, William and Regenia.
Madison E. Mosher, M. D. Was born in Somerset county, in the State of Maine, July 19, 1845. Not taking kindly to farm life and hav-
Le 6. Julho.
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ing a laudable desire for an education, he left his home at fourteen years of age, to fight his own way unaided, in the world. Just after attain- ing his sixteenth year, he enlisted in the 21st Regiment, Maine Volunteers, and served a full term, participating in several important battles in the late civil war, receiving injuries which permanently crippled him. Received his education at Bloomfield Academy, Skowhegan, and the Western State Nor- mal school at Farmington. Was graduated in medicine at Cincinnati, Ohio, after which he practieed his profession successfully in the city of Hallowell, Maine, where his business became so extensive as to break down his health. After six months of illness he was advised by prominent physicians to try the climate of California, and in November, 1878, started for this State. Resided at Salmon Creek, in this county, during six months of his convales- cence, following his profession successfully. Settled at Mendocino City No- vember, 1879, and has already attained a large practice as one of the leading physicians of this county. Was married October 28, 1878, to Miss Annie E. Gray, of Windsor, Maine. She was born October 20, 1848, and followed the profession of teaching. By this union they have one son, M. Jasper, . born September 23, 1879.
John Dayton Murray. Was born in the city of Boston, in the State of Massachusetts, August 2, 1830, and remained in his native place till he was twelve years of age, when he went with his parents to Newport, Rhode Island, and thence to Fall River, Massachusetts. At the age of fifteen he began the battle of life for himself, first going to sea for five years, and finally on the 16th day of August, 1850, he landed in San Francisco. In July, 1851, he went to the southern mines, locating at Jacksonville, near Chi- nese Camp, where he remained till the spring of 1853, when he returned to the city and began working at the printer's trade. In 1855 he moved to Oakland where he engaged in agricultural pursuits. After a year in the mines, the second time, we find him at Knight's Ferry, in August, 1856, en- gaged in ditching from Table mountain to the Ferry. In March, 1858, he returned to San Francisco, and thence to Honolulu, and return; thence to Cloverdale, Sonoma county, and thence, August 12th, to Mendocino City. He worked till Christmas of that year for Mr. Kent, when he began the barber- ing business, which he followed till 1865. In 1861 he opened a drug store also, which he has since followed. In later years he began a general mer- cantile business, and his is now one of the oldest business houses in Mendocino City. November 25, 1866, he was appointed Justice of the Peace of Big River township. April 14, 1862, he married Thersa Maria Flanigan, a na- tive of County Clare, Ireland. Their children are : Susan E., John F., and Charles W.
John Munroe. Was born in Ottawa City, Canada, February 17, 1844, where he resided till 1864, when he immigrated, via Panama, to California,
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arriving in the State in January. He proceeded to Marin county, and settled in Tomales township, where he was engaged in farming for one year. He then crossed the line to Sonoma county, and settled near Bloomfield, where he embarked in farming till the fall of 1868. He then came to Men- docino county, and for one year engaged in farming near Point Arena. In 1869 he went to Puget Sound, Washington Territory, where he followed the lumbering business till 1873, when he returned to Mendocino county and settled at Cuffey's Cove, where he engaged in farming and now owns a ranch of one hundred acres. He is also Road-master of Cuffey's Cove road district. Married Adelia A. Flanery, October 20, 1869. She was born in Illinois, September 27, 1854, and by this union they have: Grace A., born April 2, 1871; George, born July 27, 1872; James, born January 21, 1875; John, born February 10, 1880.
James Nolan. Was born in New York City December 18, 1826, and was the son of John and Ann Mathews Nolan. He resided in that city till he was five years of age, and then moved to Sullivan county, that State, where he resided till he was eighteen years of age, when he, with his parents, returned to New York City, where he resided till January 20, 1854, when he sailed from that port on board the steamer Star of the West to Nicaragua, and to San Francisco in the steamer Sierra Nevada, arriving February 17, 1854. He went at once to Benicia and obtained employment in the Mail Steamship Campany's boiler shop. After working a few weeks he returned to San Francisco and engaged himself to the Mendocino Lumber Company, and arrived at Big River June 19, 1854. He remained here till the fall of 1857, when he went to Humboldt bay, and worked in a saw-mill there till March, 1858. He then returned to Mendocino county and purchased his present place, comprising one hundred and eighty-six acres, where he has resided since June, 1858. June 3, 1853, he was married to Miss Susan Mul- heran, a native of Ireland, born in 1833. Their children are: John, born No- vember 9, 1857; Anna, born December 16, 1859; Arthur, born March 15, 1861; James, born October 2, 1862, Nicholas, born April 22, 1865; Agnes, born November 19, 1867; Florence, born February 20, 1869.
Christian Ottoson. Was born in Denmark, October 10, 1828, where he resided till 1868. At the age of fourteen he began the battle of life for himself, and has always followed farming. June 7, 1868, he left home, and on the 10th of that month sailed from Hamburg for New York, and thence he came via Panama to California, arriving in San Francisco July 23d. After remaining in that city a few days he came to Mendocino county and went to work in the woods, which business he followed till 1872, when he settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, where he has since resided. He was married December 27, 1851, to Miss Christina Larsen, a native of Denmark, born January 7, 1824. Their chil-
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dren are: John, born March 23, 1852; Ham, born May 14, 1853; James C., born April 9, 1861; Anna, July 8, 1863.
Charles A. Perkins. Was born in Washington county, Maine, December 31, 1839, and resided at his birthplace till 1862, receiving his education in the common schools. May Sth of the last-named year he sailed from New York for California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco June 22d. He then went to Stockton and worked on a ranch for nine months. In February 1864, he came to Mendocino county and began teaming which he followed till he purchased Mr. R. Stickney's interest in the saw-mill at Little River in the fall of 1873, and has since been engaged in that business. He was married, February 4, 1870, to Miss Nancy Stiekney, a native of Kennebec county, Maine, born March 13, 1850. Their children are, Lillie Dora, born February 5, 1873; Freddie, born December 21, 1874; and Ruel, born May 29, 1878.
Albert T. Rodgers. Was born in Windsor county, Maine, November 19, 1831, and when he was but four years of age his parents moved to China, in the same State. Here the subject of this memoir resided till he was twenty-three years of age. At the age of twenty-four he began work- iug at the blacksmith's trade, which he followed at various places in his native State till 1863. He then came to California, but proceeded to Washoe, Nevada, at once and opened a shop there, and prosecuted his trade till 1865. He then moved to this county, and in the same year opened a shop at Mendocino City, where he has since remained engaged in the black- smithing business. He was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. Sherman, January 28, 1861, born in Washington, Maine, November 12, 1838. Their children are, Ernest L., born in Maine, January 15, 1863; Susie E., born September 3, 1867; Charles P., born November 10, 1868; Afton E., born December 11, 1871; Ora M., born February 16, 1872; Agnes H., born November 12, 1874. The last five children were born in California.
G. Canning Smith. Born September 13, 1827. Brought up and educated in Massachusetts. Left Boston, November 3, 1848; arrived in San Francisco, in June, 1849, via Cape Horn. Went to the mines on the American river; remained there a few months; then to Sacramento City, stayed there a short time, then to San Francisco; was Cashier for Macondry & Co. In the fall of 1850 went to Hangtown, now Placerville, and pur- chased some emigrant teams; went with them to Bodega, Sonoma county, via Sacramento, Putah creek, Suscol ferry, Petaluma valley, to the Bodega ranch owned by Captain Stephen Smith. In the following season went into the farming business, near Bodega Port; failed. Went to Hank's steam saw- mills, about two miles above the ranch house of Captain Smith, in the red- woods, as clerk. In 1850, accompanied Noble of the firm of Keyes & Noble, the first settlers of Tomales, Marin county, to make his first settlement in
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
that place. Left Bodega in 1852; went to San Francisco and engaged in the foundry business; failed. In 1853 was in Lower California and Sonora, re- turned in 1854. Arrived at Big River, now called Mendocino, Mendocino county, on the 4th day of July, 1854. Was clerk and storekeeper for the mill company until October, 1854. When Harry Meigs left the State the mills were seized under attachment and all business stopped. Then bought a small ranch on the south side of Big river, and just below what is now known as Little River and lived upon it. In 1855, whilst Mendocino county was at- tached to Sonoma county for judicial purposes, was elected as Justice of the Peace ; jurisdiction, the whole of Mendocino county ; re-elected in 1857. Ap- pointed Clerk and Commissary of the Mendocino Indian reservation; served into 1857. Removed latter part of 1857; started an express between Men- docino and Cloverdale, it being the first connection between the two places ever made; carried express on horseback and paek-horse, no roads, only trails and fearful ones at that ; sold out express business. On the first Monday in May, 1859, was elected County Clerk. ex-officio Recorder and Auditor of Men- docino county as a Democrat, under the Aet organizing said county; was re- elected to said office in 1861 as a war Demoerat. In 1864 he went to San Francisco in time to vote for General G. B. MeClellan and the Democratic ticket. In the following spring returned to Mendocino. In 1866 went to Arizona Territory, by the way of the mouth of the Colorado river by vessel; up the river by steamer to Fort Yuma; thence to La Paz; thence to Camp on Date creek, with company H Second Battalion Fourteenth Regiment Regulars, in which company he held an appointment. Contracted fever; surgeon at post said he must leave or die. 1867 left for California by way of La Paz, at which place crossed the Colorado river by ferry; thence across desert via San Bernardino and Los Angeles to San Francisco; almost dead Remained in San Francisco several months, recruited, and returned to Men- docino. In 1872 appointed as Deputy Clerk of Mendocino county, under H. J. Abbott, and removed to Ukiah. In 1874 returned to Mendocino again. During these years has been Justice of the Peace, Notary Public, County Clerk, and practiced law. His early education had qualified him to fol- low the profession. In 1870 married; no family. In 187.1 received a posi- tion in the employ of the Wilmington and Los Angeles Railroad Company, was stationed at San Pedro; remained in said employ only a month, was re- moved on a change of superintendeney. Like all old '49ers, Mr. Smith has seen many ups and downs, and unfortunately for him, now that the decline of life has come upon him, he finds when the ledger is balanced up, that the downs have the best of it; but he is such a worthy man and so highly re- spected by all, that he is in a measure reimbursed.
John R. Short. This old pioneer of Mendocino county, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in St. Clair county, Illi-
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nois, January 2, 1818, the year in which that State was admitted into the Union. He was the fifth child of Hubbard and Sarah Slaten Short. He resided in his native county till he was twelve years of age, when he with his parents moved to Howard county, Missouri, where he remained till 1844. In that year, he proceeded to Dubuque, Iowa, where he engaged in the saw. mill business for the next six years. May 18, 1850, he started with an ox- team for the fabled land of gold, California, crossing the plains, and arriving at Nevada City, October 18th of the same year. He immediately began mining operations, and continued there till the spring of 1851, when he went to the North Fork of the Feather river, and opened a provision store at a place then known as Spanish Ranch, where he remained till December of that year. We next find him at Wyandotte, Butte county, where he was engaged in farming till the fall of 1852. His next move was to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he again engaged in the occupation of farming, and continued there till the fall of 1856, when he moved to Ukiah, Mendocino county. At that time, Ukiah was not a town, but only a valley, where the few men who lived in that section, were engaged in stock-raising and farm- ing. Mr. Short did as all his neighbors did, and engaged in farming on the place now owned by Robert Gibson. For twenty long years he lived on one place, seeing the city of Ukiah spring from a single smithy by the wayside into a city of goodly proportions, and fair to behold. It should be recorded here, that Mr. Short in connection with Mr. A. T. Perkins, erected and donated to the public, the first school-house in the city of Ukiah. In 1876, he moved to Miller (Bridgeport) in Big River township, where he still resides an old and highly respected citizen. In 1859, Mr. Short, in connection with Dr. John Hendley of Santa Rosa, was appointed as Commissioner to adjust the financial affairs between Sonoma and Mendocino counties, at the time Mendocino county was established. A full copy of their report will be found in the body of this work. He has been School Trustee for several years, and has always been identified with all that pertains to the best interests of the county. May 22, 1848, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Ham- mer, who was born in Cook county, Illinois, May 22, 1829. Their children are: Jeannette A., born December 3, 1850; Mary A., born June 23, 1853; Sylvester, born January 14. 1856; Sarah E., born February 14, 1858; Bleisteine, born November 4, 1861; Rolland, born August 14, 1863.
Thomas Jefferson Stewart. Was born in Linn county, Iowa, May 31, 1841, where he resided till the spring of 1853, when, with his parents, he emigrated to Washington Territory, coming across the plains. Here they resided till March, 1856, when they came to California, settling at Half Moon Bay, where they remained about one year. In 1857, they came to Stewart's Point, Sonoma county, and resided there till 1859. In that year, the subject of this sketch went to Mendocino county, and began stock- raising, farming, and lumbering at Point Arena, which he continued till
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1865. During that year, he changed his base of operations from Point Arena to Bridgeport, where he has since remained engaged in farming. Dur- ing the years 1877 and 1878, he was also engaged in mercantile pursuits at Bridgeport, in connection with which he was postmaster at Miller (Bridge- port) for three years. March 9, 1876, Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Mrs. Mary J. MeCabe Fluger, widow of William H. Fluger.
Matthew Henry Stewart. Was born in Linn county, in the State of Iowa, April 15, 1850. In 1853 he, with his parents, moved to Washington Territory, where they resided till 1857. They then moved to California and settled in Sonoma county, where he resided till 1865, when he came to Mendocino county, and, in connection with his brother, began stock-raising near Bridgeport, which he continued till 1869. He then settled on his present ranch of three hundred acres, where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. He married, October 28, 1877, Miss Sarah E. Short, daughter of John R. Short, born in Ukiah, Mendocino county, February 14, 1858. By this union they have two children: Maud, born August 1, 1878, and Francis May, born September 8, 1879.
Haskett Severance. Who that has ever passed along the Mendocino coast road for the past dozen years does not remember, with feelings the most kindly, the genial " mine host " of the Nevarra Ridge Hotel, Haskett Severance? There is absolutely no one, for he is a gentleman to the manor born, and one whom all will remember as such. He was born in Belmont, Waldo county, Maine, July 29, 1820, and was the oldest child of Benjamin and Lydia Sanborn Severance. He remained at his birthplace till he was ten years of age, when his parents moved to Windsor, Kennebec county, Maine. Here he received a common school education. When he arrived at manhood he embarked in farming and lumbering on the Penobscot river, which business he followed till 1858. April 5th of that year he sailed from New York City on the steamer Moses Taylor, bound for California, via Panama. On this side he sailed in the steamer Sonoma, arriving in San Francisco May Ist. He proceeded at once to the Noyo mill, where he was employed as saw-filer for a year and a half. In July, 1861, he took the logging contract for Tichenor & Byxbee at the Nevarra Mill, which business he continued for the subsequent six years. In July, 1868, he purchased his present place and began the hotel business at·Nevarra Ridge, and also con- ducting farming, stock-raising and dairying, owning one hundred acres of land. In 1871-3 Mr. Severance held the mail contract from Navarra Ridge to Point Arena. June 6, 1852, he married Miss Annie R. Clapp, a native of Eddington, Penobscot county, Maine, born December 5, 1830. They have one son living, Frank, born in Enfield, Penobscot county, Maine, April 22, 1853, and one daughter deceased, Mary E., born March 9, 1856, and died July 17, 1872. It is with pleasure that we present our readers with a
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portrait of this pioneer of Mendocino county, which will be found in the body of this work. He is public spirited, always taking an active part in whatever will advance the best interests of the county and that section in which he resides. He is generous to a fault and the soul of honor, oblig- ing and accommodating in his business relations, and withal, the right man in the right place. And we must not close this sketch without making honorable mention of his most excellent and worthy wife, who presides over the destinies of the internal arrangements of the house with the skill of a master hand, adding no little to the justly deserved reputation it bears all over Mendocino county.
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