USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 64
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William J. Cleveland. Born in South Carolina, December 21, 1822. When but a child, his parents moved to Georgia, where they resided about ten years, when they moved to Missouri, where they resided on a farm until 1849. Then the subject of this sketch, leaving his parents, came to Califor-
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
nia across the plains with ox-teams. After spending one year mining in Butte county, he returned (via Nicaragua) to Missouri, where he remained until 1852, when he once more crossed the plains, bringing his family, con- sisting of wife and two children. He arrived in Butte county in September, where he followed farming one year, when his wife died. He then returned with his two children to Missouri (via Nicaragua), where he followed farm- ing for three years. He then, in 1856, once more crossed the plains to Cali- fornia, bringing his own and his father's family with him. After spending one year in Butte county, he came to Mendocino county, leaving his father in Butte. On arriving in this county, the subject of this sketch located upon a farm near Ukiah, where he followed farming until 1863, when he bought- the Coyote Grist-mill, located at the upper end of Coyote valley, where he still carries on a general milling business. Mr. Cleveland married in 1847, Miss Tennessee Owen, a native of Tennessee, and by this marriage they have two children, George and Missouri, His wife died in December, 1853. He married in March, 1854, Miss Sarah A. Owen, a native of Tennessee, by whom he has Napoleon B., and Robert L.
John H. Christy. Born in Pennsylvania, May 24, 1832. When six years of age, his parents moved to Ohio, where the subject of this sketch grew up on a farm. At the age of twenty-one, he, leaving his parents behind, came to California, crossing the plains with a drove of cattle, arriving in San Joaquin county September 26, 1853. He went direct to the mines, and followed mining for about four years. In 1857, he went to Solano county, where he followed farming seven years; he then moved to Yolo county, where he followed different occupations until 1869, when he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and thirty-three acres, located in Coyote valley, where he is engaged in farming and gardening. Married, November 22, 1869, Miss Lucy Huckins, a native of Illinois. Their children are Hattie J., Jasper, Martha, and Cornelius; they have lost two, Elizabeth E., and David H.
T. W. Dashiell, Was born in Maryland, January 18, 1818. Here he received his education and studied law. He resided on a farm until nine- teen years of age, when, leaving his parents, he went to Texas where he bought two thousand two hundred acres of land, on which he built a saw- mill. After remaining here for two years, he went to Mississippi, where he followed teaching for about two years, after which he spent about eight months in his native State, and then returned to Mississippi, where he taught until 1848, when he again returned to Maryland, and in the spring of 1849, we find him crossing the plains to California, in company with seven others. They arrived at Sacramento in September of the above-mentioned year. The subject of this sketch went at once to the mines, where he followed mining until the spring of 1853, when he engaged with his cousin, W. A.
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Dashiell, at Sacramento, in the horse market business. Here he remained one year, then moved to Sonoma county and bought a ranch in Blutcher valley, where he followed farming until 1857, when he went to Los Angeles where he remained but a short time; then returned to Sonoma county and engaged in butchering at Windsor until 1859, when he came to Mendocino county and located in Potter valley, where he has since resided. Mr. Dashiell was a member of the Board of Supervisors for four years, and Deputy Assessor two terms. He married September 1, 1851, Miss Kezia J. Vann. She died February 10, 1876, leaving seven children, Addie, James, Cyntha, Thaddeus, Robert, William, and Margaret.
C. H. English. Was born in Tennessee, December 26, 1830. When he was about three years of age his parents moved to Missouri. Here he received his education and resided on a farm till 1852, when he came to Cal- ifornia, in company with his mother, two brothers, and three sisters, his father having died in Missouri. They crossed the plains with ox-teams, being just six months on the journey, arriving in Nevada county in October. He remained in the mines for five years, and in 1857 came to Mendocino county, locating four miles north of Ukiah, where he continues to reside. His occupation is farming and stock-raising, and his place con- sists of two hundred and eighty-eight acres. He was married May 15, 1860, to Mrs. Frances E. Hall, a native of Illinois. Their children are Charles, Nancy E., Helen M., Calvin M., Daniel T. Wilsey, Mattie ,B., and Vincent. Mrs. English had two children by her former marriage, Orin M. and Perry C.
William P. English. Whose portrait will be found in this history, was born in Missouri, May 14, 1834, where he resided on a farm until 1852, when he, in company with his mother, two brothers and three sisters, his father having died, came to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and arrived in Nevada county in October. After spending four years in the mines they, in the fall of 1857, came to Mendocino county, and the sub- ject of this sketch located on his present place consisting of fourteen hundred acres situated in Redwood valley. Here he has since resided, being engaged in farming, stock-raising and wool-growing. Mr. English married in November, 1861, Miss Malisa J. Barnes, a native of Missouri. By this mar- riage they have six living children, Charles A., Mary M., MarthaE., Nancy E., Emma J. and William E. They have lost two.
B. F. Forsyth. Was born in Pennsylvania, March 15, 1820, and when he was four years of age his parents moved to Ohio. Here the subject of this sketch received his education, and resided on a farm till 1842. He then ·went to Missouri and located on a farm, which he conducted till 1848, when he returned to Ohio, where he remained until 1850. He then crossed the plains with ox-teams to California, and arrived at Hangtown (Placerville),
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August 11th, of that year. He spent about six months here, during which time he was engaged in mining. He then went to San Francisco, and thence to Vallejo, Solano county, where he was engaged in carpentering and con- tracting, working at times as high as thirty men. He erected the first house in Old Vallejo, also did a great deal of work in Benicia. In 1857 he came to Mendocino county and settled on what is known as Forsyth's creek, which was named for him, about two miles above Calpella. He resided here till 1862 when he bought his present place, consisting of about two thousand seven hundred acres, located on Cold creek, and he has since resided here, being engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Millington P. Goforth. Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in North Carolina November 29, 1827. His mother died in 1842. He and his father resided here on a farm until 1850, when they moved and set- tled on a farm in Georgia, where they lived together for five years. The subject of this sketch then left his father and came to California, via Pan- ama, arriving at San Francisco March 16, 1855. He spent the first year mining in El Dorado county ; then went to Placer county, where he followed mining until May, 1858, when he went to Fraser river, where he spent the summer. The following is his own description of his trip to Fraser river : " It was about the 23d of May, 1858, I took passage on the old Panama for the mines on Fraser river. After being out some two or three days, the ship took fire from the cook's galley. Like the boy that 'stood upon the burning deck,' I stood on the hurricane deck and saw the flames ascend twenty feet above my head; but the fire was soon subdued, and on the sev- enth day we arrived at Whatcom, Bellingham bay, Washington Territory. From here I went out and helped to construct a trail across the Cascade mountains. While in these mountains, the engineer, Captain Delacy, went out and failed to find a pass through to the open country beyond, which caused a delay and many of our party became disheartened, and went back. I saw that something had to be done; so I persuaded a young man to go with me for company. I took a few pounds of jerked beef, and we set out to search for a pass, promising to return within two days; but we were out five days before returning. The men in camp became uneasy about us, and had been searching for us, and failing to find any trace of us, sus- pected that we had been murdered by the Indians. Captain Vale came out just at the time the men were hunting for us, and supposing that we had been killed by the Indians, sent in a dispatch to that effect, which was pub- lished in the Whatcom papers, and republished in the Sacramento Union and other papers, until it reached my father in Georgia. But I found an easy pass, and posted notices clear through to the open country ; so, the inen gave me the honor of finding the pass, which the Hudson Bay Company and Cap- tain Delacy failed to find-many of the men remarking that history would never know it; but a few days' work brought us into the open country.
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CALPELLA TOWNSHIP.
Then we pressed forward for the mouth of Thompson river. Buried several bodies we found on the way that had been murdered by the Indians. Reached Fraser river, at the mouth of Thompson, in time to take part in the war betwixt the miners and Indians, in which the latter were driven back to the mountains. I remained here till the 10th of October, prospecting, when after many hardships, perils and disappointments, I returned to Placer county, California, by the way of Victoria, crossing the gulf of Georgia in a canoe." On his return to Placer county he followed mining until July, 1865, when he settled in Sonoma county, near Petaluma. There he followed farming until the fall of 1870, when he came to Mendocino county and set- tled in the foot-hills of Potter valley, where he followed stock-raising until 1878, when he moved to Pomo, where he now lives, being engaged in farm- ing stock-raising and wool-growing. Married, October 24, 1867, Miss Sarah E. Edsall, a native of Missouri. They have four living children: William H., Jefferson M., Francis M., and George W .; and have lost one, John B.
Isaac Y. Griffiths. Was born in Missouri, January 11, 1832. When but a child his parents moved to Illinois, where the subject of this sketch re- ceived his education, and in 1848 went to Lee county, Iowa, where he learned the tailor's trade. In 1853 he crossed the plains with ox-teams to California, bringing his wife with him. They kept a boarding-house in the mines until 1857, when he came to Sonoma county and settled at Cloverdale, where he followed farming and stock-raising until October, 1859, when he came to Mendocino county and settled in Potter valley, where he has sinee resided. He owns two hundred and forty acres of land, and follows farming and stock-raising. Married, September 16, 1851, Miss Mary J. Simely. They have ten living children: Laura, George H., Helen S., Lincoln B., Thomas H., Wirt, Ida, Edwin, Kate, and Frank. Have lost two.
L. P. Grover. Was born in Maine, February, 1824. He came to Cali- fornia in 1864, and to Mendocino county in 1867, and settled on his present place. He was married in 1852 to Miss Lierly, of Illinois, who died in 1876. He married again in 1878, Mrs. Purfus, a native of Indiana.
Calvin A. Hopper. Son of William Hopper, one of the first settlers of Redwood valley, was born in Missouri in 1846. In 1852 he, with his parents, crossed the plains to California. The first five years in this State were spent in the mines, and in 1857 the family moved to Sonoma county, and settled in Vallejo township, where they followed dairying for three years. In 1860 they came to Mendocino county and settled in Redwood valley. In 1871 young Hopper located near Little Lake, after which he made two or three changes, and in 1878 settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres. He married, September 24, 1871, Miss Virginia F. Burgess, a native of Iowa. Their children are : Laura, Hattie, Lulu, and Jeanetta.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
James L. Hughes, Whose portrait will be found in this history, was born in Kentucky, May 4, 1827. When but a child he, with his parents, moved to Missouri, where they resided on a farm until May, 1849, when they came to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams; they arrived at Ophir October 15th, of that year. Here they spent the winter in mining, and in the spring located on a ranch which they bought in Sacramento county, where they followed farming and stock-raising until the spring of 1852, when they moved to Sonoma county and settled in Santa Rosa valley, where they engaged in stock-raising. The father died April 6, 1854, but the subject of this sketch remained there until August, 1858, when he came to Mendocino county, bringing his mother with him, and settled in Redwood valley. Mr. Hughes followed stock-raising until 1865, when he moved to Potter valley and settled on his present place, consisting of three hundred and forty acres, where he is engaged in farming and wool-growing. Married, May 3, 1849, Miss Mary A. Wright, a native of Tennessee. Their children are: Sarah C., Mary J., Martha E., George W., James C., Lucinda A., Frances S. His wife, Mary A., died December 17, 1861. Married Atlantic O. McGee, January 8, 1866. Their children are: California R., Richard H., Luella I., John, Francis D. Have lost one, Lucinda A.
Wade W. Moore. Born in Middle Tennessee December 6, 1834. In 1852 he went to Illinois, where he resided about two years. He then moved about and lived in different States until 1860, when he came to California and settled at Bodega, Sonoma county, where he spent one year; then, in 1861, came to Mendocino county, and spent a short time, after which he went to John Doy's river, and after two months returned to this county and settled on his present place, consisting of four hundred and forty-two acres, located about two miles from Calpella, where he has since resided, being engaged in stock-raising and wool-growing. Mr. Moore married, in 1868, Mrs. Ruth A. Ford, and their children are: Alice, Maggie and Bell.
John W. McCloud. Born in Franklin county, Ohio, March 9, 1820, and at the age of seventeen he, with his parents, moved to Illinois, where they resided about four years, and then moved to Iowa, where the subject of this sketch learned the cooper's trade, which he followed until March, 1850, when he, leaving his parents, crossed the plains with ox-teams, arriving at Steep Hollow September 6th. Here he remained about two weeks, and then went to Napa county, where he followed farming and stock-raising until 1857, when he returned, via Panama, to Iowa, and remained a few months. He then returned, via same route, to California and came direct to Mendocino county and, after spending the winter at Sanel, settled in Potter valley, where he has since resided, being engaged in stock-raising. He married, July 6, 1874, Miss Mattie Van Nader. They have one child, Lewis C.
B, Pemberton
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CALPELLA TOWNSHIP.
Samuel Mewhinney. A native of Hamilton county, Ohio; was born August 18, 1810. When about ten years of age he, with his parents, moved into Indiana. Here the subject of this sketch resided, being engaged in farming and coopering, until 1840, when he moved to Missouri, where he followed farming for two years. He then returned to Indiana, where he remained until 1849, when he, leaving his family behind, crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. He spent the first winter on Feather river, working at carpentering. In the following spring he went to the mines, where he mined and followed carpentering until the spring of 1852, when he returned, via Nicaragua, to his family, which he took immediately to Illinois, where he resided until 1855, when he moved to Kansas, where he resided until 1857, when, in company with his family, he again crossed the plains with ox-teams. They arrived in Mendocino county in January, 1858, and settled on their present place, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres located at the extreme lower end of Potter valley. The first winter they spent in a tent under a tree near where their fine residence now stands. Mr. Mewhinney married for his first wife, in 1835, Miss Sarah Robertson, who died June 16, 1842, leaving four children, John, James, Hugh and Ann. For his second wife he married Miss Daunalı M. Leonard, December 3, 1844. By this union they have two children, Teresa and Fremont. Mrs. Mewhinney is one of those noble women whom God has sent into the world to bless and make glad all with whom she comes into contact. In the pioneer days of the Potter valley section the nearest physician was sixty miles away, and she was called upon to perform the most responsible position of obstetrician for that isolated section, and during the twenty-one years of her practice has never lost a patient.
H. P. McGee. Was born in Missouri March 13, 1831, where he resided on a farm until 1850, when he left his parents behind and crossed the plains to Oregon. In the spring of the following year, 1851, he came to California and at once entered the mines at Yreka, where he remained about two years. He then came to Sonoma county, where he followed farming, working by the month, until the spring of 1857, when he came to Mendocino county and located in Redwood valley, where he resided for two years. In .1859, he settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and fifty-four acres, located in Potter valley, about two miles north-west of Centerville,
where he is engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. McGee was married July 3, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Hughes, a native of Missouri. They have six children, Mary, born September 9, 1858; Martha, born September 4, 1860; Anna, born January 7, 1863; Oscar, born June 28, 1867; Clara, born June 1, 1871; Frank, born April 8, 1877. They have lost two, Sarah, born April 22, 1857, and died May 6, 1857; and John born April 8, 1865, and died May 17, 1866.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
F. Niepp. Born in Germany, August 17, 1850. Immigrated to New York, arriving October 23, 1869, and to California, arriving at San Francisco April 17, 1876, and came to Mendocino county and settled at Calpella, September 8, 1878, where he is engaged in merchandising. Mar- ried on March 27, 1878, Miss Margertha Rohde, a native of Germany.
Charles Neil. Born in Virginia, May 29, 1808. When but a ehild, his parents moved to Tennessee, where they lived on a farm until 1831, when the subject of this sketch, leaving his parents, went to Indiana where he followed farming until 1846, when he went to Illinois where he followed the same occupation about three years. After this he spent nine years in Missouri at the same business. In 1859 he crossed the plains with ox- teams, bringing his family with him, and after farming for two years in Sonoma county came to this county, and settled on his present place con- sisting of sixty acres located in Potter valley, where he has since resided. Mr. Neil married, August, 1829, Miss Margaret Kennedy, who died leaving eight children, five of whom are still living: Samuel, Stoddard, Louisa J., Elizabeth A., and Emma F. For his second wife he married Mrs. Nancy Perry. By this marriage they have two children, Harriett I. and Lewis H. By her first marriage Mrs. Neil has two children, Alexander C. and Eliza A.
James N. Nuckolls. Born in Virginia, March 3, 1834. When he was but a child his parents moved to Missouri, where the subject of this sketch resided with his parents until 1853, when he came to California, his parents having died previously. He crossed the plains with ox-teams, and arrived in Sacramento county about the 20th of September. Here he followed mining and dairying until 1856, when he went to Sonoma county and farmed about one year in Two Rock valley. In May, 1857, he came to Mendocino county and settled in Redwood valley, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and wool-growing. Mr. Nuckolls married, May 3, 1859, Miss Biddy English, a native of Missouri. Their children are: Charles P., James C., William L., Enoch M., Mary C., Alfred M., and Holland M. They have lost one, Martha E.
Bennett Pemberton, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Kentucky, January 17, 1833. His mother died in 1837, and at the age of fourteen he, with his father, went to Missouri, where they settled on a farm. In 1850 his father died, and in 1853 the subject of this sketch came across the plains with ox-teams, arriving at Diamond Springs in August. After mining about eighteen months he went to Sonoma county, where he followed farming, stock-raising, and dairying until 1860 when he returned to Missouri, and married on April 19, 1860, Miss Thurza Emmons, and at once engaged in farming, which he followed until 1865, when he again crossed the plains, bringing his wife with him, and settled again in Sonoma
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county. After one year he moved into Marin county, where he followed dairying until the spring of 1872, when he came to Mendocino county and settled on his present place, consisting of six hundred acres, located in Potter valley, where he is engaged in wool-growing. They have eight children: James E., Willie, Thurza E., Walter B., Minnie, Etta R., Mary E,. and Johnson W. M.
Dennis Quinliven. Born in Jo Daviess county, Illinois, August 18, 1829. When but a child his parents moved to St. Louis, where they both died. In 1849 the subject of this sketch crossed the plains to California. After spending about one month in Nevada county he went to Sacramento, and from there to El Dorado county, where he spent the winter; and in the spring of 1850 returned to Nevada county where he mined until fall, and then went again to Sacramento; in the spring of 1851 went to Placer county and engaged in mining and blacksmithing until September, 1859, when he came to Mendocino county, and located on Cold creek where he engaged in stock-raising, which he followed until the spring of 1853. He theu went to Oregon and Washington Territory, and returned to this county again in the fall and settled on his former place on Cold creek, where he lived about six months; then lived in Potter valley until September, 1864, when he moved to Calpella, where he has since resided. Married, in 1878, Mrs. Ann Williams, a native of Illinois. They have three children : John M., Charles D., and Mary A. Mrs. Quinliven has from her former marriage one living child, Margaret E.
Charles T. Silberhorn. Born in Strasburg, Germany, January 22, 1817. When about five years of age he, with his parents, crossed the waters to New York. Here his father engaged in the packing business, and the son grew up with a common school education, and learned the trade of watch-case making, which business he had to stop at the age of sixteen on account of weak eyes. He then engaged in the same business as that of his father, which he followed until 1849. In November of that year an acquaintance of Mr. Silberhorn and a brother-in-law to Mr. Marshall (the first discoverer of gold in California), received a letter from the latter named gentleman that "gold had been discovered and prospects were flatter- ing." Mr. Silberhorn, in company with thirty-nine other men, set about at once to come hither, leaving New York January 18, 1849, and arriving at San Francisco July 4th of the same year. On account of ill health the subject of this sketch did not go to the mines, but engaged in merchandising at Sacramento until the fall of 1849, when, by high water, he lost goods to the amount of $12,000 dollars. He then engaged in butchering, which he followed until the fall of 1850, when he sold out and returned to New York via Panama. He returned in March, 1851 by the same route, bringing his family with him. He again engaged in butchering at Sacramento, which
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he continued until the spring of 1852, when he went to El Dorado county and engaged in trade, which he continued until 1858; then mined until 1868, when he came to Mendocino county and settled where he now resides, in Redwood valley. Mr. Silberhorn married, May 4, 1845, Miss Anna Kandinggonda, and by this union they have six children: Harriet, Charles H., Sophiah, John, Louisa, and Addie. They have lost three.
Rev. J. R. Thomas, D. D., LL. D. Dr. J. R. Thomas is a native of Hancock county, Georgia, born May 10, 1812. He is the eldest of fourteen children by the marriage of Micajah Thomas with Eliza A., daughter of James Turner, of Clarke county, Georgia. His only surviving brother, Dr. F. A. Thomas, at the present date resides in his native State in the town of Sparta, Hancock county, having devoted his life successfully to the profes- sion of medicine. The two brothers were classmates at Randolph Macon College in the State of Virginia. The elder brother, who is the subject of this brief sketch, when at about the age of eight years entered the commun- ion of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both parents were life-long members, the father being an ordained local minister of that denomination. From early boyhood James was trained to manual labor on the farm-not so much for the material compensation, as for the purpose of healthful physical development. His early education was spasmodic, being an alternation between farm labor and going to school, the former element predominating in the mixture. Finally, when in the sixteenth year of his age, he was placed at old Mount Zion in the classical school of Dr. Beman, who prepared him for college. At nineteen he was chosen to assist Dr. Beman in his school for one year, at the expiration of which time he had intended to enter college, but declined doing so in consequence of a slight reverse in his father's busi- ness affairs. Therefore, concluding to teach school at least for a year or two longer, he accepted an invitation to take the principal charge of White Plains Academy, in Greene county, Georgia. This position he held for three years. During the last of these years, in 1834, after a severe struggle with his long- cherished predilection for the legal profession, he consented to take holy orders, as a local minister of the gospel in the church to which he belonged. He embarked in this sacred calling with the settled purpose of making his ministerial labors a voluntary and a gratuitous contribution to the church, and of relying upon the business of teaching school for his material support. In early manhood he had symptoms of a pulmonary weakness which deterred him from making the ministry a specialty, with a view of giving his life exclusively to it as a profession. In 1835 he entered the sophomore class at Randolph Macon College, Virginia, and in 1838 graduated with some distinction. The well-known Stephen Olin and L. C. Garland, now Chan- cellor of Vanderbilt University-the former for one and the latter two years presided over this institution, during the period of Dr. Thomas' pupilage.
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