USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 65
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CALPELLA TOWNSHIP.
Dr. Wightman, now one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church South, was professor of Moral Philosophy and Belles-lettres. Dr. Duncan, late of Wofford College, filled the chair of Ancient Languages. The year following his graduation he was called to preside over Collinsworth Institute, near Talbottom, Georgia, a manual-labor school which had been founded by the liberality of Josiah Flourney, of Putnam county, in that State. This institution, like all schools of its class, proved to be a failure. While he occupied his position in the above institution it was his happiness to instruct several young men of very bright promise. Foremost among these was Holland N. McTyeire, by nativity a South Carolinean. At the time of his pupilage now spoken of, his father, a wealthy planter, resided in the State of Alabama. In this model boy. Dr. Thomas discerned the embryo of a model man. Young McTyeire's father was undecided as to what direction he would give to his son's future education. About the time that he had brought up his studies to the point of preparation for college, an incident occurred, which, no doubt more or less influenced the entire future history of this rarely- gifted youth. Dr. Thomas had been selected by the Alumni of Randolph Macon College to deliver their annual address in the summer of 1840 on the commencement occasion for that year. Dr. Thomas proposed to the father that he would take his son Holland under his immediate charge and deliver him safely to the Faculty at Randolph Macon College with favorable expres- sion of opinion, in the meantime assisting him to a settlement in a good boarding-house, if the old gentleman would consent to send him to college under such circumstances. This proposal, with a little persuasion, settled the question of doubt and the young man in due time was landed on the College Campus ready for matriculation at the opening of the fall session. This bright youth graduated with honor, entered the Christian ministry, and he is now one of the bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The year following, 1841, Dr. Thomas had charge of a school for girls in the village of Culloden, Monroe county, Georgia. At the end of this year occurred an episode in the Doctor's life. The still habits of the school-room had superinduced a dyspeptic habit which made it necessary that he should suspend teaching for awhile. Having married Sarah A., daughter of Jno. Wimberly, of Alabama, during the last year of his connection with Collins- worth Institute, he obtained his wife's consent to accompany him to the mountain region of Georgia as an expedient for the restoration of his health. For three years he led a rough life in this mountain retreat, making a material support in the meantime by operating in the gold mines of north Georgia, near Dahlonega, Lumpkin county. This experiment resulted in the restoration of his health, attended with an overflowing exuberance of animal spirits. He remembers no period of his life when the pleasure of physical existence was more exquisite. With the pure air and water of that mountain region; the activity of a miner's life; and the inspiration of hope-
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a miner's birthright -- life's functions were stimulated into healthful play, and it's every pulsation a throb of delight. At the end of three years, spent in this retreat, the Doctor accepted the invitation to a professorship in the Wesleyan Female College at Macon, Georgia. Soon after this date he was called to mourn the loss of his wife, to whom he was tenderly devoted. The duties of his new position bore upon him with a heavy pressure. His official labors were largely supplemented by remarkable coincidences. The congre- gation of the Methodist Episcopal Church requested him to deliver a course of lectures on " Christian Evidences," which he engaged to undertake. While this course of lectures was in progress, Dr. Askew, editor and pro- prietor of the Southern Pulpit, a monthly, published in the city of Macon, sickened and died. He made a dying request that Dr. Thomas should conduct the above journal up to the end of the year on behalf of his dependent family. This task also the Doctor agreed to undertake. In the meantime, Dr. Ellison, president of the college, was stricken down with fever, and a part of the laborof the mathematical department devolved, temporarily, on Dr. Thomas. These accumulated laborscalled forth a morbid activity of brain, producing undue excitement of the entire nervous system, which brought him to the verge of cerebral inflammation before he or his friends suspected that he was in danger. At this crisis, fortunately, brain congestion was relieved by'un attack of pulmonary hemorrhage, which no doubt arrested inflammation in the more vital organ and precluded a fatal catastrophe. Dr. Thomas immediately resigned his position in the college. At the suggestion of his father who was also bereaved, the two emigrated to Florida and settled on a farm near Micanopy, in Marion county. Here, with a corps of strong, able-bodied negroes, they engaged in growing sea island cotton, tobacco, arrowroot and sugar-cane. The father undertook the conduct of the farm, and to the son was committed the care of the stock, which ran at large upon the wild public lands. This duty necessitated a habit of activity which added to the pleasant excitement of rural sports, for which he had a hereditary fondness, and made at once a decidedly favorable impression upon his health. When he first entered upon this rough mode of life he was in a very feeble condition; emaciated and almost bloodless, with a constant cough attended with semi-purulent expectorations. His cough left him before the end of three months, and in less time than one year he became robust and vigorous, being able to compete with the sturdiest native hunters and cattle-drivers of the peninsula. At the end of three years the Doctor's health being re-established so firmly that he never had afterwards a recurrence of hem- orrhage, he accepted an invitation to take the presidency of Emory College located at Oxford, Georgia. Immediately before entering upon the duties of this position he married his second wife, formerly Miss A. L. Hudson, daughter of William Hudson, of Hancock county, Georgia, between whose family and his own there had been an intimate friendship of many years'
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standing. His connection with Emory College dates from the beginning of the year 1855. Here he spent some of the happiest and most useful years of his life. While here he was honored by the State University with the legree of D. D., by the Medical College at Augusta, Georgia, with the honorary degree of M. D., and by the trustees of Emory with the degree of LL. D. On this occasion it was, that the Doctor said to the Board, that it had committed a very great blunder but that the world should not detect the mistake if he could prevent it by the best efforts that he could make in that direction. Many gifted and promising young men graduated at Emory College during Dr. Thomas' administration. We will name as prominent among these: Young Allen, for a long time, and now missionary in China; Dr. Haygood, now president of Emory College; Chancellor Lewis, of the University of Alabama, and many others who have risen to prominence both in Church and in State. Dr. Thomas' official connection with Emory College lasted for twelve years, interrupted for a short period during our unfortunate civil war. At the commencement of the war it was hoped that a suspension of the college would not become a necessity. This hope, however, was not realized. During two years before the end of the war it became necessary to close the Institution. The Doctor, while he believed that secession is the proper remedy for grievous wrongs, as a last resort, yet denied that it was a wise or proper remedy for the evil complained of by the Southern States in 1860, and therefore he opposed that movement with all his influence, until he saw that the adoption of the expedient by his own State was a foregone conclu- sion, after which he acquiesced in the movement and placed everything upon the altar. He shared the fate of war, losing his estate which, though not very large, was ample for the wants of a growing family. He lost his eldest son, and his second son, now living near him in California, was twice wounded during the war. After the close of the war Dr. Thomas was called to preside over Pacific Methodist College, located 'at Vacaville, Solano county, California. The climate.of this locality proved to be very unfavor- able to his health, and after two and a half years of service he resigned and retreated to the mountain region of Mendocino county, where he resides. at the present date. Having taught school one year he purchased a farm and stock ranch in Redwood valley, and has devoted his'attention exclusively to rural pursuits, with the frequent exercise of his ministerial functions, except- ing short intervals of teaching school, in all about two and a half years. For six years there was a desire generally expressed, that Dr. Thomas should serve Mendocino county, as School Superintendent. For reasons that need not be stated here, he declined the invitation. He has always felt an uncom- promising aversion to any step that would give him even the semblance of being mixed up with politics. On two different occasions in his life, he resisted the most vigorous and persistent efforts of his friends to draw him out as a candidate for the office of delegate to a Constitutional convention-
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
once in his native State and once in California. In the fall of 1879, both of the party conventions in the County of Mendocino, by acclamation and on the same day, nominated him as a candidate for County Superintendent of Schools. As a matter of course, he was elected by almost a solid vote of the county. At the date of this sketch he is discharging the functions of this office under the New Constitution; his incumbency runs for three years from the time of his entering upon the duties of the office. Dr. Thomas has been frequently heard to express his grateful appreciation of the friendship manifested for him personally, and the unvarying confidence reposed in him under all the shifting phases of his life. Unstable health has superinduced many episodes in the history of his public life, presenting it under irregular and spasmodic phases. As a general rule, these fitful vicissitudes in the life of a man, when the cause is unexplained, are apt to create some prejudice in the public mind. The Doctor deems himself fortunate in being an exception to the operation of this general law. He has a moderate opinion of his personal claims, and he feels the more grateful in proportion, as the tokens of favor and friend- ship transcend his deserts and his expectations. This brief sketch will hardly be considered to be complete unless we add, that the subject of this biography is now in the sixty-ninth year of his age. He has seven living children, two married, and the other five still living with him on his ranch in Redwood valley. Those who have some right to express an opinion on the subject, say that the Doctor ought to be very happy in his home circle, and if he is not so, it is his fault-inasmuch as his wife and children, it is believed, are not backward in making their personal contributions in that direction.
Taylor S. Vann, Born in Missouri, April 15, 1836, where he resided on a farm until 1856, when he, with parents, crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. On arriving they settled in Napa valley, where they resided four years. They then, in the fall of 1860, came to Mendocino county, and settled in the upper end of Potter valley, where the father died in 1876. The subject of this sketch then took the management of the farm, con- sisting of one hundred and sixty acres, the mother residing with him. Mr. Vann married, February 12, 1879, Miss Sarah C. Conrad, a native of Texas. They have one child, John T.
Berry Wright, Whose portrait will be found in this history, was born in Franklin county, Virginia, November 2, 1835. When a child he, with parents, moved to Ohio, where his mother died. After a residence of about eight years the subject of this sketch went to Indiana, where he remained about seven years, and in 1852 he went to Missouri, where he remained until March, 1853, when he started across the plains for California with ox-teams and a drove of cattle, arriving in Sacramento county on September 12th of the above year. He went at once to the mines, where he followed mining at different places for about four years; then in 1857
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CALPELLA TOWNSHIP.
came to Mendocino county and settled in Ukiah valley, where he resided one year. From Ukiah he removed to Redwood valley and took up the first elaim located in that valley, being the first white man to cut a tree in that. valley for building purposes, and erected the first house, barn, and corral there- Remaining there but a short time he removed to Potter valley, where he remained about a year, and thence to Walker valley, where he resided until October 12, 1869, when he settled on his present place, consisting of one hundred and fifty-six acres, located in Redwood valley, where he is engaged in farming, stock-raising, and hop-growing. Mr. Wright married, March 17, 1860, Miss Josephine C. Brown, a native of Missouri. They have six children: Zerelda J., Dora J., Henry M., Alma J., Minnie C., and Alice M.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
LITTLE LAKE.
Samuel S. Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, September 26, 1826; received his education at the common schools of his native county; resided there until the spring of 1844; went to Springfield Illinois; remained there until the ensuing fall; left, enroute for Clarke county, Missouri; passed through the Mormon city of Nauvoo; spent a few days among the saints ; remained in Clarke county, Missouri, until about the 1st of December; left for St. Louis, Missouri; spent the remainder of the winter on the Mississippi river between St. Louis and New Orleans. In the spring of 1845 went back to Clarke county, Missouri ; remained there until fall, then went to Stark county, Ohio; remained there until the spring of 1846. Then left for Maryland, his native place; engaged there in farming and milling for three years, until the spring of 1849. Became a member of the Baltimore and Frederick Mining and Trading Company, organized for the purpose of engaging in those pursuits in California. Left Baltimore City in April, 1849, in a sailing vessel, for Chagres; ascended the Chagres river in steamboat and small boats to Gorgona, thence by mule-back and foot-back to Panama. Remained there three weeks, amidst harrowing scenes of death in an unacclimated land; cholera was raging. We lost two of our company there, with cholera. Took passage on an English brig, Corbie; banged around on the Pacific Ocean eighty-five days; landed in the city of San Francisco in September, 1849. Then went to Corte de Madera, in Marin county; assisted in building a saw-mill there. Remained there until the spring of 1851, then removed to Laqunitas, Marin county, and engaged in stock-raising and farming. Remained there until March, 1854; left for my native home in Maryland; remained there until February, 1855; returned to California in the spring of 1855; joined a hunting party at San Rafael, Marin county ; spent two months in Sonoma and Lake (now Mendocino) counties. In July, 1855, left Marin county for Mendocino county. In August, selected a ranch site in Little Lake valley, his present home. He and his brothers, being the first settlers in' the valley, were engaged in stock-raising until 1864; drove a band of cattle to Idaho Territory, returned late in the fall, engaged in farming and running a hotel in connection with his brother on the ranch until 1875. Bought sheep, stocked the ranch with them, and has been engaged in sheep-raising since. Was married, October 17, 1861, to Miss Harriet E. Henry, a native of Williamson county, Illinois, born October 4, 1841. Their children are as follows: Fannie E., born Febru-
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LITTLE LAKE TOWNSHIP.
ary 26, 1863, died August 17, 1864 ; Gordon, born April 24, 1864; William Henry, born March 25, 1866; Lizzie May, born September 5, 1869; Luther Shelby, born January 29, 1872.
Martin Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, May 18, 1832, being of Swiss and French stock. He received his early education at the common schools and academy, and at seventeen years of age was sent to Marshall College, at Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, which was, shortly after his going there, moved to Lancaster City, Lancaster county of that State, and at that place he received his diploma in August, 1853. After sojourning for a few months at his home he, in January, 1854, sailed from New York City to California, arriving in San Francisco February 2d of that year. He immediately joined his brothers in Marin county, where he remained for six months, when he went to San Francisco and embarked in the hotel business, which he continued for one year. He then returned to Marin county, and in August, 1855, in connection with his brothers, drove cattle to Mendocino county and located where he now resides. In 1860 Mr. Baechtel was elected to the Assembly, which position he filled one year, he being the second representative of Mendocino county. Again, in 1865, he filled the office of County Supervisor for one terin. He was also the first magistrate in Little Lake valley before it was known as Mendocino county, but he did not serve. In the spring of 1872 was appointed Commissioner by the Board of Super- visors, to represent Mendocino county in establishing the boundary lines between Humboldt, Mendocino, Trinity and Klamath counties. His asso- ciates were Messrs. Lewis of Humboldt, Martin of Klamath, and Finnin of Trinity. The business was completed in August of the same year. He is now serving his fifth term as Notary Public. He married, October 9, 1861, Esther Newman Hopkins, a native of Quincy, Illinois, born January 31, 1838, and by this union they have two children, Minnie W., born January 19, 1863, and Harry L., born August 17, 1869.
Henry S. Baechtel. Was born in Washington county, Maryland, March 30, 1825. He resided at his birthplace till 1849, during which time he was educated in the common schools of his native State. April 26, 1849, he, with his brother Samuel, together with the Baltimore and Frederick Mining Company, sailed for California, arriving September 9th of that year. They, with the company, went to Corte Madera, Marin county, where they operated one year in the saw-mill and lumber business. When the company was dissolved Mr. Baechtel and his brother Samuel went into the stock business at Lagunitas in that county. They continued in the stock business and hauling lumber for the Bolinas Mill Company to the landing till the spring of 1854. In 1852 and 1853 he served as one of the Supervisors of Marin county, and in 1854 was appointed Deputy Sheriff of that county, and served six months. In the fall of 1855 he, in partnership with his
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
brother Samuel, brought a drove of cattle to Mendocino county, and settled on their present farm in Little Lake valley. He remained a partner till 1865, when he sold his interest to his brothers. In the spring of 1862 he visited the mines in Idaho and the Salmon river country, where he mined for three years. In 1865 he returned to his native home, where he engaged in the foundry and machine business, which he followed till 1876, when he came back to Mendocino county, and is now living with his brother. Mr. Baechtel is unmarried.
Benjamin Burns. Was born seven miles south of Lexington, Ken- tucky, November 10, 1809. When he was but four years of age his parents moved to Washington county, Tennessee, where he resided till 1817. He then, with his parents, moved to Howard county, Missouri, where he lived till 1824. The family next moved to Jackson county, that State, where the subject of this sketch followed farming till 1830. He then moved to Clay county, Missouri, where he was united in marriage with Miss Ann Baxter, January 8, 1832. She was a native of Kentucky, born November 11, 1812, and died March 3, 1851. Soon after their marriage he moved to Gentry county, Missouri, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, which he fol- lowed till 1854. May 11, 1851, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Eliza Steel Uhl, reliet of Jesse Uhl. She was born in Fayette county, Pennsylvania, December 3, 1814. In 1854 they crossed the plains to Cali- fornia and settled in Shasta county, where he mined till the spring of 1857, when he located at Sebastopol, Sonoma county, and remained there till 1859. He then moved to Mendocino county and settled on his present place of five hundred and fifty-five acres. He has eight children as the fruits of his first marriage, as follows: James G., born November 1, 1832; Elizabeth H., born March 22, 1835; Horatio, born June 25, 1837; Mary F., born July 3, 1839; Sarah E. born November 22, 1842; William B., born November 23, 1844; Amanda Jane, born February 20, 1848; and Martha S., born March 10, 1850.
William F. Davis. Only child of Thomas and Susan Hartgraves Davis, was born in Hopkins county, Texas, February 8, 1852. He resided in Texas till 1865, when he immigrated to California and settled in Los Angeles county, where he resided for over one year. He then came to Men- docino county and settled in Mendocino City, where he resided till 1876. He then came to Little Lake or Willitsville, where he formed a partnership- with W. L. Brown in the hotel and livery business, which he has since con- tinued. He married, April 14, 1880, Miss Sadie Upp, who was born in Little Lake, Mendocino county, California, July 25, 1858.
Benjamin Dougherty. Was born in Hardin county, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 12, 1815, where he received a common school education and was engaged in farming and flat boating till September, 1845. He then emigra- ted to Adams county, Illinois, where he filled various positions till 1850. On
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March 19th of that year, he left for California, coming via Hedspeth route, and arriving in Sacramento July 22d of that year. He immediately began mining on Weaver creek, four miles south of Coloma, where he continued till September. He then went to Slate creek, El Dorado county, where he spent the winter of 1850-51. In the spring of 1851, he went on a prospect- ing tour to Consumnes; thence to Sacramento, and from there up the Feather to Bidwell's Bar; then to Wyandotte City, where he mined for a short time; and then back to Bidwell's Bar, where he worked for a short time. In the fall of 1851, he went to Shasta county, and spent the winter on Churn creek. In the spring of 1852, he, with six others, went to Cow creek, that county, on a prospecting tour. We next find him at Weaverville, Trinity county, where he engaged to work at whip-sawing at $8 per day. In the winter of 1852, he went down Trinity river to Canadian Bar, where he engaged in mining till April, 1853; he then returned to Weaverville, and in that vicinity remained till the fall of 1855. He then went to Arbuckle, Shasta county, where he engaged in whip-sawing till May, 1856. In the above-named month, he came to Mendocino county, and settled on his present ranch, where he has since continuously resided, being among the first to take up land in this vicinity. He is unmarried.
George A. Decker, Oldest son of Edward and Dolly Ann Puffer Decker. Was born in Minasha, Wisconsin, July 21, 1854. When he was two years old, his parents moved to Kewaunee county, that State, where the subject of this sketch resided till 1872, when, in July of that year, he came to California, and settled in Oakland, Alameda county, where he resided till the spring of 1876, when he came to Sonoma county, and settled at Geyserville, where he opened a mercantile business, which he continued till 1878, when he came to Sherwood and began business there. He was appointed postmaster at Sherwood in February, 1879, and still holds that position. Mr. Decker has also prepared a remedy for asthma, which is now becoming quite popular through this State. Married in Oakland, July 15, 1873, Miss Mary Parson, who was born in Oakland, November 6, 1856, and by this union there is Ethel Alice, born October 9, 1874; Albert Eugene, born September 22, 1875; and George Edward, born August 9, 1878.
Allen Davidson. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, is the youngest child of Joseph and Martha Prescott Davidson, born in Greene county, Illinois, August 6, 1837. When but eighteen months old, his mother died, and he was taken by his father to Indiana, where they resided two or three years. They then moved to Fremont county, Iowa, and settled in the town of Austin, where he received his education and resided till 1853. In February, 1853, he came to California, arriving in August of that year. He first began working on a ranch in Sacramento county, where he continued for eight months. He then went to Putah creek, on the line
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