USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 67
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James O. Toney. Was born in Fayette county, Texas, July 4, 1845. In 1854 his parents came to California and settled at Los Angeles. At the end of one year they moved to Sonoma county, where they remained till 1858. They then came to Mendocino county and settled in Long valley, where the father still resides. James and his brother, Seth T., own a place in Scott's valley, comprising one thousand two hundred and eighty acres.
John C. Talkington. This gentleman, whose portrait appears in this work, is the third child of Alfred and Elizabeth Campbell Talkington, and was born in Morgan county, Illinois, December 1, 1838. He resided at his birth- place till March, 1859, and was there given a good common school education. On the above date he came to California, coming across the plains. He first stopped at Downieville on the Yuba river where he mined for a few days. He then proceeded to Feather river in Yuba county, where he was engaged as a wood-chopper till the spring of 1860; he then went to Richmond Hill, Plumas county, where he embarked in mining for three years; he then began selling milk and beef to the miners, which he followed until his com- ing to Mendocino county in 1868. He then settled where he now lives, and has a range of two thousand seven hundred and fifty acres of land, stocked with one thousand head of sheep. Married, July 3, 1868, to Margaret Ray, who was born in Warren county, New York, October 25, 1850, they have two children living; Charles, born September 30, 1877, and William, born December 19, 1879. Mr. Talkington is a man who is always identified with the best interests of the county, and the section in which he resides. He is a thorough gentleman in all' respects.
L. C. Tuttle, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Rock-
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port, New York, April 29, 1837. When he was about four years of age his parents moved to Illinois, settling in Plainfield, Will county. He received his education in the common schools and academies of that county. He also learned the carpenter's trade. In April, 1862, he with his wife started across the plains to California, and arrived in the Sacramento valley, Octo- ber 11th of that year. He worked at his trade a short time when he went to farming on the Consumnes river. He then came to Mendocino county, and in March, 1865, he settled on his present place, consisting of five hundred and forty acres, where he is engaged in sheep and stock-raising. In com- pany with C. Bratt, he owns four thousand acres of pasture land, and over six thousand head of sheep in Humboldt county. In 1867, he was appointed postmaster at the Sherwood Valley office, being the first person to serve at that place. He married Miss R. Leah, May 29, 1860, a native of New York, born August 17, 1837. They have one child, Frederick, born February 18, 1863.
Philip Upp, Whose portrait appears in this work, is the youngest liv- ing child of John Jacob and Barbara Lower Upp, and was born in York county, Pennsylvania, March 21, 1827. He received his education at the common schools of his native county, and resided there till October, 1849. He then proceeded to St. Louis, Missouri, where he began working at the carpenter's trade, having begun his apprenticeship to this trade when he was eighteen years of age. He followed his trade in St. Louis till the spring of 1856, when he returned home on a visit to his mother, and while there he was married on the 23d day of March, 1856, at Lewiston, Mifland county, Pennsylvania, to Susan Hawker. They immediately proceeded to New York City, and April 8, 1856, they sailed on the steamer Orizaba to Nicaragua, and was there during the Walker filabustering expedition, being under the protection of Walker and the American Consul. From there they took the steamer Sierra Nevada to San Francisco, where they arrived on June 8th of that year. He, with his party, put up at the International Hotel, there being five of them in all, Mr. Upp being the only one of the party who had money, and he had only $2.50. He spoke to the clerk and finally found out that he was acquainted with his brother, Adam Upp. Then the clerk offered his assistance to the party, but the next morning when the bank opened they got checks cashed, and that day proceeded to Sacramento via the Sacramento river, where they were met by their brother Peter Upp, and conducted by him to his and their brother Adam's farm, which laid nine miles up the north fork of the American river. The subject of this sketch engaged in running a threshing machine in that county dur- ing the fall of that year, when he proceeded to Sonoma county and settled on the farm now owned by Martin Gaston, situated about five miles from Petaluma, where he resided till June, 1858. He then came to Mendocino
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county and settled on his present place near Willitsville. When the land came into market in 1861, Mr. Upp proceeded to Eureka to preëmpt one hundred and sixty acres. From there he went to San Francisco on the schooner Dartaway and then returned to his home in this valley, where he remained till August, 1861, when he went to Vallejo, expecting to work at his trade, but found nothing to do. He there took a grain steamer and proceeded to San Francisco, where he finally succeeded in finding work on Second street. Soon after this he found work with the Spring Valley Water Company, and was in their employ during the squatter trouble and was one of the number arrested, but, having proved himself to have been on San Francisco bay at the time, was acquitted by the Court. He worked for this company three months. He then, with his brother Adam, proceeded to Fort Point, where they built the sutler's store. After their work was inspected the two brothers were picked upon to work in the Government quarters, and in that work he continued till July, 1863, when he proceeded to the Govern- ment works in Oregon, first going to Cape Disappointment in Washington Territory, where he worked for two months and then went to Point Adams, Oregon, where the present fortification of Fort Stevens now stands, and in those two places he was located till January, 1865. He then returned to his home and family in this valley, where he has since resided. In June, 1865, he went into partnership with Archie Whitehorn. They own one thousand nine hundred and twenty acres of land, well improved and well stocked. Mr. Upp is not a politician, but has been road overseer for six consecutive years. His wife was born in Mercersburg, Franklin county, Pennsylvania, October 26, 1833, and by this union they have: Sarah A., born July 25, 1858; George N., born January 25, 1861; Mary F., born November 4, 1865; Ida, born March 29, 1868; Archie, born April 11, 1873; Eddie, born July 15, 1875. They have lost one child, David P., born Feb- ruary 26, 1857, and died September 3, 1857. Sarah A., their oldest living child, was the first white girl born in Little Lake township.
Hiram Willits. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in the body of this work, is the oldest child of Robert and Sarah Willits (Beard was her maiden name), and was born in Wayne county, Indiana, February 5, 1821. He resided in his native county till-September, 1842, receiving, in the meantime, a common school education. He, with his parents, moved to Van Buren county, Iowa, in 1842, where he followed farming till April 1, 1850. He then, with his wife, started across the plains for California, and arrived at Hangtown (Placerville), August 17th of that year. He immedi- ately settled at Rough and Ready, where he opened a hotel, which business he followed for five or six months. In March, 1851, he took up his residence in Colusa county, where he secured a claim some seventeen miles from the town of Colusa, and began farming and stock-raising, and also opened a
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publie house, and remained there till August, 1857, when he came to Mendo- cino county, and settled in the beautiful and fertile valley of Little Lake. Since then, a charming little town has sprung into existence on his place, which bears his name. He began farming upon his arrival at that place, and is still engaged in it. In 1865 he began merchandising, his store being the nucleus about which the town has grown. He is still engaged in that business, in connection with his farming. He was appointed postmaster at Willitsville in 1860, being the first one in that place, and with the exeep- tion of two vacancies of about eighteen months each, he has held the office continuously ever since. He was a member of the second Board of Super- visors, and held the office for about nine years. When the Mendocino Agri- cultural Association was organized, he took a very prominent part, and has been Treasurer of the society continuously since its organization. He has always taken an active part in whatever would advanee the best interests of Mendocino county. He lived there before it was a county, and has always felt that interest in her growth and prosperity, which a father feels for a child. It is emphatically his county, and as all the worthy pioneers feel concerning their county, so does he. He has seen the county grow from a few hundred inhabitants to many thousands, and where he broke the wild sod, now stands a thriving and busy village. March 13, 1844, he was united in marriage with Miss Margaret J. Johnson, a native of Ohio, born August 11, 1827. They have no children.
Robert White, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Ireland in 1822. When he was very young his parents came to America, and resided at New Albany, Indiana, ten years; they then went to New Orleans. Here young Robert received his education and resided till 1849, when he started for California over the southern route, coming through Texas and Mexico, arriving at the Mariposa mines. After a two months stay he went to San Francisco and engaged in teaming till 1851. He then went home, and after a short stay returned to California. He went to Sonora, Tuolumne county, and with John P. Simpson and others engaged in the quartz mill business. After eight months he returned to the city, and came up to Big River, Mendocino county, and he and Simpson occupied a place known as the Log Cabin till 1854. He was then employed by Thomas J. Henley on the Mendocino Reservation, and had charge of the establishment of Fort Bragg. In 1858 he and Simpson came to Cahto and began supplying the reservation with beef, and they finally located permanently. They soon opened a store and now quite a town has grown up around them. Mr. White is known all over the county as the soul of wit and good nature, and a gentleman of honor. He married, in 1860, Miss Laura A. Simpson, who was born in Illinois, on the 28th day of June, 1843. Their children are, James N., born April 10, 1862; Willie S., born April 24,
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
1864; Harry, born July 26, 1867; Ella, born February 5, 1871; Belle, born October 16, 1866, and Charles F., born June 9, 1879.
Jonathan G. Wilson. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Calloway county, Kentucky, February 25, 1825. He resided at his birthplace till he was ten years of age, when, with his parents, he moved to Hickman county, that State, and there he resided till 1856, being engaged in milling and farming. In March of the last- named year he, with his wife and one child, started across the plains with horse teams. When they were near the Kansas line one of their horses was stolen, and they worked four milk cows in his stead all the way to California. On arriving in this State they first stopped in Sierra county, where for a short time, he engaged in cutting and baling hay. Their next move was to Sutter county, locating near Yuba City, where he engaged in wood-cutting, which he continued till the spring of 1858. They then came to Mendocino county and settled in Long valley, and immediately began stock-raising, which he followed till 1876, in connection with which he farmed some. In 1878 he became proprietor of the saw and grist-mill near his place, which he is now running. He now owns upwards of two thousand acres located in and near Long valley. He is an enterprising, active, prosperous and suc- cessful business man, and from a small beginning has worked himself up to be one of Mendocino's most stable and wealthy citizens. In 1853, he married Miss Louisa Piper, a native of Smith county, Tennessee, born December 15, 1827. By this union they have: Annie, born August 3, 1854; Lucinda, born November 30, 1857; Rufus, born April 17, 1860; William, born January 9, 1862; Nancy, born October 13, 1863; Lee, born October 6, 1865; Hugh, born February 27, 1868 and Marion, born October 11, 1872.
James D. Ward. Was born in Johnson county, Arkansas, October 20, 1844, and resided at his birthplace till April, 1853, when, with his parents, he crossed the plains to California, first settling in Merced county, where they resided till the spring of 1856, when they moved to Sonoma county and settled in Blucher valley, and there they resided till 1859, when they came to Mendocino county and settled near Cahto. The subject of this sketch began business for himself in October, 1869, opening a sample and liquor store at Little Lake, where he continued till 1873. He then moved to Cahto and began the same business, in which he still continues. Married, Novem- ber 1, 1870, to Hattie Tuttle, who was born in De Kalb county, Illinois, March 25, 1850, and by this union they have four children, Lewis Randolph, born February 27, 1872; Annie May, born May 13, 1874; Hallie Eugene, born November 17, 1877; Guss, born January 1, 1880.
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ROUND VALLEY.
Pierce Asbill. This gentleman and pioneer, whose portrait will be found in the body of this work, was born in Howard county, Missouri, October 17, 1835. In 1844 he, with his parents, crossed the plains to Oregon, where the family resided till March, 1849. They then moved to California and began mining in El Dorado county, where they remained for about two years. They then moved to Sonoma county in 1851 and settled near Bodega. In April, 1854, the subject of this sketch and his brother, Frank M., left home, and shortly after fell into company with Samuel Kelsey and three others, who were just starting for the mines on the south fork of Trinity river. The party proceeded up Russian river and crossed the south fork of Eel river, and over Sanhedrim mountain, and down into Eden valley, which name was given to it by Mr. Asbill, as it reminded him very much of the descriptions he had read of the garden of Eden and its environments. After passing through Eden valley they proceeded as far as the middle fork of Eel river, where they camped for the night. On the morning of May 15, 1854, Frank M. Asbill went up on the mountain side in search of the horses, and a wonderfully beautiful valley met his gaze, upon which, probably, no white man's eye had ever rested before. He looked and feasted his eyes upon its beauty. He observed the fact that it was almost completely round in its contour. Upon his return to camp he gave such a glowing description of the new-found valley that the party determined to enter it and spy out its wondrous beauty. It was given the name of Round valley by the party from Mr. Asbill's description of it. After breakfast the horses were saddled and they passed over into and through the valley, and had a hard fight with the Indians, killing about forty of them in one of their camps. The party then passed on into Trinity county, where the Asbill brothers remained together till 1856. Pierce then returned to Bodega, coming by the way of Sacramento. He remained with his parents about one week, when he came to Mendocino county, and after spending a season in Ukiah valley went into Potter valley, where he remained till the fall of 1858. He then returned to Shasta county, where he remained until the spring of 1860, when he, in company with his brother and several others, went into Humboldt county and took up an extensive ranch, which they held for two years. In the fall of 1862 the Asbill brothers disposed of their interests in the ranch and engaged in hunting until 1864, when they
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
located a ranch in Summit valley, Mendocino county, which they still own, consisting of six thousand acres. They have it stocked with about fifteen thousand head of sheep, two hundred head of cattle, and one hundred and fifty head of horses and mules. Mr. Asbill is a thorough-going gentle- man, and is generous to a fault. Enterprising and full of business, honor- able and upright. Mr. Asbill was married, September 12, 1880, to Miss Katie E. Robertson.
Frank M. Asbill. Was born in Polk county, Missouri, October 13,. 1837. In 1844 he, with his parents, crossed the plains to Oregon, where they resided until March, 1849, when they came to California, and after mining in El Dorado county about two years they moved into Sonoma county and settled near Bodega. In April, 1854, the subject of this sketch and his brother Pierce left home, and falling in company with Sam. Kelsey and three others who were just starting up country, they joined them and started for the south fork of the Trinity river. They came up Russian river and crossed the south fork of Eel river, and went over Sanhedrim mountain and down into Eden valley, which Pierce Asbill named, as it reminded him of the garden of Eden. After crossing the snowy peak of Sanhedrim they passed through Eden valley and camped near the middle- fork of Eel river, and on the morning of May 15, 1854, Frank M. Asbill went up on the mountain to catch the horses, and returned to camp saying that he had discovered a valley that was perfectly round. From this the valley was called Round valley. They saddled their horses and rode over into and through the valley and had a fight with the Indians, killing about forty of them in camp. They then passed on up into Trinity and Shasta counties, where the subject of this sketch, as well as his brother, remained until 1856, when Pierce went through to Sacramento and from there back to his parents in Bodega, leaving his brother Frank in Trinity. In the spring of 1860 Frank, in company with his brother and several others, went into Humboldt county, where they took up a ranch, which they held until the fall of 1862, when the subject of this sketch and his brother sold out and engaged in hunting until 1864, when they located a raneh in Summit valley, which they still own. They own about six thousand acres of land, and have it stocked with about fifteen thousand head of sheep, two hun- dred head of cattle, and about one hundred and fifty horses and mules.
Daniel W. Burchard. Born in Benton county, Missouri, March 5, 1858. When he was but a child his parents came to California and settled at Marysville. After a residence there of about two years the father went to Oregon and the family moved to Stockton. The father, Rev. J. L. Bur- chard, is a Methodist preacher, and he remained in Oregon about one year, and then returned to California, and has been in this Conference ever since. When the subject of this sketch was about thirteen years of age they moved
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to Oakland, where he was educated at the Oakland High School. In1872 he came to this county and spent about one year in Round valley; then returned to Oakland, where he remained until the fall of 1873, when once more he returned to Round valley and was in the employ of the Govern- ment on the Indian reservation until 1876, when he commenced teaching, which he followed about eighteen months, when he, in company with J. L. Broaddus, engaged in merchandising at Covelo, under the firm name of Burchard & Broaddus. This, however, lasted but a short time. Closing out he went to Santa Rosa and entered the law office of Barclay Henley & George A. Johnson as a student. After a course of reading he was admitted to practice law May 18, 1880. He then returned to Covelo, where he is engaged in the practice of his profession. He married, December 31, 1876, Miss Mary Josephine Broaddus, daughter of Rev. J. L. Broaddus, of Little Lake. She died December 31, 1878, leaving two children, Martha M. and Mary J.
John K. Chambers. Born in Andrew county, Missouri, September 20, 1847. When about five years of age he, with his parents, came to Cal- ifornia, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and arrived in Sonoma county in the fall of 1852. Here his father engaged in farming, which he fol- lowed two years, and then went to Santa Clara county where he still followed farming, while the subject of this sketch attended the Pacific Methodist College, at San José. In 1857 they returned to Sonoma county and settled at Petaluma, where John K. attended Lippitt's Institute. At the age of twenty-two he entered the law office of A. W. Thompson, where he studied about eighteen months; then studied about one year with F. W. Colton, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of California, April 15, 1873. In January, 1875, he settled at Covelo, Round valley, where he has since followed his profession. Married, January 4, 1879, Miss Ella Conrad, a native of California. By this marriage they have one child.
Thomas S. Chambers. Born in Savannah, Missouri, May 27, 1850. In 1852 he, with parents, crossed the plains to California, arriving in Sonoma county in August of the above year. They settled near the old town of Sonoma, where his father followed farming for two years, then moved to Petaluma. While here the subject of this sketch attended Lippitt's Institute; and in September, 1872, he came to Mendocino county and engaged in butchering at Ukiah, which he followed until the spring of 1877, when he went to Round valley, where he is at present engaged in farming and stable keeping.
Martin Corbett, Whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Ireland, born March 11, 1815, where he received his early education, and followed farming until 1840; when, in company with a sister, he immigrated to America, and located in Saratoga county, New York. Here he resumed his former occupation, that of a farmer, which he followed for two years, when
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
we next find him in New Orleans, where he was employed on a steamer for a term of two years; thence to St. Louis, Missouri, and was employed as a clerk in a grocery store for nearly a year; then as night watchman for two years, after which he engaged in the hotel business for a term of two years near the city of St. Louis. In 1850 he immigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and arrived at Hangtown (now Placerville), about August 10th. He engaged in mining at different points for about three years, and then engaged in farming in the Sacramento valley until 1857, when he became a resident of this county, arriving in Round valley July, 1857, and engaged in farming and stock-raising, which he continued until the spring of 1880, when he sold out, and is now on the retired list, but intends to make Round valley, where he has resided so long, his home for the balance of his life. Married in 1848, Miss K. Happhy, who died in 1849.
James P. Cunningham, Whose portrait will be found in this book, was born in Smith county, Tennessee, February 21, 1845. When seven years of age he, with parents, crossed the plains to California, arriving in the fall of 1852, and settled in Placer county, where his father - W. W. Cunningham - engaged in hotel keeping for seven years. Then they moved to San Francisco, where his father was engaged as soliciting agent for the Democratic Press, now the Ecaminer; and the subject of this sketch was employed as mailing clerk for about three years, when the whole family moved to Ukiah, where his father engaged in hotel keeping, James P. remaining with him until 1869, when he opened a restaurant, which he conducted one year; then conducted a saloon for two years. He was then chosen by the Senate as Clerk, which position he filled during the session of 1870-71. He then spent two years at Cloverdale, Sonoma county, in the employ of the North Pacific Railroad Company. In 1873 he settled in Covelo, Round valley, where he has since been engaged in the saloon business. Married, April 15, 1869, Miss Louisa J. Potter. They have three living children: Thomas Lee, Grace, and William W .; and have lost one Mary F.
Charles H. Diggins. Was born in Windsor county, Vermont, August 4, 1835. When he was seventeen years of age he went to New York, and shipped on the clipper-ship North Wind for San Francisco, rounding Cape Horn, and arriving in December, 1852. He then shipped on the bark H. T. Bartlett, bound for Humboldt bay, but she was wrecked at the mouth of the Noyo river. He then walked to Mendocino City and engaged in wood- chopping and working in a saw-mill. He met with an accident here, by which he came near having his left hand sawed off. He then went to San Francisco and remained till the winter of 1857-8, when he returned to Mendo- cino county, going to Round valley. He followed different occupations till December, 1876, when he purchased his present place of one hundred and
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