USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 69
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
and his party and found where they had carved their names on a trec. After spending two days in the valley they returned to Tehama county. The grass was so high that that they could not see any Indians, although their move- ments were easily discernible by the motion of the grass caused by them in passing through it. Mr. White was the first man to ascend what is now called the Blue Nose mountain, north of Covelo, and from this fact the peak was long called White's mountain. On returning to Tehama county he, in company with Enoch J. Gibson, located a ranch which they held till the fall of 1857, when they disposed of it and moved into Round valley to a place which Mr. White had located in April of the previous year. This place contained originally about one thousand acres, and is comprised in his present homestead, and was also the first land located upon by any one in the valley. After locating this tract of land he placed Charles Bourne in charge of it, for which services he divided the place with him, and returned to Tehama county for the purpose of attending to his interests there, which he finally disposed of as stated above. During that fall he went to Los Angeles and, in company with Andrew Hunter, purchased about seven hundred head of cattle, which he, in the spring of 1857 (after dividing cattle with Hunter), drove through Solano, Colusa, and Tehama counties into Round valley. During this time, how- ever, Bourne had gone out into the valleys and purchased a band of about five hundred cattle, which he took into the valley, arriving there ahead of White, and thus gaining the honor of bringing the first stock into Round valley, while White drove the second lot into it. The Indian reser- vation was established in 1856, and there were a few of the employés of the Government upon it. Sanders Hornbrook and Martin Corbett came into the valley in the fall of 1856, and about the same time came - Lawson and - King. The first house erected in the valley was a cabin built by Charles Bourne and occupied by him while in charge of the White ranch. Mr. White has continued to prosper since the day he first located in Round valley, and now counts his acres by the thousands. In his homestead he has about two thousand five hundred acres, also three other sheep ranches in Mendocino county, comprising, all told, some thirty-five thousand acres. In Trinity county his landed possessions are simply immense, the tract being about forty miles long and about six in width. This, for convenience, is divided into five separate ranches, or rather ranges. He also owns, in the same county, another tract of about thirty thousand acres. These ranches are all stocked with sheep, there being on all of them about thirty thousand head. He owns, also, a very large band of cattle, and of horses and mules together about three hundred head. In 1878 Mr. White erected his beauti- ful mansion, which is reputed to surpass any residence either in Mendocino county or in the State north of San Francisco, in elegance and taste. It is supplied with all the modern conveniences, having water and gas in every room. It is truly a palatial residence in every respect. In 1867 Mr. White
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paid a second visit to his native State, and while there, in May, 1868, was united in marriage with Miss Alice, daughter of Esias and Margaret Fetley, a native of Virginia. In 1872, accompanied by his wife, he again visited his early home, returning to California in August of that year. His wife's health was now failing her, that fatal emissary of death, Consumption, hav- ing chosen her as one of his victims. She passed out of this life July 7, 1873. Her body was embalmed and taken to the far-away home of her childhood for sepulture.
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
SANEL.
D. M. Copsey. Born in Indiana January 12, 1832. At the age of eight years his parents moved to Missouri, where he was reared on a farm and resided until 1850, when he immigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, arriving at Georgetown September 12th of the same year. After mining for one year he returned, via Panama, to Missouri, and there farmed until 1856, when he recrossed the plains to California and located in Lake county and engaged in farming, stock-raising and milling until 1873, when he came to this county and located on Dry creek, where he is at the present writing being engaged in stock, wool-growing and milling business. He owns about six hundred acres of land. Married, De- cember 14, 1851, Jane Ashill, a native of Kentucky. William N. R., Alamander N., Henry C., Harland B. and Isabelle M., are the names of their children.
Elijah H. Duncan, Whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Tennessee, born December 8, 1824. When about eight years of age his parents moved to Missouri, where the subject of this memoir received his early education. At the age of eighteen he was bereft of father and mother, and was then thrown upon his own resources. He at once found employ- ment in a tannery, where he labored for twelve years. In 1856 he started across the plains for California with a drove of one hundred and sixty head of cattle, but lost forty head in making the trip. He arrived in Sonoma county September 7, 1856, locating six miles east of Healdsburg, and engaged in stock business for nearly two years. In July, 1858, became a resident of this county, locating on land at the mouth of Feliz or Dry creek; here he resided, being engaged in farming and stock-raising, until the fall of 1879, when he purchased four hundred and sixty acres one mile up the creek where he is engaged in farming and sheep-raising. Two of his sons, Samuel and Elijah, are working the original farm, and have eighteen acres of hops. Mr. Duncan married, April 15, 1856, Elizabeth Craddock, a native of Tennessee. By this union they have nine living children: Samuel, Ellen, Lucy, Elijah, Thomas, Robert, William, Frank and Alice.
B. B. Fox. Born in Huron county, Ohio, June 8, 1834, where he received his early education, and lived upon a farm until sixteen years of age, when he left his parents and set out for California, crossing the plains with mule-teams, arriving at Hangtown (Placerville) September 3, 1849.
& Talkington
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After remaining here for a few days he proceeded to Cold Spring and engaged in mining for one year; thence to Sacramento, and engaged in freighting from there to the mines, an occupation he followed for seven years. In 1858 he came to this county and rented four thousand acres of land eight miles south of Ukiah, where he, in company with Charles Kier, engaged in the stock business for one year. Kier then returned to Sacramento, and Mr. Fox moved to the foot-hills west of Ukiah, where he engaged in stock business for two years; then sold out and became interested in the livery business in Ukiah, which he conducted for two years, when he became inter- ested with John Henry and they purchased nineteen hundred and sixty acres of land eight miles south from Ukiah, being a portion of the ranch Mr. Fox rented when he first came to the connty, which they conducted jointly until 1875, when they divided the land, Mr. Fox taking the west side of the road, seven hundred acres, where he has resided ever since, being engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1879 was elected Supervisor, an office he now holds. Married, April 19, 1862, Jane T., daughter of William Henry. By this union they have three children, Nellie, Alice and Minnie.
Thomas J. Gould. Born in Dearborn county, Indiana, June 2, 1830, where he resided on a farm until seventeen years of age, when he com- menced an apprenticeship to the blacksmith trade, which he followed until 1852, when he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. On arriving at Webber creek, August 14th of the above year, he engaged at once in his previous vocation, in the mines, which he followed until 1857, when he moved to Cloverdale, Sonoma county, where he followed his trade until 1866, when he returned to the East, and after an absence of about six months, again returned to California. He then, in company with W. T. Brush and D. W. Walker, came to Mendocino county and built a steam saw-mill on Dry creek. After spending about six months in this enterprise, the sub- ject of this sketch sold his interests to his partners and returned to Clover- dale, where he built a livery stable, which, as soon as finished, he traded for his present property, consisting of six hundred and forty acres, located in Sanel township, on Dry creek, where he now resides, and is engaged in stock-raising and wool-growing. He married, April 4, 1855, Miss Martha J. Comer, a native of Ohio.
John Higgins. Born in Knox county, Tennessee, February 8, 1830. When a mere child his parents moved to Illinois. In 1840 they took up their abode in Missouri. In 1845 they returned to Illinois, and there lived until 1849, when they took up their residence in Iowa. In 1850 they immi- grated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, arriving in Hang- town (Placerville) in September. After mining for some time they returned East in 1852 via Panama. In 1854 they again crossed the plains to Cali- fornia and settled in Contra Costa county, and one year later were residents
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
of San Joaquin county. In 1856 they came to this county and located about two and one-half miles below Hopland. In 1865 he left his father and settled on his present ranch, comprising eight hundred and sixteen aeres, located about six miles from Hopland. He married, September 22, 1865, Rebecca W. Neece, a native of Missouri. Lee, George W., and Wiley are the names of their living children.
Orren Howell, Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in Delaware county, New York, January 15, 1839, where he resided until 1857, when he immigrated, via Panama, to California, arriving at San Francisco in August of the above-mentioned year. He engaged at once as clerk in a wholesale grocery store. This occupation he followed about eighteen months. He then clerked for J. H. Whitman & Co., in Cloverdale, Sonoma county, for the same length of time. We next find him in Humboldt county, where he remained until 1862, when he came to Mendocino county, and after remaining here for two years, he went to Oregon, where he spent about one- and one-half years. He then returned to San Francisco, and in 1868 he again came to this county and settled at Hopland, where he has since resided, being engaged in farming and stock-raising. He owns two thousand five hundred acres of land, as well as the whole town of Hopland, except a store and saloon. He is an enterprising gentleman, and is doing all in his power to build up the town of Hopland. He is always interested in whatever advances the interest of the section in which he lives. Mr. Howell married, May 11, 1871, Miss Lizzie, daughter of S. M. Brooks of San Francisco, born September 14, 1847, in Chicago, Illinois. By this marriage they have four children: Clara, born March 14, 1872; John, born November 9, 1874; Walter, born March 9, 1877; and Frank, born January 31, 1879.
J. F. M. Hiatt. Born in Kentucky, January 21, 1836. When very voung, his parents emigrated to, Missouri, where the subject of this sketch received his education, and was reared a farmer. In 1857 he left home and friends, and immigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, arriving in Yolo county, the following September, where he remained about six years, when he returned East via Panama. In the spring of 1864, returned by same route, and located in Sutter county, and followed farming until 1871, when he came to this county and engaged in stock business. In 1877 went to Bartlett Springs in quest of health for his wife. After remaining there twenty-two months, returned to this county, and is now living about two and one-half miles from Hopland. Mr. Hiatt married April 5, 1864, Susan M. Calhoun, a native of Missouri. Mary S., John W., and Francis E., are the names of their children.
John R. Henry. Born in Williamson county, Illinois, November 23, 1838. When he was ten years of age, he, with parents, moved to Shelby county, Tennessee, where they resided about eighteen months; then moved
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to Missouri, where they resided until 1854, when they crossed the plains to California, and settled in Shasta county. Here they engaged in hotel keep- ing and mining about two years; they then moved into Sonoma county, and settled in Analy township. After residing there about one year, John R. rented land which he worked on his own account for one year. He then worked in the redwoods one year, and in 1859 he again joined his parents and came to Mendocino county, and helped his father build what is known as the Half-way House, on the road between Ukiah and Hopland. He then returned to Sonoma county, where he spent the winter, and in March, 1860, again came to this county and resided with his parents until 1862, when he went to Oregon, and mined until 1865. He then returned to this county, and settled on his present place, consisting of six hundred and twenty acres, located about eight milessouth from Ukiah. Mr. Henry married, November 15, 1866, Miss Sarah C. Emerson, who died July 7, 1875, leaving three living children, Luella, William E., and Irena C .; they lost one, John R. He married again on September 24, 1876, Miss L. M. McClure, by which union they have one child, Ida E.
B. B. Huff. Born in Maine, July 15, 1847. Came to California in the spring of 1870, and settled at White Hall, Mendocino county, where he is engaged in hotel-keeping and wool-growing. Married, October 8, 1873, Miss Sarah O'Brien. They have three children, Claudie M., John, and Harry S.
Joseph A. Knox, Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Kinston, Lenoir county, North Carolina, October 10, 1831. After the death of his mother, his father, Dr. Reuben Knox, moved from North Carolina to St. Louis, Missouri, taking his three sons, of whom Joseph was the eldest, with him. While in St. Louis he fitted himself for college, and entered Yale College, New Haven, Connecticut, in the year 1848. Dr. Knox hav- ing determined to go to California, Joseph left college, and with his youngest brother, Henry, accompanied his father overland, and arrived in Sacramento in the month of September, 1850. They moved to San Francisco, where his father engaged in the mercantile business, Joseph acting as his clerk. In the spring of 1851, under an agreement to purchase, he moved with his father to the Novato ranch, in Marin county. His father, cousin, and two others, while on a trip to San Francisco in a four or five ton sloop, were drowned, and Joseph took charge of the ranch. At the first election in Marin county he was elected Justice of the Peace and Associate Justice of the Court of Sessions, which position he held until 1857, when he moved to Ukiah valley, Mendocino county. He was, by the Governor, appointed one of the three commissioners for the organization of the county. At the first election he was elected Justice of the Peace, and soon after an Asso- ciate Justice of the Court of Sessions. After the expiration of his term as
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Justice he was appointed Notary Public by Governor H. H. Haight, which position he still holds. In the spring of 1858 he removed from Ukiah to the Sanel valley, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of two years when in the mining district of Idaho Territory. Business-farmer and stock-raiser.
. L. F. Long, Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in New Hampshire, June 2, 183]. Here he resided on a farm and taught school until 1853, when he, leaving his parents behind, came to California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco June 25th of the above-mentioned year. He proceeded at once to El Dorado county, where he followed mining for about three months, then returned to San Francisco and engaged as clerk in a commission house for about one year. He then mined for about eighteen months in Tuolumne county. We next find him farming at Clover- dale, Sonoma county, where he remained about ten months. He then, in August, 1858, came to Mendocino county, where he has since resided, except- during the year of 1864, which he spent in Sacramento county, being engaged in hop-growing. In 1866 he bought his present place, consisting of three hundred acres, located about three miles north of Hopland. In 1868, Mr. Long sold his sheep, to which he had previously devoted his attention, and engaged in hop-growing exclusively, which he has since followed. He Has at present twenty-two acres planted in hops. He has been Supervisor two terms and represented Mendocino county in the Legislature in 1878. Mr. Long married, January 17, 1868, Miss Sarah McNab, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, born May 27, 1845. They have seven children: Lemuel F., born November 9, 1868; Alexander, born March 16, 1870; Susan, born Novem- ber 1, 1871; Joseph R., born July 6, 1873; James E., born July 30, 1875; Sarah E .. born March 17, 1878; Maud M., born May 22, 1880.
William Moyle (deceased). Was born in Cornwall, England, Decem- ber 3, 1827, and resided there until he was nineteen years of age, receiving in the meantime a common school education, and working in the tin and copper mines. Being an ambitious, energetic youth, he took pains to make himself a number one practical miner. In 1846 he came to America, settling in Connecticut, where he engaged in mining, but he remained there but a short time when he went to Pennsylvania, and after a short time he proceed to the Lake Superior regions and engaged in copper mining. He was one of the party who opened and helped develop some of the richest mines in that section. In 1849 he left that region and started for California, arriving in San Francisco February 2, 1850. He went at once to the mines on the Yuba river; thence to Nevada City; thence to Deer creek ; thence to Grass valley, where he remained till 1854. He then went to French Corral, Yuba county; thence to Galena Hill; thence to North San Juan, Nevada county, where he remained until 1864. In that year he went to
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Virginia City and Gold Hill, Nevada, where he was engaged as superinten- dent of the Bacon mine; and in 1865 he was superintendent of the Apple & Bates mines. He filled that position for different mines on the Comstock lode till 1870. As an inspector of mines he had no superior. As he had now acquired a large fortune he wished to live a retired life, and selected a beautiful home on Russian river, Mendocino county, where his family now reside. The home comprises one thousand and fifty acres of land, which is stocked with six hundred and thirty head of sheep. He resided on his place until his death, which occurred July 3,'1877, and was caused by being thrown from a carriage on the grade near Cloverdale. He drove a very spirited team, and the horses took fright without any apparent cause, while he was out driving in company with his niece, Miss Lillie Harper, and Lizzie and Emma Fancher, of San Francisco. The Misses Fancher were guests at the time at his house. Miss Lizzie Fancher was instantly killed, her sister escaping with slight injuries. Mr. Moyle survived two days and nights. retaining his senses to the last. His niece was seriously injured, but has entirely recovered. Mr. Moyle was married, December 25, 1853, at Grass Valley, Nevada county, California, to Miss Caroline Edwards, a native of Cornwall, England. She was born May 4, 1826, and was the daughter of John and Ann Tabb Edwards, who settled at Mineral Point, Wisconsin, in 1835, where they resided until their death.
William E. Parsons. Born in Kentucky, December 29, 1829. When but a child, his parents moved to Louisiana, where they resided four years. They then moved into Missouri, where William received his education, and resided until 1850. He then crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville in August. He commenced operations as a miner at onee, which he continued in different places until 1858, when he came to Mendocino county and settled in McDonald valley on his present place, consisting of four hundred and forty acres, where he has since been engaged in farming and stock-raising.
Horace G. Pike, M. D. Was born in New Hampshire, January 24, 1825, where he received his primary education, and at the age of twenty-eight com- menced the study of medicine, graduating from the Vermont Medical College, at Woodstock, in 1856. He settled in Boston, where he practiced medicine until the fall of 1858, when he came to California. Heshipped as physician on the vessel Visurgis, rounding Cape Horn; arrived at San Francisco Feb- ruary 23, 1859. The following spring he came to Mendocino county, and in the fall commenced the practice of his profession in Sanel township, where he has since remained, being at present located in the town of Hopland. Mr. Pike married, March 5, 1859, Mrs. Emma Burt, a native of England.
Harrison Standley, Whose portrait appears in this history, was born in East Tennessee May 15, 1814. When three years of age, he, with
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
his parents, moved to Howard county, Missouri, where they resided on a farm for sixteen years. They then moved to Clinton county, where they resided for five years; then to Andrew county, where they resided until 1850, he living twenty months of the last two years in St. Joseph, where he followed teaming. He there lost one child (Moses); also, in the first set- tling of Andrew county, lost one child (David William). The subject of this sketch then leaving his parents, crossed the plains to California, arriving at Hangtown August 13th of the above-mentioned year. After resting for a short time, he bought a team and engaged in teaming, which he followed until September, 1852. He then returned ,via Panama, to Missouri, where he remained until April, 1853, when he again started across the plains for California, bringing his family, and coming in company with twenty-three, all told, on the start, with an increase on the road of three by birth (one being his daughter Cynthia), making twenty-six in all. They arrived at Sacramento in August. After spending a short time there he proceeded to Petaluma, Sonoma county, where he built a house and settled down near where the " Revere House " now stands. He engaged in draying, which he followed until 1858, when he came to Ukiah, Mendocino county, and established a store-the first store in the town having suspended. The first bill of goods received by Mr. Standley was on April 12, 1858. He con- ducted this business until September, 1859, during which time he sold $33,- 000 worth of goods. During the summer of 1859 he built the "Ukiah House," which he opened about September Ist of that year. This he con- ducted until November, 1860, when he traded it for the "Fountain House," located on the old road leading from Ukiah to Cloverdale, which he still owns. He has about fifteen hundred acres of land in connection with the house, which he has stocked with cattle, sheep and horses. Married, March 1, 1834, to Miss Elizabeth G. Shelton, who was born June 27, 1814, in Bun- combe county, North Carolina. Have nine living children : Louis Ramey was born December 5, 1836, in Clinton county, Missouri-married at Peta- luma, Sonoma county, in 1856, to Miss Sarah Murry; David William was born in Clinton county, Missouri, February 4, 1838 (dead); Moses was born March 1, 1839, in Andrew county, Missouri (dead); twins were born in An- drew county, Missouri, January 1, 1841 (also dead); Eliza J. Shoemake was born January 3, 1842, in Andrew county, Missouri; Nancy E. Williams was born January 23, 1844, in Andrew county, Missouri; Jeremiah was born August 20, 1845, in Andrew county, Missouri-married at Point Arena, Mendocino county, October 30, 1869, to Miss Sarah Clay; Harrison was born April 1, 1847, in Buchanan county, Missouri-married in 1867 to Miss Celia Petters, from Illinois; twins born September 1, 1848, in Andrew county, Missouri (dead); Oma A. Hagans was born November 5, 1849, in Andrew county; Cynthia P. Gatchell was born June 29, 1853, on the plains, on Green river-now Wyoming Territory; John W. was born March 1,
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1855, in Sonoma county, California-married in Ukiah, 1876, to Mrs. Kittie McCain; Rachel E. Fairbanks was born July 8, 1858, in Sonoma county, California. Have thirty living grandchildren and two great grand- children, and five grandchildren dead. Mr. Standley is of English descent; height, six feet three inches; always enjoyed hunting, such as bear and deer. His father died at the age of one hundred and fifteen years, and his mother at the age of seventy-seven; in her prime, she could stand with her feet in a half-bushel measure and shoulder three bushels of wheat. Mrs. Standley's father died at the age of sixty-four; his name was Lewis Shel- ton, a native of Virginia. Mrs. Standley's mother, Nancy Shelton, died at the age of eighty-four. Will say here-Mr. Standley's father's name was Harris Standley, from South Carolina; his mother's name was Rachel Old- erson, from Virginia. Have told Mrs. Standley's father's name; her mother's -- Nancy Shelton-was a Miss Nancy Gladden, from Tennessee.
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