USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino County, California : comprising its geography, geology, topography, climatography, springs and timber > Part 72
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Benjamin W. Day. Born at Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, June 8, 1850. In 1853 he, in company with his parents and two brothers, crossed the plains to California, arriving at Diamond Springs in September, where the father opened a hotel, which he conducted until August, 1854. Sometime during the summer of that year the youngest son died; and in the fall of the above year the remainder of the family took passage on the steamer Yankee Blade for the East. When near Los Angeles the steamer was wrecked, but the passengers succeeded in getting ashore. The Day family then settled at Los Angeles, where the father engaged in hotel-keeping until 1855, when they went up to Michigan Bar, Sacramento county, where he kept hotel until the summer of 1858. He then engaged in the same business at Suisun, Solano county, until the summer of 1859; he then conducted the
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same business at Magnolia Station, Sacramento county, until January, 1860; then moved to Colusa, where the father resumed his former business until he died, May 20, 1861. The subject of this sketch then, at the age of eleven years, engaged as clerk in the drug-store of J. H. Woods, at Colusa, where he remained until September, 1864. July 31, 1863, his mother died from injuries received on July 30th by the falling of a porch at a mass-meeting at Marysville. In October, 1864, Mr. Day came to Mendo- cino county and lived with his uncle, William Day, until 1868, when he returned to Colusa, where he was employed for two years by Gibson & Calmes as book-keeper. In 1870 he returned to his uncle in Potter valley, where he remained until the spring of 1873. Being discontented he took a trip.to the upper portion of the State, and was gone about four months. He then returned to Ukiah and was employed in the bank as book-keeper until September, 1875, when he was elected County Recorder, which office he held for two terms. Married, September 11, 1878, Miss Nettie Siddons, a native of California.
J. H. Donohoe. Was born in Ireland, March 18, 1835. When he was eight years of age he, with his parents, came to America, and settled in Louisiana. At the end of a year they went to Jackson county, Missouri, where they resided seven years. His father was a botanist, which profes- sion he followed until he went to Missouri, where he began farming. His parents both died in July, 1846. Young Donohoe went to Mexico in 1850, where he followed clerking until December 17, 1856, when he started to California via Arizona, arriving at Fort Yuma January 9, 1857. He engaged to take a drove of mules from San Diego to Fort Vancouver, Washington Territory, which occupied the summer of 1857. In the fall he returned to California, and engaged in mining and packing in Siskiyou county till April 22, 1858. He then returned to Washington Territory and spent the summer, and arrived at The Dalles, Oregon, November 11th .. On this trip there were one hundred Spaniards engaged as packers, and Mr. Donohoe was employed by the Government as interpreter at $5 per day. His next permanent location was in Napa valley, where he worked on a farm till October 23, 1859, when he came to Mendocino county, where he engaged in teaching in Anderson valley until the fall of 1865, except about nine months, when he was engaged in packing at Washoe. He then turned his whole attention to farming till 1866, when he was appointed Deputy Assessor under J. B. McManus. The duties of this appointment occupied the summer season, and the winters were spent upon his farm, for two years. He then received the same appointment under J. A. Jamison for four years. In 1871 he was elected Assessor on the Independent ticket, which office he held for four years. In August, 1873, he moved to Ukiah, where he still resides. In June, 1873, he took charge of the Ukiah branch of the bank of Santa Rosa as cashier, and continued in that capacity for about four
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years; and he had charge of their business for two years more, being engaged in settling up their affairs. He then engaged in wool-growing in Long valley and on Cow mountain, which interests he still holds. In September, 1879, he was elected on the Independent ticket to the office of Sheriff, which office he now fills. He took a very active part in the chase for the " Mendocino outlaws," being on the road about sixty days. He is a very vigilant and efficient officer. He was married, June 25, 1861, to Miss Ellen Nunn. Their children are : Alice, Emmett, Sylvester, Margaret, Eva, Martin, Alfred, and Thomas.
Barton Dozier, M. D. Born in Williamsburg county, South Carolina, June 22, 1851, and educated at Furman University in that State. After completing his studies he immigrated to California. He began the study of medicine in San Francisco and attended two sessions of lectures in the Medi- cal College of the Pacific, after which he repaired to Philadelphia and gradu- ated as M. D. from the University of Pennsylvania March 10, 1876. He soon thereafter returned to California and established himself in Ukiah City, this county, where he is engaged in active general practice. In 1877 he was appointed Physician to the County Hospital, which position he held three years. He has written a number of brief articles for the medical and secular press. His father was a distinguished lawyer in South Carolina who, on retiring from the profession, purchased the "Snow's Island " property, cele- brated as the principal rendezvous of General Marion during the war of the revolution. It was at Longwood, on this plantation, that the subject of this sketch was born. He is of Huguenot and English origin. He married, July 24, 1878, Mary A., only daughter of Professor Harry L. Boyd, M. D., of Baltimore, Maryland.
W. C. Elledge. Born in Tennessee August 23, 1827. Here he received his education and resided on a farm until 1850, when he, leaving his parents, went to Texas, where he spent one year, then returned to Tennessee and followed farming until 1857, excepting two years, while filling the office of Sheriff of Cannon county. In 1857 he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, arriving in Amador county in October. Here he remained until the fall of 1858, when he came to Mendocino county and engaged in stock business about twelve miles west from Ukiah. Here he remained about four years. He next took a drove of about sixty cattle to Nevada, where he remained about fifteen months, then returned to this county and settled on his present place, consisting of two thousand acres, located on the Anderson Valley road, about eight miles from Ukiah. Here he has since resided, being engaged in wool-growing and farming. Mr. Elledge was married, December 11, 1872, to Miss Martha Cook, a native of Missouri. Their children are: Lizzie, Isaac W., Joseph and George.
William H. Forse. Born in Upper Canada, June 24, 1830, and was
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HISTORY OF MENDOCINO COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
reared a farmer. At the age of twenty-one he started in company with a young man by the name of William H. Miller, for California. They took the steamer at New York and on their arrival at Panama found that their pockets were running low, so spent about one month on the Isthmus work- ing for Vanderbilt. They then proceeded to San Francisco, where they arrived February 25, 1852. In March they went to Sacramento; Mr. Miller was taken sick, and the subject of this sketch, after looking to the wants of his companion, engaged as captain of a flat-boat plying up and down the Sacramento river, freighting wood and hay, which he followed for one month. We next find him in the mines, where he remained but a short time. Return- ing to Sacramento, he worked in Smith's Gardens about one month. While here he helped to set out the first peach trees that were planted in the Sac- ramento valley. He next, in company with his partner, W. H. Miller, took a contract to gather and press one hundred tons of hay, a little below Sacramento. They had just commenced the job when Mr. Forse was taken sick with typhoid fever, which unfitted him for labor for about one and one- half months. He had no shelter from the sun save the shade of the stack, and they would move him around as the sun would move, so as to keep him in the shade. The doctor charged him $100 a visit, and when he regained his health he found that his whole purse of about $800 was exhausted. When Mr. Forse and his companion left home they expected to be accom- panied by Fred. O. Townsend and his brother Elmer A., but they got separated in Boston, and did not see one another until after Mr. Forse had recovered from his sickness, when he went up on the Cosumnes river, where the Townsend brothers were mining. Here he got a job of working in a mill, which he followed about one month, being engaged in fixing up the mill. He then went down to the forks of the river and commenced teaming to Sacramento, which he followed about one year. He then went to Green- wood valley, El Dorado county, where he worked at carpentering until fall. During this time his former partner, Miller, had gone to the lower country and returned with a drove of cattle, in which Mr. Forse was interested. They disposed of the cattle and then the subject of this sketch returned to the forks of the Cosumnes river, where he followed butchering for about four months. In the spring of 1854 he commenced driving a stage on the Marysville road, which he followed until fall, and then, in company with A. A. Wood, bought the Fountain Livery Stable, at Sacramento. Leaving his partner to attend to the business, he returned via Panama to Canada, to visit his parents, and also married, May 5, 1855, Miss Alice Sayles, a native of Canada; and in September, 1856, returned via Panama bringing his wife with him. He settled in Sacramento, where he resided until the fall of 1857, when he sold out and engaged in the sheep business, in Yolo county, one year; and then sold out and bought a ranch in Sacramento county, where he fol- lowed ranching and teaming about three years. He then sold out and
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bought a hotel at Sheldon, which he kept about six months, then sold that, and after spending the summer in San Joaquin county he, in the fall of 1864, came to Mendocino county, and in the following spring commenced work for John Morris, in a butcher shop. After one year he rented the shop and con- ducted the business one year. He then bought an interest in the Cloverdale and Humboldt stage line, of S. W. Haskett, and after about three years bought the remaining interest, since which time he has conducted the business alone. Their children are: Frederick O., Kathleen E., Thomas B., and Nellie M. They have lost one, William T.
James Fowzer. Born March 15, 1815; a native of Allegheny county Pennsylvania; received a good English education in private schools of Pitts- burgh and vicinity. He was employed for several years as clerk in the post- office at Pittsburgh; transferred, thence, in 1837 to the post-office at New Orleans. After serving in that office some years, he engaged in the book and stationary business on his own account in that city. He was married there in 1841 to Eliza E. Lovejoy. In 1849 he sold out his business there and came to California by way of Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco June 13, 1850. Went to the mines on the Yuba river and worked there with fair success during the summer and fall of that year. He returned to New Orleans the ensuing winter, and came out again in the spring of 1852, and went to the mines on the Yuba and worked there with moderate success during the summer and fall. He again returned to New Orleans in the winter, and again engaged in the book and stationary business; but in the spring of 1854 had a relapse of the California fever and sold out his business and came back to California. He went into the tobacco business in San Francisco and sent for his family. He continued in that business until 1864, when he sold out and moved to Mendocino county and engaged in farming and store-keeping at Sanel. He was elected County Clerk in 1867, and re-elected in 1869. In 1875 he was elected County Treasurer and re-elected in 1877, and again in 1879, and now fills the office. They have four chil- dren: Mary E., Jacob, Annie R., and Jackson L. They have lost three: George, James, and one unnamed.
Daniel Gobbi. Born in Italy, August 18, 1823. When twenty years of age, he went to London, England, where he engaged in making frames for looking glasses, etc., etc., for three and a half years. He then went to Liverpool, where he followed the same business for two and a half years. He then shipped for San Francisco, arriving March 14, 1850. Here he fol- lowed different occupations for a few months, when he opened a grocery store on Sacramento street, which he kept until 1853; when he sold out, and opened again in the same business on the corner of Pine and Mary streets, where he continued for three years. In 1856 he disposed of his stock and came to Mendocino county and located on land about one-half mile south of
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Ukiah, where he lived until 1861. He then traded his land for a farm at Little Lake, to which place he moved and stayed there one winter. He then, in the spring of 1862, started, in company with three other men, for John Day's river, with a drove of cattle. When they reached Sacramento they decided that it was not advisable to take the stock there, so Mr. Gobbi remained with them and sold them. He then returned to Ukiah, where he remained until the spring of 1863, when he joined his party at John Day's river. He returned to Ukiah again in the fall, where he speculated in hogs and cattle until 1865, when he took a drove of five hundred and sixty-five head of cattle to John Day's, and remained there until July, 1866, when he again returned to this county; here he was engaged in speculating in stock until 1868. He then made a trip to his native land, England, being absent eight months. He then returned to Ukiah, where he has since resided. Mr. Gobbi married, in 1872, Mrs. Maria Macca, a native of Italy. She had, by her first husband, six children: Julliano, Domemica, Mullgar- retta, Johnnie, Patheonelia, and Cathrinia.
G. W. Gibson. Born in Tennessee October 28, 1829. When he was about ten years of age his parents moved to Missouri, where they resided about. four years; then moved to Arkansas. Here they revided until 1853, when they crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, bringing a drove of cattle also. After spending three years in San Joaquin county in the stock business they moved to Sonoma county and settled at Bodega. In 1857 the subject of this sketch left his parents and settled near Santa Rosa, where he engaged in the stock business until 1858, when he came to Mendocino county and settled about ten miles from Ukiah. Here he prosecuted his previous business until 1860, when he moved to Ukiah and engaged in the butchering business, which he continued about eighteen months. He then engaged in blacksmithing, which he followed about two and one-half years. He then speculated in stock, buying and shipping to the city until 1872, when he opened a general merchandise store, which he conducted until April 1, 1880, since which time he has been unemployed. During all the time that Mr. Gibson was engaged in the various pursuits mentioned above he was also engaged in stock-raising. Mr. Gibson married, in 1851, Miss Mary Lynch, born February 4, 1836, a native of Arkansas, and by this union they have eight children: Daniel M., born October 24, 1852; James A., born January 4, 1855; Mary S., born August 13, 1856; George W., born December 16, 1860; Sarah O., born December 15, 1862; Emma B., born June 9, 1864; William, born December 5, 1870; and Burtie, born January 7, 1873.
Thomas J. Gibson. Born in Tennessee October 29, 1834. When about six years of age he, with his parents, moved to Arkansas, where they followe ł farming until 1853, when they came to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams. On arriving they located in the San Joaquin valley,
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where they were engaged in stock-raising until 1856, when they moved to Bodega, Sonoma county, where they followed their previous business until 1857, when they moved into Salt Point township, on the coast, where they remained one year, and, in 1858, came to Mendocino county. Here Thomas J. separated from his parents and began the battle of life alone. He has been engaged in farming and stock-raising. At present he is farming about three-quarters of a mile from Ukiah. Mr. Gibson married, in September, 1859, Miss Deborah Lynch, a native of Arkansas. Their children are: Mathew B., born February 3, 1862; Marcus L., born February 14, 1864; Henry H., born August 17, 1867; Lucy R., born February 4, 1869; Andrew J., born March 26, 1871; Susan M., born October 11, 1873; Sarah E., born September 25, 1875; Berdie, born October 10, 1878; Arthur, born Novem- ber 30, 1879.
Robert J. Gibson. Born in Tennessee, July 23, 1826, where he resided until about ten years of age, when he, with his parents, moved to Missouri. Here they lived about two years, going thence to Arkansas, where they re- sided till 1850. Robert then, leaving his parents behind, crossed the plains to California. Here he followed mining until the spring of 1852, when he engaged in the stock business in San Joaquin county. He remained there until the summer of 1856, when he went into Sonoma county, where he fol- lowed his previous business until the fall of 1858, when he came to Mendo- cino county and located in the mountains above Ukiah, where he was en- gaged in raising stock until 1877. He then sold his stock and moved just outside the city limits of Ukiah, where he engaged in farming, which business he has since followed. Mr. Gibson married, in 1856, Miss Elvira Shunoch, who died 1862, leaving two children, Elizabeth, born September 5, 1857 ; and William H., born May 27, 1861. He married again February 4, 1864, Miss Sarah Garner, and by this union they have: Robert M., born May 20, 1865 ; John F., born February 8, 1867 ; George W., born Novem- ber 8, 1868; Ida M., born December 24, 1870; Clara E., born March 13, 1873; Mary L., born March 2, 1875; Susan G., born November 18, 1877; and Frances M., born February 5, 1880.
A. J. Gibson. Was born in Tennessee, April 13, 1822, where he re- mained until he was fifteen years of age, when he, with his parents, moved to Missouri. They remained there two years, when they moved to Arkan- sas, where they remained until 1849, in which year he left home and came to California with a mule team, where he was engaged in mining two years; then he moved to San Joaquin valley, where he was engaged in stock bus- iness. He then moved to Sonoma county, where he was engaged in the sheep business; then to Mendocino county, settling in Ukiah township. where he was engaged in the cattle and sheep business until 1870, when he located in Ukiah and went into the livery stable business, where he has been
41
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ever since. His establishment is known as the "Fashion Livery Stable." Mr. Gibson was married, in 1859, to Miss Ellen Montgomery, a native of Missouri. Their children are: Thomas J., born in 1861; Mary E., born in 1865; Tabitha C., born 1867; Eliza J., born in 1870; Linnie, born in 1874; Josie, born in 1877; and Katie, born in 1879.
Henry L. Gillaspie. The subject of this sketch was born in Amherst county, Virginia. After receiving a sufficient education, he began teaching school, which he followed until he was twenty-eight years of age. He then turned his attention to law, and began practicing at the age of thirty, in connection with which he conducted the farming business also. This was continued for about ten years, when he quit farming, and paid his entire attention to law, until the breaking out of the war. He spent the years of the war in Georgia and elsewhere, and at the close of it he returned to West Virginia. He was shortly afterwards appointed Circuit Judge by the Legislature, and at the expiration of the term he was elected by the people, to fill the same office. Before the term of office had expired a new constitu- tion was adopted, which beheaded him officially. He then came to California, and began practicing law, and in June, 1879, located at Ukiah, Mendocino county, August 9, 1849. He was married in Franklin county, Virginia, to Miss Letitia M. Menefee, a native of that State.
William Higgins. Was born in Illinois, May 4, 1833. He went to Missouri when quite young and spent five years. In the fall of 1845, he went to Nauvoo City, Hancock county, Illinois, and spent three years; thence to Iowa in the spring of 1849, and in the spring of 1850, crossed the plains with ox-teams, in company with his father's family; remained two years in the mines and then returned to the Atlantic States, and spent the summer in Texas. Then went to Jackson county, Missouri, to spend the winter. In the spring of 1854, crossed the plains a second time, bringing a drove of cattle. He spent two years on the San Joaquin plains, and thence to Russian river, locating three miles south of Sanel, arriving there October 16, 1856. Here he remained ten years, and in 1866, moved six miles above Sanel, and in 1872, to Ukiah valley, where he has since resided, engaged in farming. Mr. Higgins married, August 31, 1870, Miss Clarica Jane Brown, a native of Oregon. Their children are: Rosalie, Jane Adaline, Ida May and William.
George Henry. Born in Lancaster, Massachusetts, September 3, 1833. At the age of nineteen he came to California, via Panama. After spending two years in San Francisco he went to Oregon, where he engaged in lumber- ing, which he followed for three years. He then went to Fraser river, where he remained about eighteen months. He then returned to San Francisco, and was in the employ of the Government about one year. He then made his home in Petaluma till 1876, when he came to Mendocino
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county and bought the Seven-mile House, which he has since kept. He married, August 6, 1875, Miss Mary Payran, a native of Virginia.
Thomas Williamson Harrison. The subject of this sketch is one of the oldest in Sonoma and Mendocino counties, having settled in the former county early in the fall of 1852. He was born in Portsmouth, Norfolk county, Virginia, February 22, 1832. He resided in his native State till the fall of 1851, receiving in the meantime his education. Having a desire to see the gold fields of California, he shipped on board the ship Eclipse at New York and sailed around Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco about the middle of April, 1852. He went to the mines and spent the summer, and in the fall came to Sonoma county, where he remained till 1859. He then came to Mendocino county and opened a store at Sanel, which he conducted about one year. He then sold out and returned to Sonoma county, where he had a stock ranch. In the fall of 1864 he opened a store in Geyserville, in that county, which he conducted about six months, when he disposed of it. He returned to Mendocino county in 1868 and in the fall of 1869 went into the Clerk's office in Ukiah as Deputy under James Fowzer, remaining there about eighteen months. Mr. Harrison was married in the fall of 1869, at Sanel, to the widow of W. E. Connor and a granddaughter of Bartolo Bojorques of Petaluma. By this marriage he has at this date, November, 1880, five children: Eva Romona, born August 31, 1870; Ann, born June 13, 1873; Josephine Ella, born November 3, 1875; Harriett, born August 9, 1878; Maddox Robinson, born July 30, 1880. Mr. Harrison is at present living about two miles south of Ukiah on a small farm, which he cultivates himself, and also holds the office of County Surveyor.
Purd Henry. Was born in Kentucky November 12, 1829. When but a child his mother died, and he was reared by an uncle in Illinois. At the age of eighteen he, with his uncle, moved to Mississippi, where he remained two years. He then spent a summer in New Orleans; thence he returned to Mississippi; thence to Kentucky; thence to Illinois, remaining about two years. In the spring of 1850 he crossed the plains to California, arriving at Placerville August 21st. He mined one year, and then spent a short time in the Sacramento valley. He returned to the mines and spent the winter. He then went to Stockton and followed freighting for one year. He then farmed in the San Joaquin valley for one year, and then bought a drove of cattle and brought them to Scott's valley, Lake county, remaining there one year. He then went to Shasta county, where he remained till 1856, when he came to Sonoma county. In 1858 he went to Fraser river. He came back in October of that year, and located in Nevada county. In February, 1859, he returned to Sonoma county. In the fall of that year he came to Mendocino county. In the spring he returned to Nevada county, and was Sergeant in Captain Stewart's company in the Piute war. In 1861 he
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