USA > California > Mendocino County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 108
USA > California > Lake County > History of Mendocino and Lake counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading, men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 108
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Missouri who were pioneers of this county. Mr. and Mrs. Rupe became the parents of ten children, of whom there are seven living: Alva Esther, a graduate of Willits high school and the Willits private normal school, now engaged in teaching ; Ernest Richard, attending the Willits high school ; Floyd P., Madge Elizabeth and Luther Muir, all attending the grammar school; and George Allen and Helen Eliza. The children are bright, capable and promis- ing. and to give them every opportunity in preparation for life's duties is the chief ambition of their parents. Mr. Rupe has always been greatly interested 111 the cause of education and aside from being a member of the local school board he served as a member of the board of trustees of the high school dis- trict for two terms, being a member during its organization and the erection of the new high school building. The political views of Mr. Rupe bring him into affiliation with the Republican party. but he is not, in the strict sense of the word. a politician nor a partisan. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, of which he is past officer. and with his wife is a member of the Rebekahs. Mr. Rupe has for many years been an active member of the Baptist church and its societies, being a member of the board of trustees.
TERENCE RODGERS .- One of the true pioneers of the west, having come to the Pacific coast via Panama in 1859, Terence Rodgers first located at Portland, Ore., and later in San Francisco. Today he is one of the most honored and respected citizens of Ukiah, where he has made his home for more than twenty years. He has, during his long residence in the west, been an active feature in the upbuilding of every community where he has resided. and his sons are today carrying on the spirit of progress and are proving worthy descendants of their splendid father. He has been intimately asso- ciated with the development of Ukiah since he took up his residence here, and for many years he conducted the largest shoe store in the city. Recently, however, he disposed of his interests in this line, and has retired from active commercial pursuits, giving his attention to the management of his property interests.
Mr. Rodgers is a native of Ireland, having been born in Sligo, January 6. 1839. There he was reared and educated, and after completing his school work was apprenticed to learn the shoemaker's trade. He followed this line of occupation in his native country until he was twenty-one years of age, when he determined to seek his fortunes across the waters, and accordingly came to America in 1857, locating for a time in Philadelphia. It was in 1859 that he came first to the west, locating in Portland, Ore. For two years he worked at his trade, and then opened a shoe shop of his own, in which enterprise he was very successful, and was soon classed among the prosperous business men of Portland. Shortly he enlarged his scope of business, adding retail leather and shoe findings, and always meeting with growing success.
The marriage of Mr. Rodgers took place in Portland, Ore., in November, 1864, uniting him with Miss Margaret Fahay, also a native of Ireland. Of this union were born eight children, all of whom are well known in California and in Oregon. the sons being especially prominent in affairs in their respective places of residence. They were all born at Portland, Ore., and reared and educated there, coming to California with their father in 1888. They are: John, who is a United States gauger, of Portland; Mary, now Mrs. Frank Brown, residing in Alaska; George E., proprietor of a large wholesale paper store in Salem, Ore .; he was twice mayor of Salem, and
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served for two terms in the Oregon Legislature ; Edward, wholesale and large book binder in New York city ; Agnes. now Mrs. Percy Brown, of San Fran- cisco; Gussie, now Mrs. E. Raymond, of San Francisco; Eva, who resides in San Francisco; and Frank, ex-member of the California Legislature, and a resident of San Francisco. Mrs. Rodgers passed away at Portland many years ago.
It was in 1888 that Mr. Rodgers came to California, locating in San Francisco, where he engaged in the shoe business with much success for a number of years. In 1894 he decided that there were better opportunities in Ukiah, and accordingly removed there, opening a shoe store, and continuing in this line of business until within the past few years. He purchased lots on State street, where he erected a store building, 40x120 feet, arranged for two stores. In one of these he conducted the largest shoe store in Ukiah for many years, meeting with great success.
As was but natural with one whose faith in Ukiah has always been unwavering, Mr. Rodgers has invested largely in real estate, especially in city property. Aside from his business property he owns a large two story residence property on State street, and a half block of unimproved property within a block of the court house. He is an enterprising and progressive citi- zen and has been a vital feature in the upbuilding of the city. He is wide- awake to all that tends for the general betterment of the municipality and is always ready to give active support and aid to any such cause. Since his retirement from active business he has leased his properties, but he is still deeply interested in all questions that affect Ukiah, and is a prominent figure in the affairs of the city.
JAMES EDWARDS .- Much honor is due to the railroad man who has braved the dangers incident to railroading to bring the thousands of passengers dependent upon him safely to their destinations, but still more deference must be paid to the engineer or conductor, whose duty takes him to the front in the starting of new roads, whether it be on the plains or mountains. Then the completion of the road is not the open sesame to the running of the trains, for many years often elapse before they move regularly, the rough country often causing dangerous slides, which retard and hold up traffic. It takes an engineer of years of experience and careful training for the responsible and difficult undertaking, and such a man we find in James Edwards. who holds a responsible position with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Com- pany. He is engaged in running a train out of Willits on the newly con- structed road to Dos Rios.
Coming from a fine old southern family, Mr. Edwards' birth occurred in Orleans, Fla. His father, J. W. Edwards, served as a captain in the southern army during the Civil war, and had three sons who were killed while in active service in the Confederate army. The captain survived the war and became a farmer. James Edwards attended the public schools and began railroading in youth. Working in different departments on various lines, he soon mas- tered railroading in all its details, and twelve years ago came to California to enter the employ of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company as a con- ductor. His retention in that company indicates how faithful he is to his trust and how well he fulfills his every duty.
Mrs. Edwards was before her marriage, Mary Marsh, of New Orleans. and to her and her husband has been born one child. Rosemarie, the delight and joy of their life. The charming personality of Mr. Edwards, and his 48
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sunny, optimistic disposition have won him hosts of friends, his ready smile easily winning the confidence of the public. Gifted by nature with those qualities that make him at once well received, he is a leader in his line of work.
PETER NONELLA .- Born in St. Antonino, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, November 22. 1865, Peter Nonella was taught the rudiments of farming and dairying there, and received his education in the local schools. In 1882, hav- ing heard good accounts of California, he concluded to try his fortune in the new land, and left home in November, 1882, for San Francisco. He came first to Fish Mill, Sonoma county, finding work on a dairy farm until 1884, when he came to Point Arena, to be employed in the same line of work for ten years. However, in 1892, he made a trip back to his old home to see his father. but after a three months' visit he returned to California and continued dairying. In 1894 Mr. Nonella rented the old Windson place near Albion, which he afterwards purchased and now owns, and engaged in the dairying business for nine years. He then sold his lease and rented a ranch at Ten Mile River on the coast, where he ran a dairy for seven years. Meantime, in 1907, he purchased the present place of two hundred acres one and one-half miles south of Albion, all good land and tillable, on which he is raising grain and hay for his own use, reserving the rest for grazing. He moved onto it in 1910, since which time he has been engaged in the dairying business, milking about forty to fifty cows. He has his own creamery on the place which is operated by steam. With A. Sartori as partner he leased the Pacific Coast Lumber Company's large ranch at Navarro, where he is engaged in farming, dairying and raising cattle.
. Mr. Nonella was married in San Francisco, December 20, 1895, to Miss Elvina Del Torkio, who was born in Pedevilla, Canton Ticino, Switzerland. and who came to California in 1891. They became the parents of seven chil- dren : Olivia, who is attending the Mendocino high school: Charles, Irene. Silvio. Peter. Alice and Dorothy. Fraternally he is a member of the Eagles at Fort Bragg. Always interested in the cause of education, he was an active member of the board of school trustees in the Pacific district, and also filled the same position for one term in the Navarro district. While living on Ten Mile River he was a member of the board of trustees of the Fort Bragg Union high school.
FRANK C. PEIRSOL, M. D .- Among the physicians who have estab- lished themselves as successful in the profession we find Dr. Frank C. Peirsol. who was born at New Brighton. Beaver county, Pa., October 31. 1870. His father, J. Kastor Peirsol, was also a native of Beaver county. He graduated from Mt. Union College and engaged in teaching until the war. when he served in the Thirteenth Ohio Cavalry. After the war he was admitted to the bar and practiced law in Pennsylvania until 1887. when he located in Oak- land, and while practicing there served one term as city attorney. In 1898 he located in Fort Bragg, where he has practiced law ever since.
Frank C. Peirsol's preliminary education was obtained in the public schools of Pennsylvania. In 1887 he, with his parents, came to Oakland. where he attended the high school for a time but gave it up to take a position in a planing mill in San Francisco, where he continued for three and a half years. Having a desire to study medicine he concluded to enter upon medical studies and matriculated at the California Medical College in San Fran- cisco, graduating in 1895 with the degree of M. D. and M. S. His first prac- tice was at Haywards, Cal., remaining there until 1897. when he came to
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Mendocino. After practicing for two years he determined to still further perfect himself in the profession and returning to San Francisco spent one year at the College of Physicians and Surgeons and in 1900 received the degree of M. D. from that institution. For two years he practiced in Fort Bragg, at the same time being connected with the hospital in that city. After a year spent in practice in the hospitals of San Francisco he again located in Mendocino in 1903, since which time he has been actively engaged in the practice of medicine and surgery, having acquired a large and lucrative prac- tice. Dr. Peirsol is interested in real estate on the bay. In 1911 he purchased six acres in Richmond, which tract he laid out into seventy-nine lots known as the Costa Home tract, and on account of the rapid growth of that section the property has become valuable.
The marriage of Dr. Peirsol occurred at Martinez, where he was united with Edith Kinsey, a native of Grass Valley, this state, and to them have been born four children : James, Madge, Clayton and Edith. Dr. Peirsol has been very active fraternally, being a member of Fort Bragg Lodge No. 306, I. ( O. F. and Redwood Encampment No. 67 at Fort Bragg. He is also a member of the Woodmen of the World at Mendocino and the Foresters at Caspar. He became a member of the Red Men in Pottawattamie Tribe No. 84 at Haywards and on the organization of Waw Beek Tribe No. 164 at Mendocino he became a charter member and was its first sachem. Politically he is an ardent Repub- lican.
WILLIAM KIRK FORD .- Among the enterprising. ambitious and progressive young men of Mendocino county who are following the occupa- tion of agriculture and getting the most gratifying results from their labors is William Kirk Ford, whose systematic and clever manipulation of the con- duct of his ranch has already brought him the admiration of many of his neighbors. Fortunate in the matter of educational advantages he was ever an alert, observant and conscientious student, and his legal training of two years has lent its aid in many directions in his farm life, for with its precision in forms and regulations comes also the accuracy and close attention to detail which have all been evidenced in Mr. Ford's every day life. He is a native son of the county, born November 14, 1887. in the city of Ukiah, where he was reared and attended public and high school, and it was after graduation from the latter school that he completed a two years' course in law at Stanford University. His training and the associations of his youth had been such as to interest him in ranch life and he gave up his college career and returned to Mendocino with the conviction that his vocation lay in the broad fields and meadows rather than in the office and courtroom. His father, W. A. Ford. owned a three thousand acre ranch in this county which the son rented from him for three years. This land was especially adapted to the raising of sheep. although over a hundred acres was devoted to general farming.
In 1912 Mr. Ford rented the Clark ranch, consisting of a hundred and thirty acres two miles south of Ukiah, which belongs to his mother-in-law. This ranch is all improved land. planted to hops, alfalfa and grain, and is highly productive. He also leases a five hundred acre ranch at the head of Redwood valley, where he is raising cattle and hogs and fifteen acres of hops. Ulr. Ford is an active member with his wife of the South Methodist Church, and in fraternal circles is prominent among the members of the Fraternal Order of Eagles. He married September 25. 1909. Miss Viva R. Clark, who was born in Ukiah, December 29, 1800. Her parents were among the old pioneers
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of Mendocino county and Mrs. Ford was born on the farm they now occupy. They are progressive young people whose splendid energy and admirable characteristics prophesy the brightest future and assurance for their success.
LAKE COUNTY TITLE & ABSTRACT CO .- The Lake County Title & Abstract Company, incorporated November 20, 1905, has the only complete set of abstract books in Lake county, which fact, however, is but one of several good reasons why it has attracted the most important patronage in its line in this part of California. That it is considered the highest authority on certificates and abstracts of title is evidenced by the open confidence shown by various business and financial institutions. The California Title Insurance & Trust Company, of San Francisco, issues its policies of title insurance on the work of this concern, which has become a synonym for accuracy and reliability. The local banks take this company's certificates of title as the basis of their loans. When the recent drastic legislation pertaining to titles and loans was enacted this company had no need to change its policy in any respect, for it was not only complying with all the provisions of the new law, but had led in adopting many of the most important of its measures. Its operations satis- fied every requirement of the law and of the state commissioners of banking so far as its word has any bearing on the validity of loans. This corporation is a member of the California Land Title Association and of the American As- sociation of Title Men-the former a state, the latter a national, organization. The company is a result and the outgrowth of the abstract and title business started by its president, Herbert V. Keeling, in 1893.
The Lake County Title & Abstract Company has a capital stock of $25,000. divided into two hundred and fifty shares. The officers are: Herbert V. Keeling, attorney at law, president and examining attorney; George H. Neal, secretary ; Fred A. Greene, treasurer. They also compose the board of directors. The business is the making of abstracts of title and the issuing of certificates of title.
REV. OTTO KAARTO .- Notwithstanding the fact that there are re- sponsibilities and obligations devolving upon the pastor of a congregation, there is a compensating satisfaction in the knowledge that the labor is not in vain, even though results may not at all times be visible. No one realizes this more fully than does the Rev. Otto Kaarto, pastor of the Finnish Evan- gelical Lutheran Church of Fort Bragg. The history of the organization dates back to the year 1889, when the church was organized as an independent Luth- eran society. The pastor at that time was Rev. M. Tarkkanen, who came here from San Francisco several times during the year. The society pro- gressed for about twenty years as an independent organization, the pulpit being supplied by pastors furnished by the Finnish Seaman's Mission in San Francisco. In 1907 the organization was united with the Suomi Synod of North America. The first pastor to serve the new organization was the Rev. MI. Pesonen, who ministered to the needs of the congregation for about two years, when Rev. O. Stadius supplied the pulpit. For the following two years the congregation was without the leadership of a regular pastor, depending upon such supplies for the pulpit as could be furnished at irregular intervals. In June, 1912, Rev. Otto Kaarto was called to the pastorate of the church and since then the organization has had a steady and healthful growth. For a few years after its organization the church had no regular home, holding its services in private houses or in halls, but about twenty years ago the organ- ization became stronger financially and otherwise and was enabled to erect
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a house of worship suited to the needs of the congregation. The present fine parsonage was erected in 1909. In connection with the church a splendidly equipped Sunday school is maintained, having had a steady growth since it was organized in 1908. One of the most helpful adjuncts of both church and Sunday school is the Young People's Christian Association, in carrying on the work of which the young men and women are receiving training which will fit them to recognize and to fill the opportunities which the church holds out to those of earnest endeavor.
Rev. Otto Kaarto is a native of Finland, and was born in Pihtipudas, Vaasalaani, June 17, 1890, the son of Olli and Ida (Autio) Kaarto, both born in Finland, but now residents of Hancock, Mich. Of the six children born to this couple Otto was next to the youngest, and came to this country when he was a lad of nine years, in 1899. The family settled in Hancock, Mich., where he attended the grammar and high school, and after graduating from the latter in 1908 he entered upon a course in Suomi College, also located in Hancock. Upon the completion of the four years' course of classics and theology he was ordained as a minister in the Finnish Evangelical Lutheran Church in North America. in May, 1912, and in the following month he was called to the pastorate of the church in Fort Bragg. In addition to the home church at Fort Bragg he visits the missions along the coast to Albion, at which point a thriving mission is conducted, and he also travels inland to Comptche, where another mission has been started. Rev. Mr. Kaarto is an earnest advocate of temperance, believing it to be the true hand maiden to religious endeavor, and he voices his sentiments on this question in no uncertain sound in the Finnish Temperance Society of Fort Bragg, of which he is a member. He is also a member of the Mendocino Court of the Ministerial Union, and is serving the organization as vice-president.
MRS. ALONZO E. NOEL .- The circulation and general appearance of a newspaper evidencing its general worth, it is with just pride that the owner. proprietress and editor of the Lower Lake Bulletin, Mrs. A. E. Noel, manages and furnishes to the citizens of her community this splendid paper now in its thirty-eighth year and the oldest newspaper in the county. This was formerly edited and owned by Alonzo E. Noel, her deceased husband, who is remem- bered by the residents of Lake county as a very able lawyer, who served one term as district attorney of the county. He was born in East Tennessee May 14, 1832, and when a child came with his parents to Missouri, where for eighteen years, in fact from 1836 to 1854, he passed his youth and received a general education. Later he took up the study of law and in the year last named came to California, where two years later he was admitted to the bar of the state. He practiced his profession in different localities and in 1868 moved to Lakeport where he became one of the prime movers in legal and civic matters, in 1873 being elected district attorney for the county. He later. in October, 1885, purchased the Lower Lake Bulletin and continued at the head of that newspaper until his death, March 14, 1893. Among the impor- tant services rendered his county Mr. Noel went as delegate with the late H. C. Boggs, of Lakeport, from Lake county to serve on the committee which revised the Constitution of California in 1878. Being a forceful speaker. of highly intellectual mind and thoroughly versed on current topics of political interest, his services were much vahied, especially in relation to the revision of the codes of civil and commercial procedure and the laws regarding the judiciary. In this his splendid legal attainments peculiarly qualified him. His
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death marked a great loss to his county and state, and had it not been for the unusual ability of his wife the paper would have suffered greatly. She nobly took up the work left by her husband and is today ably filling his place as editor of the paper.
Mrs. Noel was before her marriage Miss Lavinia A. Yates. She was born about twenty-eight miles from Leavenworth, Kans., and when nine years old was brought by her parents, Ira G. and Joanna (Shepherd) Yates, across the plains to Virginia City, where they arrived in the fall of 1864. With them came her six brothers and sisters. In the following spring they went to Helena. Mont., remaining until the fall of 1866, when they crossed back over the plains to Liberty, Mo., and remained for many years, Mrs. Noel here growing to maturity. Her attendance at school included the public schools in Kansas, private instruction in Montana and public schools of Liberty. Mo .. where her father followed the vocation of farmer. In the spring of 1870 the family came to Lower Lake and the father for several years farmed rented land. later becoming the owner of town property there. He passed away in 1899 at seventy-eight years of age, the mother dying in 1896, aged seventy-four.
The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Noel took place January 10, 1871. By a previous marriage to Miss Lizzie Willard of Woodland, Mr. Noel was the father of two children, one of whom, Peter, mnet an accidental death, and the other, Marietta Noel, became Mrs. E. E. Miller, of Coronado, Cal. In June, 1894, Mrs. Noel received the appointment of postmaster at Lower Lake in which she served until July 1. 1898. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Noel of whom three are now living. Frank W .. Charles C. and Willie N. Frank W. resides in Lower Lake where he is a clerk ; he married Miss Minnie L. Manlove, daughter of the first sheriff of Lake county. Charles C. is a clerk in Lower Lake : he married Maud E. Evans, daughter of Luke Evans, a sur- veyor of that city, and four children were born to them: Ethel E., Ernest, Cecil E. and Dorris. Willie N. is the wife of James W. Tremper, a farmer of the vicinity, and is the mother of James Bernard. Dorris Bernice. Celia Inez and Robert Alonzo.
Mrs. Noel is a consistent Democrat in political sentiment, advocating what she thinks is for the best interests of the country. Prohibition and a stand for better conditions generally are her most important principles and she evidences her wholesome broad mindedness in her editorials. She is a woman of splendid character and sterling worth to her community.
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