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 109
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 109
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WILLIAM ORVILLE WHITE .- The editor and owner of the Repub- lican Press of Ukiah is the son of. William Henry White, who was born in the city of London and served an apprenticeship to the trade of tailor under his uncle, who was tailor to the king. Under his quiet, methodical devotion to his chosen occupation there lingered, however, a love of adventure and a desire to see the world. He spent several years in France, later moving to New York, and in January, 1850, he reached San Francisco via the Isthmus. Somewhat later he resumed work at his trade and from that time until his death in 1896 he made his home and business headquarters in Mendocino county, where he engaged in tailoring first at Mendocino and then at Cal- pella. For the period of mining activity it was customary to make clothing of buckskin. Mr. Dodge, a partner of Mr. White, was an expert marksman and gave his attention to the hunting of the deer, while Mr. White devoted himself wholly to the manufacture of buckskin clothing. When he became a
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resident of Ukiah the town had two business buildings, one occupied as a blacksmith shop and the other used for a saloon. At Ukiah he was married to Priscilla W. Haskell a native of Maine. He remained in Ukiah throughout the balance of his life and held a high place among the pioneers of the county- seat. For fifty years he was identified with the Odd Fellows. On the organization of the Ukiah Lodge he became a charter member, nor did his interest cease until his earth life ended.
From the age of fourteen years William O. White has been connected with the printing business. In 1902 he acquired the Republican Press and is the sole owner. Under his management this weekly has gained an enlarged circulation and an increased popularity, and it now stands foremost among the sheets devoted to the welfare of Ukiah and the permanent growth of Men- docino county. Like his father, Mr. White is deeply interested in the philan- thropies of the Odd Fellows and at this writing he is serving as secretary of the local lodge. besides aiding its work in other ways. His marriage took place April 1. 1909, and united him with Miss Fannie E. Owsley, a native of Calis- toga, Cal., and two children bless their union, Veta S. and William Orville, Jr.
JOHN EDWARD BERRY .- Varied experiences in Canada, California and Alaska have filled the life of Mr. Berry with happenings favorable and unfavorable. His has been an existence of self-reliance and self-help. No aid Irom others, aside from an opportunity to attend grammar school in boy- hood. made easy the early path through adversity and hardship, but alone and unassisted he has worked his way forward to a commendable degree of success and has made good as business man, hotel proprietor and rancher. A resident of Mendocino county since 1905 and the proprietor of an hotel at Boonville. Anderson valley, for the same length of time, he was born in the city of St. John. province of New Brunswick, Canada, December 4, 1844. At the age of sixteen years he completed the studies of the St. John grammar school. Immediately afterward he secured work with an express and baggage transfer company in his home town, but gave up the job in order to take a commercial course in a local business college. From that time until 1874 he was employed in a sawmill on the St. John river. Coming to California dur- ing the next year. he first worked at Tomales, Marin county. During the spring of 1876 he moved to Tyrone, Sonoma county, and secured work with the Northwestern Pacific Railroad Company, continuing in the same position until, having accumulated a small sum of money, in 1880 he embarked in the lumber business near Duncan's mills on a small scale. By degrees he devel- oped a large business. To aid in his work he built a sawmill in the spring of 1892, and this he operated for eight years.
While the mining fever in the Klondike region was still at its height Mr. Berry went to Alaska in search of gold. going by way of Skagway, White Pass and Bennett and leaving the sawmill in the charge of his brother. For three and one-half years he engaged in prospecting and mining. However, his claim did not develop as he had anticipated and the enterprise proved unsuc- cessful. He returned to Santa Rosa in 1901. sold the sawmill later, and in 1905 came to Anderson valley, where he opened the Boonville hotel. This business he since has conducted, besides which he cultivates one hundred and fifty-two acres of leased land. As a farmer he is meeting with considerable success. while in the hotel business he makes a popular landlord, courteously attentive to the wants of those whom business or pleasure bring to this part of the county. At Tomales, Marin county, on Christmas day of 1876. he married
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Miss Sarah Gertrude Herald, who was born at Calais, Me., November 19, 1855. Orphaned by the death of her parents when she was a young girl, in 1875 she came alone to Tomales, Cal., to make her home with a sister and the following year she became the wife of Mr. Berry. They are the parents of six living children, besides which they lost their eldest, Reuben, at the age of twenty years. The others are as follows : Lelia, Mrs. B. A. Harris, of Vallejo ; Grace Elizabeth, wife of Charles MI. Ware, of Bennett Valley ; Ina L., Mrs. George P. Odell, of Mont Rio: Allie W .. a trained nurse, who makes her home with her parents : Susie. Mrs. Harry J. O'Brien, of San Francisco ; and John Edward, Jr., who married Crystal Clow and lives at the hotel. being a capable assistant to his father in the business and on the farm.
SIMON WILLIAM WALTER .- In Schaffhausen, the northernmost canton of Switzerland, whose broad, fertile acres have afforded the early en- vironment of many of California's most prosperous farmers, was born Simon William Walter, June 1, 1873. His early childhood was spent there, but at the age of nine he came to America and has ever since made California his perma- nent home. Circumstances caused him to be sent at this early age to rela- tives in Oakland, Cal., his journey being made alone, and, as he was unable to speak the English language. in order to assure his safe arrival he was ticketed with name and destination. Very disheartened, a forlorn young boy among. strangers, he arrived in California about 1880 and immediately entered the public schools. Apt, observing and naturally quick of intellect, it was not long before he had mastered the English tongue and was soon at ease in his surroundings ..
An ambition to do for himself and be independent instigated Mr. Walter. in 1887. to go to Covelo, Mendocino county, to start for himself, and there he obtained work from G. E. White, working for board and clothing for three years, and at the same time attending school in Round Valley. At the end of this period he ceased his studies at school, but continued in Mr. White's employ for ten years, his willingness to do whatever work there was to be done and his earnest desire to forge ahead winning him the approbation of all who came to know him. In 1897 he accepted a position from G. N. Merritt on his ranch and for twelve years he remained there, learning ranch life in its every phase and, meanwhile, accumulating a competency. In 1901 he pur- chased twenty-six acres of his present eighty-one acre ranch and rented it out until 1911, when he embarked in general farming for himself. Seventy acres are all under cultivation to alfalfa and grain, and in connection with his agricultural pursuits he carries on a flourishing dairy. Mr. Walter has all his life been a hard worker, and one who has combined good judgment with his labors, actual experience being his teacher and sober thought his best ad- viser. He has made the best of his opportunities and throughout his life has evidenced the sterling traits of character for which his nation is noted. He is a Democrat in politics and as he has grown to manhood he has acquired and held a strong feeling of patriotism for his adopted country, which has brought him prosperity and happiness.
The marriage of Mr. Walter occurred in Covelo, Cal .. June 3, 1897, to Miss Edith Hurt. She was a native of Lake county, Cal., born August 20, 1878. and to their marriage two children have come to bless their home. James and William. Their comfortable home, one mile east of Covelo, is the center of many happy gatherings of friends and well wishers, and they enjoy the respect of the entire community.
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JOHN W. GRIST .- It is interesting to chronicle the life history of a man who since a child has lived on the frontier and during all that period has de- voted all of his time and energies towards aiding in the development of a new country and making it habitable and Inxurious for coming generations. Dur- ing all these years he has quietly pursued the even tenor of his ways, strictly observing the Golden Rule, and winning the confidence and respect of his fellowmen to the highest degree. Such a man is John W. Grist, who has resided in California since 1852, having been brought by his parents across the plains when only three years of age. They traveled overland with ox- teams and prairie schooner. His birth occurred near Harrisburg, Pa., June 12, 1849, and he is the second oldest of six children born to Isaac and Irene (Casson) Grist, natives of Dauphin county, Pa. On arriving in California Isaac Grist followed mining in Eldorado county until 1866, when he came to Round Valley, Mendocino county, and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on the west side of the valley. In 1868 he brought his family, purchased an adjoining one hundred and sixty acres, and engaged in farming and stock- raising until his death, in 1877. His wife died in 1885.
John W. Grist's early life was passed at French Creek, Eldorado county, where he attended school until ten years of age. Then his father took the lad with him to the claim to help pick rock and make himself useful at mining. For this reason the most of his education was obtained from a teacher who boarded at their place, and, subsequently, by reading and also observation, he has become a well-informed man. When eighteen he came to Round Valley with the family, and helped his father with the stock. When he was twenty- five years of age the father, through some misfortune, lost the ranch, and John decided to buy it. Taking charge of affairs, he continued ranching, raising grain, hay, hogs and cattle, and met with deserved success, paying for the three hundred and twenty acres. Afterward he sold a half interest to his brother George, continuing to operate the ranch until 1907, when he sold it and located in Covelo, where he built a comfortable residence. He has a portable barley mill and woodsaw operated by a gas engine, and he does a large busi- ness throughout the valley. He is also agent for the White Bronze Monu- ment Manufacturing Company of Bridgeport, Conn.
Mr. Grist's first marriage was to Miss Georgie Duncan, a native of Mis- souri, who died some years after their marriage. In Covelo, in 1004, he married a second time, being united with Mrs. Ida (Carner) Long, a native of Point Crittenden, Utah, the daughter of Madison and Mary (Rogers) Carner, who crossed the plains, in 1860, to Utah, where the daughter Ida was born. In 1861 they came on to Meridian. Cal .. and after three years they located in Potter valley, where Mr. Carner was a farmer. However, they spent their last days in Covelo. Of their eight children five are living, of whom Mrs. Grist is the eldest. Her first marriage occurred in Ukiah, being united with Thomas E. Long, who was born in Missouri, and who came to Potter valley when sixteen years of age.
For a time Mr. and Mrs. Long followed stock-raising in Potter valley. then in Santa Barbara county until 1868, when they located in Round Valley, purchasing a ranch there. He later sold it to engage in the livery business in Covelo for a year and then started a store. While thus engaged he was elected supervisor from the Third district, but soon after taking the office he died, in May, 1902. Of this union there were four children : Mary Martha who died at two years of age: Edward H., who is a merchant in Covelo;
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Addie May, who died at sixteen, and Dewey, who died at three years.
Mr. Grist was made a Mason in Covelo Lodge No. 231, F. & A. M .. and with his wife is a member of Augusta Chapter No. 80. O. E. S. They attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he is a trustee. Politically he is an ardent Republican. It is to energetic, enterprising citizens like Mr. and Mrs. Grist that Round Valley has become known as a rich farming country and a desirable place in which to live. By such example of Christian and up- right life as theirs the standard of morals and society has been raised.
MRS. EUGENIA HAYDON .- Among the women of Mendocino county, who are making a success of the stock business we find Mrs. Eugenia (Carner) Haydon. She was born at Meridian, Sutter county, Cal., the daughter of Madison and Mary (Rogers) Carner, who crossed the plains in 1860 and were pioneers of Mendocino county. Eugenia was reared in Potter valley and re- ceived a good education in the public schools. Her marriage occurred in Round Valley in March, 1882, when she was united with Thomas Haydon, born in Grundy county, Mo., December 15, 1852. He was brought across the plains by his parents when he was ten years of age and was also reared in Potter Valley, but later removed to Round Valley.
After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Haydon engaged in stock-raising, in which they were very successful. For many years they ran their cattle on Mad river, their brand being T. H. & 3 combined. In 1910 they purchased a ranch on Long Ridge, where they continued in the cattle business until Mr. Haydon's death. June 10, 1913. Mrs. Haydon has continued in the cattle busi- ness in partnership with her son, Frank M. Haydon, but while she devotes some of her time to her ranch, she makes her home in Covelo, where she owns a residence and also conducts an hotel, attending to the cuisine herself. It is the finest and best kept hotel in the valley. Their ranch embraces about one thousand acres on the north fork of Eel river, the place containing con- siderable farming land which is devoted to the raising of grain and hay ; the balance is used for range land. They are raising cattle and hogs, and are meeting with unusual success.
Mr. and Mrs. Haydon were the parents of three children: Bertha, Mrs. Charles Grist, of Covelo : Frank M., manager of the ranch ; and Dora G., Mrs Jeans, of Humboldt county. In her political affiliations Mrs. Haydon is a Republican. She is a woman of much tact and ability, and in her career has dis- played rare business acumen. Her faith and optimism in the future of the county is such that she is always willing to do her share towards the upbuild- ing of the community and the betterment of its citizens.
JAMES A, FRENCH .- In Hingham county, Mass., in the year 1848, was born James A. French, whose father died when he was a boy of eleven years of age. In 1857 his mother came to San Francisco. Cal., sailing around Cape Horn, having been engaged as stewardess of the vessel, and in 1860 the chil- dren joined her. traveling by way of Panama. The mother continued to make San Francisco her home until her death. James A. received his schooling in Massachusetts and in San Francisco. In 1864. when sixteen years of age. he responded to his county's call, enlisted in Company A, 8th California Volun- teer Infantry, and served until the close of the war in 1865. when he was mustered out and honorably discharged. On his return to the Bay he was employed on a dairy farm in Marin county, and followed that occupation later in Monterey county. He then entered Hcald's Business College in San Francisco, where he completed the course, after which he continued in the
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dairy business. In 1880 he was appointed receiving clerk at San Quentin, holding the position for four years, and after this he was wharfinger at the Alameda Mole, until he resigned and went to Monterey county as superin- tendent of a dairy.
In 1888 Mr. French was appointed dairyman at the Agnew Hospital, fill- ing the position until 1890, when he resigned and made a trip to Alaska. going via Fort Wrangle and spending twenty months in the frozen north. On his return to California he was again employed at Agnew. In June of 1902 he was appointed dairyman at the Mendocino State Hospital, a position he has held ever since. He is well posted in the dairy business and a good judge of a dairy herd and it is largely due to his experience and knowledge of the details of the raising of cows that the dairy herd at the hospital is among the finest in the state. Fraternally Mr. French is a member of the Knights of Pythias at Ukiah.
GUSTAV HENRY SWANSON .- A very enterprising and self-made man is Gustav Henry Swanson, born May 22, 1875, in Smaland, Sweden, where he grew up on the farm and received a good education in the local schools. In 1892, when a youth of seventeen years, he came to America and the spring of 1892 found him in Winnipeg, where he spent six months in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railroad. At the end of this period he came to Caspar. Mendocino county, and found employment with the lumber company at that place, working in different departments in their mill until 1902. In that year he entered the filing room and continued as a filer until 1905, when he ob- tained his present position as head filer for the Mendocino Lumber Company. Since then the has made his home in Mendocino, where he owns a comfortable residence and two acres of land.
While living at Caspar Mr. Swanson formed the acquaintance of Jennie Olson, a native of that place, and there they were united in marriage. Mr. Swanson was made a Mason in Mendocino Lodge No. 179, F. & A. M., of which he has served as master. He is also a member of Mendocino Chapter No. 88, R. A. M., and with his wife is a member of Ocean View Chapter, O. E. S. He is also a member of Stella Lodge No. 213, I. O. O. F. In political affilia- tions he espouses the principles set forth in the Republican platform. He was reared in the Lutheran faith and adheres to those doctrines. Personally he is well and favorably known and his exemplary habits coupled with his progressive and enterprising views make him greatly appreciated by the citizens of Mendocino and vicinity.
BELIO & ALLUE. The proprietors of the Willits Steam Laundry, Florence Belio and Firmin Allue, are enterprising men and are building up a laundry business that reflects credit on the city. Since they purchased the laundry they have remodeled it and put in new and modern machinery, so they are equipped to do the work by the latest and most approved process. Both men are thorough going and enterprising, and their business is increasing in a deserving measure.
Florence Belio, the senior member of the firm, was born at Pau, Basses Pyrenees, France, in 1882, and learned the carpenter's trade in that country. In 1905 he came to San Francisco, where he was employed in a laundry until 1913, when he came to Willits to become a partner of Mr. Allue in the Wil- lits Laundry. In Basses Pyrenees he was married to Marie Allue, who was born in that country and by this union there were born two children. Amelie and Antone.
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Firmin Allue was born in Pau, Basses-Pyrenees, France, in 1890. In 1909 he came to California and at Suisun entered the employ of the steam laundry, where he learned the laundry business. Thence he went to San Francisco, where he worked at his trade until October, 1912, when he came to Willits as an employe of the steam laundry until January, 1913. It was then that he and Mr. Belio bought the business which they have continued ever since with good success.
ERNEST EUGENE FITCH .- The rugged, bleak country of Nova Scotia was the home of Ernest Eugene Fitch during the first sixteen or more years of his life, during which time he acquired the robust and hardy constitution possessed by so many natives of that country, learned the lessons of sturdy manhood and hard work and became a clean-cut, healthy man, whose men- tality, in keeping with his physical well-being, evidenced strength and capabil- ity. He was born in Kings county, October 16, 1862, the son of Henry and Olivia (Bishop) Fitch, sturdy citizens of Nova Scotia, who afforded him the advantages of public school instruction and imbued in him the habits of tem- perance and honor. When sixteen he left school to go to work as a day laborer and a few years later decided to try his luck in the west with his brother Harry, who was preparing to go to California. Arriving here in the spring of 1882 they immediately settled in Mendocino county and in 1883 located in Point Arena. First working as day laborer doing general farming and in the lumber camps, he soon discovered that he could win better returns if he could work for himself, and he started the contracting business for team- ing and hauling tan bark and ties to Point Arena. This occupation he fol- lowed until 1893, at which time he decided to enter the dairy business, and relinquishing his contracting interests he rented land, chiefly stock range, and entered upon the dairy project at Manchester upon a small scale. This prov- ing a successful venture he soon broadened his holdings and increased the business, until he had a large stock-raising and dairying business, his ranch comprising three hundred and thirty acres. In 1903 he took up a timber claim on Alder creek, above Manchester, which land he still owns. Besides the dairy he was interested in a creamery, and this proved a very successful enterprise. In 1907 he sold out the dairy and removed to Boonville, Ander- son Valley, where he purchased two hundred and ten acres of partially im- proved land about one mile north of town. Since the purchase of this land Mr. Fitch has spent means and time in improving the same, and has engaged principally in general farming and stockraising. In 1911 he set out fifteen acres of his place to apples and the trees give promise of bringing large returns in a few years.
Mr. Fitch is a thrifty, persevering farmer, devoting all of his time to ranch life and his home. His wife, whom he married in Manchester March 31, 1889, was before her marriage Miss Martha Taylor, a native daughter of Manchester. Her father, Samuel H. Taylor, crossed the plains with ox teams in 1849, and in 1865 located in Mendocino county, where he was a blacksmith. His death occurred in Manchester. Her mother. Catherine Mor- rison, a native of Wisconsin, now resides in Santa Rosa. Of their family of eight children, of whom Mrs. Fitch was the third, four are still living. Mr. and Mrs. Fitch have four children, as follows: Myrtle O .. Richard (engaged in the blacksmith business in Boonville), Samuel and Iva. Mr. Fitch unites with the Democratic party in political principles and with his wife is a member of the Presbyterian church.
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FRANCIS L. MOSIER .- Among the citizens of Upper Lake and the adjoining territory of Lake county whose personal worth has gained them the highest regard must be named Mr. and Mrs. Francis L. Mosier, who reside northeast of the village on the Bartlett Springs road. They are promi- nently associated with various local interests, business and social, and in all their relations with their neighbors and friends have shown themselves deserv- ing of the unqualified esteem in which they are held.
A native of Nebraska, Francis L. Mosier was born in Cass county, July 2, 1864, the son of William J. and Mary Ellen (Fine) Mosier, of Franklin county, Ala., and Iowa, respectively. His father settled in Cass county, Neb., in 1862 and engaged in farming. It was in 1870 that he came to California, locating at Hopland and engaging in farming until in 1874, when he pur- chased a ranch in Little Lake valley. This he operated until he retired and made his home in Willits. Mrs. Mosier died in 1897, leaving eight children, as follows : Louvina, Mrs. George Endicott, of Willits; Francis L., of whom we write; Ellen, Mrs. George L. Hamer, of Ukiah; Nettie L., Mrs. Ora Street, of Coalinga ; Callie, Mrs. Grant, of Ukiah ; Frank C., of Potter Valley ; Alfred, deceased ; and John W., of Ukiah.
Mr. Mosier came to Lake county from Mendocino county, and is success- fully engaged in the blacksmithing business at Upper Lake, his reliable work and straightforwardness making him one of the leading men in his line in this section. The beautiful ranch of forty-five acres which he and his wife own and reside upon is located in the East Upper Lake precinct along the Bartlett Springs road, and Mr. Mosier's time being principally occupied with running his blacksmith shop the management of the place has to a great extent devolved upon Mrs. Mosier, who has shown rare ability in looking after the work of its cultivation. The place has been systematically improved under their ownership, and they have a handsome residence, which Mrs. Mosier's father, Matthew Johnson, one of the venerable pioneers of Lake county, shares with them. (A sketch of the latter will be found elsewhere in this volume.) Francis L. Mosier married Annie Johnson, and they have one living child. Willmat.
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