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 114
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 114
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117
Dr. Scott is a man of much public spirit, and a progressive in all matters for civic and social betterment. He has become closely identified with local affairs and is acknowledged as a man of influence and a leader of no small ability. He is a prominent member of Mendocino Lodge No. 179, F. & A. M., a member of the Ocean View Chapter, O. E. S., an Odd Fellow, a Red Man and a Moose. Of these latter two he is past dictator of the Moose and is past sachem of Santana Tribe No. 60, I. O. R. M.
On August 16, 1914, at Yerington, Nev., Dr. Scott was married to Miss Frances Louise McGowan, daughter of Mrs. T. M. McGowan of that place.
JOSEPH HENRY CLARKE .- A native of Fillmore City, Millard county, Utah, Mr. Clarke was born June 16, 1853. His father, Thomas Clarke, was born in Herefordshire, England, and came of an old English family. He was a gardener in his native heath and there married Eliza Carpenter, who was born at Bushey, England. In 1850 they started for the United States. but the vessel was wrecked and they were returned to England. Determined to come to the land of the Stars and Stripes they started again in 1851, and this time made the voyage without accident. For one year they lived at St.
1020
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
Louis, Mo., then starting across the plains with horses in a big train. Arriv- ing at Fillmore, Utah, it being late in the year, they thought best to winter there.
It was while the family lived at Fillmore that Joseph Henry was born, and when he was but a few weeks old they started, in July, for California. Arriving at Bidwells Bar, Thomas Clarke there followed mining with such success that he continued at it for seven years. He then began vegetable gardening, farming and fruit raising, owning a farm near Bidwells Bar. In the spring of 1870 he located near Cahto, where his son William, who had preceded him a year, had entered one thousand acres of land, and the family engaged in farming. The father built a residence on the Westport road and with his wife resided there until his death. Of their six children five grew to maturity : William died in Ukiah in 1912. Alfred resides in Butte county. Frank died just before graduation at Heald's Business College in San Fran- cisco in 1875. Joseph H. is mentioned below. Eliza, Mrs. Black, died at San Jose in 1903.
Joseph H. Clarke's boyhood was spent in Butte county. His school ad- vantages were very limited, but having a desire for knowledge and being a close reader of good literature, he has become a well-informed and well-posted man in most all of the sciences. In November, 1869, he came to Cahto, Mendocino county, and with the rest of his family engaged in farming and stock-raising. In 1872 Mr. Clarke started a dairy at the old home place, continuing the business until 1881, when he began raising sheep, in which he has been unusually successful. He experimented with Merinos, then Shrop- shire, but in 1902 he began breeding Rambouilette sheep, having purchased some splendid specimens from Seeley & Hansen in Utah. He is now breeding thoroughbred Rambouilette sheep, and has raised and sold hun- dreds of fine specimens ; his whole flock is now full-blooded and a source of great pride to him. He is said to be the largest breeder of thoroughbred Ram- bouilette sheep in Mendocino county.
Mr. Clarke now owns over forty-seven hundred acres; the ranch is known as the Canyon, lying about six miles southwest of Laytonville, on the Westport road, between Jackson and Sherwood valleys. It is located on the headwaters of Ten Mile river and is only a little over ten miles to the coast. so that they get a sea breeze. The Canyon, as it is called, is a stretch of country almost en- tirely free from frost, and they have very little frost, if any, before Christmas. On the ranch is about two hundred acres of redwood and several hundred acres of tan oak, with lots of spruce and fir. The ranch is abundantly watered ty streams and numerous large springs. Mr. Clarke has piped the water in from three springs to the orchard, a distance of half a mile, giving an abundance of water for irrigation. In 1913 he built a comfortable and commodious resi- dence at the Canyon and with the many improvements he has made on it it is a very beautiful country place. He has gone to much expense in fencing the entire ranch with a fence that keeps the coyotes out, otherwise success in the sheep industry in these parts would be impossible.
In Ukiah, February 7, 1884, occurred the marriage of Mr. Clarke, uniting him with Annie R. Fowzer, a native daughter of San Francisco.
She is the daughter of James and Eliza (Lovejoy) Fowzer, born in Pitts- burg, Pa., and London, England, respectively. The latter were married in Ohio. In 1849 Mr. Fowzer came around Cape Horn to San Francisco, while his wife joined him in 1852, coming via Panama. In 1864 they came from San
1021
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
Francisco to Sanel valley, Mendocino county, where he purchased a twelve hundred acre ranch. In 1867 he located in Ukiah having been elected county clerk in the fall of 1866, and during his term he studied law and was admitted to the bar. After completing his term he engaged in practicing law. He was soon afterward elected county treasurer and was re-elected to the office several terms, serving until his death in 1887. His widow survived him many years, her death occurring in Ukiah in 1911. The following of their children grew up: Elizabeth, Mrs. Stockwell, died in Snohomish, Wash. Jacob is a prominent photographer in San Francisco. Annie R. is Mrs. Clarke. Jackson died in San Francisco in 1897. Mrs. Clarke graduated at the San Jose state normal in 1878 and then followed teaching until her marriage.
To Mr. and Mrs. Clarke have been born six children : Cecile, a graduate of the University of California, is the head of the history department in the Eureka high school; Frank Cuthbert is a graduate of the University of Cali- fornia and now managing his father's ranch; Belle, a graduate of the Uni- versity of California, is the wife of Asa C. Chandler, of Corvallis, Ore .; Annie, a graduate of the Ukiah high school, is vice principal of the Greenwood schools; William V. is attending the Oregon Agricultural College at Cor- vallis ; May, the youngest, is still under the parental roof.
Mr. Clarke is a member of the National Wool Growers Association. He has been a student of natural history, as well as the sciences and is well in- formed. He is a fine conversationalist and it is indeed enjoyable to be num- bered among the friends of Mr. and Mrs. Clarke and partake of their un- bounded hospitality.
JOSEPH HENRY DILLING .- As proprietor of the Dilling's Stanley Steamer stage line between Wendling and Cloverdale, Mr. Dilling is possibly best known in his community, but he has also another line of industry, that of photography, which he follows with much success.
Born in Bathurst, a city of New South Wales, Australia, on December 8, 1868, he was the son of Andrew Dilling. The latter was a native of Ger- many and started active life as a sailor, going to different ports of the world, which eventually brought him to Australia. There he followed mining and was married to Isabella Wright, an native of England. In 1868 they made their way to California, and at Cuffey's Cove the father procured employment at different lumber mills, but later engaged in ranching, having a farm soutli of Greenwood, where he passed away. The mother now makes her home in Fort Bragg.
Joseph Henry Dilling was the fourth eldest of the eleven children born to his parents, and he was less than two years old when they brought him to California. On the Mendocino coast he was reared and educated, attending the public schools of Bridgeport. Assisting on the home farm until seven- teen, he then began working on farms in the neighborhood until he was twenty, when he worked in the woods for some time. Going then to San Francisco he remained about six years, following the trade of photographer. He traveled for the next four years through Sonoma and Mendocino counties, having studios in different cities, and his business became lucrative and highly satis- factory. In 1905 he located in Wendling, where he engaged in the photography business. also building up a good livery and stage business. The stage line which he runs between Wendling and Cloverdale connects with trains on the Northwestern Pacific, and regular trips are made there daily. In 1914 he purchased a new nine-passenger Stanley Steamer car, which has proved
1022
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
a sagacious investment, as well as a source of comfort to his passengers. Mr Dilling also runs the stage from Philo to Greenwood. His progressiveness has been evidenced by the putting in of a pumping plant, about eight years ago, which furnishes water not only for his own place, but also for several hotels and residences in Wendling. Still retaining his studio there, he finds recreation in this work. Up-to-date, enterprising and ready to take his part in all for- ward movements, he has become one of the most active citizens of his locality, and he has earned a favorable and enviable reputation throughout the county. In religious faith he is a Methodist.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN BRANSCOMB .- Nestling among the foot- hills of the Coast range mountains we find the Branscomb ranch, store, post- office, hotel and resort. The man who made all the improvements is Benjamin Franklin Branscomb, an old settler. He was born near Jackson, Washington county, Ohio, March 24, 1836. His father. Joseph E., a native of Henry county, Va., went to Fayette county, Ohio, when seventeen years of age. Afterwards he there married Diana Pierce, a native of that county. The young couple resided a while in Washington county, that state, then returned to Fayette county, where they resided until 1838. In that year they removed to Knox county, Ill., locating on a farm on the Spoon river. In 1854 they moved to Dubuque, Iowa, and thence to DeKalb county, Mo., where Joseph E. Brans- comb was a farmer and served as sheriff of the county during four years of the war. He met with sudden death, being assassinated just a few days before Lincoln's assassination. The wife died in Colorado. Of their nine children six grew up, as follows: Benjamin F., of whom we write; Virginia, Mrs. Littleton, of Santa Rosa : Eliza, Mrs. Cook, who died at Burlington ; Emma, Mrs. Pritchard, of San Francisco; Joseph E., residing in Wyoming: and Charles A., of Grangerville. Idaho.
Benjamin F. Branscomb was brought up on the farm in Illinois, receiving his education in the public schools. In 1854 he removed with the family to Iowa, and in 1856 to Missouri. In March, 1857, he started for California in an ox-team train that was in charge of Capt. Benjamin Taylor, whose daughter Jane was also a member of the train, and whom Mr. Branscomb afterward married. After about five months they reached California. Mr. Branscomb ran a ferry at Bidwell's Landing, near Chico, the first winter, and in the spring of 1858 he came to Sonoma county, where on August 7, 1859, he was married on the Taylor ranch, three miles above Sebastopol, to Jane Taylor. She was born in DeKalb county, Mo., the daughter of Capt. Benjamin and Rachael (Earnest) Taylor, both natives of Kentucky.
Mr. Branscomb engaged in farming and dairying on the Laguna for nine years, then moved to a place four miles north of Guerneville, where they fol- lowed stockraising until he sold the ranch, when he resided for a year in Green valley. In 1880 he came to Mendocino county and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres, and entered forty acres adjoining under the timber act. Here he cleared the land and made substantial improvements, building a comfortable residence with barns and other buildings. He brings the water from a large spring across Eel river, two thousand feet in two-inch pipe, and then uses five hundred feet of pipe for distributing the water. Altogether he has a splendid water system on the place. He also started a hotel, which has become a particularly popular summer resort, being crowded to the limit during the season, guests enjoying excellent hunting and fishing. Branscomb
1023
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
ranch is located thirteen miles southwest of Laytonville and is reached by daily stage.
Mr. and Mrs. Branscomb had ten children, as follows: C. W., a black- smith at Covelo; Sarah R., Mrs. J. P. Miller, of Santa Rosa ; Elizabeth, Mrs. Ward, of Ukiah; Joseph Edmond, a rancher in Long valley; Martha, Mrs. Chris Hansen, of Willits; John M., former merchant and postmaster at Brans- comb; Arthur T., a resident of Merced ; James H., of Butte Mountain; Law- rence E., a farmer on the Ten Mile creek ; and Lelia, Mrs. Wells, residing at home.
Mr. Branscomb was one of the organizers of the Jackson school district, helping to build the school house, and served as a member of the board of trustees for many years. About 1895 Mr. Branscomb secured the postoffice for Branscomb and was appointed the first postmaster, an office which is now filled by his son, John M. In his career Benjamin Branscomb has been ably assisted by his wife, who is known throughout the region as a most excellent cook and housekeeper, and, as Ben claims, has been the secret of his success. Mr. Branscomb was made a Mason in Lafayette Lodge at Sebastopol, of which he served as master. He is now a member of Abell Lodge No. 164, F. & A. M., Ukiah. Politically he is a Progressive Republican.
D. CLAIR SMITH was born in Ukiah August 16, 1885. His father, John Henry Smith, was born in Solano county February 1, 1856, the son of John P. Smith, a pioneer of Ukiah, who is represented elsewhere in this work. During his boyhood and early manhood J. H. Smith assisted his father in stock- raising and farming, and laid the foundation of a splendid constitution and clear brain, which later proved of so much value to him. In 1876, seeing the necessity of a first-class livery stable in Ukiah, he purchased the interest of N. Henshaw, who was in partnership with A. C. Perry. The firm was Perry & Smith, and still later became Smith & Morrison, running the Ukiah stables. In 1882 Mr. Smith sold his interest in the stable and engaged in general trading and teaming. In 1885 he purchased the livery business of C. P. Smith and continued the business with different partners, his last partner being John Hill, with whom he was in business for nine years, until Mr. Hill's death. After this Mr. Smith purchased the Hill interest in the Fashion Stable and conducted it alone until his death. He was married to Mary B. Milne on February 16, 1879, and they had four children. In 1898 he was appointed to fill the unexpired term of Sheriff J. R. Johnson, and that fall was elected sheriff on the Democratic ticket, performing his duties so well that he was re-elected in 1902. On December 22, 1905, in the Judge's cham- bers in the Ukiah courthouse, he was unfortunately killed by a half-breed prisoner, who had a gun concealed on his person. The bullet killed the sheriff instantly. His wife died in Santa Clara August 16, 1912. Fraternally Sheriff Smith was an Odd Fellow. A man of sterling worth and sound busi- ness judgment, in his death the community lost a truly good man.
D. C. Smith was the third eldest of his parents' family, his childhood being spent in his native city. He received his elementary education in the public schools, and after completing the grammar school, entered Mount Tamalpais Military Academy at San Rafael, where he attended for two years. He then became a junior in the Ukiah high school, but quit in his senior year to take a course in Mathews Business College, Ukiah, where he was graduated. He spent two years with Baker & Hamilton in San Francisco. then two years farming near Holtville in the Imperial valley, after which he became
1024
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
foreman for H. A. Eldred of the Eagle Stables in Ukiah. He continued here until he purchased the stables, with Ralph R. Byrnes, in 1912, since which time they have continued as proprietors of the Eagle Stables under the firm name of Smith & Byrnes. To the management of this business Mr. Smith devotes all of his time.
In Oakland occurred the marriage of D. Clair Smith with Mabel Anna Stitt, a native of Michigan. Mr. Smith was made a Mason in Ukiah Lodge No. 146, F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of Casimir Chapter, Order of the Eastern Star, in Ukiah. He is a member of Santa Rosa Lodge No. 646, B. P. O. E.
A. J. LOWELL was born at Kibesilah, Mendocino county, January 28, 1872. His father, Prof. A. J. Lowell, was born at Bangor, Me., February 13, 1819, was a graduate of a college in Maine, and became a school teacher. He was for a period principal of the Grenada Academy, in Mississippi. In 1852 he came to California and for about thirteen years taught school and practiced law in this state, mostly in Mendocino county. In 1867 he settled at Cot- toneva, Cal., where he located a claim, which he improved, and where he followed farming and stockraising until 1898. Then he retired to Westport, where he died November 14, 1900. His first marriage was at Gibsonville, Cal., in 1855, to Mrs. Mary Ann Van Alstine, a widow, who died November 1, 1864. He was married (second) in Potter Valley, Mendocino county, in 1865, to Mrs. Mary E. (Bevans) Devilbiss, who was born in Maryland and died at Cottoneva July 3, 1890.
Of Professor Lowell's first marriage there was one child. Julia. Mrs. Henry Devilbiss, of Los Angeles, and of the second union there were two sons, J. W., a farmer and surveyor, with headquarters in Westport, and A. J., whose name heads this article, and whose early life was spent on the farm at Cottoneva. Upon completing the public schools he entered Heald's Business College. San Francisco, where he was graduated in 1891, after which he be- came associated with his brother in the production of ties and tanbark at Rockport. They owned timber claims in the vicinity of Rockport. from which point Lowell Brothers shipped their product. In 1898 they sold their interests in the Cottoneva and dissolved partnership.
A. J. Lowell then located at Westport, where he became clerk and book- keeper for the Westport Commercial Company, a position he filled ably and well for three years, the company being then sold to J. S. Kimball. He then spent two years in San Francisco, after which, in partnership with M. Hart. he purchased the stock of J. S. Kimball Company at Westport and continued the mercantile business under the firm name of M. Hart & Co. for two years. In March, 1907, Mr. Lowell bought out Mr. Hart's interest, and soon after- wards he incorporated the Westport Mercantile Company with himself as president and manager of the company. The business grew, the stock was increased and became very large, having a full line of general merchandise, including a large stock of hardware. But unfortunately, on June 29, 1914. the building and stock were burned. entailing a loss of over twelve thousand dollars above insurance. At the time of the fire Mr. Lowell had purchased the interests of others and was practically the sole owner. Since then he is closing out the affairs of the old company and proceeding to disincorporate. Nothing daunted over the heavy loss, he began business again on his own account, putting in a stock of general merchandise in a place across the street from where his business was burned, and he is engaged in general merchan-
1025
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
dising under the old name of the Westport Mercantile Company, on his own account. All these years he also has been engaged in the production and shipping of ties and tanbark from Westport and other landings in northern Mendocino county to San Francisco.
The marriage of Mr. Lowell occurred in San Francisco, when he was united with Rose E. Dunn, a native daughter of that city. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Fort Bragg Lodge No. 361, F. & A. M., and is a member of Mendocino Chapter, R. A. M.
FRANK ASA CUMMINGS .- A man who has traveled much and has had a diversified experience is Frank Asa Cummings, who was born at lowa Hill, Placer county, Cal., January 26, 1864. His father, Jonathan Francis, a native of Somerset county, Me., came to California in 1856, and engaged in mining at Iowa Hill, with more or less success. During the construction of the Central Pacific railroad he became carpenter foreman in construction of the railroad over the Sierras, and afterwards held the same position on the construction of the Salinas branch and the building of the line across the Oakland estuary. In 1874 he located in Mendocino county, where he im- proved and built up the stage station called Cummings, and though he pre- empted one hundred and sixty acres some distance away, the place on which he made the improvements did not come into the market until after his death in 1901. His widow then homesteaded and proved up on the place they had devoted so many years to building up and improving. Mrs. J. F. Cummings was in maidenhood Mary Eliza Brace, who was born in Michigan, and she died at her old home about 1906.
Of her four children Frank Asa, the second oldest, was only ten years of age when he came to Cummings. Here he made himself useful on the farm and attended school until 1884, when he entered Heald's Business Col- lege, San Francisco, and graduated therefrom. Subsequently he became a clerk in the store of W. A. Hoffman at Ukiah for a short time, when he began driving stage between Sherwood and Alderpoint. In 1886-87 he was employed on the geological survey in Oregon and then entered the employ of Leonard & Ellis of the Valvoline Oil Company, San Francisco, as book- keeper, continuing with them until 1890, when he resigned and engaged with the Pacific Improvement Company in townsite work in the San Joaquin valley. Later he was with the Southern Pacific railroad on location and railroad survey work in Arizona and Southern California. It should be men- tioned that on the survey corps originally he began as a brush cutter, then became stake artist, after which he rose in turn to chainman, rodman, leveler, transitman, then engineer in charge of work. He developed into a very thorough surveyor and his work became known for its accuracy and com- pleteness. He was also on railroad location and surveys in the states of Nevada and Texas. For two and one-half years he was with the Brown, Craig & Co., general insurance men, in San Francisco, as bookkeeper on their farm books. Then for a while he drove stage again, this time in Hum- boldt county, then became storekeeper for F. Helmke at Blocksburg for a period of eighteen months. But surveying was his hobby, so he entered the employ of the Santa Fe railroad on the construction of the Valley railroad, and for three years of the time he was with the company as inspector on the Franklin tunnel, the last year being in charge of the surveying, then spent a year on other work for the company. Subsequently he went with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company and was sent to Arizona and Sonora,
. 1026
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
Mexico, where he was on railroad survey and location. During these years he helped survey the towns of Dos Palos, Firebaugh, McMullen, Collis and other towns in the San Joaquin valley for the Pacific Improvement Company, and for the Southern Pacific in the survey and soundings of the long wharf at Port Los Angeles.
On the death of his father it necessitated his coming home to take charge of the stage station for his mother. He was reluctant to do so, for it meant his giving up surveying and the hopes and ambitions of his profession, a work he was thoroughly interested in and which he not only enjoyed but had mas- tered. However, he saw his duty to his mother and came home, and has managed the place ever since.
Cummings stage station is located thirteen and one-half miles north of Laytonville on the Humboldt road. The ranch has an area of three hundred and seventy-five acres, and is well watered by Rattlesnake creek and numerous springs, among them some very excellent sulphur springs, but he has not as yet developed them. Cummings stage station and postoffice is one of the oldest in northern Mendocino county. Mr. Cummings' sister, Minnie B., was the first postmistress, she being followed by her mother, who held the office until F. A. Cummings became the postmaster.
Mr. Cummings is a member of California Parlor No. 1, Native Sons of the Golden West. He is a most interesting gentleman, a man well read and of much information, and having a retentive memory he is well posted and is a very interesting conversationalist. He holds a high place in the estimation of the people of Mendocino county, who admire him for his genial and optimistic disposition, and for his sterling and moral worth.
SAMUEL PINCHES was born in Herefordshire, England, in 1851, the son of Samuel and Mary (Priest) Pinches, both natives of England, who spent their entire life in that country. The father was a horseman in Knigh- ton, England, and his family was composed of six children. of whom Samuel was the youngest.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.