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 115
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 115
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Reared and educated in the public schools at Knighton, when sixteen years of age Samuel Pinches started out to make his own livelihood, going to the city of London, where he followed the trade of malster until 1871. At Amley, Herefordshire, June 10, 1871, he was married to Miss Sarah Ellen Jones, who was also a native of that shire, the daughter of William and Sarah (Jones) Jones. The father was a linen draper and his demise occurred in Herefordshire. The mother and two sisters of Mrs. Pinches accompanied them to Long valley, Mendocino county. Cal., arriving in August of 1871. An aunt of Mrs. Pinches, Mrs. Elizabeth Seargent, had been one of the early settlers of Long valley, and was said to be the first white woman in the valley ; she afterwards became a widow and subsequently married William Henry.
On their arrival here Mr. and Mrs. Pinches followed farming on the Seargent place, and while farming the place four acres of it were sold and laid out as the original townsite of Laytonville. Afterwards the ranch of two hundred and ninety-six acres came into the possession of Mr. and Mrs. Pinches, and they still own and operate it, engaging in farming and stock- raising. For seven years and three months Mr. Pinches ran the daily stage between Laytonville and Westport, a distance of twenty-seven miles. Since then the line runs only as far as Branscomb, and he now has the contract for the mail stage to Branscomb, a distance of thirteen miles. In connection
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with his farming he is building a livery and feed stable and a garage, which will be a valuable addition to the town of Laytonville.
Mr. and Mrs. Pinches had the following children: William Samuel, a merchant in Laytonville ; Gertrude, Mrs. William Ray, of Twin Rocks, Long valley ; Ada, Mrs. Bowman. also of Long valley ; Lillie, Mrs. Woodruff, of Laytonville : Ina, Mrs. Davidson, who died in Laytonville and left a daughter. Aileen, who resides with her grandparents: Lesa, Mrs. Simpson, who resides in Sai. Francisco: George, who is assisting his father; Alice, Mrs. Simpson, of San Francisco; Oswell, also assisting his father. The parents are mem- bers of the Seventh Day Adventist Church, and politically are Democrats.
ROBERT E. MARSHALL .- Among the newer arrivals in Long valley who is a prominent and enterprising young man is Robert E. Marshall, who was born in Montpelier. Wyo., in 1884. the son of Elijah Marshall, who was a cattleman in Wyoming. From a youth Robert E. became familiar with the cattle business in all its details, becoming a splendid horseman and rider, and was thus able to assist his father and to ride the range. When seventeen years of age he began riding the range for other ranchers, and continued it for some years, until he began railroading. The discovery of gold at Gold- field, Nev., found Mr. Marshall in that place soon after the first excitement, and he followed mining and prospecting, not only at Goldfield, but in Tonopah and Manhattan.
In 1906 Mr. Marshall removed to the Moapa valley, Nev., where he was employed as forest ranger. In 1912 he came to California, locating at Layton- ville, where he started a livery and feed stable, as well as doing freighting and teaming. between Longvale on the railroad and Laytonville and on to northern Mendocino county points as far north as Bell Springs.
Mr. Marshall's marriage in Tonopah, Nev., united him with Miss Carlie Perkinson, who was born in Moapa valley, Nev., and they have two children, Robert W. and Lucile. Personally Mr. and Mrs. Marshall are well liked and have made numerous warm friends in their new location.
ANDREW HAUN .- A native of Austria, Andrew Haun was born in 1837 in Tyrol, where he learned the wagonmaker's as well as the millwright's trade. In that vicinity, too, he married Anna Greiter, who was also a native of Austria, and in 1873 they came to America. The first six months were spent in Cincinnati, Ohio, and from there they removed to Grand Rapids, Mich., where Mr. Haun engaged in blacksmithing and carriagemaking for four years. He then removed to Dallas, Tex., where he engaged in the same line of business. In 1881 he located in Humboldt county, Cal., where he ran a portable sawmill and manufactured lumber at Fortuna. After this he spent a year at blacksmithing and about a year at Harris and Drewry in lumber manufacturing. In 1886 he moved his mill to Cahto, and in 1887 located on the present site of his mill on Mud creek, near Branscomb. Here he erected a sawmill and has manufactured lumber ever since. Associated with him in the business are his two sons, Andrew J. and John F., who in 1903 incor- porated the Andrew Haun & Sons Company, with Andrew Haun as president and A. J. Haun as secretary, treasurer and manager, while John F. is vice- president and a director. The mill, located twelve miles west of Laytonville, in Jackson valley, is run by steam and has a capacity of 20,000 feet per day. The members of the firm own and control eight hundred acres of timber, principally pine and redwood, and the lumber finds a ready sale in the local markets.
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To Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Haun were born nine children, five of whom grew up. Mary is married and lives in Tyrol, Austria : Andrew J. and John F. are members of the firm; Frank was accidentally shot in 1903: Lizzie is Mrs. W. F. Woodhead, residing near Branscomb.
Andrew J. Haun, the secretary, treasurer and manager of Andrew Haun & Sons Company, was only three years of age when the family came to the United States and located in Cincinnati, Ohio. He received his education in the public schools of Michigan, Texas and California. From a youth he learned lumbering and sawmilling, and so has always taken an active part with his father in the management of the sawmill and lumber sales A. I. Haun was married in Ukiah to Pearl Cummings, who was born in Round valley, and they have four children, Christene, Andrew J., David Russel and Charles Gordon.
John F. Haun was married in Mendocino to Mary Kiler, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have four children, as follows: Mary. Rosa. Anna and Frank.
LEE JOHNSON WILLIAMS .- A native son of California. Lee John- son Williams was born at Dayton, Butte county, Cal .. in 1863. During the same year his parents moved to Lakeport and afterwards to Ukiah. The father. Samuel G. Williams, a blacksmith by trade, brought his family from Missouri to Butte county, Cal., in 1861, crossing the plains with his wife and six children in prairie schooner. the motive power being ox-teams. He ran a blacksmith shop in Dayton, Lakeport and Ukiah, and while at the last named place he also engaged in farming on the Russian river, near what is now Talmage. In 1868 he located at Cahto, where he followed blacksmithing until he purchased a farm in Long valley, about three miles south of Laytonville, where in connection with ranching he built a shop and did blacksmithing for many years. He spent two years in blacksmithing at Covelo, but returned to his ranch and remained there until his death, November 3, 1886. His widow, Mrs. Martha (Taylor) Williams, resides with her son. Lee J., at the advanced age of eighty-seven years. They were the parents of six children, as follows: Babcock resides in Willits: Maggie is Mrs. J. M. Dill. of Laytonville : Alphonza is Mrs. Mc- Annich, of Willits: Mary. Mrs. Fielder, died in Willits; Lee Johnson is the subject of this sketch ; and Hardin lives in Willits.
As a youth "John" Williams, as he is familiarly known, attended the public schools at Cahto. He learned farming on his father's place in Long valley. After leaving the home farm he engaged in farming and stockraising. as well as the hotel business in Cahto until he sold out. He is now engaged in farming in Long valley two miles west of Laytonville, and in connection is also overseer of roads of his district, a matter in which he takes much interest, and he does much careful work in order to keep the roads in his district in good condition. And it is the concensus of opinion that the roads in his district are the best in his part of the county.
In Laytonville Mr. Williams was united in marriage with Ida MI. Williams, who was born in Sacramento, and to them have been born children. as follows: Merrill, a graduate of the Santa Rosa Business College, has been in the employ of the Northwestern Pacific Railroad and is a member of the Cahto Lodge of Odd Fellows : the others, Herman, Roland, Esta Veva and Lyndall, are still with their parents.
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In 1892 Mr. Williams became a member of Cahto Lodge No. 206, I. O. (). F., and has been one of its most prominent and active members ever since. He has been noble grand for a great many terms and is at present occupying the chair. For the past fifteen years he has served as deputy sheriff and is holding the position at the present time. He is very enterprising and has always been ready and willing to give of his time as well as means towards the forwarding of any movement that has for its aim the enhancing and betterment of the condition of the citizens of the community.
WILLIAM BOYD COOMBS .- The proud claim of being a Native Son of the Golden State belongs to William Boyd Coombs, for he was born in Little River, Mendocino county, November 21, 1874, the son of a pioneer settler well and favorably known in this section of country, Silas Coombs, of whom a separate sketch will be found elsewhere in this volume. The young- est of the four children comprising the family of Silas and Margaret J. (Boyd) Coombs was William Boyd, who was given the best school advantages possible, following his public school training by a course in Heald's Business College in San Francisco, from which he graduated in 1891. An opportunity to make practical application of the theoretical knowledge which he had recently acquired came to him shortly after his graduation, when he was given charge of his father's sawmill and lumber business at Little River. In every sense of the word he filled the position worthily, and after the death of his father even more and greater responsibilities fell to his capable man- agement, for besides running the mill as formerly he also had charge of the store and wharves. About five years later, in 1899. all of the available timber having been cut, he dismantled the mill and has since then used the remaining smaller timber for ties and shingle bolts, a business which he still finds profitable.
With a clear foresight Silas Coombs anticipated the need of a substantial wharf at Little River and as soon as he had completed it he saw that his prophecy had not been a vain one, for shipping that came to the port continued to grow from the first, until it is now conceded to be one of the best harbors between San Francisco and Eureka. It extends one thousand feet into the ocean, and although originally built many years ago, is in perfect condition today, due to the vigilance of the owner in keeping up the repairs. The responsibilities which fall to Mr. Coombs as proprietor of the wharf alone would be sufficient to occupy the time and attention of an average man, but in addition to this he continues the merchandise business established by his father about 1863 and is also postmaster at Little River, besides superintend- ing his ranch at Little River.
In Little River, in 1900, Mr. Coombs was united in marriage with Miss Emma Barton, who was born at Navarro, Mendocino county, the daughter of Homer Percival and Flora Estelle (Winslow) Barton, both natives of Maine. Mr. Barton rendered valiant service in the Civil war as a member of a Maine regiment and after the conflict was over he did not settle down in the east again, but instead came to California and for many years was connected with the lumber interests of Mendocino county. He now makes his home on a ranch near Mendocino, living alone, for he was bereaved in the death of his wife December 17, 1910. Of the two children born to Mr. and Mrs. Barton Mrs. Coombs is the youngest. By her marriage she has become the mother of two children. Willard Barton and Malcolm Goddard. 52
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Varied as are Mr. Coombs interests mentioned above, all has not been said until his interest in banking matters has been hinted at at least. He was one of the organizers of the Mendocino Bank of Commerce and is a director of the institution. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Mendocino Lodge No. 179, F. & A. M., and is also identified with Mendocino Chapter No. 88, R. A. M., Ukiah Commandery No. 33, K. T., Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco, is a member of Stella Lodge No. 213, I. O. O. F., and with his wife is a member of Ocean View Chapter No. 111. O. E. S., at Mendocino. His political views accord with the principles laid down by the Republican party. Personally Mr. Coombs is regarded as one of the most substantial citizens of Little River and Mendocino county, is liberal and kind hearted, and in a word, is the worthy son of a worthy farmer.
GEORGE W. KIBLINGER .- Sheep raising is one of the industries which have contributed especially to the agricultural wealth of Lake county, and the Snow Mountain Stock Company's interests are among the most im- portant there, its large holdings both on Snow mountain and in West Upper Lake precinct being devoted to the grazing of its large herds, which usually comprise about twelve hundred head of Merinos. The company, of which George W. Kiblinger is treasurer and manager, is composed mainly of mem- bers of the Kiblinger family, and commenced operations here when they inherited the vast property of Harlow Snow, one of the pioneers of Lake county, who came here in 1857 and acquired the ownership of twenty-two hundred acres on Snow mountain. The Kiblingers have kept this estate intact and bought twelve hundred acres more, located in West Upper Lake precinct, and they have maintained a leading place among the highly suc- cessful stock growers of the region, due to the excellent management of George W. Kiblinger, who has been in charge since he came out to Lake county, in 1887.
Mr. Kiblinger's parents lived and died in Indiana, in which state he was born November 16, 1858. He was the youngest of a family of five children, of whom Mary E., Mrs. Clark. resides in Kansas: Ida died in Lake county, Cal., unmarried ; Harlow, who also died in Lake county, left a family of five children ; Fannie K., Mrs. Crane, lives in Kansas. George W. Kiblinger was but two weeks old when his mother died, and his father passed away when he was a boy of seven, from which time until 1871 he lived with an aunt. Then he went out to Kansas, where he lived with another aunt and uncle for four years, in 1875 making his first business venture by renting a farm twelve miles from Topeka, Kans., on the Wakarusa road. Meantime he had continued his studies and learned a trade, working winters in Crane & Company's book bindery, at Topeka, and attending school during the summer season, from 1871 to 1875. After that he turned all his attention to farming and the stock business, hiring out to farmers part of the time. His uncle, Harlow Snow, made the journey to California in 1852, crossing the plains in the same train with D. O. Sleeper, with whose family he lived for some time. In 1857 Mr. Snow settled in Lake county, where he became the owner of twenty-two acres on Snow mountain, and when he died a bachelor in 1886 this property passed into the possession of the Kiblingers. In 1887 George W. Kiblinger came to this state from Kansas to take the management of this tract, which he has handled ever since, and when the corporation known as the Snow Mountain Stock Company was formed, he was formally made manager as well as treasurer of same, being one of the principal stockholders. This con-
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cern was organized under the laws of the state of Kansas and the officers are : Fannie Kiblinger Crane, of Topeka, Kans., president; Mary E. Clark, vice- president ; George W. Kiblinger, treasurer and manager; Frank S. Crane, of Topeka, Kans., secretary. The board of directors is practically the same, the brother and sisters and brother-in-law holding their interests in common, a fact which has added much to the strength and prosperity of the company. The deceased brother, Harlow Kiblinger, left a family of five children. For winter grazing the company has purchased twelve hundred acres near Upper Lake, the land formerly comprised in four smaller ranches, the Emerson, Tinker, Lyon and DeFrinery tracts. In the summer the sheep are kept on the Snow mountain lands, and the company keeps an average of twelve hun- dred head, operating on an extensive scale.
There are few men in the stock business in Lake county who have had the degree of success and profit which has attended Mr. Kiblinger's transactions. It is generally conceded that he knows the business thoroughly and has a familiarity with its various details acquired by few even in years of experience. Personally he has qualities which would have won him a substantial position in whatever field he chose for his work. With the common sense, good judgment and alertness necessary for success in his particular line of business he com- bines clearness of intellect, high moral attributes and an adherence to good principles which makes him respected for himself, regardless of his business connections. Fraternally he is associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to Upper Lake Lodge No. 241, and he has passed all the chairs in that body. His political support is given to the Republican party.
Mr. Kiblinger was married, in Lake county, in 1907, to Mrs. Elizabeth Etta Crumpacker, daughter of Joseph Andrew Tinker. She was born in California, but grew up in Nevada and was first married there, the only child of that union, Edna M. Crumpacker, being at present located in San Francisco. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Kiblinger. Mrs. Kiblinger is a member of the Christian Church at Lakeport. She is a woman of pleasing personality and active intellect, keeping well up with current literature through books and magazines, and she and her husband have many pleasant social connections.
LAURENCE A. WEMPLE .- Among the prominent hustling young business men in Laytonville is Laurence A Wemple, postmaster at Layton- ville, who is also engaged in the blacksmithing, carriage-making and automo- bile repairing business under the firm name of Downing & Wemple, and is also the manager of the Willits Telephone and Telegraph Company. He was born at Milford, Lassen county, Cal., May 21, 1888, the grandson of Joseph Wemple, who came from Michigan across the plains with ox teams to California in 1860, locating in Lassen county. There he improved a farm at Milford. on which he still resides. One of his sons, John B., was born at Milford. where he in turn became a farmer and married Abbie E. Winslow, who came from Ver- mont to California. They now reside on their ranch at Standish, Lassen ' county.
Of their family of six children Laurence A. is the third oldest, and his boyhood was spent on the farm at Milford. There he received his education in the public schools, after which he attended the Santa Rosa Business Col- lege, graduating in 1908 with a standing of ninety-eight and five-eighths per cent. The same year his father had brought cattle and horses from the home ranch to Santa Rosa for sale, but the sale was so slow that he and his son
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Laurence brought them to Long valley, where the latter looked after them until they were disposed of.
Laurence A. Wemple then started to learn the blacksmith trade with J. R. Downing, continuing for three years; meantime, April 1, 1911, he was appointed postmaster at Laytonville and has since held the position. After being appointed postmaster he quit blacksmithing for the time being, but in September, 1914, he formed a partnership with his former employer, and as Downing & Wemple they are engaged in the general blacksmith business, including carriagemaking, as well as automobile repairing. As manager of the Willits Telephone and Telegraph Company Mr. Wemple has charge of all the lines of the company from Laytonville as a center, the three lines run- ning to Willits, Westport and Covelo.
Mr. Wemple was married in Ukiah, being united with Miss Alma N. Clifton, a native daughter of Mendocino county, born at Covelo, who ably assists him in the postoffice. They have one child, Clifton L. Fraternally Mr. Wemple is an active member of Cahto Lodge No. 206, I. O. O. F., in which he is the present vice grand.
JAMES LEROY DUNLAP .- One of the native sons of Mendocino county, whose welfare has ever been his chief interest, James Leroy Dunlap has made that county the environment of his entire existence, working with zeal and a patriotic heart to do his part as an active citizen toward the devel- opment of his community and the upbuilding of its industrial interests. This splendid citizenship was rewarded in 1907 by his appointment through Post- master Hitchcock to the position of postmaster of Covelo, where he until recently remained, giving his close attention to every detail of the office and affording satisfaction to all concerned.
The birth of Mr. Dunlap occurred December 20, 1872, in Round Valley, this county, where he spent his early years on his parents' farm. There being no high schools in the valley his educational training was limited to the grammar school of Covelo, but during his school years he proved an apt and absorbing pupil, and his natural quick intelligence has been excellent aid in procuring for him the thorough knowledge of affairs which he has today. After finishing his school course he took up the trade of carpenter and worked at it for a few years. Meanwhile he had studied and read closely. He was offered a position as industrial teacher in the Indian school in Round Valley, and while there took up a claim of a hundred and sixty acres near Redwine on the Eel river. Clearing up this land he added improvements and finally proved up on the tract, relinquishing the duties of teacher in order to engage in farming for himself. He brought part of the land to a splendid state of cultivation, and used the remainder for a stock range for his hogs and cattle. Methodical, painstaking and given to systematizing his work, he soon found himself in a position of gratifying success, his stock bringing good prices at the market and his land proving most productive. He gave up ranch life in 1907, to fill the office of postmaster to which he had been called, but he relin- quished that post owing to poor health. He still owns a ranch in the foot- hills, interesting himself in the raising and selling of stock.
On August 9, 1903, occurred the marriage of Mr. Dunlap and Eva Adele Cummings, who has proved a worthy helpmate and a devoted mother to their five children, Eva M., James Everett, Russell Leroy, Vera L. and Harold. The family attend the Presbyterian church at Covelo, where Mr. Dunlap has acted as trustee for a number of years and given every means in his power
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to aid in its work. An able and efficient man in all his labors he has the confidence of his fellow-citizens, the esteem of many friends and the affection and deep love of a delightful family. They are now living on Mountain ranch, about twenty miles from Covelo.
GEORGE HEWLETT .- It is a manifest exemplification of the breadth of his achievements as well as the wide possibilities of American citizenship that Mr. Hewlett should have risen to eminence at the bar of San Francisco. while at the same time he has become a commanding and dominant figure in the political life of California and also a large land owner, finding in the management of his broad acres a pleasant relaxation from the often harassing responsibilities incident to a professional and political career of intense activ- ity. Enterprises widely different in purpose have rounded out a character and ripened an intellect more than ordinarily forceful, and not the least of these enterprises has to do with the ownership and supervision of a valuable estate of one thousand acres near Hopland, which came into his possession about 1894. It is not possible for him to be content with mediocrity, hence he developed his large acreage with a view to the highest possible success in the crops secured therefrom. Not only is he rated as one of the largest hop- growers in Mendocino county, but it is also said that his land is rivalled by none in care and cultivation. Among his recent improvements may be men- tioned the hop kilns and houses, also the introduction of the German system of using a high trellis for the support of the hop vines. Even when professional duties have been most onerous and public affairs the most interesting, he has taken the time to study hop-culture and has kept in touch with every develop- ment in this profitable and important crop.
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