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 117

Author: Carpenter, Aurelius O., 1836-; Millberry, Percy H., 1875- joint author
Publication date: 1914
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1090


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 117
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 117


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).


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At San Jose, Cal., Mr. Stubbs married Anne S. Kunze, who was born at Benicia, Solano county, this state, and they have had four children, all daugh- ters.


JAMES N. WHITE, a representative of one of the honored pioneer families of Mendocino county, Cal., was born in Cahto, April 10, 1852. His father, Robert White, was born in Ireland in 1822, and while a youth came to New Albany, Ind., where he remained ten years. He then went to New Orleans, where he ran as purser on the Mississippi river, and while there he became acquainted with Capt. J. P. Simpson. The two formed an attach- ment for each other, and as partners they came to California in 1849. After spending two months in Mariposa county, they returned to San Francisco, remaining until 1851. Then they engaged in quartz mining at Sonora, Tuo- lumne county, for eight months, returning to San Francisco. Going then to Log Cabin, Mendocino county, Mr. White was in charge of the Indian reservation at Fort Bragg until 1854, when with Capt. J. P. Simpson he located at Cahto. At the time there was a lake there, and plenty of game, thousands of ducks and geese. The Indians named it Cahto, meaning "Fat water." They located government land ; drained the lake, which gave them two hundred acres of rich land, which was formerly the bottom of the lake. They built and started a store, as also a hotel and livery stable, purchased land adjoining and the Cahto ranch which embraced about thirty-two hundred acres. Robert White was postmaster and express agent. They also owned the Blue Rock ranch, but that ranch was later owned by James N. White and Captain Simpson. The captain was found dead by J. N. White, having suc- cumbed to heart disease.


Robert White was married in 1850 to Laura Simpson, who was born in Illinois, a niece of Capt. John P. Simpson. She now resides in San Fran-


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cisco. Robert White was a past officer of Cahto Lodge No. 206, I. O. O. F .; his demise occurred in 1897.


Of their nine children six are living, of whom James N. White is the oldest. His education was obtained in the public schools and at Napa college. However, he chose ranching, having learned stock-raising from the time he was a boy. Purchasing his father's interest in the Blue Rock ranch he con- tinued at stock-raising, but some years after Capt. Simpson died Mr. White sold out to his widow. With four others he engaged in placer mining in Trinity and Shasta counties. They built reservoirs and flumes, and installed hydraulics, but the venture did not prove a financial success. Returning to Cahto he again followed the cattle business, buying and driving them to Westport and Caspar, where he had a steady market for them. He also han- dled hundreds of yoke of work-oxen, becoming so well posted and favorably known in that line that he was the buyer for most of the lumber companies on the upper Mendocino coast. About 1896 he purchased his present ranch of two hundred and ten acres, five miles north of Laytonville, watered by the South Fork of the North Fork of Eel river, which is devoted to raising grain and hops.


In Ukiah, on October 14, 1895, Mr. White was married, being united with Nellie Bowman, who was born near Sebastopol, Sonoma county, the daughter of John and Eliza (Durben) Bowman, who came to Oregon in 1852, thence to San Francisco and on to Sacramento, where they ran the ferry in the early days. Afterwards the family located in Sonoma county, where the father died. The mother then removed to Humboldt county, locating three miles above Camp Grant, intending to engage in dairying .. But the Indians attacked her in the frontier home. The mother made a stout resistance and although she was wounded in the hip, she fought them off, killing several Indians and with her five children making her escape down to Mr. Ward's home. After the Indians had burned her home they attacked the Ward's home, but were repulsed. Two months afterwards Mrs. Bowman moved to Long Valley, where she located land and as she prospered purchased adjoining land until the ranch comprised three thousand acres, which is now the Andrew Bowman place. There she died in 1907. Mr. and Mrs. White have one child, Robert. Mr. White was a past officer of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and a member of the Encampment, but he is not now a member. Politically he is an ardent Republican.


ED. ORDWAY .- One of the successful stockmen in Mendocino county, who has done much for the development of the industry in this section of the state, is Ed.Ordway, veteran cattle man, who has been interested in the business since he was a lad of fourteen, when he began riding the range. Since that time he has been continuously engaged in some phase of the stock business, and has become very successful. He is familiar with every detail of the industry, as was his father before him, and he grew up in the business. In addition to his stock interests he also owns valuable real estate, and is continually adding to his holdings, fully appreciating, as he does, the certain increase in value of California lands. Mr. Ordway is known as a citizen of broad and progressive spirit, and one who is always found in the vanguard of any movement for the betterment of the city and for general social uplift and improvement.


Mr. Ordway is a native of Iowa, having been born in Dewitt, Clinton county, in 1873. His father was Parker Ordway, and served in the Federal


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army during the Civil war. He was married to Idolphine Filbert, and in 1876 they brought their family to California, locating in Santa Cruz county where Ed. Ordway was reared, and here received his education in the public schools. When he was fourteen he commenced to ride the range and after some expe- rience made his first independent venture in the cattle business. He has continued to follow this line of occupation since, and has met with success. He was at first in business in Santa Cruz and Monterey counties, and it was in 1898 that he first came to Mendocino county, bringing a band of cattle from ranges south of the Bay, from which they had been driven by the extremely dry year. That same year he became interested in the butcher business in Watsonville, where he remained for several years. It was in 1904 that Mr. Ordway came to Fort Bragg, entering the employ of the Noyo Land and Cattle Company as their manager. Their range is on the Noyo river, where they have extensive acreage, and their headquarters are at Ranch Station, nine miles east of Fort Bragg, where Mr. Ordway makes his home.


Mr. Ordway has in addition other interests of his own, and is also inter- ested in several enterprises of importance. Among the latter is the Little Lake Meat Company, of which he is the president and which operates a retail market in Willits. With his brother, Ira, he is a member of the firm known as Ordway Brothers, interested in raising, buying and selling cattle, with their headquarters in Willits. Individually he owns a ranch near Metz, Monterey county, where he is engaged in the raising of live stock, principally cattle.


The marriage of Mr. Ordway took place in Watsonville, where he was united with Miss M. Aston, a native of that city. They are the parents of three children, Frank, Dolly and Bella. Both Mr. and Mrs. Ordway are popu- lar members of their social circle and have many warm friends. Mr. Ordway is a trustee of the Riverside school district. and also the clerk of the board. In politics he is a progressive Republican, but has never been especially active in the affairs of the party, although well informed on all current topics and an independent thinker.


ARTHUR F. MOULTON .- To few young men of such youthful age has come the unusual success that has crowned the efforts of Arthur F. Moulton, the present sole proprietor of the A. F. Moulton Company, producer of ties and tan bark and manufacturer of shingles and shakes at Navarro. He is a native of Los Angeles, being born there May 3, 1888, son of E. S. Moulton. The latter, a native of Galesburg. Ill., came to California and in Riverside was married to Julia Ferris, who was born in Woodhull, Ill.


After the birth of Arthur F. Moulton his parents returned to Galesburg. where the father became connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad, and upon his return to Los Angeles in 1891, with his family he con- tinued with different eastern railroads as general agent for two years. Then removing to Riverside he engaged as an orange packer and shipper, later forming a partnership firm, known as Moulton & Green, and operating orange packing houses at Casa Blanca and Highgrove. In this business he became very successful and widely known. In 1910, on being elected president of the First National Bank of Riverside, he closed out his orange business and has since devoted all of his time to banking.


In 1905 A. F. Moulton graduated from the Riverside high school and then entered the University of California, where he received the B. S. degree in 1909. He then entered the employ of the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph


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Company, in the capacity of engineer, working first in San Francisco, then ir. Los Angeles, and later in Seattle, where he became chief engineer of the Seattle district. Subsequently he was transferred to Spokane, Wash., to as- sume the position of assistant superintendent, and this position he acceptably filled until December 15, 1911, when he resigned to become vice president and general manager of the Stearns Lumber Company at Wendling. He con- tinued in this capacity until 1913, when the mill was sold to the Navarro Lumber Company. However, the Stearns Lumber Company still own the lands and Mr. Moulton continues to look after the company's interest at Wendling. Under the firm name of A. F. Moulton & Company he engages in the production of ties and tanbark, and the manufacture of shingles and shakes. He is the owner of the company, and his sagacious business judg- ment, keen sense of honor and integrity have placed him among the most popular business men of his section.


In August, 1910, Mr. Moulton married in Berkeley, Cal., Miss Chryssa Fraser, born in Canada and a graduate of the University of California in 1909, with the degree of A.B. One child has come to this union, Frances. Mr. Moulton is a member of Theta Delta Chi fraternity at Berkeley. He served for one term as clerk of the school board of trustees and at present he is serving as deputy county clerk. Politically he is a stanch Republican, while in religion he unites with his wife in membership of the St. John's Presby- terian Church of Berkeley.


FREDERICK AUGUST GROTHE .- Seldom does it occur that a large family of busy and energetic citizens will so unite their interests and capabil- ities as to bring about the utmost harmony and success that has been that of the Grothe brothers, who are continuing the large interest left by their father with perfect confidence and faith in each other, living together in peace and quiet, and enjoying the splendid results brought about by such conditions. Representatives of the highest type of citizens, they are highly respected, and one and all are thrifty, honest and energetic. The father, Frederick August Grothe, was one of the first permanent settlers in the extreme northern part of Mendocino county. Born in Berlin, Germany, he was there reared, and learned the blacksmith's trade. In 1867 he came to the United States, and remained in Long Island City, N. Y., until 1869, then making his way to Sacra- mento, Cal., where he began farming operations with Messrs. Chittenden & Weinkauf. With his partners he came to Mendocino county, located claims at and near Bell Springs, and with them he engaged in stock-raising, continu- ing a joint partnership for about seven years, when a dissolution of the part- nership and a division of the proceeds left him owner of the ranch at Bell Springs. Building up a well-improved ranch. he added to it from time to time until he had about ten thousand acres at the time of his death, in January, 1910, when he was about seventy-four years old. With the aid of his sons he was extensively engaged in raising cattle and sheep and was most suc- cessful, building up a large business.


Mr. Grothe built a large, comfortable residence on his ranch at Bell Springs, which has for many years been the stopping place for travelers be- tween Humboldt and county points and the Bay region. His wife, who before her marriage was Anna Weinkauf, was a native of Germany also, and died in June, 1891. They were both stanchly devoted to the Lutheran faith, and in politics Mr. Grothe was a Republican, public-spiritedly interested in local development, better educational facilities, and the progress of his adopted


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country. The nine children born to the worthy couple were: Louise, now Mrs. Linser, resides near Bell Springs. Selma, who for a time was engaged in teaching, now presides over the Bell Springs home. Otto is actively engaged on the home ranch. Lafe is in charge of the Grothe Brothers ranch at Brice- land. Franz is on the home ranch. Henry is in the dairy business at Wood- land. Paul and Weinkauf are also on the home ranch. Rose is a teacher and makes her home on the Bell Springs ranch.


Since the death of the father the estate has been merged into the firm of Grothe Brothers, which includes the entire family, all of whom give their time to the operation of the ranch, with the exception of Mrs. Linser and Henry. The Grothe Brothers ranch contains about ten thousand acres, which em- braces the old Bell Springs ranch as well as the Blue Rock ranch of about three thousand acres, situated just south of Bell Springs. The whole is devoted to the raising of Durham cattle and Merino sheep. It is well watered by the East branch of Eel river and Foster creek, as well as numerous springs in different parts of the range with Bell Springs, at the home place, which gives the ranch its name. The brothers also own the old Ferdinand Grothe ranch of two thousand acres at Briceland, which is operated as a stock ranch, and where they also carry on horticulture, raising principally apples and peaches. Their exemplary lives are a beautiful reward for the upbringing which they received from gentle and cultured parents, and they are recog- nized among their many associates as a representative class of citizens of the highest value.


NEWTON C. TERWILLIGER, who makes his home at Mon Chateau (my castle) on the Humboldt road eleven miles north of Laytonville at the junction of Grapevine and Rattlesnake creeks, is a very well informed and interesting man. Ohio is his native state and he was born at Circleville, Pick- away county, November 25, 1865, the son of David and Elizabeth Polk (Brown) Terwilliger, who spent their lives in that county and were the parents of seven children, of whom Newton C. was the second youngest. The youngest member of the family, Meeker Terwilliger, is the present district attorney of Pickaway county.


Newton C. Terwilliger spent his youth and early manhood on his father's farm near Circleville, receiving a good education in the public schools. In 1887 he came to San Francisco, but soon removed to Fresno, where he en- gaged in setting out vineyards and later followed the same business in Tulare, after which he became manager of a sporting goods store in that city ; sub- sequently he was deputy city marshal and deputy constable of Tulare until he accepted a position as deputy county tax collector at Visalia, where he served faithfully until he entered the Visalia land office as contest clerk. After a long period there he resigned and again entered the courthouse in Visalia, serving as a deputy in the various offices; i. e., tax collector, assessor, county clerk and recorder.


About this time Mr. Terwilliger was married in San Francisco to Miss Maudeline Wright, who was born in Vallejo, the daughter of Martin J. Wright, late surveyor general of California. He then entered the United States surveyor general's office in San Francisco as a draftsman, serving for seven and a half years.


Having become financially interested in the wholesale wine and liquor firm of P. J. Wenigar & Co. in San Francisco, of which he was elected vice- president and manager, he resigned the position which he held in the United


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States surveyor general's office to give his entire time to the management of the company's affairs. After the big fire he sold his interest in the firm to engage in general contracting and building, but two years later discontinued that to follow the real estate and insurance business.


In the fall of 1910 Mr. Terwilliger came to Mendocino county to take charge of the Western Live Stock Company's ranch, "Rancho Primero," at Laytonville, and for two and a half years gave his time to looking after the company's business, at the end of which period he resigned. In 1910 he had bought out Atkinson's homestead, on the old Idol stage station at the junction of the Grapevine and Rattlesnake creeks, and filed a homestead on it. He has cleared land and made other improvements and engages in truck gardening and stock-raising. So pleased is he with the location that he has named it "Mon Chateau" (my castle) as he is enjoying the mountain air. water and country life to the fullest. He has one son, Newton Wright.


Mr. Terwilliger is agent for the New York Life Insurance Company and is serving as deputy county clerk. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Occidental Lodge No. 22. F. & A. M., in San Francisco. Formerly he was a prominent member of the Odd Fellows Encampment and Canton. but is not now an active member. Personally he is a very interesting gentleman and a man of enterprise and much public spirit.





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