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 59
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 59
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
SILAS WARREN COOMBS was born at the old Silas Coombs home, Little River, which he now owns and occupies. His father, Silas Coombs, was the founder of the mills, wharf and store at Little River, and was one of the leading business men of the Mendocino coast; a sketch of his life appears elsewhere in this work.
Silas W .. Coombs was born March 28, 1870, and his youth was spent on the home farm, his education being obtained in the public schools. From a lad he learned ranching and in time he took charge of his father's ranch, after his death continuing to run it for his mother until 1901. He then joined Jim Pullen in Butte county and assisted him in working a mine. However, it was not to his liking so he returned and continued to operate the old farm until the death of his mother in 1906. In the settlement of the estate he be- came possessor of a ranch of two hundred and eighty-five acres, the old Coombs farm residence, lying on the ocean front. The ranch is beautifully located just south of Little River on the coast road, overlooking the broad Pacific.
560
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
About one hundred acres are under cultivation, the balance being grazing land, and the whole being devoted to farming and stock raising. He is a stock- holder in the L. E. White Shipping Co.
At Little River occurred the marriage of Silas Warren Coombs and Mrs. Margaret (Bullard) Hurst, a native of South Carolina, who came to California with her parents. To them have been born three children : Olen Silas, Cora Constance and Margaret Elizabeth, the two last being twins. By her former marriage Mrs. Coombs had one child, Murl Hurst. Fraternally Mr. Coombs is a member of Stella Lodge No. 213 at Mendocino, as well as the encamp- ment of Odd Fellows. He is also a member of Pepperwood Camp, W. O. W. Politically he has always given his allegiance to and supports Republican principles.
ANTONIO STORNETTA .- While feeling keenly the limitations by which he was surrounded and rebelling somewhat because of the want of opportunity which hedged him in on the small farm in Switzerland, Antonio Stornetta was in reality laying the foundation for the enviable reputation which he now enjoys as one of the foremost dairymen on the Mendocino coast. He was born in Canton Ticino, Switzerland, in 1850. In this pictur- esque and beautiful shut-in country he toiled laboriously in making butter and cheese in which his countrymen excel, and when he came to the United States in 1874 at the age of twenty-four, strong of body and ambitious to succeed, he brought with him as fine a knowledge of general dairying as one could wish to find.
Borrowing the money for his ocean passage, Mr. Stornetta had abso- lutely nothing with which to begin life in the United States, yet his faith in the future was supreme, and seemed to influence good fortune in his favor. At least, ofter arriving in Marin county he readily found en.ployment in a dairy, his remuneration consisting of $15 per month. However, work was not forthcoming during the entire year and his profits were soon consumed with the necessities of life. Eventually he found a more paying dairy posi- tion, receiving for his services $30 a month and board. This seemed large returns to the man accustomed to the struggle and stress of existence, and he minimized his expenditures, and saved wherever he could, in time accumu- lating a neat little nest egg. Thus encouraged he rented a dairy farm in Sonoma county for a short time, in 1886 coming to Point Arena, where he rented the farm of L. Morse. This farm he stocked with milch cows, and as business came his way he cleared a considerable portion of the land, enlarged his dairy and rented more land, until he had as many as one hundred and seventy-five or two hundred head of cattle. Ever since he has conducted one of the finest dairies anywhere on the coast.
In connection with his dairy Mr. Stornetta organized the Point Arena creamery, but in 1902 he built a creamery of his own, and has since made his own butter, operating under the name of the Garcia River Creamery. Already he has a fine trade of more than local extent, his butter and creamery goods finding their way to the town and into the country for many miles. He con- ducts a nine hundred acre ranch on which he has ninety cows. For two years he leased his cattle and subleased the farm and established a dairy business at Fort Bragg, having two hundred and fifty cows and being asso- ciated with Mr. Biaggi. Returning, he has since devoted his entire time to the original dairy. He owns a three hundred acre farm on Alder creek which he
+
T
+
A Stornetta
563
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
purchased in 1902 and now leases. Taken all in all Mr. Stornetta is to be congratulated upon his splendid success in life, for he came to a strange country in debt, with no knowledge of the language, and has forged his way to the front in spite of these obstacles.
Mr. Stornetta was married in San Francisco to Miss Giovanina Biaggi, also a native of Ticino, Switzerland, and seven children constituted their fam- ity : Ida, John, Flora, and Dewey are all at home, Eugene, Stella and Bobby are deceased.
A Republican in political sentiment, Mr. Stornetta has evinced his pub- lic spiritedness in many avenues of effort for the public welfare, fraternally as a Mason, being a member of Point Arena Lodge, F. & A. M .; Ukiah Chap- ter, R. A. M. ; the Ukiah Commandery Knights Templar ; and the Point Arena Lodge and Encampment, I. O. O. F. The Druids of Fort Bragg also number lim as a member.
BENJAMIN FRANKLIN SHAUL .- Numbered among the live ranchers who are operating extensively in southern Lake county are the members of the firm of Cary & Shaul, George Emmett Cary and Benjamin Franklin Shaul. Mr. Shaul is one of the leading citizens of the Mountain District precinct, formerly part of the South Kelseyville precinct, and in its business and social activities has become well known in official circles as deputy assessor under Mr. Merritt, and in all the relations of life has taken his share of responsibility and performed his duties so efficiently that he has come to be regarded as a mainstay in the community. A native of Lake county and member of one of its pioneer families, he is upholding an honorable name worthily.
Mr. Shaul's father, also named Benjamin F. Shaul, came to California in 1852 from Anderson, Ind., and during the eight years following mined for gold in Grass Valley. In 1860 he came to Lake county and took up the place still known as the Shaul ranch, and in 1865 he married Miss Georgia A. Man- ning, who was born in Illinois and came to California with her parents in 1859, the family settling in Lake county in 1864. Eight children were born to this union, seven of whom reached maturity, namely: George M. is a farmer, at present engaged as head of the agricultural department at the Preston reform school; Annie M. is the wife of George E. Cary, who is her brother Benjamin's partner, and has three children, Wesley A., Alice E. and Inez; Aaron B. is a farmer in High valley, Lake county : Benjamin F. is mentioned later ; Henry B., of North Kelseyville, is engaged in teaming; Jesse S., also a teamster, resides at Lower Lake; Ruth E. is the wife of Gilbert C. Edwards, a farmer in Big valley. The mother, now sixty-five years old, resides at Lower Lake. Mr. Shaul died July 8, 1909.
Benjamin F. Shaul, son of Benjamin F. and Georgia A. (Manning) Shaul, was born January 21, 1871, in Lake county, where he obtained his education in the public schools. Reared to farming from boyhood, he has continued to make agriculture his principal interest, and is now carrying on extensive ope- rations in partnership with his brother-in-law, George E. Cary, the firm rent- ing the Cary ranch of five hundred and twenty acres in the Mountain District precinct. Thirty-five acres of this property are already in orchard, cherries, apricots, peaches, pears and apples, and Cary & Shaul are planting about five hundred fruit trees yearly, steadily enlarging their interests in this direction. They also engage in general farming on this tract, and besides operate another one hundred and sixty acres adjoining, of which they are the owners.
564
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
Mr. Shaul is a man of large stature and powerful physique, capable of much exertion and blessed with executive ability which well supplements his industry. He is noted for keen judgment and common sense, and active asso- ciation with his fellow men on many matters of common interest has given him an insight into human nature and experience which makes his opinions highly valued. Having served six years as deputy assessor under Mr. Merritt he has become familiar with much of the public business of the county and has had opportunities for judging the worth of many enterprises set on foot with the object of advancing the general good, being always ready to encourage those that he considers beneficial. All matters which have the interest of the county at heart have his support, which is a live factor in promoting any un- dertaking with which he becomes associated. He has been prominently inentioned as Republican candidate for the office of sheriff, being especially popular in the southern end of the county, where he is best known. His standing as a business man has been gained by unusual success in the man- agement of his various interests. His efforts as a fruit grower have prospered phenomenally.
On September 22, 1895, Mr. Shaul married Miss Minnie L. Cary, sister of George E. Cary, and a family of five children has been born to them: Irene, Raymond, Benjamin C., Adele and Vera E.
In social and fraternal circles Mr. Shaul is very well known. He is a member of the Parlor of Native Sons of the Golden West at Kelseyville, and of the lodge of Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Lower Lake, having passed all the chairs in the latter body. He has been one of the active work- ers in the organization of the Mountain Improvement Association, which has a present membership of sixty, and which has proved the most popular social enterprise ever started in the neighborhood. The association has built a commodious hall, which is a convenient gathering place for local functions of all kinds where numbers are likely to congregate, and many dances, parties, theatrical performances, concerts, etc., have been held there, and it has filled a long felt want in the life of the community, which has shown its apprecia- tion by liberal patronage of all the functions held there. Mr. Cary, Mr. Shaul's brother-in-law, was also one of the prime movers in its formation, was a char- ter member, and is serving as trustee with Dr. Waldo and Roy Wilds. W. WV. P. Bruton is president ; LeRoy St. John, vice president; Mrs. Annie M. Cary, secretary ; and George F. Hesse, treasurer. As a social center it is one of the most valuable institutions ever established in this section of Lake county.
George Emmett Cary, senior member of the firm of Cary & Shaul, exten- sive farmers and fruit growers, was born April 5, 1859, at Petaluma, Sonoma county, Cal., son of the late Thomas Benjamin Cary. The father, a native of Toronto, Canada, went to Rochester, N. Y., when yet a boy, and learned the business of tanner. In New York he married Miss Annie E. Clarke, a native of Elmira, that state, and they emigrated to California in 1852 by way of the isthmus of Panama, spending the next thirty years and more at Petaluma, Sonoma county, where Mr. Cary became a successful ranchman. Finally he sold his property there and moved to Lake county, in the year 1885, buying the extensive Cary ranch in what is now the Mountain District pre- cinct, the tract of five hundred and twenty acres now leased and operated by Cary & Shaul. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Benjamin Cary : Clarence Adelbert, a carpenter, lives in a suburb of Los Angeles ; Flor-
565
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
ence is the wife of A. L. Anthony, a professor at Hanford, Cal .; George Em- mett is more fully mentioned below; Charles Willis, a carpenter, resides in San Francisco; Adele is the wife of N. B. Allen, a conductor on the Southern Pacific railroad, and resides at Oakland; Frank, also a resident of Oakland, is foreman in the barn department of the Sunset Lumber Company; Minnie L. is the wife of Benjamin F. Shaul; Fred died in Petaluma. The mother of this family is now eighty-five years old. The father died in 1890.
George Emmett Cary was reared to manhood in Sonoma county, coming to Lake county with his parents. His interests for a number of years have been so closely associated with those of his partner, Mr. Shaul, that they are practically identical. Besides his interest in the operation of the Cary ranch and the one hundred and sixty acres which he and Mr. Shaul own jointly, he has two hundred acres of brush land in the vicinity, near the cele- brated Siegler Springs resort. Mr. Cary's family has always enjoyed high standing, both for integrity in business and for admirable moral and social characteristics, and he is a typical member of this good stock. He was a charter member of Lower Lake Parlor, No. 159, Native Sons of the Golden West, and one of the first presidents of that organization, and his activity in the Mountain Improvement Association has already been referred to in this article.
Mr. Cary married Annie M. Shaul, daughter of Benjamin F. and Georgia A. (Manning) Shaul, and they have three children: Wesley A., Alice E. and Inez. The Cary and Shaul families live together on the Cary ranch, which lies off the Lower Lake road.
TRACY H. SMITH, M. D .- One among the oldest citizens of the county, connected with the medical profession, is Dr. Tracy H. Smith, whose first trip to Mendocino county was in 1878, coming to Westport when there were but four buildings in the town. He was born at Massena Springs, St. Law- rence county, N. Y., February 25, 1851, and was left an orphan at five years. He went to live with his grandfather, Calvin Hubbard, who removed to Osage, Mitchell county, Iowa, in 1856. Dr. Smith lived there on a farm and attended the public schools and Cedar Valley Seminary. In 1870 he was located in Fillmore, Minn., where he studied medicine under Dr. Calvin Rob- bins for two years. In 1872 he came to California and, after pursuing a medical course, was graduated from the medical department of the University of Cali- fornia in 1876, with the degree of M. D. Afterward he engaged in practice in Petrolia, Humboldt county, until 1878, when he made the trip southward along the coast through Westport to Mendocino city, where he practiced medicine for two and a half years. Then removing to Arizona he was there for a like period, at the end of which time he selected Westport for a location. After three years he discontinued the practice of medicine, and associated with E. H. Cameron as a partner started in the general merchandise business under the firm name of Smith & Cameron. They continued in business for six years, when they sold out and dissolved partnership. In 1899, with M. M. Bates as a partner, he purchased the mercantile stock of the estate of G. S. McPhee and engaged in general merchandising under the firm name of Smith & Bates, in the building which they purchased from the estate.
In 1911 Mr. Bates died and Dr. Smith bought out the heirs of Mr. Bates, since continuing the business alone. Aside from general merchandise he has a large stock of hardware. The Westport postoffice has been located in this store for over thirty years and for some years Dr. Smith was assistant
566
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
postmaster. Since January, 1912, he has been the postmaster of Westport. On the organization of the Fort Bragg Commercial Bank he became one of the original stockholders.
The marriage of Dr. Smith occurred in Westport, uniting him with Miss Elizabeth Standley, who was born near Hopland, Mendocino county.
FRANK SANDELIN .- Privations and hardships marked the early years vi Frank Sandelin, whose father, Carl, by dint of the most arduous labor as a miller was scarcely able to provide the necessities of life for his large family and when death removed from the home the sole provider the nine children, left without means of support. were dependent upon the kindly assistance of charitable and sympathetic neighbors. The south of Finland. which had been the family home for generations, was a region lacking in wealth or resources and the struggle for a livelihood was there unusually discouraging. Frank, who was born October 13. 1866. in Wampula. Obolau, and had reached the age of nine years at the time of the death of his father, passed the years of youth on a farm in Finland, where he worked for his board and clothes, his sole privilege being that of attendance upon night schools. At the age of fifteen he began to receive small wages as a farm hand. at first only $8 per year. Next he served as coachman for a minister for two years and then spent three years as an apprentice to the trade of tanner. Traveling as a journeyman he saw much of Sweden and Denmark and in 1890 crossed the Atlantic to the United States, where he found employment on a Massachusetts farm. In a short time he crossed the country as far as Michigan, where he worked at the trade of tanner in South Haven. The year 1891 found him in California, where he worked as a tanner in San Fran- cisco and later in Santa Cruz, but discontinued his trade in 1893 to embark in the liquor business in the former city.
Coming to Mendocino county during 1901. Mr. Sandelin engaged in the hotel business as proprietor of the White House Hotel at Fort Bragg and during his residence there was city trustee. February 23, 1904, he leased the Palace Hotel property from Judge Mannon and immediately began rebuild- attention assiduously to its management. In the spring of 1914 he purchased the Palace Hotel property from Judge Mannon and imemdiately began rebuild- ing and remodeling it, building a three-story brick addition one hundred feet in length. This addition of twenty-four rooms (each with a bath), makes a total of eighty rooms. The hotel now covers a ground space 60x220 feet, and is today the largest and most modern hotel structure in the county. Mr. Sandelin has risen to prominence in Masonry, being made a Mason in Abell Lodge No. 146, F. & A. M. He is a member of Ukialı Chapter No. 53. R. A. M., and Ukiah Commandery No. 33. K. T., and a member of Islam Temple A. A. O. N. M. S., of San Francisco. With his wife he is a member of Kingsley Chapter No. 59. O. E. S., and in addition is associated with the Woodmen of the World, Ukiah Aerie No. 319, Eagles, and Santa Rosa Lodge No. 646, B. P. O. E. At the time of coming to America he was unmarried. His union with Mary C. Granwall, a native of Finland, was solemnized at San Francisco in 1895 and they have three children living. Frank W., Lempi Mary, and Stella C. Mr. Sandelin was prominent in the incorporation of the Yokoyo Creamery Company in 1908 and has served as president since its organization. The creamery was built on State street. There Mendocino county milk is manu-
-
Frank Sandelin, 1
569
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
factured into creamery butter and this industry has become a great factor in the success of the farmer in the community. In 1912 he built a garage on his lots on State street, a fireproof brick building 50x107 feet, equipped as a modern garage in all its appointments. He also owns other real estate, in- cluding the French laundry and two residences. Since establishing his home and business headquarters in Mendocino county Mr. Sandelin has purchased a ranch of three hundred and seven acres two miles north of Ukiah. The ranch is under his personal supervision, but operated by competent men of his selection, and he has made a number of important improvements since acquiring the property. The principal products are grapes, Bartlett pears, alfalfa, hay and vegetables. Much that is raised on the farm is brought to the hotel for use. With fresh fruits and vegetables the dining-room becomes one of the most successful features of the hotel, especially as there is a com- petent chef in charge of the culinary department. Thoroughly familiar with all details of the hotel business, the proprietor is an efficient and popular land- lord and has a host of warm personal friends among those who regularly make his place their headquarters when in Ukiah.
AMOS DENNIS .- Isolated in early life by reason of residence in a sparsely settled community and by dint of occupative necessities, Mr. Dennis had meager opportunities for schooling and the fact that he now possesses one of the best private libraries in Mendocino county indicates a resolute pur- pose that stopped at nothing short of the highest mental culture. A native of Maine, he was born at Palermo, Waldo county, February 13, 1841, and as soon as old enough to work he engaged in the codfish industry off Brown's Banks, a popular place for fishermen in those days. It happened, however, that the young lad, working alone at his daily tasks, saw few of the fishermen nor did it become necessary for him to seek the larger villages or inland towns. For this reason he did not hear of the war between the north and the south until after the battle of Bull Run had cast its gloomy shadow over the coun- try. By chance he happened to learn of that great engagement and immedi- ately he determined to enlist in the Union army. With him there was no hesitancy, no cause for delay. Giving up his little fishing business, in No- vember, 1861, he became a member of the Third Maine Volunteer Infantry and was assigned to service at the front. Afterward he served in the Penin- sular Campaign, and being wounded in the Seven Days Battle, was sent to the hospital at Washington, D. C. In August, 1862, he was honorably dis- charged at Washington on account of physical disability. As soon as he had recovered sufficiently to resume work he took up the life of a sailor in the merchant marine trade to South America, continuing this until 1867. The fol- lowing year he started for California via the Nicaragua route and landed in San Francisco in March, 1868.
Temporary employment with a lumber concern in San Mateo county was followed by the opening of a general mercantile store by Mr. Dennis in Red- wood City, who in this venture used all of the savings of previous years of hard labor and constant frugality. In addition to the management of the store he was one of the owners of a stage line and also, in conjunction with a few of the leading men of the community, built a toll-road at a cost of $10,000. Later the road was donated to the county by its original owners. Upon sell- ing his interests in San Mateo county in 1877 Mr. Dennis moved to Sonoma county and thence to Tehama county, where he was employed on different ranches. The year 1890 found him in Round valley, Mendocino county, where 27
570
MENDOCINO AND LAKE COUNTIES
he worked for three months. Moving back into the mountains he took up a claim of two hundred and forty acres and, although it was eighteen years before he secured a clear title to the land. he continued on the place through all of that time, improving the land and using the range for the pasturage of his stock. Retiring from the ranch in 1910 he moved to Covelo and has since engaged in the insurance business, a line of work carried on by him more or less for the past forty years. Since 1909 he also has been a notary public. August 24, 1863, he was made a Mason in Derigo Lodge 104, F. & A. M., in China, Me., and is now a member of Covelo Lodge 231, and a member of Augusta Chapter No. 80, O. E. S. Although his interest in politics has never led him to desire public office, he is interested in the issues of the day and at national elections votes the Republican ticket, while in local campaigns he favors the candidates he considers most worthy to represent the people.
WALTER HARGRAVE, D. D. S .- In the county of Mendocino not far from the city of the same name the birth of Walter Hargrave occurred April 8, 1870, in a pioneer home where frugality and industry were the creed of faith as well as the essentials of a livelihood. Reared in an environment to which still clung the atmosphere of the frontier, his early years had no ad- vantages except such as his own force of character and energy of purpose made available. The public schools of Mendocino and Ukiah enabled him to acquire the rudiments of an education and in 1890 he successfully passed the teacher's examination, after which he secured a position as teacher in the Laurel school district, where he continued for three and one-half years. Dur- ing this time his education was broadened by attendance at the Stockton Business College, where he was graduated in 1893. From there he went to Anderson valley and engaged in teaching for two years. During the fall of 1898 he entered upon the duties of teacher in Round valley, where he remained for four months.
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.