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 62
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 62
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CHRIST PAULSON .- Big valley is noted for its rich soil and fine horti- cultural possibilities, and Mr. Paulson was influenced by these advantages in selecting the tract which he is developing into a valuable fruit farm and which is improved by a commodious modern frame residence containing all the comforts possible to a rural home. Upon coming to Lake county in 1906 he bought seventy-six acres from Charles Hendricks and has since taken pride and pleasure in the development of the tract, eight acres of which are now under cultivation to Bartlett pears. The balance is utilized for general crops. of which corn is among the most important and profitable. In the active task of cultivation the owner is assisted by his eldest son, an energetic young man of about twenty years, and he is also benefited by the wise counsel and con- stant co-operation of his wife, a hospitable, motherly woman, whose kind heart and intelligent mind have brought her many friends, and whose devotion to her family has made their welfare her highest joy.
From nineteen years of age Mr. Paulson has made his home in America, but Norway is his native country, his birth having occurred at Lom Gud- brandsdalen, May 8, 1866. When he landed at Castle Garden in 1884 he did not understand the English language, unfamiliar with American customs and without friends to assist him in getting a start. Chance directed his steps to Amboy, Minn., where he found employment as a section hand. In 1888 he went to North Dakota and continued work as a section hand. Industry and intelligence led to his promotion to be section boss. For seven years he engaged as section foreman on various divisions of the Northern Pacific Railroad, and for five years as foreman he had the supervision of the extra construction gang, with one hundred and fifty to two hundred men under him. After twelve years as foreman he bought three sections of land in Northi Dakota, embarked in the cattle business, laid out on his property the town- site Beach, from which he cleared $6,000, and five months after he had bought the land at $2 per acre sold it for $5. Encouraged by the successful venture, he bought three sections north of Sentinel Butte and started a cattle ranch, where he had about four hundred head of cattle at times, with perhaps fifty
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head of horses. While he was prospered far beyond his hopes when he first came to America, he disliked to maintain a home on the frontier where educational advantages were lacking, and accordingly he disposed of his property in 1906, which year brought him to California. Since then he has owned and operated seventy-six acres in Big valley, which has so greatly in- creased in value that it could be sold now for twice the amount of his invest- ment. Seven years after he first landed in America he returned to his mother country, making a visit of eight months to the home folks, and while there he was married in Christiania, October 3, 1891, to Miss Anna Gormo, a native of the same vicinity. The year after returning to Dakota they moved to Wibaux, Mont., where Mr. Paulson engaged in railroad work. They are the parents of six children, namely : Paul, who aids in the management of the home farm; Regina, a student in the State Normal School at San Jose, class of 1910; Mary, Harry and Emil, who are students in the Lakeport Union high school ; and Clara, who died at the age of four months. The family are of the Lutheran faith and are deeply interested in all religious movements in their locality, besides being identified with educational work and the general development. In politics Mr. Paulson has voted the Republican ticket ever since casting his first presidential ballot, but his life has been so closely devoted to railroading and farming that he has had no leisure for participation in political affairs.
MAX G. HOBERG .- The justly famous "Hoberg Resort" in Cobb valley, Lake county, is one of the most popular vacation spots in that attractive neighborhood. Its reputation has been established upon its merits alone, and the steady increase of patronage from the time it was started, some twenty years ago, in a most unpretentious way, shows that its guests appreciate the many provisions for their comfort and entertainment. The Hobergs have been residents of Lake county since 1885, in which year they moved from their old home in Wisconsin.
Gustav Hoberg, the father of Max G. Hoberg, was a native of West- phalia, Germany, born in 1845, and passed his early life in that country. Crossing the Atlantic to America in 1860, he lived for a short time in Chicago, Ill., and after the breaking out of the Civil war enlisted in the Eleventh Illinois Volunteer Infantry. At the expiration of his term he re-enlisted, and served to the close of the struggle, after which he entered the regular army and for several years was engaged in the most arduous duties. His company was sent up to Sitka, Alaska, to guard United States interests after the purchase of that territory from Russia. Returning to the States, he saw irontier service in Idaho, Oregon and California, fighting Indians and meet- ing with all the adventures and hardships encountered by the troops in those unsettled days. When he went back to Chicago he was employed at various kinds of work, and he was married in that city in the year 1871 to Miss Mathilda Stolzenwald, like himself a native of Germany. Not long afterward they moved up to Wisconsin, settling at New Holstein, in Calumet county, where they lived for a period of twelve years, from 1873 to 1885, during which Mr. Hoberg was engaged in teaching public school. In 1885 he brought his family out to California, settling at once in Cobb valley, Lake county, where he homesteaded a tract of one hundred and sixty acres, in the improvement of which property he passed the remainder of his life. He died very suddenly, May 22, 1895, when in his prime, being only fifty years old, from a stroke of 28
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apoplexy, while at work building a house. Mr. Hoberg had made an excellent start, his intelligent management of his interests having been rewarded with steady success and won him a place among the substantial residents of his locality. Of the family of eight children born to himself and wife, one died in infancy and one when eleven years old, both passing away while they were in Wisconsin. All the children were born at New Holstein except the young- est, Karl, whose birthplace is the Hoberg homestead in Lake county. Max G. is mentioned below. Paul is a locomotive engineer on the Southern Pacific road and makes his home at Oakland. Helen is the widow of William Athey and makes her home in Oakland. Arthur, of San Francisco, a machinist and automobile expert, married Minnie Martin, of that city. Oscar, also of San Francisco, an employee of the Western Meat Company, married Louise Schroeder. Karl is a clerk in the German bank at San Francisco.
Mrs. Mathilda Hoberg, who is now sixty-six years old, has proved an admirable hostess and able business woman in her management of several features which have helped to sustain the popularity of the "Hoberg resort." The family had many friends who came out from the bay cities to summer there, and it was their suggestion that the Hobergs start a resort. After the death of her husband, Mrs. Hoberg and her eldest son, Max G. Hoberg. commenced the business in a very modest way. The venture was a success from the start, and when George Kammerer, uncle of Max G. Hoberg, retired, they not only bought his interest in the small resort. but also bought his tract of three hundred and twenty acres which adjoined their property. This purchase was made about twelve years ago, and gives them four hundred and seventy acres in one body, besides which they own a tract of eighty acres a quarter of a mile to the north. Mrs. Hoberg and her son have con- tinued their joint interest in the property and business, which they conduct under the firm name of Mrs. M. Hoberg & Son.
The development of the resort has been a notable instance of the attrac- tions which real merit presents. From a small beginning, with no definite intention of engaging in the business to the extent they are now interested. the Hobergs found their guests increasing yearly, and additional facilities were needed to care for them properly. This they do from the time they arrive at the Hoberg station, a quaint rustic structure which gives visitors a pleasant introduction to the enjoyments of the estate itself, to which they are taken by stage. A complete establishment has grown up in response to the demand for accommodations, there being now room for about one hundred guests, and the capacity is usually taxed throughout the season, which extends from May 1st to October Ist. Six roomy houses furnish ample quarters, the dining hall will seat eighty people comfortably, and for amuse- ment places there are tents with board platforms, and a social hall for music and dancing. Mrs. M. Hoberg and her daughter-in-law, Mrs. Max G. Hoberg, oversee the cooking and table service personally. and nothing is neglected to make the meals wholesome and attractive. To insure supplies of high-class . food they keep a herd of cattle and two hundred hens, have a fine apple orchard and horticultural and vegetable gardens, and aim to set before their guests the best the market affords, their table being known for its excellence. There are numerous mountain springs on the property, affording an abundant supply of pure water, and the resort lies in sight of Cobb mountain, which is sometimes snow-capped far into the summer. The swimming pool, nicely
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concreted, is about ten minutes' walk from the dining hall, and is one of the features of the place which have found great favor. Groves and orchard add to its other attractions, and altogether it combines the advantages of country life with modern conveniences in a most gratifying way. The long distance telephone places it in quick communication with the outside world. About twenty-five acres of the Hoberg property is devoted to the raising of hay and grain, but the resort business leaves little time for agriculture during the summer season.
Max G. Hoberg, popularly known as "Max" to the guests he has enter- tained for so many seasons. at present has the management of the "Hoberg Resort" and property. He was born September 15, 1873. at New Holstein, Wis., and was a boy of twelve when he came with the family to Lake county, where he has since had his home. Though he attended school to some extent after they settled in Cobb valley, he had to commence work early, and he has led an energetic life. Much of the improvement of the home property and the growth of the resort may be attributed to his enterprising ideas and prac- tical application of them, and his personal worth has made him well liked by all who have had dealings with him. Intelligent and attentive to every want of his guests, he has co-operated successfully with his mother in con- siderate care for their wants, and their appreciation has been shown in con- tinued patronage year after year. Mr. Hoberg has taken special interest in the promotion of good educational facilities for his district, and has served over fourteen years as school director in the Cobb Valley district. Politically he is associated with the Democratic party.
In 1902 Mr. Hoberg married Miss Teresa Bleuss, who was born in Ger- many and came to San Francisco when a girl of twelve years. Four children have been born to them, namely: George, Paul, Frank and Mathilda.
ROBERT TOCHER .- Among the business men of Middletown who are progressing steadily and deservedly is Robert Tocher, who settled there in 1900 and has since been engaged in general blacksmithing, occupying a posi- tion of usefulness which has brought him prosperity and the unqualified respect of all his fellow citizens. From a modest start in life he has worked his way to a substantial place. Besides his business he has acquired a com- fortable home property in the town, and a valuable ranch of twenty-five acres on Cobb mountain, six miles northwest, most of which he is planning to set out in fruit. improving his land gradually and systematically as opportunity offers.
Mr. Tocher is a Scotchman by birth, a native of the parish of Tyrie. in Aberdeenshire, son of William and Margaret (Barclay) Tocher, farming people. The father is deceased, and the mother continues to live at the old home in Scotland ; she is now seventy-one years old. Of the twelve children born to this couple eight grew to maturity, four sons and four daughters. one of these sons being now deceased. Mrs. Lydia Ross resides in Manitoba : William, of Oakland, Cal., is in the real estate business ; Mrs. Margaret John- son lives in San Francisco; Mrs. Mary McArthur, a widow, makes her home in Oakland.
Robert Tocher was born January 28, 1873, and spent his early life in his native land, remaining there until nineteen years old. He farmed on his father's place until he decided to come to America, in 1892, sailing from Glasgow and arriving at New York in April of that year. His destination
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was the Pacific coast, and he continued his journey over the Southern Pacific railroad by way of Washington and New Orleans to San Francisco, which he reached about the middle of April Farming being the work with which he was familiar, he found employment in a hay field in Contra Costa county, and later at orchard work in Tehama county, following agricultural labor for nine months. Then he entered a blacksmith shop in San Francisco to carry out a long-contemplated plan, blacksmithing and general mechanics having been his desired occupation from boyhood. After completing his apprenticeship, during part of which period he worked for three dollars a week, he broadened his experience by serving in different shops, having worked in thirteen coun- ties in California. On January I, 1900, he came to Middletown, Lake county, where he has since remained. At that time G. W. Kemp was running the business Mr. Tocher now owns, and he took the young man in as partner, the association lasting for seven years, until Mr. Kemp was elected sheriff in 1907. That year Mr. Tocher bought his partner's interest, and he has since been sole proprietor of the shop, where he has equipment for doing a large variety of machine work, blacksmithing, horseshoeing, general wood work, auto repairing and farm implement repairing. He has also established quite a trade as a dealer in the John Deere agricultural machinery. In 1911 he purchased his present business property on Calistoga street and erected the new shop he now occupies, tearing down the old shop in 1912.
In 1904 Mr. Tocher built his residence in Middletown, a comfortable five- room cottage in the western addition, where he owns seven lots. In 1903 he had made a trip back to Scotland, returning to this country in 1904, and the following year his bride, like himself a native of Scotland, joined him in America. They were married at San Francisco in June, 1905, and took pos- session of the home he had prepared at Middletown, where they are highly esteemed by the many who know them. They have three children, Lionel, Margaret Helen and James Robert. Mrs. Tocher made a visit to Scotland in 1913-14, Mr. Tocher joining her in the summer of 1914, and after a visit of three months at the old home he returned to Middletown, anxious to resume the management of his business and take his place as a citizen in forwarding the interests of the community.
Some time ago Mr. Tocher invested in twenty-five acres of ranch land on Cobb mountain, six miles northwest of Middletown, and he expects to have twenty acres of this in fruit, at present having seven hundred trees set out, apples, pears and prunes, eighty to an acre. He also has sixty black walnut trees. The work of clearing and improving is progressing finely, and the property is increasing in value yearly.
Mr. Tocher has interested himself in the various organizations of the community and is well known in fraternal and church circles, being secretary of Friendship Lodge No. 150, I. O. O. F., at Middletown, and an elder in the Presbyterian Church. He is serving as a member of the board of school trustees. On national political issues he is a Republican, but he believes in supporting the best principles, no matter what party espouses them, and he is very much in favor of the Prohibition movement. His position on all moral questions is never in any doubt, and he endeavors to support such measures as will make for the general good, having the courage of his convictions in taking a stand for good government and clean homes. He has the strength of mind and high sense of honor characteristic of the race from which he
John S . Hugshead
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springs, and is not afraid to express his opinions when necessary. Strong, honorable, clear-headed and reliable, he has become a public-spirited citizen of his adopted land in every sense of the term.
JOHN SAMUEL HOGSHEAD, M. D .- It was not the privilege of Dr. Hogshead to enjoy in youth any advantage except such as his own industry and ambition made possible. While destiny had not surrounded him with the means of large accomplishments, he had been endowed with the priceless heritage of good family and patriotic ancestry, and owes much to his inherit- ance of high principles of honor from bygone generations. Of Virginian birth, born November 2. 1862, from the age of four years until eighteen he made his home in Washington county in the Old Dominion, where he attended the public schools, and for two years was a student in Liberty Hall Academy. During the spring of 1881 he came with his mother to California and estab- lished a home at Ukiah, Mendocino county, where his first employment took him to a logging camp. When winter forced the camp to stop operations he went to the old Rowleson ranch as an employe, returning in the spring of 1882 to Ukiah, where he worked in a nursery until the fall of 1884. His excellent education enabled him to pass the teachers' examination successfully and in the winter of 1884-85 he engaged as teacher of the Bell valley school. A business course in Heald's Business College in San Francisco, concluding with his graduation in 1886, was followed by his return to Mendocino county to take up teaching in Sherwood valley. Later he taught in other districts and then became principal of the Mendocino grammar school and during this time served acceptably as a member of the county board of education. It was not until 1894 that he relinquished teaching for the study of medicine. Mean- while, during a visit to Virginia he had married, November 11, 1890, Miss Nellie Gray, who was born in Washington county, that state, May 27, 1867. Their eldest child, Laurens Gray, was born August 12, 1891, and died March 12. 1892. The only daughter, Helen, born August 19, 1893, is now a student in the University of California. The only living son, John Samuel, Jr., was born June 30, 1902, and is now attending the Covelo schools.
A long-cherished desire, whose fruition had been delayed through the necessity of immediate employment, led Mr. Hogshead to give up teaching, in which he had been very successful, and enter the Cooper Medical College of San Francisco, where he was a student from 1894 to 1896. Medical studies were continued in the College of Physicians and Surgeons at St. Louis, Mo., trom which in 1898 he returned to California to resume teaching as a means of temporary support. Returning to St. Louis as soon as possible, he re- sumed his studies in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, from which in 1899 he received the degree of M. D. Graduation was followed by a visit back to Virginia, where he spent a year at the old home place and among the friends of his youth. Returning to California in 1900 he practiced for a short time at Laytonville, Long valley, Mendocino county. Next he engaged as surgeon in the Fort Bragg hospital. For two years, dating from 1905, he acted as superintendent of the Mendocino county hospital, resigning from that post to accept the position of physician of the Round Valley Indian reservation, where he remained for two and one-half years. Since leaving the reservation he has practiced in Round valley and has made his home in Covelo, where he takes a leading part in local affairs. In 1907, on his arrival at Covelo, he purchased the drug store from Dr. Liftchild and since has
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carried on the business in connection with his practice. Since 1902 he has been a member of the Democratic county central committee of Mendocino county and has always taken a prominent part in politics. For six years he served as a director of the Round Valley high school. In religious views he and his family are of the Presbyterian faith and are earnestly devoted to the wel- fare of the church.
WILLIAM MORRIS .- There are few families even among those who ventured earliest to California who have had lives so crowded with events of interest as the Morris family, and a mere narration of their experiences, with- out any attempt at embellishment, would give a vivid picture of the trials and hazards which accompanied the beginnings of development in the west. Rev. Milton Morris, father of William Morris, was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal church for fifty years, and he married a daughter of Rev. N. B. Dodge, who commenced his missionary labors in the middle west, among the Osage Indians, in the early twenties of the last century. Thus to the usual adventures which fall to the lot of those who establish their homes in new settlements were added the privations and sacrifices of those who devote themselves to the uplifting of their fellows, and the records they have left may well be a source of pride and inspiration to their descendants, or indeed to any who read the story.
The Morris family is one of the "First Families" of Virginia, and Milton Morris was born at Lynchburg, that state. He was but two years old when his father died, after which the family moved to Knoxville, Tenn., where the boy was reared. From his earliest years he was trained in the doctrines of the Methodist Episcopal church, and early became a local preacher of that denomi- nation, receiving a license when twenty-one years old. Not long afterward he went west to labor among the Osage Indians at the Boudinot Mission in southeastern Kansas, which had been established in 1827 by Rev. N. B. Dodge, and in the year 1831 he married Sarah Dodge. They were the first white couple to be married within the boundaries of what is now the state of Kansas. Of their life and labors, something will be found in the narrative which follows, taken from an account which was written January 9, 1893, by Mrs. "Sally" Morris, then in her eighty-second year and a resident of St. Helena, Napa county, Cal. It is sufficient here to record that a family of nine children were born to them, namely : Thomas, John Milton, Sarah, Newell, Nathaniel Brown, William, Lucy, Harriet and Edward, of whom only Harriet and William sur- vive, the former a resident of Eureka, Humboldt county, Cal. ; she is the widow of Joseph Tracy.
In the winter of 1821, when Mrs. Morris was but nine years old, her father's family was one of a party consisting of ten families and five unmarried lady teachers sent out by the American Board of Foreign Missions to establish a mission among the Osage Indians, her father, Rev. N. B. Dodge, of Underhill (formerly of Barre), Vt., being chosen general superintendent. The Dodges set out in hired wagons for New York City, where they were to meet the rest of the missionaries. After a week's delay at New York on account of Mrs. Dodge's illness, they went by steamer to Philadelphia, where they set out in large crooked-bed wagons (difficult to get in and out of) for their journey across the Allegheny mountains to Pittsburgh. The roads were bad, old and young were uncomfortably cooped up together, and they were glad, upon coming to long hills, to accept the driver's invitation to get out to walk, which exercise involved none of the "seasickness" brought on by the motion and
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stuffiness of the tightly covered wagons. Each day's trip had to be so long as to bring the party to certain houses along the road, and one day Sally deter- mined to walk as far as the teams went. The distance was twenty-two miles, and she was so footsore the next day that she never attempted the feat again.
In due time the party reached Pittsburgh, where two keelboats awaited them which had been built for their voyage down the Ohio and up the Mississippi, Missouri and Osage rivers. They started with two captains and twelve hired men, making good time, and stopping at the principal towns for supplies. One man fell overboard and was drowned, and at Marietta, Ohio, they buried Mrs. Samuel Newton and her infant child-the first break in the mission families, and the only serious calamity to mark the trip down the Ohio. It was different ascending the Mississippi and Missouri. Cordelles (long tow- ing ropes) were rolled up and placed in skiffs, which went up the river the length of the rope. After it was fastened to a tree all hands would pull "for life" until the tree was reached, and the process would then be repeated. The greater part of the way long poles were used to propel the boats upstream, or all hands would get hold of the brush and pull for some island or bar. They frequently got caught on these bars, for half days at a time. While they were toiling up the Missouri in this fashion Sally fell in the water, and had gone under the third time when one of the men dived after her and caught her by the hair, and with the assistance of two other men, with skiffs, brought her apparently lifeless to the keels, where she was resuscitated by Dr. Belcher, the physician of the party. After four months of river travel they arrived as far up the Big Osage as their keelboats could go, stopping at a place called Rapidecaw, fifteen miles below where the town of Papinsville, Mo., is now located. Their mission, which they named Harmony Mission, was to be on the banks of the Big Osage one mile from what is now Papinsville, and all their goods had to be unloaded and conveyed this distance of fifteen miles in skiffs (or rowboats). The Indians were swarming on the banks and none of the party could under- stand a word they spoke, nor could any of the Indians understand them. Eventually they found a white man by the name of Bill Williams, living among the Indians, who was hired as interpreter, and with his assistance they were able to proceed with their arrangements for getting settled. They accom- plished the task of moving up to Harmony in the month of August, 1821, and pitched their tents after seven months of travel between Vermont and their destination, near what is now Papinsville, in Bates county, Mo. Then a man was sent back to the settlement to hire men to come out to put up the neces- sary log cabins and help care for the sick. While they were living in the tents the little two-year-old son of Rev. Mr. Dodge died, having been sick all the way from New York. Three more of the party died before the cabins were ready, Mrs. Montgomery and child and Mr. Seely, their wagonmaker.
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