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 70
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 70
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WYLIE ENGLISH .- The community in which Wylie English makes his home has no more progressive, public-spirited citizen than he, whose enthusi- asm over public matters has incited many of his associates to take an active part in the development of industrial interests and in the installation of utilities for the general good. Most especially is he at present interested in the telephone system in the valley, which probably is the most important and essential facility for the increase in business and progression of the valley interests. It is but natural that he takes this interest, as he is a native son of Mendocino county and has spent most of his life in the valley. He was born October 15, 1869, on the old English homestead four miles north of Ukiah, where Arnold Ford now makes his home. His father was Calvin Henderson English, a native of Missouri, who crossed the plains in 1850. For a time he followed mining, then becoming an early settler in Mendocino county. he acquired a ranch near Ukiah which he farmed, giving particular attention to the raising of stock and hops. He died in Ukiah in 1903. The mother was Frances Ruberts, a native of Illinois, who crossed the plains with her first husband, a Mr. Hall, and after his death became united with Mr. English. Her death occurred August 17, 1908, while on a visit to her son, Wylie, in Round Valley. Of her union with Mr. English there were born eight children, of whom Wylie was the third youngest. After attending the common schools of his neighborhood, in the Central school district, he re- mained at home for a period, then, in 1888, went to Oakesdale, Wash., to start for himself. The same year he returned to Covelo, not having found the northern country to his liking, and procured work on neighboring ranches, in order to save money. He then took a course at Santa Rosa Business Col- lege. On returning to Round Valley he purchased a twenty-acre tract and
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took up farming for himself, and a short time later was able to purchase an additional eighteen acres, all of which he improved, planted and brought to a fine state of production. With his farming operations he combined stock- raising, in which he has been very successful.
In 1909 Mr. English traded his thirty-eight acres for a tract of seventy- nine acres which at the time was in need of improvement. With determina- tion he set to work and in a short time had it brought to a productive state, and at present it ranks among the best ranches in the valley. For a period he rented this ranch to others, but he is now making it his home place and has just completed a modern house which is spacious and comfortable. Aside from his stockraising and farming Mr. English is engaged in dairying. Withal he is an industrious and successful farmer, whose present state of prosperity is due to his own untiring effort, a self-made man in the best sense of the term.
On April 23, 1898, Mr. English was married to Issolena Gertrude Gray, who was born in Round Valley, Mendocino county, the daughter of Andrew and Dicy A. (Begley) Gray, born in Massachusetts and California respectively. Mr. Gray was one of the early settlers of Round Valley and a successful stock raiser. Mr. and Mrs. English have five children, viz., Leila Frances, Elden Andrew, Muriel Joy, Doris Evelyn and Clinton Bradford. In politics Mr. English is a Democrat and being interested in the cause of education he is serving as a member of the board of trustees of the Gray district.
DANIEL CASS INGRAM .- Since coming to Mendocino county in 1859 at the age of twelve years Mr. Ingram has seen much of hardship, privation and discouragement, and has had his share of misfortunes, but by persever- ance and energy he has overcome obstacles and now ranks among the pro- gressive, prosperous farmers of Anderson valley. All of his life from boyhood has not been passed within the limits of this county, for at times he has engaged in farming or has had occupation in other counties, but he returned to his first California home with the firm conviction that here might be found opportunities equal to those advertised by more widely known sections of the state. In 1903 he bought ninety-four and one-half acres in Anderson valley one mile north of Boonville and here he has since engaged in agricultural pur- suits, having the tract largely under cultivation to grain, with also a valuable orchard of assorted fruits. Well directed energy is enabling him to develop a productive property. At the same time he and his wife have established a hospitable home and have reared a large family to industry and moral worth.
Mr. Ingram's father, Daniel Holder Ingram, born in Virginia, was a farmer in Ohio, where he married Nancy Burgess, a native of that state. From Ohio they moved to Fulton county, Ill., where Daniel Cass was born August 25, 1847. At the age of four years he was taken to Iowa, the family taking up a claim twenty-five miles from Council Bluffs. There he attended school for a short time. In many respects the family found the location un- desirable and accordingly, in 1859, they started for California, where they hoped to secure cheap land and engage in farming. Six months were spent in the journey, which was made with ox-teams and wagons. On the arrival of the family in Mendocino county they took up land in Anderson valley and the boy had an opportunity to attend the Boonville school. Much of his time, however, was given to ranch work and from an early age he has been self- supporting. At the age of twenty-three years he took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, which he improved and in a few years sold at a small profit. The two following years were spent in farming near Calistoga, Napa
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county. On coming back to Mendocino county he settled at Albion and engaged as a teaming contractor for the hauling of ties. After two years of that work he left Albion and came back to Boonville, where he contracted to haul tanbark from Ornbaum to Cloverdale, a large job and one which he found to be quite profitable.
An experience of two years, 1886-88, in Alameda county as a farmer not proving successful, Mr. Ingram returned to Mendocino county and rented land of his father-in-law. During three years spent on that place he secured another start in the world. Later he rented other land and again made a small profit for his time and labor. After this he moved to Cloverdale and spent seven years in hauling tanbark. With the profits of that period of strenuous labor he purchased his present property in Anderson valley and
here the past decade or more has been given to intelligent labor as a farmer and stock-raiser. In politics he is a Republican, but he has had little leisure in life to devote to politics and at no time has he been a candidate for office. In Anderson valley, July 24, 1870, he married Miss Mary Ellen Clow, who was born near Copper Harbor, Mich., July 8, 1852, the daughter of Henry and Ellen (Rock) Clow, who brought their family from Michigan via Panama to California and engaged in farming at Philo, Mendocino county, and settled in Anderson valley in 1867. Of the marriage there are seven children, namely : Etta E., Mrs. B. B. Ball, of Ukiah; Charles T., a farmer adjoining the home place; Daisy B., Mrs. Smalley, living near Cloverdale; William Erwin, a farmer near Cloverdale; Eliza Bell, Mrs. J. A. Lile, of Cloverdale; Mercer Earl, also a farmer near Cloverdale ; and Alva Carl, who is on the home place. Mrs. Ingram is a member of the Christian church at Boonville.
CHARLES CHRISTIAN SCHAFFER .- There is perhaps nowhere in the county of Mendocino to be found a character of deeper sympathy, braver heart and more courageous spirit, in spite of the handicap of physical disability and the many sacrifices incident to such misfortune. than is found in the exemplary life of Charles Christian Schaffer, who for the past few years, through a stroke of paralysis, has been robbed of some of his vigor and strength. Naturally of good health and inured to a life of labor in a saw mill the test of character seems to be the more rigid, but with it all he retains a sweet, even nature which has attracted to him the love of legions of friends and brought him peace in his hours of trial.
Mr. Schaffer came to Mendocino county in the year 1873. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., October 25, 1851, and for a short time attended the com- mon schools in that city, but ere he had reached thirteen years he found it necessary to make his own way in the world, owing to the financial straits in which his parents found themselves. For one year he worked around the city at whatever employment was given him and the following year left the city to work on farms in the vicinity for a time. When he was about twenty- two years old he came to the decision that he could find a more remunerative field for his labors in the west and making his way to California in 1874 he located in Mendocino county, where he soon entered the employ of the Men- docino Mill Company. Three years later, in 1877, he came to Navarro to work for the H. B. Tichenor Company and after working at general work about the mill for a while he received promotion, as his ability became evi- dent, until he became head sawyer of the mill, and this position he held for sixteen years. After this he was sawyer at the Greenwood, Albion, Mendo- cino and Glen Blair mills and also spent four years as sawyer at Cosmopolis,
behalls Schaffen.
Nellie Schaffen
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Wash. In 1907, while sawing in the Mendocino mill, he met with an accident. A log rolled on him and broke both of his legs, which laid him up for a year before he could go back to his old place. It was about two years ago that he became disabled as heretofore stated.
Mr. Schaffer is fortunate in having a wife whose business ability is such that she can handle all of his affairs with ease and accuracy. Before her marriage, on May 6, 1886, she was Nellie Fletcher, a native of Navarro, Men- docino county, born January 10, 1866. She was educated in her native county and lived with her parents on the home place until her marriage to Mr. Schaffer, which took place in Navarro, where they are now making their home. Five children came to bless this union: Clara, Mrs. Henry Duncan, of Colusa ; Charles, of Fort Bragg; Hattie, Mrs. E. P. Thurston, of Ukiah ; Elsie, Mrs. Henry Nystrom, of Mendocino; and Frederick, deceased. Mrs. Schaffer is the daughter of Capt. Charles and Catherine (Tobin) Fletcher, born in Scotland and Ireland, respectively. Her father was a sailor and be- came master of a vessel. Sailing around Cape Horn he arrived in San Fran- cisco in 1849. His first venture was in the mines but it proved unsatisfac- tory, so he gave up the project and returned to San Francisco. Again he became master of a vessel and followed the sea, on one of his trips naming Cuffey's Cove. Subsequently he sailed into Navarro harbor and gave the place its name, after which he located here. Nigger Nat, who came with him, became an historical character in these parts, and as Nigger Nat often referred to their first settlement here, it is undoubtedly true that he and Uncle Charles Fletcher were the two first white men in Navarro. This was in the '50s. and at this time Mr. Fletcher located three hundred twenty acres on the bay. Being a shipbuilder by trade, he engaged in building sailing vessels for the lumber trade. He built the first wharf here, and also had the first store and hotel. He was a large, powerful, well built man, who stood six feet six inches. Mr. and Mrs. Fletcher died here. Mrs. Schaffer now owns the old place and she and her husband are preserving the first house built in Navarro, which was made of split lumber from one redwood tree. Mrs. Schaffer was educated in local schools and has always made her home here. Mr. Schaffer is a member of Lodge No. 156, W. O. W., of Mendocino city, and in politics unites stanchly with the Democratic party. Their home is a center for many happy gatherings and a hospitable welcome is given to all who enter their door. Highly respected, beloved by all and enjoying the friendship of many, Mr. Schaffer is spending the afternoon of his life in quiet rest with the assurance of having done his duty well and to the best of his ability in spite of many obstacles.
MRS. CELIA H. DEWELL .- The earliest settlers at Upper Lake, Lake county, were Benjamin and Celia H. (Elliott) Dewell, and Mrs. Dewell and Mrs Frances G. Hudson, who resides at Lakeport, are undoubtedly the earliest California pioneers now living in the county. They share the honor with Woods Crawford, the venerable lawyer of Lakeport, who is ten days older than Mrs. Dewell. Mrs. Hudson and Mrs. Dewell came to California in the same party, a company of fifty or more which made the trip over the plains from Missouri in the spring of 1845, with Oregon as their original destination. Before arriving at the Sierra mountains, however, they met an old mountaineer by the name of Greenwood who told them that California was much the best country, and part of the company took his advice, leaving the others to con-
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tinue on to Oregon. The California contingent included William Bell Elliott, his wife Elizabeth (Patton) and their family, which consisted of six sons and two daughters, and they were joined by the Griffiths, Mrs. Hudson's family, all settling in the Napa valley, at what is now Calistoga, in November, 1845. The Hudsons, into which family Frances Griffith married, were of the original party which set out from Indian Creek (about fifteen miles from Independ- ence), Mo., and in the company also was Benjamin Dewell, whom Celia H. Elliott later married. She was ten years old at the time the family came west, and Mrs. Hudson was a girl of twelve.
Mrs. Celia H. (Elliott) Dewell was born November 4, 1835, at Greenfield, Dade county, Mo., and was just ten years old when her parents settled at Calistoga, where they remained over winter. The Mexican war troubles were then on, but news did not travel so rapidly in those days, and the first the isolated settlers knew of the disturbance was obtained through a letter which stated that the Mexican government had given orders to massacre all Ameri- cans, including women and children. Mrs. Dewell heard the letter read and interpreted by a man named Ransford, an Englishman, who afterward became captain of artillery of the famous "Bear Flag party." There were two or three cannons in the neighborhood (Mrs. Dewell remembers seeing two), and the men immediately busied themselves preparing for proper defense. Thirty- two of them, armed with guns and cannons, and with their horses and dogs, advanced on the old mission fort at Old Sonoma, which they took without firing a shot. The families who had at first settled at Calistoga then moved down to Old Sonoma and entrenched themselves by taking possession of the old Spanish garrison. Having hauled down the Spanish flag, they were puzzled as to what flag they might raise, as the territory was Mexican and they had no authority to hoist the Stars and Stripes. Someone suggested a "Bear Flag," and the idea was acted upon at once, Mrs. Elliott furnishing most of the red flannel used in making it, all but three yards which was supplied by Mrs. John Grigsby. The white cloth used was an old wagon sheet (not a woman's petticoat, as has been erroneously stated). Benjamin Dewell and Thomas Cowry, being saddlers by trade, did the sewing, and a man by the name of Todd the painting. This "Bear Flag" was then raised on the old Spanish flagstaff, and under that ensign the Americans continued to hold the fort until they could hoist the American flag. Dewell and others then organ- ized a military company, with John Grigsby as captain, and enlisting in Fre- mont's company proceeded south. By the time they reached Los Angeles a treaty had been negotiated and peace was restored. The "Bear Flag party," however, had already done full duty in the southern part of the state, coming out victorious over the Mexican forces.
Before the Mexican war was concluded, and while William B. Elliott and his brave comrades were fighting as members of Fremont's company, he moved his family back to the head of Napa valley, near Calistoga, and they lived there a few years before moving over to Sonoma county, near Santa Rosa. There they kept a wayside hotel, and everybody north of the Bay that did any traveling knew "Uncle Billy" Elliott.
On May 5, 1850, at Santa Rosa, Benjamin Dewell and Celia H. Elliott were married, and a few years later the young couple moved to Lake county, reaching the spot where Mrs. Dewell's present home is located (a part of the property, though not of the original tract, was laid out in 1870 for Upper Lake village) May 24, 1854. They were the first white family to settle at
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Upper Lake, and the opening up of the region progressed from that time. Their first neighbor, Lance Musick, moved in the next month, June, 1854, and in November of that year William B. Elliott followed them to the new location. A brother of Mrs. Dewell came in the spring of 1855, and in 1856 the settle- ment was augmented by a number of families, among them that of Jesse B. Robinson, another famous Lake county pioneer, the Spears, Helms, and George Bucknell. In 1857 there was another increase, Richard Sleeper, Thomas Way and others arriving that year. The Dewells and Elliotts were practical and thrifty, and did their part to make the new country desirable, although Mrs. Dewell says they came "expecting to stay a couple of years, but I am here yet." The young couple brought up about twenty-two head of horses and one hundred cattle with them, and they did well, Mr. Dewell developing a fine home property, ninety acres of which (with buildings) is still owned by his widow. He died in 1903, when eighty years old, and Mrs. Dewell, though in her seventy-ninth year, still enjoys good health. Though she worked faith- fully to assist her husband in establishing the home, and withstood cheerfully the hardships and privations of the early days, she is able to look back upon many happy times when they were bringing up their family and helping to bring about civilized conditions in a promising but primitive region. The eleven children born to her and Mr. Dewell are mentioned in his biography.
WILLIAM BELL ELLIOTT, father of Mrs. Celia H. Dewell, was born in 1788 in Randolph county, N. C., of English and Scotch extraction. In Grayson county, Va., he married Elizabeth Patton, and they first emigrated west to Missouri, coming from that state to California in 1845, as above related. Mr. Elliott was a leading member of the "Bear Flag party," and he and two others took General Vallejo to the old settlers' fort after the old General had been taken prisoner; but he was never even handcuffed. Soon after coming to Lake county Mr. Elliott put up the first gristmill here, in 1855. He had erected the mill originally at the head of Napa valley, where he operated it for three years before moving it and setting it up in Lake county. He built a mill race, diverting the waters of Clover creek to supply it and turn the waterwheel, but the only remains of the old mill now in existence are the stone buhrs, which lie in the yard of his old home, now occupied by his grandson, Will K. Dodge. The race has been filled in and its channel is used as a garden by Mr. Dodge's family. The house which Mr. Elliott erected, in 1855 (now occupied by Mr. Dodge), was probably the first frame dwelling in Lake county, and was certainly the most substantial residence in the county at the time.
Mrs. Elliott died in October, 1869, at the age of fifty-seven years, Mr. Elliott died on the old place in Upper Lake. They were the parents of eleven children, of whom we have the following record: Churchill died in Missouri when twenty-one years old (unmarried), before the family came to California. Mary died in Missouri at the age of twelve years. Alberon was killed by the Indians at Pyramid Lake, while on his way to what were known as the White Pine mines; he married Henrietta Parker, and their two children, William and Jesse, both now deceased, grew up at Upper Lake; William left children, and some of his grandchildren now reside at Lakeport. Emsley was killed in Texas while discharging his duties as deputy sheriff, being shot while attempting to arrest a negro; he left four children, two of whom are living at McCray station, in Mendocino county, north of Cloverdale. Com- modore, who died in Mexico, left five children. Emily died in infancy in
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Missouri. Celia H. married Benjamin Dewell. Thomas, a farmer, living on Clover creek, in Lake county, married Ellen Dennison and has three children. William died in Texas, unmarried. Elizabeth Jane, born December 15, 1841, first married Charles Perkinson, a pioneer of Lake county, by whom she had two children, a son that died and Clara Mabel, Mrs. Wilson, with whom she is now living at Fort Bragg, Mendocino county; by her second husband, Samuel K. Dodge, she had three children, one son and one daughter dying, and William K. surviving and living on the old home place of his maternal grandfather, which his mother owns; her third marrige was to Henry Wilson, who is also deceased. James, the youngest child of William B. Elliott, died when five years old.
ISAAC CRATON BURKE .- A lesson in the value of patient industry appears in the earnest life of Mr. Burke, one of the native sons of whom Men- docino county may well be proud. At the old Burke homestead in Ukiah valley, four miles south of the city of Ukiah, he was born September 11, 1871, the son of Francis Marion Burke, a native of Jackson county, Mo., who came with his father, Alexander Burke, across the plains with ox-teams in 1849. Settle- nient was first made in Sonoma county, and from there the grandfather brought his family to Mendocino county in 1852. His was the first wagon brought into Ukiah valley, being an old prairie schooner which he had brought across the plains. Locating in the Ukiah valley, he and his sons became owners of a large tract of land, extending from Robinson creek to Burke Hill. The grandfather followed farming until he retired and located in Ukiah, where he died. Francis M. Burke followed farming and stock-rais- ing in Mendocino county until he also retired, and he and his wife now make their home in Ukiah. His wife, formerly Zerelda Montgomery, was born in Missouri and crossed the plains with her father, Alexander Mont- gomery, in 1850.
Of the eight children born to these parents, six are living and of these Isaac C. is the third oldest. When fourteen years old he was obliged to give up attendance at school and begin to assist at home, for a heavy debt covered the home place and financial affairs had gone from bad to worse, by reason of sickness in the family. Not only did he take charge of the chores at home, but in addition he earned wages on neighboring farms and the sum thus earned aided in the maintenance of the family. Perhaps his first encouraging work was that of attendant at the state hospital from 1889 to 1903, during which time he frugally saved his wages and later he and his brother-in-law, E. F. Sholl, purchased back the old homestead, and in 1903 Mr. Burke took charge ci the ranch with renewed courage. The one hundred and seventy-five acres comprising the property had been allowed to run down and the entire tract showed the need of money and energetic work. It was no small task for the young man to transform the place into a remunerative ranch and his efforts were retarded by the fact that, in an effort to raise hops, he failed to secure a selling price sufficient to cover the expenses of the crop.
After a lengthy period of alternate success and discouragement at the old homestead Mr. Burke sold the property in 1911 to Cox Bros., and then moved to Anderson valley, where he had purchased the old Hoag ranch of eight hundred and eighty-nine acres two miles north of Boonville. At the time one hundred acres had been cleared for farming purposes. The continued improve- inent of the place is now his chief ambition. The raising of merino sheep is his
I lo Bunks Mrs J. C. Burke
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specialty, but all departments of general farming receive due attention and borticulture also claims deserved place in the round of work, there being an orchard of ten acres in apples, peaches and prunes. The equipment on the ranch is modern, the improvements substantial and the cultivation exact. An air of thrift pervades the entire tract and a stranger is not surprised to learn that the owner of this valuable property has been a most progressive citizen, a promoter of the valley high school, and an important factor in advo- cating the installation of a rural telephone system in the valley. In politics he favors Democratic principles. While living near Ukiah he became a charter member of the Farmers' Association and maintained a warm interest in its activities. His marriage was solemnized in Ukiah May 28, 1903, and united him with Miss Sarah Frances Presley, who was born in Windsor, Sonoma county, the daughter of James M. Presley, a native of North Carolina and a pioneer of California, having crossed the plains in the '50s. In San Joaquin county he married Melissa Crawford, who came across the plains with her parents in 1860, and Mr. Presley and his wife now reside on their ranch on Eel river. Mrs. Burke has spent her life principally in the vicinity of Ukiah, and is the mother of two children, Mark and Esther. Mr. Burke is a member of Ukiah Lodge No. 172, I. O. O. F., and with his wife is identified with the Rebekahs. She is also a member of the Christian Church.
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