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 81
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 81
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In San Jose, this state, Mr. Dooley married Miss Dorothea Hegeman, a native of Gilroy, Santa Clara county, and a daughter of George and Mary E. (Hooper) Hegeman, pioneers of that section of California. After the death of Mr. Hegeman the widow continued to own and operate the large stock ranch near Gilroy, but is now making her home with Mrs. Dooley in Mendocino county. The three children of Mr. and Mrs. Dooley are Dorothea Hegeman, Franklin Wayne, Jr., and Marie Elizabeth. Stanchly Democratic in his polit- ical sentiments, Mr. Dooley is an active member of the county central com- mittee and the State Democratic League. For four years he served as con- stable of Sanel township and for nine years filled the office of deputy sheriff, luis service in that long period being in the interests of law and order and the impartial administration of justice. In fraternal relations he is a member of the Santa Rosa Lodge of Elks.
HON. WILLIAM HANEN. Since the organization of the Bank of Point Arena in 1895 (in which undertaking he was a leading factor) Mr. Hanen has held the position of secretary, but to people outside of the little seaport town he is perhaps better known through his services as a member of the legislature, to which he was elected in November of 1900, through the measures which he assisted in having passed during his legislative term, through his local leadership in the Republican party, through his able ser- vices in the newspaper field, and lastly, but by no means the least important of all, through his efficiency as organizer of the Boys' International Sunshine Club. The club work started in 1908 with the organization at Point Arena of thirty boys into an association called the Sunshine Club. News of the work accomplished by this society spread to every part of the country and encour- aged others to start similar organizations, the result being that an inter- national union of the clubs was established through his gratuitous and inter- ested efforts.
About a year after the birth of William Hanen, which occurred at Syra- cuse, N. Y., April 4, 1860, his father; Robert Hanen, enlisted in the Seventh Michigan Cavalry, serving until the expiration of his time, after which he 1e-enlisted, was ordered west, and died in the service of his country. The mother, who bore the maiden name of Jane Clugston, took her family of four children and removed to Australia, where she reared them in Bathurst, New South Wales, and where William was educated in the local schools. There too he served an apprenticeship of five years to the printer's trade under A. B. Rea, of the Western Independent. During 1883 the mother and three of the children (William among them) came to California and settled in Anderson valley, Mendocino county. One year later William Hanen came to Ukiah, where he worked on the Press. In 1886 he removed to Mendocino to work under Messrs. Heeser and Buckingham on the Beacon. After six years he came to Point Arena in 1892 and bought the Record, which had been started by Cartmell & Heeser. The paper contained full local and county news and was published every Friday. His ability and editorial policy soon raised the subscription list to five hundred. After coming to California he married Meta C. Collins, a native of Nebraska.
Perhaps the greatest service rendered by Mr. Hanen while representing his district in the state legislature was his successful effort to secure the passage of a labor bill by assembly and senate, providing for an hour's respite from work at noon for all employes of sawmills, shingle mills and logging
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camps. The bill was signed by Gov. Henry T. Gage in 1901 and is now on the statutes of the state. In addition to serving in the assembly the Repub- lican party have honored him in other ways and he has also given service to the county as deputy clerk and deputy tax collector. His principal fraternity is the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in which he has served as secretary, and is a past district deputy and past grand ; he is also a member of the En- campment, of which he is scribe.
CHARLES GOODWIN .- This pioneer of 1850 in California was born in Ontario county, N. Y., October 8, 1816, and at the age of eight years accom- panied his parents to Michigan, settling in Detroit, where he received an excellent education. Keen of intellect and quick of comprehension, he ad- vanced so rapidly in his studies that he was able to secure a certificate and enter the profession of teaching at the age of sixteen. For a number of years he engaged in school work. On account of failing health he was obliged to seek an occupation less sedentary and accordingly became a traveling sales- man for E. & J. Wilber & Co., wholesale hardware dealers, with whom he continued for two years. In the spring of 1850 he started for California with a wagon and team of horses. The journey progressed without mishap as far as the Truckee river, when he had the misfortune to lose his horses through their being stolen by the Indians. Lacking the means for the defraying of his passage with others, he resolutely set about the task of completing the journey on foot, and weary and footsore he arrived at Nevada City, Cal., on the 10th of October, 1850. without a dollar in his pocket. There was not lack of work in the new country and he was soon making expenses. The pursuits that he followed in later years were numerous and included mining, auctioneering and teaming.
Shortly after his arrival in Lake county during the spring of 1856 Mr. Goodwin settled in Big valley and near Clear lake (near what is now Finley), he acquired about four hundred acres, where he engaged in dairying, general farming and sheep-raising. An active, stirring and progressive man, he devoted his energies to the agricultural advancement of this community, which then stood at the very outposts of civilization. March 24, 1880, he married Mrs. Rebecca J. (Yates) Arnold, daughter of Ira G. and Johanna (Shepherd) Yates, of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin made their home on the farm in Big valley, where he died in February, 1896.
EDWARD ALEXANDER GRAVIER .- At a military camp stationed less than two miles west of Covelo in Mendocino county Edward Alexander Gravier was born October 2, 1871, being a son of Edward and Anne J. (Lewis) Gravier. His father, a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, became an early settler of Round valley, Cal. His mother, a member of an old and honorable family of Great Britain, was born in England May 16, 1852, and at five years of age accompanied her parents to the United States, settling first in Omaha, Neb., and coming from that section of country to California. Under her care- ful supervision her son was trained to be self-reliant and industrious. The necessity of earning a livelihood forced him out from home at a very early age. As he was fitted for little work of importance, he earned his expenses by help- ing on ranches. It was not until he reached the age of twenty-three that he was able to make an independent start. At that time he took up a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres in the mountains six miles west of Covelo. To earn a living out of such property stock-raising was essential and he began
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to specialize in hogs and cattle. The stock did well on the range and. although he met with countless discouragements, ultimately he had developed a place that in 1911 he was able to sell at a fair profit.
It occurred to Mr. Gravier that he could dispose of his stock to advantage from time to time by opening a meat market in Covelo and this business was started in 1901, after which it developed gradually into a most important in- dustry. In order to provide an adequate equipment he erected a building with interior fittings that made it one of the finest butcher shops in the county. Every modern improvement was supplied, including a large refrigerator and ice plant. The loss of the property by fire proved a disaster, not only to the owner, but to the people of the community who were depending upon the plant for their supply of the highest grades of meats. However, within nine days he moved another building on the property and continued the busi- ness. During 1907 Mr. Gravier bought four acres forming the nucleus of his present home place of seventeen acres and in addition he owns town property. Fraternally he is a member of Covelo Lodge No. 231, F. & A. M., and with his wife is a member of Augusta Chapter No. 80. O. E. S., besides being a member of the Woodmen of the World. In politics he votes with the Repub- lican party. November 1. 1893, he was united in marriage with Mrs. Molissa (Hurt) Redwine, who was born at Upper Lake, Lake county, Cal., September 6, 1868, and received a public-school education. They are the parents of four children. the eldest of whom. Merwin E., is in Round valley high school. The others, Arlow, Hazel and George, are attending the local school. By her former marriage Mrs. Gravier was the mother of two children, Frances V., Mrs. Charles Lee of Humboldt county, and Amy Belle, the latter of whom died in 1906. While living in Independence school district he was a member of the board of education for several terms.
WILLIAM J. BIGGERSTAFF .- Physically, mentally and spiritually active and alive at the age of more than four score years. it may be said of the venerable William J. Biggerstaff. as it was said of the great prophet of old. "His eye was not dim nor his natural force abated." Not only has he lived a long life, but his experiences have been most varied, interesting and im- portant. It has been his privilege to witness the entire upbuilding of the west, the development of electricity in its manifold forms, the other marvelous inventions of the age and the incredible transformation wrought by the build- ing of railroads ; his privilege, also, it was to participate in the Mexican war nearly seventy years ago and he is one of the very few survivors of that now almost forgotten struggle. Most appreciated by him is his privilege to engage, quietly and unostentatiously but effectively, in religious work for the spiritual uplifting of humanity. For more than one-fourth of a century he engaged as superintendent of the Methodist Episcopal Sunday-school at Lakeport, which he organized and in which he still frequently edifies his listeners by the ex- pounding of Biblical doctrines. His wife shared with him a loving solicitude in regard to the spiritual welfare of friends and relatives and together they labored earnestly and effectively for the religious upbuilding of their com- munity, but particularly for the permanent moral and religious training of their children, who now by their talents and diversified interests reflect the broad culture of a most excellent Christian home.
A resident of Lake county since 1874, Mr. Biggerstaff came to this county and state from Missouri, where he was born in Clay county August 21, 1830. and where he was reared on a frontier farm in Clinton county, deprived of
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educational opportunities except such as were included in a brief attendance at subscription schools. The family genealogy in America extends back to one of two brothers who came from England and settled in North Carolina prior to the Revolution, after which they migrated to Kentucky. John Big- gerstaff, a native of Kentucky, removed to Southern Missouri and then re- turned to Kentucky, later taking his family to Clay county, Mo., whence after a brief sojourn he removed to Clinton county. His first wife. Rebecca (Jack- son) Biggerstaff, was born in Kentucky and died in Missouri at the age of forty. Descended from English progenitors, she was a daughter of Ezekiel Jackson, an own cousin of Gen. Andrew Jackson, president of the United States. After the death of his first wife John Biggerstaff married again ; of the two children of that union one died in infancy, and the other, John J., is now a farmer in Texas. The father remained in Missouri until his death, which occurred at eighty-four years of age. Of his first marriage there were nine children, of whom the third, fourth and fifth died in infancy, and the youngest, Zerelda, at the age of eleven. The eldest, Melinda, Mrs. Eli Lainheart, died in Texas, leaving six children. The second, Amanda, Mrs. James M. Biggerstaff, died in Texas; all of her four children died young. The sixth, Alfred, a farmer, died in Missouri, leaving one child, now a resi- dent of Texas. The eighth, Thompson Marion, a merchant of Plattsburg, Clinton county, Mo .. died in that locality, leaving a wife, but no children. The seventh of the nine children of the first marriage was William J., who when a little less than eighteen years of age enlisted in General Price's Santa Fe battalion for the Mexican war, under Captain Graves and Lieut. William Royal as recruiting officers. From Fort Leavenworth, the place of enlistment, the regiment proceeded slowly down the plains toward Santa Fe in the latter part of May 1848. On the journey a battle was fought with Comanche In- dians and the horse of Mr. Biggerstaff was shot from under him ; several of the soldiers were wounded and eighteen Indians were slain. In spite of this exciting experience, the company arrived safely at Santa Fe, to which point they had acted as guard of two government trains of supplies and ammuni- tion together with a herd of eight hundred head of beef cattle.
As one of eighty comprising the body guard of General Price the young Missourian returned to Independence, where he arrived about the last of September, 1848, and where he was honorably discharged in October, of the same year. Having been paid a small sum for his services as a soldier, he utilized the sum in paying his expenses at a private academy at Highland near Independence. At the expiration of six months he returned to his home. During 1850 he joined a large company of immigrants with fifteen wagons and with them he drove across the plains to the Carson river, where the ox-teams were traded for pack-horses. The party arrived at Hangtown August 10, 1850. For a time he engaged in placer mining. In the Coyote Diggings near Nevada City he sank a shaft sixty feet deep and with two companions formed a company, spending the summer.of 1851 on the South Yuba river, where fair success was had. However, the frequent murders and constant lawlessnes's had made him dissatisfied with the country and he left an encouraging pros- pect to return via Nicaragua to Missouri. The voyage took him to Havana, thence to New Orleans and up the Mississippi and Missouri rivers to Boon- ville, Mo., where navigation became dangerous by reason of ice in the stream. He arrived at home, sick and exhausted by the long trip, in January of 1852.
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From 1852 until 1874 Mr. Biggerstaff lived in Missouri, much of the time at Plattsburg, where in 1852 he clerked for his board and clothes, and in 1853 was paid an extra $250. By the end of six years he was able to become the owner of a business of his own in Plattsburg, where for a time he was one of three partners in Bradley & Co., and later became a member of the firm of Biggerstaff & Torbett. At the beginning of the Civil war he sold the business and was appointed clerk and recorder of Clinton county, which office he filled until 1864, a period of three and one-half years. Meantime his brother, Thomp- son Marion, died and he was appointed administrator of the estate, which included a stock of goods valued at about $10,000. After closing out this merchandise and attending to the details connected with the estate of the brother, he moved to St. Joseph, Mo., where for seven years he engaged in the retail mercantile business. On selling out his interests in 1874 he came via the Union Pacific Railroad to California and after a brief sojourn at Sacra- inento brought his family to Lakeport November 18, 1874. For ten months he managed a store for the Grange. Under President Grant he was appointed postmaster at Lakeport, and filled the office for fourteen years; and after an interval during the administration of Grover Cleveland he was again appointed under Benjamin Harrison, but left the position under the second Cleveland administration. For four years he was employed in the assessor's office under S. S. Russell. As early as 1875 he was a leading factor in organizing the Farmers' Savings Bank, of which he was a member of the first directorate and for which a previous banking experience in Missouri enabled him to aid in establishing the savings department and draw up the by-laws. For some years he has owned an interest in the Bartlett estate lands comprising . eighteen hundred and sixty acres.
Of the long and happy marriage which Mr. Biggerstaff was privileged to enjoy and of his talented children, mention appears in the sketch of his wife on another page. For twenty-five years he affiliated with the Masons. In politics he always has voted the Republican ticket. At the age of twenty- seven years he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church South and since le came to Lakeport he has served continuously as an officer, besides which he organized the first Sunday-school in the local church and for twenty-five years acted as superintendent. Always he has labored to promote the cause of religion. At the same time he has supported generously all movements for the advancement of the county. For two years he endeavored strenuously to secure a subsidy for a railroad from Hopland to Lakeport. Largely to his efforts with those of other progressive men may be attributed the creditable union high school. Realizing the value of Clear Lake to Lake county for power and irrigation purposes, he and Judge Bond endeavored to interest the people and cause legislation to be passed allowing the county to secure contro! of the lake as a public utility, but his efforts at the time failed to meet with response on the part of citizens. In the light of later events relating to the securing of possession and a monopoly of the lake by the Yolo Water & Power Company for power purposes, the foresight and wisdom of Mr. Bigger- staff are now clearly seen, and had the people but encouraged him and Judge Bond, Lake county would have had an asset worth $50,000,000 in the exclusive water right to a lake and thus would have become one of the wealthiest counties in the entire state. In many other important matters he sounded a note of warning and endeavored to enlist the interest of men in behalf of future needs of the county, where he is recognized as one of the most influ-
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ential men. Although he came to the west expecting to largely retire from business, his energy was of too forceful a type to be content with a life of ease or idleness, and he has therefore mingled in many enterprises for the general welfare. While he has been a successful man as the world counts success, he has never gained success at the expense of others; on the contrary, every transaction has been controlled by principles of religion and every act has been guided by consideration for others. In life he has found his family and his church to be his greatest sources of joy and pride, and to promote their permanent welfare has been his most enduring ambition. Under his minis- tering care the church has grown strong and useful; so too have his children developed from immaturity into the fullness of intellectual and physical pow- ers and into possibilities of service neither few nor unimportant.
WILLIAM E. UPTON, M. D .- As county health officer and the only practicing physician and surgeon located at Kelseyville Dr. Upton bears a very important relation to his community, and his high personal character no less than his medical skill stamps him as one of its valuable citizens. This town has been his home for the last ten years. He is a son of Dr. Hugh Upton, of Upper Lake.
The Uptons are of Scottish origin. Edward Upton, great-grandfather of Dr. William E. Upton, was a Highland Scotchman, and lived for some years in the North of Ireland, coming thence to America with his son William. The remainder of his life was passed in New York state, where he died when sixty years old, of typhoid fever. William Upton, son of Edward, was born in County Antrim, Ireland, sixteen miles from Belfast, and his wife, whose maiden name was Charity McConnell, was also born near that city. They were married in Ireland, and soon afterward came to America, first settling in New York state, where they resided for several years. From there they moved westward to Michigan, Mr. Upton becoming the owner of a valuable farm of fifty acres in Fairfield township, Lenawee county, lying between Adrian and Tecumseh, in the Raisin valley. He died on that place when his son Hugh was seven years old, after converting it into a garden spot by his industry and thrift. He and his wife lived honorably and frugally, content in the oppor- tunity to provide a comfortable home and living for their family. Of the seventeen children born to them eleven grew to maturity, the others dying in infancy or early childhood. Edward is now living retired at Toledo, Ohio, after a prosperous business career. David, who has resided at Elk Grove, Sacramento county, Cal., since 1850, has been a farmer by occupation. Robert H., who died in November, 1912, came to California in 1860 and engaged in mining, owning a gold mine at Randsburg at the time of his death. Hugh is mentioned more particularly below. Joseph, who has followed mining, was at Weiser, Idaho, when last heard from. Rose Ann was the wife of Reuben Carpenter, of Fairfield, Mich., and died leaving three children; she and her brother David were twins. Eliza was the wife of John Gardner, a farmer of Ionia county, Mich., and left one child, Charles. Eleanor was married to James B. Webb, a farmer, of Grant City, Iowa, and died leaving two children, Adelbert and Carrie. Susan, deceased, was the wife of Edson Hagaman. Charity Matilda married Philip P. Frantz, a farmer, of Madison Center, Lena- wee, county, Mich., and has two children, Edwin and Arthur. Adeline is the wife of Barry Reed, of Angels Camp, Cal., and has one child, Barry.
Hugh Upton was born May 23, 1839, on his father's farm in the Raisin valley, between Adrian and Tecumseh, in Lenawee county, Mich., and was
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reared there. He made the most of his educational opportunities and prepared for the medical profession, which he first practiced on his own account at Kinderhook, in Branch county, Mich., later settling in Chicago, Ill., where he continued to live for a number of years. For some time he has been a resident of Upper Lake, Cal., where he is still engaged in practice, his services being much in demand in that locality, where he has a high personal and professional reputation.
Dr. Hugh Upton married Miss Rachel Tunison, of Seneca county, N. Y., daughter of Philip P. and Annis (Hall) Tunison, member of an old New York family of Dutch stock who figured prominently in the making of history in the early days. They were ardent patriots during the Revolutionary period, there having been eight Tunisons in Captain Ten Eyck's company during the war. Mrs. Upton is one of the most esteemed residents of Upper Lake. Four children were born to Dr. and Mrs. Upton : Annis Elsa, who died when four years old; William E., now in medical practice at Kelseyville; Jay C. and Linford H., both in business in Bristol, Ind. They have made a number of inventions and perfected valuable improvements for automobiles, and are now preparing to enter the business as manufacturers, being engaged in building and equipping a plant at Bristol, Ind. One of the features of the special touring car they are to produce is the solid rubber tires, and a number of other advantages displayed in the experimental cars built have attracted so much patronage that they already have enough orders to keep the factory in operation for a year.
William E. Upton was born November 30, 1863, at Morenci, Lenawee county, Mich. His boyhood was passed principally at Kinderhook, that state, and he attended common school there, acquiring a solid foundation for his subsequent professional studies. In his young manhood he had considerable experience nursing among his father's patients, which gave him a practical insight into his profession and doubled the value of his college work. He took his medical course at the Fort Wayne (Ind.) College of Medicine, from which he was graduated March 7, 1893. He first engaged in independent practice at Chicago, later locating at Sherwood, Branch county, Mich., and in 1900 com- ing to California, where he arrived February 12th. For a few years he was at Yountville and Napa, beginning practice at Kelseyville February 11, 1904. He is a member of the Napa County Medical Association. Dr. Upton has acquired a large practice in and around Kelseyville, his conscientious attention to his patients winning their confidence and friendly regard, and he has estab- lished himself so thoroughly in the good opinion of his fellow citizens generally that the county board of supervisors some four or five years ago appointed him county health officer. In that capacity he has found opportunity for many good offices to his fellow citizens, with the object of establishing hygienic and sanitary regulations in the county upon a permanent basis. Dr. Upton owns an attractive residence in Kelseyville, and eighty acres of land in the country.
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