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 84
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 84
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Mr. Aulin was born at Albion, Mendocino county, May 9, 1885. His earliest recollections, however, are of Fort Bragg, where his parents removed while he was yet a babe. His father was Charles Aulin, a native of Finland, born in Raumo, where he lived until he was thirteen years of age, when he went to sea. For many years he followed the fortunes of the sailor, sailing all over the globe and visiting most of the great ports of the world. He rose in his chosen occupation, and for a time occupied the berth of second mate. After he left the sea he resided for several years in Australia, and it was in 1882 that he finally came to California. He located at Albion, where he was employed as a carpenter under James Britt in the lumber mills. In 1884 he was married to Miss Margaret M. Anundi, in San Francisco. Mrs. Aulin was a native of Vardo, Norway, and had also come to San Francisco in 1882. After their marriage they settled at Albion, and in 1886 removed to Mendo- cino City and engaged in the hotel business. It was in 1887 that they finally located at Fort Bragg. Here they purchased the corner of Redwood and Franklin streets and erected a hotel, which for fifteen years they conducted under the name of the Finland Hotel. It was then sold to the present pro- prietor and the name changed to the Pioneer Hotel, by which it is at present known. Mr. Aulin then purchased a farm on Ten Mile river and engaged in farming until his death, which occurred August 7, 1906. He was well and favorably known in his community, and was a member of the local Red Men and also of the Kale Vala Brotherhood. Mrs. Aulin, who passed away Sep-
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tember 6, 1910, was the mother of four children, of whom the present citizen of Fort Bragg is the eldest. Of these the second son, Oscar Charles, died at the age of seventeen months; Benjamin died May 6, 1910, and the youngest son, Edward, has just completed a course in stock-raising and dairying at the State Agricultural College at Davis.
The boyhood days of Frank Frederick Aulin were spent at Fort Bragg, where he received his education in the public schools, graduating with honor trom both the grammar grades and the high school. After completing his education he was associated with his father in the management of the home farm on Ten Mile river up to the time of the latter's death, in 1906. For a year thereafter the son continued to conduct the farm, but at that time he sold it and returned to Fort Bragg. Valuable property at the corner of Red- wood and Franklin streets, a part of the original tract purchased by his father many years ago, was still in the family possession, and this he commenced to improve. He erected a handsome modern structure, 100x65 feet, and three stories in height. The ground floor consists of four stores, three of which are leased, the fourth being occupied by Mr. Aulin himself, where he conducts a prosperous cigar store and billiard hall.
The marriage of Mr. Aulin took place in Fort Bragg June 24, 1911, uniting him with Miss Adele Riukka, a native of Finland. She has borne her husband one child, a son. Donald Frederick.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Aulin are known to a wide circle of friends in Fort Bragg and vicinity, where they are popular. Mr. Aulin is a prominent mem- ber of Alden Glen Parlor No. 200, N. S. G. W., of which he is past president. He is also a member of Santana Tribe No. 60, of the Red Men, and of the Woodmen of the World.
HAROLD HALL MCKINNEY .- The present age is one of scientific investigation, and particularly has this become true in the domain of agricul- ture, where the haphazard work of the past is being superseded by intelligent study of soil conditions and the adaptability of specific crops to local environ- ment. Scientific researches respecting soil, climate and water have engrossed the attention of Harold H. Mckinney, manager of Hazeldale farm, which in October, 1910, was purchased by Philip E. Mckinney, of Salt Lake City. A native of the state of New York, Philip E. Mckinney became an expert accountant in Cherryvale, Kan., where he was also in the real estate business. Later he located in Salt Lake City, where he is secretary and treasurer of the Salt Lake City Brewing Company. Becoming interested in the possibilities of Mendocino county, Cal., he became the financial head of Hazeldale farm, although he has never lived on it himself, but deputes to Harold H. Mckinney the entire management of the land, the study of soil conditions and the work of experimentation conducted with a view to ascertaining the most profitable products to be raised on this and similar tracts of bench land. Apparently a task of the greatest difficulty was assumed when an endeavor was made to build up the forty-acre tract of farming land north of Ukiah, which prob- ably for years prior to the purchase in 1910 had been producing grain hay. There had been no rotation of crops to restore elements removed from the soil by the one-crop system. The entire tendency of the cultivation of the bench land had been to rob it of all nutritive elements. Finally the people of the neighborhood decided that the land was worthless and not capable of paying taxes. Under the old system of soil management this was in a measure a well-grounded idea.
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With the coming to Hazeldale farm of Harold H. Mckinney, who was born at Cherryvale, Kan., February 2, 1889, accompanied his parents in child- hood to Salt Lake City, Utah, and received a thorough education, graduating from the Winona College of Agriculture at Winona Lake, Ind., the scientific investigation of bench land soil began. One year was spent in experimental work on the land. A careful study of conditions was made. If there was not enough rain to mature crops without irrigation, could moisture be retained in the soil to last through the long, dry and hot summer and what system of tillage would best conserve the moisture until the season of the autumn rains? One of his first-considered problems was that of finding the crop best adapted to the soil. He found that deep-rooted crops, such as trees and vines, planted sufficiently far apart so that they could be cultivated, proved best adapted to the soil. Many of the pioneers, experimenting to find a profitable crop, had been impressed with the fine quality of the Bartlett pear, and Mr. Mckinney has proved by experimentation that for worn-out, hungry soil this fruit is the most practical, besides having the added advantage of blooming late and thus escaping the spring frosts. For this reason he has planted twenty-two acres in pears. In addition he has a vineyard of four acres and five acres in peaches and Franquett walnuts. In the course of his experiments one acre was planted to shallow-rooted crops for intensive cultivation. For this pur- pose beets, corn and potatoes were used. There was no irrigation on any part of the farm. The orchard made the best showing, because the trees being deep rooted had access to more moisture, and being planted twenty feet apart made possible the most intense cultivation. The corn came second, beets third and potatoes fourth, and corn gave the added advantage of building up the soil rather than depleting it.
Under all conditions it has therefore been shown that fruit is the best crop for worn-out bench land. The deep roots of the trees find a new feeding ground that had never been reached before, because shallow-rooted crops were the only ones ever planted. In the particular variety of fruit nothing surpasses the Bartlett pear, which experiments from the climatic and soil standpoints have shown to be unsurpassed for the locality. By conserva- tion of moisture and intense cultivation it has been shown that moisture can be maintained to within two inches of the surface up to the fall rainy season. When the question of the crop is decided, the next problem for the scientific investigator is that of plant food. Experiment proves that the soil is in poor physical as well as in poor plant food condition. The greatest need of the soil is organic matter. To supply this lack a good cover crop is essential, the same to be turned under to supply organic matter for plant food. also to better the physical condition of the soil. Experimenting was done by Mr. Mckinney to find a good cover crop and a satisfactory method of growing the same. Under ordinary conditions rye drilled into the moist soil of the orchard during the latter part of September and plowed under in March, when it reaches from four to six feet in height, has given the best results. The mois- ture in the cultivated soil germinates the rye and gives it a start before winter. With the coming of the rains the green shoots spring up and there is a good growth of the rye to be turned under. This is done every year. Occasionally some commercial fertilizer is used to balance the food supply.
These have been the first experiments in the locality to prove the useful- ness of bench land under new methods of soil management. Previously it was held that the bench land was useless without irrigation. but this theory
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has been disproved, as experiment shows that the prime requisite of the soil is plant food. Cultivation will supply all of the water necessary. Irrigation water is not at hand. To turn the vast bench lands into profitable farms other methods than irrigation must be adopted. Cultivation must and will take the place of irrigation. All experiments made by Mr. Mckinney took economy into consideration. They also considered crops that would increase the value of the land in the shortest time and bring in the greatest returns during the period of a lifetime. By these experiments it has been shown conclusively that at least three thousand acres of so-called worthless land may be turned to profit if proper methods of soil management are inaugurated. The adop- tion of such progressive measures in scientific agriculture will mark the turn- ing point of this vicinity toward a higher prosperity and more permanent success.
Mr. Mckinney was married in Danville, Ill., in January, 1911, being united with Miss Pansy Hiatt, who was born in Rigdon, Grant county, Ind., and who was private secretary and registrar of Winona (Ind.) College.
EDWARD PERCY SAILOR .- One of the notably successful young ranchmen in the East Upper Lake precinct of Lake county, Mr. Sailor has a valuable property adjoining Upper Lake on the southeast, and has made his home on that place since 1909. Before he turned his attention exclusively to agricultural work, he had made a reputation for solid worth as a business man, and the experience he gained as a merchant handling and dealing in various products has been of great service to him in his present occupation. Combined with sound business sense he has a capacity for continued industry which would produce results under any circumstances. Gradually he is extending his operations and turning his energies into different lines of agri- culture. and he has prospects of converting his tract of one hundred and one acres into one of the most thoroughly cultivated ranches in his neighborhood. Born in Scotts valley, Lake county, on the ranch where his father, Lafayette Sailor, has lived for the last thirty-five years, he is a son of one of the leading farmers in that section. His father has prospered by intelligent and well directed labor, and he is a most respected citizen, deservedly honored in the locality where so many years of his life have been spent. He is a devout Christian, a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Lakeport. Of his family of seven children, two sons and five daughters, E. P. Sailor is the second son and fourth child.
Edward P. Sailor was born May 15, 1881, and grew up on the Sailor ranch, meantime attending public school in Scotts valley. Later he entered the Lakeport academy, and then took a course at Sweet's business college, in Santa Rosa, from which school he was graduated in 1900. He soon there- after bought the grocery store of R. E. Hendricks at Lakeport, and for three years conducted a grocery and bakery business by himself, at the end of that time selling a half interest to J. B. Levensaler, who about one year afterward bought the other half of the business, which he still conducts. Mr. Sailor then purchased the general store of Morrison & Howe, at Upper Lake, where he did a large general mercantile business for about two years, until he traded the store for his ranch just southeast of Upper Lake. He has lived there since 1909. Even in the few years he has owned and occupied the place he has been actively engaged in improving it, and in the year 1913 he planted nine acres in Bartlett pear trees. Most of the land, however, he uses for raising alfalfa, cutting three crops a year and usually putting up about two
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hundred tons of hay annually, having enough to fatten seventy head of cattle for the market and to keep his young stock, cows, etc., over the winter. He has become quite extensively engaged in the raising of beef cattle, usually keeping about one hundred and twenty-five head, and he rents eight hundred acres from the Yolo Water & Power Company for pasture. His expanding interests require constant watchfulness and close management, but he has shown himself fitted for wise planning and able to put his ideas into practice, and his varied undertakings are thriving under a careful guiding hand. Per- sonally he has a reputation for good motives and principles which makes him favorably known to all who have had dealings with him.
Mr. Sailor was married at Lakeport, in 1904, to Miss Lulu Kennedy, whose father, Romulus R. Kennedy, now ninety-four years old, is one of the oldest settlers in Lake county, having made his home here for fifty years. As the pioneer carpenter and builder in this section he aided materially in the development of Lakeport, where in his day he did most of the building. Mr. and Mrs. Sailor have one child, Edwena. They are leading members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Upper Lake, and he is one of the devoted workers in the congregation, serving as one of the board of stewards and as trustee. His early church home was at Lakeport, where he attended Sunday school for sixteen years in boyhood and youth. Mr. Sailor is an Odd Fellow, belonging to Lodge No. 241, at Upper Lake. His political support is given to the Republican party.
HOWARD BISHOP .- Coming to California in 1885, when he was a youth of but eighteen years, Howard Bishop has since that time made his home in Mendocino county. He is at present one of the best known dairy farmers in the county, and owns and operates the largest dairy in this section of the state. His business is the fruit of his own industry and business ability, and is one of the most profitable on the coast. He owns a splendid ranchi of some three hundred and sixty-five acres, and in addition leases extensive acreage adjoining, on which he is engaged in stock-raising and farming.
Mr. Bishop is a native of Nova Scotia, Canada, having been born at Kent- ville, Kings county, May 18, 1867. His father was Samuel Bishop, also a native of Kings county, and of English descent. His mother was Lovina (Woods) Bishop, a native of the same county, and of old New England stock. His father was a blacksmith, and was in business in Kentville for many years. There were nine children in the family, of whom the present honored citizen of Mendocino county was the third youngest. He was reared in Kentville, where he received his early education in the public schools. In 1883 he came to the United States, going to Boston, Mass., where he was in the employ of a physician for two years. In 1885 he came to California, locating in Mendocino county, where he secured employment on a dairy farm. The hours were long and the work hard, but he continued here until 1891, when he rented a ranch, stocked it with cows and engaged in the dairy business for himself. In a short time he had a herd of forty milch cows and was prospering.
At the time of the gold rush to the Klondyke Mr. Bishop went to Alaska, going in over the Chilkoot pass, to Dawson. He packed two tons of provisions over the pass to the Yukon, then whip-sawed lumber, made boats and shot the White Horse rapids. For a number of years he prospected on the various creeks, but they were already staked for miles in every direction. One hun- dred and twenty-five miles up the Stewart river he obtained color, but did not make any large strikes. In the fall he sold his provisions and returned to
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San Francisco, over the Chilkoot pass. While on the Stewart river he and three others cut logs and rafted them down to Dawson, making two trips. The work was hard and extremely dangerous, and the men met many perils and narrow escapes from fatal accidents. But the work was profitable. and in this manner Mr. Bishop made the trip in worth while.
Beginning again in the dairy business after the Alaska trip, Mr. Bishop later went to Sonoma county, where with a partner he rented five thousand acres of land, stocked it with some nine hundred head of cattle, including two hundred head of milch cows, and for four years conducted the enterprise with most successful results. At the end of that time the partnership was dis- solved, and the interests disposed of, and Mr. Bishop again returned to Men- docino county, locating on his present property near Bridgeport. This is a ranch of three hundred sixty-five acres fronting on the Pacific, which he purchased. In addition to this he leases eight hundred acres adjoining, and on this immense tract he is engaged in raising grain and hay, oats, barley, beets, carrots, peas, corn and potatoes. This variety of crop gives him green feed for his cows the year around, and adds materially to his dairy profits. His herd of milch cows numbers at present about eighty, all high-grade Jersey and Durham stock. He also raises Percheron horses and Berkshire hogs.
Since his purchase of this property Mr. Bishop has improved it very appreciably, and now has one of the finest places in the community. He has erected several large barns of strictly modern type, and has improved the residence, adding modern comforts and conveniences.
The marriage of Mr. Bishop occurred in Point Arena in April, 1891, uniting him with Miss Rose Hitchcock, a native of Point Arena. She is the daughter of Isaac Hitchcock, a native of Missouri and a pioneer of California, who crossed the plains in an early day and located in Mendocino county in 1864. Her mother was Susan (Hopper) Hitchcock, also a native of Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Bishop have become the parents of eight children, five daughters and three sons, all of whom are well and favorably known in Mendocino county, where they were born and where they have received their education. They are: Della, Earl, Clifford, Leona, Ruby, Howard, Pearl and Hazel.
Aside from his business interests Mr. Bishop is keenly interested in the general affairs of the community. He has served as a school trustee in his district at various times, and is always interested in the cause of education. In politics he is a Republican, and while never actively engaged in the affairs of his party, he is well informed and an independent thinker. Several months ago he took the contract for the construction of the Malaposa grade, which contract had been refused by several who were afraid to undertake the work. The grade consists of only one hundred seventy rods, but is very heavy, with a high embankment. There were three slides, and it required the work of nine men for five months to complete the contract. During this time they used sixteen horses and the best of machinery at all times.
WILLIAM O. RUDDICK .- As a business man of Upper Lake and deputy sheriff of Lake county for several years Mr. Ruddick has established a wide acquaintance in his locality, and he is one of the popular citizens of his town, where he has made his home since his return from service in the Spanish-American war. He is a native of Jackson county, Ind., born July 4, 1873, and came with his parents to Ukiah, Mendocino county. Cal., in the
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year 1884, the family moving to Healdsburg, this state, in 1886. There he continued to live until 1896, then coming to Middletown, Lake county, for a year. In 1897 he returned to Healdsburg. In April, 1898, when the Spanish- American war broke out, he enlisted. joining Company M, Fourteenth United States Infantry (regular army), under general order No. 40. They drilled at Camp Merritt, San Francisco, until July 14th, when they sailed for Manila, Philippine Islands, via Honolulu. Mr. Ruddick was in General Ovenshine's division, and toward the close of his service under General Lawton. He took part in six important operations: The engagement at Blockhouse No. 14. where the company lost twenty-three killed and fourteen wounded, Captain Patten, the company commander, being among those who gave up their lives : two engagements at San Pedro Macati; Sputa River: San Francisco Mel- bourne ; and a running fight in the desert. In the latter ten thousand men started across the desert, but only seven thousand finished the journey, the other three thousand falling exhausted on the way. Mr. Ruddick fell nincon- scious and remained in that state three hours, but was rescued by the hospital corps. He received his honorable discharge at Manila, as quartermaster sergeant, and came home by way of Hong Kong, China, and Yokohama, Japan ; at Tokio he had the opportunity of attending dress parade and saw the flower of the Japanese infantry. Arriving at San Francisco in September, 1900. he came to Upper Lake. Lake county, to visit an uncle and aunt then living here, Mr. and Mrs. William Buck, and he has resided here up to the present time.
Mr. Ruddick went to work in the Upper Lake cheese factory, and soon acquired so familiar a knowledge of the business that he ran the factory for the Upper Lake Cheese and Dairy Company for some time, eventually taking charge of it on his own account. He operated it as owner for three years, at the end of that period selling his interest. He was then appointed deputy sheriff under George Kemp, and has continued to serve his fellow citizens in that capacity since, having been reappointed under the present sheriff, Lyon Fraser. His retention in office is sufficient evidence of the satisfaction his work has given both to his superiors and to the people generally.
Besides attending to his official duties Mr. Ruddick has carried on busi- ness in Upper Lake, having a finely equipped pool and billiard hall, which he has popularized by his efficient and orderly management. He is active in local political circles, working in the interest of the Republican party. In 1905 Mr. Ruddick married Miss Lida E. Robinson, daughter of the late Jesse B. Robinson, Sr., of Lake county, a pioneer of this region and one time super- visor. The Robinsons are mentioned elsewhere in this work. Mrs. Ruddick has many friends in Upper Lake, and the home there which she and her husband own and occupy is one of the most beautiful residences in the town.
IRA ORDWAY .- With the year 1876 the Ordway family became repre- sented in California, for at that time P. D. Ordway, a native of Vermont. came to the west in search of a suitable location and after a temporary sojourn in Santa Clara valley settled permanently in Santa Cruz county. There his son, Tra, was born in 1879, and there he received a public-school education. When fourteen years of age he began to ride the range as a cowboy in the employ of his older brothers. In a short time he became so familiar with the cattle business that he was able to buy and sell with judgment and profit. His first interests in that line of business were with his brothers, Adolph and Edward.
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In order to select his stock with care and to make the best bargains possible, he frequently was called into Southern California and the San Joaquin, Sacra- mento, Salinas and Santa Clara valleys, as well as into different portions of the northern coast counties. Such widely extended travels gave him a thorough knowledge of the state and its resources, as well as qualifying him to judge stock with accuracy and skill. Indeed, it is said that his judgment of stock of all kinds is seldom at fault.
As early as 1898 Mr. Ordway brought cattle from the dry country into Mendocino county, where he and his brothers found pasture and water in abundance. During 1902 they shipped from Ferndale into the Sacramento valley. His brother, Adolph, is now engaged in the cattle business for him- self, with headquarters at Newman, Stanislaus county, while Edward, now located at Fort Bragg, is a partner of Ira, who makes his home in Willits. The latter in 1906 entered the employ of the Noyo Land and Cattle Company at Fort Bragg, and has continued with the same concern up to the present time, although in addition he buys and sells hogs in partnership with his brother, Edward. The two brothers incorporated the Little Lake Meat Com- pany with Edward as president and Ira as manager, and the younger brother actively superintended the market at Willits until his other affairs began to require all of his attention, since which time he has given the market only a general supervision.
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