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 85
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 85
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The marriage of Ira Ordway was solemnized at Salinas, this state, January 22, 1906, and united him with Miss Ethel Seelye, a native of Santa Cruz county and a daughter of John Seelye, who in the early days came from Maine to the Pacific coast, settling in Santa Cruz county. Excellent educa- tional advantages were enjoyed by Mrs. Ordway in her girlhood. From early childhood she has been a communicant of the Episcopal Church. Since receiving the franchise she has joined with her husband in giving allegiance to Republican principles of the progressive type. Their family numbers four children, Anna, Kent, Lila and Oliver Of a pleasing personality, Mr. Ord- way is popular in the Woodmen of the World and has been active in the local camp of the order. From boyhood he has given himself wholly to one line of work, and, being quick, energetic and efficient, he has gained a knowledge of the cattle and hog business probably surpassed by few men in the county.
HENRY SOLON LOVELL .- Among the emigrants that came to California during the eventful decade of the '50s there was a family from Indiana, who crossed the Isthmus of Panama in 1852 and came on to San Francisco, bringing with them a son, Henry S., whose birth had occurred in Indianapolis June 24, 1849. The parents settled in Auburn, Placer county, where the son was sent to the grammar school and for one year to the high school. As early as 1862 he came to Mendocino county for the first time, and being a skilled rider earned a livelihood by acting as vaquero in the moun- tains near Round valley. In the management of pack-trains he became efficient, and he was also skilled in driving teams over the dangerous moun- tain roads. On many of his mountain trips he has lassoed brown bear, and one time caught a grizzly bear. During 1870 he helped to move the last soldiers from Fort Bragg. While he had been working with pack-trains and on ranches a romance had entered into his own life while yet he was a mere lad. He had fallen in love with a pretty young California girl, Sarah Eliza- beth Bigley, who was born in Eldorado county December 29, 1852. When he
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was scarcely seventeen and she was still less than fourteen they eloped and were married at Stringtown June 18, 1866, returning to announce their union to a surprised circle of relatives and friends.
When Mr. Lovell purchased a mountain ranch and engaged in raising stock the fact that he had been efficient in the care of stock from boyhood aided him in getting a start, and his industry was also a factor in final success. During 1893 he sold his stock range in the mountains and embarked in agri- culture on a smaller scale in Round valley, where besides farming he takes contracts for the building of houses and also carries on an undertaking busi- ness. A neighbor died in 1875 and he was called on to make a coffin. Though without experience in such work he was so prompt and so capable that the idea was suggested to him of engaging in the business, and this he consented to do, there being no undertaker in the valley. From young manhood he has been active in politics as a Democrat. Frequently he has been chosen to some local office, such as road overseer and deputy sheriff, and these positions he has filled with the efficiency of a man deeply interested in promoting the growth of the valley. Fraternally he is a blue lodge Mason. His family has numbered ten children, but Harry, Walter and Sylvia are deceased. The seven now living are Clara, Frank, Angela, Maude, Margaret, William and Charles.
JESSE B. ROBINSON .- Among the descendants of "forty-niners" whose names will be honored as long as California is properly grateful to the early citizens who bore their share in the events of those historic days the Robinsons, of Lake county, are well known. There was a time when Jesse B. Robinson, Sr., was known to every resident of Lake county, and to many inore throughout this section of the state. His public services, liis association with various local interests as a business man, his capability, all combined to make him widely known, and he was universally popular, possessing an admirable personality which attracted and held friendship wherever he went. His early life was spent in Missouri, where he was born October 24, 1824. When twenty-one years old he began to learn the trade of tanner and currier in Sainte Genevieve county, that state, and after an apprenticeship of eighteen months had so far mastered the work that he was put in charge of the estab- lishment, spending another eighteen months so engaged.
In March, 1849, Mr. Robinson started overland for California, crossing the plains with what was called the Missouri train, and arriving at Sacramento in September of that year engaged in hotelkeeping during the fall and winter. In the spring of 1850 he went to mining along the Feather and Yuba rivers, in the vicinity of Marysville, remaining there until the fall of 1851, at that time settling at Plumas, on the Feather river, where the boats stopped. For the next two and a half years he kept hotel at that place, and from that time until his removal to Lake county, in 1857, was interested in farming and stock. When his brother-in-law, Michael Gray, was elected sheriff of Yuba county, Mr. Robinson became under-sheriff, in which capacity he became very well acquainted. While in Plumas he also ran a large wood yard. By the time he decided to move from Yuba county he had become quite extensively engaged in the cattle business, and he brought about three hundred head up the Russian river into Potter valley, pasturing them on what is now known as Cow mountain, on the west shore of Blue lake. He was the first white man to run cattle on that mountain, which became quite appropriately known 38
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as Cow mountain because of the great number of cows he had grazing there. His cattle were there for a year. Leaving his stock with the herders he made his way through the forest to Upper Lake, and once in a while he came across a squatter. He found a man by the name of Moore camped on the tract of four hundred acres, and Mr. Robinson asked him what he would take for the claim. His answer was "$150." The price was agreed upon. and the money paid, Mr. Robinson stipulating, however, that the squatter remain on the land to hold it down for him until he could bring his family from Yuba county, which he knew would take probably three or four months. But when the Robinsons arrived Moore had gone. The land was there, and they pro- ceeded to make a home, in due time proving np the claim. It is now included in the government property known as the Indian Rancho, between Upper Lake and Lakeport. Mr. Robinson improved his property, and continued to follow farming and stock raising throughout his active years, being very successful in his undertakings, and associated with other interests-the various enterprises set on foot as the county was opened up and developed. He was elected supervisor and held that office for twelve years, was vice- president of the Farmers' Savings Bank of Lakeport, and never disappointed his fellow men in any position of trust.
Mr. Robinson was married in Yuba county to Miss Eliza Ellen Piggott, a native of Ireland, who was brought to America in her infancy and came around the Horn to California when a little girl. She died on the old Robinson homestead in Lake county about twenty-five years ago, when fifty-seven years old, and Mr. Robinson survived her until 1905, passing away in his eighty- second year. Six children were born to them: Mary died in infancy. Thomas Bryant is at Crockett, in Contra Costa county, engaged at the sugar refinery. Emma F. is the wife of Dr. R. G. Reynolds, the veteran physician and surgeon at Upper Lake. John L. is mentioned at length in the following sketch. Lida Eliza is the wife of William O. Ruddick, of Upper Lake. Jesse B. is also represented in this history.
JOHN L. ROBINSON was born February 21, 1861, at his father's homestead down Clear lake, on what is now the Indian Rancho, and grew up there. At the time of his mother's death he was around thirty years old and married, and for a number of years thereafter he rented the old homestead, carrying on farming and stock raising. Then for four years he was in part- nership with his brother Jesse in the meat business at Upper Lake, and when they sold the market bought the livery stable, in which he held his interest for one year. Selling that in 1903, he has since been in business as a con- tractor and builder. Among the buildings he has put up may be mentioned the residence of his brother Jesse at Upper Lake, the Jerome Mack Sleeper and Frank Howe residences, and the Methodist Episcopal parsonage, and he worked on the home of Van Buren Sleeper ; some years ago he did work on the Upper Lake schoolhouse. At present he is giving all his time to the carpenter business. Mr. Robinson owns three acres just north of Upper Lake village, where he has built a splendid house and made numerous other improvements, converting it into a home which is a credit to the neighbor- hood and a matter of pride to the owner.
By his first marriage, to Miss Berdenia Tallman, of Upper Lake, Mr. Robinson had one child. who died, however, when only three months old. Mrs. Robinson passed away in 1893. In 1902 he married (second) Miss
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Mildred Mccullough, a native of Lake county, whose parents, Robert and Margaret (McClintock) Mccullough, belong to early settled families of the county. To this marriage have been born two children, John Herald and Elva Florence. Mrs. Robinson is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Upper Lake and belongs to its Ladies' Aid Society. In political sentiment Mr. Robinson is a Republican, but in voting he aims to support good principles and men of principle rather than party.
JESSE B. ROBINSON was born March 23, 1874, in Upper Lake township, Lake county, at the north end of the lake, and grew to manhood there on the home ranch. His education was obtained in the local public schools and at A. J. Maxwell's private school. Various business concerns have engaged his attention since he began on his own account. For five years he conducted a meat market at Upper Lake in partnership with his brother John, for two years following was in the livery business, and then became associated with his brother in the carpenter business under the name of Robinson Brothers, who established a reputation as reliable builders. Among the houses he has helped to construct is the Dalzell Brown residence, located down the east shore of Clear lake. He is now assistant postmaster at Upper Lake, where his wife has been postmaster continuously for the last sixteen years, having received her first appointment January 1, 1898. Mrs. Robinson has the distinction of having held office longer than any other woman in the government employ in Lake county. Mr. and Mrs. Robinson have given the most thorough satisfaction in their discharge of the duties of the office, which they carry on systematically, and their long experience enables them to handle the work expeditiously, the service being irreproachable. Mr. Robinson also gives considerable time to assisting his brother, who is the leading builder at Upper Lake. Fraternally he is a prominent member of Upper Lake Lodge No. 241, I. O. O. F., which he joined when twenty-one years old, and has passed all the chairs in that body. His standing in all the associations of life justifies the high esteem in which he is held by his fellow citizens, who have given ample evidence of their respect for him.
On December 22, 1902, Mr. Robinson was married to Miss Jessie H. Henderson, a native of Suisun City, Cal., daughter of the late Thomas Henderson, who carried on the hotel business at Upper Lake for several years. She received a public school education, and in her long service as postmaster at Upper Lake has proved herself a reliable, intelligent business woman, deserving of the trust the residents of the town have committed to her. Two children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, Vivian E. and Carlton Bryan. Their beautiful bungalow home at Upper Lake was erected in 1911 by Mr. Robinson, and is an ideal dwelling place as regards both com- fort and appearance.
MARTIN LEE LYNCH .- Few names have been more intimately identified with the agricultural enterprises and meat market interests in the vicinity of Fort Bragg than that of Lynch, father and son giving of their best efforts to make a success of their respective callings. The genealogical records of the family indicate its southern origin, Arkansas being its special field of operation. The grandfather of our subject, Edwin B. Lynch, was a farmer in that state the greater part of his life, and there he and his wife, Catherine Smeltser in maidenhood, reared their five children. Next to the oldest of these children was Daniel Martin Lynch, who was born in Benton
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county. Ark., in 1856. The surroundings of his youth were such that he enjoyed only common school advantages, but he made much of these, as he also did of opportunities that came to him in other avenues of life. Until he was about fifteen years old he gave his services to his father in caring for the home farm, but feeling the limitations by which he was surrounded in the south he ventured out on his own resources at that youthful age. Since the year 1871 he has been a resident of California, and although in the more than forty years he has made his home in the west he has had to contend with the discouragements that come to all, still he has never for an instant regretted the promptings of Fate that led him to the Golden State. The first year in the west was passed in Fresno county, where he was engaged as a farin hand, and from there he came to Mendocino county, settling in the Ukiah valley, where later he took up farming and stock-raising on his own account, and still later engaged in raising hops. In partnership with his sons he owns a fine stock ranch of eleven hundred acres on the south fork of Eel river, where cattle raising is carried on along the most advanced and approved lines.
The marriage of Daniel Martin Lynch united him with Miss Eliza Mont- gomery, a native of Missouri, who came to California with her parents as a child in arms during the pioneer days. Settlement was made in Mendocino county, and in Ukiah the daughter was married. Nine children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. D. M. Lynch, as follows: Martin L., of Fort Bragg ; Ada I., Mrs. Hagans, of Ukiah ; LeRoy E., an electrician residing in Ukiah; Victorine, who died at the age of twenty-seven; Ernest G., who is superintendent of the Eel river ranch; Bertram A., of Hopland; and Wanda L., Esther L. and Daniel Lloyd, at home. Mr. Lynch takes a commendable interest in matters of an upbuilding and progressive nature in his community, and at all times may be depended upon to support them substantially with means, as well as with his personal influence.
The eldest of the nine children comprising the parental family was Martin Lee Lynch, who was born at Ukiah December 14, 1879. He was given the best educational advantages that his home town afforded, attending the public and high schools of Ukialı, a training that well fitted him for the prac- tical duties of life. His first experience in the butcher business was in the market of C. P. Smith, of Ukiah, after which he continued his training for six years in the market of A. J. Fairbanks at Willits. Thrown out of employ- ment on account of the damage done by the earthquake of April, 1906, he later found work in Austin Muir's market, remaining there for about two years, from there going to Santa Ana and later to Petaluma, working at his trade in both places, in the latter having charge of the C. T. Gilger market for four years. It was in January, 1913, that he resigned the position just mentioned and came to Fort Bragg to take charge of the meat market for the Noyo Land and Cattle Company, a position which he is well qualified to fill on account of his wide and varied experience.
In Willits, Cal., Martin L. Lynch was united in marriage with Miss Grace Scott, who was born in Denver, Colo., the daughter of Williard Scott, now a rancher near Willits. One child has been born of this union, Martin Alfred. Mr. Lynch is one of the enterprising and dependable residents of Fort Bragg, where he and his wife are well known socially, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias of Willits.
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JOSEPH MENDENHALL .- An honored resident of Lake county for over forty years, Joseph Mendenhall is the head of a family whose members are all remarkable for strength of mind, physical vigor and natural energy, characteristics which have made them active and leading citizens wherever their lot has been cast. Though endowed with the qualities which make for worldly success, it is their sterling worth, commendable enterprise and proper sense of responsibility toward their fellow men which have won them a place among the best element in the community. The Mendenhalls are of German extraction, but have long been settled in this country, Joseph Mendenhall's parents, Samuel and Amy Lee (Stevens) Mendenhall, having been natives of North Carolina, in which state they were married. They were farming people, and for a number of years lived in Indiana, from which state they went westward to Iowa in the early '50s. The mother died there. In 1864 the family made another move, from Iowa to Idaho, where they lived for nearly five years, in 1869 coming out to California and first making a settlement in Contra Costa county. Within a couple of years, however, they changed their location to Lake county in 1871, making a permanent home here. The father died in Lake county in his eighty-ninth year. His family consisted of eleven children, and of them we mention the following: Aaron died in boy- hood; Elijah, who was a farmer, died in Decatur county, Iowa, at the age of eighty-two years, survived by five children; Isaac, also a farmer, died in Kansas in 1912, aged eighty-four years, leaving seven or eight children ; Annis married Simeon Harmon, who died in Iowa, after which she came to live in Lake county, and eventually moved to the state of Washington, where she died ; Henley, a farmer, living at Castleton, Kans., is married and has a family ; Cerelda, Mrs. Miller, died leaving no children (her husband was a farmer in Wayne county, Iowa) ; Joseph is mentioned later; John, a hotel-keeper, died in 1913 in Nebraska, leaving two children ; Sylvia, the widow of Evan Evans, by whom she had eight children, lives in Decatur county, Iowa; Nelson, a farmer of Wayne county, Iowa, is married and has one child living; Jacob Lowell, who was born in Indiana May 12, 1849, came west with his brother Joseph's family and has always continued to live with them, having never married.
Joseph Mendenhall was born September 9, 1837, in Greene county, Ind., where he lived until a youth of fifteen. At that time he went with the family to Iowa, where he spent his young manhood, subsequently moving westward to Idaho and California, as above related. When they arrived in Lake county, in 1871, he settled along Scott creek in Scotts valley, in the Bachelor Valley precinct, homesteading a tract of eighty acres, and his father pre-empted another eighty acres, which Joseph bought from him later. The property is eight miles west of Upper Lake. Mr. Mendenhall continued to work steadily throughout his active years, and won a high place in the esteem of his neigh- bors for his industrious and upright life. He reared a large family to honor- able manhood and womanhood, typical descendants of the respected ancestry from which they spring. Large and energetic physically, intelligent and efficient, they have been a real force for good in their section of Lake county, and have carried a beneficial influence into the various localities where they have gone to round out their lives.
Mr. Mendenhall was married in Iowa, in 1858, to Miss America Phillips, daughter of James Phillips, of that state, and their wedded life has been
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singularly blessed. Companions and helpmates in the highest sense, they have been permitted to enjoy considerably more than a half century together, to see all their children settled and prospering, and happy in the love and affectionate regard of a large posterity. Mrs. Mendenhall's encouragement and sympathy were her husband's best aids in the days when they were work- ing to found their home, and she has never failed in her duty and devotion to her family. Ten children were born to this couple, the seventh and young- est dying in childhood, of diphtheria ; Adolphus is one of the most successful men in Lake county, his heaviest interest being in the canning business ; Arvilla is the wife of William Harris, a carpenter, living at Cloverdale, Sonoma county, and has one child; Olive I. is married to George Meadow, a farmer in Scotts valley ; Sarah Jane, wife of Miner Eaton, living in the Red- wood valley, in Mendocino county, has three children; Alexander, a farmer in Siskiyou county, this state, married Miss Jennie Shepherd and has two children ; Bert, who lives at home, now having charge of the paternal farm, married Miss Eleanor Kebert and has two children, Antha and Mark; Nannie is the wife of Harry Rhodes, who is in the automobile business in Arizona, where they reside, and they have three children; Maude is married to Lon Mann, of Ukiah, who is engaged at work on the state highway, and they have two children. Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Mendenhall have two great-great-grand- children, Elwell Sanborn and Carroll Sanborn.
Though he has not taken any active part in the administration of public affairs in his locality, Mr. Mendenhall has shown considerable interest in such matters, and on political questions he has supported the Democratic party.
WILFRED L. BOARDMAN .- The beautiful country home of Wilfred L. Boardman in West Upper Lake precinct, Lake county, a valuable tract of forty acres, was once part of the large estate of Judge George A. Lyon, Mrs. Boardman's father, one of the old-time residents of this locality. Mr. Board- man has been engaged in agricultural pursuits here for the last few years, making a specialty of market gardening and fruit growing, and besides culti- vating his home place he rents two hundred acres in the vicinity, operating on an extensive scale. His property lies on the west shore of Clear lake, five miles southwest of the town of Upper Lake, and for location as well as im- provements is considered one of the most desirable tracts in that section. Though Mr. Boardman has occupied it only since 1911 he has accomplished some noteworthy improvements, working out a number of ideas which have already produced good results and promise more.
Mr. Boardman was born July 9, 1878, at Lakeport, and is the eldest son of Oscar T. Boardman, whose reputation as an educator extends all over Lake county. He has followed the profession of teacher successfully for forty years, and now, at the age of sixty-three, is thus engaged in the Hawaiian Islands, where he also has valuable property holdings. He and his wife, whose maiden name was Viola Lapham, came to California from Wisconsin, where she was born; she joined him in this state, and died at Kelseyville. She is buried at Lakeport. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. O. T. Boardman: Wilfred L., George P. and Otis B., farmers, living in Washington ; and Eva S., who is teaching in the Hawaiian Islands.
Wilfred L. Boardman grew up in Lake county, obtained his early educa- tion in the public schools, and then had the advantages of two years' attendance at Lakeport academy. Agriculture has always been his chosen
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vocation. For a time he was in the stock business, beginning by renting a ranch in Big valley, Lake county, in the Highland Springs district, which he operated for a period of ten years. In 1909 he and his wife went to the Hawaiian Islands, where his father is established, and for two years he was engaged as foreman of a large pineapple plantation. Returning to Lake county in 1911 he bought the forty-acre tract previously mentioned, where he has since been engaged in truck farming and fruit raising, particularly profitable lines when the marketing and production can both be managed satisfactorily. He also rents two hundred acres, and he keeps two men busy besides himself attending to the general work, which involves many im- portant details if all the advantages of close attention are to be observed. Mr. Boardman maintains a persistency of interest which is bound to make his enterprises go through, and he is thoroughly progressive about trying new methods as well as improving on old ones. Active mentally and physically, he has the bearing of self-reliance and intelligence which wins confidence wherever he goes, and he well deserves the esteem in which he is held. He is fair in all his transactions, and he has the ability to carry out his plans and the patience to mature them properly, looking ahead toward the ultimate good of his interests rather than immediate profits.
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