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 98
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 98
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published in the Whatcom papers and republished in the Sacramento Union and other papers until it reached my father in Georgia. But I found an easy pass and posted notices clear through to the open country. So the men gave mne the credit of finding the pass which the Hudson Bay Company and Cap- tain Delacy failed to find. Then we pressed forward to the mouth of the Thompson river, burning several bodies we found on the way that had been murdered by the Indians. We reached the Fraser river at the mouth of the Thompson in time to take part in the war between the miners and Indians, in which the latter were driven into the mountains. I remained until Octo- ber 10, prospecting. when. after many hardships, privations and disappoint- ments I returned to Placer county, Cal., by way of Victoria, crossing the Gulf of Georgia in a canoe."
On his return to Placer county Mr. Goforth carried on mining until July, 1865, when he settled near Petaluma, Sonoma county, there following farming until the fall of 1870, when he came to Mendocino county and settled in the foothills of Potter valley. There he engaged in stock-raising until 1878, when he moved to Pomo, there following stock-raising and wool-growing until 1888. Then he removed to a ranch in the forks of the Eel river, and there his demise occurred in 1891. He was married October 24. 1867, to Sarah E. Edsall, born in Missouri. She is now Mrs. Cooper and resides in Two Rivers district.
Of the union of Millington P. Goforth and Sarah E. Edsall there were born six children, of whom F. M. is the third oldest. His education was received in the public schools of Potter valley and Independence district on Eel river. From a lad he learned riding the range and stock-raising, putting in his time helping to care for the ranch. In 1900 he purchased a part of his present place, later adding to it and now owns about six hundred acres on the Eel river, two miles above the forks, where he is raising hay, cattle and hogs. His brand is a "G" with a bar over it. He has also set out an orchard of pears and apples. A tulu lake on his place covering four acres has been drained by cutting a ditch twelve feet deep and three hundred feet long, leaving him a peet soil excellent for gardening. His ranch, which is named Poonkiny, Indian for "Bitterwood," .is well watered by streams and springs, and has been improved with a large dwelling house and barns. For some time there was a postoffice here named Poonkiny and he was assistant postmaster until it was discontinued. In connection with his farming and stock-raising he conducts an hotel, stable and stage station. He owns forty acres of ranch land near Covelo devoted to raising alfalfa and grain.
Mr. Goforth was married in Laytonville, April 30, 1902, being united with Bertha Martindale, a native of Pine Creek, Modoc county, the daughter of Albert and Bessie (Blakesley) Martindale, natives of Pennsylvania and In- diana, respectively. Mr. Martindale was a contractor and builder in various parts of California until 1899, when he located in Mendocino county and is now a farmer at Salt Creek, on Eel river. They were the parents of five children, Mrs. Goforth being next to the youngest.
Mr. and Mrs. Goforth have four children : Frances Irma, Lola Irene, Fran- cis Marion, Jr., and Charles Everett. Mr. Goforth was six years a member of the board of trustees of Independence school district and is now serving as a deputy county clerk. Fraternally he is a member of Covelo Camp No. 635, W. O. W., and politically is a Republican.
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GEORGE W. GOFORTH .- A native son of California, Mr. Goforth was born in Potter valley, Mendocino county, September 12, 1877. The sketch of his father, M. P. Goforth, will be found in that of Francis M. Goforth's sketch in this work. George W., the second youngest of a family of six children, lived on the farm in Potter valley until 1888, when he came with his parents to the ranch at the forks of Eel river, there learning the stock business and receiving his education in the public schools. At the time of his father's death George was fifteen years of age and he continued to help his mother on the ranch until the four brothers bought the home ranch. Later three of them bought the fourth one's interest. Meantime he and his brother Frank purchased their mother's farm at Poonkiny, and later on George traded his interest in the Poonkiny ranch for Frank's interest in the old home ranch and about the same time bought out the interest of William and became sole owner of the ranch of twelve hundred and eighty acres at the forks, where he continued farming and stock-raising.
After a year G. W. Goforth rented his ranch and removed to San Ber- nardino, where he purchased a ten-acre orange grove, but a year later he sold out and returned with his family to his ranch. However, in April. 1912. he sold it and located in Covelo, where he purchased thirty acres adjoining the town and rents forty more adjoining this. There he engages in farming and is rapidly sowing the place to alfalfa.
The marriage of Mr. Goforth occurred at Covelo, being united with Grace L. Tanney, who was born in Round valley. Her father, Thomas Tanney, was born in Boston and came to California in the early days. About forty years ago he located in Round valley, where he was a successful stockman. In San Francisco he married Annie Lewis, born in Nebraska, the daughter of Dr. Walter Lewis, a practicing physician in the Bay cities. Mr. and Mrs. Goforth have three children, as follows: Harry, George W. and Edna Ger- trude. He is a member of the Woodmen of the World and is a stanch Re- publican.
ROBERT JOHN DARTT was born near Truro, Colchester county, Nova Scotia, November 1, 1852. His father, Job Dartt, was a farmer and he also ran a ferry across the Shubenacadie river for fourteen years. So the son, Robert John, learned farming as it is done in that vicinity and received his education in the local schools. Desiring to try his fortune on the Pacific coast, at the age of seventeen years, in 1869, he started for California. He remained in Sonoma county until March 5, 1870, when he came to Albion Ridge, Mendocino county, where he found employment at making railroad ties. Locating a claim, he engaged in making railroad ties, and as he was able. purchased land adjoining until he had three hundred and sixty acres. This he afterwards sold off at different times. For three years he carried on farming and stock- raising for the Albion Lumber Company. Then purchasing a farm near Little River, he followed farming there until June, 1908, when he purchased his present place of five hundred acres near Bridgeport, extending about a mile along the Pacific ocean. About two hundred and fifty acres is bench land devoted to raising grain, hay, corn, beets, alfalfa, carrots and potatoes. The balance furnishes grazing for his dairy herd of sixty-five cows, which he intends to increase to one hundred head of the Jersey and Ayrshire strain in the near future. His plans also include the building of four new silos which will make his one of the most modern dairies in the county. He is also raising
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Berkshire and Poland China hogs and Norman horses. He is deeply inter- ested in the Bridgeport Creamery Company, of which he is secretary and manager, as well as a member of the board of directors. To this enterprise he is giving much of his time, seeing that the manufacture is carried out under the latest methods and attending to the marketing of the product in Albion, Wendling and San Francisco. It is the consensus of opinion that the dairy industry is the most important industry in the building up and improving of the Mendocino coast, consequently he is very solicitous of the continued success of the creamery.
Mr. Dartt was first married in Albion to Anna Crawford, who was born in Illinois and who passed away on Albion Ridge leaving two children, Clara (Mrs. Cox) and Marion (Mrs. Newman), both residing in Oakland. His second marriage was at Caspar, where he was united with Sarah Mathews, born near Ottawa.
JOSHUA GRINDLE .- Long identification with the lumber business and other interests of Mendocino county have given to Mr. Grindle a wide acquaint- ance throughout this portion of the state, where for years he made a success of important milling and lumbering enterprises and where since he has made the Mendocino Bank of Commerce one of the financial forces of its com- munity. The twentieth century extension of the banking facilities on a solid basis into the smaller cities of the country finds illustration in the bank of which he is president. The building occupied for banking purposes is admir- ably adapted for its use and stands on a prominent corner on the main street of the city, near the shores of the Pacific ocean. Capitalized at $25,000, with a substantial surplus, the bank forms a vital and integral part of the town and ranks high among the business enterprises of the county, whose citizens, ap- preciating the advantages offered herein, have tendered to the institution an excellent and growing patronage.
Pride of ancestry is one of Mr. Grindle's characteristics, and his own life has contributed much to a name well and favorably known in New England. He was born at Surry, Hancock county, November 3, 1844. the son of Robert and Mercy (Varnum) Grindle, natives of Brooksville. Me. At the time of the Civil war Robert Grindle was over the age at which recruits were taken into service, nevertheless he volunteered and was accepted, serving in the Eight- eenth Maine heavy artillery. This regiment was cut to pieces and he served in another regiment until the close of the war, taking part in all of the en- gagements of his command. After the war he followed farming in New England with the usual success. He was a man of strong personality and the courage of his convictions, and lived to the ripe age of ninety-four years. His widow is residing at Surry, Me., and though past ninety-three is still active and useful, retaining all of her faculties. Blessed indeed have been those per- mitted to know this remarkable woman personally. Though her life has been a busy one, it has been filled with the joy of service to others and an exein- plification of those moral attributes which with so many are mere theories and not rules of daily practice.
Like many of those who were reared in Maine Mr. Grindle followed the sea throughout a considerable part of his early years. When fourteen he left school and went to sea, where he remained for a considerable period. During 1869 he came via Panama to California and ever since has made his home in Mendocino county, although his interests have not been limited to this
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county, but include enterprises in other localities, particularly in San Fran- cisco. In that city he owns valuable property and is also president of the Auto Service Company at No. 64 Golden Gate avenue. For thirty years he devoted his time to lumbering, being an employe of the Mendocino Lumber Company.
In Mendocino occurred the marriage of Mr. Grindle, uniting him with Miss Alice E. Hills, who was born in Boston, Mass .. the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. S. W. Hills, the former a pioneer rancher of Mendocino in the early '60s. Mrs. Grindle was a school teacher in Mendocino county for several years before her marriage. One son was born to Mr. and Mrs. Grindle. Aliston Hills. who after completing the machinist's trade in the Union Iron Works. enlisted and is now serving in the United States navy.
The Mendocino Bank of Commerce was incorporated in September of 1905 by Joshua Grindle and Fred W. Stickney, its establishment coming as a successor to Grindle & Stickney, brokers. Mr. Grindle was chosen the first president and has been the sole incumbent of the office, while John S. Ross serves as vice-president. J. N. Rea is cashier and W. B. Coombs. C. J. Wood and Fred W. Stickney directors. The report of the bank rendered August 26. 1913, showed a capital stock. paid-in. of $25.000, with $10,000 surplus, $4,000 undivided profits and $135.000 in deposits, which is an excellent showing in every respect and indicates the capability and sagacious judgment of the directors. Throughout the long period of his residence in Mendocino Mr. Grindle has been interested continuously and earnestly in the welfare of the town and has promoted its educational advancement through efficient service as school trustee. Mr. Grindle was made a Mason in Lygonia Lodge No. 40. F. & A. M., at Ellsworth. Me .. in 1865-66. Afterwards he demitted and affiliated with Mendocino Lodge No. 179, was exalted to Royal Arch degrees in Santa Rosa Chapter No. 45. R. A. M .. April 10, 1878. and afterwards be- came a charter member of Mendocino Chapter No. 88, R: A. M. With his wife he is a charter member of Ocean View Chapter No. 111. O. E. S.
WARREN B. RANNELLS .- One of the live young men in the business circles of Lower Lake is Warren B. Rannells. president of the Lake County Meat & Produce Company, meat dealers and packers. He is entitled to be called a self-made man, for though he began life with less than the average ad- vantages he has had more than ordinary success, and those who know him recognize the fact that it is due to his own efforts.
Mr. Rannells was born in San Joaquin county, Cal .. October 31. 1874. His father. I. Wilson Rannells, a native of the state of Ohio, came to California when a young man, and in San Joaquin county married Miss Mary Jane Bon- ham. He followed agricultural pursuits, in that county and later in Tchama county, Cal., where he died in 1883, when only thirty-eight years old. Four children were born of his marriage, viz .: Warren B .: Velma. wife of Rufus T. Hanson, of Lower Lake : Hiram G., who died unmarried, when twenty-one years old : and Rolla R., of Lower Lake. The mother subsequently remarried. and by her second union had one child. M. B. Rannells, who clerks and drives team for A. M. Akins & Sons, of Lower Lake. Mrs. Rannells, now sixty years old, is making her home at Lower Lake, where all her children are settled.
Warren B. Rannells, being the eldest of the family and only eight years old when his father died, was early obliged to assume real responsibilities. His early boyhood and youth were passed in San Joaquin and Tehama coun-
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ties. About 1887 the family moved from the latter county to Lake county, settling at Lower Lake, where he attended school to some extent, obtaining an ordinary grammar school training. His mother owned a small farm, but it was not sufficient to afford a good living for the whole family, and as soon as possible Warren B. Rannells began to look about for some means of increas- ing their income. His first independent venture was in the quartz mines in Butte county. Cal. In 1900 he took a lease of the Gem gold mine at Enterprise. that county, which he operated for one year, at a loss. Going to Merced county he entered the employ of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, doing car- penter work, for a year and a half. Then he engaged in stock farming in Lake county, renting a ranch on Cache creek. While thus employed he commenced butchering, on a small scale, and found the business so much to his liking that on May 15, 1906, he bought out the establishment of George Dunnigan. at Lower Lake, which he has since carried on. Mr. Rannells has been enlarg- ing his business and its scope steadily ever since, and on February 6, 1913, he organized the corporation now known as the Lake County Meat & Produce Company, which is capitalized at twenty thousand dollars, the stock, with « par value of one dollar per share, being all held by local people. Four thousand, two hundred and sixty-five shares have been bought and paid for. The concern is incorporated under the laws of the state of California, and the principal offices, shop and slaughter house are at Lower Lake, which thus benefits directly by all the business done. The first year after the organization twenty-two thousand dollars worth of live stock was handled, and the rest of the business done is in proportion. A regular packing business is carried on, and the product is all first quality, sugar-cured, oak smoked hams and bacon, pure lard, sausages, head cheese, pickled pigs feet, green cut bones, etc. The sausage making outfit was rebuilt in 1913, and is very complete. The refrigera- tion is taken care of by a twelve horse-power engine (which furnishes power for the whole establishment) and a two-ton ammonia compressor, and there are three large cold storage rooms, affording ample room for refrigeration. The establishment at Lower Lake is forty feet by fifty feet in dimensions, and the slaughterhouse and yards are located half a mile north of the town, on the Burns Valley road. Three men are regularly employed. At the second an- nual meeting of stockholders, held at the office in Lower Lake February 11, 1914, W. B. Rannells was elected president of the concern; R. T. Hanson, vice president : J. T. La Bree, secretary ; Robert F. Lemen, treasurer ; and W. B. Rannells. R. T. Hanson, J. T. LaBree, J. F. Garner and Robert F. Lemen, directors. The business has prospered, mainly through the careful manage- ment and industry of Mr. Rannells, and his success in building it up has gained him an honorable place among the substantial citizens of his town, who appreciate his solid worth.
Mr. Rannells is well known in social connections, being a prominent member of Lower Lake Parlor No. 159, N. S. G. W., and of Lower Lake Lodge No. 130. I. O. O. F. ; he has been through the chairs in the latter body twice, and also belongs to the Rebekahs at Lower Lake. He takes no part in politics or public affairs except to give his encouragement to worthy move- ments affecting the welfare of his home locality. About the time he settled on the ranch at Cache creek Mr. Rannells married Miss Frances Jackson, of Co- lusa county, a teacher, and they have had two children, Jackson and Edith.
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Rolla R. Rannells, youngest son of 1. Wilson and Mary Jane (Bonham) Rannells, was born October 1, 1883, in Tehama county, where he lived until four years old. His father died before his birth, and his mother had the sole care of her four children, whom she brought to Lake county about 1887. Rolla R. Rannells was given a good common school education, graduating from the grammar school in Cache Creek district in 1897, and began work at the age of sixteen years around the machinery at the Abbott mine, at Sul- phur Creek, Colusa county. His natural inclination for such work, and his interest, helped him to become proficient, and he was allowed to run a hoisting engine and other complicated machinery at the mine, where he also had charge of the blacksmith shop, doing repair work on the machinery. Finding that there was no blacksmith shop at Lower Lake when he returned to the town, he yielded to the advice of his friends, who encouraged him to start a smithy, and in 1910 leased the Mitchell shop on Main street. In 1912 he leased the Wilson shop, on the same street. Being strong and skillful, a first- class general machinist, he has done well, and personally he is ranked among the most respected citizens of the place. In 1912 Mr. Rannells formed a busi- ness partnership with C. S. Sheridan, under the firm name of Rannells & Sheridan. Mr. Sheridan is a native of Tennessee, and came to California from Kansas nine years ago. Like Mr. Rannells, he is a thorough mechanic, blacksmith and horseshoer, and their establishment is a valuable convenience to the various concerns in the town who need their services.
In 1905 Mr. Rannells was married in Colusa county to Miss Angeline Emily Persons, daughter of T. H. Persons, of Williams, Cal., and five children have been born to this union : Norma, Helen, Gladys, Hiram and Herbert. Mr. Rannells is a member and past grand of Lower Lake Lodge No. 130, 1. O. O. F., a Master Mason, and a member of Lower Lake Parlor, N. S. G. W. A few years ago, during a period of unusual lawlessness at Lower Lake, Mr. Ran- nells was appointed deputy sheriff, and his work in restoring order was much appreciated by his fellow citizens. Politically. he is a Socialist, aiming to support all that is good and beneficial to the general welfare, prohibition, law and order appealing to him as the best means of insuring the peace and pros- perity of the community. He has a progressive spirit, and liberality and fair- ness have characterized all his dealings with his fellow men.
Rufus T. Hanson was born August 1, 1870. at Yuba City, Cal., son of Daniel and Emma (Morine) Hanson, and grandson of George Hanson, a well- known pioneer of Lake county. His parents came to Lake county in 1874, settling on land eleven miles northeast of Lower Lake, along the north fork of Cache creek, where Mr. Hanson improved a farmi. He died in 1900, at the age of sixty-three years, and his widow is now living in retirement at San Jose. Their family consisted of nine children : William Page, who died in Long Val- ley when fourteen years old; Elizabeth, who died at Yuba City when eighteen months old; David Mark, now a resident of Lower Lake; Daniel Apperson. who died unmarried at the age of twenty-three years ; Sidney Elizabeth, mar- ried to M. Broedell, a blacksmith and wagonmaker of San Jose; Frank Hazel, who lives in Ontario, Canada ; Manzanita M., wife of F. Yeaw, superintendent of the Oasis fruit ranch at Roswell, Mexico; Alice Louise, wife of Roy Pierce, of Sacramento county : and Rufus T.
Rufus T. Hanson is the eldest of his parents' family. He has lived in Lake county since 1874, and for the last eight years has worked with Mr.
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Rannells, his brother-in-law, at Lower Lake, being now one of the officers and stockholders of the Lake County Meat & Produce Company, which is doing a thriving business. He owns a farm of one hundred and forty acres in Burns valley, Lake county, planted in hay, grain and fruit, there being four hundred apple and pear trees set out, besides apricots, etc. He rents this place, giving all his time to the meat business. Mr. Hanson is a Republican in poli- tics, and in social connection a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fel- lows, being a past grand.
In 1898 Mr. Hanson was united in marriage, at Lower Lake, with Miss Velma Rannells, a native of Tehama county, Cal., daughter of I. Wilson and Mary Jane ( Bonham) Rannells. Mrs. Hanson came with her mother to Lower Lake about 1887 when nine years old, and received her education here principally, taking a course in the Lakeport Academy. In 1896 she took the teacher's examination, and has ever since been engaged in teaching in Lake county, at present having charge of the first, second, third and fourth grades in the public school at Lower Lake, with thirty-five pupils under her care. She is prominent in various local activities, being a member of the Rebekahs (which she serves as chaplain) and the Native Daughters of the Golden West, and of the Long Valley Christian Church. Mr. and Mrs. Hanson have one child, Walter Rolland.
HARMAN BERKOWITZ .- Among men who, schooled by adversity. have the distinction of being called self-made, must be mentioned Harman Berkowitz. He was born in Finland in 1862 and was just a lad when his father died and he found it necessary for him to go to work. Moving to Amer- ica, he came first to Ohio, and then went to Michigan, where he was em- ployed in the iron mines. He was married at Ishpeming, Mich., to Miss Hedvig Hudala, who was also a native of Finland. In April, 1886, he came west to California, arriving first in Los Angeles and going thence to Bakers- field where he started farming, but in October of the same year he camne to Fort Bragg. He there immediately entered the employ of the Union Lumber Company as a carpenter and bridge builder. He purchased property on Frank- lin street, and afterwards built a store, which he leased till he started in the shoe business, continuing with marked success until his death in August, 1913.
Fraternally Mr. Berkowitz was a member of the Red Men and of the Woodmen of the World, besides the Finnish Brotherhood, of which he was a charter member. He was a leading member of the Finnish Lutheran Church, a liberal contributor to the building of their house of worship, and active in all their good work. Mr. and Mrs. Berkowitz were the parents of nine children : Theodore, Arthur, Archie, Olka (now Mrs. Parnet), Franz. Dora Edna, Niel, Philip and Alma. Since his death the family continue the busi- ness so ably established by the father.
CHARLES WILLIAM MERO .- Existence in a new country, where men deal daily, almost hourly, with the great problems of life and death, and where only the great realities ever dare to intrude, there is bound to be developed a race of men and women of a different stamp from those who are the product of a more established civilization. There may be less of superfluous culture, less of the veneer called social polish, but in its place there is certain to be found a rugged strength of character, a breadth of mind and an appreciation of real human worth that in the real issues of life far out- weigh all else. And it is of such a race as this that Charles William Mero 44
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