Humboldt County
Biographies
RUDOLPH DENNIS AMBROSINI
Rudolph Dennis Ambrosini, a leading dairyman of Capetown, was born at Prosito near Lodrino, Canton Ticino, Switzerland, June 20, 1877. His father, Dennis Ambrosini, after spending many summers in Paris, France working at his trade, settled on his farm on the Ticino River where he died in 1886. The mother was Celesta Biasca who still resides on the old home farm. Of their five children, four grew to maturity: Rudolph, of this review; Max, who spend about twelve years in Humboldt County, but now resides in Ticino; Guttard is in the employ of our subject; James is a merchant in Ferndale.
Rudolph Ambrosini received a good education and from a lad learned dairying as it was done in the Alps region. Having heard good reports of wages and opportunities for young men in California, he concluded to try to better his condition and when seventeen left his home and kindred, arriving in Eureka, Humboldt County, February 5, 1896. After working for a short time on a dairy on Cannibal Island, he worked for about six years on different ranches near Ferndale, when he became foreman on the Mayflower Ranch, a position he held for two year. His ambition was to have a dairy of his own, and having saved some money in 1903 he leased the Mountain View ranch of 1400 acres and for eight years devoted his time to dairying, milking an average of 85 cows.
On the expiration of his lease he obtained a lease of the Frank Peters Ranch at Capetown. This is one of the most valuable dairy ranches on the coast, comprising four hundred fourteen acres on Bear River. He has a splendid dairy comprising Guernseys and Holsteins, sixty-five cows in all; he also raises cattle. With the aid of a steam engine, he runs his separator and manufactures butter which is put up in squares for family trade and sold in Ferndale and Eureka, which the surplus is shipped to San Francisco.
The marriage of Mr. Ambrosini occurred in Ferndale where he was united with Carrie Mead, a native of Kansas. Her father, Alfred Mead moved from Kansas to Oregon afterwards coming to Humboldt County, now residing in Bridgeville. To this have been born five children: Ernest, Dennis, Irene, Alma and Roland. For the past four years Mr. Ambrosini has been a member of the board of School Trustees for Capetown district and is clerk of the board. Politically he believes the principles of the Republican party are for the best interests of the whole country.
SOURCE: History of Humboldt County, California - Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1915
Pg. 1120 & 1121
Transcribed by: Carole Barker
CLAUS NISSEN RASMUSSEN
The Elk River Creamery is in charge of a very energetic and capable young man, Claus N. Rasmussen, who is well versed and experienced in the minute details of the business He was born near Tondern, Schleswig-Holstein, Germany, September 5, 1888, the second oldest of a family of six children born to Rasmus and Martha (Christiansen) Rasmussen. He received his education in the public schools of that vicinity.
When fifteen he determined to come to Humboldt County, California, where he had an uncle Anton Rasmussen engaged in dairying. Arriving in 1903, he was in his uncle’s employ for eighteen months and then worked for others in the same vicinity until 1909, when he entered the employ of the California Central Creameries, being for the first few months at the Crown Creamery, located on Eel River Island, and before the close of the year was place in charge of the Elk River Creamery, a position he has held every since, performing his duties satisfactorily to his employers as well as his patrons. This creamery is the receiving station for m ilk for Elk River and vicinity, the separated cream being sent to the main plant in Eureka. This plant also manufacturers casein and full cream cheese, using about five thousand pounds of milk a day for making cheese.
Mr. Rasmussen was married in Ferndale, being united with Miss Annie Elliers, who was also a native of Tondern and they have one child, Edith. Mr. And Mrs. Rasmussen were both reared in the Lutheran faith, and they still adhere to that religion.
SOURCE: History of Humboldt County, California - Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic Record Co., 1915
Pg. 1120
Transcribed by: Carole Barker