Marin County
Biographies
HENRY CLAUSSEN
HENRY CLAUSSEN. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Schleswig, July 15, 1842. Here he resided until 1851, when he accompanied his parents who then moved to the southern part of Sweden, and there remained until 1859. While here he attended the academies of the district and became well grounded in a liberal education. In 1859 he shipped as cabin-boy, and thus remained at sea until 1864 in which year he came home and commenced the study of navigation, on completing which he sailed with the rating of Second Mate until 1867, and afterwards as First Mate until 1870. In that year he brought his family to California, arriving December 10th, and settled at Sacramento City. On April 1, 1871, he came to Point Reyes and began the dairying business, which he now carries on. Mr. Claussen’s father died September 29, 1879, and his mother returned to Sweden. Mr. Claussen has been School Trustee of the Point Reyes district for five years. He is one of the many careful, honest and industrious dairymen of that section of Marin county, and a man most highly honored and respected by all who know him. A gentleman in the highest and truest sense of the word, and one whom it is a pleasure to meet and know. In 1872 he married Agneta C. Wittgren, a native of Sweden.
History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
THOMAS B. CRANDELL
THOMAS B. CRANDELL. Was born in Providence, R.I., January 15, 1841. At twelve years of age he went to the town of Barrington, Bristol county, and there commenced the life of a farmer. In 1859, being then eighteen years of age and becoming restless with a great desire to go to California, he went to Boston, Massachusetts, hoping to be able to ship on board of some vessel going to the Golden State. In this he was unsuccessful, but shipped for a three years’ voyage on board of the ship “Norseman” bound for Valparaiso and Callao, thence to ports in the China sea. At Callao, not being satisfied with continuing the voyage, he left the ship with the expectation of being able to find another bound for California. He remained at Callao a short time and then shipped on board the bark “Othello,” sailing under the Chilean flag, returning to Callao after a three months’ voyage along the coast of Peru. During this voyage the Captain, a good-hearted Scotchman, took quite an interest in him and promised to secure him a vessel going to California on their return to Callao. According to promise the Captain procured him a berth on the bark “Palmetto” bound on a trading voyage to Central American and Mexican ports and, ultimately, to San Francisco. Arrived at San Francisco May 24, 1860, after an eventful and to him a profitable experience of nearly eighteen months at sea. On landing at San Francisco he learned that the vessel he left Boston in had foundered at sea. Two months afterwards he received his first letter from home, and the nervousness with which he broke the seal of that letter containing the first news from home and kindred after a separation of twenty months, will never be forgotten. He resumed his old occupation, working on a stock farm in Yuba county a few months; then returned to San Francisco, where he remained until he moved to Point Reyes, January 20, 1861. In 1870-71 he was engaged in the sheep business in Tulare county, and in 1877 he settled on his present dairy farm, on which he has two hundred milch cows. Mr. Crandell was elected Justice of the Peace two years, and has been Overseer of Roads since 1877. Married Eliza, daughter of James A. and Susan B. Smith, of Barrington, R.I., March 8, 1868, by whom he has three children, viz, Chester S., Harry A., and Hattie M.
History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
JAMES M. FARLEY
JAMES M. FARLEY. Was born in Sonoma county, January 15, 1854. At the age of ten he came with his parents to Marin county, and settled in San Antonio township. In 1877 he rented a ranch of O. L. Shafter, and has since been engaged in the dairying business.
History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson
CHARLES H. SMITH
CHARLES H. SMITH. Was born in Bristol county, Rhode Island, December 19, 1834. In the winter of 1856 he emigrated to the West, and settled in Hastings, Dakota county, Minnesota, and there prosecuted farming until May, 1858, when he returned to his native town, and there farmed until 1861. In that year he removed to East Greenwich and became foreman to a large farmer, where he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. H, 7th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged July, 1865, at the close of the war. While serving in the army he participated in several of the battles of that campaign, among which was that of Fredericksburg. After his discharge he returned home, and after remaining a short time, moved to Cook county, Illinois, where he remained for five years in charge of a farm and stone quarry, after which he transferred his residence to Englewood, same county, where he stayed until 1875. In October of that year he came to California and settled on the ranch where he now resides. Mr. Smith is one of the School Trustees of Point Reyes district. Married Ellen F. Perry, of New Bedford, Mass., December 15, 1858, by whom he has Ina E., William H., Susan B., Grace E. There is one child, Mary R., deceased.
History of Marin County, California; Including Its Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatology; by J. P. Munro-Fraser, Historian; Alley, Bowen & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, California, 1880
Transcribed by Betty Wilson