California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 IRVIN H. DREWRY. � A stopping place in high favor with automo- bilists who frequent the road between Willits, Mendocino county, and Eureka, in Humboldt county, is the East View hotel. It is located on the Drewry ranch in southern Humboldt county, about one and one-half miles south of Harris, on the main line of travel in that region. The hotel and ranch are owned and operated by Irvin H. Drewry and his sister. Miss Sarah E. Drewry. and though they took possession at a recent date the popularity of the resort is already widespread. These young people have undertaken considerable in their present venture, but they have made a beginning which promises well Mr. Drewry has the principal care of the ranch, and he has already made a reputation as a stockman, cattle buyer and drover. With the Drewrys resides their maternal grandmother, Mrs. Sarah F. Williams, by whom they were reared, and who has been in California since 1852, having been brought to the state when three years old. John P. Drewry, father of Irvin H. and Sarah E. Drewry, is a large land- owner in the same vicinity, having a ranch of fifteen hundred acres lying in Humboldt and Mendocino counties, which he rents at present, however, to Ed. Smith, of Ukiah. He is now engaged as a captain of the guard at the Folsom City (Cal.) penitentiary. His first wife, whose maiden name was Mary E. Williams, died when her two children were very young. Sarah but eighteen months old, Irvin eleven days. Mr. Drewry remarried, and by his second union, to Mrs. Sarah Jane (Yeates) Hepburn, has one child, Carl Perry, now (1914) thirteen years old. Irvin H. and Sarah E. Drewry were born in Mendocino county, and as their mother died so young they were reared by their maternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. James H. Williams, on their Leggett valley ranch, situated on the south fork of the Eel river, about twenty miles due east of Rockport. They have had public school training, and have continued to hold their interests in common, working together most satisfactorily. They made their first business venture in 1910, when they began by keeping a lodging house and store in Ukiah. As it proved a success they undertook more, renting a half interest in the McKinney ranch (a tract of nine hundred and sixty acres), which they operated for two years. There they became quite extensively interested in cattle, keeping about one hundred head, as well as a hundred logs. It was there also that they had their first experience in the conduct of a summer resort, the Hunter's Home on that property doing well under their management. In December, 1913, they purchased the East View ranch and summer resort from Olive E. Snooks � five hundred and twenty acres of land and the hotel located on the highway as above related. After investing all their capital in this property these courageous young people still have an immediate future full of busy promise. But they are cheerful, capable workers, and have every prospect of carrying their enterprise along success- fully. The hotel is a comfortable and restful resort, and its guests partake of the best ranch products, fruits, vegetables, milk, cream and eggs noted for their high quality and freshness, and cooked and served under the efficient supervision of Miss Drewry, whose culinary skill has already become known to the patrons. Her competent oversight of all the details necessary to the comfort of guests contributes much to their health as well as pleasure, and the wholesome restfulness of the place is one of its greatest attractions. The patrons are principally automobilists. As a ranchman Irvin H. Drewry is progressing notably. He has profited well by his varied experience in the stock business, and is regarded as an exceptionally good judge of cattle and hogs, his own success being substan- tial evidence of his all-around knowledge in this particular line. He is a very tall man � six feet, six inches in height. His industry and good ideas on ranch management have even in the brief time he has had his present property be- come apparent, and his ambitions for its development along the most ap- proved lines have already commenced to be realized. There is a good home orchard and vegetable garden on the property, providing abundant supplies for the table. Mrs. Williams retains all her interest in the welfare of her grand- children, willingly advising and assisting in the conduct of their affairs, and they thoroughly appreciate the substantial aid she has extended to help them take advantage of their opportunities in their present enterprise. With the family an old friend, Mr. Mitchell, has made his home for many years, and he has been most solicitous in encouraging Mr. Drewry and his sister in their attempts to make a success of their work. Mr. Drewry is a Progressive in his political sympathies. James H. Williams was a native of Kentucky, a "forty-niner," and a pioneer settler in northern Mendocino county, where he lived for almost forty-five years. His first removal westward from the state of his birth was to Missouri, whence he came out to California in 1849, making the journey across the plains with ox-teams. He mined at Placerville. and in Butte and Plumas counties. After his marriage he con- tinued to live in Plumas county for a few years, carrying on a dairy, and in 1869 moved over to Mendocino county, where he bought the Leggett valley ranch, purchasing the rights of three different squatters to obtain the land he desired. His active disposition and nobility of character made him a most desirable citizen from every standpoint. He had the energy and ambition to improve his property and assist in the opening up of his section to civilization, and his many fine traits encouraged the proper kind of citizenship, the example he set influencing many to public-spirited efforts in behalf of the community as well as to enterprise in the management of their own affairs. His death oc- curred January 20, 1914, at Garberville. Humboldt county, when he was eighty-six years of age. Eight children were born to his union with Miss Sarah F. Rucker who attained maturity : Cedelia is the wife of S. F. Webber : Jehiel is a guard at the San Quentin prison; .Mary E. was the wife of John P. Drewry ; William was drowned when fifteen years old; John is a resident of Salida, Cal. ; Annie is the wife of R. E. Roach, of Cummings. Mendocino county; James lives with his mother; Lawrence was accidentally killed, on the railroad, at Fort Bragg, when twenty-one years old. Mrs. Sarah F. Williams, widow of James H. Williams, is a woman of forceful character and interesting personality. Her experiences in California in pioneer days were many and varied, developing a fearless, capable dispo- sition which made her a most valuable helpmate to her husband. Her sym- pathetic consideration for others, fortitude and reliability have won her the affectionate esteem of her neighbors and friends everywhere, and her devotion to her family has never abated. Mrs. Williams was born in Illinois, in Hancock county, daughter of Ben and Sarah (George) Rucker, the former a native of Indiana, where they were married. Of the thirteen children born to them six died before the family removed to California, the parents and seven children crossing the plains in 1852, with ox-teams. The journey from Illinois took six months. They settled at Bidwell's Bar, in Butte county, where Mr. Rucker engaged in mining for a number of years. The mother subsequently removed to Plumas county. Mrs. Williams was but three years old when the family made the journey to California, and when sixteen she became the wife of James H. Williams.