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


WILLIAM M. STANDLEY was born on the L. R. Standley ranch, 
Mendocino county, August 13, 1868, the son of L. R. and Sarah (Murray) 
Standley, both natives of Missouri. Crossing the plains in the early days to 
Sonoma county, they soon became early settlers of Mendocino county, where 
L. R. Standley engaged in farming and stock raising. Later he conducted 
a butcher business in Cloverdale and still later in Hopland, and then had a 
vegetable ranch on Ten Mill river. His last days were spent at Westport, 
where he died in 1906, his widow still making her home in that place. 

Of their eight children William M. Standley was the fifth eldest in order 
of birth. He received his education in the schools of the district as well as 
Ukiah, during these years assisting his father, and when he began for himself 
he followed ranching until 1900. Determining to try mining in Alaska, in that 
year he made the trip to Nome and spent a season in the frozen north, then 
returning to Westport. For ten years he was deputy sheriff and constable, 
in which positions he served acceptably, always doing his duty in enforcing 
the law. In 1910 he was elected justice of the peace for Westport township 
on the Democratic ticket and took the oath of office in January, 1911. As 
the local justice his decisions have been fair and impartial, he having always 
endeavored to enforce the law in its best issues. Since 1911 he has been pro- 
prietor of the Westport Hotel, where he acts as host to the traveling public, 
public. 

Mr. Standley was married at Caspar to Miss Alice Stayton, a native of 
California, and they have four children, as follows: Ruby, Mrs. Dyer of 
Latonville ; Wilda, attending the San Jose State Normal ; William, a graduate 
of Heald's Business College, San Francisco, and now an employe of the 
Union Lumber Company; and Alma. Mr. Standley's uncle, J. M. Standley, 
served as sheriff for several terms and was a very prominent man in the county.