Siskiyou
County
Biographies
IRVING L. EDDY
Irving L. Eddy, owner of the Yreka Vulcanizing Works, is
a member of one of Siskiyou county’s oldest and most favorably known families
and in his own career he has maintained the family record for loyal
citizenship, industry and dependability in every relation of life. The family
was founded in this state by his great-grandparents, Levi and Lury (Lewis) Eddy, the former a native of Maine and the
latter of Orange county, New York. To them were born seven children, namely:
Edwin; Nelson H.; Mary A.; Henry; Lury C.,
who became the wife of Willard P. Stone; Charles J.; and William, who died
in infancy. Mary A. became the wife of Norton Stone, of Big Valley,
California. Nelson H. Eddy, second in order of birth of the above family,
was born in Sheldon, Wyoming county, New York,
December 25, 1830, and when about fourteen years of age accompanied his
parents on their emigration westward, locating on a farm near Burlington, Kane
county, Illinois. He remained on the farm there with his parents until
April 6, 1854, when he fitted out an ox team and started across the
plains. He arrived at Yreka, California, October 3, 1854, locating on what
he called his mountain ranch, there living until 1867, when he bought another
ranch, which was sold in 1901, after which he moved to Yreka where he spent the
remaining years of his life. On March 27, 1854, he was married to Miss
Olive Louisa Paddock, who was born near New Philadelphia, Tuscarawas county, Ohio, the seventh in order of birth of the eight
children born to John and Olive Paddock, natives of New York and Massachusetts,
respectively. Mr. and Mrs. Nelson Eddy became the parents of three children,
namely: Irving L. (father of Irving L. of this review), born on
October 7, 1856; Alta Cadelia, born
April 29, 1860, and Alice Grant, born April 7, 1865. Nelson H.
Eddy farmed successfully in the Shasta valley, accumulated a fair amount of
this world’s goods and always commanded the respect of his fellow citizens. It
was said of him and his wife that when they arrived in Siskiyou county their
sole possessions consisted of their yoke of oxen and one cow. Mount Eddy was
named for him and he was one of the few men who observed the last eruptions of
Mt. Shasta, which occurred twice in one year in the '50s.
Irving L. Eddy married Miss Augustine Kniest,
who was born in Germany. Mr. Eddy, who was born at what is now Edgewood,
California, became a farmer and stockraiser, which
occupation he followed practically throughout his life, his death occurring in
1913. His was a noble character and he exemplified the highest religious and
civic virtues. To him and his wife were born nine children, as follows:
Irving L.; Alta, the wife of George Strofeld,
owner of a transfer business in Yreka; Nelson, who has an electric store at
Courtland, this state; Alma O., the wife of Willard Ehret,
a rancher at Corning, California; Mildred, an expert accountant, now living at
Palo Alto, California; Harrold, who is engaged in the
transfer business at Yreka; Alicia, the wife of Andrew Pilcher,
who is in the employ of Mr. Eddy; and two who died young.
Irving L. Eddy, Jr., was born at Yreka, Siskiyou county,
on the 6th of April, 1890, acquired a public school education and
then took a course in automobile mechanics in Heald’s
Business College of San Francisco. With the exception of a short time during
which he drove the stage from Yreka to Etna, in Scott valley, Mr. Eddy has
spent his life in business relating to automobiles. In 1915 he started his
present business on a small scale, specializing in the vulcanizing of tires,
and through the advertising value of the superior quality of work which he
turned out he soon commanded a good patronage. During the subsequent years he
has developed this into one of the leading establishments in its line in this
section of the valley. He is in an ideal location, being near the Yreka Inn,
the leading hotel of Siskiyou county, and on the main highway from Canada to
Mexico. He recently sold to the Yreka Inn the ground on which his service
station stands. He handles gas, oil and tires and does all kinds of repairing.
He has earned a wide reputation for the high order of service which he renders
and is today one of Yreka’s most popular business men.
On December 25, 1912, Mr. Eddy was united in marriage to
Miss Millie Owens, a daughter of David and Lizzie (Allen) Owens. Her father was
born in Wales, but came to California in early days and successfully followed
mining. He is deceased and his widow lives in Yreka. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy have two
adopted children, Lucile and Wanda Joy, both at home. The family residence,
which is owned by Mr. Eddy, is situated near the service station.
Mr. Eddy is a member of the Knights of Pythias, the Dramatic Order of Knights of Khorassan at Medford, and the Fraternal Order of Eagles,
and the Grange, both of Yreka. He is essentially a self-made man, for all that he possesses has been gained through his own
efforts and ability, backed by fair dealing, which has won for him many warm
and loyal friends.
Transcribed by Marie Hassard
01 June 2010.
Source: Wooldridge, J.W.Major
History of Sacramento Valley California, Vol. 2, Pages 137-139. Pioneer Historical Publishing Co. Chicago 1931.
© 2010 Marie Hassard..
Golden Nugget Library's Siskiyou County Biographies