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ELLIS HUNTER - One of the notably successful young business men of Petrolia is Ellis Hunter, a member of a family
well known in this region, and of unusual mental and bodily vigor. He is a son of Elias Hunter and grandson of
Walker Sanders Hunter, the latter one of the earliest settlers around Petrolia and in his prime a prominent merchant
and large landowner. The earlier generations of the family are fully mentioned elsewhere.
The eldest of a family of twelve children, Ellis Hunter was born June 19, 1876, at Petrolia, where he grew to manhood.
He had the ordinary public school education and started work at the age of fourteen, being employed by the month
on a ranch. For the six years preceding his marriage - from the time he was eighteen until he was twenty four -
he worked on the dairy ranch of one man, James Giacomini. During the several years following he was variously employed,
for two years as a buttermaker with the Kinstra Company, of Seattle, wholesale dealers in butter, eggs and cheese.
Returning to Petrolia he engaged in the hotel business, renting the Walsh ranch with hotel on it, and besides running
the hotel he began agricultural operations on his own account, in time buying that place and then a little later
the Gouthier ranch, a tract of four hundred forty acres. The Walsh property contains one hundred thirty acres in
Petrolia and he owns and conducts the Petrolia Hotel located thereon, which he has enlarged and modernized. The
house was originally one and a half stories high, and he has raised it and made a full two story building, having
an eighteen room hotel, which under the able management of himself and wife has become one of the most popular
hostelries in Humboldt county. Its table has the reputation of being unrivaled in this section, a well deserved
tribute to Mrs. Hunter's superb cooking and due also to the advantage of having the best supplies always at hand.
Fruits and vegetables of the finest quality are raised on the ranch, where Mr. Hunter keeps six cows to furnish
milk, cream and butter for the hotel especially, and the large patronage from the tourist and automobile trade
shows how far the fame of the good things so plentifully provided here has been carried. The hotel is equally noted
for its cleanliness and good cheer, and its popularity is due in great measure to Mrs. Hunter, who deserves great
credit for the assistance she has given her husband. Some eight years ago Mr. Hunter bought the livery barn at
Petrolia, which he has since conducted, his father looking after affairs there. His larger ranch is located four
miles northeast of Petrolia on Conklin creek, a branch of which stream flows into the Mattole river above Petrolia.
There he raises beef cattle. He owns all his property clear, and no business man in the town commands more respect
or good will among his fellows than Ellis Hunter. He is a Republican in his political views, but not an aspirant
to office, though he has served as a member of the Board of School Trustees.
In Seattle, Wash., Mr. Hunter married Miss Martha Wright, a daughter of Marshall and Martha (Rudolph) Wright, pioneer
farmers of Mattole. Mrs. Hunter was born in Petrolia. Mr. and Mrs. Hunter have two children: Warren Ellis and Mayme
Myrtle. Mrs. Hunter is a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church.
From:
History of Humboldt County, California
With a Biographical Sketches
History by Leigh H. Irving
Historic Record Company
Los Angeles, California 1915
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