This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/UW.2ADE/1758 Message Board Post: Point Arena Record Point Arena, CA October 17, 1924 PIONEER CITIZEN PASSES BEYOND J.C. Halliday, one of the oldest settlers on the lower Mendocino coast, passed away at his home last Saturday evening, October 11, 1924. Joseph Crockett Halliday, was born February 1, 1854, near Pictou, Nova Scotia, was a son of James and Mary Halliday, both deceased. He left school at age of 16, served three years apprenticeship as a blacksmith and machinist, and later, one year in Pawtucket, R. I. He came to Mayfield, near San Jose, Cal., October, 1874, where he worked at his trade. He arrived in Point Arena in March 1875, and worked for some time for F. Matthews, and then formed a partnership with him. Mr. Matthews sold out to F. M. Spaulding, who later sold to L. L. Archibald, who continued the partnership for some years when he was compelled to retire on account of injury to his eyes. Newton P. Howe bought Mr. Archibald's interest and continued the business under the name of Halliday & Howe, until Mr. Halliday's health failed and he left the active work for some time. In 1908, the partnership was dissolved, Mr. Halliday taking the hardware store of the firm and Mr. Howe the blacksmith shop. During this time Mr. Halliday had other interest, being in the livery business with W. H. Haskell, later buying Mr. Haskell's interest and engaging Ed Zimmerman as manager of the stable, which arrangement continued until the auto displaced the horse and the livery stable was closed and Mr. Zimmerman accepted his present position as Steward of the Mendocino County Hospital, at Ukiah. In 1887, Mr. Halliday first became financially interested in farming, buying the Oliver McNeil ranch adjoining the Point Arena lighthouse. He later purchased the Spaulding and Minor adjoining ranches, totaling 450 acres, which he never sold, keeping the same as a dairy. In the 80's he engaged in the sawmill and lumber business on the Garcia river with W. M. Booth, N. Iversen, A. McClure and others, but this partnership was dissolved and the mill business discontinued. After Mr. Halliday decided to give up the blacksmith business and entered the hardware business with his son, J. H. Halliday, who continues the same, he purchased the Cazadero stage line from George Allman in 1902, and ran a 90 mile stage line from Cazadero to Mendocino City, which was at that time the longest line in the State. He gave his personal attention to the stage business for twelve years, assisted by his son, Henry. Being interested in the dairy business, Mr. Halliday and N. Thompson and others formed the Point Arena Creamery Company in 1893, and Mr. Halliday acted as secretary and general manager for a number of years. The Manchester Creamery was owned by the deceased and Mads Beck, until a few years ago, when it was sold to the Western Meat Co. Mr. Halliday was largely interested in forming the Bank of Point Arena, which was chartered June 9, 1905, and he was its first president and acted in that capacity until last June, when he retired from the presidency, remaining as a director. During the hard times in 1920 to 1922, this institution was on a firm financial footing and suffered less in proportion to its capitalization than any bank in the state. Mr. Halliday became a member of the Presbyterian church, February 24, 1895, and took a quiet active interest at all times in the same. Fraternally, he was a member of Garcia Lodge, I. O. O. F., and F. & A. M., and Eastern Star. J. C. Halliday was united in marriage Feb. 10, 1879, with Kate Hiett, who survives him. To this union ten children were born, of whom all but Grant, who died in his infancy, were home to attend their father's funeral. The children are Mary, who lives in Alameda; Albert, from Portland, Oregon; Henry and Tom, who reside at Point Arena; Charley, of Imperial Valley; Ben, of San Francisco; Florence and Mrs. Helen Sorensen of Oakland; and Bertha, of Oil Fields, Fresno County. Mr. Halliday was one of a large family, there being 11 brothers and sisters, two brothers, of whom one, Gordon, resides in San Francisco, came up to attend the funeral. Another brother, Alex, lives in Nova Scotia. The funeral was held from the Presbyterian church at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon, Rev. J. H. Wicherson conducting the services at the church, and Claiborne Lodge, No. 185, F. & A. M., at the grave, the interment being made in the I. O. O. F. cemetery. Regardless of the inclemency of the weather, a large assemblage of relatives, friends and acquaintances gathered at the church and grave to pay a last respect to a worth citizen, who will be missed from the community, where for near fifty years he held a position of prominence as a neighbor and citizen.