HAMLIN HERRICK
by Judy Kauffman
As Hamlin Nelson Herrick — the senior Hamlin Herrick — crossed the plains into
California from Kentucky as a “forty-niner”, one could not imagine the influence
the Herrick family would have on southern Lake County. Since pioneer days, the
name Herrick has become synonymous with mercantile interests. It begins with
Hamlin engaging in farming in the Napa Valley prior to moving to Lake County in
1862. He does remain here until his death on April 10, 1908.
Hamlin N., in the company of Joseph Getz, starts the first general store in the
Coyote Valley and eventually has a general merchandising business at Lower Lake.
He acquires substantial wealth not only in the mercantile business, but also in land
holdings. Hamlin owned the celebrated 300-acre Nemo ranch, eventually selling it
to buy another excellent property consisting of 320 acres southeast of Lower Lake.
There he meets and marries Mary Elizabeth Akins, a member of the prominent Akins
family of Lower Lake. To this marriage six children are born.
The eldest, a daughter Clara Elizabeth, one day becomes the wife of Benjamin Hunt
of Middletown.
The second child, a son named Hamlin Webster, is born January 5, 1865 in Lake County and raised on the Lower Lake farm.
Hamlin Webster, as the eldest son, soon finds his educational opportunities limited. He attends school only until age 12
when the family needs him at home. His aptitude and willingness have brought a man’s responsibilities to a mere boy, however
he proves quite capable, and the work develops his natural intelligence. Successful farming calls for the exercise of all the
faculties of the mind and body and knowledge of business principles and scientific studies of soil and crops merge with
skillful physical labor.
The Herrick farm becomes large and devoted to stock, grain and fruit. In order to conduct it properly, this young man is obliged to
give much thought to every branch of agriculture and to develop good judgment in managing his work. There is a large orchard on
this place, and for a time Hamlin Webster sells fruit from a wagon, peddling it through the country. This is his first experience in
selling goods. He also becomes an expert orchardist, but after reaching maturity, he goes into the teaming business.
Hamlin owns and drives his horses, in teams of four, six or eight, as the occasion requires, freighting between Calistoga and
Lower Lake. For twelve years, he continues this business, and by industry standards makes it profitable.
In 1889, Hamlin Webster Herrick married Miss Alice Lewis, a native of Sacramento County. Miss Lewis is the daughter
of Daniel W. and Alice (Johnson) Lewis, born in Iowa and England, respectively. To this marriage one child is born, a son,
Fred R. Herrick.
As time goes on, Mr. Hamlin Herrick built a beautiful home in Middletown. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden
West, belongs to Parlor No. 159, at Lower Lake, and though he takes no active part in public affairs, he is thoroughly interested
in questions affecting the general welfare and supports the Democratic Party on political issues.
In 1900, Hamlin and brother Silas Byrd Herrick start a general merchandise business at Middletown, and in 1912, they form
the Herrick Company. The company consists of three members: Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin Webster Herrick and Silas Byrd Herrick.
Their patronage grows steadily from the beginning. Not only have they built a large mercantile trade by their good methods and
honorable dealing, but have also become interested in other lines which grow to be as important as the original business, gaining
prestige among the most reliable business men of the region.
They operate a small ranch near Middletown, under lease, buying and shipping wood, shipping on cars from Calistoga, and buying
and selling tanbark. They establish an extensive teaming business, owning twelve horses, which engage in heavy freighting. They
are also doing considerable hauling for the Yolo Water and Power Company for the dam on Cache creek.
In 1904, Hamlin W. and Edward L. Herrick staked the Twin Peaks mining claims against older claims that had lapsed. Edward Herrick sold the Twin Peaks claim to B.A. and A.A. Wilson and Louis Douglas Fay in 1915.
On May 6, 1914, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Hamlin Webster Herrick is in the store with another brother, Ossian Rivere Herrick,
when three desperadoes hold him up and shoot him down in cold blood. Sadly, Hamlin Webster Herrick is killed instantly and his
brother Ossian is left bound and gagged and the cash register rifled.
One of the three desperados is apprehended and sentenced to a life term, but the untimely death has been a severe shock to a large
circle of family and friends. Hamlin Webster Herrick leaves behind his Mother Mary Elizabeth of Lower Lake, wife Alice and son
Fred R. Herrick as well as one sister Clara Elizabeth Hunt of Middletown. Also, brothers Ossian Rivere and Augustus Middleton of
Lower Lake, Silas Byrd of Middletown, and Edward Lee who had been working on the new Idra mine at San Benito, California
and is now of Middletown.
At the time of his father’s death, Hamlin’s son, Fred R. was twenty-two and working as a bookkeeper and assistant stenographer
in the state printing office at Sacramento. He returned to Lake County and devotes his time to the Herrick Company store.
California from Kentucky as a “forty-niner”, one could not imagine the influence
the Herrick family would have on southern Lake County. Since pioneer days, the
name Herrick has become synonymous with mercantile interests. It begins with
Hamlin engaging in farming in the Napa Valley prior to moving to Lake County in
1862. He does remain here until his death on April 10, 1908.
Hamlin N., in the company of Joseph Getz, starts the first general store in the
Coyote Valley and eventually has a general merchandising business at Lower Lake.
He acquires substantial wealth not only in the mercantile business, but also in land
holdings. Hamlin owned the celebrated 300-acre Nemo ranch, eventually selling it
to buy another excellent property consisting of 320 acres southeast of Lower Lake.
There he meets and marries Mary Elizabeth Akins, a member of the prominent Akins
family of Lower Lake. To this marriage six children are born.
The eldest, a daughter Clara Elizabeth, one day becomes the wife of Benjamin Hunt
of Middletown.
The second child, a son named Hamlin Webster, is born January 5, 1865 in Lake County and raised on the Lower Lake farm.
Hamlin Webster, as the eldest son, soon finds his educational opportunities limited. He attends school only until age 12
when the family needs him at home. His aptitude and willingness have brought a man’s responsibilities to a mere boy, however
he proves quite capable, and the work develops his natural intelligence. Successful farming calls for the exercise of all the
faculties of the mind and body and knowledge of business principles and scientific studies of soil and crops merge with
skillful physical labor.
The Herrick farm becomes large and devoted to stock, grain and fruit. In order to conduct it properly, this young man is obliged to
give much thought to every branch of agriculture and to develop good judgment in managing his work. There is a large orchard on
this place, and for a time Hamlin Webster sells fruit from a wagon, peddling it through the country. This is his first experience in
selling goods. He also becomes an expert orchardist, but after reaching maturity, he goes into the teaming business.
Hamlin owns and drives his horses, in teams of four, six or eight, as the occasion requires, freighting between Calistoga and
Lower Lake. For twelve years, he continues this business, and by industry standards makes it profitable.
In 1889, Hamlin Webster Herrick married Miss Alice Lewis, a native of Sacramento County. Miss Lewis is the daughter
of Daniel W. and Alice (Johnson) Lewis, born in Iowa and England, respectively. To this marriage one child is born, a son,
Fred R. Herrick.
As time goes on, Mr. Hamlin Herrick built a beautiful home in Middletown. He is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden
West, belongs to Parlor No. 159, at Lower Lake, and though he takes no active part in public affairs, he is thoroughly interested
in questions affecting the general welfare and supports the Democratic Party on political issues.
In 1900, Hamlin and brother Silas Byrd Herrick start a general merchandise business at Middletown, and in 1912, they form
the Herrick Company. The company consists of three members: Mr. and Mrs. Hamlin Webster Herrick and Silas Byrd Herrick.
Their patronage grows steadily from the beginning. Not only have they built a large mercantile trade by their good methods and
honorable dealing, but have also become interested in other lines which grow to be as important as the original business, gaining
prestige among the most reliable business men of the region.
They operate a small ranch near Middletown, under lease, buying and shipping wood, shipping on cars from Calistoga, and buying
and selling tanbark. They establish an extensive teaming business, owning twelve horses, which engage in heavy freighting. They
are also doing considerable hauling for the Yolo Water and Power Company for the dam on Cache creek.
In 1904, Hamlin W. and Edward L. Herrick staked the Twin Peaks mining claims against older claims that had lapsed. Edward Herrick sold the Twin Peaks claim to B.A. and A.A. Wilson and Louis Douglas Fay in 1915.
On May 6, 1914, at approximately 9:30 p.m., Hamlin Webster Herrick is in the store with another brother, Ossian Rivere Herrick,
when three desperadoes hold him up and shoot him down in cold blood. Sadly, Hamlin Webster Herrick is killed instantly and his
brother Ossian is left bound and gagged and the cash register rifled.
One of the three desperados is apprehended and sentenced to a life term, but the untimely death has been a severe shock to a large
circle of family and friends. Hamlin Webster Herrick leaves behind his Mother Mary Elizabeth of Lower Lake, wife Alice and son
Fred R. Herrick as well as one sister Clara Elizabeth Hunt of Middletown. Also, brothers Ossian Rivere and Augustus Middleton of
Lower Lake, Silas Byrd of Middletown, and Edward Lee who had been working on the new Idra mine at San Benito, California
and is now of Middletown.
At the time of his father’s death, Hamlin’s son, Fred R. was twenty-two and working as a bookkeeper and assistant stenographer
in the state printing office at Sacramento. He returned to Lake County and devotes his time to the Herrick Company store.