Charles Henry Southmayd was born Oct. 15, 1845 in Mitton, Mass. He was the second child of seven born to Henry Harrison Southmayd and Ellen C. Cassidy.
His family moved to New Hampshire while he was still an infant [family home shown at right].
In 1865 he moved to Ferndale, Humboldt County, Calif., and was registered to vote there in 1868. In 1870 Charles was in Calaveras County, Calif., and in 1874 he moved to Eureka, Calif., where he joined the Oddfellows. On Aug. 27, 1876 he married Ella Augusta Bowerman. 
Charles and Ella's first child, Charles Irving, was born on Eel River Island near Ferndale, Calif., on Jan. 27, 1879 [shown in picture at left with Ella and Charles]. In 1880 Charles went back to New Hampshire for six months to look for a home. Finding nothing better than Humboldt County, he returned to California. On May 1, 1881, Frank Edward was born in Ferndale.
From a Humboldt County newspaper clipping: The mail route between Alton and Grizzly Bluff was discontinued on Sept 1st. Charley Southmayd was released from service and Grizzly Bluff only gets two mails a day now. We expected this change some time ago, but the government officials had just so much red tape to unwind before they arrived to this conclusion. Mr. Southmayd carried the mail for many months and proved himself a faithful employee. Rain, mud or high water never prevented him from being promptly on time and he never missed a trip during his term of office.
In 1885 Charles bought a place near Ferndale and then moved to Grizzly Bluff. In 1890 Charles and Ella joined the Grizzly Bluff Presbyterian Church. Charles Irving died in Grizzly Bluff.
The Coquille Herald says: Chas Southmayd, another of Humboldt's good citizens who has decided to make Coos County his home, arrived by the last Del Norte, coming over by yesterday's train with his family. He brought up with him about 30 head of fine dairy cattle belonging to himself and Mr. Davenport, who came up a short time since. Mr. Southmayd has purchased the Lewellen place, a short distance from the forks of the river, being located on the North Fork. We welcome these good citizens, being fully assured that they will, as many others from the same section have proved to be, most valuable accessions to our community, and do a great deal to advance the dairy interests of this section.
In the Myrtle Point Enterprise, Nov. 2, 1900, it mentions that Charles purchased the farm of H. Lewellen, at Echo Valley outside of Myrtle Point, for $3,000. [H. Lewellen was Harvey Lewellen, father of Charles' future daughter-in-law, Dovie].
On Dec. 14, 1914, Charles died at the home of his son Frank. He is buried in the Norway Cemetery outside of Myrtle Point, Oregon.
The second born son of Charles and Ella Southmayd, Frank Edward (my great-grandfather) was born May 1, 1881 in Ferndale, Calif. (Left: Irving and Frank - in the dress!).gave a dinner in honor of their son and his bride, Mr. and Mrs. F. E. Southmayd, Christmas Day. Among their guests were the Misses VanDecar, B.T. VanDecar and Dr. Stemmler. Perhaps the prettiest table in town was set by Mrs. Southmayd. For a centerpiece a small Christmas tree beautifully decorated ocupied the center of the table. A bon bon box of mica, tied at the corners with bright colored ribbon, for each guest, and dozens of candles all ablaze furnished the light for the table, as daylight was excluded. On each napkin a mica card decorated wtih a spray of holly and berries and the name of the person to occupy the place painted on it, added brightness to the scene and made us forget for a time we were in the land of sunshine and flowers and recalled the wintery weather of Eastern homes. (Above: Dovie & Frank at Twin Springs Farm, aka Echo Valley).
