September 16, 1942 – Henry Nystrom died of a heart attack at the age of 57, while in charge of a crew fighting a fire in the hills near the Mountain House on the road to Cloverdale. Soon after arriving at the fire, Henry sent his men to different locations and struck out for another spot himself. He was found deceased by a member of his crew about a half hour later.
Born in Caspar in 1885, Henry was the son of Charles Nystrom, who was the engineer and machinist at the Mendocino Mill for many years. According to the Beacon, the Nystrom family moved to Mendocino a few years after Henry was born, and he attended the Mendocino schools. “As a young man he entered the logging woods where he held various positions. He also acquired a good knowledge of electricity, and served as electrician and in other capacities for the L. E. White Lumber Company at Greenwood.”
In 1910, Henry married Elsie Schaeffer, daughter of pioneer sawyer, Charles Schaeffer. Fifteen years later, Henry and Elsie left the coast, and Henry took “employment with the Snow Mountain Power Company and remained with its successor in interest, P. G. & E. in a trusted capacity for many years after the latter took over control.” In 1939, Henry joined “the Forestry service in this county in charge of a crew of men, which outdoor work particularly appealed to him. He was a great hunter and fisherman, and always managed to get to the coast when salmon and grilse were running.”
Henry was survived by his wife and his sister, Mrs. Esther Joynson of San Francisco. He is buried in Ukiah Cemetery.
Mendocino City: A Daily Journal 1852-1938 by W. Francis Jackson – Historical Mendocino news organized by day. Each month includes collections of photos and a detailed map of the town. $18.