USA > California > Sonoma County > An illustrated history of Sonoma County, California. Containing a history of the county of Sonoma from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time > Part 100
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
ley. He has also been pastor at Santa Clara and several other points, and has been on the Pacific coast twenty-two years. all the time in active church work. During his official duties as presiding elder, he made his home for ten years in Napa City. Mr. Clifford has a fine prune orchard of eleven acres, a mile and a half sonth of Santa Rosa, from which he gath- ered three tons of fruit this year. it being the first year of bearing. He also owns some choice lots in San Francisco and in Pacific Grove. Ile is a joint owner in the famous Petrified Forest in Sonoma County, embracing 244 aeres, a large part of which is fine fruit land. This property he and Dr. Crowder pur- chased for $6,500, securing it at a marvelously low price. Immediately after the purchase they were offered 810,000 for it. Mr. Clifford was married in Iowa to Miss Alice Hamilton. They have two daughters, both born in California.
ILLIAM D. CANFIELD .- Among the well known representative farmers of Analy Township is the pioneer whose name heads this sketch. No history of Sonoma County could be considered complete without a more than passing notice of Mr. Canfield. The subject of this sketch is a native of Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont. He dates his birth October 22, 1810. Ilis father, Israel C'an- field, was a native of Connectient, and his mother, Sarah (Sherman) Canfield, was born in Massachusetts, both being descendants of some of the oldest families of New England. Mr. Canfield was reared as a farmer until tif- teen years of age, when he was apprenticed to learn the trade of a blacksmith. After working at this two years he bought out his employer's shop and conducted the business upon his own account. Of an energetic, ambitious and pro- gressive disposition, he assumed a man's duties in life at an age when the majority of young men are still in their school days. June 10, 1528. when less than eighteen years of age, he
married Miss Sallie Ann Lee. the daughter of Nathan Lee, a native of Vermont. In 1837 Mr. Canfield moved to Springfield, Erie County, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for two years. In 1839 he took up his residenee in Jersey County, Illinois, where he toiled upon the farm until June, 1842. After a residence in Jefferson County, Iowa, of eleven months, he settled upon the present site of the city of Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa. Ilere Mr. Canfield erected the first house and laid out the public square, the lines of which have never been changed to this day. The house, no doubt, has erumbled and gone to deeay : bnt the grounds of the park, so tastefully arranged and laid off by the artistic eye of the energetie frontiers- man, will ever remain as one of the garden spots of earth, and a base to the monument of the early pioneers of Oskaloosa. It was through his influence and exertions also that the county seat of Mahaska County was located here, where it remains at present. On May 4, 1847, Mr. Canfield emigrated with his wife and five ehil- dren, across the plains to Oregon. The journey was made with little difficulty, save the hard- ships that are ineident to all pioneers in cross- ing the trackless, uninhabited wilds over which they passed. On October 20. 1847, they reached Dr. Whitman's mission in Walla Walla Valley. Upon their arrival they not only found Dr. Whitman, but quite a little settlement, consist- ing of the doctor and wife, seven mission ehil- dren by the name of Sager, Mr. Saunders, wife and five children. Mr. Kimball, wife and five children, Mr. Hall, wife and five children, Mrs. Hayes and two children. The whole party, in- cluding Mr. and Mrs. Canfield and their five children, numbered as follows: Fourteen men, seven women and thirty-two children. Here they were treated in a very hospitable manner, and were made to feel perfectly at home. As they had found such comfortable quarters and a perfect haven of rest, they decided to remain at the mission until the following spring, when they would continue on their journey to the Willamette River, the place of their destina-
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tion. Here the residents of the happy little village were nestled together in one family, as it were, and the last accession, that of the Can- field family, evidently felt as safe and free from harın as they did when sheltered beneath the roof or gathered around the hearthstone of their far Eastern home. But it must not be for- gotten that they were in a hostile country, although there had not been any Indian trouble in this immediate locality for several years, none in fact since Dr. Whitman located here, which was about the year 1837. The Caynses (this being the name of the tribe with which the doctor had to deal) had always been kind and obedient to him, and were seemingly perfectly satisfied with the treatment they had received at his hands. Indeed, so much confi- dence did Dr. Whitman have in his little band of Caynses, that if there was a word dropped by any one of the company questioning the friendliness, or in any way expressing any fear of the aborigines, their minds were soon set at
rest by the convincing answer from the doctor, whose feelings would seem hurt when any allus- ion of this nature was made. However, we will see how we are victimized sometimes by mnis- placed confidence, and mnade to drink the bitter dregs of deception, deceived and murdered by those whom we once held close to our bosoms, and were our companions for many a long year. Soon after the arrival of Mr. Canfield and fam- ily at the mission, there arrived missionaries of a different persuasion, and whom, it is said, in- fluenced the Indians against their old teacher, Dr. Whitman. There were no visible evidences of treachery upon the part of the aborigines, and every one about the mission felt as secure and safe as they did before receiving the visit froin these missionaries, who proved to be trait- ors in the camp, The morning of the 29th of November, 1847, dawned as bright, fresh and beautiful as ever lit up the picturesqne valley of the Walla Walla; all nature seemed to smile in answer to the innocent prattle of little children, and all reposed in confidence and security. But, alas! a little later in the day they were surprised
and fired upon by the Indians whom the doctor had labored with so many years. Imagine for an instant, and try to picture, if such a thing be possible, the condition of Dr. Whitman and his little party, surprised as they were without a moment's warning, and consequently no means of defense or escape. They being entirely at the mercy of the red devils, were shot down like dumb brutes. The men were all killed ex- cept Mr. Canfield and a man named Osborn. Mrs. Whitman was also killed. The rest of the women and all the children were taken prison- ers. Mr. Canfield was shot in the hip, but managed to seclude himself in the old adobe honse. During the night following he received intelligence from the mission children that he was to pay the death penalty in the morning. As he did not feel disposed to depart this life at that time he acted upon the warning he had re- ceived and, bidding adieu to his hiding-place, started immediately on foot for Mr. Spaulding's mission at Lapaway Station, in Washington Territory, a distance of 140 miles, this being on Monday night, reaching the mission on Saturday afternoon, making the whole trip on foot and withont eating er sleeping. The moru- ing after his escape the blood-thirsty redskins donned their war apparel, surrounded the house, and were just on the point of massacring all the women and children, when their former chief known as " Old Beardy," rode into camp with the speed of lightning, and standing up right on his horse, pleaded with his tribe not to kill the prisoners, and after listening attentively to his remarks, they abandoned their murderous intentions and informed their victims that their lives would be spared, but they would be held as prisoners. The women were forced to do the cooking for the Indians, sixty-two in number, and the children were forced to attend to all their other wants that would add comfort and ease to the lords of the wilds. On December 29thi, just one month after they were captured, there came to their relief, to Fort Walla Walla, a man by the name of Peter Ogden, the chief factor of the Hudson Bay Fur Company, from
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
Vancouver. After a talk of three days and nights with the Indians he succeeded in pur- chasing the prisoners, first promising them that they (the fur company) would not molest them, but could not make the same promise for the Boston boys in punishing them for what they had done. So the bargain was made. and they were paid in guns, blankets, ammunition, knives, etc. After gaining possession of the prisoners, he made a contract with the Nez Perces to bring Mr. Canfield and Mr. Spauld- ing's family to Walla Walla fort, if they wished to come, where he joined his children and grief- stricken wife. Not only was he received with outstretched arms, but weeping for joy, as it was supposed by all that he had perished. On his arrival Mr. Ogden took the party in three small boats and proceeded down the Columbia River, landing at Oregon City January 12. 1548. Upon their arrival they had nothing but the clothes upon their backs. After procuring com- fortable quarters for his family, Mr. Canfield joined the volunteers and went back for the pur- pose of pursuing the Indians and to drive them from their reservation, which was accomplished, when they returned to Oregon City, and the company disbanded on July 1. 1845. The chief, Tetokite, and four of the Indians were hanged at Oregon City in 1850. March 4, 1549, Mr. Canfield and family took passage on a sailing vessel for San Francisco, where they arrived March 10. 1849. llere they remained until August 1, 1850. when they became residents of this county, settling in Sonoma City. Soon after settling here he went to Sacramento and engaged in the soda manufacturing business, leaving his family at Sonoma. Not finding this business congenial to his taste he soon returned to this county, and in January, 1552, he moved upon his present estate. Since that time Mr. Canfield has devoted his attention to agricult- ural pursuits. His magnificent farm comprises 550 aeres of rich and productive land, located in Blucher Valley, in the Canfield school dis- trict, four miles northeast of Bloomfield. With the exception of ten acres in orchard, which is
producing a large variety of fruits, and six acres in Zinfandel grapes, his land is devoted to hay, grain and stoek. Among the latter is a dairy of seventy cows. This fine farm and the many improvements is the result of years of energetic labor and sound business principles on the part of Mr. Canfield, and he may well be proud of the success he has achieved. Mr. Canfield is well-known throughont Sonoma County. Ilis long residenee, straightforward consistent mode of life, and honest manly dealings have gained him hosts of friends and acquaintances, by all of whom he is universally respected and es- teemed. During his long residence he has always been a public-spirited and progressive citizen, always ready to aid in any enterprise that tends to advance the interests and welfare of the community in which he resides. A staunch supporter of the public schools, he has for many years been one of the leading sehool trustees of his district. In political matters Mr. Canfield is a strong supporter of the Repub- lican party, and has been since its organization in 1556. Before that date he has been associ- ated with the Democratic party. Mrs. Canfield was born in Arlington. Bennington County, Vermont, August 12, 1510, and died on the old homestead, March, 1858. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Canfield the following named children were born: Nathan L., born in Arling- ton. July 7, 1829, and died February 18, 1835; Ellen S., born at Arlington, June 5. 1531, died July 12. 1865; Osear F., born at Springfield. Pennsylvania, March 8, 1838, married Miss Ann Maples, of Sonoma County, and is now living in Idaho; Clarisa 1., now Mrs. J. II. Knowles, of Petaluma, born in Delphi, Jersey County, October 31. 1840; Sylvia Ann, born at Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, February 7, 1542, died in Sonoma County February 4. 1854: Albert, born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, May 18, 1845, married Miss Matilda Baker; he died in 1880, and his widow and son, Albert E., are now living with Mr. Canfield; William D., Jr., born in Oregon City, February 3, 1848, and died in San Francisco July 5, 1849: Julia, boru
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in San Francisco August 3, 1850, and died Au- gust 6, of the same year. In 1853 Mrs. Canfield visited her brother in the East. After remain- ing a short time she set ont on her journey back in company with her mother, who, when one day out from Panama, was taken ill and died. Once more Mrs. Canfield's heart was made to bleed. and yet. when she thought of what she had passed through in '47, she felt grateful to Him that her life, as well as that of her husband and children, had been spared, when at one time it hung by a little thread. On June 10, 187S, Mr. and Mrs. Canfield celebrated their golden wedding at their home, all the family being present but their eldest son and family, who were at the time in Idalio.
Alas! how time flies on apace, We cannot stay its flight ; It waits for neither priest nor king, And soon will all be night.
OBERT MOORE, one of the enterprising men of Healdsburg, and senior member of the firm of Moore & Dennes, is a native of Devonshire, England, born August 18, 1850, and a son of Abraham and Matilda (Glide) Moore. He was reared at his native place until reaching the age of twenty-five years, and ac- quired a thorough knowledge of the butchering business. He then came to America, and ob- tained employment at Cincinnati, Ohio. In 1874 he came-out to California, locating at Healdsburg, and has since been identified witlı that locality. For several years he was in the employ of John D. Hassett, and afterward with Scawell Bros., butchers. In 1831 he bought an interest in the business, and the firm became Seawell & Moore. Since February, 1887, the present firm of Moore & Dennes has been in existence. Before coming to this country Mr. Moore was united in marriage with Miss Clara Dennes, a native of Somerset, England. They have two children, William and Rosalie. Mr. Moore is a member and past master workman
of the Healdsburg Lodge. A. O. U. W. Polit- ically he is a Democrat. Edward Dennes, junior member of the firm of Moore & Dennes, is a native of England. He has charge of the slaughtering department of the firm's business, the abattoir being located north of the city.
ILLIAM B. WINITNEY, of the firm of Miller & Whitney, druggists, Healds- burg, is a native of Belfast, Mainc, born in December, 1852. Ilis parents, William and Mary II. (Condon) Whitney, were also born in Maine. In 1568 the family removed to California via Panama, landing in San Francisco in July of that year, and locating in Sonoma County. The father, who had been a sea cap- tain, gave up his former calling after coming to this State, and after spending some time in min- ing, etc., retired to his ranch near Healdsburg. William B. Whitney, the subject of this sketch. became associated with George T. Miller in the present drug firm, in 1886. This house is one of the oldest in the city, having been founded by Cannon & Hutton back in the '60's. Wright & Brown succeeded that firm in 1870. and the last named member dropped out in 1883, the remaining partner conducting the business alone until he sold out to the present owners, in 1886. This business is ably condneted and is an exten- sive one, the stock of goods carried averaging abont 86,500. Mr. Whitney was married in Healdsburg to Miss Laura A. Cavanagh, a na- tive of Petaluma. They have one child, John C. Mr. Whitney is the owner of a ranch of seventeen acres, on the west side of Dry Creek, abont nine miles from Healdsburg, and due west from Geyserville, the place being a portion of the old Kennedy Bell ranch, and purchased by the present owner in 1885. When he bought the ranch it was entirely nnimproved, but the first year he planted eight acres of Zinfandel | grapes, which acreage has since been increased to twelve. Ile has also set out two acres in apricots, and two acres in mixed fruits. Every
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thing on the place has shown such favorable progress as to exceed the expectations of the owner, and the peaches, planted in 1885, are bearing nicely in 1888. Mr. Whitney is an active, energetic man, and owes his business success to his own endeavors. He is a member of the local lodge, 1. O. O. F.
EORGE PEARCE, district attorney of Sonoma County, is the oldest practicing attorney in the county, having been in active law practice here since 1856. He came to Sonoma from Stockton in June, 1849, and has been a resident of the county ever since. He went to Stockton from San Francisco the previous spring, and being attacked with malaria, he came over to Sonoma to recover his health, and was so delighted with the climate that he decided to make this county his home. There was no lawyer within what is now Sonoma County, except Charles P. Wilkins, who came about that time and first settled in the old town of Sonoma. After the removal of the county seat from Sonoma to Santa Rosa, lie moved to Santa Rosa and practiced many years in the connty, married, reared a family and died here. He was a man of ardent temperament, an en- thusiastic and able advocate before a jury. Mr. Wilkins held the office of Prefeet for this dis- trict, a judicial office under the Mexican Gor- erninent. Lilburn W. Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri, C. P. Wilkins, Richard A. Maupin, Robert Hopkins and Mr. Pierpont were all at Sonoma as early as 1849, coming in the order named, save the two last, who came together. Robert Hopkins was the first District Judge of this district, being appointed by the Legisla- ture. During the winter of 1849-'50 the people of Sonoina learned that the boundaries of So- noma County were being so located as to throw the Sonoma Valley in Napa County, and a pub- lic meeting was held, at which Mr. George Pearce was selected to go to San Jose, then the 1 capital, and enter their protest. While there
he seeured the appointment of Robert Hopkins by the first Legislature, to be District Judge. This was in January, 1550. Hopkins continued judge several years, and, after making an unsuc- cessful run for election to the Legislature, left the county. The others above mentioned all settled here in the practice of law. Martin E. Cook, a New York gentleman, came to Sonoma as early as 1850. He was subsequently not only a prominent lawyer, but a leading active politician, and served a term in the State Senate. He died at Sonoma. Attorney Pearce began the study of law in the office of Mr. Manpin and Thomas J. Boggs at Sonoma. These men remained in partnership until the death of Boggs, and years later Mr. Maupin also died in this county. After the county seat was re- moved from Sonoma Mr. Pearce went to Peta- Inma and completed his law course in the office of J. B. Southard (afterward judge of this dis- trict), and was admitted to the bar in 1856. On July 1, 1856, Mr. Pearce opened a law office in Petaluma, in which he continued practice until he was elected district attorney, in the fall of 1886, when he moved to Santa Rosa. Mr. Pearce was born in Louisville, Kentucky, Janu- ary 5, 1822. He came to California as a regu- lar United States soldier in 1846, under the command of General S. W. Kearney. Ile en- listed at Lonisville as a member of Company C. First United States Dragoons, General Kearney (then Colonel Kearney) in command. The fifth of June of that year Mr. Pearce's company and one or two others started from Fort Leaven- worth, in pursuit of a man named Spires, who had started from Independence, Missouri, with a cargo of ammunition for Santa Fe, with in- structions to follow him as far as the line of New Mexico if not successful in capturing him sooner. They did not catch him, however. This advance was overtaken at the old Santa Fe crossing of the Arkansas River by the rest of the command, and then came on via Santa Fe, thence down the Rio Del Norte to the head of the Gila River, thenee to where Fort Yuma now is, thence to San Diego, which then contained
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but one business house, it being conducted by Captain Fitch. At Albuquerque their com- mand had been divided, the larger portion going with Colonel Doniphan to Chihuahua, leaving only eighty men to come on through. These men were mounted on broken down mules and jaded horses. They had a sharp fight with 100 Californians at San Pasqual, in which twenty of Mr. Pearce's comrades were killed, and twenty- two wounded. Notwithstanding this heavy loss. the American troops held the ground. They took possession of Los Angeles shortly after. At the crossing of the San Gabriel River, near Los Angeles, Kearney's command had a sharp fight. Mr. Pearce left Los Angeles with a de- tachment of Government troops in the fall of 1848, to take charge of Government property at San Francisco and at Pisido. He remained in San Francisco until his term of service ex- pired, July 1, 1849, when he was discharged at Sonoma. From 1853 to 1855 he served as deputy sheriff, under the first sheriff of Sonoma County. Mr. Pearce has made a specialty of civil practice in his legal work, largely in land suits, though he has conducted some important criminal cases. In 1863 he was elected to the State Senate, and served six years. Mr. Pearee married Miss Brown, a native of Kentucky, youngest daughter of Dr. Osear Brown, for- merly of Kentucky, who came to California early in the sixties, and settled in Sacramento, where Mr. Pearce married the daughter in 1868. They have a family of one son and fonr danghters.
UTHER W. BURRIS has been a resident of Santa Rosa twelve years, and has been connected with the Santa Rosa Bank the entire time; first, as bookkeeper, and, in 1882, upon the resignation of W. B. Atterbury, Mr. Burris succeeded him, and has been cashier since that time. Mr. Burris is a native son of Sonoma Valley, born in April, 1852. His father, William Burris, settled here in 1850,
coming from Iowa, and originally from Mis- sonri. He was extensively engaged in wine grape culture, having been a pioneer in that linc here. His vineyard was the third one planted in Sonoma Valley, and was of the old Mission variety. The other two vineyards were the Vallejo and the Kebsy. Mr. Burris' vine- yard is the only one of the three now bearing, the stock of the vines being as thick as a man's body. Mr. Burris died July 15, 1888, leaving an estate valued at 840,000. The family con- sists of the widow and three sons. Mrs. Burris is living on the home place in Sonoma Valley with her youngest son, who is managing the farm, there being at the father's death seventy- five acres in vineyard, chiefly of the European varieties. The subject of this sketch was in all his early life in the vineyard and wine business. He was for three years foreman of the old Buena Vista, a joint stock company, that has the most extensive wine cellar on the coast. They made extensive experiments to produce Champagne, and took the second premium at the World's Exposition in Paris. This com- pany had wine tunnels a quarter of a mile long, and expended a million of dollars there. After leaving the common schools Mr. Burris took a course in Heald's Business College. He was then three years with his uncle, David Burris, in the Sonoma Valley Bank, of which his brother is now cashier. David Burris is largely interested in both the Sonoma Valley Bank and the Santa Rosa Bank, and is also a heavy land owner in Tulare County. The subject of this sketch was elected to the city council of Santa Rosa in 1986, for a term of four years, and is one of the most active and influential members. He is a member of the Fair Association and the Atheneum Company; is also a member of the Masonic Hall Association,and is treasurer of all three. Ile is a Mason and an Odd Fellow, and is dictator of the Knights of Honor. He is the owner of several tracts of redwood timber in this and Mendocino counties. Mr. Burris married Miss Mathews, a native of Santa Rosa, and daughter of John Mathews, a promi-
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nent citizen of the same place, until his death, which occurred several years ago.
T
ARRISON MECIIAM, an early. pioneer of the county, was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, June 20, 1833. His father, Joseph Mecham, was a native of New llampshire, and his mother, Hannah (Tyler) Mecham, was a Vermont lady. In 1834 the family moved from New York to Pennsylvania and six years later to Columbus, Ohio. After a year they again turned their faces westward and arrived at Indianapolis, Indiana, at the time the first turnpike road was built in that State from Indianapolis to Springfield, Illinois. In 1843 they continued their migration to Iowa and settled in Lee County near Keokuk. They remained till about 1845 and then moved to Atchison County, Missouri. The place where they located, however, was afterward cut off into Iowa and became a part of Fremont County. During their residence there, our subject, in his fifteenth year, fell in with some old Califor- nians who were acting as guides for Commodore Stockton on his trip back to the East. Their course of travel took them through the neigh- borhood where the Mechams lived, and the mar- velous tales they told of the romantic life peeuliar to the western country such as lassoing wild horses and eattle, killing grizzly bears, elk and other wild animals, all so worked upon the im- agination of young Meeham that he decided to go and see for himself the many things that had been told him. When the California party came back that way the next spring (1848), he met them by appointment unbeknown to his parents, and with the party continued the journey, arriving at old Fort Kearney on the Missouri River, which at that time was the farthest west that any government troops were stationed. There he met a man named Dr. Saint Clair, who had been through the Texan war, and was then on his way to California. Young Meeham hired ont to Saint Clair, driving
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