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 101
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an ox team all the way, besides standing guard half of every third night, for which he received his board. The route was by the way of Fort Hall, where they took the Oregon route down to Snake River to where the California trail struck across from there to the head of the Humboldt, down the stream to the sink, across the desert by the way of the great hot spring to the Truckee River. They traveled up that river, erossing it twenty-seven times, to Trnekee and the Cambal camp where the Donner party met their fate. They went to the remains of their cabins and saw the bones of those who perished there, and saw where they had been cnt and sawed in two by the surviving ones as long as they lived, getting what nourishment they could from the marrow. From there the Sierra Nevada Mount- ains were crossed and they came down on the other side and entered the Sacramento Valley at Johnson's ranch, on Bear River. There they first met Nicholas Carriger, one of the old pio- neers of Sonoma County, who came to Mr. Mecham's tent on the first evening of their ar- rival and said the Indian's had just killed two of his men and wanted the arriving party to join in an effort to catch the murderers. The result was they set out in pursuit and went to where the Indians were in camp. The party of whites surrounded the Indian huts and captured the old chief and took him down to their camp, leaving word with the Indians, however, that if they did not produce the ones who did the kill- ing, by ten o'clock the next day, they would hang the old chief. Before the time appointed, on the following morning, the guilty ones were brought forward and delivered to the whites, who hung them all on the same limb of a big white oak tree. The executions took place one at a time, and the unfortunate dangling by the neck under the tree, writhing in his death agonies would form a source of amusement for the other red men who were waiting their turn for a similar proceeding. The dead bodies were then given back to the tribe who cut them down and piled them on top of a big brush heap they had gathered, and on which they then burned.
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This was the manner the Indian's had of dis- posing of their dead. By this time gold had been discovered. The first our party knew of it was from a California regiment of Mormons who were on their way back to settle Salt Lake City, and showed them some of the gold dust. The party went to the gold mines on the Yuba River at a place called Parks Bar, which was named after one of the party. There they came across Holt and Abraham Fine, who were at work in the mines. Mr. Mecham, with two others bought the " Fine" elaim and their tools which consisted of a little rocker or cradle about three feet long that was used to separate the gold from the dirt, a crowbar, a flat milk pan, and two pieks. The priees paid for the articles were as follows: roeker, $300; crowbar, which was a little piece of iron about three feet long, six ounees, or $96; pieks, 864 each; milk pan, $32; two wooden buekets, $20 each. The prices paid for other artieles used in a miner's camp were as follows: flour, one dollar per pound; little Spanish beans and salt pork, one dollar per pound. Beef was cheap at $25 per head, delivered at the eamp. There were no vegetables of any description at that time, in taet no one supposed they could be raised. . The cost of elothing was in proportion to what they had to pay for some other things. It took $32 to buy a pair of blue overalls. Blankets were $100; boots the same price, a buteher knife, $32, and an iron frying-pan, 864. The idea pre- vailed then that flour would never be made in this country, their supply coming from Chili or being packed down from Oregon on horses. California is now one of the great wheat pro- dueing countries of the world. To show what the value of real estate was at that time we will refer to a ranch where Marysville now stands. It consisted of eleven leagues of land upon which were 1,200 head of cattle and 600 horses, and the ranch and stock sold for $12,000. Another one, the Johnson rareh on Bear River, consisted of three leagues of land, about 3,000 head of eattle and 600 head of horses, which Mr. Mecham and two others bought early
in the spring of 1849 for $6,000. Where Sacramento now is there was not a piece of land feneed in between the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the Pacific coast, except some of the older ranches which had a few lots enclosed for the purpose of raising a few beans and peas. There was no Sacramento then, the business all being done three miles from there at what was called old Sutter's Fort. All the merchandise was brought from San Francisco up the Sacramento River in little schooners to where the city now stands, and from there packed by Indians on their heads to the fort. Mr. Mecham helped to cut the first trail to get a wagon from Sutter's Fort down to the Sacramento River. Returning to the narrative of the mines, Mr. Meeliam, after buying out the claim and outfit, remained there until 1852, when he came down the Sacramento Valley and bought a ranch near the junction of the Feather and Sacramento rivers, at a place called Fremont. Ile remained there until June, 1853, when he went into the stoek business. Ile was shortly after married, and in July of that year came to Sonoma County and moved on a portion of the raneh he now oceu- pies, where he is quite extensively engaged in dairying, farming and stoek-raising. The high- est amount of grain he has produced in any one year was a 103,000 bushels. He has generally had from 500 to 1,000 head of cattle, and also raised hogs for market, usually abont 2,500 a year. From 1,000 to 2,500 acres were devoted to potatoes. All this was prior to 1864. In October of that year he moved into Petaluma for the purpose of edueating his children, and rented his ranch out to different parties, having in all about fifty tenants. Finding that renting did not pay for the wear and tear of the fenees and keeping up the buildings on the place, he gradually abandoned it and went to stocking his farm with sheep, horses, and cattle, still re- siding in Petaluma until October, 1885. At that time his elegant new residence was com- pleted and he returned with his family to the ranch. The place on which he lives comprises about 4,000 acres, and he also owns the Sears
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Point ranch of 2,600 aeres in Vallejo Town- ship, and one-fifth interest in the Juanita ranch in Santa Barbara County, consisting of 27,000 acres. He was married in Fremont, Yolo County, California, April 17, 1853, to Mary Jane Stewart, a native of Indiana, and daughter of Abel Stewart. They have had six children, four of whom are now living: Frank A., Lo- retta, IIarriette, and Belle, the wife of Walter Fritsch, of Petaluma.
HOMASSTOKESPAGE, M. D., deceased, was born in Moorestown, Burlington County, New Jersey, in 1815. He gradu- ated in the medical department of the Univer- sity of Pennsylvania when he was twenty-one years of age. After that he took a short jour- ney through Great Britain and France, and from there went to Valparaiso, South America, where he made his home for a great many years. He was married to Ana Maria Liljevalch, a native of Chili. Dr. Page was one of the most cele- brated physicians in that part of the country. Many times he was called to make professional visits up and down the coast. He was a man who attended strictly to his business, and in that way accumulated a large fortune. In 1860 he made a flying visit to the United States for the purpose of visiting his parents whom he had not seen for a great many years, and in so doing made a trip to California, via Panama, for the purpose of looking after his possessions in this State, which he had purchased in 1849, and which consisted of the Cotate ranch, in Sonoma County. While here he made investments in fine breed sheep and short-horn cattle and put them on the estate. He then returned to Chili and resumed his practice there, remaining until 1869, when his health broke down and he was compelled to give it up. He came to California to make it his home and to regain, if possible, his lost health. He brought with him his family with the exception of three sons, who remained there in business and in the practice
of medicine. The next year two of the sons came to this State. In June, 1871, Dr. Page's health gave way, and after a long illness he died January 10, 1872. His widow now resides in San Rafael, this State. There are in the family seven sons and three daughters, viz .: Olof, a practicing physician in Valparaiso, South Airer- iea; Henry, in business at the same place; Charles, attorney at law in San Francisco; Wil- fred, manager of the Cotate ranch; Arthur and George T., who constitute the firm of Page Brothers, ship and merchandise brokers of San Francisco; William D., an assistant on the estate. The daughters all have residenees in California. Besides the Cotate ranch, Dr. Page had a ranch in Sonoma County of orer 3,500 acres. The Cotate ranch originally contained 17,238 acres, and was an old Spanish grant, patented by the United States. About 7,600 acres of the grant have been sold, leaving about 9,600 acres still in the possession of the estate, the greit bulk of which consists of low black meadow land, lying in the sink of the Santa Rosa Valley. Of that portion there are abou 1,500 acres which are occupied by tenants who devoted their time to the cultivation of grain. The rest of the land being adapted to stock- raising, has been used heretofore for the pur- pose of raising large herds of sheep, but that business has been reduced, and they now have more horses and eattle, and also run a large dairy. The first purchase of fine stock was made in 1860, and again in 1872 importations were made of thoroughbred short-horn bulls and cows selected from the best herds of Ken- tueky, Hlinois and Missouri. Others have been purchased from time to time as required to keep up the old stock and for the infusion of new blood. The list of prizes taken at the different fairs indicate that they stand high. The man- agers have always selected the stoek not only for their beef quality, but also with regard to their milking qualities. There is altogether in the neighborhood of 1,200 head of eattle, young and old. They have a fine line of draft horses, and are now crossing the English draft and
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
Clydesdale mares that are on the place with the Suffolk Punch stallions, while the roadsters and trotting stock are being bred to the highest type of standard-bred trotting stallions.
RANVILLE S. HARRIS, proprietor of the Union Livery Stable at Sonoma, was born in Sonoma Valley, November 7, 1858, son of Sydney and Sarah Harris. Never having known the care of a father, he was reared at the home of his mother, two and one-half miles south west of Sonoma, known as the Cooper homestead. His youthful days were spent in farm labor and in attendance upon the public schools where the foundation of a thorough prac- tical business education was laid. Later he spent two years in attending the State Normal School at San Jose, and the Golden Gate Academy at Oakland, finishing his school education at the age of twenty years. Mr. Harris has led an active business life since he attained his major- ity. In October, 1879, in partnership with Charles Haskins of Oakland, he established a commission business at Portland, Oregon, which was continued one season only. He then re- turned to Sonoma and engaged in agricultural pursuits on his mother's farin, following that vocation until 1883, when he purchased a one- half interest in the livery business at his present stand. Under the firm name of Corbaley & Harris the business was conducted until 1886, at which time Mr. Harris bought the interest of his partner. The establishment is finely equipped, employing an average of about eighteen horses. A branch of the business is an omnibus and mail line between Sonoma and El Verano Station on the Carquinez & Santa Rosa Rail- road. In 1884 Mr. Harris wedded Miss Roena Spencer. Their two children are Granville S. and Janet. Mr. Harris owns a cottage home on Broadway in Sonoma, and twenty acres of the old homestead, fifteen acres of which are in vine- yard. Enterprising, energetic and publie spirited, no movement promising advantages to his city or
neighborhood fails to find an earnest supporter in Mr. Harris. Politically, he is a thorough Republican. He is a native of California, and is the president of Parlor No. 111, N. S. G. W., at Sonoma; also a member of Temple Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M., and of its sister organization, the Eastern Star. Of the mother of Mr. Harris, a passing mention must be made. Perhaps none of the pioneer women of Sonoma County are better remembered than she. Possessed of great energy, full of neighborly kindness, and endowed with one of those rare unselfish natures, she was devoted to her children and her memory will . ever be cherished by them. A pioneer of the pioneers, she came to this coast from Wisconsin, via overland route, with friends, in 1845, being then twenty-three years of age. Her maiden name was Sarah Biglow. Not long after her arrival here she was united in marriage with James Cooper, a thorough-going, wide-awake pioneer of Sonoma, who also located here in 1845. (The reader will find biographieal men- tion of him in this volume.) Mrs. Cooper was the landlady of the first hotel opened in Sonoma, in 1847. Later they moved to their large ranch on the west side of Sonoma Creek. There she reared her children and spent the rest of her life. IIer first husband died in 1856. By him she had five children. now all living and settled in life. By her socond husband, Sydney Harris, she had only one child, Granville S. Harris, whose name heads this sketch.
OSEPH LEININGER, one of the old Cali- fornians now residing in Sonoma Connty, is a native of Snyder County, Pennsylva- nia, born February 11, 1839, and son of John and Barbara (Wilt) Leininger, both of whom were natives of Pennsylvania. In 1849 the family removed to Stephenson County, Illinois, and there Joseph grew to manhood. In 1859 he joined the tide of emigration wending its way that year over the western plains. His party started from a point in Vernon County,
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
Missouri, fifteen miles east of Fort Seott, on the 3d day of May. and spent the summer ou the journey. They chose the route by Lander's Cut-off, and arrived in Chico September 25, 1859. From that point Mr. Leininger soon changed his location to Butte Creek, and there he followed the fortunes of mining for fifteen months. He afterward embarked in the saw- mill work, and finally gave up other pursuits for ranehing in Butte County. There he resided until 1885, when he came to Sonoma County and bought the ranch where he now resides. Mr. Leininger was married while in Pennsylva- nia on a visit in 1869. to Miss Annie Ryan, a native of the Keystone State. Mr. and Mrs. Leininger are the parents of seven children, viz .: John W., who is in the Pacific Press Publish- ing House, Oakland; Ralph, Maggie, Cora, Car- rie, Josie and Charlie. Mr. Leininger and fam- ily are members of the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. His original purchase in Sonoma County consisted of thirty-five acres. the ranch being located on the west side of Dry Creek, three miles from Healdsburg. There are nearly fourteen aeres in fruit, the trees ranging in age from two to five years. Among the trees are almonds, peaches, pears, nectarines, cherries, plums, etc. No irrigation is required, and all varieties of fruits named do well. Mr. Leinin- ger is making a fine place of this tract of land, and has largely added to it by purchase in the fall of 1888.
HEODORE SKILLMAN was born in Hunterdon County, New Jersey, Septem- ber 20, 1830. There appeared to have been originally but one Skillman family, who settled in Rocky Hill, New Jersey, and were probably of German extraction. Washington and Ann (Stillwell) Skillman, parents of Theo- dore Skillman, were both natives of that State, the latter a descendant of the Holland Dutch. The grandfathers of both families were soldiers in the Revolutionary war. In Washington
Skillman's family there were five children, three sons and two daughters, of whom Theodore and two sisters are the on'y ones now living. When the subject of this sketeh was thirteen or four- teen years old, after the death of his father, he went to New Brunswick to learn a trade, and in the meantime his mother emigrated to Michi- gan. Ile served his apprenticeship at the baker's trade and remained there until 1849, when, on February 7, he sailed from New York on board the bark Isabella, rounded Cape Horn. and never made a port, until he arrived in San Francisco on the 4th of August, after a voyage of six months, lacking three days. There was a party of forty members who organized a stock company and bought the ship. giving the crew a half interest in her, but as soon as they landed in San Francisco the crew deserted them. It was supposed at that time by a great many ad- venturers that there was nothing but gold in the State of California, consequently the party laid in a two years stock of provisions, and started with the vessel up to Sacramento. Just after arriving there seven of the party died from dis- ease contracted while on the voyage, after which the company disbanded and went out in parties of four and five each. Mr. Skillman was sick at the time and was intending to return to the East, but did not want to go back without first having seen something of the mines. He got up as far as Mormon Island and there found work at his trade. Being much improved in health, he stayed there that winter, then went to Marys- ville, and from there into Nevada County. where he bought out a bakery and provision store in Grass Valley, remaining there eight years. Dur- ing his residence there he was very successful in business, although he met with some pretty heavy losses, having passed through three differ- ent fires. In 1859 he came down to Petaluma and bonght land near where he is now located. In 1860 he went to Nevada and remained five years. He engaged in teaming for the Golden Curry Company, who were building a mill, and after that was completed. had the contract for hauling the ore from the mines to the mill.
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Returning to this county, he sold his property and bought his present place of 150 acres. on which he had at that time a hotel. He conducted the business for some five years when it was discontinned. Mr. Skillman is one of the first who imported fine horses into this section of the country, in fact, in 1876, when he imported his first Norman horse, which was the first one north of the bay, there were only one or two in the State and they had been brought here only a few months before. Since 1884 he has been importing direct from France, making annual trips there in selecting his horses. Hle is the largest individual importer on the coast, making almost annual exhibits of his stock at the State and district fairs, and taking more premiums with his horses than any other individual. Mr. Skillinan was first married in Grass Valley in May, 1853, to Catherine Henley, a native of New York. She died May 2, 1883, leaving three children: Aun Louisa, Charles Carroll, and Oliver Ernest. He was again married in June, 1886, to Eleanor Rice, a native of Cali- fornia.
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OHN O'BRIEN .- Among the old residents and representative farmers of Sonoma Val- ley is the above named gentleman. Ilis fine farm of 400 acres is located upon the west side of the valley in the Harvey school district, about four miles west of Sonoma. This rich and productive land is about equally divided between hill and valley land. At the present date (1888) his farin is devoted principally to hay, grain and stock. Among the latter are about fifty head of cattle, of which thirty are used for dairy purposes. Mr. O'Brien also has some fine specimens of horses improved by Norman stock. Ilis lands are well adapted to grape culture and fruit growing. As early as 1858 and 1859 he planted twenty acres of wine grapes, erected a wincry, etc., and for over twenty years was engaged in the wine industry of the county. Besides this well improved
property Mr. ('Brien also owns 1,000 acres of hill land, located about one mile south of his home farm. This land is devoted almost en- tirely to stock purposes, supporting about 150 head of cattle, of which 100 head are used as a dairy. This place is also well improved and is rented, as Mr. ()'Brien finds plenty to occupy his attention on his home farm. The subject of this sketch was born in Limerick County, Ire- land, in 1828. He is the son of Patrick and Margaret (Maloney) O'Brien. both natives of the county of his birth. Mr. O'Brien was reared to agricultural pursuits until he arrived at the age of twenty-one years, when he launched out in life for himself, and emigrated to the United States. Upon his arrival in New York, in 1849, he located on Long Island, where he engaged in farm labor until 1850. In that year he went as far west as Cincinnati, Ohio, and engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Mis- sissippi rivers until 1853. He then started from New Orleans, via the Nicaragua route, for California. Arriving in San Francisco in the fall of 1853, he proceeded at once to the mines in El Dorado County. Ile was engaged in the occupation of mining for the next four years, undergoing the varying fortunes upon a miner's life. In the fall of 1857 Mr. O'Brien decided to abandon mining and seek his fortune in agri- cultural pursuits. He accordingly came to Sonoma, purchased the farm upon which he now resides, and has since devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. His success in this enterprise is well deserved, for he is an energetic, industrious and straightforward man. HIis more than thirty years' of residence here has made him familiar with Sonoma Valley and its resources, and he is a firm believer in its future growth and prosperity. Mr. O'Brien is a consistent member of the Catholic church, and in political matters is a Democaat. In 1848 Mr. O'Brien married Miss Mary Scott, daughter of Richard and Honora (Ryan) Scott, natives of Limerick County, Ireland. From this marriage there are living the following named children: Margaret, Mary, Alice, Nellie, and Catherine.
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Margaret married Michael Goff and is now re- siding in Sonoma. Alice married Alexander Sperry, of San Francisco. The other daughters are residing on the home farin. The second child, Thomas, died in 1871, at the age of four- teen years.
JON. THOMAS RUTLEDGE .- The HIon. Thomas Rutledge, since January 1, 1877, a resident of California, and present judge of the Superior Court of Sonoma County, is a native of Ireland. Ilis father's family emi- grated to Wisconsin when he was a child, there resided until he had attained his majority, and in 1556 emigrated to Minnesota. He studied law in the city of Mankato, that State, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. He immediately entered upon the practice of his profession at Madelia, Minnesota. Here he soon gained the confidence of the business men of the com- munity, and, although quite a young man, was elected assessor of his county. In 1862 he joined the United States army to aid in subdu- ing the Rebellion. A volunteer of the First Minnesota Cavalry, he was made a Corporal and subsequently Sergeant in the Eleventh Minne- sota Infantry. He was mustered out of the United States army at Gallatin, Tennessee, and discharged in Minnesota at Fort Snelling. His cavalry service was rendered against the Indians on the western plains, and his infantry service was under General George H. Thomas. Upon his return from the army he was elected treas- urer of Watonwan County, served two years, and subsequently was honored successively with the people's confidence by the election to the offices of county judge, county attorney (two terms), superintendent of county schools, and in 1874 was chosen to represent his district in the State Legislature. In 1876 Jud_e Rutledge made a trip to California. After visiting vari- ons sections of the State he, in 1877, took up his residence at Santa Rosa. Here he at once opened a law office as a partner with Judge W.
W. Porter, now judge of the Supreme Court of Arizona. Judge Rutledge was subsequently associated professionally with William E. Mc- Connell, now president of the Santa Rosa Bank. He was a very successful trial lawyer and during his practice was in nearly all important civil or criminal cases, promptly retained by plaintiff or defendant. He was appointed superior judge of the court of Sonoma County to succeed Judge Jackson Temple upon his election to the supreme bench, and assumed his duties of office October 22, 1856. Judge Rutledge was born November 14, 1834. He is a man of strong physical con- stitution and mental vigor. He was married in October, 1855, to Miss Griffin, a native of Ver- mont. Her father was a native of Vermont and her mother of New Hampshire. Six of their eight children are still living. Their eldest daughter and son reside in Washington Terri- tory. The youngest son is practicing law at Los Angeles. One daughter is married and lives in Colnsa County, California, and two children are at home.
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