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 102
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ILLIAM SHAW, proprietor of the Third Street Photograph Gallery, came to Santa Rosa in May, 1875, from the State of Michigan, where he had lived from boyhood, his parents having come at that time from Canada, where he was born forty-seven years ago. In youth he learned the trade of iron-molder, and pursued it until after coming to California. He came to this State for the double purpose of restoring his broken health and bettering his financial opportunities, and on reaching the Pacific coast his health greatly improved, but the outlook for business at his trade was not very flattering. After working at it for a time he concluded to try another vocation, learned the miller's trade, and for six years was employed in the Empire Mill of Santa Rosa. In 1885 he purchased a half interest in the Third Street Photograph Gallery, with J. K. Piggott, the partnership continning nntil
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July 1, 1888, when Mr. Shaw bought Mr. Pig- gott's interest, thus becoming sole proprietor. This is the oldest photographic studio in Sono- ma County, having been established in 1868 by E. Kraft. During the more than twenty years of its existence it has changed ownership a number of times. Among the former proprie- tors were Downing, Rea & Ranseher, who were succeeded by Rea & Piggott, they by Piggott & Shepherd, they by J. K. Piggott, Mr. Shaw's predecessor and former partner. Being both mechanical and artistic in his tastes, Mr. Shaw is an enthusiast in his work, and constantly aims at a high standard of perfection in the photographic art, keeping pace with the march of progress in improved appliances and methods. In addition to sun-light portraits, he makes por- traits in crayon and water colors; and also makes a specialty of fine landscape and view photogra- phy, skilled and experienced assistants being employed in every department of his art werk. Before leaving Michigan Mr. Shaw was united in wedloek with Miss Alice McCollum, a native of that State, and their only child, Clara E., was born there.
AUL F. GREEN .- The hardware firm of Baxter & Green, composed of T. P. Baxter and Paul F. Green, whose store is situated at 527 Fourth street, represents the oldest mer- cantile house of its kind in the city of Santa Rosa, it having been established by one of their predecessors twenty years ago. After passing through several changes of ownership, James Morrow, Jr., sold to the present firm in Novem- ber, 1886. They keep in stock all kinds of shelf and builders' hardware, stoves and ranges, farm machinery and agricultural implements of all kinds, being agents for the leading manufact- mrers of these goods in the United States, and have a fine trade in them. Their sales in stoves and ranges and builders' hardware are especially large and rapidly increasing. Indeed, the busi- ness of the house has been nearly thirty-three
per cent. larger in 1888 than it was the year previons, reaching about $50,000. The firm does a good business in roofing, sponting and plumbing, employing an average of five men in the jobbing and plumbing department. Both members of this energetic and prosperous firm are natives of Massachusetts. Mr. Green's father, William S. Green, brought his family to California in 1853, when the subject of this sketch was ten months old, and settled in the vicinity of Oroville, Butte County, where he lived many years, engaged successively in the several occupations of mining, conducting a hotel, running a large turpentine distillery, and manufacturing lumber. When Paul was eighteen years of age the family returned to the Old Bay State, and his father carried on a large shoe manufactory twenty miles ont of Boston, in which 500 hands were employed. During the twelve years he remained back East, the subjeet of this sketch not only became familiar with every branch of the work in his father's shoe factory and superintended the fitting depart- ment, but he also learned the machinist's trade in the great locomotive works at Taunton, Mas- sachusetts, where 1,200 men are employed. In 1882 he returned to California, bought a fine ranch in Sonoma County, and engaged in horti- eulture until he went into the hardware business. His parents also came back to Cali- fornia, and now reside on their fine stock ranch near Seagg's Springs, in Sonoma County. Mr. Green married Miss Scribner, a Massachusetts lady, and a relative of the proprietor of the cel- ebrated publishing house which bears that name. Mr. and Mrs. Green have two children. Mr. Green is a member of the Masonie order.
NON. F. B. MULGREW, Representative from the Twenty-third District in the pres- ent Legislature of California, is a native of San Francisco, born July 30, 1834. His parents, Felix and Susanah (McNamee) Mul- grew, were both natives of Ireland, who came to
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America when young, locating in Rhode Island. The father came out to California, via Panama, in the early mining days. and in 1852 he was joined by the family. They resided in San Franeiseo until 1856, at which time they came to Healdsburg, and Mr. Mulgrew opened a black- smith shop. He resided here until his death, which occurred in May, 1876. Felix B. Mul- grew, whose name heads this sketch, was reared at Healdsburg. At the age of thirteen years he entered the office of the Russian River Flag, and there learned the printer's trade. For five years he was connected with that publication, and then went to Santa Barbara to assume editorial control of the Index. Six months later he returned to Sonoma County to become local editor of the daily Santa Rosa Democrat. In May, 1876, the publishing firm became Mul- grew Brothers, and afterward Felix B. Mulgrew purchased his brother's interest, theneeforward carrying on the publication alone. When Mr. Thompson was elected Secretary of State, he offered him the position of deputy in his office, which was accepted, and he removed his family to Sacramento. While in that position Gor- ernor Irwin, president of the board of harbor commissions, appointed him State wharfinger. He held that office about three and one-half years, then resigned to take personal charge of the Healdsburg Enterprise, which in the mean- time he had purchased. Ile subsequently bonght out the plant and good will of the Rus- sian River Flag, and consolidated the two papers, retaining the name of the Enterprise. While conducting the paper he entered into partnership with W. H. Moulton in the real estate business, and subsequently disposed of the newspaper to give his sole attention to the business. This firm has been prosperous in its undertakings, and in 1857 consummated the largest sale ever made in Sonoma County, by which the " Marshall traet" was transferred to Moses Hopkins for $325,000. In December, 1SSS, Moulton & Mulgrew established a branch office in San Francisco, of which Mr. Mulgrew has control, with the idea of enlarging the scope of
their business and looking more thoroughly after the interests of Sonoma County. At the Democratie County Convention of 18SS, Mr. Mulgrew was nominated for Representative from the Twenty-third District, and was chosen for the honor at the ensuing election. He is a member of Sotoyome Parlor, N. S. G. W., of the Y. M. 1., and of Alcazar Couneil, Order of Chosen Friends, San Francisco. Mr. Mulgrew was married in San Francisco to Miss Alice Hall, a native of San Francisco. She died December 23, 1856, leaving three children - - Flora, Lulu, and Martin.
AVID M. WINANS was born in Elk- hart County, Indiana, September 11, 1838, the place of his birth being about three miles from the Michigan State line. His father, James Winans, was born in New Jer- sey, in 1810, and when he was a small child his parents moved to Ohio, and settled in Miami County. He grew to manhood there, married, and afterward lost his wife, and also their only child. From Ohio he moved into Indiana, and there married again on the 28th of September, 1837, his wife being Martha Ashby. The country was new and the land thickly covered with timber, which was being chopped down by the settlers in clear- ing places for homes, and carrying on agricult- ural pursuits. Mr. Winans bought a farm in Elkhart County, and erected a log cabin, in which the family made themselves very com- fortable, considering the disadvantages of those early days. In 1854 he came across the plains with a party bound for California, being about six monthis from the time they lett the Mis- souri River until they arrived in the valley of San Jose. In the fall of 1855 he returned to Indiana, and one year from that time disposed of his property there, and again embarked for the Golden State, this time bringing with him his children, his wife in the meantime having died. They sailed from New York, via Pan-
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ama, and arrived in San Francisco, on board the Golden Gate, about the last of November, 1856. He located in Marin County, and bought, what he supposed at that time to have been, govern- ment land, upon which he lived a number of years, before he found that the title was not good, and was compelled to give it up. He afterward leased the place for two or three years, then changed his residence to a place near San Rafael, and finally moved into that city, where he died September 4, 1878. In the fam- ily there are four children, three daughters and one son. David M. Winans, the subject of this sketch, lived with his father until he became of age, when he hired ont to William and Sam Nay, a greater portion of the time employed in the dairy business. During the first year he was thns employed he purchased 400 acres of land near San Rafael, for a part of which he went in debt. He continued on in the employ of the Nay brothers for another year, chopping wood, and doing various other kinds of work, and all the time saving his earnings, in order to pay for his land, which he did by the close of the second year. After a time he bought twenty eows, and established a dairy on the place, remaining there two years. He then, with Sam Nay, leased the Saise ranch, and began dairying with a hundred eows, increasing the stoek from time to time, and carried on a successful business for five years, after which the stoek, numbering 150 head, was sold at $55 a head. In 1870 Mr. Winans returned to Indiana, and was married, April 7, of that year, to Maria E. Newell, who was born and reared in the same neighborhood that he was, in Elk- hart County. He returned to California the following year, and bought his present place in this county, about three miles from Petaluma. Mr. Winans is paying considerable attention to the raising of fruit, having about twelve acres in orchard, devoted mostly to winter apples and Bartlett pears, together with a variety of other kinds of fruit. He has been an Odd Fellow since 1872. Mr. and Mrs. Winans have one son, William James, born January 29, 1872. 42
Misfortune came to them in the death of their eldest ehild, Anna May, who was born April 8, 1871, and died March 20, 1888.
ANDREW P. GAVER .- Among the rep- resentative farmers, large land-owners, and business men of the American Valley school district, is the subject of this sketch. His magnificent farm of 1,600 acres is located one and one-half miles east of Valley Ford, on the Bloom- field and Valley Ford road. With the exception of a family orehard containing a large variety of fruits, such as pears, apples, pluins, cherries, etc., his land is devoted to hay, grain and stock purposes. Among the stock are 340 head of eattle, 250 heal of which are mileh cows, comprising his two fine dairies. A large portion of the eattle are improved by Durham stock. He has a fine thoroughbred Durham bull upon his farm. Hlenses such horses as are required in his farming operations, they being draft horses improved by Norman stock. Nearly all the improvements, including a neat cottage residence, two dairies, large barns, etc., have been made by Mr. Gaver since 1863. IIe has also other real estate in the county, consisting of 480 acres near Occidental, upon which are twelve acres of wine grapes of the Zinfandel variety, and an apple orchard of six acres. Ninety head of cattle are also upon this place. He is the owner of 100 acres north of Stony Point. Upon that place are forty acres of Zin- fandel wine grapes, and a twelve-acre orchard, containing apples, pears, plums, etc. The Val- ley Ford flour mills are also owned by Mr. Gaver. These mills are located at Valley Ford, and is one of the most flourishing industries in the valley, producing about twenty barrels of flour per day. A superior grade of flour is manufactured by the roller process, which finds a ready sale. The subject of this sketch was born in Columbiana County, Ohio, November 6, 1838. His father, Joseph Gaver, was a native of Maryland, and of German descent, his father having emigrated from Germany at an
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early day, and settled in Maryland. Mr. Gaver's mother, Elizabeth (Poe) Gaver, was born in Ohio. She is now (1SS) living with her son, and is eighty-two years of age. Mrs. Gaver is descended from the earliest families of Ohio. Her grandfather. Adam Poe, was engaged in the early Indian wars of the West. The noto- rions Indian chief, Big Foot, was killed by him during one of those engagements. Her father, Andrew Poe, was born in Ohio, and was one of the representative men of his seetion. Mr. Gaver's early life was spent upon a farm in his native place until 1857. In June of that year lie started, via the Isthmus route, for California. Upon his arrival in San Francisco he came immediately to Sonoma County, and located in Bloomfield. He was entirely withont means, having walked nearly forty miles before reach- ing Bloomfield: he sought work at once, took the first that could be obtained, and engaged as a teamster. Then, next year, 1858, he located land near what is now Valley Ford. and started, in a small way, in the dairy business. In that undertaking he was successful, and, in 1862, sold the place, purchasing, in the spring of the following year, 600 acres of the land he now ocenpies. Since that time he has devoted his attention mostly to dairying and general farm- ing, gradually inereasing his landed possessions, until they reached their present large acreage. Mr. Gaver has been uniformly successful in his agricultural and business operations. Ile is an energetic and progressive man, and these chiar- aeteristies, combined with good, sound business principles and straightforward dealings, have seenred him a competency. IIe lias always taken a deep interest in the prosperity and growth of liis section of the county, and has done much toward advancing the interests of the community in which he resides. The first school-house built in the American Valley school district, was erected upon Mr. Gaver's land. Ile has been a school trustee, and one of the strongest supporters of that school, for over thirty years. He is a member of Vitruvius Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M., of Bloomfield.
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Politically, Mr. Gaver is a Republican, and. although not an office-seeker, he has always taken an intelligent interest in the poliey of that party, at the same time being liberal and con- servative in his views.
OIIN SCHRODER was born near Bremen, Germany, forty-four years ago, and was edneated in the schools of his native land. When twenty years of age he emigrated to AAmerica and spent nine months in New York before coming to San Francisco. Seeuring ent- ployment in the latter city. he remained there six years, at the expiration of which time he returned to Germany, being absent from the Pacific coast four years. While in the fatherland, Mr. Schroder found a wife in the person of Miss Annie Steffens, whom he mar- ried in 1871 and brought baek with him to the home of his adoption. On his return to San Franeiseo he entered the employ of a wholesale produce house as salesman and continued with the firm ten years and three months. Deeid- ing to leave the metropolis, he came to Santa Rosa and purehased three and one-half acres near the eastern boundary of the city, on So- noma avenue, settled there in 1884. and engaged in the poultry business, in which he has been very successful. Ile started in a small way, his first purchase being but half a dozen hens. Another dozen was soon added, and from these he has increased his flock until it now numbers over 400 fowls, mostly of the white and black leghorn breeds, as he finds these to be the most profitable for eggs. During the winter of 1888-'S9 his egg erop averaged sixty dozen a week prior to January 1, and after that consider- able more. The price varies from twenty to fifty eents per dozen according to the season, and for adult fowls he gets from $6 to $5,50 per dozen. Mr. Schroder devotes his entire time and attention to his business, has fine yards and buildings for his fowls and is making money. His place is nicely improved and is
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worth about 85,000. Mr. and Mrs. Schroder have no children except an adopted daughter. Josephine, ten years of age, whom they adopted when an infant of two years.
OHN S. OLIVER .- The subject of this sketch was born in Delhi, Delaware County, New York, May 4, 1845, his parents being Walter and Christina (Satton) Oliver, both na- tives of Scotland, who came to the United States and located in the county above named, where the father was engaged in farming. Mr. Oliver was reared on his father's farm until between sixteen and seventeen years of age when he be- gan a three years apprenticeship to the black- smith's trade with Fletcher & Stoddard, of Delhi. At the expiration of his apprenticeship he worked as a journeyman for that firm nntil the winter of 1865, when, desirous of seeing something of the United States, and establish- ing himself in life, he started, via the Isthmus route, for California, and arrived in San Fran- cisco in Jannary, 1866. After a short stay in that eity he came to Sonoma Connty and located at Bloomfield. He at once secured work at his trade in the shops of A. H. Knapp. After working as a journeyman about a year and a half, he purchased the interest of Mr. Stocking in the blacksmith shops connected with Mr. Knapp's works, which he conducted until 1869, and then took George Pringle as a partner, con- tinuing the enterprise with him about two years. Thomas Mooney then purchased Mr. Pringle's interest in the works, and from that time until 1883 Messrs. Oliver & Mooney car- ried on the business. They were successful in the undertaking and had the most complete works for general blacksmithing, repairing of agricultural implements, etc., in that section of the county. October 1, 1883, Mr. Oliver sold out his shop to Thomas Moore and then rented the fine farm of William Jones, consisting of 640 acres, located on the Bloomfield and Val- ley Ford road, about two miles west of Bloom-
field. Since that date Mr. Oliver has devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. Ile is a fine business man, and his industrious and energetic habits have secured him a well deserved success in his farming operatio: s. He is the owner of 120 head of fine graded cattle, improved by Durham and Ayrshire breeds. Eighty head of these cattle form a splendid dairy, the products of which are first-class and command the best market rates. Mr. Oliver is justly proud of his horses, among which may be found splendid specimens of draft and roadsters, of the Nor- man and Mcclellan stock. He also has npon the farm eighty hogs of the Berkshire and Poland China breeds. Mr. Oliver finds the most profit in diversified farming, and in addi- tion to stock is raising hay, wheat, oats and barley, and is also snecessful in the cultivation of potatoes, to which he has devoted from fifty to sixty acres each year. Mr. Oliver is well known throughout his section of the county. His business has been of that character that has brought him in contact with the agricultural and business portion of the community, and his manly and consistent course of life and straight- forward business dealings have gained him hosts of friends. He is a public-spirited and enterprising citizen and one who is never back- ward in aiding any enterprise that in his belief will advance the interests of the community in which he resides. He was for many years a school trustee in his district and is a strong sup- porter of the public schools. In political matters Mr. Oliver is Democratic, and his influ- ence has always been exerted for what he con- sidered for the best interests of his party. He has several times times been chosen as a dele- gate to represent his section in the Democratic county conventions. He is a member of Vit- ruvions Lodge, No. 145. F. & A. M., of Bloom- field, and of Santa Rosa Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M. Ile is also a member of Bloomfield Lodge, No. 191, and Bloomfield Encampment, No. 61, 1. O. O. F. In 1871 Mr. Oliver was united in marriage with Miss Etta IFickman, daughter of Iliram and Elenor Hickman, natives of Indiana
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but residents of Bloomfield. Mrs. Oliver died in 1573, leaving one child -Walter Engene, In 1877 Mr. Oliver married Miss Catherine Lloyd, the daughter of William and Catherine Lloyd, of Sonoma County. They have one child-Gertrude Irene.
DWARD SURRYHINE was born in Gen- esee County. Michigan, September 22, 1839, his parents being William and Phebe (Gathwaite) Surryhne, the former a native of Pennsylvania, and the latter of Wales. Mr. Surryhne was reared as a farmer, receiving such an education as the common schools afforded. Hle was of an energetic and ambitions disposition, and at the age of seven- teen years started in life upon his own aceonnt, and engaged in farm labor. Before the age of twenty-one he was the owner of a farm. In 1555 he married Miss Elizabeth M. Van Due- sen, the daughter of John and Mary (Forbes) Van Duesen, natives of New York, where Mrs. Surryhne was born. Mr. Sorryhne continued his farming operations, also trading in stoek, etc., until 1861. In that year the war of the Rebellion broke out, and the North was called upon to save our country from secession and disruption. Mr. Sorryhne did not long hesi- tate. His patriotism was stronger than the ties of home and his moneyed interests, and he enlisted as a private soldier in Company E. Twenty-third Regiment of Michigan Infantry. This regiment was attached to the Army of the Cumberland, and partook of the dangers of bat- tle, the hardships of marches and duties of camp life of that army so well known to history, Mr. Surryhne shared the fate of his regiment until the next year. In one of the night marches a bridge or eulvert broke under the weight of the column he was marching with, and in this fall he received such injuries as to incapacitate him from the further duties of a soldier. Hle was therefore honorably discharged and returned to his home. Upon his return he devoted him-
self to snch farming operations as his health would permit, until 1865. In this year he eame by the steamer route to California. Soon after his arrival in San Francisco he went to Oak- land, where he engaged in the poultry business. After a few months he sold out and returned to San Franciseo, opening a feed store on Market and Ecker streets, and combining with this the water business. lle was also engaged in a like ocenpation on the corner of First and Market streets. In 1867 he sold out his interests and moved to Oakland, where he established a lumi- ber yard. This business soon assumed large proportions, and under the name of Surryhne & Co. dealt extensively in lumber, coal, hay, grain, blinds, sash, doors, lime, and in fact building materials of all sorts. Mr. Surryhne successfully conducted this large enterprise until 1580. In that year, desirons of a life in the country, he closed ont his business and came to Sonoma County. and purchased 300 aeres of land on the Santa Rosa and Guerne- ville road, on the Laguna, seven and a half miles west of Santa Rosa, in the Vine Hill school district. Since that time Mr. Surryhne has devoted himself to agricultural, hortienl- tural and vitieultural pursuits, in connection with stoek-raising. lle has one of the finest farms in Analy Township. The great variety of his productions are deserving of special men- tion. Sixty aeres are devoted to orchard, as follows: twenty aeres of peaches, fifteen acres of plums, twenty acres of apples, and five acres of pears, French prunes and other fruit. This magnificent orchard has been planted by Mr. Surryhne. He also established a nursery and produced his own trees, which are all of the most approved varieties. Among his peaches are the Wiley Cling, Orange Cling, Lemon Cling, Crawford, Australian, Mnir, Strawberry, Kingsberry, and others. There is also a large family orehard which was planted before he bought the place. In this there are filberts. walnuts, nectarines, figs, apples, peaches, pears, plums, cherries, prunes, and also berries of vari- ous kinds. One apple tree in this orchard is
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