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 104
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the same until 1872, when he rented and moved to the Ogan farm on the Petaluma road. In June, 1873, Mr. Strong married Mrs. Catherine (Morrow) Martin, the widow of William Mar- tin, formerly a resident of Sonoma County. Mr. Strong remained upon the last mentioned farm until 1875, when he purchased the land and took up his residence upon the farm described at the beginning of this sketch. Since that time he has devoted himself to its cultivation and improvement. He has been successful in both and now has one of the best and most pro- ductive farms in Bennett Valley. Mr. Strong is well known throughout a large portion of So- noma County, and wherever known is respected and esteemed as one of the honest, straightfor- ward and representative citizens of Sonoma County. He is a member of Santa Rosa Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. A strong supporter of the public schools, he has for ten years been a school trustee in his district. He is a faithful and consistent member of the Epis- copal church. Mr. and Mrs. Strong have six children, viz .: John H., Emma J., Margaret A., Joseph A., Mary E. and Samuel H. Mrs. Strong has two sons by her first marriage, Will- iam G. and James Thomas Martin, who are members of Mr. Strong's household.
ILLIAM STEPHENS, of the firm of Stephens & Co., wine manufacturers, conducts the extensive business of the establishment at Windsor. The firmn is com- posed of George P. Norman and Mr. Stephens, the partnership having been effected in August, 1887. The plant was purchased from Bernard Iloben, who established the business in East Windsor, and after losing his wooden buildings there by fire, rebuilt on the present site in 1883. The buildings are of brick, the main portion having a ground area of 85 x 105 feet and being two stories in height. The fermenting cellar stands 72 x 84 feet on the ground, having had extensive additions made in 1888. The storage
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capacity has been increased from 200,000 to 300,000 gallons under the present management. A distillery was added to the plant in 1887, and during the season of 1988 their department turned out 4,800 gallons of grape brandy in eight and a half days. The products of both winery and distillery have a high reputation and command a ready sale. They sell only to the wholesale trade, and place on the market over 160,000 gallons per annum. William Stephens, under whose striet supervision the business of the winery is carried on, is a native of Columbia, Adair County, Kentneky, born January 11. 1841, his parents being Nathaniel and Gillea (Bowier) Stephens. His grandfather. William Stephens, removed to Kentucky from the vicin- ity of Jamestown, Virginia, in an early day, and Nathaniel Stephens was born in what is now Russell County, Kentucky. The grandfather of the subject of this sketch, on his mother's side, was a native of North Carolina, who moved from there to Kentucky, and in the lat- ter State the mother of William Stephens was born. Ilis ancestors on the Stephens side were Scotch, and were driven to Holland at the time of the "Roundhead" agitation. The name of the mother's family, Bowiner, was originally Boehmer, and her grandfather. a Russian. was sent into exile. He reared two sons, one of whom, Elijah, located in Alabama, while John Bowmer, grandfather of William Stephens, lo- cated in Kentucky as before mentioned. Ile died in 1857, at the age of ninety-four years. Nathaniel Stephens was a farmer, but the grand- fathers of William Stephens were both distillers. The subject of this sketeh was reared at Columbia, Kentucky, and incidentally learned the distilling business with his grandfather. In 1858 he left his native State and removed to Indiana, where he resided for some time in War- wick and Spencer counties. From there he went to Iowa and traveled through that State, Nebraska and Missouri, in the interest of an agricultural implement honse. In 1871 he came to the Pacific coast and traveled throughout California, Oregon, etc. In 1579 being asso-
ciated with Mr. Wooden, the manufacturer, he went to Australia on business connected with the construction and sale of wind mills and well- boring machinery. He remained there about three years, with headquarters at Melbourne, and returned to San Francisco September 4, 1882. He engaged in farming and in real es- tate transactions, and still retains farming prop- erty near Santa Rosa. He leased the Windsor winery in 1886, and eleven months later, in connection with his partner, purchased the property. On his ranch seven miles west of Santa Rosa, on the Healdsburg and Sebastopol road, he has forty acres in grapes. They are Zinfandel, planted in 1833. and there is no better vineyard in the county. In 1988 they turned out three and a half tons to the aere. On a new road between Santa Rosa and Forest- ville he has 140 acres more. Mr. Stephens has been twice married. His first wife was Annie E. Rice,'and is now deceased. By this marriage there are two children: William C. and Lanra D. His present wife was formerly Miss Lonisa Gessford, daughter of P. G. and Louisa J. Gess- ford, and sister of Senator Gessford. Her father is one of the most prominent men of Napa County. Politieally, Mr. Stephens is a Democrat.
HRISTOPF SPRINGER was born in Holstein, Lower Germany, near the town of Elmshorn. August 8, 1836, his parents being Christopher and Margneretta (Timm) Springer. The former is now a resident of Germany and the latter died in 1861. They were the parents of eight children, of whom five died in infancy and another, Margueretta, died in 1866 at the age of twenty-one years. The living members of the family are Christopf and Frank. The subject of this sketch grew to manhood on his father's farm, living with his parents until he was thirty-four years of age. According to the laws of Germany every boy as soon as he is old enough is compelled to
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attend sehool until he is fifteen, except in cases where he is of poor parents, when, during the summer months he is allowed to stay out with the exception of two half days in each of these months. Mr. Springer was married May 27, 1866, to Mary E. Kroger, who was born May 12, 1840. In 1870 he and his family sailed from Hamburg on the steamer Hosusen, and landed in New . York where they had to wait nine days for a steamer to Panama. From there they came to San Francisco, landing there May 13. The following day he came to Petaluma, where he lived about two months and then rented the farm on which he now resides. In 1876 he purchased the place, which contains forty-eight aeres of improved land, devoted to raising fruit, hay and potatoes. There are about ten acres in trees of various kinds of fruit and one acre in vines, which is principally for home use. Mrs. Springer died October 28, 1884. She was the mother of five children, of whom the eldest, John, was born in Germany, and the others, Katie M., Mary E., Frank and Lena, were born in this country.
W. & E. W. DAVIS, proprietors of Yulupa Ranch and Vineyard. This magnificent ranch and vineyard is one of the most valuable and best improved prop- erties in Bennett Valley. The ranch comprises 365 acres of rich and productive land, situated in the above named valley, five and one half miles southeast of Santa Rosa. Fifty acres are devoted to vineyard, producing wine grapes of Zinfandel, Mission and other approved varieties. A fine orchard produces a large variety of fruits, such as are grown throughout the valley, also many that are cultivated in other sections in- eluding oranges, lemons, persimmons, almonds, walnuts, etc. The location, elimate, soil, ete., seem adapted to an innumerable variety. Gen- eral farming and stock-raising are also condneted in the most approved style, seventy-five acres being devoted to hay and grain while the stock
finds abundant pasturage in the hills. Among the sheep are found 170 head of thoroughbred Shropshire sheep, also fine speeimens of Dur- ham and Devon cattle and the most approved and valuable grades of draft and road horses. The improvements on this model farm are num- erous and first-class in every respect. Among them are a modern residence, commodious and complete in all its appointments, large and well ordered barns and out-buildings. There is also one of the most completeand the largest winery in the valley, with a capacity of 150.000 gallons. Attached to the winery is a distillery of a capacity of 2,000 gallons. The products of this winery and distillery rank as among the best in Sonoma County. The owners of the above named property, G. W. & E. W. Davis, are well known pioneers and representative business men of Sonoma County. They have also a fine ranch of 287 acres, situated one and one-half miles southeast of their home farm, upon which there is a vineyard of 100 acres of Zinfandel wine grapes, and also thirteen acres of orchard producing French prunes and plums. These lands are admirably adapted to general farming, having some timber and plenty of running water. G. W. Davis and his son, E. W. Davis, also own 160 acres of hay and grain land, two and one-half miles south of Santa Rosa, npon which farming operations are con- ducted in connection with their Bennett Valley farm. The Yulupa ranch was originally owned by I. De Turk, of Santa Rosa, and was pur- chased and occupied by the present owners in 1885.
AMILLE AGUILLON .- The world wide reputation that the wines of Sonoma Valley have gained for purity, bouquet and excellence has not been the work of a day or a year, nor the result of chance, but is the result of years of careful attention and study of skillful and expert wine makers. Many of these skilled wine producers are from the old
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wine districts of France and Germany, among which mention must be made of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Aguillon is a native of the Department of Basses Alpes, France, born in 1828. llis father, Francois Aguillon, was a large farmer and wine manufacturer, and died when the subject of this memoir was quite young. Mr. Aguillon was reared upon the es- tate and became skilled in all the practical duties of farming and wine growing, and from an early age was in charge of the management of the farm in all its details. In 1851, the es- tate being sold, Mr. Aguillon decided to emigrate to the United States. He therefore proceeded to London and seeured passage on a sailing ves- sel around Cape Ilorn to California. Soon after his arrival in San Francisco, he located in the mines where he remained for a year or more. Not being suited to a miner's life, he returned to San Francisco and entered upon the ocenpation of gardening. Hle spent many years there working at that and other ocenpations until 1865 when he came to Sonoma and estab- lished himself in the wine making industry. Mr. Aguillon's success was assured from the start. Square business dealing, combined with a thorough knowledge of his business enabled him to increase his operations, and to-day he has the largest and most complete winery in the city of Sonoma. This is located on the west side of the plaza, where he owns a lot 50 x 75 feet upon which are large two-story adobe buildings well adapted to his business. The capacity of the winery is 75,000 to $0,000 gal- lons, and in connection with the winery is also a distillery. The products of this winery are mostly clarets, but some white wines are also manufactured. In addition to the property above mentioned Mr. Aguillon is also the possessor of forty-five acres of land just north of Sonoma, which are devoted to fruit culture, thirty acres being in orchard, producing French prunes, cherries. apples, pears, peaches, quinces, ete. This land he purchased in 1879, and since that time has made all the improvements upon the place. Mr. Aguillon is a good eitizen, and
one who by his consistent and straightforward course of life has gained the respect of the community in which he resides. Politically, he is a strong and consistent Republican. In 1860 he visited France, and while there married Miss Camille Turrell, a native of that country. Froni this marriage there are three children: Elsie, Berthe and Gabrielle, all natives of California.
LBERT BURNIIAM was born in Penob- scot County, Maine, in 1809, his parents being Jesse and Elizabeth (Harvey) Burn- ham, both natives of that State. Mr. Burnham was reared to the hard labor attending the enl- tivation of the soil in his native State, and was also, in his young manhood, engaged in the lumber woods on the Penobscot River. At the age of twenty-one years he commenced life upon his own account, and he then purchased good land at a 81.75 per aere and commenced the clearing and establishing of a farm. In 1832 he was united in marriage with Miss Adah Thayer, the daughter of Spencer and Abigail Thayer. Mrs. Burnham's parents were also na- tives of Maine. For nearly twenty years Mr. Burnham devoted himself to tilling the almost sterile soil of his native State. Desirons of bettering his condition he, in 1851, embarked for California. Upon his arrival here he en- gaged in mining and farm labor until 1853. In that year he sought his fortune in the Klamath River mines. There he was fairly sne- cessful and in 1855 he returned East and re- sumed work at his old home. In 1862 he returned to California bringing his family with him. This time he came overland, and upon his arrival came to Sonoma County, and located in Bennett Valley, where he has since resided. Mr. Burnham, in connection with his two sons, is the owner of 320 aeres of hill land in the valley before named. His lands are situated in the Strawberry school district, on the Petaluma and Bennett Valley road. about ten miles from Santa Rosa and about twelve miles from Peta-
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Inma. Ile has fine hay and grazing lands, which are also well adapted for grape enltivation. During the past few years Mr. Burnham and his sons have made vine growing a success. They have now (1888) twenty-five acres of wine grapes of the Zinfandel variety, besides a family vineyard which is producing a large variety of table grapes. In order to reap the full benefit of their vine culture, they have erected a winery upon their lands with a capacity of 60,000 gallons. This enables them to con- vert the product of their own vineyard into wine, and also that of their neighbors who have no wineries. Their enterprise has been of great benefit to that section of the valley, and is duly appreciated. With the exception of a small quantity of white wines, their prodnetion is entirely claret. They also raise considerable hay and grain and their farm is well stocked. Among the stock are 200 head of Shropshire sheep, and fine specimens of both horses and eattle. Mr. Burnham, although four score years of age, is hale and hearty, and in the full pos session of his mental faculties. Ilis strong physique enables him to successfully conduet his farming, stock and wine industries, and his enterprising sons are reaping the benefits of the rich and practical experience which his long and useful life has gained him. As might natu- rally be expected after so long a residence in the connty, he has a host of friends and acquaint- ances, all of whom unite in awarding him the respect and esteem which his consistent course of life so justly entitles him to receive. In politieal matters he is a strong Republican. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Burnham the following named children have been born, viz .: Isabel, John and Joseph C. Isabel mar- ried James W. Sylvester, and is now residing in Healdsburg. John married Miss Emma Lums- den and has two children, Mabel and Ada, They are residing on the home farm. Joseph C. married Miss Mary M. Wilson and has two children, Christina and Albert. Hle and his family also reside on the home farm. As before stated Messrs. John and Joseph C. Burnham are
associated with their father in the farming, stock and wine industry, and mneh of the suc- cess that has been secured in conducting these industries must be attributed to their energetie habits coupled with intelligent business prin- ciples.
M ARTIN HUDSON, deceased, one of the pioneers of Sonoma County, was born in the State of Virginia, July 24.
1807. At a youthful age he became a resident of Tennessee, where he married Miss Elizabeth MeAlroy, May 24, 1832. Later he became a resident of Missouri, from which he started early in May, 1848, with his family, consisting of his wife and five children, with ox teams for an overland trip to California. Spending the winter following with his brother, William Hudson, a pioneer of a still earlier date, he set- tled in Los Gnilicos Valley in the spring of 1849. After the Los Guilicos Rancho became the property of William Hood, which it did in 1850, Mr. Hudson bought of him about 2,300 acres. There he ever afterward lived the quiet life of an agriculturist, devoting himself to im- proving his fine estate. After coming to Cali- fornia he became the father of two children, and of his family of seven children, five are still living, though only his son Henry and his daughter, Mrs. Atterbury, are residents of Sono- ma County. Mr. Hudson died December 14, 1871. His widow survived until 1888.
S OL. WALTERS, of Mendocino Township, is a native of North Carolina, born Feb- ruary 1, 1846, his parents being William and Jerusha (Miller) Walters. Both parents were natives of North Carolina, of whichi colony their ancestors were residents previous to Revolutionary times. Ir 1849 the family removed to southwestern Missouri, locating in MeDonald County. In 1852 the father erossed
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the plains to California, going into the mines of the Shasta region. In 1954 he returned to Missouri with the intention of bringing his fa:nily ont to the Golden State, which he did in 1856. The train in which they came was made up at Westport, and after a trip of five months' duration, coming across the plains, the family arrived in Napa County. A month later they came to Sonoma County, and Mr. Walters took up land on the Sotoyome grant. After a resi- dence there of nearly nine years, they removed to a place on Mill Creek. The mother of the subject of this sketch died in this county in 1879, and his father in 1884. Sol. Walters grew to manhood in Sonoma County. When a boy sixteen years of age he started ont as a vaquero, and engaged in trading in stock. When in his twentieth year he bought a ranch in the mountains, about three miles from Skaggs' Springs, and was there engaged in the raising of cattle and horses until 1871. IIe then went to Texas, and from there he drove cattle to Idaho, following much of the way the ronte by which the family had journeyed to California in 1856. He stocked a ranch in Owyhee County, Idaho Territory, and in con- nection with George T. Miller, had 7,000 cattle there. He sold out in 1879 and came to Sono- ma County again, locating where he now re- sides. Mr. Walters was married in the Palace Hotel, San Francisco, in June, 1550, to Miss Susan J. Harley, a native of Oregon, and reared in Idaho. They have two children-Willis R. and Adelma. Politically Mr. Walters is a Re- publican. He is a member of Sotoyome Lodge, F. & A. M., Healdsburg. The ranch owned by Mr. Walters consists of 380 acres, and occu- pies a picturesque location about six miles from Healdsburg, on the main highway between that place and Gnerneville. About thirty acres of the place are planted to grapes, the vines ranging in age from three to nine years. The varieties are Zinfandel, Gray Riesling, Carig- nane, Grenache, Malvoise and Grossblaue. About 100 acres of the place are devoted to general farming. He usually has abont forty acres in
alfalfa, of which a portion is cut three times annually and then pastured, the three crops averaging over six tons per acre. About forty acres of wheat turn out forty bushels to the acre annually. There are twenty acres usually in barley, which, being on high land, averages a little less per acre than the wheat. The place is well watered, there being five good springs on the hill land. Mr. Walters usually pastures abont 300 head of Shropshire and Merino sheep, selling off' the increase each year. He keeps about 100 head of fine Berkshire and Poland-China hogs, and also buys and sells cat- tle. For work horses he uses the Normans and Clydesdales, and for driving, the McClelland and Behinonts, etc. Mr. Walters' residence cocupies a beautiful location in a natural grove. It is a very handsome structure and was erected in 1SS4, at a cost, all told, of $6,000. The barn, which is situated across the road, was built in 1838. It is large and presents a fine and substantial appearance, and has all the modern conveniences for the breeding and care of stock. The buildings are a credit to the township, and reflect credit on Mr. Walters, who has done so much by his example to ad- vanee the standard in this direction.
AVID HUDSON, deceased .- The subject of this sketch was born July 7, 1843, son of Martin and Elizabeth (McAlroy) Hud- son. Almost the earliest recollections of his life were incidents impressed upon his youthful mind connected with the journey across the plains, deserts and mountains on the overland journey made from Missouri to this State in 1848. At the pioneer home established by his father in Los Gnilicos Valley, in the spring of 1849, his youthful and manhood days were spent in agricultural pursuits. After his father's death, in 1871, he succeeded to tlie ownership of the residence, and quite a portion of the original large estate. December 20, 1568, Mr. Hudson was united in marriage with
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Miss Elizabeth Bower, who was born in the State of Pennsylvania, but reared in this State from the age of ten years, or from 1862. To them four children were born, viz .: Alvin T., Bettie, Mettie, and Lena. From his sixth year the life of David Hudson was spent at the old home in the beautiful valley, his death occurring April 30, 1879. There his family still live, his widow having become the wife of Bn- chanan McClelland.
UCHANAN MCCLELLAND, whose resi- dence is upon the old Hudson ranch on the Santa Rosa and Sonoma road in Los Gnilicos Valley, five miles east of Santa Rosa, is a Sonoma County man by birth, dating his birth in Bennett Valley, a son of John and Mary C. MeClelland, January 3, 1856. Ilis boyhood and manhood have thus far been spent in agricultural life in the county of his birthi. Ilis parents, who were among the pioneers of the county, having settled in Bennett Valley in 1852, are still living and at this writing have their home in Los Angeles County, this State, having removed from this county in 1882. The subject of this sketch is now the only represent- ative of the family living in Sonoma Valley. November 25, 1881, Mr. McCllelland wedded Mrs. Elizabeth Hudson, widow of David Hnd- son, since which time he has resided at the old Hudson home established in 1849. The estate under the management of Mr. McClelland con- sists of 117 acres, twenty acres of which are in vineyard. Mr. McClelland is a native son of Sonoma County, has great pride in the land of his birth, and nothing in his power tending to build up its best interests, is ever withheld.
OBERT B. LYON .- Among the mechanics and business men of Sonoma is the sub- jeet of this sketch, whose shops are located on Broadway. Mr. Lyon has at that point a black- 43
smith and general repair shop. He is a thorough mechanic and an inventor of no little note. Among the many improvements and inventions made by him, two are specially worthy of men- tion. The Lyon's driveway gate, one of the most simple and durable of the class of self opening gates that can be conceived, requiring a force of but twelve or fourteen pounds to operate it, is his invention, as is also the Lyon's vine- yard and gang plow, the special feature of which is that each plow has a roller or lateral motion that enables all the blades to cut at a uniform depth. Mr. Lyon claims to have constructed the first riding plow ever used in Sonoma Val- ley. Ile has also made other improvements well known in the community in which he re- sides. The subject of this sketch was born in La Fayette County, Missouri, December 9, 1832. His parents, John and Sarah (Philpott) Lyon, were natives of Patrick County, Virginia, who emigrated to Missouri in 1832. ITis father was a farmer and stock grower and to this calling Mr. Lyon was reared until the death of his father in 1847, his mother having died the preceding year. He was thns thrown upon his own re- sources, and at sixteen years of age apprenticed himself to learn the blacksmith and wagon making trade. After serving his time he started in business for himself and opened a shop in Harrisonville, Missouri, which he conducte l until the spring of IS54, at which time he started overland for California, driving an ox team the whole distance. Upon his arrival in California he located in Sonoma County, and in partnership with his uncle, A. G. Lyon, established a blacksmith and wagon shop at Sonoma. In 1855 he went into partnership with Charles MeHarvey in the same business. This partnership continned until 1856 when he purchased Mr. MeHarvey's interest and soon after took V. Hope into the business as a partner. They condneted the business until May, 1857, when Mr. MeHarvey returned from the East and again entered the firm, which then became MeHarvey, Hope & Co., so remaining until 1860, when Mr. Lyon retired from the business.
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