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 107
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RANK STEELE was born in Amherst, Lorain County, Ohio, August 11, 1848. His father, lohn B. Steele, was a native of Delaware, and a farmer by occupation. When ten years of age the death of his father left him an orphan (his mother having died when he was but two years old), and shortly after he became an inmate of the family of his uncle, Smith Steele. He was reared to farm life, receiving a fair schooling until sixteen years of age, when he commenced work in a blacksmith shop. Not suited with this occupation, after a six months' trial. he returned to farming and was employed by Mrs. Mary Ernst to take charge of her farmn. He conducted that farm until 1568. In that year he eame by steamer route to California, arriving in San Francisco in November. Soon after his arrival in the Golden State, Mr. Steele went to San Mateo County, where he was em- ployed upon the dairy farm of I. C. Steele until 1870. The next two years he spent in San Luis Obispo County, and in 1872 returned to San Mateo County and rented the dairy farm of R. E. Steele. This large farm of 2,000 acres, with a dairy of 200 eows, was conducted by him for many years. Ilis energetic and intelligent management secured his success, and in 1878 he purchased 1,370 acres of land in San Mateo County, and commenced stocking it. lle en- gaged in the dairy business and stock-raising until 1884, when he took up his present resi- denee in Sonoma County. He is the owner of ninety-four acres of choice land in the Lewis school district, one and a half miles north of Santa Rosa. upon which he resides. With the exception of a family orchard and vineyard, his land is devoted to hay and grain. He has made
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many improvements upon this farm, among the most prominent of which is a beautiful and well ordered two-story residence, which is sur- rounded by fine lawns and shade trees, making one of the most pleasant homes in the district. Mr. Steele still owns his ranch in San Mateo Connty, which he is devoting to stock-growing. Mr. Steele is an enterprising and progressive eitizen, and a desirable acquisition to the eom- munity in which he has taken up his residence. Ile is an earnest supporter of the public schools, and is a school trustee of his district. Ile is a liberal and conservative Demoerat in politics. In 1874 Mr. Steele was united in marriage with Miss Catherine Ernst, the daughter of John and Mary (Younglove) Ernst. Her father was a native of Germany, and her mother was born in Massachusetts. Mrs. Steele was born in Ohio. To this marriage have been born four children, viz .: John E., Henry B., Jay and Benjamin L.
ETER SCHMIDT, of Russian River Town- ship, was born in Germany, near the Rhine, October 23, 1824, and is a son of Anton and Catherine (Issala) Schmidt, the father having been a land-owning farmer. Peter Schmidt was reared at the home place, and re- ceived the advantages of a common-school edu- eation. In 1850, going to Liverpool, he took passage there on a vessel bound for America, and landed at New York after a voyage of six weeks. He soon went as far west as Illinois, and located at Galena, where he went to work in the lead mines. In 1854 he came to Cali- fornia, making the journey across the plains, with a party made up in the vicinity of Galena. They crossed the Missonri River at Council Bluffs, and Mr. Schmidt arrived in Plumas County, California, August 8, his trip having lasted to that time from April 20. Ile was engaged in, mining until 1859. After that he spent some time in traveling over California, and finally located in Lake County, coming
from there to his present location in 1873. IIe has a place of five arres on Bailhache avenne, across the river from Healdsburg. He set out this place to hops in 1885, and though his land is not large in extent, he has made it remunera- tive by his careful attention and his knowledge of the hop business, his yard yielding an aver- age of 1,500 pounds per acre. Mr. Schmidt has traveled extensively over the Pacific coast, and has resided in Arizona, Utah and Nevada, in the latter State two years. IIe was married to Mrs. Margaret Sheridan, a widow, whose maiden name was Kane. By her first marriage she has two children Thomas and Abraham. Politieally Mr. Schmidt is a Lemocrat. IIe is a member of the I. O. O. F. and F. & A. M. lodges.
J. PARKERSON, roadmaster of Mendo- cino distriet in 1888, has a ranch of forty acres on the west side of Dry Creek, twelve miles from Healdsburg. He has eight aeres in vines, which average three years in age, the leading varieties being Zinfandel and Golden Chasselas. He also has an orchard of one acre, planted to a variety of fruit. Mr. Parkerson is a native of Winnebago County, Illinois, born nine miles from Rockford, July 27, 1856, his parents being J. C. and Mand (Killington) Parkerson, both of whom were born and reared in England. In 1862 the family went back to England, but a few months later started for New Zealand. There they lived three years and three months. and, at the expiration of that time, came to California, landing at San Fran- eisco June 10, 1866. For a year and a half they resided at Oakland, and then removed to Contra Costa County, where they lived on a ranch until 1870, in which year they removed to Sonoma County, finally settling on a ranch in Russian River Township. C. J. Parkerson was but ten years of age when the family came to California. Ile received his education mostly in Contra Costa County, and at Petaluma. In
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the latter place he was in the livery business four years, and was engaged in Vallejo Town- ship before coming to his present location. He was married in this county to Miss Annie East- lake, a native of Illinois, born in Bureau Connty, near Princeton. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Eastlake, now reside in Cloverdale Township. Mr. and Mrs. Parkerson have three children, Eva, Herbert and Pearl. Politically, Mr. Parkerson is a Democrat, and takes an active interest in public affairs. He is a mem- ber of Healdsburg Lodge, K. of P., and is an enterprising young man, who commands the respect and confidence of all who know him.
PETITDIDIER has a ranch of seventy acres on the west side of Dry Creek, six miles from Healdsburg. Ile has abont fourteen acres in vineyard, averaging about five years in age, the vines being Zinfandel and Mission. Two acres are in orchard, thirty-five years old, the fruit mostly apples. The rest of the place is devoted to general farming pur- poses. Mr. Petitdidier is a native of Depart- ment of Vosges, France, born July 22, 1834. his parents being Joseph and Marie Aun (Lambli) Petitdidier, the father a farmer. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native country, and in 1856, going to Havre, took passage on a vessel bound for America. Ile landed at New York July 4 from ship Mercury. and at once went to Illinois. He located at Ottawa, and engaged in the manufacture of plows for Drew & Meyerhoffer. Having learned the wheelwright trade in France, his mechan- ieal knowledge now stood him in good stead. After being employed at Ottawa three years he came to California, via New Orleans and Te- hauntepec, arriving in San Francisco December 1, 1858. He went to the mines in Nevada, and was engaged in mining there and in Siskiyou County for some time. From there he went back to France, but one year later he returned to San Francisco. He had a route of the San
Francisco Guide for nearly three years. Since that time he has been farming. Mr. Petitdi- dier was married while on his trip to France, to Justinia Cherrer. They have two children -- Julian and Victor. Mr. Petitdidier is a mem- ber of Franco-American Lodge, No. 207, I. O. O. F.
ENDERSON P. HOLMES, one of the representative farmers of Santa Rosa Valley, and a California pioneer, is a native of Tennessee, and dates his birth in Bed- ford County, November 21, 1821. His parents were Phinchas and Rachel (Stewart) Holmes, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Georgia. When he was about two years old his parents moved to Carroll County, Tennessee, and in 1936 emigrated to Arkansas, settling in Benton County. Mr. Holmes was reared to a farm life, receiving in his youth but a limited education. Early in 1849 he joined an emigrant party from Arkansas and the Cher- okee Nation, and started across the plains for the Golden State. This party was under the command of Captain Evans, who brought them to their destination after a journey of five months duration. Immediately after his arrival Mr. Holmes commenced mining in Yuba County, and continned this occupation until the fall of 1850, when he located near Marysville, and engaged in farming and stock- raising. He also engaged in the business of supplying the miners with beef. In the fall of 1851 he returned, via the Isthmus of Panama and New Orleans, to Arkansas. While there he purchased 300 head of fine milch cows, and in the spring of 1852 he started upon his second trip across the plains, bringing his stock with him. Upon his arrival he located in Sonoma County, on lands which he still ocenpies. Mr. Holmes was successful in his enterprise, and was among the first to introduce American cattle stock into Sonoma Connty. In 1853 he visited Texas, and returned with a large drove
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of cattle from that State. Ile continued his stoek-growing enterprise for a number of years, visiting Texas and Arkansas several times for the purpose of proenring American cattle. In 1859, while on a visit to Arkansas, he married Miss Mary E. Smith, a native of Tennessee, and daughter of Pressley R. and Mary (Woodruff) Smith. Her father was a prominent citizen of' Washington County, Arkansas. Returning to his home in Sonoma County Mr. Holmes con- tinned his stock enterprises, and also engaged extensively in general farming. In 1860 his brother, Calvin II. Holmes, who had been asso- eiated with him in business, removed to Knight's Valley. Mrs. Ilolines died July 13, 1866. In 1869, in Collin County, Texas, Mr. Holmes married Mrs. Rebecea Oldham, widow of Leigh Oldham, a native of Carroll County, Tennessee. Her parents were John and Susan (Ament) Huffman, natives of Kentucky. During his long residence here Mr. Holmes has taken a prominent part in developing the varied re- sources of Sonoma County, and is also associated with its civic and political history. Politieally, he is a Democrat, being a leader in his party, and having represented it many times in county and State conventions. In 1862 and '63 he was the county treasurer of Sonoma County, and in 1878-79 he was a member of the constitu- tional convention that gave to California its present constitution. He has always been a liberal supporter of schools and churches. Ile is a member of Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 52, F. & A. M., and also of Santa Rosa Chapter. The magnificent farm owned by Mr. Holmes contains 394 acres of hill and valley land, loca- ted about two and one-half miles north of Santa Rosa, on the Santa Rosa and Healdsburg road. lle has a vineyard of 200 acres, producing wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Burger, Riesling and Mission varieties. Ten acres are in orchard. yielding a large variety of the ehoieest fruits grown in the county. The rest of his land is devoted to grain, hay and stock. Mr. Holmes has for many years spent much time and expense in the improvement of the stock of 44
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Sonoma County. The first of the famous " Argyle " horses ever brought to this county was brought by Mr. Holmes, from Arkansas. Ile has some fine horses of the " Anteo" stock, and also some fine Jersey cattle. Ilis farm is thoroughly cultivated and improved. From the first marriage of Mr. Holmes there are now living two children: Rachael and Frank II. The former is a teacher in Miss Chase's sem- inary at Santa Rosa, and the latter is in the United States postal service, having been the agent who had charge of the first United States mails going by the all-rail route from Portland, Oregon, to San Franeiseo. From the second mar- riage there is one child, Ella Elizabeth. Mrs. Holmes is the mother of two children from her former marriage, viz .: William Oldham and Leigh Oldham.
UDGE AMOS M. BAKER, of Mendocino Township, is a native of Ontario, Canada, born twenty-two miles west of Toronto, Angust 3, 1836, his parents being George and Harriet ((raee) Baker. The former was a na- tive of Ireland and the latter of Maine. A. M. Baker was reared in Canada, and in Michigan fifteen miles west of Detroit. In 1860 he came out to California via New York and Panama, leaving home about the first of October and arriving in San Francisco one month later, his vessel having a raee with the Mose Taylor. Three or four months after arriving in San Francisco he went into the redwood region tributary to Redwood City, and made shingles for a man named Purdy Ferris. He then started for Boise mining camp in Idaho. Getting to the sink of the Humboldt, his horse died and he journeyed on afoot. Behind him, and going in the same direction, was a band of cattle, and from the drovers he tried to buy a horse. Fail- ing in this he hired to them and afterward en- tered into partnership with them. buying eattle in Santa Clara County and driving them to Boise, to the John Day country, etc. In 1866
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he came to Sonoma County and bought a place above where he now resides. He was also en- gaged for two years in stock-raising on a ranch he had bought in the hills. He was married in this county. November 8, 1873, to Miss Julia Rebecca Derrick, a native of this county and daughterof Joseph A. and Elizabeth (Thompson) Derrick. Her father was born in Tennessee, but reared in Missouri. Her mother was born in Portage County, Ohio, fourteen miles from Ravenna. Iler father who was a soldier in the Mexican war, came here in an early day, and died in this county August 4, 1880, and his widow died in May, 1887. The Judge and Mrs. Baker have seven children, viz .: Joel Franklin, llarriet, Lydia, Millie, Grace, Chris- tobel and Lewis. Politically, Judge Baker is a stanneh Republican, and takes an active interest in public affairs. Ile was elected justice of the peace in 1884, and was the Republican candidate in 1888. Hle is a member of Ileaksburg Lodge, A. O. IT. W. His fine ranch contains 160 acres and is situated on the west side of Dry Creek, seven miles from Healdsburg. About fourteen acres are in grapes, of which ten acres are Mission and the rest mostly Zinfandel with a few other varieties. The remainder of the place is devoted to general farming purposes, with the exception of four acres in peaches, and one in apples, pears and plums.
EVI LIKENS, of Washington Township, is a native of Fayette County, West Vir- ginia, born October 19, 1824, his parents being JJames and Susan (Skaggs) Likens. At the outbreak of the troubles with Mexico, Mr. Likens went to St. Louis, and there enlisted in the service of the United States. His command proceeded to Fort Leavenworth, but was there discharged, as it was decided that no further additions to the army were needed. Three weeks later Mr. Likens went to Platte County, Missouri, and there resided until the fall of 1849, when he took charge of a train to take
supplies to Santa Fe, for the commission laying ont the boundary line between the United States and Mexico. It was the intention of Mr. Likens to proceed to California, but he had to lay idle at Santa Fe for three months, waiting for a party from Missouri bound for the Pacific slope. Ont of the original train of 300 peo- ple, Mr. Likens came through with a party of thirty, and their route took them through Mex- ico and Arizona to California. They proceeded to San Diego, where they took steamer for San Francisco, arriving there January 5, 1850. Ile went to Sacramento on a little sloop, being three days on the trip, the rain descending all the time. From there he went to Weaver Creek with his party, they packing provisions, blankets, etc., on their baeks. On reaching the mines they went to work at once, and the first day Mr. Likens took ont $16 in gold. That was the smallest day's work he did, while the highest netted him 875. Before a year had passed, he was taken sick and was compelled to leave the camp. He went to San Jose and was one of the first to sow wheat there. He was the first mill- wright to work on the mill of James Liek, who offered him $9 a day for five years to run it after it was finished. Hle made his home in a cabin with Mr. Liek. He, however, declined to accept Mr. Lick's offer, as he had decided to go back to Missouri, which he did by the way of Panama and New Orleans. Everything was flourishing at his old home and he went into the stock business, so remaining until his health broke down. He lost 840,000 by fire and the ravages of war. He was very extensively en- gaged in business, some of his interests being a grist mill, saw-mill, cotton factory, besides hav- ing steamboats plying on the Missouri River. Ile decided to again come to California, and in 1873 he located at Georgetown and engaged in quartz mining. Afterward he went to Colnsa County, and from there to Mendocino County, where he was engaged in sheep raising. His next location was a ranch one mile south of Cloverdale, where he resided four years. After living in Oakland one year he bought the ranch
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now owned by Ilon. Robert Briggs, which he sold since moving to the place where he now resides. Mr. Likens was married in Missouri, to Miss Eliza N. IIunt, a native of Clay County, Missouri, reared in Platte County. They have had three children, of whom one is living- James L .- who resides at Hopland. Those who died were Zilfa Susan, aged three, and a boy two years of age. Mr. Likens is a Democrat politically, and takes an active interest is public affairs, though he has never been an offiec seeker. After he was burned out in Missouri his friends wanted him to run for sheriff, but he declined. Ile prefers a retired life and devotes his time to his ranch, which consists of 130 aeres, four miles from Healdsburg, on the road between that place and Cloverdale. Ile has about five acres in apples, pears, plums, prunes, peaches and cherries, the trees having been planted in 1882. All are bearing and yielding good erops. He also has about an acre in table grapes. Eighty aeres of the ranch are devoted to wheat, of which an average crop is twenty-five bushels per acre. Ile usually has twenty acres of alfalfa, which is ent three times a year and from which he gets an average of six tons per aere
DWARD L. HATHAWAY. - Among the attractive residence properties in the beautiful Green Valley, in Analy Town- ship, is that of Edward L. Hathaway. It is located in the Oak Grove school district, about two and a half miles northwest of Sebastopol. A fine two-story residence, substantial out- buildings and hop dry house, surrounded by well laid out grounds arrest the passer-by, all denoting the thrift and success that must attend the owner's operations in agricultural and horti- cultural pursuits. Mr. Hathaway's landed pos- sessions, while not extensive are very productive. Ile has forty-three acres of land, of which twenty- seven aeres surround his residence. Seven acres are devoted to fruit culture, producing splendid specimens of apples, peaches, pears,
plums, cherries, figs, and also small fruits, such as strawberries, currants and gooseberries. Of vineyard he has nine acres prodneing the Zin- fandel wine grape. Five acres in pasture fur- nish sufficient feed for his stock, which is only such as are needed for farm purposes. The rest of this land is producing hay and grain. Sixteen acres of his land is situated on the Green Valley Creek, about one and one-half miles west of his home farm and is all devoted to hop cultiva- tion.
G. LEE, one of the leading fruit growers of the Geyserville district, has a valna- ble ranch of thirty acres, on which he has resided since 1873. Hle did not engage in fruit culture, however, until ten years later. In 1883 he planted eighteen aeres of fruit, and the following year added seven acres more. Among them are 1,400 peach trees, mostly orange cling and Crawford, equally divided, with a few other varieties. There are also 200 Bartlett pears and 300 French prune trees, with some apples. lle has found a market for most of his fruit with the Santa Rosa Packing Company. The orchard is in splendid condition, and its appearance re- flects eredit upon the owner. Albert G. Lee is a native of Holt County, Missouri, born Jan- mary 7, 1852. Ilis father, Barton Lee, was a native of Tennessee, but an early settler in Ilolt County, Missouri. Ilis mother, whose maiden name was Mary Harris, was born in Virginia. In May, 1862, the family started for California, and after a journey across the plains of five monthis and sixteen days' duration, they arrived at llealdsburg. There they lived one year, then bought a place a mile and a half south of Santa Rosa, which now belongs to Mr. Runyon. In 1873 the family removed to Geyserville, and here the father died in 1881. His widow is now a resident of Santa Rosa. Albert G. Lee was married in this county to Miss Ellen Jacobs, a native of Maine, and daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James B. Jacobs, who came to California
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in 1>48. They resided in Sacramento County, afterward in Marin County, and from there moved to Sonoma County where Mrs. JJacobs now lives, her husband having died in the county in 1885. Mr. and Mrs. Lee have four children, viz .: Jennie, Addie, Fred and Lloyd. Politically, Mr. Lee is a Democrat. He has taken an active part in developing the fruit in- terest in his neighborhood, and now has an orchard second in appearance to none in the county.
ONRAD WAAGELE, of Mendocino Town- ship, is a native of Germany, born in Baden, November 15, 1841, his parents being John and Louisa (Oshwald) Wagele. There the father was a large rancher, having 240 aeres of land. Conrad Wagele was reared at his native place, attending day school from the age of six to fourteen years, and Sunday- school till twenty years old, and in the mean- time assisting his father on the farm. In 1863 he sailed from Ilavre to New York, and hay- ing arrived at the last named port, set out for Chicago. He was employed on a farm twenty- two miles from Chicago for about two months, then spent about three months in the city. From there he went to Oconto, Wiseonsin, where he worked in saw-mills and timber for a year and a half, and in the fall of 1864 eamc to California via New York and Panama, land- ing at San Franeiseo from the steamer Sacra- mento, on the 7th of September. After making an effort to obtain employment in the city and failing, he went to the country, getting work at Fort Ross. Two years later he went to the mines of British Columbia, during the time of the Big Bend excitement. Four months later he went to Washington Territory, where he worked in a saw-mill on Blue Mountains, ad- joining the Oregon line. He worked eight or ten months, making shingles, ete., for the Walla Walla market, thence went to the mines of Montana, and was about four years in Washing-
ton Gulch, ten or twelve miles from Beartown, engaged in mining, with fair suceess. He then went back to the old country, visited his father and relatives and then returned to California, via Ilamburg, Boston and the Pacific Railroad. Ile located at St. Ilelena, bought a place, set out a vineyard, erected a winery and commeneed the manufacture of wine. From there he moved to his present location in August, 1881. He was married in Napa County to Miss Doris Lohmann, a native of Germany. They have one child, Charley. Mr. Wagele's ranch, con- sisting of seventy-seven acres, is located on Dry Creek, and is distant from Geyserville three and one-fourth miles. He put up his present hand- some residence in 1881, and in the spring of 1882 set out twenty-one acres of grapes, to which he has sinee added until he now has twenty- eight acres. The vines are as follows, with num- bers of each stated: Chasselas, 6,500; Riesling, 6,000; Zinfandel, 4,000; Black Malvoise, 1,200; Mataro (Upright Burgundy), 2,500; Burgen, 1,600. The vineyard is kept in splendid con- dition, and nearly all vines are in bearing. Mr. Wagele has one acre in orehard, all old trees. Ile raises about one acre of alfalfa, and in four cuttings gets three tons. In 1887 four aeres of wheat hay turned out fifteen tons. In 1886 he built his winery which is two stories in height, with ground area of 46 x 22 feet, exclusive of porches, which are two in number and ten feet wide. ITis erushing is done on the second floor, and throughout the winery only improved ma- chinery is used. Ile has storage capacity for 20,000 gallons of wine, the product having a high reputation and commanding a ready sale.
IUSEPPE LAFRANCIII .- Among the successful dairymen of Sonoma County, is the self-made gentleman whose name heads this sketeh. Ile stands as an example of what energy, industry and straightforward manly dealing will do in any ealling. A brief sketeh of his life is of interest and is as follows: Mr.
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