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 24
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Lovett P. Rockwell and Thomas P. Knight, elaimants for portion of Malacomes or Moristal, No. 58, two sqnare leagues in Sonoma County (sitnated in Knight's Valley Township), granted October 14, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to José de los Santos Berryesa; claim filed Feb- ruary 20, 1852; confirmed by the commission August 29, 1854, and appeal dismissed Novem- ber 24, 1856, containing 8,328.85 acres. Vide page 9, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1. David Wright et al .. claimant for Roblar de la Miseria, four square leagnes in Sonoma County (situated in Petaluma Township), granted November 21, 1845. by Pio Pico to Juan Ne- pomasena Padillo; claim filed February 24. 1852; confirmed by the commission February 14, 1553; by the District Court September 10, 1855, and appeal dismissed December 8, 1856. containing 16,887.45 acres. Patented. Vide page 10, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Jasper O'Farrell, claimant for Canada de la Jonive, two square leagues in Sonoma County (sitnated in Analy and Bodega Townships), granted February 5, 1845, by Pio Pico to James Black; claim filed March 2, 1852; confirmed by the commission April 18. 1853; by the Dis- triet Court July 16, 1855, and appeal dismissed December 22, 1856, containing 10,756.51 acres. Patented. Vide page 12, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
M. G. Vallejo, claimant for lot 150 by 130 varas, in Sonoma City, granted July 5, 1835, by José Figueroa to M. G. Vallejo; claim filed March 30, 1852; confirmed by the commission January 17, 1854, by the District Court Feb.
rnary 18, 1856, and appeal dismissed February 23, 1857: containing 3.81 acres. Vide page 19, Appendix Hotfinan's Reports, Vol. 1. The patent for this property is on record.
Jaspar O'Farrell, elaimant for Estero Ameri- eano, two square leagues in Sonoma County (sit- uated in Bodega Township), granted September 4, 1839, by Manuel Jimeno to Edward Manuel McIntosh; claim filed March 30, 1852; confirmed by the commission April 11, 1853, and appeal dismissed February 2, 1857; containing 8,849 .- 13 acres. Patented. Vide page 19, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Charles Mayer et al., claimant for German, five square leagnes in Mendocino County (now Sonoma County, and situated in Salt Point Township), granted April 8, 1846, by Pio Pico to Ernest Rufus; claim filed April 27, 1852, confirmed by the commission December 22, 1852, by the District Court, September 10, 1855, and by the United States Supreme Court; containing 17,580.01 acres. Vide page 28, Ap- pendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Mayor and Common Council of Sonoma, claimant for Pueblo of Sonoma, four square Jeagnes, granted .Inne 24, 1835, by M. G. Val- lejo to Pueblo of Sonoma; claim filed May 21. 1852, and confirmed by the commission Jan- uary 25, 1856. Vide page 33, Appendix Hoff- man's Reports, Vol. 1.
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, elaimant for Petaluma, ten square leagnes, in Sonoma County (situated in Vallejo and Sonoma town- ships), granted October 22, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to M. G. Vallejo (grant), and five square leagnes, June 22, 1844, by Manual Micheltorena to M. G. Vallejo (sale by the gov- ernment); claim filed May 31, 1852. confirmed by the commission May 22, 1855, by the Dis- trict Court, March 16, 1857, and appeal dis- missed July 3. 1857; containing 66,622.17 aeres. Vide page 35, Appendix Hoffman's Re- ports, Vol. 1. Patented.
Guadalupe Vasquez de West et al., elaimant for San Miguel, six square leagues, in Sonoma County (situated in Santa Rosa Township),
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
granted November 2, 1840, by Jnan B. Alvara- do, and October 14, 1844, by Mannel Michel- torena to Marcus West, claim filed May 31, 1852, rejected by the commission April 24, 1855, confirmed by the District Court, June 2, 1857, and deeree confirmed by the United States Supreme Court for one leagne and a half. Vide page 35, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
J. Jesus et al., heirs of J. G. Pena, claim- ants for Tzabaco, four square leagues, in Sonoma County (situated in Medocino and Washington townships), granted October 14, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to José German Pena; claim filed Angust 5, 1852, confirmed by the commission June 26, 1855, by the Dis- trict Court, March 9, 1857; and appeal dis- missed April 2, 1857: containing 15,439.32 acres. Patented. Vide page 41, Appendix Hoffman's Report's, Vol. 1.
William Forbs, elaimant for La Laguna de los Gentiles or Caslamayome, eight square leagues in Sonoma County (situated in Clover- dale and Washington townships), granted Marel 20, 1844, by Manuel Micheltorena to Eugenio Montenegro; claim filed September 7, 1852, and rejected by the commission Septem- ber 26, 1854. Vide page 45, Appendix Iloff- man's Report, Vol. 1.
John Hendly et al., claimants for Llano de Santa Rosa, one square league in Sonoma County (situated in Santa Rosa Township), granted March 20, 1844, by Mannel Michel- torena to Joaquin Carrillo; claim filed Decem- ber 24, 1852, rejected by the commission .January 23, 1855, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution April 21, 1856. Vide page 68, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Jacob P. Leese, claimant for Lac, 1,000 varas square, in Sonoma County, granted July 25, 1844, by Manuel Micheltorena to Damaso Rod- riguez; claim filed February 21, 1853, confirmed by the commission December 12, 1854, and by the District Court December 28, 1857, and ap- peal dismissed December 28, 1857. Vide page 84, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1. Patented.
Julio Carrillo, claimant for part of Cabeza de Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County (situated in Santa Rosa Township), granted September 30. 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnacia Lopez; claim filed Feb. 28, 1853, confirmed by the commisson April 4, 1854; by the District Court, March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857; containing 4,500.42 acres. Vide 88, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1. Patented.
Jabob R. Mayer et al., claimants for part of Cabeza de Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County (sit- nated in Santa Rosa Township), granted Septem- ber 30, 1853; confirmed by the commission April 4, 1854, by District Court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857: containing 1,484.82 acres. Vide page 88, Appendix Hoff- man's Reports, Vol. 1.
James Eldredge, claimant for part of Caabez de Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County, situated in Santa Rosa Township); granted September 30, 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnacia Lopez; claim filed February 28, 1853; con- firmed by the commission April 4, 1854; by the District Court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857; containing 1,667.68 acres. Vide page 88, Appendix lloffinan's Reports, Vol. 1.
Felicidad Carrillo, claimant for part of ('abeza de Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County (situated in Santa Rosa Township); granted September 30. 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnacia Lopez; claim filed February 28, 1853; confirmed by the commission April 4, 1854, and by the District Court March 2, 1857. Vide page 88, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Juan de Jesus Mallagh, claimant for part of Cabeza de Santa Rosa, in Sonoma County (situ- ated in Santa Rosa Township); granted Sep- tember 30, 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnaeia Lopez; elaim filed February 28, 1853: confirmed by the commission April 4, 1854, and by the District Court Mareh 2. 1857, and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857; containing 256.16 acres. Vide page XX, Appendix Hoff man's Reports, Vol. 1.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
Martin E. Cook et al., claimants for part of Malacomes or Moristal, two miles square in Sonoma County (situated in Knight's Valley Township); granted October, 1843, by Manuel Micheltorena to lose los Santos Berryesa; claim filed February 25, 1853; confirmed by the com- mission Angust 7, 1855, and appeal dismissed April 16, 1857: containing 2,559,94 acres. l'atented. Vide page 90, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
John Henley, claimant for part of Cabeza de Santa Rosa, one mile square in Sonoma County (sitnated in Santa Rosa Township); granted September 30, 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnacia Lopez; claim filed February 28. 1853; confirmed by the commission December 19. 1854; by the District Court March 2, 1557. and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857; con- taining 640.19 acres. Vide page 90. Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Joseph Hooker, claimant for part of Agna Caliente, in Sonoma County (situated in Son- oma Township); granted July 13, 1840, by Juan B. Alvarado to Lazaro Pena; claim filed March 2, 1853; confirmed by the commission April 24, 1855: by the District Court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed March 27, 1857; containing 550.86 acres. Vide page 100. lloff- man's Reports, Vol. 1. Patented.
Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo, claimant for Agua Caliente, in Sonoma County (situated in Sonoma Township); granted July 13, 1840. by Juan B. Alvarado to Lazaro Pena; claim filed March 2. 1853; rejected by the commission December. 1855, and by the District Court July 13. 1859. Vide page 100, Appendix Iloffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Thaddeus M. Leavenworth, claimant for part of Agua Caliente, in Sonoma County (situated in Sonoma Towhship); granted July 13, 1840, by Juan B. Alvardo to Lazaro Pena; claim filed March 2, 1853; confirmed by the commission April 24, 1855, by the District Court March 2, 1557, and appeal dismissed April 3, 1857; con-
taining 320.33 acres. Vide page 102. Appen- dix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Oliver Boulio, claimant for part of Cabeza de Santa Rosa, 640 acres in Sonoma County (situ- ated in Santa Rosa Township): granted Sep- tember 30, 1841, by Manuel Jimeno to Maria Ygnacia Lopez; claim filed March 2, 1853; rejected by the commission January 30, 1555, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution April 21, 1856. Vide page 102, Appendix Hoffman's Reports. Vol 1.
C. P. Stone, claimant for part of Agua ('ali- ente, 300 acres in Sonoma County (sitnated in Sonoma Township); granted July 30, 1540, by Juan B. Alvarado to Lazaro Pena; claim filed March 2, 1853; confirmed by the commission April 24, 1855, by the District Court March 2, 1857, and appeal dismissed March 31, 1857. Vide page 104. Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
Cyrus Alexander, claimant. part of Sotoyome, two square leagues (situated in Mendocino Township); granted September 28, 1841, by Juan B. Alvarado to Henry D. Fitch; claim filed March 3, 1853; rejected by the commis- sion February 8, 1855, and appeal dismissed for failure of proseentiou April 21, 1856. Vide page 106, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
James A. Watmongh. claimant for part of Petaluma grant. one square mile in Sonoma County, granted October 22, 1843, hy Mannel Micheltorena to M. G. Vallejo; claim filed March 3, 1853: rejected by the commis- sion January 30, 1855, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution April 21, 1856. Vide page 107, Appendix Hoffman's Reports, Vol. 1.
José Santos Berryesa, claimant for 200 by 300 varas, in Sonoma County; granted May 30, 1846, by Joaquin Carrillo to J. S. Berryesa ; claim filed March 3, 1853; rejected by the com- mission October 17, 1854, and appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution April 21, 1856. Vide page 108, Appendix Hoffman's Reports. Vol. 1.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
RAILWAYS, HIGHWAYS, WATER COURSES AND BAYS.
CHAPTER XVI.
THE SAN FRANCISCO AND NORTHERN PACIFIC RAILROAD . - NORTH PACIFIC COAST RAILROAD SANTA ROSA AND CARQUINEZ RAILROAD -- PUBLIC HIGHWAYS-THE LAST STAGE DRIVER-RIVERS AND WATER COURSES-BAYS AND COVES-COLONEL PETER DONAHUE.
HE San Francisco and North Pacitie Rail- road has been the means of developing the Connty of Sonoma. It has extended its sonthern terminus to Point Tiburon. The original termiuns was at Donahne, eight miles below Petaluma, and abont thirty-fonr miles from San Francisco, at which point the steamer connected for San Francisco. The passengers from Sonoma also connected with this steamer by stage, coming for about eight miles over the divide between the waters of Sonoma and Petaluma Creeks.
Donahne was named after the founder of the road, Colonel Peter Donahne. Here was situ- ated all the workshops connected with the road, with hotel and cottages for workmen.
Traffie and travel ontgrew his terminus, and the road was extended on the west side of Petulama Creek to San Rafael, where it con- nected by transfer to the cars of the San Fran- eiseo and North Pacific Coast Railroad. The terminns was not found adegnate for the rapidly increasing traffic of the road, and in 1883 Colo- nel Donahue pushed his broad gange over the track of the S. F. & N. P. C. R. R., and fixed its terminus at Tiburon. And to Tiburon has been removed the buildings from Donahue,
Leaving San Francisco on the magnificent double ender stramer Tiburon, passengers in
twenty minutes' time are transferred to the ears at Tiburon. A run of nine and a half miles through several considerable tunnels, brings the train to the beantiful eity of San Rafael, overlooking the broad expanse of the bay. Steaming on through the suburbs of the town, up a grade, the train suddenly disappears in a tunnel bored throngh one of the ranges which encircle this pretty village. Emerging on the north side of the range, the scene has completely changed. Glimpses of the bay may be had as the train speeds along, now on the edge of the marsh, now over an intervening point, until the line between Sonoma and Marin counties is passed. The road next trends along the shore of Petaluma Creek. Opposite and in bold relief, stands ont the old terminns of Donahue.
Crossing Petaluma Creek, after a ron of twenty-one miles from San Rafael, the train bowls into the commercial city of Petaluma, at the head of navigation. Petaluma is beantifully and eligibly located. It is surrounded by country homes and orchards in the highest state of cultivation, and is distinguished for its pro- gressive and intelligent population. It is well drained, neatly built, and is one of the most prospe ons interior towns in California.
From Petaluma the train proceeds northerly.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
passing Ely's, Penn's Grove, Cotate and Oak Grove stations for fifteen miles over an ex- tremely fertile country which brings us to the renter of the Connty of Sonoma, and to its capital town, Santa Rosa.
Santa Rosa is situated on the banks of Santa Rosa Creek, and is almost hidden in groves of trees and luxuriant shrubs and flowers. It has a rapidly increasing population, and is elaimed by all who have seen it as one of the prettiest towns in the State of California. It stands upon an alluvial plain, sloping gradnally from the hills, and is surrounded by farms, orchards and vineyards. Santa Rosa is the passenger station for Mark West Springs.
Leaving Santa Rosa, the next station, four miles distant, is Fulton, and here a branch road runs to Guerneville in the redwoods district, distant sixteen miles from Fulton. Trains to and from Gnerneville connect with the main line going north and south every day.
From Fulton, going north, the train passes through the village of Mark West to Windsor, distant four miles from Fulton. then by Grant's Station to Healdsburg, distant six miles from Windsor.
Healdsburg is situated in the center of the wide-famed Russian River Valley, and is snr- rounded by a farming country of unsurpassed fertility.
Beyond Healdsburg the road follows directly up the Russian River Valley to Geyserville, eight miles north of Healdsburg. Geyserville is a pretty village, in the midst of a fruit-grow- ing country. It is also the station where pas- sengers take stages for Skaggs' Warm Springs, one of the popular summer resorts in the State. From Geyserville to Cloverdale, the north ter- minus of the road, the distance is ten miles.
Cloverdale is situated on Russian River, just south of the boundary line between Mendo- cino and Sonoma. Here stages conneet with the train for Ukiah City, Ronnd Valley, Pot- ter Valley and Humboldt County; also for the Great Geyser Springs, about sixteen miles from Cloverdale; also the Highland Springs, Lake-
port, Kelseyville, Soda Bay, Bartlett Springs and the Blue Lakes. There is also a large freight traffic at Cloverdale, hence it is one of the busiest towns in the county.
The entire length of the road by way of Donahne, with water connection, is ninety miles. By way of San Rafael it is eighty-four miles, as follows:
Miles.
From San Francisco to Tiburon
From Tiburon to San Rafael . 9
From San Rafael to Petaluma 21
From Petaluma to Santa Rosa .15
From Santa Rosa to Fulton 4
From Fulton to Windsor 5
From Windsor to Healdsburg 6
From Healdsburg to Geyserville 8
From Geyserville to Cloverdale 10
But Cloverdale will soon lose its position as a terminal eity, for the track is already graded and the mountains piereed with tunnels for an ex- tension of the road to Ukiah, the county town of Mendocino County. This extension will be in running order early in 1889, and will open up to more complete development a county that has hitherto been withont any facilities for convenient or rapid communication with the outer world.
Following is a description of the ferry-boat connecting the S. F. & N. P. R. R. with San Francisco. The Tiburon's dimensions are: Length between perpendiculars, 224 feet; beam, 34 feet; length of cabin, 155 feet. She is of the pattern known as the " double ender," and is nearly a duplicate of the Bay City, with slightly increased speed. She is equipped with powerful machinery by the Union Iron Works, the cylinder of the engine being fifty inches in diameter, with eleven feet stroke. Two low- pressure boilers of the most approved pattern afford the driving power; speed twenty miles an honr. There is an upper-deck cabin, like that of the Oukland. The keel of the Tiburon was laid on the 29th of May. 1833, and the hull was
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
launched eight months, lacking one day, after- ward. The Tiburon is the only double-ender that has ever been employed on this bay, outside the Oakland and Alameda ferries.
NORTH PACIFIC COAST RAILROAD.
Of this road the San Francisco Journal of Commerce says:
"The scenic route of the State is on the North Pacific Coast Railroad. Every variety and change is encountered on this line. Leav- ing the foot of Market street, San Francisco, by one of the fast ferry steamers of the com- pany, a rapid trip is made across the bay to Sancelito, where the train is awaiting passengers and freight for the north. 'All aboard!' and the train moves out of Saucelito and rolls along the shores of Richardson's Bay. Rounding the noted Mount Tamalpais into the beautiful Ross Valley, it arrives at San Anselmo station, where transfer is made to San Rafael and San Quentin and thenee to Fairfax, one of the finest and most noted picnie resorts of the State. From this point on the scenery becomes wilder, grander and more varied. Climbing the steep canon sides, through tunnels, across trestle bridges hundreds of feet above the creek below, thence winding its way down, the train skirts along the hill-sides near Point Reyes to the shores of Tomales Bay. These are followed for a distance of fifteen miles, when a rich agricul- tural district is entered and the thriving com- munities of Tomales, Valley Ford, Bodega Roads, Freestone and Howards are passed in quick succession and the ascent of the moun- tains of north-western Sonoma is begun. Again the grand scenery of deep canons and, redwood forests is continued until the thriving town of Duncan's Mills is reached and then to Ingrams. the present terminus. Camp Taylor is on the line of this route, and is one of the finest fish- ing, camping and pienieing localities of the State.
"The road cost over three millions of dollars, and is a magnificient piece of engineering skill. For its length we believe it possesses more
varied scenery than any road in the United States. In a distance of 80 miles, hills, monn- tains, dales, valleys, deep cañons, rivers, forests. follow each other in bewildering succession, and are presented to the view of the traveler as he passes through the most picturesque part of this State. It is a splendid field for the sports- man. The mountains and hills, valleys and cañons abonnd with game, and the ereeks and rivers are favorite resorts for the fisherman, who finds his time well occupied. During the sum- mer months the various places on the line of the road are resorted to by thousands of campers from the metropolis of the coast."
THIE SONOMA VALLEY RAILROAD.
This road is a branch of the Northern Pacific. It now connects with the main Donahne line at Pacheco Station. It runs northward to the old town of Sonoma, and from thence to Glen Ellen, which is located in the north end of Sonoma Valley in a vale surrounded by sloping hills, which presents as desirable a location for a pros- perous community as could be selected. It is located in the heart of the wine section of the county, and for miles on both sides of the valley are to be seen hills clad with vines. In summer it is a great resort for camping parties bent on pleasure and to try their skill with the rod and gun. As many as 1,500 have camped in this vicinity at one time during the camping season.
SANTA ROSA AND CARQUINEZ RAILROAD.
This road was completed in 1887. It is a branch of the Central Pacific road. It leaves that line at Napa Junction; passes up the whole length of the Sonoma Valley to Glen Ellen ; passes on through the Guilicos Valley and terminates at Santa Rosa. This road is of incalculable value to Sonoma County, as it affords a direct and continuous connection with the castern lines, and thus opens a way to ready market for the excellent fruit of this section of the State. There is now only needed a couple of branch roads, one to Sebastopol and Green Valley, and the other to Big Valley to render the whole
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
county well provided with conveniences for travel and the conveyance of freight to market.
MI BLIC HIGHWAYS.
Before the advent of railroads the public high- ways of the county were the mediums of travel and traffic. The central and most consequential road was that leading from Petaluma, taking in its way Santa Rosa, Windsor, Healdsburg, Gey- serville and Cloverdale. Those were the days of staging. Large coaches drawn by six horses made the trip daily. The stage driver was then a consequential man, courted and conciliated by those who had much traveling to do. A seat with the driver was a seat of honor, to secure which it was generally necessary to make a special engagement. But the occupation of driver was not entirely a sineeure position. Rain or shine he had to mount his seat, and in ex- cessively wet winters he generally reached the end of his route in a terribly mud-bedraggled condition. Then he was occasionally stopped by foot-pads, receiving a peremptory order to throw ont the express box. Occasionally a driver would escape by giving lash to his teain, but as one sneh got a bullet through his cheek and had a passenger killed on the seat along side of him, drivers concluded that such foolishness did not pay, and ever after they accorded to foot-pads that deference that their vocation seemed to entitle them to. The rail- road came, however, and ran close to and paral- lel with this great artery of travel. This put an end to staging on that road. and it is now mainly used for local purposes by the in- habitants along its line.
The next public highway of importance is the one leading from Petaluma up the coast. It takes in its route Two Rock, Bloomfield, Valley Ford, Bodega Corners. Bodega Bay, Markhamns Mills, Fort Ross and Gnalala. That portion of this road from Bodega to Petaluma has been the medium of transportation of a vast amount of produce to market in the years gone by, but the Narrow Guage Coast Line Railroad now carries inch of the Bodega produce direct to San Francisco.
From near the month of Russian River north- ward this road is graded along the elit's over- hanging the ocean. For a distance of several miles the traveler looks down into the surt breaking upon the rocks below, and occasionally the eye is relieved by seeing in the distance a jet of water thrown up by some sportive whale. When this spur of the Ross Mountain is passed the road is of comparatively easy grade to the Gnalala River, the boundary line between Sonoma and Mendocino counties.
One among the oldest roads in the county, but not extensively traveled, is the one leading from Petaluma to Sonoma, thence to Glen Ellen and so on through Gnilicos Valley to Santa Rosa. This road is through a country of his- toric interest and at every turn the traveler encounters new and enchanting scenery. All along the line of this thoroughfare are delight- ful retreats, and it is becoming a favorite line of resort to pleasure seekers.
The road from Petaluma to Sebastopol and thence to Green Valley, although an old one in point of use, did not for many years receive that care and consideration that its importance and utility entitled it to. Lately it has been much improved, and in time it will come into more general use as the shortest route to the redwood forests.
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