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 25
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The roads mentioned all have a general course north and south, or lengthwise of the county. Of course there are many lateral branches to these roads leading to valleys and settlements on either hand. From Cloverdale a good road ex- tends easterly to the far-tamed Geysers; and westerly to Dry Creek Valley, and thence into the coast mountains. From Geyserville a road leads to the Skaggs Springs, a celebrated place of resort. From Healdsburg roads running both east and west tap a wide range of country. Santa Rosa is the focus of a regular system of lateral roads. The most important of these is the road by way of Forestville to Guerneville, and from thence by way of Ingrams to Fort Ross. That portion of this road between Guerneville and Ross is through a country
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of mountains and forests which will ever be a paradise to sportsmen. With two lines of rail- road, one ending at Guerneville and the other at Ingrams, these wilds of Sonoma County are rendered easy of access to those who seek a res- pite from the cares and toil of business life.
Above mention is made that as the railroads advanced the stage coaches retired. With the exception of on a short line on the coast in the extreme upper end of the county, and that be- tween Cloverdale and the Geyser Springs, the stages have entirely disappeared-they are a thing of the past. For many years after our railroads were completed, a man named Wash- ington Gilham, who had long been a driver on our stage route, continued to run a two-horse thorough brace, taking a cross-route which gave accommodation to people between Stony Point and Tomales. At best, he made but a precari- ons living, but it was his vocation, and he fol- lowed it to the end. On the occasion of his death, in 1882, his friend, Tom Gregory, of Bloomfield, penned the following graceful lines;
" WASH. GILHAM SLEEPS.
" The old stage-driver came quietly into town just as he had done off and on for some fourteen years. But this time he came slower than usnał. Ile had a new team, but the horses tramped solemnly along as if they knew that pace suited the occasion -- or knew that some- thing was amiss with the solemn man behind them. The old driver had a strange look on his face that we had never seen before-the look of one who is moving deeply in a mystic spell. He always was rather quiet, but now his silence was almost appalling. When the team stopped, his old friends anxiously gathered around him, but he did not seem to know them, for he spoke not a word. One grasped his hand, but no pressure was returned. The fu- neral that day was conducted by the Masons, and as he was a member of that mystic brotherhood, he took his place in the procession and with them moved toward the cemetery. Soon they were all at the graveside. Pausing a moment on the brink, the old stage-driver went slowly
and steadily down his last grade; the silver nail heads on the coffin sparkled star-like in the gloom of the still, dark depths. Dust unto dust, ashes unto ashes. The bright little spray of evergreen and the dull valley clods mingled together as her dear mother earth folds around and hides away each home-returning child. They spread young wings for lofty flights through life's warm golden dawn, but at chill eve come wearily back to slumber on her broad and loving breast. The crowd went quietly from out the enclosure and left him there alone. Now only a low narrow mound, which in a few days will be grass-grown, marks the spot where Wash. Gilham sleeps."
RIVERS AND WATER COURSES.
The rivers and water-courses of Sonoma County are peculiar in character. The l'et aluma aud Sonoma creeks are estuaries of San Pablo Bay. The ebb and flow of tide in these streams are about six feet in depth. This, with the natural depth of water at extreme low tide, enables vessels of from sixty to one hun- dred tons burthen to navigate them up to the cities of Petaluma and Sonoma, respectively. These tide streams are of incalculable value as arteries of commerce. They afford cheap trans- portation of freight to San Francisco, and afford an effectual bar to freight extortions by other mediums of transportation. Both of these es- tuaries have, beyond the reach of salt water tides, fresh water fountains that abound iu fish of various kinds.
The San Antonio Creek that forms the boundary between Sonoma and Marin counties on the south takes its rise in what was called the Laguna de San Antonio (but now drained) and has an entire length of not more than twelve miles. It does not afford much water in mid-summer, although in rainy seasons it becomes a torrent. The Santa Rosa and Mark West creeks are fed by innumerable tributaries taking their rise in the Macuway range of mountains, and which abound in tront. Dur- ing the summer months both these streams are
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lost in the Santa Rosa plains, but during the winter or rainy months they debonch into the lagoonas north of Sebastopol, and from thence their waters reach the Russian River.
Sulphur Creek takes its rise in the Geyser group of mountains and empties into the Rus- sian River north of Cloverdale.
Dry Creek takes its rise in Mendocino C'oun- ty and enters Sonoma County just below Dry Creek canon, and flows into the Russian River near Healdsburg. During the summer it is barely a trout stream, but in the winter it often becomes a roaring torrent.
The Russian River is a stream of peculiarly va- riable moods. It heads high up in Mendocino County and is the artery of drainage to an im- mense section of country. In the summer months, in consequence of the gravelly and porous nature of the country it traverses it sinks away and is easily fordable at all points. But in the winter months, especially if the rain fall has been copious, it becomes an angry, incontrollable river. It enters Sonoma County just north of Cloverdale, and for many miles has a southerly course with but little fall, until it reaches a point nearly opposite Healdsburg, where it sud- denly deflects to the west, plunges down through the redwood forests, and reaches the ocean a few miles north of Bodega Bay. There are not a few who believe that Russian River once flowed unimpeded to San Pablo Bay, but this is but the surmise of scientists.
Austin Creek, heading in the north on the dividing line that forms the head waters of the southern branch of the Gualala River, How's south and falls into the Russian River at Dun- can's mills. It is a mikl, placid stream from Ingrams down in the summer months, but in winter has its own way, and puts on the airs of a very consequential stream.
The southern limb of the Gualala River takes its rise in the mountains immediately east of Fort Ross. It runs in an exactly oppo- site direction from the Austin Creek, and after traversing a country for many miles of the most wild and grand scenie grandeur it falls into
the main Gualala River about three miles above where the latter river flows into the Pacific Ocean. The country traversed by the South Gualala, and its fountain streams, will ages hence be the resort of those who seek com- inunion with the untarnished grandeur of Na- ture. Locked in those fastnesses, beyond the sordid grasp of pelf and gain, is a wealth of respite from the toil and moil of life that will be appreciated by the generations of the future.
The Estero Americano is a tide stream up to Valley Ford, and from thence upward is but the water conduit of the streams leading from Big Valley westward. These streams are in- consequential except in the winter season.
The latest water-way to be noted is that drain- ing the water-shed of country compassed in Two Rock Valley. The water of these various streams find their way into an estuary of the ocean in Marin County, about midway between Tomales Bay and the Estero Americano.
There is a peculiarity of the topography of the country right here worth mentioning. The ranch at present owned by Allen Roseburg, about eight miles north from Petaluma, is the saddle of a tridant. The water-shed of the northerly portion of the ranch sends its water down through Two Rock Valley and thence to the ocean through the channel last above de- scribed. The waters from the southerly slope of this ranch flow into the Petalumna Creek; and the water from the western side of the place flows westerly and through the medium of Salmon Creek falls into Tomales Bay.
BAYS AND COVES,
Along the ocean line of Sonoma County are several bays and coves affording good anchor- age for vessels. Bodega Bay is a land-locked harbor affording good anchorage for vessels. It is about two miles long and one mile wide. Its entrance is somewhat narrow and difficult of access in stormy weather, but vessels once inside are safe and secure. About ten miles north- ward. at Russian Gulch, there is a cove where vessels land and take on lumber by means of a
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chute. At Fort Ross there is a very good landing, and vessels come and go with great regularity, carrying to San Francisco railroad ties, cordwood and tanbark. At Timber Cove is also a landing for vessels. Salt Point has a very good landing for vessels, so also has Fisk's and Stuart's Points. At all these places are chutes for sliding lumber and freights of various kinds down into the vessels moored below. The traveler along the coast is constantly astonished to behold the masts of vessels elose in shore where he would least expect to see them. These bays and coves on the northwest coast of Sono- ina County are the mediums of a lumber trade both vast and profitable.
COLONEL PETER DONANTE.
As Sonoma County was largely indebted to the late Col. Peter Donahue for her railroad facilities we account it but just to afford his name some space in Sonoma County history. Of his death, the Petaluma Argus of November 28, 1885, said:
"Col. Peter Donahue died at his residence in San Francisco at 10 o'clock Thursday evening. He had been ill several days, but a fatal ter- mination was not anticipated until within a few hours of his death. He seemed to have had a complication of ailments, but diabetes is given as the immediate cause of death. Thus has come to an end a remarkably active and useful life. Peter Donahue was eminently the archi- tect of his own fortune. The foundation of his fortune was laid with his own brawny arms while toiling at the forge. With far-seeing sagacity he made investments and inaugurated enterprises that not only brought himself rich returns, but gave lucrative employment and prosperity to thousand of others. With all his vast accumulations of wealth, Peter Donahue never forgot or looked down superciliously upon those occupying the walks of life he himself once trod. We have neither time nor space for inore extended mention of the deceased at this time, and conclude by saying that in the death of Peter Donahue, San Francisco and California
has lost a most enterprising and valuable eiti- zen."
Continuing the Argus said: "We last week announced the death of Colonel Peter Donahue. To the San Francisco Bulletin we are indebted for the following biographical sketch:
" The deceased was born of Irish parents in Glasgow, Scotland, on the 11th of January, 1822. In 1835 he emigrated with his mother to America, settling at Matteawan, which is now a portion of Fishkill' Township, Dutchess County, New York. Ile worked some two years in a cotton factory and then entered a locomotive manufactory in Patterson, New Jersey. In 1847 he was appointed engineer of the Peruvian war steamer Rimal. Mr. Donahue arrived in San Francisco on the steamer Oregon, June 18, 1849, and proceeded to the mines. Subsequently he returned to this city, where he met his brothers James and Michael. He and James established a blacksmith shop on Mont- gomery street, and about a year afterward they removed to First street. In 1852 the firm obtained the franchise for lighting the city with gas, and within two years gas works were estab- lished.
· Peter Donahue also established a line of steamers on the Sacramento River. In 1861 he obtained a street railroad franchise and estab- lished what is known as the Omnibus line. The same year he obtained a contract for raising and rebuilding the sunken monitor Comanche for the defense of this harbor. The first casting melted and molded in this State was done at the Union Foundry, by Messrs. Donahue, for the old pio- neer steamer Mch'im, the blasts for the furnace being prepared by three blacksmiths' bellows, which are now the property of the Mechanics' Institute. The first quartz mill constructed in this State was made at the Donahue foundry. A building is now in the course of construction where the old Donahue shop and wharf existed on First street in 1850. In 1862 Mr. Donahue and a few associates built the railroad from this city to San Jose, and subsequently continued it to Gilroy, a distance of about eighty miles. This
11
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
road was subsequently sold to Stanford & Co. A broad gauge road was also built by Mr. Donahue from the town of Donahue, on Peta- luma Creek to Cloverdale, a distance of fifty miles. All of the rolling stock for this road was constructed at the Donahue foundry. A branch road was built from Fulton to Russian River, a distance of eighteen miles, and from Petaluma to San Rafael twenty-two miles in length. This latter branch has been extended from San Rafael to Point Tiburon ou Raccoon Straits, which is connected with this city by a ferry line. In 1879 Donahne and his associates purchased the unfinished narrow gauge from Sonoma to Sonoma Creek, which they completed. For a quarter of a century Mr. Donahne was director of the libernia Bank, and for over
twenty years a director of the National Gold Bank. He was a life member of the Pioneer Society.
"The deceased married Miss Jane McGuire in New York in 1852, by whom he had four chil- dren, two of whom are living. A few years ago the daughter married Baron von Schroeder, and until recently has resided in the southern part of the State. The son, Mervyn, a few years ago married the daughter of ex-Supreme Judge Wallace, and resides at San Rafael. On the death of the first wife, Mr. Donahue married Miss Anna Downey, sister of ex-Governor Downey.
" The deceased was a courteous and companion- able gentleman who well represented the dignity of labor as an intelligent and industrious mechanic."
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
EVENTS IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER.
CHAPTER XVII.
A RECORD OF YEARS -- INCIDENTS ACCIDENTS- OCCURRENCES- - DISCOVERIES-DEVELOPMENTS, ETC.
N another chapter has been given an epitome of all the occurrences of a year, as recorded in the only journal then published in the county. We now take up the thread of current events where these dropped, and follow it to the end.
September 19, 1856 -The first Republican mass convention assembled in the dining-room of the old Petaluma Ilouse.
September 26, 1556-The settlers held a mass convention at Santa Rosa.
October 3, 1856 The subject of opening a road north to Weaverville was being agitated.
December 9, 1856-Dr. B. B. Bonham. county superintendent of public instruction, re- ported the condition of the schools in the county.
January 23, 1857-W. A. Buster, county treasurer, proved a defaulter for several thou- sand dollars-was tried; sentenced to the peni- tentiary for five years, and pardoned by the Governor at the end of three years.
April 10, 1857 -- The Round Valley Indian reservation, Mendocino County, established an agent. John Ilendley reported several thou- sand Indians there, and doing well.
June 5, 1857-J. A. Rudesill commenced running a stage from Petaluma to the Geyser Springs.
June 12, 1857 -- At Bodega, an Indian killed one of his tribe-confessed the erime, and was hung by order of "Judge Lynch."
September 4, 1857-A large camp-meeting was held at Liberty school-house.
September 16, 1857-Three Indians were hung near Fort Ross by a vigilance committee. A peace officer was present and forbade the hanging, but it was of no avail.
October 23, 1857-There was quite an ex- citement over the supposed discovery of coal in Two Rock Valley.
November 27, 1857-An elk weighing 800 pounds was killed near Healdsburg. This was the last elk that there is any record of, and probably the last one ever in the county.
February 12, 1858-There was some excite- ment over the supposed discovery of cinnabar, near Petaluma.
April 23, 1858-The beginning of trouble about squatters on the Sotoyome grant, near Ilealdsburg.
October 4, 1858 -- The celebrated comet that had for weeks been blazing in the heavens, be- gan to wane.
April 8, 1859 -- 1. B. Bowers was working on a map of Sonoma County. When completed it was a most excellent farm map, very accurate in every detail.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
September 9, 1859 The annual fair was held at Healdsburg, and the interest manifested in Sonoma County industries was highly satisfac- tory.
February 10, 1860 -- Discovery of quicksilver near Mount St. Helena and the Geysers.
June 15, 1860-A monster grizzly bear was killed on Salmon Creek. Marin County, by J. S. Brackett, the Estee brothers, and others. It was brought to Petaluma and exhibited. It weighed 1,000 pounds, and had been very de- structive to stock.
July 6, 1860-The boundary line between Sonoma and Marin counties was finally placed as located by Surveyor William Mock in 1856; that is, following a straight line from the head of the Laguna de San Antonio, to the head of the Estero Americano at Valley Ford.
August 10, 1860-A quarry of asbestos was found near Windsor.
April 12, 1861-The Legislature passed a bill submitting the question of county seat removal to a vote of the people.
May 24. 1861-Joe Hooker, of Sonoma, left for the theater of the civil war. Ile became the celebrated " Fighting General Joe Hooker " of that unfortunate conflict.
November 26, 1861-Lady Franklin, relict of the ill-fated Sir John Franklin of Arctic Ocean fame, visited Sonoma County, accompanied by her niece, Mies Craycroft.
January 21, 1862-From l'etaluma and other portions of the county liberal aid was sent to the sufferers by flood at Sacramento.
February 11, 1562 -- Charles Minturn, of the Steamer line, straightens a couple of bends in the creek, below Petaluma.
June 25, 1862 -- There was considerable pros- pecting for coal in the easterly side of Santa Rosa Valley, opposite the old llalf-way House.
November 9, 1862-Judge Mckinstry re- signed the position of judge of the seventh judicial district, and Hon. J. B. Southard was appointed to the position.
December 3, 1862-Snit was commenced for the partition of the Rancho Laguna de San
Antonio, comprising over 24,000 acres. This ranch was familiarly known as the " Bojorques Rancho," and the history of this litigation is scattered through over twenty volumes of the California Supreme Court Reports.
August 5, 1863 -- There was great excitement about the discovery of copper in the mountains about eighteen miles westerly from Healds- burg. Copper, in small quantities, in a pure state, was found, and much prospecting was done, but with no paying results.
November 2, 1865-A railroad company was organized in Petaluma for the purpose of build- ing a railroad from Petaluma to Cloverdale. There were various moves and counter-inoves about railroads. The question of location, and the granting of a subsidy of 85,000 a mile came to a vote on the 10th of September, 1868. The subsidy was voted, and the route from Petaluma to Cloverdale selected. Work was prosecuted for a time in 1869. then was stopped. Colonel Peter Donahue bought the road and franchise on August 10, 1870, and on October 29, 1870, the first cars ran between Petaluma and Santa Rosa. In 1872 the road was completed to Cloverdale.
November 9, 1865-There was a heavy rain- storm northward along the coast. At the Gua- lala River the saw-log boom of the Rutherford Milling Company broke, and about 4,000,000 feet of lumber went out to sea. Three schooners were wrecked upon the coast.
March 29, 1866-Michael Ryan was executed at Santa Rosa, for the crime of killing his wife. This is the only case of capital punishment yet on record in Sonoma County.
November 15, 1866-A destructive fire oc- curred at Sonoma, and a number of buildings were destroyed.
November 7, 1867 -- Mineral paint of good quality was found near the mill of O. A. Olm. stead, in the redwoods.
November 28, 1868 -- A stage robbery occurred near Cloverdale.
December 10, 1865-The schooner C. P. Heustis, Captain H. Piltz, went ashore near Fort Ross, and was a total wreck. No lives lost.
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January 21, 1869 .- A petrified tree was found while grading for the railroad, on the Cotate Branch.
March 18, 1869-According to the school census Sonoma County had more school chil- dren than any other county in the State, except San Francisco.
Angust 19, 1871-A daring attempt was inade to rob the Cloverdale stage. The driver, Sandy Woodworth, would not stop, and as a consequence got a bullet through his cheek, and a young man, named Coffin, on the seat beside him was killed.
February 24, 1872-A large whale was stranded on the shore near Timber Cove, and the coast residents laid in a supply of whale oil.
March 16, 1872 -- The Donahne line of rail- road was completed and in running order to Cloverdale.
May 25, 1872 -- This was an era of road im- provement around Petaluma and in the county at large. Many miles of excellent macadam- ized roads were constructed.
September 6, 1872-A. Doty & Co. estab- lished a broom factory near Penn's Grove.
August 1, 1873-Elijah McMurray, a former resident of Two Rock Valley, had a fearful en- connter with a wounded buck, and finally proved victor, although badly wounded and lacerated.
November 21, 1873 -- A telegraphic line was completed from Petaluma to Humboldt Bay, and there was fraternal greeting between the presses of Sonoma and Humboldt connties.
May 1, 1874 The schooner Horace Tem- pleton was wrecked in Petaluma Creek on what is known as the " sunken rock."
May 29, 1874 -- The basalt blocks of Sonoma County began to be used extensively for paving in San Francisco.
June 26, 1874-The Forestville Chair Factory becomes an important manufacturing industry.
September 18, 1874-A destructive fire occurred at Bodega Corners.
November 27, 1874-This was a season of floods to Sonoma County, on account of excessive rains.
April 16, 1875 The steamer James Donahue was completed and commenced run- ning between San Francisco and Lakeville.
April 30, 1875-Granville P. Swift, one of the " Bear Flag party," and once a wealthy citi- zen of Sonoma County, who had money buried by the thousands of dollars, was found with his neck broken, in Solano County - his mule having stumbled and fallen over a precipice.
June 4, 1875-A new township was created by the county board of supervisors called " Knight's Valley."
Jnue 18, 1875-A test case was agreed upon to settle the disputed boundary question be- tween Sonoma and Napa Counties. The decision was in favor of Sonoma County.
October 27, 1876-The Petaluma and San Rafael Narrow Guage Railroad was sold and transferred to Colonel Peter Donahue.
January 18, 1878 -This was a season of un- usual floods to Sonoma County, and considera- ble damage was donc.
April 19, 1878-The up-coast stage was robbed at a point near the Gualala River.
December 27, 1878-Congress was petioned for $25,000 to aid in improving Petaluma Creek. The subsidy was granted and the ereek much improved.
Jannary 30, 1880-The valleys of Sonoma County were covered with snow, a very unusual occurrence.
August 26, 1881-A destructive fire occurred at Sebastopol.
February 3, 1882-Foot-pads robbed the Cloverdale stage.
September 1, 1882 -J. R. Jewell of Peta- luma Township built the first silo in the county.
March 17, 1883 -- The Pacific Narrow Guage Railroad was extended to Ingrams.
October 6, 1883-The Northern Pacific Rail- road was completed to deep water at Tiburon.
The new steamer Gold, to run between San Francisco and Petaluma, was completed.
December 8, 1883-The first stone of the new conrt-house at Santa Rosa was laid.
September 25, 1886-The first canning
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establishment at Santa Rosa was destroyed by fire.
June 18, 1887-The work of building a branch railroad from Pacheco Station to con- nect with the Sonoma Valley Railroad was com- menved.
July 30, 1888-The northern end of the county, from Santa Rosa upward, has a large showing of new vineyards and orchards.
Below we give a full list of the present towns and villages of Sonoma County, in alphabetical order, outside of Petaluma, Santa Rosa, Sonoma and Ilealdsburg, that are regularly incorporated cities:
America is ten miles north of Santa Rosa; including the immediate vicinity : it has a popu- lation of 250. It is more widely known as Mark West Springs. It has a hotel and post- office and is a resort for tourists and invalids. A stage line affords communication with Santa Rosa.
Bloomfield is a thriving community at the head of Big Valley, twelve miles north of Peta- Iuma. The population is about 350. The village has a full complement of stores, churches and societies; a good hotel is maintained. It has communication by stage with Petaluma. It is growing and offers inducements to settlers.
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