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 51

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 786

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 51

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and is well filled with a stock of fine staple gro- ceries. glass-ware, queen's-ware, ete., of which large quantities are sold upon the C. O. D. small profit basis. February 1, 158%, MIr. Spencer purchased his partner's interest, and is now sole proprietor. Mr. Spencer's aetive en- ergy and public spirit have identified him with many publie enterprises inaugurated in Santa Rosa for many years, generally as one of the prime movers and principal workers for its achievement. Among those most prominent in which he was one of the projectors and is a stockholder and a director, may be mentioned the Atheneum Building, dedicated to music and the dramatic art, erected in 1885, at a cost of $50,000, the finest opera hall in the interior of the State; the Masonic Hall, which was erected in 1875, costing 820,000, now worth $30,000; and the new South Side Street Rail- way, built the past summer, and extending from the plaza on Fourth street to the Sonoma County Agricultural Park, nearly two miles in length, which was constructed under his personal super- vision as president of the company, and is a well made and finely equipped piece of property. lle is also one of the members of, and an ener- getic worker in the Sonoma County Agricultural Park Association, as one of its directors. Be- sides these interests Mr. Spencer owns consid erable improved and unimproved real estate in Santa Rosa. Ile is a charter member of the Santa Rosa National Bank: and of the Santa Rosa Building and Loan Association, subscribed capital now nearly $250,000.

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HARLES STRIDDE, residing three miles east of Santa Ro a, in Rincon Valley, on the road leading from that city to Sonoma, was born in Germany, March 1, 1535, son of William Stridde. Ilis father was a wealthy man and gave him a good edneation, intending him to lead a military career in the service of his country. At the age of sixteen years he

entered a military school, and at twenty years of age entered the army, serving five years. But an army life not being in all things con- sidered desirable, Mr. Stridde then received an honorable discharge. February 14, 1862, he was mited in marriage with Miss Maria Gus- taťson, a native of Sweden. His father having died and having left property in Sweden, Mr. Stridde visited that eonntry and was married there. In 1870 he erossed the ocean, visited and traveled considerably in this State. I'leased with what he saw, Mr. Stridde sent for his family. They established their home on Elk- horn ranch, on the Sacramento River, in Yolo County. There they lived eight years, and after a visit to Germany and Sweden they eame to this county and established their present resi- dence in 1879. Their fine cottage home with the few aeres of ground, making the residenee property, is a choice location, giving a fine view of the eharming valley. The grounds are shaded and utilized in the production of choice fruits. Mr. Stridde is one of the representative wine grape growers of Santa Rosa Township, and has given vitienlture mueh attention sinee his residence in this county, having improved and sold considerable vineyard property. He now owns in the foot-hills two flourishing vine- yards, one of forty-one acres and one of thirteen acres, from one to two miles from his residence, on the east side of Rincon Valley. The eight children of Mr. and Mrs. Stridde are all as yet under the home roof. Their names in order of their births are: Bertha Charlotte, born January 28, 1863; Alexander William, born August 2, 1566; Thyra, born April 30, 1869; Waldmar Carl, born January 11, 1871; Ada Jenny, born June 22, 1873; George IIjalmar, born April 11,1875; Matilda Angusta, born May 23, 1875; and Esther Sophia, born August 22, 1880. The family are all members of the Lutheran church, the eliurch of their fathers. Mr. and Mrs. Stridde are members of Conneil No. 21, of the order of Chosen Friends, at Sebastopol. Mr. Stridde is quite well known in business and social circles, and is respected by all for striet

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integrity and his manly qualities. Politically he is not a striet partisan, but believes in the policy of protection for American industries.

ENRY BOLLE is the owner of the " Bolle Vineyard and Winery." This fine prop- erty is located in Los Guilieos Valley, on the Santa Rosa and Sonoma road, seven miles east of Santa Rosa. The estate contains 311 aeres, and was bought by Mr. Bolle in 1880, it then being naked land. Commencing the work of improvement at once he carried it rapidly forward to the present. The winery, a sub- stantial structure, has a eapaeity of 100,000 gallons, and is used for the manufacture of 50,- 000 gallons annnally: 100 acres of the ranch are devoted to the growing of the wine grape and the rest to general farm purposes. Mr. Bolle was born in Germany, May 8, 1832. Early in lite he was apprenticed to the evoper's trade. Reaching the age of twenty-two years, and de- sirous of finding a home in a land giving more of personal freedom and room for advancement than was derived in the land of his birth, he, in 1854, came to the new world. In the city of New York he found employment at his trade. The following year, in 1855, he came to this State, and about three years was engaged with varying success in mining in Sierra County. In 1858 he located in San Francisco, and after a time spent in working at his trade, he eon- dneted for several years the cooper business on his own aceonnt. In that city, May 26, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Stäcker, who was born in Germany, August 25. 1839, and who had resided in San Francisco the previous four years. They have four chil- dren, all of whom still have their home under the parental roof. Their names are Sophie, William, Henry and Ernest. Mr. Bolle has an abiding faith in the coming greatness of California as a wine producing State, believing that interest to be yet in its infancy, and that the difficulties and discouragements of to-day will soon pass

away. Ile proposes to hold strictly to the line marked out for himself, feeling that the future will bring about the manufacture of a better artiele. ereate a better demand, and bring its reward. Politically, he is classed as a liberal, progressive Demoerat. He is a member of the Concordia (German) Lodge of Odd Fellows, at San Fran- cisco.

AMES GREGSON. -- Among the represent- ative men of Sonoma County is the subject of this sketch. Ile dates his birth from September 14, 1822, in Little Bolton. England. Ilis parents, Nicholas and Mary (Bowles) Greg- son, were born in England, his father being of Scotch descent. His parents emigrated to the United States, and settled in Philadelphia in 1834. lTere he was reared until the age of fif- teen years, at which time he was bound to James Brooks, as an apprentice to the blacksmith and machinist's trade, at which he served until twenty-one years of age. October 20, 1843, Mr. Gregson was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Marshall, the daughter of John and Ann (HInghes) Marshall. Mrs. Gregson was born in Manchester, England, March 15, 1824. Her parents were natives of England. In 1844 Mr. Gregson moved to Rock Island County, Illinois, where he resided until April, 1845. In that month he started across the plains for Cali- fornia. In company with himself and wife upon this emigration were Mrs. Gregson's two broth- ers, Ilenry and John Marshall, also her mother and sister, Mary A. Marshall. The journey was slowly made by ox teams. Aside from the usual hardships and discomforts attending a journey of this character, nothing of interest occurred until the party reached Humboldt Canon. llere they were attacked by the In- dians, who killed all their stock except a yoke of oxen. Thus deprived of means of transpor- tation, they were compelled to make a two- wheeled vehicle from one of the wagons. Upon this they placed their baggage and sneh of their

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party as were unable to walk, and continued their journey. All of the men and Mrs. Greg- son and her mother traveled on foot from Humboldt to Johnston's ranch on Bear Creek, arriving at that point October 20, 1845. No one but those who have passed through a like experience can imagine the hardships endured by those two brave women. Too much honor cannot be awarded to these early pioneers ---- par- ticularly the ladies-who braved the perils and hardships of plain, desert, and mountains, and paved the way for the great American eiviliza- tion which followed. They are reaping a portion of their reward in seeing the wilderness of Cali- fornia subdued and becoming the garden of the world. Soon after his arrival, Mr. Gregson proceeded to Sutter's Fort and was employed by Captain Sutter as a blacksmith. While at Sut- ter's Fort he joined the Bear Flag party and served in Captain Edward M. Kern's company at the fort. While there he was guard over General Vallejo, who was at that time a prisoner of the Bear Flag party. Ile was also one of the detail under Captain Burroughs to take horses for General Fremont's command from Sutter's Fort to Monterey. While in this service he was engaged in the battle of Salinas, after which he enlisted in General Fremont's command and served under Captain L. Il. Ford. He served with this command until they reached Los An- geles, at which place he was honorably dis- charged and returned to Sutter's Fort, where he remained until February, 1848. He was then sent by Captain Sutter to Coloma, where he assisted in erecting the mill which the Captain was building at that place. During the time he was engaged at Coloma, gold was discovered. Mrs. Gregson has still a small nugget which she procured from the Indians in exchange for clothing. While residing at Sutter's Fort their first child. Anna, was born, September 3. 1846. This was the first white child born at the Fort, and in the State, and was the subject of much comment and wonder to the Indians, who would come a distance of forty miles to see the baby, and could not be induced to believe it a real

child until they had pinched it or in some other way made it cry. In October, 1848, Mr. Greg- son came to Sonoma County, this move being made on account of his ill-health. In 1849, his health being much improved, he returned to Coloma, and engaged in mining on the Middle Fork of the American River. His failing health, however, soon compelled him to leave the mines, and he engaged in house-building at Sutterville until late in the fall of that year. He then re- turned to Sonoma County, and in January, 1850, settled in Green Valley, Analy Township, and commeneed the cultivation and improvement of 160 acres of land. Since that time Mr. Greg- son has devoted his attention to agricultural pursnits. Ile was the first to break land and raise grain in this valley. During this time he has been engaged principally in general farm- ing. His land contains a fine orchard of twenty acres, chiefly devoted to the production of apples, but also contains plums, peaches, apri- eots, and snch varieties as are grown in his section of the county. IIe has also six aeres in grape vines, consisting of wine grapes of the Mission variety, and also table grapes, snel as Black Hamburg, Tokay, and Muscat. The rest of his land is devoted to hay, grain and stock- raising. Among his stock is a dairy of ten cows. Mr. Gregson is well known throughout the whole community as well as a large portion of the State. Wherever known he is universally esteemed and respected. llis honor and busi- ness integrity have ever been unquestionable. A frank, generous and intelligent gentleman, his name is associated with all that is most agreeable in the pioneer settlement of Sonoma County. He is a consistent member of the Methodist church, of which he is a strong sup- porter. He has served for many years as school trustee in his district, and always takes a deep interest in the public schools. He is a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Sebastopol. In political matters he is a strong and consistent supporter of the Republican party, and during the dark days of the Rebellion was a strong supporter of the Union. The

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

names and births of Mr. Gregson's children are as follows: Anna, the first white child born at Sutter's Fort, as before stated, married Robert V. Reid and is now residing in Watsonville, Santa Cruz County: Mary Ellen. born at Colo- ma, September 25, 1548, married Sylvester MeChristian and is residing in Green Valley; William F., born September 24, 1850, married Miss Lee Ann Miller, and is now living in Stanislaus County; John N., born September 1. 1852, married Miss Alma Iloyt, and is re- siding on the old homestead; Eliza Jane, born May 31, 1854, married Thomas B. Butler, living at Mark West. Sonoma County; Henry M. married Miss Catherine Parks, and is living in Green Valley: Adelia J., born March 28, 1858, married George A. Fruits (now deceased), and she was married a second time to Peter S. Baker, living in Fresno County; Caroline, born October 29, 1862, married Edwin Thompson, residing in Lincoln County, Washington Terri- tory; and Luke B., born March 27, 1868, re- siding with his parents.

ROFESSOR WILLIAM C. GRAINGER, President of the Healdsburg College, is a native of Missouri, born at War- rensburg, Johnson County, January 21. 1844, his parents being Andrew B. and Su. sanna (Eagan) Grainger. Both parents were natives of Tennessee. The father was a young man when his parents settled in Missouri, locat- ing in Johnson County, while the mother was a girl of twelve when she accompanied the family to Lafayette County, Missouri. They are now residents of Warrensburg. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native town, and re- ceived the educational advantages afforded by the local schools. After advancing as far as those facilities allowed, he commenced attend- ance at the State University, Columbia, Missouri, and completing the course, graduated at that well known institution of learning in the class of 1867. He had determined to enter

upon a professional career, and read law in the office of one of the leading firms of Warrensburg. In 1870 he was admitted to the bar of Johnson Connty. His legal studies had been varied, however, by several terms of teaching, and the opportunity which had thus been afforded him to judge of his preference between the two pro- fessions, determined him in his decision to lay aside that of the law for the more congenial one of letters. Ile taught a number of terms of school in towns of his native State, among them those of Ilolton and Warrensburg. He resigned his position in the schools of the latter place in 1876, and came to California. For two years and a half his professional labors were confined to Ukiah and Manchester. Ile then removed to Santa Rosa to engage in ministerial and mis- sionary labors. On the organization of the Ilealdsburg College, in 1852, he was chosen to the professorship of Natural Science, and held that chair until 1887, when he was called offi- cially to the presidency of the college, though he had previously been for one year acting president. Professor Grainger was married in Missouri to Miss Elizabeth J. Work, a native of Lawrence County, Pennsylvania. They have three children, viz .: Susanna Margery, Andrew B., and Gertrude. Professor Grainger has been elder of the Seventh Day Adventist organiza- tion at Healdsburg since 1883. He has also been one of the trustees of the church, and is now secretary and treasurer of the college board. Ile combines in an eminent degree the necessary educational attainments and the power of control by kindness, so requisite in the holder of his important trust as president of the college.

EORGE J. RAGLE .- Among the pioneers of Green Valley, Analy Township, none are more deserving of mention than the above named gentleman, a brief resume of whose life is as follows: Mr. Ragle was born in Sullivan County, Tennessee, July 5, 1826. His parents, George and Margaret (Miller) Ragle, were na-

A.B.Quark/MRS.

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tives of Virginia, and both of German descent. Ifis father was a farmer, to which lite the sub- jeet of this sketeh was reared, receiving a limited education. When nineteen years of age he left home and worked at farm labor in Scott County, Virginia. until 1847, when he moved to Lafayette County, Missouri, where he worked on a farm until 1849. On the 10th of April of that year he started overland with ox teams for California, and after undergoing the hardships and trials attendant upon an overland trip, he arrived in this State September 1st, and went to mining in Bear Valley. This life did not suit him, and after nine weeks of mining expe- rience he came to Sonoma County. In the spring of 1850 he engaged in teaming from the Russian River to Sonoma, and eontinned this occupation until the fall of that year, when he purchased eighty acres of land in Green Valley. This land was in an entirely wild and uneulti- vated state, but with characteristic energy he commenced clearing and cultivating. Hle paid for a portion of it by splitting rails for Jasper ()' Farrell. He soon had a house erected and other improvements made, and in 1854 married Miss Margaret Jane Fruits, the daughter of Ja- cob Fruits, a native of Indiana, but residing in Sonoma County. Mr. Ragle was successful in his farming operations and from time to time increased his landed possessions. until he now owns 325 acres. His farm is in the Spring Ilill School District, one and one-half miles west of Sebastopol. He has an orchard of ten acres, produeing apples and peaches; sixty acres of timber, the balance being devoted to hay. grain, and stock purposes. The western portion of the farm, 132 acres, is under the charge of Mr. Ra- gle's adopted son, who has a dairy of twenty cows, and twenty-five head of cattle for market purposes; also seventy head of sheep and other stock. Mr. Ragle's straightforward and consist- ent course of life, honest dealing. and manly qualities have gained him the respect and esteem of the community in which he has lived for over thirty-eight years. He is a consistent member of the Cumberland Presbyterian

church, also a member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Sebastopol. In polities he was a Democrat until 1860, but the seces- sion movement in that year did not agree with his Union principles, and he joined the Repub- liean ranks, for a few years, and then returned to his former party. No children have blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Ragle, but they have a son by adoption, Alexander Barnett Ragle, the son of Robinson Ragle. This son is mar- ried to Alice Miller, daughter of Thomas Mil- ler, of Sonoma County, and as before stated, is conducting a portion of his adopted father's farm.

R. ABSALOM BOYLES STUART, the son of James Wesley and Mary Ann (Boyles) Stuart, was born at Williamsburg, Penn- sylvania, August 27, 1830. lle was educated in Lewisburg University, Berkshire Medical C'ollege and Bellevue Hospital Medical College. He was graduated from Berkshire Medical Col- lege with the degree of M. D. in 1556, and ten years later from Bellevue. Upon receiving his first degree in medicine Dr. Stuart commenced practice in West Hampton, Massachusetts. He soon after moved to Doddsville, and thenee to Macomb, Illinois; in Doddsville he married Miss Anabel MeGtaughey in 1859. In August, 1861, he was commissioned Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth Missouri Regiment United States Infantry: in the winter of 1862-3 was ap- pointed by General Rosecrans Medical Superin- tendent of Hospitals at Inka, Mississippi, in April, 1863, was promoted to Surgeon and as- signed to the First Alabama United States Cavalry -a regiment raised in that State, and commanded by northern officers. While vol- untarily assisting in the construction of defenses Dr. Stuart received accidental injuries from which he never recovered, and the effects of which compelled him to resign and retire from the service in January, 1864. Returning to Macomb, he shortly after moved to Winona,

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Minnesota, where he soon attained a very ex - tensive practice and took rank among the first physicians of that State. The rigors of that northern elimate proving too severe for his en- teebled health he immigrated to California with his family in 1876, settling in Los Angeles. Not receiving the desired benefit, he removed to Santa Barbara which afforded him temporary relief. Finding it necessary to again seek for climatic benefits they came to Santa Rosa in 1881, and here passed the last six years of his life. At all these points Dr. Stuart practiced his profession, and was highly esteemed both as a physician and a gentleman of irreproachable character and life. Like all men who win the respect and confidence of their fellows, Dr. Stuart was possessed of a strong individuality and inflexible integrity in adhering to his con- victions of the right. All worthy moral and educational enterprises received his hearty sup- port, as well as that of his esteemed professional and life-partner, his wife. Mary Stuart HIall, one of the buildings of the California Baptist College, was named for their lovely deceased daughter in memory of a munificent contri- bution of $10,000 given by Doctors Stuart to that institution of learning. While engaged in active practice Dr. A. B. Stuart gave especial attention to surgery, in which he achieved con- siderable renown among the profession by a number of capital operations he performed. lle was a member of the Winona County Medical Society, and its president in 1872; first vice- president of the Minnesota State Medieal So- ciety in 1874 and 1876; served as secretary in 1573 of the seetion on State medicine and pub- lie hygiene. lle was instrumental in organizing the Minnesota State Board of Health in 1872, and was its first president. In the same year he was elected teacher of surgery in the Wi- nona Preparatory Medical School. and its presi- dent in 1873. In 1876 he was chosen a delegate to the International Medical Congress at Phila- delphia. Dr. Stuart was quite a liberal con- tributor to the press on subjects pertaining to medieal seience, among the most important being

the " Annual Report of the Minnesota State Board of Health for 1573;" " The Upper Epiph- ysis of the Radins," published in the " Trans- actions of the Minnesota State Medical Society " in 1876. After years of severe suffering, Dr. Stuart passed away July 30, 1887. The funeral sermon was preached by Rev. S. S. F'isk, pastor of the Baptist church of which Dr. Stuart had been a consistent member for many years; and the burial rites were conducted by the Masonic order and the Grand Army of the Republic. Of Dr. Absalom Boyles Stuart it could truly be said none knew him but to respect and admire him.

NABEL MEG. STUART, M. D., one of the most prominent and successful physi- cians in Sonoma County, is a worthy illustration of what may be achieved by woman in the medieal profession. with energy and in- telligent, well-directed effort, despite of diffi- eulties and trials such as fall to the lot of but few people. She is the eldest child of Ilugh F. and Jane (Walker) McGianghey, natives of Pennsylvania, and was born in Martinsburg, Virginia, May 4, 1840. Her father was a prom- inent contractor in the construction of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. In the fall of 1849 he moved with his family to Macomb, Illinois, where he spent the last active years of his life in farming, and where both he and his wife died in 1863. The subject of this memoir was edneated in Macomb, and in September. 1859, was united in marriage with Absalom B. Stuart, a rising young physician of that eity. On the 2nd of Angust, 1861, her husband en- tered the United States army as Assistant Surgeon of the Tenth Missouri Infantry; and during the two years and a half of his active and conspicuous services in the medical depart- ment of the army his young wife spent many months with him acting as nurse and assistant in his ardnous duties in various ways. Failing health compelling her husband to resign his position in January, 1564, he returned home;

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and in the spring of 1866 they moved to Wi- nona, Minnesota. Soon after their marriage Mrs. Stuart's husband began to persuade her to study medicine, but domestic duties and her natural dislike to publie life were sufficient reasons, to her mind, for declining to aceede to his requests for some years. Wishing to aid and encourage him in every way possible in his professional work, Mrs. Stuart finally yielded to his importunities and began studying; and having decided 'upon this course, she pursued the work with her characteristic energy and perseverance. When prepared, she attended a course of lectures at the Women's Medical Col- lege in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1876-7. The latter part of the following summer they came to California with the hope of restoring her husband's broken health, and located in Los Angeles. Mrs. Stuart continued her studies, and in the summer and fall of 1878 attended the Medical College of the Pacitie (now the Cooper Medieal College), and was graduated therefrom November 5, 1875. From that time until the death of her husband in 1887, Mrs. Dr. Stuart practiced medieine as a partner with him in Santa Barbara and Santa Rosa, settling in the latter eity in 1881. Her professional career has been one of marked success from the beginning, and she now enjoys a practice equaled in extent and profit by few physicians in the interior of the State. Thus her skill in battling with human ailments is demonstrated beyond question. Though studiously devoting herself to her profession Dr. Stuart always found time to cherish and brighten the home life of those whom love had bound to her by the sacred ties of wifehood and motherhood. And in the severing of these ties one by one consisted the bitter sorrow of her life. She is the mother of three children all of whom she has followed to the grave, each being the only child when the dread Reaper cut it down. Two of them passed away in infancy; but Mary Stuart, the third daughter, lived until almost ready to bloom into a charming young woman- hood, before she fell a victim to the relentless

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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 51

Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 786

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 786