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 53
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TSAAC W. SULLIVAN .- Among the early settlers of Green Valley is the subject of this sketch, who is one of the pioneers of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Sullivan is a native of Knox County, Kentucky, and dates his birth March 29, 1807. His parents, James and Eleanor (Wilson) Sullivan, were natives of Vir- ginia, and were among the early settlers of Ken- tucky. His father was a Methodist minister and also a farmer, and to this latter occupation Mr. Sullivan was reared, a calling which he pur- sued in Kentucky nutil 1839. In that year he came as far west as Fort Independence and en gaged as a teamster and wagon master with a party of traders bound for Santa Fe, New Mex- ico. From that place he returned to Missouri, in 1840. While engaged in this service he narrowly escaped death at the hands of the
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Indians. In one battle he received a bullet through his hat, the ball just missing his head. In 1840 he located in Cooper County. Missouri, where he engaged in farming and stock-raising until 1843. He then moved to Buchanan County, and there pursued the same calling until 1845. In this latter year he came overland to Oregon. After months of trials and hardships upon the then ahnost unknown trails of plains, deserts, and mountains, he arrived in Oregon. and located at Portland, which then consisted of but one log cabin. There he took up government land and engaged in farming. and also other occupations, among them work upon the first wharf ever built in that now enterprising city. In 1547 he joined the forces organized for suppressing the Cayuse Indians. who had massacred the missionary, Dr. Whit- man and his family at Walla Walla, Washing- ton Territory. Ile was First Lieutenant of Cap- tain Thompson's cavalry company, under com- mand of Colonel Cornelins Gilliam. The whole force of troops comprised six companies. Ile was engaged in this Indian war, called the Cayuse war, for six months, or until its close, when the Indians were whipped and driven ont of the country. As an officer and soldier. Mr. Sulli- van took a prominent part in all of the many fights that occurred during that memorable campaign. In 1549 he returned to Portland and resumed his work until he came to Califor- nia. After spending abont a year in the mines in El Dorado Connty, he came to Sonoma County and located in Green Valley, in what is now the Oak Grove School District. Ile is thus one of the pioneers of the valley. In 1851 Mr. Sullivan was united in marriage with Miss Mary Gilliam, daughter of Mitehell and Rachael (Taylor) Gilliam, who were residents of Sonoma County. She was born in Kentucky, but her parents were natives of Georgia. . Since Mr. Sullivan has made his home in Green Valley, he has devoted himself entirely to agricultural pursuits. Ile is the owner of 140 acres of land, devoted mostly to general farming. Fifty-five acres are in hay and grain, six acres in apples.
four in peaches, and the rest in pasture. Mr. Sullivan has led a quiet and somewhat nnevent- ful life, devoting himself to his calling and the care and rearing of his family. ITis consistent course in all public and private matters has gained him the esteem and respect of the com- munity in which he resides. Mrs. Sullivan died in November, 1555. leaving eleven children, viz .: James M., who married Miss Elizabeth J. Hicks, living in Del Norte County: John W .. married Ettie Me Reynolds, and is residing in Santa Barbara County; Cornelius G., married Frances J. McQuade, living in Gnerneville, So- noma County: Minerva A., married Charles E. Newell, and lives in Fresno County; Nancy E .: Sophronia C., who married James II. Street and lives in El Dorado County: Charles C., Letha J., Asa I., Amanda J., and Jabez Benjamin.
ANDREW JACKSON PETERSON .- There is probably no one of the old pio- neers of Sonoma County better known than the subject of this sketch, nor one who is better entitled to mention in the history of Sonoma County. Mr. Peterson was born in Tennessee, August 15, 1827. His father, Sterling Peter- son, was a native of Virginia, and his mother, Jane (Cooper) Peterson, was born in North Carolina. In Mr. Peterson's youth his father moved to Washington County, Missouri, and there engaged in farming, in which calling he reared his son. The subject of this sketch re- ceived little or no education in early life, but was early inured to the hard and rugged labors of a farm life in a pioneer country. In the fall of 1847 he enlisted for service in the Mexi- ean war, and served in Company B. Sixth Mis- souri Cavalry. His company commander was Captain Thomas Jones: Colonel William Gilpin commanded the regiment. This regiment was employed in service against the Indians on the plains and in New Mexico. He remained with his company until the close of the war and was discharged in the fall of 1848. Ile returned to
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Missouri and the next spring started across the plains, via Santa Fe, for California. The train was drawn by horses and mules and made good time to Santa Fe. It was their intention to en- ter California by the southern route, but here a change was made and they went through Mexico to Mazatlan, and then embarked on the old whaler, America, for San Francisco. Among Mr. Peterson's party were Leonard and James Boggs, Lindley Marshall, Sash Cooper, Wash- ington Knox, and many others since well known in Sonoma County, and California. After his arrival in San Francisco he started for the mines, and for several weeks was engaged in mining at Gold Run, Nevada City, after which he went to work for Ed. Drafton in the old American bakery in Nevada City. Ile soon re- turned, however, to mining pursuits, which . he followed until 1850. In that year he estab- lished a boarding-house and livery stable at Cold Springs, between Coloma and Hangtown. In 1851 he closed out his business and came to Sonoma County, where, for the next two years, he was engaged in hunting, getting out "shakes," rails, etc., in the redwoods, camping in the woods during this time. The rails, etc., found ready sale among the settlers, and the game a good market in San Francisco. Among the party engaged with Mr. Peterson in this occupation was Dr. Boyce, a well-known physi- cian, now a resident of Santa Rosa. While thus engaged Mr. Peterson had located 240 acres of land on the Lagoon, seven miles west of Santa Rosa, and in 1853 he took up his resi- dence there. August 15 of that year he mar- ried Miss Ludencia C. Sebring, daughter of Thomas and Margaret E. (Piper) Sebring. Mrs. Peterson's father is a pioneer of 1849, and is now (1888) living in Green Valley. Since 1853 Mr. Peterson has devoted his attention to farm- ing and stock-raising. His farin is located in the Hall School District on the River Road. He has twenty acres in hops, and the rest of the land, except a family orchard and vineyard, is devoted to hay, grain and stock-raising. £ In the latter occupation Mr. Peterson has always
taken a great interest. Ile was one of the first to enter upon the breeding of improved horses in the county. He formerly paid great atten- tion to improving the draft horses, and was a strong supporter of the Norman stock, but of late years he has devoted more attention to fine roadsters. Among his stock, mention may be made of several fine specimens of the famons " Wildidle " stock of Santa Clara County, also " Nutwood " stock. Among the improvements on his place is a hop dry-house with a capacity for enring the product of his hop ranch. Mr. Peterson has always been prominently identified with every public enterprise in his section that tended to advance the welfare of the community. He has always been a strong supporter of the public schools and was one of the first school trustees of his district, and for many years served in that capacity. Politically he is a strong Democrat. He is a member of Ever- green Lodge, No. 161, I O. O. F., Sebastopol, also of the Santa Rosa Encampment, No. 53, I. O. O. F. Mr. and Mrs. Peterson have had eleven children, viz .: Sterling Thomas, born January 15, -; Raford W., March 9, 1858; Bronson L., February 24, 1860; Laura D., August 25, 1865; Andrew J., January 1, 1868; Mark P., March 8. 1870; Lock, Novem- ber 17, 1973; Glen, October 17, 1876; and Florent Sheridan, October 25, 1879. The fourth child, Harriet D., born August 26, 1862, died January 12, 1880, and the fifth child. Margaret, died in infancy. Of Mr. Peterson's brothers who came to California are William and Augus- tns, who came in 1850, and James, in 1857. In 1860 his brother, the Rev. Nathaniel B. Peter- son, came, and shortly after his arrival died in San Francisco and is buried in San Jose.
FOIIN F. MULGREW, County Clerk of Sonoma County, is a native of Rhode Is- land, born in October, 1851, and is the eld- est of the two sons of Felix Mulgrew, who came to California via the Isthmus route, when the
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subject of this sketch was a year old. Ile set- tled in Healdsburg in 1857, when it was a fron- tier country, having lived in San Francisco three years. He died in 1876, leaving a widow, two sons and four daughters; all of the latter except the youngest have been teachers in Sonoma County for a number of years. The subject of this sketch was educated in Healdsburg, first attending the public schools and later, six years, the Sotoyome Institute, then a large and prosperous school. This institution had for years from 100 to 150 students in at- tendance. It was established by Professor J. W. Anderson, now superintendent of the San Francisco schools. It was later known as the Alexander Academy. After leaving school Mr. Mulgrew went as an apprentice into the office of the Democratic Standard, in Healdsburg. The paper subsequently became the Russian River Flag, of which Mr. Mulgrew was fore- man in two and a half years after he began the trade, beginning at the age of fifteen years. He worked for nine years before becoming a news- paper proprietor, when, in 1876, he and his brother, F. B. Mulgrew, started the Healdsburg Enterprise, with which he was connected six years. In this enterprise they mnet with fair success, making a model weekly paper mechani- cally, which received many comments from the press of the State for its neat make up. Editorially, it was fully up to the standard of the best country newspapers. In December, 1881, Mr. Mulgrew disposed of his interest in the paper and office to his brother, and removed to Santa Rosa to accept the position of deputy county clerk, under Robert A. Thompson, Esq. He served three years in that capacity, and at the end of that time he was elected county clerk on the Democratic ticket. The campaign for the nomination that year was hotly contested, there being a number of candidates for the place. Mr. Mulgrew was nominated by accla- mation in the convention. He was elected by a large majority, notwithstanding that was the year of the great "Blaine boom" in California. Upon the expiration of his term of two years
he was again nominated by his party by accla- mation and re-elected in 1886 by one of the largest majorities ever given in the county. His last term expired January 7, 1889. Ile declined to allow his name to be used for any office this year, and purposes to retire from pol- ities. It is universally conceded that he has made one of the most faithful and efficient offi- cers this county ever had. In 1876 Mr. Mul- grew was united in marriage with Miss Mary F. Wood. She is a native of New York, was reared in Wisconsin, and came to California in 1872. They have had three sons, two of whom are living, Frank and Walter, aged twelve and four years respectively.
ILLIAM IIILL .- The subject of this sketch was born in Cortland County, New York, September 8, 1829. His parents, Alexander and Ann (Kenyon) Hill, were natives of Washington County, that State, and died when William was thirteen or fourteen years old. Ile consequently remembers very little about them. He attended the common schools of his neighborhood up to the age of twelve years, after which he went to school but little. He had a good home and worked on his father's farm until he was fifteen, when he left New York and went to Wisconsin, where he worked by the day and month during the sum- mer, herding and driving cattle on the plains of northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin. Af- terward he turned his attention to the cooper's trade and worked at it the most of the time up to 1853, when, having saved his earnings, he was able to procure an outfit of horses and mules and other equipments, and started across the plains for California. He left Racine March 25, and arrived at Ilangtown, now Placerville, August 10, following. Like the majority of early Californians he had an uncontrollable desire to visit the mines, so accordingly went to those at Missouri Flat and Coloma, where he prospected for a while, until his money was
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about gone, when he hired out by the day. After he had been there about three months, and had earned money enough he came down to Sonoma County. He took up a piece of govern- ment land, which had two Spanish claims against it, although the title was afterward proven to be all right. He put up a cabin and went to work at chopping wood which he sold to the San Francisco market. In the fall of the following year he was taken sick and was unable to do anything for over two months. He came over to Petaluma and soon after went into the mercantile business, in which he continued until 1860 .. During this time he had bought a farm near Stony Point, and after going out of business moved on to it, remaining there in agricultural pursuits for five years, then return- ing to Petaluma. In 1866 the bank of Sonoma County was organized and Mr. Ilill was elected its first president, which position he held for twenty years. It was started with a capital of $90,000, and during the years that Mr. Ilill was at the head of the bank there was some- thing like $375,000 paid in dividends to the stockholders, and $210,000 of its earnings cap- italized, which shows an able management of the affairs of the institution. He severed his connection with the bank in August, 1886. On January 1, 1887, the banking house of William Hill & Son was organized, William Hill, presi- dent, and A. B. Hill, cashier. The bank was started with a capital of $100,000, which was afterward inereased to $150,000. Mr. Hill's business career has generally been attended with marked success. He is one of the largest real estate owners in the county, having at this time, in Sonoma and Marin counties, about 6,000 acres, and in Old Mexico about 100,000 acres. That in this loeality is all improved land. Ife is also largely engaged in grape growing and wine making, and has a vineyard of 200 acres situated near the town of Forest- ville, and in connection with this is a winery. The vines are all in good bearing condition, the yield last year being abont 350 tons of grapes, which made about 47,000 gallons of winc. This
was produced off his own place, and the amount made from other grapes would be nearly double this. He is also largely engaged in frnit grow- ing, having on the same property about 100 acres in orchard, the most of which is bearing, devoted to the principal varieties of fruit. Mr. Ilill is a stockholder and director in the Sonoma County Water Company, having been identified with the corporation since its organization. He has also been identified with the railroad in- terest of the county; was president of the sub- sidy started in building the Donahue Railroad, before the company sold to its present managers. He was instrumental in starting the woolen mill in this city and was president of the com- pany which managed it at the time, and in fact is more or less connected with the history of Petaluma from its carliest existenee, in various ways, and is always willing to encourage a pub- lie enterprise which will result in good for the city or county. Mr. Hill was married in 1862 to Josephine P., daughter of James Pilkington. She was born in Mendota, La Salle County, Illi- nois. They have four children: Alexander B., Raymond P., William K., and James V. It can be truthfully said of the subject of this sketeli that he has always regarded toil as manly and ennobling, and after passing through an honorable yet checkered life, he is now enjoying the comforts of a happy home with the wife of his youth, beloved by his children and friends, and respected by the citizens of the State in which he lives.
OSEPH H. P. MORRIS .- One of the best and most favorably known men among the older residents of Sonoma County is the subject of this sketch. Ile was born in Miami County, Ohio, January 19, 1828, and is a descend- ant of the Massachusetts colonists of 1632. Ilis father, David II. Morris, was born in New Jersey in 1769 and served in the Revolutionary war under General Wayne. He was also one of the earliest pioneers of Ohio, and was engaged
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in building the first house in Dayton, Ohio. His mother, Eva Ann (Sayler) Morris, was the danghter of Jacob Sayler, a native of Germany who emigrated to the United States and settled in Virginia (where Mrs. Morris was born) and in 1798 removed to Ohio. Mr. Morris was reared upon a farm at the same time receiving such an education as the schools of that date afforded. In 1843 the death of his father left him an orphan (his mother having died in 1835) and he went to Dayton, where he engaged as a elerk in a dry goods store. He continued this occu- pation until 1849, when the gold fever indneed him to start for California. HIe commeneed his overland journey, but at St. Joseph, Missouri, he was taken sick and compelled to abandon the project. He returned to Ohio, and the next year went to St. Louis, Missouri, where he entered the employ of the wholesale dry goods house of Eddy, Jameson & Company, continuing in their employ until 1853. In Mr. Morris' first venture for California he embarked all his capital, $3,000, in outfit, etc., but his sickness and forced abandonment of the trip swept away his means, and it was not until 1853 that he found himself able to carry out his original design of coming to the Golden State. In the spring of that year he started overland, arriving in Sep- tember, locating at Millar & Walker's trading post, now Sebastopol, Sonoma County. Ilis first employment was as a clerk for J. M. Mil- lar. He was so engaged until the next year when he opened a grocery store on the present site of Sebastopol. In 1855 he took up 120 acres of government land and laid out the town, which he ealled Pine Grove, and offered a lot to any one who would build and start any business enterprise. Mr. Jolin Dougherty accepted the offer and in the same year started his store. Mr. Morris relates a rather amusing incident which caused this embryo town to lose the ap- propriate name of Pine Grove, and take up the formidable Russian cognomen. It was as follows: Two men, Jeff Stevens and a man named Hibbs, got into a fight. Stevens proved the better man and Hibbs retreated and ran into Dougherty's
store. Stevens followed him, but Mr. Dough- erty would not let Stevens enter the store after Hlibbs. This was during the Crimean war when the allies were besieging Sebastopol, which it was supposed they could not capture. The Pine Grove boys were disgusted at the termi- nation of the Stevens and Hibbs fight, and eried out that Dougherty's store was Hibbs' Sebastopol. A great deal of talk was made over the affair, and the name became so familiar that the town itself soon became known by the name of Sebastopol. Mr. Morris continued his bus- iness at this point, and was always the prime mover in building up the town. In 1858 he purchased 456 acres of land just west of the town site, and the next year sold out his grocery store. In 1860 he married Miss Maria L. Bul- len. a native of England. Until 1862 he was engaged in various enterprises, and in the latter year he went to the mines on John Day River in Oregon, but not meeting with the desired snecess he soon returned to his old home and opened a variety store. He was also appointed postmaster of Sebastopol. He continued this business until 1865 when he sold out and re- signed his office, and until 1868 was not engaged in any business. In the latter year he took charge of the Coleman Valley Lumber Mills, which he conducted until 1870. In that year he went to Guerneville, and was for some years the bookkeeper of Heald & Gnerne, and was also in charge of their mills and yard, and later was the superintendent of Corbell & Bros. mill on Russian River. In 1875 he returned to Sebastopol and established a meat market, a business he has successfully conducted since that date. Mr. and Mrs. Morris have two ehil- dren, Ilarry B. and Eva. In 1886 Mr. Morris took his son, Harry B. Morris, into partner- ship with him in his market business, and it has since been conducted under the firm name of Morris & Son. It is the best appointed and equipped market in the town, one that is well patronized by the farming community as well as town people. Throughout Mr. Morris' whole career in Sonoma County, he has been, more
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than any other man, identified and associated with all movements that tended to advance the interests of the section in which he has resided. He is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and in fact every enterprise that has tended to advance the welfare and morals of the com- munity. In politics he is a strong and con- sistent Republican, and though never seeking office, has always been a prominent member of the party, always advocating what he considered to be for the best interests of the party, rather than individuals. Hle is a charter member of Lafayette Lodge, No. 126, F. & A. M., of Se- bastopol, also a charter member of Sebastopol Lodge, No. 167, I. O. G. T. For twenty-five years Mr. Morris was the efficient secretary of the F. & A. M. lodge. Ilis son, Harry B., mar- ried Miss Albie Howell, daughter of L. V. H. Howell of San Francisco, formerly a resident of Sonoma County. His daughter Eva is a resi- dent of San Francisco. Mr. Morris is the owner of the building in which he conducts his business, and also owns a fine residence and 25 acres of land in Sebastopol. Upon the land are attractive picnic grounds and a beautiful park. He also devotes considerable land to pasturing the stock needed in his business, which is quite extensive and requires the constant attention of both himself and son.
EORGE A. TUPPER, one of the early settlers and active business men of So- noina County, was born in Macomb County, Michigan, November 27, 1833. In 1850 he left there and went to New York, and in the fall of 1852 sailed for California, arriving in San Francisco November 27 of that year. Like nearly all the California immigrants of that day he sought his fortune in the mines and spent the years from 1852 to 1856 in searching for the yellow dust. Then coming to Sonoma County, he bought a farm five miles south of Santa Rosa on the Petaluma road, which he cultivated six years. Desiring a change of
occupation, he moved to Santa Rosa and en- gaged in merchandising in a general store, in which he continued for fourteen years. On the completion of the Occidental Hotel, he became proprietor of the house in 1876, conducted it two years and sold out, but bought it back in December, 1879, and has continued as propric- tor since that time. Mr. Tupper has always taken an active interest in politics in a local way, and is one of the most zealous and effective workers for the Republican principles in Sonoma County. Soonafter settling in Santa Rosa he served several years in the common council, and was a member of the Board of Supervisors during the years 1873, 1874 and 1875. In 1884 he was nominated for treasurer of Sonoma County on the Republican ticket, and, despite the hitherto strong Democratic majority in the county, was elected, being the first Republican elected to that office in the county. Two years later he was again elected as his own successor. Ile was not a candidate for the office in 1888, and retired from it January 1, 1889. Mr. Tupper is an active and energetie worker in whatever he undertakes; being naturally public-spirited he is usually associated with every movement inaugurated for the advancement of the interests of the city or county. In 1857 he was joined in marriage with Miss Harriet Cooper, a native of Will County, Illinois, and daughter of John and Rhoda Cooper, pioneers of Sonoma County. Mr. and Mrs. Tupper's children are Emma (now Mrs. Thomas), Charles V., Ilattie (now Mrs. Cooper), Aquilla L., Clinton II., John A. C. and Harry Tupper.
ILLIAM HENRY WORTHI was born March 28, 1829, in Troy, New York. Ilis father, William Ellison Worth, a native of Burlington, Vermont, settled in New York State about 1826. He married in Ver- mont, Frances Curtis, a native of that State. In 1832 the family moved to Albany, New York, where Mr. Worth made his home until
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