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 54
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
1850, when he came to California. He was a machinist and followed that trade in Albany about twelve years in the manufacture of fire engines and tobacco cutting machines. Ile eame to San Francisco and was engaged in the Union Iron Works, run by Peter and James Donahue, where he remained for about four years. Hle built the first hand fire engine that was put up in California, the work being done by H. J. Booth on Davis street, and the journey. man work was done by George W. Prescott. Mr. Worth then founded the Fulton Iron Works under the firm name of Worth, Hyde & Field. They ran the business on Davis street until about 1859, when it was moved to First street, to the place now oeeupied by Horace Davis' flouring mill. Mr. Worth continued in the business until 1865 when he sold out to Hinek- ley & Company, after which he moved to Oak- land and lived a retired life and died June 30, 1879. His first wife died in the East about 1846. She was the mother of seven children, five sons and two daughters. Four sons and one daugh- ter died when children. In 1849 he married his second wife, Margaret Furguson. They had three children, two sons and onedaughter. One son and daughter died in infaney. In 1865 he married Mrs. Thayer. His third wife had nochil- dren. William Henry Worth, the subject of this sketeh, is the eldest ehild. When he was twelve years old and while going to school, he built his first model engine of about five-eighth inch bore and two inch stroke. Two years later he left school and was apprentieed to his trade in the machine shops of his father and a man named Dwelle, under the firm name of Dwelle & Worth, with whom he worked for eight years, six of which were devoted to learning the trade and two years as a journeyman. He then left and went to Detroit, Michigan, on the Michigan Central Railroad; remained about two years and left there for the Hudson River Railroad at Greenbush, New York, as gang boss in the re- pair of locomotives in the company's shops, where he remained about two years. William Cessford, an engineer on the Hudson River Rail-
road, had been appointed master mechanie of the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad at La Porte, Indiana, and induced Mr. Worth to come there and take the same position of gang boss and superintendent of locomotive repairs for the Michigan Southern & Northern Indiana Railroad. After being there about a year and a half he went baek East and was mar- ried in November, 1853, to Ellen J. Salisbury, a native of Bethlehem, New York, a town ad- joining Albany. He then returned to La Porte, Indiana, and resumed his position where he re- mained about a year longer. Ile then left and went to Alton, Illinois, for the Chicago, Alton & St. Louis Railroad, as foreman in the shops there. About a year and a half later the com- pany sent him to Bloomington, on the main line of the road, where the main shops were being built, Mr. Worth acting as superintendent in the ereeting of all the machinery. When this was completed the company gave him his choice of going to Joliet or Alton. Preferring the latter place he moved his family there, where he remained as foreman and master mechanie in the shops for two years. David Lawrence, master mechanie of the shops at Quiney, Illinois, for the Northern Cross Railroad, now the Chicago, Burlington & Quiney, indueed Mr. Worth to join him, which he did, and was superintendent and foreman of the ereeting and repairing of maehin- ery for four years. He then went to Canton, Mis- souri, and started a machine shop with Leonard Finlay, where they remained until the breaking out of the war. Being Union men and in a secession country they were compelled to close their shops and leave the neighborhood. Mr. Worth went down to Ilannibal, on the Hanni- bal & St. Joe Railroad, and aeted as superin- tendent of repairs in their shops. In 1861 and 1862 he, with other employes of the railroad shops, enlisted in the Home Guard, being sworn into the United States service for one year. When the time expired he went to Amboy, Illi- nois, on the Illinois Central Railroad, and re- mained in their employ as gang boss until 1864. In that year he eame to San Francisco and went
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
to work for his father in the Fulton Iron Works, the firm then being Hinekley & Company. After being there about a year he went to the old Vulcan Iron Works, and while employed there had an offer of a position as master me- ehanic on the Western Pacific Railroad. He run the first locomotive during the construction of the first twenty-two miles of the road, and when the completion of the first twenty-five iniles was made the road was sold to the Cen- tral Pacific Company and further work was stopped. Mr. Worth then returned to San Francisco and went to work in the Union Iron Works as a journeyman, and after being there six months was promoted to assistant foreman. While acting in this capacity he was sent to the New Almaden Mines as chief engineer, where he remained about three years, when II. J. Booth & Company, proprietors of the Union Iron works, induced him to take a position as chief engineer in the Eberhart Mills at White Pine, which at that time was the largest mill in the country. He was here, however, only a few months. After completing the mill he left and took charge of the machinery department as foreman and superintendent in the Union Iron Works, who employed about 500 men, where he remained for ten years. The firm sent him to Alvarado for the company and took charge of the ereeting of the machinery in the Beet Sugar Works, remaining there four months, complet- ing the erection of the works. He then re- turned to this eity and for three months was superintendent of the company's machinery warehouse. Hearing that the foundry and machine shops at Petaluma were for sale, he came here and purchased them. He is devot- ing the most of his time to the manufacture of bis wine machinery, having seenred four patents of his own invention, and at the present time is at work on another. Mr. Worth's first wife died in June, 1873. He was married again in De- cember, 1876, to Mrs. Mary A. Lapum, a native of Napanee Canada. By his first marriage there were two children, who died in infancy, and three now living, Arthur, Frank and Cora. By his pres-
ent wife he has one child, William Ellison. Mr. Worth was appointed to the board of city trustees May 12, 1888. He is a Mason, having joined the Mission Lodge of San Francisco in 1865, and was demitted from that lodge to the Petaluma lodge in 1880.
OHN G. UNDERHILL, deceased, was born in Marshall County, Tennessee, April 11, 1831. In 1843 his parents removed to Greene County, Missouri, a county then passing through the early stages of its history. In that county Mr. Underhill spent the following nine years in farm labor. Attaining his majority, in 1852, with an ox team, he set out on the long, weary overland journey to this State, being six months en ronte. He was not long in deter- mining upon Sonoma County as his future home. The winter following his coming he built, for a man named Armsby Elliott, the first house ever ereeted in Rincon Valley. This was upon the farm afterward owned and occupied until his death by Mr. Underhill. Upon the estate still owned by the family the old house still stands, used as part of a barn. Mr. Under- hill planted the first orchard in Rincon Valley. Energetic and ambitious, he led in many a new enterprise, and was one of the first in this part of the State to commence the breeding of thor- oughbred horses. Ile was a great lover of that noble animal and devotedly fond of the turf, and to his eredit we record that no horse owned or controlled by him was ever started in a race for any other purpose than an honest trial of speed. Thoroughly honest and true in all else, Mr. Un- derhill made racing no exception. No suspicion of being a turf gambler ever attached to him. Going back to his early life in Sonoma County, we record that Angust 9, 1855, Mr. Underhill married Miss Millie Dunbar, daughter of Alex- ander and Mary Dunbar. She was born in Dade County. Missouri, April 23, 1839, and came to California with her parents in 1849. They set- tled in Glen Ellen. Both are now deceased, their
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
last years having been spent in San Luis Obispo County. In the year 1863 Mr. Underhill es- tablished his residence near the head of Rincon Valley on the farm where. as before stated, he had erected the first dwelling-house in the val- ley. The work of improving the estate of 400 acres of choice land progressed year by year. The comfortable, commodious cottage residence standing on an eminence gives a fine view of the lower valley. Few rural homes in any coun- try are more picturesquely located. There Mr. Underhill passed away August 9, 1882. Few men in Sonoma County were more widely known, and sufficient be it to say, he had no enemy. Ten years he served his district as school trustee. For many years he affiliated with Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 53, I. O. O. F. Upon the estate Mrs. Underhill and a part of her family reside. She is the mother of seven children, viz .: William, born May 29, 1856. is engaged in the livery business in Santa Rosa; Charles, born September 15, 1857, resides with his mother and is the manager of the estate; Kate. born November 9, 1858, died August 3, 1885: Mary, born March 16, 1560; Sarah, born October 7, 1861: John Lea, born January 16, 1870, and Neva, born June 9, 1877.
RANCIS C. WRIGHT, of Russian River Township, has a handsome farm of 125 acres, on the main highway between Wind- sor and Healdsburg. Of this land he has seven acres in grapes, mostly foreign varieties, with some Mission grapes, and ranging in age from two to four years. There are also on the place some 600 fruit trees, mostly pears, apples, peaches, nectarines, almonds, etc., and nearly all in bearing. It is his intention to engage more extensively in fruit culture. The farm has a good location. convenient to markets, and the land is of excellent quality. The place presents an attractive appearance, and all the improve- ments have been made by Mr. Wright. Mr. Wright is a native of New York City, born
May 5, 1845, his parents being Captain John T. and Eliza (Lawrence) Wright. His father was a large ship-owner and was the possessor of many vessels engaged in the merchant service. Among them may be mentioned the well-known Daniel Webster, Andrew Johnson, Peerless, America, Globe, etc. He brought the Seabird around Cape Horn to California in 1849. IIe made this State his home for a number of years, but just prior to the war he returned to his country seat at Throg's Neck, New York. There he lived until his death, which occurred Novem- ber 1, 1868. IIis wife had preceded him to the grave, having died at Long Island, February 1, 1852. Francis C. Wright was educated at Flush- ing, Long Island. His early life was spent in pursuits dictated by his pleasure, sometimes with his father at sea, again at home. He was married at Santa Rosa to Miss Catherine Kel- ley, a native of Pittsfield, Massachusetts. They have three children, viz .: Frederick Lawrence, Walter Francis and Flora Agnes, Mr. Wright is a member of the Presbyterian church.
LEXANDER W. RODGERS, deceased .- This esteemed and honored citizen, for many years a resident of Petaluma, was a native of Bedford County, Pennsylvania, and was born February 5, 1516. His mother was Rachel Cessna, a native of Pennsylvania, born February 7, 1797, and was an aunt of Hon. John Cessna, who for many years was a Congressman of that State. After her marriage to Elias Rodgers, the father of the subject of this sketch, death soon separated them, after which she became the wife of Samuel B. Jackson, of Kentucky. She moved from Kentucky to Ohio, and from there to Indiana, thence to Ilolt County, Mis- sonri, and from there to Council Bluffs, Iowa, where she died January 1, 1581. Alexander Rodgers was the only child by her first marriage. lIe grew to manhood in Ohio, and was married in Indiana, in 1841, to Mary Rogers, a native of Franklin County, that State. Ilis wite's
W. L. Dickenson.
:
" BROOKSIDE," RINCON VALLEY. RESIDENCE OF W. L. DICKENSON.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
maiden name was the same as his, but spelled differently. After a residence of a few years in Indiana, he moved to Andrew County, Missouri, and engaged in the flouring mill business until about 1850, when he removed to Savannah, Missouri, and conducted a livery stable and stage line between Savannah and St. Joseph until 1854, when, on account of ill health, he elosed his business there and eame to California, crossing the plains and arriving in Suisun, Solano County, in the fall of the same year. Ile had a residence there of about two years, during which time he was elected justice of the peace, holding the office till the fall of 1856, when he removed with his family to Petaluma. Hle turned his attention to buying and selling grain for about three years, after which he en- gaged in farming, and was so employed until 1868. He then established himself in the real estate business in Petaluma, and followed this until his death, July 15, 1873. Hlis farm of 160 acres was just south of the town, a part of which is now within the city limits. His wife lived until November 3, 1885, when she passed away at the age of fifty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Rodgers were the parents of eight children, of whom all are deceased but one daughter and a son, J. P. Rodgers, of this city.
R. WILLIAM L. DICKENSON, proprie- tor of " Brookside Villa," in Rincon Valley. The life of the subject of this sketch is so interwoven with the history of the American oceupation of California, with the war which led to its acquisition by our government, of the opening up of this sunny land to Ameri- can civilization, and to the laying broad and deep the foundations of its present and ever- inereasing prosperity, that it is fitting that a brief review should be given in this historic work. Dr. Dickenson was born in the State of Tennessee, in February, 1831, son of G. D. and Isabella Dickenson. Ilis earliest recollections are connected with life in Western Missouri,
where his parents settled in 1834; there his boyhood days were spent; there his rudimentary education was received. His father, a man of great force of character, and endowed by nature with the qualities which fit men for leaders, and withal a man whose sterling worth and business qualifications commanded the respect and conti- denec of all who knew him, was possessed of a daring spirit of adventure; and, having heard much of the genial skies, healthful elimate and fertile soil of the far-away Mexican province of California, he was led by the same restless ambi- tion which led him from the old State of Ten- nessee to the frontier State of Missouri, to organize a band of hardy emigrants for the long journey over almost trackless plains, mountains, and deserts, to this eoast. May 1, 1846, a train well supplied for the long journey, with ox teams, under the command of Captain Dicken- son, left their rendezvous near Independence, Missouri. At first about fifty families were together on the route, and a portion of the time near them was the ill-starred Donner party, whose sad fate so tragically illustrates the dan- gers and perils liable to be encountered in com- ing to California in those days. However, Captain Diekenson and those who remained under his charge after many battles with In- dians and other hardships, safely reached Santa Clara Mission November 1, the same year. The reader will the better realize what such a jour- ney of six months means when he refleets that now, over steel roadways, drawn by the iron horse, the journey from ocean to ocean is made in as many days ! They found the country in the turmoil of war, William L. Diekenson, whose name heads this sketch, though but in his sixteenth year, at onee offered his services and enlisted in the company commanded by Captain Aram, and in the closing scenes of the drama in Northern California, which were enacted in Santa Clara Valley, he did his part gallantly and well. Ilere the writer must digress to pay a tribute to the American volunteer. It was not the paid soldiery of the United States army that wrested this glorious land from Mexican
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domination, but the volunteer. The hardy American settlers, strangers to military disci- pline but trained to the use of the ritle, sprang at once to arms, and from the raising of the " bear tlag " to the end of the war were its heroes. To the hardy meu who had braved all the dangers of coming here, the work of wresting this land from Mexico was but a pastime. Captain Dickenson, father of the subject of this sketch, and his family remained at Santa Clara Mission until peace came with its protection. He then went to Monterey, and there burned the first kiln of briek and erected the first brick house built in California. The building still stands in a good state of preservation, near the Custom Hlonse. In 1848 the family moved to the mines on Weber Creek, later to the South Fork of the American River, thence to Mormon Island, thenee to Mokelnmne, and to Stockton in 1849. There Captain Dickenson erected one of the pioneer hotels, the " Diekenson Ilouse," and by General Riley, military Gover- nor of California, was appointed prefect. In 1552, with his family, he removed to Stanislaus County, and, securing a large traet of land, he located on the Tuolumne River and established what was afterward known as "Diekenson's Ferry :" also built and conducted a hotel. There many years Captain Dickenson led an active lite, engaged in stock-raising and general farming. He was one of the leading men of that seetion and one of the most honored citizens. Besides be- ing postmaster many years, he held many posi- tions of public trust, serving several years as justice of the peace and associate judge. His death occurred in Mereed County, in 1872, at the age of sixty-six years. For his manly integrity, kindly nature, and genuine hospital- ity, he will be remembered while life lasts, by all pioneers and early settlers who knew him well. His widow survived him but two or three years, her death ocenrring at San Jose in her sixty-seventh year. The names of her six chil- dren living are: James, who resides in Fresno County; William L., whose name heads this sketch; Samuel, of Fresno County; George W ..
in Merced County; Mrs. Lney Stoneroad, in Las Vegas, New Mexico; and Mrs. M. E. Law- rey, a widow, who resides in Monterey County. Doetor Dickenson, the subject of this sketeh. has been in the fullest sense of the word, the architeet of his own fortunes. Deprived, in a large degree, of the early advantages for an education so common to all youth of to-day, he not only became liberally educated but also proficient in the practice of the highest science known to eivilized man. He commeneed the study of medicine under the preceptorship of Dr. Z. C. Graves, at Kingsville, Ashtabula County, Ohio; remaining with him three years, and afterward was a teacher at the Mary Sharp Institute, in Tennessee, one year and later eom- pleted a course under Professor Goodnough in Cleveland Commercial College. He also studied with Dr. T. D. Johnson, of San Jose, for some time. Returning to California early in 1554, he commenced an active professional and busi- ness career, and laid the foundations of the pros- perity which he now enjoys. Always interested in public affairs, he, while never aspiring to high public position, has been somewhat promi- nent in the councils of the Democratic party. Loyal to the Nation and devotedly so to the State he helped to acquire and build up, he ad- hered to his party throughont the civil war. and was elected to the General Assembly of the State from Stanislaus County, and was one of the nine Demoerat e members of that body. At San Jose. August 28. 1865. Dr. Dickenson was united in marriage with Miss Lnella Johnson, daughter of his medical preceptor. From 1565 to 1873 he was engaged in the practice of his profession at San Jose. Ile then abandoned a professional life and removed to San Francisco, since which time he has been engaged in the management of his large estates, having one tract of 21.000 acres in Stanislaus and Merced counties, devoted to grain eulture, and one of grazing lands near Las Vegas, New Mexico, containing 13,000 acres. He also owns valuable property in San Francisco. For many years he has lived at the Palace Hotel in San Francisco, but in April,
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1888, purchased and expects to ocenpy as a sum- mer residence, " Brookside Villa," three miles cast of Santa Rosa on the Sonoma road. This is the finest rural home in Sonoma County: 140 acres of choice valley land makes the ranch one of importance in view of its prodnetions. Fifty acres are in orchard and twenty aeres in vine- yard. In the orchard are to be found 4,000 Bartlett pears, and several varieties of plums, apricots, peaches and prunes. The vineyard is mostly devoted to the Zinfandel wine grape. The magnificent building improvements erected by a foriner owner, Mr. F. R. Wetmore, were built in 1884-'85. The residence is commodi- ons and substantial. The eminence upon which all the buildings stand gives a view of the picturesque Rincon Valley, stretching north ward and to the right and left, unequaled from any other stand-point. One of the most noticeable features of the place is the large building three stories above its basement, intended for canning fruit and the manufacture of jelly. It was built without regard to cost, $23,000 having been ex- pended upon it. As yet it has never been used for its intended purpose. Besides the residence ocenpied during a portion of the year by Dr. Diekenson and his family. there is another fine commodious two story dwelling-house, and a neat cottage of moderate dimensions. The grounds, possessed as they are of great natural original beanty, enhanced as they have been by the expenditure in their improvement of $80,000, make a charming rural home.
OHN W. WARBOYS, one of Santa Rosa's most prosperons and prominent business men, is an Englishman by birth, but came with his parents to America in 1854, when three years of age. He is the second of twelve ehil- dren, all now living, of John Warboys, who. on arriving in this country settled in Genesce County, New York, where the family still re- sides on the farm he first purchased. After finishing a course in the publie schools, the sub- 23
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jeet of this sketch attended the State Normal School four years. Ile then engaged in teach- ing for some time, and in 1>76 crossed the con- tinent to California. Considerable difficulty was experienced in obtaining employment, but he finally secured the school in Fairfield, Solano County, which he taught a year and a half. Upon leaving the school Mr. Warboys passed a short time in the mines, and in the latter part of 1877 went to Oakland and embarked in the drug business, continuing until he came to Santa Rosa in 1981. In locating here he bought the drug store of Walter Hall, on the north- west corner of Fourth and B streets, where the Santa Rosa National Bank now is, and three months later moved to his present store at 509 Fourth street. This store is 25 x 60 feet in size, with a laboratory and wareroom in the rear, and is probably the finest furnished and prettiest drug store in interior California. The counters, which are of Warboy's own designing. are constructed of plate glass, with the interiors arranged for displaying fine goods, and hence are all splendid show cases of mammoth size, filled with choice faney and toilet articles. prodneing a very novel and beautiful effeet. Mr. Warboys carries a large stock of pure and staple drugs, chemicals, patent medieines and toilet goods, and gives special attention to compound- ing preseriptions. The store is centrally located and does a large volume of business. Mr. War- boys is one of the charter members of the Santa Rosa board of trade and is its secretary; is au active member of the Masonie and Odd Fellows orders. also of the A. O. U. W. In the spring of 1858 he was elected to the city council on the Republican ticket. and is one of its most active and efficient members, laboring with con- scientions zeal for the material and moral wel- fare of the city. In 1552 Mr. Warboys married Miss Jennie Lemon, daughter of John B. Lemon, a prominent farmer and stoek-grower of Solano County, where he settled before the birth of Mrs. Warboys, and is now ( 1558) treas- urer of the county. Mr. and Mrs. Warboys have one child, a son, and reside in a cozy home
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.
on Fourth street, enjoying themselves as they proceed on the journey of life. Mr. Warboys is now, and always has been, a strictly temper- ate man.
HOMAS LAKE HARRIS. Perhaps to no other man is Sonoma County more in- debted than to the subject of this sketeh for illustrating what capital combined with well directed energy ean do in converting the appar- ently barren hills into lands teeming with wealth and abounding in beautiful homes. No one passes over the highway leading from Santa Rosa to Healdsburg without noticing with great interest the Fountaingrove estate lying in the foot-hills on the east side of the beautiful val- ley, two and one-half miles north of the first named city. Upon a platean, approached from the highway by an avenue winding its way over an easy and almost uniform grade. stands the palatial residence of Mr. Harris. Near it is the residence of others associated with him. which is also a grand structure, and a little east stands the massive winery, a three-story brick building, 132x112 feet, heated by steam and furnished completely throughout with the best of modern machinery. This establishment has a capacity for the storage of 600,000 gallons. The ontput for 1555 was over 200,000 gallons. A brief history of .the development of " The Fountaingrove Vineyard and Winery " gives the following facts. In 1875 Mr. Ilarris was compelled to leave the East on aceonnt of failing health, and decided to make Sonoma County his home. Ile pur- chased 700 aeres of land, 200 acres of which was located on the flats, or what was then swamps, in the valley west of the Healdsburg road and opposite his residence. Ile soon commenced a system of drainage. Twenty-three miles of tiling fitted 200 acres of this land for a wheat erop, and in 1979 over fifty-three bushels per acre were harvested. The planting of vineyards and orchards was energetically pushed forward
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