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 55
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on the hills, and the purchase of additional lands made until the estate assumed. magnifi- cent proportions, now comprising nearly 2,000 aeres, all of which when purchased was in a state of nature. At this writing (1558) over 400 aeres are in vineyards and a somewhat less number of aeres in orchards, nearly all of bear- ing age. The vineyards are stocked with wine grapes principally, though the choicest of table grapes are raised. In the orehards almost every variety of indigenous fruits are found. From the valley the estate reaches over five plateaus to the summit of the mountain known as the "Vine Mountain," and again as the " Harris Mountain." From the Healdsburg road a wind- ing road (passing over one-quarter of a mile to the residence) leads three miles through a succes- sion of vineyards to a mesa on the top of the mountain, 300 aeres in extent, from which a view of the ocean may be had from the west. On the northeast the estate borders upon a crest of rocks overlooking the beautiful Rincon Val- ley. In this property a capital of over $300,000 is represented. Mr. Harris also owns, north of this property, 400 aeres as yet unimproved. The " Fountaingrove Vineyard and Winery " is. in the possession of Lay, Clark & Co., of New York and Santa Rosa. The Fountaingrove wines have established a distinguished reputa- tion abroad for purity and excellence; being ranked in merit with the superior French Bur- gundies. Agencies for their sale are established in London, Liverpool, Manchester and Glasgow, Great Britain. Their principal sale is, however, in the Eastern States, the depot and cellar being at 62 Vesey street, New York. under the man- agement of Jonathan W. Lay, senior partner of the firm. An illustrated journal, the Fountain- grove Wine Press, published in Santa Rosa and New York, is devoted exclusively to these viticultural interests. Ray P. Clark is the resi- dent general manager, while the junior partner, Kanaye Nagasava, formerly of the Japanese legation at Washington, assumes the general charge of the vineyards. Dr. John S. Hyde, M. D., well known as an eminent expert in
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wines, exercises a supervisory charge of the wines in the cellars. In closing this sketch a passing mention of the life of Mr. Harris, be- fore coming to Sonoma County, it is fitting should be made. He dates his birth at Fenny Stratford, England, May 15, 1523, and is a de- scendant in the fifth degree of Leonard Ilarris, an officer under Cromwell, who was present at the execution of the unfortunate Charles I. The family trace their descent from a Welsh knight, who, at the expense of his own life. saved the life of King Edward IV at Agincourt. and whose dead body was knighted upon the field of battle, in 1445. Thomas Harris, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a mer- chant who came to the United States bringing his son with him in 1527. After living in New York City for a time, he removed to the interior of the State. The mother of Thomas Lake Ilarris died when he was quite young. In the fullest meaning of the words he may be called a self-made man, commencing life for himself at eleven years of age. Ile became largely his own teacher, and at an early age he showed strong religions tendencies and a poeti- cal imagination. At seventeen years of age he began to write for the press and soon became known as a frequent contributor. At twenty- two he became the pastor of the congregation now worshiping in the Church of the Divine Paternity, on Fifth avenue, New York City. Failing health compelled him to relinquish his trust and the eloquent Rev. Dr. E. H. Chapin became his immediate successor. The writings of Mr. Harris at this early period and afterward attracted attention in the New York Tribune, Knickerbocker, Graham's Mag- azine and other popular periodicals of the time. He was also for several years editor of the Gurel at Albany, and of the Herald of Light, New York. - In 1861, after having spent some years in Europe, he purchased property in Dutchess County, New York, where, at Amenia, he established the First National Bank. Selling his interests in 1867, he established himself on the shores of Lake Erie in western New York,
becoming the owner of large landed properties. From there Mr. Harris came to Sonoma County. He has been a great traveler and has many times visited Europe. During the reign of the Commune in 1571 he was in Paris. Mr. Harris is the possessor of perhaps the most extensive library in northern California. Much of his time is spent in scientific researches and the pursnits of literature. IFe is the author of sev- eral works both of poetry and prose, and they exhibit a mind of extraordinary power and cultivation.
PICTOR PIEZZI .- This well known and successful dairyman is a native of Tesin, Switzerland. He dates his birth from April 12. 1553. His parents, John and Lucia (Piezzi) Piezzi, were also natives of Switzerland, and his father, a mason by trade, lost his life in the mountains of that country, having been frozen to death when Victor was about eighteen months old. Until the age of fourteen the subject of this sketch attended the public schools and received a good education. At that age he engaged in farm labor and the herding of stock, which he continued until 1569. In that year, at the age of sixteen. he emigrated to the United States. Immediately upon his landing in New York, he started via the Isthmus route for San Francisco, at which place he arrived June 3, 1569. After a short stay there he came to So- nota County, and engaged in work for Ben Sartori on the Winfield Wright dairy farm on Russian River. He worked for Mr. Sartori until 1572, and then went to Marin County, where he continued his occupation as a dairy- man until the fall of that year. He then pro- ceeded to Contra Costa County and took up the occupation of a miner in the MIt. Diablo coal mines, remaining there until 1574. He then returned to Sonoma County and entered the employ of Mr. Winfield Wright. The next year he entered into partnership with I. Sartori. They rented land from John Walker, near Sebas-
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topol, and established a dairy of fifty cows. Mr. Sartori afterward sold out his interest to Will- iam Irwin. In 1577 Mr. Piezzi was united in marriage with Miss Lnwella Wiley, daughter of John and Lucy (White) Wiley, pioneers of Sonoma County and residents of Green Valley. The partnership between Mr. Piezzi and Mr. Irwin existed until 1878, when he purchased his partner's interest and sinee that date has conducted the enterprise alone. In 1851 he purchased 160 aeres of land located on the Healdsburg and Petaluma road. Ile still rented the Walker lands and constantly enlarged his business and increased his landed possessions until he is now (18SS) the owner of 480 acres of productive farming land, situated on the Healdsburg and Petaluma road, in the HIall School District, about five miles west of Santa Rosa. Mr. Piezzi although devoting most of his attention to stock-raising and dairy business is still interested in fruit and vine culture. lIe has a fine orchard of twenty acres, producing Bartlett pears, apples, peaches and plums, and many other varieties. He also has twenty aeres of vineyard. in which are nearly twenty varieties of wine and table grapes. The rest of his land is devoted to hay and stock purposes. Hle is greatly interested in improving the cattle stock of Sonoma County, and has some splendid speci- mens of shorthorn Durhams, at the head of which is the famous bull " Fingermark." His stock has been awarded several premiums in the agricultural fairs of Sonoma County. Hle is also raising some good draft and road horses. The products of his well known dairy are first- class in every respect, always commanding the highest market price. Ile has several times exhibited his dairy productions in the State and county fairs, where he has carried away the first prize. Among the improvements on his dairy farm is a substantial dairy 16 by 28 feet, and a cellar 20 hy 20 feet, well supplied with pure cold water. Mr. Piezzi is a practical dairyman, well schooled and versed in all that pertains to his calling. Ilis success in the business is due, to a large extent, to his personal supervision
over all the details in the management of his dairy. Mr. Piezzi came to Sonoma County a poor boy, with no capital but sterling honesty and manly qualities coupled with energetic and industrious habits. They have rendered him snecessful in his calling and secured him a fair competency, and what is more than that, they have gained him the universal respect and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances. He is a member of the following fraternal societies and orders: Evergreen Lodge, No. 161, I. O. O. F., of Sebastopol; Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 44, I. O. O. F. of Sebastopol; Santa Rosa Encampment, No. 53, I. O. O. F .; Santa Rosa Lodge No. 87, K. of P .; Santa Rosa Divi- sion, No. 18, of the same order; Santa Rosa Lodge. No. 2208, K. of H .: Santa Rosa Grove. No. 47. U. A. D. Ile is a Past Arch of this Grove, and is now (1885) Grand Guardian of the Grand Grove of California, also District Deputy Arch of District No. 34. Ile is a school trustee in his district, and has for the past three years served as the clerk of the board and district. In politics he is a strong and consist- ent Republican. Mr. and Mrs. Piezzi have the following children: Lucy, born June 16, 1879: Julins J .. April 5, 1581; and Benjamin Victor, January 7, 1856.
APTAIN DANIEL G. JEWETT, of Healdsburg, is a native of Maine, born at Palmyra, Somerset County, December 1, 1830. his parents being David II. and Hannah (Gale) Jewett. Both parents were representa- tives of old New England families, the paternal and maternal grandfathers of Daniel G. JJewett having both removed from New Hampshire to Maine. The subject of this sketch was reared to the age of sixteen years at the place of his birth; his parents then removed to Madison, Wisconsin. There he grew to manhood, and on reaching the age of twenty-one years he started ont for himself, going to work in the pineries. Ilis work there was varied with carpentering
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and contracting until the breaking out of the Civil war. The first signal of the country's danger found him ready to offer his services in defense of the tlag, and in April, 1861, his name was enrolled as a volunteer under the three months' call issued by President Lincoln. He proceeded to Camp Utley, Racine, Wisconsin. where it was found that his services could not be accepted, as the State's quota had been filled from other places, thus barring him and others out. His patriotic ardor was not dampened by this condition of affairs, and he took advantage of the first opportunity to enlist in the three- year service, being enrolled in Company I, Fourth Wisconsin, as a private. He proceeded with his command to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, where muskets were served out, and then the regiment went to Baltimore, and were stationed at the Relay House, and in detachments guarded railroads, bridges, and the Pikesville Arsenal. In the fall the regiment, with others, went on the Eastern Shore expedition, being on the pur- suit of Wise. Returning to Baltimore, at Patterson Park they ereeted the Wisconsin Barracks. In the spring of 1862 they took passage opposite Norfolk, on the Great Eastern, for Ship Island, the regiment having been assigned to Butler's Division, Nineteenth Army Corps. After Farragut had passed the forts at New Orleans, and the city had been siezed, the regiment went there as a part of the army of occupation. The monotony was broken during the summer by the movement up to Baton Rouge, and the next service of the command was on the first canal undertaken to flank the defenses of Vicksburg. While there, Captain Jewett witnessed the passage of the first Union gunboat under the guns of the rebel Gibraltar. The following winter was spent at Baton Rouge, where he was engaged during the Confederate attempt to take the city. From there he went to New Orleans, and was very sick in the hos- pital when the regiment went on Banks' Red River expedition, and it was only on their re- turn that he again joined his command, just before the investment of Port Hudson. From
the 27th of May, when the advance on Port Hudson commenced, he was six days under fire with his command. Ile was in the raid to Clinton on the 3d of June. He led Company I, of the Fourth Wisconsin, in the assault on Port Hudson of June 14th, his regiment and the Eighth New Hampshire being in advance. Ile led his company to the ditch in front of the batteries, which they gained before daylight. A charge of buckshot was fired at him, one ball grazing his arm and entering his thigh. While still standing in the same position, looking down the line, he saw a Confederate soldier looking over the works at him, with his piece ained. Ile raised his own revolver to fire, but was too late, and the musket ball of the Confederate struck him full below the left eye, passing out behind the ear, a part of which member was taken off. All that day he lay where he fell, unconscious. When he recovered his senses it was night, but he saw lights moving about, and he was soon a prisoner. He remained in dur- ance until July 5th, the day of the surrender. He was furlonghed, but remained in the service about a year, and was mustered out June 24, 1864, at Sparta, Wisconsin, his wounds having left him in too battered a condition to allow of further service in the war. From Sparta he came to California in September, 1869. After three months at San Jose he came to Healds- burg. On his handsome place there are nine acres of choice fruit, the varieties being apples, peaches and plums. There are two acres of grapes which had been planted previous to his purchase of the place. The attractive appear- ance of the place is due to the taste and pains of Captain and Mrs. Jewett. Their marriage occurred at Milwaukee, Wisconsin, September 22, 1863. Mrs. Jewett was formerly Miss Mary Merrill, a native of Maine, born in Glenbourn, near Bangor, and daughter of Andrew and Mary (Cummings) Merrill. Her father died in Maine, but her mother, who was born in 1800, is now living in Wisconsin. Mrs. Jewett is a lady of fine intellect; was a promoter of the Loyal Ladies' League, No. 4, Healdsburg (now Roan-
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oke Circle, No. 4, Ladies of the G. A. R.), and was its first president. She was elected senior vice of the State Department in 1887, and held the office one year. Captain Jewett is a mem- ber of Rod. Matheson Post, G. A. R., of Healdsburg, and is a past commander. His record in the war was one of honorable service and promotion. He was appointed Sergeant of his company while yet-in Wisconsin, and at Baltimore, in December, 1861, was commis- sioned Second Lieutenant. His commission as First Lieutenant was given him at Baton Rouge, and as Captain at the same place in August, 1863.
J. LUDWIG .- The study of human character, as presented in the life-history " of the successful man, is always both in- teresting and valuable. affording, as it does, to others, and especially to the younger genera- tions, a series of practical lessons and examples of what should be done to make " life worth liv- ing." This is especially the case where the biog- raphy presented is that of a self-made man, one who, in the face of odds and difficulties that would deter most, yet manfully presses his way onward and wins vietory from defeat, reaping the sweet fruition of success from the sterlie field of opposition and obstacle. It is always the most acceptable duty of the biographer to be assigned the pleasant task of writing the life of such a one, and such a one par excellence is the gentleman whose name heads this sketeh. Ile is a man of indomitable will, of persistent energy, of wonderful business capacity, and pos- sesses that most admirable quality of regarding difficulties and discouragements rather as the spur to greater effort. than to yield to them in despair. Mr. Ludwig is descended from an old German family long resident in the State of Pennsylvania, where his parents lived near Carlisle until the year 1523, when they removed to Seneca County, Ohio, and settled at a point near the city of Tiffin. It was there that Mr.
Ludwig was born in 1841. His father's name was Daniel Ludwig and his mother's maiden name was Miss Julia Frost. Mr. Ludwig re- mained at home until he reached his majority, obtaining his education from the schools of the neighborhood, but gaining much more benefit from the correct bringing up at home, and the knowledge that a quick judgment gave him with increasing experience. From early childhood he displayed a most remarkable aptitude for construction and mechanismn, and this proved to be the dominant and motive power in shaping his after career. At twelve years of age he began to learn the earpenter's trade, and at seven- teen he had full charge of a gang of men as fore- man, and from that time to the present has been actively engaged in the building and contract- ing business. In the year 1861 he married, the bride of his choice being Miss Mary R. Wolf, also a native of Seneea County, and a playmate of his youth. He then set out for himself, en- gaging in contracting and building in Seneea, Wyandot and adjoining counties, making his headquarters in and about Mccutchenville. This he continued for some six years, when he perceived that the field was too limited for the full scope of his genius, and accordingly re- moved to Kansas City, then in the full flood of its early boom days. During the five years of his residence there, which lasted from 1867 to 1872, he was undoubtedly the heaviest contract- or and took and carried out the largest under- takings in that city up to and at that time. In 1872 he decided to seek a more congenial eli- mate and removed to Colorado Springs in the State of Colorado. During the eighteen months stay in that pleasant little town he was busily engaged in his profession, putting up among other buildings the well- known hotel, the Mani- ton Mansions, still the finest hostelry of that seetion. Finally, in 1874, he made his final change to this State. removing hither with his family, and locating permanently in Santa Rosa, the " City of the Roses." The coming of Mr. Ludwig to Santa Rosa has been a public bless- ing, and in faet it is currently said that " he has
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built the city," and that " he has done more for Santa Rosa than any other man." That this is true one cannot help believing who will only take the trouble to inquire who erected these buildings by which the eity is adorned. From the graceful and elegant Athenænm Building and the substantial business blocks of the busi- ness center to scores of the handsome residences and endless numbers of smaller constructions, all of them have been built by T. J Ludwig. In fact, every one of the fine brick blocks for which Santa Rosa is noted have been erected by Mr. Ludwig with the exception of two only, while hundreds of beautiful dwellings all attest his skill and energy. From the day he first arrived in the city he has held the front rank in his profession, and almost without a competitor. The mode of doing business is an entirely new one, and so meritorions that we give some little detail. Possessing a remarkable talent not alone for the carrying to completion of prepared designs, but as well, a singularly correct concep- tion of the principles upon which the different systems of architecture are based, and having extended practical experience in combining them, he makes rough designs of buildings, with dimensions, etc. These are dashed off hastily, but not erndely, and then passed into the hands of a skilled draftsman who is employed for the sole purpose of elaborating these designs, and completing the plans. Seores of these finished plans are kept in his office and are open to the inspection of those contemplating building, for the purpose of making a selection. It may be stated here in passing that his office is one of peculiarly good taste and elegance and is hand- somely and appropriately fitted and furnished. In 1885 he converted his shops which stood opposite his home on B street, into a first-class livery stable, by almost rebuilding them. In connection with Mr. George C. Tuttle he is now running what is undoubtedly one of the best and most modern livery stables in the State. But the lines mentioned do not include the full round of Mr. Ludwig's activities; for, besides being by far the greatest builder and contractor
in this part of the State, if not the country, and interested in a livery stable, he is very exten- sively engaged with others in the manufacture of brick. They are at present turning ont 4.000,- 000 a year and for a long time have been produc- ing nearly as many. Much of this great product is employed by Mr. Ludwig in the erection of his own buiklings. Ile was a joint owner, also, until last spring, in the Santa Rosa planing mills and lumber company, one of the largest and finest mills on the Pacific slope, which con- verts millions of feet of the beautiful and valu- able redwood timber into house furnishing materials of every kind. They own extensive limits of redwood in the coast range. Of course in all these varied enterprises a great force of men is employed, causing a continuous stream of money to flow into the hands of the business men and others, and promoting in a marked degree the prosperity of the section, or we may almost say, creating it. Ile disposed of his interests in these mills last spring, how- ever, in order to pay all his attention to his enormous and growing business of building in
all its various departments. In September, 1887, he purchased thirty-one acres of land, formerly owned by Mr. Spridgeon, which lay southwest of Santa Rosa. This has been laid off into 128 building lots and goes under the name of Lud- wig's Addition to Santa Rosa. It has been ex- tensively improved in the way of graded streets skirted by shade trees, and upon the lots which have each a frontage of fifty feet have been erected and sold some of the most elegant resi- dences in Santa Rosa, and as this addition lies
only an easy ten minutes walk from the center of the city, it is becoming the choicest residence quarter. A most noteworthy home residence of great beauty and elegance has been lately erected there by Mr. Harry Brown, certainly the finest.of its kind in the city. Mr. Ludwig also owns sixteen acres immediately south of that tract, which he has laid off into seventy-two town lots, and has already ten buildings con- strueted upon it or now in course of completion. Two miles southwest of the city he owns 160
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acres which has been laid off into five and ten acre tracts, and is now being planted out in fruit trees of various kinds, such as pears, plums, etc. Mr. Ludwig is a great faneier of fine horse flesh, and owns one of the most complete and valuable stables in the interior of the State. Being a good judge of the desirable " points " in an animal, he has purchased promising eolts and developed them into animals of great value. Ile recently sold a pair of Belmont mares for $1,600, and a horse of the Alexander breed, for which he paid $400, he sold soon after for 82.000. " George W," a full brother of the latter. with a record of 2:40 as a two-year-old, is still owned by him and valued at 85.000. The date of Mr. Ludwig's marriage has already been given. They have had five children, of whom three sons are living and a son and a daughter deceased. The home of Mr. Ludwig on B street, opposite his office and stables, is one of great beauty and elegance, and will bear comparison with the handsomest residenees in Northern California. Mr. Ludwig is a man of the very highest type of American manhood, manly, direct, and go-ahead, with a pluck and energy that cannot be beaten down. He is a man of fine personal appearance, every feature glowing with individuality and ideas all his own, and possessing a strength of character all his own, and that magnetism which earries convic- tion with his every act, yet withal he is kindly in disposition, generous and public-hearted and beloved by all. The citizens of Santa Rosa, as well as himself, feel a pride in his accomplish- ments, and as they look along Fourth street from the City Hall and the Santa Rosa Bank, which is by all means the handsomest and most attractive building in the city, down along to the depot, and recollect that every brick build- ing on both sides of the street with a single ex- ception of the Oceidental Ilotel, are all his work, they cannot help a feeling of elation at the tremendous energy of one man, who has almost built a city. At the time of writing he has under construction no less than fourteen stores with residence flats above and nine eot-
tages in different parts of the city, and fifty buildings a year would be a low average for his work.
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