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 67

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 67

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| until 1873, when he sold out and located in Sonoma, establishing a store and also engaging in the lumber business. Ile was uniformly successful in his enterprises, and his straight- forward dealing seenred him friends and enstom - ers. In 1880 he sold out his merchandise store and devoted himself to the lumber business and other enterprises; again, in 1883, he entered into general mercantile pursuits and estab- lished his present store. In 1872 Mr. Schocken was united in marriage with Miss Dora Baer, a native of Prussia. No children have blessed this nnion. Mr. Schocken has now four of his nephews in his family, viz .: Elias, Hyman, and Robert Pasch and Bernard Baer, in whom he takes a great interest, having established them in business. Politically, Mr. Schocken is a staunch Republican. Ile is a member of Temple Lodge, No. 14, F. & A. M.

AMES M. INILL .-- The subject of this sketch is a descendant from one of the old families of Virginia. His parents, William and Catharine (Wesley) Hill, were natives of Louisa County, that State, and his mother was a descendant of the great reformer, John Wesley. llis parents moved to Madison County, Ken- tucky, at an early date, where he was born April 3, 1810. His father died when Mr. Hill was but six years old, leaving the care and rearing of the family to the mother. In 1822 his mother moved with her family to Missouri, and located in Boone County, where she engaged in farming and stock-raising. Mr. Hill was early in life engaged in farm work, and brought up in the rugged life of pioneer settlements, his schooling being almost entirely neglected. Ile resided upon his mother's farm until he attained his majority, and, in 1831, married Miss Sarah Elston. Her parents were residents of Boone County, but natives of New Jersey. After his marriage, in 1832, he engaged in farming and stock-raising upon his own account, an occupa- tion which he followed until 1849. He was at-

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tracted by the glowing accounts of the easily acquired riches to be obtained in the Golden State, and in the spring of that year he left his family on the old homestead and started across the plains for California. Nothing of particu- lar interest was connected with this journey, and after months of slow and tedious traveling of the ox teams over plains and mountains he ar- rived in October, 1849, in El Dorado County. Upon his arrival he immediately commenced active operations in mining, which he success- fully conducted until 1852. In that year he went by steamer route from San Francisco to New Orleans, and from there returned to his old home in Missouri. Upon his return he sold his farm, settled up his affairs, and in the spring of 1553 started upon his second trip overland, taking his family with him. Upon his arrival in California he again located in El Dorado County, where he established a hotel and freighting line between Fiddletown and Indian Diggings, and was also engaged in mining opera- tions. He conducted these enterprises until 1856, when. desirous of some more congenial occupation, he determined to take up his old calling, that of a farmer. With this in view he came to Sonoma County, and located on the Russian River in Redwood Township, where he secured 137 acres of Government land. Upon this he took up his residenee and for many years devoted himself to clearing, cultivating and improving it. He continued his farming and stock-growing at this point until 1879, after which he was engaged in various occupations, among which was extensive stock-growing in San Luis Obispo County. He was successful in his various enterprises, and in 1884 pur- chased 640 acres of land in Mendocino County, which he stocked with 600 head of sheep. Mr. IIill is a resident of Forestville. His advanced age (nearly eighty years) has induced him to abandon the care and labor attending his ranch, and he is enjoying the well earned competency which his industry and energy have secured to him. He has always been an active and ener. getic citizen, and his success in life has been dne

to his well poised intellect and industrious habits rather than to any educational advantages he received in early life. llis long residence in the county has made him well known. lle is a strong supporter of enterprises that will build up and advance the interests of Sonoma County. In political affairs Mr. Ilill is associated with the Democratic party. He is a life-long Demo- crat, and at the same time exercises an intelli- gent and liberal view upon all the leading party questions. He is a member of Sotoyome Lodge, No. 123, F. & A. M., of Healdsburg. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. IFill there are but two children living, viz .: Emily, who is living on the old homestead on the Russian River, and Jemima A., who married C. D. Yarbrough, and is now (1888) living at Guerneville.

HARLES J. DUNZ, of Mendocino dis- trict, has a ranch which presents a notable instance of what may be accomplished in the way of improvement in a short space of time. This ranch, Laurel Hill vineyard and winery, comprises 344 acres, and is near the Dry Creek road, four miles from Healdsburg. When it was purchased by Mr. Dunz, in 1884, it was nearly all covered with timber, but now there are nearly 150 acres in vines, and all of most desirable varieties. They are Zinfandel, Burgundy, Mataro, Riesling, etc., and are all in splendid condition. Mr. Dunz commenced the erection of a winery in 1885, and has since added to it until it now has a storage capacity of 70,000 gallons. All his grapes will soon be in bearing, and when this is the case there will be a very large vintage from the crop raised on the place. The flavor of the wine made from grapes raised on this land is excellent, and lience a price in excess of the usual market rate is commanded. Mr. Dunz also has ten acres in fruit, the varieties being peaches, plums, apples, apricots, etc. Though young the trees show excellent growth, and are in healthy condition. About sixty acres is cleared and under cultivation.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

Mr. Dunz is a native of Canton Berne, Switzer- land, born at the foot of the Alps, in Thun, January 27, 1815. When a mere boy he lost his father by death. Ile was reared in his native country, receiving his education at the University of Berne. In 1846 he came to America and located in St. Louis, but in 1850 came to California via Panama, landing in San Francisco in March. He went to Sacramento in a whale boat, and was soon on his way to the mines of Coloma. From there he went to Placerville and Poverty Bar, where he was for a time in the mercantile business. He afterward was at the camps at Rich Bar, Yuba, and was interested at Long Bar. About ten years he was in the assay business in Nevada. Ile re- turned to his native land with two young native daughters of a friend for education. but after a residence there of six years came back to Cali- fornia and was for a time at San Francisco. Thence he removed to Santa Rosa, and two years later to his present residence. Mr. Dunz is a gentleman of no ordinary attainments, and has the trne old country spirit of hospitality.

AMUEL ALFRED NAY was born in Hancock, Hillsboro County, New Hamp- shire, February 18, 1830, his parents be- ing Gardner and Amelia (Simonds) Nay, both natives of New Hampshire. The tradition of the Nay family is that three brothers eame to this country from France and spelled their name Ney, and all the Nays that have been heard from are descendants of these three brothers. Gardner Nay had eight children in his family of whom one died early in life. Three of the sons and one daughter are now living in California. The family moved from New Hampshire to Illinois, where the father died, September, 1861, after which Mrs. Nay came to California and made her home with one of her sons, William J. Nay, until her death in 1878. Sammuel A. Nay made his home with his parents as long as he remained in that county. 28

When he was eighteen he commenced the car- penter trade and worked at it off and on until he was twenty-two years old. In 1852 he came to California, sailing from New York, February 26, on the steamer Georgia, as far as Cuba. It was discovered by this time that the boat was leaking so badly that it would be imprudent to proceed any farther in her; so at the port men- tioned they met the steamer Ohio, with which they exchanged passengers and cargo, and the Georgia returned to New York, while the re- mainder of the passage was made in the Ohio as far as Aspinwall, then by small boats up the river as far as Goggoner; thence over the mountains to Panama, where the journey was continued in the steamer L'anima to San Fran- cisco. After his arrival in San Francisco April 1, Mr. Nay looked around for something to do, and on one of his wanderings around the town saw a card stuck up in one of the windows advertising for teamsters. He applied to George Ensign of Marin County for the position and hired ont to him at a salary of $70 a month. This he thought big wages, just coming as he did from New Hampshire, and after working one month his wages were raised to $90, and the third month to 8100. Thus he continued till the month of August, when he was taken sick and was compelled to abandon teaming on account of the dust. After a fortnight he was employed, by the same man, in the mill and attended to one of the saws. The mill was running night and day, six hours period. After working there for abont a month, Mr. Ensign came to him and wanted him to drive the team again, as the other teamsters, not taking sufficient interest in the work, did not hanl logs enough to keep the mill running all the time, and he offered Mr. Nay his pick of five out of thirty yoke of oxen and $125 a month. Mr. Nay, not being able to stand the dust he would have to encounter, re- fused the offer and kept on at work in the mill until October, when he engaged in farming on his own account. He leased a piece of land in Marin County, in 1853, in which year there were a great many potatoes sacked up and

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rotted, there being no market for them, at least what there was did not offer a price that would net anything to the grower. Mr. Nay sold 100 sacks to the State prison, for $20. At the end of the first year's farming he was $300 in debt besides losing all his hard work for the year. The next year he farmed in the same county and hauled wood for his brother, William .I. Nay, at two dollars a cord. Ile put in a crop of potatoes the spring before and continued on that farm two years. The last year, 1855, was the year that potatoes commanded such a big price, four cents a pound. He then gave up farming for the time being, and with his brother William, went to chopping and hauling four- foot wood, which business they continued till 1558, when they bought some cattle and leased them out, and still continuing in the wood busi- ness for another year. They then bought more cows and went into the dairy business on the Seise place. They remained there two years after which they bought a ranch of 600 acres at Point San Pedro, where they followed dairying and hauling great quantities of wood off the place. In the spring of 1863 Mr. Nay bought his brother's interest in the place and ran the business one year longer. He then leased the ranch and stock and went back to the Seise place, purchasing more cows and running a larger dairy for five years, during which time he sold his ranch at Point San Pedro. Mr. Nay then came to Sonoma County in 1870, and purchased his present place. During this time he and his brother bought a large sheep ranch of 1800 acres, located beyond Guerneville, between there and the coast, which they con- ducted for eight years and then sold it. Mr. Nay has in his present place 131 aeres devoted to general farming and fruit raising. Ile has an orchard of about thirty-four acres containing principally winter fruit. Mr. Nay was married in November, 1858, to Sarah Eliza Winans, a native of Ohio. They have had five children, four sons and one daughter: Charles JJames, born March 14, 1860; IFeber Lewis, born May 9, 1861, who married Mary E. Crippen: Isa-

belle, born June 14, 1966, and died December 24. 1870; Frank Gardner, born October 26, 1871; Otto Rede, born March 8, 1874, and died in October of that year.

ILLIAM C. HILL. JOHN M. DICK- SON AND THOMAS C. GOODFEL- LOW, compose the dry goods and clothing firm of Hill, Dickson & Co., one of the most enterprising and prosperous busi- ness firms in Santa Rosa or Sonoma County. These gentlemen, who are all in the prime of manhood, have each had an extensive experience in this branch of mercantile life, and are thus conversant with every feature of the retail dry goods and clothing trade. The present co-part- nership was formed and their store opened for business in the Byington Block on Fourth street in 1856. Although their capital was limited and their stock not large, they are shrewd buyers as well as fine salesmen, and pur- chasing their stock at the lowest cash prices they were enabled to compete successfully with other merchants, and enjoyed a liberal patron- age from the beginning. The sales of the house during the first ten months of its history ag- gregated 852,000; and the firm doubled their capital. For the year 1SSS their sales reached $80,000. The store in the Byington Block being too small for their increasing volume of business, they moved the 1st of October, 18SS, into their beautiful and commodious store at No. 6 Fourth street. This store was enlarged and fitted up especially for their use, with all modern appliances and conveniences, including the Lam- son store service, the only one in the city, and is one of the most attractive and elegant. busi- ness rooms in the interior of California. The several departments, of dry goods, clothing and faney goods, are kept thoroughly stocked with the latest and best products of the loom and the factory, all of which are sold on small mar- gin of profit; and each purchaser so treated by the gentlemanly proprietors and their salesinen

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that he becomes a permanent enstomer. WILL- JAM C. IlILL left his birth place, on his father's farm in southern Ohio, at sixteen years of age, since which time he has depended entirely upon his own resources. Ile has traveled quite ex- tensively, visiting many States; had five years experience as a school teacher. Ile came to California in 1879, spent about three years in traveling over the Pacific slope, and, seleeting Santa Rosa as his future home, engaged in the dry goods business, working the first three years on a salary. He married Miss Emma Arnold, a native of Sonoma County. JOHN M. DICKSON was born in Kingston, Canada, and started in the dry goods business in his " teens " eighteen years ago, in Picton in the province of Ontario. He came to California in the spring of 1878, and to Santa Rosa in March, 1879. Mr. Dick- son married Miss Olive Spence, born in Sonoma County, and the daughter of an early pioneer in California. THOMAS C. GOODFELLOW is a native of the province of Quebec, Canada, and started to learn the dry goods business at sixteen years of age in that country. He left Canada and came to the United States in 1878, and was engaged in merchandising two years and a half in Virginia City, Nevada. Coming from there to Santa Rosa in 1881, he worked five years as a dry goods salesman before entering into the present ev-partnership. His wife was formerly Miss Kate Williamson, a native Santa Rosan.

OHN S. TAYLOR has for over thirty-five years been identified with the growth and de- velopment of Santa Rosa and the valley. As a farmer, stock-raiser and business man, he is well and favorably known throughout the county, and as the genial host of the White Sulphur Springs he has gained a large circle of friends throughout the State. Mr. Taylor has large prop- erty interests in Sonoma County. His extensive farm, containing about 1,400 aeres, is located just south and east of Santa Rosa and comprises some of the richest and most productive hill

and valley land in Santa Rosa Valley. He is the owner of the White Sulphur Springs, a well known summer resort which is located about two and one half miles from Santa Rosa. These springs are beautifully located near the base of Taylor Mountain, some sixty feet above and overlooking the eity and valley of Santa Rosa. flere Mr. Taylor has fitted up one of the most pleasing and comfortable resorts to be found in the county. In a beautiful and shaded grove he has built a commodious and well appointed hotel and cottages, also a number of bath-rooms, which are supplied with hot and cold mineral water. The mineral waters found here are rapidly coming into favor on account of their health giving qualities, and each year brings an increase in the health seeking patrons of this favored resort. Mr. Taylor's lands are mostly devoted to general farming. He has sixty acres in vineyard, producing Zinfandel and Mission grapes, also about eight acres of orchard. A large portion of his lands seem especially adapted to fruit cultivation, and in his orchard he is producing some of the choicest fruit in the valley. The farm is well stocked with im- proved breeds of horses and dairy cattle. He is also the owner of some of the finest business and resident property in the city of Santa Rosa. Ile was one of the founders and is now viee- president of the Santa Rosa Bank. Mr. Taylor is a native of Virginia and dates his birth in Pittsylvania County in 1828. His parents, Mumford S. and Mildred (Schackleford) Taylor, were descendents of the old colonial families of Virginia. In 1840 his parents moved to Mis- souri and settled in Ray County, where his father engaged in farming and stoek-raising. Mr. Taylor was reared as a farmer and remained upon his father's farm until 1849. In that year he engaged as a teamster and started across the plains for Santa Fe. From there he went to El Paso, Texas, and then across Mexico to Mazatlan, and thence by sailer to San Francisco, where he arrived in May, 1850. After work- ing a few days in that city he proceeded to the mines on the South Ynba River, and engaged

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in mining. Mr. Taylor followed that occpation with varying snecess until 1853. Hle then came to Sonoma County, located upon the lands he now occupies, and engaged in stoek-raising and farm- ing. For many years he condneted a large dairy upon his place, and also established a meat market in Santa Rosa. Ile was also en- gaged in extensive stock dealings in the county, and during the time developed the White Sul- phur Springs, and built up the resort he now ocenpies. Few have taken a more prominent part in developing the resources of this section of the county than has Mr. Taylor. Ile has ever been an earnest supporter of all enterprises that tend to advance the interests and growth of Santa Rosa and the valley. Politically he is a strong Democrat, taking an earnest interest in the success of his party. Although not an office sceker he was chosen in 1SSS by his party as its candidate for sheriff of Sonoma County. Ile is a prominent member of the Masonic fraternity and is affiliated with the Santa Rosa lodge, commandery and chapter. In 1876 Mr. Taylor married Miss Nannie Clark, the daughter of David and Martha (Berry) Clark, residents of Santa Rosa. Iler father is a native of Ohio and her mother of Tennessee. From this mar- riage there are two children, Zana Mildred and John S., Jr.

LEXANDER D. LAUGHLIN .- The sub- jeet of this sketch was born October 7, 1854, in Yolo County, California, near where the present town of Woodland is now located. To use his own language, "this im- portant event of his life occurred in an emi- grant wagon, having Iowa for its starting point and Mark West Creek, Sonoma County, for its destination." In due time he attended the pub- lic schools-the Sotoyome Institute at Healds- burg. then under the management of Professor J. W. Anderson, now of San Francisco. After- ward he became a student of the Pacific Method- ist College at Vacaville, and after its removal,

at Santa Rosa. In October, 1875, he began the study of law in the office of Johnson & Henley, that firm being composed of Attorney-General G. A. Johnson and ex-Congressman Barclay Henley. In 1877 he was admitted to practice law in the District Court of the Twenty-second Judicial District of California, but did notcom- mence the practice of his profession until 1879, when he was admitted to the Supreme Court. Sinee this time he has been engaged in the practice of law at Santa Rosa, and held the office of justice of the peace for three years. In 1884 he received the nomination by the Democratie County Convention for district at- torney. but was defeated by Darwin C. Allen, the Republican nominee. Mr. Laughlin is an enthusiastic member of the Masonic fraternity being past high priest of Santa Rosa Chapter, No. 45, R. A. M., and now master of Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 57. F. & A. M.

DWARD W. M. EVANS .- The gentle- man whose name appears at the head of this article, ocenpies a conspicnous figure among the younger business men of Petaluma, being in the lead in the marble and granite busi- ness in this vieinity. Ile deseends from a good North of Ireland family, and dates his birth in 1861, from the county of Tyrone, Ireland. When very young his parents moved to this country, and after visiting and examining var- ious parts of the continent, including Virginia and Colorado, decided fifteen years ago to make California their home. Eleven years ago his father, whose name is E. K. Evans, purchased a farm in this vieinity, where he was long a lead- ing agriculturist, and is now a resident of Alameda. It was in Petaluma that Mr. Evans learned his business of marble and granite eut- ting and gained the proficiency that he now possesses in the various departments of his trade. He bought out the establishment of W. S. Brown, formerly the Petaluma Steam Marble Works, and then, as it is now, the leading

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C. M. Scammon.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

establishment of its kind in this section. He makes a specialty of the finer imported Scotch granites, Italian marbles and other first-class work, and his stock is a large and select one. Being in direct correspondence with Scotch and Eastern manufacturers he is prepared to furnish granite monuments at prices absolutely below his competitors. He is a skillful workman and. permits nothing of an inferior character to leave i the works. He is assisted in the business by his brother, E. J. Evans, who is now learning the business. ITis establishment is situated on Maine street, l'etaluma, above the plaza, and all his work, whether for cemetery purposes, man- tels, wash slabs, etc., will be found first-class and at reasonable prices. He is a gentleman of pleasing address and a successful business man. Mr. Evans is a married man and has three children, all small.

SAAC E. SHAW, president of the Clover- dale Banking and Commercial Company, one of the active business men of northern Sonoma County, is a native of Potsdam, St. Lawrence County, New York, born October 24, 1829, his parents being Salmon and Esther (Ellis) Shaw, both of whom were born in Ver- mont. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native town and there received his educa- tion. In 1952 he went to St. Joseph, Missouri, and from there started for California on the 6th of April, in the train of Beam and Pugh. Their way took them by what was known as Sublett's cut-off, and they came into California via the old Carson route. Upon his arrival in this State Mr. Shaw, like a great many of the early settlers, went to the mines at Placerville, where he engaged in mining, subsequently going to the town of Weber, on the creek of the same name. There he remained until the following March when he went to Humboldt County, and engaged in logging on Elk River. After being thus employed two years, he went to Trinity County, engaging in mining on Trinity River,

near what was then known as the old Reese Mill. Two years later he went to Lewiston, and, with a partner, conducted a butchering business. This occupation claimed his atten- tion until 1860, in which year he went back to New York State, remaining there five years. Mr. Shaw returned to California in 1865, ard engaged in the forwarding business at Red Bluff, at the same time carrying on mercantil- business at Lewiston. In April, 1872, he came to Cloverdale, started in business, and the Clo- verdale Banking and Commercial Company, of which he is president, is the outgrowth of the store he then established. From that time lie has been an important factor in the business of this portion of the county. Mr. Shaw has been twice married, the first time in 1863, at Pots- dam, New York, to Miss Lonisa Smith. She died in Cloverdale, leaving two children, viz .: Charles B., who is in the hardware trade at Cloverdale; and Ella. His present wife was formerly Miss Minerva McCray, a native of Missouri, and daughter of W. Il. McCray.

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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 67

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