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 70

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 70

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lowed up to 1856. He started the first dray and trnek in San Francisco, and used to hanl the sand for fort gunny bags during the vigilant committee times. Hle then came to Sonoma County and with his brother-in-law, C. A. Bodwell, purchased the land where he now lives. They cultivated the place together until 1864, when Mr. Lewis bought out Mr. Bod- well's interest. The farm contains 300 acres of upland, besides some 200 acres or more of marsh land. His principal business is dairying and stock-raising. Mr. Lewis became a Mason in 1868 and has worked up through all the different degrees to a Knight Templar. He was married in January, 1848, in Farmington, Connec- tient, to Elizabeth Bodwell, who died in 1866. The issue of this marriage was two children, one of whom died when only a year old. Charles W. Lewis, the only son, was born in 1554. He was married in the fall of 1874 at Unionville. Connecticut, to Miss Julia Davis, a native of that place. They have three children.

ENRY RASCHIEN was born in Vege- sack, Germany, in 1852, his parents being Henry and Annie Raschen, both natives of Vegesack. There he was reared, receiving a liberal education until about fifteen years of age, when his energetic nature and ambition induced him to launch out in life for himself. In 1866 he came to the United States. His first year in the new world was spent in New York, where he was employed as a clerk and bookkeeper in a large importing house. Still desirous of change, in 1867, he came to California and located in San Francisco. Upon his arrival in that eity he obtained employment in the well known Continental Hotel, corner of Montgomery av- enue, Pacific and Kearney streets. Here Mr. Raschen seemed to find an ocenpation well suited to his capabilities, and he was soon given full charge of the hotel, and in 1871 he leased the hotel and successfully conducted the same until 1878, when he established a ship-chan-

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

dler's store in partnership with L. Hoepken. After some months in this business Mr. Rasehen sold ont his interest, and again started in the hotel business in the Chicago Hotel, located on the corner of Pacific andI Battery streets. This hotel was conducted by him until 1882, in which year he came to Sonoma and leased the well known Union Hotel, of which he is now (1889) the proprietor. This hotel under his manage- ment ranks among the best in Sonoma County. A more genial, obliging and successful host than Mr. Raschen is not to be found, and this fact is well attested by the respect and esteem in which he is held by the traveling publie, as well as by the community in which he resides. In 1885 Mr. Raschen increased his business en- terprises in Sonoma by the establishment of a real estate and insurance office. His partner in this enterprise is II. II. Graniee, the editor of the Sonoma Index Tribune, and the firm name is Raschen & Granice. These gentlemen are con- dueting a suecessful business, and are the rep- resentatives of the New York underwriters, comprising the Hanover Fire and Citizens' Fire Insurance Companies of New York, also general agents of the German Benevolent Society of San Francisco. In politics Mr. Raschen is a staunch Republiean. He is a member of several social and benevolent organizations, among which are the following of Sonoma: Sonoma Lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F .; Bear Flag Lodge, No. 97, K of P., and Pueblo Lodge, No. 168, A. O. U. W. In 1877 Mr. Raschen was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Heimburg, the daughter of E. W. and Eva S. Heimburg of San Francisco. From this marriage there are three children living, viz .: Etta, Annie and Frederick.

AMES K. PIGGOTT, proprietor of the Souvenir Photograph Studio, came to Santa Rosa and purchased an interest in the Third Street photograph gallery, on the Sth of December, 1884, having previously learned

and pursued the business for a number of years in San Francisco. After being connected with that gallery for three years and a half, both as joint and sole owner, he sold his interest to his partner and present proprietor, William Shaw; and when the fine brick bloek on the southwest corner of Fourth and B streets was being built, he leased a large portion of the second story, which was arranged and fitted up especially for art rooms under his direction. Every one of the several apartments -- the recep- tion parlor, operating room, dark room, stip- pling room, printing room and finishing room- is admirably adapted to the particular purpose for which it was intended; and being supplied with new and latest improved instruments and appliances, the Souvenir gallery is one of the most complete in the State. Associated with him Mr. Piggott has employed Mr. N. HI. Templeman as finisher, and Miss Alice Holman as retoucher, both of whom possess superior skill in their respective departments, and Mr. Piggott, as an operator, has few equals on the Pacific coast. He makes a specialty of fine portrait work in all its branches, enlarging pictures in India ink, crayon or water colors. He also executes all classes of scenic work, stereoscopic and landscape views, in the highest style of the photographie art. His pictures have been awarded first prizes for a number of years snecessively at the Sonoma County fairs, and at the Sonoma and Marin fair in 1887. Sinee establishing his studio at the present location, the volume of business has steadily increased. Mr. Piggott is a native of Sonoma County, born twenty-eight years ago at Bodega, in the west- ern part of the connty, where his father, Dr. A. K. Piggott, settled in 1851, and for many years enjoyed a large medical practice there. Doctor Piggott emigrated from Illinois to California in 1844, and stopped a year on the American River in Placer County, before coming to Sonoma. Ile is now retired from praetiee and resides with his son, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Piggott is a past president of the Western Star Parlor, No. 28, of the Native Sons of the

HISTORY OF SONOMMLA COUNTY.

Golden West. He was a charter member of the Golden Gate Parlor, No. 29. of that order. II , is a member of the chapter in the Masonic order, and of the eneampment in the Independ- ent Order of Odd Fellows. Ile served three years in the California State militia as a member of the Fifth Regiment, infantry. On Thanksgiving day. 1885, Mr. Piggott was joined 'in marriage with Miss Mary Keenan, a native of Canada, and daughter of Michael and Elizabeth Keenan, of Santa Rosa.

AVID HARRISON PARKS was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania. No- vember 25, 1820, his parents being Will- iam 11. and Sirabeca (Boren) Parks, the former a native of Pennsylvania and the latter of Maryland. William HI. Parks was a blacksmith by trade. In 1524 he moved to Ohio and located at Bowling Green, Licking County. There the subject of this sketeh was reared and received his education. At the age of thirteen years he was employed in a hotel at that place. and continued in that employment nntil eight- een years of age. Ile then served an appren- tieeship in the millwright trade for three years, after which he devoted a year in attending school. In 1>42 he went to Marion County and engaged in farm labor for Judge Campbell. He remained there until 1844, in which year he located in Memphis, Tennessee, where he was employed at his trade for some time, and then was made superintendent of their mills and yards. After a two years' residence in Memphis he returned to Marion County. In 1847 he located in Wabash County, Indiana, engaging in milling and at his trade for some months. He then returned to Ohio, and located in Ross County, where he remained until the fall of 1548. In that year he went to New Orleans, but subsequently returned to Ross County, and from there went to Mahaska County, Iowa, and, with Hiram Natting, engaged in millwrighting. Ile finally located

at Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa, where he remained nntil 1850. May 8. 1850, Mr. Parks started across the plains for California. Upon his arrival at Conneil Bluffs, May 21. he was united in marriage with Miss Catharine liek- man, who with her father and family were crossing the plains. Her parents were Enoch and Mary (Hiekman) Hickman. They were natives of Kentucky, and deseendants of some of the oldest families of that state. After this marriage, his party, including his wife's people. continued their journey across the plains, and upon their arrival in California located in Yuba County, on the Honeut Creek, about twelve miles from Marysville. His father-in-law, Mr. Hliekman, and himself took up land and engaged in farming. Mr. Parks was also engaged in mining, and at times worked at his trade as a millwright. In 1853 he moved to Santa Clara County and located near San Jose, where he engaged in farming and stoek raising, but find- ing the land titles were very uneertain, and a constant source of litigation, he left that eounty and located at Whitlock, Mariposa County. There he established a boarding-house, and afterward bought ont Hoskins' store at that place and entered into mercantile pursuits. Mr. Parks at this time was possessed of very little capital; but he found a good friend in Mr. Abe Williams, who loaned him all the money he needed, and that, too, without any security. It is worthy of note that Mr. Parks was able to show his appreciation of this kindness, by doing Mr. Williams a service that saved him thou- sands of dollars. It happened as follows: In 1855, at the time of the failure of Page, Bacon & Co., the great bankers of San Francisco, Mr. Parks was in that eity purchasing goods. Immediately upon this failure being known in the city, he started for Mariposa County, where the bankers had a branch house, and in which he knew that his friend, Mr. Williams, had a large deposit. Ilis aim was to reach there before the regular mails or messengers that might be sent. He was sneeessful in his under.aking, and his friend was able to secure

JA BOU TON THEART'S DESIREORCHARD & NURSERY

AT-MERRICK-

Heart's Desire Orchard and Nursery.

Residence

RESIDENCE, ORCHARD AND NURSERY OF A. BOUTON.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

his money before the notice to suspend pay- ments reached the branch house, but in doing it Mr. Parks rode over one hundred miles without food or rest, getting breakfast and feeding his mule at Mr. Phillips's, and subsequently continued his journey to his own home, twenty miles distant. While in Mari- posa County, he also established a dairy, find- ing a ready sale for the products in the mines. In 1856 he drove his stock to Marin County, where he continued his dairy operations until June, 1858. He then came to Sonoma County and located in Big Valley, about a mile and a half northwest of Bloomfield, where he has since continued to reside. Upon his arrival there he purchased land and continued his dairy business, and also entered largely into general farming, making many improvements in build- ing, tree planting, etc. Of his original 600 aeres, Mr. Parks now (1888) retains but 135 aeres. Upon this he has a fine two-story resi- denee, pleasantly located npon high ground, which gives an excellent view of the valley below. Healso has large and well ordered out- buildings, all denoting his well earned pros- perity and sneeess. With the exception of about two and one-half aeres devoted to a family orchard, his lands are used in the pro- duetion of hay, grain and stock. Among the latter is a small dairy of about twenty cows. Ile also has some fine specimens of draft horses of the Norman stock, in which he takes a justly deserved pride. Ilis orchard is very produetive, and contains a choice variety of fruit, comprising apples, pears, plums and cherries. Mr. Parks has also landed interests in other seetions of the county and State, among which is 480 acres of timber land in Salt Point Township and 320 acres in Tulare County. In 1886 Mr. Parks went to that county and improved a seetion of land, which he sold at a good, round profit upon his investment. Mr Parks is a progressive, public-spirited citizen, esteemed and respected by the community in which he has resided for the past thirty years. Ile is a consistent member of the Methodist

church, and is also one of the prominent school trustees of the district, a position he has held for over eighteen years. Ile is a member of Vitruvius Lodge, No. 145, F. & A. M., and is a member of Santa Rosa Chapter, No. 45. In politieal matters he is a strong Republican, and was a strong supporter of the Union in the dark days of the Rebellion. From the marriage of Mr. and Mr. Parks there are six children living, viz .: Mary Ellen, who married William Me- Keen (sinee deceased), and who is now living in Marin County; William W., residing in Fresno County; Enoch IL., living in Mendocino County; John F., who is also residing in the latter county; Maria Catherine, who married IIenry Greyson, residing in Green Valley, and Lottie May, residing at home. The second child, Samantha E., married Mr. II. Coburn. She died in 1880, leaving three children, Brewer A., Caroline C., and Lawrence. These children are being reared and schooled by Mr. Parks.

ANDREW BOUTON, proprietor of the " Heart's Desire" Nursery, Washington Township, is a native of Cortland County, New York, born April 10, 1831, and a son of Nathan and Maria (Gee) Bouton. The family is an old one in this country, and his great- grandfather (on his father's side) was a soldier in the Revolutionary war. Both parents were natives of the Empire State, and the father who had a good farm, was also a surveyor and school teacher. Andrew Bouton was reared in his native county. At the age of twenty-one years he went to Steuben County and, in 1858, six years later, came to California. He chose the Panama route, and landed at San Francisco June 28, 1858. Ile proceeded to Marysville, retained there two months, and then went to Napa Valley to take charge of the Oak Knoll orchard. Here his experience in the fruit and nursery business in New York State stood him in good stead. For seven years he had control

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

of the orchard, and for the last two years of that time, of the entire Oak Knoll farm .. After severing his connection therewith, he engaged in the business of pruning, grafting and hand- ling the fruit from small orchards in the neigh- borhood. He was thus employed until 1868, when he came to Sonoma County and located on the ranch where he now resides, and which he had previously purchased. This ranch con- tains 120 acres of land, and is situated on the main highway between Cloverdale and Healds- burg, four and three-fourth miles north of the Southern place. Ten acres of the place is taken up by the Heart's Desire Nursery, which is the especial pride of Mr. Bouton, and which is a credit to him and to the county. The nursery was started on a small scale, in 1868, and did not attain large proportions until 1853, when Mr. Bouton decided to make it one of the im- portant factors in his business. He has made no attempt to repeat here the experiment so often attempted, of keeping in stock all varieties of fruit trees whether suited to the climate or not, but instead confines his business to such trees as his experience and observation have shown him to be best adapted to the soil and climate of the territory in which he sells. Two other important rules adopted by Mr. Bouton are the selection and use of the best and most hardy roots, and the use of the best systems of grafting known. Hle puts ont seedlings, graft- ing (not budding) them below ground, with the view of having the graft take root. The root which it has been grafted onto drops off, and the entire tree and its roots will be from the graft. While the splendid reputation which the nursery has acquired has made a market for most of its products in Sonoma County, es- pecially the territory tributary to Healdsburg, Geyserville and Cloverdale, yet Mr. Bouton does considerable wholesaling, and supplies nur- series and fruit growers at more remote points. Some 25,000 trees are sold each year, though the sale sometimes reaches figures considerably higher. Mr. Bouton has also an orchard of twenty-five acres, the trees ranging in age from

seven to twenty years, and all in bearing. There are twelve acres in cherries, ten acres in plums, prunes and peaches, and the remainder in apples. All these fruits have done splendidly, and yield abundantly. The Centennial cherries raised in the orchard are wonderful in size and beautiful in appearance. Mr. Bouton has cleared off ten acres of land which he will plant to cherries in the spring of 1889, and this acreage will be added to. The rest of the place is now pastured. The handsome residence which adorns the place was erected in 1885. It is elegant in design and very commodious, Mr. Bouton has been identitied with the Republican party since its organization, but he is strongly inclined to the enforcement of prohibition, being an ardent temperance worker. He is a member of the Presbyterian church of Healdsburg. He is secretary of the Geyserville lodge of Good Tem- plars, No. 166, and has been lodge deputy for three years.

FAMES II. CURTIS has a ranch of fifty acres just south of Healdsburg, which he purchased in 1866, moving on to it in No- vember of that year. The place is devoted to fruit culture and general farming. About twenty acres are planted to peaches, pears, płums, prunes, apples and other fruits, such as blackberries, raspberries, currants and goose- berries. The land is especially adapted to fruit culture. Ile finds a market for all his fruit in the canneries of Healdsburg, with the exception of some apples, which are shipped to San Fran- cisco. About eight acres are usually devoted to corn, which yields between fifty and sixty bushels to the acre, and never less than forty bushels. The alfalfa, of which his average crop is six acres, is cut twice a year, the two cut- tings turning ont about four tons per acre, the land being then in good condition for pasturage. Mr. Curtis is a native of Connecticut, born at Simsbury, Hartford County, June 12, 1825, his parents being Timothy and Sarah (McComb)

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

Curtis. The latter was a descendant of General McComb, and her father was an officer in the United States navy. The grandfather of Mr. Curtis, on his father's side, was a soldier in the Revolutionary war, and his father was a farmer. James H. Curtis was reared in his native town to the age of fifteen years. when he went to New York City, and secured a situation as clerk in a grocery store. Ile was afterward engaged in butchering. In the spring of 1848 he returned to Connecticut, and a few months later went to Madison County, Illinois, locating in the American Bottom. He had but forty- one cents in capital, and in the fall of 1849 hired out at $10 per month. In the spring of 1850 he worked for fifty cents a day, and later rented some land and raised a crop of corn. After two years there he settled on a farm on Looking Glass Prairie, when he continued torent land, raising corn, cattle, horses and mules. In the spring of 1854 he went East and spent the most of the season, having at this time accumulated over $7,000. In the spring of 1855 he started to California, making a part of the journey alone, and as far as Kearney, Nebraska, was in company with another wagon containing four Frenchmen. From Kearney to Green River there was quite a train, but from there to California there were but two wagons in his party. They came by way of Sublett's Cut-off and Grass Valley to Stockton, thence to Merced County, where he located on Merced River. In 1858 he removed to Smith's ranch, near Bodega, and engaged in dairying and farming. He was employed there until coming to his present location in 1866. Mr. Curtis has been twice married. His first wife, whom he married in New York City, was formerly Miss Eleanor Gallaway. His present wife was a widow, Mrs. Sarah Green, nee Miss Sarah Newman, danghter of Thomas and Martha Newman, of Oakfield, Perry County, Ohio, who has one son by her first marriage, James Green. Mr and Mrs. Curtis have two children, Edson and George. Mr. Curtis is politically a Repub- lican. He is a member of the Methodist Epis-

copal church, and is a steward and trustee of the local congregation. lIe also belongs to the local lodge of Odd Fellows, and has passed through all the chairs in subordinate lodge and encampment. Ile became a member of the Mechanics Lodge, New York City, in 1846. May 12, 1888, he visited Mechanics Lodge, and the brethren gave him a hearty welcome.

S. M. WRIGHT. Among California's pioneers of '49, and the early settlers of Santa Rosa. Valley, is the well known gentleman whose name heads this sketch. Mr. Wright was born in Boone County. Mis- souri, in 1822. Ilis father, Sampson Wright, was a native of Virginia, in early life went to Tennessee, and in 1818 located in Boone Coun- ty, Missouri. His mother, Elizabeth (Mullens) Wright, was a native of Tennessee. Mr. Wright was reared as a farmer, receiving only such an education as was afforded in the pioneer schools. Early in life he commenced to care for himself and while a youth of fifteen years was engaged in trading in stock, etc. At the age of twenty he began farming in Lawrence County, Missouri, to which county his father had moved a few years before. In 1945 Mr. Wright was married in Lawrence County to Miss Sarah Boone. She was the daughter of Nathan Boone, and granddaughter of the his- torical pioneer of Kentucky-Daniel Boone. In 1849 the subject of this sketch came over- land to California and located at Marysville. After a visit to the mines he established a freighting line, transporting supplies to the miners, and also trading and selling goods in the mining districts. He continued these en- terprises until the fall of 1850 in which year he returned, via New York, to his Missouri home. He remained there until the spring of 1853 and then began his second journey across the plains, this time bringing with him his family and be- ing accompanied by his father and mother. He also brought about 400 head of cattle. Upon

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

his arrival in California he located in Sonoma County, October 22, 1853, occupying land and taking up his residence about one and a half miles west of Santa Rosa, where he has since resided. Mr. Wright made an extensive pur- chase of land and entered largely into stock- growing and general farming, owning 4,500 acres of land in this county. He also engaged in mining operations at a later date in Arizona and Mexico. Mrs. Wright died in 1859, and in 1861 Mr. Wright was united in marriage with Mrs. Jarena (Brown) Clark, a resident of Solano Connty and the widow of Thomas Clark, a native of Tennessee. Mrs. Wright was born in Virginia and reared in Missouri. Mr. Wright has large landed interests in Sonoma County and in other sections of the State. His home farm, the place on which he first settled after his arrival in the county, contains 960 aeres of rich and productive valley land. With the exception of ten acres of orchard and vine- yard, it is devoted entirely to hay, grain and stock. Among the stock are 140 head of cat. tle, including a dairy of ninety cows, and twenty-five horses. Of the latter he has some fine specimens of draft horses from Norman stock, and roadsters from the " Whippleton ", stoek. The improvements upon this magnifi- cent farm are first-class in every respect. A large two-story residence, commodions barns, dairy and out-buildings attest the successful farmer. Mr. Wright owns 260 acres of land in Lake County, upon which is located the famous Saratoga Springs. He also owns a fine farm of 160 acres in the same county. During his resi- dence of thirty-five years in Sonoma County Mr. Wright has been identified with its best interests, and has aided in many ways the de- velopment of its resources. IIe is a consistent member of the Presbyterian church, and an earnest supporter of churches and schools. He was one of the founders of the Pacific Method- ist College at Santa Rosa, and has served for many years as a school trustee in his district. Politically he is a Democrat and in former years took a Icading part in the affairs of his party.

In 1874 and 1875 he was a member of the State Legislature. From his first marriage Mr. Wright has two children living, Sampson and Mahala. The latter married J. E. HIall, who is now (1888) U. S. Internal Revenue Collector, residing in Santa Rosa. Sampson Wright is engaged in mereautile pursuits in Santa Rosa, having an extensive furniture and carpet store on B street, between Third and Fourth streets. lie is the father of two children: Lathrop Boone and Girault Seott.

HOMAS MORDECAI. - Among the prominent business houses of Petaluma is found the boot and shoe house of Mr. Thomas Mordecai, the leading dealer in his line in the city. Mr. Mordecai is a native of the town of Cowbridge, South Wales, near Cardiff, where he was born August 13, 1851. He came to California in March, 1875, making his way almost directly to Petaluma, where he has resided ever since, and has been engaged in his present business. For the first year he was in partner- ship with another, but then started for himself. He has occupied his present commodious quar- ters for the past four years, having one of the finest sites on Main street, opposite Western avenue. Here he carries on a general business in boots and shoes and other goods of a similar line. Mr. Mordecai was married December 15, 1881, to Miss Eva Rachel Barlow, the daughter of S. Q. Barlow, a well-known and highly esteemed ranchinan of Two Rock Valley, near this city, a sketehi of whose life appears else- where in this volume. They have two children, a boy and a girl, both little children. Mrs. Mordecai is a native of Ellensville, New York, where she was born April 17, 1861. Mr. Mor- decai is a Republican of staunch principles and a believer in the snitable protection of American industries. He is strongly in love with the State of California, and especially with Peta- Inma, his chosen home. He is a gentleman of pleasant manners, irreproachable character, and

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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 70

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