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 74

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 74

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

HARLES LEHN, of Russian River Town- ship, was born at Frankfort-on-the-Main, March 28, 1825, his parents being Louis and Kathrina (Schwing) Lehn. His father was an official of the German government, and had property at Frankfort, where the family resided. Charles Lelin was reared in his native city, and

502

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

received the advantages of a high school eduea- tion. His school days being over. he followed the pursuit of agriculture, and his father taught him the technology of irrigating meadows, to which department of engineering he subse- quently gave considerable attention. In 1852 he emigrated to America, sailing from Havre on the ship Advance, and landing at New York after a voyage of eighteen days. He remained in New York for some time, following succes- sively the pursuits of bookkeeper, wine mer- chant, etc. While a bookkeeper at Hollaher's showcase factory, No. 10 William Street, he had charge of the extensive business to a large extent. From the city he went out to West- chester County, and was for a year and a half on the farm of George Fehl, whose aequaint- ance he had formed in New York City. In 1855 he came to California, via Panama, land- ing at San Francisco from the Golden Age August 16. He went to see his brother, who was on a ranch near San Jose, and remained there a short time, but observing no flattering prospects for himself, he went to the city of San Jose, and laid ont a place for Judge Belden. On the day of the festival in honor of the successful laying of the Atlantic eable, he started for Frazer River, but on arriving at San Francisco, friends dissuaded him from his purpose. He formed the acquaintance of a man from Peta- luma, who made him an offer to take charge of a vineyard near Santa Rosa, which he accepted. Ile remained there until 1861, and during that time mannfactured wines. Ilis work there was of such a character as to attract attention, and Captain Cooper made an agreement with him by which Mr. Lehn was to lay out for the captain ten acres of vineyard and two aeres of orehard. Hle advocated the planting of foreign varieties of grapes. but the captain feared the experiment, so the Mission variety was used. He improved the place and remained in charge until Captain Cooper's death, and for some time after. In 1873 he located where he now resides, on a raneh of ninety-two aeres, which is about three and a half miles from Windsor. Forty

aeres are in grapes, the vines ranging in age from three to fifteen years. They are Sauvignon Vert, several varieties of Chasselas, Grey, Johan- nisberg, Franklin and Traminer Riesling, the latter variety being the finest in the vineyard. His winery was built in 1872, and has a capacity of about 80,000 gallons, including the enclosed passageway surrounding the main structure. The present vintage is in the neighborhood of 16,000 gallons per annum, which will be in- ereased as all the vines come into bearing. He prunes closely, and while this method curtails the yield of grapes it conduees to a nineh finer quality of wines. In view of these facts his wines have an excellent reputation and com- mand a ready market. Mr. Lehn was married in Santa Rosa to Miss Johanna Stratman, a na- tive of Hanover, Germany. They have four children, viz .: Louis, who is superintendent of the Hotelikins winery; and William, Adele and Stella, at home. Politically, he is a Republican.

- HIOMAS S. WINTER. of Mendocino Township, has a ranch of 160 acres on Dry Creek, which he purchased in No- vember, 1886, and removed onto it the same year. When he bought the place there were between five and six aeres cleared, but he has eighteen acres under cultivation now, the most of which is in vineyard. He also has an aere of elingstone peaches, which will be grafted to free- stone varieties. It is his intention to plant six aeres in olives in 1889. Mr. Winter is a native of Nottinghamshire, England, born October 16, 1857. He was educated at Spring Valley Gram- mar School, and in 1874 went to sea on the Three Brothers, going first to Liverpool, thenee to New York, and afterward in the China and East India trade for about six years, being with eleven different ships. On giving up sea life, he returned to California, locating in Kern County, where he was for two years engaged in ranching, but finding that locality unfavorable to his health, he came to Cloverdale, and from

503

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

thence to his present location. He was married at Alameda to Miss Beatrice Hutchinson, a native of England, reared in Derby, and whose parents were for four years residents of Sonoma County, and then returned to England. Mr. Winter is a member of the Episcopal church.

R. M. C. FARRAR, of Healdsburg, is a native of Vermont, born at Fairfax, Frank- lin County, July 23, 1830, his parents be- ing James and Diana (Chappel) Farrar, the former a native of Vermont, and the latter of Canada. When the subject of this sketch was but one year old, his parents removed to Straw- bridge, Lower Canada. and six years later, to Highgate, Vermont. When he had reached the age of sixteen years he went to live with his uncle, at St. Johns, Lower Canada. He after- ward located at Geddesburg, New York, where he resumed the study of medicine, began in Vermont. In 1859 he came to California, via Panama, arriving at San Francisco November 28. He soon went to Amador County, where he practiced his profession and resided near Jackson for about a year and a half. IIe then went to the Caribon country, British Columbia, remaining one summer, then returning to San Francisco. From 1862 to 1869 he fol- lowed mining and practiced medicine in Idaho, Washington Territory and eastern Oregon. He then located in Humboldt County, bought a ranch, opened a drug store, and attended to both interests, as well as practicing his pro- fession, until coming to Healdsburg in 1881. He still retains a ranch and herds of sheep at his old home. The year after coming to Healds- burg, he bought a ranch of twenty-one acres in Alexander Valley, on which he has made many improvements. This ranch has a good location and the soil is excellent. There are seven acres of fruit, planted in 1884, the varieties being pears, peaches, apples, apricots, prunes, ete. All the trees are in good condition and now coming into bearing. About thirteen acres are in vines,

from three to five years old. They are Mataro and Zinfandel. Dr. Farrar was married in Ore- gon to Miss Sarah Kniss, a native of Ohio. They have one child, Theodosia. The doctor is a member of the I. O. O. F., A. F. & A. M., and K. of P. In the Masonie order he has progressed as far as Chancellor Commander of the Knights Templar. Politieally. he is a Republican. Sinee coming to California the doctor has attended lectures at the best medical colleges on the Pacific coast. Ile graduated at the Medical College of the Pacific November 3, 1973, and his diploma from the Cooper Medical College bears the date November 4, 1882.

EORGE ZIMMERMAN. - Among the prominent citizens of Sonoma County whose personal histories are selected for representation in this volume is George Zim- merman, a man known extensively throughout the State for his extensive operations in cattle and live stock generally, and who has now been a resident of Petaluma for twenty-four years. Ile was born May 26, 1818, in Germany, but was reared in Amsterdam, Holland. He came to this country in 1839, landing at New York. Ile stayed there ten months and then removed to Philadelphia, and from there, in 1847, re- moved to Peru, Illinois, being always engaged in the butchering business. In 1852 he deter- mined to set out for California, and left Peru with a band of horses and cattle, and with his family and household effects in ox teams. lle lost a few footsore cattle on the plains, but ar- rived safely with the majority of the stock at Sacramento, where he sold all but one team of horses. With these he made his way to San Francisco and opened a meat market on the corner of Dupont and Green streets. It is still in existence under the old name he gave it of the Philadelphia Market, though it has doubt- less changed hands scores of times since he opened it. In March, 1853, he sold it out and began stock trading in the lower country, his

504

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

slaughter house, etc .. being at San Leandro, whence he carried the meat to retailers in the city by boat. In 1557 he removed to Tomales where he had purchased a ranch that is still his property. In 1864 he came to Petaluma, and has been a resident here since that time, en- gaged in butchering and the handling of live stock. Ile owns a fine property consisting of ten acres, at the head of D street, where his cor- rals, slanghter-houses, etc., are situated. Ile ships all his meats to San Francisco. Mr. Zimmerman was married in 1844 to Miss Louisa Nothwang, of Philadelphia. They have a family of six children. The eldest son, George H., assists his father in his business; the second son, who is named Charles, is a railroad engi- neer on the Southern Pacific; the eldest daugh- ter, Caroline, is the wife of Mr. Goldigger, the owner of a fine ranch at Tomales; the second, Julia, is married to G. Karevr, the boot and shoe dealer of Petaluma; the third, Hannah, the wife of C. F. Doehring, the proprietor of the U. S. Bakery, Petaluma; and the fourth, Hettie, the wife of L. Gross, plumber and tinsmith, of Peta- Iuma. Mr. Zimmerman is a staunch Democrat, having east his first vote for Van Buren in his contest with Harrison in 1840, and his last for Cleveland in 1888. He is a wealthy and pub- lic-spirited citizen.

HAUNCEY WIGHTMAN. - Among the well known orchardists of Analy Town- ship is the above named gentleman, a brief resume of whose life is as follows: Mr. Wight- man dates his birth in Rome, Oneida County, New York, December 13, 1829, his parents being Josialı and Silva (Button) Wightman, the former a native of Connectient and the lat- ter of Ohio. In 1834 his father moved to Will County, Illinois, and became one of the pioneer farmers of that section. The subject of this sketeli was early inured to the labors attending pioneer farming, and was deprived of nearly all schooling facilities, receiving very little school-

ing. Being of an ambitious and energetie dis- position, he sought every means to educate himself, and was not much behind those of his more fortunate associates who had the ad- vantages of the common schools. In fact he was far ahead of them in the practical affairs of life. IIe continued work on his father's farm until nineteen years of age, when he started in life for himself. After engaging in farm labor for about a year, he began threshing grain for the farmers of the neighborhood during the season and engaging in farming at other times. This he continued until 1852. In that year he came to California, by New Orleans and steamer route, arriving in San Francisco in June, 1852. Shortly after his arrival he located in Santa Clara County. Ile first engaged in farming, then finding the prospect good for his former occupation of threshing, he sought for machines, but none were to be had. He therefore ordered a threshing machine and forty fanning mills from the East, these arriving in January, 1553. In that year he rented 200 acres of land and en- gaged in wheat growing, and was also quite extensively interested in potato cultivation. Mr. Wightman was successful in farming; his crop of wheat averaged fifty-five bushels per acre. Ilis threshing machine was in almost constant requisition for months. He continued operations in that county until the fall of 1854, when, feeling satisfied with what he had accom- plished and gained, he elosed out his business in- terests and returned to Illinois. Upon his arrival there he purchased the old homestead and settled down to farm life. In 1856 Mr. Wightman was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Brown, a native of Pennsylvania. Mrs. Wightman's parents were George and Eliza (Whallon) Brown, residents of Will County, Illinois, but natives of New York. In the fall of 1877 the subject of this sketeli returned to California, bringing his family with him, and located in Sonoma County. Upon his arrival here he pur- chased eighty-five acres of land on the Sebasto- pol and Petaluma road, about three-quarters of a mile south of Sebastopol, and commenced its

505

HISTORY OF SONOMI COUNTY.

improvement and cultivation. Mr. Wightman brought to his new occupation of an orchardist the same energy and sound business principles that had characterized his ventures in other pur- suits. He soon cleared the land and planted both orchard and vineyard, about thirty-seven and a half acres in each. These are unequaled in Sonoma County, and he also interested him- self in fruit drying. He purchased the sole right of the Button dryer, and commeneed im- proving it. In this he was eminently successful. This dryer is now well known in the fruit grow- ing districts, and is conceded by all as one of the best family dryers. As an illustration of Mr. Wightman's success in his improvements, it is worthy of mention that one of his im- proved dryers six feet and six inches by three feet and eight feet in height (thirty-three trays) will properly and easily cure 1,000 pounds of green fruit per day. After ten years of labor upon this land, desirous of avoiding the cares attending its management, he sold the property to Mr. E. W. Hayden in 1887, and purchased eight acres of land of Martin Litchfield on the same road (Sebastopol and Petaluma) about one half mile south of Sebastopol. Ile has erected a fine cottage residence, stable, and workshop at this place and is now devoting his attention to the manufacture and sale of his improved fruit dryer. Mr. Wightman may well be styled a self-made man. His success in life-and he has secured a reasonable competency-has been se- cured by the energy, industry, and good sound sense that is characteristic of the man. During his life in the county. though comparatively brief, he has made many warm friends, and has gained the respect and esteem of his neighbors and acquaintances. An independent thinker, he has never allowed party feeling in politics to bind him, only so long as he thought the party right. Ile has been a supporter of the Whig, Republican, and Greenback parties, and may be styled an Independent. A strong supporter of the public schools, he has given his children all advantages in his power to secure to them what he was deprived of, a good education. He is a :

member of the Sebastopol Grange, Patrons of Husbandry. From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Wightman there are four children living, viz: Silas, May, Cora, and George. Silas mar- ried Miss Ida Parks of Illinois, and is now (1888) a banker in Henry, Dakota; May mar- ried William Gascoign, and they are living in Will County, Illinois; Cora married Frank Norton, a commission merchant in San Fran- cisco, residing in Oakland; George is engaged in stock-raising in Kansas.

HARLES RANGE was born in Washing- ton County, Tennessee, June 30, 1819. He was reared to a farm life and sehiooled in his native county. He there attained his majority and, soon after. September 7, 1840. wedded Miss Elizabeth 'E. Kelpper, who was also a native of Washington County, born December 31, 1822. In 1843 they emigrated to Macoupin County, Illinois, and, buying 480 acres of land, engaged in general farm- ing until 1862, in which year they made the overland journey to this State. They located in Solano County, six miles from Sacra- mento, and there engaged in agricultural pur- suits, With the exception of about one year spent in revisiting Illinois, Mr. Range resided there until 1867. In that year he came to Santa Rosa and bought a fine property of 200 aeres, one and one-half miles north of the court- house, and a short distance west of the Ilealds- burg road. There he now resides in his tastily arranged cottage home, surrounded by beautiful and well kept grounds. The increasing value of his land, and the demands of others needing homes, induced Mr. Range to part with all but fifty acres. Twelve acres of this are devoted to orchard with prunes as the leading fruit, though a variety of apples, peaches, plums, and pears are to be found. Retired from the cares of a large estate, Mr. and Mrs. Range are now living a quiet life. Their three children are well set- tled in life. Louisa, the eldest, is the wife of

500

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

J. B. Reid, and lives in the immediate neigh- borhood; John, who wedded Miss Ella Root, lives at Hollister, San Benito County; Columbus C. lives at Los Angeles. Neighborly and kind, honorable and courteous in dealings and inter- course with all, this worthy couple are respected and esteemed by all who know them. Mr. Range is connected by membership with no church. Mrs. Range was reared in the Presby- terian faith.

ULIUS DRESEL. The magnificent vine- yard, winery, etc., owned by the above named gentleman are well worthy of men- tion in the history of Sonoma County. He is the owner of about 200 aeres, partly of the well- known " Rhine Farm," located two miles east of Sonoma. This land is situated in a belt lying along the foot-hills, with a slope to the south and west. It is comparatively free from frost and is particularly suited to grape eulture. One hundred and fifty aeres are in vines of the re- sistant stock, grafted with the most approved varieties of wine grapes grown in Sonoma Val- ley, among which may be elassed the following: from Germany, Rieslings, Traminer, Gutedel, Kleinberger and Zinfandel; from France, Sem- illon, Sauvignon, Marsanne, Sirrah, Burgundy, Merlot and Cabernet. This vineyard was estab- lished by Emil Dresel, a brother of the present owner, in 1858, and was conducted under the name of Dresel & Co. until the death of Emil Dresel, in 1869, at which time the present owner took the place of his brother and continued the business under the firm name of Gundlach & Dresel up to the year 1875, and then under his own name, extending the winery to its present capacity of 250,000 gallons. The wines now grown are mostly white, which find a ready sale, and the spread of these wines over the eastern markets owes a good deal to the personal exer- tions of Mr. Dresel, who for many years contin- ned regularly to visit the States, introducing the product of the Sonoma vineyards. Hle sue-

ceeded also in procuring highly flattering judg- ments for samples of our California wines from the foremost connoiseurs on the Rhine, their good opinion giving satisfaction and encourage- ment to our producers. Mr. Dresel is a native of Germany, born in 1816. Ilis early youth was spent among the vineyards of Geisenheim on the Rhine. Ile was given a thorough edu- eation and studied law at Heidelberg, but could not enter upon its practice as a profession, for being a man of broad and liberal views upon governmental questions, he became involved in the political troubles of 1848, and to evade prosecution was compelled to leave his native land. He emigrated to Texas, located in the western portion of that State, and became one of its pioneer farmers. Ile was one of the first to raise without slave labor cotton, sorghum, wheat and rye, and to improve his flock of Mexican sheep with Saxon rams; he also planted as early as 1850 the first Riesling vineyard on the banks of the Guadalupe. Mr. Dresel con- tinned his residence in Texas, holding store in San Antonio during and after the war until the death of his brother, Emil Dresel, who left hin the vineyard before described. Ile then sold out his interests in Texas and took up his pres- ent home. Mr. Dresel has for the past twenty years been identified with the best interests of Sonoma County, and during his residence here has gained the respect of his associates. In politieal matters he is a staunch Republican, and was a thorough Union man during the war of the Rebellion, and that, too, while living in a seceded State, and at a time when it was any- thing but safe to avow such sentiments in the Southern Confederacy. His straightforward and manly course gained the respect at least of the enemies of the Union, and probably saved him from serious molestation. Mrs. Dresel died in Texas, in 1864, leaving three children: Carl, Helene and Gustave. Carl married Miss Rosa Gundlach, and resides upon the home- stead, of which his father has given him full eharge. It is to his energetie and intelligent management that much of the success achieved

507

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

is due. Gustave is a physician, and is practic- ing his profession in San Francisco.

IIOMAS C. PUTNAM .- This honorable gentleman and worthy citizen of Sonoma County is a native of Nova Scotia, where he was born in Colchester County, March 31, 1838. Originally, about 200 years ago, the Putnams came from the old country, possibly from England, and settled in Salem, Massachu- setts, and from there seattered along the Atlan- tie coast from Nova Scotia to the Carolinas. Whether they spring from one common source or not is a question that remains somewhat ob- scure. Timothy Putnam, grandfather of the subjeet of this sketeh, was born in Nova Scotia, his ancestors having moved there from Salen, Massachusetts. Timothy Putnam, the father of Thomas C., was born in Nova Scotia as wasalso the wife of his choice, whose maiden name was Ruth Dunlap. They made that their home un- til their deaths which occurred, Mr. Putnam's in 1852, and his wife's the year previous. They reared a family of eleven children, six sons and and five daughters. After the father's death the property was controlled by some of the older children, with whom the subject of this sketch remained until 1856. His education, up to the age of sixteen, was received at the public schools of Nova Scotia, after which his acquirements in this direction were received in a practical way and from the reading of good books. In 1856 he went to Boston, desirous of learning some trade. A guardian had been placed over him, and having secured his permission as well as the sanction of others interested in his welfare, he was permitted to manage his own course. He engaged in the carriage making trade with Amos Hurd, of Cambridge, near Boston, with whom he remained one year and a half, when, his right arm became lame in consequence of which he was obliged to give up work. Ilav- ing a little capital left him from his father's es- tate, he returned to Nova Scotia and engaged in 81

mercantile business for himself in a little coun- try store, which he condneted until March, 1860, when he sold the business and went to Austra- lia. There he engaged in mining and butcher- ing, then went to the New Zealand mines, where he remained until 1862. He then came to Cali- fornia, arriving in San Francisco in the month of August, and in the fall of that year went East to Nova Scotia, visiting in that locality un- til the spring of 1863. At that time he went to the Caribon mines in British Columbia, and remained there four years and a half, until the fall of 1867. During his mining experiences he was moderately successful; was one of the first gold hunters in New Zealand, when gold was first discovered there. Having seen some- thing of California, and always desirons of mak- ing it his home, as soon as he had collected a few thousand dollars, he came to Sonoma County and bought the ranch where he now lives, eon- sisting of 160 acres of choice valley land sit- uated in Vallejo Township. Of Mr. Putnam, we might say he has been moderately suecess- ful. He attributes his success to industry and economy and the conducting of his affairs on safe business principles He has been con- nected with the Bank of Sonoma County since 1882, and for more than the past two years has been one of its directors. Mr. Putnam was married in Nova Scotia on the 4th day of February, 1868, to Maria Ruthford, a native of that place, and whose ancestry is about as old as that of the Putnams. They were reared in the same village, and having known each other in their childhood days, are now happily wedded and are the parents of four children: William Foster, John Wesley, Ada and Milton.

LMONT BROOKS, senior partner of the dry goods and clothing house of Brooks & Loomis, No. 605 Fourth street, op- posite the court house plaza, Santa Rosa, came to California from Michigan, his native State, in 1852, being then but two years of age. Ilis

505

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

parents settled in Butte County, where they passed most of the remainder of their lives, and where he was reared and received his practical business edneation in a dry goods store. Ile was for many years engaged in merchandising in Forbstown in that county. In 1882 he came to Santa Rosa, and soon became a partner in the dry goods firm of Carithers, Brooks & Co., which relation continued until March 1, 1888, he then retiring from the firm to form the pres- ent co-partnership with F. C. Loomis. These gentlemen are well adapted both by nature and education for mereantile business. Their store, which is a model of order and attractiveness, is kept fully stocked with a variety of the ehoieest dry goods, clothing, furnishing goods and boots and shoes, the most of which are purchased direct from manufacturers or their jobbers at the lowest wholesale prices, and are sold at a small profit, as their business is eondneted on a cash basis. While every department of their stock is complete and well selected, the house makes a specialty of fine dress goods and eloth- ing, which in assortment and quality are not excelled. if equaled, in any store in interior California. Being affable, gentlemanly and honorable in their dealings with customers, the firm of Brooks & Loomis oeeupies a proud position among Sonoma County merchants in the esteem of the public. They employ two or three salesmen besides the proprietors, and their trade was between $40.000 and 850,000 the first year the house did business. Mr. Brooks is a member of the I. O. O. F. Ile married in Yuba County, California, Miss J. E. Waistell, in January, 1872. Mrs. Brooks is a native of Wisconsin.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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 74

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