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 76
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RANK C. LOOMIS, dry goods and cloth- ing merchant, member of the firm of Brooks & Loomis, 605 Fourth street, Santa Rosa, is a native of Illinois, born in the city of Galesburg, from whence he came with his parents to California in 1858, then a boy six years of age. They settled in Santa Bar- bara when there were but three American fam- ilies in that place, and Mr. Loomis' widowed mother and several children still reside there. He started in to learn the dry goods business at the age of seventeen, and has been steadily en- gaged in that branch of mercantile life for nine- teen years. In the year 1877 he came to Santa Rosa and entered the employ of D. N. Carithers & Co., and ocenpied the position of foreman of that dry goods house for eleven years, np to January 1. 1888, when he formed the copartnership with Elmont Brooks and opened their store at the above number. Their
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stock comprises dry goods, clothing, furnishing goods, hats and boots and shoes, of which they keep a well selected assortment in every depart- ment. The superior quality of their goods, their reasonable prices and honorable method of dealing have created confidence in the minds of the people generally, and their business has been prosperous from the start. Situated as this popular firm is, in the beautiful, growing capital city of this great county of Sonoma- the garden of America-with its marvelous pro- ductiveness and rapidly developing resources, there are few mercantile houses in the State that have so promising a future. Mr. Loomis is a member of the order of the Free and Ac- cepted Masons, and of the Knights Templar local commandery. He was united in wedlock with Miss Rose Green in January, 1884. Mrs. Loomis was born in Canada. Sherman Loomis, the father of the subject of this sketch, was a native of Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. The old gentleman died in Santa Barbara County in Jnne, 1886.
EORGE E. JEWETT was born in Mentor, Lake County, Ohio, February 15, 1820. ITis father, David Jewett, was a native of New Hampshire, who located in Ohio in 1818. His mother, Mary (Bosteder) Jewett, was born in New Jersey, her parents being of French de- scent. In 1834 his father removed to LaGrange County, Indiana, where he resided until 1838. Hle then moved to Henry County, Iowa, and in 1843 went to Marion County in that State, where he took up government land and engaged in farming and stock-raising. The subject of this sketch was reared in pioneer settlements, and early became inured to the hard labor and privations attending pioneer life. IIe was nat- urally a mechanic and soon became a skilled wagon maker and carpenter. His educational facilities were limited to the common schools, but with characteristic energy and ambition he schooled and educated himself with the aid of
such books as he could procure. In 1847 he entered the office of R. Matthews, M. D., as a medical student, which he left in 1849. In 1849, when the gold fever swept over the land, Mr. Jewett's pioneer instinct and desire to im- prove his condition, led him to seek the new El Dorado, and in the spring of that year he started across the plains for California. Ilis employment upon this trip was driving the typical ox team. He was a good shot and skilled hunter, and consequently was often em- ployed as the hunter for his party. After the long and tedious journey across the plains was accomplished his party arrived in Sacramento October 5, 1849. Upon their arrival Mr. Jewett left the party and located in Plumas County, where he engaged in mining until late in the fall. He then located in Tuolumne County, where he pursued the same occupation. For the next two years Mr. Jewett was engaged in various mining enterprises. His success was such as always attends that precarious call- ing-one day with riches in prospect and the next day seeking new fields because the previ- ons prospects had vanished. During this time he also engaged in trading in stock and mining supplies, and in freighting stores, etc., to the mines. Ile was fairly successful in these en- terprises, and in 1860, Inred by the exaggerated stories of the riches of the Washoe mines in Nevada, he proceeded to that place, and there engaged in his old calling as a miner. This venture was unfortunate and not meeting with anything but losses in his enterprise he deter- mined to abandon mining and seek some more congenial and surer road to wealth. In that same year, 1860, Mr. Jewett came to Sonoma County and located at Stony Point, where he engaged in farm labor, and afterward worked at his trade as a wagon maker for Mr. Windom. Hle worked at his trade until 1864, when he en- tered into farming and dairy operations near Petaluma. This business he successfully con- ducted for many years, or until 1881. In that year he located in Green Valley, Analy Town- ship, where he purchased eighty-nine acres of
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fine fruit land at Forestville, upon which he took up his residence and engaged in agricult- ural and horticultural pursuits. This land was almost entirely unimproved at that time, but Mr. Jewett entered heartily into fruit and vine cultivation, in addition to his general farming, until now (1888) he has as fine an orchard and vineyard as there is in his section of the valley. His vineyard consists of twenty-four acres of wine grapes of the Zinfandel variety, and a family vineyard of table grapes containing the most approved varieties grown. Ilc has a fine orchard of eight acres, containing apples, peaches, pears, apricots, French prunes, nect :- rines, plums, cherries, etc. Both the orchard and vineyard show the intelligent care and at. tention bestowed npon their cultivation, and Mr. Jewett is well paid for his trouble, for they are very productive in yield. The rest of his land is devoted to hay, grain and stock. Of the latter he takes a just pride in some fine speci- mens of horses of the Norman breed, and also cattle, which are improved by Ayrshire and Durham stock. In his farming and fruit culti- vation Mr. Jewett is guided by the same sound reasoning and business principles that have served him so well in other enterprises. He is a firm believer in the future prospects of his section of the county, and is justly proud of the success that Green Valley has attained in orchard and vineyard products. An energetic and progressive citizen, he is always ready to aid any enterprise that will promote the inter- ests and welfare of the community in which he resides. He is a strong supporter of schools and churches, and has long been a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and has served for about twelve years as a school trustee. In politics, he is a life-long Democrat, but is lib- eral and conservative in his views, always sup- porting the best elements in his party. Mr. Jewett is also prominent in the following orders with which he has been associated for many years: Lafayette Lodge, No. 126, A. F. & A. M., of Sebastopol; Forestville Lodge, No. 320, I. O. O. F. (a charter member), and Fern Leaf
Rebecca Degree Lodge, No. 116. I. O. O. F., of Forestville. In 1862 Mr. Jewett was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Dahlman, a native of Germany. From this marriage there are eight children living, viz .: David L., Eunice May, Emma Lonisa, Frank W., John Egbert, Robert Enoch Lee, Ida J., and Carl J. David is now (1888) residiinng Iowa. Eunice May married John H. Lawrence and resides in Santa Rosa. The other children are residing with their parents. The first child, Alice J., who married John Blake, died in Bloomfield, in 1888, at the age of twenty-five years. The third child, Lydia Angusta, died in 1887, at the age of twenty years.
DRAYEUR & BRO. are the proprietors of the "Two Brothers" Wine Store Vaults, of Healdsburg. The business was established in 1884, at which time a build- ing was erected, and the first vintage was turned out in that year. In 1885 a larger building, 45 x 75 feet, was erected and they now have twenty-five storage tanks of 1,500 gallons each. Under the residence of N. C. Drayeur is another storage cellar of 35,000 gallons capacity. About 20,000 gallons are nsnally kept for aging. They find a market for all the product of the winery in St. Louis and throughout the East. Great care is used in the selection of grapes and in every process of manufacture, and the result is a high standard of wine. Their vintage took the premium for Sonoma County wines at the Platt's Hall Exhibit of the State Viticultural Society, a result highly complimentary to the Messrs. Drayeur. Auguste and N. C. Drayeur were born in Department of Loraine, France, their parents being John Baptiste and Catherine (Thuret) Drayeur. Their paternal grandfather, a soldier under Napoleon I., was mayor of the town of Emling. Their grandfather on the mother's side was a wine merchant. The father of the Drayeur brothers died in France, and in 1946 the family emigrated to America, locating
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in New York City, and later moving to Newark, New Jersey. Auguste Prayeur was born Oeto- ber 11, 1841, and was but a child when the family came to this country, and was mostly reared in New York. On New Year's day, 1860, he took passage on the steamer Washing- ton, bound for California, and after a voyage around Cape Horn, landed at San Francisco July 2, 1860. He became connected with the Miners' Restaurant, and was employed there for fifteen years, after which, as its owner, he car- ried on the business for himself for ten years. In April, 1887, he came to Healdsburg. He was married in San Francisco to Sophia Kohler, a native of Paris, France. They have one child, a son, Constant. N. C. Drayenr, the junior member of the firm, was born December 25, 1844. He was also reared in New Jersey. In 1859 he came to California via l'anama, arriv- ing in San Francisco in the latter part of Octo- ber. He first devoted his time to blacksmithing, and afterward to the liquor trade, which en- grossed his attention until coming to Healdsburg in July, 1882. He was married in San Francisco to Georgiana Bernabe, a native of New York City. They have three children: August C., George N., and Melina. Mr. Drayeur is a member of the local lodge, A. O. U. W. The Draycur brothers are enterprising men, who have done their share, since coming liere, in developing the chief industry of Sonoma County.
OBERT HALL .- Among the most suc- cessful horticultural and viticultural enter- prises in Sonoma Valley is that of the above named gentleman. Ilis energetic and in- telligent prosecution of this industry combined with the sound business principles with which all his affairs are conducted has produced wonderful results, and shown what the soil and climate of this productive and beautiful valley is capable of when properly developed. Mr. Ilall first devoted his attention to agricultural pursuits in 1872, when, in connection with his partner,
Robert Howe (firm of Howe & HIall of San Francisco), he purchased 100 acres of land in Sonoma Valley about two miles south of So- noma. From the date of this purchase they devoted time and money to developing the full resources of the soil, at the same time increas- ing their possessions by the purchase of adjacent lands, until their holdings comprised 390 acres. In 1885 a division was made of the lands, and Mr. Hall is now the owner of 186 acres lying on the east and west banks of Sonoma Creek, at the foot of Broadway avenue. Ninety aeres are in orchard, the varied productions of which are best shown by a brief review of the princi- pal fruits. Peaches are a specialty, there being 2,350 trees of early and late Crawfords and 1,200 Orange clings. Of Royal apricots he has 1,190 trees; Bartlett pears, 1,000 trees; Beurre Clargo pears. 200; quince trees, 200; plum, 646; cherries, 852. The rest of this magnificent orchard contains a variety of nearly all fruits capable of profitable cultivation in the valley, including apples, prunes, nectarines, figs, al- monds, walnuts, etc. Ilis success in vine grow- ing is also worthy of notice. His vineyards comprise fifty-six acres, fifty-one acres of which are devoted to wine grapes of the Zinfandel and Mataro varieties, while five acres are producing table grapes of the most approved and productive varieties. In his vine- yard he has proved as successful as in his orchard. An intelligent mode of pruning, combined with a high state of cultivation, has rendered his vineyards highly productive and placed them in the ranks of the model vineyards of the valley. The Santa Rosa and Carquinez Railroad passes through the center of his vine- yard on the west side of Sonoma Creek; here is a side track to load cars for eastern shipment, or San Francisco market. The rest of Mr. HIall's land is producing hay and grain for which the rich deep soil is well adapted. It is worthy of note that twenty acres of this land yielded ninety tons of first class hay in 1888. The improvements upon this fine farm have all been made by the present owner, and are sub-
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stantial and well ordered in every respect. His fine two-story residence, surrounded by beautiful shade trees, flowers, hedges and green lawns, makes one of the most attractive places in his section. Large barns and commodious out- buildings attest the success that is attending his enterprise. Mr. Hall is a self-made and successful man. A brief review of his life is of interest, and is as follows: Ile was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, in 1841, in which place he was reared and received the advantages of a fair schooling. Ilis father, Edward Hall, a native of Massaensetts, was a descendant of an old colonial family. Ile was a mannfact- urer engaged in business in Boston, and his death occurred when the subject of this sketch was but five years of age. His mother, Sarah (Stone) Hall, was also a native of Massachusetts. In early life Mr. Hall engaged in commercial pursuits as a clerk in business houses in Brock- ton, Massachusetts, then five years in Burling- ton, Iowa, where he remained until 1863. In that year he came to California, and soon after his arrival in San Francisco, secured a position as bookkeeper in the commission house of J. W. Gale & Co. His strict attention to his duties and well proved capability rapidly gained the respect and confidence of his employers, and in 1869 when Mr. Gale retired from the business, Mr. HIall purchased his interest and entered into partnership with Mr. Robert Howe, under the firm name of Howe & Hall. The commission business thus established soon ranked as one of the leading lionses in the city, and was successfully conducted until 1882 when the business was sold out, and the partnership dissolved. The next year, 1883, Mr. Hall took up his present residence in Sonoma Valley, since which time he has devoted his attention principally to horticultural and viticultural pur- suits. Mr. Hall is a firm believer in the future growth and prosperity of Sonoma Valley, and is an energetic and progressive citizen. Ilis well directed efforts have done much in showing to the world the productions which this soil and climate are capable of producing. He is a de-
sirable acquisition to any community and his consistent mode of lite and straight forward deal- ing have gained him the respect and esteem of his associates. lIe is a member of the Masonic fraternity and associated with California Lodge, No. 1, and Royal Arch Chapter. No. 5. of San Francisco. In political matters he is a staunch Republican.
OHN A. McNEAR. In gathering the personal records of the inhabitants of Cali- fornia, one is especially struck by the un- usually large proportion of men who, by their native force of genius and their indefatigable energy, have built up an honorable success from small beginnings, and in many instances none at all. It is with no apology that the name of John A. McNear, who is justly considered as the representative man of Petaluma, is pre- sented as an illustration of this fact. In one sense indeed it may be almost said that Peta- luma itself stands as a monument to his nu- wearying industry and shrewd business foresight, as he, more than any other man, has had to do with the progress and advancement, in a busi- ness sense, of the place. He was born on the 23d of December, 1832, in the town of Wis- casset, Lincoln County, Maine, being now just fifty-six years of age, still in the prime of life, and health, and meeting acquaintances or strangers with the hearty bonhomie so characteristic of the successful man of affairs. Ile comes of an old Scotch family, which came to America seven generations ago, many of thein being old sea captains. He was reared on the rugged shores of his native State, the nurse of seamen, Maine, and hence it is no wonder that he turned his attention to old ocean. At first he took fre- quent trips with his father, picking up as he went a store of nautical information that was later to be used by himself. In the spring of 1852, when nineteen years of age, he shipped before the mast on the new ship Cape Cod, under the command of Captain Hopkins, Sears
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mate, on a voyage from Boston to St. John's, New Brunswick, thence to Liverpool, and re- turning to New York in the fall. On this voy- age, although but a common sailor, he embraced every opportunity to perfect and put in practice his knowledge of navigation and seaman-hip, taking two altitudes of the sun, when off duty, to correct the time, not being able to take the one observation at midday and also Innar observa- tions at night, and working ont the ship's posi- tion withont a chronometer or chart. The officers of a ship take the sun at noon when passing the meridian for latitude, and depend on their chronometer and "dead reckoning " for longitude. On his return home he com pleted his education by a course of study at Pittston AAcademy, where he graduated in 1853. He then, although but twenty years of age, accepted the position of master of the brig Tiberius. IIe made but one voyage in her, selling both vessel and cargo with such satis- faction and profit to the owners that they gave him the command of the square-rigged schooner Corinthian, which he soon exchanged for the Jasper, and engaged in trading along the east- ern coast from Maine to New York. In the fall he went South in the new ship Thalutu, Captain Batehelder, from Bath to New Orleans. This trip came near ending his sea life, as the ship went ashore and he was in an open boat with the captain and three men all day, liable to be swamped in the breakers at any time. IIe then engaged in sailing a vessel from New Orleans to Pascagoula, Mobile and other Gulf ports. This he continued until 1854, when he purchased a one-third interest in the large steam saw-milling business of Messrs. Plum- mer, Williams & Co., of Pascagoula, Missis- sippi. This he continued until in the fall of 1856 he determined to come to California. At this time happened what may be termed a providential occurrence. Before starting for California he wished to return home to Maine. At Mobile he was offered a free passage by sea on a vessel ready to sail for Boston, but after putting all his household effects on the vessel,
as he preferred that mode of traveling, he sud- denly altered his determination and took stage for Montgomery, and thence by rail at an extra expense of over $70. A storm followed and the vessel was never heard from again. IIe took passage in the steamer Illinois to Aspin- wall, touching at Kingston, Jamaica, on the way. Crossing the Isthmus of Panama he took passage on the old Sonora for San Fran- cisco, where he arrived November 3, 1856. He came directly to Petaluma, reaching here on November 6, and immediately interested himself in business, with a cash capital of $3,000, dealing in real estate, loaning money, etc. In 1857 he bought the Washington livery stable property in partnership with Mr. P. E. Weeks, to whom he sold ont January 9, 1860. In 1859 he erected the warehouses which stood near the present site of the woolen mills in East Petaluma. Here he did a general ware- house and shipping business, in all of which he prospered well. During the fall of 1860 his brother, George W. McNear, came from the East and at onee entered into partnership with John A. In the spring George W. went to San Francisco, where he has since resided, and took ellarge of the large business interests of the firm at that center of the foreign shipping trade. From 1562 to 1865 they carried on an extensive business, dealing in hardware and machinery, in connection with their warehouse and grain interests. In the latter year, how- ever, they disposed of the hardware business and confined their energies to the grain and shipping until Angust, 1874, when the firm was dissolved, G. W. taking the San Francisco business and J. A., the Petaluma. In the fall of 1864 they erected the fine large fire-proof brick warehouse. at that time the largest in the State, now standing in East Petaluma, and which attracts the eye of the visitor by its large and solid proportions. During the year 1565 they built the handsome and commodious fast passenger steamer, Josie MeNeur, expressly for the Petaluma trade. The putting her on this line had the immediate effect of materially
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lowering the prices of freight and passenger rates, from 82.50 to 80.50, proving a boon in this way to the people of Sonoma County. The marks of Mr. MeNear's energy are visible in every part of Petaluma and vieinity. He is the largest owner of property in the town, and at the same time the most progressive. Had others been as enterprising as he, and spent their money as freely as he has done, l'etalumna would be a different place and larger. Merely to give a list of the companies in which he is interested and the improvements he has made will oeenpy a large space, and it will be noticed that almost every thing he has undertaken has looked toward the public benefit rather than to private gain. lle was the organizer of the So- noma County Water Works, the Sonoma County Bank. the strongest financial institution of the eity, and the builder and designer of many of the finest business blocks in Petaluma. The Bank of Sonoma County, the American Stable, the McNear stores, said to be the finest and most substantial in the county. the architecture of which is equal to any in the State, are among the number. Other improvements are also largely his. such as the paving of business parts, making Petaluma the best paved town of its size in California. Perhaps the work best known and for which he is held in most grateful esteem is the Cypress Hill Cemetery in the outskirts. It has a sight unequaled for its purpose, is magnificently laid ont and planted with trees and shrubbery, and alto- gether is on a scale which makes it superior to any private or public enterprise of a similar character in the State. A deseription of this and others of his undertakings of a publie nature will be found on another page. But this article would be incomplete were there not included a deseription of his residence, erected in 1867, situated on Fourth street, in the best quarter of the city. It oeenpies almost a complete city Ulvek, and at onee attraets attention not less by the beauty of its grounds and surroundings than by its handsome and substantial appear- anee. The site has been artificially raised to a
height of several feet above the natural level and a gradual slope made from the center to every side, thus ensuring the most perfeet drain- age, while about the grounds is one of the most unique and handsome rock fences that it has ever been the fortune of the writer to see. Gather- ing the great blocks of basalt and lava which are strewn so liberally on the adjoining hills, Mr. MeNear has chosen them for their snita- bility. breaking the stone where necessary, and ranged them on end, with smaller bloeks to elose openings, and then cemented the whole together in an utterly immovable manner,-thus eonstrneting a fence 700 feet in length and of immense strength and everlasting duration as a bulwark to the raised ground within. To be appreciated it must be seen. It has great beanty. however, especially as seen before the baek-ground of dark green sprnees, eypress and palms, level lawn and flower beds, within which is placed the mansion like a jewel in its settings. Hedges trimmed with neatness and precision, flowering shrubs, the glimpses of orchard and garden in the rear, with all that go to make up a complete gentleman's residence. fanitlessly paved carriage ways, ete., all go to complete the pieture. Then when amid these surroundings, their master, Mr. McNear, is seen. one ean appreciate by the quiek and firm yet kindly glance of his eye at onee the unassuming mod- esty of the man and the strength and decision of character by which he is characterized. Mr. Me- Near was married on September 3, 1854, to Miss Clara D., daughter of George B. Williams, now a resident of Petaluma, the marriage taking place in Pascagoula, Mississippi. They had five children, of whom the only remaining one is George P'. MeNear, who is in charge of the grain business in Petaluma, and is in faet the manager for his father in all his business. He is a man mueh like his father, keen and shrewd in business matters, yet unassuming and gen- erous. Mrs. McNear died on January 17. 1566. On May 15, 1867, Mr. MeNear was married again in San Francisco, at the Church of the Advent, by Rev. George H. Jenks, to Miss
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