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 84

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 84

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ALDEN & CO., proprietors of the Gey- ser Peak Vineyard, are late important additions to the manufacturers of grape products in Sonoma County. The firm of Wal- den & Co. is one of the leading houses in the United States in the line of importers and job- bers of fine brandies. Drawing their supply of champagne eognacs, as they did, from the cham- pagne districts of France, it may be well understood what a blow their business received when the ravages of the phylloxera almost destroyed the vineyards of that country. As the finer brands disappeared from the market, the connoisseurs in brandies withdrew from brandy drinking, which then became almost obsolete. Recognizing that some radical move was necessary to bring back to the business its old-time prestige, Edward Walden, head of the

firm of Walden & Co., began to look for a new source from which to draw supplies. In 1880 he came to California, and after a thorough in- vestigation of the field, rented distilleries, and finally bought what is now known as the Geyser Peak Vineyard, with its winery and distillery. The tract consists of seventy-six acres, and is abont one mile almost due north from Geyser- ville. The rauch occupies a beautiful location, with a gradual rise from the valley to the hills. The winery was erected in 1876 by A. Quitzom, the proprietor of the raneh at that time. He was sneceeded in ownership by a Spaniard, under whose dominion the winery lay idle for two years. The present firm purchased from him. The process here followed is to make the grapes into wine, all of which is then used in the manufacture of brandies, at the distillery ad- joining. The grapes of this vieinity have a fla- vor superior to those of any other section of California, and by the use of the best materials and the employment of only the best and most experienced wine and brandy makers, together with the enforcement of their own ideas for the protection of the finished product, brandies are here turned out that defy competition. The only brandies known to the trade with which they cannot compete are the champagne cognacs of the celebrated Charente district of France. The firm is strictly wholesale, selling to jobbers, and the entire output of the winery is sent East, a portion of the product being kept for two years and the remainder being soon used in their trade. Edward Walden, Jr., who has charge of the California department of the busi- ness, is a thorough business man, and exercises a general supervision over the plant here. He makes his home on the ranch during the vinting season.

EORGE FRIEDRICH FISCHER is the owner of ninety-two acres of productive land located in Sonoma school district, one mile south of Sonoma, on Broadway avenue.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

Mr. Fischer devotes considerable attention to wine making, having thirty-four acres of his land in wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Goodell, Chasselas, Berger, Riesling and Mission varie- ties. Ile has also a winery with a capacity of 30,000 gallons, which enables him to manufact- are the products of his vineyard into wine. His long experience in this industry renders him an expert, and his wines are first-class in every respect, and command good prices wher- ever offered for sale. In addition to his winery he has a distillery with a capacity suitable to all his requirements. The rest of his land, with the exception of a small family orchard, is de- voted to hay, grain and stock. All the improve- inents upon his place, including winery, large barn and other out buildings, also the planting of the vines, except four acres of Mission grapes, have been made by Mr. Fischer since 1877. Mr. Fischer having been identified with Sonoma Valley for over twenty years, the brief sketch of his life herewith given is of interest. He was born in Baden, Germany, May 29, 1831, his parents being John George and Elizabeth (Umpach) Fischer, both natives of Baden. Ilis father was engaged in street paving and other contract work. but he owned a farm upon which he reared his family. The sub- ject of this sketch was there reared, and as soon as he arrived at a suitable age he had full charge of the farming operations. He followed the calling of a farmer and wine maker in the vine- yards at home until 1865, in which year he came to the United States. Soon after his ar- rival in New York he proceeded to Indiana and located at Indianapolis, where he engaged in farın labor until September, 1866. At that time his health became so broken with fever and agne that he found it necessary to seek some other climate. He therefore came to Cal- ifornia, and located in Sonoma Valley. With his experience as a wine maker he readily obtained employment in Buena Vista vineyard, as a cel- lar master. Ile was thus employed until 1570. when, in partnership with Henry Truch. he es- tablished a winery in the city of Sonoma. This

enterprise was successfully conducted until 1876, when Mr. Fischer sold out and returned to Germany. While in his native land he was united in marriage with Miss Eliza Vortisch, a native of Baden, the daughter of Karl Fried- rich and Christina Vortisch. Soon after the marriage Mr. Fischer returned with his bride to Sonoma, and early in 1877 took up his present residence. Mr. Fischer is a fair representative of the successful German element that has built up the wine industry of Sonoma Valley. By his consistent life and industrious habits he has gained suecess, and well merits the respect and esteem bestowed upon him by those who know him best. Mr. and Mrs. Fischer are the parents of the following named children: Fried- rich, Karl Otto, Elizabeth, Ella, and Maria Louise.

EVI H. PATTY, M. D., was born Novem- ber 27. 1832. in Covington. Ohio. Ilis father, Samuel Patty, was a native of War- ren County, where he was born in 1806. Prior to that the Pattys were from South Carolina, and settled in Ohio when that State was a Ter- ritory. Samuel Patty married for his second wife Salone Bollinger, a native of Juniata County, Pennsylvania, who was the mother of the subject of this sketch. Mr. Patty was a mill owner at Covington and from there moved to Richmond, Indiana, where he engaged in inercantile trade. Several years later he went further north, where he dealt quite largely in real estate and died in Beamsville, Darke County, Indiana, in 1958. His wife died in 1852. Levi H. Patty was principally raised in Richmond, Indiana. He was edu- cated at the common schools, and remained at home until he was abont seventeen years of age. Ile then commenced teaching in the neighborhood schools. and shortly after the death of his mother went to Iowa and from there drifted to Omaha, Nebraska, where for two years he was engaged in contracting and

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building. In 1855 he went to Leavenworth, Kansas, and took up some land which he held for some time before disposing of it. He during this time having acquired a knowledge of medi- cine, went to Pratt County, Missouri, where he worked up a successful practice and remained five years. From there, in 1863, he came to California, located in San Bernardino and en- gaged in the practice of his profession with Dr. D. R. Dickey, where he remained about a year and a half. He was then employed by the medical directors of the department of California, as acting assistant surgeon for the United States army, in which position he served from December, 1865, until Angust, 1875, when upon the withdrawal of the troops from Camp Wright he had the contract annulled, and was appointed enstodian of the Governi- ment property. remaining at Camp Wright another year, until the property was transferred to the Indian department. In the summer of 1876 Dr. Patty went to St. Louis, and attended the St. Louis Medical College, from which he graduated March 7, 1877. He then returned to California and settled in Petaluma, where he has been located ever since. Ile is without question, one of the most successful physicians who has practiced in this section. Ile first opened an office on Main street opposite the American House, but for the past three years has occupied his present comfortable quar- ters in the Whitney building. Dr. Patty is a member of the State Medical Society; has been a Mason for thirty-five years, and for the past six years a Knight Templar, belonging to the Mount Olivet Commandery, No. 20. Ile was married in 1869 to Adelia Hardin, of Clay County, Missouri. They have one son, Levi H. Patty, Jr.

P H. KROUCKE, member of the Santa Rosa Planing Mill Company and proprietor of Kroucke's Park, came to Sonoma County in 1871 a poor mechanic, and for several years

pursned his trade of carpenter. In 1875 he started a small planing mill, and five years later purchased the property now known as the Santa Rosa planing mill, situated in the west part of the city, between Fifth and Sixth streets. In 1884 he took in as partners T. J. Ludwig and F. Berke, who have owned and operated the mill ever since. The buildings now ocenpy abont 200 feet square of ground, are furnished with the best improved machinery for sawing and dressing lumber and manufacturing all kinds of mill work for house finishing in large quantities, and give employment to twenty men. The firm also manufactures 2,000,000 bricks a season. One of the specialties turned out at the mills are the large wine tanks and casks, ranging from 500 to 5,000 gallons each, and turning ont abont 300 of each and increasing in number yearly. In 1885 Mr. Kroucke bought four acres and a half of land on Fourth street near the Eastern limit of the city, which he has con- verted into the beautiful breathing spot denomi- nated Kroncke's Park. The place was a feed yard when he purchased it, but in three years he has transformed it into a charming resort. The grounds are ornamented with walks, fount- ains, shrubbery, and flowers in great variety. interspersed with shade trees and rustic seats. Large buildings have been erected and fitted up for various purposes of amusement, including a fine bowling alley and a superb dancing floor 60x100 feet in size, and a restaurant stand. The park also contains a splendid swimming pool, 40 x 60 feet in area, and from three to nine feet in depth, with a capacity of 60,000 gallons of water, which is constantly supplied by the city water works. The pool is surrounded by neat private dressing rooms for the use of individu- als patronizing the swimming bath. In the purchase and improvement of the park Mr. Kroucke has already expended about $20,000. and he contemplates erecting a commodious summer hotel on the premises at a cost of some 820,000 more. Ile is constantlychanging and add- ing to the many features of his beautiful park. This season he is building a beautiful conservatory

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

and music stand. This pretty park is a popular resort for pienie parties from San Francisco and elsewhere who visit Santa Rosa for a day's out- ing. Mr. Kroucke is a German by nativity; grew to manhood and learned the carpenter's trade in the land of his birth. He landed in New York in December, 1569, and after work- ing there a year came to California. In 1973 he married Catharine Dwenger, also born in Germany. They have four children. all living: Annie, Martha, Henry and Edward.

APTAIN THOMAS FULSHER BAYLIS, deceased .- The subject of this sketch was born in 1923, of English parents, in the city of Dublin, Ireland. His father, Thomas II. Baylis, was a soldier in the British army, attached to the Seventeenth Royal Infantry, which was stationed at different points, being in Dublin at the time of the birth of the sub- jeet of this sketch. When a mere boy Mr. Baylis went to Australia, where he received the most of his education, finishing at the Kings College, Paramatta. He, early in life, followed the vocation of a seaman and during one of these voyages landed in California in 1547. In 1850, when Petaluma was only a hunting ground, he made several trips up to this place, and transported game and other merchandise to San Francisco. As the country became settled np he added to his line of schooners, and finally put on a steamer, plying along the ereek ronte. The passenger fare from this point to the city at one time was as high as 86, but, by the ac- tion of Captain Baylis, it was reduced to $1, and at one time, during a severe competition, was down to 50 cents. In connection with his line of boats he put up three warehouses in the town, one of which, a stone building, is still standing. He formed a copartnership with Joseph Cutter and David Sullivan, the former managing the business in Petaluma and the latter attending to the shipping and wharfingin San Francisco. while Mr. Baylis devoted his

attention to the control of one of the steamers. He was also, previous to this partnership, con- nected with David Flogdale in running the Pioneer Hotel, which burned down some years after. He early became a member of the Odd Fellows order, and was instrumental with them in starting the library which was afterward turned over to the city. Captain Baylis was twice married, the first time to a lady named Weise, by whom he had three children, two danghters, both married and living in the State, and T. H. T. Baylis, a young and energetic business man of this city. His second mar- riage was to the widow of David Flogdale. The captain was an active member of the Hook and Ladder Company, No. 1, and when the com- pany was first organized, built the hook and ladder honse on his own property for their use. During the war he was Captain of the Eminett Rifles, a history of which is found in another part of this work. Death claimed him Sep- tember 10, 1867. We append an extract pub- lished in the Petaluma Argus shortly after his death. "Captain T. F. Baylis has been a resi- dent of Petaluma since 1850, and during this time has seen Petaluma grow from an almost isolated hamlet to one of the most flourishing inland cities of California; a great part of which is attributed to his indomitable will and enter- prise. In his public capacity he has exhibited great administrative ability and zeal. In his private station he has ever enjoyed the reputation of being a kind, polite and humane gentleman. He was a grand officer of the Petaluma Lodge, No. 30, I. O. O. F., and a most active and ex- emplary member in battling for and in living up to the principles of the order. He was an eminent and npright citizen, either as follower or leader in the faithful and zealons discharge of his duty. The funeral services of the de- ceased were of the largest and mnost imposing ever witnessed in this city. The business houses were all closed, flags were drooped at half mast, the bells tolled, and the quiet that pervaded the streets showed how deeply the loss was felt. The military, fire department and Odd Fellows

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

were ont in full numbers headed by the Petaluma band playing a soleinn dirge."

H. TORRANCE, of Gnerneville, is one of the old settlers of Sonoma County. ? He is nativeof Chautauqua County, New York, born on the 4th of March. 1832, his parents being Loyal B. and Sophronia (Perry) Torrance. The father. who came of an old New York family, was at one time a cloth mannfact- urer, having extensive woolen mills on Catta- raugns Creek. The mother came of a family prominent in Revolutionary times, being a daughter of Colonel Perry, of Lake Erie fame. S. H. Torrance, the subject of this sketch, was but a child of six years when his parents re- moved to Missonri, and located where the pros- perous city of St. Joseph has since been built. That country was then on the very outskirts of civilization, and young Torrance grew up amid the scenes of frontier life in those early days. This life had a certain fascination for him, and lie acquired a high degree of skill in the use of fire arms and in the ways of the woodsman and plainsinan. Through long associations with the Indians, who abounded in the vicinity of his home. he became familiar with their language. as well as with their character and habits. This knowledge soon bronght his services. as a guide, into demand. and when yet a lad in years he was often called upon to serve in that capac- ity. Ilis father, in the meantime, had taken up the practice of medicine. which was there- after his profession. When the war with Mex- ico came on, S. H. Torrance left home to take part in that struggle. He went with a train as teamster from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe, and there enlisted in the United States serviee in Doniphan's command. With it he served until the close of hostilities, being ont thirteen months. and participating in two battles and much skirmishing. Returning to Leavenworth, he was discharged there. In the fall of 1847 a party was organized in Buchanan County, Mis-

souri. to emigrate to Oregon, and Mr. Torrance was selected as their guide. He at once left home to take charge of the stock of the outfit during the winter. The following spring they started. Mr. Torrance had been over the route taken as far as Fort Laramie, was acquainted with the Indian tribes along the way, and was able to speak their language. This, of course, was a great help to the expedition. After cross- ing the Rocky Mountains they followed the old Oregon trail by Bear River, and in the month of October, after a journey of six months, arrived in Oregon City. On account of the ex- cellent management of the caravan, they expe- rienced few of the hardships undergone by other parties, and had only a little skirmishing with hostile Indians. Mr. Torrance did not confine himself to any particular locality, but traveled over a good portion of the Pacific coast, Inneh of the time being engaged in mining at Jacksonville, on the Rogne River. In the sun- mer of 1552 a band of hostile Indians visited Rogue River Valley, and massacred four or five families. Mr. Torrance was one of a company of men who went ont in pursuit of them and captured eiglit or ten, all of whom were hanged at Jacksonville. In 1553 he crossed the Cas- cade Mountains, and for some time was engaged in trading with the Indians and with immigrants. In the fall of 1855 he went to Yreka. and win- tered there. In the spring he proceeded down the Sacramento River. and later arrived in So- noma County. He bought a ranch. which proved to be on the Walla grant. and he gave it up. In the fall of 1856 he removed to the place where he now resides, directly across the Russian River from Guerneville. Here he built a cabin, and engaged in trapping beaver and in hunting. He would dress the skins, mannfacture them into gloves. etc., and sell the articles for a living. After a time he engaged in getting out shingles, and in 1560 brought machinery from San Francisco and put up the first saw-mill in Gnerneville. He operated it four or five years, then sold a portion of the machin- ery to Meeker Brothers. and the remainder to

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Guerne & Bagley. After that he gave his attention to stock and farming. Mr. Torrance crected a very handsome residence in 1882, on a spot which commands a splendid view of the surrounding country. Besides his fine home farm, he has within three miles another place of 160 acres, and besides controls a section of land elsewhere. He has made the improvements himself, and has done more clearing than any man in the county. Mr. Torrance built the first school-house in Guerneville, and maintained a three months school at his own expense. Mr. Torrance was married in Oregon, in 1855, to Miss Elizabeth Dukes, a native of one of the Middle States, reared in Missouri. They have two children living. viz .: Joseph L., and John B. Mr. Torrance is a Republican, politically. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., and was treasurer of the Gnerneville lodge for many years. He has many relies of his early experience in this county, among them a hunting knife, the blade of which is worn almost away by his use of it in skirmishing and butchering game which he himself had slaughtered. He has a medal, a present to him from Congress, in honor of his service in the Mexican war. It is made from the metal of cannon captured from the Mexican troops. Mr. Torrance has lived to see a pros- perons community built up where he at one time roamed alone in pursuit of his vocation as hunter and trapper, and he is yet an active man.

LLIS E. MORROW, proprietor of the leading plumbing house of Santa Rosa, B street, between Third and Fourth streets, has been in the plumbing business here since April, 1887. Mr. Morrow is a native of Mis- souri, was born in St. Louis; and in 1864 came to Santa Rosa with his father, James Morrow, who was also a practical tinsmith, having learned his trade in the great house of Taylor Bros., of Philadelphia. James Morrow died in Santa Rosa four years ago, aged eighty-three years,

having been in the same business ever since he was sixteen years old, and forty years of that time in St. Louis. Reared to the same calling as his father. Ellis E. Morrow has forced his way to the front, and now ranks as one of the leading business men of Santa Rosa. For a number of years he and his brother carried on a tin manufacturing and hardware business in Santa Rosa, until about eleven years ago, when they sold out. Since then, until he started in the plumbing business, he worked at his trade as a journeyman. His chief business now is plumbing, but he also carries a stock of stoves, tinware, plumbing brass goods and piping- both water and sewer pipe. In his plumbing business he employs six men, being the only firm in the city to employ expert scientific plumbers. Being a practical sanitary plumber himself, he understands when the work is well done. He also does general job work. roofing, pipe work, etc. In Santa Rosa Mr. Morrow married Miss Rachel A. Barnes, a native of Illinois. They have one ehild, Wilfred E., a bright boy of eleven years. Mr. Morrow is a member of the Knights of Pythias and the 1. O. U. W.

A. REINERS, of Mendocino Township, has a ranch of 170 acres on the Dry Creek Valley road, six miles north from Healdsburg, which is devoted to the following crops, with the acreage stated: alfalfa, ten acres; corn, ten aeres; vegetables, two acres; orchard, twenty acres: vineyard, forty-five acres. The rest of the ranch is in pasture and timber land. Mr. Reiners cuts the alfalfa twice a year. getting four tons per acre, and then pasturing eighteen head of stock on the land till the rainy season. The eorn land is excellent, turning out as high as sixty to eighty bushels to the acre. With the exception of the silver prunes, the orchard is in fine condition. The trees are five years old, and are divided among peaches, aprieots, pears, plums, apples, French and Silver prunes.

HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY.

Twelve acres of the vines are Zinfandels, and the rest Riesling and Golden Chasselas. He will add twenty acres more of the Burgundy variety. Mr. Reiners has erected a winery, and his vintage for 1888 was 16,000 gallons. This amount will be increased from year to year. Mr. Reiners is a native of Hanover, Germany, born November 14, 1836, his parents being C. A., Sr., and Annie (Baar) Reiners, the father a farmer. The subject of this sketch was reared in his na- tive country, attending school from the age of six to fourteen years. He then went to work on his father's farmn. In 1854 he decided to come to America, and on the fifth of April, 1854, sailed from Bremen on the ship Coperni- cus. Their course took them around Scotland on account of contrary tides. Going north among the ice, on the 26th of April they lost all hope of saving the vessel which had sprung a heavy leak. This, however, was stopped and the vessel finally got safely through the danger- ous locality, but not without the loss of her bow- sprit and two masts, and arrived in New York harbor, May 18. Mr. Reiners was engaged in the butchering business, steamboat butchering, etc., for the next eight years, in New York City. At the expiration of that time he went back to Germany on a visit to his family, and eleven months later returned to New York City on the steamer New York, of the Bremen line. May 3, 1863, he took passage for California, via l'anama. On the Pacific side he was a passen- ger on the Constitution, landing at San Fran- cisco during the latter part of May. He was en- gaged at the butchering business one year, then established a restaurant, which he conducted for three years. He then entered into the manu- facture of mineral waters, etc., to which he de- voted his attention until 1882, when he came to Sonoina County. He was married in San Francisco, November 27, 1865, to Miss Mary Kahrs, a native of Hanover, Germany, and daughter of George and Gertrude (Fohrin) Kahrs. The father died when Mrs. Reiners was a child, and the family came to America in 1866. Mrs. Kahrs died in 1884, aged eighty 35

years. Mr. and Mrs. Reiners have four children, viz .: George H., Charles John, Mary C., and John. Mr. Reiners is a member of the North Deutsche Society, San Francisco, in which he has been chairman, treasurer, etc., and has also been connected with several other societies. Ile has served as school trustee three years, and clerk of the board.

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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 84

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