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 90

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 90

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and engaged in the Occidental Hotel as clerk atid assistant steward, where he remained about five months. He then took the position of dep- nty superintendent of streets in that city, in which capacity he served for three months, when, upon receiving news that sickness existed in his father's family, he resigned his position and returned home, remaining there nine months assuming the duties of the farm. Again going to San Francisco, he engaged with his brother-in-law, James McNabb, of the firm of McNabb & Smith, drayers of that city, with whom he staid about a month, when he pur- ehased a half interest in his present business. Mr. Stewart is a Mason, belonging to Arcturus Lodge, No. 22; the Order of the Eastern Star; Petaluma Lodge, No. 100, K. of P., and the Junior Order of American Mechanics, No. 1.

ICHOLAS CARRIGER, deccased .- The subject of this sketch was one of the earliest American pioneers of Sonoma County. His long residence and connection with Sonoma Valley renders a review of his life of peculiar interest in the history of the county. He was born in Carter County, Ten- nessee, March 30, 1816. His father, Christian Carriger, was a native of Germany, who, early in life, came to the United States, where he re- ceived his education, married, and finally located in the county above mentioned. Ilis mother, Eliza (Ward) Carriger, was a native of England. Mr. Carriger remained in the county of his birth, attending school and working in a flour mill and distillery until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he volunteered in the First Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, Captain J. Powell's company, being mustered into service for the Florida war by General John E. Wool, of the United State army, at Athens, Tennessee. This was on June 26, 1835, re- ceiving an honorable discharge therefrom one year after. Ile then went into the iron man- ufacturing business on his father's property in

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his native county, where he continued until November, 1840, then emigrating to Warren County, Missouri, where he engaged in the stemming of tobacco and other affairs. IIe then moved to Jackson County, Missouri, and remained there one year, when he transferred his residence to Buchanan County and later to Holt and Andrew counties, finally settling at Round Prairie, where he took up a quarter- section of land. fenced it, entered into the cul- tivation of hemp, tobacco and cereals, and there remained until 1846, when he once inore was on the move. On April 27 of the latter year Mr. Carriger started from Round Prairie for California, and was joined at Oregon City. Holt County, by Captain Grieg, their number being further augmented on the journey by the addi- tion of Major Cooper, the Indian agent at Council Bluffs. This is the same Major Cooper who is now a resident of Colusa County, and was judge of the court of first instance "for the distriet of Sonoma in 1548. a gentleman well known in Sonoma County. With Mr. Carriger were his parents; only his mother, however, survived the journey, his father having died when crossing the Sierra Nevadas. Mrs. Car- riger. his mother. made Sonoma County her home until her death, which occurred in 1963. We make the following extract from a diary kept by the subject of this sketch, now in his family: " 21st September, 1846. We struck the mountains. Distressing bad road; eight miles to the high California mountains, and got eight wagons np. 220. Made a roller and fastened chains together and pulled the wagons. with thirty-two yoke of oxen at the bot- tom and twenty-five at the top. 23d. Hauling wagons. 24th. Traveled eight miles to the lake; distressing bad road. 25th. Laid by. 26th. Christian Carriger, the father of the writer, died. On the same day, Joseph Wardlow's wife died. On the same day, Mr. N. Carriger's daughter Catherine was born." Snch is the sad story of endurance and suffering told in honest and simple words, that appeal to sympathy far more foreibly than if clothed in the most affect-

ing imagery. The first place at which the em- igrant band arrived in California was Johnson's ranch on Bear River, the stream being ferried at the spot now known as Fremont, situated at the mouth of the Feather River. Their place of destination was Sonoma, and the route lay by William Gordon's, now in Yolo County. John R. Wolfskill's on Putah Creek, Solano's Rancherie at Rockville, George Yount's in Napa. where they halted a few days, and thence by Spanish trail into the valley of their hopes and fears. At the time of Mr. Carriger's arrival, all the young and able bodied men had joined Fremont; indeed, on the route it was no un- common event for the younger male emigrants to floek to the standard of the Pathfinder. On his arrival, therefore, he was not to be behind- hand. and as all available soldiers had been dispatched to join the gallant Colonel and his California battalion. our new-comer entered the ranks of the navy, a company of which were then quartered at Sonoma under Lieutenant Revere. Mr. Carriger served in this branch of the serv- ice under Lieutenant Maury, who succeeded Revere, and after being with them for some months. finally got his honorable discharge from Captain John B. IInll. United States navy, in March, 1847. It should be mentioned that, during his term of service, Mr. Carriger, in the ordinary routine of duty, carried the mail on horseback between Sonoma and San Rafael, and was also present on duty when the stones placed at the boundaries of the eity of Benicia were put into position by Dr. Robert Semple. After his discharge from the United States service Mr. Carriger located in the Pueblo of Sonoma. There he built the first red- wood building ever erected in Sonoma Valley. This house was an object of the greatest in- terest to the Indians and'native Californians. It is still standing on Napa street and is in a good state of preservation. Ile was also the first of the Americans who planted vines and undertook the cultivation of grapes in Sonoma Valley. In 1848, when the whole world was set wild with the news of the discovery of gold in California,

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Mr. Carriger was one of the first to leave for the mines to try his luck. He started in com- pany with Joseph Wardlow, Elias Graham, Henry Thornton and others, for Mormon Is]- and, and there found certain Mormons before them, who claimned all the land and the right to mine there, by priority of residence. The diffi- culty was, however, soon overcome by their being allowed to prosecute their work beyond a certain limit, and there, having been successful, they constructed a skin boat, and crossing the stream porceeded to the south fork of the American River, staying there eleven days, when intelligence was received that the Span- iards and Indians had broken out into open rebellion in Sonoma; he therefore at once re- paired thither, to look after his family, and was the first to return from the mines with dust to that city or valley. In this year Mr. Carriger removed his family to Coloma, where the precious metal was first discovered, but he ouly kept them there for six weeks. He was the lucky discoverer of the Northern Kelsey and Auburn mines, and was, with his associates, the first to find gold in the Auburn district. We next find our hero prospecting on Sutter Creek, but they soon had to leave the vicinity on account of Indians, who had become trouble some; they therefore proceeded high up on the middle fork of the American River, where they came across very rich diggings, three men in one day taking ont as much as fifty pounds weight of gold. A serious accident now necessi- ! tated his leaving the mines, when he returned to Sonoma. In March, 1849, taking several Sonoma Indians with him, he returned to the mines at Auburn, and met those aboriginals who were implicated in the death of Mr. Hol- lingsworth and a preacher in Oregon; they at once gave chase, and not one escaped. When caught they were tricd, found guilty and hanged to a limb close by on Bear River. At Auburn Mr. Carriger was fairly successful. He next went to Bear River and pursued his mining at Steep Hollow, and ultimately returned to So- noma in 1849. In 1850 he took a drove of

cattle to Trinity County, the party being com- posed of Mr. Carriger, his two brothers, Sol- omon and Caleb, and Dr. Storer, with eleven Indians; remained there until June, when he came back to Sonoina, and took up his residence on his ranch, about three miles west of the town. There Mr. Carriger spent the most of his days and years until his death, which occurred June 30, 1885. For more than thirty- five years Mr. Carriger was prominently con- nected with grape culture and the wine industry of Sonoma Valley. His energetic measures and practical business habits soon produced wonderful results. The wild and uncultivated lands were made to yield their dormant riches. Ilis vineyards covered over 150 acres. The winery which he erected is a magnificent build- ing of three stories in height, the lower one being of stone, forming a capacions cellar, with a capacity of 180,000 gallons. His landed pos- sessions covered a thousand acres, upon the hills of which roamed his herds of stock, while the valley lands prodneed bountiful harvests of golden grain. His residence, a fine two-story building, beautifully located, gave a magnificent view of the valley stretching away to the foot- hills in the east and for miles in extent to the south. This magnificent farm is now (1888) under the control and direction of his widow who with several of the family reside upon the place. Mr. Carriger was one of the best known men of Sonoma Valley. A more staunch and genial friend, hospitable host or honest and up- right man did not exist than "Nick " Carriger, as his friends delighted in calling him. He was prominent and took a lead in all enterprises tending to develop the resources of his chosen valley. In political matters he was a Democrat, and while declining offices which his friends de- sired him to fill, his influence was felt in the ranks of the party and always for what he con- sidered to be for its best interests. He was for many years the president of the Pioneer Asso- ciation of Sonoma County. In Andrew County, Missouri, September 29, 1842, Mr. Carriger was united in marriage with Miss Mary Ann

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Wardlow, a native of Highland County, Ohio. born November 21. 1526. She is the daughter of John and Elizabeth (Lance) Wardlow. Her father was a native of Scotland, and her mother of Germany. From this marriage there are living the following named children: Elizabeth Jane, born July 28, 1543, married Otto Schet- ter, residing in Oakland; Levisa, born Jannary 22. 1845, married L. L. Lewis, living in Saera- inento: David W., born December 20, 1847: Albert Boggs, born February 13, 1550, both re- siding on the old homestead; Louisa L., born January 23, 1852. married M. Powell. residing at Mark West; Eva N., born March 13, 1554. married C. A. Tufts, living in Sacramento; William W., born August 25, 1857, living on the old homestead: Emma, born July S, 1858. married John Carriger (deceased), residing in Kansas; and Solomon H., born May 11. 1562. residing in Sonoma. The two deceased children were Sarah Catherine, born in the Sierra Neva- das, September 26, 1846, died December of the same year, and John, born February 11, 1856 , who died September 5, 1557.

EMU'S RILEY GALE was born near Arrow Roek, Cooper County, Missouri, January 17, 1555. Two years after, his parents moved to northeastern Missouri, and settled near Memphis, Scotland County. Ilere he grew up. passing his time in working on the farm, and occasionally attending the distriet schools. His opportunities for acquiring an education were, however. few, as the humble circumstances of the family required the help of himself and older brother John, as soon as they were able to "hoe corn" and "ehop wood." But notwithstanding this he found time to read books, which proved to be of great practical benefit to him afterward. Among these books (the most of them borrowed from acquaintances) were " Napoleon and his Marshals," "Abridged History of the United States," " HIume's His- tory of England," .. Struggles and Triumphs of

P. T. Barnum." "Life of Washington," and " Paley's Natural Theology." These books were read and re-read by young Gale at such leisure time as he had. Another book in which he took a special delight was "Sargent's Life of Henry Clay." The history of the struggles of Clay, together with the many stories of the early life of J. Proetor Knott as told by Riley Gale, father of the subject of this sketeh, who was an intimate friend and acquaintance of "Proe," did much to shape the course of life and to arouse the ambition of this youth. In May, 1575, he left his old home in Missouri and came to California, resolved to obtain an education if possible. Arriving at Petaluma with a few dollars of borrowed money, a small valise of clothing and a few books, he sought and soon found employment on a farm near Petaluma. For a year and a half he worked near Petaluma at whatever employment he could find, sending a portion of his earnings home to help the family along. With the means he had thus earned he entered Christian College at Santa Rosa, and pursued chiefly a literary and elassieal course, spending his vaea- tions at work in the harvest fields. Having secured a teacher's certificate, he began teaeh- ing school near Petaluma in the spring of 1879. and continued in this profession till the spring of 1544, studying law in the meantime during leisure hours. Upon examination he was ad- mitted to the Supreme Court of California in the fall of 1883. Desirons of proseenting more thoroughly and systematically his law studies, he then went to Washington, D. C., with the means he had acquired by teaching school, and there entered Columnbian University where he graduated with the degree of Bache- lor of Laws. He then went to New Haven, Connectieut, with the balance of his slender means, and entered Yale College, where he graduated with the degree of Master of Laws, and was awarded the prize law books by that institution. It was only by the exercise of the most rigid economy that he was able to pay his way through this school. The fall of 1886

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found him back in Petaluma, but penniless. Through the favor of llenry Gherkins, proprie- tor of the Union Hotel in Petaluma, he was given board and lodging until he could "look around," the proprietor promising to wait for his pay. On the same day the young attorney called on J. Campbell, an old Petaluma mer- chant, and explained his situation. The kind- hearted merchant sold him a few necessary arti- cles of clothing, promising to wait till they could be paid for out of the yet-to-be-earned fees of the lawyer. After considerable effort, failing to get a place in any of the law offices in Petaluma, and having no means to furnish a law office of his own, he went to Santa Rosa, where he called on several Santa Rosa lawyers, with the view of getting a place for a time in a law office. But all efforts in this direction seemed about to fail. The penniless lawyer at last sought William E. McConnell, Esq., of the Santa Rosa bar, who listened attentively to his application, and at once gave him a place in his office, and permitted him to hang out his sign. He next secured a small room for lodging at a cost of one dollar per week. Ilis fare was of the simplest and plainest character, obtained at a Mendocino street restaurant. It was a case of " live within your means," and a case of small means. For a period of nearly four months it was with the greatest difficulty that enongh conld be earned to defray the expenses of board and lodging, but becoming gradually better acquainted, his practice of law increased. The debts of Gherkins and Campbell were paid. A much-needed new coat and pair of shoes took the place of the old. The young attorney no longer avoided public gaze on Sunday, on account of his old clothes. He now occasion- ally attended socials, to which he had often before been invited, but could not go. His business was materially increased by his be- coming assistant district attorney under Dis- triet Attorney George Pearce, about this time. In June, 1887, Mr. Gale forined a law copart- nership with A. G. Burnett, Esq. The two inen were brought together by the relationship

which had existed between them, Mr. Burnett having been Mr. Gale's teacher in Christian College a few years before. It was the custom of Mr. Gale, during the first three or four months of his stay in Santa Rosa, to attend evening services at a " little church around the corner." He was always the first at church in the evening, and the first away, as he thonght his coat and shoes were not well suited to stand comparison with "John Wanamaker's best." Here he often saw a lady enter the church, walk briskly up the aisle, and take her place in the church choir. Several months elapsed before they became acquainted. The sequel is, how- ever, that on the 3d of October, 1888, this lady. Miss Carrie England, of Santa Rosa, and Mr. Gale were married. December 31, 1888, the law copartnership existing between Gale and Burnett was dissolved, Mr. Burnett having been elected district attorney of Sonoma County. Mr. Gale is now alone in a thriving law prac- tice, and has a beautiful little home of his own on Third street in Santa Rosa. Mr. Gale has three uneles in Sonoma County: Dow, Otis and Demus Gale, who are old Californians. He has also three brothers in this State: Dr. John P. Gale, of Colusa County, and Albert and Lee Gale, of Sonoma County.

HILIP HENRY VOLLMAR, proprietor of Vollmar's Hotel at Embarcadero, was born in the Duchy of Holstein, now a part of the German Empire, November 25, 1835. His father died when he was but a child, after which he was taken into the fam- ily of John Asmus, and by him reared and given fair educational and other advantages. Reach- ing the age of nineteen years, possessed of an adventurous spirit, and having heard much of the land of the free. across the ocean, lie re- solved to emigrate to the United States. Mak- ing his way with little difficulty to Liverpool, he embarked on the sail vessel Grand Western, and reached New York City after a tedions

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Voyage of forty days. Entirely unacquainted with the English language, not many avenues of employment were open to him, but he soon apprenticed himself to the grocer's trade in Brooklyn. His strict attention to business so won upon his employer that in April, 1856, he was made by him head clerk in another estab- lishment of his, in New York City. But the same spirit of adventure which had led Mr. Vollmar to leave his native land, caused him, in October, 1857, to come to the Golden State. At Placerville he engaged in placer mining, which occupation in and around " Hangtown " he con- tinned until the spring of 1858, when he was drawn into the whirlpool of excitement over the supposed wealth of gold on Frazier River, Brit- ish Columbia. The privations, hardships, sick- ness and sufferings endured by Mr. Vollmar the following year would have killed any man not possessed of the indomitable will and iron con- stitution which were his in those days. Crip- pled for life, health impaired beyond all but partial recovery, those months spent on Frazier River in pursuit of the phantom goddess, wealth, are only recalled with sadness. His foster- brother, John Asmus, Jr., had preceded him to America and to California several years. He was the eldest by twelve years or more. They joined their fortunes in the expedition to the Frazier River. It will be impossible here to give in detail the history of that expedition. Their first attempt to reach the mines, as part of a party of six owning in common their own row-boat, stocked with tools and six months provisions, and everything needed for use and comfort, was frustrated by wrecking their boat in the rapids met in the ascent of Harrison River. All was lost but two sacks of flour-all weapons of offence and defence, tools, clothing, etc .. leaving them entirely destitute. The escape from death of the whole party was almost mirac- ulons and with Mr. Vollmar very narrow. At first attempts to go on were made, but all had to be abandoned, though a portion of the party united with other parties and kept on. The return of Mr. Vollmar and his foster-brother

to Victoria in their defenseless and destitute condition was attended with extreme suffering and great danger. Their boat they recovered and had that to float them. One night when they were surrounded by Chinook Indians, who, observing their defenseless condition, evidently decided to massacre them to obtain their boat and few valuables, they were saved by the inimitable power possessed by Mr. Vollmar of mimicry. No animal known to him lives, whose voice or call he can not mimic to perfection. The Indians looked upon him as a witch or " medicine man." gifted with marvel- ous powers. An opportunity occurring, they hastily embarked and in the darkness escaped down the river. Reaching Victoria, a rest was made, when, refitting and reorganizing, the sec- ond and successful attempt to reach mining ground was made, this time by ascending Fra- zier River direct. Twenty-two miles above Fort Yale, the party established a mining camp, which could be reached only with great ditti- culty, a long portage constituting the last stage of the journey. Supplies were obtained at great cost on account of the labor of the portage, and the mines prosecuted with the utmost energy hardly realized $3 per day to the man. Finally, November 23, 1S5S, a sad accident occurred which placed Mr. Vollmar's life in peril for many montlis and crippled him for life. While at work a detached bowlder crushed him to the earth, catching him by the right foot and crush- ing his ankle and right leg. He was conveyed to the substantial though rude log cabin which they had erected, and there compelled to spend the following winter, without medical aid of any kind bnt the rudest. Scurvy added to his misery and danger, though toward spring four pounds of potatoes were obtained at a fabulous price, which materially benefited him. March 11th, Mr. Vollmar was carried from camp by his partners and taken to Fort Yale, they re- turning to the diggings. He by easy stages was transported by boats down the river and to Victoria, where the next nine months he was treated in hospital. Late in that year (1859) he

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reached San Francisco, able to walk with the aid of a crutch and cane. Out near the old Mission he spent abont fourteen months, with John Her- man. Mr. Vollinar with characteristic energy soon began to do light work, and the following few years he found light employment and labored to repay $200 indebtedness to his foster- brother. After driving a milk wagon eighteen months, and having saved $600 he, in partner- ship with his foster-brother, in 1863. rented fifty acres of land near the Ocean House. Their labors came to naught, the extreme drought of that year almost entirely ruined their crops, and the close of the season found Mr. Vollmar minus his investment. Again he commenced at the foot of the ladder, finan- cially, but with characteristic energy, so well succeeded that, in 1868, he bought an interest in a grocery store on the northwest corner of Eighth and Howard streets, San Francisco, and continued in that business until 1872. He then bought the hotel property he now owns and oc- cupies at Embarcadero. Mr. Vollmar has made improvements and additions to his property, and has been successful in its management, as well as in winning by his genial accommodating ways the good opinion of all who know him. He is well known in Sonoma Valley, and is met at his home and otherwhere by kindly greeting from hosts of friends. His wife, formerly Miss Mary Volk, a native of Germany, he wedded in San Francisco in 1871. They have one daughter, Flora, now sixteen years of age. Mr. Vollmar is a member of Sonoma Lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F. Both himself and wife have taken the Rebecca degree in Verdont Lodge, No. 99.

HARLES W. WOODWARD, confectioner. No. 619, Fourth street, has been in the business in Santa Rosa since April 10, 1885. He manufactures all grades of candies, except part of the steam-made goods, and makes by far the larger variety of confectionery goods he handles. He also manufactures large quan-

tities of ice cream which is done by steam, his steam engine being one of the only two used exclusively for the manufacture of ice cream. His yearly output is from twelve to fifteen hun- dred gallons. In connection with his ice cream mannfactory he makes ice waters, Roman Punch and other cooling temperance bever- ages. Besides his salesroom and factory he has tastefully furnished an ice cream parlor for his city customers. Mr. Woodward has both a re- tail and wholesale trade in candy, his wholesale trade extending throughout Lake and Mendo- cino Counties, as well as Sonoma County. Mr. Woodward's father was a native of New Jersey, and his mother of Long Island. They moved west and settled near Mansfield, Ohio, in 1826, and thence to Noble County, Indiana, where the subject of this sketch was born. Mr. Wood- ward has been a resident of Sonoma County since October 25, 1865. For many years he was employed as a salesman in general merchan- dising establishments, and was engaged in the grocery business on his own account from 1876 till 1880. In Santa Rosa, in 1868, he married Miss Mathews, a native of Missouri, who came to this State in 1859. She died of consump- tion in Healdsburg, in Jannary, 1885, leaving two sons, George A. and Frederick, aged nine- teen and twelve years respectively. Mr. Wood- ward is a member of the I. O. O. F. and K. of P.

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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 90

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