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 99
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Mr. Pumphrey owned 800 acres of land, but his stock ranged over a much larger extent of territory. His home was near Saguache, the county seat of the county bearing the same name. In 1880, in company with two other men, Mr. Pomphrey made a contract to furnish the United States government the supply of beef for the Ute reservation, and for that por- pose collected 6,000 head of cattle. After one year he bought out his partners, and in 1882 he closed out his Unsiness and settled at his present home in the Todd districtSanta Rosa Town- ship, this county. The estate of 330 acres now owned by Mr. Pumphrey is well known as the Rieklit ranch. It lies on the road between Santa Rosa and Stony Point. Among the choice Santa Rosa Valley farms, perhaps in fertility none surpass this well-known property, one-half of which is rented by Mr. Pumphrey to other parties for dairy purposes, the rest be- ing devoted mainly to raising stock. Mr. and Mrs. Pumphrey have four children: Milton G., Martha E., Horace B., and Edward A. In political action, the subject of this sketch affili- ates with the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Santa Rosa Lodge of Free Masons.
ILLIAM F. RUSSELL, city attorney of Santa Rosa, is a native son of Cali- fornia, and is thirty years of age. His father, Syvestus Russell, came to California in 1856 from his native State, Ohio, and a year later settled in the agricultural district in So- noma County, where he died in 1871. The subject of this sketch is one of two children, and the only son. He attended school in Sonoma Connty, and studied law in James II. McGee's office in Santa Rosa. Ile was admitted to the bar in September, 1883, and immediately en- tered into practice in Santa Rosa, being very successful, and especially in criminal cases. Ile was elected city attorney on the Republican ticket with a majority of forty votes, against one of the strongest men in the county as his oppo-
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nent -- Attorney Gale. His official term extends over a period of two years, beginning April, 18SS. In March, 1886, Mr. Russell bought the Russian River Flag, one of the oldest newspapers in the county, published in Healdsburg, and edited it for a year, when, find- ing he could not attend to that and his profes- sion too, he sold the paper. Upon assuming the duties of the city attorneyship, Mr. Russell found the municipal affairs of the city in a jumbled and unsettled state. Among other things he has framed the ordinance creating and regulating the police department, and raised some important financial questions, which has revolutionized the city's financial methods, Mr. Russell is also attorney for the sheriff's office. Hle is a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West, and in 1885 was president of the Western Star Parlor, and chairman of the com- mittee of arrangements for the annual celebra- tion of the order for the State, he having charge of the preparations by the local parlor to entertain the order of the State. The order then numbered 5,000 members, and now about 10,000 He is a charter member of the Santa Rosa Parlor.
ENRY CASTENS .- Among the represent- ative and well-known farmers of the Mark West Creek Valley in Analy Township, is the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. A brief resume of his life is as follows: Mr. Castens was born near Bremen, in Germany, in 1834, his parents being Henry and Sophia (Voight) Castens, both natives of the place of his birth. His father was a farmer, and the sub- jeet of this sketch was reared to that calling till sixteen years of age. At that time, in 1850, he eame to the United States. Upon his arrival in New York, he proceeded to the Western States, and located in Morgan County, Missouri, where he worked at farm labor until 1852. IIe then started across the plains to California, engaging himself as an ox teamster. His party were
months in performing this journey, and did not reach Napa County, their destination, until Oc- tober, 1852. Upon his arrival in that county Mr. Castens worked at farm labor for about one year. He then rented land and commenced farming and raising grain upon his own account. at which he continued until 1856. He then en- gaged in stock-raising, and the next year came to Sonoma County, and located in Salt Point Township, on the Valhalla Creek. Mr. Castens was largely engaged in his business and success- fully conducted the same until 1869, when he sold out and the next year purchased 530 acres of land in Analy Township. In 1870 he went to Nevada, where he engaged in stock-raising. He was also employed in freighting supplies to the mines, and was interested in mining opera- tions. His various enterprises were attended with success, and in 1875 he closed up his bnsi- ness in, Nevada, returned to Sonoma County and took up his present residence. Sinee that time Mr. Castens has devoted his attention to general farming and stock-raising. This fine farm of 530 acres is located on the south bank of the Mark West Creek, in the Vine Hill school district, Analy Topnship, and is on the Fulton and Forestville road, seven miles west of Fulton and two miles east of Forestville. The Guerneville branch of the San Francisco & North Pacific Railroad passes through his lands. IIis farm is mostly devoted to hay, grain and stock- raising, although the lands are admirably adapted for fruit or vine culture. He has a stall orchard of six acres, producing peaches, apples, pears, French prunes, figs, plums, cherries and almonds, and there are also four acres in vines of the Mission and table grapes. Upon the river bottom land he has twenty acres in alfalfa, which yields three crops per annum besides furnishing pasture for stock during the dry months. Among the stock upon his farm are about 500 head of sheep of the Sonthdown. Shropshire and Spanish Merino breeds, also fine specimens of draft horses of the Clydesdale stock. Ilis cattle are improved with Durham stock, at the head of which is a fine Durham
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bull. About eighty acres of his land are still heavily timbered. Nearly all the improvements and the clearing and cultivation of this farm have been accomplished by Mr. Castens since 1875, and the success he has attained has been the re- sult of his characteristic energy and sound busi- ness qualities. Mr. Castens, during his long residence in Sonoma County has ever been a strong supporter of all enterprises for developing its resources, and is a firm believer in its future prosperity and progress. In political matters, he is a consistent Democrat. A strong supporter of schools and churches, he has for many years been a consistent member of the Methodist church. In 1863 Mr. Castens was united in marriage with Mrs. Anna (Jacobson) Ilagler, widow of Gerhardt Hagler, natives of Germany. Mrs. Castens died in 1873, leaving one child, Sophia, who died in 1878. In 1878 Mr. Castens married Mrs. Anna (Franks) Shaw. They have two children, Emelia and Frederick. There is also one son of his first wife's, Ger- hardt Hagler, who is married and is residing in Santa Rosa.
SIMI, wine manufacturer and vineyardist, came to Healdsburg in 1868. At that time and for some years thereafter his business consisted of buying grapes and ship- ping to San Francisco, and there making them into wine. The well equipped brick winery, of which Mr. Simi has charge at Healdsburg, is the property of the brothers, G. and P. Simi. and was erected in 1881. There is a storage here for 100,000 gallons of wine, and the annual output from the winery is from 40,000 to 70,000 gallons. Grape brandy is also manu- factured, some years as much as 5,000 gallons being made. P. Simi conducts the San Fran- cisco portion of the business, the headquarters in that city being at No. 429 Green street. G. Simi purchased 126 acres of land just north of Healdsburg, in the winter of 1853. This tract was then mostly timbered, but is now nearly
all cleared, and all but ten acres have been planted in desirable varieties of wine grapes, principally Zinfandel. It is the intention to build another winery on this land. G. Simi, the proprietor, is a native of Lucca, Tuscany, Italy, born on the 3d of August, 1825, his parents being Jacob and Nanciata Simi. The subject of this sketch was reared in his native country, and in 1559 decided to emigrate to America. For that purpose he went to Mar- seilles, thence to Havre, and then took passage on a vessel bound for New York, landing on the 29th of October. From there he came via Panama to San Francisco, where for one month he was engaged in gardening. He then went to the mines of Calaveras County and worked in Comanche camp for seven months, after which he returned to San Francisco, and was employed one year near the Mission Dolores. From there he went eleven miles north of San Francisco and again engaged in gardening. After four years he sold ont and rented land on San Pedro ranch. While there he went to Sacramento County, and there rented 1,000 acres of land. One year later he rented 1,800 acres of land in Grande Valley. He farmed this land one year, then gave it up, but after two years renewed his lease. After this he rented 1,840 acres in Kern County, and 1,600 acres near Pescadero, which engaged his atten- tion for six years. From there he came to Healdsburg. Mr. Simi was married in this State to Miss Nora Cavenna, a native of County Galway, Freland. She is now deceased. His present wife was formerly Niccoletta Bacchica- loupa, a native of Italy, born at Chicania, five miles from Genoa. Mr. Simi has two children, Louisa and Isabella.
OSIAH HI. WHITE, one of the honored citizens of Sonoma County, was born in Westminister, Worcester County, Massa- chusetts, February 3, 1838. He resided there until he was fourteen years old, when he went
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to Illinois, remaining there eight months. He then returned East, and after attending school for six or seven months in Jefferson County, New York, he went to Lancaster, Massachu- setts, where he remained two years. Returning to Ilinois again in the fall of 1855, he entered the employ of the Jacksonville & St. Louis Railroad in the engineering department, in the construction of the road, and remained there until the hard times of 1857 came on, when work on the road was practically stopped. IIe was shortly after elected county surveyor for Jersey County, and served one term. In 1860 he came to California and did considerable sur- veying in Sacramento. He afterward received a contraet from the Central Pacific Company for building seven miles of their road. After the big flood in Sacramento, in 1861, he took a contract for building a part of the levee to pro- tect the city from the high waters of the Sacra- mento and American rivers. After this he gave much of his attention to mining and also to surveying. From 1864 to 1876 his head- quarters were at San Francisco, from which Foint he carried on quite an extensive business. In the winter of 1877-'78 he became interested in a quartz mine at Tombstone, Arizona, sinee which time he has been its superintendent. This mine has been a big paying investment, taking the greater part of Mr. White's time in the management of its affairs. In 1879 he purchased his property in Sonoma County, which is now the family home. It contains a little over 1,500 acres, situated in Vallejo Town- ship, about six miles southeast of Petaluma. Hle has a vineyard of twenty acres, in full bear- ing, which is six years old and which bore last year about three tons to the aere. There is also a variety of other kinds of fruit. Mr. White has the finest herd of thoroughbred cat- tle in the county, if not in the State. The herd numbers forty-two, which were purchased in narantine at New York in 1884. He has altogether abont 150 head-quite a number of them half-breeds. The stock has been exhibited at the different fairs and is always sure to take
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the laurels. At the Golden Gate fair at Oak- land he made a display of sixteen head of cattle and took first premium on everything with the exception of two-year-old bulls. Ilis horses are among the finest to be seen anywhere. He has about forty head of horses and colts, which are bred from the Electioneer stock. His d: iry is condueted on an extensive scale, milking, on an average, from seventy-five to eighty cows, and making about 300 pounds of butter a week, which is shipped to Arizona. Mr. White is president of the Sonoma and Marin Distriet Agricultural Society, an organization in which he takes a deep interest. His marriage ocenrred in 1879. His wife was formerly Annie R. Daniels, a native of Milton, Saratoga County, New York, and a danghter of an old pioneer of this county. They have four children, three sons and one daughter.
IMPSON & ROBERTS, contractors and builders, corner of Third and B streets, have been in business in Santa Rosa since May 23, 1886. They make plans and contracts for all kinds of buildings, stone, brick, or wood; make all kinds of store fixtures, and do every kind of job work. The firm consists of Willie B. Simpson and Charlie D. Roberts. They started in business in a small shop 20 x 50 feet, and employed three men. They soon doubled the size of their shop, and increased their force to seventeen men, and at the end of the first year they employed thirty-three men, steadily increasing to forty-six. They have this year enlarged their shops by an addition of 50 x 60 feet, and now have the finest shop in the city, covering an area of 150 x 120 feet. At one time they had under contract eleven residences, one church, and four barns. Showing the immense amount of business they do, we state the fact that inside of eight months, they put over $60,000 through the bank. They contract for work all over Sonoma County. Among the build- ings they have recently erected are: a large
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winery in Knight's Valley, for Robert II. Dalie. field; a fine residence for F. Talmage, in Santa Rosa, costing $6,000; an addition of two large rooms to the Davis Street sehool, erected and completed in thirty days, during vacation; a house for J. McLane, corner of B and Seventh streets, costing $4,000. They finished and fitted np Guy E. Grosse's real estate office, one of the largest and finest real estate offices on the coast. Mr. Simpson laid off the walls for the Atheneum building. They erect a large number of tanks for windmills. The first house the firm erected after starting in business, was the beautiful res- idence of George F. King, at the corner of Cherry and King streets. This firm has the largest run of job work of any firm in the city. This season they employ an average of twenty- seven of the best skilled mechanics, the most of them receiving 83 per day. During the year 1887 they ereeted forty houses, ranging from $1,000 to $6,000 each. Mr. Simpson was born in New Hampshire twenty-nine years ago, and has been a resident of Santa Rosa ten years. After coming to California he worked on a farm for fifteen months, then began to learn the car- penter's trade, starting at $1.50 per day. Ile has now been working at his trade nearly nine years. He does all the drafting for their build- ings, and the most of the contracting. For two and a half years he had full superintendence of the men and work for Mr. Ludwig, and hence has had a large experience. Mr. Simpson mar- ried Miss Heath, a former school-mate from his native State. Mr. Roberts is a native of Canada, born in August, 1857. He learned his trade in his native country, and his first experience as proprietor of business was the present partner- ship. He superintends and takes charge of the job work department.
EROY S. ANDERSON .- Among the rep- resentative orchard and vineyard properties in the vicinity of Forestville is that of the above named gentleman. He is the owner of
twenty aeres of fine fruit land on the Forestville and Healdsburg road at Forestville, nine acres of which are producing peaches of the early Crawford, Wiley cling, and Orange cling varie- ties, also apples, pears, plums, and cherries. Five aeres are planted with vines of the Zinfandel variety. The rest of his land is devoted to past- ure. Mr. Anderson is located in one of the most productive seetions of Green Valley, and has made all the improvements upon his place, building a neat cottage residence, also eom- modious and well ordered out-buildings. The land when first occupied by him, in 1872, was wild and uneultivated, and its present beautiful appearance and productive qualities are due to his untiring energies. As an illustration of the yield of his orehard, we eite the following: from 325 Crawford peach trees, five years old, in 1888, he gathered thirteen tons of first-class marketable fruit, and also took peaches enough beside that to make one ton of dried fruit. This was a yield that brought him over $500 in the aggregate. Mr. Anderson is also the owner of sixteen acres of land in the Home Fruit Tract, about three- quarters of a mile north of his home orchard. This land is being cleared and improved. He has now (1888) eight acres in orchard upon this place, containing peaches, pears, cherries, etc. It is his intention to devote the whole tract to fruit culture. As one of the representative fruit growers of his seetion of the county, a brief sketch of the life of Mr. Anderson is of interest. He dates his birth December 17, 1842, in Dear- born County, Indiana. His father was a native of New Jersey and died in Dearborn County shortly after the birth of Mr. Anderson. After his death, his widow, Clarisa (Sisson) Anderson, married Mr. Eli Carson. In 1848 they removed to Boone County, Kentucky, where they re- mained till 1855, and then located in Clark County, Missouri. Mr. Anderson was reared to a farm life, his schooling facilities being limited to the common schools. While still a lad of but fifteen years of age he started in life for himself, and engaged in farm occupations and teaming. He continued these occupations until
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1863, when, desirous of improving his condition in life he decided to go west, and in that year started across the plains for California. This journey was made by ox teams, and it was not until September 1, that he arrived in Plumas County. His first occupation was as a miner in a quartz mine in that county, but soon tiring of that he engaged in chopping wood and other labor until the next spring. In the spring of 1864 he went to Nevada, but not finding em- ployment suited to his taste, he returned to Cali- fornia, and after a short stay in Plumas County, finally located in Modoc County. While there he was engaged principally as a farm hand until 1865, when he began teaming and was employed by Charles Clark in teaming from Lassen County to Nevada and Boise City. In the fall of 1866 Mr. Anderson came to Sonoma County. It was his intention then to return East, but liking the location, climate, ete., he decided to stay in the connty. He purchased a team and commenced teaming between the redwoods and Petaluma. In 1867 Mr. Anderson married Miss Martha J. Shortridge, a native of Indiana. After his marriage he, in connection with his brother, bought a tract of timber land in Pocket Cañon where he resided for two years, being still en- gaged in teaming. He then purchased 160 acres of land, two miles southeast of Guerneville in Mary's Canon, upon which he resided one year, after which he returned to Pocket Canon where he resided until 1872. In that year he moved to Forestville, purchased village lots and built himself a home. While here Mr. Anderson was engaged in selling chairs from the Forestville manufactory. In 1874 he took up his present residence. At that time the building of the railroad into the redwoods had made his team- ing operations unprofitable. Therefore he aban- doned that enterprise and purchased a steam threshing machine with a complete outfit such as would enable him to successfully carry on the operations of a grain thresher. For the next ten years Mr. Anderson was employed during the harvest season in threshing grain in Colusa County, and during the other portions of the
year in improving and cultivating his orchard and vineyard property at Forestville. In 1884 he sold his threshing ontfit and since that time has devoted himself entirely to horticultural pursuits. Mr. Anderson is an enthusiastic and successful orchardist. In this calling he has dis- played his usual energy and good sound business qualities, so essential to success in any enter- prise. Ile is a liberal minded and public spirited citizen, ready at all times to aid in any enterprise that he believes will advance the in- terests and prosperity of his section. Ile is a member of the Methodist church. In politics, he is a Democrat, but entertains liberal and con- servative views upon the important political issues of the day. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson have two children, Clara and Albert, both residing at home.
AIRAM C. MANUEL .- One of the most noticeable industries-aside from those of an agricultural nature-of Sonoma County and its vicinity, is that of the quarrying of basalt paving blocks. This enterprise gives employment to a large number of men and brings thousands of dollars into the county each month. Among the most extensive of these industries is that conducted by the subject of this sketch. He has four quarries, one of which is located upon a seventeen acre tract which he owns, situated a short distance north of Sonoma. The other three are leased from the following persons: J. Snyder, C. Badger and W. M. Read. Mr. Manuel employs from forty-five to fifty men and from sixteen to twenty horses in his busi- ness, quarrying an average of 80,000 blocks per month. The most of this is shipped to San Francisco, but San Jose and Stockton are also supplied upon demand. Mr. Manuel com- menced operations in Sonoma in 1882, and has constantly increased his business since. Upon his seventeen acres he has a comfortable resi- dence, barns, ete., also a family orchard, orna- mental trees and other improvements. He also
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owns sixty acres near Calistoga, Napa County. The subject of this sketch was born in Orleans County, Vermont, June 9. 1837, his parents be- ing Chandler and Betsey (Young) Mannel, both natives of Vermont. Mr. Manuel was reared upon his father's farm until twelve years of age, and at that early period in life began to care for himself, and for the next three years worked at such occupations as were adapted to a boy of his age. When but fifteen his roving propensi- ties seemed to have gained full sway, and he engaged as a sailor upon the lakes, starting from Sackett's Harbor, New York. He followed this calling until 1857, at which time he came, via steamer ronte, to California. Soon after his ar- rival in San Francisco he started for the mines, and during the next eight years he pursued that fickle goddess-gold-in the mines of Yuba and Nevada counties. In 1865 he returned to his calling as a sailor, and purchased a schooner. which he commanded and placed in the freight- ing business, between Napa and Sonoma coun- ties and San Francisco. That occupation he followed until 1867, when he located in Placer County, leased a quarry, and engaged in quarry- ing building stone and paving bloeks. The paving blocks thus obtained were the finest ever quarried in California. Hle conducted his busi- ness in Placer County until 1873, in which year he located in Napa County and there opened quarries which he continued to operate until 1875, when he moved to Solano County, engaging in the same business there until he came to his present location. Mr. Manuel, al- though but a comparatively new-comer in So- noma County, is greatly interested in its growth and prosperity. An energetic and enterprising citizen, he is ever ready to aid in all movements that will tend to advance the interests of the community in which he resides. He is one of the city trustees of Sonoma, a position he lias held for the past four years. He is a member of Sonoma Lodge, No. 28, I. O. O. F., and also of the K. of P. Politically, he is a consistent Republican. In 1865 Mr. Manuel visited the Eastern States, and while there married Miss 41
Nettie Young, a native of New York. They have seven children: Harvey S., Leroy, Flor- ence, Pearl, Bertha, Cora and Raymond. Harvey S. married Miss Sophia Baettge, of Sonoma, at which place he resides.
EV. GEORGE B. CLIFFORD was born in Indiana, August 3, 1823. His father was a native of Danville, Vermont, and his mother of Bangor, Maine. Soon after their marriage they moved West, residing for a time at Newport, Kentucky, where their first son was born. Thence they settled in Rush County, Indiana, where Dr. William Clifford practiced medicine for many years and died. Rev. George B. Clifford received a common school education before leaving Indiana. He went to Des Moines County, Iowa, near Burlington, where he pur- sued his education under a private tutor. After taking the four year's course prescribed by the Methodist Episcopal church, he entered the ministry in 1852. His first pastoral charge was at Mount Vernon, Iowa, the seat of Cornell College, and after an absence of seven years he returned and passed three years more there as pastor. He was engaged in the ministry in Iowa from 1852 to 1866, and in the latter year he was transferred from the Upper Iowa Con- ferenee to the California Conference, in which he has served ten years as presiding elder. Three times, in 1864, in 1867 and in 1884, he has been elected to the general conference -- the highest couneil and the law making body of the Methodist Episcopal church. Rev. Clifford has been two years pastor of the Third Street Methodist Episcopal church of Santa Rosa. This church was his first charge in California, which he served one year, the church being at that time an infantile body, and the pastor acting as janitor and general ntility man. IFis pastoral duties at that time included Santa Rosa, Sebas- topol, Green Valley and Bennett. Valley, and during that year he raised the money to build a church at Sebastopol and one at Green Val-
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