USA > California > Napa County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 14
USA > California > Lake County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 14
USA > California > Sonoma County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 14
USA > California > Mendocino County > Historical and descriptive sketch book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino : comprising sketches of their topography, productions, history, scenery, and peculiar attractions > Part 14
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27
171
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Mr. Pope's wife was a Mexican lady, by whom he had five chil- dren. They continued to live in the valley until the greater portion of the grant was sold. Several of the children are yet living, among whom is the wife of Mr. Juan Burton, a resident of Pope Valley.
ELIAS BARNETT.
Mr. E. Barnett, now a resident of Pope Valley, is one among the oldest pioneers in the State. He was born in Prestonburg, Floyd county, Kentucky, in 1805. After traveling in Virginia, Ohio, Illi- nois, Indiana and Tennessee, during his early manhood, he settled in Jackson county, Missouri, in 1831. He joined the emigrant train of which Chiles and Hopper were members, elsewhere noticed, and crossed the Plains to California. The portion of the company with which he traveled on into California after the separation near Fort Hall, came into the Stanislaus, but the company suffered greatly for want of food after leaving the Humboldt till they reached this State. At one time the company was compelled to subsist on horse flesh. mules and coyotes. In Barnett's language, "'I was so near starved that the coyote did taste good, but hang me if I could make the horse or mule taste well; it was too bitter."
The company reached Dr. Marsh's place, near Mount Diablo, on the 20th of November, having been over six months on the road. After a few days' rest the most of the company went to Sutter's Fort. Mr. Barnett remained during the Winter and then went to Geo. C. Yount's in the Spring of 1842. During the time that Mr. Barnett was at Sutter's he aided in putting in a crop of two hundred acres of wheat. As an example of productiveness of the soil at that time, he says that Sutter sowed 300 pounds of a variety of wheat which he had received from the Russians, upon ten acres of choice land, and re- ceived 510 bushels. He stopped with Yount for a few weeks, and then went to Alexander's place, near where Healdsburg now stands, where he worked in building an adobe house. At this time Mark West, Mrs. Carrillo and Alexander were the only settlers in Santa Rosa Valley. Deer, bear, and other game were found everywhere in the valley and on the hills.
In the Fall of 1842 the Americans at Alexander's place received news, by a rumor, that Capt. Graham, of Santa Cruz, with a com-
172
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
pany of foreigners had reached Sutter's Fort and was waiting for white settlers to join him for the purpose of wresting the country from Mexico. Barnett hastened to Sutter, and after the plan had been given up, he returned to Billy Gordon's place on Cache Creek, where he remained during the Winter.
After spending some time working for Yount and hunting, Mr. Barnett came to Pope Valley in 1843. . In the Spring. of 1844 he was married to widow Pope, and has, almost ever since, made this valley his home.
Mr. Barnett joined Sutter when he espoused the cause of Mitchell Toreno, the Mexican Governor, against the native Californians, un- der Generals Castro and Pio Pico. In this campaign the foreigners on either side did not engage, but withdrew by mutual consent to witness the bloodless battle of San Fernando Plains, in Los Angeles, which secured the authority of Pico as Governor.
Mr. Barnett was one of the famed Bear Flag Party, and in 1846 enlisted under Gen. Fremont for his march to Los Angeles. The army started in September, 1846, and reached its destination in March, 1847, after undergoing untold suffering from drenching rains and fatigues of the march.
R. D. HOPKINS.
Mr. R. D. Hopkins, formerly editor of the Napa Register, is a pioneer of this State, having come out in the great rush overland in 1849. He is a native of Maryland. He studied law and was ad- mitted to the Bar the year previous to his coming out to California. He settled in the mines, and served as District Attorney of Placer county two years from 1851 to 1853. In 1857 he became a resi- dent of Napa. From 1859 to 1861 he was District Attorney for the county. During 1868-9 he was a resident of Vallejo, and editor of the Recorder, a paper then published in that city. From 1869 to 1872 he was editor of the Register of Napa. In the Fall of 1872 he sold out to Mr. Henning, and has since been editing the Yolo Mail. As a Christian and a man of strict integrity, Mr. Hopkins stands high wherever known.
R. T. MONTGOMERY.
Mr. Montgomery, who is well known as the editor of several news-
173
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
papers in Napa during the past seventeen years, and who is compiler of a portion of this book, was born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1821. It would be difficult, and superfluous if it were not, to follow the erratic wanderings of an old printer. From early manhood he has been connected with the printing business in various capacities. Coming to this State in 1853, he employed himself as school teacher until December, 1856, when he took hold and assisted Mr. Cox in the Napa Reporter while in its infancy. He has been a resident of Napa ever since, and almost constantly engaged in the newspaper business. As a talented and vigorous writer he is too well known to need extended notice.
A. J. COX.
There are few names more familiar in this and adjoining counties than that which heads this paragraph. Mr. Cox is a native of Charles- ton, South Carolina, where he served an apprenticeship at the print- ing business. In 1846, while in New York, he joined Stevenson's Regiment, and in one of the transport ships arrived in San Francisco Bay in March, 1847-so that, like Mr. Cornwell, he is a soldier pioneer. He has had his share of the vicissitudes of life in Califor- nia in early days. It was not until 1852 that he resumed the busi- ness of printing, when he established the Sonoma Bulletin, the first newspaper north of San Francisco. Mr. Cox has, at different pe- riods, started five newspapers in this State, which argues that in his younger days he was not idle-that he contributed much in labor to public enterprise, though of little profit to himself.
COL. J. B. CHILES.
Col. J. B. Chiles is 2 descendant of an old Virginia family. He was born in Clark county, Kentucky, in 1810. His parents were among the pioneer settlers in the present State of Kentucky. Mr. Chiles lived in his native State till the Fall of 1831, when he emi- grated to Missouri. In 1838 he went with Col. Gentry's Regiment to Florida, and was engaged there in hostilities with the Indians. For his conduct in this war, Mr. Chiles was brevetted Lieutenant. He was in the battle of Ocachoba, where Col. Gentry was killed. After he left Florida he returned to Missouri, and in 1841 started
174
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
for California with the Bartleson company. Col. Chiles, C. Hopper and Benj. Kelsey guided the party through, and they arrived at the foot of Mount Diablo in October, 1841. Here the company sepa- rated. Mr. Chiles and Mr. Hopper traveled together during the whole of the ensuing Winter. After passing up Napa Valley, they crossed over into the San Joaquin, and prepared for a return trip to Missouri. The return was made by way of New Mexico, and was made under great hardships and many strange adventures. In 1843 Mr. Chiles came out a second time across the Plains. This year Mr. Chiles brought out from Missouri the family of Geo. C. Yount. The following year he settled in the valley to which he gave his name, and where he has since resided. In 1844 he obtained a grant of two leagues of land, where he now resides. He accompa- nied Commodore Stockton's forces back across the Plains, and in 1848 returned, bringing his three daughters and one son. In 1852 he returned to Missouri by way of the Isthmus, was married to his . second wife, and in 1854 again crossed the Plains. Since this time he has resided most all the time at his farm in Chiles' Valley. He has been engaged extensively in stockraising and agriculture. Like other old pioneers, Col. Chiles has passed through many adventures, and has seen more of the hardships of life than most men. His history is so closely related to that of other pioneers in our valley that we refrain from entering into further details.
WII. H. BAXTER.
The subject of this short sketch is a native of New York, where he was born in 1825. His youth was spent in his native State, working on a farm. At the age of fifteen he was apprenticed to learn a mechanical trade, and after serving out his time as appren- tice, spent several years in the Southern States. He married early in life. In 1850 he came by way of the[Isthmus to California. On his arrival in San Francisco he was employed as agent of the Atlantic and Pacific Express Company, a short lived institution of early days in California, and as such won great credit by the promptness and energy displayed in carrying on the business of the company. This was at the time when California applied for admission into the Union, and the news had to be brought by way of the Isthmus; so that a
175
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
great rivalry existed between the various express companies of that day to get the news first on the arrival of the steamers and distribute to the city and country. Mr. Baxter won the reputation of excell- ing all others in getting and distributing news.
After remaining in San Francisco a few years he went to Nevada City and engaged in mining. He was quite successful and accumu- lated a large amount of wealth; but he was induced to invest in a smelting furnace, one of the first on this coast, and in this operation sunk all, or nearly all, he had previously accumulated. After this severe reverse of fortune he returned to San Francisco and engaged in merchandising. Getting interested in mining stock in the city he again sunk a fortune.
In the Spring of 1869 he came into Napa Valley. His objects were to engage in sericulture. He purchased a farm a few miles from Napa City, named by him the Spring Dale Farm, and he has made it one of the prettiest places in this section. Mr. Baxter is a man of great activity and energy, and has won the esteem of a large number of friends for his enterprise, industry, and sterling integrity. Since coming into the county he has identified himself with all the movements promising a better system of industry, and freeing of the people from the extortions of carriers and middlemen. In March, 1873, he instituted the first Lodge, or Grange, of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, in Napa City. His silk experiment will be duly noticed in our review of the agricultural resources of the county.
E. N. BOYNTON.
Dr. E. N. Boynton is a pioneer and one of the substantial citizens of Napa. He was born in Bainbridge, Chenango county, N. Y .. in 1823. He studied medicine and graduated in 1843 from the Medical College at Geneva, in his native State. He practiced his profession there successfully till 1850, when he emigrated to Califor- nia. He crossed by way of Santa Fé and Arizona, and arrived in San Diego about the first of September of that year. He engaged in mining near Auburn and on the Feather River till 1853. In the latter year he came to Napa, and was for two years engaged in mer- chandising and practicing his profession in this and Lake counties.
176
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
In 1855 he moved to Vallejo, and there engaged in practice and as a druggist for a period of three years. In 1859 he moved back to Napa, formed a copartnership with Dr. W. W. Stillwagon in the practice of his profession. Soon after, they purchased the stock of drugs, medicines, etc., of L. J. Walker, who kept in the store now occupied by Messrs. Colman & Co., and conducted the business of druggists and apothecaries with that of their profession. In 1864 he moved into his present place of business.
Although he ranks as a pioneer, he is still in the prime of life. He has served the county three years as Supervisor, and is widely known as a most worthy and public spirited citizen, awake to every thing tending to the enhancement of the interests of his county and State. He also stands high in the ranks of Odd Fellows, and has done much to make that benevolent Order prosper in the county. He was among the most zealous laborers to get the Odd Fellows' College and Home located here, and was among the last to acknowl- edge that the Order would not erect the College as proposed. Dr. Boynton is also a member of the Pioneer Association of Napa, Lake,. Sonoma and Marin counties.
BEEBY ROBINSON.
Beeby Robinson is a native of England, where he was born in 1814. He lived in the northern part of England till he was about seventeen years old, when he moved to the United States and settled in the city of New York. He was here married to Miss Emeline Parker, daughter of Hon. Joseph Parker of that city. In 1837 he removed · to Missouri and settled in Jefferson City, where he was engaged in building the State Capitol. He afterwards settled in Jackson county, in the same State, where he remained till 1849, when he emigrated to California. In 1850 he established himself in Benicia, where he built the first magazine for the War Department. This was at the time Capt. Jones, since General, was in command there. In 1856 he removed to Napa City, and has ever since made this his home. Mr. Robinson was educated to the business of carpenter, builder and architect, and has followed this through life. He has, while working at his trade, been employed in various parts. of the country and in Canada, so that he has traveled very extensively. Since his locating
SHARE:8 BURRIS:
THOMAS EARL.
(Of Dusi he
$
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL. 177
in Napa he has been engaged in building in the county. Many of the public buildings, bridges, school houses, etc., have been erected by him. In 1872 he completed the elegant and substantial building for the Young Ladies' Seminary, one of the most imposing buildings in the town. Mr. Robinson has raised a large family, most of whom have married and settled in this county. His son, Joseph L .. has for several years been engaged with him in his trade. Mr. Robinson has always been one of the most respected citizens of the community.
c. P. BRIGGS.
Charles P. Briggs, an early resident of Napa, but now living in Charlestown, Massachusetts, first arrived in California in 1845, and was also attached to Fremont's Battalion, in which he served very creditably. On the breaking out of the late civil war, Mr. Briggs left Napa to join the Union forces, and has not since returned.
R. C. GILLASPY.
Among the prominent residents of Berryessa Valley is R. C. Gil- laspy, who is also one of the carly settlers in Napa county. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky, in 1829. In 1849 he came to Monroe county. Missouri, where he remained till April, 1852. when he started to seek his fortunes in California. The company of which he formed a part consisted of sixty-two men, women and children, with fourteen wagons and about four hundred head of cat- tle. The company suffered a great deal from sickness during the trip, resulting in the death of Wesley Hill, Nancy Jane Hill. Henry Hill, all connected with the Hills now of Soscol, a Mr. Quigley, and a negro boy. One pleasant and happy circumstance connected with the journey was the arrangement for the future marriage of Mr. Gillaspy to Miss Angeline M. Hill, daughter of Wesley Hill who. died on the plains. The proposed marriage took place on the 220 of May, 1853, at Soscol.
The journey's end was reached on the 14th of October, 1852, at the present ranch of Mrs. James Hill, of Soscol, where the cattle were turned out in wild oats as high as a horse's back. When he reached Soscol there were but two or three families nearer than Napa and Vallejo ; and ladies were so seldom seen in California during
12
178
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
the carly settlements that it became a proverbial saying "That the sight of a woman was good for the sore eyes, " and "Uncle Bob, " as he is familiarly called, says his eyes were very weak " them days," and hence he made good use of the remedy by his frequent calls on his intended.
At that day there were thousands of wild cattle, horses, and game of all kinds roaming over the valleys and mountains. Mr. Gillaspy lived in Soscol, Napa county, from his arrival in California till the grant of Berryessa Valley was divided up and opened for settlement, when in 1866, with his family, ten persons in all, he moved into Berryessa, Napa county, where there were few settlements and no schools. He organized the first school district, and was one of the first in aiding in organizing a congregation of Christians in the val- lev. At the time he moved into the valley a town had been laid out by a company who had bought the grant, but no building had been done. The town has since sprang up into a lively little village called Monticello.
After he moved to the valley he spent four years in managing the large ranch of W. H. Bostwick, of San Francisco, and becoming so well pleased with the healthfulness of the climate and fertility of the soil, he bought a portion of Mr. Bostwick's ranch, where he is now pleasantly situated and devoting himself to wheat raising and wool growing.
Mr. Gillaspy has served the people of Berryessa for several years as Justice, and has in all his actions acquitted himself with credit, and none stand higher in the esteem of his neighbors for honesty and integrity. Yet, he is a firm believer in the correctness of the adage "laugh and grow fat." and is ever ready to enjoy a good jokc.
SIM BUFORD, .
This gentleman is a native of Missouri, where he spent his early years working on a farm. He worked a considerable time learning the trade of printer. He came out to California in 1849, and on his arrival in this State engaged in mining. He followed the life of a miner principally in the Northern districts, with varying success, till in 1854. when he started for home. He took passage in the
179
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
Fankee Blade, and was wrecked off Cape Aguilar, in Santa Barbara county. He returned to San Francisco, and embarked the second time in the Fall of the same year. He remained in Missouri, Wis- consin and Minnesota till in 1856, he returned to California by way of New Orleans and the Isthmus. After returning he went up to the Salmon River Mines, but did not succeed well. In 1858 he came to Napa Valley, and has been here ever since. Till 1868 hc was engaged in farming and stock raising in Soscol ; and since then he has been a resident in Berryessa Valley. He has a large tract of land near Monticello, and has been doing a successful business in farming. He is one of the most prominent and respected citizens of his section of country.
CHANCELLOR HARTSON.
Hon. Chancellor Hartson is one of the pioneers of Napa county, and has acted a very important part in the history of the town and county. He was born in Otsego county, New York, in 1824, grad- uated at Madison University in the same State in 1845 ; was admit- ted to the practice of law in the Supreme Court in 1848, just hav- ing closed a course of study at Fowler's Law School, then estab- lished at Cherry Valley ; came to California in 1850, and settled in Napa Valley in July of the following year. He entered upon the practice of law, and in September of that year was elected District Attorney. In the following September and at the close of his term of office in 1853. was elected County Judge and administered this office until 1858.
In 1856 helped to organize the Republican party and elected to the Assembly in 1861, and to the Senate in 1862. In both Houses was Chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, and took an active part in legislative proceedings. In the years 1867 and 1868 was the nominee of the Republican party for Congress, but failing of an elec- tion by 375 votes at the first contest and 263 at the second. In 1867 George C. Gorham being candidate for Governor, and in 1868 Gen- cral Grant being candidate for President, neither of whom had a majority in this District.
In 1871 retired from the practice of law and aided in the organi- zation and establishment of the Bank of Napa, and was then elected
180
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
President thereof, which position he still holds. He has taken an active part in almost every work of improvement in the coun- ty, and has done more, probably, than any other one man towards the building up of Napa City. He was chiefly instrumental in getting the Branch Insane Asylum located here, and has occupied the position of President of its Board of Directors since the location.
SAMUEL BRANNAN.
Mr. Samuel Brannan was born at Saco, Maine, in 1819, and there spent his youth and received his education. In 1833 he removed to Lake county, Ohio, and was apprenticed to learn the printing busi- ness, but did not serve out his full term. In 1836-7 he was infected with the great mania for land speculation that so raged in those years throughout the whole Union. But he did not succeed well in this land-jobbing arrangement, and soon returned to the press, and for the next five years traveled from town to town and State to State, experiencing the grim delights (fully known and realized only by his fraternity) of a journeyman printer. During these five years of toil and vicissitudes, he learned much of the world that was afterwards used to advantage. In 1842, having become acquainted with the teachings of Joc Smith, the great Mormon prophet, lie connected himself with that sect, and for years labored in disseminating its doc- trines. He was for a considerable time engaged in publishing the Mormon organ, the "New York Messenger ." In 1846, having heard so much of the Pacific Coast, he determined to come here, and, if possible, establish a colony. He chartered a ship, the Brook- (vn, fitted it up for passengers, and invited adventurers to embark with him. Two hundred and thirty-six passengers, about sixty of whom were females, and forty children, embarked. These passen- gers were mostly, if not entirely, Mormons. Mr. Brannan at that time, most likely, entertained the idea of planting this Mormon colony on the coast, gradually growing powerful, till this coast should be in the possession of that sect, and an independent government here established. Mr. Brannan provided a liberal outfit for his colo- ny for the new country. Among the articles supplied was a printing press, types, and a stock of paper, machinery for flour mills, and various agricultural implements. The Broader sailed from New
181
HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL.
York on the 4th of February. 1846; five months after touched at the Sandwich Islands where provisions, arms and ammunition were pur- chased for the colony, and arrived at Yerba Buena (now San Fran- cisco) on the 31st of July. His colony settled on the sand hills of Yerba Buena, and all their business was carried on in the name of S. Brannan & Co., till 1847. when the concern was dissolved. In 1846 Mr. Brannan had erected two flouring mills in that place, and in January, 1847, he commenced the publication of the pioneer paper .of San Francisco, the California Star. This paper was the parent of the Alla. Mr. Brannan was likewise engaged in farming in the San Joaquin Valley, and in merchandising at Sutter's Fort. In the first he failed entirely, but in the latter succeeded beyond expectation. The discovery of gold drew crowds to California, and his store was the only one in the whole Sacramento Valley, so that fabulous prices could not only be asked but obtained. It is stated on good authority that during 1848 and 1849 the average monthly sales reached the enormous sum of $150,000. At the same time, Mr. Brannan was a large speculator in town property in the infant city of Sacramento, and owing to the unprecedented rise in real estate there, caused by: the great mining excitement, he found himself suddenly possessed of vast wealth. In 1849, in addition to his business as land-jobber in San Francisco and Sacramento, he embarked in merchandising with China, and in 1851 purchased extensive property in the Sandwich Islands. In nearly all of his carly business transactions in California he was eminently successful. Indeed, it seemed that, Midas like, whatever he touched turned to gold, till he was considered the richest man on the coast.
In 1859 Mr. Brannan came into Napa Valley and purchased of Capt. Ritchie a square mile of land at Calistoga. On this tract are situated the famous Hot Springs. Soon after, he purchased other lands of Messrs. Fowler and Hargrave, till his landed possessions about Calistoga exceeded 2,000 acres. It was his design to make of this place, called by him the Saratoga of the Pacific, a great water- ing place. His expenditures for buildings, laying off of grounds and other improvements at this place, has probably not been less than half a million dollars. Mr. Brannan has spared no effort to make his chosen town of Calistoga. and the whole upper part of the county,
IS2
NAPA COUNTY AS IT WAS AND IS.
prosperous. He has, since permanently locating there, added large- ly to his landed possessions, and has ever been liberal to actual set- tlers and those desiring to carry on trade and business calculated to enhance the value of property by making the community more prosperous.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.