USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 51
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Charles H. Smith. Was born in Bristol county, Rhode Island, December 19, 1834. In the winter of 1856 he emigrated to the West, and settled in Hastings, Dakota county, Minnesota, and there prosecuted farming until May, 1858, when he returned to his native. town, and there farmed until 1861. In that year he removed to East Greenwich and became fore- man to a large farmer, where he continued until 1862, when he enlisted in Co. H, 7th Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry, and was honorably discharged July, 1865, at the close of the war. While serving in the army he partici- pated in several of the battles of that campaign, among which was that of Fredericksburg. After his discharge he returned home, and after remaining a short time, moved to Cook county, Illinois, where he remained for five years in charge of a farm and stone quarry, after which he transferred his residence to Englewood, same county, where he stayed until 1875. In October of that year he came to California and settled on the ranch where he now resides. Mr. Smith is one of the School Trustees of Point Reyes district. Married Ellen F. Perry, of New Bedford, Mass., December 15, 1858, by whom he has Ina E., William H., Susan B., Grace E. There is one child, Mary R., deceased.
Thomas, A Thornby
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SAN ANTONIO.
James Bloom. Born in Switzerland July 28, 1842, where he was edu- cated and resided until he came to California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco May 6, 1861. He first settled in Tomales township, and came to his present place in the Fall of 1864, where he has resided ever since, being engaged in conducting a dairy farm of seven hundred acres. Married, in 1869, Lucy Firoi, a native of Switzerland. £ Their children are Amelia, Sabina, John A., Pauldena, Clorinda, and an infant, Lucia Claudina.
A. F. Bradley. Was born in Logan county, Kentucky, September 17, 1831. When five years of age he moved with his parents to Johnson county, Missouri, where the subject of this sketch received his education and resided until 1853, when he crossed the plains to California, arriving in Sonoma September 2d of that year. Here he was variously employed until 1856, when he commenced dairying, which he followed for two years. In the month of December, 1859, he came to Marin county and settled on his present farm of three hundred and seventy-five acres in San Antonio township, near the Sonoma line. In 1862 Mr. Bradley spent six months in Arizona. Married, firstly, October 19, 1859, Louisa J. Fine, who died August 6, 1877, leaving seven children, Mary, Perry T., Vida, Rena, Ada, Quin, and John T. Married, secondly, April 28, 1878, Mrs. Lydia F. Brad- ley, by whom he has Walter P., Richard H. and Eva L.
William Brown, (deceased). The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Zanesville, Ohio, on November 4, 1825 He moved to and resided in Missouri about five years, where he married" Sarah Brown, who is a native of Davis county in that State. In 1853 they crossed the plains to California, and settled at Pine Grove, Sierra county. After a residence at this place of two years, or in 1855, they moved to San Antonio township, Marin county, and settled on the farm Mr. Brown's widow now occupies, there being thirteen hundred acres in the ranch. That Mr. Brown was an excellent citizen, kind and considerate to friends and family, there is no doubt. We are informed by those who knew him best that he was always to be found on the right side of moment-
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ous questions implicating the rights of citizens, on the advancement of any laudable project that tended to better the community in which he lived. We close the sketch of this pioneer who had battled with hard- ships incident to a new country for nearly a quarter of a century, by relating how he was brutally murdered on the night of October 21, 1876. He had been to Petaluma, in Sonoma county, that day, and was return- ing to his home in the evening, when he met Juan Salazar, a Spaniard, at Spanish town. Here he remained for a short time, and then pro- ceeded on his way. Just as he crossed the bridge which is about three- fourths of a mile from his home, he was overtaken by Salazar and an Indian named Egary, one of whom caught Mr. Brown around the neck with a lasso, dragged him from his buggy, and robbed him of his money and watch. Not content with securing the booty, the fiend Salazar took his dirk-knife and stabbed his defenseless victim four times in and near the heart. The following are the names of their children: Richard, Emma, George F., Jessie Ellen, Robert H., and Edgar A. Poe. George F. Ward, who married the widow of William Brown on September 12, 1878, was born in Marietta, Washington county, Ohio, on November 11, 1855. He resided in his native county till twenty-one years old, then moved to Mexico, Missouri, and engaged in school teaching till he came to this State, and settled in Petaluma, Sonoma county, in 1877. Since his marriage, he has been conducting the affairs on the farm left by Mr. Brown. In June, 1878, they commenced the erection of a fine residence completing it the same year. The building is of wood, thirty-eight by forty-four feet, two stories high above the basement of stone, and con- structed in the most substantial and attractive manner. There is a main entrance opening out to the north. On the first floor, and to the left of the hall, is the drawing-room.
Opposite this room, and on the other side of the hall, is the parlor. A handsome set of furniture and a beautiful carpet is a portion of the adornments, while a handsome moulding made of plaster of Paris, and representing a wreath of flowers, encircles the ceiling, and is as white as the driven snow. To the left of the hall, and at the rear of the building, is the dining-room and kitchen. The upper story is divided into sleeping apartments. By a system of pipes attached to a large tank situated at the rear of the building, water is conveyed to the first and second floors as required. There are five bay, tri-set windows,
one on the west, two on the north and two on the east. The house is lighted with gas, and supplied with soft water brought through pipes from a spring on the mountains a mile away, and is as pure as the dews of the morning. From the observatory a marvelous scene is presented. The mountains to the south and those on the north completely hemming in Chileno valley, the valley itself dotted with fields, farm houses and grass lands, and through which Walker's creek creeps lazily along on its way to
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"Tomales bay, make up a panorama in nature combining at once the grand, the sublime and the beautiful. When the finishing touches shall have been applied to the building and its immediate surroundings, it will embody the elements of beauty, taste and refinement.
Byard Davidson. Born in Nova Scotia September 20, 1850. Here he received his early education and passed the first twelve years of his life. At that time he came to California. After a residence of three months in Pet- aluma, he came to Marin county, located in the Chileno valley, where he purchased a tract of land and there resided until the Fall of 1865, when he bought his present farm, situated in a north-easterly direction, seven miles from Nicasio. Married, January 17, 1877, Melvina Farley, a native of Cal- ifornia, and has two children, Ralph Hall and William Oscar.
Andrew DeMartini. Was born in Switzerland February 9, 1831 Came to this State via Panama, landing in San Francisco June 27, 1852. He first went to Sacramento for three months, then proceeded to the mines, but meeting with indifferent success, he removed to Watsonville, Santa Cruz county, and there resided until he arrived in San Antonio township, December 17, 1865, where he has since dwelt, save for a visit to his native country. Married Josephine Girardin, a native of Paris, by whom he has Rosalie, an only child.
Henry Ehlers. Born in Germany July 22, 1833. In 1859 he went to Australia, where he mined until 1868, when he came to California, arriving in San Francisco in April of that year. He at once came to Marin county, where he has since lived, save some time passed in Sonoma. He is at pres- ent with Frederick Schleiker engaged in dairying. Mr. Ehlers owns one hundred and fifty-three acres in San Antonio township.
Robert K. Farley. Born in Iowa February 29, 1852. When but a child he came across the plains to California with his parents, and settled in Sonoma county in the year 1852, and resided there with them until 1863, when they moved to Marin county, where his mother died in 1865. He then lived with his father and family until the year 1872, at which time he commenced business for himself on his present place. All of his family still live in Marin county except his father, who is a resident of San Francisco.
Paul Filippini. Born in Switzerland June 28, 1847. Came to this State, arriving in San Francisco February 24, 1867. He first went to Santa Cruz, but came to this county and settled in the Chileno valley, coming to his present residence in 1879.
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Elisha Light. Born in Delaware county, New York, August 9, 1823. He resided in his native county, and was there educated, until he emigrated to California, arriving in San Francisco, September 7, 1850. He at once proceeded to the mines on American river, and there sojourned for three years, when he returned to the East, but in the month of April returned, came to Marin county and settled on Tomales bay, near the residence of Mr. Prince. Thence he moved to Petaluma, there keeping the Petaluma House for one year, after which he located on his present ranch consisting of four hundred acres of land. Married Emily Frasier, November 7, 1848, by whom he has four girls and three boys.
Charles Martin. Was born in Switzerland, October 28, 1830. Came to America, and California via the Isthmus, arriving in San Francisco June 15, 1852; then went to the mines, and there remained for two years and a. half, and then went to Santa Cruz county, where he remained for about two years and a half; came to his present ranch in Marin county in 1857. The ranch consists of one thousand five hundred acres, where he is engaged in dairying. Married Catterina Traversi, a native of Switzerland, on the 2d of September, 1862. by whom he has Adolphina, Carmiglia, Anita, Charles, Arnoldo, Leopoldo and Ermelinda.
Alfred C. Matheson. Born in Denmark, November 29, 1831. When sixteen years of age he went to sea, an occupation he followed for ten years. In 1853, he came to California and was engaged for two years with a United States surveying corps, after which he engaged in business in San Francisco until 1862, when he removed to Bloomfield, Sonoma county, and in 1863 came to Marin and settled on his present farm, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres in San Antonio township, near the Sonoma line. Married Decem- ber 14, 1867, Baletta Baker, by whom he has William, Alfred, Charles and Walter.
John Neil. In 1849 was residing in Liverpool, England. Made an engagement with Messrs. Starkey Bros., merchants of Liverpool, to build iron houses in California. Left Liverpool November, 16, 1849, by way of London and Southampton, from which place he sailed on the 17th, by the West India Royal Mail Steam Packets, calling at islands of Madeira, Barbados, St. Thomas, Porto Rico, San Domingo, Jamaica, Central America, Santa Martha, Cartagena and Chagres. Passed up the Chagres river in a canoe; was three days and two nights on the river; reached Cruces on Christmas eve; rested the next day, and the day following started for Panama on mule back. Had to wait a week for a steamer, all the tickets being bought up. Had to repurchase one. First of January, 1850, sailed from Panama in the steamer "Panama," Captain Bailey. Mr. Neil writes: ' Arrived in the Bay of San Francisco on the 20th; there were no wharves
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or means of landing; hired a boat ; landed on the beach, where the Bank of California now stands. Looking around, every place looked so wild. The streets were wide passage ways, with mud holes full of water; the houses were great wooden barns and tents intermixed. In dry weather a fire with such material would be serious. Starkey Bros. had the only fire-engine in the Territory. In the May fire of 1850 the engine done good service. I had command of it. In 1840 there was great progress in mechanics, par- ticularly in iron, as applicable for fire-proof houses and bridges. In 1842 the first mechanical journal was published in Glasgow, the first of its kind, anywhere. My cooking and condensing apparatus appeared in number four of that journal. The boiler was supplied with water by atmospheric pressure; the furnace burned its own smoke. When not cooking, it will condense sea water or ditch water into fresh, good water. My next invention, the circular iron roof, appeared in number nine. This roof will cover two hundred feet of one span ; cast-iron plates to cover these roofs, with water-tight joints also. The corrugated plate is my invention. I invented a chimney sweep- ing apparatus in Glasgow. Where houses are seven and eight stories high, some of those chimneys will have forty flues. Many boys have been smothered in sweeping them. I had a bar of iron across the top of the flues, with a sheave over each flue. An endless chain ran over the sheave. The chain ran down to the fire-place, attached to a wire-brush, and the work was readily done. In 1852 I got home sick; however, I thought I would see a little of the country. The little steamer " Red Jacket " was running to Petaluma creek. I got on board; got off at the Haystack; came down to the island on which I now live; was pleased with it; came home and bought it. Moved my family to it in March, 1853. I was born in Ireland in 1805, of Scotch and English descent. Married Catherine Moopy, in 1827, who died in 1845, leaving six children, four sons and two daughters. Married Harriet Snape in 1847, who died in 1866, leaving three children-one son and two daughters.
Wilbur Pierce. Was born in Illinois, May 26, 1840, where he resided until ten years of age, when he emigrated with his parents across the plains to California, and located at Stockton. Here he remained three years; then passed two years at the mines in Calaveras county, and next about four years in Watsonville. While here Mr. Pierce became a horse-trainer, which occupation he has since followed, and is the oldest "rider " in the State. He settled in Marin county in July,'1878. Married, June, 1869, Virginia Havy, by whom he has Virginia, Henry, Nellie and Addie, and Daisey.
Michele Respini. Born in Switzerland, August 15, 1850. Emigrated to this State in 1867, and became a resident of Marin county in January of the same year. Purchased his present ranch of three hundred and ninety-
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
six acres in 1877. Is now engaged in dairying. Married, September 15,. 1878, Matilda Traversi, a native of Switzerland, by whom he has Camillo,. born July 3, 1879.
Jeremiah Respini. Born in Switzerland, May 13, 1852. Started. from his home March 28, 1867, and arrived at San Francisco on May 12th of the same year. On arrival he went to Santa Cruz county, and after a stay there came to Petaluma in 1869, and two years after settled on his. present farm of six hundred and fifteen acres, where he is engaged in dairying.
Peter Tonini. Born in Switzerland, July 8, 1836; where he resided until he came to California and settled in Chileno valley. He now resides on Mr. Brackett's ranch, where he located January 5, 1875.
Porter Ward. Born in England, March 3, 1821, where he received his education and resided until he attained the age of nineteen years, when he came to America. On arrival on this side of the Atlantic he first engaged in steamboat building at St. Louis, where he remained for ten years. In 1850 he journeyed across the plains to California and followed mining for one year, after which he came to Sonoma county, where he stayed until 1854, in which year he transferred his domicile to Marin and settled on his present estate of about three hundred and forty-nine acres. Married December 31, 1846, Annie Wild. By this union there are two living children, Ellen E. and William H. Married secondly, Mrs. Hannah Shaw, on June 24, 1868, a native of England.
Allen T. Wilson, (deceased). Born in Glen's Falls, New York, February 1, 1820, where he resided, received his education, studied law under Judge W. Hay and Enoch H. Rosencrans, and was admitted to the bar, when but twenty-two years of age. In his native place he married Charlotte L., daughter of Solomon P. and Anne Goodrich, who was born in Glen's Falls,. New York. In 1849 Mr. Wilson emigrated to this State, their original intention being to proceed to the Sandwich Islands, but on arriving at Boston, finding that no vessel was on the berth for Honolulu, they con- cluded to go by way of California. Mr. Wilson afterwards proceeded thither, where he was for some time a Police Judge. In 1856 he removed to. San Antonio township, Marin county, and purchased sixteen hundred acres of? land, where he died September 28, 1870. Mrs. Wilson now resides on. six hundred and twenty acres of the original purchase. Their son is named. John Ward Wilson.
BIOGRAPHIES-SAN RAFAEL TOWNSHIP.
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SAN RAFAEL.
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Joseph Almy. On turning over the pages of this work, the reader will find a striking portrait of Judge Almy-no more fitting representative of a county can be found. We are not disposed to enter into any loud pæan in regard to the learned Judge -- " Deeds not Words" has been his motto through life; let his, therefore, be a pure and unvarnished record, nevertheless telling of an "ow'er true tale." The subject of this biographical sketch was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island, in the year 1822. After attending the common schools he sailed, at the age of sixteen years, from New Bedford in the ship "Fenelon," Captain Smith, on a whaling voyage to what was then called the Main Banks, near the Falkland islands, and at the expiration of eleven months returned with twenty-seven hundred barrels of oil, this being con- sidered one of the most successful voyages on record. Mr. Almy again started from the same place on another whaling cruise in the ship "Selma," Captain Arlington Wilcox, and after being at sea about ten months was so badly crippled by being jammed between two large casks of oil which had broken their lashings in a gale, that in order to save his life it was deemed necessary to put him on shore. This was done at the Bay of Islands, New Zealand, where he remained about two months with the American consul. He was then placed on board the ship "Joseph Maxwell" bound for Fair- haven, where he arrived after a passage of about six months. From Fairhaven he returned to Tiverton; attended school about one year, and having somewhat recovered his health, sailed from Bristol, Rhode Island, as ship-keeper in the brig "Governor Hopkins," Adley Wilcox, master. This was also a whaling expedition, and is called by sailors a "plum-pudding" voyage, from the fact that the vessel is only provisioned for a few months, and is not expected to go far from home. On this voyage he was in sight of the peak of Teneriffe, a burning volcano, for several weeks. Landed at Fayal and Floras, visited the Cape de Verde and Canary islands, and returned to Bristol after an absence of seven months, the catch being twenty barrels of black fish oil. Mr. Almy next sailed from New Bedford April 27, 1842, as boat-steerer in the ship "Jeannette," Mathew Mayhew, master. This vessel was fitted to cruise three years in the Pacific ocean for
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
sperm whales. During this voyage he passed the 17th and 18th days of March, 1843, on Juan Fernandez or Robinson Crusoe's island ; stayed two days on Chatham island among the terrapins, and was honorably dis- charged from the ship at Tahiti. There the French were about to take forcible possession, and with the feeling that it was not a safe place for a residence, he again shipped as boat-steerer on the ship "Ceres," of Wilming- ton, Delaware, Edward Ayers, master, and sailed from the island October 7, 1843. Proceeded to Wallace island, and to Lahaina, Maui, one of the Hawaiian group, where he kept a hotel for three years. This place he left in the latter part of the year 1847 as a passenger on board the ship " Abraham Barker," John Breyton, master, bound for New Bedford; touched at Penrhyn island on November 26, 1847, and at Roratonga, where he found some missionaries exerting themselves to convert the cannibals. Stayed three days in Pernambuco, and arrived in New Bedford in May, 1848, whence he returned to the home of his youth from which he had been absent more than six years. The letters of Colonel Fremont, which were being published in the Eastern papers at that period giving glowing accounts of the discovery of gold in California, led him with others, to form a joint- stock company of eighty members to proceed to the new Dorado. This association was known as the " Fall River Mining and Trading Company." Purchasing the bark "Mallory" she was provisioned for two years, and loaded with the lumber and frames for several large buildings. The com- pany, including the subject of this sketch, embarked and sailed from New York in March, 1849; touched at St. Catharines, sighted Terra del Fuego and arrived in San Francisco September 13, 1849. There the vessel was sold, while the lumber brought two hundred and fifty dollars per M feet. Mr. Almy had been in San Francisco only a few days when he opened a public house on Jackson street and called it the "New England Home," but the fire of that Fall destroyed the building. He then went to Bolinas, and in the Spring of 1850 proceeded to the mines where he dug gold for two years. He then returned to Bolinas and was elected Justice of the Peace of that township November 2, 1852, an office he held for eight years, being a School Trustee for one year of that time. Ran the Mill Company's vessel ·" Julia" for seven months transporting lumber to San Francisco; built the schooner "H. C. Almy" and launched her in the Fall of 1855, and made regular trips with her until 1864 when he disposed of his interest; went East by way of Panama, and, returning to Bolinas was appointed Judge of Marin county February 18, 1867, which office he continued to hold until January, 1880. What was thought of Judge Almy's ability as the possessor ·of that high legal office, we would beg to refer the reader to page 122 of this volume. Judge Almy has sailed once around the world, and rounded Cape Horn no less than four times. He married, May 10, 1857, Lucinda Miller, who was born in Indiana December 13, 1834. By this union they
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have had nine children, six of whom are now living; namely, Thomas, Henry, Hattie, Amanda, Nellie, and Charles.
William N. Anderson. Was born in New York City, November 2, 1828, and is the son of Robert and Jane Calhoun Anderson. He remained in that city until January 1, 1849, when he sailed in the ship "Sutton," bound for California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco July 22d of that year. In company with William Dunham and Amos Roberts he pro- ceeded to Mormon Island and opened a store, engaging also in mining. In the Spring of 1850 he proceeded to Sacramento and began business in that place. During the year Dunham died of cholera, and Anderson had a severe attack of the same complaint. In the Fall of 1850 the subject of this sketch went to Santa Cruz county, and engaged in farming for two years ; he then moved to Pajaro valley and followed the same business until 1856, when he opened a meat market in Watsonville, and remained there until 1861. He then transferred his business to San Francisco, and there, in 1861, married Sarah J. Strong, formerly of Galena, Jo Davies county, Illi- nois. In 1867, being ordered to San Rafael, Marin county, for the benefit of his health, he established himself in business there, adding to his meat market that of groceries, etc. Has had six adopted children, two died in San Francisco and the remainder live in San Rafael.
Hiram Austin. Was born in Portage county, Ohio, November 27, 1820, and there resided, attended school and worked on his father's farm for the first few years of his life; teaching school for a time when but seven- teen. His taste running in the direction of mechanical studies, at the age of twenty he commenced surveying. In 1852 he left Portage for Park county, Indiana, and here began the dairying and cheese-making business, combin- ing therewith some engineering and surveying. He resided there for four years, when he moved to Columbia county, Wisconsin, where he opened a prairie farm and resided until 1859, when he moved to Macoupin county, Illinois, and there embarked in farming and surveying. In December, 1861, he came to California via Panama, and at once took up a residence in Marin county. He engaged in farming in Bolinas for three years, when, in 1864, he was elected to be County Surveyor on the Republican ticket. In 1865 he moved his residence to San Rafael. Mr. Austin has been County Sur- veyor until the election of 1879, and during his terms of office has done much valuable service, among others the completion of a very correct and handsome county map.
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