USA > California > Marin County > History of Marin County, California also an historical sketch of the state of California > Part 58
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 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58
Thomas A. Thornby. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in England April 28, 1826. On first emigrating to America he settled in Niagara county, New York, where he resided for ten years, when he pro- ceeded to Central America, and was employed by the Nicaragua Accessory Transit Company. From this place he went to California, taking passage from Panama in the steamer " Independence," and arrived in San Francisco July 11, 1852. After residing in that city for three years Mr. Thornby proceeded to Nevada county, where he resided until the Spring of 1857, and then came to Marin and established his permanent residence in Tomales township. Mr. Thornby has visited all parts of this State, and has traveled to the northern and eastern Territories. Now, he dwells in single blessed- ness, near Marshall Station.
Obed W. Turner. Born in Lincoln county, Maine, June 20, 1820. When seven years old he, with his parents, moved to Penobscot county, Maine, where he received a liberal education at the common schools. He came to this. State in 1848 via the Panama route, settling on the ranch now owned by Mrs. Knott in Marin county, Tomales township. During the Spring of that year he went to the mines in Oroville, Butte county, and returned in the Fall. He paid a visit to his old home in 1857 and returned to California in 1858. He moved to his present farm in 1867. Married Julia Bean March 3, 1858. She was born in York county, Maine, March 19, 1833. Matilda, born February 26. 1859; Ellen, born November 1, 1862; Carrie, born September 8, 1834; and Frank, born June 21, 1872, are their children.
David Thrasher. Was born in Perry county, Pennsylvania, on the 18th of January, 1833. In his native county he received his education at the public schools, and learned the blacksmith's trade with Ambrose N. Johnson at Liverpool, in that county. In 1853 he moved to Forest county, Pennsylvania, arriving in December, but only remained till the following May; thence to Pittsburg, and down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers to St. Louis, Missouri, and at once proceeded to Peru and La Salle, La Salle county, Illinois, and to Chicago. From the latter place, in 1855, he went
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
into the employ of the New Albany and Salem Railroad, in Indiana, remaining with this company about three months; then settled in Mount Vernon, Wabash county, Indiana, where he remained about four years, and his time was employed in working at his trade. He returned to his native State on a visit, and on his return to the West he settled in Chili, Miami county, Indiana, but moved to Macoupin, Macoupin county, Illinois, remain- ing five months, and returned to the former place. In December, 1859, he went to New York City, and in January, 1860, took passage on the steamer "Northern Light " to the Isthmus of Panama; thence on the "Orizaba " to San Francisco, arriving the first of February of that year. He took a residence at Bloomfield, Sonoma county, where he remained working at his trade till December, 1862. On January 4, 1863, he moved to Tomales, Marin county, and opened a blacksmith's shop on the site now occupied by A. Kahn's store. He has been a permanent resident of the place since the time of his coming, and is now doing business on Main street.
William Vanderbilt. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in the body of this work, and who is one of the pioneers of Tomales township, was born in Lyons, Wayne county, New York, May 25, 1831, and is the son of Abram H. and Julia A. Vanderbilt. He grew to man- hood in the county of his birth, there receiving his early education at the Lyons Union School, while residing on a farm with his parents, near that town. Arriving in California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, early in the year 1850, Mr. Vanderbilt at once proceeded to the mines in Placer and El Dorado counties, where he sojourned until the month of January, 1857, when he came to Tomales and embarked in farming and dairying on the ranch now in the possession of A. Woodworth. Not long after this he took up some Government land which he commenced to cultivate, and has since principally followed that occupation. Mr. Vanderbilt was one of the leaders in the Settlers' League, which was formed for the purpose of resisting a Spanish claim to what is now known as the "Bolsa de Tomales " Grant; and after a hard struggle in various of the courts of the State, and in the United States Supreme Court, resulted in the defeat of the claimants to the grant, and the reverting of the disputed land to the Government. He was also one of the chief promoters in the Grange movement, he being one of the incorporators of the Grangers' Bank of California, and the Grangers' Business Association of California. In 1859 he was appointed Assessor for Marin county, at which time he served for one year. In 1871 he was re-elected to that office for a term of four years, and again in 1879, was he called upon by his fellow-citizens to fill the same office, the duties of which, under the working of the New Constitution, had been quadrupled. He has held, during his residence in Tomales township, a number of minor offices- such as Deputy Sheriff, Justice of the Peace and Constable, while in the
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Henry Strain
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BIOGRAPHIES-TOMALES TOWNSHIP.
year 1866 he was admitted to the practice of law in the Seventh Judicial District of California. From the foregoing it will be seen that the subject of our sketch is, besides being an old settler in the county, a man worthy of esteem. For twenty years and more he has been officially connected with Marin, either in his home township or in the more responsible duties of a County office-conclusive evidence of his popularity with the people among whom he resides. Starting early out in life with naught but an abundance of energy and a fixed determination to surmount all difficulties that should bar his path, he is now, in the fullness of his prime, in a position to enjoy the comforts of a happy home, surrounded by an intelligent family and hosts of ardent friends-loved by all, hated by none. Mr. Vanderbilt mar- ried in Tomales, Marin county, December 20, 1862, Mary Fitzgerald, by whom he has Minnie, born June 27, 1866; Frank H., born June 18, 1868; Charles. B., born April 2, 1870; Nellie C., born February 26, 1872; and Newell, born June 4, 1874.
Martin Weber. Born in Prussia, Germany, April 26, 1831. When twelve years of age he came to the United States and settled seven miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and there resided until he was seventeen. Here he commenced learning the trade of a carriage painter, which he completed in Chicago, Illinois, and there labored at it until he came to California 'in 1853. Arrived in San Francisco January 6, 1853, and there remained until 1858, when he returned to Chicago, but came back to this State in the following year. He sojourned in San Francisco until 1864, then came to Tomales; in 1867 he went to Petaluma, removing from there in October, 1872, and settled on his present place. Three years thereafter he erected a shop on his farm, where he has since worked at his trade and followed farm- ing. Married Rosannah Champenosis, on August 16, 1856, a native of Hastings, Oswego county, New York, by whom he has William N., born May 29, 1857; Martin John, born May 29, 1862; Joseph Albert, born Jan- uary 28, 1866.
J. P. Whitaker. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, October 31, 1824. When about two years old, he, with parents, moved to Michigan, and after one year's residence, went to La Porte county, Indiana. In 1835 he moved to the State of Illinois; finally in February, 1836, his parents crossed the Missis- sippi river, locating in that part of Iowa now known as Van Buren county, they being among the very first settlers of that country, which at that time was a comparative wilderness, their nearest neighbor being a distance of ten miles from them. In 1849 Mr. Whitaker crossed the plains with an ox-team, being five months on the road to Sacramento, enduring many trials and[hardships, known and realized only by those who made the jour-
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ney at this early date. He then proceeded to the Rough and Ready mines, remaining there until the month of March, 1851, when he returned to Sac- ramento, where he engaged in farming and dairying until the following year, when he again mined in Placer county for about five months, and in the Spring of 1853 came on his present farm, situated on the north side of the Estero San Antonio. Again, in 1854, he went to the mines, this time at Grizzly Flat, where he remained from June till the following September, when he returned to the farm he had located in the Spring of 1853, and here has made a permanent home. Mr. Whitaker married Miss Jane Carroll September 28, 1858. She was born in Ireland. She came to New York City when quite young, and was there educated, emigrating to this State with other members of the family in 1855, and engaged in teaching school in Sonoma county till her marriage. Mr. Whitaker has never taken any active part in public life, preferring to remain at home devoting his time and energies to the interest and education of his children, as he is strongly in favor of a liberal education. His two elder children, Gilbert and Lottie, are both graduates of prominent colleges of this coast; and the two younger of the family, Fred and Wallace, are still attending school. Mr. Whitaker has been a strong and life-long advocate of total abstinence, believing that the greater portion of crime and misery in this world is caused by intemperance. During a residence of thirty years in this State, even amid the temptations of the early days, he has as yet his first glass of liquor to take.
Wallace L. Williams. Born in Henry county, Iowa, October 11, 1854. When young, his parents moved to Roy county, Missouri. At the age of eight years, he commenced life on his own account, and lived in different localities. He came to this State in 1874, and settled in Humboldt county. Came to this county in 1876, and to his present residence in September, 1879. Married Nancy, daughter of Stafford Duncan, on Sep- tember 20, 1879. She was born in Canada, June 2, 1861.
Abijah Woodworth. The subject of this sketch was born in Ashta- bula, Ashtabula county, Ohio, on January 10, 1837. He is the son of Parmenus and Marrilla Woodworth. His father was born in the north- eastern part of the State of New York, on June 30, 1806, and was one of the pioneers of Ohio, having moved there when but twelve years old. He died at his residence at Stony Point, Sonoma county, June 25, 1878. When the subject of this sketch was but one year old, his parents moved to Mon- mouth, Warren county, Illinois; thence in 1846, to Holt county, Missouri. In 1853, the family emigrated to this State, via the plains, and settled at Stony Point, Sonoma county, where Mr. Woodworth made it his home till he came to Tomales township in this county, in January, 1858. For twenty-
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BIOGRAPHIES-ADDENDA.
two years he has been a resident of this township-excepting four years spent in the mines of Nevada. Married Abby Hall, daughter of John C. and Maria Hall, on December 26, 1864. She was born in Sullivan county, New York, on January 4, 1842. Their children are Fred, born July 17, 1869, and Ralph, born May 7, 1871.
ADDENDA.
The following biographies not having arrived in time to be inserted in their proper places, we are obliged per force to produce them by themselves :-
BOLINAS.
Hon. James McMillan Shafter. Few men in Marin have attained greater prominence than he whose name appears at the head of this sketch ; yet it is not only in this county that his reputation obtains, it is acknow- ledged throughout the length and breadth of the Pacific coast, and is as fully established in the Eastern States as it is in California. Mr. Shafter was born in the State of Vermont, May 27, 1816, and finished his education by graduating from the Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut. At the early age of twenty years, having already combined his profession of a lawyer with that.of politics, he was elected a member of the Vermont House of Representatives, where so excellent was his record that from 1842 to 1849, he was each year chosen to fill the high position of Secretary of State. In 1849 he transferred the arena of his labors to Wisconsin, and in 1851 was elected a member and Speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly. In 1852 he was nominated for Congress, running far ahead of his ticket, and receiv- ing in his district over one thousand more votes than were counted by Gene- ral Scott, then a candidate for the Presidency. He was re-nominated for the next term but declined re-election. In 1855 Mr. Shafter was nominated Judge of a District Court of Wisconsin, declining which nomination, he started for the Pacific coast, arriving in California December 15, 1855. As at the East, so here was he called upon to take his due share in the conduct of affairs. In 1862 and 1863 he was an active member of the Senate of California-sufficiently active to be its President pro tem., and President at the impeachment trial of Judge Hardy. He, however, forgot not his pro- fessional duties, for he established a legal practice which brought him both fame and fortune. He is now, and has been for some time, more deeply engaged in the pursuit of affairs agricultural. In the year 1856-7 he acquired land in Marin county, which now comprises twenty-five thousand acres-a principality rather than an estate ; he owns two thousand head of stock, is an extensive breeder of blooded stock, being a prominent member
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HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
of the Pacific Blood-Horse and other kindred associations, and is considered an excellent judge of the fine points of stock of all kinds. He was sent to the Convention which met at Sacramento to frame the New Constitution, and though a Republican in politics, elected on the Non-partisan ticket, the endorsement to his nomination being couched in the following laudatory terms : "Long recognized as at the head of the California Bar, but now and for some years wholly devoted to agricultural pursuits, he is a man who will in the Constitutional Convention be one of its ablest members, and whose deep and clever mind, profound erudition and sound judgment will be of vast weight in that body. He is a citizen of high character and his reputa- tion is untarnished." Judge Shafter married Miss Julia Hubbard, of Mont- pelier, Vermont, October 28, 1845. Three children of this marriage survive, Payne J., James C., and Julia R .; Chester Hubbard having died in 1863, preceding his mother who died February 11, 1871.
NICASIO.
P. F. Partee. Born in Indiana, July 15, 1837. When a child his parents moved to Jackson county, Missouri, where he resided until twelve years of age, when he accompanied them to California, crossing the plains, and located in Santa Clara county in October, 1850, where he received his education. In 1861 Mr. Partee went to Nevada and mined at Gold Hill, and afterwards commenced the lumbering business, and traded in mining stock for about four years, when he returned to Santa Clara and commenced farming, which he followed until October 5, 1871, when he became a resi- dent of Marin county, and established a dairying business on his present farm. Married, October 27, 1868, Cassie Merriner, a native of Holt county, and daughter of Mrs. Merriner of San Rafael, and has Ambrose Benjamin, born January 7, 1870; Pearl, born January 28, 1872; Gracie, born June 8, 1875.
TOMALES.
Solomon Ephraim. The subject of this sketch was born in Posen, Prussia, on January 6, 1852. He was educated in his native country, receiving a collegiate course. In the year 1871 he emigrated to California, arriving in San Francisco in June of that year. He came to Marin county in 1874 and settled in Tomales, where he was employed in the store of E. H. Kowalsky, remaining till 1877, when he, in company with Henry I. Kowalsky, went into business at Marshall, Marin county. This partnership lasted till the interest of H. I. Kowalsky was purchased by his brother, E. H. Kowalsky, and the business is now conducted by this firm, known as Ephraim & Kowalsky. They are engaged in general merchandising, and are shippers of produce to San Francisco.
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