USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time > Part 107
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It was not until 1894 that Mr. Jacobsen established domestic ties. During that year he married Miss Freda Michel, a native of Switzerland. They are the parents of six bright, active sons, named as follows: Henry George, born in 1895; Frederick. 1896; Paul Sebastian, 1898; William Mckinley, 1900; Teddy Roosevelt, November 7, 1903; and Christian Peter, 1907. Ever since becoming a naturalized citizen of the United States and a voter at elections Mr. Jacobsen
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has supported Republican principies with all the enthusiasm of his nature. Official honors he does not solicit, and the only position he has held is that of deputy assessor. Active in a number of fraternities, he has been identified for years with the blue lodge of Masonry, having been made a member in Russian River Lodge, F. & A. M., at Windsor, besides which he is identified with Osce- ola Lodge, I. O. O. F., at Windsor and the encampment at Santa Rosa. For more than forty years he has witnessed the growth of California, and to it hie has contributed his quota. With a clear and lasting memory of pioneer events. he often interests friends by relating incidents connected with the era of early settlement. These forty years have brought him a large degree of success and a large circle of friends, and they have witnessed the evolution of the country from frontier conditions to an environment of scenic beauty, material prosper- itv and contented population.
FRANKLYN A. MECHAM.
It would be difficult to find in Sonoma county a more popular or better informed man than Franklyn A. Mecham, a native son of the county, and whose life-time home has been in this section of the state. Though born and reared in an agricultural community and made familiar with the duties of the farm from his earliest boyhood days, his versatility and large capacity for man- aging a number of enterprises with equal facility, has made him one of the best- known as well as one of the wealthiest men in the county. Rancher, dairyman or banker, Franklyn A. Mecham has been the same hearty, whole-souled gentle- man, making and retaining friends, and to-day he stands as the best type of the sturdy westerner, a man whose word is as good as his bond, ever ready to advance any interest that is for the betterment of the community in which he lives or the country he loves.
Mr. Mecham was born at Stony Point, Sonoma county, June 1, 1854, a son of Harrison and Melissa Jane (Stewart) Mecham, natives respectively of St. Lawrence county, N. Y., and Indiana. (For a full account of the history of the Mecham family the reader is referred to the sketch of Harrison Mecham, which will be found on another page of the history.) Six children were born into the parental household, of whom four attained mature years, one son and three daughters, Franklyn A. being the eldest. He was educated in the public schools at Petaluma during his early years and later attended the California Military Academy at Oakland for three years. As he was the only son it was quite natural that he should become of great assistance to his father on the ranch, and when he attained maturity he had no inclination to seek other em- ployment than that with which he was familiar, father and son continuing to work harmoniously together, and when the elder man passed away in April, 1909, the son assumed the entire responsibility of the large property, and has managed it alone ever since. Not far from Petaluma, in Petaluma township, he owns five thousand acres of excellent land, in addition to which he owns twenty-six hundred acres in Vallejo township, known as the old Sears Point ranch. This he leases out to tenants for dairy purposes. The remainder of the land is used as grazing land for five thousand head of sheep, all of which are of the best-known breeds. He also has a large herd of Red Polled stock of the
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best varieties, besides twenty-five head of horses which are also of high breed. Stock-breeding has been a life-time study with Mr. Mecham, which accounts for his unparalleled success and for the fact that his stock invariably brings the highest price in the market. Not only is Mr. Mecham the largest stock- raiser in this part of Sonoma county, but he also claims credit for being the largest raiser of wild turkeys in this part of the state, having a flock of five hundred at the present time. No part of his large acreage is allowed to remain idle, and in planting a portion of it to eucalyptus trees he has laid the founda- tion for another valuable source of income. In the foregoing enumeration of the enterprises in which Mr. Mecham is interested all of his interests have not been mentioned, for he is as well known in banking circles as he is in agricul- ture and stock-raising. Altogether he is interested in one capacity or another in seven banks in Sonoma county and the state, being a director of the Sonoma County National Bank of Petaluma, also a large stockholder in the Santa Rosa Bank and a director in the Santa Rosa Savings Bank, and a large stockholder in the American National Bank of San Francisco. After the death of his father he succeeded the latter as director of the Santa Rosa Savings Bank. being elected by the stockholders to take his place.
In Fulton county, Ill., November 9, 1895, Mr. Mecham was united in mar- riage with Miss Corinne Belle McQuaid, the daughter of James McQuaid, who was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, December 11, 1844. He immigrated to the United States, going to Pennsylvania first, and from there the same year went to Illinois and located in Canton. At the present time he is in Montana, where he maintains several large stock ranches. In maidenhood his wife was Miss Mintie Lucinda Craig, who was born in Lexington, Kent, January 1, 1846. They were married in Canton. Ill., April 4, 1868, and all of the seven children born of their marriage are living. Their daughter, Corinne Belle, was born on the Illinois homestead in November, 1872, and in 1895 she became the wife of Mr. Mecham. Five children have been born of this marriage, as follows: Har- rison, Francis A .. Corinne Gladys, Margaret Craig and Franklyn A., Jr.
ROBERT A. GIGGEY.
Success in life is often due to the hardships and struggles of youth, illus- trating as it does the law of compensation. As an example of this worthy of comment is the life of Robert A. Giggey, born August 1, 1865, in Carlton county, Canada, just over the state line of Maine. His youth was spent in continuous change, his father leaving Maine when he was but five years of age going first to Waterloo, Iowa, and after three years sojourn, to Yankton, S. Dak., and in 1880 back to Harrison county, lowa, and four years later coming to Portland, where one month after his arrival his death occurred. Through all this country William Giggey and Nancy Jane Giggey, parents of Robert, farmed and toiled with but small returns and with a family of seven children, the wolf was not far from the door many times. While in Dakota, however, William Giggey hauled freight into the Black hills with ox team and was one of the first in the hills after gold was discovered. These trips were very hazardous on account of the Indians, and Mr. Giggey had many narrow escapes.
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On account of the many changes of locality during Robert Giggey's school years, his opportunities along educational lines were meager and at the age of fourteen, on account of his father's ill-health, he was compelled to take entire charge of the farmn. In 1884, with the family, he made the trip overland to Portland, Ore., making the journey with three teams. They started from Iowa June II, and reached Portland October 28. Upon his arrival in Portland Robert Giggey started in the teaming business, continuing this until the year 1897, when he moved to Santa Barbara and for six years farmed with a reasonable share of success, but changing his occupation in life for the last time and awaken- ing a latent business ability he engaged in his present business, under the firm name of Giggey & Clough, the largest street and grading contractors in the city. They have a large outfit for doing heavy work, using eleven two-horse teams, and among the streets they have paved are Baker, Hinman, Keokuk, Kent, Harris, Vallejo, Liberty and West.
While in Portland, Mr. Giggey was united in marriage to Miss Mary Smith, a native of Ohio, the daughter of John Smith, one of the pioneers of Hillsboro, Washington county, Ore., and to them were born two children: Dorotha and William. The latter's death occurred July 5. 1908, when he was accidentally drowned at Lakeville.
Fraternally Mr. Giggey is associated with the Odd Fellows Lodge No. 350, Paso Robles, and politically he is in sympathy with the Republican party. At No. 610 Main street, Mr. Giggey resides with his family, still a young man with a goodly number of years, in all probability, before him in which to enjoy life, with the satisfaction that the comforts that he is able to provide for him- self and family were due to a youth of diligence, sagacious thrift and persever- ance. As a member of the Methodist church and his lodge, his charities are nun- erous and as a progressive, highly esteemed citizen he is well and favorably known.
MORRIS H. FREDERICKS.
A resident of Petaluma for many years, Morris H. Fredericks has taken an active part in its upbuilding, as well as in municipal affairs, so much so that he was selected as a member of the board of Freeholders that drew up and framed the city charter that was adopted by the people in 1910 and by the legislature of 19II. At the election in April, 1911, he was elected a member of the first city council under the new city charter, being chairman of the finance committee, by virtue of which he is also chairman of the fire commissioners. It is his be- lief that every man should do all in his power, not only towards the upbuilding of the community, but also in the administration of a clean, moral city govern- ment, and to this end he is working to the best of his ability.
Mr. Fredericks was born in Fohr, Sleswig, Germany, December 18, 1859, the son of Henry L. and Inka (Jurgens ) Fredericks, both natives of Fohr, Ger- many. The father passed away in his native place and the mother spent her last days in Petaluma, dying in 1911, at the age of eighty-five.
Morris Fredericks received a good education in the schools of his native land, where he remained until 1875, when he came to Sonoma county, Cal., fol- lowing farming at Bloomfield until 1886, when he located in Petaluma and two
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years later he began the building business, in which he has had marked success. Among some of the jobs he has completed are the Realty building, Healey's furniture store, Lugia residence, Allen residence, Gossage residence and many others. He has a comfortable and pleasant home at No. 525 Seventh street, where he resides with his wife and children. In San Francisco he married Theo- dora Lauritzen, who was also born in Fohr, Germany, and to them were born six children, as follows : Ida, who is a clerk in Newburgh's store; Henry; Minnie, Mrs. J. H. Galleher, of San Bruno; Tillie, a stenographer for the Cali- fornia State Home at Eldridge; Dora and Martin. Mr. Fredericks is a member of the Foresters, Druids and Elks, and is a man who is appreciated and much respected for his honesty, worth and integrity.
SAMUEL CASSIDAY.
A gratifying practice in the newspaper profession and an honored place as man and citizen in the community of Petaluma, came to Samuel Cassiday not through any special dispensation of fortune or encouragement along lines of influence or money, but rather as the result of untiring devotion to the pro- fession which he had chosen as his life work and the possession of personal traits that made him a friend of all who were permitted to know him. He passed away April 5, 1904, in Petaluma, after a residence of many years in this city and community.
Samuel Cassiday was a native of Ohio, born in Reedsburgh, Wayne county, April 12, 1830. His parents were John and Sarah (McGee) Cassidy, who were born respectively in Washington county, Pa., October 21, 1800, and Jefferson county, Ohio, October 22, 1800. The marriage of the parents occurred in Wayne county, Ohio, June 23, 1823, and resulted in the birth of a large family of child- ren, named in the order of their birth as follows: David, William, Alexander M., Samuel, Esther, Robert, Margaret, Rachel, Benjamin, Sarah, John W., Benjamin Franklin, Lizzetta and Laura. With this large family to be provided for it is not surprising that the advantages which the parents were able to offer their children were meagre. Samuel Cassiday made good use of the educational advantages which were offered by the district school in the vicinity of his Ohio home, and the very lack of opportunity undoubtedly did much to stimulate his determination to get an education in spite of existing conditions and take his place in the world of activity for which his power of mind fitted him.
Mr. Cassiday's identification with the west and with Petaluma in particular dated from the year 1851, and in 1861 he began the practice of his profession in this city. For reasons not stated, although presumably in the hope of secur- ing a better location for more rapid progress in his profession, he removed to Salinas, Monterey county, some time after settling in Petaluma, but after re- maining in that city for ten years he returned to Sonoma county and made this his home throughout the remaining years of his life. Politically he was a Re- publican and a stanch adherent of its principles.
Mr. Cassiday's marriage united him with Miss Cynthia Frances Denman, who was born in Sullivan county, N. Y., February 4, 1841. She was the young- est of the large family of children born to William and Nancy (Curry) Den-
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man, the former of whom was born in England February 8, 1793, and the latter born in New York February 2, 1799. Named in the order of their birth the children born of this marriage were as follows: John, Daniel, Michael, Stephen, Ezekiel, James, Thomas, Anne, Elizabeth, Martin and Cynthia Frances. Five children were born of the marriage of Samuel Cassiday and his wife, all of whom reached maturity and are now taking their place worthily in the world's activities. The eldest of the children, Sara Frances Cassiday, is the efficient librarian of the public library of Petaluma; the next in order of birth, Elizabeth Louisa, is also a resident of Petaluma, while Benjamin Franklin makes his home in Vallejo, and Samuel Denman and Minnie Belle are residents of Petaluma.
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WILLIAM R. BARRY.
In William R. Barry we find a native son of the state who is making a suc- cess of his life in the community in which he was born and reared, and in which also it is his intention to remain permanently, for from all the evidence which he has been able to gather he feels assured beyond a doubt that Sonoma county is the finest agricultural center in the entire state. A few miles from Petaluma, on Rural Route No. 5, one may see the ranch of which Mr. Barry is the owner and proprietor, a ranch whose appearance marks the owner as a man of industry and as one who appreciates the value of detail in whatever he undertakes.
The first representative of the Barry family in the United States was Richard Barry, the father of the gentleman above named, who was born in Ireland in 1812, and was among the immigrants to California during the early period of the gold fever, the year 1848 marking his advent in Placer county. There his interests were sufficiently sustained to satisfy his ambition for four years, and it is probable that his mining efforts were more satisfying than fell to the experience of the average miner. At the end of this experience he gave up mining altogether and settled down to agricultural life in Sonoma county, and it was on this ranch that he and his wife (the latter forn.erly Julia Murphy, a native of Ireland) reared their family. The eldest of the children born to them was Thomas Barry, who was born here in 1862 and is now the owner of a fine ranch in this same vicinity, comprising two hundred and fifty acres of land. Here he is engaged in the dairy business, his herd at the present time numbering thirty head of fine stock, which he expects to increase by the addition of seventy- five head as soon as his herd of yearlings are available.
William R. Barry was born on the Sonoma county homestead February 8, 1867, and from the time he was old enough to handle the ordinary farm im- plements has been engaged in tilling the soil. He is the owner of a splendid tract of land three miles south of Petaluma, consisting of three hundred and nine acres of fine dairy land, upon which he maintains a herd of fifty milch cows, of the Durham breed. He also pastures a number of fine horses, from the sale of which he expects to realize a good profit.
Mr. Barry's marriage united him with Miss Margaret Willis, who was born in Canada in 1881, and who has been a resident of Sonoma county, Cal., since she was a child of ten years. Three children have been born of this marriage, William W., Lillian M. and Catherine A., and their devoted parents are bestow-
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ing every advantage upon them which their means will permit. The children are being reared in the teachings of the Roman Catholic faith, which has been the faith of the family for many generations, and in his political preferences Mr. Barry is a Democrat and is a member of the Knights of Columbus in Santa Rosa.
Besides William R. and Thomas Barry, of whom mention has been made, there were four daughters in the parental family, Nellie, Elizabeth, Julia and Susie. The first mentioned, Nellie, is the wife of William McGuffick. Julia is the wife of John J. Sweney and the mother of five children, John, Russell, Homer, Mary and Isabelle. Susie became the wife of Peter Sartori and has five child- ren, as follows: Zilla, Viola, Loretta and Leticia and Hayden.
ALBERT BAKER.
Identification with the ranching interests of Sonoma county, extending back to the time when he came here a boy of twelve years, has given to Mr. Baker a thorough knowledge of this part of the state, as well as a loyal devotion to its welfare and a keen appreciation of its material resources. The ranch which he occupies and operates stands near Duncans Mills and comprises five hundred acres, a portion of which is still in timber containing about five thou- sand cords of wood. Twenty acres are in meadow, a large tract in. pasture, and in addition one and one-half acres have been planted to fruit trees suited to the soil and climate. In the near future other trees doubtless will be set out, for horticulture is proving its special adaptability to local conditions, and the ranchmen are eager to grasp the opportunity for material results thus presented to them. On the stock ranch may be seen the usual equipment of machinery, horses, cattle and hogs, as well as facilities for managing a small dairy business. It is well wooded with redwood, pine and oak, and is located at the foot of Mount Ross, about four miles above Duncans Mills. The first one hundred and sixty acres of the ranch he entered as government land.
The Baker family has been represented in Illinois for about one hundred years. J. C. and Jane (Hendrickson) Baker were natives of Illinois, born respectively in 1819 and 1826. The former, a flour miller and farmer in Marion county, that state, in 1862 brought his family to California by way of the Isth- mus of Panama and settled in Sonoma county. For a time he ran the Washoe house, and later settled on government land above Duncans Mills, where he and his wife died. They became the parents of nine children, namely : George W., James M., Monroe, Albert, Matilda (Mrs. Albert Canfield), Shrilda ( Mrs. Robert Powell), Martha (Mrs. Lincoln Edwards), Sarah (Mrs. Joseph Powell) and Mary. Mrs. Canfield has two sons, Edward and William. Mrs. Robert Powell has eight children, namely: Charles, William, Herbert, Robert, George, Ernest, Sallie and Maude. Of these William married Amelia Scott and has one son, Percy. George is married and has four children.
Albert Baker was born May 29, 1856, and was therefore about six years of age when the family removed to California. The only schooling he obtained was in Sonoma county ; his advantages were limited, as in those days the popu- lation in the county was widely scattered, the schools were few and the methods
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of instruction crude. In spite of the handicaps he become a man of wide in- formation, this being due largely to his habits of careful observation and thought- ful reading. On April 29, 1885, he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Kelogg, who was born at Healdsburg, Cal., in 1865, and by whom he has one son, Albert Stewart, who assists his father on the farm. Mrs. Baker and her sisters, Emma, Ella and Clara are the daughters of Warren Kelogg, who was born in Missouri. The sisters have all entered homes of their own and are hon- ored members of the society of their several communities. Clara, Mrs. Allen Morris, is the mother of four children. Emma, Mrs. Ralph Smith, has no child- ren, while Ella married William Graham and has one son, Malcolm.
Such movements as conduce to the material advancement of Sonoma county receive the co-operative assistance of Mr. Baker, who is loyally devoted to the growth of the county where for so many years he has made his home and where now he is earning an honorable livelihood through the raising of stock and the tilling of the soil. Like his father, who was an industrious farmer, he has made agriculture his lifework and has put all of his energy and sagacity into develop- ing his ranch so that each year it may become more productive and valuable. His inclinations do not lie in the direction of politics and he takes no part in the public affairs of the county, but quietly pursues the even tenor of his way on his large farm and industriously labors with thrift and energy so that he may surround his family with the comforts that enhance the happiness of life.
WILLIAM C. ANDREWS.
More than three score and ten years formed the life span of the well- known resident of Sonoma county, where the most useful half of his life had been passed in agricultural pursuits. A native of Indiana, he was born near Aurora, Dearborn county, May 9, 1828, one of a family of six children born to his parents. A taste and adaptation for following the surveyor's profession early in life led him to take up the study, and so proficient did he prove him- self that when he was little more than a youth he was placed in the responsible position of surveyor of Franklin county, Ky. In case of controversy as to proper lines of division he was called upon as the court of last appeal, which is an unmistakable evidence of the light in which his ability and work were held.
It was three years after his marriage before Mr. Andrews determined to come to California, the year 1865 finding him crossing the plains with a party of one hundred wagons drawn by oxen. Six weary months were consumed in the journey, during which they were mercifully spared any encounter with or disturbance from the Indians, although the party immediately preceding them suffered greatly at the hands of this dreaded foe. The San Joaquin val- ley was finally reached, and there the family remained a year. From there they came to Sonoma county, settling first in Green valley, and later in Bloomfield section, where Mr. Andrews purchased a ranch of one hundred and ten acres. Here he energetically set about the cultivation of what has since been developed into one of the representative ranches of the county. From time to time, how- ever, he sold off portions, until today it comprises only thirty-eight acres. Dur- ing the lifetime of the original owner it was conducted as a grain ranch, barley
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being raised almost exclusively, but some time after Mr. Andrews' death, when the management devolved upon his sons, they planted an orchard, which is now in bearing condition and takes rank with the best orchards in the valley.
At his death, August 27, 1901, Mr. Andrews left a widow and three chil- dren, all sons, to mourn the loss of a devoted husband and kind, affectionate father. His marriage in Kansas in 1862 united him with Miss Elizabeth Palmer, the daughter of Jerry M. and Pency Camden Whitehead Palmer, who became residents of California in 1864. The three sons who blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Andrews are William C., Sylvanus M. and Austin W., the two oldest sons remaininng with their mother and maintaining the home ranch, while the youngest son, Austin, owns and cultivates a ranch near Lodi, San Joaquin county, Cal.
JOHN D. SULLIVAN.
Numbered among the prosperous and progressive business men of Sonoma county is John D. Sullivan, of Santa Rosa, who in all probability has the largest cement contracting business maintained by any one person in this section of country. Although a native of Ireland, born in County Cork in 1852, he has no recollection of his birthplace, for when he was a babe in arms he was brought to this country by his parents, who settled in Providence, R. I., and there he was reared and educated. When he was sixteen years of age he apprenticed himself to learn the trade of mason in all its branches with a cousin, who was one of the prominent contractors of that city. After he had learned the trade he followed it until 1875 in Providence, then we find him starting out for the mines in the west, going to the Big Bonanza mine in Virginia City, Nev., where after about four years' experience he decided to come to California.
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