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 115
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The only child of the parental family now living, James W. Gibson was born in San Francisco in 1854. on the present site of the Bancroft building. When he was eighteen months old his parents removed from San Francisco to Sonoma county, and here his entire life has practically been passed. For
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almost ten years the home of the family was on a ranch one and a-half miles north of what is now Glen Ellen, and during this time the son grew to a sturdy youth and attended the local district schools, to this primary education adding a course in St. Mary's College and the State University. James Gibson was about eleven years of age when through defective title to the land which his father supposed he had purchased, he gave up the land which bore the efforts of nine laborious years and purchased the property which is the home of the son today, on the eastern border of the town. Here the father erected the first hotel in the country for miles around, the old Glen Ellen hotel being a land-mark and haven of rest and refreshment well remembered by pioneers and early comers to this part of Sonoma county. These were the days preceding the coming of the railroad, and staging was consequently a remunerative busi- ness. One of the largest stage companies of this time was the Clifford Stage Company, running a line of vehicles between Santa Rosa and Sonoma, and it was for this company that James Gibson was first employed, running one of its stages. Later he became proprietor of the Glen Ellen hotel, and it was while thus engaged that as a candidate on the Democratic ticket he was elected justice of the peace of Glen Ellen, a position which he held continuously for sixteen years.
Mr. Gibson has been three times married, his first marriage occurring in 1883 and uniting him with Miss Catherine O'Connor, a native of New York, who died the same year of lier marriage. In 1895 he married Miss Matilda Justi, a native of Glen Ellen, who survived her marriage only two years. Mr. Gibson's present wife was formerly Miss Myrtle Thompson, also a native of California, and two children have been born of this marriage, Lucile D. and James Lawrence, born in 1900 and 1903 respectively, both pupils in the Glen Ellen grammar school. Politically Mr. Gibson is a Democrat, and fraternally he is a member of the Woodmen of the World.
AUGUST MOSER.
In Mr. Moser we find a native son of the state who has never been out of the confines of the state in which he was born. On both sides of . the family he is of French descent, and at the time of his birth, in 1856, his parents were residents of San Francisco. After graduating from the public schools of that metropolis he received further advantages in a course in St. Mary's college, all of which gave him a good preparation for the duties of life which lay before him. As soon as he was old enough to choose his own course in life he followed mining for a time. After this experience he returned to his home in San Fran- cisco, but soon afterward went to Napa county and for fourteen years filled a position in an asylum. During this time he also owned and maintained a ranch upon which he made his home. Upon resigning his position in the asylum he came to Sonoma county and for about two years conducted what was known as the Wall Springs near Santa Rosa, disposing of this, however, at the end of that time to engage in his present business. He now maintains a thriving general store four miles from Santa Rosa. This is the only store of the kind in that immediate vicinity and consequently receives the patronage of the rural population for miles around.
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Mr. Moser's marriage was celebrated in 1892, uniting him with Miss Emma Wolf, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, but who has been a resident of the United States since she was sixteen years of age. Two sons have been born of this marriage, the eldest of whom is Leroy, who is a graduate of the Santa Rosa grammar school and is now at home with his parents; and August Newton, who was born in San Francisco in 1896, and is now a student in the public schools of Santa Rosa. Mrs. Moser's parents are both living in Sweden, the father at the age of seventy-eight, and the mother sixty-seven years of age. In their religious belief they are Lutherans, and the training which their daughter received under their guidance has never been departed from. With her husband and family she is a member of the Lutheran Church at Santa Rosa. Politically Mr. Moser is a Republican.
THOMAS EDGAR BARLOW.
The records of the Barlow family show that it is of English origin, and the first member of whom we have any knowledge in this country is Warren Bar- low, whose early years were associated with the colonial history of Connecticut. From that state he subsequently removed to Sullivan county, N. Y., and there his son Thomas Barlow was born June 25, 1809, his grandson, Solomon Q. Barlow, also being a native of the same county, born May 20, 1837. The latter was given such education as the times afforded, and in addition to attending the schools in the vicinity of his home, also attended Ellenville high school, from which he graduated. Subsequently he engaged in farming and lumbering on the homestead farm, continuing this until 1862, when he removed to Pompton, N. J., where he was agent for James Horner & Co. for two years. At the expiration of this time, in 1861, by way of the Isthmus of Panama, he came to California, locating in Two Rock valley, Sonoma county, and on April 21, 1864, he located upon the ranch which was the home of the family for the fol- lowing eight years. In 1872 he purchased a ranch of two hundred and twenty acres in the same valley, six miles from Petaluma, and here he carried on stock-raising and horticulture until his death. In New York state, before coming to the west, he was married to Elizabeth J. Denman, who was born in that state, in Sullivan county. March 14, 1837, the daughter of William Den- man, who died December 3, 1875. Six children comprised the family of Mr. and Mrs. Barlow, as follows: Eva R., Mrs. Thomas Mordecai, of Petaluma; William D., who died in infancy ; Fannie D., Mrs. W. H. Darden, of Corning, Cal. : Anna D., who died in Petaluma ; Thomas E., of this review ; and Elizabeth L., Mrs. J. W. McNeil, of Honolulu, a teacher in Oahu College.
Next to the youngest in the parental family, Thomas E. Barlow was born in Two Rock valley, Sonoma county, February 2, 1867. He attended the public schools of this locality and graduated from Petaluma high school in 1884. The death of the father in the meantime had left the care of the ranch to the mother, and in 1885 Thomas E. assumed the responsibilities, continuing farming and horticulture there for about seven years. In 1892 he purchased the nucleus of the ranch which was his home throughout the remainder of his life, which consisted of thirty-five acres of land in Green valley, which he set out to fruit. For a time after purchasing this property he continued his residence on the
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home ranch, in conjunction with its management also dealing in farm products and fruits. Later he removed to his own ranch and thereafter gave his atten- tion to its cultivation, adding to his original purchase as he was able, until he had one hundred and sixty-four acres of fine land, all in fruit with the ex- ception of thirty-five acres. He was one of the pioneer fruit raisers of this lo- cality, and at one time produced more blackberries than any individual on the coast, having ninety acres in this fruit, which was readily disposed of in San Francisco and also in northern markets. He was instrumental in getting boys from the Boys and Girls Aid Society in San Francisco to pick berries during vacations, which gave them a pleasant outing in the country as well as an oppor- tunity to earn money. With the idea of making a pleasant camping place for his young helpers Mr. Barlow set out a eucalyptus grove, and the camp is now a well-established institution. The boys are still employed here each summer, being in charge of a superintendent and matron, and they and their helpers take away at the end of each season between $4,000 and $5,000. After the death of Mr. Barlow in 1904 Mrs. Barlow continued his policy in conducting the ranch and her thorough capability for discharging the duties which the death of her husband imposed upon her has been amply demonstrated. The camp has been suitably equipped with every convenience, and in 1911 a large drier with all modern improvements was installed upon the ranch, its capacity being seven hundred tons of green fruit annually. Commodious warehouses and packing houses as well as a fine residence have also been built on the ranch. Besides the raising of berries a specialty is made of raising apples, Graven- steins, Baldwins and Wagners predominating. Eight hands are employed throughout the year on the ranch, but during the busy season two hundred hands are given employment. Mr. Barlow gave the right of way for the Peta- luma and Santa Rosa electric road across his ranch and Barlow station was so named in his honor. He was active in the organization of the Green Valley Congregational Church, which he assisted in building, and was also a trustee of the organization. Politically he was a Republican.
In Santa Rosa, February 18, 1891, Mr. Barlow was united in marriage with Miss Laura Ellen Miller, who was born near Healdsburg, the daughter of Thomas B. Miller. He was born in Rhea county, Tenn., December 31, 1826, the son of James P. and Charlotte (Bell) Miller, the former born in Virginia and the latter in Tennessee. In 1830 the family removed to Alabama and in 1835 to Arkansas, five years later locating in Newton county Mo., and in 1842 in Benton county, Ark. In 1846 James P. Miller enlisted in the Twelfth Regular United States Infantry, and served as first lieutenant in the Mexican war. In 1849 he accompanied his sons, Thomas B. and Gideon T., overland to Cali- fornia, and at Millerstown, near Auburn, they opened a store, and subsequently were similarly engaged in Washington on the Yuba river, until 1850, when the father returned east. After coming to California Thomas B. Miller engaged in mining in Placer county until 1850, when he went to Nevada City, Cal., where he made a strike and was very successful afterwards in mining on the Yuba river. In the fall of 1851 he came to Sonoma county, farming in various localities until 1855, when he took up his residence on one hundred and sixty acres of land near Healdsburg, upon which he remained until 1874, when he sold the property and purchased three hundred and twenty acres five miles west
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of Santa Rosa. Here he engaged in fruit and hop raising, besides which he raised fine horses and cattle. His marriage, April 17, 1853, united him with Mary Ann King, a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Horn) King, both of whom were natives of Virginia and came to California from Missouri in 1850. In the family of Thomas B. Miller and his wife were the following children : James P., a hop-raiser near Healdsburg; Charlotte E., Mrs. E. H. Parnell, of Green Valley; Thomas B., a hop-grower of Santa Rosa; Louisa H., Mrs. S. W. Purrington, of Mount Olivet; Mary Alice, Mrs. Alexander Ragle, of El- dorado county, Cal .: Irene B., Mrs. S. E. Ballard, of San Jose; Josephine, Mrs. Spencer Grogan, of Santa Rosa: Laura Ellen, Mrs. Barlow ; Henrietta, Mrs. F. B. Chenoweth, of San Francisco; and Robert L., who died in Santa Rosa. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Barlow, as follows: Mary Elizabeth, who is a graduate of Mills Seminary : Anna Maude; Warren Leland ; Laura Louise; Thomas Denman ; and Wilbur James, all at home.
In the passing of Thomas E. Barlow Sonoma county lost one of its most enterprising citizens, one whose enthusiasm and determined efforts did much to advance the agricultural standard of the county and state. He was an en- thusiastic advocate of good roads and worked indefatigably for the cause, be- lieving that good highways are among the prime essentials to agricultural progress. A charter member of the Sebastopol Berry Growers Association, Mrs. Barlow is no less enterprising than her worthy husband. In order to get the Berry Growers Association established on a firm footing she built a large warehouse at Sebastopol on the steam road, and from this has developed the large and flourishing organiza- tion which it is today.
I. N. CABLE.
Sonoma county is recognized as the most prolific fruit-producing section in the state, climate and soil vying with each other in their contributions to this end. While almost every variety of fruit is successfully cultivated, Mr. Cable has given his attention particularly to the raising of berries, his expert knowl- edge concerning which has received recognition by his fellow-citizens, who have made him manager of the Sebastopol Berry Growers Association.
A native of Kansas, Mr. Cable was born in Osage county in 1860, and re- mained there until about 1875, when he went to the Black Hills of South Da- kota. There he found a good business opening in hauling freight, a business which he at first undertook on a small scale, but which was gradually enlarged, extending through North and South Dakota, Wyoming and Montana, and on to Spokane, Wash. Altogether he followed this business for fourteen years, the last four of which were passed in Spokane, where he was engaged in contracting for and hauling logs for railroad enterprises. He gave this up in 1896 and the same year came to California, locating on a ranch near Sebastopol, Sonoma county. Here he followed general ranching for about seven years, when he became interested in the feed business in Santa Rosa as a member of the firm of Cable & Roof. This association continued for a number of years, or until Mr. Cable turned his attention to the fruit and berry business in which
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he is now engaged. No one in this vicinity is better informed regarding the raising of these commodities than is Mr. Cable, and his fellow-citizens recogniz- ing this have made him their representative as manager of the Sebastopol Berry Growers Association.
Mr. Cable's marriage in 1886, in Bismarck, N. Dak., united him with Miss Emma Boutch, and of the four children born to them only two are living. Kate and Lucy. Those deceased are Everett and Hattie. Two fraternal or- ganizations claim Mr. Cable's membership, Santa Rosa Lodge, F. & A. M., and the Fraternal Brotherhood. Mr. Cable makes his home in Santa Rosa, at No. 663 Tupper street.
HIRAM T. FAIRBANKS.
As one of the oldest settlers and successful business men of Petaluma Hiram T. Fairbanks is deserving of mention in a history of Sonoma county. A native of Indiana, he was born in Manchester, Dearborn county, December 29, 1827, on the paternal farm, and he was educated in the country schools of that time and place. When he was about nineteen years of age, in 1846, he ventured out in the world on his own responsibility, at that time going to Au- gusta, Des Moines county, Iowa, and making his home with the Hon. Levi Moffet. The following year he enlisted in the United States army for service in the Mexican war. The year 1849 found hini in Indiana once more, but his stay there was brief, for the same year found him starting on the overland trip for the Pacific coast. Mining had been the attracting magnet in bringing him hither, and with his brothers he mined at what was then known as Mormon Island, on the south fork of the American river, about twenty-five miles from Sacramento. The venture proved successful, and with the proceeds of his labor he returned to Indiana by way of Panama in 1851 and the same year went to Iowa, where he followed merchandising.
It was while he was in that state that Mr. Fairbanks was married to Miss Lucinda, the daughter of Hon. Levi Moffet, the ceremony being performed July 14, 1852. In addition to his mercantile interests he was also engaged in milling, continuing both enterprises until 1859, when he made a second trip to California, bringing with him across the plains his wife and four children. The fall of that year marked their arrival in Petaluma, where Mr. Fairbanks followed farming in connection with the lumber trade until the fall of 1861, discontinuing farming at that time, as he decided he was not fitted by nature for the work. In the following year, 1862, he established himself in the mercantile business in Petaluma, a business which grew steadily with the passing of years, and in connection with which he also maintained a commission house in San Francisco. He continued in the merchandise business in Petaluma until 1869, when with his family he went east on a visit. His return to California in the fall of that year found him in Petaluma once more. During the yeat 1870 he gave up his commission business in San Francisco and in the winter of 1870- 71 he again embarked in the mercantile trade, this time in company with the Hon. A. P. Whitney. Not only is Mr. Fairbanks regarded as one of Petaluma's prominent and successful business men of former years, but he was equally well known and influential in financial circles. He was one of the founders of the Peta-
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luma Savings Bank, which was organized in 1870, and was its manager and presi- dent until he retired from business. He was also president of the city board of trustees for several terms. In resigning from the presidency of the Golden Eagle Flour mills Mr. Fairbanks severed his connection with active business life, covering a long period of activity, and since then has been enjoying with his family the ease and comfort which his labors have made possible. Personally he is a man of fine character, and in the evening of life he can look over the past with the conviction that all that he has accomplished has been honestly accumu- lated, and added to this is the knowledge that he has the love and esteem of a large circle of friends and acquaintances.
JOHN WALKER.
A native of Missouri, John Walker was born in Jackson county, February 5, 1826, the son of Joel P. Walker. A brother of the latter, Joseph R. Walker, displayed an intrepid spirit, when, in 1840, he launched forth from the family moorings, bound for the far-off Pacific coast. He joined a party who were making the trip in the interests of the American Fur Company, under the leader- ship of Captain Dripps, who made the trip annually with forty carts drawn by mules to the Rocky Mountains to buy furs of the mountaineers, they meeting him at Green River for this purpose. The Walker family, with Father Desmith and three missionaries and their wives, finally left Captain Dripps' party and under the leadership of two old mountaineers, traveled westward until they reached Fort Hall. After resting there one day they again took up the march, their next stop being at Fort Boise, this being, as was Fort Hall, a Hudson Bay trading post. The missionaries decided to pass the winter at Fort Boise, but the Walker family continued on their way and arrived in the Willamette valley September 1I, 1840, stopping at a little Methodist mission in charge of Rev. Jason Lee. The Walker family were not pleased with the outlook there, and as about this time there was an opportunity afforded to make the journey to California under the protection of a large party, they took advantage of it. This party was made up of a portion of Commodore Wilkes' crew, who had been engaged in exploring the Pacific coast. A short time had been passed in the Willamette valley, and the commodore passed one night in the Walker household. On leaving Oregon in 1841 one of his ships was lost, the Peacock, having been wrecked on the bar at the mouth of the Columbia river. A part of the crew was compelled to make the journey to California by land, under the guidance of Lieutenant Emmons, and it was with this party that the Walkers first came to the state. October 19, 1841, they arrived at Captain Sutter's camp. made famous in history a few years later as the place where gold was first discovered on the western slope of the Sierra Nevada mountains. Captain Sutter had been at the camp only about a year, and as no crops had been raised. food was scarce and very poor, poor heef and such small wild game as they could shoot, forming their chief diet. Early in the spring of 1842 the Walkers removed to Yount's ranch, now in Napa county, but then a part of Sonoma county, and here, as in the entire state of California, Mr. Walker's mother. Mrs. Mary Walker, and a sister, Martha Young, were the only white women.
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The family remained in Napa valley until the spring of 1843, when Joel P. Walker returned to Oregon, as advantages were better there for the education of his children. He went in May of that year, with a party of forty men, driv- ing three thousand head of cattle which they took north for Gen. M. G. Vallejo. They were continually molested by bands of Indians, who succeeded in stealing and killing some of their stock, but they counted themselves fortunate to es- cape with their lives. When they had accomplished about half of the journey they met a company on their way to California, among the number being Cap- tain Hastings, J. M. Hudspeth and others. July 15, 1843, Mr. Walker reached the Willamette valley, locating near Salem, where he followed farming until 1848. It was on account of the report concerning the discovery of gold in California that he returned to this state, coming by the water route to San Francisco, and settling at Napa City. With him Mr. Walker brought his wife and a number of their children, John Walker, when twenty-two years old, com- ing overland and reaching the state in September, 1848. Going at once to the mines on the American river, he remained there until June, 1849, when he came to where Sacramento city now stands and opened a hotel, known as the Mis- souri house, which he kept for about four months. He gave it up at the end of this brief time to join the fortunes of his uncle, Capt. Joseph R. Walker, in a gold-prospecting trip to the southern part of the state, through the country which his uncle had traversed in 1843, a portion of which still bears the name of "Walker's Pass."
After about three months spent in prospecting with varying degrees of success, John Walker returned north to his father's ranch in Napa valley, re- maining there until 1850, when he came to Sonoma county, settling in Santa Rosa valley. That same year he built the first redwood house in the valley, near where Sebastopol is now located. In 1851, in partnership with Joseph Morgan Miller, he established the first merchandise store in the county outside the town of Sonoma, and the first postoffice of the country roundabout was kept in the old house now standing at the rear of the old Walker homestead in Analy town- ship, Mr. Miller being appointed postmaster. Subsequently Mr. Walker became interested in general farming and stock-raising, on a four thousand acre tract, from which he derived a handsome yearly income. Here his death occurred February 16, 1895. The wife who had shared his joys and sorrows for forty- four years passed away a few months after his demise, her death occurring July II of the same year, when she was sixty-three years of age. In maiden- hood she was Miss Eleanor Morin, and her marriage to John Walker was cele- brated November 6, 1851. Seven children, four sons and three daughters, were born to them, as follows: Harriet Jane, Mary J., Joel M., John L., Ella D., Edward L. and Willis Y.
As the first pioneer in what is now the thriving town of Sebastopol, John Walker took a leading part in the building up of his community as well as the entire county. When Sebastopol was struggling to progress from the stage station period of her early history and have a branch railroad pass through the town, John Walker was a leading spirit in the contention which resulted before this object was gained. When the last spike was driven and the day for jubilation set apart, at the unanimous desire of the entire community Mr. Walker accepted the presidency of the day, an honor which he placed above
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any other that his fellow-citizens might have bestowed upon him. Probably no better idea of the repute in which Mr. Walker was held by his fellow- associates could be given than to quote from The Times of April 30, 1890: "In connection with the celebration of the completion of the Sebastopol branch of the San Francisco and Northern Pacific Railroad, Mr. Walker, as president of the day, appears before us as one who has seen the desire of years fulfilled, and it is with honest pride that he accepts the congratulations of our citizens, knowing that his long and continuous efforts to bring Analy township into con- nection with the rest of the world are at last successful. Without ignoring the labors of others, we all acknowledge that it is owing to his personal efforts and influence more than anything else that the railroad has been built." Mr. Walker was a well-known and prominent member of the Masonic order, and his funeral was conducted under the direction of Sebastopol Lodge, F. & A. M., of which he was a member. his remains being placed in Pleasant Hill cemetery.
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