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 39
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
Charles E., Effie C., William M., and Owen E. The parents were Zachariah Franklin and Julia Ann (Smith) Hotle, the father born in Washington county, Pa., in 1838, and the mother born in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1845. Their marriage occurred in Keokuk county, Iowa, October 2, 1862, and their early married life was passed on a farm near Sigourney, Iowa. To be accurate, the farm upon which the parents then settled continued to be the family homestead for ten years, for the year 1872 witnessed the removal of the parents, children and household. possessions to Sonoma county, Cal., and this has since been the home of the family. As in Iowa, the father took up agricultural pursuits after lo- cating here, and followed the calling for which he was so well adapted and in which he was so successful throughout the active years of his life. He now resides in Sebastopol, looking after his interests.
Charles E. Hotle well remembers the circumstances attending the removal of the family from Iowa to California, for he was at the time a lad of seven years, an age well calculated to show an intense interest in anything out of the ordinary run of daily events. As he was then of school age he was entered as a pupil in the grammar school of Sebastopol, and the training which he here received during the years which followed eminently fitted him to pursue and make a success of the large business interests he now has under way. However, he has never ceased to be a student in the largest and best sense, keeping abreast of the times throughout the world by the reading of wholesome and instructive literature. With the close of his school days Mr. Hotle devoted his energies to agriculture on the home farm, and when he had attained mature years and was ready to take up life on his own account, he chose farming as the most inde- pendent and at the same time the most remunerative occupation to which he might put his energies. Experience has proven the wisdom of his decision, and while he is not as actively engaged in the tilling of the soil as in former years, the foundation of his holdings today was made in this calling, and were he to live his life over he would still select the vocation which has been his life work. In 1892 he went into business on his own account, buying a tract of land which he put out to apples and berries, and he still owns a portion of this land. and now is one of the largest apple growers in the county. He also owns considerable other real estate in Sebastopol and vicinity. In addition to his real-estate in- terests he also owns stock in a number of business enterprises in this city. For five years he was manager of the Hunt, Hatch & Co.'s packing house in Se- bastopol until they discontinued this branch, when he became one of the or- ganizers of the Sebastopol Apple Growers Union, of which he is the manager. He was also one of the prime movers in the organization of the Gravenstein Apple Show Association and a member of the board of directors from its in- ception.
Mr. Hotle's home in Sebastopol is presided over by his wife, who before her marriage was Miss Vina L. Litchfield, a native of Illinois. She is the daughter of Martin and Elizabeth (Pollock) Litchfield, of Illinois. The mother died in Cloverdale, and the father resides in Santa Cruz. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hotle was celebrated in San Rafael, Cal., and they have two chil- dren, Mabel Lillian and Harold Leroy. Politically Mr. Hotle is a Republican, although he is not active in its ranks beyond the casting of his ballot. At the present time, however, he is city trustee, the only office he has ever consented to
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fill. Fraternally he is associated by membership with the Elks and Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having passed through all of the offices of the latter organization.
It may be added that one of the prime factors in bringing Sonoma county so greatly to the fore in the apple industry these last three years (the results of which were shown at the Watsonville Apple Annual 1910, when the apple ex- hibit from Sebastopol took first prizes) is on account of the universal spraying of trees brought about by Mr. Hotle's vicious campaign against the pests, by per- sonally visiting the horticulturists and urging them to spray their trees in 1908- 09. The result is that the returns from the pack of 1910 conservatively show an increase of fifty per cent in value.
HENRY JOSHUA CHAUVET.
The third generation of this family represented in Sonoma county, Henry J. Chauvet is adding lustre to a name held in high repute through the pioneer efforts of his father and grandfather before him, and though he has benefited immeasurably as their successor in the ownership of one of the largest wine industries in the state, it has not crippled his ambition to forge ahead and emulate his worthy predecessors.
A native son of the state, Henry J. Chauvet is also a native of Sonoma county, his birth occurring in October. 1865, on the homestead ranch near Glen Ellen of which he is now the owner, and upon which he resides. (An interesting account of the life and efforts of his father, Joshua Chauvet. will be found on another page of this volume.) It was the privilege of Mr. Chauvet to enjoy advantages for an education which were unknown to his father, his primary education being received in the schools near his boyhood home, and to this training was added a course in Sackett's school. Oakland, after which he graduated from the Pacific Business College, San Francisco. At the age of seventeen his school days were over and he was ready to turn his thoughts and efforts to business training. He found ample opportunity for profitable occu- pation on the home ranch and in the mill, all of which was preparatory to his later position in the winery and distillery. He may literally say that he has grown up in the business, and that he was able to take charge of the business upon the death of his father and manage it so cleverly was due to his long and intimate association with it. As a grower of grapes and a dealer in Cali- fornia wine and brandy no one stands higher in Sonoma county than Mr. Chauvet, of Glen Ellen, whose name is a synonym for all that is purest and best in his line, his grade of wine and brandy being unexcelled, and his prod- ucts are sent to all parts of the United States and some to the old world. Some idea of the large output of the winery may be gleaned from the statement that during one year he and his father made five hundred thousand gallons of wine and ten thousand gallons of brandy between Sonoma and Santa Rosa. With his father Mr. Chauvet built Hotel Chauvet at Gien Ellen, also three stores. for which they manufactured the brick, all of the structures being models of their kind, both as to architecture and finish. Mr. Chauvet owns the water system in Glen Ellen, water for which is supplied from Graham and Asbury canyon principally, and is distributed by gravity.
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Mr. Chauvet's marriage, which occurred November 12, 1893, united him with Miss Annie Lounibos, who was born in Basses-Pyrenees, France, but who has passed the greater part of her life in the United States. She is the daughter of John and Marie (LaSalle) Lounibos, who located in Sonoma county in 1873. Mr. Lounibos is a wine manufacturer and now resides in El Verano. Four children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Chauvet, evenly divided as to sons and daughters. Henrietta was born January 20, 1895, was primarily educated in the public school of Glen Ellen, and is now attending Heald's Business College, Oakland. The other children. Adele Marie (born June 22, 1897), Leon Henry (August 31, 1899) and Arsena (October 1, 1901), are pupils in the public school of Glen Ellen. Politically Mr. Chauvet is a stanch Republican, voting for the candidates placed upon that party's ticket both in local and national elections. He is a well-known and active member of the Grange of Glen Ellen, of the Native Sons of the Golden West, the Royal Arch and Order of Moose.
WESLEY LEE HOPPER.
It is no unusual thing to find the sons of well-to-do men living in leisurely enjoyment of the hard-earned wealth of their fathers, having to all appearances no other object in life than the rapid and complete dissipation of the same. In direct and refreshing contrast thereto is the career of Wesley Lee Hopper, the son of Thomas Hopper, the well-known rancher, miner, lumberman, cattle-raiser and stock-dealer, who with his no less courageous wife came to California before the "days of old, the days of gold" and established the family name and fortunes in this then wilderness. A sketch depicting the life and experiences of this early pioneer will be found elsewhere in this volume.
The third child and second son in the parental family, Wesley Lee Hopper was born Janvary 25, 1852, in the Blucher valley, Sonoma county. These were days of changing fortune with the father, who was divided in his occupation as well as location, and his son obtained such education as the time and location of the home at the time of his school days permitted. When not in school his strength was employed in the numerous duties that the youth upon a ranch finds before him to do, and he accepted his lot willing, for he was reared to a right understanding of his duties to his superiors, to himself and the world about hint. At an early age, when only twenty years old, he took upon himself the obliga- tions and responsibilities of married life, at that time being united with Miss Anna Corbin, a native of Iowa, and the daughter of James A. Corbin. At her death, August 23, 1900, she left three children, as follows: Henry Lee, who is married and living in Calistoga. Napa county; M. Myrtle, who became the wife of John Payne and is living in Willits, Mendocino county ; and William Thomas, who at one time was bookkeeper in the National Bank at Santa Rosa, but now assistant cashier of the Bank of Santa Rosa. From his earliest days Mr. Hopper had been trained to an understanding and appreciation of agricultural life, and as his father's holdings increased and his interests enlarged he became increas- ingly useful in assisting in their management. It was thus that after his mar- riage he operated one of his father's ranches, carrying on stock-raising on a
2 m. Cheney
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large scale until 1882, when he went to Knight's valley and conducted a ranch of twenty-seven hundred acres for about eight years. Subsequently, for about the same length of time, he carried on a meat market business in Calistoga, Napa county, in connection with the ranchi.
In 1901 Mr. Hopper leased the ranch to tenants and has since made his home in Santa Rosa, finding his time sufficiently taken up in managing his large ranching interests. Besides the cattle interests already mentioned, he owns a vineyard of two hundred and forty acres on two ranches, and while the grape industry is a newer undertaking, it has every indication of becoming as vast in scope and as remunerative financially as the cattle industry. After taking up his residence in Santa Rosa Mr. Hopper married his present wife, who was formerly Miss Nellie Felton. Mrs. Hopper presides with grace and dignity over their home at No. 904 McDonald avenue, and with her husband shares in the respect and admiration of citizens, friends and neighbors. While Mr. Hopper has many interests to claim his time and attention, he still takes time for the social amenities of life, and also to do his duty as a good citizen. He is an active figure in the ranks of the Democratic party, believing in its principles and working for the advancements of its candidates, but never seeking recognition for himself. By right of birth he is proud to claim membership in the Native Sons, being an active and welcome member of Santa Rosa Parlor. Mr. Hop- per's love for nature in the great out-of-doors comes to him as an inheritance from his pioneer father and mother, and his greatest pleasure and recreation is found in company with his rod and gun. away from cares of city life.
JOHN MAXWELL CHENEY.
Not only does long retention in public office speak eloquently of one's ability to perform the duties of the office in question, but it also indicates one's popularity in his community, at least the two facts obtain in the case of Mr. Cheney, who has been the efficient and popular postmaster of Sonoma since 1901.
As far back as the history of the family is obtainable it is shown that it is of southern origin, and the paternal grandfather, Jonathan Cheney, who was born and reared in Virginia, was the first member to break from old traditions and establish the name on other soil. In young manhood he removed to Ohio, and in Champaign county reared his family and rounded out many useful years, his last days, however, being passed in Illinois. He served in the War of 1812 in Virginia and in the Blackhawk war in Illinois. It was on the paternal homestead in Ohio that our subject's father, Thomas Cheney, first saw the light of day in 1808, and that continued to be his home until he too reached young manhood, when the same pioneer spirit that had impelled his father to seek new fields took him to the frontier of Illinois. This was in 1829. In that year he located on a farm about twenty-four miles east of Bloomington, a place which has since been known as Cheney's Grove (in McLean county) and there he was prosperously engaged in farming for twenty years. The finding of gold in California again aroused the pioneer longing within him and the year 1850 found him among the immigrants who trudged their weary way across the plains.
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As soon as he reached the state he went at once to the mines of Hangtown, continuing there continuously for three years, with the exception of a short time in 1851, when he made a short visit to his Illinois home. The year 1853 wit- nessed his second visit to the old home, and when he returned to the west in 1854 he brought his family with him. Instead of resuming mining he settled on a ranch in Sonoma county, in the Sonoma valley, and here he continued in- dustriously and successfully engaged in farming throughout his active years. After his retirement to private life he located in Petaluma, and there, at the home of his son, he was overtaken by death in 1892, when in his eighty-fifth year. Not only had he lived long, but what is better, he had lived well, and his death was the cause of sincere regret on the part of those who had become attached to him for his noble qualities. He was a Republican in political belief and throughout his life was a stanch defender of that party's principles. It was soon after his location in Illinois that he was united in marriage with Miss Susan Maxwell, who was a native of North Carolina, as was also her father, John Maxwell, who afterward became a pioneer settler and agriculturist in Illinois. Six children were born of the marriage of Thomas and Susan ( Max- well) Cheney, but of the number only three are living, as follows: Mrs. R. A. Harvey, of Fulton, Sonoma county ; R. J., of Kern county; and John M. Thomas H. died in Porterville in 1910.
John M. Cheney was born on the family homestead in McLean county, Ill., May 20, 1839, and there acquired such training in an educational way as the schools of the locality had to offer. He came to Sonoma, Cal., in 1854 with his parents. As he was reared in a farming community he naturally took up farm- ing for a livelihood upon attaining maturity, and in partnership with his father and brother owned a ranch of three hundred acres in Sonoma county, Cal. Later, from 1864 to 1888, he carried on a ranch alone, engaging in mixed farm- ing, after which for about thirteen years he carried on draying with splendid success. As was his father before him, he is a believer in Republican principles, and it was as a candidate on this party's' ticket that he was elected justice of the peace and served efficiently for twelve years, resigning to accept the posi- tion of postmaster. In 1901 he was placed in charge of the postoffice of So- noma, and has continued in the office ever since, an unmistakable evidence of his ability. He is associated with but one fraternal order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with which he has been identified since 1878.
Mr. Cheney's marriage, in 1866, united him with Miss Tammy Amplias McHarvey, the daughter of Charles and Arvilla (Near) McHarvey, both na- tives of New York state, the former born in Oswego county December 21, 1826, and the latter in Madison county June 16, 1828. After the death of her husband in Sonoma April 21. 1896, Mrs. McHarvey leased the carriage factory and blacksmith shop which had been so ably conducted by her husband since 1855. Five children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Cheney, as follows : Arvilla, deceased; Mrs. Susan Revie; Mrs. Clara Johnson ; Charles N. and Clarence M. For a man of his age Mr. Cheney is wonderfully well preserved, especially in the sense of sight, being able to read and prosecute his affairs with- out the aid of glasses.
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HARRY B. MORRIS.
The name of Morris needs no introduction to the residents of Sonoma county, and particularly those of Sebastopol, the deeds and accomplishments of two generations of the family being so closely associated with the upbuilding of the town that they are a part of history. The family is descended from good old New England stock, the first immigrant on these shores having set- tled in Massachusetts in 1632. In direct line from this early immigrant the history is traced to David H. Morris, the paternal grandfather of the subject of this sketch, who was born in New Jersey in 1769, and under General Wayne defended the cause of the colonists in the Revolutionary war. From New Jer- sey he later removed to Ohio, settling in Dayton, where he erected the first house in town. For a wife he chose Eva Ann Saylor, a Virginian by birth and the daughter of Jacob Saylor, a German by birth, who immigrated to the United States and settled first in Virginia, where his daughter was born, and later in Ohio.
One of the children born of the marriage of David H. and Eva A. (Saylor) Morris was Joseph H. P. Morris, who was born in Miami county, Ohio, Jan- uary 19, 1828. Early in life he was left without natural protectors, for when he was seven years of age his mother died, and eight years later his father also died. He was then about fifteen years of age, and it was then that he started out to make his own way in the world. Leaving the home farm he went to Dayton and became a clerk in a dry-goods house, continuing there until giving up his position to come to California in the memorable year of 1849. He started on the journey and had gone as far as St. Joseph, Mo., when he was overtaken by sickness and compelled to return to Ohio. The following year, however, he went to St. Louis, Mo., for three years thereafter being associated. with the wholesale dry-goods house of Eddy, Jameson & Co. The fact that his first plan to come to California was frustrated made him all the more de- termined to come, and all of his efforts thereafter were directed toward this ultimate end. Though not as well prepared financially as when he first started for the west, in 1853 he again set out on the overland journey and arrived at the trading post of Millar and Walker in September of that year. For a year he worked as a clerk in the store of J. M. Millar, after which he opened a grocery store, on the present site of Sebastopol. With wise foresight he saw the possibilities of the location as a town-site, and in 1855 took up one hun- dred and twenty acres of land which he laid out into lots, calling the location Pine Grove. As an inducement to settlers he offered to give a lot to anyone who would embark in business, the first to accept this generous offer being John Dougherty, who that year opened a general merchandise store. The first recorded disturbance in the little settlement took place in this. store, and as it has to do with the history of the locality a brief account of it here may not be out of place. A Mr. Hibbs and one Stevens were in dispute and had come to blows when the former sought refuge in Mr. Dougherty's store. The fight would have continued had not the shop-keeper refused entrance to Stevens. The Pine Grove boys thereafter called the store Hibbs' Sebastopol, in so doing referring to the taking of Sebastopol in the Crimcan war, and the name became so familiar that at the time of the incorporation of the town the name Pine Grove gave place to Sebastopol.
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The enterprise which Mr. Morris had started proved so successful that in 1858 he purchased` four hundred and fifty acres of land just west of town, and thereafter until 1862 was engaged in many enterprises for the upbuilding of the town. He was then attracted to Oregon through the mining possibilities of the John Day river, but was not satisfied with the results of his efforts and returned to Sebastopol, where from 1865 until 1868 he carried on a general store and served as postmaster. Two years thereafter he had charge of the Coleman Valley Lumber Mills, later went to Guerneville, where he assumed the management of the Heald & Guerne mills, besides having charge of the books of the concern for a number of years. He was later superintendent of Corbell & Bros. mill, on Russian river, a position which he held until 1875. when he returned to Sebastopol and opened a meat market, continuing this with splendid success until 1892, when he retired from active business. Four years later, October 26, 1896, he passed away in Sebastopol. the town of which he was the founder.
In 1860 Joseph H. P. Morris was married to Miss Maria L. Bullen, a native of England, the two children born of their marriage being Harry B. and Eva, the latter a resident of San Francisco. The mother of these children passed away in 1908. Politically Mr. Morris was a Republican, and fraternally he was a charter member, and for thirty years secretary, of Lafayette Lodge No. 126, F. & A. M. He was also a charter member of Sebastopol Lodge No. 167, I. O. G. T.
The only son of his parents, Harry B. Morris was born in Sebastopol November 10, 1863, and is now the only resident of the town that was living here at the time of his birth. As soon as his school days were over he became associated with his father in the management of a meat market in town, a busi- ness which they carried on for twenty-five years. Sub-equently the younger man became interested in the buying and selling of real-estate, and is still interested in the business to some extent, although of later years he has given less attention to it than formerly. In 1908, in partnership with F. R. Matthews, he established an enterprise known as the Enterprise Bottling works, manu- facturing all kinds of carbonated beverages, in addition to which they handle the Porter steam beer and malt extract and the famous Yosemite lager beer. Mr. Morris was one of the organizers of the Analy Savings Bank and since its organization he has served as a director. He is also a stockholder of the Sebastopol Times, a newspaper. He has been a continuous resident of Sebas- topol for forty-eight years, a longer period than any other man in town.
Mr. Morris' marriage occurred December 29, 1886, and united him with Miss Alhena Howell, who like himself is a native of Sebastopol. She is a daughter of L. V. H. Howell, who since the death of the elder Mr. Morris has been associated with the latter's son in the management of the meat market. Two daughters have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Morris. Louie, born in 1888. and Maria, born in 1898. As was his father before him, Mr. Morris is a stanch Republican, and when the town was incorporated in 1892 he was made president of the first board of trustees, serving in this capacity for five years. and he is now justice of the peace. In his fraternal associations he is allied with all branches of the Masonic order, belonging to Sebastopol Lodge No.
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mr The Bones
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126, F. & A. M .; Santa Rosa Chapter, R. A. M .; Santa Rosa Commandery, K. T .; Islam Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .. of San Francisco ; and also belonging to Santa Rosa Lodge No. 646, B. P. O. E. : and Evergreen Lodge, I. O. O. F.
WILLIAM HENRY BONES.
A comparison between the life record of Mr. Bones and the history of his home county of Sonoma reveals many points of similarity. Each has been devoid of sensational features and thrilling episodes, but both alike have risen from small beginnings. Starting out in life to make his way with no other equip- ment than his two hands and a strong ambition, he has since attained a position of influence and prosperity, revealing in the slow but steady growth the possession of traits that make for the advancement of the county or an in- dividual. Agriculture has been a leading factor in the progress of the man and the locality of his residence, but kindred pursuits have been utilized with grati- fying success, notably horticulture, which is proving a source of profit to those willing to devote to it the time and care necessary to prosperity in the occupa- tion.
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