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 40
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 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
Born in Harrison county, Mo., January 4, 1850, William Henry Bones is of southern ancestry. His father, William, was a native of East Tennessee, and his mother, Selina McCreary in maidenhood, came from Buncombe county. N. C., but much of their early years was passed in Missouri, where the son was sent to the local schools and trained to helpfulness at home. During the spring of 1862, when William H. was in his thirteenth year, the parents started across the plains with an expedition of home-seekers. The trip was made with wagons drawn by oxen and horses. In spite of the perils due to the depredations of Indians that continued throughout the Civil war period, they reached Cali- fornia in safety and settled in the Sonoma valley, where they remained one year. In 1863 the family located on the place near Sebastopol now the home of William H. The father died in November. 1893, and the mother passed away at the age of eighty-four years.
Mr. Bones' advantages for an education were limited to a few terms of common school, for he was left to care for his parents and to maintain the home place. on which there were no improvements. He set about culling the wood, burning charcoal, clearing the land and experimenting with crops until he dis- covered those most remunerative. One of these was cherries, and he claims the distinction of being the pioneer in that industry in this section. He sold the first cherries from this section to the cannery, which he found a great source of profit, when he needed it most. His ranch near Sebastopol comprises five hundred acres, of which three hundred are in woodland, while the remainder is under cultivation. Enough stock is carried to provide for the needs of the farm. A specialty is made of fruits. More than forty acres are planted to vineyard, which produces a large annual harvest of grapes, and twenty acres are in cherries, also a profitable crop. In addition to a bearing orchard of two acres, a new apple orchard has been started with a selected variety of the fruit.
In the fall of 1910, Mr. Bones started a general merchandise store in Occidental. a venture which has proven very successful, the sales being much
346
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
greater than was expected. In 1905 he built a large warehouse on Ellis street, Santa Rosa, which he rents, besides which he owns a residence in Santa Rosa and three houses and a store building in Occidental.
It was not until 1886 that Mr. Bones established a home of his own. Dur- ing that year he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Patterson, a native of California and a woman of recognized worth of character and gentleness of disposition. Seven children blessed their union, namely: Elmer E., born in 1888 and now employed on the railroad; Russell, born in 1889; Francis Leslie. 1891 ; Reuben Wesley, 1892; Nellie Elizabeth; Warren Azel and Edith S. The children have been given excellent educational advantages, and are deservedly popular among the young people of their community. While voting the Demo- cratic ticket in general elections, Mr. Bones has never displayed any partisan- ship of spirit, but is inclined to be independent in local elections, favoring for office such men as he deems best qualified by ability and character to represent the interests of the people. Political views he considers of small importance in local campaigns, but he recognizes their value in national affairs. As a citizen he is progressive, alive to the interests of the county and devoted to the upbuilding of the community where for so many years he has made his home.
L. W. BURRIS.
If the life of Mr. Burris were to be summed up in one word, that word would be versatility. He has been a resident of Santa Rosa for the past thirty- three years, and during that time not an enterprise has been fostered in the town that has not received his co-operation, and the greater number of them have originated in his fertile brain and been brought to completion under his immediate superintendence.
A native son of the state and resident of Sonoma county throughout his entire life, L. W. Burris was born in Sonoma City April 14. 1854, the son of William and Elizabeth (Davisson) Burris, natives respectively of Missouri and Indiana, whose residence in California dates from the year 1850. In spite of the fact that the father was attracted to the state during the excitement caused by the finding of gold, he did not follow its fickle fortunes, but instead settled down to agricultural life in Sonoma valley and continued to follow this peaceful calling throughout his active years. As the son of a farmer Mr. Burris was early in life made familiar with the duties that fall to the lot of farmer's sons generally, and he performed his duties willingly and efficiently. Appreciating the value of good educational facilities as requisite to the founda- tion of any undertaking, the parents left no stone unturned in giving their son every advantage in their power, and after attending the public school and Presbyterian Coliege in Sonoma he attended a higher school in San Francisco.
With the knowledge thus acquired Mr. Burris came to Santa Rosa in 1877 and accepted a position in the Santa Rosa Bank, a position from which he was promoted from time to time, and for many years during the long period of thirty-two years in which he was connected with this institution he efficiently filled the position of cashier. It was with this long and faithful service to
347
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
his credit that he resigned from the bank in 1908 and established himself in the insurance and brokerage business in the Dougherty & Shay building, in Santa Rosa, a business in which he is building up a good patronage. In men- tioning his association with the bank and his present business interests, the scope of work which has passed through Mr. Burris' hands has not been touched upon. Many years ago he was one of the prime movers in the founding of the Hunt Brothers Fruit Packing Company, as well as the Rose City Fruit Canning Company, and for a long period was treasurer and a director in the latter company. He was equally well versed in wine-making and was financially interested in this business at one time. He was also interested in the redwood timber lands, in mining and in real-estate transactions, in all of which varied lines he was equally competent, in fact lie was considered an authority on all of these subjects and his advice was often sought as the court of last appeal.
In 1882 Mr. Burris formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Laura Mathews, a native of California, and one son, Shirley, has been born to them. Notwithstanding Mr. Burris' many engrossing cares and undertakings he has never been too busy to do his duty as a good citizen, serving as a meni -. ber of the board of free-holders that created the present charter, and for two terms he served as one of the city councilmen. He well recalls the little town when its population numbered only twenty-five hundred, and no one has watched its growth to its present population, eight thousand, with a keener interest, and at the same time no one has done more to foster the growth of the town in the largest and best sense. Fraternally he is a member of a number of orders, belonging to the Masons, Odd Fellows, Elks and Eagles, and he is also proud to claim membership in the Native Sons of the Golden West.
ROLAND K. TRUITT.
Adventures of more than ordinary interest filled the early years of Roland K. Truitt. Hair-breadth escapes formed a part of his everyday experience. Inured to hardships and accustomed to peril, he retained his courage alike on the bloody battlefield and the lonely Indian-haunted prairie. While yet a mere lad he had become accustomed to long journeys, wearisome marches and the deprivation of every comfort ameliorating the adversities of existence. In- difference to personal comfort, a marked characteristic of his youth, fitted him for the vicissitudes of army service and the dangers incident to long and lonely trips across the plains and through the then undeveloped south. The First Texas Cavalry, in which he once rendered gallant service, has now no survivor save himself, the other brave men who once with him shared peril and hunger having long since fought their last fight and fallen before the arrows of the all- conquering enemy, Death.
Roland K. Truitt was born August 23, 1841, near the San Jacinto river. in Texas. where his father had acquired a large grant of land. The father was a native of Kentucky, and the mother who though of Irish descent was a native of Missouri, and numbered among her relatives the famous old doctor Hostetter. During infancy Mr. Truitt was taken to Missouri by his parents and in 1849 they started across the plains with a large expedition of Argonauts.
348
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
Danger marked the journey from its incipiency. Savages threatened the entire destruction of the party. The members became scattered. The boy, his father and grandfather were left alone on the plains at the mercy of the Indians, with only two yoke of oxen for the transportation of their supplies. Some Cherokees joined them and went with them for a time, apparently friendly, but when they left one yoke of oxen also disappeared. About that time they met other em- ¿grants, so they had company during the balance of the journey and at the expiration of five months and fifteen days they arrived at their destination. The father was the first miner on the American river, where he found gold by the bucket measure during the fall following their arrival. He was one of the first to turn the river and work the bed of it for gold.
Returning in 1851 via Greytown and Havana, Cuba, to New Orleans, the family bought slaves at the traders' yards in that city and then proceeded to their land grant in Montgomery county, Tex., via Houston, Soon, however, the climate proved so unhealthful that the father sold the slaves and in 1856 again started for California. At the Isthmus of Panama the natives attacked the Americans, killing thirty-six and wounding eighteen. This is known as the Panama massacre. By the kindly appeal of the American consul the Truitt family were spared and they then came on to the Pacific coast, settling in Sonoma county on a large and unimproved ranch. Conditions there were not pleasant and the youth of fifteen years, disagreeing with his father, ran away from home. seeking employment with others in the state. During 1860 he returned to Texas and from there journeyed north to Iowa, where he bought a drove of horses to be sold in the south. For a time he remained with his grandfather on a farm at Danville, Montgomery county, but at the outbreak of the Civil war he left that place and went two hundred miles for the purpose of joining the Federal army, but as the sixty days given him to get out of the Confederate states had expired he was forced to join the Confederate army. in which he served eighteen months. From the ranks he was promoted to be lieutenant in recognition of gallant conduct. Among the sanguinary contests in which he participated none was more memorable than the fall of Vicksburg. The exciting chase in which the young soldier and several comrades were chased by bloodhounds for more than two hundred miles ended on the other side of the Rio Grande river, with the refugees exhausted by the hardships of their long flight to join the Federal army. After many more perils they finally reached Matamoras, Mexico, and from there Mr. Truitt crossed to Brownsville. Tex., after the defeat of the Confederates, where he took the oath of allegiance to the United States in 1863. Immediately afterward he was placed in the First Texas Cavalry. with which he did duty from Point Isabel to Reno Barracks. As a result of unsavory rations he was taken very ill and a friend secured a furlough, placed him on board a vessel, and started for New Orleans. Dur- ing the voyage his vitality failed to such an extent that he appeared to be dead and the captain determined to throw the body overboard, but the friend de- murred, so he was put off on an island for burial. Fortunately he soon began to show signs of life, but for ten days he remained unconscious and his recovery was very slow. When able to be moved he was sent up the river with a ship- load of wounded soldiers and for four months he remained at Keokuk, Iowa. On his recovery he returned to the front and was assigned to scout duty, where
Nathaniel Could
351
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
he had no further trouble except the shooting of his horse under him. Later he was sent with a detachment to reinforce Major-General Thomas at Mobile, Ala., whence he was ordered to New Orleans, and while acting as a scout he received the news of peace, after which he was sent to Mexico in Custer's division under General Sheridan. Six months after the close of the war he was honorably discharged at San Antonio, Tex., and for some time thereafter he earned a livelihood by ranching in that state.
The marriage of Mr. Truitt and Miss Sina, daughter of Major Brooks of Texas, was solemnized in 1865 in the state where she was born and reared. Four children blessed their union, three now living, namely: Eugene, born in 1866, now a resident of San Francisco; Elliott, born in 1872, now married and living in Hoquiam, Wash .; and Charles, born in 1877, now married and serv- ing on the mounted police force of San Francisco. During the years 1885-86 Mr. Truitt was in the employ of the Wells Fargo Express Company as shot- gun messenger, a position which he resigned to look after his other interests, this too after he had been offered a life-long position with the company. Fre- quently Mr. Truitt has served Sonoma county as a delegate to conventions of the Republican party and as a member of the central committee, besides which he has served as deputy sheriff. For the past twenty-eight years he has had control of the only opera-house in Healdsburg and in addition he owns a stock ranch in the mountains, where for years he operated extensively in stock-rais- ing, but since his retirement from arduous cares he has lived quietly in Healds- burg, enjoying life's afternoon of peace and plenty after the thrilling adventures of youth and the memorable experiences of early manhood.
CAPT. NATHANIEL GOULD.
The history of the Gould family is a most interesting and eventful one. Of sturdy New England stock, with a natural bent for the sea, their courageous spirit and strength of character have been handed down through the genera- tions. Captain Gould's maternal grandfather was Edmund Crosby, who served in the war of 1812, and by trade was a ship-builder. His marriage united him with Miss Mehitable Taylor. Captain Gould was the namesake of his father, also Nathaniel Gould, who followed the occupation of coast trading, eventu- ally becoming the captain of a vessel. He built the schooner N. and H. Gould, upon which, during its second voyage up the Delaware, he lost his life, in saving the life of one of his sailors. He was then forty-five years of age, and left his widow, Hannah King (Crosby) Gould, with five children to rear and educate. She proved equal to the task laid upon her, rearing her children to lives of usefulness. Her death occurred in Massachusetts in 1904. at the good old age of eighty-seven years.
Capt. Nathaniel Gould was born on Cape Cod (as were his parents and grand parents) October 1. 1842, and at the age of fourteen took his first voy- age. Leaving Boston for New Brunswick, he went to Spain, on to Smyrna and back to Boston. He then left New York on the sailer Endeavor via Cape Horn to San Francisco, a trip of about one hundred and twenty-three days, reaching the Golden Gate in 1862. From there he went to Hong-Kong and
.
352
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
Fou Chou, China, where the vessel was loaded with tea for New York City, and returned around Cape of Good Hope home, having circumnavigated the globe. After a few short trips around home he once more started out on a long voyage on the Mary Bangs, loaded with lumber for Montevideo, and from there went to Callao, Peru, where the ship was loaded with guano for Antwerp, going from there to Liverpool, England. He then sailed in the packet Ne Plus Ultra to New York City. It was at this time that the Civil war was raging and he then served on a schooner carrying supplies to Grant's army at City Point, then as second mate of the barque Burnside he went to Hong-Kong, returning with a cargo of tea for New York. Later he made a trip to Valparaiso and returned; next a trip to the Mediterranean and back to New York; from here to Australia, bringing coal for Shanghai and tea back to New York. From there as mate on the Agenor he loaded lumber in Boston for Callao, Peru, thence went to San Francisco, where wheat was loaded for Liverpool, and upon his arrival at that port, he was made captain of the Agenor. Arriving in New York in 1868 with a cargo of salt from Cal- cutta, he was ordered to San Francisco, where he loaded wheat for Queens- town, but on his arrival he was ordered to discharge the cargo in Belfast, then returned to Boston and was sent to San Francisco by the owners to take charge as master of the Conqueror, taking her to Liverpool, then to New York, where it was loaded for San Francisco; from there to Hull and back to New York, where it was loaded for San Francisco, going back to Queenstown and on to Havre, thence to Cardiff, where he took on coal for Hong-Kong and back to San Francisco.
In that city, October 20, 1880, Captain Gould was united in marriage to Miss Mattie A. Miller, who was born in Rochester, N. Y., the daughter of Michael Jolin Miller, born in Alsace, France. His father, John Miller, served twenty years in the French army under Napoleon and was on the march to Moscow and present at the burning of that city. He brought his family to Monroe county, N. Y., where he died. M. J. Miller brought his family to California in 1864, coming via Panama and engaging in the commission busi- ness in San Francisco, and later in the transportation and freight business. In 1870 he located in Petaluma, where he was prominent in business and social circles : a man of great foresight, to him is due the present splendid water supply of Petaluma. His decease occurred in 1900. The mother of Mrs. Gould . was Julia Upton, born in Rindge, N. H., the daughter of Nathan and Hannah (Colburn) Upton, both natives of that state. She spent her last days with her daughter in Petaluma, passing away in October, 1908, at the age of eighty- five, leaving two daughters, Hattie, Mrs. John A. McNear, of Petaluma, and Mrs. Gould. Mrs. Gould was educated in Oakland at the Female College of the Pacific. Her culture, refinement and integrity have won her hosts of friends, and to those less fortunate in this world's goods she has never been known to turn a deaf. ear and they have truly found in her a sympathetic friend. Her charities are many and the love and esteem of the community are hers.
Among the exploits of Captain Gould are: Circumnavigation of the globe. twice; rounding of Cape Horn, twenty-three times; and rounding Cape of Good Hope, seven times. The fact that he never had a mishap, and that good luck
353
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
followed him through all his achievements, are matters of great pride and satisfaction to him. He was intrusted with the most valuable cargoes, and always proved equal to the confidence reposed in him, executing all orders with great credit and filling the positions with great ability and integrity. He was made a Mason in West Harwich, Mass., and raised to the Royal Arch degree in the Orient Chapter at Hyannis. Both Captain Gould and his wife are mem- bers of the Congregational Church at Petaluma. His benevolences are many, and no enterprise that is for the public good and the upbuilding of the com- munity ever lacks his support.
WILLIAM F. COWAN.
Among the most distinguished and esteemed members of the Sonoma county bar is William F. Cowan, of Santa Rosa, a man of pronounced ability, wise in his judgments, firm in his convictions, and one who has maintained a superior position among his legal brethren, and an honored place in fraternal and social circles. A native son of the state, he was horn in Sonoma, Sonoma county, September 13, 1868, a son of Samuel F. and Mary Ellen (Spencer) Cowan, to whom two other children were born, Angus B., a well-known phy- sician in Fresno, and Frank S., a cement contractor in the same city.
When Samuel F. Cowan set out from his boyhood home in Kentucky in 1849 with his face toward the setting sun he felt he had little to lose, for the farming community in which he was born and reared offered no outlet for his ambitious nature, and in the broad expanse of the new west he felt confident of finding more congenial and profitable surroundings. The journey across the plains was made in the old-fashioned way, eight-mule teams supplying the motive power. Arriving at his destination, he went at once to the mines, fol- lowing this occupation for a time, but gave it up soon afterward to engage in cattle-raising, in which he saw a greater future, for himself at least, than in following the uncertain life of the miner. The decision proved a turning point in his career, and in coming to Sonoma county and establishing himself in this business he inaugurated an industry which developed with the passing of years and thus contributed to the development of one of California's latent pos- sibilities. He continued in the business in this county for some time, after which, in 1869, he went to San Benito county and followed the same line of occupation, in addition to building contracting. His own private undertakings were not followed so closely that he had no time to think of the larger affairs of life, on the other hand he was alert to all activities that concerned town, county or nation. In San Benito county he was elected county assessor on the Democratic ticket, a position which he occupied with great efficiency. For a time, in 1885, Mr. Cowan had interests in Oregon. and in 1890 he engaged in the hotel business in Fresno, where he also served two terms as city trustee, but in the main his interests have been centered in Santa Rosa and Sonoma county, which he believes to be the garden spot of this favored commonwealth.
William F. Cowan was a small child when his parents removed to Hol- lister, San Benito county, and as that was the home of the family until 1885. his schooling was acquired chiefly in that city. Instead of going to Oregon
354
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
with the family in that year, however, he went to San Jose and completed his schooling in the high school of that city. After his graduation he joined the family in Oregon and assisted his father in the care of the ranch. Returning to Sonoma county in 1888, the same year he settled in Santa Rosa and worked as a laborer in the construction of the Southern Pacific Railroad that was then being built into the town, and about this time he was also employed as type- setter on the night force in the office of the Press Democrat; he continued in the latter position for about three years, his time during the day being em- ployed in reading law with Judge Rutledge and W. E. McConnell of Santa Rosa. In August, 1890, he was admitted to practice in the courts of the state, and soon afterward he formed a partnership with Judge Emmet Seawell for the practice of his profession. However, the association was not destined to continue for any length of time, for the election of Mr. Cowan to the posi- tion of city attorney in 1892 made it necessary for him to discontinue his private practice. He was re-elected his own successor in 1894 at the close of his first term, and at the expiration of his second term he resumed his private practice and continued it until 1898. He was then employed by the city as special council in litigation cases, concerning the city water works and electric light contracts. Honors which he was well able to grace came to him in the fall of 1899, when he was elected to the state legislature on the Democratic ticket, and his re-election in 1901 is ample evidence that his constituents werc satisfied that they had made no mistake in trusting their interests to his keeping. Upon retiring once more to private life Mr. Cowan resumed the practice of law. and has since gathered about him a large practice, with offices in the Santa Rosa Bank building.
In 1891 Mr. Cowan was united in marriage with Miss Florence Braughler. a native of Pennsylvania, who has been a resident of California since girlhood. Two children have been born of this union, Madeline and William F., Jr. Mr. Cowan is well known in fraternai circles, being a member of the Elks, Eagles, Druids and Woodmen of the World, besides which he is identified with various social associations in the town and county. Mr. Cowan is popular in Santa Rosa, and aside from his professional ability, commands the respect and good- will of all by reason of superior personal characteristics.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.