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 47

Author: Gregory, Thomas Jefferson
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1190

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 47

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far as known was the last survivor of the train in which he crossed the plains in 1853.

Ten children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Whitaker, of whom the three eldest were born in lowa and accompanied their parents to California in 1863. Named in the order of their birth the children are as fol- lows: Wilson R .; John B .; James P .; William H. ; Kate R., who died in April, 1904; Arthur S .; Walter L .; Rhoda M .; Mark S .; and Rosa A., the latter of whom died in 1890. Four of the children still reside with the mother on the family home in Bennett valley.

Death came to Mr. Whitaker suddenly during the still hours of night, and as he had been in his usual good health for many months, the news of his sudden death came as a great shock to his family and friends.

WESLEY MOCK.

Throughout the entire history of the world there always have been some who sought ease and the comforts of existence along sunshiny paths, while oth- ers, stout of limb and blind to hardships, followed pioneer paths in the vanguard of civilization. To the latter class belonged that sturdy pioneer, Wesley Mock, whose destiny it was to be identified with pioneer labors in the Missouri river valley and along the Pacific coast. Nature qualified him for the life of a fron- tiersman. Dangers failed to daunt him and perils but aroused his courage to greater heights. Inured to physical privation, he followed the road whither fate led him and out of discomfort, peril and sacrifices he eventually won honor, success and influence. From the time of the admission of California as a state until the time of his demise he followed every phase of the development of the commonwealth, participated in all efforts at local upbuilding and, as he gazed backward in his old age over the strenuous years gone by, with their triumphs and their toil, he could well feel that he had borne an honorable part in the wonderful work of advancement whereby the state had risen to a front rank among the galaxy of stars adorning the flag of our country.

The lineage of the Mock family is traced back to Germany, but several generations have lived and labored in the new world. David and Elizabeth Mock were born in Pennsylvania, and during early years learned to speak fluently in both the English and the German languages. From the Keystone state they removed to North Carolina and for twenty years he served as clerk of Davidson county, where also for a long period he acted as postmaster at Fair- grove. Throughout the county he was favorably known and highly honored. Although differing in many opinions from his southern neighbors they ren- dered a full meed of praise to his strict honesty and painstaking industry, and he in turn admired their courteous chivalry and high spirits. In his family there were seven sons and six daughters, namely : Charles, William, Christena, Franklin, John, Elizabeth, Sarah, David, Margaret. Wesley, Mary, Martha and George.

The eldest daughter of the household had become the wife of Dr. H. C. Davis, and had removed with him to Missouri about the year 1834. The long and dangerous journey ended, she had written back from the new home glowing

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY

accounts of Missouri, its fertile soil and undeveloped resources. These in- viting descriptions induced the father to decide to remove to the newer coun- try. In 1835 he packed the household necessities in two wagons, provided a large supply of provisions and started on the tedious trip. A carriage was taken along, and in it rode the mother with the little ones. Among the children was eight-year-old Wesley, who had been born April 12, 1827, during the residence of the family in Davidson county. Although so young, the boy possessed a retentive mind and an eagerness to learn, so that the journey made a lasting impression upon his memory, and years afterward he accurately recounted inci- dents connected with the month spent between the old home and the new.

Arriving at their destination David Mock, with the assistance of his eldest sons, cut timber and hewed logs with which he constructed a cabin without the use of a nail. The little house furnished a shelter for the family and offered a kindly hospitality to belated travelers en route to the nearest postoffice, which was sixteen miles distant from the farm. It was the task of the sons to go upon hunting expeditions, and from these they invariably returned with an abund- ance of game, the family thus securing the meat necessary for the table. With the passing years the boy grew to manhood and gained a broad fund of informa- tion from habits of close observation rather than from any extended study of text-books. A great change came into his life when, in the year 1848, the United States government arranged to build a line of military posts from the Missouri river to Oregon, and appointed Colonel Powell commander of the large expedition organized for the purpose named.

A party of six men went from the neighborhood in which Wesley Mock lived, and he was one of the number, his particular task being the driving of five yoke of oxen. Many bands of Indians were met, but the company was so large that the savages dared not molest them, although they annoyed them to a degree by their frequent depredations. The work for the government com- pleted, Mr. Mock returned to the east, but had scarcely reached the old Mis- souri home again when he heard of the discovery of gold in California, and this interesting news excited him to such an extent that he lost no time in making preparations to go west. May 10, 1849, he joined a large expedition bound for the coast, and with this party he crossed the plains, meanwhile meeting with many thrilling experiences and undergoing frequent perils in encounters with the Indians. The company disbanded October 28, 1849, near Red Bluff, in the Sacramento valley, and its varions members sought the localities desired by them.

The first mining experience gained by Mr. Mock was at Missouri Bar on the Feather river, and later he mined at Foster's Bar on the Yuba river. At the expiration of three years devoted to mining he turned his attention to other lines of industrial activity. For some time he lived in Petaluma. From there he came to Santa Rosa during the early '6os. Four miles from town he took up a quarter section at Belleview, and at once began the transformation of the tract from a barren waste into a productive dairy ranch, well supplied with milch cows, provided with large pastures and meadows, and to a small extent utilized in the raising of grain. Throughout the balance of his useful existence he engaged in ranching and made the dairy industry his specialty. In advanced years he retired from the most arduous of his labors and established a home

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in the city of Santa Rosa, where he died October 1, 1909, having been an argo- naut and a resident of California for sixty years lacking one week.

At the time of coming to the west Mr. Mock had no domestic ties, and he was still a bachelor when he came to Sonoma county. His marriage was sol- emnized near Petaluma, November 13, 1853, and united him with Miss Sarah Jane Thornton, a native of Howard, Mo. During the early part of 1853 she had crossed the plains from Missouri to California, and had made the long journey with relatives, riding in a wagon drawn by oxen. The marriage ceremony was solemnized by Father Waugh, one of the beloved pioneer preachers of the country, and the marriage certificate was signed by James G. Fair and Robert Thompson. Six children were born of the union, namely: Sarah A., who died at twelve years; Alonzo W., now residing at Los Gatos, this state; Willie Ann, wife of A. N. Rawies, of Boonville, Mendocino county; Edward W. and George L., both of whom died in infancy; and Margaretta M., who married Joseph H. Hunt, of Oakland, now residing at No. 160 Lake street, that city, and where Mrs. Mock is now making her home.

Few matters possessed for Mr. Mock a deeper or more vital interest than the material progress of Santa Rosa, and in every way possible he promoted tlie civic welfare. Among the local offices which he filled were those of city marshal and street commissioner. In these capacities he labored to maintain order, en- force the laws and grade the streets, recognizing the fact that these are neces- sities in every progressive town. Doubtless, however, it was in the church that he found his greatest enjoyment. Of a deeply religious nature throughout all of his life, he labored to promote the spiritual welfare of the human race. No duty was neglected that tended to the uplifting of his community and the advancement of the church. As president of the board of stewards and as a trustee he was intimately identified with the management of the Santa Rosa Methodist Episcopal Church. For thirty years he led the choir of that congre- gation, and meanwhile he aided many young people in the cultivation of their voices, promoted an interest in sacred music, and brought to many a realization of its close association with religions progress. When finally death brought to an end his splendid, useful labors he passed into eternity, sustained by the Chris- tian's faith and comforted by the hope of again meeting his loved ones within the gates of Paradise.

PROF. DE WITT MONTGOMERY.

Great as are the resources of Sonoma county (and many sagacious citizens believe them to be unsurpassed by those of any section of the commonwealth), her finest assets consist of her boys and girls, and the quality of future citizen- ship depends upon the faithful work of the teachers, guided by judicious leaders and upheld by the unwavering loyalty of the community. Educational advance- ment is the result of the self-sacrificing labors of efficient instructors, who desire the mental growth of the pupils more than their own prosperity, and who, far removed from narrowness or prejudice, strive to advance the welfare of the schools that are the civic pride of the community. In this list of educators men- tion belongs to Professor Montgomery, who holds an accepted place among the

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leading teachers in Northern California and who, both as principal of schools and as county superintendent, has been instrumental in raising the standard of edu- cation in a degree commensurate with the material growth of the community.

Eaton Rapids, Mich., is the native place of De Witt Montgomery, and Octo- ber 29, 1872, the date of his birth, his parents being Alonzo and Cornelia Mary (Dunham) Montgomery, the former born in Michigan in 1840, and the latter born in Rochester, N. Y., in 1841. The marriage of the parents was solemnized in Michigan in 1867, and resulted in the birth of five children, Robert S., De Witt, Ada, Alta and Chester A. Through paternal ancestry the family traces its lineage to Scotland, while on the maternal side the line is traced to Holland, whence emigration was made to New York during the memorable Knickerbocker days of history. Patriotism has been a family trait and every generation has exhibited the deepest loyalty to our country, this being evidenced especially in the life of Alonzo Montgomery through his service as a soldier and a commis- sioned officer in the Union army during the Civil war. Politically he espoused Republican principles on the organization of the party and ever afterward re- mained faithful to the same. The occupation of a farmer he followed first in Michigan and later in Kansas, but eventually he reinoved to Southern California and afterward led a somewhat retired life.

Primarily educated in Kansas public schools and later a student in the high scitool at Fullerton, Cal., it was the good fortune of De Witt Montgomery to be able to enjoy the educational advantages offered by L'eland Stanford University, and in 1901 he was graduated from that institution with the degree of A.B., while in 1902 the degree of A.M. was conferred upon him by the same educa- tional center. In order to pursue advanced study in literature and educational work, he secured an appointment as an instructor in the university, and continued his association with his alma mater until he felt himself to be thoroughly qualified for his professional duties. In 1902 he became principal of the Gridley Union high school, a position which he resigned the following year to become principal of the Sonoma Valley high school. In the fall of 1906 he was elected county superintendent of schools for a term of four years, and both of these positions he is now filling with characteristic fidelity and a high degree of intelligence. In addition he has served as president of county superintendents and county board section of the California State Teachers Association.

It has been the privilege of Professor Montgomery to see something of life in three states. Until ten years of age he lived in Michigan, and he recalls vividly the surroundings of his early childhood there. The ensuing ten years were passed in Kansas, so that as a youth he saw much of the broad prairies of the Sunflower state. Since twenty years of age he has made California his home, and he regards this as the banner state of the Union, while he considers Sonoma the peer of any of the counties. Educationally it ranks among the first counties, having one hundred and forty-four school districts and six high schools. Its ad- vance along educational lines has kept pace with its growth in material devel- opment. Because of its wonderful resources the Professor believes it is des- tincd to be one of the greatest counties of the state, its welfare being promoted by its geographical position. fine climate and- enterprising citizens. no less than by its resources and educational facilities.

A & Batchelor

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The high regard in which Professor Montgomery is held is shared by his cultured wife, whom he married at Los Angeles June 27, 1903, and who bore the maiden name of Neva Gilfillan, being a daughter of Alexander and Christine Maude (Birmingham) Gilfillan. The only child of the union, De Witt, Jr., was born February 23, 1905. Reared to a faith in Republican principles, Professor Montgomery saw no reason to change his views when he studied the political question with the discriminating judgment of maturity, and he always has re- mained stanchly devoted to the party. Along the line of his profession he has found especial pleasure through his membership in the Schoolmasters' Club of Northern California, and has been a recognized leader of thought in the same. It has not been possible for him, burdened as he is with professional duties, to become active in the fraternities, and the only orders with which he has identified himself are the Masons and the Woodmen of the World, but in these he has been a generous helper, a philanthropic associate and a genial companion.

DAVID WILLIAM BATCHELOR.

Whatever portion of the world has received as citizens people of Scotch blood, such sections reap an inestimable benefit from the presence of men and women of irreproachable characters, earnest industry and progressive spirit, whose descendants will form the bulwark of the prosperity of any country and bring honor to any land. There is no citizen more devoted to the welfare of the United States than he who proudly points to Scotland as his ancestral home, and the men who are most loyal to the land of their birth are the ones who show the deepest love for their adopted country and in whose minds patriotism is ever united with humanity and brotherly compassion.

The above applies truly to David William Batchelor, a well-known resident of Penn Grove, Sonoma county. He was born in the old historical town of Montrose, Forfarshire, Scotland, July 17, 1872, being the second son among fourteen children (evenly divided as to sons and daughters) born to his parents. They were Robert Scott, born November 27, 1833, at Abothan House, Forfar- shire, and Betsy (Smith) Batchelor, born in Montrose February 7, 1838. All of the children received good educations, and David W. Batchelor received the privileges of Montrose Academy. After leaving school he entered an architect's office with the idea of learning the business, but in the meantime he was seized with an unrest and desire to come to the new world that made further work at learning the trade impossible. At the age of eighteen years he set sail from Glasgow for the port of Canada, arriving at Quebec July 14, 1890. A few days later he went to Montreal, later to Toronto, and in the latter city he was for- tunate in securing employment in a surveyor's office. During the year and more that he lived in Toronto he succeeded in saving a neat sum of money, in the accumulation of which it was his idea to ultimately engage in farming, having a good knowledge of farming as conducted in his native land. His first step in this direction was securing a position as foreman of the cattle depart- ment of the Beaverton model farm, a position which he filled for three years, during which time he traveled over a large part of Canada and the United States, making observations and investigations as to a suitable section of the country

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for a future home. The result of his investigation was a preponderance of evi- dence in favor of the United States, and upon resigning his position in the fall of 1893, began his westward march. With an open mind, free from prejudice, he discerned for himself the merits and demerits of the various places which he passed through in coming to the Pacific coast. He arrived in San Francisco January 13, 1894. There as elsewhere he set out on an excursion of investiga- tion, and contrary to his usual verdict, he was pleased with the outlook. Con- tinuing his investigation, he traveled over the Bay counties in an endeavor to find suitable land upon which to raise poultry. It was at this point that his eye fell upon an advertisement wherein he noted that ten thousand acres had re- cently been subdivided at Cotati, and with the hope of finding suitable land in this vicinity he came to inspect the land the following morning. Finding con- ditions as represented, he selected a twenty-acre lot and made the first deposit on it. Settlers at that time were few, and Cotati and Penn Grove could boast of little more than their names. This condition, however, did not dismay Mr. Batchelor, for he industriously set about improving his land, purchasing a team and wagon, and with a plow which he borrowed, broke the soil preparatory to putting in a crop of wheat. For a time after locating here he slept under his wagon, with his horses tied to the wheels, until such time as he was able to erect a barn, when this served as home and stable temporarily.

Mr. Batchelor established himself in the chicken business here on a small scale, starting with three dozen hens, and increasing his flock until he finally had eighteen hundred laying hens. In the meantime he had built and occupied several houses on the ranch, finally, however, erecting a modern five-room house which he equipped with an acetylene gas plant. All of this had been ac- complished after six years of hard work on his part, and believing that he was deserving of a rest, he took a trip to Scotland to visit his parents. He was proud to tell them of what he had accomplished, for on leaving them six years before they had declared that he would be glad to return home in three months time. After a visit of three months in the home land he was satisfied and even anxious to return to California and resume the work which he had temporarily laid aside. At this time he was the proud owner of one of the best chicken ranches in this section of country, free from debt, and he therefore ventured to purchase other property. This he did as a matter of speculation, for, after divid- ing the land into small tracts, erecting buildings and stocking it with poultry, he disposed of it. He continued the buying and selling of land in this way for some time, always disposing of it readily to purchasers who were eager to locate.

Mr. Batchelor finally took another respite from the cares of business, taking an extended tour which included England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the United States. In none of the countries visited did he discover any spot that pleased him any more than did Sonoma county, Cal., and it was therefore with considerable satisfaction that he again returned hither and resumed his activi- ties with more zest and earnestness than before. It was after his return from this expedition that he disposed of his home place and began buying and im- proving land for the purposes of sale, for he was convinced that the land held great possibilities for supporting a large population. It was therefore with considerable pride that he watched the growth of Cotati and Penn Grove,

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noting the erection of schools, churches, stores, club and lodge halls, on ground that had so recently been pasture land. It is not too sweeping an assertion to say that Mr. Batchelor has built up and sold more poultry ranches than any other person in Sonoma county.

Mr. Batchelor made a third trip to his native land in the spring of 1906, leaving San Francisco May I, soon after the earthquake and fire in that city, in which he lost some property. After spending nine months abroad he returned to Petaluma and purchased property upon which he erected a cottage, and into this home he brought his bride January 22, 1908. Before her marriage she was Miss Susie White MacFarlane, who was born in Hector House, Aberdeen, Scotland. Their marriage was celebrated in Santa Rosa, Rev. William Martin, of that city officiating. Two children have been born of this marriage, a daugh- ter, Aurdrie, born May 24, 1909, and a son, Ian, on May 24 of the following year. It is Mr. Batchelor's purpose to continue opening up land for settlement to home seekers in Sonoma county, working especially in behalf of the Cotati rancho, of which he is the sole agent. It is his hope that all the large ranches will be divided and settled upon by earnest, hard-working men and their fam- ilies, which while proving an inestimable benefit to the settler in providing him with a home which otherwise would be well-nigh impossible to obtain, the coun- try at the same time is benefiting by his citizenship. No one has been more indefatigable to bring about this than Mr. Batchelor. He is a member of the school board of Eagle district, which he serves as clerk, and he is also qualified to act as notary public.

THOMAS HOPPER.

The name of Hopper so well known in California through the accomplish- ments of two generations, is of southern origin, the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, William Hopper, Sr., being a native of North Carolina. It was no other than the latter who was the first to withdraw from the locality which had been the home of the family for so many years, this immigrant, soon after his marriage, removing to Indiana. His son, William Hopper, Jr., removed with his parents to Lawrence county. Indiana, remaining there until grown to ma- turity, when he too made a westward move, going to Missouri in 1817 or 1818. There he took up land which he continued to cultivate throughout the remainder of his life. which, however, was cut short in 1824, while he was still a young man. Before leaving Indiana he had formed domestic ties by his marriage with Nancy Armstrong, and at his death he left her with four small children. She subsequently returned to Indiana, to the home of her father, and there she later contracted a second marriage. .

Born in Lafayette county, Missouri, September 23, 1820, Thomas Hopper was four years old when death deprived him of his natural protector, and sub- sequently he was taken to Indiana by his mother. Whether deserving or other- wise the records do not state, but it is known that Thomas received a corporal chastisement from his step-father when he was a young boy which he deeply resented, and at once left home and assumed life's responsibilities on his own account. Farm labor was the work with which he was most familiar and it was employment of this character which he at once sought and found, continuing at

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this until he was eighteen years of age. Returning to Missouri at this time, he worked as a farm hand for about a ycar, when he bought a small farm in John- son county, that state, upon which he settled with the wife whom he had re- cently married. Altogether he continued to make it his home for about three ycars, when, on May 9, 1847, with his wife and child he started for the Pacific coast with the Charles Hopper party. The journey was made behind ox-teams, which finally landed the immigrants in Sutter's Fort September 15, 1847, he being one of the members of the only party that came to California that year. From Sutter's Fort he went to the Waukena valley, from there to San Jose, and from there to the Santa Cruz mountains, where he had prospects of being hired to put up a mill, but the owner failed before the project was carried through. Mr. Hopper had intended to settle down in Santa Cruz, having built a redwood house for the shelter of his family, and afterward both he and his wife found employment in a sawmill at $1 a day each. In the meantime the news of the rich find of gold at Sutter's Mill had reached his ears, and in May, 1848, lie with his family started for the scene of activities, taking with him a boat which he had made with which to cross otherwise impassable streams. Arriv- ing at his destination, Mr. Hopper lost no time in making use of the pick and shovel with which he had provided himself, and it was no unusual thing for him to take out $roo worth of the yellow metal in a day. Owing to the poor accom- modations for his wife and children, however. he took them to George Yount's ranch in the Napa valley, leaving them there for the time being. Buying four yoke of cattle he started on the return trip to the mines, but while crossing the Sacramento river came near losing his life by the capsizing of the boat. After reaching Sutter's Mill he readily found a market for his cattle, and thereafter. with a party, went to Dry Gulch, where he was very fortunate. During the fol- lowing October he returned to Napa valley and spent the ensuing winter with his family, and he later learned that the men who remained in the camp were murdered by the Indians. The spring of 1849 again found Mr. Hopper at Sut- ter's, and that summer he went with Walker's expedition to Monterey county, but the undertaking proved a failure and Mr. Hopper then returned once more to Napa county.

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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 47

Author: Gregory, Thomas Jefferson Publication date: 1911 Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1190

Author: Gregory, Thomas Jefferson
Publication date: 1911
Publisher: Los Angeles, Calif., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1190