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 50
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In their religious connections Mr. and Mrs. Bowman are members of the Congregational Church, while in politics he votes the Republican ticket. The home farm lies near Cazadero and contains three hundred and sixty acres of pasture land with a large amount of fine timber, which greatly enhances the value of the property.
JOHN BACON LEWIS.
A prosperous, progressive and highly esteemed resident of Petaluma was John Bacon Lewis, a splendid representative of those brave self-made men who have achieved success by their own strenuous labors and acquired a com- petence by the exercise of their physical and mental faculties. He was pro- prietor of one of the best equipped ranches of the locality; also owner of the Lewis Museum in Petaluma. A son of Reed Lewis, he was born March 15, 1825, in Saratoga county, N. Y. His father was born and reared in Vermont. but subsequently moved to New York state, becoming a pioneer of Saratoga county, where he spent his remaining years, dying in manhood's prime in 1835. His mother, whose maiden name was Margaret Bacon, was born and reared in New York state.
After the death of his father, John B. Lewis attended school in Greenbush. N. Y., for a year, and then went to Farmington, Conn., where he resided until 1847, making his home with his brother-in-law, James Cowles. Returning then to his native state, he was engaged in mercantile pursuits for two years at Schuylerville. In January, 1849, joining a company organized with regular offices and laws for the purpose of going to California in search of fortune, he started for the gold regions of this state. According to a signed contract,
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each member of the company was to pool his money, and later draw regular dividends from the same, and no individual could do or control anything that would not be in joint accord with the company. Provided with everything needed for the enterprise, the coinpany started on its journey filled with en- thusiasm, each and every member confident of his returning home within a year as a millionaire. After crossing the Isthmus, the company was compelled to remain in Panama four months, during this time many exciting events occur- ring. From three thousand to four thousand people, coming from all quarters of the globe, were there congregated, waiting for transportation to that golden paradise, where, in their imagination, golden metal could be picked up by the handful. The only steamer plying along the Pacific coast at that time could make but one trip a month to San Francisco, but unable to wait for that one, many of the more venturesome of the emigrants set out to sea in frail barks improvised for the occasion, but all had to turn back.
Mr. Lewis, who had given to his wife $20 of the $25 he had borrowed prior to leaving home, realized that he must do something to support himself and family. Opening a restaurant, he fed the hungry people with such as he could find to give them, and in his rude tent, with a blanket on the ground for a bed, he lodged all of those willing to accept his accommodations, charging $1 per night. The venture proved financially successful. The company finally secured an old condemned brig of about two hundred tons hurden, single decked and fitted her up, in order that the journey might be continued. Two hundred and fifty tickets were sold, but when the vessel was loaded the number was found to be many more than could be accommodated. For a time serious trouble was threatened, the managers refusing, until intimidated, to return the passage money already paid by those who were obliged to remain behind for want of room on board the vessel. This brig, named the Two Friends, was left at the Island of Toboga, near Panama, where, after a stay of two weeks, the Alexander Von Humboldt came in with a load of coal. This vessel was there purchased for $60,000, and on its arrival in San Francisco it was condemned and sold for $12,000. Of the three hundred passengers who sailed from Toboga, two hun- dred had purchased tickets for the cabin, which in reality could accommodate but sixteen persons, and the favored number was selected from the most de- serving of the company, the others faring as best they could. Dividing the company into messes of fifteen each, the steward of each mess would go up to the caldron in which all of the food was cooked, help himself to his allowance ยท and return to his mess-room with it. Hard tack and sugar were served twice a week, and plum duff, a favorite dish, made its appearance once a week, meals, however, being served but once a day. At Acapulco, where the vessel was de- tained two weeks, the hungry passengers feasted on fruit.
Finally, after a hard journey of one hundred and two days, the passengers were landed in San Francisco August 29, 1849. There the company found that, banded together. they could do nothing, so dissolved. A large amount of merchandise was awaiting their arrival, and in order to dispose of it a store was opened. Then the problem of getting the goods up from the beach con- fronted them. Mr. Lewis managed to secure a horse, and having brought carts, with Yankee ingenuity made a harness, thus completing the needed outfit. Mr. Lewis subsequently bought the horse, paying the company $250 for it
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with the cart, and the day following was offered $1,000 for the outfit, but re- fused the offer, as the property was worth at least $25 per day to him for hanl- ing purposes. At once establishing a draying business in San Francisco, Mr. Lewis was a pioneer in that industry, which he followed with great success until 1856.
Coming then with his brother-in-law, C. A. Bodwell, to Sonoma county they purchased in partnership a one-thousand acre ranch, of which five hundred acres constituted Mr. Lewis's home ranch. On this ranch, which contains three hundred acres of upland and two hundred acres of marsh, Mr. Lewis carried on stock-raising and dairying most profitably during his years of ac- tivity and was well known throughout this part of the country as a skillful and thorough-going agriculturist. In 1900 he moved to Petaluma, where he resided till the day of his death, January 6, 1909, enjoying his well earned rest.
In January, 1847, Mr. Lewis was married in Farmington, Conn., to Eliz- abeth Bodwell, who passed away at her home in Petaluma in 1866. Two chil- dren blessed their union, one of whom lived but a year. The other child, Charles Wadsworth Lewis, was born in 1853, and a sketch of his life will be found else- where in this volume.
HENRY C. OTTMER, M. D.
In recording the lives of those who, having completed their allotted tasks in this life, have gone to their reward, mention belongs to that well-known and substantial citizen of Healdsburg, Henry C. Ottmer, whose life and labors of over thirty years meant so much to the well-being of Sonoma county. At the time of his death in 1907 he had attained a ripe old age, longevity being a characteristic of the family, demonstrated by the fact that his father lived to attain his ninety-sixth year, while his mother was one hundred and three years old at the time of her death.
Henry C. Ottmer was a native of Germany, and he was born in Brunswick January 18, 1828, the son of parents who were industrious, ambitious, and in every way typical of the best characteristics of the German race. They gave their son every opportunity that their means would afford, and as he had a nat- ural aptitude for study he made rapid progress along this line. An inclination toward the medical profession led him to take special studies in preparation for the work which he had chosen, and at the time he came to the United States in 1850 he had a good grounding in the principles of the medical profession. Upon coming here in that year he went direct to Missouri, and in St. Louis completed his medical studies. After receiving his diploma he opened an office in Warren county, Mo., and followed his profession for the following twenty-six years. It was upon the expiration of this time, in 1876, that he came to California and settled in Sonoma county, at Dry Creek, and there he con- tinued to follow the medical profession for a considerable period. Soon after locating here he purchased a ranch of one hundred acres, which he set out to grain, a crop which later gave place to a fine orchard and vineyard. Here Dr. Ottmer continued to follow his profession and give his personal attention to the management of his ranch until he removed to Healdsburg and retired from active professional and business life. In addition to his valuable ranch he also
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owned choice business lots in Healdsburg, upon which he erected two substan- tial blocks, one of which is known as the Ottmer block. Since his death, in 1907 his widow has followed his policy in regard to the management of the ranch, which is rented and managed by a tenant on shares. All of the best-known grades of prunes, peaches and apples are raised in the orchard, the crops from which, as well as from the large and flourishing vineyard, make it one of the most productive ranches in the county, $10,000 being an average year's income.
Dr. Ottmer's first marriage united him with Miss Helen Archer, the daugh- ter of Fields and Frances (Wood) Archer, natives of Virginia. From that southern state the parents removed to Missouri, where their daughter was born. She died at the early age of thirty-two years, leaving four children, as follows : Florence H., a medical practitioner in Eureka, Cal .; Ida, the wife of Horace Board, a rancher of Dry Creek; Victor S., deceased; and Adelia, the wife of Charles Blazer, of Healdsburg. In 1865 Dr. Ottmer married for his second wife Miss Marion I. Archer, a sister of his first wife. She, too, was a native of Missouri, where their marriage occurred. Two children were born of this marriage, Lora, the wife of A. J. LeBaron, of Healdsburg, and Nellie, the wife of J. I. Coleman, and they make their home in Arizona. Five great-grandchil- dren delight the heart of Mrs. Ottmer, who since the death of her husband has found a great solace in interesting herself in the lives of others, especially in her children and their descendants. Mr. and Mrs. Ottmer were active members of the First Baptist Church of Healdsburg and took a prominent part in its uphuilding.
ISAAC DE TURK.
As an old pioneer settler in Sonoma county the name of Isaac DeTurk needs no introduction to her citizens, particularly those in Santa Rosa, where as the founder and proprietor of the Santa Rosa winery he gained a reputation which made his name and brand of goods household words. For many years his parents had been residents of Berks county, Pa., and in that county his birth occurred in 1834, and until he was four years of age he lived in his native state. At this age his parents removed west as far as Indiana, locating in Morgan county, where parents and son made their home together until the winter of 1858-59.
A new era in the life of Isaac DeTurk began with the winter above men- tioned, for it was then that he came to California and began the industry that assumed such large proportions during his lifetime. Seeing the possibilities for successfully manufacturing wine where the grape flourished as plentifully as he found it in Sonoma county, he ventured to establish the first plant of the kind in the county at Santa Rosa. This he did in 1859, at the same time plant- ing a vineyard of twenty acres in Bennett valley, later increasing the size of his vineyard to fifty acres. His choice of vines was about equally divided as to Mission and Zinfandel and yielded from three to three hundred and fifty tons of grapes annually. A desire to branch out on a larger scale led him to dispose of his holdings in Bennett valley in 1885 and the same year he purchased twelve hundred acres in Los Guilicos valley, where he planted a vineyard of one hun- dred acres, adding to this from year to year until he had one of the largest vine-
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yards in this part of the county. For the storage of his products he built the first wine cellar in Bennett valley in 1867, which at the time was ample in size to accommodate all of the wine which he wished to store. With the rapid in- crease of his business this soon became too small, and was consequently increased until it accommodated one hundred thousand gallons of wine.
In 1878 Mr. DeTurk erected the first buildings of the Santa Rosa winery and the same year manufactured one hundred thousand gallons of wine. From year to year the output was steadily increased, in the early '8os amounting to between three hundred thousand and four hundred thousand gallons of wine and about fifteen thousand gallons of brandy. All of the foregoing was the product of from thirty-five hundred to five thousand tons of grapes. It was at this point in the history of his plant that it was necessary to increase the stor- age capacity of his wine cellar to accommodate one million gallons. His spec- ialties were clarets, reisling, sherry and port wines, and grape brandy. All of the buildings connected with the Santa Rosa winery were built of brick and equipped with all known modern improvements at the time. Mr. DeTurk wisely selected the western part of the city for the location of his plant, having there unexcelled shipping facilities. Since his demise the business has been absorbed by the William Hoelscher Company of San Francisco, who operate the business from Healdsburg.
It is a conservative statement to say that Mr. DeTurk was one of the most prominent and progressive men who have ever made their home in Sonoma county. That he was interested in a vital way with many of the important enterprises of this part of the state may be seen from the statement that he was the state viticultural commissioner for the Sonoma district, was identified with the Sonoma County Agricultural Association, and the Stock Breeders Associ- ation. in all of which he was also a director from the time of their inception. Socially he was identified with the Athenian Club of San Francisco. That Mr. DeTurk was held to be one of the foremost men of Sonoma county was just praise, for he was ever on the alert to forward her interests, helping by personal work and also by liberal financial assistance.
CLARENCE FREDERICK LEA.
The profession of law in Sonoma county has no more able or more honored representative than Clarence F. Lea, a well-known attorney of Santa Rosa. En- dowed with keen intelligence and discrimination, he is at all times and under all circumstances actuated by the highest principles of honor and fair dealing, and has thereby gained the esteem and respect of his associates and the confidence of the people among whom his lot has been cast.
Mr. Lea takes a commendable pride in the fact that he is a native son of the state, and also that he is the son of early settlers and upbuilders of this great Pacific commonwealth. Born in Highland Springs, Lake county, Cal., July 11, 1874, he is a son of James M. and Elizabeth Trower Lea, the father born in Ten- nessee in 1827, and the mother born in Kentucky in 1831. Their marriage oc- curred in Missouri in 1857. Shortly after the finding of gold in California the elder Mr. Lea came to the state, in 1851. across the plains, returning to Missouri
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five years later, and the following year, 1857, occurred his marriage. The young people settled down to agricultural life in Greene county, that state, and remained there until 1865, when they came to California and located at Cloverdale, So- noma county. Two years later the family home was transferred to Highland Springs, Lake county, and there the death of the father occurred in 1901. Nine children were born to these worthy parents, as follows: Emmet N., Mary (who became the wife of Douglas Shartzer and is now deceased), Orlando, Alonzo, Horace, Finice L., Loutitia, Elizabeth and Clarence F. All of the children who survive are married and established in homes of their own with the exception of two daughters.
With his brothers and sisters Clarence F. Lea was given splendid educa- tional facilities, the parents realizing the importance of a good education, in fact considering it a prime requisite in their training. In the common school of Highland district Clarence F. Lea laid the foundation of his education, following this by a course in Lakeport Academy, and this by a two-year course in Stanford University. A predilection for the legal profession led him to take a special course in the Denver Law school, from which he graduated in 1898, and on August I of that year he opened an office for the practice of his profession in Santa Rosa. In the more than twelve years that he has been located here he has built up a splendid practice, and counts among his clients some of the most influential citizens of the town and county. A stanch advocate of Democratic principles, Mr. Lea loses no opportunity to further the interests of the party to which he gives his allegiance, and on numerous occasions he has made stump speeches in behalf of his political friends. At the hands of his fellow-citizens he was elected district attorney of Sonoma county in 1906, and re-elected in 1910 with a majority of twenty-one hundred votes. Prior to holding this office, in 1902, he was nominated for the office of superior judge of Sonoma county, but lost the election by two hundred and eighty-one votes.
Mr. Lea's marriage united him with Miss Daisy A. Wright, a native dangh- ter of California, her birth occurring in Oakland, Cal., September 10, 1874. She is a daughter of James A. and Emma Russell Wright, natives respectively of Canada and Oakland, Cal. Two children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wright, Daisy A., Mrs. Lea and Myrtle, the wife of W. H. Stewart. Mr. Lea holds membership in a number of fraternal organizations, being identified with the Woodmen of the World, Modern Woodmen of America, Improved Order of Red Men, and he is also a prominent member of the Native Sons of the Golden West.
JAMES BIDWELL.
The name of Ira Bidwell is too well known in Sonoma county to need special mentioning, for his deeds and accomplishments are a part of the history of this part of the state, nevertheless a brief account of his life may be found elsewhere in this volume. A son of this well-known pioneer, James Bidwell was born on the paternal homestead in Alexander valley March 27, 1852. With his older brother John he secured such educational advantages as the early conditions
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afforded, but when still quite a small boy was competent to do much of the farm work formerly delegated to older hands.
In 1879, when the father divided his property among the children, James Bidwell began work independently, his portion of the ranch amounting to three hundred acres. He still owns the land, and superintends its management, al- though the actual work is performed by his two sons, Charles E. and James E. Twenty acres of the land is in vineyard, and large crops of hay and grain are gathered annually, and the land not under cultivation is used as pasture land for the twenty head of cattle which are being fattened for market. In 1904 Mr. Bidwell purchased and located upon the ranch which is now his home, con- sisting of one hundred and ten acres of very productive land in Alexander valley. Thirty acres are in vineyard, and the remainder of the land is given over to grain, with the exception of twenty acres in alfalfa. A dairy of twenty cows of fine breed adds considerable to the annual income of the thrifty owner, who is one of the most progressive and up-to-date ranchers in the valley. The com- bined efforts of father and sons have worked a vast change in conditions in Sonoma county, for all are experienced agriculturists and as natural pioneers and leaders have forged ahead and accomplished what others with less courage dared not undertake.
Mr. Bidwell formed domestic ties in 1879 by his marriage with Miss Lucy Martin, a native of Tennessee, and three children have been born to them, Charles Edward, James Eugene and Linnie. The eidest, Charles Edward, was born in 1881 ; his marriage on October 8, 1902, united him with Miss Kittie Coombs, of Healdsburg, and they have one son, Leslie, born October 23, 1903. James Eugene, born February 10, 1882, married Miss Anna Peck, of Healdsburg, in 1899, and they had two children, Henry, born January 20, 1901, and Charles, born November 23, 1902. His second marriage occurred January 8, 1909, and united him with Mrs. Amanda Rose, of Santa Rosa. By his activity as a citizen and his capability as a rancher the elder Mr. Bidwell has added luster to the honorable reputation established by his father during the pioneer history of our commonwealth.
LEWIS G. NAY.
An impression of peace and prosperity and personal worth and strength is conveyed in the life history of Lewis G. Nay, who took up his residence in Petaluma in the early '6os, and in the years that have intervened his interest in the town which he helped to bring to its present state of prosperity has not been diminished, notwithstanding the fact that he is now well advanced in years and has not been intimately identified with business affairs for many years. However, as he goes up and down the streets of his home town he is gratified by the sight of the substantial buildings which stand as evidence of his accomplishments as a builder in his younger years. Many of these are the most prominent public buildings and residences in town, including among others the Wickersham bank building, the Whitney building, the city hall, Masonic hall and Odd Fellows building. In connection with his building business he ran and operated the Petaluma Planing mill for fifteen years, and after dis- posing of this, retired from active business life, since which time he has found
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all that he cares to do in looking after his large holdings of real estate in the town and county.
The parents of Mr. Nay, Gardner and Amelia (Simonds) Nay, were both natives of New Hampshire, but after their marriage they removed to Genesee county, N. Y., where the father continued to work at the machinist's trade. It was while his parents were living there that their son, Lewis G., was born, December 26, 1823. Owing to a severe attack of chills and fever in 1828, Gardner Nay returned to New Hampshire and settled at Hancock, Hillsboro county, remaining there for thirty years, during which time he carried on con- tracting and building and managed a farm. In 1858 he came west as far as Illinois, and there he died in 1861, leaving considerable means to his wife and children. In his political views he was a Democrat, and religiously he was a Baptist. Two years after his death, in 1863, Mrs. Nay came to California, making her home with her son until her death, at the age of eighty-three years.
Lewis G. Nay learned the carpenter's trade from his father during his boy- hood, and later was of great assistance to his father in carrying out his many building contracts. When he attained his majority he felt competent to under- take carpentering on his own account, first working at his trade for a year in Manchester, N. H., and later in Boston, Mass., for the same length of time. A larger opportunity for the exercise of his ability came to him in 1846, when he went to Lawrence and became identified with the Bay State Company woolen mills, and for the following seven years he not only worked at his trade, but also assisted with the building and installing of machinery. It was with con- siderable reluctance that his employers saw him leave their service to accept & position with the Boston flax mills, where he was variously employed as re- pairer, installer of machinery, pattern-maker and general overseer of the machinery and wood shops. Leaving the east in 1856, he came as far west as Illinois, and in McLean county bought a section of land in partnership with his brother-in-law, A. Thurston. This was all virgin land, and after clearing it he engaged in general farming and stock-raising until coming to California in 1863. His first experience in the west was in the dairy business in Marin county, where he was associated with his brother, Samuel A., and in June of the same year he came to Petaluma, which has been his home ever since.
From the first years of his residence in the town Mr. Nay has given him- self heartily to the upbuilding of his community, and at the earnest solicitation of his fellow-citizens he has consented to fill public office a number of times, being a member of the school board for one term, and city trustee for a consider- able period. During the early years of the Wickersham Bank (then known as the First National Bank of Petaluma) he was made and remained a director in the Wickersham Banking Company during its existence.
The first marriage of Lewis G. Nay occurred in 1847, uniting him with Miss Sarah L. Foster, a native of New Hampshire, her death occurring two years after her marriage. His second marriage was with Miss Eliza Walker, a native of Maine, who at her death two years later left one son, Lewis W., who died in San Bernardino, Cal., November 7, 1903. Mr. Nay's third mar- riage united him with Miss Margaret N. Fishburn, a native of Franklin county. Pa., who died in 1881, at the age of forty-five, leaving two children, both of whom are deceased, dying at the ages of nineteen and twenty years respectively.
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