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 53
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
May 20, 1896. From the metropolis he returned to Laporte, Plumas county, and opened an office for the practice of his profession, and from the first re- ceived the patronage of the best and most influential citizens of the town. His identification with Sonoma county dates from the year 1902, when he located in Windsor. From there he removed to Forestville in 1905, continuing his practice there five years, when he located in Sebastopol October 20, 1910, since which time he has built up a fine practice, not confined to the immediate vicinity of this town, but extending to all parts of Sonoma county.
Dr. Folsom's marriage, February 4, 1911, united him with Mrs. Annie McLaren, a native of California. By a former marriage Dr. Folsom had one child, Ortis Fred Folsom, born March 10, 1898, and now a pupil in the schools of Santa Cruz. Politically Dr. Folsom is a Republican, and fraternally his affiliations include membership in the Odd Fellows Lodge at Forestville, the Modern Woodmen of America, and the United Artisans. Next to his love for the profession which he has chosen for his life work Dr. Folsom has a deep fondness for man's best friend, the horse, and has raised many high bred trot- ting horses. He was formerly the owner of Starlock, a fine standard-bred trot- ting stallion, which he has recently sold.
CHARLES FITCH.
Genealogical records show the intimate association of the Fitch family with the colonial period of American history. The founders of the name in this country crossed the ocean to New England while that region was still a forest primeval. The transformation of a stern and inhospitable wilderness into an abode of thrift and industry was a task into which successive generations threw their eager energies. By degrees, however, agriculture gave place to maritime pursuits and, as captain of ocean vessels, many of the name sailed the stormy northern seas. Capt. Henry Fitch commanded a trading-ship that sailed under the English flag and he attained a position of wide influence among men of his calling. The next generation was represented by Henry Delano Fitch, who was given his father's name as a prefix to the family name of his mother. Born at New Haven, Conn., May 7. 1799, he was three years of age when his parents removed to Charlestown, Mass., now a suburb of Boston, and there he attended the local schools, with the advantage of subsequent training at Harvard University. An initial experience as a sailor under Captain Smith was followed by an appointment ( secured through his father's influence) in 1822 as successor to the recently deceased captain of a large ship owned by the firm of Bryan, Sturgis & Co., of Boston. Under his command the ship rounded Cape Horn, sailed along the Pacific coast of South America, anchored for a time at the Sandwich Islands, and ultimately reached California, where the sturdy young captain had the distinction of being the first to pilot a steamer within the Golden Gate.
While acting as commander of the ship, which was anchored in the harbor of a California port. Captain Fitch formed the acquaintance of Dona Josepha Carrillo, who was horn at San Gabriel, Cal., in April, 1810. She was christened Maria Antonia Natalia Elijia Carrillo, but was afterward called Josepha, be-
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cause she forgot her names but thought one of them was Josepha. She grew to womanhood in San Diego, whither at the age of two years she removed with her father, Don Joaquin Carrillo. The affection of the young American for the beautiful Castilian girl was so deep that it overcame every obstacle to their union. Her father, a gentleman of fine family and an officer in the Mexican army, was an ardent believer in the Roman Catholic faith and would not permit his daughter to become the wife of one holding different religious views. It was to overcome this objection that about 1827 Captain Fitch announced his in- tention to become a Mexican citizen and was baptized in San Diego as Enrique Domingo Fitch. The consent of the parents to the union had been obtained finally, but in the midst of the ceremony an uncle of the bride raised objections, and by threats or otherwise so scared the priest that he refused to perform the rite, and the wedding did not come off then. However, the lovers had the aid of General Vallejo and Captain Cooper, who had married sisters of the young girl and who assisted her in her elopement. The captain's vessel was boarded and on the arrival of the ship at Valparaiso the two were united in marriage. After one year they returned to San Diego and were arrested and separated by ecclesiastical authority. After the trial by the vicar they were set at liberty. but Don Enrique was condemned to do penance to the extent of furnishing a fifty-pound bell for the church at Los Angeles. This the captive did by giv- ing them a chime of three bells. The couple received the parental blessing and took up their residence in San Diego, where he was engaged in the mercantile business.
The interests of Captain Fitch first became identified with Sonoma county through receiving a grant of eleven leagues of land here in 1844 from the Mexican government. Cyrus Alexander was appointed manager of the Sotoyome grant (as the tract was called) and the captain himself gave considerable per- sonal attention to its supervision, building on that portion of the grant now known as the Bailhache estate two adobe houses, both still standing and one forming the present ranch residence. On his estate he built the first mill in the county, the machinery for which he brought from Boston on his ship. The mill for years was utilized for the grinding of feed and the sawing of lumber. Fitch mountain, visible from Healdsburg, over which it stands guard like a sentinel, was named in honor of the captain. He also owned Coronado Beach and a small grant in San Francisco, now the site of Golden Gate Park. A short time before his deathı he was appointed as representative of the Pacific Mail Steam- ship Company, but never qualified for the position. Ere yet age had lessened his activities he passed from earth, January 14. 1849. It was not his privilege to witness the admission of California into the Union nor the wonderful trans- formation wrought by the discovery of gold, yet he had passed through many of the most stirring scenes in the early history of the coast and among his com- patriots was recognized as a man far above the average in intellect. His widow survived him for forty-four years and lived to see three successive na- tions in control of the land of her birth. She passed away January 26, 1893. in Healdsburg, where her last days were passed in close proximity to her chil- dren, Charles Fitch, Mrs. Josephine Bailhache and Mrs. John B. Grant, all of whom are residents of this city. One son, John, died in Arizona in 1899.
During the residence of the family in San Diego, Charles Fitch was born
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September 1, 1842, and from there he came to the Sotoyome grant at the age of seven years. His education was secured principally in the schools of Alameda and in early life he engaged in ranching, but later turned his attention to rail- roading, which he followed from 1863 until his resumption of ranch activities. These he continues to the present and besides he devotes some attention to min- ing properties. During the Civil war he served as first lieutenant of Company E, First Native California Cavalry, and remained on duty in the state until the expiration of his time. Ever since the organization of the Republican party he has been in sympathy with its principles and at no time has he swerved in his allegiance to its platform. Twice married, he suffered a bereavement in the death of his first wife, Helen, in 1861, a year after their marriage. She was a daughter of Clark Foss, a noted stage-driver of early days. During 1877 he married Miss Carrie Brown, born in Healdsburg, and whose grandfather, Cap- tain Brown, of Ogden, Utah, was second to Brigham Young in command of the Mormons of the United States. Daniel Brown, father of Mrs. Fitch, came to California in 1849, at the time of the excitement caused by the discovery of gold and here he remained until his death in 1866. Two children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Fitch, namely : Charles R., born in 1878, and Woodley B., born in 1886. Both were born in the house still occupied by their parents : both are married, the former residing at Coalinga, and the latter in Montana. The last mentioned son is the father of one child, Carrie.
In the west, as years ago along the coast of New England, the Fitch family has given evidence of the possession of those traits that bring pros- perity and prominence, and Charles Fitch has proved a worthy representative of the race from which he sprang. Modest and unassuming to an unusual de- gree, tactful in his intercourse with all, generous to those in need, philanthropic in his association with charitable undertakings, ne possesses the characteristics that endear a man to his contemporaries and entitle him to the respect of pos- terity. Proud as the state is of the splendid type of citizenship at the helm of affairs, there is a general recognition of the fact that the descendants of the pioneers are entitled to notable consideration and especially so when they sup- plement the courage and patriotism of their ancestors with the progressive spirit necessary to twentieth-century development.
MRS. JOSEPHINE BAILHACHE.
In maidenhood Mrs. Bailhache was known as Josephine Fitch, the daughter of Henry Delano and Josepha ( Carrillo) Fitch, her hirth occurring in San Diego in 1837. (The history of the Carrillo and Fitch families is given at length in the sketch of Charles Fitch, Mrs. 'Bailhache's brother, and to that the reader is referred for interesting and historical data concerning two of the most prominent families in this part of California.)
Miss Fitch was about eleven years of age at the time of the death of her father, and it was soon after this event that the mother removed with her family to the Sotoyome ranch. This was a grant of land bequeathed to her by her husband. Henry Delano Fitch.
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At the age of nineteen years, in 1856, Miss Fitch was united in marriage with John N. Bailhache, who was born in Ohio in 1828. At the age of three years he was taken by his parents to Alton, Ill., where he lived until attaining his majority. Coincident with this was the finding of gold in California, and as he was of age and free to choose his own course in life, he came to California that year, 1849. to seek his fortune. He landed at Sacramento at the end of an uneventful trip, and instead of going into the mines as did the majority of the immigrants of that year and the years immediately following, he went into the grocery business with Lloyd Tevis and Stanford at Sacramento.
Fifteen children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Bailhache, and of the number seven are now living. The eldest of these is George E., who was born in Sonoma county in 1858, and is now a practicing dentist in San Francisco. Ruth, born in 1860, became the wife of M. A. Blumenberg, who is editor of the Musical Courier, a publication of New York City; while they have a home in that eastern city, much of their time is passed in Paris, France ; Fred, Jackson T., Nicholas and Solon are next in order of birth, and Juanita, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Oda Waldrop. Since the year 1856 the home of the family has been in Healdsburg, where Mr. Bailhache passed away in 1902.
Mrs. Bailhache's father, Henry Delano Fitch, was the son of Boriah Fitch, a native of England, and who came to America in 1725 as an officer in the British navy. He landed at Nantucket, but later moved to New Haven, Conn., where Henry Delano was born in 1798. The family home was later moved to Charleston, Mass., and there he continued his education, later attending Harvard University at Cambridge. He became master of his own ship and sailed the seas for thirty years. He came to California for the first time in 1822 and made location in San Diego in 1829. after his marriage with Josepha Carrillo. He followed the sea until 1848, when he sold out, and was making preparation to move to Healdsburg in 1849, when his death occurred, January 14, 1849. His wife was the daughter of Don Joaquin Carrillo, a native of Spain, who settled near Cape San Lucas, Lower California. He acquired the grant of Sotoyome in 1842, and later received the patent to it.
WILLIAM EVART.
More lasting than any printed testimonials of worth and high citizenship is the enduring impress made by Mr. Evart upon the commercial and agricul- tural development of Sonoma county. His privilege it has been to maintain an intimate association with this region from a comparatively early period to the present era of twentieth-century progress. That the community offers op- portunities to a man of integrity and energy is indicated by his own success, for he came here entirely without means and he has had the care of a large family, yet he has risen steadily to a position of influence and responsibility. Under his supervision there are now interests representing large amounts and important enterprises : to each of these he brings an intelligent mind, keen reas-
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oning faculties and habits of prompt decision. The natural outcome of such devotion and intelligence has been a high degree of financial success.
Born in the city of Rochester, Monroe county, N. Y., February 1, 1853, William Evart had no advantages in boyhood except such as came to him through his own arduous industry and resolute purpose. Quite early in life he was attracted to tales of California happenings and his resolve was made to migrate to the Pacific coast, which ambition reached its fulfillment during the year 1877. The trip to the west was made over the Union Pacific Railroad and he arrived safely at San Francisco, where and in Oakland he labored for two years. The ensuing year was spent in Napa county and from there he came to Sonoma county, where ever since he has made his home and the center of his varied enterprises. In all of his work he has had the wise counsel of a prudent, frugal and sagacious wife, Bridget Frances (Williams) Evart, who was born in Monroe county, N. Y., in the year 1855 and who came to California during young womanhood. Throughout the community she is honored for her devotion to her large family, her love of home, of country and of justice. Deeply in- terested in all reform, she was a pioneer in good works for the betterment of Sonoma county during her younger days. Her life has been bright and sweet with all the virtues that go to make a faithful wife and a loyal friend.
The family of William Evart comprised the following-named sons and daughters: Frank R .; John R., deceased; William P .; Earl P .; Edwin J .; Henry G .; Benedict Y., deceased; Mary E .; Sophia, deceased ; Catherine ; Alice R .; Ida C .; Irene A. and Helen. The eldest son, Frank R., married Clara Keegan, a native daughter of the state, and they have five children, Frances R., Dorothy M., Marjorie, Edwin J., and an infant as yet unnamed. William P. Evart married Celia Howard, a resident of Petaluma and the daughter of John Howard. It was the ambition of William Evart and his wife to give their children the best educational advantages within their means. No sacrifice was counted too great that enhanced the welfare of those dear to them. The sons were given grammar-school educations at Penn Grove. Two daughters, Ida and Alice, completed a course of study in a business college during the year 1910, graduating with honors. A younger daughter, Irene, is a college student at the present time. The sons are especially fond of baseball, while the father found his greatest pleasure in hunting during his younger years. Two sons, William P. and Earl P., are enthusiastic members of the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, besides which four of the sons are Native Sons of the Golden West, belonging to the local organization at Petaluma. In politics all are in- dependent. The family holdings include a ranch comprising one hundred and forty-seven acres and one-half interest in a stock ranch in Napa county consist- ing of twenty-five hundred acres and affording pasturage for one hundred and twenty-five head of live-stock. In the village of Penn Grove, where the family reside, William Evart owns a meat market, general store and warehouse, also handles as much as a carload of feed daily and buys and sells eggs and chickens in large quantities, the entire business aggregating $300,000 in the course of the year. Frank R. Evart has charge of the warehouse, grain, feed and poultry, while another son has charge of the store and market. All of the buildings in which the varied interests are housed were put up by William Evart, and in- chude a warehouse of two stories 40x60 feet, blacksmith shop, oil house, stable,
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barns, and three dwellings. Mr. Evart has also put on the market what is known as Evart's addition to Penn Grove, consisting of twenty-seven lots. An enterprise so large as that of which Mr. Evart is the manager proves the energy of its founder and is a credit to the village in which it is located.
COULSON POULTRY AND STOCK FOOD CO.
Past masters in their line of commercial activity are the president and the secretary of the Coulson Poultry and Stock Food Company, an organization identified with the business development of Petaluma and transacting a large trade that extends throughout the entire state and even into Nevada, Washington and Oregon. The factory affords ample facilities for the manufacture and handling of poultry food and supplies, which is a specialty of the firm. The ingredients used in the work are bought in immense quantities and at the lowest possible prices, which gives the company an advantage in disposing of the product at reasonable rates. The company acts as Pacific coast agents for Armour's poul- try meat and blood meals, also as agent for Conkey's celebrated poultry and stock remedies and the Jubilee incubators and brooders. The advantages of the Jubi- lee incubators are described to include a correct underlying principle, a faultless construction, a superior finish and an unapproached record. The Jubilee sec- tional hot-water in-door brooders are constructed in two, three and four sections, to accommodate fifty chicks to each section, and are made for indoor use in brooder houses. The colony outdoor brooders are constructed in one size only, for outdoor use. The Coulson Company have also a fireless brooder involving a new principle, that of heat accumulators under which the chicks are hovered and in which they are free from the danger of smothering, no lamps being used nor any other kind of artificial heat.
The present company was organized in February of 1905, with H. C. Scrut- ton as president and inanager, and S. C. Leonard as secretary, and with a capital stock of $100,000, all paid in. From fifteen to twenty men are employed, four of them being traveling salesmen. Shipments are made in large quantities over the railroad, while the excellent shipping facilities offered by water make it possible to successfully compete with dealers in other western cities. The superiority of their poultry foods is recognized by customers, and in consequence the demand is constantly increasing. The people of Petaluma are justly proud of the fac- tory, and its growing trade is appreciated by residents of the home town. The large brick building used as a factory is owned by the company, together with the expensive equipment of machinery necessary for mixing. The product is rich in protein, correctly mixed, accurately proportioned, and contains nothing that is not absolutely wholesome and the best of its kind. In poultry feeds the owners of the factory believe that the "best is the cheapest," and that many of the heavy losses sustained by chicken-raisers are due to the purchase of cheap. impure feeds. The principal products are Coulson's improved egg food, Coul- son's egg food, Coulson's special dry chick feed, Coulson's growing chick feed. Coulson's scratching feed, Coulson's No. 5 condition powder for horses, Coul- son's No. I condition powder for little chicks and Coulson's No. 3 condition powder for laying hens.
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The improved egg food is a highly concentrated food, containing a large percentage of protein and egg-producing material, due to the ingredients that make up its composition. The food being concentrated is fed in smaller quanti- ties than the old-fashioned feeds, while it is claimed that the flocks are kept in healthier condition, because their digestion is not overtaxed by having to eat a very large amount of food in order to produce the necessary eggs. A sack of ninety pounds makes a meal for twelve hundred and fifty hens. A little more than two pounds is sufficient for a hen for one month. The egg food is similar to the improved egg food, but contains less meat meal, blood meal and condition powders. The dry chick feed is adapted to young chicks and contains tender seeds, cracked grains, cut oat meal, dried meat, fine particles of fresh cut bone, charcoal and burnt bone. Every ingredient is selected with a view to its sound- ness and purity.
The secretary of the company, S. C. Leonard, was born in Bradford county, Pa., in 1865, and at the age of five years accompanied the family to New York state, where he was given the advantages of the excellent grammar-schools and the free academy at Elmira. At the age of fifteen years he moved to Big Flats, Chemung county, N. Y., and for three years helped with the work on the home farm, after which he studied telegraphy on the Delaware, Lackawanna & West- ern Railroad. At the age of twenty-one he was appointed station agent at Big Flats, and for fifteen years he remained in the same position, re- signing in 1901. In 1904 he removed to California, where he has since been a resident of Petaluma and an associate in the business with which he is now con- nected.
The president of the company, H. C. Scrutton, was born in London, Eng- land, in 1872. In 1902 he came to California, settling in Sonoma county, where he bought and conducted a chicken ranch. In the year 1909 he sold the ranch in order to devote his entire attention to the rapidly growing business at Peta- huuna. With his partner he is giving the closest attention to the details of the business, and its rapid development is due to their indefatigable energy and sagacious judgment.
ERNEST EUGENE TROSPER.
The gratifying degree of success that has attended the persevering ef- forts of Mr. Trosper shows what may be accomplished by patient industry, honorable dealings and unswerving application to such duties as the day may bring. When he began for himself he had no moneyed capital, but he pos- sessed a sturdy constitution, willing hands and true moral principles and with these as a foundation he has laid the superstructure of personal success, while still a young man. He has already attained a fair competency and is sur- rounded by comforts that enhance the pleasure of existence, being in a position now by good management to reap still greater success and accomplish greater results.
Ernest E. Trosper was born five miles ahove Cazadero, on West Austin creek, July 15, 1868, and was the youngest child born to Thomas G. W. and Cornelia (McGuire) Trosper, pioneers of Sonoma county, whose sketch ap-
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
pears elsewhere in this volume. He was brought up in the stock business, learning it from the time he was a boy, and receiving a good education in the public schools. Remaining home helping his parents until he was twenty-one years of age, he then started for himself, beginning at the bottom without any means. Renting land, he began raising cattle, met with much success and later on was enabled to purchase a ranch of six hundred and forty acres on Bear Trap creek. It is well improved with a comfortable residence and other build- ings necessary to the stock business, for which the ranch is used. It is well wooded with redwood, pine and other native trees, besides a family orchard, and watered by the above-named creek as well as numerous springs and is well named, being known as the Bear Pen Creek Ranch, devoted to the raising of high grade cattle and hogs.
In Two Rock occurred the marriage of Mr. Trosper and Eunice Jackson, who was born in Penn Grove, a daughter of Lorenzo and Eunice Jackson, who were early settlers of Sonoma county, crossing the plains in 1852. Mrs. Trosper is a very amiable woman of much culture and refinement and has been an able assistant to her husband's success. He is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows at Guerneville and politically is a Democrat, being one of the leaders of his party in Ocean township. He has served as school trustee of the Austin district, where his father built the first schoolhouse. For ten years he has been a deputy sheriff and constable for Ocean township since 1889. He has gained for himself an enviable place in his community and is much esteemed for his strong personality, never swerving from what he considers right. Public spirited and enterprising, he assists all worthy measures for the upbuilding of the county. Kind and generous, many have been the recipients of his bounty.
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