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 63
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In 1867 Mr. Denner was united in marriage with Miss Emily Breaks, a native of England, and seven children were born of their union. Charles
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Alfred (born in 1870), Charlotte Isabel and Emily Rose are all at home with their mother; Bessie Kate, who is the wife of J. E. Clark, is a resident of Santa Rosa : Fulvia Mary became the wife of Frederick A. Mossler and they make their home in Vine Hill: Russell Linsey Alexander is the next in order of birth; the youngest of the children, William Wheaton, died at the age of four years.
Throughout the years of his residence in Sonoma county Mr. Denner was an active and unceasing friend of upbuilding measures, the promoter of sound local government and the upholder of high civic and private ideals, all of which was realized the more keenly when death removed him from the locality which had known and honored him for so many years.
CHARLES BLACKBURN.
The name of Blackburn needs no introduction to the citizens of Petaluma, for since the early '50s it has been represented here through the activities of three generations, each adding lustre to the name and accomplishments of his predecessor. The establisher of the name in this country was Charles Blackburn, who in 1820 was born in Sheffield, England, and there in youth he prepared him- self for his future by learning the carpenter's trade. An apprenticeship of seven years resulted in a complete understanding of his trade, besides which he became an expert builder and cabinet-maker. With this equipment as his chief stock in trade he immigrated to the United States in 1843, going direct to Iowa, where, in Oskaloosa, he found plenty of opportunity for the exercise of his knowledge of carpentry and building.
Altogether Mr. Blackburn remained in Iowa about nine years, or until 1852. In the meantime, on June 19, 1845, he formed domestic ties by his mar- riage with Miss Jemima Jane Richardson, who was born in Springfield, Ill., and now, at the age of eighty-four, is still in good health and in the enjoyment of all of her faculties. As has been stated, Mr. Blackburn remained in Iowa until 1852, that year marking his journey westward with his wife and three children, Mary E., Martha and John S. Coming direct to Petaluma, Sonoma county, here as in Iowa he found work awaiting him, and from the first he had all that he could do. He assisted in the erection of the first church edifice in the town and also built many residences that have stood the test of the elements for over half a century. He also helped in the erection of the first house in what is now Santa Rosa.
In 1856 Charles Blackburn established the undertaking business in Peta- luma which has made his name so well known in this part of Sonoma county. He began in business with a partner, but soon afterward purchased the latter's interest and assumed control of the entire business. As the business enlarged he kept pace by the introduction of improvements, one of which was the intro- duction of the hcarse in 1857. this being the first funeral carriage ever seen or used in this community. His reputation as an up-to-date funeral director was not confined to the immediate locality in which he lived, but spread to all parts of the county, and as a consequence he was soon in command of one of the largest enterprises of the kind outside of the metropolis. The heavy pressure of
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business responsibilities began to tell upon his health at last, and in 1890 he re- signed the management of the business to younger hands. Six years later, November 27, 1896, he passed away, at the age of seventy-six years. Although business cares occupied much of his time, he still had time to do his duty as a good citizen, and there was no department of the city's welfare with which his name was not associated. He was especially interested in Republican politics, but was never desirous of office or honor of any kind from his political friends. Fraternally he belonged to Petaluma Lodge No. 30, I. O. O. F.
As has been mentioned elsewhere, three children were born to Charles Blackburn and his wife in Iowa (Mary E., Martha and John S.) and after com- ing to California, seven more children were added to their family group, viz .: Charles : Allen H .; Mary J., who became the wife of Samuel Rodd; Hester C., the wife of J. Frank Elphick; Emma H .; Lilly, the wife of A. Harry Parsons ; and Frank L. After the death of the father the business was carried on by John S. Blackburn, the eldest son, and since his death, in 1903, Frank L. Black- burn has continued the business.
HENRY DAHLMANN.
At the foot of Red Hill, Marin county, Henry Dahlmann was born July 18, 1863, the son of Henry and Wilhelmina (Starke) Dahlmann, the former born in Berlin and the latter in Bremen, Germany. The father came to Cali- fornia via Cape Horn in the early '50s, and after mining for awhile he settled on a farm of two hundred and fifty acres at the foot of Red Hill, Marin county, where he followed dairying until his decease, about the year 1869, his wife pass- ing away the following year leaving seven children, as follows: Mary, Mrs. John Perry; Augusta, who became the wife of James King and died in Petaluma ; Clara, Mrs. Christian Lauritzen; Minnie: Martha, Mrs. Peter Schumacker ; Henry, of this review; and Fred, all living in Petaluma.
The brother of Mr. Dahlmann's mother, D. Frederick Starke, was one of the interesting pioneers of Sonoma county. He was born in Germany March 8, 1819. In 1845 he immigrated to California via the Sandwich Islands, arriving in San Francisco on August 26 of the same year on a whaler, and while at anchor in Sausalito he deserted the ship, and, crossing through Marin county, he and his three companions came to the residence of General Vallejo. The officers of the ship followed in close pursuit, and he and his friends were compelled to flee to the mountains. They were employed by S. and B. Kelsey in the construction of a flour mill on Sonoma creek, remaining about five weeks, until the ship sailed, when they returned. Mr. Starke then worked in the redwoods for two months, after which he went to Healdsburg, and was on the Captain Fitch ranch for six months. After a few months on Mark West Creek and a short time at Fort Ross, he returned to Sonoma county and, renting three hundred acres, followed farming. In 1848 Mr. Starke went to the mines, where he followed merchandising and placer mining for six months, when he again returned to this county, work- ing on a steam sawmill on the present site of Freestone. He then tried specht- lating in lumber and lost all the money he had made in the mines. After farm- ing in Bodega for one year he purchased one hundred and sixty acres two and one-half miles from Petaluma, where he resided until his death. He married
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on June 10, 1858, Miss Minna Hastler, born in Germany, January 23, 1822.
Henry Dahlmann was left an orphan and was reared on the farm by his uncle, D. Frederick Starke, where he grew to manhood, having had the advan- tages of the public schools of the Wilson district. After his uncle's death he took charge of the place and was engaged in horticulture and the poultry busi- ness until 1899, when he located in Petaluma, at that time owning Cedar Grove Park, twenty four acres, in Petaluma. He resided there for some years, when he sold it at a good profit. In the meantime he became foreman of the George P. McNear feed store, a position he has faithfully held ever since. There is probably no individual in Petaluma that has so large an acquaintance in Sonoma and Marin counties among the ranchers as he, and having a splendid memory, he as a fund of information.
The marriage of Henry Dahlmann and Miss Georgia Ray took place in Wilmington, Ill. Mrs. Dahlmann died June 25, 1903, leaving seven children : Henry Wadsworth; Alba Flora, in the employ of the Western Pacific Railroad Company of San Francisco; Georgia Wilhelmina, with Hinz & Landt, wholesale milliners of San Francisco; Eugene, Eunice, Gladys and Miriam.
Fraternally Mr. Dahlmann is a member of the Odd Fellows, and the En- campment, the Woodmen of the World and the Women of Woodcraft. He is truly a self made man, having made his own way and is now occupying a respon- sible position, which he is filling with credit and satisfaction.
JOHN DAMBROGI.
The little republic of Switzerland has given of its sturdy sons to aid in the development of this western hemisphere. Particularly has California been for- tunate in having added to her citizenship a large number of these Swiss, who have brought with them to the west the industry, economy and persevering traits characteristic of their forefathers. Numbered among the Swiss-American residents of Sonoma county is John Dambrogi, a native of Switzerland, born in 1848, but ever since 1875 a resident of the United States and a citizen thorough- ly loyal to every interest of his adpoted country.
When Mr. Dambrogi landed on these shores a stranger in a strange land, he did not linger at the point of landing any longer than was necessary to make arrangements to proceed on his way to California, for here it was that his in- terests lay, owing to the fact that others of his countrymen had settled here in large numbers and were making a success of their undertakings. In his native country he had followed tilling the soil as a means of livelihood, and it was along this line that he sought and obtained work in his new home in the west. For a number of years it was necessary for him to work in the employ of others before assuming responsibilities of his own, this being necessary from the fact that he had no available means with which to purchase property, as well as from the fact that he was as yet unfamiliar with the methods of farming in this country. Both of these necessities were amply provided for as the years passed, for with the means which he accumulated he purchased land and began its cul- tivation with more vigor and assurance than would otherwise have been possible. It was in 1907 that he purchased the property which is now his home, and which
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lies ten miles from Petaluma, on Rural Route No. 4. Here he is the proud owner of two hundred and thirty acres of fine land, where his energies are employed in the dairy business, stock-raising and in the raising of chickens. Thirty cows of good breed supply his dairy, besides which he has fifteen head of hogs and five young horses which he is raising for the market. While his dairy industry alone netted him a profit of $700 during the year 1909, and is constantly on the increase, it is probably in his chicken industry that his greatest profit is made. In 1910 he had eighteen hundred chickens in his poultry yard, and it is his inten- tion to increase his flock and make this part of his ranch enterprise his principal industry.
During the thirty-five years that Mr. Dambrogi has been a citizen of the United States he has returned to his native land only once, and that was to claim his bride in Miss Reginia Pronini. After their marriage in their native land they set sail for the United States, and here in California they have been content to remain and rear their children. Eight children have been born of their marriage, four sons and four daughters. as follows: Henry, Charles, John, Cecil, Mary, Delpini, Edith and Linda. The eldest daughter, Mary, has left the parental roof and is established in a home of her own as the wife of John Braga, by whom she has three children, William, Rosa and Neta. The other children in the family are still at home with their parents. In their child- hood both Mr. Dambrogi and his wife were trained to a knowledge of the Roman Catholic faith, and it is in this faith also that they have reared their own children. Politically Mr. Dambrogi is a Republican, and fraternally is associated with one order, Lodge No. 149, Druids, at Petaluma.
ELMER FREEMAN ADAMS.
The ability to step out of the beaten paths and take advantage of oppor- tunities toward which the multitude do not gravitate, has undoubtedly been the cause of the prosperity which has come to Mr. Adams, who is well known throughout Sonoma county as a manufacturer of commodities made from paper, such as egg case fillers, berry boxes, butter cartons, egg cartons, shoe boxes, paper dishes and chicken boxes. The chicken box manufactured by Mr. Adams is an improvement over the old-fashioned wooden box formerly used in the shipment of day-old chicks by express from the numerous hatcheries that form so large a part of the business activity in Petaluma and the surrounding country, an innovation which has been well received, in that it is filling a long-felt and needed improvement, and shippers and users generally are sincere in their praise of Mr. Adams' welcome invention.
A native of the middle west, E. F. Adams was born in Cook county, Ill., January 16, 1864, the son of Orville and Effie (Bliss) Adams, who had passed the greater part of their lives in that section of the Union. Although he was reared in a farming community Mr. Adams was not attracted to farming as a life calling, having an adaptation rather for business life, and in following this natural bent he not only made a success of his undertakings financially, but he has also been congenially employed, which is half of the battle of life. During young manhood he learned the paper-making trade in Illinois, serving
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an apprenticeship in mills in Marseilles, and after following the business there for some time, accepted the position of superintendent of the egg-case filler and paper-box department of the Crescent Paper Company, in Marseilles, and re- mained there until 1904, when he became associated with the Howe & David- son Company of the same place, and remained with the latter company until coming to the west. It was with the practical experience of several years that he came to California in 1906 and established the business of which he is today the proprietor. His entire capital at that time was only $700, so his equipment at first was small and unpretentious, but the excellent trade in egg- case fillers and paper boxes which he soon built up, enabled him to extend and enlarge his equipment, until he now has a finely equipped plant, all of the best and most approved machinery having been installed. As he is a natural me- chanic and an inventor of no mean ability, he is constantly on the alert to make improvements and the strip machine in use in his plant was the first and most important of these innovations. By its use he can make egg-fillers of any size, and the output has also been materially increased, ninety cases or ten thousand fillers being an average nine-hour day output since its invention and installation. Subsequently he installed an automatic filler machine which has a capacity of twenty-eight thousand eight hundred fillers in twenty-four hours In the box manufacturing department he has the latest machines for the purpose. Taken all in all Mr. Adams has given the manufacturing interests of Petaluma a lively stimulus since he came to the town in 1906, and every year adds to his influence as citizen and upbuilder of the community. At the present time (1911) he gives employment to thirty people, and the annual pay-roll of the manufactory amounts to $10,000. His trade is not limited to the county or state in which he resides, but extends to Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Alaska and Honolulu.
Mr. Adams' marriage was celebrated in Illinois in 1889 and united him with Miss Susie Tice, a native of that state. Four children have been born of their marriage, Claud, Wallace, Howard and Gladys. Being what is justly termed a self-made man Mr. Adams certainly deserves the prosperity which he now enjoys. In his political views he is thoroughly independent, preferring to vote for the man and the principle rather than for the party. Fraternally he holds membership in the Odd Fellows organization. He is an active member of the Merchants Association and the Chamber of Commerce. While a resident of Marseilles, Ill., he was an active member of the Howe & Davidson Fire Company, of which he was captain.
FRANK BONDIETTI.
The fact of his long residence upon his ranch speaks more eloquently than can words of Mr. Bondietti's satisfaction with the section of country which he has chosen for his home place, and indicates with equal force that his efforts are bringing satisfactory financial returns. A few miles from Petaluma, on Rural Route No. 5, may be seen the fine looking ranch which he leases, devoted to general farming, dairying and the raising of chickens, altogether forming one of the most thriving and flourishing ranch enterprises in this part of Sonoma county.
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Like so many of Sonoma county's citizens, Mr. Bondietti is a native of Switzerland, born in Canton Ticino in 1855, the son of Peter and Mary (Zam- oroni) Bondietti, both natives of Switzerland, the former born in 1823. The other children besides Frank comprised in the parental family were Anton, James and the only daughter, Lodovina. She became the wife of Peter Crespini. The eldest son, Anton, married Miss Mary Bianchi, by whom he has two children, Celia and Dante.
Frank Bondietti chose as his wife Miss Clementina Mazzolini, who was born in Switzerland in 1861, the daughter of Joshua Mazzolini and his wife, the latter before her marriage Miss Maria Franzi. Eight children, four sons and four daughters, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Mazzolini, as follows: Silvio, Mark, Angilo, Louis, Rosa, Jennie, Amelia and Clementina, Mrs. Bondietti. The eld- est of the daughters, Rosa, is the wife of Vincienzo Pedrazzi and the mother of four children, Louis, Mario, Sylvia and Julia. Jennie is the wife of Domi- nico Vill, by whom she has seven children, three sons and four daughters, Armond, Henry, Robert, Anita, Mary, Olga and Antoinette. Amelia is the wife of John Spich and the mother of five children, Michael, Julia, Mary, Lena and Amelia.
It is now forty years since Mr. Bondietti landed a stranger on the shores of the United States and the same number of years has been passed in California. for he came here direct from the place of landing in the east. At first he worked as a ranch hand in the vicinity of Petaluma, and in so doing acquired the means with which to begin dairying on his own account. He now leases three hundred and eighty-two acres near Petaluma, of which twenty acres are under cultiva- tion, while the remainder is devoted to pasturage for his live-stock, consisting of sixty cows, three horses and twenty hogs. The raising of chickens is also an important feature of the ranch enterprise, his flock consisting of eight hun- dred chickens at the present time. During the long period of eighteen years that Mr. Bondietti has made his home on this ranch, each year has noted an appreciable change in conditions, and each year has also brought an increase in the size of his income, all of which goes to prove that he is a conservative, plod- ding worker, satisfied to begin on a small scale and to rise by steady degrees until the object toward which he is working has been attained. During his residence in this community he has made many stanch friends, who admire his stability of character and persevering energy. In his political belief he is a Republican, and with his family he is a communicant of the Roman Catholic Church.
MILES BOHAN.
Nestling among the foothills of the coast range mountains and not far from the old historic place, Fort Ross, we find the ranch and family residence that is the property of Miles Bohan, who was born in county Longford, Ireland, the son of Daniel and Catherine (Connell) Bohan, who were farmers in that country and where Miles was reared and educated in the public schools. He followed farming in Longford until 1873, when he came to California. His first employ- ment was in the San Francisco Sugar refinery, where he worked for eighteen months. He then came to Salt Point Township. Sonoma county, where he worked as a ranch hand until 1880, when he had saved enough money to purchase the first three hundred and twenty acres of his present ranch. Later on he bought
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three hundred and twenty acres adjoining and he now has six hundred and forty acres on the stage road, about three miles north of Sea View. He has made improvements and is engaged in dairying and stock raising, his ranch being well watered by the south fork of the Gualala and numerous springs. It is well timbered and since 1880 Mr. Bohan has sold thousands of dollars worth of wood, apparently without diminishing the quantity.
At Sea View, Miles Bohan was united with Miss Lizzie Carey, also a native of Ireland, and of this union was born one child, a daughter, Lizzie Catherine. All are members of the Roman Catholic Church at Tomales. Mr. Bohan is a progressive and enterprising citizen and by his energy and public spirit has done much to build up his section of Sonoma county. For many years he was a mem- ber of the board of trustees of the Timber Cove school district.
JUDGE CHARLES HARDY DILLON.
Two miles south of Boonville, Cooper county, Mo., Charles Hardy Dillon was born March 16, 1833. When but five years of age the scene of his exper- iences was changed with the removal of his parents to Sarcoxie, Jasper county, Mo., where he was reared on a farm until he was a young man, in the mean- time receiving his education in the rate schools. In bad weather he remained at home and studied under the direction of a teacher. He remained at home until 1852, the last year at home being spent in superintending the home farm. In the year mentioned he started as a teamster with a freight train of thirty-two wagons, from Kansas City to Santa Fe, N. Mex. Returning to Jasper county, Mo., he worked there until December of that year, when he removed to Carthage, Mo., remaining there all the winter working in a merchandise store, attending school during the evenings. In this place a party of men and women, thirty in number, decided to make the trip across the plains to California. The young man was ever ready to take every opportunity that might mean an advancement for him, so he joined this train and they started out on May 1, 1853, reaching Hangtown, Cal., September 19 of the same year. Here the young man purchased a miner's outfit and engaged in mining at Diamond Springs. After some time he went to Rough and Ready and then to Yuba river, where he worked on a flume. From this latter place he went to Jackson, Amador county, Cal., and prospected during the year 1854. In the spring he went to the vicinity of New Castle, near Auburn, then prospected at Bidwell's Bar on the Feather river. From this place he drove a six-mule team hauling lumber to build a flume at Bidwell's Bar. The next move this ambitious and prospering young man made was to take a donkey and provisions and journey up the Sacramento valley to Weaver- ville, Trinity county, where he mined for four years.
Mr. Dillon came to Sonoma county in 1859, and in company with others he invested in a ranch and engaged in farming and dairying for two years near Petaluma, at the end of which time he went to Sonoma City and opened a butcher business. In the meantime he had been engaged in teaching in various parts of the county and was then reputed to be the best teacher of music and dancing in that section. He conducted classes in San Francisco and other coast towns. For half a decade Mr. Dillon continued in the butcher business in Sonoma City, when he sold out and conducted a drug store for many years
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with much success. Finding a larger field of activity in the commission busi- ness in San Francisco, he sold out his drug store interests and engaged in the commission business for eleven years. After selling out he was appointed to the position of deputy license collector in San Francisco, retaining the position four years.
In the year 1882 Mr. Dillon came to Petaluma and engaged in several enterprises and also taught music and dancing. He conducted the Paper Car- nival in Petaluma in 1885, which was the first of its kind ever held on the coast. He also conducted a similar carnival in San Francisco during 1886 and 1887. In this city they cleared $20,000 for the Episcopal Church of the Advent dur- ing the two years of the carnival. Going to Seattle in 1888 he put on the same carnival, and in Walla Walla the following year, meeting with success on each occasion. He engaged in business in Seattle until 1899, when he came to Santa Rosa and engaged in the retail boot and shoe business until 1901. Coming to Petaluma in 1901 he engaged in the poultry business on Mountain View avenue for a time, and was occupied with various activities until 1907, in which year he was elected city recorder for four years. So good had been the serv- ice rendered during this period that in 1911 he was elected to the position of police judge, being the first to serve in that capacity under the new city charter.
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