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 74
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102 | Part 103 | Part 104 | Part 105 | Part 106 | Part 107 | Part 108 | Part 109 | Part 110 | Part 111 | Part 112 | Part 113 | Part 114 | Part 115 | Part 116 | Part 117 | Part 118 | Part 119
sms nana Pech
731
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
the seven years of the Revolutionary war. His son, David Austin, served in the war of 1812, the greater part of his life, however, being passed on a farm in Tennessee, where he died. Granville T. Austin is also a native of Tennessee, and was born in Sumner county in 1841, the son of David and Polly A. (Lowry) Austin. Seven sons and three daughters constituted the parental family, as follows: John, William, David B., Albert, Thomas, Joner, Granville T., Louisa, Emily and Anna L. Albert chose as his wife Martha Wilson, and they are the parents of ten children, six sons and four daughters. Thomas and his wife, formerly Fannie Hern, have five children, two sons and three daughters. Joner is the father of four children. William married Lucy Davis, by whom he has six children, three sons and three daughters. John chose as his wife Missouri Jones, and they have three sons and one daughter. Anna L. is deceased. David B. married Mandona Jones and they have three children. Louisa is de- ceased. Emily, Mrs. Jones, is a resident of Los Angeles.
It was the year in which the Civil war opened that Granville T. Austin came to California, in 1861, crossing the plains with ox-teams from Bonham, Tex. Establishing himself as a rancher in Sonoma county, from a modest be- ginning in the vicinity of Guerneville he has constantly added to his acreage by the purchase of adjoining land until he now owns a fine ranch of three hundred and seventy acres, of which twenty-five acres are in vineyard. Fruit-raising is also a source of income to the owner, the returns from the vineyard and the two hundred fruit trees for the year 1909 amounting to $950. Stock-raising is also carried on to some extent, and ample pasturage is provided from the land not otherwise used. Mr. Austin has always tried to do right in all of his business transactions, and commands the highest esteem of those with whom he is asso- ciated. By training as well as from principle he is a Democrat.
Mr. Austin has been one of the upbuilders of Sonoma county and has proven what can be done by energy and close application in developing the land from the wild, tilling the soil, and setting out trees and vines. He was the first in this section to accomplish this, and now many are following in his foot- steps.
In Fanning county, Tex., Mr. Austin was married to Miss Elizabeth Basham, a native of Louisiana. She died in 1884, having become the mother of four sons and two daughters. John O. married Clara Overfell and they have three sons. William G. married Lydia Wilsey and two sons and two daughters have been born to them. David Lee resides in Honolulu. Charles Harry is married and has a son and a daughter. Anna Lulu is the wife of George Nowlin and with her husband resides in Rionidi, Sonoma county. Jessie is the wife of John Archer, of Santa Rosa.
LAFAYETTE W. BACON.
Aithough Mr. Bacon came to California in the early '50s, his residence in the state has been of comparatively short duration, and between the date of his return to the east and his second appearance in this state, much of his most active life was passed, and now, at the age of seventy-six years, he is main- taining a ranch of twenty-two acres, near Healdsburg, which is a part of the ranch formerly owned by his sister and her husband, Mr. and Mrs. John Peck,
732
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
whom he assisted in locating upon this property at the time he first came west.
A native of Pennsylvania, Lafayette W. Bacon was born in Northeast, Erie county, in 1834, and when a child of two years was taken by his parents to Cleveland, Ohio. This proved but a temporary location, for the following year removal was made to Whiteside county, Ill., and there the family remained until 1846, a change of location in that year taking them to Wisconsin. Among the immigrants who crossed the plains in 1850 was Mr. Bacon's sister, Mrs. Nancy Peck, who with her husband was following the tide of immigration that gave such a different aspect to this whole western country. It was with a desire to visit his sister that Lafayette W. Bacon crossed the plains in 1853, at which time the Pecks were settling on a ranch of two hundred and forty acres near Healdsburg, Mr. Bacon assisting them and afterward making a visit of several months. Returning to Wisconsin during the following year, he resumed farm- ing, and the same year, 1854, formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Jenette A. Swena, who like himself was a native of Pennsylvania. Nine chil- dren were born of this marriage, but of the number, only five are now living. Mrs. Jenette Bacon died in 1888, and two years later, in 1890, Mr. Bacon was united to his present wife, who prior to her marriage was Mrs. Martha E. (Bowers) Davis, and who was born in Indiana in 1855. No children were born of this marriage. Throughout the years of his residence in Wisconsin Mr. Bacon followed farming continuously and was a prominent and influential citizen in the community in which he lived, serving as justice of the peace in that state in 1855, and during 1860 and 1861 represented his district in the legislature of Colorado.
It was in the year 1902 that Mr. Bacon and his wife came to Sonoma county, Cal., and settled on a part of the large ranch which his brother-in-law and sis- ter had purchased and settled upon nearly fifty years before. Here he has twenty- two acres of fine land, all under cultivation to grain and hay, in the care of which he takes a keen interest in spite of his advancing years.
In his earlier years Mr. Bacon was a believer in Republican principles, but of late he has become convinced that the Prohibition party more nearly represents his belief and has transferred his allegiance to the latter party. He has also been an active advocate of temperance through his membership in and work in behalf of the Good Templars. Since coming to California he has taken an active part in the work of the grange, and also in the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which both himself and wife are members.
Reference has already been made to Mr. Bacon's sister, Mrs. Nancy Peck. She was born in Erie county, Pa., February 6, 1819, and followed the various migrations of the family until her marriage to Mr. Peck. The year 1850 wit- nessed their removal to California across the plains with ox-teams, and in 1853 they located upon the ranch of which Mr. Bacon's property forms a part. This was their home uninterruptedly until 1898, when they removed into Healdsburg, and here the death of Mrs. Peck occurred December 5, 1909, at the age of ninety years and nine months, after a residence in Sonoma county of fifty-six years, and of fifty-nine years in the state. At her death she left valuable property on Lincoln street, Healdsburg, to her favorite niece, Mrs. Addie Stevens, the wife of Charles D. Stevens, and the daughter of Lafayette W. Bacon. Mrs. Peck
733
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
had made her home on this property for fourteen years, during which time she had endeared herself to all who were privileged to know her, all loving and respecting her for her genuine worth and fine traits of character. She was known by everyone in Healdsburg as Grandma Peck.
JAMES SINCLAIR.
A little over a quarter of a century marks the span of Mr. Sinclair's life in California, the greater part of which was spent in the mining regions, and al- though only four years mark the period of his accomplishments in Sonoma county, he is still remembered as one of her most helpful and progressive citi- zens. The work which he here began has been taken up and carried forward by his widow, and today no finer or more productive ranch may be seen in the vicinity of Sebastopol than the one of which she is the owner.
James Sinclair was born in Canada in 1836, the son of David Sinclair, a native of Scotland, who came to Canada in an early day and located on a farm which he took up from the government, this being a part of the land given to the Canadian government by the Queen of England. Young James grew up on this farm and remained in his Canadian home for a number of years after reach- ing his majority, apparently contented with his surroundings. However, in the spring of 1862 his removal to California proved that his contentment was only apparent and not real, for in coming to the west he had clear-cut plans as to his future and carried them out very successfully. Going to the mines in the vicinity ol Marysville he found employment in the mining mills of that locality as an amalgamator, and while working in this capacity, was also interested in copper mining. Altogether he continued in the mining regions for about seven years, when, in 1869, he removed to Humboldt county and carried on a ranch near Arcata for the following fifteen years. It was at the end of this time, in 1884, that he came to Sonoma county and bought the property now the home of his widow. This consists of twenty acres of fine land near Sebastopol, although at the time of purchase it was rough and wild, and as unlike what it is today as it is possible for the mind to picture. Clearing the land of timber and under- brush, he set out apple trees of all the best known varieties, and although he did not live long thereafter to enjoy returns from his labor, he still had the satis- faction of knowing that his land had few if any equals, a conclusion which was strengthened during the four years he was permitted to remain upon it. Here his earth life came to a close in 1888, and the work of maintaining the ranch which he then laid down was taken up by his widow, and with what success she has discharged her duty, needs but a glance at the thrifty ranch to determine. The annual output of the ranch is seven hundred boxes of Gravenstein apples, three hundred boxes of Baldwins, and two hundred boxes of Newtown pippins. while one Belleflower tree bears a ton of fruit each year. In addition to the orchard Mrs. Sinclair has one acre in blackberries and three acres in vineyard, both berries and grapes adding considerably to the annual income from the ranch.
734
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
Before her marriage, which occurred in Marysville, Cal., June 12, 1866, Mrs. Sinclair was Miss Mary Drake, a native of Michigan and a descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the famous English navigator. As did her husband, Mrs. Sinclair came to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama. One son, David, was born of their marriage, and he is now proprietor of a ranch of his own, not far from his mother's ranch, all of his fifteen acres being in orchard. Mr. Sinclair was a stanch Republican in his political views, and fraternally he was a Mason. The son is also a member of the Masonic order, being past master of Sebastopol Lodge, and a member of the Royal Arch Lodge of Santa Rosa.
RICHARD REDMOND PATTEN.
Were it possible to compile a complete record of the early experiences of Mr. Patten, an authentic account of pioneer times in Sonoma county would likewise be presented, for the man and the county have a history with much in common. It is said that Mr. Patten, in 1848, was the only white child in Sonoina city, and certain it is that he was one of the very first white children to live in this region. As memory recalls to his mind the scenes of early days he is impressed with the fact that no attempt had been made at the most vital improvements ; the country was rough and covered with brush through which no paths had been made. Few roads had been opened and fewer schools had been started. Out of the chaos of primeval conditions there has gradually de- veloped an environment of prosperity and progress, fully equal to the demands of the civilization of the twentieth century.
The first representative of the Patten family in California was John Patten, our subject's grandfather, and a pioneer of 1846 on the Pacific coast. Two years later, in 1848, the father, Joseph Patten, who was born in Missouri in 1822 and was a widower at the time mentioned, started across the plains with wagons and ox-teams, being accompanied by Richard R., born in Missouri in 1844 and scarcely four years of age at the time of the westward migration. Al- though so young at the time the journey made an indelible impression upon the mind of the child and the incident he most forcibly recalls is that of losing some oxen as a result of Indian depredations. He recalls the settlement in Sonoma county in 1848 and here he has since resided with the exception of two years. After coming to this state the father married Louise Chambers, who was born in Ohio and came to the west at the age of ten years. At this writing she resides near Cozzens, and here her husband died November 25, 1910, at the age of eighty-nine years.
It was not possible for Mr. Patten to secure the education that children of the present day enjoy, for Sonoma county had few schools and these were held at irregular intervals. His entire schooling consisted of an attendance of seven months during a period of three years and the last time he ever attended school the term was abruptly concluded by reason of the teacher, Mr. Graham, killing a Mr. Cooper at a horse race. That thrilling episode marked the year 1857 and terminated his educational advantages. However, through self-cul- ture he has acquired a broad knowledge of men and things and is particularly well informed regarding the soil and agricultural possibilities of the region.
737
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
On settling in California the family secured all of their supplies from General Vallejo, who also presented them with thirty-two acres of raw land. This tract the father traded for cattle and removed to Dry creek, where he has since planted a vineyard and engaged in raising grapes. In sight of this same ranch Richard R. has made his home for fifty-two years and at this writing makes a special feature of raising grapes. He owns the old Davenport Cozzens place of thirty acres. As a citizen he favors movements for the general welfare and particularly fosters all enterprises for the horticultural development of the region.
Among the pioneers whom Mr. Patten remembers with especial pleasure is Davenport Cozzens, who came to California about 1856-57 and engaged at first in selling poultry. To that man belongs the distinction of being the first resident of the county to engage in the manufacture of wine and likewise the first pioneer to erect a store in Geyserville, before this he also operated a store in San Francisco. At this time his son, Davenport, Jr., is proprietor of a store at Cozzens, where he erected a building utilized as a postoffice. From early pioneer days that family has been prominent in the county and Mr. Patten recalls with interest many characteristics of the first of the name here. The bonds that united pioneers were closely knit and time has not lessened their feeling of affection for one another, but in the heart of every early settler there lingers a feeling of deepest regard for those who with him shared hardships, trials and countless vicissitudes in the effort to bring out the civilization and refinements of the present era.
CHARLES EDWARD FULLER.
The encouraging degree of success that has crowned the arduous and long- continued efforts of Mr. Fuller did not come to him at a single bound nor indeed with any rapidity, but is the result of years of strenuous exertion and intensity of industrious application. Had he been less persevering he would have suc- cumbed to adverse fate. More than once he lost his all and was forced to start anew. This, however, was not an uncommon experience among Californian pioneers and whenever he "went broke" there were not wanting sympathetic friends whose encouragement and words of cheer helped him to begin once more with renewed energy and dauntless determination. As he looks back over the busy past and reflects upon his present prosperous condition he has every reason to rejoice that pluck and perseverance never deserted him in days of adversity, but enabled him to achieve a final and gratifying success as one of the farmers of his county.
Descended from old eastern ancestry and the son of New England par- ents (Chase and Philena (Kneeland) Fuller), Charles E. Fuller was born at South Boston, Mass., in 1837, and received a fair education in local schools. From 1851 to 1853 he followed the sea and made two trips to the West Indies. When still a mere lad news came to him concerning the discovery of gold in California and for the first time he began to be interested in the undeveloped west. Nor did that interest wane in the ensuing epoch of early youth. It was not the desire of his parents for him to go so far from them, but they reluct- antly gave their consent to his departure and at the age of sixteen years he bade farewell to relatives and friends, embarking on a vessel bound for the Isthmus of Panama. After crossing the isthmus he came up the Pacific ocean
738
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
to San Francisco. Soon after his arrival he secured work by the month in Alameda county. After two years he invested his savings in a threshing machine and during the next two years he engaged in the threshing of grain. At the expiration of that time he bought a settlers' claim to one hundred and sixty acres in what is Fruitvale, but a year later he was obliged to relinquish the property because it proved to be a part of an old grant.
Removing to Marin county early in the '6os and taking up land, Mr. Fuller engaged in ranching there for two years, after which he sold the property and came to Sonoma county. About 1870 he embarked in the saw-mill business near Occidental, but two years later he bought land near Freestone, the one hundred and thirty acres then secured forming the nucleus of his present estate. At a subsequent period he worked in Mendocino county, but returned without means, to make a new start in Sonoma county. Here he erected a saw-mill for M. C. Meeker, and later in the year he built another mill for the same party. Then he started in the milling business for himself and from that time he has met with encouraging success. After he purchased his quarter-section of land in young manhood he married Elizabeth McKinly, who died in 1893, leaving no children. On March 5, 1895, he was united in marriage with Mrs. India M. (Overholser ) Smith, who was born in Indiana. Her parents, Abraham Whit- more and Hester Ann (Cullum) Overholser, natives of Ohio, remained in In- diana for a considerable period, but when she was five years old they crossed the plains with oxen and mules, in 1862, and settled in Sonoma county. Mrs. Fuller is descended on the paternal and maternal sides respectively from Ger- man and English ancestors. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Fuller is Knee- land Lewis, who was born February 24, 1897, and is now a pupil in the Free- stone schools.
In addition to the Walnut Hill ranch of one hundred and thirty acres, Mr. Fuller owns a fine ranch of three hundred and eighty-eight acres in the Colman valley, two and one-half miles from Occidental. Twenty acres of the home place have been planted to apple trees (Gravenstein, Spitzenberg, Wagner, Bald- win, Arkansas black, and Virginia greenings) and of this tract ten acres in full bearing bring an annual income of more than $2,000. He also owns thirty acres of the old Fair grant, making his total holdings five hundred and forty- eight acres. Three years ago he started a walnut orchard that is now in fine condition. In order that he may give his entire attention to the fruit business he has sold his saw-mill property and is now in a position to profitably develop his orchards. Horticulture always has been a congenial occupation to him and he is at his best when planning for his fruit, caring for the trees and endeavoring to improve the quality of fruit produced. The soil and climate seem well adapted to apple-culture and in the opinion of experts this industry will claim an ever- increasing attention from the progressive land-owners of the locality.
WILLIAM JOHNSON.
Failing health was the direct cause of bringing Mr. Johnson to California, and it is a matter of no speculation to say that in finally taking up his resi- dence here his life was prolonged many years. Not only was his life extended, but his health was so completely restored that he was enabled to take his place in the activities of life alongside of those of the most robust and sturdy
739
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
constitutions. His death at Pleasant Hill, Sonoma county, November 12, 1900, was the cause of general mourning throughout the community where for over a quarter of a century he had lived and labored, endearing himself to all by his generous and wholesome traits of character.
William Johnson was born in Sweden in 1842, and at the age of twelve years came to the United States with an uncle, who settled on a farm in Illinois, and for whom William worked until he was sixteen years of age. Sub- sequently he engaged in railroading and other work until he was twenty-four years old, an experience which proved to him the advisability of returning to farming as the most independent and satisfactory life. With the idea that a better chance for carrying out his agricultural plans was possible in Nebraska, he located there in 1866, then a wild and unsettled country, inhabited solely by Indians who gained sustenance by hunting buffalo and plundering and pillaging upon such white settlers as ventured on their territory. This con- dition of affairs made it necessary to build a fort at Grand Island, to which the settlers fled for safety whenever a raid was threatened by the redskins. Mr. Johnson helped to build the fort, and also hauled the logs for the erec- tion of the first home built on the present site of Grand Island. While in Nebraska he was also employed by the Union Pacific Railroad Company in the construction of its road through that state, and after its completion he took up farming near Wood River on government land. The original pur- chase consisted of one hundred and sixty acres, which he increased by pur- chase until he laid claim to four hundred acres of fine land, his farm easily taking rank with the best in that locality.
Long years of unremitting labor under the most difficult of pioneer condi- tions finally made inroads upon Mr. Johnson's health, and in 1875 he came to California, in the hope that a period spent in the health-giving sunshine which Nature here dispenses with such lavish hand would restore his old-time strength and vigor. As he had anticipated, the change proved beneficial, and he re- turned to Nebraska and resumed his duties on the farm with a new interest. He continued on the farm near Wood River for three years thereafter, when his health again failing, lie sold his farm and took up his residence in town, where he engaged in buying and selling produce, stock and grain, which he shipped to Chicago markets, building up a large business. Although the duties imposed by this latter business were Icss onerous than farming, the long, cold winters in Nebraska prevented any marked betterment in his physical condition, and for this reason he again tried a change of climate, going this time to Manitou, Colo., and also to Colorado Springs, but after a short stay in that state he came to California and from that time until his death this was his home. With his family he arrived in Sonoma county May 28, 1883, and on June 6 of the same year he bought the ranch at Pleasant Hill where his earth life came to a close November 12, 1909, and where his widow still makes her home. In 1902 Mr. Johnson had retired from active business, at the same time placing the management of the ranch in the hands of his son-in-law. Ernest Sharp, who has continued its management ever since. Seventy-three acres are comprised in this ranch, the greater part of which is in apples, all the best varieties being grown, and some of the trees although fifty years old are still in bearing. In addition to the home ranch there are twenty-six
740
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY
acres of hay land owned by the family, besides a fine ranch nearby in vineyard and apples. For the season of 1909 the vineyard produced forty tons of grapes, and the orchard about sixty tons of dried apples. In addition to the property enumerated Mrs. Johnson owns eighty-two acres of timber land in Green Valley.
Mr. Johnson's marriage was celebrated in Nebraska, September 29, 1870, and united him with Miss Melinda Hohman. Three children were born of this marriage: Mary Elizabeth, the wife of Robert Ritchie, of Santa Rosa; David Edward, also of Santa Rosa; and Alice Melinda, the wife of Ernest Sharp, of Pleasant Hill. None of Sonoma county's residents took a more active part in her upbuilding than did Mr. Johnson, and his death was the cause of deep regret on the part of those who had been associated with him.
WILLIAM B. HASKELL.
The legal fraternity of California is well represented by William B. Haskell, one of the most prominent and prosperous attorneys in Sonoma county. Not only does he possess pronounced talent and ability in the line of his profession, but he is also a man of keen business intelligence, and is deeply interested in whatever tends toward the upbuilding and betterment of conditions in Petaluma and So- noma county. A native of the east, he was born in New York City October 10, 1842, the only child born to his parents, Barnabas and Abigail (Goodwin) Has- kell, both of whom were natives of Hartford, Conn. For more details of the parental history the reader is referred to the sketch of Barnabas Haskell, else- where in this volume.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.