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 77
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Mr. Offutt married, in December. 1889, Miss Belle Walker, a native of California, and they have two children. Jennie B., the wife of A. W. Stephen- son, of Petaluma, and Charles G. Fraternally Mr. Offutt is identified with but two organizations, the Woodmen of the World and the Good Templars, and his work in the latter organization in behalf of the cause of temperance has been incalculable. As a citizen of Petaluma and Sonoma county no one has been more enthusiastic than has he, his public spirit extending to all depart- ments of activity. In banking circles his name has been known and his influence felt for many years, and he assisted in the organization of the Petaluma National Bank.
WILLIAM ZARTMAN.
The life which this narrative depicts began in Northumberland county, Pa .. October 20, 1829, and came to a close in Petaluma, Cal., February 6, 1908. His parents, Michael and Polly (Harb) Zartman, were natives and life-time resi- dents of Pennsylvania, and the father of the latter was also a substantial citizen of that state, who was born in 1745 and died in 1843, having lacked very little of reaching the century mark. This old Pennsylvanian became very well-to-do through unwearied exertions, and through five marriages became the father of
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twenty-one children, who worthily bore his name and continued his interests. By trade Michael Zartman was a wheelwright, but as the work confined him indoors he preferred to carry on farming and teaming, and it was this dual occupation that proved the main support of the family. After reaching a good old age he passed away in 1846, his wife having died some years previously, in 1838. Twelve children were born to them, but of these only two sons and three daughters are now living, and William being the only one to locate in California.
When he was a lad of twelve years William Zartman was taken by his parents to Schuylkill county, Pa., and continued there until the death of the father. At an early age he entered upon a clerkship with Mr. Hilliering in Minersville, and still later he worked in the same capacity for Mr. DeHaven, but by the spring of 1848 he had become dissatisfied with his outlook and had determined to come to the west. He then came west as far as Illinois, where for a time he worked as a carpenter, and in the fall became a clerk in a wholesale establishment on Water street, Chicago. After continuing there several months he gave it up to begin an apprenticeship at the carriage-making business under William Wayman, subsequently working as a journeyman until November 26, 1851. On that day he left Chicago for New York City, where he boarded a vessel bound for California via the Isthmus, and on January 14, 1852, he first touched foot on her soil. From the metropolis he went immediately to the mines of Calaveras county, mining in the vicinity of Carson's Flat and Angels Camp until the last of June. His mining venture had netted him $2,800 thus far, and with this he engaged in a business undertaking, having as partners John Fritsch and a Mr. Leeman. Mr. Fritsch was a wagon-maker and a blacksmith and Mr. Leeman was a painter, and it was decided that the knowledge of the three partners could be best employed in the carriage-making business, and Mr. Zartman was commissioned to find a suitable location for the establishment of the shop. Starting out on his quest, he walked the entire distance from the old town of Benicia to Napa, and from there to Sonoma and Petaluma, the latter of which he chose, instinctively, as there was no apparent reason for the choice, the little settlement showing small prospect of becoming the thriving town that it has since become. In 1852 he purchased a lot on Main street, where the Racket store now stands, and near the site of the American hotel, and from that time until his death, with the exception of a few years, Mr. Zartman had entire management of the business, which developed into the largest general wagon and blacksmith shop in the county.
With his two partners Mr. Zartman became interested in a quartz mill in Gold Hill, Nev., in 1861, but two years later the business was disposed of and the year following Mr. Zartman superintended the mill for their successor in ownership. In 1868 Mr. Zartman became the sole owner of the carriage-making business, which he carried on alone until his sons became interested with him. A change in the firm name was made in 1884. when his son William Henry was taken into the partnership, business being conducted thereafter under the title of Zartman & Co., and in 1898 the son Frank assumed his half interest in the business, leaving the father free from business cares. At one time Mr. Zart- man was a stockholder in the Golden Eagle flouring mill and was also a direc-
John. 24 Stelly.
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tor in the Petaluma Savings Bank. From time to time he had invested his means in real estate, and at his death he left considerable valuable property to his heirs, including business blocks which he had built up and residences in Petaluma, as well as property in San Francisco.
On January 1. 1854, William Zartman was united in marriage with Miss Rhoda Carothers, a native of Indiana. Six children were born to them, and of these four are living, as follows: William Henry; George Washington: Kate A., the wife of L. E. Rankin, an attorney of Petaluma; and Benjamin Franklin. At the time of his marriage Mr. Zartman bought the lot where the family resi- dence now stands, first erecting a part of the house, in which he and his wife lived until they were able to complete it according to their ideas. It is now considered one of the finest residences in the city, and here Mr. Zartman and his wife celebrated their golden wedding January 1, 1904, the presence of friends and their children and grandchildren contributing to make it one of the most memorable occasions of their lives. In this same home the death of Mr. Zart- man occurred four years later, February 6, 1908, when friends again gathered, this time to mourn the loss of one they had held as a dear personal friend for many years.
Fraternally Mr. Zartman was an Odd Fellow, having joined the order in 1855, and at the time of his death was the oldest of those who joined the order in that year. He was also a Knight Templar Mason, belonging to Petaluma Lodge No. 180, F. & A. M. Since 1858 he had been a member of the Methodist Church, in the work of which he had always taken an active part, and for many years served as a trustee. Of a cheerful, optimistic disposition, he is remem- bered by his fellow-citizens as well as by his family as one of Petaluma's most sterling men.
JOHN W. KELLY.
The shipping and introduction of Boyes Hot Springs mineral water, not only all over California, but to different points in the United States, has un- doubtedly contributed to making Sonoma county one of the best known and leading counties of the state. The originator of bottling and introducing this celebrated water is John W. Kelly, who was born in San Francisco, Cal., May 13, 1868, and whose father, J. W. Kelly, a pioneer of the state, engaged in contracting and building in San Francisco until his death in 1874.
The subject of this article was educated in the public schools of San Fran- cisco, after which for many years he was engaged in business in San Francisco until he saw the opportunity of placing the famous Boyes Hot Springs mineral water on the market. On February 4, 1906, he closed a satisfactory deal to handle the water and at once began erecting his bottling plant, and the result has not only been eminently satisfactory, but the success and popularity of the water has exceeded his expectations. This famous water is carbonated and bottled only on the premises and is shipped in cases to all parts of the United States. The chemical analysis of the water shows on every bottle, and it has proven very efficacious in stomach, bladder and kidney diseases. It is the only hot springs mineral water that has been successfully bottled as it comes out 38
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of the depths at a temperature of one hundred and eighteen degrees and is then cooled and afterwards bottled. The Majestic Bottling Company of San Fran- cisco are the general distributing agents.
The Boyes. Hot Springs Resort is conducted by Dr. Parramour and Rude Lichtenberg, but of the bottling plant Mr. Kelly is the sole proprietor, having brought it to its present large capacity. Personally Mr. Kelly is very affable and is well and favorably known and is very public spirited and enterprising, being liberal to a fault, and his charities are many, and those who know him best admire him for his noble qualities, integrity and worth.
SAMUEL VARNER.
An honorable service during a long period of the Civil war and equally honorable record as a private citizen, mark the life of Samuel Varner, a well known resident of Santa Rosa. Though for years a resident of the east, and also for a considerable period identified with the central west as a resident of Kansas, he has found no spot so nearly approaching the ideal as this part of the Sunset state, where kind nature smiles upon the intelligent efforts of man and a pic- turesque environment pleases his artistic tastes. Since coming to Santa Rosa in 1875 he has witnessed the rapid growth of the locality and has enjoyed the bene- fits accruing therefrom, while at the same time he has won the esteem of friends and acquaintances.
In Monroe county, Ohio, Mr. Varner was born June 2, 1844, the descend- ant of German and Scotch ancestors through his father and mother respectively. The events of his life were associated with his birthplace until he was fifteen years of age, when he went to New Martinsville, Wetzel county, W. Va., and he was living in the latter place at the time of the outbreak of the Civil war. Though only seventeen years of age he volunteered his services, becoming a member of the West Virginia Infantry, Company H, under Capt. James M. Bowers for about one year and then under Capt. Thomas Reed. In the engage- ment at Moorefield Mr. Varner was taken prisoner September 11, 1863, and sent to Libby Prison, where he remained until October 1, when he was transferred to Belle Island. He was kept a prisoner until March 15 of the following year, when he was paroled and during the time of his parole secured his transfer to Camp Chase, Ohio. After remaining in the latter prison for six months and four days he was exchanged and immediately ordered back to Shenandoah Val- ley, where he joined his regiment, going up the valley with General Hunter to Lynchburg, Va. Overpowered by the enemy, General Hunter retreated to Mary- land, and thereafter he was superseded by Gen. Phil Sheridan, who returned to the valley with the troops. It was not until September 19, 1864, that they met the enemy in the battle of Winchester, and between that date and October 19, five hard-fought battles added another chapter to the history of the Civil war. Dur- ing these engagements one hundred and four pieces of artillery were taken, be- sides eight thousand prisoners of war. Immediately after the battle of Cedar Creek the forces were ordered back to Cumberland, Md., and those who had not re-enlisted were ordered back to West Virginia to be mustered out. Mr. Varner
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was mustered out November 26, 1864, after a service of three years, two months and nine days. Only those who have experienced incarceration in southern prisons during the war can have any conception of the mortality among the prisoners. At the time Mr. Varner was transferred from Libby Prison to Belle Island eighteen men in all were taken, but between that time and their later transfer to Camp Chase, only two were left, Mr. Varner being one of them.
After the close of his service Mr. Varner returned to Monroe county, Ohio, and settled down to the life of the agriculturist, following this business as long as he continued in that state, and also after his removal to Kansas, to which state he went in 1867. His removal from Kansas to California occurred in the year 1875, and marks the beginning of the happiest period of his life, for here he is surrounded by the beauties of nature and in a large measure is enabled to live retired from the arduous labors that marked his younger days.
Mr. Varner's marriage in 1865 united him with Margaret Stoffal, a native of Pennsylvania and a descendant of German ancestors. Nine children were born of this marriage, but only seven are now living. Thaddeus A. married Josie Cole ; Clara J. is the wife of John T. Coon; Samuel Sheridan chose as his wife Alma Young; Philip E. married Jennie Smith; Rosie M. holds a position as bookkeeper in a commercial house in San Francisco; Fred Garfield, a well- known resident of St. Helena, Napa county, is now mayor of the town (be- fore her marriage his wife was Stella Swienger) ; Elsie Margaret is the wife of E. M. Ford and resides in San Francisco. Wherever Mr. Varner has chosen to make his home he has entered into the activities of the locality, and while in Kansas was assessor of his home town of Quenemo. Since coming to California his interest in promoting beneficial measures has led to his election to a number of public offices, among them being the office of road-master, which he filled acceptably for two terms ; he also served as census marshal for Redwood town- ship for the same length of time and his services as school trustee have been marked by the good work accomplished in advancing the cause of education and educational facilities throughout his district. Politically he casts his vote in favor of Republican candidates.
No one is better known in this part of California in Grand Army circles than Mr. Varner, who is now serving as Commander of Ellsworth Post No. 20, Department of California and Nevada. He was honored by his comrades by appointment as delegate to the national encampment which was held in Atlantic City, N. J., in September, 1910. Mr. and Mrs. Varner made an extended trip in order to get to this encampment. They were absent from home seventy-eight days and no fewer than twenty-three states were either visited or passed through by the Santa Rosans. On the itinerary was planned the return to the scene of their wedding in Monroe county, Ohio. This they did and celebrated their forty-fifth anniversary on the spot on which they were married. where they found only three persons who had attended the nuptials. Mr. Varner attended a re-union of war veterans in Monroe and Belmont counties while in Ohio, at which there were seven thousand veterans of the battlefield. At this gathering Mr. Varner made a speech as a delegate from California. Another re-union at- tended by Mr. Varner was that of the veterans of the three states, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Ohio. Between ten and twelve thousand attended this gath-
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ering. Mr. Varner visited the celebrated spot in Columbia county where General John H. Morgan surrendered. A stone monument has been erected here and . our subject had his picture taken standing alongside this historic pile. He prizes the photograph very much. After attendance at the celebrations of the Grand Encampment at Atlantic City, lasting over four days, the residents of Santa Rosa visited Shenandoah Valley and also the historic battle-grounds of Win- chester and Cedar Creek, in which battles Mr. Varner had been a participant. From these places visited Mr. Varner cut canes and brought them back to California as souvenirs, as did also Mrs. Varner. One of the souvenirs which Mr. Varner brought back with him was a piece of shell which was ploughed up from the famous battlefield of Gettysburg. This was given him by a relative, but he prizes it as highly as anything he secured himself from the battlefields visited. A number of these souvenirs Mr. and Mrs. Varner intend to present to their comrades of Ellsworth Post of Santa Rosa, to be kept in the museum the post has established at its headquarters. Among Mrs. Varner's sou- venirs is an ear of corn from the battlefield of Winchester. With spirits as buoyant as any boy and girl and minds free from care and troubles of this life, Mr. and Mrs. Varner have returned to their home in Santa Rosa. They will spend the remainder of their active lives here and one of the pleasantest memories they have is that of the trip recently completed.
On February 14, 1911, another honor was conferred upon Mr. Varner when he was appointed aide-de-camp to the Commander in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, J. E. Gilman.
WILLIAM ROSS.
Sonoma county suffered the loss of one of her stanchest citizens in the death of William Ross, which occurred on the homestead near Sebastopol. His knowledge of farming had been gathered and put to practice for many years in Scotland before coming to the United States in 1882. In Ross-shire, Scot- land, he was known as one of the largest raisers of wheat in that county, having five hundred acres under cultivation to this grain, besides which he raised sheep, his flock averaging five hundred head. It was with an experience of many years in these lines of agriculture that he came to the United States in 1882, making his way direct to Sonoma county, Cal. Long experience as a tiller of the soil made him a good judge of its particular qualities, and it needed but a glance at the soil around Sebastopol to convince him that the land could have no superior for fruit-raising. It was therefore with considerable satisfaction that he purchased forty acres of land near town and mapped out his course as a fruit-raiser. At the time the land was heavily covered with timber and brush, but this was rapidly cleared off and fruit trees planted in their place, a specialty being made of apples, peaches and prunes. In the raising of these fruits Mr. Ross' expectations were fully realized, and since his deathı his two daughters, Miss Christina Ross and Mrs. Scott, have continued the management of the ranch, and in the bountiful crops which they gather no diminution can be detected, thus proving them able horticulturists. Seven acres of the ranch is in peaches, five acres in prunes, and the remainder in apples. A steady gain in
J. Lutinger
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crops is clearly noticeable from year to year, this being especially true of peaches. Much of the fruit is shipped dried, for which purpose the ranch is equipped with an up-to-date drier, making it one of the most complete and profitable ranches in the county.
In his native country Mr. Ross was married to Miss Janett Mckay, a native of Scotland, and their marriage was one of exceptional happiness. Mr. Ross passed away on the ranch near Sebastopol, and his wife also died here in 1905. Eleven children were born to this worthy couple, but three of these are de- ceased. Those now living are Roderick, who is living in Honolulu ; Alexander, in Vancouver, B. C .; William, a resident of Oregon; John, who formerly fol- lowed the sea and is now living in California City, Cal .; Robert; Anna; Chris- tine and Janett, the latter the wife of R. B. Scott. The two daughters last men- tioned are their father's successors in the care of the home ranch and are proving beyond a question their exceptional ability as horticulturists. Personally Mr. Ross was a man of fine, dependable traits of character, and all who were for- tunate enough to know him appreciated his true worth as a man and citizen.
JOSEPH LUTTRINGER.
From an early period in the development of Sonoma county until his de- cease Mr. Luttringer gave himself actively to the material upbuilding of this section of the state and proved his worth as a progressive citizen, intelligently supporting movements for the local welfare and cherishing a profound faith in the ultimate prosperity of his adopted home. When in the year 1901 death removed him from the locality where for a long period he had been prominent and influential it was recognized among his old acquaintances that a distinct loss had been sustained by the business interests and the citizenship of the region. The fact that his circle of friends was unusually large may be attrib- uted in part to his genial, companionable temperament and in part to his man- agement of a hotel, which brought him into direct contact with the traveling public not only of Sonoma county, but of other parts of the west. Matters of business or the search for recreation brought strangers to the locality and of these he made friends by his courteous attention to their needs, his genial per- sonality and his broad intelligence.
Born in New York City in the year 1836, Joseph Luttringer was a member of a family occupying an excellent social position and able to give him satis- factory educational advantages. While yet a small lad he was sent to school in France and remained abroad until his graduation, after which he returned to New York and from there, led by love of adventure, he came to the Pacific coast during the early colonization of the west. Many of the exciting events that gave history to the days subsequent to the discovery of gold he witnessed and in some of them he participated, so that he was thoroughly identified with pioneer activities in San Francisco, where he made his home until October of 1871, the date of his removal to Sonoma county. By trade a wood-turner and a skilled worker in his chosen occupation, he followed it for a time in early life, but later give his attention wholly to the hotel business.
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Joseph Luttringer was the first to introduce the fruit drying industry in this section, also the shipping of fresh ripe fruits, the shipping points being Ft. Ross and Stewarts Point. He had great faith in this section for fruit rais- ing and as soon as he could he set out orchards of apples and cherries, which are now large bearers. The trees in the old apple orchard set out on the place by a former owner in the early sixties are very large and healthy and bear bountifully. Politics always interested him and as a local worker in the Demo- cratic party he wielded considerable influence.
The marriage of Joseph Luttringer united him with Miss Anna Wackenhut, who was born in Wittenberg, Kolb, Germany, in 1836 and came to the United States in 1854, settling in California, where she continued to reside afterward. A daughter, Theresa, blessed the union. She is now the wife of James Mc- Kenna and manages her mother's estate at Plantation, Sonoma county, where Mrs. Luttringer owns a ranch of nine hundred acres and engages in the hotel and summer-resort business besides having sixty acres in fruits of various kinds, mainly apples. The hotel contains accommodations for about thirty guests and is provided with all modern comforts. In addition there is a livery barn with an equipment for the entertainment of passing travelers as well as transient visitors. Plantation House is a most celebrated resort reached by daily stage and is seventeen miles from Cazadero and only one and one-half miles from the Pacific, where there is a sand beach and ocean bathing. The Plantation Ranch is well wooded with redwood, pine and oak and watered by the south branch of the Guallala, affording trout fishing, as well as hunting. Mrs. McKenna succeeded in having Plantation postoffice established in 1903 and was the postmistress until she was succeeded by her son, James E. Mc- Kenna.
Mrs. McKenna has four children, namely : Anna, Alice, Walter and James E. McKenna, the latter being postmaster at Plantation. Anna, Mrs. Frederick W. Childs, of Sea View, has two sons, James and Donald. James McKenna is actively interested in whaling and is captain of the F. S. Redfield. For thirty years or more he has followed the sea and his absence on long whaling cruises prevents him from taking any part in the management of the hotel or ranch, but his wife with great capability and untiring energy superin- tends affairs so that the expiration of the year shows a neat surplus as a return from the investment and labor. Born in Liverpool, England, in 1846, James McKenna came to the United States in 1860 and since then has resided in the west. The representatives of the McKenna family are known as reliable citi- zens and trustworthy neighbors and their standing is the highest in the various communities where they reside.
JAMES SYLVESTER PERRY SWEET.
James S. Sweet, the subject of this biographical history, was born in a little log cabin located on the "school section" in the township of Waupun, in the county of Fond du Lac, state of Wisconsin, on April 30, 1853. When he was two years of age his parents moved to the "Old Homestead" located about five miles from the city of Waupun, in the Towne school district, where at the age of five years he began a career that today stands prominent in the history of American educators. At twelve years of age he moved with his parents to
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the city of Ripon in order to secure the advantages of better educational facil- ities, and when twenty-two years old started for the Pacific coast to carve his fortune in a new field of labor which to hin seemed to offer excellent rewards.
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