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 89
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In 1872 Mr. Drouillard was united in marriage with Frances M. Woods, a
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native of Illinois, the daughter of Abel and Sarah Woods, the former of whom passed away in California, and the latter now a resident of Los Angeles. The eldest of the three children born to Mr. and Mrs. Drouillard is William F., born in Modoc county, Cal., in 1884; he is filling the position of superintendent of the Electric Light and Power Company on the Owens river. Paul, born in Modoc county in 1887, is employed in the oil-well district in Kern county. Joseph W., Jr., born in Inyo county in 1892, is employed on the Southern Pacific Railroad. In national issues Mr. Drouillard casts a Republican ballot, but in local matters is governed by the qualifications of the candidate for the position. As the choice of his fellow-citizens while in Inyo county he filled a number of positions, among them justice of the peace, deputy sheriff and postmaster. While he was a resi- dent of Modoc county he became affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, passed through all the chairs of his lodge, and was further honored by being sent as a representative to the grand lodge.
PETER W. BUSSMAN.
Bringing to his interesting and constantly widening calling, skill and excel- lent business judgment, Peter W. Bussman has cause to congratulate himself upon his success as an agriculturist and horticulturist. The Bussman ranch, not far from Santa Rosa, on Rural Route No. I, in the Llano district, and two hundred and twenty-two acres in extent, evidences the painstaking methods and thoroughness of its experienced owner, and in its appointments is most complete and modern. By far the larger portion of the land is in grapes, forty acres are in grain, twenty-five acres in corn, ten acres in orchard, and the remain- der is in pasture and devoted to the raising of chickens. This shows the diver- sity of the work being carried on under the direct supervision of Mr. Bussman, any one of which would seem to be enough for one man to undertake, but so versatile are his abilities that he can undertake and carry to completion any num- ber of projects with the same unvarying success.
The records of the Bussman family show that it originated in the Father- land, and there, in Warendorf, Westphalia, the father of our subject, Anton Bussman, was born February 7, 1829. He was the son of Harmon Bussman, to whom he gave his services until he became of age, when he immigrated to the United States. From Baltimore, where the vessel landed, he went first to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, and two years later, in the spring of 1852, he set out for Califor- nia, coming by way of St. Louis, New Orleans, Texas and Mexico, then by way of Panama and San Diego, being detained in the latter place on account of the ship being out of commission. He was fortunate in securing a position with the government during the two months he was detained there, after which he went to San Francisco, and later to the mines of Placerville, Eldorado and Amador counties. His mining venture proved very satisfactory, for his share of the profits during the eight years he was so engaged more than met his expecta- tions. With the means which he accumulated in this way he went to Clear Lake and engaged in farming and stock-raising for the eight years following, also being successful in this undertaking. A desire to visit the old homeland
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took him back to Germany in 1866, and upon his return two years later he settled in Contra Costa county, Cal., near the town of Antioch. In the meantime, how- ever, in October, 1868, in San Francisco, he had formed domestic ties by his marriage with Catherine Nintzel, who was also a native of Germany, born in Hanover in 1845. Mr. Bussman continued ranching very successfully for four- teen years in Contra Costa county, after which he disposed of his holdings there, and since 1882 has made his home on a fine ranch in Sonoma county. The parents have lived to see all of their five children grow to years of maturity and take their place in the world's activities in a manner worthy of their train- ing. Named in order of their birth the children are as follows: Peter W., Her- man, Anna, Fred and Frank, the two last being twins.
The eldest child in the parental family, Peter W. Bussman, was born in Contra Costa county, June 20, 1869, and was therefore about twelve years of age when, with his parents, he came to Sonoma county. His education was acquired chiefly in Sonoma county, after which he turned his attention to agri- cultural pursuits, first associated with his father, and subsequently in an enter- prise of his own. He now has a fine ranch of two hundred and twenty-two acres of land in Llano district, where he makes a specialty of growing grapes ; with the development of present plans for erecting a winery on his ranch he will have one of the finest vineyards and wine-making enterprises in Sonoma county. Besides his vineyard he has forty acres in grain, twenty-five acres in corn, ten acres in orchard, besides which he raises stock and chickens, having about fifteen hundred of the latter. Some idea of his chicken industry may be gathered from the statement that during the season of 1909 he sold $3,000 worth of eggs and $1.500 worth of chickens, a large enterprise in itself, and yet only one of the many that the capable owner handles with skill and ability.
Mr. Bussman's marriage, in 1891, was with Miss Eva D. Camp, a native of Iowa, and four children have been born to them. William Guy, born in 1893, has passed all the grades in the grammar and high schools in the vicinity of the home ranch, and after a course in the high school in Santa Rosa, he expects to turn his attention to business pursuits, presumably ranching. Ellsworth B., born in 1896, Hattie Idell, born in 1899, .and Genevieve Lucile, born in 1901, are attending Todd district school. Mr. Bussman is an carnest advocate of furnishing good school facilities, and as clerk and trustee of Todd district he has accomplished much in raising the standard of education in this part of Sonoma county. Politically he is a Democrat, and fraternally he belongs to the Foresters of America and the Fraternal Aid of Santa Rosa.
MRS. FREDRICKA F. DROSBACH.
Though not a native of this country, so much of her life has been passed in the United States that Mrs. Drosbach is to all intents and purposes an Ameri- can-born citizen. Her ancestors on both sides of the family were of German birth and breeding, and she herself was born in the Fatherland, in 1839, the daughter of John Simon and Margaret (Hoffman) Ryth. When she was a child in arms her parents immigrated to the United States, the vessel on which they made the ocean voyage landing them at the port of New York. Her child-
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hood, girlhood and young womanhood were passed in the east, and it was not until 1884 that she came to the west to make her future home. Oakland was her destination upon coming to California, and it was in the vicinity of this city that the following nine years of her life were passed. In the meantime, in 1875, she became the wife of Andrew Drosbach, who like herself was a native of the Fatherland. In Oakland, where their marriage was celebrated, they continued to make their home for a number of years, finally, in 1885, coming to Sonoma county and locating on the ranch which was the home of the widow until 1911. Here the earth life of Mr. Drosbach came to a close in 1894, when he was fifty- nine years of age. While the ranch was not large as compared with many others in the locality, containing only fifteen and a-half acres, still in point of pro- ductiveness its equal would be hard to find. The land was laid out and planted to the best advantage possible and there was no portion of it that was not under advantageous cultivation, walnuts, figs, peaches, pears, apples, cherries, grapes and berries yielding crops in their season that made this one of the most desir- able ranches in this part of Sonoma county. Since disposing of the ranch Mrs. Drosbach has made her home in Sebastopol, at No. 418 South Main street.
Four children were born of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Drosbach, the eld- est of whom, George A., married Miss Agnes Tomey, a native of California, and they have one daughter. The other children are Arthur G., Harry R. and William A.
JOHN AND GRANT BRUNER.
So closely and intimately interwoven have the lives and accomplishments of John and Grant Bruner been, that it would be impossible to write the life history of one without giving that of the other also. Few ranchers in the vicinity of Windsor, Sonoma county, are better known, both through the high quality of their citizenship and their exceptional success as agriculturists, than are these brothers, who have passed their entire lives in this locality. Born in what is now the town of Windsor in 1866 and 1867 respectively, they are the eldest sons of Philip and Rosella (Martin) Bruner, the former of whom was born in New Orleans, La., in 1834, of German ancestry. From his earliest boyhood he had been familiar with farm life, beginning in the south, where he was born and reared, and after his removal to California in 1853 he continued tilling the soil and followed this occupation up to the time of his death in Sonoma county in 1907.
The marriage of Philip Bruner and Rosella Martin was celebrated in Santa Rosa, Cal., in 1862 and resulted in the birth of nine children, eight of whom are living, as follows: John, Grant, James and William (born respec- tively in 1866, 1867, 1871 and 1879) and Amanda, Ada, Queen and Hattie (born respectively in 1864, 1871, 1878 and 1881). William Bruner chose as his wife Minnie Mclain, and they have one daughter. Amanda became the wife of Frank Esmond and they reside in Oakland, Cal. Ada became the wife of Henry Laymance, and four children, two sons and two daughters, have been born of their marriage; Queen is also married, being the wife of George Smith ; and Hattie has two children by her marriage with Francis Shryne.
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Neither of the two eldest sous of the parental family, John and Grant Bruner, have formed domestic tics, but live together alone on the old homestead ranch, in the old home which has sheltered them from boyhood. Here they have two hundred and fifty-eight acres of fine land devoted to diversified ranching and the raising of live-stock. Besides the portion of the ranch devoted to gen- eral farming, they have fifteen acres in vineyard, from the proceeds of which they realize a good income, the yield of grapes for the reason of 1909 bring- ing $800, while from the sale of sixty head of live-stock the returns for the same season were $600. No more thrifty or intelligent tillers of the soil could be found in Sonoma county than are these brothers, whose entire lives have been passed in this occupation and as a result of their industry and business ability they are in very comfortable circumstances financially. Politically they are Republicans of no uncertain sound, being stanch in their support of this party's candidates, but they have never had any desire for public office for them- selves, finding their time and energies absorbed in their ranch enterprise and doing the things for the uplift of their fellowmen and community as they come to hand, in a quiet, unostentatious way.
W. L. J. NOBLE AND A. S. DOUGLAS.
A visit to the ranch owned and occupied by the gentlemen above named, a few miles from Santa Rosa, gives onc a fair impression of the practical and suc- cessful methods of these popular dairymen and chicken-raisers. The large busi- ness which they now conduct has been developed from a small beginning, which from the first has had a substantial and healthy growth, the result of untiring and unflagging energy on the part of the proprietors.
The descendant of Scotch ancestry and a native of the east, Mr. Noble was born in St. Lawrence county, N. Y., January 1, 1850, and in that vicinity the years of his boyhood, youth and young manhood were passed. At the age of twenty- seven, however, feeling the limitations by which he was surrounded in the east, he set out for the west, going as far as Kansas, where, in Cherokee county, he was interested in farming for about four years. Again taking up the westward march at the end of this time, he went to Oregon and was similarly interested in Wallowa county for about ten years. Going to Idaho at the end of this exper- ience, he was located in Boise City for the four years following, after which, in 1900, he came to Sonoma county, Cal., and purchased a ranch of one-hundred and six acres in close proximity to Santa Rosa. Of this he sold a portion, but still retains forty-six acres. Inquiry and observation had taught him that no better income could be derived from any crops than from the raising of walnuts and fruits, and it was to these two commodities that he planted the greater part of his acreage. In the meantime, before these became income-producing, he engaged in the dairy business and later added the raising of chickens to his other under- takings. As his various ventures grew and his cares and obligations increased he formed a partnership with A. S. Douglas, a man of considerable experience and practical knowledge in the varied lines of agriculture, and the association then formed has continued amicably and profitably ever since. Under their con- bined management all lines of their business have enlarged, and at the present
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writing (1910) they have twenty-two head of dairy cattle, twelve head of horses, besides a large number of hogs. The chicken industry is especially satisfactory and remunerative, one thousand chickens supplying the output of eggs, for which they find a ready market at excellent prices.
Mr. Noble's marriage in 1892 united him with Miss L. A. Webb, and three children have been born of this marriage.
A. S. Douglas was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, in 1882, the son of parents who were born and reared in Scotland. In their early lives they came to the United States, and for many years were associated with the growth of the locality about Cedar Rapids, where they were living at the time of the birth of their son. The father is now deceased, but the mother is still living, making her home in Sonoma county, near Kenwood. In the vicinity of Santa Rosa Mr. Douglas formerly owned a tract of seventy-nine acres, but he has recently sold off all but thirty acres, which he values at $200 an acre. The association formed with Mr. Noble in 1904 is proving all that was expected on the outset, both men being practical agriculturists and indefatigable workers, and as a result their combined efforts are thoroughly satisfactory. Not only are the walnuts and fruit which they raise of superior quality, but they yield abundantly and bring excellent prices, and their dairy and chicken industries are no less satisfactory from a financial standpoint. They well merit the recognition which they receive at the hands of their fellow-citizens, who regard them as substantial upbuilders of the best interests of Sonoma county. Fraternally Mr. Noble is a Mason, hav- ing joined the order while a resident of New York state.
WILLIAM J. CUNNINGHAM.
The long identification of Mr. Cunningham with Sonoma county entitles him to rank among the pioneers of this part of the state, while his intimate asso- ciation with public affairs and his patriotic support of progressive enterprises place him among the leading citizens whose efforts have contributed to local up- building. Throughout a considerable portion of the years of his residence here he has engaged in agricultural pursuits, but more recently he has limited his activities to the management of his homestead of seven acres at Bodega, where he has resided for almost one-half century. Recognized adaptability for public service led to his selection as an officer in his township and frequently he has been put forward successfully by the Republican party as their candidate for local positions. In June, 1890, he was elected justice of the peace, and so impar- tial and wise did his decisions prove, that he has been retained in the position ever since, the last election, in the fall of 1910, extending his term of office to 1915. During a part of his young life he was employed in a law office and there picked up a varied knowledge of the profession that has been helpful to him in his later years. For eight years he served as road overseer and during that time he aided in the building and grading of the public highways. In addition he has served as a school trustee.
Born near Londonderry, Ireland, November 7, 1839, Mr. Cunningham was the son of Alexander Cunningham, who taught school for fifty years and was
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also postmaster at Corrigans, a place four miles south of Londonderry, and there it was that our subject received his education until seventeen years of age. He then entered the law office of Calhoon & Knox in Londonderry, con- tinuing there for three years and six months. At the end of this time, when he was twenty years old, he crossed the ocean to Philadelphia, where he secured employment as a clerk in a grocery establishment. Leaving that city in 1861 he came to California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco December 26, 1861. He came to Bodega in January, 1862, and has since been a resident of the lo- cality, gaining a host of warm personal friends through his kindly disposition, genial temperament and unwavering devotion to the county's progress. Since becoming a citizen of the United States he has remained stanch in his allegiance to the Republican party and favors the principles and platform of that organiza- tion as best adapted to the national prosperity. Fraternally he was formerly a member of the Druids, joining the order about 1895, and continuing his mem- bership until the charter was given up.
The marriage of William J. Cunningham and Alice Acker was solemnized in 1867, the bride having been born in New York state, but reared in California, whither she removed in childhood with her father, Reuben Acker, later a prom- inent supervisor and well-known citizen of Sonoma county. The Acker family descends from early American ancestry and its present representatives display the patriotism noticeable in every generation of the family history in this country. Seven children blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham and all but one are still living. Of the six survivors all are married excepting one of the sons. The wife and mother is still living and shares with her husband the regard of the friends won through years of association with the people of the locality. The six living children are S. A., Reuben, William N., A. L., Edmund J. and Jane, the latter the wife of John Parmeter, of Duncan's Mills. The highest ambition of the parents has been to train their children for positions of usefulness and honor and they have sacrificed freely in order that their family might enjoy appreciated opportunities for advancement and education.
JAMES CAHILL.
Probably nowhere in the world is the raising of chickens followed with greater success than in Sonoma county, and among those thus engaged mention belongs to James Cahill, a resident of Santa Rosa, on Rural Route No. I. His initial efforts in this business date from the year 1895, and each year in the meantime has witnessed an increase in the volume of business transacted, until now he maintains one of the largest chicken hatcheries in Sonoma county.
The Cahill family. is of Irish origin and the father of James Cahill was the first to establish the name in this country. He came to the United States in young manhood, and in New York met the lady who was to become his future wife. He is now deceased, dying at the early age of forty-seven, but his wife is still living, a resident of Grand Rapids, Mich., and is now in her seventy-third year. Three sons and four daughters were born of this marriage. and all are still living. It was while the family home was in Detroit, Mich .. that the birth of James Cahill occurred February 11. 1855. Later the family
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removed to Grand Rapids, and in the schools of that place James attended school, and there also had his first experience as a wage-earner, for a time fill- ing a position in a handle factory. At the age of twenty-one he started to work in earnest, having obtained a position in the office of the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad. As a testimony of his ability and fitness for the position it may be said that he continued with this road for fourteen years, giving it up at the end of that time to accompany the family to California. With the record of his long service in Michigan as a recommendation he had no difficulty in obtaining a position with the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, and for a number of years he continued in the employ of this company, his headquarters being in Oakland. Upon resigning his position he came to Sonoma county, in 1895, and purchased ten acres of land near Santa Rosa. Here he began the raising of chickens on a small scale at first, increasing the business as his ex- perience and means would permit, until today he maintains thirty-one incuba- tors, from which during the season of 1909 he hatched about fifty thousand chickens. No figures are available for the present year's output, but judging from the indications it is destined to be the banner year in the history of his business. Besides his hatchery he also has about fourteen hundred laying hens. When Mr. Cahill came to Sonoma county he felt confident that a great future awaited it, but even his wildest dreams have been very conservative in the light of events. This prosperity is nowhere more noticeable than in the value of real estate, which has increased many fold. Mr. Cahill paid $650 for the ten-acre tract composing his ranch, and today the same property could not be purchased for $10,000.
In 1882 Mr. Cahill was united in marriage with Miss Minnie Hulburt, a native of Iowa, and the only child of this marriage is James F. who was born in 1883. He is assisting his father on the ranch. His wife was formerly Alice Westcot, and they have two children. Politically Mr. Cahill is a Republi- can, and he still continues his membership in the Brotherhood of Railroad Train- men, although he has not been actively identified with railroad affairs for a number of years.
CARL BIRKHOFER.
Occupying an honorable and influential position among the German-Amer- ican citizens of Sonoma county, Carl Birkhofer, proprietor of Vine Hill Farm at Guerneville, has risen to this place solely through his own unaided efforts and by his modest success illustrates the statement that Sonoma county offers excellent opportunities to men of integrity and industry. The disadvantages under which he labored upon coming here, a stranger in a strange country, did not deter him from putting forth strenuous exertions to do his utmost. That he is now a land-owner and prominent tax-payer indicates the perseverance and untiring energy exhibited in his activities. This county owes not a little to its citizens of foreign birth, men of frugal habits, wise judgment and ceaseless industry, whose qualifications fitted them for aiding in the material development of the region and whose names are honored wherever known; of this class Mr. Birkhofer is a member, and he has an assured place among the horticulturists and farmers of his locality.
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It was not until he was almost thirty years of age that Carl Birkhofer deter- mined to seek a home in the new world, believing better opportunities to await the poor here than in his native land of Germany, where he was born, in Baden. October 27, 1852. The family of which he was a member comprised eight children, all of whom married and established homes in their native land. Those besides himself were named as follows: John, Martin, Herman, Mary, Matilda, Anna and Freda, their father having been Carl, Sr., who was born in Germany about eighty-three years ago. Carl, Jr., received his education in the German schools and served three years in the army, in accordance with the custom of the country. Coming to the United States during the year 1881 he joined friends in Kentucky and secured employment in that state, whence in 1885 he came to California, settling in Sonoma county.
The marriage of Carl Birkhofer united him with Miss Eliza Gisel, a native of Canton Schaffhausen, Switzerland. Five sons and two daughters were born of their union, namely : Fred, Charles, Emil, Oscar, Herman, Mary and Laura. The sons and daughters were given as good advantages as the means of the parents rendered possible, and all were trained to industry and usefulness. Mary is married and has one daughter, Miriam. The younger daughter remains be- neath the old home roof. The family have a large circle of friends among the people of their community. Through a residence here covering twenty-five years Mr. Birkhofer has become well-known to the people of Redwood town- ship and the postoffice of Guerneville, and by all he is mentioned in terms of respect and esteem. While at no time has he been prominent in politics, he has convictions concerning the tariff and other public questions and favors Demo- cratic principles, voting the ticket at all elections, but never allowing the use of his name as a candidate for any of the local offices within the gift of his neighbors. His attention has been given wholly to the care of his farm and the harvesting of the crops. The homestead consists of eighty acres in Redwood township, a half mile from Guerneville, improved with the necessary buildings and fences. A portion of the estate is in meadow and pasture, but he keeps only such stock as the needs of the farm demand, his specialty being horticul- ture. Seventeen acres of the farm are in a vineyard of choice grapes, large crops of which are annually marketed at fair prices. It is his experience that grape-culture is more profitable than general farming, and for this soil and climate he considers horticulture both a pleasant and remunerative occupation. Vine Hill Farm, as the place is known, is also one of the popular summer resorts of this section, a hotel having been erected which will accommodate sixty peo- ple, also a pavilion, while tent accommodation is available for about thirty families.
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