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 94
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THEODORE G. KING.
About two miles north of Petaluma lies the farm known as the Samuel Nay homestead, the present property of Theodore G. King, who since coming to the place has repaired and enlarged the buildings, renewed the orchards and made many other improvements of permanent value. Of the fifty-five acres comprising the estate twenty-five acres are planted to fruit trees, a specialty being made of pippin apples, which are of a quality and flavor unsurpassed by any similar product in sections more widely advertised, besides which there are also about one hundred Bartlett pear trees on the ranch. Another specialty in the agricul- tural efforts of the owner is the raising of blooded single-comb white leghorn chickens, a breed exceptionally well adapted to the Pacific coast regions. From a flock of twenty-five hundred laying hens his output of eggs ran from six hun- dred to fifteen hundred, according to the season, and in 1911 he increased his flock of laying hens to thirty-five hundred, increasing his output of eggs from nine hundred to twenty-two hundred, varying according to the season. He broods about six thousand chicks a year, of which about eighty per cent mature: the
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pullets are kept and the old hens sold each season, or when three years old. The average income from the hens is about $1 per head each year and the owner, who is an active worker in the Petaluma Egg Association, believes that the poultry industry offers splendid opportunities for profit to persons of thrift, in- telligence and industry.
Born in 1866 in the county of Sonoma where he now resides, Theodore G. King is a son of Charles and Maria (Waldemar) King and a grandson of Captain King, the commander of an ocean vessel. The father likewise was a sailor and while following the high seas he rounded the Horn and came up the Pacific Ocean to California, settling in Sonoma county during the year 1865 after a brief sojourn in Marin county. In the parental family there were the following children: Theodore G., whose name introduces this article: Henry D., who married Emma Jones and resides with his father on the old homestead in Marin county ; Ernest F., who married Geraldine Sales; Anna, Mrs. Charles Moltzen, who was four children : Mamie, Mrs. Allen Owens, the mother of four children ; Johanna and Louisa. The son, Ernest F., has no children, while the other son, Henry D., is the father of four children. Three children, Vernon, Waldemar and Gladys, comprise the family of Theodore G. King and his wife, Ida M., who was born in Sonoma county in 1867, being a daughter of John and Mary (Bryant) Sales, the latter a native of Sonoma county. Mr. Sales was born in Illinois in 1834 and came to California in 1852 via the Isthmus of Panama, afterward becoming a farmer in this county. In his family there were seven children, namely : William L., who married Mattie Tharp and has two children, Paul and Dorothy ; Henry ; John ; Roscoe : Ida M., Mrs. King; Dora, who married George Gaston and has two children, Russell and Alta; and Geraldine, the youngest daughter of the Sales family circle.
Ever since attaining his majority Mr. King has given his support to Repub- lican principles and candidates, but he has taken no part in politics nor has he sought the honors of office. In religion he is of the Congregational faith, while fraternally he holds membership with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. the local lodge of Yeomen and the Grange. His early identification with the dairy business occurred in Marin county and from there in 1892 he returned to Sonoma county, where he continued in the dairy industry, having a dairy averag- ing from sixty-five to one hundred and ten head of cows. A large amount of butter was sold in the city markets and the excellent quality of the product ren- dered possible the best market prices. Before settling on his present place he leased and operated the Denman farm, one of the oldest estates in the valley, and there, in addition to his large herd of cows, he also has a flock of three thousand hens. As a farmer he is resourceful, keen and prudent, wise in judg- ment, quick in action, energetic in temperament and economical in expenditure of money and time. Besides his own time he employs two men the year round and in the fruit season as high as fourteen people are given employment. In 1910 he built a ten-room modern house at a cost of $3,500, besides which he has made other improvements about the ranch, putting in new fencing, and during the next two years he expects to replace all of the old buildings with new ones, with the exception of the apple house. Chief among Mr. King's characteristics is his devotion to the community welfare and his sympathetic support of progres-
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sive projects. Through his services as president of the local telephone line there has been pushed to success a movement of inestimable value to the locality. Other enterprises have felt the impetus of his encouragement and the permanent ben- efit derived from his zealous and intelligent support.
EDWARD NEWBURGH.
Although eighteen years have passed since the death of Mr. Newburgh, time has not effaced from the memory of those who knew him the effect of his life and accomplishments in the city which was his home for so many years. Not only is he remembered as one of the pioneer merchants of Petaluma, but a deeper and more personal remembrance is of his kindly, gentle nature, blended with a deep understanding of humanity, all of which attracted him to his fellow men and made bonds which only death could sever.
Edward Newburgh was a native of the Fatherland, born in Heidenheim, Bavaria, November 24, 1828, and he continued a resident of his native land until two years past his majority. Then, in 1851, he immigrated to the United States, landing on our eastern shores, and for two years thereafter was engaged in the mercantile business in one of the New England states. This experience proved of incalculable benefit to him in a number of ways, enabling him to ob- tain a good understanding of the English language and also to gain valuable knowledge concerning business methods. It was with this experience of two years in the east added to his original knowledge and ability that he set out for California by the Panama route in 1853. Interest in the mining possibilities of the state still ran high, and it was not surprising that Mr. Newburgh was at- tracted by its allurements and made an attempt to find quick wealth in the mines. He followed the shifting fortunes of the miner for a number of years, but finally gave up this speculative existence and turned his thoughts to things more de- pendable. It was then that he first came to Sonoma county, in 1856, and follow- ing this he opened a merchandise store in Freestone which he maintained for a couple of years. Later he established and maintained a similar store in Sebas- topol for two years, at the same time being interested in a store in Petaluma. After disposing of his mercantile interests he made a visit to his old home in the Fatherland in 1860. Upon his return to this country in 1861 he again located in Sebastopol as a dry-goods merchant, being associated with his former partner, the firm being known as Bernhard & Co. Business was carried on under this name for some time, when the business was disposed of and Mr. Newburgh located in Petaluma in 1864. Here he again established himself in business, this time alone, and so continued until his nephew and sons grew up and took its cares from his shoulders. From then until his death, October 23, 1892, he lived retired from active business cares, his demise causing general and heartfelt sor- row among those who had been permitted to know him, either in a business or social way. Since the death of her husband Mrs. Newburgh has continued the business, which in 1909 she incorporated as the Newburgh Dry Goods Company, with herself as president and Morris Neuburger as vice-president and manager. The latter gives the business all of his attention, and is demonstrating his ability
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as a merchant, as shown by the success of the business since he undertook its management, and without exception it is the finest store of the kind in Petaluma.
Before her marriage in 1862 Mrs. Newburgh was Miss Fannie Kusiel, a native of Stuttgart, Wurtemberg, Germany, who came to California in 1861 by the Isthmus route. Eight children blessed the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. New- burgh, named in the order of their birth as follows : Albert ; Augustus, deceased ; Theresa, the wife of Leopold Allenberg, of San Francisco; Arthur, city editor of the Petaluma Argus; William; James, deceased; Henry, a lawyer of promni- nence in San Francisco; and Stella, the wife of S. Suskind, of that city. Albert and William Newburgh are assisting in the store. Fraternally Mr. Newburgh was well known and active in the ranks of the Odd Fellows. On a lot in the business portion of town which Mr. Newburgh gave her many years ago, Mrs. Newburgh has recently erected the fine new Swiss-American Bank building which now graces the spot. This is conceded by residents generally to be the finest business block in Petaluma, and besides being an ornament to the town, gives added proof of Mrs. Newburgh's enterprise and business ability.
WILLIAM A. LEWIS.
It is now almost sixty years since the subject of this article came to Califor- nia, attracted by the many stories of the great possibilities of this land of the Golden West and in all these years he has never regretted the step he has taken although he, like the other early pioneers, had to make sacrifices continually and suffered the privations that beset a new and undeveloped country. But these things never deterred Mr. Lewis, for whenever he found obstacles in his way he would press forward all the harder to surmount them. Thus, after years of close application and a successful career he is able to retire with a competency ample for the wants of his family and himself.
The grandfather of Mr. Lewis was John Lewis, who was of Welsh and French extraction and a native of the state of Virginia. From there he emigrated to Kentucky, where he married and afterward moved to Missouri, reaching St. Louis on January 5, 1797, and settled in a part of the city then called Creve Cœur Lake. He was one of the first-probably the first-American agriculturist that acquired a permanent residence in what is now Missouri. In his family there were seven children, five sons and two daughters, of whom one, Elizabeth, was a woman of strong intellectual powers. She was closely allied to the history of St. Louis and by her many deeds of Christian charity won for herself a warm place in the hearts of the people. She was the second daughter of John Lewis and was born in Harrison county, Ky., April 3, 1794, and was taken to St. Louis Mo., by her parents. She was thrice married, the first time, immediately after the completion of her thirteenth year, to Gabriel Long, a wealthy merchant and planter of St. Louis, June 25, 1807; to Rev. Alexander McAllister, a talented and much-respected clergyman of St. Louis, on April 30, 1823; and to A. R. Corbin, Esq., of New York (then a resident of St. Louis and the editor and proprietor of the St. Louis Argus, the organ of the old Jackson party), June II, 1835. Her last husband, with whom she lived more than thirty-three years, was
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afterwards married to a sister of Gen. U. S. Grant. Her death occurred at the residence of her husband in New York City, July 9, 1868, in the seventy-fifth year. of her age. Her end was painless and happy; she was surrounded by her husband and daughters, by many grand-children, and several great-grandchildren. Thus surrounded and supplied with every comfort and with every alleviation of suffering which affection and affluence could command this early emigrant to St. Louis, this pious Christian, this accomplished lady, this most loving wife and mother passed to that blissful abode provided by Infinite Goodness for the good of all nations and of every degree.
Sallie, another daughter of John Lewis, became the wife of Col. Daniel M. Boone, a son of the famous Col. Daniel Boone, the old pioneer and hunter of Kentucky. She lived to the age of nearly seventy years and was the mother of a large family. One of the sons of John Lewis was also named John and was four years old when his parents moved to Missouri, having been born in Ken- tucky in 1793. He grew to manhood in St. Louis and there married Nancy Curry, also a native of Kentucky. He was a farmer by occupation and spent the most of his life in St. Louis county, where he died in 1848. In his family there were ten children, six sons and four daughters, all of whom lived to be grown men and women.
William A. Lewis was born in St. Louis, May 1, 1830. He was reared on his father's farm, fourteen miles west of St. Louis, and educated in the common schools. In 1852, his father being dead, he came to California, crossing the plains with his uncle, Lindsay Lewis, in an ox-team train of seven wagons, taking five months to make the journey from the Missouri river to Marysville, Cal. His brother Austin had come to California in 1849 and his uncle, Samuel Lewis, had also come in 1849 and spent his last days in Petaluma. In the spring of 1853 W. A. Lewis engaged in trading with the emigrants, buying and selling stock and that same fall he located in Sonoma county, buying one hundred and thirty- five acres, the nucleus of his present possessions. He engaged in the stock and dairy business and has added to his place from time to time until he now has a ranch of two thousand acres. Over much of this land title disputes arose and he had to fight for his rights through the courts as well as at times having to buy the purported rights of other claimants. His start was made with twenty cows, which was gradually increased, against adversity at times, but he stayed with it and the result to him is eminently satisfactory. His place is located about four miles west of Petaluma on the Chelino Valley road, and is watered by San Antone creek and numerous springs. Before he saw the real value of land in Marin and Sonoma counties he was offered different tracts for from $3 to $4 an acre, but $50 slugs were very valuable, while land and real estate were unsalable at that time, hence many an opportunity was passed by. In the early days, for he was of the first settlers in this locality, there were no fences and he could ride across lots to Petaluma through wild oats over his head on horseback. He has sold butter for $1 and $1.10 per pound and eggs for $1 per dozen. The grass was abundant for many years and it was not until years later that it became necessary to make any hay. His place is a part of the Borjorques ranch and he resided there until 1882, since which time he has resided in Peta-
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luma, from which place he visits his ranch frequently, it being leased to two Tenants.
Mr. Lewis married, February 4. 1868, in St. Louis, Mo., Miss Mary Louise Hall, who was a native of St. Louis, the daughter of Dr. James H. Hall, a promi- nent physician and surgeon of St. Louis and later of Petaluma. They are the parents of five children, as follows: Nannie M., the wife of Foster Moale of San Francisco; Hall, an attorney in San Francisco; Lillian, Mrs. Dr. Fleisner, of Petaluma : Edith, Mrs. White of Petaluma; and William who is a poultry rancher in this city; the latter has made several trips to South America and nine trips east and is well qualified to decide that California is the most desirable location in which to reside.
Mr. Lewis has helped to build schoolhouses from the first that was built in his vicinity until they are all built up in four districts around him. He is very public spirited and enterprising, aiding in any enterprise for the upbuilding of the county, and his many deeds of kindness and charity are remembered by the many recipients and all is done in an unostentatious manner. It is to such men as William A. Lewis that the bay region owes its present progress and growth. As this was going to press notice came that Mr. Lewis died Monday, August 7, 1911, at his home surrounded by his wife and children.
EDWARD C. RAND.
One of the comparatively late acquisitions to the ranching community of Sonoma county is Edward C. Rand, who came here in 1905 and purchased the ranch of which he is now the owner, near Santa Rosa. This ranch has taken on value and importance since coming into the possession of the present owner. At present preference is given to the raising of stock, Berkshire hogs especially, but it is the intention of the owner to ultimately make it a dairy ranch exclu- sively.
As are many of California's best citizens, Mr. Rand is a native of the mid- dle-west, and came hither with a fund of experience gained in various lines of business in his native state of Illinois. There the earth life of the elder Mr. Rand came to a close in 1877, but the mother still survives, making her home in Lombard, where are centered the memories and experiences of a long and happy life. Edward C. Rand attended the public school of Lombard until he was fourteen years of age, at that time beginning his own support by entering the employ of George E. Cole, of Chicago. This was in 1888, and he continued with this employer until 1898, when he accepted a position with the National Storage Company of the same place, continuing with the latter company until 1901. It was in the year just mentioned, when he was twenty-seven years of age, that he engaged in business on his own account, manufacturing novelties of all kinds. He continued in this business with very satisfactory results for about two years, when, in 1903, he became financially interested in the manufacture and sale of patent medicines, associating himself with the D. D. D. Company of Chicago.
Mr. Rand had been associated with the latter company about two years when. in 1905, though still retaining his interest in the medicine business, he
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came to California and located in Sonoma county. His purpose was to pur- chase and locate upon a ranch when he found one that suited his needs. This he found in the ranch of which he is the proprietor today, consisting of one hundred and seventy-five acres and located six miles from Santa Rosa. Thus far he has maintained it as a stock ranch, but it is his purpose to transform it into a dairy ranch as rapidly as possible, and every change or improvement on the property is made with this idea in view.
Mr. Rand's marriage in 1899 united him with Miss Mary Rand, who was born in Connecticut in 1874. No children have been born to them. Though comparatively newcomers to the west they have entered into the spirit of the thriving community into which they have settled and are now as keenly interested in its welfare as are old, established residents.
LOUIS POULIN.
An illustration of the prosperity which has rewarded the efforts of our French-American citizens may be found in the life of Louis Poulin, who for over a quarter of a century has been identified with the interests of Sonoma county and has won recognition as an expert in the wine-making industry. Without energy and resolute determination he could not have risen to his pres- ent station in the community. Nature endowed him with the faculties neces- sary to the struggle for a livelihood in a new country. With the keen mind characteristic of his people he soon acquired a thorough knowledge of the Eng- lish language, which he speaks with the same fluency as his native tongue.
Louis Poulin was born in Donzy, France, November 21, 1848, the son of parents who were also natives of that country. The father passed away in France in 1882, at the age of sixty-five years. After his death the mother came to the United States, and until her death, at the age of seventy-nine years, made her home with her son in Sonoma county, Cal. The raising of grapes and their manufacture into wine has long been one of the chief industries of France, and it was in this industry that the elder Mr. Poulin was engaged in his native country throughout his life. His son was very early in life made familiar with the industry, first through association, while he was too young to take any active part in its duties, and later through his participation as an active assistant in the maintenance of the business. The art of vinegar and wine making he had learned thoroughly under the training of his father, and this was one of his chief assets upon coming to the United States at the age of twenty-five years. Coming direct to Sonoma county, Cal., from the port at which he landed, he remained here for about three years, and in 1877 returned to the east. His stay there was short, however, for he soon afterward returned to the west, going direct to San Francisco. From there he again came to Sonoma county, and in 1883 purchased the ranch which has been his home ever since. This consists of seventeen acres of land well suited to the raising of grapes, the entire tract being given over to the growing and manufacture of the grape. Some idea of the extent of the business conducted by Mr. Poulin may be gathered from the statement that ten thousand gallons of wine were manufactured in his winery
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during the season of 1909. In addition to the grapes which he himself raises, he also buys of other growers in the vicinity to make this output of wine possible. In addition to the management of his vineyard and winery he also maintains a roadhouse in Santa Rosa, where the weary wayfarer may find rest and refresh- ment and a welcome that is genuine and spontaneous.
Mr. Poulin's marriage in 1890 united him with Miss Emily Hall, a native of England, as were also her parents, who are now deceased. No children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Poulin. Politically Mr. Poulin is an adherent of no party, and possibly for that very reason is the better citizen, for in casting his vote he is guided by the qualifications of the candidate, and not by the name of the party that he represents. Sonoma county has few citizens more enthusias- tic over her advantages than Mr. Poulin is. It is his belief that there is no place in the state more favorable to the growing of the grape than this partic- ular locality, and certain it is he has cause to hold this view, for his success has been phenomenal, both in the quantity and in the quality of the grape which he has produced and is still producing in his vineyard. The purchase price of his ranch twenty-seven years ago was $100 an acre, but today the ranch could not be bought for $12,000.
PETALUMA & SANTA ROSA RAILWAY COMPANY.
In this age of electricity there is no department of activity that has not benefited directly or indirectly by the application of electricity, transforming old methods of performing duties so completely as to make what was once a difficult task a delightful pleasure. In the multitudinons ways that electricity has been applied in the largest sense, reference is made to the modern mode of transportation, which is literally making the whole world kin, by bringing to- gether the residents of city and country, each gaining a knowledge of and sym- pathy for the other thereby which formerly was unknown. Among the various electric roads that have threaded their way across the country in California and assisted in this general transformation is the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway, whose system is one of the most modern and up-to-date extant.
The history of the Petaluma & Santa Rosa Railway dates from the begin- ning of the twentieth century, but the actual work of construction was not com- menced until the fall of 1903. However, well-laid plans made it possible to push the work rapidly, and in the fall of the following year the road was completed between Santa Rosa and Petaluma, and the life of the country through which the road passed immediately took on a new aspect. The trolley system is em- ployed, and the equipment throughout is the best that could be secured. Sixty freight cars are now in use on the system, twelve passenger cars, four electric locomotives, besides express and baggage cars. Rates for passenger service are on the basis of two cents per mile, while freight is carried on the basis assigned in the Western classification. The destiny of the entire thirty-five miles of country through which the road passes seems to have hung upon its establish- ment, for from the first day that the road was in operation it has had a patronage that speaks more forcibly than can words, of the appreciation of the citizens. Up to the present time the road makes regular trips for passenger and freight serv-
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ice between Petaluma and Santa Rosa, touching at Sebastopol and from there running north to Forestville, besides tapping numerous towns on the way, but this is but a fraction of the road which the promoters have under way. When their plans for extension of the service are a reality a road will run south to San Francisco with numerous lateral branches, which will represent between two and three hundred miles of steel rails.
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