USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 36
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Not enumerated in the above are numerous places of business, of more or less importance, such as form a part of every prosperous town, and which in the aggregate transact a large amount of business annually. Among these are hay and feed yards, of which there are several; game, poultry, fruit and vegetable stores, etc.
The city then had four public school buildings, in which school was main- tained ten months in the year, and nine teachers employed ; and five private schools and seminaries, giving occupation to nine teachers; there were also several teachers engaged exclusively in giving instruction in music, drawing, painting, and kindred branches. Not less than six hundred pupils attended the public schools at that time. Even at this day the educational facilities of Petaluma are not surpassed by those of any town in the State; these advantages add largely to the desireableness of the city as a place of resi- dence for families having children to educate; they have attracted here a desirable element in the population of the community, and have heretofore been, as it is to be hoped they will be in the future, liberally sustained. The public schools are controlled by a City Board of Education.
In 1870, each of the following religious denominations had an organiza- tion and church building in which service was regularly held: Methodist, Congregational, Episcopal, Methodist South, Baptist, Roman Catholic, and the African Methodist Episcopal Church. The churches at the present writ- ing, as they were then, are in a flourishing condition financially, and the membership steadily increasing. Other religious societies hold occasional services, but have no church buildings. There were also several other socie- ties and organizations of less importance than those named above. The Mutual Beneficial Association is an institution well worthy of especial men- tion here. It is an association organized by citizens of Petaluma in the year
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1868, for the purpose of mutual life insurance among its members. The practical working of the institution fully meets the expectation of its pro- prietors, and it is found to be a most excellent and useful organization, secur- ing to its members, at small expense, the benefits of a policy of life insur- ance. The affairs of the association are under the control of a Board of twelve Directors, who are elected by the members annually; and are assisted by a Secretary and Treasurer, chosen by the Board. The association in 1870 numbered upwards of eleven hundred and fifty members, and is rapidly increasing.
The city records for 1871 inform us that on March 13th directions were issued to draw up an ordinance prohibiting the hanging or extending of signs across the sidewalk, or from the buildings towards the center of the street, a project which became law on the 27th. The election for Municipal officers was held on April 17th, with the following result: Board of Trustees: Lee Ellsworth, President, Thomas Rochford, John Fritsch, Alexander McCune, and H. B. Hasbrouck ; Treasurer, Andrew Henry; Marshal, J. K. Knowles; Recorder, D. D. Carder; Street Commissioner, W. H. Hedgey; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Clerk, D. D. Carder. On the 24th, T. J. Graham was allowed until June Ist to move the Petaluma House building back to the street line; on the 12th, the petition of the Sonoma County Water Company, for the privilege of laying pipes in the street, was received ; and, on motion, the right to lay such within the city of Petaluma was granted said company, and finally passed on the following day. In July, a petition, headed by A. P. Whitney, for an allowance toward the construction of a bridge across the creek at Cstreet, was lost on the motion to grant the prayer of the petition- ers. A petition was received, October 23d, from S. D. Towne, McNear & Bro., and others, asking the Board to allow the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Company to extend a new depot building fourteen feet into Hopper street, from the north line of block eight, and contiguous to block lying east of block eight. They were granted the privilege of occupying with a depot building, one hundred and twelve feet in length, of Hopper street, and fourteen feet in width of block eight and contiguous block on the east, being the center of what is known as depot block. At this time hitch- ing posts and bulletin boards were permitted to be erected.
But few occurrences of any note took place in the city during the year 1871. A new military company had been organized under the name of the Emmet Guard of Petaluma, while the corner-stone of the Odd Fellows' Hall was laid with imposing ceremonies on the 18th of July of that year. On the evening of November 5th, a most terrible and unjustifiable murder was committed in the saloon of Brown & Sroufe. The particulars are briefly these: Lewis Levi, a hackman, was standing in the saloon, leaning on the counter, when his assailant, Benjamin Edwards, a barber on Washington street, entered and, without any words being exchanged, drew a large ten-
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inch revolver and commenced beating him on the head. At the first blow Levi's hat was knocked off, and on the second or third his skull was fractured and he reeled to the floor. The work was done so quickly that those stand- ing in the saloon were not aware that a fight was in progress-several thinking it merely a friendly scuffle. Levi had been a resident of Petaluma for many years and bore the reputation of being a quiet, inoffensive man; his assailant, too, had lived in the city ever since his boyhood, and it is believed was incited to commit the bloody deed to appease the whim of a courtezan with whom he was living, she having become offended at Levi for his refusing her permission to ride in his carriage.
We have now completed the first twenty years of Petaluma's history, since which time nothing of very great interest has occurred to cause her to devi- ate from the even tenor of her prosperous way. These remarks will there- fore be brought to a conclusion by following up to the present year the records of the Board of Trustees, in order that a full list of the municipal officers and some of their doings may be preserved in a handy form. In 1872, the election of officers took place on April 15th, when were chosen: H. B. Hasbrouck, President, William Zartman, Thomas Rochford, C. Poehl- man, and A. McGuire, Board of Trustees; Treasurer, Andrew Henry; Mar- shal, J. K. Knowles; Recorder, D. D. Carder; Street Commissioner, William Richardson; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Clerk, D. D. Carder. June 24th, it was reported to the Board that a site had been purchased for a hospital from W. J. Smith, and on July 29th Messrs. Rochford and Poehlman were appointed Water Commissioners. William Richardson, Street Commissioner, resigned on November 25th and was succeeded by Michael Stoddart. De- cember 9th, the President was authorized to appoint a special policeman at the request of each church congregation in the city, who shall regularly qualify as such, and be on duty only during the hours of divine service of their respective congregations, and who shall receive no emolument from the funds of the corporation. At this date the question of a steam fire- engine was first mooted, when one was ordered to be contracted for.
On January 27, 1873, an ordinance granting to the Citizen Gas Company the right to lay pipes in the city, was passed. March 24th, it was determined to bring suit against the county if the Board of Supervisors refuse to set aside sixty per cent of the amount of property road fund collected within Road District included in the corporate limits of Petaluma city. At the election held on April 21st, for the choice of a corporation, the following gentlemen were delegated to fill the municipal offices: Board of Trustees, Thomas Rochford, President, C. Poehlman, A. McGuire, L. Ellsworth, and William Zartman; Marshal, J. K. Knowles; Treasurer, Andrew Henry ; Recorder, J. Cavanagh; Assessor, C. Humphries ; Street Commissioner, Michael Stoddart; Clerk. D. D. Carder. On May 12th, the special commit- tec appointed to confer with the Board of Supervisors respecting the road
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fund claimed by the city, reported that they had withdrawn the claim of the city to said fund, with the understanding that it was to be expended by the Board of Supervisors, within the township of Petaluma, upon the petition of the Board of Trustees and others in any manner devised by them. On the same date, the consent of a majority of the Trustees was requested by and given to the Board of Education to purchase the Moffet property on D street for high school purposes. On May 12th, we note the appointment of E. S. Lippitt to the post of City Attorney, and, on October 27th, the San Francisco and North Pacific Telegraph Company were authorized to erect poles within the city limits, while on petition of certain residents, presented November 12th, the sum of one thousand two hundred and fifty dollars was appropriated towards the purchase of the block of ground between D and E and Third and Fourth streets, for a public plaza.
In 1874, February 24th, it was resolved to have the City Charter amended so as to be able to establish fire limits, and on March 23d it was decided that the Senator and Assemblyman in the Legislature be asked to use their united efforts towards the passage of a bill exempting all firemen within the county of Sonoma, either active or exempt, from the payment of the State poll-tax. On April 20th, the following municipal authorities were elected: Board of Trustees, Lee Ellsworth, President; William Zartman, H. T. Fair- banks, A. McGuire, and Kelly Tighe; Clerk, D. D. Carder; Marshal, James K. Knowles; Treasurer, Andrew Henry ; Recorder, John Cavanagh; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Street Commissioner, Michael Stoddart; Attorney, E. S. Lippitt. The ordinance establishing fire limits was passed on May 25th; while, on July 3d, the bonds and title deeds, presented by the officers of the Sonoma and Marin Agricultural Society, were accepted and directed to be filed in the office of the Recorder of Sonoma County; on the 13th, Trustee A. McGuire presented a protest against the action of the Board respecting the matter of the transfer of the Sonoma and Marin Agri- cultural Society's property to the city and the issuance of five thousand dollar bonds of the city of Petaluma to said society ; and requested that the same be recorded upon the minutes of the Board of Trustees. On August 10th, the ordinance fixing the Recorder's salary was repealed.
In 1875, February 8th, President Ellsworth, to whom had been referred the matter of the settlement of the State, county, and special road tax upon the Agricultural park ground, reported that the Board of Supervisors had remitted the county portion of said tax; that he had paid the State portion, as also the special road tax. On 19th of April, the following city officers were elected : Board of Trustees, H. T. Fairbanks, President ; Kelly Tighe, J. C. Wickersham, Charles Lynch, and A. McGuire; Marshal, J. K. Knowles ; Treasurer, Andrew Henry ; Assessor, John P. Rodgers ; Recorder, John Cavanagh ; Street Commissioner, Michael Stoddart; Clerk, D. D. Carder ; Attorney, E. S. Lippitt. On April 26th, the following minute
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occurs : " The petition of H. Mecham and others, asking the Board of City Trustees to deed the Agricultural Park property back to the Sonoma and Marin Agricultural Society, read. On motion of Trustee Zartman the rule was suspended and the petition taken up for consideration. Trustee Zartman moved that the prayer of petitioners be complied with, and that the city of Peta- luma, by its President, execute a deed of the Agricultural Park property to the Directors of the Sonoma and Marin District Agricultural Society, which motion was seconded by Trustee Tighe. After discussion the motion was put by the President, and resulted in the following vote : Messrs. Ellsworth, Zartman and Tighe voted in favor of the motion; Trustee Fairbanks voted against the motion, and desired that his protest against the act of a majority of the Trustees be entered upon the minutes. Trustee Zartman moved that the bond given in behalf of the Sonoma and Marin Agricultural Society to the city of Petaluma, for ten thousand dollars, dated June 8, 1874, be can- celled, which motion was seconded by Trustee Tighe. The motion was put by the President, and resulted in the following vote ; Messrs. Ellsworth, Zartman and Tighe voted in favor of the motion; Mr. Fairbanks voted against the action of a majority of the Trustces herein." On July 26th a petition to relight the city at night with gas was indefinitely postponed.
On April 17, 1876, the annual election of city officers was held, with the accompanying result : Board of Trustees, J. C. Wickersham, President ; Charles Lynch, C. A. Walker, L. G. Nay, and H. T. Fairbanks; Clerk, D. D. Carder ; Marshal, Julius Blume ; Treasurer, Andrew Henry ; Recorder, D. D. Carder; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Attorney, E. S. Lippitt. It would appear that W. B. Haskell had been elected to the office of City Clerk, but he resigned at once, as did also Trustee Fairbanks on May 8th; and the salary of the Clerk was declared to be five hundred dollars a year, with per- quisites. On May 22d, the ordinance relative to the tagging of dogs was adopted ; while, on Sentember 11th, we have the accompanying minute : " The following resolution was offered by L. G. Nay : WHEREAS, The Trus- tees requested D. D. Carder, Clerk, to resign, and he declined to do so, I therefore move that the office of City Clerk be declared vacant; the resolu- tion was seconded by James Armstrong, and carried unanimously." On this occurring, E. H. Long was put in nomination for the office, and, having received a majority of the votes, was declared duly elected. Novem- ber 27th, the petition of I. G. Wickersham, President of the Sonoma and Marin Railroad Company, was read, asking for right of way to extend their road from the south side of B. street, northerly, across and along any street, alley, or property of the city of Petaluma, easterly of Main and westerly of Hopper streets, to the northern limits of the county, was granted. The Board of Trustees, on 26th December, declared their intention to widen English street, from Main to Howard, to a width of seventy feet, and that to effect this it was necessary to take certain private property, which is
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enumerated, as also certain lots, which will be benefitted by the change, and should bear the expense of the work.
February 12, 1877, the resignation of E. H. Long was presented and accepted, and W. E. Cox appointed in his stead, when the election of city officers was appointed to take place on the 16th. On the retirement of the Board then in office, the following tribute was paid and filed: " Resolved, That this Board tender to Jesse C. Wickersham a vote of thanks for his courteous and gentlemanly bearing toward his fellow members, and his faith- fulness in the discharge of the duties of that position. Resolved, That we recognize and aeknowledge him unbiased in all his decisions as a presiding officer, ever watchful of the true interests of the city, always bearing in mind that it had no enemies to punish, nor any friends to reward. Resolved, That these miutes be placed upon the Board as a testimony of respect to our retir- ing President." The officers for the year 1877 were: Board of Trustees, M. Doyle, M. Walsh, James K. Knowles, L. G. Nay, President, and C. A. Walker; Marshal, Julius Blume; Treasurer, Andrew Henry; Recorder, F. W. Shattuck; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Clerk, W. E. Cox. On June 11th, a committee was appointed to consult with J. H. MeNear on the matter of furnishing lots in Cypress Hill Cemetery for the burial of paupers, and what inducements he would offer to those having lots in the old ceme- tary to remove the bones of their friends to Cypress Hill.
The corporation for the year 1878, consisted of: Board of Trustees, J. M. Charles, J. M. Lightner, L. E. Brooke, M. Doyle, President, and M. Walsh; Marshal, Julius Blume; Treasurer, Andrew Henry; Recorder, R. J. Preston; Assessor, Charles Humphries; Clerk, W. E. Cox. A committee was appointed on May 27th, to confer with an engineer in the matter of laying out the city in a system of sewerage, while, at that time it was likewise ordered that the gas company furnish gas for the street lamps situated at the Washington street bridge, the lighting to commence on June Ist. On the 10th it was notified that the water company had refused to provide water in a trough at the junction of Main and Third streets, for the benefit of the public. On June 15th, a Board of Health was established, and on the 24th, Dr. J. H. Crane was elected President, with Dr. J. B. Christie as Secretary and Health Officer. On August 12th, a committee from the Odd Fellows' Library Association tendered their library to the city, the same to be kept up by them and run as a free library. On motion of M. Walsh seconded by J. M. Lightner, it was ordered that the city of Petaluma accept the offer of the Odd Fellows' Library Association, and establish a free library under the provisions of the statutes, and that the Board appoint five Trustees on behalf of this city to act for said library. December 23d, two Trustees having been absent for a longer period than ninety days, L. G. Nay and H. T. Fairbanks were elected to fill the vacancies caused by J. M. Charles and L. E. Brooke.
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In 1879, January 27th, it was directed that all officers who make arrests be notified that entries be made in the Police Court Blotter, in ink; while on 10th February, regulations in regard to pay and fees of Police Department of the city were issued. On April 21st, the following officers who, at the present writing, still retain their posts were elected: Board of Trustees, M. Walsh, John Bauer, H. T. Fairbanks, President, L. G. Nay, and J. M. Light- ner; Marshal, Julius Blume; Treasurer, Andrew Henry; Recorder, R. J. Preston; Assessor, Charles Humphries ; Clerk, W. E. Cox.
Let us now draw this already too lengthy history to a close.
To one who has never visited the town before Petaluma presents many points of interest. ' Although remote from the mining regions and from the line of travel between the mountains and the bay, the name of Petaluma became familiar to the ears of California adventurers and settlers, as has been shown, nearly thirty years ago. The agricultural advantages of the location were discernable to the sharp-sighted even at that early day of tur- moil and excitement. Its growth was, however, slow until the gold fever had partially died out. . Of late years the growth and advancement of the place has been steady and rapid. Petaluma now contains nearly six thou- sand inhabitants. The creek is navigable for small craft up to the business portion of the town, and for larger steamers and sailing vessels to points within two or three miles of it. Railroads connecting with the San Fran- cisco steamers run into the city, and one extends up the valley to Santa Rosa, Healdsburg and Cloverdale. These business facilities show their results in the city. There are many large and substantial stone and brick ware- houses to be seen, which serve as the depositories of grain, hay, and general merchandise. Many of the stores and other buildings are built of brick, while neat and attractive frame cottages and dwelling-houses adorn the slop- ing hillsides on the margin of the town. Activity in mechanical branches of business and merchandise tells plainly that an extensive area of country to the north and west is furnished with supplies from this point. Aside from the results of enterprise and energy, the natural scenery of the location is such that the eye, or the cultivated taste of the artist is not required for an appreciation of its beauty. Located on the western-border of a level val- ley, from two to three miles wide, a portion of the town rests upon adjoin- ing hills, which ascend so gradually as to be easy of access, but so high as to command an admirable view of the surrounding country. On the east of the valley the Sonoma range of mountains looms up in grandeur, its summit at a distance of nine or ten miles, and the nearest foot-hills at from two to three miles. On the south is another range of hills running nearly cast and west, less grand and imposing than the Sonoma range, but more subdued and beautiful. These hills ascend so gradually that nearly their entire surface is susceptible of cultivation, and numerous fine farm-houses, surrounded by orchards and vineyards, are discernable within a mile or two
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of town. In the Sacramento or San Joaquin valleys the inhabitant, year after year, contemplates from day to day the Sierras on the east, or the coast range on the west, but regards them as objects remote and disconnected from himself and his home. The hills which surround Petaluma are ever present and always attractive to the eye, and the spectator must soon acquire a per- sonal interest in every tree, ravine, or sloping bank which adds to their beauty.
" Day after day the mellow sun slides o'er, Night after night the mellow moon. The clouds Are laid, enchanted; soft and bare, the heavens Fold to their breast the dozing Earth, that lies In languor of deep bliss. At times, a breath, Remnant of gales far off, forgotten now, Rustles the never-fading leaves, then drops Affrighted into silence. Near a slough Of dark, still water, in the early morn The shy coyotas prowl, or trooping elk From the close covert of the bulrush fields Their dewy antlers toss; nor other sight, Save when the falcon, poised on wheeling wings, His bright eye on the burrowing covey, cuts His arrowy plunge."
Thus we had it in 1851-in 1879 the change has to be seen to be properly realized.
Methodist Episcopal Church, Petaluma .- The Methodist Episcopal church was the first to organize and erect a church edifice in Petaluma. The history of the organization is as follows : The first Protestant services ever had in Sonoma county were held at Sonoma in the Fall of 1849, by the Rev. A. J. Heustis, a Methodist preacher from Wisconsin. In 1851 Rev. Isaac Owen organized that region north of the Bay of San Francisco, including Contra Costa, Solano, Napa, Lake, Sonoma, and Marin counties, into a circuit, and Rev. S. D. Simonds was placed in charge. This circuit comprised ten appointments, viz .: Martinez, Benicia, Suisun, Vallejo, Napa City, Harbin's, Kellogg's, Sonoma, Bodega, and Russian River, and to go once around it required over two hundred miles of travel. On Friday, May 2, 1851, the first camp-meeting ever held in California was begun about one mile from the town of Sonoma.
Rev. S. D. Simonds was succeeded on this circuit by Rev. James Corwin, Rev. Alexander McLean, and Rev. J. R. Tansey.
In 1853, Bodega circuit was set off from the original large territory men- tioned above. Bodega circuit included Petaluma, all the Bodega country, Russian River, Anderson and Big River valleys. Rev. A. L. S. Bateman was placed in charge. In February, 1854, Bodega circuit ceased to exist, and out of it were formed Marin mission (which included Petaluma) and the Russian River circuit. Rev. J. Speck was in charge of the Marin mission. In August, 1855, a church was organized at Petaluma and a building erected
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shortly after, which is still standing on Fourth street and is used as an engine house. In 1858 Petaluma was discontinued from the circuit and became a station. From the organization of the church to the present time the pastorates have been as follows : Revs. James Hunter, two years ; W. J. Maclay, two years; D. A. Dryden, one year; J. McH. Caldwell, one year; J. W. Stump, two years; I. M. Leihy, one year; E. S. Lippitt, two years; Wesley Peck, one year; R. W. Williamson, two years; W. S. Turner, two years; J. L. Trefren, two years; A. J. Nelson, two years; George Clifford, three years; E. R. Dille, one year (the present pastor), which brings the record up to 1879.
The church has now the largest membership, two hundred, of any Prot- estant place of worship in the city, while it has a Sunday School with an enrollment of about two hundred, and an average attendance of one hundred and fifty.
The church building, on the northwest corner of Keller street and Western avenue, was begun in 1865, and finished in 1874, during the pastorate of the Rev. A. J. Nelson. It is of brick, gothic in style of architecture, is eighty- five by fifty-six feet in dimensions, and thirty-five feet from floor to ceiling. It is handsomely finished and furnished, and is lighted with gas, by means of two large sun burners. It has gallery, orchestra and class-rooms. The building was erected at a cost of eighteen thousand dollars, and the trustees are William Zartman, D. G. Heald, J. H. Ranard, R. Haskins, D. S. Dickson, J. Harmon, J. F. Howard and H. T. Fairbanks.
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