USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 39
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James Fulton
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
was donated to the Home for the Care of Inebriates at Needham, Massachu- setts, of which the doctor is superintendent. On the evening of February 26th, a special collection was made for the Home, realizing the sum of nine- ty-one dollars and thirty cents, making a total for that purpose of one hun- dred and fifteen dollars, which sum was placed at Doctor Mckenzie's disposal for the purpose named.
On Tuesday evening, February 25th, a Temperance Reform Club was formed with one hundred and sixty-three men enrolled; on the following day the membership was increased to two hundred and two, and on March Ist the Club numbered two hundred and thirty. The meeting of the 25th February being opened with prayer by the Rev. R. F. Allen, the following officers were named and elected to serve for the first quarter, viz .: President, Frank W. Shattuck; First Vice-President, James Davidson; Second, Aleck Conley; Third, E. G. Hopkins; Fourth, Andrew Spotswood, Fifth, Charles Humphries; Treasurer, John S. Van Doren; Secretary, O. T. Baldwin; Assist- ant Secretary, Charles E. Singley; Financial Secretary, L. D. Gale; Marshal, William M. Brown. After the foregoing officers had been chosen, there followed remarks from Dr. D. Banks MeKenzie, Rev. G. B. Allen and others, while the executive committee consisting of the officers of the club were instructed to consider the feasibility and propriety of a torch-light procession on the evening of the 27th, in lieu of which a ratification meeting was held. On February 26th, the subjoined committees were appointed, viz .: Committee of Vigilance, Messrs. William M. Brown, Chairman, Albert Averil, Frank Adel, J. J. Barnes, George W. Brush, John Lawlor, James Edwards, Walter Frost, Orris Elmore, G. P. Hall, John Norsworthy. Hall Committee, Messrs. George P. McNear, J. L. Winans, W. D. McLaren; Mesdames John S. Van Doren, A. P. Whitney, G. R. Codding. Finance Committee, Messrs. L. D. Gale, B. Haskell, J. W. Harris, Samuel Martin. Committee on Entertain- ment, A. J. Show, Scott Bowles, C. O. Perkins, P. H. Lawlor, C. S. Farquar; Mesdames John A. MeNear, H. P. Brainard; Misses A. R. Congdon, A. Has- brouek, Clara Wright. Visiting Committee, A. F. Killam, Thomas R. Jacobs, John Johnson; Mesdames Miller, Lackie and A. A. Peary.
At the ratification held on the 27th of the same month, addresses were delivered by W. B. Haskell, E. G. Hopkins, John Ross, H. M. Webber, R. H. Duncan, E. S. Lippitt, and the Rev. W. S. Scott, who opened the meeting with prayer, while before separating Mr. Haskell, on behalf of the members, presented Doctor Mckenzie with a valuable and elegant California saddle of Petaluma manufacture, which was received by him with feeling and timely remarks.
In connection with the institution are a well stocked reading-room and a Free Labor Bureau, while social conforts are to be had with extreme facility at reasonable rates. Lectures are frequently given in connection therewith - while addresses bearing on the vice of intemperance and other topics are of frequent occurrence.
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The present officers are: President, Frank W. Shattuck; Vice-Presidents, B. Haskell, John Ross, R. H. Duncan, P. Lawlor, John J. Barnes; Treasurer, John S. Van Doren; Secretary, O. T. Baldwin; Financial Secretary, L. D. Gale; Assistant Secretary, E. R. Healey ; Marshal, W. M. Brown. The regular meetings of the club are held every Saturday evening, while the regular business meetings are held on each Wednesday.
Washington Hall Association .- This company was incorporated February 22, 1870, the first officers being: Lee Ellsworth, President; Phillip Cowen, Secretary; C. P. Hatch, Treasurer. It consists of a theatre, stage, side and end galleries, auditorium and basement of the following dimensions: Stage, twenty-four feet; two dressing rooms under the stage, and one on each side of the first entrance, fourteen by twenty feet; the whole is lighted by one hundred and forty burners, the gas being generated by a pneumatic gas machine. The building, which was opened on September 7, 1879, includes an auditorium fifty-six by sixty-six feet while its entire dimensions are sixty by one hundred feet, erected at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The present officers are L. Ellsworth, President; L. Bauer, Secretary, and C. P. Hatch, Treasurer.
Cypress Hill Cemetery .- To the northward of the city of Petaluma, on an eminence commanding a beautiful prospect of the fertile valleys and bold mountains, is situated this handsome cemetery. Just outside the limits of the busy mart of trade, just beyond the sounds of its hum and whirr, almost beside the workers of to-day in the city of the living, lie the workers of yes- terday, gone forever to rest in the quiet, sacred, silent city. How beautiful the site which has been chosen for this silent city! If man must die, if " of dust thou art and to dust thou shalt return " is the fiat of the Almighty, how pleasant it is to know that our ashes will pass to the mother earth in such a lovely spot as this! This cemetery is the result of the private enterprise of one of Petaluma's most prominent citizens, John A. MeNear. Previous to 1866, there had not been any very suitable place for a cemetery provided for by the citizens of Petaluma, but in that year Mr. McNear put into execution a project for providing for that pressing necessity. Accordingly the present site of Cypress Hill was chosen and burial lots laid out. Thou- sands of trees were planted and miles of road made, and other work done of great expense, to make it as attractive and well adapted as possible for a cemetery. It was not long before the enterprise began to be appreciated, and soon family lots were taken and handsome walls placed around them, and other improvements made. Finally elegant marble and granite shafts began to rear their heads in honor of the departed dead. One visiting it to-day finds a stately avenue leading up to it, begirt with evergreen trees. Pass- ing through the gate he finds the lots arranged in regular order, with avenues passing through them. Tributes to the dearly loved dead are reared on every side, extending from the costly monument to the modest headstone.
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Beneath them all are on a level, no matter what their earthly station. Prominent among the most beautiful of the monuments, stands the one erected sacred to the memory of the wife and children of Mr. McNear. It stands on the very apex of the knoll, and is surrounded by a beautiful lot of goodly proportions. But nobler far than shaft of marble or granite, and far more enduring is the monument Mr. McNear has erected for himself in thus preparing at his own expense such a fitting and beautiful resting place for the beloved dead of Petaluma.
The Sonoma and Marin District Agricultural Society .- The first organi- zation of the society was made under the name of the Sonoma Agricultural and Mechanics' Society, on April 12, 1859. Pursuant to a call made by publication a large number of subscribers to the Sonoma County Fair met at the Masonic Hall, Healdsburg, on Thursday evening, March 24, 1859, to devise the necessary ways and means of carrying out the enterprise. A temporary organization being deemed advisable, Hon. W. P. Ewing was called to the chair, and stated the object of the meeting. James B. Boggs appointed Secretary. A committee of two from each township was was appointed to solicit further subscriptions. A committee of five was appointed to report permanent organization and rules and regulations, to report at a future meeting. Meeting then adjourned to April 12, 1859, at which time the society was duly organized, with the following officers : President, Washington P. Ewing, and nine Vice-Presidents; Secretary, J. B. Boggs; Corresponding Secretary, G. W. Granniss; Treasurer, Lindsay Carson; and a Board of nine Directors, consisting of Col. A. Haraszthy, Major J. Singley, C. J. Robinson, Josiah Morin, G. P. Brumfield, J. N. Bailhache, Julio Carillo, J. W. Wilbur, and D. D. Phillips. The first fair was held at Healds- burg. At the election of officers for the next year, J. Q. Shirly was elected President, and I. G. Wickersham, Secretary. At a meeting of the society held March 3, 1860, on motion of Mr. Weston, a committee of five was appointed to confer with agricultural societies of the counties of Marin, Mendocino, Napa and Solano, and in case no society exist in those counties, then with some of the prominent agriculturists and stock-raisers therein, upon the subject of estab- lishing a District Agricultural Society, to be known as the Sonoma and Napa District Society. H. L. Weston, I. G. Wickersham, Joseph O'Farrell, J. S. Rob- berson and Rod Matheson were appointed said committee. The second fair was held at Petaluma, on the grounds of Uriah Edwards, and for it premium lists were prepared under the direction of Mr. Wickersham. Col. Haraszthy made the opening address. Petaluma Band gave the music for the occasion, at the price of four hundred dollars. The records of the society for that year are very full and complete, made by the Secretary, S. D. Towns, who had been elected to fill the place of Mr. Boggs. E. Latapie was the Marshal of the week. The bar was let for thirty-five dollars. Among the other exhibitions
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of the week was a trial of fire engines. The premiums consisted of cash and silver plate. Races were held one day at the old race track.
At the election held at the close of the fair, Dr. John Hendley was elected President ; Wingfield Wright, Vice-President ; W. H. Crowell, Secretary, and J. H. Holmes, Treasurer, and it was resolved to hold the next fair at Santa Rosa. Thereafter the fair was held at different points, until 1867, when the society was reorganized, with J. R. Rose, President, and Phillip Cowen, Sec- retary. That year the north portion of the present grounds were purchased from Gates, and the pavilion was erected, and a large part of the cattle stalls and horse stalls constructed, and the society, under its present management, held its first fair ; J. P. Clark was Marshal; N. C. Stafford, superintendent of the pavilion, and M. Doyle, superintendent of the stock grounds. To make the purchase of permanent grounds about two hundred and fifty life memberships were sold at the price of twenty-five dollars per share, with privilege of free admission to all subsequent fairs and right to exhibit. The old race track, about two miles from the city, was still used for all races. The second annual election of the present society was held on the second Sat- urday of May, 1868. The counties of Sonoma, Marin, Mendocino and Lake constituted the district at this time. J. R. Rose was re-elected President ; Andrew Mills, Vice-President, and Phil. Cowen, Secretary, with nine Directors. The fair for 1868 was held at the new grounds, September 21st to 25th, inclusive. George Pearce made the opening address, and E. S. Lippitt the annual address. J. P. Clark acted as Marshal, and F. W. Lougee and M. Doyle as superintendents of pavilion and stock grounds. This year, for the first time, the society conferred diplomas for meritorious exhibits. The society showed by its exhibition this year a steady growth. The interest was greater than ever, the exhibits larger and more creditable.
At the annual election, in May, 1869, J. R. Rose was unanimously elected President; A. Mills, Vice-President; P. Conin, Secretary; I. G. Wickersham, Treasurer; with the same number of Directors. The fair this year was held September 27th to October 1st. N. L. Allen acted as Marshal, D. W. C. Putnam was Superintendent of Pavilion, and - - Rochford, superintendent of stock grounds. The fair was very creditable, and the society felt the need of more room. A committee was appointed to secure more ample grounds for the Fair and race-track.
On the 8th of January, 1870, they reported that they could buy the Liberty race ground, on the Bloomfield road, at six thousand dollars; land of Mr. Long for eighty-five dollars per acre, and at Gill's place for forty dollars per acre.
On the 15th of January, I. G. Wickersham presented a petition to send to the Legislature to solicit State aid, and a meeting of life members was called to meet April 2, 1870, to select new grounds for the fair. The result of the action of the meeting was to buy grounds adjacent to the old fair
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grounds, and upon them construct a half-mile race track, grand stand, and other conveniences for a permanent fair ground.
The new board of officers were elected in December, 1870, and consisted of E. Denman, President; Lee Ellsworth and H. Mecham, Vice-Presidents; J. Grover, Secretary; and Wm. Hill, Treasurer.
Society during this year duly incorporated, and J. R. Rose, to whom the several parcels of land of the fair ground had been deeded, as trustee for the society, deeded them to the society. A committee, of E. Denman and C. Tempel, was also appointed to make arrangements to pay the large indebtedness of the society.
The Fair for 1871 was held September 25th to 30th, and was well attended. The third stage of the society's existence had now commenced. The receipts were largely in excess of former years, amounting to three thousand three hundred and seventy dollars.
The annual meeting for 1871 was adjourned until January 6, 1872, when an election of officers was had, with the following result : President, Lee Ellsworth; E. Denman and J. R. Rose, Vice-Presidents; Frank Lougee, Treasurer; and J. Grover, Secretary.
The great expense of the new purchase and grand stand, and construction of race track, had been met by the generous action of the public-spirited citizens of the city of Petaluma and county, who assumed the liabilities by their joint note, amounting to about twelve thousand dollars. About forty signed the note. This amount was afterward paid by them, as the note became due, except five thousand dollars, which was paid by the city of Petaluma. The payment of this debt by these mnen relieved the society from a great burden.
The Society's fair for 1872 was held September 9th to 14th, inclusive. B. Haskel was superintendent of pavilion. The receipts of the Society this year were larger than any preceding year, amounting to five thousan l eight hundred and forty-one dollars, besides the sum of two thousand dollars appropriated by the State.
At the annual election held December 7, 1872, the retiring President, L. Ellsworth, made a report to the society of their progress, from its reorgan- ization in 1867 to date, by which it appeared that the total receipts of the society had amounted to twenty-nine thousand six hundred and thirty-three dollars, and that the society had expended, for grounds, pavilion, grand stand and premiums, the sum of forty thousand seven hundred and fifty-one dollars, leaving an indebtedness of eleven thousand one hundred and eighteen dollars, secured as heretofore stated.
The following officers were elected for ensuing year : President, E. Den- man; Vice-Presidents, L. Ellsworth, Wm. Zartman; Secretary, E. S. Lippitt; Treasurer, Robert Seavey.
The fair for 1873, was held October 6th to 11th, inclusive, Capt. Watson
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acting as Marshal. Rev. G. B. Taylor delivered the annual address. The receipts for the year were six thousand two hundred dollars, besides two thousand dollars received from the State, most of which was expended in enlarging the accommodations for stock and enlargement of the grand stand.
The annual meeting for 1873 was held on December 7th, and the following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year: President, J. R. Rose; Vice-Presidents, Lee Ellsworth and H. Mecham; Secretary, E. S. Lippitt; Treasurer, A. J. Pierce ; Directors, A. Morse and Robert Seavey.
The fair for the year 1874 was held September 14th to 19th, inclusive. D. W. C. Putnam was elected superintendent of pavilion, and Judge Shafter delivered the annual address. The fair was largely attended.
At the annual meeting in 1874 the following officers were elected to serve for the ensuing year: President, J. R. Rose; Vice-Presidents, H. Mecham, G. D. Green; Secretary, E. S. Lippitt ; Treasurer, A. Morse ; Directors, P. J. Shafter and Robert Crane. The district was enlarged now by taking in Napa and Solano counties, and exhibitors restricted to the district.
At the fair held in 1875 Prof. Fitzgerald, State Superintendent of Public Schools, delivered the annual address. This year the pavilion was enlarged by the addition of agricultural and horticultural'halls. The receipts amounted to five thousand six hundred and fourteen dollars.
At the annual election in 1875, the following officers were elected for the ensuing year : President, L. Ellsworth; Vice-Presidents, A. P. Whitney and P. J. Shafter; Secretary, E. S. Lippitt; Treasurer, A. Morse; Directors, Robert Crane and H. Mecham. Mr. Ellsworth having resigned, H. Mecham was afterward elected by the Board of Directors to fill his place.
The Fair for 1876 was held from October 9th to 14th, and was in extent and quality greatly in excess of any heretofore held. The display of stock was the finest exhibited at any. of the fairs of the State, and the depart- ments of agriculture and horticulture were greatly in advance of former fairs. Major Armstrong acted as Marshal. Judge Shafter delivered the annual address.
At the annual meeting held December 2, 1876, the following officers were elected: President, H. Mecham; Vice-Presidents, A. P. Whitney, P. J. Shafter; Secretary, E. S. Lippitt; Treasurer, A. Morse ; Directors, G. D. Green, Robert Crane. By action of the society the District was enlarged to take in the counties west of the Sacramento and north of the bay, including Humboldt and Yolo. The fair for 1877 was held September 24-29. M. D. Boruck delivered the annual address, James Armstrong acting as Marshal. The receipts were the largest ever had by the Society, amounting to seven thousand five hundred and seventy-seven dollars. The Pavilion was enlarged by extending the west wing forty feet. A large number of stalls for horses and stock were built and the whole grounds thoroughly overhauled and repaired, which not only absorbed the large receipts but entailed a debt of one thousand
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three hundred and eighty-five dollars. At the annual election this year, 1877, the old Board of officers were re-elected and the time of fair fixed for September 21st to 28th inclusive. During this year the grounds had been greatly adorned by the planting of trees. An art gallery was built twenty- five feet wide by eighty feet long and other permanent improvements of the grounds and buildings.
The fair held in 1878 was the largest and most interesting of the whole series. The receipts amounted to seven thousand six hundred and sixty-five dollars. The expenditures, eight thousand four hundred and thirty-six dollars. Leaving a small debt subsisting against the society.
The Legislature at the session of 1877-8 enacted a new law in regard to agricultural societies making the President and two Directors to be chosen each year and the Treasurer and Secretary to be other than members of the Board. At the last election held December, 1878, the following Board of Directors was elected: President, A P. Whitney ; E. Denman and R. Crane, Directors for one year ; J. McM. Shafter and H. Mecham, for two years; A. Morse and R. Seavey, for three years. F. W. Lougee was by the Board elected Treasurer and W. E. Cox Secretary.
During the last year the same enterprising spirit has been exhibited by the Board-new gates to the Park have been built and a new ticket office and Treasurer's office. The grand stand was enlarged one half its former dimensions. New trees planted and new stalls erected. The last fair was equal to any that preceded it. J. P. Clark was Marshal of the week . D. W. C. Putnam, Superintendent of the Pavilion. E. S. Lippitt delivered the annual address. It will thus be seen that the old friends of the Society are still its earnest supporters.
One of the most attractive features of the fair for the last three years has been the award of premiums offered by Judge J. McM. Shafter to young ladies for best bread, cakes, salads, baked beans and soups. These prizes of beautiful silver ware and the finest Sevres ware, amounting to several hundreds of dollars, have called forth a lively competition and in connection with the annual address to the young ladies by the honored giver has proved one of the pleasantest and most attractive features of the annual fair. His generosity does not diminish; " may his shadow never be less."
We have thus given the history of the society down to the present time. The successful reorganization of the Society was largely due to the untiring efforts of its first president, J. R. Rose, Esq. . The gross receipts for the last twelve years has been about ninety thousand dollars, of which sum about forty thousand dollars has been expended in premiums. The balance has been expended in purchase of grounds, erection of buildings and the current expenses of annual fairs. The Society has been the means of creating a greater interest in farming and farm products and has made the District unsurpassed by any in the State in the number and quality of its thorough-
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bred cattle and horses. Under its present management, the Society now free from debt enters upon a continued and wider sphere of usefulness. The election of the following officers December 6, 1879: A. P. Whitney, President; Robert Crane and E. Denman, Directors, argues well for its increasing usefulness and success.
Petaluma Fire Department .- The first fire company in Petaluma was organized Wednesday, June 10, 1857, with the following officers: President, H. L. Weston; Secretary, E. B. Cooper; Treasurer, William Hill; Foreman, William Van Houten; First Assistant, M. Woods; Trustees: W. L. Ander- son, George Andrews, M. Weil. The engine and hose-cart was purchased of Knickerbocker Company, No. Five, of San Francisco, and was quite a feature in the Fourth of July procession, twenty-two years ago. It is a Smith machine, and at present is housed in the house of Company No. One. Following is a list of the forty-five charter members: H. L. Weston, M. Woods, J. B. Southard, V. D. Lambert, Frank Bray, George Mower, C. I. Robinson, H. D. Ley, J. Warshawski, John F. Murphy, M. Weil, M. Lehman, John S. Van Doren, W. W. Churchill, S. Wiley, Edmund Buckley, William Van Houten, E. B. Cooper, James H. Knowles, Charles Fann, George W. Andrews, J. R. Robinson, T. F. Baylis, William L. Anderson, J. S. Fields, J. Letson, J. Greaver, Thomas Williams, F. A. Parker, George Ross, J. S. Eagan, C. A. Hunnewell, J. W. Hemenway, J. H. Siddons, D. W. Kelly, William Zartman, John Stedman, C. G. Ives, James Samuels, William M. Lyon, William Hill, Israel Cook, George Pearce, J. D. Cross, John Delehanty, Lee Ellsworth, George Stanley, James Daly, Daniel Brown, M. MeCarty, J. P. Hutchinson, S. C. Haydon, Robert P. Gill, George Walker, W. W. Main, B. F. Cornell, J. W. Harris, J. K. Brown, J. Palmer, S. Fieldheim, E. Swift, P. E. Weeks, Charles P. Lovegrove, James M. Merrill, Charles Plummer, James Van Doren, F. W. Lougee, Charles E. Powers, Edmund Collins, Alexander Vander Noot, Robert F. Brooks, E. B. Thompson, William P. Tiernay, E. R. Pliley; M. J. Caveno, C. E. Colburn, John O. Malley, Charles Hopkins, Thomas Roach, William Thomas, C. H. Steel, J. B. Hinkle, George H. Hackett, Henry Holmes, J. E. Lockwood, S. S. Kingery, S. H. Smith, Almon Johnson, Peter McKenna, S. P. Derby, Owen Nelis, Thomas M. Crowley, William Jennings, Edward Edwards, M. Donahue, A. Morris, Theodore F. Rohte, E. Rowlson, John U. Newton, J. C. Peavy, George A. Hart, Richard Lambert, Jess Jackson, George Campbell, Jacob Rosenthal, John E. Gwinn, Lee Boreland, William H. Van Doren, James P. Hume, O. Randolph, Philip Cowen, A. Bond, D. W. Sroufe, John C. Scott, Robert Brooks, E. P. Butler, H. Pimm, G. R. Codding, A. B. Derby, Thomas Edwards, B. Newman, Samuel Cassiday, Frederick Frasier, J. Price, Jr., H. Jacobson, N. O. Mitchell, John Sroufe, W. H. Douglass, Charles H. Bailey, S. C. Smith, P. Harrison, John Tustin, R. C. Pearson, William M. Brown, B. P. Brower, William Davis, James Tann, John L. Waters, James B. Bailey, J. W.
J'aibank
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Stewart, Thomas Clark. The company at present has a membership of about sixty active members and the following officers: President, G. W. Zartman; Foreman, H. Pimm; First Assistant, F. C. Jordan; Second Assist- ant, J. E. Johnson; Secretary, F. C. Jordan; Treasurer, J. E. Johnson.
First National Gold Bank of Petaluma (successors to I. G. Wickersham & Co.)-The first bank in Sonoma county was established by I. G. Wieker- sham on the first day of February, eighteen hundred and sixty-five, under the name of I. G. Wickersham & Co., who, in 1868, erected the first bank- building in the county.
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