USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 40
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The first cashier was Eli Sprague, who held the position until April 1, 1866, and was succeeded by H. H. Atwater, who was cashier until the bank was reorganized under the National Bank Aet.
On the t.venty-third day of Seps mber, eighteen hundred and seventy- four, the First Nation il Gold Bank of Petaluma was organized with a paid- up capital of two hundred thousand dollars gold, with authority to increase the same to five hundred thousand, and on January 1, 1875, commenced business as a National Bank, succeeding I. G. Wickersham & Co.
At the first annual meeting of the stockholders, in January, 1875, I. G. Wickersham, H. H. Atwater, Jesse C. Wickersham, Daniel Brown, Henry Steitz, James H. Knowles, and John E. Gwinn were elected directors.
For the year 1876 the directors were I. G. Wickersham, H. H. Atwater, Jesse C. Wickersham, Henry Steitz, James H. Knowles, L. G. Nay, and L. Ellsworth.
For the years 1877 and 1878 the directors were I. G. Wickersham, H. H. Atwater, Jesse C. Wickersham, Daniel Brown, Henry Steitz, L. G. Nay, J. H. Knowles.
The present directors (December 1, 1879), are I. G. Wickersham, H. H. Atwater, Jesse C. Wickersham, J. H. Knowles, L. G. Nay, L. Ellsworth, and Charles D. Allen.
The present officers are I. G. Wickersham, President, and H. H. Atwater, cashier, who have held their positions since the organization of the bank.
The present stock-holders, thirty-five in number, are Martin Armstrong, Charles D. Allen, H. H. Atwater, H. P. Brainard, Daniel Brown, Sylvester Brooks, Julia E. Brooks, L. Ellsworth, J. E. Gwinn, Gwinn & Brainard, P. B. Hewlett, C. P. Hatch, J. W. Harris, C. J. Hutchins, Richard Hutchinson, T. J. Haskins, Fred Hewlett, James H. Knowles, John Krow, J. D. Lodge, E. H. Long, Anton Meyer, H. Mathies, L. G. Nay, W. H. Pepper, J. S. Shepherd, Joseph G. Smith, Mary. E. Sullivan, Mrs. L. J. Walker, Darius Woodworth, Jesse C. Wickersham, I. G. Wickersham Mrs. L. C. Wicker- sham, Mrs. C. H. Weston, and L. C. Woodworth.
The Bank of Sonoma County .- This institution was incorporated under the General Incorporation Laws of the State of California on May 10, 1866, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, in one thousand
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shares of one hundred dollars each, its incorporators being : J. A. McNear & Bro., William Hill, W. Dutton, E. Denman, J. R. Rose, Andrew Mills, G. W. Case, A. B. Case, H. Mecham, C. Railsbuck, G. R. Codding, Henry Hall, W. S. M. Wright, Robert Bailey, W. R. Roberts, W. P. Hinshaw, G. Woodward, representing fifty shares each, and T. Bernhard, E. Newburgh, S. Cushing Hoag, James E. Fowler, John Sroufe, Almira Sweetland, twenty-five shares each.
On April 14, 1866, a Board of Directors was elected for three months com - posed of Wm. Hill, J. A. MeNear, E. Denman, Warren Dutton, and Andrew Mills, Mr. Hill being elected President. F. W. Lougee was chosen Secretary, and E. Sprague, Cashier. Two committees were also appointed; the first, com- posed of Messrs. J. A. MeNear, William Hill, and F. W. Lougee, to draft by-laws and rules of order; and Messrs. McNear and Warren Dutton, to pro- cure a safe. The committee intrusted with the last-mentioned duty lost no time, and quickly procured a Lillie Bank Safe of the largest style manufac- tured; with that the Bank of Sonoma commenced business on May 10, 1866, in a small office, partitioned off in the building on the south-east corner of Main and Washington streets, their first act being a call of twenty-five per cent of their subscribed capital. Their correspondents were the Bank of California in San Francisco, and Lees and Walker in New York.
The second assessment of twenty-five per cent on the subscribed capital was made on May 19th, payable on July 15, 1866. The first annual meet- ing of the stockholders was held on August 7th of the same year, and the original Directors, Messrs. Hill, MeNear, Mills, Dutton and Denman, re-elected for the ensuing year, the same President and Cashier being again appointed. The third call, of ten per cent, was levied on September 11th, and payable on November 1, 1866. On April 22d the first dividend of ten per cent on the capital stock was declared, payable on the Ist of June, while the fourth assessment of ten per cent was levied, payable on the same date. On June 3, 1867, the fifth and final assessment of thirty per cent was ordered, payable. on September 1st of that year.
The second regular annual meeting of stockholders was convened on August 6, 1867, and William Hill, W. Dutton, E. Denman, Andrew Mills, and J. Bernhard elected Directors, the President and Cashier being continued in their offices. At this meeting the subject of increasing the capital stock to two hundred thousand dollars was considered, and a committee appointed to purchase a lot on which to erect a bank building. This culminated, on November 9, 1867, in the acquiring from MeCune Brothers, for the sum of nine thousand dollars, of the edifice then occupied by G. F. Allen and P. Cowen, on the south side of Main street, a few doors south of Washington, to which building the offices were moved about January, 1868, the bank occupying the room used by P. Cowen, G. F. Allen remaining as a tenant in the north room.
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Owing to the severe and continued illness of the cashier, E. Sprague, he tendered his resignation in March, 1868; in the following April, J. S. Van Doren was elected Cashier. On the 28th of the same month he became assistant in the bank, and, on June Ist, assumed the duties of that office. Mr. Sprague lingered until the following September, when, at the age of - years, he was relieved from his sufferings by death, and was the first to be laid in the Cypress Hill Cemetery. He was an able, efficient and faithful officer, while to his ability as an organizer and financier, is in a great measure to be attributed the great success which the corporation has since attained.
The third annual meeting of the stockholders was held August 4, 1868, when new by-laws were adopted, and W. Hill, A. Mills, W. Dutton, Henry Hall and E. Newburgh appointed Directors.
The fourth annual meeting of the stockholders met August 3, 1869, and the Board as above re-elected. On December 16th a vacancy in the Board occurred, consequent on the retirement of Andrew Mills; E. Denman was elected for the unexpired term.
The fifth annual meeting of the stockholders was had August 2, 1870, when W. Hill, E. Denman, W. Dutton, Henry Hall and E. Newburgh were elected Directors for the year.
The sixth annual meeting was held August 3, 1871, at which the same Board of Directors was elected.
On March 16, 1872, a disastrous fire laid low the lot on the northwest corner of Main and Washington streets; on April 23d, however, the Directors contracted with MeNear & Bro. for that lot, measuring eighteen feet on Main and fifty-three on Washington streets, whereon to erect their present magnificent building, paying therefor the property at that time occupied by the bank, and ten thousand dollars in cash. The edifice, with its perfect vault and specie safe, was completed and business commenced therein November 7, 1872. .
The seventh annual meeting was held August 6, 1872, when the following Directors were elected : William Hill, E. Denman, W. Dutton, E. Newburgh and W. S. M. Wright.
The eighth annual meeting of stockholders was convened August 5, 1873, and the former Board of Directors re-elected.
The ninth annual meeting assembled August 4, 1874. William Hill, E. Denman, W. Dutton, W. S. M. Wright and G. W. McNear being elected Directors.
At the tenth annual meeting of stockholders, held August 3, 1875, the same Board were re-elected, save in the substitution of E. Newburgh for W. S. M. Wright. At this meeting E. Denman was elected Vice President by the Board, which office he has since continuously held.
The eleventh regular annual meeting was had August 3, 1876, when the
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following were elected the Board of Directors : W. Hill, W. Dutton, E. Denman, E. Newburgh, James E. Fowler. At this meeting Mr. Hill was granted two months' leave of absence from his presidential duties, during which time he visited the Centennial Exhibition and the New England States.
In January, 1877, a Yale Time Lock was attached to the vault door of the bank. On February 1st of the same year, in pursuance of the certificate of the Secretary of State, authorizing the increase of the capital stock, and amended by-laws, the bank thereupon increased the capital stock from one hundred thousand dollars to three hundred thousand dollars, by capitalizing its already accrued surplus of two hundred thousand dollars. In March fol- lowing, F. E. MeNear was elected Assistant Cashier, since which time his con- nection with the bank has continued. On May Ist, the paying of dividends was resumed, dividend Number Eight, the first under the new capital stock of one per cent. per month, being then made, and dividends continued quar- terly.
The twelfth regular annual meeting of the stockholders was convened on August 7, 1877, and the former Board of Directors re-elected.
The thirteenth annual meeting was held August 6, 1878, and the same Directorate continued.
The fourteenth regular annual meeting of the stockholders was held August 6, 1879, and no change made in the Directory or officers.
Since the organization of the Bank of Sonoma county it has paid one hundred and twenty-six thousand and sixty-two dollars and twenty-five cents in dividends, besides capitalizing two hundred thousand dollars of its surplus, and is now paying ten per cent. per annum quarterly on its capital.
Its present officers are: William Hill, President; E. Denman, Vice-Presi- dent; J. S. Van Doren, Cashier; F. E. McNear, Assistant Cashier. The Directors are: William Hill and W. Dutton, representing three hundred and thirty shares each; E. Denman, E. Newburgh and James E. Fowler, with three hundred, one hundred, and eighty-four shares respectively.
Petaluma Savings Bank .- This institution was incorporated by H. T. Fairbanks, J. M. Bowles, A. P. Whitney, B. F. Tuttle, A. P. Overton, Doc- tor Crane, F. J. Maynard, William Zartman, and L. F. Carpenter, on August 30, 1870. The first President being J. M. Bowles, who filled the office until January, 1871; he was then succeeded by H. T. Fairbanks, who now holds the position. The first Cashier was O. V. Walker, who remained with the bank until 1874. W. B. Haskell next followed, and in January, 1878, D. B. Fairbanks was chosen to fill the appointment. The present Board con- sists of H. T. Fairbanks, President ; J. M. Bowles, Vice-President; D. B. Fairbanks, Cashier. The paid up capital is one hundred thousand dollars, with a surplus fund of twenty-five thousand dollars. They transact a gen-
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eral banking business. Correspondents are: Anglo-Californian Bank of San Francisco, and J. and W. Seligman of New York.
NEWSPAPERS .- The Petaluma Weekly Argus is a representative journal of Sonoma county, having not only a good home circulation, but a liberal patronage in surrounding counties. As it is the outgrowth of a combination of journals, its history very fitly illustrates the mutations and changes attend- ing journalism on this coast. In chronological order the Sonoma County Journal is entitled to precedence, its publication commencing on the 18th of August, 1855, with Thomas L. Thompson as editor and proprietor. It was strictly neutral in politics, and soon won for itself high standing as a news and family journal. In 1856 Mr. Thompson sold the journal establishment to H. L. Weston, who continued its publication as an independent journal, enlarging it from time to time as the growth of the population of the county seemed to require. It held Petaluma as its exclusive field until the Fall of 1859, when the Petaluma Argus, under the proprietorship of J. J. Penny- packer, as a Republican journal, made its appearance, to share the field with the Journal. The latter, under the continued and exclusive proprietorship of Mr. Weston, pursued the even tenor of its way without change or var- iableness until February of 1864. During these years the Argus passed through many changes. Pennypacker having become involved, the Argus material was sold under execution in May of 1860. Mr. Samuel Cassiday getting possession of the material, in June following started the Petaluma, Republican, six issues of which appeared, when Pennypacker recovered back the material, and on the 25th of August of the same year resuscitated the Petaluma Argus. In December of the same year, Pennypacker sold the Argus to A. Drouillard, who on the 4th of January, 1861, formed a partner- ship with J. H. McNabb. Drouillard & McNabb continued the publication of the Argus until July, when Drouillard retired from the paper, and Samuel Cassiday beacme Mr. MeNabb's partner in the proprietorship and editorial management of that journal. From this time until February of 1864, the Argus and Journal divided a field between them which it required but little practical business sagacity to see was not more than equal to the support of one good paper. As a consequence, at that time the two journals were united under the name of the Petaluma Journal and Argus, Mr. Weston retiring from the management, but retaining a third interest in the paper. From this time until June of 1866, MeNabb & Cassiday published the Journal and Argus, when the former retired, and Cassiday remained as sole editor and publisher until February of 1869, when he sold the establish- ment to H. L. Weston. For a year Mr. Weston remained sole proprietor and publisher, when in February of 1870, he took in as partner J. E. Guild, who filled the office of business manager. This partnership was terminated in May of 1871, by Mr. Guild selling out to James H. MeNabb and N. W.
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Scudder, who became equal partners with Weston in the Journal and Argus establishment. Under the firm name of Weston, Scudder & Co., the paper for a brief period was under the management of these three gentlemen, when Mr. MeNabb receiving the appointment of Deputy Collector of the Port of San Francisco, retired from the management, leaving Weston and Scudder sole publishers and editors of the Journal and Argus. During 1872-3, Messrs. Weston & Scudder published a daily paper in connection with their weekly. At the commencement of their new volume of date February 7, 1873, the name Journal was discontinued from the title of the paper, and from thence forward its title has been The Petaluma Weekly Argus. Under the proprie- torship of Weston & Scudder the Argus was enlarged to its present size, and its office furnished with all the appointments of a first class country journal. In April of 1879, Mr. Scudder sold his interest in the Argus and retired, giv- ing place to Samuel Cassiday, who, after a rest of ten years resumed his connection with that journal. At the present time, Messrs. Weston & Cassi- day are sole proprietors in the publication and editorial management of the Argus; Mr. McNabb owning a third interest in the material of the estab- lishment. As this paper, and very properly too, dates its existence from the first issue of the Sonoma County Journal, its files are already the repository of nearly a quarter of a century of the history of Sonoma county.
The Petaluma Weekly Courier, was started by Wm. F. Shattuck, the pres- ent proprietor, October 5, 1876. From a small patent outside sheet it has grown to be a pretentious eight-column paper, and is now an established institution, being considered one of the reliable Democratic journals of the State. The first year of its existence the Courier was edited by Professor E. S. Lippitt, a gentleman well known throughout the coast. His vigorous, well-written editorials brought the paper into notice, and gave it consider- able influence. Mr. Lippitt was succeeded by F. W. Shattuck, in the editorial management, a prominent attorney of Sonoma county. By an inde- pendent style altogether original, Mr. Shattuck worked the paper up to a position which it fills to the satisfaction of all, and numerous quotations from it in the old established journals of the coast testify to the reliable tone of the Courier. At this date the paper wields a powerful influence for good throughout its section, and is rapidly gaining ground in the surrounding counties.
WATER COMPANIES-The first water introduced into the city of Petaluma in pipes, for public purposes, is said to have been effected by Dr. J. Walker, who, in turn, disposed of his interest in the undertaking in the year 1860 ; for, on July 16th of that year, we find in the records of the Board of Trustees that the privilege was granted to John Cavanagh, George L. Bradley, and John Robbins, to convey fresh water from their springs, in pipes, along the several streets in the city, and to supply the same to such citizens as may
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desire to purchase it. This body was known as the Petaluma Mountain Water Company. They subsequently sold out to Smith D. Towne and James Armstrong, and on March 9, 1868, received from the municipality the exclusive right to introduce water into the city, the same to continue in force for twenty-five years. On the 2d of April, Towne and Armstrong, being associated with the Hon. B. B. Munday, organized the Petaluma Water Com- pany; on the 16th it was incorporated, but, on June 22d, the ordinance grant- ing the privivilege was repealed, and, after lengthenel and insurmountable difficulty, sold out to the
Sonoma County Water Company .- This association was incorporated on December 18, 1871, by M. J. Miller, C. Temple, and F. E. McNear. The company owns the right to the waters of the Adobe and Copeland, as also certain claims on that of the Lynch creeks, which each take their rise in the Sonoma range of hills, and flow through Vallejo township. At the time of writing the water in use in the city is drawn principally from the first named stream, at a point distant from Petaluma of about five miles ; it is in contemplation to bring the liquid from Copeland creek, at about eight miles distant. The water now in use is conveyed from the Adobe creek, through seven-inch wrought iron mains, and delivered into a reservoir of the capacity of five hundred thousand gallons, which is situated on the eminence west of Cypress Hill Cemetery, and thence distributed to customers, from an eleva- tion of one hundred and seventy-five feet above the town, the length of the mains used being, in all, in the vicinity of eight miles. Within the cor- porate limits there are thirteen hydrants, the property of the city, while the company, in mains, both large 'and small, own about twenty miles of pipes. The average daily consumption is near two hundred and twenty-five thou- sand gallons, distributed among about five hundred and fifty consumers, who put the water to household, irrigation, and other uses, while from the same source are supplied the locomotives, steamers and other craft which visit the city. The fluid is of excellent quality, and the price charged is one-half that in San Francisco, for domestic purposes; for irrigation it is done for one-eighth of that demanded in that city. The company is now composed as follows : President, Francis Smith; Vice-President, William Hill; Secretary and Superintendent, F. W. Lougec, with the following gentlemen comprising the Board of Directors: Francis Smith and William Hill, of Petaluma, and C. Adolphe Low, of San Francisco. Water rights, construction account, and legal expenses have swelled the cost of the works to about one hundred and fifteen thousand dollars, and but one dividend, of one thousand dollars, has been paid, the collections made for water, etc., being used on the construction account. This undertaking has been of great benefit to property-holders in Petaluma, on account of the facility which exists for the extinguishing of fires, it being calculated that, in this regard alone, no less a sum than one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars has been saved to
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them. The rates of insurance have been materially decreased since the establishment of the hydrants, all tending to the benefit of the property- holder.
McNear & Bro.'s Warehouse .- The fire-brick warehouse situated in East Petaluma was erected by John A. and George W. McNear in the Fall of 1864. It is one hundred and fifty feet square, with walls twenty-five feet high. The walls are made of brick, and the floor of cement and asphal- tum, and the roof asphaltum, hence it is absolutely fire-proof, and to add still more to its safety from fire, it is almost entirely surrounded by the Petaluma creek. It has a capacity for ten thousand tons of grain. The shipping facilities from this house are as excellent as any in the State. Schooners can take the grain from the door of the warehouse and deliver it direct on board of the ships bound for the great grain marts of the world. The railroad track passes into the building and by its doors. Grain from all parts of the valley above is delivered so that it can be readily transferred to the out-going schooners or stored in the warehouse. At the time of its erection it was the largest fire-proof warehouse in the State of California: The amount of business done here in a year is simply enormous. Fully as much produce is shipped over the wharf as is stored. It is at present managed by John A. MeNear, he having dissolved business with G. W. MeNear, August 1, 1874. When it is considered that twenty thousand tons of produce passes over the wharf of this warehouse alone yearly an approximate idea of the vast resources of the rich valley ; of Sonoma may be obtained.
McNear & Bro.'s Mill .- The mill business, at present conducted by George P. MeNear, was put in operation by M. R. Evans in 1862. He continued to run it till 1866, when it passed into the hands of Leonard & . Erhardt, who conducted it till 1868. It then came into possession of J. R. Rose, who continued in charge of it till 1870. M. J. Miller then took charge of it, and conducted it till 1876. The business had NOT proved to be a very good investment previous to its coming into the hands of Mr. Miller. He gave it a thorough overhauling, and, in fact, almost rebuilt it, adding many improvements to it, some of the most important of which were his own design. The present manager took charge it in 1876, and has conducted it successfully ever since. It has two run of burs in it. The other machinery is very complete in all its arrangements. This machinery is driven by a thirty-five-horse power engine. Its capacity is fifty barrels a day of twenty-four hours. It has been run continuously every day and often during the night, also for the past three years, and it is a remark: able fact, that it has not been obliged to cease running for a full day for repairs during that time. It is well protected from fire, having six hydrant. connections and a tank on the roof. The local trade consumes all the flour produced at this mill, and the quality of it is pronounced to be very superior
John Walker C'
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by all who use it. The business is now in competent hands, and is proving a first-class financial venture.
California Mills .- These mills are situated on Main street, Petaluma, and run back to Water street, having a frontage on the former of thirty-eight and a-half feet and running back to the latter one hundred and twenty-five feet, the proprietors being J. M. Bowles & Sons. The mill proper is con- structed of brick and is forty by sixty feet in dimensions and is supplied with three run of stone, five reels, and one middlings purifier. The machinery is driven by a plain stationary engine, manufactured at the California Machine Shop, by Berts and Company of San Francisco, and comprises all the most modern improvements, having a capacity of turning out one hundred barrels of flour in the twenty-four hours and a capacity for ground and chopped feed of fifty tons in the same time. The premises are divided into a receiving-room for grain, flour-room, store-room, besides others for machinery and storage. It has also a well constructed wharf possessing all the necessary facilities for shipping, while it has been in working order for the last twelve months only.
Centennial Planing Mills .- Sloper & Fuller, proprietors. These mills are situated at the foot of Main and D streets and occupy an area of forty by sixty feet. The building is two stories in height, and constructed of wood. The machinery is run by one fifteen horse-power engine, manu- factured by Wood & Main of Utica, New York, while the work turned out for the most part consists of all kinds of mouldings and house-finishing articles, as well as those used in connection with dairy, mining, water, and fruit growing interests. The business was established in 1876 by the present proprietors, the capital invested being two thousand five hundred dollars.
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