USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 49
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84
In the matter of general history below will be found the location by streets and the names of the owners of such business houses as had been erected in the year 1874. Beginning with C street, (or as it is improperly called Main street) we have first the three-story addition to the Grand Hotel, making it larger by thirty rooms. Messrs. A. Neece and Robert West own the property; Luke Kelly is landlord, to a house always full of guests. Next on C street is the wine house of White & Atkins, remodled and built over this year. On the opposite side of the street is the large carriage and wagon factory and blacksmith shop of Ross & Co,, steam power and complete in all its appointments; J. P. Clark, proprietor of the ground and buildings. On Third street we have J. Ridgway's ten brick stores, twenty feet front by sixty deep. At west end of Third street is the immense feed store and hay warehouse, owned by Dr. J. F. Boyce, and kept by Charles Clark. On the west side of the plaza is the elegant and complete banking house of the " Savings Bank of Santa Rosa," a building which would do credit to San Francisco. Three doors above, on the same side of the plaza, is the Democrat building, a two-story brick, twenty-four feet front by one hundred deep. The ground floor is occupied by the elegant dry goods house of Leibman & Co., the upper floor by the Democrat office, T. L. Thomson, proprietor. Adjoining the Democrat building on the north A. Kohle has made an addition of twenty-four by thirty-two to his two-story brick. On
414
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
Fourth street, first is the postoffice block, fifty feet front by seventy-five feet deep, two-story brick, owned by Mrs. Spencer. The stores on the ground floor are occupied, one by Rufus Temple, druggist, and J. M. Roney, whole- sale liquor dealer. On the corner of Fourth and B streets is a handsome and elegant two-story brick, forty feet front by seventy-five deep, owned by Gen. D. H. Parks. Adjoining Parks, on the east, is the two-story brick belonging to Mrs. Byrne, twenty by seventy-five; it has the same finish as the Parks building, making a most creditable appearance. Messrs. James P. Duncan and A. L. Stephens were the contractors. Next east of Mrs. Byrnes' building is the store put up by Gentry & Morris, and occupied by Mr. Davis as a dry goods and fancy store. On the south-west corner of B and Fourth streets, S. A. Rendall has a two-story frame, formerly on the corner of Third and B streets. On the south-east corner of the same streets , T. W. Smith has fitted up a market. Further down on Fourth, L. Wilde has a building used by him for his business, shoe-making. On the corner of Davis and Fourth streets is the American Exchange Hotel, a large two-story frame, put up and owned by J. E. Perkinson. . On the opposite side of Fourth street is the building occupied by Jas. Brown, as a meat market, put up and owned by Thomas Duffy. Two doors above, on the same side, is the large addition to Santa Rosa Carriage Factory, put up, owned and occupied by D. C. Nicholl. Two doors further west is the building erected by L. B. Hall, and occupied by Fisher & Reagan, for their marble works. Directly opposite which is the building occupied by J. Healy, shoe-maker, put up and owned by John Boylan. Next west of the marble works is the building erected, owned and occupied by Santa Rosa Hose Company. On the west side of the railroad track is the large foundry and machine shop, put up, owned and occupied by W. H. Smith and H F. Shulte.
The elegant and commodious public school-house, with accommodation for six hundred pupils, is also on Fourth street. Dr. W. T. Cocke occupies an office next to the new meat market of Mathews & Seawell, both erected this year. Further down on Fourth street is the lumber-yard of Murphy Brothers, and necessary office buildings and sheds, to be accredited to 1874. Of the above-mentioned business houses, A. P. Petit was the contractor and builder of the Grand Hotel, Savings Bank, Postoffice Block, Public School- house, Democrat building, and also that of A. Kohle; anl Arnold Childers, of Ridgway's ten stores, on Third street. We think there is not another interior town in the State which can show an equal number of business houses, and of the same costly character put up in 1874.
On February 17, 1875, occurred the death of another old resident in Doctor John Hendley. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, September 20, 1820 ; came to California in 1850, and then located in Sonoma county, settling in the following year on his farm, where he died. He was for many
415
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
years engaged in mercantile pursuits in Santa Rosa, and served one term as County Clerk, and for two years as County Treasurer. His death was sor- rowfully felt throughout the county, and many marks of esteem and affec- tion were manifested at his untimely demise.
On the night of December 7, 1875, the usually quiet and orderly city was thrown into a state of great excitement on the occasion of the stabbing of Charles Stevens, a native of England, by F. A. Heflin, clerk to David Carithers. The cause of quarrel is thus stated: About two months previ- ously Stevens had purchased a vehicle, which he ran as a job and express wagon. He purchased a horse from Heflin when he started this business. The difficulty which led to his death originated about this purchase. Heflin sold the horse to Stevens for thirty-five dollars ; Stevens paid twenty dollars on account, leaving fifteen still due. Heflin had asked Stevens for the money several times. Stevens wanted Heflin to take the horse back. So the matter stood when the fatal occurrence took place. The accused was admitted to bail, tried on March 2, 1876; a new trial was had on the 16th, May; when he was found not guilty.
The year 1876 is prolific with the doings of the city. On January 6th an ordinance amending license ordinance; also, one prohibiting obstruction of streets was passed; on April 12th the following resolution was unani- mously adopted by the Board of Trustees on the occasion of the retirement of their President, C. C. Fariner. "Resolved, That the thanks of this Board be tendered to C. C. Farmer, our honorable President, for the impartial manner in which he has presided over our meetings for the past year, and for the faithful performance of those duties devolving upon him, with an eye single to the best interests of the city at large, and in retiring from the position as President of this Board, he carries with him the highest regards of each and every member as an honorable man and faithful officer." The resolution was ordered published.
April 12, 1876, the following members of the Common Council and the Mayor elect took and subscribed the official oath : E. Neblett, Mayor ; A. H. Smith, W. B. Stanley, A. Korbel, F. R. Morgan, G. A. Tupper and William Gable, Councilmen ; John B. Davis, Clerk; John Tyler Campbell, Attorney; Charles G. Ames, Treasurer; John Brown, Recorder; John W. White, Mar- shal; J. S. Simons, Assessor; A. Shepherd, Street Commissioner. The members then proceeded to determine the length of the terms of their offices by lot, as provided in the charter of the city, with the following result : For two years-A. H. Smith, G. A. Tupper, William Gable. For four years-W. B. Stanley, F. R. Morgan, A. Korbel. At this meeting a committee was appointed to select a place wherein the meetings should be held, and the Marshal was authorized to appoint four policemen. A pro- posal from D. D. Davidson to furnish water for the plaza was accepted, at fifty cents per thousand gallons, on the 2d May, while at the same time the
416
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
license for cirenses was raised to twenty-five dollars for each exhibition. On the 26th it was carried, on motion, that all houses advertising for boarders should pay a license of five dollars per quarter; it was also ordered that any person selling less than a quart of liquor should be considered a retailer, and made to pay a tax of fifteen dollars per quarter. June the 6th a Finance Committee was created, and Messrs. Smith, Stanley and Korbel appointed to serve on it; on the same day the sum of three hundred dollars toward the centennial celebration ; also, " An ordinance in revision of the ordinances governing the city of Santa Rosa," was read a third time and passed. On motion, His Honor the Mayor was authorized to have the charter and ordinances published in book form.
The charter in present use was adopted in the year 1876, and declares that the town of Santa Rosa shall be a body politic and corporate under the name and style of the city of Santa Rosa, and by that name shall have perpetual succession, and by that name may sue and defend in courts, etc. It defines the corporate limits of the city to be as follows, to wit: Beginning at a point three-fourths of a mile due north of the northwest corner of Fourth and C, or Mendocino streets; thence due east three-fourths of a mile; thence due south one and a half miles; thence due west to the west- erly line of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad; thence along the westerly line of said railroad to the north bank of Santa Rosa Creek; thence westerly, following the meanderings of the north bank of said creek to the westerly line of a tract of land known as the Hewitt addition to the city of Santa Rosa; thence along the westerly line of said Hewitt addition and the land of Dr. J. F. Boyce, to the center of the county road, known as the Redwood or Laguna road; thence due north to a point due west of the point of beginning; thence due east to the point of beginning. The cor- porate powers of the city consist of a Mayor and six Councilmen, any four of whom constitute a quorum for the transaction of business; besides which there are a Recorder, Treasurer, Street Commissioner, Attorney, Clerk, Marshal and Assessor, to hold office for two years. The Councilmen, after the first election, to be chosen for four years.
On the 4th October the prayer of Mark L. McDonald and Jackson R. Myers, to construct a street railroad within the city limits, was granted, while at the same session a petition from the retail liquor dealers, and their prayer, viz : the lowering of licenses, granted. Licenses were thereupon ordered to be lowered to ten dollars per quarter.
On March 11, 1876, the iron bridge mentioned above was formally dedi- cated amid much ceremony. It is what is known as Z. King's Patent Wrought Iron Tubular Arch Bridge, manufactured by the King Iron Bridge Company of Cleveland, Ohio, the materials being brought over with, and the construction personally superintended by, George E. King. It is the first and only iron bridge on the Pacific coast, and Santa Rosa has reason to be
.
Soplesalle
417
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
proud of it. It cost in the vicinity of three thousand dollars, is situated over the creek on C street, and its dimensions are one hundred and twenty-five feet in one span, with a carriage-way of sixteen feet and foot-way five feet wide. In this same month, coal gas was introduced by J. E. Ager and L. A. Kelly, they having bought out the Maxim Gas Company and their gaso- lyne paraphernalia. A new company was formed with E. T. Farmer, Presi- dent; C. F. Juillard, Vice-President; L. A. Kelly, Secretary, and the Santa Rosa Bank, Treasurer. New buildings were soon commenced on First street which when completed would cost twenty-five thousand dollars. The city was first lit with gas from coal on May 29, 1876. In June, the Mark West Water Company was established, the incorporators being William Rector, S. T. Coulter, H. T. Hewitt, A. Korbel, and John K. Smith. The capital stock was fifty thousand dollars, and the fluid to be brought from Mark West and Wallace creeks and their tributaries. In the month of April, the Methodist Episcopal Church was dedicated, and the Occidental Hotel, a large and com- modious establishment, opened; while, we may here remark, that during the year 1876, the following new industries were started, namely: a large and extensive manufactory of wine; a large fruit-drying establishment ; a boot and shoe factory calculated to employ from seventy-five to one hundred and fifty men and women; a fruit brandy distillery with a capacity of three hundred gallons per day ; a glove factory, and an extensive broom factory.
The annals of this year, 1876, we will close with the following record, an unhappy one at best: About midnight on the 9th June an armed and masked mob entered the town, cut the bell-rope to the engine-house to prevent alarm, captured the city watch, went to the house of Jailor Wilson, who kept the jail keys, took him prisoner, forced him to open the doors of the jail, to point out the cell of Charles W. Henley, who had surrendered himself for the killing of James Rowland, which occurred May 9, 1876. Wilson was told to unlock the cell of the prisoner, which he did. Henley was bound and gagged, and in his night clothes was taken to a wagon in the street and thence just outside the limits of the city, where he was hanged to the limb of a tree. The affair would appear to have been well planned, the members of the mob answering to numbers instead of names, while several other precautions were taken to prevent identification.
On February 10, 1877, the records of the mayoralty show the following resolution, which was adopted: "Resolved, That hereafter whenever any street or streets shall be ordered graded and gravelel, that the work be let out by contract. That those taking said contract shall hold the parties owning property on said street for their pay, thereby relieving the city of the resp m-ibility of the same." Dr. J. F. Boyce was elected Health Officer of the city on March 10th, and an ordinance passel on the same day relative to the prevention of small-pox, and on the 14th a pest-house was reported completed.
27
-
418
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
May Ist, the petition of E. T. Farmer and his associates asking for fran- chise for street railroad through certain streets was referred to a special committee, as was also a remonstrance on the part of A. P. Petit and others, residents on Third street, against the allowing the T rail, by Farmer and others. On June 5th, the following ordinances were passed and adopted: " An ordinance granting franchise for street railroad to E. T. Farmer and others." "An ordinance granting the right to build a street railway to Mark L. MeDonald and associates." " An ordinance to prevent obstructions in the slough." "An ordinance requiring sidewalks on graded streets to be kept clean of weerls and obstructions," while, on the 16th, an ordinance in relation to beef peldlers was read and passed. August 7th, C. C. Farmer was appointed in place of Councilor Gale. who had resigned. It was also, on the same day, announced that C, Mendocino and Joe Davis streets should be changed to Mendocino avenue, from the north side of the plaza to the north line of the city. The taxes were fixed on September 7th as follows: for city purposes, fifty cents in one hundred dollars; and twenty-one cents in one hundred dollars for school purposes.
On March 11, 1878, an ordinance regulating the license of circuses, mena- geries, etc., was adopted; and on the 19th, others were passed defining the liabilities of junk-shop keepers, pawn brokers, etc .; and establishing the grade of Fourth street, between the east line of I street and the San Fran- cisco and North Pacific Railroad Company.
April 4th, the election of a corporation was held, with the following result: Mayor, George A. Johnson; Recorder, C. B. Cox; Attorney, James H. McGee; C.erk, Oscar Morrison; Marshal, William C. Beckner; Street Commissioner. John MeHmoil; Assessor, G. A. Tupper; Treasurer, F. G. Hahman; Council- men, C. F. Juillard, E. H. Smythe, T. J. Proctor, for four years each ; on the 16th, the undermentioned committees were chosen: Finance-Councilors Stanley, Korbel and Smythe; Public Works-Councilors Juillard, Proctor and Morgan; Ordinances-Chairman, the City Attorney, with Messrs. Proctor and Juillard.
Permission was granted, on April 1Sth, to the Latter Day Saints to use the council chamber for church services on the Sabbath day, free of charge, the Literary Society being also granted its use on certain evenings of the week, provided that they pay one dollar per night for the gas consumed. On May 7th, the resignation of Councilor Korbel was laid on the table ; on the 10th, ordinances establishing a Surveyor's office, and preventing the hitching of animals to hydrants, and relative to the Board of Health, were passed; while, on the 21st, Doctor R. S. Young, A. L. Cox, J. B. Armstrong, Henry Wise and E. T. Farmer were appointed that Board. June 4th, Ben. Farmer was appointed City Surveyor; on August 6th, a petition was received from the Santa Rosa Gas Light Company, asking that a franchise be granted the company for the term of fifty years from date. With reference to this
419
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
prayer, Mr. Stanley stated that a franchise had been formerly granted, but that no record of the same could be found; therefore to grant the petition would be but to renew the former franchise, which, on motion, was adopted. On the same date the Board of Education was given the use of the city hall as a place wherein to hold their meetings; and on the 23d, the Board of Health reported the completion of their organization.
Mayor Johnson tendered his resignation on the 24th September, 1878, on account of possibly prolonged absence from the city, when T. J. Proctor was elected to the civic chair in his stead. On this date the following ordinances were adopted: ordinance relative to persons under the age of eighteen years being required to leave the streets after half-past eight o'clock in the evening; and that amending the ordinance establishing a Board of Health. Dr. W. Finlaw was appointed to that Board on October 25th, vice Armstrong, resigned; on November 5th, C. C. Farmer was selected to succeed Councillor Korbel on the Council Board, and on December 6th, the following matters were attended to: The meetings of the Council for the future to be held in the engine house; the plaza placed under the charge of the Street Commis- sioner, the contract for superintending which with W. H. Nash being rescinded; and the Clerk authorized to correspond with the agent of the Globe Gas Light Company, with a view to introducing their system of lighting into the city.
On January 7, 1879, Councillor Morgan resigned his position, and on the 9th L. W. Smallwood was elected to the Board in his stead. On March 1st a spirit of retrenchment would appear to have suddenly shown itself; the lawn mower and wheelbarrow used in the plaza were directed to be sold to the best advantage. On the 21st it was "Resolved, That it is the unanimous opinion of this Council that the county hospital in its present location is a nuisance and detrimental to the health of this city, and that the Board of Supervisors of this county be requested to remove the same without delay to some more isolated place, where the health of our citizens will not be so much in jeopardy," while in this regard the subjoined communication was received from the Board of Health on April 1st: "To the Mayor and Coun- cilmen of Santa Rosa-Gentlemen: The petition of your honorable body in regard to the Chinese on the east side of the plaza has been received. In reply, we beg leave to state that we have inspected said quarters and find them in a bad sanitary condition, which is not only detrimental to the health of them, but of all the persons living in that neighborhood, and would respectfully ask that your honorable body take immediate steps to have the same discontinued." On motion it was ordained that the health ordinance be enforced. On the same date the plaza was denied to Mayor Brown and others for the purpose of holding a public meeting, while another communi- cation was received from the Board of Health relative to the condition of the county hospital, jail, etc. They reported said buildings to be in a bad
420
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
sanitary condition, and recommended that the City Council confer with the County Supervisors, that they may put said county buildings in a good sanitary condition, for which a committee was appointed to wait upon the Supervisors. On May 6th an ordinance licensing billiard tables was read and adopted; on June 3d the dog-tax was fixed at one dollar; on July 2d ordinances to prevent breaches of the peace and the carrying of concealed weapons, and the establishing of a chain-gang were passed, and on the 15th of the same month a motion to increase the licenses of meat peddlers was defeated.
In the month of April, 1877, a woolen factory was started under the name of the Santa Rosa Woolen Manufacturing Company, having H. T. Hewitt as President, and J. S. Simons, Secretary. It occupied a lot on Sixth street, in West Santa Rosa, was of two stories, built of brick. On the 27th of April, the foundation of a tannery was laid, among those inter- ested being Messrs. Hewitt, J. T. Armstrong, and W. H. Edwards. The month of July saw the formation of an Agricultural Association, while in this year was destroyed by fire the boot and shoe factory at a loss of nine- teen thousand dollars.
In the month of April there died John Ingram, one of the very first settlers in Santa Rosa. He first lived upon the farm afterwards owned by Honorable Jacob Smith, selling that he built, and lived in the house on First street, occupied by Mr. Lancaster. He was one of the earliest contrac- tors in the city, and built most of the first houses. He was the contractor for the old Masonic hall in 1854, which was for a time the largest house in the city; he was the first Junior Warden of Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 54, F. & A. M .; he built the lower story of Gus Kohle's building adjoining the office of the Democrat, which was the first brick building in the town, and assisted in making the first survey of the city limits. Mr. Ingram died much respected.
The last record with which we will wind up this already too lengthy chapter, is the destruction of Lachman & Jacobi's mill, on the 9th March, 1879, the damage sustained being thirty thousand dollars, with an insurance of fifteen thousand.
The Christian Church, Santa Rosa .- As there are no records preserved of this church we are indebted to Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Hood, Mr. and Mrs. Shane and James Fulton for the information contained in the following remarks :-
To Elder Thomas Thompson is the honor due of organizing this con- gregation in November, 1854, and preaching the first sermon to them in that month. The original members of the church were: T. B. Hood and wife, Mrs. C. E. Hood, Joel Miller, Sarah Miller (now Mrs. Shane), Elizabeth Miller, Harrison Valentine, W. R. O'Howell, J. M. Case, Samuel Hand and wife, Mrs. Coleman Talbot, and R. Fulkerson and wife. Services were then
421
HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
held in the town of Franklin, in the Baptist church, and continued there until the town was moved to Santa Rosa, when the congregation met in the court-house, but after the removal of the church building from Franklin to Santa Rosa in 1856, then in that edifice where they prosecuted their devo- tions until the erection in 1857 of their own place of worship on the corner of Fourth and B streets, which, in 1874, was transferred to its present posi- tion on Fifth street. The entire cost of the church, inclusive of lot, bell, fixtures, etc., was about three thousand dollars, while its size is thirty-eight by sixty feet.
Since its organization the following pastors have officiated: J. P. McCor- kle, W. W. Stephenson, Robert Graham, William T. Haley, Alexander John- son, H. K. Hallman, J. W. Butler, J. M. Monroe, Judge Derham, G. O. Bur- nett, and O. K. Dibble, with occasional aid from the Professors of the Chris- tian College.
The church has a present membership of one hundred and sixty, while the Sabbath-school, under the superintendency of J. A. Eveleth, has an average attendance of eighty scholars.
Presbyterian Church .- The following history of the Presbyterian Church of Santa Rosa has been kindly furnished to us by Rev. F. M. Dimmick: In October, 1855, Rev. James Woods visited Santa Rosa and preached in the old court-house-a little frame building opposite the site of the present court-house, on the east side; and this, most probably, was the first Pros- byterian service ever held in the place. In December 1855, Mr. Woods removed with his family to Santa Rosa, and commenced preaching regularly in the old court-house. He remained there until the present court-house was completed, when he occupied it during his stay. Mr. Woods, in a letter to Mr. Dimmick, in this regard, writes: "We had large congregations in the new court-house, and one of the finest Sabbath-schools I ever knew, superintended by John Treadway, pre-eminent as a Sabbath-school teacher." On March 17, 1856, Mr. Woods organized the Presbyterian Church, con- sisting of twelve members-Cyrus Alexander, A. P. Wilson, John Barbour, John Treadway, Mrs. Henrietta Treadway, Mrs. E. A. Woods, Mrs. Jane Ormsby, Mrs Hattie Hendly, Mrs. Jane Drum, Mrs. Elizabeth Bledsoe, Mrs. Kate Green, and Mrs. Lonisa McDonald. Cyrus Alexander and John Treadway were elected Ruling Elders. Mr. Alexander was ordained and installed, and Mr. Treadway, having been previously ordained, was duly installed, with reference to whom Mr. Woods writes further: "Mr. John Treadway was the most gifted teacher of the Sabbath-school I ever saw, and was brother-in-law of Rev. James H. Brookes, D. D., of St. Louis. He returned to the States, in very very poor health, in the latter part of 1858, or early in 1859, and died soon after. His widow, a very superior lady, now lives with her brother, Doctor Brookes, in St. Louis." The records of the church inform us that Mr. Treadway died December 31, 1859. When Mr.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.