USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 55
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
water on arriving at the works passes through a flume, sixteen inches square and eighty-five feet long, filled with screened gravel; thence into the filter house, where it passes through ten flannel screens of eighteen by thirty- two inches; thence into a case, ten feet long, filled with fine washed gravel, and from here into the hatching house, where it passes over the eggs. These are stripped from the fish in the spawning season, and placed in wire baskets, made to fit the hatching troughs, and about two feet long, where the water is run over them to the depth of about one inch, with a gentle current, until hatched, which takes place in from forty to sixty days, in accordance with the temperature, the warmer the water the more rapid the incubation, and vice versa. When hatched, the young fish is provided by nature with a lunch-basket, in the way of an umbilical sac which contains nourishment for a month or six weeks. As this is gradually absorbed the young fish grows rapidly, and by the time it has disappeared can swim about and seek for food; they are then fed on curdled milk, hard-boiled eggs, and fine minced liver. From the hatching troughs they are next transferred to the rearing boxes or nurseries, where they can get a greater depth of water and more room to sport about and play. Attaining the age of two months, they are transferred to open-air ponds. The company have already constructed five ponds; one of two acres in extent, with an average depth of six feet, exclusively for carp, with which fish it is already stocked. There are four trout ponds finished, from one hundred to one hundred and twenty-five feet long, and varying from two to six feet in depth, with an average width of twelve feet. The young fish are first placed in the shallow- est ponds, and as they increase in size are transferred to deeper water. Mr. La Motte considers that to secure success, constant care and watchfulness are indispensible: for instance, all eggs put in the baskets to hatch are estimated and recorded; every egg as well as every fish that dies is set down; careful minutes are kept of the temperature three times a day, and every thirty days the mean is taken and recorded. As the company proposes investing consid- erable capital in the enterprise, with a view to making it an extensive establishment, Mr. La Motte intends that there shall be " no loose ends." In the shallow ponds adjoining the hatching house they have now seventy thousand fine young trout, who dispose of two heaping pans of minced liver daily with great apparent relish. The company are now making prepara- tions to throw a dam across Sonoma creek next Spring, which will give them an unlimited supply of water for their business, as also cheap power to drive the meat-mincing and other machines necessary. They propose in two years more to commence the sale of their fish, from which time on they hope to be able to keep up a steady supply in accordance with their facilities, which are extensive.
ST. LOUIS, or EMBARCADERO .- This, as its name implies, is the landing-
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
place or embarcadero on Sonoma creek, at the head of navigation. Here supplies for the town and valley are received. In former times, when it was thought that Sonoma might become a town of importance, it received the name of St. Louis, but it never reached the position anticipated by its spon- sors, and is, to-day, only the landing and shipping point as above stated.
Captain Peter M. Stoffen runs a stern-wheel steamer from this point to San Francisco, which connects at this end with a stage to Sonoma. The boat is one hundred and ten feet long, twenty-eight feet beam, three feet draft, one hundred and seventy tons register and eighty tons burthen, and is fitted with engines, thirteen inches in diameter and five feet stroke. Captain Stoffen has been engaged in this trade for the last seventeen years. In 1863 Captain Green had two schooners which made regular trips between this point and San Francisco, these have, however, been discontinued. In late years the depth of water in the creek has considerably lessened, therefore tne landing is farther down and nearer the bay.
GLEN ELLEN .- This is a postoffice on the main road between Santa Rosa and Sonoma; Captain Justi is postmaster. It is only a mail station, but is surrounded by some of the most experienced wine growers in the county- among them Colonel C. V. Stuart, whose handsome residence is the seat of a liberal hospitality. His vineyard cannot be surpassed for careful culture and its varieties of foreign and domestic vines. Here is also the residence of Mrs. J. B. Warfield, one of the most successful viniculturists of Sonoma. There are many other large vineyard proprietors in this neighborhood whose names we have not the space to mention. A radius of six miles, with Glen Ellen for a center, would, in the opinion of many, include the finest grape- growing section in the State of California.
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
VALLEJO.
This township received its name from General Vallejo, who owned the Petaluma Rancho, and constructed the famous large adobe buiding, a con- siderable portion of which still stands. The erection as originally con- structed had a frontage of one hundred and fifty-nine feet, with walls twenty feet in height. At the western end projected a wing running south one hundred and twenty-eight feet, while on the east end was another, with a length of sixty-eight feet. All the walls were two and one-half fect thick. In this mansion the generous General was wont to keep his state of almost potential splendor; his courts were full of Spaniards and Indians; his rooms were thronged with guests, while his flocks fed upon a thousand hills. In the vicinity of this homestead had he erected, long before Americans came to settle in the country, a mill wherein he ground his grain, a smithery, wherein were manufactured horse-shoes, spurs, bits, and other military gear, while all around were evidences of his foresight and unstinting hand.
The township is a portion of the Petaluma valley, and is entirely an agri- cultural section.
The earliest American settler was Frederick Starke who settled there in 1845. In 1852, there came W. J. Hardin, J. M. Palmer, David Wharff; in 1853, Abner Clark, Isaac Cook, G. B. Hickston, and William Mock; in 1854, G. R. Codding, and in 1855 Henry D. Gilbert Of course there were many more, but these are the only names we have been able to trace.
DONAHUE .- This place is the present terminus of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad and is situated on the Petaluma creek, about eight miles from Petaluma; the cars at this point connecting with a steamer to San Francisco, which is distant twenty-five miles. The town received its name from the enterprising builder of the railroad, and here are situated the machine shops and other buildings of the company. The place is in Vallejo township and possesses an hotel, while it is situated in the midst of a rich farming country, within easy distance of it being the magnificent farms and residences of Messrs. Peoples, J. R. Rose and Bihler.
On February 19, 1874, the machine and car shops of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad Company were destroyed by fire at a loss of one hundred thousand dollars.
LAKEVILLE .- This village is situated on the Petaluma creek, about one mile above Donahue, and was, prior to the advent of the railroad, the point at which passengers for Sonoma were transferred to a regular stage line. The
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
stage still runs to Lakeville from Sonoma, connecting with the morning and evening trains. We are told that the road between these two points passes the former lagoon to which Father Altimira referred in his mission in 1823: " We found on said hillock, a little further on, the large lake of Tolay-so- called after the chief of the Indians who in former times settled there. Its width at some parts is, with little difference, one hundred and fifty varas, at others two hundred varas, and at one point one-fourth of a league, which is also its length." The lake from which the hamlet receives its name has been drained and is now a potato patch.
The first settler at Lakeville was A. M. Bradley, who built the landing about the years 1852-3. Bradley sold his interest to Joshua Chadbourne, George Carter and Josiah Bacon, he at the time having only possessory rights as a squatter, there being no title from General M. G. Vallejo; this right he sold to the above-named parties, who, in turn, disposed thereof to Niles Mills and Peter Donahue.
In February, 1879, C. A. Bodwell erected the present new landing. The town mainly consists of a blacksmith's shop owned by E. J. Holley; and a postoffice, which was established in 1857. This was originally kept by the aforesaid Chadbourne, Bacon, and Niles Miles; after the death of the latter, or more correctly speaking, on January 1, 1875, the office was removed to Donahue, but in July of the same year it was brought back and permanently established in Lakeville under the charge of C. A. Bodwell
WASHINGTON.
This township consists principally of hill and valley lands, the soil of the former about Geyserville being well adapted to fruit culture, and the growth of wine grapes; indeed, there is every essential in soil and climate for the production of the best varieties of grapes, stone and seed fruits.
GEYSERVILLE .- This is a village and postoffice on the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, about twenty-four miles north of the county seat, Santa Rosa. It was settled by Doctor Elisha Ely in 1851. The first busi- ness store was started in 1854 by Colonel A. C. Godwin, who afterwards located the Geyser Springs. The hamlet consists of one store, one post and express office, one saloon, one hotel, and one blacksmith shop. Geyserville is not so much a place as it is these establishments.
BIOGRAPHICAL
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
ANALY.
Baker, Bloomer. Born in Rutland county, Vermont, November 3, 1821. In 1837 his parents moved to Walworth county, Wisconsin. Here he learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed as a business until 1848, then engaging in the marble business at Racine, Wisconsin, for three years, when he located in Milwaukee and opened a marble shop, and continued business until the Spring of '53, when he emigrated to California via Panama, arriving in San Francisco April 5th. He soon began a third busi- ness in the catagory of industries, that of manufacturing bricks. His place of business was on what was then known as North Beach, but now Stock- ton street, San Francisco. After eighteen months time in this business he returned to Walworth county, resided there until 1863, thence to Buffalo, New York, and resumed his original trade, that of carpenter, working for the Lake Shore and Michigan Southern Railroad Company, construct- ing cars. In 1873, he returned to California and settled in this county, where he has since been extensively engaged in dairying. Mr. Baker mar- ried Mary M., daughter of ;Robert Bloomer, of Dorset, Vermont, November 6, 1843. She was born July 8, 1827. She and her father were both born in the same house. By this union there has been one child, Adelia S., born in Walworth county, Wisconsin, December 29, 1845, and died in same place, September 7, 1842. .
Canfield, William D. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Arlington, Bennington county, Vermont, born October 22, 1810. Here he received his education and developed into manhood, marrying Miss Sallie Ann Lee, June 10, 1828. In 1837 they moved to Springfield, Erie county, Pennsylvania, where he engaged in farming for two years. In 1839 they took up their residence in Jersey county, Illinois, where Mr. Canfield toiled upon the farm until June, 1842. After a residence in Jefferson county, Iowa, of eleven months, they settled upon the present site of the city of Oskaloosa, Mahaska county, Iowa. Here Mr. Canfield erected the first house and laid out the public square, the lines of which have never been changed to this day. The house, no doubt, has crumbled and gone to decay; but the grounds of the park, so tastefully arranged and laid off by the artistic eye of the energetic frontiersman, will ever remain as one of the garden spots of earth, and a base to the monu- ment of the early pioneers of Oskaloosa. It was through his influence and exertions also that the county seat of Mahaska county was located here,
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where it remains at present. On May 4, 1847, Mr. Canfield emigrated, with his wife and five children, across the plains to Oregon. The journey was made with little difficulty, save the hardships that are incident to all pioneers in crossing the trackless, uninhabited wilds over which they passed. On October 20, 1847, they reached Dr. Whitman's mission in Walla Walla valley. Upon their arrival they not only found Dr. Whitman, but quite a little settlement, consisting of the doctor and wife, seven mission children by the name of Sager, Mr. Saunders, wife and five children, Mr. Kimball, wife and five children, Mr. Hall, wife and five children, Mrs. Hayes and two children. The whole party, including Mr. and Mrs. Canfield and their five children, numbered as follows: Fourteen men, seven women and thirty-two children. Here they were treated in a very hospitable manner, and were made to feel perfectly at home. As they had found such comfortable quarters and a perfect haven of rest, they decided to remain at the mission until the following Spring, when they would continue on their journey to the Willamette river, the place of their destination. Here the residents of the happy little village were nestled together in one family, as it were, and the last accession, that of Mr. Canfield and family, evidently felt as safe and free from harm as they did when sheltered beneath the roof or gathered around the hearthstone of their far Eastern home. But it must not be forgotten that they were in a hostile country, although there had not been any Indian trouble in this immediate locality for several years, none in fact since Mr. Whitman located there, which was about the year 1837. The Cayuses (this being the name of the tribe with which the doctor had to deal) had always been kind and obedient to him, and were seemingly perfectly satisfied with the treatment they had received at his hands. Indeed, so much confidence did Mr. Whitman have in his little band of Cayuses, that if there was a word dropped by any one of the company questioning the friendliness, or in any way expressing any fear of the aborigines, their minds were soon set at rest by the convincing answer from the doctor, whose feelings would seem hurt when any allusion of this nature was made. However, we will see how we are victimized sometimes by misplaced confidence, and made to drink the bitter dregs of deception, deceived and murdered by those whom we once held close to our bosoms, and were our companions for many a long year. Soon after the arrival of Mr. Canfield and family at the mission, there arrived missionaries of a different persuasion, and whom, it is said, influenced the Indians against their old teacher, Dr. Whitman. There were no visible evidences of treachery upon the part of the aborigines, and every one about the mission felt as secure and safe as they did before receiving the visit from these missionaries, who proved to be traitors in the camp. The morning of the 29th of November, 1847, dawned as bright, fresh and beautiful as ever lit up the picturesque valley of the Walla Walla; all nature seemed to smile in
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
answer to the innocent prattle of little children, and all reposed in confidence and security. But, alas ! a little later in the day they were surprised and fired upon by the Indians whom the doctor had labored with so many years. Imagine for an instance, and try to picture, if such a thing be possible, the condition of Dr. Whitman and his little party, surprised as they were without a moment's warning, and consequently no means of defense or escape. They being entirely at the mercy of the red devils, were shot down like dumb brutes. The men were all killed except Mr. Canfield and a man by the name of Osborn. Mrs. Whitman was also killed, the balance of the women and all of the children were taken prisoners. Mr. Canfield was shot in the hip, but managed to seelude himself in the old adobe house. During the night following he received intelligence from the mission children that he was to pay the death penalty in the morning. As he did not feel disposed to depart this life just yet, he acted upon the warning he received and, bidding adieu to his hiding-place, started immediately on foot for Mr. Spalding's mission at Lapaway station, in Washington Territory, a distance of one hundred and forty miles, this being on Monday night, reaching the mission on Saturday afternoon, making the whole trip on foot and without eating or sleeping. The morning after his escape the blood-thirsty redskins donned their war apparel, surrounded the house, and were just on the point of massacreing all the women and children, when their former chief, known as " Old Beardy," rode into camp with the speed of lightning, and standing upright on his horse, pleaded with his tribe not to kill the prisoners, and after listening attentively to his remarks, abandoned their murderous inten- tions and informed their victims that their lives would be spared, but they would be held as prisoners. The women were forced to do the cooking for the Indians, sixty-two in number, and the children were forced to attend to all their other wants that would add comfort and ease to the lords of the wilds. On December 29th, just one month after they were captured, there came to their relief, to Fort Walla Walla, a man by the name of Peter Ogden, the chief factor of the Hudson Bay Fur Company, from Vancouver. After a talk of three days and nights with the Indians he succeeded in purchasing the prisoners, first promising them that they (the fur company) would not molest them, but could not make the same promise for the Boston boys in punishing them for what they had done. So the bargain was made, and they were paid in guns, blankets, ammunition, knives, etc. After gaining possession of the prisoners, he made a contract with the Nez Perces to bring Mr. Canfield and Mr. Spalding's family to Walla Walla fort, if they wished to come, where he joined his children and grief-stricken wife. Not only was he received with outstretched arms, but with weeping for joy, as it was supposed by all that he had perished. On his arrival. Mr. Ogden took the party in three small boats and proceeded down the Columbia river, landing at Oregon City January 12, 1848. Upon their arrival they had nothing but
Coleman Talbot
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
the clothes upon their baeks. After procuring comfortable quarters for his family, Mr. Canfield joined the volunteers and went back for the purpose of punishing the Indians and to drive them from their reservation, which was accomplished, when they returned to Oregon City, and the company dis- banded on July 1, 1848. The chief Tetokite and four of the Indians were hanged at Oregon City in 1850. On March 4, 1849, Mr. Canfield and family took passage on a sailing vessel for San Francisco, where they arrived on March 10, 1849. Here they remained until August 1, 1850, when they became residents of this county, settling in Sonoma city. Soon after settling here he went to Sacramento city and engaged in the soda manufacturing business, leaving his family at Sonoma. Not finding this business congenial to his taste he soon returned to this county, and in January, 1852, he moved upon his present estate of five hundred acres, and is one of Sonoma's thrifty farmers. Mrs. Canfield was born in Arlington, Bennington county, Vermont, August 12, 1810. Their children by this marriage are: Nathan L., born in Arlington on July 7, 1829, and died February 18, 1835; Ellen S., born at Arlington June 5, 1831, and died July 12, 1865; Oscar F., born at Spring- field, Pennsylvania, March 8, 1838, now living in Idaho; Clariea A. (now Mrs. J. H. Knowles of Petaluma), born at Delhi, Jersey county, Illinois, October 31, 1840; Sylvia Ann, born at Fairfield, Jefferson county, Iowa, February 7, 1842, and died in Sonoma county February 4, 1854; Albert, born at Oskaloosa, Iowa, May 18, 1845, now living in Idaho; William D., Jr., born at Oregon City February 3, 1848, and died in San Francisco July 5, 1849; Julia, born in San Francisco August 3, 1850, and died August 6th of same year. In 1853 Mrs. Canfield visited her brothers in the East. After remaining a short time she set out on her journey baek in company with her mother, who, when one day out from Panama, was taken ill and died. Once more Mrs. Canfield's heart was made to bleed, and yet, when she thoughit of what she had passed through in '47, she felt grateful to Him that her life, as well as that of her husband and children, had been spared, when at one time it hung by a brittle thread. On June 10, 1878, Mr. and Mrs. Canfield celebrated their golden wedding at their home, all the family being present but their eldest son and family, who were at the time in Idaho.
Alas ! how time flies on apace, We cannot stay its flight ; It waits for neither priest nor king, And soon will all be night.
Cockrill, L. D. The subject of this sketch is a native of Spartanburg county, South Carolina, born January 4, 1800. When three years of age his parents moved to Warren county, Kentucky. Here he received his education, in a rude log school house, and afterwards was appointed Cap- tain of a military company, which office he held for twelve years, wearing the badge of Commissioner; also taught school in that township for a number
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of years. In 1838 he went to Missouri, and in 1840 settled in Bates county, it being organized as a county in February, 1841. Mr. C. was elected first County Judge, and served at the first Grand Jury that was held in the county ; was the first qualified school teacher, and drew the first public money for services rendered in this capacity. On April 24, 1853, in company with his wife and ten children started across the plains for California, and landed in Big Valley, this county, Oct. 15, 1853. Here Mr. Cockrill built the first house, conducted the first boarding house, and also procured the first war- ranted deed of land on the Blume grant. In 1857 he was elected the first Justice of the Peace of Analy township; soon after he was elected Associate Judge under William Churchman. During Mr. C.'s residence in the county he has held the office of Justice for twelve years, and on Sep. 3, 1879 was re-elected to the position for another two years term. Has been steadily engaged in farming until quite recently, and is now on the roll of the retired. Married Oct. 29, 1829, Miss Deademia Stamps. She is a native of Ken- tucky, born Dec. 29, 1809. By this union they have six living children, three sons, and three daughters; Theodore G., now a resident of San Fran- cisco; Helen M., now Mrs. Lake, of Bloomfield; Lurena E., now Mrs. Hoag of Santa Rosa; Ida Josephine, now a resident of San Rafael; Robert L., now in San Francisco, Bruce T., now of San Rafael; and four children deceased.
Davis, Levi. Was born in Jackson county, Indiana, March 21, 1822. At the age of seventeen years he settled with his parents in Warren county, Illinois, and there resided till the Fall of 1840 when his parents moved to Green county, Missouri, and there he commenced farming. Here he married Rebecca Lakey on January 6, 1842. In 1852, Mr. Davis crossed the plains to California by ox-team and arrived at Petaluma on the 29th August of that year, and first settled near Liberty school-house in that township where he farmed until 1871. In this year he moved to his present residence near Forrestville and occupies three hundred acres of land on which he raises wheat and carp. His family consists of John Valentine, Joseph, Jacob, Charles Nuton, Christopher Columbus, Phoebe, Rebecca Zarrilda and Lydia Ann.
Gregson, James. A representative man of Sonoma county, and whose portrait is in this history ; was born in Little Bolton, Lancashire, England, September 14, 1822. When nearly twelve years old, he with his parents, emigrated to the United States, settling in Philadelphia, where, in 1837, James was bound to James Brooks as an' apprentice to the blacksmith and machinists' trade, serving till twenty-one years of age. Here, on October 20, 1843, he married Miss Eliza Marshall, who was born in the city of Manchester, England, on March 15, 1824. They moved to Rock Island county, Illinois, in 1844, sojourning there until April, 1845; then, in company with Mrs. Gregson's two brothers, Henry and John Marshall, her sister, Mary A., and mother, Mrs. Ann Marshall, crossed the plains with ox
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