USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 58
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Howard, William. This pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born on the island of Bornholmn, in the Baltic Sea, October 23, 1823. He received a limited education in the common schools of his country in his early youth. He began his career as a sailor at the age of thirteen, on board the Danish brig "Cecilia," then engaged in seal fishing on the coast of Greenland. One voyage, though a successful one, cured him of all longings he may have entertained for this kind of adventure. Shortly after his return, he shipped on board the Danish bark " Concordia," at Copenhagen, bound for a whaling cruise in the north-western sea. The voyage consumed about two years. At the age of sixteen Mr. Howard engaged as a seaman on board an American ship at Elsinor, bound for Boston, United States. They touched at Turks Island, where they found the American brig " Nor- man," from the coast of Africa, homeward bound, in distress, having lost all her crew, of African fever, the captain and mate being the only survivors. Mr. Howard volunteered to assist in working the brig to New York. They sailed from Turks Island with a crew consisting of five, all told. The cap- tain (who was convalescent from the fever), the mate, Mr. Howard, and two negroes, one employed as cook, by almost superhuman efforts, this small crew managed to sight the Sandy Hook lights, where they received on board a pilot. Before reaching New York harbor they encountered a heavy north- wester that drove them out to sea; they were driven about for four days. A little before daylight of the fifth day of the storm the brig went ashore
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on Barnegat. The day previous to their going ashore one of the negroes died from exposure. Mr. Howard sewed his remains up in canvass, prepara- tory to consigning them to a watery grave. When the vessel struck they found they were on a sandy coast. The pilot and captain went ashore in the " dingy," the mate and Mr. Howard commenced preparing to follow in the long-boat. While gathering the ship's papers and instruments the surf, which was constantly increasing, lifted the stern of the long-boat from the davits. This mishap rendered it necessary to jump in and cut loose the bow at once. They had hardly cleared the brig when their boat was swamped. This was the last that Mr. Howard knew until he found himself under the shelter of the long-boat, where he had been placed by the mate, who had resened him from the surf. That evening they were visited by a wrecker, who conducted them to his shanty, where they were provided with such comforts as the place afforded. The mate and Mr. Howard returned to the vessel as soon as the storm had subsided sufficient to permit of their again venturing into the surf, and brought off the surviving negro, whom they were compelled to leave, also the corpse they had prepared to bury at sea. With the assistance of wreckers, the brig was lightened and worked off the sand. Mr. Howard, in company with the mate, returned to the shore to collect such articles as they had left, and while thus engaged the brig was taken in tow by a tug, sent ont for that purpose, leaving them on shore. Several days after they boarded a coaster bound for New York, but were again driven out to sea by adverse winds; they finally succeeded in reaching Staten Island. Over-exertion and exposure proved too much for Mr. How- ard. On reaching Staten Island he was taken down with lung fever, and went to the sailors' hospital. Not being favorably impressed with the management of the hospital he remained but two days; by representing himself much improved, he gained assent to his leaving, and went imme- diately to New York. He barely reached the city when he lost conscious- ness, and was conveyed to the city hospital, where his life was for a long time dispaired of, but his constitution proved equal to the strain, and brought him through. On recovering strength he entered the United States service, on board the receiving ship " North Carolina." He was transferred to the sloop-of-war " Preble," in 1844, then under orders to proceed to the African coast. Immediately on their arrival in African waters they were ordered up the river Besow to protect a Portuguese settlement from the natives. On reaching the settlement they found there was not sufficient sea room for working the vessel. The guns of the " Preble" were transferred to an old hull lying in the river. This proved a disastrous move for the crew of the " Preble." But a day or two had elapsed when Mr. Howard and one other man were taken down with unmistakeable symptoms of African fever. The surgeon ordered the sloop to vacate the river immediately. They sailel for the Cape de Verde Islands. Before reaching there between
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eighty and ninety of the officers and crew were taken down. Nearly twenty fell victims to the terrible disease, and as many more were sent home invalids. Mr. Howard in this case owed his life to the fact of being among the first to contract the disease, thereby receiving more favorable attention than could have been given a few days later. At the expiration of his term of service he returned and re-entered the naval service, being assigned to the frigate "Columbia," bound for the Brazilian station. This proved a rather uneventful cruise. He was in Rio de Janeiro at the time of the arrest of two American officers and two sailors for a trivial offense. Through the intercession of Minister Wise all were soon released, but one seaman, who was kept in prison until the " Columbia " returned from a cruise to Buenos Ayres. On entering the port Mr. Wise ordered the " Columbia" to double-shot her guns aud haul up within easy range of the town. This demonstration, taken in connection with a notice to release the American or prepare to receive the fire of the "Columbia," had the desired result, and the man was soon at liberty. This occurring just previous to the christening of Don Pedro the First, the American vessels were the only ones in port that refused to dress ship in honor of the event. Mr. Wise also declined to illuminate. These events, taken in connection with the Minister's remarks at the time of the christening (on board the " Columbia " of the daughter of a veteran of Palo Alta (born at sea), to whom Minister Wise stood godfather, that "he would rather stand godfather to an American soldier's child than to Don Pedro," resulted in Mr. Wise being called home. He took passage in the "Columbia." An idea may be formed of the impres- sion Mr. Wise had made upon the crew of the "Columbia" by his course in Brazil, and his gentlemanly bearing while an honored passenger on board the " Columbia" frigate, when it is stated that the crew, who were ordered aloft to cheer when he went ashore at Norfolk, not only cheered with good- will, but refused to desist when ordered, and even went so far in their endeavor to demonstrate their esteem for the gentleman that they threw their hats after him, thereby laying themselves liable to chastisement for violation of orders. On reaching Norfolk Mr. Howard re-enlisted on board the sloop-of-war "St. Mary's," bound for the Pacific station. They anchored at Monterey, in 1848; from there they sailed to San Francisco bay, where the vessel remained until Mr. Howard quit the service. On leaving the navy he followed the course of all seekers after fortune or adven- ture at that particular time, and went immediately to the gold mines of California. He followed mining for two Summers on Beaver creek and in Hangtown canon, spending the Winter in Sonoma county. He was moderately successful in mining, but lost all he had accumulated in a cattle speculation. In 1850 Mr. Howard, in company with Charles Roamer (a countryman of his) settled on Government land, where he now resides. The two partners carried on the ranch, keeping bachelor quarters
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up to the year 1855, when Mr. Howard found in a young lady (Miss Caroline Kolmer) a more congenial partner. Mr. Howard and Miss Kol- mer were married at the residence of Alexander Duncan at Sa't Point, October 5, 1855. Mrs. Howard was born in North Carolina, December 31, 1838. She, with her parents, came to California in 1846. They spent the first Winter at Sutter's Fort, near Sacramento; the following season went to Fort Ross; afterwards settled in Kolmer valley. In 1851 they moved to Timber Cove, where they resided at the time Mr. and Mrs. Howard were married. On assuming his new relations he bought out his partner, who returned to Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had the satisfaction of seeing the wilderness in which they commenced life together gradually set- tled and improved until a railroad passes through their farm, and a station, around which quite a village has sprung, bears Mr. Howard's name. They have been blessed with nine chil iren, all living, and who still reside with them. The following is a list of the children, with the dates of their birth: Elizabeth, born December 10, 1857; Charles, born April 13, 1859; Theo- dore, born July 11, 1861; Amelia, born May 31, 1863; Clara, born July 12, 1865; William, born January 24, 1868; Annie, born September 20, 1870; Emma, born December 31, 1873; Alfred, born December 21. 1877.
McCrea, John W. Born in the north of Ireland in the year 1831, and there received his early education. At the age of seventeen years he paid a three-years' visit to Scotland, at the end of which he emigrated to America. After residing for nearly three years in Connecticut Mr. McCrea came to California, by way of Panama, and arrived at San Francisco, April 2, 1854. Here, for six months, he was employed in a brick-yard, and afterwards, for a short time, as a day laborer in Marin county, and at the expiration of which he proceeded to and settled in Sonoma county. In May, 1372, he left for a visit to the "Old Country," returning in September, 1575. He now resides in Bodega, having retired from business. Mr. McCrea married April 6, 1876, Maggie L. Menary, a native of Ireland, by who n he has two children, Annie Bella and John Wesley.
Meeker, Melvin Cyrus. This person was born in 1841, in the county of Essex, New Jersey, and married February 19, 1868, Miss Flavia Sayre, formerly of Rochester, N. Y., who was born at Springfield, Essex county, N. J., in the year 1843, and by whom he has been blessed with seven children-four only of whom survive to cherish his advancing years, namely: Melvin C. Jr., Robert T., Alexander H., and Effie M. Although yet a young man in years, he has had to pass through many and varied vicissitudes of life, such as few without his indomitable pluck and energy could pass with- out succumbing. A few of these incidents it will be the purpose of this sketch to detail. At the early age of eleven years, young Melvin went to work as errand-boy in a grist-mill at Milltown; one year later we find him
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engaged in a hat factory at Millburn where he stayed a year; thence he managed to find work in a paper mill at Millburn where he continued assiduously employed for a period of three years, during which time he thoroughly mastered the business, so as to be trusted as foreman for the whole management of the old " Fandango Paper Mill's" business. Being an ambitious lad " of many parts," young Melvin now turned his attention to the carpenter trade, and at sixteen years went with his father to Millburn, N. J., to acquire that art. During three years trial, he showed remarkable profi- ciency, not only in the mechanical branch of the work, but also in the designing and architectural branches. Appreciating his inventive talent and genius,his father then sent him to Elizabeth City, where, under the tuition of an English building contractor, whose business was mainly restricted to the erection of fine residences, his native talents might be educated and improved. Here he became a skillful student of the compound arts of sash-door, blind and seroll-sawing, sticking, molding and ornamental trimming work. When twenty years old, in 1861, he came to California as the guardian and escort of a sister, then engaged to be married to a gentleman already here. Arriv- ing at Valley Ford, Sonoma county, on the 21 of January, 1862, and being in debt some two hundred dollars for his passage fare, Melvin contracted to do six months' work carpentering to cancel the debt. Filling this contract faithfully, he then hired out at a monthly wage of sixty dollars and board, but served only two months, when he went to Tomales, Marin county, and started business on his own account. Work soon poured in upon him so as to require the employment of a number of journeymen carpenters, and in the Winter of 1863-4 he took his brother (A. P. Mceker) into partnership, selling him a half interest in the business, and continued therein until December 1864, when he sold out to his father and brother. He had by that time realized about thirty-four hundred dollars, which he took East to purchase machinery for starting a sash, door, blind and planing mill in Petaluma. Having done so, he sailed for California on the ill-fated steam- ship " Golden Rule," in May 1865, which vessel was wrecked on Bancadora Reef, and became a total loss. Despite his financial loss, Mr. Meeker main- tained his manly strength of purpose. Most of the machinery purchased had been shipped via Cape Horn, and on his ultimate return it was found to be safe. Returning to Valley Ford late in July that year, he borrowed a few tools and went to work as carpenter to earn money to pay the ship freightage on the machinery-a part came late in the fall-one of the vessels having sprung a leak, and being obliged to put into Rio de Janeiro for repairs, causing a delay on the part of a portion of the shipment until the next Summer. In December, 1865, Mr. Meeker hired out to work in a saw- mill, and during that Winter acquired a good knowledge of the general saw- milling business. In February, 1866, he bought a timber claim on Govern- ment lands, and in the March succeeding, a second tract; he went directly to
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work felling timber, hewing and framing it for a saw-mill; set the machinery ready for work; and steamed up on the twenty-sixth day from the time of felling the first tree. Here ensued another misfortune. The boiler broke open, and became a total loss. Meeker replaced it the following week, and started again; but soon found the engine too light, and had to replace it with a new one in June. In fact, he had to keep putting in new machinery all Summer. At the close of the season he had sawed about five hundred thousand feet of lumber, and run in debt about three thousand dollars. During the winter he thoroughly overhauled the mill, and in the spring of 1867 started again and began to prosper. In the Winter of 1867-68 he was able to put in a large engine with new boilers, and also to build a half-mile railroad track for logging purposes. On starting the mill again he found one boiler worthless, and had to procure another, on arrangement of which he began afresh, still being under a heavy burden of debt. Now everything worked to a charm, and business so prospered that he took his brother again into partnership, selling him a one-third interest in July. In the Spring of 1869 Mr. Meeker bought his present homestead place, and began the erection of a family residence. It was completed, and mostly furnished, when a fire consumed it, costing him a loss of about nine thousand dollars. Not yet disheartened, he got a little furniture and domiciled in the barn for a time, living there some three and a half years in spite of fate. During all this time the mill was in active operation, turning out the longest sawed lumber in the county. In August 1875 he began the erection of another dwelling, finished one story complete, and is at present writing continuing the work. The company of which he is the head owns two mills, with about one hundred million feet of standing timber on Russian river, and is doing a lucrative business. As a remarkable matter, we may state that no accidents endangering life or limb have ever happened at the mills whereof Mr. Meeker is the chief; so great has been his care, and so solid and perfect is the masonry and machinery, that such accidents are well-nigh impossible. To those versed in such matters it may be sufficient to state, as to the capacity of the mills, that they carry double circular saws-the top one fifty-eight inches in diameter, and the bottom one sixty inches, with all kinds of tools and machinery for turning out picket heads, and all sorts of ornamental seroll work, festooning, etc. They are able to turn out about fifteen thousand feet of lumber a day in gross, when employing twenty men; in this season, being short-handed down to twelve men, they have turned out but about eight thousand feet per day. The town of Occidental owns its foundation and name to Mr. Meeker, who, in conjunction with Rev. A. M. Wining and A. S. Purrine, established its present site for a church, acting as a committee of the Green Valley M. E. Society-Mr. Meeker donating the lot. The M. E. Conference saw the expedieney, and when the church was built, on the proposed line of the North Pacific Coast Railroad they
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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.
segregated a portion of the surrounding country into a new circuit, making Occidental head the list of pastorates. A postoffice was soon on petition located there, and a voting precinct established, and the town already pre- sents goodly proportions. It may be observed that Mr. Meeker having "' come to the fullness of his strength" as master builder, designer, and executor of his ideas, has formed and is faithfully carrying out certain funda- mental rules in architectural matters which may be briefly summarized thus: There is no style of architecture known better adapted for country residences than the Italian. It admits of rectilinear forms for the main parts of the . building, and of curvilinear for the embellishment of doors, windows, and cornices. The turret and square tower are both peculiar to structures of this style; and no feature can be introduced with more advantage for archi- tectural variety. For convenience of internal arrangements, dwellings must be made to approximate toward a cubical form. The modern Italian, being based upon the more ancient Romanesque, Mr. Meeker has wisely, and with a view to furnishing a tout ensemble both bold and pleasing to the eye, sought to combine in his artistic dealings with the unsightly material he starts with, by plane, chisel, hammer, and nails, to present to the sight the full projections and expressive posts and entablatures that so delight the eye of the visitor to Rome or Verona. Mr. Meeker's portrait appears in this work in its appropriate place. None can fail to see, glancing from every lineament, his motto in life-" Never give up, but 'run with patience the race set before you.'" He is trying to lead a Christian life, and says that he has tasted and found the Lord is good, tried and proved him that in every time of trouble and misfortune Jesus has never forsaken him. "If God be for us, who can be against us ?
Purrine A. S. Was born in Butler county, Ohio, Jannary 9, 1817. When quite young his parents took him to Union county, Indiana, but when the subject of this sketch was twelve years of age, they returned to Butler county, Ohio, and after residing there for a few years, once more went back to Indiana and settled at La Fayette. At this time, he whose name appears at the head of this notice left his father and mother and engaged in farming in Mercer county, Illinois, continuing thereat until 1849, in which year he emigrated to California, making the journey by way of the plains, and arrived at Steep Hollow, Nevada county, on August 11th of that year. Purrine now prosecuted mining until February 1852, when he returned to Illinois by way of Panama, and in the following year returned to the State via the plains, bringing with him his wife and five daughters, arriving at Stockton in September, 1853. In October, 1854, he removed to Sonoma county, and after a stay of about six weeks in Petaluma, settled on his present farm of one hundred and seventy acres, located about one mile south from Freestone. Mr. Purrine married April 7, 1839, Sarah Jenkins, a native of Kentucky, by whom he has four living children, Louisa, Amelia, Rebecca and Sarah. Three are deceased. 32
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CLOVERDALE.
Hoadley, James F. A native of Windsor county, Vermont, born August 16, 1831, where he was educated, and resided until nineteen years of age, when he moved to Erie county, Pennsylvania, and remained about two years. November 3, 1852, he was married to Carrie C. Appleby, of Spring- field, Erie county, Pennsylvania, and moved to Jefferson county, Wisconsin, where he remained until the Spring of 1853. He then set out for Califor- nia. Crossing the plains he arrived in Shasta county, October 6th of the same year. Remaining here a short time, he settled in the town of Lewiston, Trinity county, where he established a trading post, and packed his goods from Shasta over Trinity mountain on mules until 1858, then he closed that out and built a saw mill and carried on a small farm, and in the Summer of 1865 helped to build a toll road from the Tower House in Shasta county to Lewiston. After about two years he became the owner of the toll road and then completed it to Weaverville in Trinity county. While here he held the office of Supervisor two terms, and that of Justice of the Peace one term; was postmaster four years. In the Fall of 1872, he sold out his interest here and came to this county, settling in Cloverdale, where he formed a co-partner- ship with Isaac E. Shaw in a general hardware and grocery store, which lasted until January 1875, when he withdrew from the firm and made a trip to his native State, leaving June 13th and returning the following Sep- tember. He then purchased the lumber yard of Leander Shores, which business he has continued ever since. In 1876 he built the Centennial warehouse at Cloverdale, since which time he has added and carried on a forwarding and commission business. Elias A., Harriet M., James F., Ida L. and George H. are the names of their children.
Kleiser, J. A. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Bour- bon county, Kentucky, July 7, 1818. When sixteen years of age, he moved with his mother and two brothers (his father being dead) to Montgomery county, Indiana. In August, 1839, he married Miss Nancy Brush, and in 1841, we find him in La Fayette, in the same State, where he worked at car- pentering until 1849, when he emigrated to California, leaving his wife in Indiana. He arrived at Sacramento August 14th, and immediately com- menced mining on the Mokelumne river, at Winter's Bar, where he remained mining and trading until November, 1850; he then returned to Indiana via Panama. In 1853, he again crossed the plains, oringing his wife with him. On his arrival he settled at Humboldt bay, where he engaged in merchandis-
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ing, which he pursued for two years. He then went to Hoopa valley, on lower Trinity river, Klamath county, where he erected a flouring-mill, which he conducted in conjunction with a farm containing one hundred and sixty acres, until 1859, when he came to this county, and settled upon his present estate, part of which comprises the present site of Cloverdale. In this county he has been engaged in railroad construction, and the location and construc- tion of the Cloverdale and Geyser Springs toll road, as well as the Squaw creek toll road to Lake county. Mr. Kleiser married his second wife, Miss Lizzie Unverfate, March 18, 1869, by whom he has two children, George W. and James H.
KNIGHT'S VALLEY.
Holmes, Calvin H. The subject of this sketch was born near Hunt- ington, Carroll county, Tennessee, on December 16, 1825. Here he received his education until twelve years of age, when he moved with his parents to Benton county, Arkansas, and there finished his schooling. On April 17, 1849, he started for California with an ox-team, there being one hundred and ten wagons in the train, and made over twelve hundred miles of their road on the 8th of November of the same year, arriving at Lawson's ranch, on the Sacramento river, from which place he proceeded to the mines on Feather river, there remaining during that Winter and the following Spring. From this locality he went to the mines on the Yuba, arriving there during the Summer of 1850, a portion of which he employed in running a pack- train from Marysville to Stake Range, on the Yuba. This turning out a profitable investment, he commenced business as a cattle-raiser, drover and sheep-raiser, which he has since followed. In the Fall of 1850, in partner- ship with his brother Henderson P., Mr. Holmes located a ranch near Marys- ville, on the Horn Cut, which he sold at the end of one year, when he returned to Arkansas, by way of Havana and New Orleans, returning to California in 1852, bringing with him a drove of cattle across the plains. On October 1st of this year he located near Santa Rosa, in this county, on the farm now occupied by his brother, Henderson P. Holmes. Still retaining this property, the brothers proceeded to Texas in 1853, and there purchasing cattle, drove them across in the following year to Santa Rosa. From 1854 to 1861 Mr. Holmes was principally employed in stock-raising, and for two years of this period was in the wholesale slaughtering business in San
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