USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 59
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Francisco. In 1861 he located in Knight's valley, on his present splendid property, which comprises two thousand five hundred acres of the finest land in the county. Last year, 1878, he crected his present elegant and commodious mansion, near the Calistoga road to the Geysers. Mr. Holmes married, March 16, 1854, in Collins county, Texas, Miss Ella E. Huffman, of Sheibyville, Kentucky, by whom he has: Kate H., born January 14, 1855; William F., born September 10, 1858, and Edward M., born January 31, 1862.
MENDOCINO.
Allen, W. T. Was born in Shawneetown, Gallatin county, Illinois, June 21, 1818. When about ten months old his father died, and the remainder of the family, comprising W. T., his mother and a sister, soon moved to Ken- tucky, where his mother married. In the Fall of 1831, the subject of this sketch took up his abode in La Fayette county, Missouri, where he remained until August, 1849, when he started for California across the plains with a mule train. On arriving he engaged in mining in Nevada county, where he sojourned about eight months. He then came to this county and lived on a farm about six miles south of Healdsburg, with his uncle, Joseph Gordon, and engaged in farming one year. He then engaged in farming with Lindsay Carson, (a brother to the noted Kit Carson,) and made a kiln of fifty thou- sand bricks, probably the first bricks made in Sonoma county. He left Mr. Carson in January, 1853. He was a soldier in Colonel Doniphan's regiment in the Mexican war, and was present at the battles of Brazeto and Sacra- mento. Was Justice of the Peace in Mendocino township in 1855, and a member of the Board of Supervisors of Sonoma county in 1856-57, when he located on his present ranch, comprising one hundred and fifty-eight acres situated on Dry creek. He married, April 26, 1853, Miss Jane Capell; she was born February 18, 1824, and died February 17, 1873. By this union they have had four children, three of whom are living: Joseph B., born Feb- ruary 27, 1854, and died June 5, 1855; Elizabeth M., born March 22. 1855; Mary J., born January 7, 1857; George R., born April 6, 1860. For his second wife he married Mrs. Lucinda Rackliff, September 19, 1878. She was born April 21, 1832.
Bice, Cornelius (deceased). Born in Shelby county, Kentucky, Feb- ruary 27, 1816. In 1833 he, with his parents, moved to Jefferson county, Indiana, where he resided until 1849, when he took up his residence in
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Jackson county, Missouri. In 1853 they settled on what is now called the Hassett's ranch, and remained there until 1863, when they were dispossessed by the authorities for being on land that was claimed by the Fitch Grant, house burned, and all their property destroyed, without any warning, not even allowing them time to move their goods out of their house, They then moved to Healdsburg, near the plaza, and lived four years, until 1867, when they moved to the "Mill Creek " farm, where they have lived ever since. In 1853 he emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and came direct to this county, and settled upon land within the city limits of Healdsburg, where he remained until 1865, when he moved to his present ranch of one hundred and sixty-six acres, located on Mill creek, about three miles from Healdsburg. He also has a farm in Mendocino county, com- prising two hundred and sixty-five acres. He married Miss Mary J. Koger March 1, 1846. She was born in Patrick county, Virginia, June 5, 1827, Their children are: John W., Martha E., Matilda E., Louvenia, Samuel C., Sarah A., Charles A., Isaac E., Mary F., and Fred. C. Bice died at his home on Mill creek, with dropsy of the heart, July 17, 1879, aged sixty-three years, leaving a wife and ten children. The children are all married, except four, who are still at home with their mother.
Biddle, Edwin Weber. Was born in Springfield, Illinois, August 11, 1849, and crossed the plains with his parents, Benjamin Robert and Maria Biddle, in 1852, who settled in Salem, Oregon. In the Spring of 1853 they moved to Corvallis, Benton county, where they lived for twenty-two years, engaged in business. Edwin was sent to the Pacific University College. Forest Grove, Washington county, Oregon, where he remained two years. On returning home, he took the place of clerk in his father's drug store. In 1869 he came to San Francisco, California, and entered upon the study of dentistry with. Dr. S. H. Roberts. He served two years, and then returned to Corvallis, opened an office and practiced his profession until the Fall of 1874, when he sold his office fixtures and business and returned to California. In December, 1874, he opened an office in Healdsburg, Sonoma county, California. June 13, 1875, he married Delora Belle Allen, of San Francisco, the daughter of General James M. Allen. He remained in Healds- burg until February, 1877. Returned to San Francisco and bought one- half interest in the practice of Dr. S. H. Roberts, his preceptor. His health failing him, he sold his interest in December of the same year, and on January 9, 1878, started for Arizona Territory. While there he secured interest in mines, and during the Winter of 1878 and the Spring of 1879 erected a five-stamp. quartz-mill. After completing the mill he returned to Healdsburg, where he is now following his profession, awaiting the develop- ment of his mining interests.
Bishop, T. C. Among the representative men and early settlers of Sonoma county, the subject of this sketch ranks prominent. Mr. Bishop
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was born in Carter county, Tennessee, June 12, 1830. In 1851, he removed to Iowa, and three months later settled in Jackson county, Missouri, where he resided till the Spring of 1852, when he started for the Golden State. He arrived in California in the Fall of 1852, first settling at Diamond Springs, Placer county; subsequently he removed to Sacramento, arriving there just after the great fire of '52, and was also there during the flood of 1852-3. In February, 1853, he left Sacramento for the town of Sonoma, in Sonoma county, where he resided until the Fall of that year, working at his trade- carpentering. That Fall he went to Tuolumne county and engaged in mining till the Spring following, when he returned to Sonoma and resumed work at his trade. In the Fall of 1854, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff of Mendocino county and commissioned to take charge of the Big River Saw- mills, under attachment. In the Spring of 1855, he again returned to Sonoma, and was married May 3, 1855, to Miss Eliza Smith. Mr. Bishop bought a farm that year, raised two crops, sold the place in 1857 and settled in Petaluma. In May, 1858, he left Petaluma for the northern part of Sonoma county, going into the mountains and locating what is now known as the Rock Pile Ranch. He remained there for seven years and engaged in cattle raising, when he sold his ranch and bought a farm at the head of Dry Creek valley. In 1865, he sold his farm and removed again to the moun- tains, settling on the ranch where he now resides, and which he obtained by purchase. His wife died in April, 1870; she was the mother of six children, viz .: John D., Grace Adalia, Henry, Mary, Annie and Jane. In November, 1872, he was married to Mrs. Mary Burtenshaw, by whom he has one child, Flora. Mr. Bishop's ranch is one of the best in Sonoma county and devotes all of his attention to raising sheep. He is one of the most widely-known and popular citizens of the county, being justly celebrated for his over- flowing hospitality-for of him it may truly be said that "the latch-string always hangs out." In the section where he lives he has been ever active in promoting the general welfare, and owing to his influence and exertion the otherwise isolated region of his home is blessed with a public school and made accessible by a public highway. During Mr. Bishop's long residence in Sonoma county he has attended, as a delegate, all but three of his party's conventions, though never having sought nor consented to receive an office -an instance of his public spirit and zeal in matters that interest him.
Bledsoe, The Hon. A. C. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Sumner county, Tennessee, on June 17 1813. After receiving his primary education in private schools, he was sent to the Rural Academy in his native county. The following two years he was engaged as clerk in a store, then enlisted in the United States army, serving six months, when he was honorably discharged, and then commenced the study of law, and was a close student for two years. In 1838 he was appointed Clerk of the (Sumner, Tennessee) County Court, holding this
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position for two years; then moved to La Fayette county, Missouri, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He left this place in 1849 and crossed the plains to California with ox-teams. He stopped in El Dorado county and engaged in mining till July, 1851, then returned to Missouri, but again started for this State on May 10, 1853, crossed the plains, and arrived in Placerville on September 29th of that year. Here he remained till March, 1854, when he located on his present estate on Russian river, about seven miles south of Healdsburg. Since his residence here he has been elected to the Lower House of the State Legislature one term, and Sheriff of Sonoma county one term, as well as being appointed United States Marshal. These are the only offices he has ever held, not from want of opportunity, but from a decided aversion to political life. He could not, and would not, stoop to the means which make political preferment easy, but preferred to hold his honest opinions unbiased and untrammeled, rather than sacrifice his dignity, independence and honesty of character for the temporary success which a short hour of office would bring. All who have associated with him while a resident of Sonoma county, respect and esteem him in the highest degree for his ability and untarnished character. He married Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Lewis Green, of Sumner county, Tennessee, on January 13, 1842. Margaret, Linn Lucilla, Clintonia, Sophia, Isaac L., Sarah A., John C., William O., Jeff. D. and Alexander, are the names of their children.
Board, William. Was born in Callaway county, Missouri, May 11, 1825, and resided there until 1849, when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains, via Mexico, with ox teams. After his arrival he engaged in freighting from Stockton to the southern mines. He followed this business three years, and then returned to his native State by water, where he remained over Winter, and in the following Spring he recrossed the plains, bringing with him a drove of one hundred cattle. He now located in Santa Clara county, and disposing of his cattle, remained until the Fall of 1856, when he came to this (Sonoma) county, and settled at the head of Dry Creek valley, twelve miles above Healdsburg, where he has a pleasant house, and resides there at the present time engaged in farming and stock-raising. In the Fall of 1872 he again visited his native State, this time going and returning over the Union and Central Pacific Railroads. He mar- ried Miss Mary Hamilton, July 14, 1855. Mrs. Board was born in Tennessee. June 8, 1835, and died in Sonoma county, California, on the 22d of October, 1875. Her remains are interred in the Oak Mound Cemetery, at Healds- burg. Four children were the result of this union : Horace D., born Novem- ber 4, 1856; Oscar, born March 29, 1858, and died September 28, 1858; Iter A., born July 20, 1861; and Willie A., born September 27, 1863. On; the 4th of May, 1879, he married Miss Izora A. Oliver, a native of Canada, who was born December 24, 1851.
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Cummings, William. Born in Niagara county, New York, Novem- ber 2, 1829, when five years of age he, with parents, moved to Michigan, where he resided until twenty-one years of age. He then spent two years in Carroll, Illinois. In 1854, he crossed the plains to California. After spend- ing twelve years in El Dorado county, being engaged in mining, and also conducting a shingle mill, he came to this county, settling in Healdsburg, where he has since resided. He is now engaged in the livery business. Married Miss Caroline Brown, March, 1854. Frank, Lucella, Lizzie, Harrie and Katie are the names of their children.
De Wiederhold, A. E. S., A native of England, born April 26, 1842; was educated there and followed clerking until 1862, when he took up his residence in British Columbia, and engaged in the commission business until 1866, when he went to Peru, where he found employment as book-keeper until 1872, when he returned to British Columbia, resumed the commission business, and remained until October, 1877, when he came to this county and bought the Sotoyome Winery of George Miller, which is located in North Healdsburg. Married, August, 1876, Miss Alice Douglas, a native of England. By this union they have one child, Amelia W.
Ely, Doctor Elisha. The subject of this sketch was born in New York City, December, 1825. He is descended from a long line of ancestry, prominent in the religious world and social life; the so-called learned pro- fessions, rather than political ambition, characterizing their tastes and pur- suits. When old enough to leave home he was sent to school in Connecti- cut. At sixteen he returned to New York, and entered a bank as clerk. In two years he had attained the position of first book-keeper in one of the largest banks in Wall street, but this business being unsuited to his tastes he left and commenced the study of medicine. In 1848 he graduated at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York; and in December of that year, four months after the discovery of gold here, was among the first to start for California, via the Isthmus. He arrived in San Francisco on the steamer "Oregon," April 1, 1849, and was for some weeks the only regular physician having an office in that city. In December following, he lost nearly his all by the first great fire. He then coneluded to buy a ranch, a species of property less likely to go up in smoke than the redwood shanties of San Francisco, and visited the valley of Sonoma for that purpose. The exceeding beauty and fertility of this valley, with its charming climate, determined him to cast his lot here. In 1850, he made a journey to the head waters of the Russian river. This region was then a wilderness, inhabited by wild beasts and wilder Indians, a large band of whom chased him from the valley of Ukiah, nearly to the present site of Cloverdale, a distance of twenty or twenty-five miles. A veritable "Tam O'Shanter" ride, with the devils in close pursuit. This long race for life was one of the
Gregson
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most exciting of his many pioneer experiences. The fascinating attractions and extraordinary fertility of this Russian river valley induced him, in 1851, to settle here. He erected his house near the present town of Geyserville, in one of the most picturesque localities of beauty, where his generous hospitality to the wayfarer and the weary was for many years widely known and appreciated. Here, and at Healdsburg, he has since resided. He is the first regular-bred doctor that settled in this county, his rides extending to Napa, Lake, Mendocino and Marin counties. Always a lead- ing physician here, he is now the oldest practitioner of his profession in the county, and probably on this side of the bay, is highly respected as a man and a citizen, and is still actively engaged in the arduous duties of his pro- fession.
Ferguson, Henry Osborne. A native of Clay county, Indiana, born November 9, 1837. In 1845 he removed with his parents to Iowa, and settled in that portion of the State now known as Jasper county. Here they remained until May 7, 1849, when he with his parents emigrated to California across the plains with ox-teams. After a wearisome journey of seven long months, they reached a point called Larsen's, where they remained about three months; thence to a little town on Feather river, known as Yuba City, Yuba county. After a residence here of one year, a rival city-Marysville-sprang up, which completely demolished our infant city in a business point of view, and, like many others, they deserted it and took up their residence in the rival city, remained there one year, and then proceeded to the mining district in Brown's valley, and remained until 1853, when they took up their residence at a place known as Keystone Ranch. Here his father engaged in the saw mill business, and built a large hotel styled the " Keystone House." After a short residence here he returned to Brown's valley, thence to a mining camp called Ohio Flat, in Yuba county, near Forbestown, and engaged in mining and hotel keeping until 1857, when he came to Sonoma county and settled on a portion of the Sotoyome grant, in Alexander valley, named in honor of Cyrus Alexander, one of the pioneers of this county. In 1864, the subject of this sketch entered the Sotoyome Institute at Healdsburg, and there completed his education in 1866. He then returned home, but lived most of the time with his brother until Novem- ber 18, 1878, when he was united in marriage to Miss Lucy M. Crigler of Mendocino county, a native of Monroe county, Missouri. He at once engaged in farming in Alexander valley. In September 1871 he proceeded to Healds- burg and engaged in the grocery and general produce business. On account of his wife being in ill health, he was obliged to sell out his business in about eight- een month's time, and moved to Cloverdale, where he remained about two years, when his wife's sickness terminated in consumption, and finally resulted in her death on June 4, 1876. He then returned to Healdsburg and once more engaged in the same business under the firm name of Gum & Ferguson. He
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married secondly on May 12, 1878, Miss Mary E. Miller, formerly of La Porte, Indiana. He then made a trip East, accompanied by his wife, and on his return purchased the grocery business of S. J. Johnson, in Healdsburg. Removed to Masonic Block, where he may be found at present. James W., born March 1, 1870, and died on January 25, 1872, and Minnie I., born June 9, 1872, are the names of his children by his first wife. By his present wife he has one child, George P., born June 24, 1879.
Ferguson, John Nelson, Was born in Clay county, Indiana, Sep- tember 3, 1835. He resided in this, Owen and Green counties until about nine years of age; he then, with his parents (in 1844), moved to Jasper county, Iowa, this county then being unorganized, it being on the extreme frontier of the new State; his father, William Washington, having the honor of naming both county and county seat, calling them after two heroes of the Revolutionary war, Jasper, the county, and Newton, the county town. In 1849 they crossed the plains to California, with ox-teams. After a tedious trip of nine months, (losing one yoke of their cattle by Indians, and the subject of this sketch narrowly escaping the loss of his life, by the falling of a tree at the hour of midnight on 28th November, across their tent, in which four of his sisters and brothers and himself were sleeping, the top of the tree falling on another tent, killing four men, the Alford family, from Missouri, they finally, about the middle of December, landed, by the famous. " Lamsen route," in the fair land of gold. They spent the remainder of the Winter in the vicinity of what was known to early comers as Lawson's. Ranch, and in the Spring of 1850 they settled at Yuba City, Sutter county, where they remained one year; they then spent a few months in Marysville, after which they opened a boarding-house in Brown's valley, Yuba county, where they remained, connecting quartz mining with their business, until the fall of 1852, when they repaired to Keystone Ranch, where they conducted a saw-mill, until the Fall of 1853, when they returned to Brown's valley. (still holding their quartz mining interests), where they followed mining and the boarding-house business until the Summer of 1855, when a new mining locality was discovered in the north-western part of Yuba county, known as Ohio and New York Flats; to the first named place they removed in the Summer of 1855, where they again engaged in mining and boarding-house business, until the Summer of 1857, when they came to this county and settled on the place that John. Nelson now owns, located in Alexander valley (his father having taken up his abode in Healdsburg). He married, August 2, 1864, Miss Elizabeth Mood. By this union they had three children, Erwin, Clarence and William; the latter died October 12, 1869, at the. age of one year, one month and twenty days. Mrs. Ferguson died October 19, 1869. He again married, July 24, 1870, Mrs. Sarah J. Bassford, she then having two children, Ida and Claudius. By the latter marriage they
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have four children, Mary, Mattie, Alimeda, and Albert. His occupation is farming and stock-raising.
Gallaway, Andrew J. Was born in Knox county, Tennessee, November 14, 1817, where he resided until about sixteen years of age, when he moved with his parents to Morgan county, Indiana, where he resided about nine years. He then went to Missouri, where he remained about five years, after which he made a trip to New Mexico, remaining about one year; returned to Missouri, and in the Spring of 1850 crossed the plains to California, and on arriving there he engaged in mining in El Dorado county, where he remained about three years. He then engaged in farming and stock-raising in Yolo county until 1857, when he went back to Missouri via Panama. In the Spring of 1859 he again started across the plains with a drove of cattle, and came to Yolo county, where he remained a few months, after which he came direct to this county, where he settled on a farm about three miles north from Geyserville, where he remained until the Fall of 1864, when he located on his present farm, consisting of one hundred and thirty acres on Dry creek, about three miles from Healdsburg. He married Miss Deborah Price October 14, 1857. Their children are: Allen K., born August 3, 1858; Nancy E., born September 22, 1859; Henry M., deceased; Andrew J., born March 10, 1863; Amanda A., born December 27, 1864.
Gillespie, Henry. Was born on Long Island, New York, in 1827, where he was educated, and lived with his parents, who conducted a dairy ranch, until 1851, when he emigrated to California via Panama. He first located in Calaveras county, where he followed mining until 1854, at which time he engaged in the dairy business in Marin county. In 1864 he came to this county and settled at Healdsburg, where he has since resided, with the exception of two years, which he spent at Santa Barbara and Grass Valley, Nevada county. He married in 1864 Mrs. Eliza J., widow of M. M. Bates. She has two children, John L. and Thadeth K.
Grater, John F. Was born in Germany, June 28, 1836. Emigrated to America when eighteen years of age. Settled in Philadelphia, where he resided until 1859, when he emigrated to California via Panama. Settled in Santa Rosa, this county, in 1860. Here he remained, being engaged in the hotel business until 1862. He then bought the Union Bakery at Healds- burg; this he remodled into what is now the Union hotel, which he has since conducted. He is also the owner of two large stores in Healdsburg. Mr. Grater married Miss Catherine Deolin June 1, 1865.
Gum, Isaac. Born in Henry county, Indiana, February 23, 1835. When about five years of age, he with his parents moved to Boone county, Illinois, where he resided until 1854, when he emigrated to California, cross- ing the plains with ox teams, and arrived in this county September 27th of the same year. After farming on Dry creek for six years, he went to Vir-
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ginia City and followed teaming for one Summer, after which he speculated in mines until 1865, when he returned to this county and farmed until 1870. He then moved into Healdsburg, where he has resided ever since. Mr. Gum is largely interested in the Great Eastern quicksilver mine of this county. Married Miss Clara Zane, December 14, 1865. Willie, Schuyler C., John T. and Nellie, deceased, are the names of their children.
Haigh, John B. Born in Yorkshire, England, May 9, 1815. Emi- grated with his parents to America, when about four years of age. After a residence in Cincinnati, Ohio, for about eighteen months, they moved to Wash- ington county, Missouri. In 1853 the subject of this sketch emigrated to Cali- fornia. After residing in Santa Clara county for three years he came to this county and settled on his present farm, comprising two hundred and twenty acres, located near Litton Springs. Married Miss Mary Engeldow March 7, 1836, who was born in Virginia March 6, 1817. Their children are Frances Sophia, George, Robert, Alice, Franklin, and Edwin.
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