USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 60
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Hassett, J. D. Born in Summit county, Ohio, January 21, 1832, where he resided until 1852, when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams as far as Salt Lake and from there to Placerville he made the journey on foot in company with his brother. Here they mined and worked on the South Fork Ditch until the following Spring when they came to this county. After remaining for a short time on a farm about five miles north from Healdsburg, the subject of this sketch engaged in the mill business, which he conducted for a space of two and one-half years. He then, in company with his brother, built a saw-mill on Mill creek, where he labored for two years. He then built the Healdsburg Flouring Mill, and after con- ducting it for five years disposed of the property; since which time he has turned his attention to sheep raising and farming. Married Miss Sarah E. Vaughan April 3, 1859. James T. and Lulu C. are their only children.
Laughlin, M. N. Born in Barboursville, Knox county, Kentucky, in 1821; his father, Thomas Laughlin, was then Sheriff of that county. He afterward resided in Whitney county, and about the year 1827 removed to what was then known as the "Hiwasee purchase," in Tennessee, and settled in Monroe, now London county. Here the subject of this sketch was principally raised. He graduated at East Tennessee University in 1844, taught school several years, and in 1848 emigrated to Missouri. Mar- ried Mary E. Porter of Jackson county, in 1849, and took up his residence in Mercer county. In 1854, crossed the plains with ox-teams and settled and improved a farm on Cooper's El Molino grant, where he remained until 1860 when it was taken from him. He then located in Mendocino township, where he at present resides; owns six hundred acres of land and has two children, Mary Ann Eliza, born in 1850, married Jasper McCracken in 1867; and Emily Elzira, born in 1854.
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Laymance, Isaac C. Born in Morgan county, Tennessee, February 5, 1821 ;. where he resided until fourteen years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to Murray county, Georgia, where he was educated. When twenty-two years of age he took up his residence in Newton county, Mis- souri, where he remained for seven years. In 1849 he emigrated across the plains, being six months on the route. This was the year that the cholera made such sad havoc with emigrants, when scores of them perished. Mr. Laymance endured many hardships in making the trip, but was one of the fortunate ones who escaped the terrible epidemic. He assisted in burying many of his comrades, sometimes as many as four or five in one grave. After arriving in California, and as soon as he recuperated from his perilous journey, he commenced mining on the Feather river, where he continued until 1851, when he returned to Missouri. In 1852, accompanied by his family, he again set out for California, recrossing the plains. This trip was accompanied with less hardships than the former one, and after due length of time he arrived and settled upon his present ranch, consisting of one hundred and sixty acres, where he now resides. He married, September 6, 1844, Miss Susan Miller. She was born in North Carolina January 24, 1829. By this union they have seven living children: Francis M., born November 28, 1845; Isabella, born February 16, 1854; George E., born February 13, 1859; Henry J., born March 20, 1861; Sarah A., born January 19, 1867; David R., born September 24, 1869; Charity L., born July 29, 1871; and four deceased, as follows: Thomas J., born August 17, 1848, and died February 27, 1864; W. M., born January 20, 1853, and died February 8, 1853; James R., born May 10, 1856, and died February 28, 1875; John C., born October 29, 1863, and died December 16, 1877.
McClish, James L. A native of Davis county, Iowa, born January 17, 1844. When but a mere child his parents emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams, and came direct to this county, arriving at Santa Rosa October 21, 1854. After spending a few months here they moved. upon a farm in Mendocino township. About two years later they purchased three hundred acres of land on Russian river. The subject of this sketch received his education at the Sotoyome Institute at Healdsburg. In 1868 he purchased from his father one hundred and fifty acres of land, on which he has erected a very neat dwelling house, and has from time to time added to his first purchase of real estate, until he has now four hundred and ten acres of land. He married, November 28, 1867, Miss Dulee Foreman, who was born in Wabash county, Indiana, December 25, 1850. Ralph, Henry and Annie are the names of their children.
McClish, John N. A. native of Davis county, Iowa, born December 4, 1850. When about four years of age his parents emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams. Arrived in Santa Rosa, October 21,
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1854, where they remained about two and a half months, and then took up their residence about two miles from Healdsburg, on the west side of Russian river. Here the subject of this sketch was reared, and received his educa- tion at the Sotoyome Institute at Healdsburg. In 1871, he purchased a farm adjoining his father's; married May 1, 1872, Miss Ella M. Martin, who was born in Illinois, September 16, 1853. In the Spring of 1876, Mr. McClish and family took a trip to the Centennial Exposition at Philadelphia, and also visited several other noted points, returning after an absence of two months. John M., Josiah T., and Ella N., are the names of their children.
McClish, Thomas. Was born in Franklin county, Ohio, May 12, 1811, where he resided until 1838, when he went to Van Buren county, Iowa, where he found employment in a saw-mill until 1843. He then went to Davis county, where he engaged in farming until 1853, and in the Spring of 1854, he crossed the plains to California with ox-teams, arriving in this county October 21st. He first settled on the farm now owned by Cornelius Bice, where he resided two years, when he settled on his present place about four miles south of Healdsburg. Married Miss Elizabeth E. Loughlin, December 9, 1841. She was born in Tennessee, October 1, 1816, and died February 9, 1877. Their children are: James L., born January 17, 1844; Sarah E., March 18, 1848; John N., December 4, 1850; Mary A., February 20, 1854.
Miller, George. Was born in Switzerland, November 24, 1825. Emigrated to America when twenty-two years of age. He resided in Lucas county, Ohio, until 1850, when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains, and spent his first Winter in a plow-manufacturing establishment at Sonoma city. In the Spring he commenced farming, which business he followed until January, 1853, when he bought an interest in a saw and grist- mill on Mill creek, which he conducted until 1855, when he disposed of his interest ; and in February, 1856, went back to Ohio, where he married Miss Ursula Muller, June 1, 1856, she being born in Switzerland, August 4, 1839. He then, in company with his wife, returned to California, via Panama. Once more settled in this county, Mr. Miller bought back his interest in the mill, which he retained until 1862, when he again sold out, and settled in Healdsburg, where he opened a distillery, which he conducted until 1877. Mr. Miller is now farming on a small ranch just south of the depot, where he has built a nice little residence. Celia is their only child living, being born May 4, 1857. One son, named Alexander, born October 1, 1859, died in 1868.
Miller, James. Is a native of North Carolina, being born in Ashe county September 15, 1821, where he resided until 1833. He then moved to Lawrence county, Missouri, with his parents and resided there until 1849. when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains, being six months mak-
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ing the trip. Immediately after his arrival, commenced mining in the placer diggings, where he continued until the Winter of 1852, when he returned to Missouri, remaining but a few months, and re-crossed the plains the same year to" California, this time settling on his present estate of three hundred acres. Has held the office of School Trustee. Married Martha Walters in 1858, she being born in North Carolina in 1841. By this union they have nine children, Sarah, born December 12, 1858; Emma, born October 14, 1860; Nancy Ann, born January 4, 1862; Mary, born March 4, 1864; Della, born January 31, 1866; Willie, born June 5, 1868; Effie, born July 30, 1870; Henry, born December 1, 1873; Freddie, born September 25, 1877.
Moffet, John. Is a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he was born on January 2, 1831. In the Spring of 1835 his parents emigrated to Des Moines county, Iowa, settling near Burlington on Skunk River, where they erected the first mill built in that State. In the Spring of 1849, in company with his father, brother and brother-in-law, he crossed the plains to California, stopping at Mormon Island, Placer county, where they arrived in October of that year, and at once went to mining. About one year from this time, Mr. Moffet's father returned to his home in Iowa, where he died in 1857. The subject of this sketch continued his mining operations till the Fall of 1851, when, in company with his brother, he returned to the place of his former residence in Iowa. Again, in the Spring of '52, with his two brothers, he started for this coast, bringing a herd of cattle, coming via Salt Lake City, thence to San Bernardino and up the coast to Sonoma county, locating on the Cotate Rancho, in Santa Rosa township, arriving there in July 1853. Mr. Moffet left this place in January, 1862, going to the gold mines in Idaho, thence to the silver mines of Humboldt county, Nevada, in the Fall of same year, and afterwards went to Austin, Nevada. In the Spring of 1858, and during the great White Pine excitement he pushed on to that place, and later became interested in mincs in southern Utah, in which up to the present writing he is interested. In giving the places where Mr. Moffet has been in the mining districts, we have only marked out the outlines of his operations. During the many years he spent in the mountains of Idaho, Nevada and Utah, he was actively engaged in prospecting through this broad sweep of country, and it is due to his energy and perseverence that many valuable mines have been discovered. Mr Moffet is now a resident of Healdsburg, this county, to which place he came in the Fall of 1874. We cannot give a better idea as to how this pioneer Californian is esteemed by his neighbors and fellow-citizens than stating that he has had the honor of being placed in nomination by the Republican party to represent Sonoma county in the State Legislature, and was only defeated because of its being a Democratic county. Married Miss M. A. Martin, a native of this State, in 1874, by whom he has one son, Charles Levi.
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Moreland, W. W. Was born in Clarksville, Johnson county, Arkansas, April 14, 1845. Emigrated to California in the year 1859; lived at Angel's Camp, Calaveras county, about one year, then moved with his mother to Stockton. Entered Pacific Methodist College at Vacaville, Solano county, in 1863, and graduated on the 16th day of May, 1867. Taught six months in a public school at Collegeville, San Joaquin county. Went to Oregon in November, 1867, and taught four years in Corvallis College. Studied law, and was admitted to the Supreme Court in December, 1872. Commenced the practice at Oregon City, Oregon. Was elected Superintendent of Schools in Clackamas county, and served one term. His health not being good in Oregon, he returned to California in the Winter of 1874-5, located in Healds- burg, and recommenced the practice of law. Was elected School Trustee in June, 1877, of the Healdsburg district. Was elected a delegate to the Con- stitutional Convention of California in June, 1878, and served in that body to the entire satisfaction of his constituents. Was elected in September, 1879, a State Senator, and will sit in the first Senate holden after the adoption of the new Constitution. Mr. Moreland was admitted to practice before the Supreme Court on the 11th of November, 1878. He was married in December, 1870, and has one child.
Norton, L. A. The following autobiography has been furnished us by the distinguished captain and lawyer himself: The subject of this sketch is a native of the State of New York, but his childhood and early youth were principally spent in the Canadas. He was born in 1820, and consequently, at this writing, is fifty-nine years old, and was sixteen years of age at the breaking out of the Canadian rebellion. Boy as he was, being strongly imbued with the notions of a republican form of government, he joined the patriot, or rebel side, and enlisted as a minute man, to take up arms against the British Government, and, on call, December 12, 1836, marched with Captain Dones' company, to join Duncom, at Norwich, who was raising forces to meet Sir Alan McNab, who was approaching that place with a formidable command of British soldiery. When en route to join Duncom, the company, near Otter creek, were fired upon by the tories from an ambush, where he received a rifle ball, which grazed the spine and lodged in his hip; which he still carries. The wound was slight, and in no degree disabled him. Without further adventure the company joined Dun- com, but it was soon found that a sufficient force could not be collected to make a successful stand against the British regulars. Young Norton awoke one morning to find Duncom and the other officers, and most of the men gone, and notices posted, advising every man to seek his own safety. Norton, with a young companion, took up the line of march for home. The snow was about a foot deep on the ground, the weather was cold, and the boys were ninety miles from home, and entire strangers, not knowing friend from foe, and the enemy were emboldened by the cowardly conduct of Duncom,
LA Norton
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and hence there was but one show, and that was to take the main road for home, arms in hand, and brave it out; all that can be said here is, that there were numerous attempts to arrest, resistance made, and several shots exchanged; in fact, to that extent did the attack and resistance go, that it was reported and believed by his friends at home, that young Norton was killed, the tories exhibiting a piece of his cap in confirmation of the assertion. He got within thirty miles of home when he was surrounded by a large force of the enemy and compelled to surrender, at Otter Creek, and was marched immediately to Simcoe jail, where he remained, and at which place he received the name of " Davy Crockett," by which name he went during his long imprisonment. The name was suggested by the fact of a small wound caused by a bullet coming in close proximity to the skull, and the boys declared that, like Davy Crockett of old, the tory bullets would not penetrate his hide. He remained two weeks a prisoner at Simcoe, when his friends learned that the report of his death was false, and that he was a prisoner, and that all excepting those deemed dangerous were admitted to bail. A portion of the prisoners were mere boys, and many on that account were discharged on their own recognisance who were older than "Davy," but when bail was offered for him it was refused, and he was then sent to London, where he remained a close prisoner for nine months; was indicted for high treason, but owing no allegiance to the Crown of England they could not convict, conse- quently, after recovering from a severe attack of typhoid fever, which pros- trated him for three months, he was at last discharged, or rather given the choice to leave Her Britannic Majesty's Dominions at once, or suffer death as a felon. He " left," and settled in Kane county, Illinois, where he engaged in the business of farming, milling, etc., and resided there about ten years, when the war with Mexico called on that State for volunteers, and con- ceiving that he had some military genius, he commenced raising volun- teers, but as a man named Harvey had also commenced recruiting for a company, Norton, for a time, discontinued his efforts; but it was soon dis- covered that Harvey had not the necessary influence to raise the company, so it was proposed to turn the skeleton company over to Norton, which was done. Norton proceeded to fill the company, and transported the same to Alton, Illinois, where they were mustered into service and marched to the seat of war, where he served with distinction. But as that part of his life has been written and published under the the title of "Memoirs of the Mexican War, by Capt. L. A. Norton," it will be omitted in this brief sketch of his event- ful life, but let it suffice here to say, with his command he ranged Tamaulipas, crossed the Sierra Madre mountains, marched from Vera Cruz to the city of Mexico, and returned to New Orleans as Commissary of Gen. Patterson's staff- ship "Massachusetts," at the close of the war. In 1849 he was admitted to the bar, before the Supreme Court of Illinois, Trumbull, Treat, and John Dean Caton presiding; made a flying visit to California in 1850, and finally
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returned and permanently settled in Placerville, El Dorado county, in 1852; he there first engaged in mining, and worked his claim, on Prospect Flat, during the hard Winter of 1852-3, to gain a support for himself and three sick companions, when he was paying one dollar a pound for flour, same for bacon, potatoes, and everything in the shape of provisions in the same ratio. In the Spring, three roughs attempted to jump a portion of his claim; he submitted the matter to a miners' meeting, who decided that the claim belonged to the captain, and proffered him a committee to place him in possession. He informed them that in case he needed them he would call on them. He went down early in the morning and commenced work personally. The jumping party arrived, when the Secretary read them the decision of the miners' meeting, (for they had refused to attend the meeting). They declared that they didn't care for the decision; they would work the claim or die in it; that they were from Kentucky, by G-d, and they were able to fight their way. The captain remarked that he was not from Ken- tucky, neither was he a brave man; but that they had better look out, as an invasion of his rights might make a lion of him; and so far as their boast was concerned, they might die on the claim, but they never would work it. And as Doctor Morse, who was Secretary of the meeting, tells the story, the leader of the gang seized a bright new pick, and it was difficult to say, whether the gleam of the polished steel or the man's eye shone the most malignantly. He rushed upon the captain, who seized the descending pick with his right hand and literally wrenched it from the man, and threw his left arm about him, and pinioned him as in a vise. The second made a terrific blow with a long-handled mining-shovel at the captain's head. He instantly wheeled the man that he was holding under the blow, and the blow aimed at the captain would most assuredly have killed his friend but for the fact that the doctor, seeing the blow descending, caught the force of it upon another uplifted shovel that he interposed just in time. The party striking, seeing what he would have done, turned deadly pale, stepped back and sank upon the grass; when the third bounded forward with an uplifted spade and said: "Release that man or I will split you to the ground." The captain exclaimed: "You coward, you dare not strike any one," dealing him a terrible kick which wilted him to his feet; when the villain in the captain's embrace remarked that the claim was not worth fighting about, and if he would release him they would leave. The captain informed him that he should have thought of that before he commenced, at the same time thrust- ing his hand into the fellow's side-pocket and drawing out a revolver, from which he removed the caps, threw it up on the bank, and then released his prisoner and told them to leave or he would kick them out of the ravine. They gathered up their tools and left. In wrenching the pick from the party, the captain sprained his right arm to such an extent as to disable him from working in the mines for many months. He accordingly went to San
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Francisco, purchased a library and commenced his practice as attorney at law; but having loaned some money on the goods and auction store of Cog- win & Co. was compelled to take the stock to save himself, and accordingly ran the business for two years; but when he discovered that his profession was worth more to him than his stock of goods, he closed out and again entered upon his profession as an attorney, having invested his all in buildings and town property in the city of Placerville. On the 5th of July, 1856, the city of Placerville was literally wiped out by fire, and he, in common with the rest, was left comparatively "broke", having but about three thousand dollars and his library left. But with his usual energy he soon rebuilt a portion of his burned district. Anterior to this date, however, in the Spring of 1855, he visited Sonoma county, and then resolved as soon as he could change his location without much loss, to settle in that county, believing that every blow struck in the mining district impoverished the country, while every blow struck in an agricultural county enriched it. According to his preconceived project, the 1st day of July, 1857, found him again in Sonoma county, seek- ing a place to locate. He visited the Geysers, and on his return he became favorably impressed with the then small hamlet of Healdsburg and the broad acres of Dry creek and Russian river bottom land lying on each side of the town site, while the little town itself was embowered in and overshadowed by a luxuriant shade of native oaks, with its varied and picturesque scenery with water as pure as ever flowed from a crystal fountain, a healthful climate. without sand-flies, gnats or mosquitoes, to afflict humanity, he resolved to settle in Healdsburg, and take his chances to make a living at his profession. Among the first to renew an acquaintance at this place was "old man" Forsee, with whom he had been acquainted in El Dorado county. The old man informed him that there was a fine opening for him in Sonoma county, but that he must not go in with the land-grabbers. This was all new to the captain, and he was led to make inquiries as to what he meant by land- grabbers, when Judge Forsee proceeded to inform him that the county was covered with spurious grants, purporting to be Mexican grants, but which were all fraudulent, and that he, Forsee, had united himself with the settlers to resist the claimants of Mexican title, both legally and forcibly. That the Fitch or Sotoyome Rancho was a fraud, that the patent issued therefor was a fraud, that on two sides there were no boundaries, etc., etc. The captain visited Santa Rosa for the purpose of learning the facts from the records, when, instead of finding the grant without boundaries, he found the entire estate defined by the most substantial lines, and that the United States patent had been on record for more than five years. He returned to Healdsburg and opened an office, and soon found that all legal proceedings at this place amounted to a grand "comedy of errors,"-deeds, embracing both sales of real and personal property, one half of them without a seal, many without acknowledgments, etc. The first case was, The People
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of the State of California vs. Charles P. McPherson, for an assault with a deadly weapon. The captain was employed on the defense, and one James Reynolds (now dead) was prosecutor. The Justice, instead of sitting as a committing magistrate, took jurisdiction of the case to try it. The captain didn't demur to the jurisdiction of the court. The evidence disclosed the fact that his client had, in the town of Geyserville, struck the complaining witness with a small stick, about one inch in diameter; but, unfortunately, there was a large sized splitting-chisel at one end of it, used for splitting iron in a blacksmith shop. The captain, however, convinced the jury that it was not among the deadly weapons described in the statute, and his man was acquitted on that charge, but, under the advice of his counsel, MePherson pleaded guilty to an assault and battery,-receipts of first month's practice, thirty dollars. About this time a gentleman stepped into the office and introduced himself as Egbert Jadson, of San Francisco, and said: "I am part owner and agent of the new Sotoyome Rancho. The ranch is covered with redwood timber, and is only valuable for the timber, and I am being robbed by more than a hundred trespassers, who are cutting down and carrying away my timber in lumber, pickets, shakes, rails, and for other uses. The entire valley has been fenced, and is being fenced from my land. I started up here to see if I could do anything to save it. I stated my object to Colonel S. H. Fitch on the boat coming up, and told him that I was going to see if I could employ some attorney in Santa Rosa who would try and save my property. He replied that the man I wanted was in Healdsburg, that he knew you well, having served through the Mexican war with you, and if you undertook it you would accomplish it or die trying. He at the same time remarked that they were a desperate set of men, and that he expected they would kill any one who would attempt to stop them tres- passing." The captain told him that his encouragements were truly refreshing, but notwithstanding, for a reasonable consideration he would undertake it. After having fixed on a compensation, the captain said: "go back to San Francisco you are afraid of these men, and within two weeks you will find your worst fears realized, or I will be in possession of your land." Judson returned to San Francisco, and now I shall quote the cap- tain's own language in describing his adventures in the settlement of the squatter troubles. He says: "When Judson left, I was in somewhat of a quandary how to commence my task, I was fully alive to the magnitude of the undertaking; I was aware that about a month before my arrival in Healdsburg a mob had taken and destroyed the field notes of Surveyor General Tracy, gave him four hours to leave or hang, and that a like mob had chased Dr. L. C. Frisbie, he only escaping by being mounted on a fleet horse, and from the known character of some with whom I had to deal, could scarcely hope to come out of the contest alive. First I thought I had better commence in the District Court and call to my aid the Sheriff's posse
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