History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams, Part 63

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. 4n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1008

USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 63

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Queen, Christopher. The subject of this sketch is a lineal descendant of one of the oldest families of France. The original name was Du Quien, but has been Americanized into its present form. As long ago as the year 1700, a large family of this name resided near Marseilles, France. About this time, one of its members, Jean Philip, embraced the Huguenot religion, and removed to another part of the kingdom, where Protestantism was toler- ated. There he erected a mansion, which has been the birth-place and home of six generations of the family. The capstone across the entrance still bears his name and the date (1717) of its erection. At the beginning of the Jaco- bin revolution of 1793, the Du Quiens, having been long connected with the royal government, followed the fortunes of the king and fled the country. They remained in England and on the continent until Napoleon had assumed the reins of government, when they were allowed to return; but only to find most of their property confiscated. The father of the subject joined the army and served seven years; after which he returned to his home, married, and a

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

few years later, with his young family, of whom Christopher was the eldest, having been born August 5, 1842, emigrated to America. They landed at New Orleans, and settled at Peoria, Illinois, in 1853. Young Christopher's early years were spent in helping the father to gain a livelihood for the family, and as much of an education as the circumstances would permit. On the 28th of April, 1861, he started for California across the plains, in the company organized by Captain William S. Moss, now of the San Francisco Examiner, arriving here in October of the same year. He remained in Stockton for several months, and in the winter went to Placer county, where he was chiefly engaged in running a pony express from Iowa Hill to the several mining camps in that section. In the spring of 1863, during the mining excitement at Squaw valley, near lake Tahoe, he went thither. This excitement, like many others, proved to be a " will-o'-the-wisp." Mr. Queen engaged to sail a boat on the lake for the season, and in the Fall returned to Iowa Hill. In July, 1865, he went to Illinoistown (now Colfax), Placer county, the then terminus of the Central Pacific railroad, and was there appointed Deputy-Sheriff under William Sexton, re-appointed under A. W. Poole, the present United States Marshal, and again under J. H. Neff. On the 14th of February, 1869, he went into the employ of Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express, and remained with that company until September 10, 1878. During part of this time he was stationed at Reno, Nevada. He resigned his position, and with Warren Dutton, of Tomales, and Samuel Rien, of Duncan's Mill, formed a co-partnership to succeed Messrs. Thomas Beacom & Co. in the management of the north coast stage lines, of which business he had the immediate control. The business has undergone some change since then, and Mr. Queen is now connected with George Allman of San Francisco, in the stage lines, and with John Clark in the livery business at Duncan's Mill. He is a live, thorough-going business man, and one with whom it is a pleasure and a profit to meet.

PETALUMA.

Andrews, Robert. Born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, August 10, 1813. Here he received his education and labored upon the farm until twenty-six years of age. In 1840, he, with his parents, moved to Ohio, and on January 27, 1842, married Miss Mary, daughter of Colonel Orr, of Guernsey county, Ohio. In April, 1857, he and his family started to Cali-

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

fornia, crossing the plains with ox-teams. They came direct to this county, arriving all safe and well, October 10, 1857, and in 1859 located on their present estate, situated in Two Rock valley, about six miles from Petaluma. Their children are W. C., C. N., Howard, and Rolland W. Have lost two, Jane, and Sarah E.

Armstrong, James. Was born in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, May 7, 1828. His father's name was Daniel, and his mother's maiden name Ann Weldon; they died in 1836 and 1838 respectively ; his grandfather Joshua Armstrong, who was a soldier in the Twenty-seventh Regiment of Maryland Sharpshooters, was killed at the battle of Baltimore, September 12, 1814. In the year 1840 the subject of this sketch entered the navy of the United States as a "prentice boy," and served under D. G. Farragut, Commodore Morris, and Captain Bell, on board of the line-of-battle ship "Delaware," and steamer " Union," until 1845, having in that period visited the Brazils, and other parts of South America, Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, and Africa, as well as Florida, Texas, and Mexico, nearer home. On his discharge he retured to Baltimore, and learning a trade worked at it until April, 1846, and was so employed when the news arrived that General Taylor was surrounded at Point Isabella, Texas, by the Mexicans, under General Ariosta. On hearing this intelligence Armstrong left his job unfinished, rushed up to Union Hall, and there and then signed his name as a volunteer in Company A, First Maryland, D. C., Volunteers, Colonel William H. Watson. Sailing with his regiment he landed at the mouth of the Rio Grande, July 2, 1846, and served under Generals Taylor, Quitman, and Scott, from that point up to the City of Mexico. When on vedette duty at Monterey, September 23, 1846, captured, single-handed, two prisoners, marched them in at the point of the bayonet, and turned them over at the old Sugar-house fort to Randolph Ridgley, Captain Third Artillery. At the capture of Victoria, Mr. Armstrong and Adjutant-General Lovell, of General Quitman's staff, hoisted the first flag over the Custom-house. Let us tell this feat in Mr. Armstrong's own words: "The Mexican officials cut the halyards from the flag-staff, locked the door and would not give us the key, so we battered the door in with a large piece of timber. I went up the pole and rove the halyards, and, with three cheers from the troops, unfurled " old glory" to the breeze. General Quitman requested the troops not to cheer, but it was no use, for as soon as the "boys" saw our flag go to the breeze they let loose-and, right here I wish to correct a little piece of Swin- ton's History. He says that Victoria was captured by General Patterson and his division. We sixteen hundred volunteers, with Bragg's battery,under General John A. Quitman, marched from Monterey, Patterson marched from Matamoras. We beat Patterson's division three days to Victoria; had General Urea, with five thousand Mexicans retreating before us; so we had the city three

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

days before Patterson's arrival." After two years' service in Mexico he left it with Watt's division on June 12, 1848, and returned home by way of New Orleans, St. Louis, Louisville, and Wheeling. In the following October he sailed from Baltimore to New Orleans in the bark " Louise;" in November,after the Presidential election, he proceeded to Corpus Christi, Texas, and in June, 1849

, went to San Antonio and joined the expedition of Major Van Homs, as assist- ant wagon-master with the Third Infantry, bound to Passo del Norte. In October, 1849, he left El Passo with P. Edward, now General, Connor, Gran- ville Orrez, John Lynch, John G. Moore, and James Churchman, and proceed- ing through Chihuahua. Durango, Sinaloa, to Mazatlan, there embarked in the brig " Two Brothers," of ninety tons, with one hundred and fifty passengers, for San Francisco, California, where they arrived in December, 1849, after a passage of thirty-one days. In January, 1850, Mr. Armstrong went to the mines at Ousley's and Long Bar, until April, when he moved to the north fork of the Yuba river, above Downieville; from here he proceeded to to Goodyear's Bar; worked at mining in Sierra, Plumas and Mariposa counties until 1854, in which year he moved to Petaluma, and purchased lots at the corner of Third and F streets, In July, 1857, was engaged in the water business. June 18, 1862, was elected Second Lieutenant of Petaluma Guard; August 15, 1863, promoted to the rank of Captain; August, 1864, promoted to be Major First Infantry Battalion, National Guard of California, and served as such until 1868, when the battalion was mustered out of the service ; June 29, 1869, organized the Heuston Guard, Second Brigade, National Guard of California, which company he is still commanding, having been re- elected five times. In 1877, bought out Mr. Pancher's news agency. Major Armstrong married, May 17, 1859, Mary E., daughter of John L. Mock, of Vallejo township, by whom he has had nine children, two are dead and seven living, six girls, and one boy named James Custer Armstrong. Says the gallant Major, " I shall try and raise him not only to love California, but our whole country, and above all the Union of the States, as his birth-right, to be preserved, if possible, come peace or war."

Atwater, Henry H. The subject of this memoir was born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on April 13, 1837. Here he attended the common schools till fifteen years old, when he commenced the battle of life on his own account, first as a clerk in a general merchandising store for three years, then in 1855 he was employed as book-keeper for a coal company till 1858; then he proceeded to Binghampton, New York, and there procured employment as a book-keeper for Messrs. Weed, Ayers & Morgan, where he remained until he emigrated to California via Panama. He arrived in San Francisco, May 15, 1859, and immediately came to Petaluma and engaged as a clerk with Hinman & Co., which situation he filled until 1866, when he accepted the position as cashier of the First National Gold Bank of this city, and is

V. J. Ballon

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

still filling this place of trust. He married on May 3, 1856, Miss Addie A. Daley, who was born in Canada on October 6, 1836. By this union there is one son, Frank H., born June 15 1857.

Barnes, Alfred N. Born in Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, on April 14, 1818. In 1838, he proceeded to Lee county, Illinois, and engaged in the mercantile business. In February, 1849, he went to Independence, Missouri, and April 24th he started in company with Col. Russell's company across the plains for California, arriving at Sacramento city August, 1, 1849. He immediately proceeded to Coloma and married, and carried on the mercantile business until the Spring of 1851, when he returned to Illinois. Here he followed the merchandising business until 1865, when he returned by water with his family and located in Petaluma city. In the Spring of 1866 he opened a general merchandise store, but closed out in 1869, and went to White Pine, Nevada; mined five months, then returned to this county and embarked in the business of sheep-raising, and continued the same until 1877, when he repaired to this city and engaged in his present business. He married Juliet M., daughter of Reuben Hamlin, of Peoria, Illinois, February 22, 1852. She was born in Somers Connecticut. Ida F., born on February, 23, 1855, Charles A., born on December 10, 1857, Hattie Louise, born on February 15, 1868, are the names and births of their children.

Barlow, Solomon Q. A native of Sullivan county, New York; was born May 20, 1837. There he received his early education, and assisted his father in the business of farming and lumbering, finishing his education at the Ellenville high school at the age of twenty-one, under Prof. L. A. Law Post, principal. He then purchased the homestead, farm and saw-mill of his father, who had removed to Napanock, New York. There he continued the business of farming and lumbering till 1862, when he removed to Pomp- ton, New Jersey, where he was agent for James Horner & Co. for two years, during the erection of their steel and file works at that place. He then emigrated to California via Panama, and arrived and settled in Two Rock Valley in this county, April 21, 1864. In 1872 he settled on his present estate, containing one hundred and forty-four acres, in the same valley, six miles west of Petaluma. February 8, 1860, Mr. Barlow married Miss Elizabeth J. Denman, a native of Sullivan county New York. She was born March 14, 1837, and died December 3, 1874. Their children are Eva R., born April 17, 1861; William Denman, December 29, 1862; Anna D. and Fanny D., twins, born July 4, 1865; Thomas Edgar, born February 2, 1867; and Libbie Louisa, born February 12, 1870; one deceased, William Denman, September 16, 1863. Mr. Barlow's second marriage took place at Point Arena, California, October 9, 1879, to Miss Louisa Brandon, a native of Iowa City, lowa, born November 16, 1841. He is giving his children a liberal and practical education, and is engaged in mixed agriculture, for which his locality is well adapted.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Bernhard, Isaac. A native of Bavaria, Germany, born March 15, 1821, where he received his education and served an apprenticeship to the weaver's trade. In 1843 he emigrated to America, remained in New York a short time, when he came to California, via Nicaragua, and arrived in San Fran- cisco May 6, 1853. A few months later he was a merchant in Green valley, this county, in company with Edward Newburgh. Here he contin- ued until the Fall of 1857, when he came to this city and opened a store where the Phoenix Block now stands. In 1862 he opened his present gen- eral merchandise store, and has ever since enjoyed a lucrative patronage. Married Sarah, daughter of Jacob and Johanna Driefuss, March 28, 1858. She arrived in California July 27, 1857. She was born in Germany on Septem- ber 16, 1835. Jacob W., born April 11, 1861, Joseph, F. A., born August 22, 1862, Ella V. G., born May 16, 1864, Edward M. C., August, 23, 1876, Albert H. I., born September 29, 1859, and died November 15, 1874, Her- man I. G., born December 21, 1865, and died January 23, 1866, are the names of their children.

Brackett, Joshua S. This pioneer settler of Sonoma and Marin counties, and who is represented by his portrait in this work, was born in New Market, Rockingham county, New Hampshire, on February 18, 1820. Here he resided till thirteen years old, when he moved to Methuen, Middle- sex county, Massachusetts, where he abode thirteen months; thence to Akron, Summit county, Ohio, residing in that locality until 1840; then returned to Massachusetts, taking up his residence in Lowell. Here he lived one year, then went to Manchester, New Hampshire, and engaged in the sash, door and blind business, but only remained there till 1844, when he settled in Boston, Massachusetts. On the 27th of January, 1849, he sailed from Boston on the ship "Vasalia" for California, arriving in San Francisco on July 27th of that year. In this city he worked at the carpenter's and joiner's trade till September 15th following, when he went to Mokelumne Hill, Sacramento county, where he remained six weeks, when he returned to San Francisco, remaining till November 16, 1849, when he came to Sonoma, this county, where he remained till December, 1853, then left San Francisco on the steamer " Winfield Scott" for the East. This steamer was wrecked on Anacopa Island, and Mr. Brackett returned to San Francisco, and again in January, 1854, took passage on the steamer "Oregon," arriv- ing safely in New York harbor. After visiting in different places in the East, he returned to Sonoma, arriving in May, 1854, but only resided there till the 22d of December following, when he permanently located in Marin county, California, on the Soljoula Ranch, twelve miles west of Petaluma, where for many years he was engaged in raising stock. In 1862 he came to Petaluma, where he married Fannie Batchelor, on November 25, 1863, She was born on May 31, 1827, and died on June 24, 1872. In 1869 they moved to their ranch in Marin county, and again in 1874 Mr. Brackett

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

returned to this city and still resides in this place. Frank O., Joshua B., and Fanny E., are the names of his children.

Brooks, Sylvester. A native of Middlesex county, Connecticut, born August 11, 1821; was educated here and learned the carpenter's trade. In 1846 he moved to Texas, where he followed his trade until the Spring of 1853, when he emigrated to California, via Panama, arriving at San Fran- cisco, May 5th. After spending a few days in that city he went to Marys- ville, where he worked at his calling until the Spring of 1859, when he returned East, but in the following Fall found his way back to the Pacific slope, resuming his former business, which he continued until the Spring of 1862, when he came to this county, and settled in Petaluma. Here he remained, working at his trade until April, 1866, when he again visited the East, this time engaged in the grocery business in Chester, Connecticut, until 1868, when he returned to Petaluma, where he has since resided. In 1871, he, in company with . L. G. Nay, bought the "Petaluma Planing Mills," which they have since owned and conducted together. Mr. Brooks married in Germantown, Pennsylvania, September 12, 1866, Mrs. J. E. Conroy, widow of Hugh Conroy, a resident of Petaluma.

Brown, Ralph. Born in Oswego county, New York, December 25, 1830. When quite young his parents moved to Onondaga county, New York. In 1844 his parents took up their residence in Walworth county, Wisconsin. In 1852 he returned to New York, and located in Cortland county. On February 20, 1855, he sailed from New York, on board the steamer " George Law," to Panama; then the " Golden Gate" to San Fran- cisco, where he arrived March 14, 1855. He immediately proceeded to the mines in Sierra county, mined until October following; thence to Butte county, and prosecuted mining until 1857, when he came to this county and settled in Petaluma; kept books for McCune Brothers for a period of six years, and was otherwise engaged until 1874, when he embarked in his present business, that of conducting a livery stable. Married on February 6, 1866, Olive W., daughter of Thomas Walker, of Manchester, New Hamp- shire. J. Ralph, born December 13, 1866; Will W., born March 18, 1869; and Angie M. Brown, born August 25, 1875, are the names and births of their children.

Buckius, William L. A native of Canton, Stark county, Ohio; born March 28, 1826. When eighteen years of age he proceeded to Massillon, Ohio. Here he learned the tinsmith trade, and after a residence of four years, took up his residence in Canal Fulton, same county, and began busi- ness on his own account, where he continued for ten years. He then repaired to Massillon. In 1860 we find him on his way to California. First locating at Oroville, Butte county, where he resided until 1875, when he came to this county, and settled in Petaluma, and worked as a journeyman until July

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

7, 1879, when he purchased of A. W. Barnes his present place of business. Married April 7, 1847, Miss Hester Ann Alverson. She was born in Chau- tauqua county, New York, November 28, 1828, by which union they have one child living, Willard Layton, born July 3, 1854, at present engaged with his father in the hardware and tinning business.

Camron, O. P. A native of Sonoma county, California, born August 15, 1852; received his education in the public schools of Petaluma. Resided with his mother on the old homestead until 1877. His father was killed by a boiler explosion on the bay of San Francisco in 1854. The subject of this sketch is engaged in farming, about five miles west of Petaluma. Married Miss Minnie C. Field, October 23, 1877. She was born in Jefferson county, New York, on the 23d of February, 1860.

Canepa, Luigi. The subject of this sketch was born in Italy in 1849. and came to the United States in 1868, landing in New York City on July, 20, of that year, then took the steamer "Arizona," for California, and on arrival in San Francisco, immediately proceeded to Calaveras county, and engaged in mining and various occupations till 1873, when he went to San Francisco, engaging in mercantile pursuits till 1874, when he took a resi- dence in Petaluma, this county, where he began his present business in November, 1874, which is at the present time conducted under the firm name of Canepa & Gilbert.

Carothers, James H. Born in Brown county, Ohio, in 1818; received his education in that State, and afterwards moved to Illinois, and there married Margaret Barnes. In 1853 emigrated to California and located in Petaluma, where he has resided ever since, with the exception of four or five years, which he spent in farming at Stony Point, and three years in Sacramento City. Has a family of eight children, namely: Thomas, Hannah, William, Cassandra, Jolin, Alexander, Margaret, and James. Thomas has become quite a noted lawyer at Ukiah, Mendocino county, where he has practiced for the last twelve years, while William has been a merchant in Petaluma.

Carothers, William O. A native of Hancock county, Illinois, born July 26, 1847. When six years of age his parents emigrated to California across the plains, and located in Petaluma, where the subject of this sketch was educated at the public schools. In 1868 his parents moved to Sacra- Inento City, and after a residence of three years returned to Petaluma. In 1865 he accepted the position of clerk in the dry goods establishment of Kessing & Tupper, at Santa Rosa, and remained in their employ for two years and nine months, at the expiration of which time he returned to Petaluma, where he was employed by E. Newburgh & Co. as clerk, which position he held for six years and three months. In February, 1876, he embarked in the grocery trade, which he continued until May, 1879, when he disposed of the business to Messis. Veale & Roache. He then pro-

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ceeded to Salinas, Monterey county, and engaged in the grocery business for a short space of two months, thence to San Francisco, prosecuted same busi- ness, and the same length of time that he did in Salinas. September 1, 1879, we again find Mr. Carothers a resident of Petaluma, where he opened up his present business, that of conducting the " Bonanza Bazaar." He mar- ried Miss Louisa P. Eagan, October 17, 1870, born in San Francisco, Febru- ary 11, 1854. Henry W., born July 21, 1871; Bertha, born December 23, 1872, are their children.

Carpenter, T. L. Was born in Buffalo, New York, on October 30, 1828. He sailed in December, 1848, on the old steamer "Isthmus" to Panama, where he took passage on the steamer " California" for San Francisco, the latter being the pioneer steamer running on the Pacific coast, and the first to go through the Golden Gate. He arrived in San Francisco Febru- ary 28, 1849. He at once went with a party, who were the first to discover gold at Jamestown, Tuolumne county, where he was engaged in mining for one year. In the Spring of 1850, he returned to Buffalo, New York, but after five months returned to this State. In the Fall of 1852 he settled in Petaluma township on a place now known as Lovegee ranch, where he remained one year; thence to the mines at Yreka, on Klamath river. Mr. Carpenter again returned to the city of Petaluma in 1858, where he has since been engaged in the butchering business.

Carpenter, W. W., M. D. Was born in the town of Hyde Park, Dutchess county, New York, August 18, 1828. His portion in life up to the sixteenth year of his age was hard farm Jabor, with the usual three months' attendance upon the district school during the Winter months. In the Winter of 1846 he attended one term at the Fairfield Academy, Her- kimer county, New York. In the following Spring he commenced studying medicine under John Dodge, M. D., of Clinton; and under his tutilage, and that of Professor Marsh, of Albany, the next three years were consumed. February 13, 1850, he sailed for California, on the old United States mail steamship " Ohio," Captain Schenck; and thirty-six hours afterwards, in a terrific storm off Cape Hatteras, he wished California in Tophet, and himself safely on terra firma. On the 17th they touched off the bars of Charleston and Savannah, for the exchange of mails and passengers, and sailed into the beautiful harbor of Havana on the morning of the 21st. Sailed from Havana on the 22d; crossed the bar at the mouth of the Mississippi on the 23d, and landed at New Orleans on the 24th. Left New Orleans on the 28th, and landed in Chagres, March 9th; March 24th sailed from Panama, on the steamship " Tennessee," her first trip ; stopped at Acapulco, April Ist, and arrived at San Francisco April 14th-two months and one day from the date of sailing. San Francisco was then a congregation of sand hills, and Sacramento a swamp. Dr. Carpenter spent his first year in the mines, princi-

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pally at Coloma, Georgetown, and Barn's Bar, north fork of American river ; since which time he has devoted his whole attention to his profession. On January 24, 1854, he was married at Woodside, San Mateo county, to Miss Adelaide Elmira Craig; and soon after moved to La Porte, Sierra county, California. He remained three years at the latter place, when he removed to Gibsonville, in the same county. While at the latter place he held the office of Postmaster, and at the same time that of School Trustee. It was through the exertions of Dr. Carpenter that the public school system was successfully established in Gibsonville. He also held the office of County Physician of the northern half of Sierra county while residing at Gibsonville. In May, 1861, he moved to Petaluma, where he has permanently resided to the present time. In 1864 the Legislature conceived the plan of allowing the northern and southern ends of Sonoma county to take charge of their respective indigent sick, and in accordance made a division of the funds set apart for that purpose. Dr. Carpenter was appointed County Physician for the southern half of the county, and discharged the duties of his office satis- factorily to the county and with credit to himself. He was one of the originators of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Peta- luma, and ever since has been one of its most ardent supporters, and an officer in the society.

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History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams, Part 63

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. 4n Publication date: 1880 Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen & Co. Number of Pages: 1008

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. 4n
Publication date: 1880
Publisher: San Francisco : Alley, Bowen & Co.
Number of Pages: 1008