USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 79
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Wendt, Frederick. Farmer and stock-raiser. Born in Germany January 12, 1837, where he resided until fourteen years of age, when he emigrated with his parents to America, first settling in New Jersey, where they remained till 1860, when the subject of this sketch came to California and settled in this county, where he has since resided, with the exception of one year, 1863, which he spent in Arizona. He married Miss Paulina Lang on January 14, 1864. She was born in Germany September 6, 1838. The following are the names and births of their children: Willie, born October 27, 1865; Amelia, born August 26, 1869; Leonard, born September 1, 1870; Pauline, born May 4, 1872; Frederick, born February 1, 1875, died March 2, 1875; Catherine, born February 17, 1876.
Whitaker, G. W. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Indiana July 27, 1834. When he was but two years old his parents moved to the then Territory of Iowa and settled in what is now Union township, Van Buren county, where Mr. Whitaker received his education. He did not attend any college, only a high school. He claims the honor of being principally a self-educated farmer, having been a constant reader of all agricul- tural works since the Winter of 1853. In the Summer of 1853 he crossed the plains to California in company with an elder brother, W. S. Whitaker, and Mr. Robison. He engaged in mining in El Dorado county for three years, in partnership with his brother and Mr. Robison. He then returned to Iowa, via Panama and New York. While at his old home in Iowa he married Miss Elmira E. Day on October 28, 1856. She was born in Hamilton county, Ohio, on April 13, 1836. They remained in Iowa and engaged in farming till the Spring of 1862. He then . crossed the plains with his family to this State, partly for his health and to follow his occupa- tion of farming, and in November, 1866, settled in Bennett valley, Sonoma county, where he has since resided. During his residence in this county he has been identified with many public interests, being one of the foremost to organize the Sonoma County Farmers' Club, which gave the county's. agricultural interests such wide circulation, and the first to advocate the grange interest and the advantages of their organization, the first grange in the county being organized at his residence on May 27, 1873. He is a
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firm advocate of public schools and education, and a strict moral and parental training of the young. During the last election he was a candidate for the Lower House of the State Legislature. The names of his children are: Willson R., John B., James P., William H., Kate R., Arthur S., Walter L., Rhoda M., Mark S., and Rosa A. Three were born in Iowa, and four at his present home in Bennett valley.
Wood, Ben S. County Recorder and ex-officio County Auditor of Sonoma county; was born in Jackson county, Missouri, October 18, 1847. He emigrated with his father's family to California and settled in Napa City in 1853. In the Spring of 1854 he moved with the family to Petaluma in this county, at which place he continued to reside until 1864, when he was sent to the Pacific Methodist College. He graduated from that institution with the degree of A. B. in the Class of 1869, the degree of A. M. being conferred by the same institution two years later. After spending almost two years in the Coast Range mountains, he was appointed Deputy County Surveyor by his father, John B. Wood, who was then living in Healdsburg, and holding the position of County Surveyor for the fifth term. This appointment he continued to hold, engaged principally in office work, until March, 1874, at which time he moved to Santa Rosa, having been elected on the Democratic ticket at the Fall election of the preceding year to the office of County Recorder and ex-officio Auditor. In March, 1876, he was appointed Deputy Sheriff under Joseph Wright, and resigned the same after serving as deputy for nineteen months. He was again elected on the Democratic ticket as Recorder and Auditor at the general election in 1877, which term he is now filling, having been elected for the third time for the term beginning January 1, 1880. Mr. Wood is married, and has two children.
SONOMA.
Biggins, James. Born in county Cavan, Ireland, in 1825, where he resided until 1844, when he came to America. After spending a few months in Philadelphia, he took up his abode in Burlington, New Jersey, where he was employed as salesman in a wholesale and retail grocery store until 1851. On May 9th of the above year he sailed from New York on the steamner " Brother Jonathan," to the Isthmus, and from this point he took passage on the steamer "Pacific " to San Francisco, arriving August 1st. Was engaged
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in running an express wagon in San Francisco until November Ist, when he came to Sonoma, having been brought hither through the influence of Haven and Smith, to transact business for them on their ranch in this county. After taking charge of their affairs one year, he purchased their interest, and then formed a partnership with John A. Hill. In 1854 they bought of General Vallejo the ranch now known as the Lawler ranch, which they sold to Lawler in 1857, when they dissolved partnership. The subject of this sketch was then engaged in a milk ranch, in San Francisco county, until 1861, when he returned to this county, and engaged in stock-raising until 1864, when he purchased his present estate of three hundred acres of B. B. Munday. He also owns some property in the city of Petaluma, and a tract of land known as the Fowler ranch, and purchased from W. D. Bliss a part of his Sonoma valley ranch in 1878. In 1876 he visited the Centennial Exposition and his sisters and friends in the city of Philadelphia, and the scenes of his youthful days at Burlington, New Jersey, the Gazette of that city noticing his arrival in the following complimentary manner: "James Biggins, who resided in Burlington twenty-five years ago, arrived here this week from California, whither he went in 1851 to seek his fortune. This is his first visit to the scenes of his boyhood since he went west. He lives near San Francisco, and owns about six hundred acres of land. He gives an interest- ing and flattering account of the resources and productiveness of California, and says men who are skilled in their trade or profession can always find employment for their talents, while the true inwardness of those who profess to be what they are not is soon discovered." Mr. Biggins returned home in December following. He has held the office of School Trustee for six years. Married Miss Annie Brady, April 18, 1860, in San Francisco, and has had five children, two of whom, a girl and a boy, are dead. Mary A., born January 13, 1861; Maggie T., born December 11, 1863; and Annie L., born August 10, 1864, are the names and dates of birth of their three living children.
Burris, David. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Old Franklin, Cooper county, Missouri, January 6, 1824. When only one year old, his parents moved to Jackson county; thence, in 1831, to Cass county, and in 1842 settled in Johnson county, and during their residence in the two latter counties, the subject of this sketch received his education in the common schools. In the latter part of the Sum- mer of 1846, during the Mexican war, Mr. Burris was engaged in hauling provisions to Mexico, from Fort Leavenworth, for the United States army. He arrived at Santa Fe in October, and after remaining there about two weeks, left in company with one hundred and fifteen men, to return to Fort Leavenworth. Before they left the Spanish settlements, a number of his comrades were taken sick, and it was necessary to select from the ranks, men to remain with those who were ill and see to their wants; the balance
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of the company proceeding on their way. They were next afflicted with the measles, and upon their arrival at a town called Picketwirey, a man by the name of Joseph Read, was taken with the disease and died, and at Bent's Fort, Arkansas, they left several more men, worn out with fatigue and cold, a number of whom died. A few days after leaving their comrades, they encountered a heavy snow storm, which impeded their progress very much. They started with provisions enough to last them, provided they traveled every day, but as they were snowed in, they were reduced to about one- quarter rations-except they had plenty of buffalo mneat, but were without that even for six or eight days. Learning of a wagon load of pork, that had been cast away some twenty-five miles distant, a number of the party hastened on at break of day the next morning, making the distance and gaining the much coveted prize, late in the evening. No sooner had they arrived than a tremendous storm from the north arose, and to add to their misfortune and misery, there was no fuel nearer than seven miles. They were then informed that the teams, which were left in the rear, were ten miles back, and had been turned loose upon the snow by their disheartened teamsters to perish. The company then divided, one-half going back to the wagons. Night had now thrown her sable mantle over the earth, and soon all was darkness. The subject of this sketch was one of the party who started out, facing the merciless storm in search of wood, with great diffi- culty, for he was weak from hunger and long suffering. Two men rode with all the possible speed of their animals in advance of the company, in order to build a fire for their approaching comrades. By this time Mr. Burris, who was sorely afflicted with rheumatism, and his three comrades, were far in the rear. Breaking open a barrel of pork and helping themselves to the "rare" dish, they pressed onward. Soon all traces of the trail were obliterated by the drifting snow. At last they saw a fire, which they supposed was a camp of hostile Indians, for it seemed to be in quite a different direction from where they expected to find the party who preceded them. Knowing that they could not possibly survive the storm, they determined to push on in the direction of the camp-fire and leave their fate to the supposed hostiles. Upon their arrival, however, they were surprised to find that it was their own company, and there was much joy on their arrival, as it was feared they were lost. The wind blew from the north a perfect hurricane, and in order to get the benefit of the fire, and prevent being frosen to death, it was necessary to stand or lie on the opposite side of the welcome fire, which rendered it extremely obnoxious on account of the smoke and ashes above and the snow and water beneath. About midnight some of the party became stupid and lay down in the mud and water, while the smoke passed over them; the only resort to keep from freezing. Mr. Burris and two other men had each an ax which they kept in constant use all night-chopping wood by guess, as it was very dark. The
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next evening the wagons arrived on the Pawnee Fork in Arkansas, about three miles from camp. When they approached the wagons it was dark; they were very much delayed, as they only had one shovel with which to clear the snow away for six camps-and it was about midnight before they got their supper. Soon after, all of their teams died from cold and hunger, and the men were turned out on foot, almost destitute of rations and three hundred miles from the nearest settlement. The express train conveyed the news relating to their condition, and wagons and provisions were immediately forwarded. They were met at Council Grove, and returned home last of February, 1847. Mr. McGuire, a resident of this county, was captain of the company. To enter into the intricate details of the hardships that were endured by Mr. Burris and party, would be too voluminous to relate. In May, 1849, the Pleasant Hill company was formed to emigrate to California, Mr. Burris and his eldest brother being members of the company, crossed the plains on what was then known as Lawson's route. After leaving the Humboldt Sink, they traveled seventy miles over a sage-brush desert with- out water, losing many of their cattle, and the party suffering very much from thirst and hardship, which few can realize unless having passed through a like experience. The party reached Lawson's rancho on or about October 12th of that year, remaining there one week, when the subject of our sketch and his brother went to Bidwell's Bar, on Feather river, engaging in mining. The Winter of 1849 was an unusually rainy one, and Mr. Burris, having 110 tools with which to build a house, was compelled to live in a tent, which was a meagre protection from the cold and storms. Notwithstanding the inclemency of the weather, and the hardships which perforce of circum- stances he was compelled to undergo, Mr. Burris was not idle, but engaged in mining. Provisions of every kind were dear ; beef and flour one dollar and a half per pound, and other kinds of provisions in proportion. Wages were sixteen dollars per day. In the Fall of 1850 he changed his residence to Huncut diggings, Plumas county, California, where he met with fair suc- cess in his search after the shining metal. From here he moved to this county in the Fall of 1851, settling in Sonoma valley, thence to the red- woods, where he was employed till December 20, 1852, when he returned to Missouri, via Panama, and engaged in farming and trading in stock. Again in the Spring of 1856 we find him on his way to the Pacific slope, once more crossing the plains, and bringing with him a herd of cattle. On their arrival at Humboldt creek, near the gravel ford, they were attacked by sixteen well- armed and well-mounted Indians, who attempted to dash in between the camp and the horses and cattle, but Mr. Burris was too quick for them, and followed by one of his men dashed between the Indians and the herd. One Indian fired, missing Mr. Burris, but shooting his comrade's mule, when he made a hasty retreat to camp. The Indians charged Mr. Burris, but when they would come within range he would present his weapon and they
H. B . Hasbouch
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would throw themselves on the side of their horses and retreat out of gun- shot ; thus he kept them off till he was reinforced by his company. In the meantime two Indians dashed up to within one hundred and fifty yards and one of them fired into camp, shooting two boys at one shot, William Hopper and Harvey Pleasants. The wounds were not serious and both recovered. Our emigrants proceeded on their way. On his arrival in this State in the Winter of 1856-7, the subject of this sketch settled in Napa county, but moved in the Fall of 1857 with his stock to King's river, Tulare county, California. This river has its rise in the Sierra Nevada mountains, and empties into Tulare lake, running through a valley from forty to seventy- five miles wide, which at that time was occupied by wild horses and ante- lope, with plenty of elk and bear about the lake. His comrades consisted of A. Young, wife and little brother, and five families, scattered from one to twelve miles apart. Here he commenced raising and trading in cattle till the Spring of 1869, when he once more came to Sonoma valley, this county, settling on his present farm, and is now one of the great land owners of the county, besides being largely interested in banking. He was one of the founders of the Santa Rosa Bank, and is now President of the Sonoma Val- ley Bank. Hewas married in Sacramento City, California, on October 19, 1860, to Miss Julia Ann Wilburne. She was born in Buchanan county, Missouri, June 24, 1841. The following are the names and births of their children: Mary F., born October 19, 1861; Walter S., born December 3, 1862; Joshua S., born September 1, 1865; Edward E., born October 25; 1867; Alice, February 14, 1870; Henry C., July 4, 1872; Laura B., October 11, 1874; M. F., November 16, 1876; Eudora, May 15, 1879.
Burris, William. Born in Boonville, Cooper county, Missouri, March 29, 1820; when about three years of age he, with his parents, moved to Independence, Jackson county, Missouri, where he resided until about twenty- three years of age. In 1843, the subject of this sketch took up his residence in Van Buren county, Iowa, where he remained until the Fall of 1849. In May 1850, he in company with his father-in-law, Colonel Davisson, started across the plains for California, but after some delay on the road they pro- ceeded on their journey, arriving in Sonoma in November. Here he remained until they erected a dwelling on the ranch where he now resides, into which he moved on or about Christmas, 1851. Married Elizabeth Davisson, March 28, 1843. She was born February 27, 1826. Nancy Ann, born May 30, 1844, and died October 2, 1845; Martha M, born July 19, 1847, and died April 1, 1860; Jesse D, born January 19, 1850; William L, born April 14, 1852; Elizabeth Ellen, born May 11, 1854, and died May 19, 1854; Daniel, born April 30, 1855; are the names and births of their children.
Carriger, Nicholas. Whose portrait appears in this work, is one of the patriarchs of Sonoma valley, and was born in Carter county, Tennessee,
43
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March 30, 1816, where he remained, attending school and working in a flour mill and distillery, until he reached the age of nineteen years, when he volunteered into the First Regiment of Tennessee Mounted Volunteers, Captain J. Powell's company, being mustered into service by General John E. Wood, of the United States army, at Athens, Tennessee. This was on June 26, 1835, receiving an honorable discharge therefrom one year after. He then went into the iron manufacturing business on his father's property in his native county, where he continued until November, 1840, then emigrating to Warren county, Missouri, where he engaged in the stemming of tobacco and other affairs. He then moved to Jackson county, Missouri, and remained in employment there for one year, when he transferred his field to Buchanan, and then to Holt and Andrew counties, finally settling at Round Prairie, where he took up a quarter-section of land, fenced it, entered into the cultivation of hemp, tobacco and cereals, and there remained until 1846, when he once more was on the move. On April 27th of the above year the subject of this sketel started from Round Prairie for California, and was joined at Oregon City, Holt county, by Captain Grieg, their number being further augmented on the journey by the addition of Major Cooper, the Indian agent at Council Bluffs. This is the same Major Cooper who is now a resident of Colusa county, and was Judge of the Court of First Instance for the district of Sonoma in 1848, a gentleman well known in Solano county. With Mr. Carriger were his parents; only his mother, however, survived the voyage, his father having died when crossing the Sierra Nevadas. We make the following extract from a diary kept in the family during their journey: "21st September, 1846 .- We struck the mountains. Distressing bad road; eight miles to the high California mountains, and got eight wagons up. 22d .- Made a roller and fastened chains together and pulled the wagons, with thirty-two yoke of oxen at the bottom and twenty-five at the top. 23d .- Hanling wagons. 24th .- Traveled eight miles to the lake; distressing bad road. 25th .- Laid by. 26th .- Christian Carriger died, the father of the subject of this sketch. On the same day, Joseph Wardlow's wife died. On the same day, Mr. N. Carriger's daughter Catherine was born." Such is the sad story of endur- ance and suffering told in honest and simple words, that appeal to sympathy far more forcibly than if clothed in the most affecting imagery. The first place at which this emigrant band arrived in California was Johnson's Ranch on Bear river, the stream being ferried at the spot now known as Fremont, situated at the month of the Feather river. Their place of desti- nation was Sonoma, and the ronte lay by William Gordon's, now in Yolo county, John R. Wolfskill's on Putah creek, Solano's Rancherie at Rockville, George Yount's in Napa, where they halted a few days, and thence by Spanish trail into the valley of their hopes or fears. At the time of Mr. Carriger's arrival, all the young and able bodied men had joined Fremont;
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indeed, on the route it was no uncommon event for the younger male emigrants to flock to the standard of the Pathfinder. On his arrival, there- fore, he was not to be behindhand, and as all available soldiers had been dispatched to join the gallant colonel and his California battalion, our new- comer entered the ranks of the navy, a company of which were then quartered at Sonoma under Lieutenant Revere. Mr. Carriger served in this branch of the service under Lieutenant Maury, who succeeded Revere, and after being with them for some months, finally got his honorable discharge from Captain John B. Hull, United States navy, in March, 1847. It should be mentioned that, during his term of service, Mr. Carriger, in the ordinary routine of duty, carried the mail on horseback between Sonoma and San Rafael, and was also present on duty when the stones placed at the boun- daries of the city of Benicia were put into position by Doctor Robert Semple. In 1848, when the whole world was set wild with the news of the discovery of gold in California, Mr. Carriger was one of the first to leave for the mines to try his luck. He started in company with Joseph Wardlow, Elias Graham, Henry Thornton and others, for Mormon Island, and there found certain Mormons before them, who claimed all the land and the right to mine there, by priority of residence. The difficulty was, however, soon overcome by their being allowed to prosecute their work beyond a certain limit, and there, having been successful, they con- structed a skin boat, and crossing the stream proceeded to the south fork of the American river, staying there eleven days, when intelli- gence was received that the Spaniards and Indians had broken out into open rebellion in Sonoma; he therefore at once repaired thither, to look after his family, and was the first to return from the mines with dust to that city or valley. In this year Mr. Carriger removed his family to Coloma, where the precious metal was first discovered, but he only kept them there for six weeks. He was the lucky discoverer of the Northern Kelsey and Auburn mines, and was, with his associates, the first to find gold in the Auburn district. We next find our hero prospecting on Sutter creek, but they soon had to leave the vicinity on account of Indians, who had become troublesome, they therefore proceeded high up the middle fork of the American river, where they came across very rich diggings, three men in one day taking out as much as fifteen pounds weight of gold. A serious acci- dent now necessitated his leaving the mines, when he returned to Sonoma. In March, 1849, taking several Sonoma Indians with him, he returned to the mines at Auburn, and met those aboriginals who were implicated in the death of Mr. Hollingsworth and a preacher in Oregon, they at once gave chase, and not one escaped. When caught they were tried, found guilty and hanged to a limb close by on Bear river. At Auburn Mr. Carriger was fairly successful. He next went to Bear river and pursued his mining at Steep Hollow, and ultimately returned to Sonoma in 1849. In 1850 he took a
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drove of cattle to Trinity county, the party being composed of Mr. Carriger, his two brothers, Solomon and Caleb, and Dr. Storer, with eleven Indians; remained there until June, when he came back to Sonoma, and has since resided on his ranch, about three miles to the west of the town. Much of Mr. Carriger's reminiscences are a portion of the county history, these therefore will be found in that part of this work. A more genial friend, hospitable host, or upright man does not exist than Nick Carriger. He married, Sep- tember 29, 1842, in Andrew county, Missouri, Mary Ann Wardlow, a native of Highland county, Ohio, by whom he has Elizabeth Jane, born July 28, 1843, married to Otto Schetter, of Sonoma; Louisa, born January 22, 1845, married to L. L. Lewis, of Sacramento; David W., born December 20, 1847; Albert Boggs, born February 13, 1850; Louisa L., born January 23, 1852, married to M. Powell of Mark West; Eva N., born March 13, 1854, married to C. A. Tufts, of Sacramento; William W., born August 25, 1857; Emma, born July 8, 1858, married John Carriger, of Kansas; Solomon H., born May 11, 1862; and two deceased, Sarah Catherine, born in the Sierra Nevadas, September 26, 1846, died December of the same year, and John, . born February 11, 1856, died September 5, 1857.
Craig, O. W. Born in Rumney, Grafton county, New Hampshire, April 3, 1809, where he resided until sixteen years of age. He spent several years in traveling through the Middle States, and on July 6, 1849, brought up in San Francisco. He immediately proceeded to the mines in Placer county, where he remained for two years. In 1851, came to Sonoma and settled upon his present farm of three hundred acres, where he has since resided. Manufactures from twenty thousand to thirty thousand gallons of wine, and from two thousand to six thousand gallons of brandy, annually. Married Sophia T. Clark, February 14, 1849; she was born at Rockport, Massachu- setts, October 8, 1820.
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