History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams, Part 81

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 81

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Convention called by Governor Riley for the formation of a Constitution. His firm and decided course, his clear and pertinent suggestions, and above all his manifest desire to honestly serve the interests of the people, and faith- fully perform his duty, independent of party trammels, again acquired for him universal applause. In 1851 Mr. Snyder received the Senatorial nomi- nation from the city of San Francisco, and was elected by a large majority. While their Senator he did much excellent work. In the previous year he had become a member of the well known banking firm of James King & Co., and in 1853 he was appointed, by President Pierce, United States Assistant Treasurer at San Francisco, a responsible position which he held with much credit during the Presidential terms of Franklin Pierce and James Buchanan. In 1862, he retired from the cares of office to live in his beautiful residence in Sonoma valley, where he passed the remainder of his days, and died on April 29, 1878, much revered and respected by all who knew him. In his long life of usefulness no one perhaps had died leaving behind so long a record of California experiences; few lives were so varied as his was, as he passed through the varied phases from a lumber merchant when first coming to the country to the Presidentship of the Wine Growers Association of the State, which post he filled shortly before his demise. As soldier or civilian he ever did his duty, and his memory to-day is fresh and green as his favorite valley of Sonoma. Mr. Snyder married, in 1850, Miss Susan H. Brayton, of Massachusetts, who died June 20, 1871; and secondly, Rachel J., daughter of Franklin Sears, of Sonoma, on April 20, 1874.

Thompson, Peter H. Born in Russia, December 15, 1834, where he received his education, and worked on a farm until the Spring of 1854, when he sailed for California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco, in Novem- ber of the same year. He immediately proceeded to the mines in Butte county, and prosecuted mining at Thompson's Flat one year, when he went to Nevada county, and mined until 1867. He then resided in San Francisco about eight months, thence to Contra Costa county, and engaged in stock raising until 1870, when he made a trip to Europe with his family, and after an absence of one year, returned and located for one year in Napa City. In 1873 he came to this county and settled on his present estate of one-hundred and seventy-seven acres. Married August 25, 1864, Miss Eveldene C. Jepsen. She was born in Russia, November 3, 1846; Eva, born July 3, 1868; May, born March 17, 1870; Henry, born July 18, 1872; Frank, born April 27, 1874; Florence, born January 5, 1876; and an infant son born August 22, 1879; are the names and births of their children.

Tivnen, John. Native of New York City, born August 23, 1832, and when fourteen years of age, in 1846, he began the apprenticeship to the baker's trade, which he followed in that city till 1854. On February 4th of that year he sailed on board the "Northern Light " to Nicaragua, and from

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

there took passage on the ship "Cortes," and arrived in San Francisco March 4th. He soon found employment at his trade in San Francisco, and remained there until the Spring of 1859, when he came to Sonoma and em- barked in the bakery trade, which he prosecuted until January 1878, when he sold his business, since which time he has been engaged in insurance matters. On November 13, 1878, he was appointed Notary Public, and on September 3, 1879, was elected Supervisor from the first district, which includes Sonoma and Vallejo townships.

Watt, Richard L. Born in Dunbar, Scotland, November 1, 1844, where he learned the hardware trade and remained eighteen years. In 1862 he went to the county of Fife, Scotland, and remained two years, working at his trade. In 1864 he emigrated to America, and resided in San Fran- cisco four years. In the Fall of 1868 he came to Sonoma county, and in January 1877, in company with his brother John, purchased their present fruit ranch comprising twenty-five acres. Married Miss Ella Brighton, June 7, 1872. She was born in Lawrence county, Missouri, November 14, 1849.

Watt, John. Born in Belhaven, Scotland, May 6, 1842. Emigrated to California in 1868, first settling in San Francisco. Came to this county in 1877, and purchased, in company with his brother R. L., the ranch upon which he now resides.

Weise, Christian. Native of Germany, born January 2, 1824, where he resided until 1848, when he came to America. Resided in New York until 1849, when he came to California via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco June 1850. His first business was driving stage from San Fran- cisco to San Jose, which occupation he followed six months; he then followed hunting as a business. During the year 1851 he camped several times where the city of Petaluma now stands. In 1852 he settled on a ranch known as the Warfield & Stewart property, but in 1860 he disposed of the same, and moved upon his present estate. Has eighteen acres in vineyard; manufac- tures annually about ten thousand gallons of wine. Married Susan MeKinley, May 12, 1856. She was born in Ireland in 1818; they have five children: Eliza, Frederick, Hattie, Henry and Charles.

Winkle, Henry. Born in Germany, March 10, 1821. In 1840 he emigrated to the United States, first settling in New York, where he resided until the Fall of 1843, when he went to Florida, there keeping a hotel, where he remained one year; thence to Fort Gaines, Early county, Georgia, and engaged in the bakery business for two years. In 1846 he went to Pensacola, Florida, and remained there until 1849, keeping a bakery and grocery store, when in October of that year, he proceeded to Panama, where he remained about three months; whence he proceeded to California, arriving in San Francisco in March, 1850. He soon became a resident of Sacramento, where he carried on a bakery and coffee saloon, also operated in real estate,

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

which he followed until the Spring of 1852, when he began the manufacture of soda, which he prosecuted until late in 1853. In January, 1854, he returned to San Francisco, and followed the bakery business until 1873, also operated in real estate, when he engaged in the wine and liquor business. In 1876 he came to this county, and settled on his present estate, one hun- dred and ten acres. In 1858, Mr. Winkle manufactured cement in Benicia, Solano county, which was the first manufactured on the coast. Married Miss Emma Steudeman April, 1864, she being born in Germany, October 15, 1826.

VALLEJO.

Adamson, Jacob. The subject of this sketch is a native of Jefferson county, Tennessee, born November 7, 1817. When twelve years of age he, with his parents moved to Ray county, Missouri. After a residence here of three years, they took up their residence in Caldwell county. On September 9, 1840, Mr. Adamson married Miss Nancy J. Farley, and in 1841, he moved to Washington county, Iowa, and carried on farming until 1850, when he emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams. Soon after arriving in this State he purchased a farm in Sacramento county, farmed for three years, and in the fall of 1854, came to this county and settled on his present farm, located about five miles from Petaluma, where he has since made his home. Emma J., William H., Edward F., Mary E., John M., Isaac N., Charles W., Thomas M., and Rena Lillian, are the names of their children.

Barnes, Jehu. Whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Warren county, Tennessee, January 29, 1829. When but a mere child his parents moved to Missouri, where they resided one year, and thence to Pike county, Illinois, where the subject of this sketch received his education and was reared a farmer. In 1856 he left his parents and emigrated to Cali- fornia by the Panama route, landing in San Francisco December 16, 1856. He came direct to this county and located upon his present estate in Vallejo township, where he has since remained, except one season, 1859, which he spent in Mendocino county. Mr. Barnes has held the office of Road-master for the last eight years. He married April 26, 1851, Miss Sarah A. Veal, a native of Missouri, born February 5, 1831. By this union they have four children: Mary E., Henry, Henrietta and Martha.

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

Benson, Josiah H. The subject of this sketch, whose portrait appears in this book, is a native of Somerset county, Maryland, born March 12, 1819. When three years of age his parents moved to Sussex county, Delaware. In 1832 they took up their residence in Preble county, Ohio, where they remained until 1837, when we find them in Pike county, Illinois. In the Spring of 1850, he proceeded to St. Joseph, Missouri, and on May 1st, started in company with three other gentlemen, to cross the plains with horse-teams to California. The journey was made to Humboldt Sink in good time, and with but few hardships, save those incident to this mode of traveling. At this point they met with no small misfortune: their horses had become so weary and weak that they were obliged to leave them, and, of necessity, were compelled to heap burdens upon their own backs, which consisted of provisions, cooking utensils, and articles of value, and trudge on afoot to the land of gold. When they arrived at Placerville, Mr. Benson found his purse very much depleted-it only contained five dollars. He was not long in finding employment, and with that industry and perseverance which will in time be crowned with success, succeeded in the spring of 1852, in purchasing a one-half interest in the grocery and clothing store known at that time as the firm of Cheap, John & Co., where he continued until October of the above year, when he was summoned home to Pike county, Illinois, on account of the illness of his daughter. Here he accepted the situation of clerk with Hicks & Smith, in the dry goods business in Pittsfield, in that county. In the Spring of 1854, he took up his residence in Appa- noose county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming until 1865. He then sold his property, and returned across the plains to California, and settled in Vallejo township, near the old adobe building, where he remained one year, when he located upon his present estate of one hundred and eighty acres, two and a half miles from the city of Petaluma. Mr. Benson married Rebecca A. Magness, December 3, 1840. She was a native of Ohio, born September 20, 1822, and died March 19, 1848. By this union there is one child living, Albert, born March 17, 1847-two children deceased, namely: Francis H., born November 29, 1841, and died December 8, 1852; and Sarah E., born May 12, 1844, and died April 20, 1846. He married secondly, Mary Veal, widow of Mr. Corbon, on March 21, 1854. She was born in Missouri, November 25, 1829, and died October 9, 1869. Henry, born January 31, 1855; William, born April 21, 1856; Jonah H., born October 22, 1857; Nathaniel W., born October 10, 1859; Martha E., born February 5, 1862; Laura E., born February 8, 1864; Louis E., born Novem- ber 6, 1865, are the names and births of his children by this marriage.

Bihler, William. Born in Eppingen, Baden, Germany, May 16, 1828. Emigrated, with parents, to America, when only nine years of age, and settled in Baltimore, where he was educated. Early in life he embarked in business, as butcher, which he continued until 1848, when he came to

2 Barnes

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

California, via Cape Horn, arriving in San Francisco in October of the above year. Here he followed his former occupation until the Fall of 1850, when he came to this county. About one year later he purchased a ranch in Sonoma valley, where he remained until 1859, when he purchased his present ranch of eight thousand acres, located in Vallejo township, in an easterly direction from Lakeville, where he has since resided, carrying on farming, stock-raising and dairying, on a very large scale. He also owns two and one-quarter leagues of land in Salt Point township. To Mr. Bihler belongs the honor of bringing to this county the best bred stock in the country. The first importation from England was his draught stallion, " Young England's Glory," in 1858; the second importation was in 1870, when he brought, in connection with some other fine stock, four full-blooded Durham heifers, and a Durham bull. In 1861 he imported four fine jacks, known to be of the best blood of any in the country. Mr. Bihler has done more to advance and elevate the interest in blooded stock in this county than any other man, and all praise is due to him for his labors in this direc- tion.

Bodwell, C. A. Born in Farmington, Hartford, county, Connecticut,, November 24, 1822; received his education at the Farmington Academy. At the age of sixteen entered a drug store as clerk in Hartford, where he remained until March, 1849, when he started across the plains, in company with Livingston & Kinkead, who were on their way to Salt Lake with a large stock of goods. The subject of this sketch spent the Winter in Salt Lake, and in the Spring returned to Missouri, where he remained a short time, when he again made a trip to Salt Lake and spent a second Winter. In the Spring of 1850 he crossed the plains to Kansas, and established a trading post on the road from Fort Leavenworth to Santa Fe. About one year later he crossed the plains to California, bringing with him a drove of cattle. Engaged in the stock business one year in Butte county, and in December, 1854, we find him in San Francisco. In October, 1856, he became a resident of this county, purchasing a farm in Vallejo township. Here he farmed until 1864, when he settled upon his present estate of two hundred and fifty-five acres, located at Lakeville, where he has since main- tained a continuous residence. Mr. Bodwell is the postmaster at Lakeville, and is also agent at this place for the San Francisco Steamboat and Transporta- tion Company. Married, January 5, 1864, Miss Charlotte F. Chadbourne, a native of Maine. By this union they have two children: Charles A., and Charlotte E.

Campbell, George. Born in Monmouth county, New Jersey, February 19, 1818. At fourteen years of age he went to Trenton, and was there employed by Q. H. Shreve & Co. as clerk in a general merchandise store for six years, at the expiration of which time he purchased an interest in the

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

store, and the firm name was known as Shreve & Campbell. After being in business one year, Mr. Campbell sold his interest and proceeded to New York City, and aeted in the capacity of cashier and book-keeper in a silk and fancy goods store, where he remained for two years. He then went into partnership with J. Fountain, and conducted a dry goods store under the firm name of Fountain & Campbell. Two years later Mr. C. purchased his partner's interest and moved the stock of goods to MeConnellsville, Ohio, where he conducted the business for four years, when he returned to New York City and was engaged by Lord & Hathaway as salesman in a whole- sale house until 1849, when he emigrated to California via Cape Horn, and arrived in San Francisco October 10th. He immediately proceeded to the mines, and followed mining at different points until 1851, in which year he came to this county, rented a farm in Analy township, where he prosecuted farming for seven years. We next find him a resident of Petaluma, where he was instrumental in building the steamer " Rambler," which plied between Petaluma and San Francisco, and acted in the capacity of clerk on board the above steamer for two years. He then sold his interest in her and engaged in the commission business for one year, after which he gravitated back into merchandising; and three years later we find him once more engaged in tilling the soil, and is now classed as one of Sonoma's thrifty farmers, owning four hundred and twenty-three acres of land, three miles from Petaluma. Mr. Campbell married on June 5, 1860, Miss Lucy Judson, a native of Bristol, Indiana. George D. and Charles J. are the names of their children.

Chapman, T. M. A native of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, was born February 10, 1828. He received his education in his native State, and resided there until sixteen years of age, when he accompanied his parents to Adams county, Illinois, and there resided for nine years. Having emigrated, he came to California by way of the plains and arrived in Placerville, then Hangtown, on August 27, 1852, and there commenced mining, which he prosecuted for five years, at the end of which time he transferred the scene of his labors to Sonoma county, and bought a farm in Two Rock valley, which after a time he leased, and returned to the "States." Mr. Chapman married in Vermont, March 1, 1858, Mary Colby, and with her returned to this State and settled on his farm, and there remained until 1862, in which year he removed to Point Reyes, and was occupied in agricultural pursuits for two years, when he settled on his present ranch of four hundred acres, located in Vallejo township, about three miles from Petaluma. By their union Mr. and Mrs. Chapman have five living children: Edwin A .; Harry ; Elliot C .; Phœbe; and Mary L.

Clark, A., Whose portrait appears in this work, is a native of Susque- hanna county, Pennsylvania, born September 17, 1821. When ten years of age his parents moved to Bradford county, where he received a portion of

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his education, and at seventeen years of age emigrated to Illinois, where he finished his education. In 1850 he emigrated to California, crossing the plains and arriving at Placerville September 10th. Here he engaged in mining until the Fall of 1852, when he came to this county, and in June, 1853, located in Vallejo township, where he has been engaged in farming ever since. Mr. Clark married on March 1, 1855, Miss Rachael J. Murry, a native of Cole county, Missouri, born April 27, 1836. By this union they have three living children : Mary J., George and Nellie. They have lost two, Barbara E. and William A.

Gregory, John. A native of England, born June 7, 1823, where he received his education, and was reared a farmer. At twenty-one years of age he emigrated to California, arriving in December, 1844. After remaining here about three years, being engaged at different occupations, he went to Detroit, Michigan, where he was employed as steward on a steamboat until 1855, when he returned to California, via Nicaragua, arriving at San Francisco in the Fall. He proceeded at once to Shaw's Flat and mined about two years, when we again find him in San Francisco, engaged in the water business, which he continued until 1861, when he came to this county and settled on his present ranch, comprising one hundred acres, located in Vallejo town- ship. Married November 21, 1866, Miss Catherine Casey. By this union they have three children : Susiana S., Edwin S. and Harrie. Has two children by his first wife, George H. and Francis A.

Hopper, Thomas. Was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, September 21, 1820. At a very youthful age he was taken by his mother-his father was killed accidentally-to Lawrence county, Indiana, where he remained until fifteen years of age, and then returned to La Fayette. We should here mention that Mr. Hopper commenced to battle with life on his own account at the early age of eleven years, and when he returned to Missouri he com- menced to work on monthly wages. July 14, 1844, he was married to Minerva Young. In that year he purchased a small farm in Johnson county, Missouri, and there continued until the Spring of 1847, when he started, May 9th, with ox-teams, accompanied by Charles Hopper of Napa county, across the plains to California, arriving at Sutter's Fort on September 5th of the same year. Having only stayed a few days here, he moved to San Jose, and while there concluded to erect a mill in the Santa Cruz moun- tains, an enterprise which was not carried out, however. He, with his wife, then worked at a mill on Soquel creek, for one dollar a day per piece. He next proceeded to Santa Cruz, and there purchased a thirty-acre lot of land adjoining Charley Hopper's place, on which he built a redwood house, and in it passed the Winter of 1847-8. On May 20th of the latter year, oon after the discovery of gold, he started for the mines on the American river, immediately above Sutter's old mill and there commenced operations,

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

which he followed with success, making from fifty to seventy-five dollars per day; continued there until July, and then removed his family to the rancho of George Yount in Napa valley, where he left them and returned to the mines in August, on this occasion proceeding to the dry diggings. Here he con- tinued until October 10th, when he returned to his family, and there remained in Napa valley until the Spring of 1849. At this time we find Mr. Hopper once more mining about the region of Sutter's mill, between the north and south forks of the American river. Here he remained but a short time, ultimately going to the north fork, and there continuing until June 15, 1849, when he once more returned to his wife and children. He afterwards took part in the Walker expedition, which turned out a failure, Walker himself, after going from Sacramento up the San Joaquin river, thence to King's river, went on to Montana, leaving the greater number of his party to return Of these was Mr. Hopper. On his return to Sacra- mento he parted his connection with the members of the expedition and returned home. Shortly after he removed to Sonoma township where ho purchased a thirty-acre lot and erected a house, and commenced farming, and here resided until the Spring of 1850, when he disposed of the property to Mr. Griffy and bought a lot in the city of Sonoma, whereon he constructed a residence; this, however, he soon sold to Dr. Tennant for a thousand dollars. He then took up a claim at the head of Green valley, which he sold to Mr. McReynolds in the Fall of 1852, at which period he settled on the Cotate grant and took up a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, and erected a small house, which he sold in 1853, and purchased one hundred acres on the same grant, about three-fourths of a mile from his former land. Here he resided until December 28, 1878, when he moved to Santa Rosa, where he resided till November 1879, when he returned to his old residence, where he still still resides. Mr. Hopper is the owner of a grant of six thousand six hundred and seventy acres in Monterey county, five thousand six hundred acres of the government land and Knight's Valley grant in Knight's Valley and Russian River townships, two thousand one hundred and sixty acres in Vallejo town- ship, three hundred and seventy-one acres in Green Valley, Analy township, four hundred and forty acres in Mendocino county, forty acres in the red-woods, and one hundred and sixty acres near Windsor, in Russian River township, making the total of his landed possessions to be fifteen thousand four hun- dred and forty-two acres in the State of California. Besides this vast estate Mr. Hopper is interested in no less than five different banking establishments in Sonoma and Mendocino counties. He has children living, their names being: Eliza, John, William, Wesley, Mary, Henry and Rosa. His portrait will be found in this work.

Jackson, Lorenzo. Born in New Hampshire on December 8, 1810. When but four years of age he was taken with his parents to New York, settling eighteen miles from Sacket's Harbor, where he resided till 1832, when

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HISTORY OF SONOMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.

he emigrated to Illinois, and located in Pike county, and prosecuted farming until 1853. In the Spring of that year accompanied by his wife and six children, he started for California by way of the plains to Salt Lake, winter- ing on South Willow creek, twenty miles south of Salt Lake City. In the Spring of 1854 the journey was continued and on arrival in California first settled on land thirty miles north of the city of Sacramento, where they remained until the Fall of 1855, at which time they came to Sonoma county and occupied their present farm of one hundred acres. Mr. Jackson died March 24, 1867. Mr. Jackson married Eunice Clauson on March 17, 1840, a native of the State of New York, by whom there are now living, Anna, born November 23, 1854; Mary, born February 8, 1857; Lorenzo, born December 15, 1859; Francis, born January 14, 1862; and Eunice, born July 2, 1866. There are six of the family dead, one of them, Emily, was killed by a fall from her horse at Point Reyes, under very distressing circumstances.

Kelsey, Richard. A native of England, born August 15, 1833. When but a mere child his parents emigrated to the United States, and after spending about two years in Illinois, they moved to Indiana, thence to Quincy, Illinois, resided two years, and from there to Alton, same State, where the subject of our sketch received his education. In 1854 he emi- grated to California, but immediately went to Nevada and followed mining, where he remained until 1873, making altogether nineteen and one-half years in the mines. He came to this county in June 1873. After a residence in Petaluma of about three months, he settled upon his present estate of one hundred and sixty acres. He married, on November 6, 1861, Miss Mary McCarthy, a native of Ireland. By this union they have five living children: Richard, Mary H., Daniel M., Thomas and Anna R. Have lost two: Edward and Johnnie.

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History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams, Part 81

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