USA > California > Sonoma County > History of Sonoma County : including its geology, topography, mountains, valleys, and streams > Part 82
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Mock, William. A native of Davidson county, North Carolina, born March 24, 1811, where he received his primary education and lived upon a farm until he reached the age of twenty-one years. He then attended the Military Academy at West Point, from which institution he graduated in 1836. He then took part in the Florida war as second Lieutenant and was soon promoted to first Lieutenant, serving in all five years, when he resigned and proceeded to La Fayette county, Missouri, where he followed farming. Also held the office of County Surveyor in the above county, but in 1849 resigned the office and emigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox- teams. They arrived at Lassen's, two hundred miles above Sacramento, on the Sacramento river, November Ist of the same year. He soon proceeded to the mines on Feather river, where he remained until 1853, when he came to this county and settled on his present farm, comprising one hundred and twenty-seven acres, located in Vallejo township, about five miles from Peta- luma. Mr. Mock held the office of County Surveyor in this county in
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1856-7 and surveyed and established the present county line between Sonoma and Marin. Has also held the office of Magistrate of Vallejo township and has made himself a useful man in the neighborhood where he lives. Married, May 25, 1858, Mrs. Mary B. Goodwin, widow of John T. Goodwin, who died in this county February, 1856. She was born in Maine, July 29, 1818.
Ormsby, J. H. Born in Lake county, Ohio, December 16, 1817, where he was educated. When nineteen years of age his parents moved to Missouri, where the subject of this sketch lived for about two years, when he left the paternal roof and took up his residence in Quincy, Illinois, where he learned the trade of a brick-mason, which he followed for four years. From Quincy he went to Dane county, Wisconsin, where he farmed for eight years. We next find him in Marquette county, where he was engaged in the flouring-mill business for fourteen years. In April, 1862, he left for California, crossing the plains with ox and mule-teams, arriving in this county in October. He first located on a farm near Valley Ford, where he farmed until the first of the following April, when he prosecuted mining in Amador county for a few months. He then went to Idaho, prospected some, and after being absent from the county for about one year, he returned and settled on a farm in the upper end of Vallejo township. In 1875 he settled on his present place, comprising ninety acres. Mr. Ormsby married Miss Betsy Carrill, a native of New York and born March 26, 1818. They have four children living, John W., Mary P., George W. and Martin P., and have lost two, Warren G. and Julia F.
Patton, Robert. A native of Sonoma county, California, born June 25, 1850, where he attended the common schools until 1862, when he proceeded to Yolo county and attended the Pine Grove Seminary, and in 1864 entered St. Mary's College in San Francisco, where he remained eight months. At the expiration of this time he returned to Yolo county and completed his education at the first-named institution. In 1866 he returned to this county, since which time he has prosecuted farming. In 1875 he settled on his present estate, located about eight miles from Petaluma. Mr. Patton married, December 20, 1871, Miss Susie Todd, a native of California, born August 2, 1855.
Peoples, Nathan. Was born in Sullivan county, Tennessee, October 31, 1811, where he was educated and raised as a farmer. In 1837 he moved to Shelby county, Missouri, purchased a farm and followed this industry until 1850, at which time he started across the plains with ox-teams. Immediately upon his arrival in this State he proceeded to the mines in Coloma, but owing to ill-health his search for gold was of short duration- about three weeks-when he returned, via Panama, to Missouri and engaged in tilling the soil, adding stock-raising to the industry. In 1864, being a heavy loser by the war, which spread devastation all about him, he resolved
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once more to try his fortune in the Golden State. He crossed the plains the second time with ox-teams, bringing his family with him. As he had a band of mules and horses, he found it necessary to stop in Nevada on account of the scarcity of feed, where he remained until the following May. By this time the Indians became so troublesome that he concluded to move on to California. He came direct to this county, arriving in June, 1865. After residing on a ranch near Sebastopol one Winter, he settled upon his present estate, comprising one hundred and ninety-one acres, located in Vallejo township, at Donahue Landing. He married, November 5, 1835, Miss Rachael Bachannan, a native of Sullivan county, Tennessee, born January 8, 1809. The following are the names and births of their children: Nathan W., born September 15, 1836; Hannah B., born October 28, 1838; Sarah M., born May 27, 1840, and Jackson M., born July 1, 1843.
Peters, A. N. Born in Franklin county, Vermont, June 2, 1827. When only four years of age his parents moved to Macomb county, Michigan, where the subject of this sketch received his education, and labored on the farm until twenty years of age, when he left and took up his residence in Linn county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming about two years, when he emigrated to Sheboygan county, Wisconsin. On January 28, 1849, he started for California, but remained in St. Louis until April 2nd, when he joined a company of twenty-five men, and with three ox-teams set out on their journey, headed by Captain Warncastle, of Atchison county, Mis- souri. They arrived at Sacramento August 25th. Mr. Peters located at Cold Springs, on Weaver creek, near Placerville, and followed mining for about one year. He then went to Salmon creek, and was engaged running a pack train between the above point and Port Trinidad for about seven months, and was then obliged to abandon the business on account of the hostility of the Indians. He then proceeded to El Dorado county and engaged in the mercantile business with Isaac Ricketts, and was also engaged in mining on a claim owned by himself and other partner, which lay just across the river in Placer county. On November 2, 1851, the sub- ject of this sketch returned to Wisconsin, where he remained until 1852, when he again crossed the plains with ox-teams, arriving in Sacramento in October of the above year. He then spent about two years in farming in Colusa and on Grand Island. In the Fall of 1854 he took up his residence in Amador county, and engaged in farming and dairying, but remained here only about five months, when he transferred his dairy to Sacramento county and furnished the city with the lacteal fluid. As this business was not congenial to his taste, he soon disposed of the dairy and followed min,ing at Georgetown, El Dorado county, until July, 1860, when he came to this county and engaged in his old business, dairying, for four years, when he settled on his present estate, comprising one hundred and sixty acres of land
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located in Vallejo township, about three miles from Petaluma, where he has since resided, carrying on farming and dairying. The subject of this sketch is a man who has met with adversity on many occasions, but being so thoroughly imbued with that pluck and spirit which will not succumb to misfortune, he has succeeded in securing for himself and family a good com- fortable home, in close proximity to the best schools in the county, where he can educate his children in all the branches, and not be deprived of their company while growing into manhood and womanhood, as is often the case when children are educated abroad. Mr. Peters married in Marysville, October 6, 1852, Miss Eleanor Lowe, a native of Nova Scotia, born May 3, 1828. By this union they have nine children, as follows : Johannah, Charles R., Frances A., Cassius M. C., Emma J., John L., Clara B., Nellie and Jesse S.
Pierce, H. L. A native of Rhode Island, born July 7, 1825. Here he received his education, and worked in a cotton mill until he became nineteen years of age. In July 1844, he went on a whaling voyage-sailed from New Bedford aboard the "Barkley" around into the Pacific ocean, and after follow- ing the sea for four and one-half years returned to his home. About ten months later, in January, 1849, he emigrated to California via Cape Horn, arriving at San Francisco, August 9, 1849. He immediately left for the gold fields on the Yuba river, where he mined for two years. We next find him on his way to Valparaiso. After visiting this point and Chili he took passage on a Liverpool vessel for Peru, thence to Panama, and from this point to San Francisco. After spending two years in San Francisco as a drayman he departed for the South Sea Islands for a cargo of oranges, and after a trip of four months found his way back to San Francisco. Soon after, he repaired to the mines, remained two years, then followed steamboating one year on the Sacramento river, after which he engaged in farming in Tehama county, where he remained until 1868, when he came to this county and settled on his present estate in Vallejo township, about two and one-half miles from Petaluma.
Rose, James Russel. The subject of this memoir, whose portrait appears in this work, was born in Richland county, Ohio, October 22, 1822. He is of Scotch descent, his ancestors having emigrated from Scotland during the early part of the seventeenth century. Both of his grand-fathers were veterans in the revolutionary war, James Harkness, his mother's father, serving six years, and his grand-father Russel Rose, seven years. When James R. was a child, his parents moved to Bradford county, Pennsylvania, where he received his primary education. In 1835 they returned to Ohio, settling in Huron county. At the age of nineteen he completed his schooling, and then learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until his twenty- eighth year. He then engaged in the milling business until his departure
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for California. He sailed from New York April 5, 1858, by way of Panama, arriving in San Francisco on the 30th of April. He came directly to this county. The first Summer he spent in Petaluma and Bloomfield, and in October, 1858, he located at Tomales, in Marin county, where he successfully followed farming until 1864, when he returned to this county, purchasing his present farin below Lakeville, but for the purpose of educating his children, his family resided in Petaluma until 1871, when they all removed to their present home. For a part of this time he had also been engaged in milling in Petaluma, but having sold his interest in the mill, all his enterprise and energy were devoted to the culture and improvement of his farm, until now in the careful culture, the fine improvements, the orchards and vine- yards, and the convenient and commodious buildings, it stands one of the model farms of Sonoma county. Since his settlement in the county Mr. Rose has been one of the most enterprising of its citizens. In the organiza- tion of the Sonoma and Marin District Agricultural Society he was one of the prime movers, and its president for the three first years, and ever since has been one of its most ardent supporters, having since been its president for two years, and contributing much of his time and means to its perma- nent success. Every publie enterprise for the development of the resources of the county, and for the building up of the best interests of society, has always found in him a zealous worker and a hearty co-laborer. During the war he heartily endorsed the Union cause, and gave liberally to the Christian and Sanitary Commission for the benefit of the sick and wounded of our soldiers. In religious belief he is a Baptist, and labored assiduously in Peta- luma for many years to build up that church. Mr. Rose married November 10, 1854, Miss Annie Kennorthy, a native of England, born May 2, 1825. They have two children, Annie E. and Florence L.
Smalley, William H. A native of Saratoga county, New York, born August 3, 1823. When but a mere child his parents moved to Herkimer county, where he grew to manhood and received his education, completing his course at the Fairfield Academy. In 1851 he returned to his native county and engaged in farming two years, when he emigrated to California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco in April, 1853. He immediately sought the mines in Placer county, and after mining a short time, abandoned it and bought a few cows and furnished the miners with milk for a term of one year. He then proceeded to Alameda county, where he was engaged in the same business, supplying the citizens of that county with the lacteal fluid. In 1858 he returned to his native State by water, arriving on December 20th of the same year. He was engaged in farming in Saratoga county until 1863, at which time he returned to California, settling in Oakland, where he resided two years; thence to Contra Costa county, where he engaged in dairying one year, and in the Fall of 1866 came to this county
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and settled on his present estate, located about two miles from Lakeville. Mr. Smalley married, September 29, 1846, Miss Lydia M. Western, a native of Herkimer county, New York, born February 21, 1825. Frank, born September 18, 1857, and died February 7, 1863, is the only child they have had born to them.
Todd, John W. Born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, June 11, 1825. When twelve years of age his parents moved to Ripley county, Indiana; thence to Rush county. Here he received his primary education, and in 1844, after a residence of seven years, moved to Lee county, Iowa, where he engaged in farming upon his own account in 1850, after serving his parents to the twenty-fifth year of his age. In 1864 he emigrated to California, via Panama, arriving in San Francisco on June 29th. He came direct to this county, and resided in Petaluma until October following, when he settled on his present ranch, comprising one hundred and sixty acres, located in Vallejo township. Mr. Todd married, February 25, 1850, Miss Matilda Snapp, a native of Tennessee. They have one adopted child, Marion.
Wharff, David. Born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, December 31, 1828, where he received his primary education. When fourteen years of age he proceeded to Boston, learned the carpenter's trade, which he followed until 1849, when he emigrated to California, rounding Cape Horn in a sailing vessel. He arrived in San Francisco August 15, 1849. Here he remained but a short time, when he went to Sacramento, and there worked at his trade for two months; thence to the mines on Weaver creek, in El Dorado county; remained there one year; thence to Shasta county, where he remained until December 15, 1851, when he returned to Massachusetts, via Nicaragua, and married February 19, 1852, Miss Olive Densmore. On March 1st, the next month after his marriage, he and his new-made bride started for California, on the ship " Appleton," arriving in San Francisco July 22d. After spending a short time in Sacramento he returned to San Francisco, where he remained until December, 1852, when he came to this county, and located a claim near where he now resides. In 1854 he settled on his present estate, located six miles from Petaluma. Mary L., born March 31, 1853, and died November 7, 1864; Lucy D., born December 11, 1854 ; N. P. Banks, born May 12, 1857; Belinda C., born June, 7, 1859; Carrie L., born April 25, 1863, and died February, 7, 1878 ; Hattie H., born December 4, 1868, and died June 20, 1875; Effie A., born October 31, 1870, and died February 13, 1878, are the names, births and deaths of their children.
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WASHINGTON.
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Armstrong, Porter Moore (of Geyserville). Born November 1, 1831, in the town of Ripley, Brown county, Ohio. Mr. Moore's grandfather was a native of Virginia, but removed from that State and settled in Ohio in the year 1800, at which time his father was three years old. He resided with his parents in Ripley until the age of ten years, when the family removed to St. Louis, Missouri, where for the next two years young Moore was sent to school. In the year 1843 his father, who had been for many years running steamers on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, disposed of his boats and removed to Peoria, Illinois, and engaged very extensively in merchandising, milling, pork packing, etc. At the age of fourteen young Moore was placed in his father's store as junior clerk, where he learned the art of measuring molasses, weigh- ing sugar, and such other duties as usually fall to the lot of juniors. The boy was an apt scholar, and rapidly mastered the business, so that it was not long before he had full charge of it. Mr. Moore's father was a man of great energy and business capacity, and at this time was possessed of a large prop- erty and an extensive and lucrative business; but unfortunately a spirit of speculation came over him, which in the end caused him to go to the wall financially. This unexpected catastrophe made it necessary for young Moore to strike out for himself, which he did by starting for California by way of the Isthmus, arriving here in November, 1851-just twenty years of age. From 1851 to 1857 he resided in Marysville, Yuba county. Fortunately he had acquired a good business education, and was not long in finding employment as book-keeper in a large wholesale store at a good salary. In the Summer of 1857, having concluded to enter into business on his own account, he removed to Quincy, the county seat of Plumas county, and opened a general merchan- dise store. Here he resided for the next sixteen years, carrying on a large and lucrative mercantile business. During this time he served two years as Asso- ciate Justice of the Court of Sessions and six years as County Judge, filling the position to the entire satisfaction of the citizens of Plumas county. In 1858 he was united in marriage with Miss Anna Mastin, daughter of Colonel Reuben Mastin of Mississippi. His choice of a partner for life proved judi- cious, in consequence of which his married life has been happy and pleasant. Six children have been born to them, five of whom are living. In 1873, in consequence of failing health and a desire to afford his children better educa- tional facilities, Mr. Moore removed to Oakland, Alameda county. For the
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first year after settling there he was not engaged in any business ; but a life of inactivity not proving congenial to him, he again embarked in mercantilo pursuits, and for three years carried on business at the corner of Broadway and Twelfth streets. In June, 1873, he disposed of his business in Oakland, and removed to Geyserville, where he is at the present time engaged in keep- ing a general merchandise store and acting as Postmaster. Mr. Moore is a man who attends strictly to his legitimate business, strives to do everything he undertakes well, is genial in disposition, always glad to see his friends, possesses the confidence of the community in which he resides, of unsullied business reputation, and in all the walks of life an exemplary citizen.
Bedwell, Ira. Was born in La Fayette county, Missouri, August 8, 1829. When an infant he was taken by his parents to Cass county and here he resided until he attained the age of twenty years. At this period of his life he emigrated to California, crossing the plains, and arriving at Hang- town, now more aristocratically known as Placerville, on October 6, 1850. Here he remained a few weeks and thence went to Georgetown, residing there until December, 1851, when he removed to Sonoma county, and, after occupying several different locations, finally settled on his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, one mile south from Geyserville, in the Fall of 1877. Mr. Bedwell married in February, 1849, Elizabeth Brooks, who died in 1855, by whom he had: John, James, and Nancy J. He was united, secondly, November 17, 1858, to Caroline Howard.
Bosworth, Calvin M. Was born in Solon, Somerset county, Maine, August 4, 1827. His father was a highly respected and well-to-do farmer, and Calvin's early years were spent on the home farm, assisting him. In the Winter of 1852 the gold excitement of California caused a large emi- gration from the Eastern States, and he, wishing to try his fortune, with the rest, in the far-famed land of gold, in company with three other young men from Solon, left his home, with the intention of making a trip to Cali- fornia, by the way of Panama. Arriving in New York, they found the tickets for a trip across the Isthmus had all been bought up, for several months ahead; so, rather than abandon the idea of a trip altogether, or wait for several months, they determined on a trip around the continent, and on the 22d of February, 1852, they sailed from slip No. 2, on the ship "Grecian," bound for California, around Cape Horn. During the voyage, one of the company, a cousin of Calvin's, in a fit of delirium, cause by typhoid fever, from which he was prostrated, jumped overboard and was lost at sea. After a long and tedious passage they arrived in San Francisco on the 11th of the following September, with another one of their little band prostrated by the same fever. He lived but a few weeks after arriving, Calvin staying with him and administering to his wants to the last. While watching over this sick and dying friend, he received much kindness from Hon. Samuel Soule and B. .
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F. Tuttle, for which he has ever felt the deepest gratitude. This left but two of the once buoyant little company, to try their luck in the gold mines. They went into Sierra county, where they spent about three years in suc- cessful mining; and in May, 1855, Calvin started for Maine, by way of the Nicaragua route, where he arrived the tenth of June. After his return he was prostrated for several months with Panama fever, together with chills and fever. On November 1, 1855, he married Prudence N. Wilson, daughter of Daniel Wilson, of Bingham, Somerset county, Maine, Having bought a farm he once more turned his attention to farming, which he followed until the Fall of 1858, when not finding the cultivation of the soil as remunerative as the mines had been, he decided to again seek a home in California's sunny clime; and once more bidding adieu to friends and native land, on the 1st day of February, 1859, with wife and two children, sailed from New York for California, by the Panama route.
Fond, lingering looks were cast on the receding shore, They sighed to think, perhaps, they'd never see it more. Farewell, a long farewell! thou free and happy land, That we may live to see thy peaceful shores once more.
Arrived in San Francisco the 1st day of March, 1859. After remaining in San Francisco a few days he returned to La Porte, Sierra county, his old mining camp, where he was engaged in mining until the Fall of 1867. Not being as successful in mining as formerly, he resolved to try the agricultural portion of the State, and in October, 1867, came to Cloverdale, Sonoma county, living there four years; then moved to Geyserville, on to what is known as the Doctor Ely ranch, where he now lives.
Bouton, Andrew. A native of Courtland county, New York, born April 10, 1831, where he remained until twenty-one years of age, when he went to Steuben county, where he engaged in farming, grafting, lumbering and teaching, in season. In 1858 he emigrated to California. Spending about two months in Yuba county, he proceeded to Napa county and engaged in fruit-growing for ten years. November, 1868, found him in this county. His place is known as the "Heart's Desire " Orchard. Follows fruit-growing as a business. This fruit farm is located in Washington town- ship, about five miles from Healdsburg.
Cummings, J. M. Born in Guilford, North Carolina, April 21, 1836, When young his parents moved to Clay county, Missouri, where he lost his mother. His father then took up his residence in Ray county, where he was subsequently killed by the falling of a tree. The subject of this sketch then made his home with his uncle, William Cummings, in the same county until 1853, when he emigrated to California, across the plains with ox-teams, remaining one month at Sacramento, he then came to this county, spent one year, then proceeded to the mines, where he searched diligently for the shining metal for one year, after which he was employed by D. D. Reeves at
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Suisun, Solano county, for two years. He then spent one year in the red -. woods in this county. After prospecting in several different counties until 1862, he went to Oregon, where he remained three years. In 1865 he again returned to this county and settled on his present estate, about five miles north of Geyserville. Married Miss Matilda Flack, February 7, 1877. They have had one child, Walter J., born December 21, 1877, and died May 7, 1879.
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