MARK WEST. - This was a little, old town, situated about four miles
from Santa Rosa, in a north-westerly direction, on the main road to
Healdsburg and Cloverdale. It was of small dimensions, though in the midst
of a lively rich agricultural country. A fine, large bridge spans Mark West
Creek at this point. The gentleman whose name the town bears settled there
in 1840, and in the following year erected the adobe building which, though
quaint, odd and venerable looking, is yet in a good state of preservation.
More than one early emigrant to Sonoma County had his heart gladdened by the
sight of that old institution, where he found a hearty welcome from that
most generous of pioneers, Mark WEST. A postoffice was established here
October 25, 1865, with Henry G. GIAMINI in charge. Most of the buildings
that formed this town were afterwards, on the arrival of the railroad, moved
to Fulton, leaving naught to Mark West but its ever-to-be-remembered name.
FULTON. - This is a
flourishing town on the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, about five
miles north of Santa Rosa, and is the terminus of the branch of that line to
Guerneville. It was founded by Thomas and James FULTON, in 1871, from whom
it derives its name. Here a large warehouse was erected by the FULTON
brothers, at that time, capable of storing twelve hundred tons of grain.
Afterwards the railroad company constructed a freight ware-house and
passenger depot. James FULTON is the Postmaster, and C. HOPPER, the agent
for Wells, Fargo & Co. In 1859 a congregation of the Christian church was
established, with James and D. FULTON as Elders, and in 1872, a church
edifice was built. The town consists of two stores, two blacksmith shops,
one boot and shoe store, one hotel, one livery stable, one saloon, a
postoffice and agency. It is placed in one of the finest agricultural
districts in the county, and is remarkably eligible as a shipping point. The
produce annually exported from the town is about nine thousand cords of
wood, one thousand cords of tan bark, one hundred and fifty car-loads of
charcoal, besides large quantities of lumber, grain, butter and general farm
produce. Most of the land belongs to the FULTON BROTHERS, though they have
disposed of a portion of their original possessions.