Sonoma County
History
SANTA ROSA.
Friar Juan Amoroso was the person who had the honor of giving the beautiful name of Santa Rosa to the stream from which the valley, the township and the town were afterwards called. It is recorded of Friar Amoroso that he was one of those missionaries who dared everything in behalf of the Cross; earnest, faithful and bold, he preached the story of the Master without fear. He was a true disciple of the Church militant on Earth, and believed in teaching the heathen the practices of Christianity, and, as far as possible, the arts of civilization by force, if they would not adopt them by persuasion. His zeal led him, in 1824, to accept the difficult, not to say dangerous task, of founding the mission of San Rafael. He successfully accomplished that task. Five years after, in 1829, he made an excursion northward in company with one Jose Cantua, hoping, doubtless, to find some stray heathen who by his zeal might be brought into the fold of the faithful. He came to the territory of the Cainemeros tribe of Indians, who resided on the river Chocoalomi, the Indian name of what is now Santa Rosa creek. At the rocky point opposite the "old adobe," a mile and a half from the present town, he captured an Indian girl, baptised her in the stream and gave her the name Santa Rosa, from the fact that, on that very day the Church was celebrating the feast of Santa Rosa de Lima. He was attacked by the natives and fled, arriving safely at his mission of San Rafael. Fortunately the stream and the valley took its name from this beautiful incident. Friar Juan Amoroso and Padre Altimira were the very first pioneers whose eyes were gladdened by the sight of the hills and valleys of Sonoma in their virgin beauty.
The adobe house, on Santa Rosa Creek, a mile and a half above town, was the first house built in this valley, or anywhere north of Sonoma, with the exception of the houses at Ross. The land upon which the house stood, and two leagues around it, was granted to Mrs. Carrillo, a sister of the wife of General Vallejo. The house was built in 1838-39; it still stands, and is owned by F. G. Hahman, of Santa Rosa.
A graphic writer gives the annexed picture of the "old adobe" in July, 1850, and its then occupant, Ramon Carrillo; the description will be recognized and relished by all old Californians. We cannot forbear quoting it: "In front of the house was a court-yard of considerable extent, and part of this was sheltered by a porch; here, when the vaccaros have nothing to call them to the field, they pass the day looking like retainers of a rude court; a dozen wild, vicious little horses with wooden saddles on their backs stand ever ready for work; while lounging about, the vaccaros smoke, play the guitar or twist a new riatta of hide or horse hair. When the sun gets lower they go to sleep in the shade, while the little horses who remain in the sunshine do the same apparently, for they shut their eyes and never stir. Presently a vaccaro, judging the time by the sun, gets up and yawns, staggering lazily towards his horse, gathers up his riatta and twists it around the horn of his saddle--the others awakening, rise and do the same, all yawning with eyes half open, looking as lazy a set as were ever seen, as indeed they were on foot; 'Huppa! Anda!' and away they go in a cloud of dust, splashing through the river, waving their lassos around their heads with a wild shout, and disappearing from sight almost as soon as mounted. The 'vaccaro' wants at all times to ride furiously, and the little horses' eyes are opened wide enough before they receive the second dig of their riders' iron spurs." The writer, though he knew it not, saw and described the last of this kind of life at the "old adobe" on Santa Rosa creek; it was, as it were, the very close of the old and the opening of a new area. Don Ramon went south, and in 1851 the buildings came into the possession of David Mallagh, who had married one of Mrs. Carrillo's daughters. Julio Carrillo owned all on the north side of the creek; the daughters fell heir to that portion lying between Santa Rosa and Bennett Valley creeks. In the fall of 1851, Mallagh and Donald McDonald were keeping a public house at the "old adobe," and had also a small stock of goods and groceries; it was the first attempt at merchandizing in Santa Rosa Valley.
In June of 1852, Alonzo Meacham came up from San Francisco. He and his partner, Barney Hoen, had been burned out in the great May fire that year. He bought out Mallagh & McDonald, and established a general store and trading post. Shortly after he sent a petition for a post office, which was established. Mr. Meacham was made postmaster and gave the office the name of Santa Rosa, to which the town of Santa Rosa succeeded. At that time the mail was carried once a week from Benicia to Napa, to Sonoma, Santa Rosa, Miller & Walker's store and thence to San Rafael. Mr. Meacham's commission was signed by James Buchanan, and Mr. M is entitled to the gratitude of posterity that he did not call the post office Mallaghsville, Buchannansburg or some other stupid name or like derivation. Barney Hoen, who had gone to Oregon after the May fire of 1852, returned in the fall, and hearing that his old partner, Meacham, was in Santa Rosa, came up on the second trip of the steamer Red Jacket, in November. He landed at New Town and came on horseback to Santa Rosa, and purchased of Meacham a half interest in his business. Meacham in the meantime had bought a tract of seventy acres of land from Julio Carrillo, where the town of Santa Rosa now stands, for twelve dollars an acre. On May 1, 1853, F. G. Hahman purchased Meacham’s interest in the business at the “old adobe,” and, a few weeks after Hoen & Hahman sold an interest to Hartman, and the firm took the name of Hoen & Co.
That summer of 1853 business was lively at the “old adobe;” all the freighting was done by pack-mules, and it was a purchasing point for settlers up the Russian River valley, and as far north as Clear lake. Trains of pack-mules might be seen at all hours, either loading or unloading freight. In August, 1853, the following entry appears on the books of Hoen & Co.: “Real estate—- to Alonzo Meacham. Bought of him August 9th, payable two months after date, one piece of land (say seventy acres) opposite Julio Carrillo, $1,600”. The west line of this tract ran through the plaza of Santa Rosa; the land was valued at twelve dollars an acre,--the additional ten dollars an acre paid was for the fence which had been built around it. The “old adobe” was sold by Mallagh to Walkinshaw, of Santa Clara, and he wanted Hoen & Co., who had been paying twenty-five dollars a month for part of the house, to pay three hundred dollars a month for the whole. They refused to pay it, and made the Meacham purchase with the view of laying off a new town. Julio Carrillo agreed to give as much land for that purpose as there was in the tract of Hoen & Co. In the first rough survey of the place the creek was taken for a base, and a line was run northerly from an oak-stump, which stood near the old Masonic hall, to Fourth street,--leaving the plaza trees on land of Hoen & Co. The price of lots was fixed at twenty-five dollars a-piece, without any regard to location. Julio Carrillo’s house on Second street,--now owned by J. P. Clark,--was built by John Bailiff in the summer of 1852. This was the only house in the town when it was first surveyed. Achilles Richardson had a small store near the creek, which was outside of First street,--the southern limit of the embryo city.
The first real-estate transaction was a sale to Henry Valley, who purchased six lots, and built a house which still stands on the southwest corner of E and Second streets; for the six lots Valley paid one hundred and fifty dollars.
In the winter of 1853 there was no event of consequence occurred, except the race between Hooker and Bennett for the legislature. The election of Bennett, and the bill he introduced to take a vote upon the question of the removal of the county-seat, was a matter of much importance to Santa Rosa. The question was not agitated publicly,--the Sonoma valley people were afraid to raise the issue, and the Santa Rosa people kept their council to themselves.
The Bennett bill provided that the question of removal should be submitted to a vote of the people at the following election in September. The bill became a law in March, 1854, and from that time until the election, the people of Santa Rosa were not idle.
In the spring of 1854 the old Masonic hall was built,--the third house in the town. John Ingram had the contract for its construction; singularly enough the specifications provided that it should be weather-boarded with Eastern pine, which was carried out to the letter at great cost, while redwood boards (far more durable) could have been gotten for one-third less. But in those days the redwood, like the prophet in his own country, had no honor. Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 57, first worked under a dispensation, and was chartered May 2, 1854. Achilles Richardson was the worshipful master, John Ingram was the first senior warden, and William Noel was the first secretary; among the charter members were Lindsay Carson, James A. Campbell, David Thompson and Westly Mathews. J. H. Griggs came over from Solano soon after, and was the second worshipful master of the lodge. We have mentioned these facts because it was a little remarkable that Masonry should have taken such an early start in Santa Rosa,--the third and best house in the town being a Masonic hall. As soon as the hall was finished, the lower part was rented to E. P. Colgan for a hotel. He had been keeping a public-house at the "old adobe," and afterwards built a hotel for himself on the site of the present Santa Rosa house. This was the fourth house, and was built by John Ingram.
In the spring of 1854 Hoen sold his interest in the store at the adobe to his partners, Hahman & Hartman, and put up the building where John Richards' barber-shop stands, for a store. He opened it in June, and was the first merchant in Santa Rosa, except Richardson, who was just outside the survey. Hahman & Hartman, who still kept store at the "old adobe," saw the Santa Rosa was destined to become the principal place in this section, and made preparations to move. Hoen had built on the corner they wished to occupy, and F.G. Hahman purchased of Julio Carrillo the lot on the northwest corner of Second and C streets, opposite Clark's livery stable. He immediately commenced the erection of a building; completed and opened it on the 4th of July, 1854, with a grand ball, of which more will be said further on.
Soon after the passage of the bill authorizing a vote on the question of removing the county seat, the people of Santa Rosa valley commenced a good-natured seige to secure a majority vote for the change. As the summer advanced the contest waxed warmer; the Santa Rosans projected a grand barbecue at the proposed county seat on the Fourth of July. It was a master-stroke of policy,--the people came and saw, and were conquered by the beauty of the place and the hospitality of the people, who, on that occasion, killed the fatted calf, and invited to the feast the rich and poor, the lame, the halt and the blind,--in fact everybody who had, or who could influence or control, a vote. The smoke of the sacrifice of whole sheep and huge quarters of beef ascended to heaven freighted with the prayers of the Santa Rosans to dispose the hearts and ballots of the people in their favor, and, like the pious Greeks of old on similar occasions, when the smoke had ceased to ascend, and the offering was cooked to a turn, they partook of the sacrificial meat,--the incense of which had tickled their nostrils, whetting at the same time their appetites and their devotions. At least five hundred persons, from all parts of the country, were present. A. Guenry, a Baptist preacher, delivered the oration; James Prewitt read the Declaration of Independence; John Robinson, Sylvester Ballou and Joe Neville also made speeches.
The barbecue was so grand a success that it made a lasting impression on the people, and from that day to this barbecues have been the most popular of all entertainments in Sonoma county. This barbecue was held beneath a splendid grove of oaks which stood on or near the Hewitt place, then owned by Commodore Elliott. The day closed with a grand ball, given in the store-room of Hahman & Hartman, which had just been finished, on the corner of Second and C streets. The Powers boys, with their violin, furnished the music, and about forty couple chased the hours with flying feet, until surprised by the early summer sun, which crept up behind Mayacmas, flooding the valley with rosy light.
Early in 1853 J. W. Ball came into the valley; he first located on the Farmer place, on the south side of Santa Rosa creek. There a number of his family died of small-pox; he then moved over to the Boleau place, where Dr. Simms now lives, and kept there a sort of tavern and store. He bought ten acres of land at the junction of the Russian river, Bodega and Sonoma roads, where the cemetery lane now intersects the Sonoma road, and laid off a town there, which was called Franklin-town. S. G. Clark and Dr. Boyce, who had bought out Ball, built and opened a store in Franklin. Ball had a tavern there; H. Beaver a blacksmith shop, and W. B. Birch a saddle-tree factory. In September, 1853, S. T. Coulter and W. H. McClure bought out Boyce & Clark.
The same fall the Baptist church, free to all denominations, was built. For a short time Franklin divided the attention of new comers with Santa Rosa and the "old adobe". The selection of Santa Rosa as the county seat, in the fall of 1854, put an end to rivalry. Within the year following all the houses in Franklin were moved to the new county seat, including the church, which still stands on Third street, between E and D streets. In 1875 it was sold and converted into two tenement houses.
Barney Hoen, in a canvass of the county, promised that he and a few others would donate lots and build a court house, if the people would vote for the change. When it was known that Santa Rosa had won, an impromptu celebration was gotten up, anvils were fired, Hoen killed one beef, and Julio Carrillo another, for a free feast. The rejoicing was kept up for two days.
On the 18th of September the board of supervisors met in Sonoma, canvassed the returns, and passed an order declaring that Santa Rosa was the county seat of Sonoma county,--a majority of votes having been cast in favor of the change. Supervisor S. L. Fowler moved that the archives be removed to the new county seat on Friday, September 22, 1854, which passed unanimously. On the day appointed, Jim Williamson, with a four-horse team and wagon, accompanied by Horace Martin and some others, went down to Sonoma, captured and brought up the archives, amid dire threats of injunction and violence from the Sonoma people, who saw, with no little chagrin, the county seat slip through their fingers. The Santa Rosans had the law, wanted only possession, and would not have hesitated to use all the force necessary to get that; as it was, they captured the archives by strategy, and the dry and dusty documents of former drowsy old alcaldes were whirled over the road as fast as Jim Williamson’s four-in-hand could take them to the new capital, where they safely arrived, and were deposited pro tem. in Julio Carrillo’s house, which was rented for that purpose. The supervisors followed the records at a slower pace, and on the 20th of September, 1854, at five o'clock P.M., the board convened in Carrillo's house, and at that meeting Barney Hoen gave bonds to have a court house put up in six weeks, on the lots which had been donated by Hoen, Hahman & Hartman. With the aid of a man named Pinnard, a French- man, he had the work done within the time, and the county government occupied it. This building stood where Ringo's store now is, and was afterwards removed. The county, in 1856, built the lower story of the present court house, and sold the old one and the lots upon which it stood. The first story of the court house was built for nine thousand dollars, by J. M. Phillips, a contractor from San Francisco. In 1859 the upper story was put on, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. In 1871-2 the recorders office was built at a cost of twenty thousand dollars.
Hoen sold out his store to G. N. Miller in the spring of 1855. F. G. Hahman was the first postmaster; Hoen was the agent of Adams & Co.'s express, and Chil. Richardson started the first stage line between Santa Rosa and Petaluma. John Ingram built one of the first residences on Second street, now occupied by Mr. Lancaster; and Charley White built the first bridge across Santa Rosa creek. The lower story of the court house was the first brick edifice, and John Ingram built the second for Buck Williamson, next to the office of the Sonoma Democrat, and now owned by Gus Kohle.
The first physician in the town was Dr. J. F. Boyce, and the first lawyers were Judge Jackson Temple and the late Colonel M. Ross.
The first religious service was held by a Methodist minister in the open air, under a grove of trees which were near the present site of the court house. The Christian Church congregation was organized in 1854, with about twenty members, by the much-beloved Elder Thomas Thompson and J. P. McCorkle.
On the site of the brick boarding-house, near the Pacific Methodist College, James Cockrill had a residence as early as 1852; it was a long way out of town when the first survey was made. Mr. Cockrill died of small-pox, which was epidemic in 1853.
The merchants, in the order of their coming, were: C. Richardson, B. Hoen, Hahman & Hartman, Marks & Rosenburg, who opened on C street, on the lot opposite the Grand hotel, and formerly occupied by Carruthers. Miller, the county treasurer, bought out Hoen; he died, and Dr. Hendley bought the business.
The first saddler was a man named Barnard, and T. B. Hood succeeded him in 1856. E. T. Farmer bought an interest in Hendley's business, and the firm carried on business under the name of Hendley & Farmer, on the east side of the plaza. B. Goldfish fought out Hahman & Hartman in 1856, and was joined by Henry Wise, and the firm of Wise and Goldfish are the oldest merchants in the town. E. T. Farmer succeeded Farmer & Hendley.
The first school in Santa Rosa was kept in the old Masonic hall, and was taught by W. M. Williamson, now of Samoa, Navigator Islands.
The first term of the court of sessions in Santa Rosa as held in Julio Carrillo's house, by Judge Frank Stattuck; Judge P.R. Thompson and James Prewett were associate justices.
Santa Rosa grew quite rapidly from 1854 up to 1859,--having that year, by actual count, two churches, and two resident preachers, nine lawyers, five doctors, one academy for two hundred and fifty pupils, two notaries, one newspaper, nine dry goods and grocery stores, one drug store, two hotels, two restaurants, two saloons, one saddler shop, one butcher shop, one shoemaker, one jeweler, one paint shop, one carriage shop, and three carpenter shops, one pump factory, two livery stables, one bakery, seventy-four residences, and a population of four hundred.
In 1859 the firm of Wise and Goldfish commenced business, and have continued together without a change of name, or any change in their firm, for nineteen years, a very unusual circumstance in business connections in this State. They moved out of the building, on the east side of the plaza, to Main street early in 1860, and on the 17th of March, Hendley & Farmer moved into the vacated store, and opened business. The business then commenced has continued, and is now represented by Riley, Hardin & Farmer,--C. C. Farmer being the junior member of the firm. Mr. George Hood has been continuously in the jewelry business for a very long time, and still has his store on Main Street.
From 1859 to 1870 the town grew slowly. In the latter year it was credited with but nine hundred inhabitants, it had doubled its population in a decade. In 1872 the railroad was completed, the scene changed as if by magic, and in the short space of five years the town has increased from population of one thousand to six thousand. There are now twelve hundred houses--many of them substantial brick structures--the city limits include an area of a mile and a half square, and there is a rapid growth in wealth as well as in population.
BRICK BUILDINGS.
The most notable brick buildings, named in the order in which they were built, are: The Santa Rosa Bank building, on Exchange street, built in 1871-2; the recorder's office, on the corner of Exchange and Fourth streets, completed the same year; the I.O.O.F. hall, on the corner of Exchange and Third streets, built the same year; the Ridgeway block came next, and that was followed by the Grand Hotel building, on the corner of Third and Main streets. This fine structure was built by Neece & West, and is kept as a first-class hotel by Neece & Pooler. The block owned by Judge Overton, Morrow Brothers, and others, on Fourth street, was built about the same time. In 1874 Mrs. Spencer put up a block on Fourth street, Jerry Ridgeway a block on Third street, the Santa Rosa Savings bank their elegant building on Exchange street. The same year T. L. Thompson erected Sonoma Democratic building, on Exchange street, and General Parks the block on the corner of Fourth and B street. The Occidental hotel, on Fourth street, the largest and most costly building in the city, was completed in 1876. It is kept in first-class style by G. A. Tupper, and is one of the finest houses north of San Francisco.
For want of space we must bring this branch of our subject to a close, without mentioning other buildings equally worthy of special notice.
SANTA ROSA BANK.
To E. T. Farmer is due the credit of establishing the first bank in the city of Santa Rosa. When others had not confidence enough to invest, he guaranteed them an interest on their capital, and launched the enterprise, certain of the future of Santa Rosa as a business centre, though at the time the population numbered not more than one thousand. The bank was incorporated on the 11th of August, 1870, with a capital of one hundred thousand dollars. E. T. Farmer was elected the first president, and C. G. Ames the first cashier--both have held their respective offices ever since. The first office of the bank was in the store of E. T. Farmer, on Third street. The building now occupied, on Exchange street, was put up in 1872, and marked a new era in the progress of Santa Rosa. In 1873 the capital stock was increased to three hundred thousand dollars. Mr. Farmer, the president of the bank, has done a great deal towards developing the resources of Santa Rosa and the surrounding country. Mr. Ames, the cashier, is an old resident of the county, who has long maintained a reputation for business capacity and integrity. The directors are E. T. Farmer, C. G. Ames, Thomas Hopper, David Burris, J. S. Taylor, Captain W. E. Cocke and E. H. Barnes.
SAVINGS BANK OF SANTA ROSA
was organized in 1873, with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars. A. P. Overton was elected first president. F. G. Hahman was appointed by the board of directors the first cashier--both hold their respective offices, and have held them continuously since the organization of the bank. The bank was first opened in Hood's building, on Main street. In 1874 the new and handsome quarters now occupied, on Exchange street, was built at the cost of fourteen thousand dollars. A special meeting is soon to be held for the purpose of increasing the capital stock of the bank. The savings bank has been a success from its organization. The president, A. P. Overton, is a successful business man of sound judgment. The cashier, F. G. Hahman, has been identified with the town from the day the first step was taken in its location down to the present time, and has always maintained the reputation of an energetic and trustworthy business man. The directors are A. P. Overton, Henry Wise, E. Latapie, A. Runyon, M. Doyle, Daniel Brown, W. S. M. Wright.
PACIFIC METHODIST COLLEGE.
In the year 1859 the Pacific Annual Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church South inaugurated measures looking to the early organization of a college. Trustees were appointed, and Rev. J. C. Stewart was elected agent. The citizens of Vacaville and vicinity proposed to furnish buildings and grounds, and turn the same over to the trustees free of debt. The offer was accepted, and a meeting of the board of trustees was held in February, 1861, when the following persons were elected to positions in the college, namely: Rev J. C. Stewart, president pro tem., and C. S. Smyth, professor of mathe- matics. A short time after this O. H. O'Neill was employed as temporary professor of languages.
It was decided to open a preparatory school on the 11th of March, 1861. The first regular session of the college was opened in July, 1861, with Professor C. S. Smyth, department of mathematics; Professor S. B. Morse, department of languages, and Miss E. A. Caldwell in charge of primary department. The first day showed an attendance of only thirteen students; yet within four months the number had increased to forty-six. Three weeks before the close of the session, Rev. W. T. Lucky, who had previously been elected president, arrived and took charge of the institution.
The first annual catalogue, published in May, 1862, contained the names of over eighty students enrolled for the year. There was a period of uninterrupted prosperity from 1862 to April, 1865, when the main college building was destroyed by fire- the work of an incendiary. Provision was promptly made for the accommodation of classes, and the exercises of the institution went on as usual, without the loss of a single recitation.
After a year and a half of zealous effort on the part of the agent, Rev. W. M. Winters, another building was erected, at a cost of sixteen thousand dollars. In December, 1866, Dr. Lucky tendered his resignation, to take effect in May, 1867. At the annual meeting of the board of trustees, in May, Dr. J. R. Thomas, of Emory College, Georgia, was elected president. The institution continued its sessions in Vacaville until May, 1870, when, by vote of the trustees, it was removed to Santa Rosa.
The citizens of Santa Rosa and vicinity generously donated ten acres of land, and erected thereon a spacious college building, at a cost of twenty-five thousand dollars. The present value of the buildings and grounds is estimated at thirty thousand dollars. The college grounds are situated in the northeastern part of the city, and are beautifully ornamented with evergreens and native oaks. The building is commodious, affording accommodations for three hundred students. There are two literary societies connected with the college, which have their halls neatly furnished. The libraries of the two societies contain about eight hundred volumes.
The first regular session in Santa Rosa was opened in August, 1871, with A. L. Fitzgerald, A. M., president and professor of mental and moral science; C. S. Smyth, professor of mathematics; Charles King, professor of languages, and Miss Florence Miller in charge of the primary department.
In July, 1876, President A. L. Fitzgerald tendered his resignation, to take effect in October, when Rev. W. A. Finley was elected to take charge of the institution.
The present faculty consists of Rev. W. A. Finley, D. D. , president and professor of mental and moral science; C. S. Smyth, A. M., professor of mathematics; O. H. Roberts, A. M., professor of Latin language and literature; E. J. Griffith, A. M., professor of natural science; W. A. Finley, A. M., professor of Greek language and literature; Ferdinand Kenyon, A. B., tutor in mathematics; W. A. Wright, A. M., commercial and business department; Miss Lilla Werlien, department of music.
The present attendance is good, and the prospects of the college are in every respect encouraging. While the institution has enjoyed marked prosperity under previous administrations, we are confident that in the future its reputation for good discipline and thorough work will be fully equal to that which it has already established. The graduates of the institution, up to May, 1876, number fifty-eight. The annual commencement takes place in the month of May, each year.
CHRISTIAN COLLEGE.
This institution is under the control and patronage of the Christian Church in the State of California. It is one of the two colleges situated in the city of Santa Rosa which institutions are the pride and glory of the place.
The grounds were purchased, and the buildings erected during the summer of 1872, at a cost of about twenty-five thousand dollars. The main building is well-constructed. In size it is ample for several hundred students, being one hundred and three feet long by sixty-nine wide. The college chapel is a hall, beautiful in design, and well arranged for comfort. There are a sufficient number of recitation rooms, society and music halls, well adapted to the use for which designed.
The present faculty has been secured at great expense, most of them being men of large experience in their profession. The college building was dedicated with appropriate services on Monday, September 23, 1872. On the same day the college commenced its first session under the presidency of Alexander Johnson, assisted by a competent corps of teachers. The beginning was truly flattering. After five years’ experience we feel that we may confidently say that Christian College is destined, at no very distant day, to take rank among the first institutions on this coast.
The college is situated on B street, in the center of the city. The buildings and grounds are worth at least thirty-five thousand dollars. Christian College has many warm friends throughout the State, and we hope to see the day when it will be placed on the most prosperous possible basis, by endowment. The annual commencement is largely attended from all parts of the State, and creates a very lively interest in the subject of education. Much of the prosperity of Santa Rosa is due to the two colleges located within its boundaries.
We give a list of the faculty: J. M. Martin, A.M., president; J. M. Monroe, A.M., professor of languages; J. Bradshaw, A. B., professor of mathematics; J. Derham, A. M., professor of sciences; A. A. Hoyt, professor in charge of commercial department; Mrs. Murphy, primary department; Mlle. Lovet, teacher of French.
THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF SANTA ROSA.
The public schools of Santa Rosa constitute one of its most important interests, and are among its chief attractions. The same salubrity of climate, beauty of scenery, and morality of sentiment that have been instrumental in building up the colleges of this city, have also produced a remarkable growth in its public educational facilities.
Three years ago the schools numbered six teachers and three hundred pupils; to-day they contain fourteen teachers and six hundred and fifty pupils in regular attendance. Within this time the facilities for school work have been greatly improved by the erection of a large and handsome building, at a cost of eight thousand dollars, capable of seating five hundred pupils, and furnished with the best modern furniture. The building is conveniently and comfortably arranged; the ventilation is excellent, and the means of rapid egress ample in case of an emergency. The school apparatus is not as complete as could be desired; but as much has been done in this direction as possible, and more will be added as soon as the funds of the school department will admit.
The school-grounds are well situated; the location of the east school is on Fourth street, in the eastern portion of the city, and that of the west school on Davis street, near the railroad; the capacity of the grounds are hardly sufficient for the recreation of so many children.
By the last legislature, Santa Rosa was constituted a separate school-district, under the management of a board of education, consisting of five members.
The present board is: F. G. Hahman, president; W. B. Atterbury, clerk; C. G. Ames, R. A. Thompson, and R. P. Smith.
The discipline of the schools gives general satisfaction; and in this respect the schools have gained a reputation in other sections of the State. The following comprise the present corps of teachers, and their respective positions: Melville Dozier, principal; Mrs. Jeannie Pyatt, first assistant; Ellis T. Crane, first grammar grade; William Acton and Mrs. C. H. Ballard, second grammar grade; John H. Burnett, third grammar grade; Miss Basha England, Miss Sophia Kraus, fourth grade; Mrs. L. E. Hardy and Miss A. Swasey, First primary grade: Miss Flora McDonald, second primary grade; Mrs. E. Godwin, third and fourth primary grades. J. M. Kilpatrick, principal of west school; Mrs. E. F. Middleton, assistant in west school. Nearly all of these teachers are persons of experience in the work, and hold the highest grade certificates. Residents of the city are admitted into the various departments of the schools between the ages of six and twenty-one, while the course of study anticipates the preparation of a pupil for the ordinary business of life, or, if he desires to go farther, for admission into the University of the State.
The school is kept open for ten months of the year, two terms of five months each, commencing, respectively, on the second Monday in January and July, with a brief vacation at the middle of each term. The per centage of attendance on the part of the pupils is excellent, averaging nearly ninety-five per cent. The whole number of pupils in attendance at the public schools during the present school year is eight hundred and thirty-five.
The last census, taken in June of last year, returned one thousand and sixty- three children of school age in the city. The citizens of Santa Rosa have reason to feel gratified at the condition of the public educational interests of the city, and would do well to foster to the utmost this very important feature of their local advancement.
PROFESSOR JONES' ACADEMY.
Professor G. W. Jones, former superintendent of public schools, has a select school for boys, which maintains a high reputation as a preparatory school for the universities, and the patronage is limited only by its accommodation.
Miss Chase has recently established a private school for girls. She is an accomplished teacher, and deserves a liberal support.
CHURCHES.
There are eight churches in Santa Rosa. The oldest organized congregation was the Baptist, who now have a fine church on B street, of which the Rev. S. A. Taft is pastor. The next oldest church is the Christian, which is situated on Fifth street. Elders J. Martin and J. Monroe have charge of this church. The Methodist Episcopal Church South is located on Fifth street, Rev. J. O. Branch, pastor. The Presbyterian church is also on Fifth street, Rev. F. M. Dimmick, pastor. The Protestant Episcopal church is situated on Mendocino street, Rev. Thomas Smith, pastor. The Methodist Episcopal Church on Third street, Rev. Charles E. Rich, pastor. The Catholic Church is on Fifth street, Rev. P. J. Kaiser, priest in charge. There is also a church of the Seventh Day Adventists on Second street; we believe they have no regular minister in charge. All these churches have flourishing Sunday-schools, except the Adventists, who hold service on Saturday.
SOCIETIES.
Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 57, F. and A. M., was chartered May 2d, 1855. The present officers are R. P. Smith, W. M.; E. Neblett, S. W.; A. L. Fisher, J. W.; D. H. Russell, S. D.; C. L. Phelps, J. D.; A. B. Ware, secretary; E. T. Farmer, treasurer; Julio Carrillo, tyler.
Santa Rosa Chapter, No. 47; organized February, 1873; E. T. Farmer, high priest; E. Neblett, king; J. A. Hailman, scribe; A. L. Fisher, C. H.; R. P. Smith, P. S.; F. M. Caldwell, R. A. C.; R. K. Hayes, third veil; D. C. Nicholls, second veil; D. H. Russell, first veil; J. M. White, treasurer; William Strom, secretary; Julio Carrillo, tyler.
Santa Rosa Lodge, No. 53, I.O.O.F., was instituted February 28th, 1856. Following is a list of the present officers: A. Shepherd, N. G.; A. Meade, V. G.; J. K. Smith, R. S.; J. A. Eveleth, P. S.; C. D. Frazee, T.; S. T. Coulter, W.; S. W. Metcalf, C.; William Strom, R. S. N. G.; T. L. Rea, L. S. N. G.; L. Frehe, R. S. V. G.; G. N. Savage, L. S. V. G.; Henry Kronke, I. G.; L. Wilde, O. G.; D. S. Sacry, J. P. G.; J. A. Eveleth, district deputy.
Santa Rosa Encampment, I.O.O.F., No. 53; organized December 14,1875. Present officers--S. T. Coulter, C. P.; J. K. Smith, H.P.; D. S. Sacry, S. W.; P. H. Kronke, J. W.; H. L. Howe, treasurer; C. D. Frazee, scribe; William Strom, guide.
Independent Order of Good Templars.--D. S. Sacry, W. C. T.; Mrs. E. Evans, W. R. H. S.; Miss C. A. Cole, W. L. H. S.; Mrs. C. M. Shepherd, W. V. T.; A. Shepherd, W. S.; E. Nackley, W. F. S.; Miss Bessie Cole, W. T.; Miss Cornelis McIlmoil, W. M.; Joseph Ferguson, W. D. M; Miss Jennie Hadcock, W. T. G.; Joseph Childers, W. O. G.; W. H. Lee, P. W. C. T.; J. H. Richardson, L. D.
LIBRARY.
The Santa Rosa Library Association was organized in April, 1875, without a dollar of capital. Judge Jackson Temple, was the first president; R. A. Thompson, the first vice president, and D. D. Davisson was the first secretary. The association rented four rooms in the Masonic hall, and opened them in December, 1875. The rooms were nearly furnished, which was largely due to the interest taken in the matter by the secretary, D. D. Davisson. At the second annual meeting, held in April, 1876, R. A. Thompson was elected president; A. C. McMeans, vice president; E. T. Crane, secretary; M. Dozier, J. T. Pressley, Barclay Henly, G. W. Jones, E. T. Farmer and D. D. Davisson, directors. J. A. Cooper is librarian. The association has about eight hundred books, and all of the furniture is paid for. Most of the books are standard works. Santa Rosa is the seat of widely celebrated institutions of learning; has a reading and cultivated population, and should have the best public library in the State outside of the larger cities.
FIRE DEPARTMENT.
Santa Rosa Engine Company, No. 1, was organized in 1860. W. H. Crowell was the first president; T. L. Thompson was the first foreman, and John Ledwidge was the first assistant. The present officers are: C. C. Farmer, president; T. L. Thompson, foreman; C. Kessing, first assistant; M. Wise, second assistant; Joe Richardson, treasurer, and J. D. Doychert, secretary.
The Santa Rosa Hook and Ladder Company was organized in 1874. A. Korbel was the first foreman; J. Royal was the first assistant. The present officers of the company are; J. Royal, foreman; E. Rust, first assistant; E. Seegelken, treasurer; ------ Scaimore, secretary.
MANUFACTURES.
Within the past year Santa Rosa has largely increased her manufacturing facilities, displaying in this direction a liberality and spirit of enterprise creditable to her people.
The most important of these enterprises is the Alden Fruit Preserving Company. It was incorporated September 29th, 1876, with a capital of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars, divided into two thousand five hundred shares, par value five dollars each. S. T. Coulter is president of the company, and W. Coker is secretary. The main building is thirty-two by twenty feet, three stories high, with an eight-foot basement. There is a wing to the main build- ing thirty-two by twenty feet, and a one story building sixty by eighteen feet for canning fruit. The works have a capacity for drying eight tons of green fruit, and canning one hundred cases of two dozen each day. The works employ during the season six men and fifty boys and girls.
The Santa Rosa Boot and Shoe factory is another very important enterprise. The proprietor is C. Lovejoy. The factory is situated on McDonald avenue - the building is neatly constructed and is two stores high with a wing. The ground and upper floors are eighty by thirty feet; all the machinery is driven by steam, the factory is complete in all its appointments, and when run to its full capacity will be able to supply the local demand of the north-coast counties for boots and shoes.
The Santa Rosa Wine Company was organized in 1876. Following is a list of officers; Jackson R. Meyers, president, W. L. Knapp, vice-president, J. F. Boyce, treasurer, Rufus Murphy, secretary, John Taylor, superintendant. The lot on which the factory stands fronts two hundred and forty feet on the railroad, with a depth of one hundred and eighty-five feet. The the building has a frontage of ninety-five feet, with a depth of one hundred feet, with wing fifty by twenty feet. It is one of the largest and most conveniently arranged wine factories in the State, with a capacity for working at least two thousand five hundred tons of grapes a year, of which one thousand tons are raised in the neighborhood of Santa Rosa, and any desired number of tons can be had by rail from the county north of the factory. They have now in casks about one hundred and fifty thousand gallons of wine.
The Santa Rosa Brewery is situated on Second and Wilson streets. It presents a very neat and business-like exterior. It was started four years ago by Bosen & Metzger; now owned by Joost & Metzger. Many improvements have since been made in the original works. The capacity of the brewery is three hundred and fifty barrels, or ten thousand gallons a month. Two wagons and five horses are kept at work. The machinery is run by horse power.
The Carriage Manufacturing Company of Baker, Ross & Mitchell, is situated on Main street between First and Second. It was established in 1874. The building is fifty by one hundred and fifteen feet, the main central front having two stories; six men are employed; Charles Bogart does the carriage painting.
J. K. Smith Carriage and Car factory was first established in 1873 by D. C. Nicoll; is situated on Fourth street near the railroad depot. S. S. Nowlin purchased a half interest which he sold to J. K. Smith, and the firm took the name of Nicoll & Smith; J. K. Smith purchased Nicholl’s interest, and became sole proprietor. John Miller is foreman of the blacksmithing department. The Santa Rosa street cars were built in this establishment.
Smith & Gulkzes’ carriage manufactory is situated on Main street. This firm do general carriage, manufacturing and blacksmithing business.
Santa Rosa planing mill is situated on Wilson street, and was built in 1870 by H. T. Hewitt. It was afterwards sold to Mr. Arnold, and by him to F. Korbel & Brothers, who still own it. The engine is twenty horse power, and the daily capacity of the mill is from seven to twelve thousand feet of ordinary planing work. From eight to ten hands are usually employed about the mill.
The marble works of Santa Rosa are situated on Fourth street near the depot. Fisher & Russell are the proprietors. They do excellent work, employing eight men, and have extended their business out of Sonoma, into Lake, Mendocino and Napa counties.
A soap factory was started in 1872 by J. F. Filcher, who was succeeded by the present proprietor, J. H. Holman. They manufacture one hundred and fifty boxes of soap per week, and keep two teams employed selling soap in this and adjoining counties.
The Santa Rosa Mills, situated on Santa Rosa Avenue, south of the iron bridge, were established about fifteen years ago by William Hood. The are now owned by Baker & Shaw. The building is a large wooden one, the centre being two stories and a half, and having a wing on each side about seventy-five feet in length, with a basement story. There are three runs of stone-—two for wheat, and one for making corn-meal, graham flour and ground feed. The mill is run by an engine of fifty horse power, and the capacity of the mills about fifty barrels in twelve hours. Five men are generally employed.
Empire Mills are located on the railroad between Sixth and Seventh streets. The mill proper is a three story brick building, and adjoining is the ware house a one story brick building, having a storage capacity of thirty thousand tons of wheat. This building was erected some years ago, at a cost of thirty-seven thousand dollars. It was built by Dr. Dobbins, and sold by him to Mr. John McIlmoil, and a half interest afterwards bought by Mr. Stoddard. S. S. Nowlin bought the interest of Mr. McIlmoil. These mills have three runs of stone for wheat, and one for corn, barley, etc., and have all the latest and best improved machinery for making "A. No. 1" flour. Their capacity is one hundred barrels in twelve hours, and six men are generally employed about them.
The Golden Eagle Foundry and Machine Shops, owned by M. E. Shulte, situated on Fifth street, west of the railroad, were established in December 1874. The buildings are plain but substantial, and suitable to the business. Here are cast all sorts of agricultural implements, irons for bridge work, and iron and brass castings; iron fronts for buildings, and stoves. In connection with the foundry and machine shop, there is also a shop in which patterns are made, and another in which general blacksmithing is done. An engine of forty horse power is used in these works. Mr. H. F. Shulte is foreman, and generally has employed about six men.
Besides the manufacturing establishments we have enumerated, there is a furniture factory, candy factories, a soda water factory, a glove factory, cigar factory, a box factory, a tannery, a pork packing house, etc., etc. The machinery for a woolen mill is already here, a lot has been secured, and before this notice is put to press the mill will most likely be in operation, or at all events well under way.
There is a also an old established and successfully worked pottery, which we neglected to mention in the proper place.
WATER WORKS.
The Santa Rosa Water Works were incorporated in January, 1873, with $100,000 capital. On the 1st of May active operations were commenced. The water is taken from the Santa Rosa creek, about five miles from Santa Rosa. It is led in seven-inch pipe one and a quarter miles to a reservoir. In the fall of the year of organization the water was brought to the city and distributed through the town.
In 1875 a majority of the stock of the company was purchased by Mark L. McDonald, of San Francisco.
In the latter part of 1876, Jackson R. Myers purchased an interest in the company, and became the manager. It was determined to erect a new reservoir about half a mile below the old one. The work was completed in the spring of 1877, and it is one of the best constructed and arranged reservoirs in the State. It is about eighteen hundred feet long, and is six hundred feet wide, and when full will have a depth of twenty-four feet, affording an abundant supply of pure mountain water for the people of the city, and also a safeguard against conflagration. To the capital and enterprise of Mark McDonald, and good judgment of Mr. Myers, the people are indebted for that greatest of all blessings—-a cheap and bountiful supply of water. Mr. McDonald, by his public spirit, has inseperably connected his name with the city of Santa Rosa.
GAS WORKS.
The Maxim Gas Company was incorporated April, 1872, the citizens of Santa Rosa taking one-half the stock, and Maxim Gas Company, of San Francisco, holding the balance. They erected a brick building on Fifth street near Mendocino, and laid about four thousand feet of mains. The citizens subsequently bought all the stock and ran the Maxim works until the spring of 1876, when they were sold to the new company, formed under the name of the Santa Rosa Gas Light Company, incorporated March 9, 1876, under L. A. Kelly’s supervision. The company put up, at an expense of thirty thousand dollars, one of the finest and most complete set of coal-gas works on this coast. The new works are located on First street, just below Main, and consist of a large brick retort house, with iron roof, brick purifying house in the rear, office and workshop, with large holder, twenty thousand cubic feet capacity, with brick cistern. They have six-inch pipe running from their retorts all through the works, and up First and Main streets to the plaza, about two thousand feet, when it connects with four-inch pipe. The new company have laid about eight thousand feet of mains the last year, and expect to lay fifteen thousand feet this year, and as much main as is necessary to keep pace with the rapid growth of the town. Mr. Kelly said, when building the works, that he would build with capacity for supplying a town of fifteen thousand inhabitants without having to make any change, and expected to live and see them run to their complete and full capacity. The officers of the company are: John C. Paxton, president; E. T. Farmer, vice president; John Ager, secretary; L. A. Kelley, superintendent.
CITY STREET-CAR RAILROAD COMPANY.
This company was organized in 1877, and the capital invested in it was mainly furnished by Mark McDonald. The builder of the road and manager of the company is Jackson R. Myers. The route is two miles in length, leading up Fourth street from the depot to McDonald avenue, and out the avenue to the cemetery. The cost of the road was about $10,000.
STREETS.
There are between forty and fifty miles of streets in Santa Rosa. They range from fifty to eighty feet in width; the side-walks are from eight to twenty feet in width. Both streets and side-walks are macadamized with coarse gravel. Fourth street is a mile and a half long; it is the principal business street, passing along the north side of the plaza. Sonoma avenue is on the south side of Santa Rosa creek, in E. T. Farmer's addition. It is eighty feet wide, and will extend in a short time for three miles. It will eventually become a fashionable drive and promenade.
McDONALD AVENUE.--This is one of the leading streets in Santa Rosa. It was laid out through a tract of one hundred and sixty acres of land lying on the border of the city, purchased by Col. Mark L. McDonald, of San Francisco. It is beautifully diversified with clusters of oaks. The soil is extremely fertile and the tract has been subdivided into town and villa lots. The avenue is handsomely laid out with broad drives, and side-walks, along which, on either side, are rows of eucalyptus trees. Its length is a little short of one mile, leading into Fourth, the principal thoroughfare and business street of the city. A street railway runs from the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad depot, up Fourth street, into and through McDonald avenue, where it terminates. The cars run every few minutes, affording the utmost facilities for the accommodation of residents of that part of the city. The proprietor of these grounds has spared no pains to make it the most desirable and beautiful portion of this most beautiful of cities--Santa Rosa.
Gas and water pipes are laid through the avenue, uniting all the conveniences of city life with pure air and rural scenery. The landscape gardener now smoothes down the furrows of the fields, and the builder marks out his foundations upon ground over which, but a short time ago, the ripe grain bent before the wanton summer breeze.
It is not too much to say that, by his liberal investments, Mr. McDonald has given a further impetus to the rapid growth of Santa Rosa, and deserves the good wishes of all the citizens of this growing city and those who sojourn upon its borders.
SONOMA DEMOCRAT.
The first number of this paper was issued in Santa Rosa, on the 16th of October, 1857, by A. W. Russell. August 20, 1858, Russell sold to E. R. Budd and S. H. Fowler. November 12, 1858, Fowler retired, and was succeeded by B. F. Pinkham. In April, 1860, the Democrat was purchased by T. L. Thompson, who became sole proprietor. Mr. T. L. Thompson is one of the oldest, and has the reputation of being one of the most energetic and successful publishers in the State. The success of the Democrat entitles him to that distinction. It is a quarto, of ten pages, containing each week not less than two hundred and thirty thousand ems, of which one-half is miscellaneous, local and editorial matter. In 1868 Mr. Thompson disposed of the paper to Peabody, Ferrall & Co. He re-purchased it in the summer of 1871, since which time R. A. Thompson and F. P. Thompson have been actively associated with him in the editorial and business departments of the paper. The Democrat has been a staunch advocate of the interests of this portion of the State, and especially of the city of Santa Rosa. It has received a liberal support from the generous and appreciative people of Sonoma county. It has a large circulation in northwest California, and sends not less than five hundred papers to subscribers in the Eastern States, which, of itself, is equal to the average circulation of most county newspapers. It may not be out of place here to state that the combined circulation of the three oldest papers of Sonoma county is larger, in proportion to population, than in any county in the United States, according to Rowell's Newspaper Directory. The Democrat is printed on a steam-power press, and is equipped with a job office complete in all its appointments.
The Santa Rosa Daily Democrat was started in July, 1875, T. L. Thompson, proprietor; R. A. and T. L. Thompson, editors. The Daily Democrat has an increasing business, and labors zealously in the interest of Santa Rosa. It is published every afternoon from the Democrat building, on Exchange street, and contains the latest telegraphic reports from all parts of the world, up to the hour of going to press.
THE SANTA ROSA PRESS AND TIMES.
The Santa Rosa Press was started in 1874 by William A. Wheeler. It was published irregularly until December, 1875, when the material was purchased by G. H. Marr, who changed the name to the Santa Rosa Times, and has since continued the publication. The Times is Republican in politics, and receives a liberal support. Mr. Marr, the editor and proprietor, is an experienced newspaper man, and makes a readable and interesting journal. He has always exhibited a lively interest in all that would advance the welfare of Santa Rosa. The Times is published every Thursday morning; the publication rooms are on Fourth street. There is also a job office connected with the paper, in which excellent work of all kinds is executed.
FULTON.
Fulton is a flourishing town on the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad. It lies five miles north of Santa Rosa, and is the terminus of the branch railroad to Guerneville. This road was built in 1876, and makes Fulton a very lively railroad centre.
The town was laid off in 1871 by Thomas and James Fulton, from whom it takes its name, two of the most worthy of the adopted sons of Sonoma. The town has one hotel, one variety, and one grocery store, one butcher shop, two blacksmith's shops, two saloons, one grain warehouse, one boot and shoe shop, and one freight and passenger depot. The postmaster is Thomas Fulton; express agent, C. H. Bean. The annual shipments of produce are about 9,000 cords of wood, about 1,000 cords of tan-bark, 150 car loads of charcoal, and large quantities of lumber, wheat, fruit, butter, and general farm products.
WINDSOR.
The village of Windsor is located on the main county-road leading from Santa Rosa to Healdsburg, nine miles northwest from Santa Rosa and six miles southeast of Heldsburg; it is within less than a mile of the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad.
The first we hear of Windsor as a town, or rather as a local habitation with a name, was in 1854, when a post-office was established, to which the first postmaster, Hiram Lewis, gave the name of Windsor, perhaps after Windsor park or forest--as the place was surrounded on all sides by trees, which gave it a park-like appearance. In 1857 Lewis sold it to Thad. Deshier. A man named Emmerson opened the first hotel, known as the Windsor hotel. The place is now owned (and is run as a hotel) by Thomas Hopkins. The first physician in the place was Dr. Wilson, who sold out to Dr. Davis, the only physician now in Windsor.
The first store was opened by a man named Buckalew, in 1856, on the lot where William Clark's dwelling now stands. About the same time Davis W. Graham started a blacksmith-shop. In 1857 Rosenberg & Linhemen bought the store. In 1861 Rosenberg & Bros. succeeded this firm, and built a large store-house, and kept it until 1870. They were succeeded by Kelsy & Livingston, who closed the business. The house is still used by T. J. Hopkins for a store. Kruse & Petray opened the second store in Windsor, in 1865, in a house which they built near where H. H. Lafferty's shoe-shop now stands. Harrison Barnes bought Kruse's interest, and sold out in 1867 to Crane, Hendley & Co., who were succeeded by Northcutt & Co., and they by Clark & Lindsay. The latter firm commenced business in 1871, and still continue.
H. H. Lafferty started a shoe-shop in 1864, and still remains in the same place. In March, 1868, the town was located as a town-site under the State law. It was surveyed in October, 1868, by Henry Terry. There are five stores and groceries in the town, two butcher-shops, one saloon, one saddle and harness-shop, one shoe-shop, two wheelwrights, two blacksmiths, one tin-shop, one hotel, one physician, one painter, one boarding-house, one school-house, one Masonic and one I.O.O.F. hall, one church; there are in all about twenty business-houses, thirty residences, and a total population of about two hundred and fifty souls. J. J. Lindsay is postmaster; W. Clark is Wells, Fargo & Co's agent; T. J. Jones and Thomas McQuestion are justices of the peace.
HEALDSBURG.
Healdsburg is beautifully located on Russian river, near the confluence of Dry creek with that river. The town is built upon a gravelly plateau, lying between rich valleys; Russian River valley on the east, and Dry Creek valley on the west.
The most striking feature of the landscape near Healdsburg is Sotoyome, sometimes less appropriately called Fitch mountain. It is a shapely, isolated hill, around the base of which Russian river winds a tortuous course, as if reluctant to leave the flowery and beautiful valley to mingle its waters with the sea.
On an air line, Healdsburg is about sixty-five miles north of San Francisco; it lies a little west of north of that city, and is by railroad about thirty-five miles north of Petaluma, and is fifteen miles northerly from Santa Rosa. It is near the centre of the widely-famed Russian River valley, upon land formerly included within the bounds of the Sotoyome grant, owned by Henry D. Fitch.
There were a few settlers in the valley in 1847, among them were the Fitchs', the Pinas', Cyrus Alexander, Frank Bedwell, the Gordons', Mose Carson and W. J. March. Among the earliest settlers, after the discovery of gold, was Lindsay Carson, T. W. Hudson and family, H. M. Willson and family, the Healds,--the first to come was Harmon G. Heald--J. G. McManus, E. H. Barnes, William Walters, Valentine Miller, A. B. Aull, H. P. Matheson, Aaron Hassett, John Hassett, Isaac Staly, J. C. Laymance, A. Rusak, and others whose names we cannot at this moment recall. There was an Englishman of some notoriety who settled above March's mill, in 1851, named Frank Maryatt. He afterward published in book-form some very interesting reminiscences of his life on Russian river, under the title of "Mountain and Mole-hill, or Recollections of a Burnt Journal."
FOUNDERS OF THE TOWN.
The people in that section did not crystalize around a centre until 1856, when the town of Healdsburg was laid off by Harmon G. Heald, who purchased the tract from the estate of H. D. Fitch. Among the first to give it a start, were Heald, Mitchell and Hooper. In 1857 the first post-office, which had been called Russian River, was changed to Healdsburg. H. G. Heald and H. M. Willson started a store, a man by the name of Moore a blacksmith shop, and Heald and Harris a hotel. Thus Healdsburg had its start, and grew rapidly.
On the 20th day of November, 1857, the population was reported at five hundred. There were two brick stores erected by Mr. Rathburn, an academy building for one hundred and twenty-five students, a fire company, with engines and ladders, a Masonic hall, Sons of Temperance and concert hall, three livery stables, a paint shop, a billiard saloon, and twenty business houses,--in all about one hundred and twenty houses.
Healdsburg, from its location and surrounding salubrious climate and many material advantages, would have soon grown to be a town of the first importance but for the unsettled condition of land titles, which retarded its progress. The land was owned by absentees who had bought up the original Spanish titles on speculation. A large number of persons came into the valley and settled upon these lands just as they would have done on public land. The efforts made to dispossess them led to the so-called squatter war, of which Healdsburg was the seat. It lasted for about seven years, and at one time more than a thousand men were arrayed upon either side. Captain L. A. Norton was agent for most of the land owners, and by a wise and liberal policy sold the squatters at reasonable rates and on a long time, the land which they had improved, and thus gradually put an end to this great obstacle in the road of progress.
We have here space only for a glance at the past history of Healdsburg. In 1867 the town was incorporated under the law of the State, as it then existed. A board of trustees was elected, and L. A. Norton was the first president of the board. A full list of trustees and other town officers, from the first board down the present, will elsewhere be found in this book. In 1874 a special law was passed, incorporating under a charter the present city of Healdsburg.
The population of Healdsburg is about two thousand five hundred. The people are enterprising and public-spirited, always ready when called upon to promote the interests of the city or the surrounding country.
Great interest has always been taken in education by the people of Healdsburg. There are two excellent private academies; the Alexander Institute and the Butler Academy. Both are conducted with marked ability, and give great satisfaction to those who patronize them. There is a very commodious public school building, with an efficient corps of teachers, at which there is a daily attendance of more than three hundred and twenty-five students. The principal of the public school is O. S. Ingram, A. M., and his assistants are Miss Peterson, Miss Black, Miss Gales, Miss Givens and Miss Allen. There are also several excellent private schools in the town.
There is one bank and five hotels, all well patronized, some of which make a specialty of receiving guests for the summer, who come up from the cold and dust-laden atmosphere of the metropolis, to spend the summer months in the delightful climate of Healdsburg. There are fifteen dry-goods and grocery stores; three drug stores; six blacksmith and wagon shops; one paint manufactory; one flour mill; one planing-mill; sash and door factory; two lumber yards; one glove factory; two tanneries; one patent knitting establishment, and one soap factory.
The history of newspapers in Healdsburg has been varied and interesting.
In January, 1860, the pioneer published, A. J. Cox, issued the Review, and continued the published somewhat irregularly until 1863, when it suspended entirely.
In May, 1864, Fenno & Warren commenced the Advertiser, with Mr. Cox as editor. It suspended; was revived in 1865 with J. E. Fenno as publisher, and Mr. Cox as editor. Its revival was but the flickering of the light in the socket, which preceded the total extinction of the Advertiser.
On the 7th day of October, 1865, the first number of the Democratic Standard was issued in Healdsburg. It was published by W. R. Morris and W. A. C. Smith, under the firm name of W. R. Morris & Co.
On the 3d of October 1866, Mr. Morris became the sole proprietor, and a few weeks after transferred a half interest to J. B. Fitch.
In January 1867, Mr. Fitch became sole proprietor, and a month late sold out to Boggs & Menefee. A few weeks later Mr. Boggs retired, W. A. C. Smith taking his place, and the firm became Menefee & Co.
In the winter of 1867-8 the office was again transferred to Fitch & Davis.
In the fall of 1868 the material and good-will of the paper was sold to John G. Howell, and it was suspended. Mr. Howell immediately commenced the publication of the Russian River Flag, which stills survives, a credit to the city of Healdsburg and its publisher, L. A. Jordon. The Flag has always been Republican in politics, and its first editor, J. G. Howell, gave it high rank as a local paper, and impressed his individuality on its editorial columns.
In 1876 Mr. Howell sold the paper to Jordon Bros., Mr. L. A. Jordon succeding as sole proprietor. The paper is under the editorial control of S. P. Mead and L. A. Jordon, and is an able, well conducted and influential journal. The Flag has been an important factor in the growth of Healdsburg, and we hope the proprietor will reap the rich reward for his labor which is so justly his due.
The Healdsburg Enterprise was started in the spring of 1876 by Mulgrew Bros. & Wood. It has achieved a remarkable and well-deserved success. It is Democratic in politics. The Enterprise seemed, from its inception, to make a specialty of promoting the local interests of Healdsburg, and it has ever since labored efficiently and effectively in this field. It is well and carefully edited--typograhically it shows the supervision of an experienced printer. Unlike the early journalistic ventures in Healdsburg, the Enterprise was a success from its first issue. It was bravely launched, and may prosperous breezes continue to swell its sails.
There are seven churches in Healdsburg: one Methodist, one Methodist South; one Presbyterian; one Baptist; one Christian; one Catholic; one Adventist.
There is one Masonic Lodge; one Lodge of Odd Fellows; one Lodge of Good Templars, and one Grange. The Odd Fellows and the Masons have each a hall that would do credit to a city of greater population than Healdsburg. The Grange is by far the most prosperous in the county. They have a large hall, beneath which is a co-operative store, patronized not only by Grangers, but by many people of Healdsburg who do not belong to the Grange. The Grange numbers among its many members many of the most enterprising and intelligent citizens of Russian River Valley.
Healdsburg has for its source of wealth, first the rich agricultural lands which surround it. Nothing can surpass the fertility of the soil of Russian River and Dry Creek Valleys. In the virgin state, under favorable circumstances, they would produce one hundred bushels of wheat or corn to the acre. The fertility has been maintained nearly at its maximum by the annual overflow of the streams, which brings down a rich alluvial mold, fertilizing the land as the delta of the Nile is fertilized. Fortunately this rich land is cut up into small farms from twenty to one hundred acres each, which fact adds greatly to the prosperity of the town of Healdsburg.
There is neither extreme cold in winter nor heat in summer in the town, which is protected from the harshness of the summer winds by the hills upon the west, and the winter climate is moderated by the great equalizer of temperature--the sea--with its warm current sweeping from Asia to the northwest coast of America, whence it turns southward, and materially affects the climate on the coast of California.
The town is well supplied with water of the finest quality. It can be obtained in wells, pure and soft as rain water, at no great depth below the surface. Besides this, water is brought to the town from Sotoyome mountain, which we have before mentioned. A bold, limpid and sparkling spring flows from the bosom of that shapely hill as if Nature designed it for the special is of the fortunate people who were in the future to found a city at its base. The water from this spring supplies the town for domestic purposes, and has a sufficient fall to be used effectively in case of fire.
Healdsburg is built on gravely soil, and to this fact the town is indebted for its excellent streets and drives, which do not get dusty in summer or muddy in winter. There are a number of places of interest near the town. The noted Geyser springs but are sixteen miles away. Litton Springs, a popular and fashionable summer resort, is not more than four miles distant. At the head of Dry creek are the widely-celebrated Skaggs' springs, which are crowded every summer with visitors. The quicksilver miles of Sonoma are in easy reach of Healdsburg; the Sousal mines are but seven miles; the Oakland is sixteen miles northeast, and the Great Eastern and Mount Jackson mines, whose business place is Healdsburg, are sixteen miles southwest.
Want of space prevents us from writing more of this beautiful city. The subject grows on us, and we leave it with regret.
HEALDSBURG EXPORTS FOR 1876.
Grapes, boxes .............................. 6,700
Dried fruit, pounds ...................... 138,600
Green " " .............................. 84,150
Miscellaneous mdse, pounds................ 171,765
Vegetables, " ................. 138,980
Wool, " ................. 148,867
Tan bark, " .................. 80,000
Hops, " .................. 36,250
Hides and tallow, " .................. 69,700
Wine, gallons.............................. 10,732
Grain, tons................................. 1,245
Lumber, feet.............................. 187,500
Leather, sides.............................. 5,880
Flour, barrels................................ 646
Live stock, cars.............................. 252
Poultry, coops................................ 131
Wood, cords.................................... 92
Eggs, boxes.................................... 44
Quicksilver, flasks........................... 322
GEYSERVILLE.
Geyserville is a village and post-office on the San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad, about twenty-four miles north of the county-seat, Santa Rosa. It was settled by Dr. Elisha Ely in 1851. The first business-house was a store started in 1854 by Colonel A. C. Godwin, who afterwards located the Geyser springs. Colonel Godwin went east in 1861, and was killed in the civil war.
At present there is one store in the village, one post and express-office, one saloon, one hotel, and one blacksmith-shop. The hill-land about Geyserville is well adapted to fruit-culture, especially to the growth of wine-grapes. It would not surprise us if the wines of that section would become famous. There is every essential in soil and climate for the growth of the best varieties of grapes, stone and seed fruits.