Collection: Books and Periodicals

About This Item:

Title: A Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California (1891) Collection Type: Books and Periodicals Publisher: Lewis Publishing Company Published: 1891 Copyright: In the public domain or published before 1925 Source(s): Google Books # of Pages: 713 Download PDF: User Login Required Download OCR Text: User Login Required

Date Scanned: 2024-07-22 00:25:09 Item Sourced From: PDF First Created: 2025-03-17 03:11:29 Last Updated: 2025-03-17 06:30:36

Original Held At: Searls Historical Library Location: 161 Nevada City Hwy, Nevada City, CA 95959

Page: of 713  

HISTORY OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. 259 value, and hence it was that lands came to be valued, even at that early day, at $50 to $75 an acre. Scarcely any irrigation was needed anywhere in the county. Nowadays, from Two Rock Valley to Bodega, once almost a continuous grain and potato field, the country is almost entirely devoted to dairying and stock-raising. In the southern end of the county grain has largely given place to the growing of hay. The upper valleys of the central portion of the county are largely de voted to grape and fruit-raising. The most marked development in this direction is noticeable from Santa Rosa northward to Cloverdale. That region begins to assume the appearance of what the whole county ought to present, namely, small holdings, with cheerful home surroundings. The railroads, although at first damaging to a few, have been of great advantage to the county, not only in pecuniary wealth but also in bringing the people into easy civilizing contact with metropolitan influences and the world generally. With the exception of the phylloxera devastation—which is now being overecome—the entire county of Sonoma has since 1870 made slow but sure progress. The introduction of fruit-canning has been a great aid. It is also claimed that the county excels all the other sections of the State in the rearing of superior horses. The county contains thirteen Methodist Episcopal churches, eight Methodist Episcopal South, two German Methodist, nine Presbyterian with one mission, six Catholic, seven Christian, three Congregational, three Baptist, three Episcopal besides two in embryo, and six miscellaneous. SANTA ROSA. This, the “City of Roses,” is well entitled to the appellation, for it certainly ranks next to San Jose and Santa Clara as a sylvan retreat. It was founded in 1853 and became the countyseat of Sonoma County in 1854. The first house built in the town was erected by John Bailiff, for Julio Carrillo. A town had already been started at what is now the junction of the Sonoma, Bodega & Russian River roads, called Franklintown, but this was svon absorbed by Santa Rosa. Among the first residents were Obe Rippeto, Jim Williamson, J. M. Case, John Ingram, Dr. Boyce, the late William Ross, J udge Temple, W. B. Atterbury, 8. G. and J. P. Clark and Charles W. White; and among the very first merchants were B. Marks, now of Ukiah, and his partner, M. Rosenberg, still residing here. The growth of Santa Rosa was slow but steady for about fifteen years, when it suddenly went forward with amazing rapidity, doubling its population in the decade between 1860 and 1870; and from that time onward its progress has been steady and substantial. In 1867 it was incorporated as a city. In 1869 it secured the location there of the Pacific Methodist College that had long been conducted at Vacaville, Solano County. In 1870 the Northern Pacific Railroad was completed to that place, a great boon; and the completion of the Santa Rosa & Carquinez Railroad to that place in 1887 has made it a fixed finality that Santa Rosa is to grow into the magnitude of one of the most populous inland cities in the State. A respectable number of manufacturing industries have sprung up there, banks established, an agricultural park, and all the essentials and accomplishments of a refining civilization. PETALUMA. The word “ Petaluma” is Indian, probably signifying duck hills or little hills. The town is situated at the head of navigation on Petaluma Creek, a tide stream that is an arm of San Pablo Ray. In 1836 General M. G. Vallejo built the first house in Petaluma Valley, a large adobe structure, now fast crumbling into ruins, In 1851 or ’52 the first move was made in the direction of platting the town and offering lots for sale. The inereasing influx of immigration warranted the success of the enterprise, and therefore the standing in fair view three miles east.