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HIST 
 NAPA 
 
 O R Y o r 
 
 COUNTY 
 
 m 
 
 OMPRISING an account of its geographical 
 position and area; the origin of its name; 
 topography, geology, springs, water courses and 
 climate; township system; early settlements, 
 with descriptions and scenes as viewed by the 
 pioneers; the Indians; the discovery of gold 
 and other minerals ; the progress of population 
 and agriculture; the Mexican grants; principal 
 homicides; incidents of settlements; elections 
 and history of its cities and towns, churches 
 and schools, secret societies, etc., etc.; as also a 
 full and particular biography of its pioneers and 
 principal inhabitants. 
 
 r i 
 
 ILLUSTRATED 
 
ENQUIRER PRINT 
 
 OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA 
 1901 
 
 /I 
 
 
 l\ 
 
 / 
 
 ,1-7^/ 
 
INTRODUCTION. 
 
 More than one year has been employed in the 
 labor incident to the appearance of this history. 
 While the task was a difficult one In many re- 
 spects, yet it is one filled with many beautiful 
 memories. The kindness of the people, their help- 
 fulness, and good cheer and the consciousness 
 that this county is filled with a noble, brave, 
 honest and prosperous people, cannot appear to 
 any one clearer than the writer, whose fortune it 
 was to visit every nook and corner of it. That its 
 pages may be helpful to all Is my earnest wish 
 and in parting I will ever pray that God's choic- 
 est blessing may be upon the people of this fav- 
 ored county. 
 
 MRS. TILLIE KANAGA. 
 
 In this volume we have employed every avail- 
 able source from which we could secure reliable 
 information, such as records, former histories, 
 personal narrative, printed matter, etc., etc. It 
 has been a great task to properly edit this work, 
 
one that required many weeks of close applica- 
 tion and hard labor. That many things were 
 omitted is true, as it was deemed inadvisable to 
 load the volume with matter that had no place in 
 the annals of the county's history. I would, 
 however, be remiss in my duty, if, in closing, no 
 mention was made of the compiler and business 
 manager, Mrs. Tillie Kanaga. To her fidelity, in- 
 telligence and zeal, is due the work of collecting 
 the scattered material which required more than 
 one year of unremitting toil — ^the hundred and 
 one things essential to its success is due to her, 
 to whom credit is now given. With no apology and 
 no regrets other than those arising from errors 
 and unavoidable omissions, this work is herewitli 
 submitted to the people of Napa county. 
 
 CAPTAIN W. F. WALLACE, 
 
 Historian. 
 
History of Napa County, 
 California. 
 
 GeograpHical Location - Area — Xopog- 
 
 rapKy — ClimatograpHy — Geology — 
 
 Derivation of Name — AiVater 
 
 Co\irses, Etc., Etc. 
 
 NAPA COUNTY 
 
 Is bounded on the north by Lake county, on the 
 east by Yolo and Solano counties, on the south 
 by Solano county and San Pablo bay, and on the 
 west by Sonoma county, and is one of the small- 
 est counties, but is highly favored by its location 
 in one of the richest sections of California. 
 
 THE AREA 
 
 Of Napa county is about eight hundred and 
 fifty square miles or five hundred thousand acres. 
 
 THE TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 So varied and frequent are the changes in the 
 topographical features of Napa county it would 
 require a volume to note them at length. We 
 find a line which marks the w^estern side of this 
 county, passes along the ridge of a chain of moun- 
 tains for the entire distance, on the east of which 
 lies the famous Napa valley, extending from San 
 Pablo bay on the south, to Mt. St Helena on tlie 
 north, and varying from one mile in width in the 
 north to five miles at the southern end. The 
 slope of this range is frequently intersected by 
 gulches, canyons, and small valleys, the only one 
 worthy of note being Brown's vallev, which is a 
 
6 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 little gem embowered in the foot of the mountain. 
 Several streams drain this range of mountains, 
 flowing into the Napa river, the principal of 
 which are Carneros, Dry and White Sulphur 
 creeks. 
 
 The lower end of Napa valley opens out fan- 
 like to a wide expanse, but is low and flat tule 
 land covered at high tide by the sea. 
 
 In the center of the Napa valley there rises a 
 hill almost approaching the dignity of a moun- 
 tain, known as the Yountville hill, the remark- 
 able feature of which is that it is equidistant 
 from the north and south ends of the valley, and 
 also from the east and west limits. 
 
 Napa valley is a little more than thirty miles in 
 length, being level and productive, is very desir- 
 able for agricultural and horticultural purposes. 
 A river of the same name flows throughout its en- 
 tire length, and is navigable from the bay to 
 Napa city. The ebb and flow of the tides being 
 from three to eight feet, serves to drain the val- 
 ley and destroy any malarial tendencies, keeping 
 the river sweet and clean. 
 
 The grand proportions of Mount St. Helena 
 stand as a protecting guardian at the head or up- 
 per end of the valley, nearly 5,000 feet high. The 
 view of the valley from a favorable point on 
 Mount St. Helena is like a glimpse into fairyland, 
 and is a delight to the eye, which remains long in 
 the memory. 
 
 On the east side of Napa valley, a chain of 
 mountains extends the entire length, which is 
 broken into but by few streams, valleys or can- 
 yons. Conn creek, about midway of the range, 
 comes down through Conn valley, presenting a 
 beautiful and picturesque aspect. Milliken and 
 Rector canyons are the only ones south of Conn 
 creek, while to the north are only gorges in the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 7 
 
 mountains. In this range of mountains there are 
 some quite high peaks — among which are Bald 
 peak, Atlas peak, Howell mountain, etc., etc. The 
 height of these peaks range from two thousand 
 to three thousand feet. This range forms a con- 
 tinuation of the Mayacamas range, the two 
 branches forming a V, with Mount St. Helena at 
 the point of union and the extremities extending 
 down the east and west sides of Napa valley. 
 
 There are three roads leading out of Napa val- 
 ley through this range of mountains, viz : the Ber- 
 ryessa valley road, through a pass near the south- 
 ern end of the range; the second to Conn valley, 
 thence up the canyon into Chiles valley, while a 
 third passes over Howell mountain; of these last 
 two there are several branches leading to the 
 same place. 
 
 Passing over the Howell mountain grade, Pope 
 valley is reached; this is a beautiful tract of quite 
 level country, extending for about ten miles in a 
 northwesterly and southeasterly direction, being 
 from one to three miles in width. In the center of 
 this valley, extending nearly the whole length of 
 it, there is a high range of hills, dividing it into 
 almost equal portions. This valley is drained by 
 Pope creek, a stream of considerable size, whose 
 waters empty into Putah creek, from thence into 
 the bay of San Pablo. 
 
 Passing over a low divide to the south of Pope 
 valley, we come to Chiles valley, which is six 
 miles long and about one to three miles in width; 
 a beautiful and fertile spot, the upper end of 
 which is drained by Conn creek, while the waters 
 of the lower end empty into Putah creek. 
 
 Pope and Chiles valleys are separated by a 
 high range of mountains on their eastern side 
 from Berryessa valley. 
 
 Capelle valley is truly a lovely gem, and is 
 
8 NAPA COUNTY, 
 
 f 
 
 found by taking the road from Napa to Monti- 
 cello; its size is small, being bounded by a moun- 
 tain fringe. 
 
 Farther on, the mountains spread apart and 
 thus form the broad expanse known as Berry - 
 essa valley, the second in size in Napa county. 
 This valley is about ten miles long and from one 
 to three miles wide, a rich and beautiful land. 
 It is drained by the Putah creek, which here be- 
 comes almost a river of swift flowing waters, es- 
 pecially during the winter rains. The area of the 
 watershed tributary to this stream is large as 
 well as precipitous, so that in a short time after 
 a rain storm has begun, the stream is at flood 
 height and rushing with a wonderful velocity 
 down the creek to the plains below. 
 
 At the head of Berryessa valley is a narrow de- 
 file in the mountains which extends to Knoxville, 
 thence over a low divide to Lake county. Down 
 this canyon there is a rapid mountain stream, 
 carrying a large amount of water during the 
 winter season, emptying into Putah creek. 
 
 On the east of Berryessa valley is the abrupt 
 range of the Blue Ridge, which rises to a great 
 height, and forms the boundary line between 
 Napa and Yolo counties, presenting an unbroken 
 feurface for the whole distance, from the northern 
 boundary of the former to the southern line of 
 the latter, at which point Putah creek passes 
 through a very narrow canyon which is named 
 after the creek. 
 
 Thus, we have, in a hasty manner, laid before 
 the reader a comprehensive plan of the principal 
 topograpliical features of this county, wliich, 
 however, will be supplemented by a further de- 
 scription under tlie head of Townships. 
 
 There are but two systems of drainage in this 
 county ;one, that of the Napa river and its tribu- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 9 
 
 taries and the other Putah creek and its tribu- 
 taries. These two streams have to carry to the 
 sea all the vast amount of water which falls upon 
 nearly one thousand square miles of territory, 
 the most of which is mountainous, and hence the 
 w^ater is precipitated quickly into these outlets. 
 Consider for a moment what a volume of water 
 falls upon this area during any of the heavy 
 storms of the winter season, when, as frequently 
 is the case, more than four inches may have 
 
 fallen. 
 
 GEOLOGY. 
 
 There is no more interesting a field in the State 
 of California for the student of geology, than this 
 county of Napa. The changes of the geological 
 aspect of the country, in passing from one section 
 to another, are very marked and remarkable. The 
 rocks of the Silurian period are frequently found 
 adjacent to those of the Tertiary, while boulders 
 of lava and those formed of fossils are found to- 
 gether. The mixed feature is shown in the soil 
 which is also frequently spotted, which means 
 that it is made up of two or more different kinds 
 of soil, such as adobe with sandy loam and again 
 argillaceous soil, many examples of which may 
 be found in Pope valley. 
 
 The evidence that volcanic action has been a 
 great factor in shaping the surface of this county 
 is given by the large number of extinct craters, 
 as well as large deposits of lava, ashes, scoria, 
 etc. Wherever one may travel in Napa county, 
 on every hand will be seen the evidences of vol- 
 canic action. These evidences are not uniform in 
 any aspect, for in several different places may 
 be found the rocks of recent formation near by 
 those which were formed in the earliest period 
 of the world's existence. 
 
 If we glance over the county for evidence of 
 
10 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the action of fire and what work it has ac- 
 complished, we will find at the south end of the 
 western slope of the mountains which fringe the 
 eastern side of Napa valley, the rocks all are of 
 volcanic formation, especially in the neighbor- 
 hood of the Insane Asylum, the boulders are 
 chiefly composed of honey-combed lava, which, 
 V hen broken, presents all grades of material 
 from the most compact, to loosely united particles 
 and ranging from black to white in color. In the 
 mountain back of the Asylum, there is a bed of 
 lava rock, considerable of which was used in the 
 construction of the Asylum. 
 
 Farther north, to where the road crosses over 
 the range to Berryessa, are extensive beds of 
 ashes which have hardened into a porous rock, 
 all of which are very interesting to a student of 
 geology. 
 
 . A feature which is considered remarkable 
 about these rocks is that they present such a sim- 
 ilarity to rocks of an aqueous formation as to al- 
 most deceive the student, and to the casual ob- 
 server would readily be taken for rocks of a water 
 foi'mation. 
 
 There are indications of petroleum in this vi- 
 cinity, which would lead one to think that the 
 substrata was sandstone of the early cretaceous 
 period, but tlie strata has been so warped and 
 twisted by the subsequent uplieaval of the moun- 
 tains, into all manner of shapes, it is difficult to 
 say with any degree of surety. There is a bluff 
 of lava just north of the Soda Springs, on the 
 un<ler side of which the action of the water has 
 washed out a sort of a cavity which exposes the 
 formation upon wliich it rests, and which is found 
 to be a. metamorphic stratified stone of ancient 
 formation. 
 
 It is no uncommon thino- to see the lava rocks 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 11 
 
 SO regularly and evenly stratified and separated 
 perpendicularly, by suture caused by shrinking 
 in cooling, that they present the appearance of 
 building stone, shaped by human intelligence for 
 a special purpose. This lava does not contain 
 much of basalt or trap and is soft; is frequently 
 found to be the best of building material. 
 
 Farther to the north along the west side of the 
 range, we find that the surface rock is all of a 'ol- 
 canic formation, even to the very top of Mount 
 St. Helena. Lava deposited in strata so evenly 
 and undisturbed as to cause doubt to its identity, 
 is to be seen on Howell mountain. This is found 
 to be a soft, grayish lava and the deposit is re- 
 markable for its evenness and regularity. 
 
 North of Calistoga, a spur of the mountain puts 
 out well into the valley. At this point begins the 
 mineral belt of Napa county. 
 
 At one time the mineral deposits of this county 
 were supposed to be very rich, and it may be so 
 until this day, but those who endeavored to ob- 
 tain wealth from this source, have, to a large de- 
 gree, turned their attention to other fields. 
 
 When the volcanoes of this section were active, 
 seams, dikes and rifts were left in the rocks, 
 which were then exposed to the surface. In the 
 lapse of time these spaces were filled up \vith 
 silica, which crystalized into beautiful quartz, 
 the most extensive ledge of which is that known 
 as the Silverado, which is situated nearly on top 
 of Mount St. Helena, on the south side. The vein 
 was about thirty feet wide, extending entirely 
 across the spur of the mountain, having a dip of 
 about thirty degrees. This quartz was very lust- 
 rous, sparkling like real diamonds in the sun- 
 shine, but it was very porous, perhaps from the 
 fact a great amount of gas was imprisoned in the 
 silica at the time of its deposit. This quartz had 
 
12 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 nianj' shades of color, which added much to its 
 beauty, the colors ranging through shades of 
 black, green, yellow and red. The black coloring- 
 was caused by the chlorides of silver, the red and 
 yellow to the oxide of iron, all of which was re- 
 markable and a great attraction owing to its 
 beauty and also interest to the student of 
 geology. 
 
 That St. Helena Mountain has, at some time, 
 been an active volcano, there is no doubt. Intel- 
 ligent observation leads one to conclude that the 
 whole range skirting the eastern side of Napa 
 valley, has, at some past time, been a series of ac- 
 tive volcanoes, which fact is proven by the univer- 
 sal flow of the lava from the top of the ridge to 
 the bottom, which is still plainly visible. That 
 there are no traces of the craters from whence this 
 lava flowed is explained by the lapse of time since 
 these volcanoes were in a state of activity, during 
 which the accumulated debris of the mountain 
 top filled up the small cavity which was left 
 when the force of the energy was only suflftcieut 
 to raise the lava to the surface, so that in the 
 course of time, the mountain top from which 
 great rivers of lava flowed, presents only the or- 
 dinary mountain crest. 
 
 What long ages have passed since this lava 
 flowed down the mountain-side, is illustrated by 
 two prominent circumstances which we will not?. 
 First, is the petrified forest, which has been over- 
 run and buried by an overflow from some volcano, 
 }>orhaps INIount St. Helena. That it might have 
 been about the last of its eruptions is not improb- 
 able, as many of the trees lie exposed upon the 
 surface of the ground. Still ample time has 
 passed since that, for them to become solid stone. 
 Truly, "the mills of the gods grind slowly," and 
 a thousand years are as a day with nature's 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 13 
 
 plans. All of which has to be considered when 
 geological phenomena are accounted for. 
 
 The other grand agent in changing and modi- 
 fying the surface of the earth is water, and we 
 will give some idea of the importance and activ- 
 ity of this factor. Improbable as it may seem, 
 the falling of the rain upon the rocks of the 
 mountain-sides continually wears them away, 
 changing them much in appearance and size, hj 
 reason of the carbonic acid,- it becomes charged 
 with, while falling, which is able to decompose 
 many kinds of rock. 
 
 Frost is a powerful agent. Water finds its way 
 into the fissures of the rocks, where it freezes and 
 bursts them asunder, often sending the fragments 
 headlong into the valley below, where they are 
 taken up by the torrents of mountain streams, 
 eventually finding their way to the river bed as 
 smooth and nicely rounded boulders. 
 
 On top of St. Helena there is a great pile of 
 broken fragments of stone, which very much re- 
 sembles the dump pile of a mine, which has been 
 formed by this agency alone. Springs produce 
 rapid and remarkable changes. Everyone is fam- 
 iliar with the sediment that is deposited by the 
 mineral springs in Napa and Lake counties. The 
 heaviest deposit made by any springs in these 
 two counties is to be seen at the soda springs 
 on the ranch of Messrs. Priest. There a plateau 
 of over an acre has been formed, varying in depth 
 from a few feet to fifty, for the distance of over a 
 mile. 
 
 Rivers cut channels in the superficial accum- 
 ulations, and through the solid rocks, and trans- 
 port loose material to the valleys below, and into 
 the water basins. Every mountain brook, during 
 the flood seasons, bears with it much of the sub- 
 stance along its banks down into the streams of 
 
14 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the valleys and they in turn take it up and bear it 
 to the rivers which finally dump it into the bay. 
 
 All that section of country now designated as 
 "tule lands," embraced in Sherman, Union, And- 
 rus, Staten, Grand, Schoolcraft, and Brannon Is- 
 lands, was once covered by deep water, and it has 
 only been raised to its present altitude by long, 
 continuous depositions of sediment by the 
 streams which empty into it. Of these Cache 
 and Putah creeks have played no small part, and 
 much of the matter that is now lying in the sub- 
 stratums of Schoolcraft Island were once a por- 
 tion of the mountains of Napa county. We find 
 an excellent example in the Napa river. All the 
 tule land that lies between the city and the bay 
 was once a handsome sheet of water. 
 
 Waves produce geological changes, and the 
 traces of their action may be seen on the western 
 slope of the range to the east of Napa valley. In 
 many places small caves have been hollowed out, 
 and at one place near the Crystal Springs Hotel, 
 northeast of the town of St. Helena a few miles, 
 there is a cave over eighty feet in length, in a 
 stratum of clay and shale. Along the present 
 shore of the Pacific many such places can be 
 found and are designated by the term "blow 
 holes." 
 
 Metals are only found in Napa county in the 
 form of veins intersecting rocks or disseminated 
 through them in grains and crystals. The miner- 
 als of Napa county are not of any great value, 
 nor are many engaged in mining. In fact the 
 convulsions and cataclysms of nature have been 
 such that the entire mineral belt is broken up and 
 shattered, so that boring for oil is extra haz- 
 ardous for those who w^ould risk their money in 
 such a speculation. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 15 
 
 TIMBER OF NAPA COUNTY 
 
 Is of no value as a lumber factor to-day, as 
 what there were has all been logged off and the 
 balance is only suitable for firewood. The shade 
 trees planted and cultivated around the resi- 
 dences of the citizens are beautiful and much ad- 
 mired. 
 
 SOILS. 
 
 The soils of Napa county may be divided into 
 five classes, viz: argillaceous, adobe, loam, lava 
 and tule. The first named is the result of the de- 
 composition of sandstones and shales. Ordinary 
 it is not very productive, but is good for grasses 
 and cereals, as much silica is required for the 
 production of straw. Thus it will be noticed that 
 Berryessa and Chiles valleys are pre-eminently 
 adapted to the growing of grain, and it is owing 
 to this quality of soil. The soil that we now find 
 on the surface of the country is but the result of 
 the decomposition of the underlying rocks. 
 - Adobe soil is found in limestone sections and is 
 found in Napa county in Berryessa valley on the 
 west side of Putah creek, in spots all over (Whiles 
 and Pope valleys, also in Browns valley and near 
 the foot of St. Helena. It is a stiff, cold and dis- 
 agreeable soil, hard to work. In the winter,, 
 when wet, it is tenacious, and sticks to a plow- 
 share so as to make the farmer despair, while in 
 summer it is full of yawning cracks, too wide for 
 comfort. Cereals thrive upon it, but it will be 
 noticed that the straw is always short, but the 
 berry is always plump and full. 
 
 Loam is the best of soils and is found in the 
 beautiful Napa valley. It is composed of the sed- 
 imentary deposit which is washed down from the 
 mountains, and is a rich, alluvium and is much 
 sought after by the agriculturist. 
 
If. NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Tiile soil is composed of decaying vegetation, 
 roots, sediment, guano and all else which may 
 have been borne down upon the waters. This soil 
 is found from Napa city southward, and along 
 the margin of the bay. It is rich and productive, 
 when not charged with too large a proportion of 
 salt which is often the case from the overflow of 
 the tides of the bay. 
 
 Lava soil is produced by the decomposition of 
 lava and other volcanic products and is generally 
 of a red color from the oxide of iron, or white 
 from ash, or green from decomposed serpentine, 
 jt is claimed that it is superior for the growth of 
 the grape vine. 
 
 WATER COURSES. 
 
 Napa river — This stream rises at the head of 
 Napa valley, at the western foot of Mount St. 
 Helena, and flows in a southeastern course and 
 empties into Napa bay, an arm of the bay of San 
 Pablo. It is navigable as far up as Napa city, at 
 which point the rise and fall of the tide is about 
 five feet. This is the outlet for all the drainage 
 of the western portion of the county, and large 
 amounts of water are discharged by it in a short 
 time after a heavy storm. 
 
 White Sulphur creek rises in the mountains 
 west of the town of St. Helena and flows easterly 
 into the Napa river. 
 
 Conn creek— This stream rises in Chiles valley 
 and flowing westerly through Conn valley, emp- 
 ties into Napa river. It is a small creek but dis- 
 charges quite a large quantity of water. 
 
 Dry creek rises in the mountains west of 
 Yountville, and as its name indicates, is almost 
 dry in the summer. It empties into Napa river. 
 
 Saco creek is a small stream rising in the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. IT 
 
 mountains east of Napa Soda Springs, liows 
 southeasterly into Napa river. 
 
 Napa creek rises in the mountains northeast of 
 Napa city and empties into the river at Napa 
 city. It carries a large body of water and the 
 city suffers most from its overflow in the stormy 
 season. 
 
 Soscol creek has its source in the mountains 
 east of Thompson's place, flowing westerly, dis- 
 charges into Napa river. 
 
 Carneros creek— This is the last stream that 
 empties into the Napa river. It rises in the range 
 of mountains west of Napa city. 
 
 Rector creek rises in the mountains northeast 
 of Yountville, flows in a westerly direction into 
 Conn creek. 
 
 Putah creek has its source in the summits of 
 Mounts Cobb and St. Helena in Lake county, 
 flows southerly through Berryessa valley, then, 
 turning easterly passes through Putah canyon to 
 the plains of Solano county, where it empties into 
 the Sacramento river. In the winter season it is 
 a wild and fearful mountain torrent, assuming 
 the proportions of a river. 
 
 A few other creeks, valuable as drains to the 
 locality, are the remainder of Napa county's water 
 courses. 
 
 CLIMATOGRAPHY. 
 
 It seems somewhat a difficult task to describe 
 all the beauties of the climate in Na^a county as 
 it has so much to recommend it to humanity in 
 all of its phases. Of course on this mundane 
 sphere— Eden no longer exists— and some defects 
 can be found by the captious in even the climate 
 of Napa county. But the fact that large numbers 
 of wealthy citizens, who are at liberty to choose 
 from all the attractive places far and near where- 
 
18 NAPA COUNTY, 
 
 in to pass their holidays, who choose the health 
 giving resorts of Napa county in preference to all 
 other, should have a certain weight. In the 
 jnonth of November the rains of winter begin 
 and frosts may be expected but are not common. 
 The vegetation springs into a newness of life so 
 that the entire face of the county assumes an 
 emerald hue, presenting a prospect unexcelled 
 anywhere. Then comes days of storm and dreari- 
 ness, then days of sunshine and beauty, inter- 
 spersed with each other, until spring-time comes. 
 At last the days of sunshine are in the majority, 
 and the flowers and buds begin to open about the 
 first of April, and as the sun grows stronger, na- 
 ture manifests greater activity, until the trees 
 are full of bloom and promise of the fruitage to 
 come later. Then early summer begins the most 
 delightful days of all the year. Days of royal 
 splendor to Napa valley, with a profusion of fruit 
 and flower which make a picture to delight the 
 eye and inspire the soul of those whose lots are 
 cast in such a blooming Eden. The long summer 
 days are now upon us, the warmth of the sun is 
 just what it should be, to ripen the harvest and 
 mature the fruit. The daily breeze from the bay 
 tempers the heat to a refreshing degree, while 
 the nights are rightly described as harbingers of 
 rest. The boats and trains come laden daily with 
 the holiday visitors who disperse among the 
 mountain resorts to enjoy a relaxation from the 
 business grind of a city life. 
 
 Then comes autumn, field and orchard loaded 
 with a goodly harvest to repay the care and toil 
 of the farmers. 
 
 No melancholy day comes here in the fall, all 
 is pleasant as the sun gradually tends southward 
 and the days grow shorter, up until the storm 
 season arrives. What more could one ask in this 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 19 
 
 life than a home under such delightful auspices. 
 Yet, while there are some shadows on the picture, 
 it is necessary it should be so, for were it other- 
 wise we could not comprehend the advantages 
 we enjo}^ But all in all the lights are far in the 
 ascendency of the shadows at the end of the year, 
 When a retrospect is had, the latter pass into 
 such utter insignificance that they are lost sight 
 of altogether. 
 
 DERIVATION OF NAPA. 
 
 The word Napa is of Indian origin and was ap- 
 plied to a village, or in fact a collection of any- 
 thing where it embodied the idea of numbers. 
 Thus, Hoo La Nappo signifies white village. Ha 
 be Nappo, rocky village, and Kai-Nappo, wood o:* 
 wooden village or wooden town, as known to the 
 Anglo-Saxon of this day. The once famous tribe 
 that lived in this beautiful valley known as the 
 Pomo are gone, and the white man's farm now 
 occupies the site where Indian tepees once stood. 
 Their descendants, however, are to be found in 
 large numbers in Lake county, and not a few are 
 to be found in Mendocino, Humboldt and Shasta 
 counties. In proof of this assertion we cite the 
 fact that many Indian words once used in and 
 extant only in Napa county, are entwined in the 
 vocabulary of the tribes now living in the four 
 counties above named, but are not met with to 
 any extent in any other part of the country, or 
 among any tribe of Indians. It is also a histor- 
 ical fact, known among these people that when 
 driven from Napa county by the white settlers, 
 the copper colored sons of nature moved north 
 and pursued the chase in the thickly wooded 
 counties herein named. In early days the Indians 
 had much to say about the vast army of fish that 
 occupied the waters of Napa county and espec- 
 
20 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ially the hordes of salmon that filled the Napa 
 river, being as plentiful then as they are now in 
 similar rivers in Alaska. As a result the Indians, 
 in large numbers, collected in the vicinity of the 
 salt water river of the Napa valley, where they 
 could easily secure a ready supply of fish which 
 is well known to be their favorite article of food. 
 Here was applied the name Fish village, or Fish 
 town, or (Nappo) village or large collection to 
 indicate numbers or quantity. Hence the name 
 Napa sprang into life, and is changed to the ex- 
 tent only of putting an a where the o once held 
 its sway, and for probable economy in time, our 
 energetic ancestors probably dropped one of the 
 to them useless "p's" and, up from the verbage 
 of the Indian Nappo we have the purified Eng- 
 lish-American "Napa." 
 
 INDIANS OF NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 In 1829 Kit Carson, the famous hunter, visited 
 California on a hunting expedition and traversed 
 its borders and explored its rich lands, camped 
 in its lovely valleys, and from interviews pub- 
 lished by him at the time we are told that this 
 country was thickly populated, with bands of 
 roaming Indians. Many of the interior tribes 
 were continually at war, but as the coast was ap- 
 proached the tribes that then inhabited its border 
 were for the most part orderly and inclined to 
 live at peace. This inclination of the coast In- 
 dians to indolence and indifference to encroach- 
 ment was, in the main, due to the mildness of the 
 climate and the ease with which they could 
 secure a living. Their diet consisted of crabs, 
 oysters, clams, fish and venison, any one of which 
 was procured with but very little effort. In the 
 colder and northwestern portion of the State, 
 where these children of nature were ruthlessly 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 21 
 
 pinched between the sharp extremes of heat and 
 cold, and where they were often hungry and for 
 days without food, their tempers became ruftled, 
 their look vicious and minds sullen and fretful. 
 Here art, shrewdness, cunning and deceit ruled 
 their feverish passion and when occasion called 
 for it they fought with the courage of brave men, 
 but in war as in peace, they were sour and un- 
 sociable, and but little reliance could be placed 
 on their word in counsel or under a flag of truce, 
 as witnessed by their conduct in the Modoc war 
 in S. E. Oregon and N. E. California, when Gen- 
 eral Canby was killed. 
 
 It is presumed by historians that a pestilence of 
 some character visited the country between 1830 
 and 1850, as Carson, who again visited this coun- 
 try in 1859 tells us that there were at the latter 
 date hundreds, where on his former visit thous- 
 ands of Indians were dwelling within the confines 
 of this State. The character of the early Indian 
 was typical of his race. Small in stature, flat 
 head, dark copper-colored, swarthy, long black 
 hair and beardless. They were deficient in the 
 courage and intrepidity of the Sioux and on the 
 other hand never descended to the low, shirking, 
 villainous life that marked the true Digger In- 
 dian. 
 
 The Napa Indians, with few exceptions, were 
 migratory in nature and seldom remained long 
 in one place, but the tribe that was among us 
 when the gold seekers came were the start toward 
 settlement. This condition was forced on 
 them by the country being blocked and taken up 
 by white settlers. No adequate estimate can be 
 made of their numbers, but in later years we have 
 a better idea of the cloud of dark swarthy people 
 that once lived in beautiful Napa county. George 
 C. Yount savs that in 1831 there were at least 
 
2a NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 3,000 Indians within , the boundaries of this 
 county. As late as 1856 they made the night ring 
 with their revelry in and around Napa city and 
 when they could secure the means to buy whisky 
 got deadly drunk. Both men and women were 
 addicted to this habit. During Sundays and on 
 Indian festive days, they came on the streets of 
 Napa city in great numbers. While a few of the 
 tribe remained at the tepee the remaining con- 
 tingent roamed the streets, back alleys and into 
 back yards picking up refuse scraps, tin cans, old 
 shoes and cast off clothing, etc. During the 
 winter season they perched themselves on the 
 south side of the accessible houses and there slept 
 or basked in the sunshine undisturbed by either 
 dog or man. 
 
 In 1845 these wanderers commenced to linger 
 around the large rancherias where they could in- 
 dulge their limited desire for work, when it was 
 offered them. On the Caymus rancho lived be- 
 tween four and five hundred. Nearly six hundred 
 on Salvador rancho, over one thousand at Soscol, 
 while Bale, ITiguero, Juarez and other ranchos 
 were lined about with numbers that run into the 
 hundreds. 
 
 About 1840, the Mayacomas tribe dwelt near 
 Calistoga. The Napa Indians dwelt on the land 
 between Napa river and Napa creek. The word 
 Napa in the Indian vernacular is said to signify 
 fish. The old settlers bear out this statement 
 which is supported by the fact that in the 
 northern tribes, many of Avhom are yet found in 
 Siskiyou and Humboldt counties, the word Napa 
 is yet used to signify fish. 
 
 The Soscol tribe resided on the Soscol grant, 
 and here they lived in large numbers, and in early 
 days was the scene of marked social activity. In 
 examining the many volumes of history devoted 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 23 
 
 to early times, we found several books in Eastern 
 libraries, and two volumes written by an English- 
 man named Kelly, all of which, though not 
 known, and probably never read in this county, 
 yet are full of fact, incident and description of 
 early life in Napa county, as well as other por- 
 tions of the Golden State. 
 
 DIGGER INDIANS. 
 
 Many writers give to the California Indian the 
 name of Diggers, but this is an injustice, as the 
 element deserving that name always swarmed 
 thick along the east coast of the Sierras in 
 Nevada, while it is true that many of them 
 pressed over the western slopes of that great 
 range. "But the early tribes, while in many re- 
 spects were far below the average Indian, yet it 
 is equally true that they have not stained the 
 annals of this State with pages of crime and 
 war, with sidelights of murder, scalping, thievery 
 and lawlessness." 
 
 They are gone, and in their place is the white 
 man, with only here and there a lone brother or 
 sister who must know that in a few more years 
 the last trace of this once powerful people will 
 have perished from the earth and not even a stone 
 or monument will mark their last resting place. 
 
 Let it not be forgotten that the hillsides of 
 Napa county are mellowed with the ashes of her 
 early children, and we should not dismiss their 
 memory as unworthy of history, or remembrance. 
 They were rude, uncouth, uneducated and in the 
 battle of books fell before the sickle of the civiliz- 
 er. But they loved and hated, trusted and tleceiv- 
 ed, toiled, struggled, hoped as we do. They saw the 
 stream of time strewn with the wrecks of their 
 fondest treasures. They worshiped the same God 
 though in nature's roofless temple, in a wa}' that 
 
24 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 I 
 
 we know not of save that in all of mystery they 
 behold their Cod. Kneeling at the foot of the 
 telegraph poles, worshiping the sound of the 
 wires when trilled by the winds, so 
 back of all their coarse features and rough 
 clothes, was a desire to kneel before the cross 
 and worship Him who spoke as never man did 
 speak. In conversing with some of the oldest In- 
 dian settlers in the north part of our State, the 
 writer learned many incidents that were full of 
 human interest, and no one in all this land is 
 more alive to their helpless condition and social 
 ostracism than they are, and upon every head is 
 felt the heavy hand of authority, which is none 
 the less hard, even though it is made by the 
 humblest white man that sits begging at our 
 gates. 
 
 MEXICAN GRANTS. 
 THE CAYMUS GRANT. 
 The first grant of land ever made by the Mexican 
 government, in what is known as Napa county, 
 was made to that great pioneer of 1831, George 
 0. Yount. He was the first white man to live in 
 Napa county and the first whose foot had pressed 
 the virgin soil of this lovely valley. This grant 
 comprised two square leagues, situated in the 
 heart of the valley, just east of where Yountville 
 now stands, and was granted by Nicolas Gutier 
 rez, March 23d, 1836, and was confirmed by the 
 Board of Land Commissioners, February' 8th 
 1853, and the United States (N)urts in 1855. 
 This grant contained eleven thousand, eight hun- 
 dred and fourteen and fifty-two one-hundredth 
 acres. 
 
 THE ENTRE NAPA RANCHO. 
 
 This tract of land lay where Napa city now 
 stands, and the grant was ceded to Nicolas Hi- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 25 
 
 guerra by Manuel Chico, May 9tli, 1836. The 
 claim to eighty and forty-eight-hundredths acres 
 of this grant was made before the Board of Land 
 Commissioners by Nathan Coombs, March 3d, 
 
 1853, and that body confirmed his title April 11th, 
 
 1854, and was confirmed by the United States 
 Courts, March 2d, 1857. 
 
 RANCHO EL RINCON DE LOS CARNEROS. 
 
 This tract of land lay to the westward of Napa 
 city, and came up to where a portion of the city 
 now^ stands. This was a part of the Entre Napa 
 Rancho and was ceded by the same authority to 
 the same person, but the claim to this part was 
 filed before the Board of Land Commissioners by 
 Julius Martin, September 4th, 1852, and was re- 
 jected by the Board, September 19th, 1854. The 
 decree of the Board was reversed September 2d, 
 
 1856. This is a part of the Entre Napa Rancho, 
 and was bounded on the east by the Napa river, 
 on the west by the Arroyo de los Carneros. The 
 Court confirmed the title to this grant May ^oth, 
 
 1857, and it contains two thousand, five hundred 
 and fifty-seven and sixty-eight-hundredths acres. 
 
 THE NAPA RANCHO. 
 
 Salvador Vallejo and his wife Maria de la Luz 
 Carrillo Vallejo, filed their claim before the 
 Board of Land Commissioners, March 3d, 1853, 
 for a title to the tracts of land known as Francas 
 and Jolapa, containing three thousand and twen- 
 ty acres, more or less, being a part of the Napa 
 Rancho, granted to Salvador Vallejo, February 
 21st, 1838, by Juan B. Alvarado, Governor ad in- 
 terim of Upper California, and approved by the 
 Departmental Assembly September 23d, 1838. 
 The claim was confirmed by the Board, November 
 7th, 1854, and confirmed by the Court February 
 
2C NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 23d, 1857. Mrs. A^allejo's interest in this grant 
 was conveyed to her by Narciso Eamires, May 
 12th, 1851, and it covered three thousand, one 
 hundred and seventy-eight and ninety-three-hun- 
 dredths acres. 
 
 JULIUS K. ROSE. 
 
 Julius K. Eose filed a claim before the Board 
 of Land Commissioners, March 2d, 1853, for five 
 hundred and ninety-four and eight^^-three-hun- 
 dredths acres of the Napa Eancho. His claim 
 was confirmed by the Board, December 13th, 
 1853, and the title confirmed by the Court, March 
 2d, 1857. It contained three hundred and twen- 
 ty and fifty-five-hundredths acres. 
 
 THE YAJOME. 
 
 This tract of land was granted to Damaso An- 
 tonio Eodriguez, March 16th, 1841, by Juan B. 
 Alvarado, then Constitutional Governor of the 
 Department of California, and approved by the 
 Departmental Assembly, May 18th, 1841. Claim 
 to this land w^as filed by Salvador Vallejo before 
 the Board of Land Commissioners, April 20th, 
 
 1852, and the Board confirmed it February 21st, 
 
 1853. The Court confirmed title to it February 
 9th, 1857. It contained one and a half leagues or 
 six thousand, six hundred and fifty-eight-h in- 
 dredths acres. 
 
 THE LOCOALLOMI EANCHO. 
 
 This grant was made to Julien Pope, Septem- 
 ber 30th, 1841, by Manuel Jimeno, Acting Gover- 
 nor of California and embraced two leagues, or 
 eight thousand, eight hundred and seventy-two 
 and seventy-three-hundredths acres. The heirs of 
 Pope filed their claim to the grant before the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 2Z 
 
 Board of Land Commissioners, March 2d, 1853, 
 and on August 1st, 1854, the Board confirmed 
 their title to it. The Court also confirmed the 
 same on August 25th, 1856. This land was locat- 
 ed in what is now known as Pope valley. 
 
 THE TULUCAY EANCHO. 
 
 This tract of land lies east of Napa city, and 
 was granted to Cayetano Juarez by Manuel Jim- 
 eno, October 26th, 1841, and approved by the De- 
 partmental Assembly, June 16th, 1845. The 
 claim to this land was filed with the Board of 
 Land Commissioners, March 23d, 1852 and con- 
 firmed by the Board, April 11th, 1853, and the 
 Court, February 25th, 1856. The rancho contain- 
 ed two leagues, or eight thousand, eight hundred 
 and sixty-five and fifty-eight-hundredths acres. 
 
 KANCHO MALLACOMES, OR MURISTULY 
 PLAN DE AQUA CALIENTE. 
 
 This was a four league grant, which was made 
 to Jose Santos Berryessa, October 14th, 1843, by 
 Manuel Micheltoreno. The claim to the tract was 
 filed before the Board of Land Commissioners, 
 February 20th, 1852, and was confirmed by them 
 June 27th, 1854, and by the Courts, March 24thj 
 1856. This rancho contained seventeen thousaud, 
 seven hundred and forty-two and seventy -two-hun- 
 dredths acres, and was situated at the head of 
 Napa valley aud included the jDresent site of Cal- 
 
 istoga. 
 
 RANCHO DE LA JOTE. 
 
 This grant of land was made by Manuel Mich- 
 eltoreno to George C. Yount, October 23d, 1843, 
 said grant to be one square league of land situat- 
 ed in Napa valley. April 5th, 1852, he filed his 
 petition with the Board of Land Commissioners. 
 
28 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 October 21st, 1853, the Board rejected the claim. 
 The claimant took an appeal before the District 
 Court of the United States for the Northern Dis- 
 trict of California, for hearing, and it was ordered 
 that the decree of the Land Commissioners be re- 
 versed and that the claimant be given a valid title 
 to one league and no more. This contained four 
 thousand and four hundred and fifty-three and 
 eighty-four-hundredths acres. 
 
 LAS PUTAS RANCHO. 
 
 This enormous grant of land, comprising eight 
 leagues or thirty-five thousand, five hundred and 
 fifteen and eighty-two-hundredths acres, is situat- 
 ed in and covers the most of Berry essa valley. It 
 was granted to Jose Jesus Berryessa and Sisto 
 Berryessa by Manuel Micheltoreno, November 
 3d, 1843. The wives of the grantees, Maria Anas- 
 tasia Higuerra de Berryessa and Maria Nicolosa 
 Uiguerra de Berryessa as claimants, filed their 
 petition before the Board of Land Commissioners 
 May 21st, 1852. Their claim was confirmed by the 
 Board, September 6th, 1854 and by the Courts, 
 August ]3th, 185.5. 
 
 THE HUICHICA RANCHO. 
 
 This grant was made to Jacob P. Leese in two 
 parcels, as follows: First, for two leagues of land 
 issued by Manuel Jimeno, October 24th, 1841; 
 second, for three and one-half leagues additional, 
 issued by Manuel Micheltoreno, July 6th, 1846. 
 The title was confirmed by the Board of Land 
 Comiiiissionors, A])ril 18tli, 1853, and by the 
 Court, April 22d, 1856. It contained eighteen 
 thousand, seven hundred and four and four-hun- 
 dredths acres and was situated to the southwest 
 of Napa city. 
 
GEORGE G. YOUNT, 
 
 Pioneer. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 29 
 
 THE CATACULA RANCHO. 
 
 Is located in Chiles valley, and was granted to 
 Colonel J. B. Chiles, by Manuel Michel toreno, Xo- 
 vember 9th, 1844; filed, April 21st, 1852, and con- 
 firmed November 4th, 1853, and was confirmed by 
 the Court, August 13th, 1855. It comprised two 
 leagues, or eight thousand, five hundred and fifty- 
 five and seventy-two-hundredths acres. 
 
 THE CHIMILES RANCHO. 
 
 This grant was made to Ygnacio Berryessa by 
 Pio Pico, May 2d, 1842. William Gordon and 
 Nathan Coombs as claimants filed their petition 
 before the Board of Land Commissioners, April 
 28th, 1852, and the claim was confirmed Anril 
 11th, 1853; confirmed by the Court, July 27 :h, 
 1857. It comprised four leagues, or seventeen 
 thousand, seven hundred and sixty-two and foi*ty- 
 four hundredths acres. 
 
 THE CAYNE HUMANA RANCHO. 
 
 This tract of land comprised the whole of Napa 
 valley lying north of the Caymus Rancho, and was 
 granted to Dr. E. T. Bale. It has gone through all 
 the legal processes and a patent has been granted. 
 
 GENERAL HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT. 
 
 George C. Yount, an American, was the first 
 settler in Napa county. He arrived in February, 
 1831. He had as a guide a 3'oung man by the name 
 of Guy F. Flynn, who afterwards became a settler 
 in this county, but at what date is unknown. But 
 it seems to be a fact that Flynn visited Napa 
 county in 1825, and obtained the knowledge of the 
 country that enabled him to act as a guide to Mr. 
 Yount. It is also known that Flynn did revisit 
 this valley and locate permanently, for in 1872 he 
 
^0 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 (lied in a little old house among the Indians near 
 yn\ni city. Mr. Yount followed trapping and 
 hunting for a time and in 1836 he built the first 
 log house ever erected in California by an Amer- 
 ican. It was eighteen feet square below, with an 
 upper story twenty-two feet square, in which 
 there were port-holes, through which to defend 
 himself from the Indians, with which the valley 
 fairly swarmed. He obtained the grant to the 
 Caymus rancho and lived there until his death, 
 which occurred on October 5th, 1865. 
 
 Next in order comes Don Cayetano Juarez, wlio 
 came into the valley as a permanent settler in 1840 
 although he had stock in the valley as early as 
 1837. In 1840 he built a small adobe house on 
 Tulucay rancho and brought his family from So- 
 noma. 
 
 Nicolas Higuerra, sometimes called Jose Hi- 
 guerra, who came in and settled on the banks of 
 Napa creek, about one half mile from its mouth. 
 Here he built a wicker house, which he plastered 
 Avith mud on the outside and covered witli a 
 ihatch of tule grass, here he raised a large family, 
 two daughters of which were married b}^ the Ber- 
 ryessas of the valley of that name. 
 
 In 1839, Dr. E. T. Bale, an Englishman, obtain- 
 ed a grant to the Oorne Humana rancho, and set- 
 tled there. He married a sister of General Val- 
 lejo and lived on his immense estate, which in- 
 cluded all of Napa valley north of Caymus 
 rancho, until his death in 1850. 
 
 Salvador Vallejo, on September 21st, 1838, ob- 
 tained a grant to the Napa rancho, and subse- 
 ((uently erected a large adobe house, northwest of 
 Napa, some three miles, but his home was in 
 Sonoma. 
 
 In 1843, Jose Jesus and Sisto Berryessa ob- 
 tained a grant to the Las Putas rancho and after- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 31 
 
 wards located upon it. He built a large adobe 
 house which went to ruin; a second one was built, 
 a portion of which is still standing on the estate 
 of Abraham Clark. 
 
 In 1840, E. Barnett came to the valley and re- 
 mained with Mr. Yount till 1843, when he settled 
 in Pope valley. 
 
 In 1843 William (or Julien) Pope obtained a 
 grant to the rancho Locoallomi and moved his 
 family upon it where he shortly afterwards lost 
 his life by accident. He and William Gordon had 
 come to this coast by way of Mexico in which 
 country Pope had married a native wife. She 
 subsequently married the pioneer mentioned 
 above, E. Barnett, who lived in Pope valley, until 
 about 1862. 
 
 In 1844, William Baldridge arrived at Napa 
 Embarcadero, and thence he proceeded to Yount- 
 ville and was last living at Oakville. 
 
 Bartlett Vines, a son-in-law of Yount, crossed 
 the plains with him, and came to Napa in 1844 on 
 board of Captain Sutter's schooner "Sacramento." 
 To the Vines family w^as born the first white child 
 in Napa county, and some claim it was the first 
 white child born in California, but as this ques- 
 tion remains unsettled, the honor lies between the 
 Vines family of Napa county, the Julius Martin 
 family of Santa Clara county, w^ho crossed the 
 plains with Baldridge and Vines, and the James 
 Gregson family of Sonoma county. 
 
 Colonel J. B. Chiles, who first came to Califor- 
 nia in 1841, came again in 1843 and located in 
 Chiles valley in 1844. With this party came also 
 Miss Elizabeth Yount, daughter of the old pion- 
 eer, who, in 1849 was married to John C. Davis. 
 
 In 1845, John York, John Grigsby, William 
 Hudson, Harrison Pierce, David Hudson, Ben- 
 jamin Dewell, William Elliott and sons, William 
 
32 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Fowler, Sr., Henry Fowler, William Fowler, Jr., 
 Calvin C. Griffith, Harvey Porterfield and William 
 Hargrave came in and settled in diiferent por- 
 tions of the county. 
 
 When Mr. York arrived in the valley in 1845, 
 he found the following settlers in the county: Ben 
 Kelsey lived on the place now owned by Peter 
 Teal, which was then the property of Ralph Kil- 
 burn. This was about one mile south of the pres- 
 ent site of Calistoga. Next to him, and on what is 
 now the George Tucker place, E. Barnett was 
 living, who afterwards married the widow Pope. 
 Sam Kelsey lived at the place where Bale's mill 
 now stands, with his wife and two children, liis 
 wife being among the first, if not the first woman 
 who came overland to California. 
 
 At this time (1845), Ralph Kilburn had begun 
 the erection of a saw mill on Napa river, just 
 northeast of Krug's wine cellar, and for this work 
 was to receive from Dr. Bale three-quarters of a 
 league of land. Dr. Edward Bale, then lived in 
 an adobe house, 60x20 in size, situated near the 
 foothills, west of Pine station. The next settler 
 was George C. Yount, who also lived in an adobe 
 house, near the present site of the mill property 
 of F. W. Ellis. The next place was the Salvador 
 Vallejo estate, on which there was three adobes, 
 one at the site of Barth wine cellar, one at the 
 Francas, and one on the opposite side of the river. 
 
 Nicholas Higuerra had an adobe at the Patch- 
 ett place; Cayetano Juarez had an adobe between 
 Napa and the Asylum; General Vallejo ha<i an 
 adobe on the Soscol rancho, where he kept a few 
 of his retainers. The Pope family were living in 
 the valley of that name; the Berryessas in the 
 valley of that name and Colonel Chiles and Will- 
 iam Baldridge in Chiles valley; Peter Storm was 
 living on the Kilburn place at that time; Nathan 
 
NAPA COUNTY. S3 
 
 Coombs cam* to Napa township during that year. 
 
 When Mr. York arrived in Napa county lie pro- 
 ceeded at once to the vicinity of Galistoga, then 
 known as Aguas Caliente, as did William Hudson; 
 William Elliott also spent the first winter here. 
 Of the young men who came over the mountains 
 with Mr. York, Benjamin Dewell, John (Jibbs, 
 H. Sanders, William Ford, B. Fowier, ail settled 
 in the county. David Hudson's first house at 
 Calistoga, built in the fall of 1845, was a cabin 
 constructed of little round logs, daubed with mud 
 and covered with shakes; Mr. York constructed 
 his cabin out of slabs and covered it with shakes, 
 it was 10x12 in size. 
 
 In 1846, Enoch Cyrus and family, William H. 
 Nash and family, John S. Stark and family, Col. 
 M. D. Ritchie and family, Chas. Hopper and fami- 
 ly, F. E. Kellogg and family and John Cyrus 
 came into the county. In 1847 the Bale mill was 
 complete and John York drew the first logs to it 
 from the adjacent hills. It was during this year 
 that the first celebration of our natal day occur- 
 red. The place of meeting was under an immense 
 oak at the mouth of Rector canyon. The families 
 of York, Hudson, Bale, Vines, Yount, Rector and 
 Grigsby, were present, and a good social time was 
 generally had. During the day singing was in- 
 dulged in, and the grand strains of the "Star 
 Spangled Banner" echoed through the hills and 
 up the canyon for the first time. It will be re- 
 membered that California was yet a part of Mex- 
 ico and the celebration on foreign soil was rather 
 incongruous, but prophetic. Among the settlers 
 that came in in 1847 were William Edgerton, who 
 settled in Chiles valley, J. W., S. J., R. P., and C 
 W. Tucker, who settled near Calistoga. 
 
 In 1849 came Peter D. Baily, George Linn, 
 Turner G. Baxter and James H. McCorcle. 
 
34 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 In 1850, J. H. Seawell, William Dinning and 
 William A. Haskins, in Hot Springs township; 
 Leonard Tully and J. S. Trubodj, in Yount; F. T. 
 Grigsby, T. F. Kaney, H. Amesbury, E. G. Yonng, 
 and Jesse Grigsby, in Napa. In 1851, William 
 Locker and T. Grigsby, to Yount; P. G. Gesford, 
 Hot Springs; J. H. Howland, Napa. 
 
 In 1852, A. W. Norton, John M. Davis, John T. 
 Smith, Napa; Mathew Vann, John Lawler, Hot 
 Springs; P. T. and G. W. Teale, Hot Springs; \V. 
 S. Jacks, Napa. In 1853, M. A. Elgin, J. G. Ran- 
 dall, B. Little, Wm. Middleton, Chas. Robinson, 
 C. H. Allen, H. Goodrich, H. A. Pellet and W. A. 
 Fisher, Napa. In 1854, Joel Barnett, and John M. 
 Kister, Hot Springs; Robert Miller, Jesse Barnett, 
 Knox; R. F. Lane, Knox; J. Watson, Napa. In 
 1855, Connelly Conn, Yount; W. E. Anderson, 
 Napa. There are many other pioneers whose 
 names will be found mentioned elsewhere, that 
 are omitted here. 
 
 The reader is referred to the township histories 
 and to the biographical department for further 
 names. Of course, it is impossible at this late 
 date, to make the list complete, but we have it as 
 full as it is possible to make it. 
 
 We will now take up the principal events 
 which have occurred in the history of Napa 
 county and record them in the order as they hap- 
 pened. 
 
 As early as 1841, John Rose and John C. Davis 
 built a schooner and launched it from a point of 
 land just above the stone bridge on First street. 
 This must have been a small affair, probably not 
 much larger than a whale boat. In 1845, they 
 built a barge which was used as a trading boat 
 in all the bay inlets. In 1847, they constructed a 
 sawmill for Salvador Vallejo on the east side of 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 35 
 
 iNapa river, about seven miles above town. The 
 site is still visible. 
 
 Among the early pioneers who came over the 
 unknown and untraveled desert and mountains 
 to California, in 1846, was ex-Governor Lilburn 
 W. Boggs. In those days it will be remembered, 
 that California was a Mexican province, and it 
 was necessary for an American citizen to have a 
 passport from his government to secure his safe 
 passage through the country. The passport given 
 to Governor Boggs was as follows: 
 
 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 
 To all to whom these presents shal) come, Greet- 
 ing: 
 
 No. 951. 
 I, the undersigned. Secretary of State of the 
 United States of America, hereby request all 
 whom it may concern to permit, safely and freely 
 to pass, Lilburn W. Boggs, wife and eight child- 
 ren, a citizen of the United States, and in case of 
 need to give him all lawful aid and protection. 
 Given under my hand and the impression of the 
 seal of the Department of State, 
 at the city of Washington, the 
 25th day of April, A. D. 1846, in 
 the seventieth year of the Independence of the 
 United States. 
 
 (Signed:) JAMES BUCHANAN. 
 
 August 1st, 1849, an electioa was held at So- 
 noma, in the Territory of California, at which 
 James Cooper, John G. Kay, and Nathan Coombs 
 acted as clerks. The poll list was certified to by H. 
 W. Halleck, then Brevet Captain and Secretary 
 of State. Ex-Governor Boggs, as First Alcalde, 
 of the District of Sonoma, filed the following cer- 
 tificate in regard to this election: 
 
 Alcalde's office, Sonoma, August 21st, 1849. 
 
36 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 I, L. W. Boggs, First Alcalde of Sonoma, do 
 hereby certify that the above returns are correct 
 with the exception of the vote for First Alcalde, 
 which office is not vacant. 
 
 Given under my hand and seal in Sonoma, the 
 2d day of August, 1849. 
 
 (Signed:) L. W. BOGGS, 
 
 First Alcalde. 
 
 The vote certified to above was as follows: Fjr 
 delegate to the Convention, Schoolcraft, 1; Steven 
 Smith, 3; M. G. Vallejo, 4; Salvador Vallejo, 23; 
 Eobert Semple, 32; John B. Frisby, 16; Lilburn 
 W. Boggs, 34: James Clyman, 37; Jasper O'Far- 
 rell, 38; Joel P. Walker, 65 and Bichard A. Mai- 
 pin, 75. For Judge of the Superior Court, J. E. 
 Brackett, 85. For Prefect, Charles C. Wilkins, 
 45; William E. Taylor, 26; Jose Berryessa, 19 and 
 John Cameron, 7. For First Alcalde, John G. 
 Bay, 19; John A. Griffin, 5; George Yount, 3 and 
 Peter Campbell, 1. For Second Alcalde, Balph 
 Kilburn, 43. For Justices of the Peace, Peter 
 Campbell, 28 and James Griffith, 14. For Sherilf, 
 Israel Brockman, 86. 
 
 The first record of the Alcalde's Court in Napa 
 county is under date of October 20th, 1849, wh3-n 
 the following proceedings Avere had: "Napa ral- 
 ley, Territory of California, District of Sonoma. 
 For Petty Larceny: And now comes the said par- 
 ties, Charles L. Cady, appearing for the Territory 
 of California, being ready for trial, a jury of six 
 men were subpoenaed and sworn, viz: D. Q. 
 Tucker, William Bussell, J. Brown, William 
 Edgington, William Morgan and John Taylor, 
 
 Case adjourned till 6 p. m. Parties and jury ap- 
 peared, and after hearing, could not agree on a 
 verdict. Case adjourned till 10 o'clock Sunday, 
 21st October, 1849. Sunday, October 21st, 1849, 
 parties appeared. Another jury subpoenaed and 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 37 
 
 sworn, viz : H. Johnson, 0. Briggs, A. Gutherio, N. 
 Kennedy, William Watson and I. Boles. N. Mc- 
 Kimony, Constable or Sheriff and R. L. Kilburn, 
 Alcalde. 
 
 The next case recorded is under date of Novem- 
 ber 8, 1849, and was a civil action, entitled: "Nich- 
 olas Agara vs. Jarrus." The judgment rendered 
 in the case was as follows: "Judgment is hereby 
 rendered in favor of said Nicholas for damages, 
 175.00, and for costs of the suit, also the further 
 sum of 110.00, total, |85.00. On further proof, the 
 said Jarrus has no property, and with his consent 
 and the petition of said Nicholas, it is ordered 
 that the said Jarrus work for said Nicholas, at 
 wages to be agreed upon between them, at as high 
 rate as Jarrus could obtain elsewhere, continu- 
 ously from day to day until the said sum of $85.00 
 is fully paid and satisfied." 
 
 The District Attorney at this time was Joseph 
 W. Brackett. 
 
 In August, 1850, the Justice for Napa county 
 was John S. Cripps, and in November of that year 
 S. H. Sellers is found to hold that position. 
 Charles P. Wilkins was Prefect in Sonoma in 
 1849. 
 
 Among the curiosities of the olden days, many 
 of our readers may remember the pioneer carria,ge 
 of this section, which was the property of General 
 Vallejo. It was at one time the State carriage of 
 the Duke of Wellington. General Vallejo pur- 
 chased it in London in 1833, and brought it to Cal- 
 ifornia shortly afterward. The driver rode on 
 one of the horses. 
 
 FIRST MARRIAGE LICENSE 
 
 On record in Napa county was William Monroe 
 to Nancy Morgan, issued June 2d, 1850, by Will- 
 iam G. Canders. 
 
38 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 FIRST MORTGAGE RECORDED. 
 
 Was Joseph D. Bristol to Warren P. Durbin on 
 lot 2, Block 6, Napa city, the consideration being 
 |2,000. (Two thousand dollars). Recorded June 
 18th, 1851, Released, Nov. 13th, 1855. 
 
 THE FIRST ELECTION HELD IN NAPA 
 COUNTY 
 
 After its organization was on the first Monday 
 in April, 1850. The first deed recorded in Napa 
 county is dated April 3d, 1850, and is from Nich- 
 olas Higuera to John C Brown, and acknowl- 
 edged before M. H. N. Kendig, Recorder. The 
 second is dated Feby. 15th, 1850, from Nathm 
 Coombs and Isabella, his wife, to Joseph Brack ,'tt 
 and J. W. Brackett, of Napa valley. District of 
 Sonoma, in the Northern Department of Califor- 
 nia. The property conveyed was lot 3, in block 
 5, Napa city, acknowledged before R. L. Kilburn, 
 Alcalde, The next deed is dated November 29th, 
 1848, from Nicholas Higuera to Joseph P. Thomp- 
 son, acknowledged before L. W. Boggs, Alcalde 
 of Sonoma. Another deed is dated October 18th, 
 1845, from George Roch to Jacob P. Leese, con- 
 veying the grant called Guenoco. It is in the 
 Spanish language and acknowledged before Jose 
 de la Rosa, seventh constitutional Alcalde of So- 
 noma. As an illustration of the value of money 
 in those early daj^s, we may mention that a mort- 
 gage was given October 20th, 1850, from Jose S. 
 Berryessa to W. R. Bradshaw for |1,000 at 10 per 
 cent, interest per month. The principal and inter- 
 est was paid in a few months. 
 
 The first Grand Jury in Napa county compris- 
 ed the following named gentlemen: Thomas 
 Knight, Enoch Cyrus, William A. Haskin, Will- 
 iam D. Dearing, George C. Yount, Joseph Green, 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 39 
 
 George W. Moodie, Angus L. Boggs, Edward C. 
 Cage, John Barbour, Anderson Farley, Horatio 
 N. Amesbury, Lyman Chapman. The following 
 persons were subpoenaed for this jury but did not 
 put in an appearance: Thomas Hensley, Leonard 
 Miller, Joseph Mount, Joseph White, Turner G. 
 Baxter and Joseph Keed. The meeting of this 
 jury was held August 4th, 1851. 
 
 On the same date the following gentlemen were 
 supoenaed, comprising the first Trial Jury in 
 Napa county: Preston G. Gesford, Henry Boggs, 
 William Baldridge, John Grigsby, Anson White, 
 F. J. Benjamin, John Guthrie, Isaac McCoombs, 
 and Edward McGarry. The following were ab- 
 sent: William James, Em. A. d'Himicourt, Rob- 
 ert Catherwood and John S. Cripps. 
 
 In December, 1851, Edward H. Cage, better 
 known as "Ned" Cage, w^as appointed to the posi- 
 tion of Judge of the Plains, for the lower pre- 
 cinct; and the Sheriff of the county was delegated 
 to perform the same duties for the upper precinct. 
 As that position and its duties are long since 
 things of the past, a word of explanatir,n will not 
 be out of place here. It will be remembered that 
 in the early days everybody's cattle ran at large 
 here, and as a matter of course, the bands got 
 very promiscuously mixed up during the year. 
 Once a year there vsas a general grand gathering 
 up of all the cattle in the county, and the young 
 stock was branded. This was called a rodeo, pro- 
 nounced "rodero." It often occurred that dis- 
 putes arose among the stockmen in regard to the 
 ownership of the stock, and it was to arbitrate 
 these matters that the Judge of the Plains was 
 appointed. 
 
 The first Board of Supervisors of Napa county 
 convened December 6th, 1856, and was composed 
 of the followins: members: John M. Hamilton, 
 
40 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Florentine E. Kellogg and Jesse Whitton. J. M. 
 Hamilton was chosen chairman of the Board. 
 
 Pressley Thompson presented the first claim 
 against the county, which was for building a 
 bridge across Napa creek and the amount of the 
 claim was |1,190.00. 
 
 May 17th 1853, Napa river was declared to be 
 a navigable stream by the Legislature, 
 
 April 10th, 1855, the following act of the Legis- 
 lature was approved: "The people of Napa coun- 
 ty may levy a tax not to exceed one-half of one 
 per cent., half of which is to be applied to the re- 
 moval of snags from the Napa river, and the 
 other half to the construction of a wagon road 
 from Napa valley to Clear Lake \ia Pope and 
 Coyote valleys. 
 
 November 7th, 1855, the Board of Supervisors 
 ordered that the Treasurer purchase a safe for the 
 county not to cost more than |200. 
 
 April 7th, 1856, the first school districts were 
 organized in what is now Lake county, but then 
 a portion of Napa county. They were two in 
 number. 
 
 May 19th, 1856, the Board of Supervisors issued 
 an order for funding the county debt. The new 
 bonds were to be of the denominations of |50, 
 |100, and |500, and the rate of interest was to be 
 10 per cent, per annum. 
 
 The condition of the finances of the county in 
 1856 is indicated by the following report of the 
 Treasurer, rendered October 31st, of that year: 
 
 Balance in County Fund |1,319.78 
 
 Balance in Contingent Fund 171.82 
 
 Balance in Road Fund 441.20 
 
 Balance in Sinldng Fund 427.74 
 
 Balance in School Fund 287.63 
 
 Total on hand $2,651.17 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 41 
 
 The indebtedness could not be ascertained at 
 that time. 
 
 Among the historical curiosities which have 
 been unearthed in Napa county, we present the 
 following copy of an old political poster, which 
 was issued in 1856, as being of considerable in- 
 terest: 
 
 REPUBLICAN RALLY. 
 
 "There will be a meeting of the Republican 
 party at the Court house in Napa city on Satur- 
 day, October 18th, 1856, at 2 p. m., to adopt such 
 measures as will promote the success of Republi- 
 can principles, and the triumph of the party. 
 Trenor W. Parks, Esq., of San Francisco, will be 
 present and will address the meeting. Let all 
 come who are in favor of the immediate construc- 
 tion of the (Central) Pacific Railroad; opposed to 
 violence and bloodshed at the National Capital, 
 and who believe that the truths of the Declara- 
 tion of Independence are practical. 
 
 "Come one ! Come all!!" (The following names 
 were signed to the call):) C. Hartson, Dr. Henry, 
 James Glasford, Thomas Knight, William Har- 
 grave, S. Wing, William McDonald, J. M. Mans- 
 field, Reese Smith, Seth Dunham, Isaac Allen, 
 John Wilford, Jacob McCoombs, Levi Hardman, J. 
 W. Osborne, Josiah Trubody, Isaac Pastelow, Dr. 
 W. W. Stillwagon, J. McCoombs, George C. 
 Yount, James Lefferts, A. L. Haven, Phil Howell, 
 Chas. H. Allen, Ed. Chesebro, Silas Ritchie, John 
 McCloud, Capt. L. T. Wilson, Dr. White, Capt. 
 Clayton, William Fisher, Lyman Chapman, D. L. 
 Cheeney, H. R. Curtis, L. G. Lillie, Israel Putnam, 
 Benjamin McCoombs, A. C. Welch, John W^olf, 
 Samuel Cook, James Blake, Stephen Broadhurst, 
 S, J. Mount, Simon Loveland, James Record, 
 Capt. Nichols, James Buckman, David Howell, 
 Pierce Wiggins, William Lord, W. S. JackSj 
 
42 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Joseph Baker, George F. Reeves, Henry Baker, 
 William Sherman. 
 
 The first move toward telegraphic connection 
 ill Napa county was made in 1857. In November 
 of that year we find that twenty-five shares of 
 stock at flOO each had been subscribed towards 
 constructing a line of telegraph from Napa to Yal- 
 lejo. Only ten shares more were required to in- 
 sure the success of the enterprise. February 13th, 
 1858, the first meeting of the Napa and Vallejo 
 Telegraph Companj^ was held and the folloM'ing 
 officers were elected: President, James Lefferts; 
 Vice-President, E. D. Hopkins; Treasurer, Rich- 
 ard Budding; Secretary, Robert R. Pierpont; Di- 
 rectors — G. N. Cornwall, W. H. James, Smith 
 Brown, Henry Sage and Thomas Earl. Nothing 
 further was done until 1859, on the 20th day of 
 January of that year the first pole was set, and 
 the line was soon after completed. 
 
 NAPA AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
 
 There was a small Agricultural Society organ- 
 ized in 1854, but did not amount to much, there 
 being only a small exhibition in a building in 
 Napa city. 
 
 October 17th, 1857, active measures were taken 
 for the organization of an Agricultural Society in 
 Napa county, and a meeting was called on that 
 day of the citizens of the county to take the mat- 
 ter under advisement. The convocation was or- 
 ganized by calling J. W. Osborne to the chair and 
 J. M. Dudley was chosen to act as Secretary. Hon. 
 I'ulaski Jacks introduced the following resolu- 
 tions: 
 
 Resolved, That a committee of three citizens be 
 a]>pointed to make preliminary arrangements in 
 reference to holding a county Agricultural Show 
 on or about the 5th of November next, said com- 
 
NAPA COUNTY, 4S 
 
 mittee to make the necessary inquiries, and make 
 report to this meeting by Wednesday next, the 
 21st inst., at 2 o'clock p. m., and also report the 
 probability of reorganizing the old society. The 
 following gentlemen were appointed on that com- 
 mittee: A. D. Pryal, B. Grimes and Thomas Earl. 
 
 On motion of Mr. Ogden, it was resolved that a 
 committee of three be appointed to devise means, 
 and collect subscriptions necessary for incidental 
 expenses. The following gentlemen were ap- 
 pointed: Smith Brown, Major Easterbrook and 
 George E. Goodman. 
 
 In pursuance with the resolution above, an- 
 other meeting was held October 21st, when the 
 committee first mentioned above reported in fav- 
 or of reorganizing the present Agricultural So- 
 ciety, and, on motion, the report was adopted. 
 The following officers were then elected: J. W. 
 Osborne, President; George C. Yount, First Vice- 
 President; Thomas H. Thompson, Second Vice- 
 President; W. A. Haskins, Third Vice-President; 
 L. T. Musick, Fourth Vice-President and Boon 
 Fly, Fifth Vice-President; James McNeil, Corres- 
 ponding Secretary; Kobert R. Pierpont, Record- 
 ing Secretary; Thomas Earl, Treasurer, and R. C. 
 Haile, Pulaski Jacks, L. F. Baker, James Horn- 
 beck and Brice Grimes, Directors. 
 
 The Board of Directors met at Napa on the 22d, 
 when it was decided by the Board that an exhibi- 
 tion of stock, farm, orchard, dairy, household and 
 manufacturing products be held at Napa on the 
 4th and 5th days of November next (1857), and 
 that the following programme of exercises and 
 amusements be adopted, viz: For Wednesday, the 
 first day, there will be a. plowing match trial of 
 teams on draft, ladies riding on horseback, and an 
 address. 
 
 For the second day a trial of road teams, gen- 
 
U NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 tlemen riding and practicing with the lasso. The 
 exhibition to close with a ball in the evening. Cer- 
 tificates of membership may be had of the Treas- 
 urer, Thomas Earl. Tickets for the ball were held 
 at |3.00 each, and the ladies of Napa were re- 
 quested to turn out and adorn the hall in which 
 the ball was to be held. The success of the exhi- 
 bition is unknown, and no mention is made of its 
 repetition. 
 
 February 1st, 1858, the following act of the 
 Legislature was approved: 
 
 The Board of Supervisors of Napa county shall 
 levy a tax, not to exceed one-fourth of one per 
 cent., for the purpose, of constructing a public 
 road from the city of Napa, by way of Knights 
 valley in Napa county, to the Russian river val- 
 ley. Said road to pass up Napa valley on the west 
 side of Napa creek, and also for the purpose of 
 constructing a public road from Napa city, run- 
 ning up the east side of Napa creek to Clear Lake 
 by the way of Chiles canyon. 
 
 In 1861, William Baldridge experimented on 
 cotton growing in Napa valley; it did not do well, 
 as the soil was evidently much better adapted to 
 grapes than cotton. The credit of introducing 
 the black locust tree on this coast belongs to Mr. 
 Baldridge. The seed was sent him in 1845, and 
 he planted it and from that came the stock now 
 in California. 
 
 ^larch 3d, 1863, the Legislature passed an act 
 providing for the levying of a tax of fifteen cents 
 on the |100, in both Napa and Lake counties for 
 the improvement of the road running through 
 Chiles and Butts Canyons. 
 
 August 11th, 1863, Charles Britton was hanged 
 in Napa, which was the first execution that ever 
 occurred in the city. 
 
 September 7th, 1863, the Board of Supervisors 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 45 
 
 of Napa county, by a special motion, added the 
 word ''forever," to their order for a road from the 
 Benicia road to Gordon valley, thus making it a 
 "highway forever." We do not know that the or- 
 der has ever been rescinded, nor do we know what 
 effect it may have on the ages yet to come. 
 
 December 24th, 1863, Samuel Brannan adver- 
 tised for five hundred and seventy-five telegraph 
 poles, with which to construct a line from Napa 
 city to Calistoga. 
 
 April 4th, 1864, the following act of the Legis- 
 lature was approved: The Board of Supervisors 
 of Napa county may levy a tax of twenty cents 
 on each |100, in Napa county, for the purpose of 
 purchasing fair grounds and constructing suit- 
 able buildings thereon, for the use of any agricul- 
 tural society now formed or that may be formed 
 hereafter. Said tax to be levied whenever the San 
 Pablo Bay District Agricultural and Mechanical 
 Society is permanently located at Napa city; or 
 whenever two hundred taxpayers of said county 
 shall, in writing, petition said Board to make said 
 levy. 
 
 In 1864, Messrs. George N. and John Cornv/all 
 planted a crop of tobacco near Napa which grew 
 well. 
 
 In 1864, the stage business between Napa city 
 and Calistoga was in a flourishing condition, and 
 was owned by Messrs. Brannan and Coombs, who 
 ran a 24-passenger coach on it, Mr. Coombs also 
 had a stage line between Napa city and Benicia. 
 
 The condition of the county finances in August, 
 1864, was as follows: 
 
 Total Indebtedness |21,6T8.25 
 
 Cash on Hand 3,964.09 
 
 Balance of Debt |17,714.16 
 
 The report of the Internal Kevenue oflicer 
 
46 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 shows that there were in Napa county, business 
 subject to tax as follows: Ketail dealers, 12; re- 
 tail liquor dealers, 6; butchers, 1; hotels, 5; dent- 
 ist, 1; doctors, 4; lawyers, 4; pianos, 1; buggies, 3; 
 and billiard tables, 1. 
 
 PETROLEUM. 
 
 Pursuant to a notice, a meeting of persons own- 
 ing or interested in oil lands in Napa county w^as 
 held at the office of G. W. Towle, in Napa city, on 
 the 30th day of September, 1865, and adopted 
 certain rules and regulations governing the same 
 which were signed by E. N, Boynton as President, 
 and I\. T. Montgomery as Secretary. 
 
 The first discovery of petroleum in Napa county 
 was made on May 15th, 1865. 
 
 In July of the same year it was also discovered 
 on Capt. Samuel D. Goodrich's place, about four 
 miles northeast of Napa city. In May, 18G6, it 
 was discovered at the head of Capelle valley, in 
 fact evidences of petroleum have been found all 
 over the county, but no paying quantities of it 
 have been found. 
 
 ASSASSINATION OF ABRAHAM LINCOLN. 
 
 The principal event that occurred in the United 
 States in 1865, was the murder of the head of the 
 nation, Abraham Lincoln, by the fell assassin J. 
 AVilkes Booth. This was a matter so fraught w ith 
 interest to every citizen of the Union that we 
 shall devote a portion of our space to a narration 
 of the subject, giving the account as it appeared 
 in the columns of the Napa County Register, un- 
 der the date of April 22d, 1865, when it appeared 
 ^\ ith inverted column rules, or dressed in mourn- 
 ing, and published the following in its editorial 
 columns: 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 47 
 
 "The nation is in mourning over the death of a 
 good and great ruler. Abraham Lincoln is assas- 
 sinated! Great horror and unspeakable anguish 
 fills every loyal heart at this announcement. A 
 week since the country was everywhere jubilant; 
 the joyous roar of cannon rang over hill and 
 through valley, proclaiming the fall of the rebel 
 dynasty. But ere the smoke had ceased curling 
 towards the heavens — while the echo of joyous 
 salutes still vibrated upon the air, and before the 
 cannon breech had fairly cooled — the terrible 
 tidings that President Lincoln had fallen a victim 
 to the assassin burst forth over the startled 
 country, bowing many a head in anguish and 
 sending a thrill of horror to the strongest heart. 
 Lincoln, the crushed ruler of a free people — a 
 second "Father of his Country" — launched into 
 eternity without a second's warning — guilty of 
 naught save a devotion to the country! "God 
 grant it may not be true," was the prayer of all. 
 But, alas for us! the telegraph performed its of- 
 tice and tells us the terrible truth. 
 
 "We read in history of ambitious chiefs and 
 lulers having fallen by assassination; but the 
 records of the dark ages — where crime and an- 
 archy ran riot — furnish no parallel to this damn- 
 able and atrocious act. The brain throbs and the 
 heart grows faint as we meditate over the awful 
 catastrophe. The deed was committed on the 
 night of the 14th of April, in Ford's Theater, 
 Washington. President Lincoln had consented to 
 be present, although against his will, with his 
 wife and son. His mind was occupied in devising 
 ways and means for the speedy restoration of 
 peace, and he preferred the Council Chamber, 
 where he had spent the day, in deliberation with 
 the Cabinet, to the opera house. But he took the 
 fatal step, and there, in his private box^ with his 
 
48 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 familj, unconscious of harm, the assassin did the 
 work. 
 
 "Though shaken to our very center by the ter- 
 rible and unexpected blow, the nation stands 
 strong, and will travel on forever, shedding the 
 light of our glory on all coming ages. Dark 
 though our past may have been, our future is 
 bright with promise of returning peace and pros- 
 perity. But Americans never will, nor can 
 they, forget this dark blot upon their country's 
 history, however resplendent may be our future 
 record; and, O, how bitter will be the anguish of 
 those who are in anyway connected with or re- 
 sponsible for the hellish act! What a weight of 
 woe and lasting infamy will rest upon their child- 
 ren and their children's children — the conscious- 
 ness of their father's guilt in having sustained by 
 word or deed the doings of traitors, North or 
 South, whose acts have resulted in the death of 
 President Lincoln." 
 
 MASS MEETING. 
 
 Pursuant to a notice, a large meeting of the cit- 
 izens of Napa assembled at the Court house on 
 Monday evening, the 17th, and made arrange- 
 ments for appropriate funeral ceremonies on the 
 following Wednesday, the day that Lincoln was 
 buried. The meeting was called to order by A. 
 J. Easterby and the following officers and com- 
 mittees were appointed: President, Hon. Rob- 
 ert Crouch; Secretary, A. A. Humewell; Vice 
 Presidents, James Lefferts, Nathan Coombs, Geo. 
 Fellows, Dr. W. W. Stillwater, J. H. Goodman, 
 A. Wheeler, Smith Brown, E. S.Chesebro, N. A. 
 Greene, J. F. Lambdin, J. H. Moran, J. M. Nichols, 
 J. M. Carter, P. T. Montgomery, Henry Edgeing- 
 ton, Rev. P. Deyaert, A. Y. Esterby, L. Bruck, A. 
 Higbie, W. S. Turner, A. H. Humewell, Rev. W. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 49 
 
 J. McClay, Rev. P. V. Veeder. Committee on 
 Resolutions: R. T. Montgomery, J. M. Carter and 
 A. Higbie. Committee on Arrangements: N. 
 Coombs, G. Fellows, J. H. Goodman, A. Wheel er, 
 George E. Goodman, Smith Brown, A. A. Hume- 
 well, E. S. Chesebro, N. A. Green, J. F. Lambdic, 
 and J. H. Moran. 
 
 RESOLUTIONS. 
 
 Whereas, The causeless and unsuccessful as- 
 sault which has been made by traitors in the re- 
 volted States, and by their abettors everywhere, 
 against the liberties of the American people and 
 the lawful government of the United States, has 
 culminated in the cowardly assassination of our 
 revered Chief Magistrate, Abraham Lincoln, and 
 the attempted murder of William H. Seward, the 
 Secretary of State, therefore. 
 
 Resolved, That the loyal citizens of Napa couu- 
 ty recognize in this last desperate act of the un- 
 scrupulous tools of traitors, new evidence of their 
 barbarousness, and the character of the wretches 
 who have so long made war against the govern- 
 ment and Administration, and regard this atroci- 
 ous murder as the legitimate fruits of the fiendish 
 spirit of opposition which has appealed to the 
 brute passions of the brute men. 
 
 Resolved, That, in our view, the actual perpe- 
 trators of this murder, unparalleled in American 
 history, are less guilty than the traitors North as 
 well as South, who have for the past four years 
 fermented discord, denounced the officers of the 
 government and incited treason; in that in our 
 belief, the assassination of the President is to be 
 attributed, not to a single murderer, but that a 
 secret organization, whose members are to be 
 found in every community, and which, either di- 
 rectly or indirectly, or through its satellites, has 
 been and still is actuated by the single purpose of 
 
50 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 destroying- the Government and securing success 
 to the shxve-holders' rebellion. 
 
 Eesolved, That the clemency and forbearance 
 with which this class of traitors has been treat- 
 ed by loyal citizens has been interpreted as evi- 
 dence of cowardice and indifference, and embold- 
 ered traitors and ruffians in our midst to continue 
 their vile abuse of the Government and its officers, 
 and this unchecked license to treasonable senti- 
 ment has led to this crowning act of infamy — the 
 murder of the President of the Eepublic. 
 
 Resolved, That swift and severe punishment 
 should be meted out to the authors and instru- 
 ments of this hellish crime — a crime against the 
 human race — as well as to all who justifv it, and 
 that from this hour we will hold no man guiltless 
 who shall approve the act or apologize for its 
 perpetrators, but will heap upon any such, if de- 
 tected in this community, the heavy indignation 
 of a loyal people. 
 
 Resolved, That as citizens of the American Re- 
 public, we profoundly lament the loss of the great 
 and good man who, through four terrible years of 
 the rebellion, has conducted our national govern- 
 ment with success and honor: That his untimely 
 and violent death when just on the eve of return- 
 ing peace, which his heart yearned for, and to- 
 ward which the last energies of his life were de- 
 voted—was a calamity, not only to the nation, 
 but to civilization everywhere; that while we 
 weep over his loss, our hearts are filled with 
 thankfulness to the Giver of all good, that even 
 thus far in the nation's life struggle. He hath 
 vouchsafed to us the clear head, the pure heart, 
 the firm will, and the unfaltering truth of Abra- 
 ham Lincoln; that while in anguish we yield to 
 the bitter consciousness that he has flown, and 
 by the treacherous hand of an assassin, we rejoice 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 51 
 
 in the knowledge that he leaves to the coming 
 ages, a spotless record as a Christian and a pa- 
 triot; that no words from living lips— no in- 
 scriptions on sculptured marble can Ifitly set forth 
 the greatness of the man, or declare the poignant 
 sorrow of the nation that loved him and revered 
 him, but the living and lasting record of his lofty 
 patriotism shall be found in the heart of every 
 man that has known opposition or learned the 
 value of liberty. 
 
 Resolved, That in view of this cowardly and 
 atrocious attack upon the nation in the person of 
 its executive head, and the lurking danger that 
 threatens every loyal man, we pledge ourselves 
 anew to devote our influence, our property, our 
 lives, if need be, whenever and wherever they may 
 be required, to maintain the entirety of the gov- 
 ernment and punish traitors against its authority. 
 
 Resolved, That on Wednesday next, the day of 
 the obsequies of the President, we recommend 
 that all business places be closed; that all flags 
 and public and private buildings be draped in 
 mourning; that a funeral oration be delivered on 
 that day, with suitable religious services, and that 
 the several military and fire companies, benevo- 
 lent societies, public and private societies, and 
 every man who feels the deep outrage which this 
 terrible assassination inflicts upon him as a citi- 
 zen, be invited to join in the funeral procession 
 on that day and attend the public exercises. 
 
 At a meeting of the Washington Light Battery, 
 held at their armory, on Friday, the 21st, the fol- 
 lowing preamble and resolutions were adopted: 
 
 W^hereas, Abraham Lincoln, the beloved Pres- 
 ident of a free people, has been basely assassinat- 
 ed, while in the discharge of his official duties at 
 the nation's capital, and, 
 
 Whereas, While in his official career, in time of 
 
52 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the rebellion and civil war, when the life of the 
 nation was in peril, his wisdom and impartiality 
 gave us confidence in his judgment and the final 
 issue of the war, and while his patriotism and 
 love of liberty gave full assurance of the advance- 
 ment of the great question of this enlightened 
 age, the extinction of human bondage, and. 
 
 Whereas, His kindness and magnanimity gave 
 us promise of a speedy and peaceful reunion with 
 the nation's foes, therefore, be it 
 
 Resolved, That we look upon his untimely end 
 as a calamity, not alone to the nation, but to the 
 lovers of freedom througliout the world. 
 
 Resolved, That we cherish the principles he ad- 
 vocated, and renew in this solemn hour our fidelity 
 to the Union and its cause. 
 
 Resolved, That the armory be dressed in mourn- 
 ing for thirty days. 
 
 E. M. BOYNTON, Secretary. 
 
 OBSEQUIES OF THE PRESIDENT. 
 
 No event ever drew such a concourse of people 
 to Napa as the burial services of the Chief ]Magis- 
 trate, Abraham Lincoln, on the day indicated in 
 the resolutions above quoted. 
 
 The procession was fnUj a half mile long and 
 Avas led by the "Rangers," Capt. Lambdin; then 
 followed the "Guard," Washingtion Light Battery, 
 Pioneer Engine Company, citizens. Odd Fellows 
 and Masons. The services were held in the Court 
 house square, which was densely crowded by a 
 sorrowful multitude, who had assembled to pay 
 their last homage to the earthly remains of one of 
 the greatest and best of men. After a touching 
 and appropriate prayer by Rev. McGlay, Hon. 
 Henry Edgerton delivered an oration, replete 
 with wisd(»m, truth and pathos. Ilia words, witii 
 a melancholy sadness fell upon the ears and 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 53 
 
 touched the hearts of an attentive and tearful 
 audience. Kev. Higbie delivered a benediction at 
 the close of the ceremonies, after which Mr. East- 
 erby came forward and requested the flag to be 
 raised to full mast and invoked the blessing of 
 Almighty God upon President Johnson. The day 
 day was generally observed throughout, and 
 the whole town being draped in mourning, gave 
 it the solemnity due so great an occasion. 
 
 The Franklin Lodge of Good Templars, No. 29, 
 appointed V. J. Van Dorn, P. Prior and N. B. 
 Gower a committee to draft suitable preamble 
 and resolutions, which were adopted, as also did 
 the Pioneer Engine Company of Napa. 
 
 On the night of November 8th, 1865, the pris- 
 oners in the County Jail, four in number, succeed- 
 ed in making their escape. During the day the 
 cells had been scrubbed out, and the prisoners 
 were left in the corridor that night. They remov- 
 ed a stone 10x20 inches in size, which allowed 
 them to pass out easily. These stones were sup- 
 posed to be dovetailed, so that they could not be 
 removed, but this one did not seem to be. 
 
 March 17th, 1866, an act of the Legislature was 
 approved, giving to John Lawley the right to con- 
 struct a turnpike road from Ed. Eboy's house in 
 Napa county, through St. Helena canyon, and over 
 the St. Helena range of mountains, to Siegler val- 
 ley, in Lake county. 
 
 April 2d, 1866, an act of the Legislature grant- 
 ed to Dr. G. B. Crane, Dwight Spencer, Jesse 
 Grigsby and R. B. Woodward, the right to con- 
 struct a macadamized road from Napa to St. 
 Helena. The matter was to be submitted to the 
 people of the county. 
 
 All old pioneers will well remember Ned Mc- 
 Garry who served in the State Senate for several 
 terms from this district. In December, 1877, he 
 
54 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ended his earthly existence with a penknife, in 
 the Occidental Hotel in San Francisco. 
 
 HEALTHFUL CLIMATE OF NAPA COUNTY 
 
 God, in His wisdom, has seen fit to create loca- 
 tions which offer to the weak and sickly an 
 asylum that baffles all the cunning devices of man 
 to imitate it. Napa county is probably the health- 
 iest county in the State of California, and this 
 means much when we are not unmindful that ours 
 is the State in all respects the healthiest in the 
 union. The hills and mountains, sloping toward 
 rich valleys; wide plains without a taint of malar- 
 ia; ten months of sunshine; a thousand miles of 
 sea coast with the strong Japan trade winds car- 
 rying the strong salt air to every j)art of the 
 State; the balmy air by day and cool, invigorat- 
 ing nights, requiring blankets or comforters over 
 the sleeper is a revelation compared to the fever- 
 ish thirst and agony of the nights spent in the 
 Eastern States, where the thermometer by nights 
 holds its tyrannical sway with a register of 80 to 
 100 at three and four o'clock in the morning. 
 
 Such a thing as typhoid, malarial, or other fev- 
 ers, due to an ague condition in the body is never 
 heard of in this county. When people come here 
 impregnated with malaria, this climate of match- 
 less purity will drive it out. There is not a soli- 
 tar}^ contagious or other disease incident to or 
 growing out of the climatic conditions of this 
 county, except measles, whooping cough, mumps 
 and ordinary colds, the latter being so light as to 
 hardl}^ deserve the name it bears. The writer 
 spent the winter of 1881-2 in Georgia, Alabama, 
 South Carolina and Florida, only the last named 
 State bears any resemblance to our Golden State, 
 the three former are variable and generally cold 
 and raw, ice often forming to a thickness of two 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 55 
 
 or three inches, the nights in summer were inso- 
 lently hot and torrid, and we awoke at morninu: as 
 weary as when w^e retired. In Florida the climate 
 during December and January is almost perfect, 
 but the other ten months are oppressively liot, 
 and on February 1st, 1892, the glass was up to 
 100 at Tampa, while it was 40 below zero at St. 
 Paul, Minnesota. In summer the country from 
 Pensacola to the everglades and from Cedar 
 Keys to St. Augustine, is ravaged with fever, 
 and one lady whom we met, when answering the 
 inquiry of her being absolutely bald, replied that 
 she had typhoid fever three times in five years, 
 and withal she lived within the radius of one m le 
 from the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico. This 
 shows that the almost omnipotent power of salt 
 water cannot combat the deadeningeffects of heat 
 and the blighting paralysis of the tropics. Now, 
 as Florida is the only State in the union to in any 
 way compare with California in the softness of 'ts 
 climate, and the golden beauty of days, let us ex- 
 amine the chances for labor and the opportunity 
 for making a living in the two States. In the 
 former State we see all that is a symbol of pover- 
 ty and financial distress. Cows, with rope harnes<^ 
 attached to a rickety wagon, a steer and cow 
 coupled together and driven in a two-wheeled 
 cart, one chain tug, another of rope and another 
 of leather, and a fourth a part of chain spliced on 
 with rope. Sand dunes for farms; log houses, raz- 
 or-backed hogs; a species of dwarf cows; the table 
 forever spread with bacon and hominy fit only for 
 the cold north, but on account of its cheapness 
 always in evidence on every table in the State. 
 The crops in Florida are oranges and sweet pota- 
 toes; the former is always at a low ebb in price, 
 and offers a poor remuneration for the work be- 
 stowed on it. Were it not for the northern tourist 
 
56 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the people of that State would be in absolute 
 squalor. The money left bj the tourist in Florida 
 amounts to at least seven-tenths of all of the re- 
 sources of that State. Now, as to California, let 
 it be understood at once that in point of wealth, it 
 is one of the foremost in the union. Labor is al- 
 ways in demand, and well paid, wages averaging 
 from |25 to flOO per month; land averages in 
 price from ten to one thousand dollars per acre; 
 the wealth of the State runs high in the millions, 
 with a variety of commodities that would stagger 
 an Eastern man. Think of ten thousand acre 
 wheat farjiis, and two hundred horses in active 
 farm work; orange farms run on the line from 
 live to thirty acres, some larger, but the majority 
 of farms are small, and the whole southern por- 
 tion of the State is a net work of orange and lem- 
 on orchards, and the net price received for each 
 year's crop, is so great that with long shipments 
 and big freight bills, the emoluments to the 
 farmer is the best and largest in the State when 
 compared to other commodities. In the northern 
 portion of California the soil is devoted to wheat, 
 rye, oats, barley, corn, grapes, raisins, prunes, 
 peaches, cherries, apricots and strawberries, and 
 the yield is annually so large that it is the means 
 of pouring millions of dollars annually in the 
 pockets of the producers. Such a thing as crop 
 failure in Xapa county for want of rain, or from 
 otlier causes, due to climate, or weather, is never 
 heard of. The county is honey-combed with rare 
 opportunities for making money, and with East- 
 ern men here with their thrift and splendid econ- 
 omy, as much could be attained here in one year 
 as could be secured in five in any part of the effete 
 and worn out East. For instance, we have quick- 
 silver mines to enlist the enterprise of the capital- 
 ist; wonderful mineral springs, equal to any in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 57 
 
 Europe, not out-done by the Spa or Sprudel waters 
 across the sea. Many of these springs could be 
 purchased, advertised, and become a mecca, to- 
 ward which thousands of invalids would turn for 
 health in the magic healing of the waters. The 
 culture of the grape will afford employment for 
 thousands, and its reward rich and lasting. With- 
 out enumerating, left me only mention, wheat, rye, 
 oats, barley, prunes, cherries, apricots, berries, 
 chickens, cattle, horses, stock raising, etc., and 
 work with all its severe sides is a pleasure, when 
 it can be performed under blue skies, in a balmy 
 clime, when the air is resonant with the fragrance 
 of sweet flowers. Let the Eastern man or wo- 
 man not forget that, while the heads of nails in 
 their dining rooms and kitchens are white from 
 frost, caused by the cold without, and when they 
 wade through the depths of white monotonous 
 snow drifts, that here we sit in the depth of your 
 winter by an open window and look out on a sea 
 of flowers, the rose, daffodil, morning glory, hya- 
 cinth, pansy and violet, all dressed in the gorg- 
 eous richness of color, at the same time filling the 
 air with their exhalations of sweet and intoxicat- 
 ing odors. In addition to all these favors which 
 heaven has lavished on this favored land, we have 
 here the highest civilization, and in every walk or 
 avenue is seen the features that make for good. 
 Both church and school are the best, and from 
 these homes of civilization go out daily the strong 
 characters in men and women to grace any place 
 or spot where they may call home. Both town 
 and county is a lexicon of Christian homes, where 
 purity and piety are as marked as it is in any 
 Eastern county or State, and no one will be sad- 
 dened by a change of residence from the Chris- 
 tian communities of Maine, Ohio, or any other 
 State for one here, on account of the anticipated 
 loss of religious atmosphere. 
 
58 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 CLIMATE OF NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 The following table, whicli is the record of tem- 
 perature from April to December, 1867, will serve 
 to indicate the general climate of the city: 
 
 Month. 
 
 April 15 
 
 ' 20-27 
 " 28.... 
 " 29 . . . 
 
 May I 
 
 " 2,3 
 
 " 4-10... 
 
 " II 
 
 " 12 
 
 " 13 
 
 " 14-21.. .. 
 
 " 22 
 
 " 25-27.... 
 
 " 28, 29, 30 
 
 " 31 
 
 June 
 
 1-5 •• 
 6.7.... 
 8,9 .. 
 
 10-14 . 
 
 15-19. 
 
 20 
 
 21, 22 
 
 23-25. 
 26-29. • 
 
 July 
 
 X 
 
 2, 3 
 
 4. . 
 
 5. ■• 
 6.... 
 
 8.... 
 9-1 1. 
 12, 13 
 
 14, 15. 
 16-18. 
 21, 22 
 23 . . . 
 24-27. 
 28, 29. 
 30. .. 
 31 ••• 
 
 Decs. 
 
 Min. Max. 
 
 60 
 60 
 60 
 
 60 
 50 
 62 
 
 70 
 80 
 
 75 
 
 65 
 70 
 70 
 
 67 
 60 
 60 
 60 
 68 
 65 
 65 
 
 65 
 65 
 65 
 60 
 80 
 
 85 
 78 
 70 
 66 
 70 
 70 
 60 
 64 
 
 65 
 
 67 
 
 65 
 70 
 
 66 
 90 
 80 
 60 
 
 70 
 6b 
 80 
 78 
 74 
 64 
 60 
 66 
 76 
 8 J 
 86 
 
 74 
 80 
 90 
 70 
 70 
 76 
 76 
 80 
 78 
 79 
 
 90 
 
 103 
 
 lOI 
 lOI 
 
 96 
 80 
 88 
 80 
 96 
 70 
 72 
 
 75 
 80 
 
 84 
 
 S2 
 
 Month. 
 
 August I 
 2, 
 
 3-5- •■ 
 6 
 
 7 
 
 8 
 
 10-13 • 
 14-16. 
 17, 18. 
 
 19 
 
 20, 21. 
 
 22 
 
 23, 24. 
 25, 26. 
 27, 28 
 29 ... . 
 30 ... . 
 31- • ■ 
 
 September i, 
 3- 
 
 4.... 
 5--. 
 6.7. 
 8-11. 
 12-14. 
 
 15-17- 
 18-21. 
 22... . 
 23-29. 
 
 October 7 . . 
 
 8, 9- 
 10.. 
 II.... 
 21.. . 
 " 31- . 
 
 November 7-9.. 
 '* 10, II. 
 
 " 22-29. 
 
 December i . . . . 
 
 15- ■■■ 
 
 Decs. 
 
 Min. Max. 
 
 64 
 68 
 65 
 65 
 70 
 60 
 70 
 70 
 68 
 60 
 
 65 
 60 
 
 65 
 70 
 62 
 60 
 70 
 65 
 
 65 
 70 
 68 
 60 
 58 
 54 
 54 
 60 
 70 
 
 65 
 60 
 
 50 
 55 
 70 
 70 
 60 
 60 
 
 Frost 
 60 
 
 55 
 
 50 
 50 
 
 75 
 80 
 
 75 
 74 
 86 
 
 75 
 85 
 78 
 80 
 70 
 80 
 70 
 80 
 
 85 
 70 
 
 75 
 80 
 
 75 
 
 75 
 80 
 
 75 
 70 
 
 75 
 70 
 66 
 
 75 
 90 
 80 
 70 
 
 65 
 72 
 80 
 
 75 
 So 
 70 
 
 64 
 70 
 70 
 
 62 
 62 
 
o 
 
 g; 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August 
 
 S 
 » 
 ■^ 
 
 > 
 
 o 
 
 cr 
 
 » 
 
 
 1-1 
 
 d 
 
 n 
 o 
 n 
 
 3 
 o* 
 
 ■-I 
 
 ? 
 
 •< 
 
 n 
 
 B 
 cr 
 f» 
 
 September 
 October... . 
 
 o 
 
 B 
 
 s 1 
 
 
 
 5 
 
 M 
 ON 
 
 
 
 to 
 
 bv 
 
 4^ 
 
 to 
 
 bo 
 
 
 Years 
 
 1866-67 
 
 
 M 
 
 .t>. 
 
 Ol 
 
 o 
 
 Oj 
 
 a^ 
 
 4:^ 
 
 
 Days 
 
 4:>. 
 On 
 
 8 
 
 
 
 
 0^ 
 
 
 ON 
 
 4i 
 
 CM 
 
 
 VI 
 
 Years 
 1867-68 
 
 2 1 
 
 4^ 
 
 
 \o 
 
 to 
 
 o 
 
 ^-4 
 
 to 
 
 00 
 
 vj 
 
 M M 
 
 Dajs 
 
 W 1 
 
 On 
 
 
 
 JO 
 
 vJD 
 4^ 
 
 
 00 
 
 o> 
 
 vb 
 
 4^^ 
 
 
 b 
 
 to 
 
 Years 
 1868-69 i 
 
 
 
 Oo 
 
 4^ 
 
 vD 
 
 Ol 
 
 to 
 
 l-H 
 
 to 
 
 M 
 
 Days 
 
 10 
 
 M 
 
 
 CTn 
 
 
 bo 
 
 4>. 
 
 bo 
 
 4^ 
 
 4i> 
 
 4^ 
 
 O 
 
 Ol 
 
 IH 
 
 to 
 
 4^ 
 Cn 
 
 vb 
 
 4^ 
 
 Years 
 1869-70 
 
 ^ 
 
 M M 
 
 OJ 
 
 a\ 
 
 ^-1 
 
 to 
 
 VO 
 
 VI 
 
 (0 
 
 to M 
 
 Days 
 
 *1 
 
 00 
 >o 
 
 b 
 
 
 to 
 
 M 
 
 bo 
 
 On 
 to 
 
 
 to 
 
 4i. 
 
 oo 
 
 •<i 
 
 to 
 
 
 Years 
 1870-71 
 
 ■^ 
 
 M M 
 
 *- 
 
 4^ 
 
 ^1 
 
 ::; 
 
 v^t 
 
 0^ 
 
 4^ 
 
 M 
 
 Days 
 
 
 b 
 
 b 
 
 M 
 
 4^ 
 00 
 
 M 
 
 'as 
 
 M 
 
 VO 
 
 to 
 to 
 
 C^ 
 
 o 
 
 'Years 
 1871-72 i 
 
 0\ 
 
 
 M 
 
 CTn 
 
 •VI 
 
 VO 
 
 o 
 
 CTn 
 
 00 
 
 l-l 
 
 Days 
 
 O 
 
 
 
 6i 
 
 b 
 
 Ol 
 
 to 
 
 b 
 *>• 
 
 vj 
 
 NO 
 
 C^J 
 
 V^l 
 
 4=> 
 
 b 
 
 CO 
 
 Years 
 
 1872-73 1 
 
 
 „ 
 
 .^^ 
 
 4^ 
 
 c!n 
 
 00 
 
 VO 
 
 Oi 
 
 M 
 
 1 Days 1 
 
 00 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 00 
 
 
 b 
 
 00 
 to 
 
 vO 
 
 •VI 
 
 4i. 
 
 VJl 
 
 Years ; 
 1873-74 
 
 -4 
 
 4i. 
 
 1 H 
 
 *^ 
 
 as 
 
 
 o 
 
 
 VO 
 
 C^J 
 
 M M 
 
 1 Day 
 
 to 
 4^ 
 
 
 CO 
 
 
 to 
 
 
 CO 
 
 On 
 
 a 
 
 00 
 vb 
 
 4^ 
 
 vj 
 
 Years 
 
 1874-75 
 
 
 1 Cn 
 
 K> 
 
 
 Vl 
 
 
 M 
 
 C/o 
 
 vO 
 
 VO tH 
 
 1 Days 
 
 
 
 
 IH 
 
 00 
 
 bo 
 
 Ol 
 
 VX 
 
 
 
 CO 
 bo 
 
 M 
 
 to 
 
 Years 
 1875-76 
 
 CO 
 
 
 o* 
 
 Oi 
 
 o 
 
 ^s 
 
 .2 
 
 vO 
 
 M 
 
 to 
 
 1 Days 
 
 Years 
 
 1876-77 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 •<I 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 to to 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 M 
 
 
 to 
 
 VJ 10 
 
 1 Days 
 
 ST" 
 
 H 
 
 
 
 f» 
 
 
 
 
 0^ 
 
 
 :z: 
 
 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 ^ 
 
 
 p 
 
 a 
 
 
 n 
 
 w 
 
 
 
 
 p 
 
 
 ^^ 
 
 cr" 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 r» 
 
 
 ^ 
 
 f» 
 
 
 
 & 
 
 5' 
 
 
 
 CO 
 
 5^ 
 
 
 1 
 
 ;> 
 
 
 vl 
 
 1— 1 
 
 
 FT 
 
 !z! 
 
 
 CO 
 
 > 
 
 
 0^ 
 
 r" 
 
 
 vJ 
 
 r" 
 
 (W 
 
 TEMPERATURE. 
 
 I RAINFAI,L FOR I9OO 
 
 DATE 
 
 January . . 
 February . 
 March .... 
 
 April 
 
 May 
 
 June 
 
 July 
 
 August. . . . 
 September 
 October ... 
 NoTember 
 December 
 
 MAXI- 
 MUM. 
 
 64 
 72 
 81 
 80 
 96 
 
 94 
 
 96 
 
 106 
 
 102 
 
 91 
 89 
 63 
 
 MINI- 
 MUM 
 
 33 
 
 32 
 36 
 
 34 
 38 
 45 
 51 
 45 
 40 
 37 
 38 
 30 
 
 49.6 
 52 I 
 56.6 
 
 55.5 
 62.8 
 66.8 
 68 8 
 66.1 
 64.5 
 606 
 57-2 
 48.4 
 
 2.84 
 
 .41 
 2.90 
 1.60 
 
 •31 
 
 .00 
 
 ,00 
 
 .10 
 
 1.50 
 
 6.33 
 
 2.21 
 
 18.20 inches 
 
 f'or the last 
 table we are 
 indebted to Mr, 
 Wm, Martin 
 showing rain- 
 fall of 1900. 
 
60 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 COUNTY INFIRMARY. 
 
 In accordance with an act of the Legislature, 
 approved April 18th, 1867, it was ordered by the 
 Board of Supervisors, March 18th, 1868, that they 
 proceed to establish an infirmary in Napa county. 
 March 10, 1869, bids for the erection of buildings 
 were advertised for, and April 13th, of that year, 
 the contract was let to Beeby, Robinson & Son, 
 for the sum of |81,218.55. The building was com- 
 pleted August 2d, of the same year, and is located 
 in a spacious tract of land to the southwest of 
 Napa city, a short distance. 
 
 In 1869 the following tax statistics were from 
 the Assessor's books: 
 
 Value of real estate in Napa County . . |2,538,089 
 Value of personal property in Napa Co. 1,075,164 
 
 Total 13,613,253 
 
 Number of acres taxed, 211,131. 
 
 State tax on above |35,115.87 
 
 County tax on above 66,973 . 55 
 
 Road poll tax collected 4,125 . 00 
 
 Road district tax collected 9,050.00 
 
 Dog tax collected 804 . 00 
 
 Total tax collected |116,068.42 
 
 OLD DEBT FUNDED. 
 
 In accordance with an act of the Legislature, 
 approved April 16th, 1880, the Board of Supervis- 
 ors funded the debt of the county as follows: Rail- 
 road debt of 1228,000, bearing interest of 10 per 
 cent, to 6 per cent, payable June 30th, 1900; and 
 the road district indebtedness of about |80,000, 
 funde<l from 7 per cent, to 4^ per cent., payable 
 ;june 30th, 1890. 
 
: i NAPA COUNTY. 61 
 
 RAILEOAD HISTORY. 
 
 There is no subject more closely allied to the 
 general history of Napa county than the railroad 
 which extends through Napa valley, and for 
 which the people have to pay but do not own. It 
 is not within our province to comment on matters 
 of this kind, but to give the facts as recorded in 
 the press and records of the county, and leave the 
 reader to draw his own conclusions. 
 
 The first mention of a railroad enterprise of any 
 kind in Napa county, is found under date of De- 
 cember 26th, 1863, which states that a company 
 has been organized in San Francisco for the pur- 
 pose of constructing a railroad from Vallejo to 
 Calistoga. No further mention is made of this 
 company, and it is fair to presume that nothing 
 more was ever done by it. 
 
 In 1864 the ball for the Napa Valley Railroad 
 was set to rolling. On January 9th, of that year, 
 we find that subscription books to stock in this en- 
 terprise were opened at the bank and the store of 
 A. Y. Easterby & Co. 
 
 March 26th of that year, Hon. Chancellor Hart- 
 son introduced a bill before the Legislature pro- 
 viding for the issuance of county bonds to the 
 amount of |225,000 to aid the project. It was pro- 
 vided that bonds should be issued at the rate of 
 |10,000 per mile for the first five miles constructed 
 and $5,000 for the remaining thirty-five on to Cal- 
 istoga. This proposition was to be submitted to 
 a vote of the people. It was argued that all the 
 lands along the line of the road would be enhanc- 
 ed in value at least ten per cent., and that would 
 more than remunerate the added tax. 
 
 April 4th, 1864, the Hartson bill was approved 
 by the Governor and its provisions as finally pass- 
 ed, were, in brief, as follows: The Board of Super- 
 
€2 
 
 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 visors shall call a special election, to be held on 
 the second Wednesday in May next (1864), to vote 
 on the proposition of the taking of railroad stock 
 by the county at the rate of |10,000 per mile for 
 the first five miles, and |5,000 per mile for each 
 mile thereafter. Two miles of the road must be 
 completed before any money can be paid on it, 
 and the bonds shall be of the denominations of 
 §=10,000 and |5,000 each, and shall have coupons 
 attached for interest, and the interest shall be 
 payable on the second day of January of each 
 year. A tax shall be levied not to exceed 25 cents 
 on the flOO, for the purpose of raising a fund for 
 the payment of said bonds, to be known as the 
 Kailroad Fund. 
 
 In accordance with the provisions of the above 
 act an election was held May 11th, 18G4, which 
 resulted as follows: 
 
 NAME OF PRECINCT. 
 
 Railroad | Majority 
 
 No I Yes I No | Yes 
 
 Gordon Valley 
 Hot Springs . . 
 
 INapa 
 
 Yount .... . . 
 
 St. Helena . . . 
 Soscol 
 
 Totals 168 4861211339 
 
 23 
 1 
 47 
 40 
 36 
 21 
 
 2 
 
 21! 
 
 86 
 
 or 
 
 1 
 
 49 
 
 
 92 
 
 1 
 • • 1 
 
 22 
 
 
 — 
 
 — 1" 
 
 85 
 188 
 
 9 
 56 
 
 1 
 
 After this election, and during the same month, 
 the company was organized and elected the fol- 
 lowing officers: President, C. Hartson; Vice-Pres- 
 ident, A. Y. Easterby; Treasurer, Sam Brannan 
 and Secretary A. A. Cohen. 
 
 June 13th, 1864, the Board of Supervisors offi- 
 cially complied with the requirements of the act 
 of the Legislature of April 4th, 1864 and subscrib- 
 ed to the stock of the railroad company for the 
 county of Napa in the amount of $10,000 per mile 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 63 
 
 for the first five miles completed and |5,000 per 
 mile for each subsequent mile completed. 
 
 Outside of the subscriptions of the county many 
 private citizens subscribed very liberally toward 
 the enterprise, agreeing also to donate a right of 
 way sixty feet wide through their lands. These 
 subscribers were as follows: S. Brannan, |3,000; 
 A. A. Cohen, |3,000; II. B. Woodward, |3,000; C. 
 Mayne, |3,000; C. Hartson, |2,000; N. Ooombs, 
 $2,000; W. E. Garrison, |3,000; E. J. Weeks, 
 $5,000; J. Graves, |2,000; T. Knight, |2,000; G. C. 
 Yount, $2,000; S. Alstrom, $3,000; C. F. Lotti, 
 $3,000; H. Barroilhet, $3,000; J. H. Goodman, 
 $1,000; A. Y. Easterby, $1,000; J. Lawley, $1,000; 
 Smith Brown, $1,000; C. S. Hastings, $1,000; G. 
 W. Crowley, $1,000; George Fellows, $1,000; J. S. 
 Trubody, $1,000; H. Fowler, $1,000; E. Stanley, 
 $500; J. F. Lambdin, $500; C. H. Holmes, $500; 
 R. Ellis, $100 and W. Hargrave $500. The follow- 
 ing subscriptions were added: R. B. Woodward, 
 $2,000; S. Brannan, $5,000; J. Trubody, $2,000, and 
 sundry persons $3,000. 
 
 The first ground was broken for the building of 
 the railway on November 21st, 1864, a short dis- 
 tance below Napa city. 
 
 A tax of twenty-five cents on the $100 was lev- 
 ied for 1864, by the Board of Supervisors in ac- 
 cordance with the provisions of the railway bill. 
 
 By January 10th, 1865, the road was completed 
 as to the grading and track-laying, from Soscol to 
 Napa city. It was built by Messrs. Patterson and 
 Gray, for the sum of $32,000. The rolling stock, 
 which had been ordered, consisted of two cars, 
 with a capacity of 105 passengers and a pony 
 engine. The track entered Napa city by the way 
 of Main street, and was laid along that street to 
 Third. Some of our readers will remember the 
 old arrangement in regard to this. The rolling 
 
64 NAPA COUNTY, 
 
 stock did not arrive until July 1st, 1865, and on 
 the eleventh of that month the first train passed 
 over the track. A collation was spread at the 
 Revere house and free rides were given to all 
 those who wished to embrace the opportunity. 
 At the first annual election the following officers 
 were chosen: President, A. Y. Easterby; Vice- 
 President, E. B. Woodward; Secretary, A. Bad- 
 lam, Jr.; Treasurer, S. Brannan; Directors, S. 
 Branuau, A. Y. Easterby, C. Mayne, J. H. Good- 
 man, J. Lawley, C. Hartson and E. B. Woodward. 
 
 November 4th, 1865, a new locomotive was 
 purchased to take the place of the "Pony," which 
 had first been put on the road. The driving wheel 
 was four and a half feet in diameter, and the cost 
 of the engine was $9,000. It was named Napa 
 city. 
 
 The business done by this little railroad at that 
 time may be gleaned from the folowing report, 
 rendered December 31st, 1865, and covers the first 
 six months of its existence: 
 Receipts. 
 
 Passengers |2,525 . 75 
 
 Freight 2,213.63 
 
 14,739.38 
 Expenses. 
 
 Fuel, oil, etc | 841.69 
 
 Salaries 1,969.60 
 
 12,811.20 
 
 Total profits |1,928.09 
 
 Average per month 321.35 
 
 Which demonstrated the amount of interest the 
 road was paying on the investment. The trains 
 ran to Soscol, where connection was made with a 
 steamer for San Francisco. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 65 
 
 In January, 1866, Mr. Hartson introduced a bill 
 before the Legislature providing for tlie addition- 
 al subscription by the county of Napa of 1 15,000 
 per mile to the proposed railroad from Napa city 
 to Calistoga. 
 
 This met with great opposition and the follow- 
 ing petition was signed quite extensively and sent 
 to the State Senate: 
 
 "To the Honorable House of Representatives of 
 California: We, the undersigned citizens of Napa 
 county, respectfully protest against any bill ap- 
 propriating or in any manner using the money or 
 credit of the county for the purpose of making or 
 building a railroad from Napa city to Calistoga, 
 or to or from any other place in said countv. The 
 reasons for thus protesting are in point as follows: 
 The road will not pay the expenses of running 
 when completed, therefore every dollar subscribed 
 or loaned by the county will be lost, and have to 
 be collected by taxation from taxpayers, amount- 
 ing to more than one-tenth of the assessable valu- 
 ation of the whole county. It Avill not be of any 
 practicable use to more than one-fifteenth of the 
 agricultural lands of the count}^, and we believe 
 not one-fourth of the people of the county will be 
 benefited thereby; that the county is already 
 deeply indebted for a subscription made to a road 
 already constructed; that in consideration and in 
 consequence of the present high taxation from 
 various sources, it will place a burden too heavy 
 to be borne, and that it will be a gross injustice 
 to put a heavy tax on the whole for the benefit of 
 the few." 
 
 The above petition did not prevent the passage 
 of the Hart son bill. It w^as approved January 25, 
 1866. Its provisions were as follows: The Boar<l 
 of Supervisors shall direct a special election 
 to be held on the third Wednesday of February, 
 
66 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 1866, for the purpose of voting on the proposition 
 of taking- stock in the railroad to the extent of 
 110,000 per mile for each mile of the portion of 
 the said road which is unfinished within the lim- 
 its of the county of Napa. The Board may lev}^ a 
 tax sufficient to pay the interest on the bonds; 
 and in the year 1880, and every year thereafter, 
 till all the bonds are paid, the Board may levy a 
 tax not to exceed fifty cents on the |100 for the 
 payment of the bonds. 
 
 The passage of this bill fell like a bombshell 
 upon the community. 
 
 Every man who opposed the measure appointed 
 himself a committee of one to secure votes against 
 what they termed an outrage. On this subject the 
 Register, under the date of February 17th, 1860, 
 said: 
 
 "Every voter in the country who values his home 
 and property should turn out on Wednesday next 
 (the 21st), and vote against the scheme which, if 
 successful, will surely bring bankruptcy and ruin 
 upon himself and family. By voting No upon the 
 railroad bill he will discharge a duty required by 
 every consideration of reason and justice toward 
 himself and all who are dependent upon him. Let 
 no lack of interest in the matter keep men from 
 the polls or prevent them from working for the 
 defeat of the iniquitous and burdensome measure. 
 Its defeat will be worth more to every farmer 
 than the entire value of his crops, and no fears of 
 pecuniary loss by leaving work should cause any 
 man to stay away from the polls on that day. Its 
 friends are working for its success and having an 
 abundance of means wherewith to control the 
 vote of the floating population, will make close 
 work, for us, even with our strength." 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 87 
 
 When the day of election came, February 21st, 
 1866, it was demonstrated that the people had all 
 the railroad debt to carry that they desired, and 
 that they would have no more, as will be seen by 
 consulting the following vote: 
 
 NAME OF PRECINCT 
 
 Subsidy- 
 Yes I No 
 
 Majority- 
 Yes I No 
 
 St. Helena 
 
 Calistoga 
 
 Soscol 
 
 Xapa city . . 
 
 Cameras 
 
 Gordon valley 
 
 Las Putas 
 
 Sebastopol 
 
 Pope 
 
 Totals 
 
 115 
 
 143 
 
 25 
 
 66 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 66 
 
 1 
 
 416 
 
 69 
 3 
 75 
 636 
 38 
 43 
 15 
 94 
 64 
 
 1037 
 
 46 i 
 
 140 ! 
 
 50 
 570 
 38 
 43 
 15 
 28 
 63 
 
 1861807 
 
 The votes of Cameras, Gordon valley and Pope 
 precincts were rejected on the grounds that there 
 were no evidences that the officers of election 
 were sworn. This reduced the majority to 477, 
 which was, all things considered, very conclusive. 
 
 The railroad parties had gotten a backset at the 
 above election, but that did not daunt them any. 
 They set about a grander scheme than ever was 
 foisted upon a people, and a bill was passed which 
 provided that an election should be held for the 
 purpose of deciding whether or not the railroad 
 company should have donated to them, as a free 
 gift, the entire amount of bonds that had been 
 previously voted. About the same time a party 
 sprang into existence who advocated the feasibil- 
 ity of a macadamized road to Calistoga instead of 
 a railroad. Finally the matter was settled in an 
 
6S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 election held September 5th, 1866, at which the 
 proposition of a macadamized road and the dona- 
 tion of the bonds to the railroad company v/ere 
 both voted upon. The vote was as follows: 
 
 I Macad- . Doaation 
 j amized to 
 
 NAMES OF PRECINCTS I Road | Railroad 
 
 Yes I No ' Yes | No 
 
 Napa .... 
 Sebastopol 
 St. Helena . 
 Calistoga . . 
 Pope valley 
 
 Totals 
 
 761192 
 
 3 
 
 82 
 
 60 
 82 
 50 
 18 
 
 61|202 
 54: 12 
 73; 11 
 
 541... 
 . .1 IS 
 
 402 241 ''243 
 
 Majorities j . . |320| . . . i 2 
 
 It will be seen by the above that the vote was 
 not nearly as large as at the previous election, 
 and that the railroad company only lacked three 
 votes of having a majority. The people seemevl 
 to realize that they would be swindled out of the 
 bonds any way, so they might as well let them go 
 by default. 
 
 A new trouble now presented itself to the rail- 
 road company. The Board of Supervisors refused 
 to issue the bonds in accordance with the provis- 
 ions of the act of the Legislature, and the vote of 
 the people. A mandamus w^as served upon the 
 Board to compel them to issue the bonds, which 
 they contested and the matter was carried to the 
 Supreme Court, which body decided that the 
 Board must subscribe to the stock, wliich was ac- 
 cordingly done to the amount of |194,000. The fol- 
 lowing list will show the date of issuance, num- 
 bers of the bonds issued and total amount issued 
 on each several day: 
 
NAPA 
 
 COUNTY. 
 
 69 
 
 Date. 
 
 Number 
 
 Total. 
 
 October 15, 1886 
 
 1-60 
 
 1 30,000 
 
 May 7, 1867 
 
 61-171 
 
 14,500 
 
 June 4, 1867 
 
 172-191 
 
 10,000 
 
 June 20, 1867 
 
 192-211 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 3, 1867 
 
 212-231 
 
 10,000 
 
 July 18, 1867 
 
 232-251 
 
 10,000 
 
 August 15, 1867 
 
 252-271 
 
 10,000 
 
 September 10, 1867 
 
 272-291 
 
 10,000 
 
 December 10, 1867 
 
 292-311 
 
 10,000 
 
 February 29, 1868 
 
 312-331 
 
 10,000 
 
 May 20, 1868 
 
 332-371 
 
 20,000 
 
 July 21, 1868 
 
 372-411 
 
 20,000 
 
 August 24, 1868 
 
 412-424 
 
 6,500 
 
 December 19, 1868 
 
 425-468 
 
 22,000 
 
 January 14, 1869 
 
 469-470 
 
 1,000 
 
 Total 
 
 
 ..$194,000 
 
 In April, 1867, the work of constructing the 
 road up the valley was begun with Calistoga as 
 the objective point. September 2d, 1867, the rate 
 of interest tax on railroad bonds was increased 
 ten cents on the |100. In October, 1868, the road 
 was completed to Calistoga, and a grand excur- 
 sion was had. Samuel Brannan, with his charac- 
 teristic hospitality, assumed the role of host upon 
 the occasion and feasted everybody right royally. 
 
 May 27th, 1869, the Napa Valley Railroad was 
 sold to jMessrs. Rulofson & Ryder, for the sum of 
 1500,000, which put the road under the manage- 
 ment of the California Pacific. 
 
 Capt. N. A. Green, who was the first conductor 
 on the Napa Valley Railroad, was accidently kill- 
 ed on the Western Pacific Railroad, October 28th, 
 1869. 
 
 January 1st, 1871, the right of way was granted 
 to the railroad through Main street, Napa, but 
 it was never used further than Third street. 
 
lit NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 After the road was extended to Calistoga, trains 
 used to run up to the depot, at the corner of 
 Fourth and Main streets and then back down 
 and strike the main track in the vicinity of the gas 
 works, and then pass out through the western 
 portion of town. January 4th, 1877, the change to 
 the present route through East Napa was made, 
 The entire length of road in the county is forty- 
 one miles. 
 
 COURT HOUSE. 
 
 Napa county has had three Court houses. With 
 the organization of the county in 1850, came, of 
 course, the necessity for public buildings. At 
 the December term of the Court of Sessions, a 
 contract was let for the building of a Court house: 
 "AVhich shall be 20x30 feet in size, erected of good 
 substantial materials, with a corridor the whole 
 lenglh, six feet wide, covered overhead by an ex- 
 tension of the roof, the stairs to be in said corri- 
 dor. Outside— The second story to be divided by a 
 hall four feet wide, running through the center, 
 and into four rooms, 10x13 each, all rooms to be 
 ceiled, both walls and overhead; seven doors and 
 fifteen windows; a plain desk and railing for the 
 box, and six benches, each eight feet long.-' 
 
 This building was located on the northwest cor- 
 ner of Coombs and Second streets, just west of the 
 Ilevere house, and was a small two-story building, 
 innocent of plastering, with court room below and 
 Clerk's office above. Persons sentenced for a long 
 time were confined in the adobe jail at Sonoma, 
 while petty offenders were placed in the upper 
 rooms of the Court house. The court room was 
 often used as a place of worship, also for itiner- 
 ant lecturers, jugglers, etc. 
 
 Among the first acts of the legislature in ref- 
 erence to Napa county, is the following: ^'The 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 71 
 
 Court of Sessions may levy a tax not to exceed 
 one-fourth of one per cent, for the purpose of 
 building a Court house."' 
 
 The subsequent history of the building is thus 
 recorded in the Register: "The fire on Monday, 
 August 25th, 1875, destroyed a historic building. 
 This structure was the first Court house in Napa. 
 It was an old two-story frame building which was 
 framed in the East, and brought around the Horn 
 in 1849 by a Mr. Ely, (afterwards an attorney in 
 San Francisco), and bought by the county for 
 county purposes. It did its duty in this capacity 
 until about 1855, having the Clerk's and perhaps 
 other offices in it, and also apartments for petty 
 malefactors, who were chained down to the floor. 
 AVhen the county sold it, C. Hartsou bought it and 
 moved to where it stood when it was destroyed. 
 The building was 20x40 and had a mate which 
 was built in the East and came to this county 
 with it." This building was then the residence of 
 R. Peddle, on the east side of Main street. 
 
 The matter of a new Court house began to agi- 
 tate the minds of the people in 1855, as by that 
 time the old building had become inadequate in 
 all respects, and the want of a jail was keenly felt. 
 Accordingly bids were advertised for, and on Au- 
 gust 11th, 1855, the Board of Supervisors accepted 
 the bid of Messrs. Webb & Kincade of San Fran- 
 cisco, for the sum of |19,480. This action did not 
 seem to meet with the approval of the people, and 
 on the 31st of the same month the Board rescind- 
 ed their action in the matter and submitted it to 
 a vote of the people, at the following general elec- 
 tion, which occurred September 7th of that year. 
 
 There is nothing on record to show w^hat the der 
 cision of the voters was at that election in refer- 
 ence to the matter. We find, however, that on 
 April 8th, 1858, the Board of Supervisors received 
 
72 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 a remonstrance signed by the citizens of Yount 
 township, against the erection of a Court house 
 and jail. 
 
 A Court liouse, however, had to be built, for f he 
 old one would not longer answer the purpose. 
 Therefore, we find on May 5th, 1856, despite ihe 
 remonstrance, the follow^ing gentlemen were ap- 
 pointed by the County Judge for the purpose of 
 selecting and appraising a site for the new county 
 building: R. M. Hill, Riley Gregg and Cxeorg*^ X. 
 Cornwall. They decided that the location shoul 1 
 be the same as was then occupied by the Court 
 house and that the building should be built so 
 that the center of the building should be on .he 
 center of the lot east and west, and the front of 
 the building on the center of the lot north and 
 south, the building to front to the north. 
 
 The corner stone of this building was laid with 
 appropriate ceremonies by the Masonic fraternity, 
 in the presence of a large number of the citizens 
 of Napa. On the side of the stone was the following- 
 inscription: "Laid July 29, A. D. 1856, A. L. 5856, 
 by W.H.Howard, Grand Past Master of Masons for 
 California.''' When this building was torn down to 
 give idace for a new structure in 1878, the con- 
 tents of the stone were removed They wei'.' 
 found to be a number of time blackened and mil 
 dewed pamphlets and newspapers and several 
 coins. It was a wonder that the newspapers were 
 So well preserved as they were, as there was no 
 lining to the cavity in the stone. Some of the pa- 
 pers were almost rotied, but by careful handling 
 could be read. The coins were one three-dollar 
 gold piece, one fl.OO issued 1856, a silver half and 
 quai'ter dollar of the same date, two dimes and 
 one 3-cent piece. 
 
 The jail cells were made of boiler iron, three- 
 sixteenths of an inch thick, well riveted together, 
 
Napa County Court H< 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 73 
 
 the top to be punched with half-inch holes, six of 
 them to the square foot. The doors were grated 
 and securely hinged, the floor of the jail was of 
 brick, laid edgewise and cemented. 
 
 Originally the jail occupied two-thirds of the 
 lower floor. All the offices on the lower floor, 
 except those of the Sheriff and Clerk, were con- 
 structed five years afterwards. The whole of the 
 second story has been again and again remodeled. 
 The cupola was originally at the east end of 
 the building instead of the center where it was 
 when torn down. Probably no other building un- 
 derwent so many costly changes as did this one. 
 It is stated by the local newspapers that from 
 ^50,000 to 160,000 was expended on this building 
 from first to last. The original cost was |30,T40 
 and it as completed and occupied by the Board of 
 Supervisors December 16th, 1856. The Court 
 house plaza was occupied by Lawley and Lefferts 
 as a lumber yard during 1855. After the erection 
 of the county buildings, the Supervisors contract- 
 ed with John H. Waterson to construct a fence 
 around it for .$572. In 1857, A. D. Pryal took the 
 contract for grading the grounds and planting 
 shrubbery, the expense of which was paid 
 partly by the Supervisors, .|200, and by subscrip- 
 tions from the citizens, |300. In 1871, the Board 
 of Supervisors adopted the following resolution: 
 "That any permanent repairs on the old Court 
 house will be unwise and inexpedient and a waste 
 of the public money." Shortly afterwards the 
 Judge deemed the building unsafe so that he re- 
 fused to hold court in it any longer. Strange as 
 it may seem two years expired before any action 
 was taken. Finally on April 6th, 1876, the follow- 
 ing resolution was adopted by the Board: 
 "That the Board think it advisable to build a new 
 Court house and jail for the accommodation of 
 
74 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Napa county." Deweese, KobiDSon, Mecklenberg 
 and Safely voting for, and Ink and Harris against 
 the adoption of the resolution. Still two more 
 ;years passed before bids were asked for, and it 
 was not until June 25th, 1878, that the contract 
 was let on plans drawn by Ira Gilchrist, to John 
 Cox, for the sum of |50,990. 
 
 The old Court house was sold to D. Ross for 
 .^400. The bonds for the new Court house were 
 placed on the market August, 1878 and sold for 6^ 
 l>er cent, premium to F. H. Woods. 
 
 The corner stone to the new building was laid 
 vSeptember 21st, 1878, by the Masonic fraternity, 
 to the number of eighty, headed by the Napa 
 brass band. The majority of those in line were 
 the members of Yount Lodge, No. 12 of Napa city. 
 There were also delegations from the Lodges at 
 St. Helena and Calistoga. The distinguished 
 Masons from abroad were: Dr. J. M. Brown, Most 
 Worshipful Grand Master and J. W. Shafer, 
 Grand Lecturer. The assemblage was called to 
 order by F. E. Johnson, W. M. of Yount Lodge, 
 who stated that before the exercises would beirin 
 J. W. Brayton would photograph the scene, which 
 was soon done. The platform was filled by ladies 
 and members of the Masonic Order. The exer- 
 ( ises were opened by a Masonic hymn to the tune 
 of "America," which was rendered by the choir, 
 consisting of J. A. Keller, organist; Mrs. Richard 
 Wylie, soprano; Mrs. Dennis Spencer, contralto; 
 l*rof. W. A. Packard, tenor and C. B. Stone, bass. 
 The oration was by Dr. J. M. Brown, M. W. G. M. 
 of the Grand Lodge of California, which was brief 
 and appropriate. 
 
 At the close of the oration there was music by 
 the choir and then the laying of the corner stone, 
 a beautiful and impressive ceremony. 
 
r NAPA COUNTY. 78 
 
 The inscription on the stone was as follows: 
 Laid, July 29, 1856. 
 Relaid, September 21, 1878. 
 
 The contents of the metal box deposited in the 
 corner stone were of the usual character, together 
 with all which was removed from the former 
 stone. 
 
 The building was completed and accepted by 
 the Board of Supervisors on February 17th, 1879. 
 All the brick used in the construction of the (Jourt 
 house and jail was made at the old brick yards on 
 the Sonoma road. The dimensions of the house 
 are 95x86 feet, the outer walls are sixteen inches 
 thick and are held together by iron rods iirmly 
 imbedded in the foundation and extending to the 
 plate on top of the walls. The jail is 58x30 feet 
 outside, the walls being bound together with iron 
 bands, renders them very solid. The outer walls 
 were coated with Rosendale cement, adding much 
 to the beauty of the building. The cornice is of 
 galvanized iron. 
 
 The jail is eight feet from the Court house, on 
 the Brown street side, and is connected with it by 
 a small hallway, the entrance of which is securely 
 guarded by iron doors. The floor beneath the low- 
 er cells was first prepared by putting in earth live 
 feet deep, being thoroughly tamped, over which 
 was put two feet of concrete, which became as 
 solid as a rock, over this after the cells wew com- 
 pleted, was put a thick coat of asphaltum. The 
 jail contains twenty-two cells and is well lighted, 
 well ventilated and contains every convenience. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF NAPA COUNTY 
 
 ORGANIZATION OF THE COUNTY. 
 
 Prior to the first partition of the State into 
 counties, the section now known as Napa had b.?en 
 included in the district of Sonoma, a division 
 
76 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 which originated with the Mexican authorities 
 during their power and that included all the coun- 
 ties now lying west of the Sacramento river, be- 
 tween the Bay of San Francisco, and the Oregon 
 line; it had not been interfered with on the oc- 
 casion of American rule, but retained the official 
 designation given it by the Spaniards. 
 
 In accordance with Section 14, of Article XII, 
 of the Constitution, it was provided that the State 
 be divided into counties and Senatorial and As- 
 sembly Districts, and at the first session of the 
 Legislature, whicli opened at San Jose, December 
 15, 1849, there was passed, and approved Febru- 
 ary 8, 1850, "An Act subdividing the State into 
 counties and establishing the seats of justice 
 therein," which directed that the boundary lines 
 of Napa county should be as follows: 
 
 Commencing in the Napa river at the mouth of 
 Soscol creek, and running up said creek to the 
 point of said creek nearest to the range of moun- 
 tains dividing Napa, valley from Suisun valley; 
 thence in a direct line to the nearest point of said 
 range; thence along the summit of said range 
 northwesterly to its northern extremity; thence 
 due north to the fortieth ])arallel of north lati- 
 tude; thence due west twenty miles; thence south- 
 westerly to the nearest point of the range of moun- 
 tains dividing Napa valley from Sonoma valley; 
 thence southwesterly along said range of moun- 
 tains to its termination in Carnero mountain; 
 thence in a direct line to the nearest point of Car- 
 nero creek; thence down said creek to its junction 
 with Napa river; thence to the place of beginning. 
 The seat of justice shall be Napa city. 
 
 It will be seen that the t<'rritory embraced in 
 the above boundaries included all of what is now 
 known as Lake county. There were no changes in 
 these lines until April 10, 1852, when an act of 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 77 
 
 the Legislature defined the boundaries of Napa 
 county as follows: 
 
 Commencing in Napa river at the mouth of Sos- 
 col creek, and running up said creek to the point 
 of said creek nearest to the range of mountains 
 dividing Napa valley from Suisun valley; thence 
 in a direct line to the nearest point of said range; 
 thence in a northerly direction to the east side of 
 Chimiles or Corral valley; thence in a direct line 
 to the east side of Berryessa valley to the north- 
 ern end of said valley; thence in a northwesterly 
 direction to tlie outlet of Clear Lake; thence up 
 the middle of said lake to its head; thence in a 
 westerly direction to the northeast corner of So- 
 noma county; thence south along the easterly line 
 of said county to the place of beginning. 
 
 The boundary lines were not destined to remain 
 for any length of time the same, for on the fourth 
 day of April, 1855, we find that there was an act 
 passed by the Legislature to amend the above act 
 so as to make it read as follows: 
 
 Commencing at a point on the Guichica creek 
 where the said creek empties into San Pablo bay; 
 thence running in a direct line due east to the top 
 of the ridge of mountains dividing Napa valley 
 from Suisun valley; thence in a northerly direc- 
 tion along the top of said mountains to a point 
 parallel with the southern boundary of the ranch 
 known as the Chimiles Eancho; thence easterly 
 along said line to the top of the mountains known 
 as the Vaca mountains, which divide the Vaca 
 valley from the Chimiles Rancho; thence nortli- 
 erly along the top of the main ridge of said Vaca 
 mountains to the Putah creek; thence northerly 
 across said creek to the top of the mountains di- 
 viding Berryessa valley from Sacramento valley; 
 thence northerly along the top of said ridge to the 
 outlet of Clear lake; thence easterly to the top of 
 
7S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the mountains dividing Clear Lalve valley from 
 Sacramento valley; thence northerly along the 
 top of said mountains to the head of Clear lake; 
 thence westerly to the top of the mountains that 
 divide Clear lake valley from the Russian river 
 ^ alley ; thence along the top of said mountains to 
 a point on the top of said mountains one mile east 
 of the boundary line of the rancho known as 
 Fitche's Rancho on the Russian river; thence in a 
 direct line southerly to the westerly branch of the 
 head waters of the Guichica creek; thence wester- 
 ly to the top of the main ridge that divides Guich- 
 ica valley from Sonoma valley; thence in a south- 
 erly direction along said dividing ridge to the tule 
 bordering on San Pablo bay; thence southerly to 
 the center of Guichica creek; thence following 
 the center of said creek to its mouth, the place of 
 beginning. The county seat shall be Napa city. 
 
 The boundary lines of Napa county re- 
 mained as above described for some time, 
 but there was considerable effort made by 
 the Solano county people to change them, 
 on account of some trouble growing otit of 
 the fact that the people had been assessed and 
 taxed by Napa county that were residents of So- 
 lano cotint3^; the facts were the parties who had 
 thus paid their taxes into Napa county evidently 
 were more desirotis of living in Napa county than 
 Solano county. This trouble caused constant irri- 
 tation and the feeling got so high that members 
 of the Legislature saw that something had to be 
 done to quiet the feeling of animosity that was 
 being fostered between the sister counties. Ac- 
 cordingly a commission was appointed to arbi- 
 trate^ in the matter. Judge Warmcastle, of Contra 
 Costa county; Hon. William S. Wells, of Solano 
 county; and Judge J. B. ITorrell, of Napa county, 
 composed this commission. When they came to in- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 79 
 
 vestigate they found the disputed territory right- 
 fully belonged to Solano county, but the citizens 
 were unanimous in their desire to live in Napa 
 county. Taking all this into consideration, they 
 awarded to Solano county the amount of taxes 
 which had been collected by Napa county ind 
 also the costs of the commission. The ILrst 
 amount was |1,1T5.00 and the costs were between 
 three and four hundred dollars, making a total of 
 $1,500, Napa county had to pay Solano. The Com- 
 mission then awarded the disputed territory to 
 Napa county, about twenty thousand acres, mak- 
 ing a very cheap purchase of some very valuable 
 land for Napa county. 
 
 As stated above, the boundaries of Napa county 
 originally included all of the territory now known 
 as Lake county. In 1861, the organization of Lake 
 county and its boundaries were completed and 
 changed the boundaries of Napa as follows: 
 
 Commencing at the southeast corner of Mendo- 
 cino county; thence running in an easterly direc- 
 tion along the dividing ridge between Russian liv- 
 er and Knights valley on the west, and Clear lake 
 and Loconoma valleys on the east, to the high- 
 est point of Mount St. Helena; thence easterly to 
 the most northern point of Las Putas 
 ranch (known as the Berryessa ranch); thence 
 easterly in a direct line to a point where 
 the second standard line (United States 
 survey) crosses the line dividing Yolo and 
 Napa counties; thence northerly along the highest 
 ridge of mountains dividing the waters of the Sac- 
 ramento on the east, and Berryessa on the west, 
 until it intersects the line dividing Yolo and 
 Colusa counties; thence along the main ridge of 
 mountains dividing the waters of Long valley on 
 the east, and Clear lake on the west; thence up 
 said ridge to the sumndt of the Coast range; 
 
80 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 thence along the summit of Hulls mountain; 
 thence west in a direct line, to Mount St. Hedson; 
 thence southerly on the ridge dividing the Rus- 
 sian river on the west and Clear lake on the east, 
 to the place of beginning. 
 
 March 8, 1872, an act of the Legislature was ap- 
 proved which established the dividing line be- 
 tween Lake and Napa counties, much to the ad- 
 vantage of Napa, as follows: The northern 
 boundary line of Napa county and the south- 
 eastern boundarj^ line of Lake county shall 
 commence at the highest point of Mount St. 
 Helena; thence running in an easterly direction 
 along the present boundary line between said 
 counties to the Butts canyon road; thence north- 
 easterly, in a. direct line to the junction of Jericho 
 and Putah creeks; thence up Jericho creek to the 
 junction of Hunting creek, to a large pile of rocks 
 on the southeast side of the county road, at the 
 lower and most easterly end of Hunting valley; 
 thence in a straight line in the direction of the in- 
 tersection of Bear and Cache creeks to the county 
 line of Yolo county; thence along the line of Yolo 
 county in a southeasterly direction to the present 
 line dividing Yolo and Napa counties. 
 
 This act further provided thait the Board of Su- 
 pervisors of Napa county should order paid the 
 claim of Lake county for the sum of |3,500, and 
 that the Auditor of said county of Napa should 
 draw a warrant for the sum on the Treasurer of 
 said county, payable from the general fund, and 
 that the Treasurer of Napa county should pay the 
 same. Thus it will be seen that for the small sum 
 of |3,500, Napa county had a whole township, in- 
 cluding tlie village of Knoxville and the lleding- 
 ion and other mines added to her territory. 
 
 But the good luck of Napa county did not end 
 there, for in the month of May, 1872, it was dis- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 81 
 
 covered that the dividing line between Napa and 
 Sonoma counties, had not been properly located 
 in many respects, and that Napa county was en- 
 titled to the taxes on a. large portion of property 
 hitherto assessed in Sonoma county, including a 
 large share of the Bueua Vista vineyard, amount- 
 ing in all in value to -125,000 or more. 
 
 The Court of Sessions was composed of the 
 County Judge and two associates who vrere 
 chosen by the duh' elected and qualified Justices 
 of the Peace of the county from their number. Th<? 
 judicial jurisdiction of the Court of Sessions ex 
 tended to cases of assault, assault and battery^ 
 breaking of the peace, riot, affray, and petit lar- 
 ceny, and over all misdemeanors punishable by 
 fine not to exceed $500, or imprisonment not to 
 exceed three months or both. 
 
 From the organization of the county until the 
 year 1852, its affairs were controlled by the Court 
 of Sessions, but on "Slivy 2d of that year an a,ct 
 was passed entitled "An act to create a Board of 
 Supervisors in the counties of this State, and to 
 define their duties and povrers," which is contain- 
 ed in the ninth section of this act as follows : The 
 Board of Supervisors shall have power 
 and jurisdiction in their respective «'0un- 
 ties — First: To make orders respecting the 
 property of their county, in conformity with 
 any law of this State, and to care for and 
 preserve such property. Second: To examine, 
 settle, and allow all accounts legally charge- 
 able against the county, and to levy for the pur- 
 poses prescribed by law, such amount of taxes on 
 the assessed value of real and personal property 
 in the county, as may be authorized by law: 
 Provided, the salary of the County Judge need not 
 be audited by the Board; but the Auditor shall, 
 on the first judicial day of each month, draw his 
 
M NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 warrant on the County Treasurer in favor of the 
 County Judge as salary for the month preceding. 
 Third: To examine and audit the accounts of all 
 officers having the care, management, coUectioD 
 and disbursement of any money belonging to the 
 county, or appropriated b}^ law, or otherwise, for 
 its use and benefit. Fourth: To lay out, control 
 and manage public roads, turnpikes, ferries, and 
 bridges within the county, in all cases where the 
 law does not prohibit such jurisdiction, and to 
 make such orders as may be requisite and neces- 
 sary to carry its control and management into 
 effect. Fifth : To take care of and provide for the 
 indigent sick of the county. Sixth : To divide the 
 county into townships and to change the divisions 
 of the same and to create new townships, as the 
 convenience of the county may require. Seventh : 
 To establish and change election precincts, and 
 1o appoint inspectors and judges of election. 
 Eighth: To control and manage the property, real 
 and personal, belonging to the county, and to re- 
 ceive by donation any property for the use and 
 benefit of the country. Ninth: To lease or to pur- 
 chase any real or personal property necessary for 
 the benefit of the county; provided, no purchase 
 of real property shall be made unless the value of 
 the same be previously estimated by three disin- 
 terested persons, to be appointed for that purpose 
 by the County Judge. Tenth: To sell at public 
 auction, at the Court house of the county, after at. 
 least 30 days' previous public notice, and cause 
 to be conveyed, any property belonging to the 
 county, appropriating the proceeds to the use of 
 the same. Eleventh: To cause to be erected and 
 furnished, a Court house, jail, and such other pub- 
 lic buildings as may be necessary, and to keep the 
 same in repair; provided, that the contract for 
 building the Court house, jail, and such other 
 
NAPA COUNTY. tS 
 
 public buildings, be let out at least after thirty 
 days' previous public notice, in each case, of a 
 readiness to receive proposals therefor, to the low- 
 est bidder, who will give good and sufficient se- 
 curity for the completion of any contract which 
 he may make respecting the same; but no bid 
 shall be accepted which the Board may deem too 
 high. Twelfth: To control tlie prosecution and 
 defense in all suits in which the county is a party. 
 Thirteenth: To do and perform all such other acts 
 and things as may be strictly necessary to the full 
 discharge of the powers and jurisdiction conferred 
 on the Board. 
 
 In accordance with the provisions of the act 
 organizing a Board of Supervisors, the Court of 
 Sessions establish the following townships in 
 Napa county with the boundaries herein set 
 forth, on the sixth day of October, 1852: 
 
 No. 1, NAPA TOWNSHIP. 
 
 To comprise all that portion of Napa county 
 lying south of a line commencing at a point on 
 the western boundary of said county, directly 
 west of the most westerly portion of Dry creek in 
 said county; thence running due east to said 
 creek; thence down tlie middle of said creek to 
 its mouth; and thence due east to the eastern 
 boundary of said county. 
 
 No. 2, YOUNT TOWNSHIP. 
 
 To comprise all that portion of Napa county 
 between the northern boundary of Napa township 
 and a line running due east and west across 
 said county so as to pass through the center of 
 Hudson's Sulphur Springs in Napa valley. 
 
 No. 3, HOT SPRINGS TOWNSHIP. 
 To comprise and include all that portion of said 
 
S4 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 county not included in either of the foregoing 
 townships as described. 
 
 The election precincts of Napa county were es- 
 tablished on the same date by the Court of c^es- 
 sions as follows: 
 
 The townships of Napa and Yount shall each 
 constitute one electoral precinct, and the town- 
 ship of Hot Springs shall constitute two electoral 
 precincts, one of said precincts to comprise Pope 
 valley, Coyote valley and Clear Lake valley, and 
 to be called West Precinct; and the other precinct 
 to comprise all the rest of the township; to be 
 called East Precinct. 
 
 After 1872 on account of changes in the bound- 
 aries of the county an entirely new set of town- 
 ship boundaries were established as follows: 
 
 NAPA TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Beginning at a point on the Sonoma county 
 line due west of the source of a small creek on 
 which was situated Fisk's saw mill; thence due 
 east to the source of said creek ; thence down said 
 creek to its mouth; thence down Dry creek to 
 its mouth in Trubody's slough; thence southeast- 
 erly to the top of the ridge west of Soda 
 canyon; thence northerly along said ridge 
 to the top of a sharp point on the south 
 side of Hector canyon; thence northeasterly 
 in a direct line, to a point on Tebipa or Capelle 
 creek, one-half mile below the house of George 
 Clark; thence east to the top of the mountain 
 north of Capelle valley; thence southeasterly 
 along the top of the ridge to the south end of said 
 ridge near the head of Rag canyon; thence due 
 east to the line between Napa and Solano coun- 
 ties; thence northerly along said line to place of 
 beginning. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 85 
 
 YOUNT TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Beginning- ait a point on the Sonoma county 
 line described as the beginning point of Napa 
 township; thence northerly along said line to a 
 point due west from the head of Dry creek; thence 
 in a straight line to the middle of the bridge on 
 the road across the slough, known as the Bale 
 slough, near the residence of Thomas Chopson; 
 thence in a direct line to the middle of Conn 
 creek, in front of William Dinning's house; 
 thence up the said creek to Chiles creek, aud up 
 Chiles creek to Moore's creek, to the line of La 
 Jota Bancho; thence along said line northerly to 
 the line of Chiles Bancho; thence along the west- 
 erly and northerly line of said ranclio, to corner 
 number one of said rancho; thence northerly 
 along the ridge west of Berryessa valley, to the 
 old line between Lake and Napa counties; thence 
 easterly along said line to the eastern boundary 
 of Napa county; thence southerly along said line 
 to the northeast corner of Napa township; thence 
 along the northerly line of said township, to the 
 place of beginning. 
 
 HOT SPBINGS TOW^NSHIP. 
 Beginning at a point on the western boundary 
 line of Napa county, due west from the head of 
 Dry creek; thence along the line of Yount town- 
 ship northeasterly and northerly to the old line 
 between Napa and Lake counties; thence west- 
 erly along said line to the middle of Putah creek; 
 thence up said creek to the present line between 
 Napa and Lake counties; thence along said line 
 southerly and westerly to the northwest corner of 
 Napa county; thence southerly along said line to 
 the northeast corner of Napa township; thence 
 along the northerly line of said township, to the 
 place of beginning. 
 
M NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 KNOX TOWNSHIP. 
 
 Beginning on the line between Napa and Lake 
 counties, at a point about two miles in an easter- 
 ly direction from the Mountain Mill House, and 
 on the divide between Pope and Localliomi val- 
 leys; thence southerly on said divide to the main 
 divide between Pope and Napa valleys; thence 
 along said divide south to Yount township line; 
 thence along said line southeasterly to the iuter- 
 Bection of Knox township line; thence along said 
 line to Yolo county line; thence along said line 
 northerly to Lake county line; thence westerly 
 along the dividing line of Napa and Lake coun- 
 ties to the point of beginning. 
 
 The first meeting of the Board of Supervisors of 
 Napa county was held December 6, 1852, and con- 
 sisted of John M. Hamilton, Florentine E. Kel- 
 logg, and Jesse W. Whitton. Mr. Hamilton was 
 chosen chairman. Presley Thomjjson presented 
 the first claim to the Board, being a bill for the 
 construction of a bridge across Napa creek, the 
 amount being |1190. 
 
 August 9, 1855, the Board of Supervisors divid- 
 ed the county into three supervisorial districts, as 
 follows: Number one shall include Napa voting 
 precincts. Number two shall include Yount and 
 Berryessa voting precincts. Number three shall 
 include Upper and Lower Lake, Hot Springs and 
 Pope voting precincts. In 1858, Big valley pre- 
 cinct was added to the third district. 
 
 In 1874, the Board consisted of three members, 
 but in accordance with an act of the Legislature, 
 which was approved on February 25th, of that 
 year, providing for the election of five Supervis- 
 ors for Napa county and dividing the same in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. t7 
 
 four Supervisors' districts the Board divided it 
 as follows: 
 
 The township of Napa shall constitute District 
 Number One, and shall be entitled to two Super- 
 visors. 
 
 Yount township shall constitute District Num- 
 ber Two and be entitled to one Supervisor. 
 
 Hot Springs and Knox townships shall consti- 
 tute two Supervisors' districts and shall be 
 bounded and described as follows: The present 
 boundaries of said townships shall be the boun- 
 daries of the Supervisors' districts, except the 
 line dividing said townships north and south, and 
 the line dividing said Supervisors' districts north 
 and south shall be the summit of the ridge divid- 
 ing the waters that flow into Chiles valley, Pope 
 valley and the creek know^n as the northwest trib- 
 utary of Putah creek, to the northern boundary of 
 Napa county. 
 
 That portion of the above that includes and 
 embraces the upper end of Napa valley, shall 
 constitute District Number Three and be entitled 
 to one Supervisor. 
 
 That portion included in the above and embrac- 
 ing Pope valley and Knoxville shall be and »'on- 
 stitute District Number Four and be entitled to 
 one Supervisor. 
 
 We now come to the interesting part of this 
 programme. There is nothing strange or curious 
 so far. In accordance with above act a special 
 election was held April 11, 1874, for the purpose 
 of choosing Supervisors to serve as a Board under 
 the new law. 
 
 The result of this election was: First district, 
 E. G. Young and B, James; Second district, A. F. 
 
8S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Goodwin; Third district, A. Safely; Fourth dis- 
 trict, T. H. Ink. The Board in office at the time 
 of this election and who ordered it held, vv^ere 
 Kobert Brownlee, F. W. Ellis, and Joseph Meck- 
 linberg. After the election was decided, this 
 Board granted to the newly elected Supervisors 
 certificates of election, but, to the great surprise 
 of the new Board, they refused to give up their 
 office, holding that the law under which they 
 were elected was post faoti. The matter looked 
 serious for awhile, as both Boards were duly 
 elected and qualified according to the laws of the 
 State to serve at the same time and in the same 
 capacity. The matter was formally submitted to 
 the Legislature, and a special act was passed 
 March 10, 1874, authorizing both Boards to act 
 jointly and as one Board. Napa county was then 
 blest (or otherwise) with the largest Board of Su- 
 pervisors in the State of California, except the 
 city of San Francisco, and perhaps Sacramento. 
 The meetings of that double-header were marvels 
 of astuteness, so contemporaries state. They 
 agreed to disagree from the start and held flrndy 
 to their "joint resolution." The Clerk of the 
 Board, Mr. C. B. Seeley, contributed largely to the 
 literature of the day by writing a series of pen 
 pictures of the members in his well known caus- 
 tic manner w^hich cut deep into the sensibilities 
 of some of the members, but for this fact, we 
 would be glad to reproduce them, for they are 
 worthy of it. 
 
 In 1853, 1855, 1858, 1859, 1863, and 1864, the 
 Legislature passed laws changing the date of 
 holding the District Court in Napa county. The 
 Court was called the Court of Sessions and its 
 functions were judicial and political. Eventually 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 89 
 
 it was sifted down so the County Court performed 
 the judicial part of the work and the Supervisors 
 the political, so that the act approved April 1st, 
 1864, the County Court was held on the first Mon- 
 day of December and March, the third Monday 
 in June and the first Monday in September. 
 
 May 3, 1853, before there were any newspapers 
 in Napa county, the Legislature designated the 
 Sonoma Bulletin as the official organ in which all 
 the legal advertisements should appear. 
 
 May 17, 1853, the Legislature fixed the salary 
 of the County Judge of Napa County at |2,000 per 
 year and the salary of the Associate Judges at 
 18.00 per day of service each. On February 7, 
 1857, the salary of the Judge was cut to |1,000 per 
 year. 
 
 April 17, 1863, the office of Recorder was sepa- 
 rated from the County Clerk who had been hith- 
 erto ex-officio Recorder. 
 
 February 29, 1864, the Treasurer was made ex- 
 officio Tax Collector, in lieu of the Sheriff, who 
 held that position previously. 
 
 March 28, 1868, the business of collecting the 
 taxes reverted to the Sheriff. 
 
 POLITICAL HISTORY OF NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Previous to becoming a State and while yet a 
 Mexican province, all the territory bounded by 
 the Sacramento river on the east, Oregon on the 
 north, the Bay of San Francisco on the south, and 
 the ocean on the west, was designated as the 
 District of Sonoma, and was divided into prefec- 
 tures amenable to a grand Council at Sonoma. 
 The present county of Napa was included in the 
 District of Sonoma. The military ruled supreme 
 
M NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 from 1846 and 1849, during which there was no 
 eivil law. While the war lasted, California, as 
 conquered province expected to be governed by 
 the Commandant of the Department to which this 
 section of the country belonged. But after peace 
 had been declared, and the war was a thing of 
 the past, and the succession of military governors 
 vras not abated, the people, who had been in the 
 habit of governing themselves, chafed that they 
 should be deprived of their inalienable rights. 
 
 The first civil officer in Sonoma was John Na>h, 
 who was Alcalde of that district by a commission 
 issued by order of General Kearney. This Chief 
 Justice Nash, as he called himself, was a good 
 natured, honest, but illiterate man, who was at 
 length removed by the military because he re- 
 fused to acknowledge that part of the govern- 
 ment superior over the judicial branch. It was 
 the celebrated hero General W. T. Sherman or old 
 Tecump as the brave boys called him who fol- 
 lowed him on his celebrated "march to the sea," 
 Avho then was Lieutenant Sherman, who captured 
 John Nash, who signed himself "Chief Justice of 
 California," brought him before Governor Mason 
 at Monterey, who reprimanded him and released 
 him. Afterwards, when the rumors of gold 
 rt'ached Sonoma, Squire Nash, (as he was called 
 bv the people), was employed by a number of per- 
 sons to go up to the reported gold fields and learn 
 the truth of the situation and to return and report 
 on the prospects of thus obtaining wealth. This 
 Mas in the year 1848, and when he returned, he 
 brought with him gold dust to the amount of 
 1^837.00. He then went with a party of Sonoma 
 miners to Morman Island and died there that 
 winter. lie was succeeded in office by Lilburn \^^ 
 
NAPA COUNTY. SH 
 
 Boggs, ex-Governor of Missouri; a man eminentlj 
 capable of performing the functions of the posi- 
 tion, as the records of his office, still extant in 
 the County Clerk's office in Santa Kosa, will fully 
 establish. 
 
 General Persifer F. Smith, who assumed com- 
 mand, arrived on the first steamship that reached 
 San Francisco (February 28, 1849), and General 
 Kiley, who succeeded him on April 12, 1849, would 
 have made acceptable governors if the people 
 could have discovered anywhere in the Constitu- 
 tion that the President had power to govern a 
 territory by a simple order to the General com- 
 manding the military department. 
 
 They felt that they had cause for complaint, 
 but they were in truth too busy to nurse their 
 grievances concerning this matter. To some ex- 
 tent they formed civil government locally and had 
 unimportant collisions with the military. But, 
 busy as they were, and expecting to return home 
 soon, they left public matters to be shaped at 
 Washington. This was a wise course, for the ob- 
 stacle that hindered Congress from giving them a 
 legitimate and constitutional government was the 
 then ever-present snag in the current of American 
 politics, the author of most all of our troubles and 
 the great source of all our woes, which before 
 long a million of our best and bravest of our men, 
 North and South had to die violent and bloody 
 deaths to extinguish forever. The curse of 
 human slavery. 
 
 When it was found that Congress had adjourn- 
 ed without providing a civil government for Cali- 
 fornia, General Riley, by the advice of the Presi- 
 dent and Secretaries of State and War, he said, 
 issued a proclamation, which was at once a call 
 
92 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 for a convention and an official exposition of the 
 Administration's theory of the anomalous rela- 
 tions of California and the Union. He strove to 
 rectify the impression that California was govern- 
 ed bv the military, that had ceased with the ter- 
 mination of hostilities; what remained was the 
 civil government. These were vested in a Gover- 
 nor, who received his appointment from the Su- 
 preme Government, or in default of such appoint- 
 ment, the office was vested in the military officer 
 commanding the department, a secretary, depart- 
 mental or territorial legislature, a superior court, 
 wdth four judges, a prefect and sub-prefect and a 
 judge of the first instance for each district, Al- 
 caldes, local justices of the peace and town coun- 
 cils. He moreover recommended the election of 
 delegates to a convention to form a State consti- 
 tution which, if sustained by the people, would 
 be submitted to Congress for approval. A proc- 
 lamation was issued in June, 1849, announcing 
 an election to be held on August 1st, to appoint 
 delegates to a general convention to form a. State 
 constittition, and for filling the offices of Judge 
 of the Superior Court, Prefects and sub-Prefe(;ts, 
 and First Alcalde or Judge of the First Instance; 
 such appointments to be made by General Riley 
 after being voted for. The delegates elected to 
 the convention from the District of Sonoma were 
 General Vallejo, Joel Walker, R. Semple. L. W. 
 Roggs was elected but did not attend. 
 
 Tho manifesto calling the Constitutional con- 
 vention divided the electoral divisions of the 
 Stat(- into ten districts; each male inhabitant of 
 the county of twenty-one years of age, could vote 
 in the district of his residence, and the delegat3S 
 so elected were called upon to meet at Monterey, 
 
[ NAPA COUNTY. n 
 
 on September 1, 1849. The number of delegates 
 was fixed at thirty-seven, five of whom were ap- 
 pointed to San Francisco. 
 
 As was resolved, the convention met at Monte- 
 rey on the date set, Kobert Semple of Benicia, one 
 of the delegates from the district of Sonoma, be- 
 ing chosen President. The session lasted six 
 weeks; and, notwithstanding an awkward scar- 
 city of books of reference and other necessary 
 aids, much labor was performed, while the dele- 
 gates exhibited a marked degree of ability. In 
 framing the original Constitution of California, 
 slavery was forever prohibited within the juris- 
 diction of the State. The boundary line question 
 between Mexico and the United States was set at 
 rest; provision for the morals and education of 
 the people were made; a seal of the State was 
 adopted with the motto Eureka, and many other 
 matters discussed. 
 
 We find that the "Superior Tribunal of Califor- 
 nia," existed at Monterey in 1849; for, in Septem- 
 ber of that year a "Tariff of fees for judicial offi- 
 cers" was published, with the following order of 
 Court: "That the several officers meutioued in 
 this order shall be entitled to receive for their 
 services in addition to their salaries, if any, the 
 following fees and none others, until the further 
 order of this court." Here followed a list of the 
 fees to be paid the several officers of the civil 
 courts. 
 
 It has been noted 'that Stephen Cooper was a})- 
 pointed Judge of the First Instance for the Dis- 
 trict of Sonoma. He began his labors in that 
 office October, 1849, as appears in the early rec- 
 ords of that court as preserved in the office of 
 County Clerk of Solano county. The record 
 of one case, tried before Judge Cooper, is an 
 instance of the prompt judgment obtained in 
 1849: 
 
94 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 THE PEOPLE OF CALIFORNIA TERRITORY 
 VS. GEORGE PALMER. 
 
 And now comes the said people by right of their 
 attorney, and the said defendant by Semple »& 
 O'Melveny, and the prisoner having been arraign- 
 ed on the indictment in this cause, plead not 
 guilty. Thereupon a jury was chosen, selected 
 and sworn, when, after hearing the evidence and 
 arguments of counsel, returned into Court the fol- 
 lowing verdict, to-wit: 
 
 The jury in the case of Palmer, defendant, and 
 the Territory of California, plaintiff, have found 
 a verdict of guilty on both counts of the indict- 
 ment, and sentenced him to receive the following 
 punishment: 
 
 On Saturday, the 24th day of November, to be 
 conducted by the Sheriff to some public place and 
 tliere receive on his back seventy-five lashes, with 
 such a weapon as the Sheriff may deem fit, on 
 each count, respectively, and to be banished from 
 the District of Sonoma within twelve hours after 
 whipping, under the penalty of receiving the 
 same number of lashes for each and every day he 
 remains in this district after the first whipping. 
 
 (Signed) ALEXANDER RIDDELL, 
 
 Foreman. 
 
 It is therefore ordered by the Court, in accord- 
 ance with the above verdict, that the foregoing 
 sentence be carried into effect. 
 
 The Constitution was duly framed, submitted 
 to the people, and at the election held on the thir- 
 tieth day of November, ratified by them, and 
 adopted by a vote of twelve thousand and sixty- 
 four for it, and eleven against it; there being be- 
 sides, over twelve hundred ballots that were treat- 
 ed as blanks, because of an informality in the 
 printing. 
 
KAPA COUNTY. ^ 
 
 We reproduce a copy of one of the tickets voted 
 at that time. 
 
 PEOPLE'S TICKET. 
 
 For the Constitution. 
 
 For Governor, 
 
 Peter H. Burnett. 
 
 For Lieutenant Grovernor, 
 
 John McDougal. .^, 
 
 For Representative in Congress, 
 
 Edward Gilbert. 
 
 George W. Wright. 
 
 For State Senators, 
 
 John Bidwell, Upper Sacramento, 
 
 Murray Morrison, Sacramento City, 
 
 Harding Biglow, Sacramento City, 
 
 Gilbert A. Grant, Vernon. 
 
 For Assembly, 
 
 J. H. Cardwell, Sacramento City, 
 
 John B. Cornwall, Sacramento City, 
 
 John S. Fowler, Sacramento City, 
 
 H. S. Lord, Upper Sacramento, 
 
 Madison Waltham, Coloraa, 
 
 W. B. Dickenson, Yuba, 
 James Queen, South Fork, 
 Arba K, Berry, Weaverville. 
 
 The result of the election was: Peter H, Bur- 
 nett, Govenor; John McDougal, Lieut.-Governor, 
 and Edward Gilbert and George W^. Wright, sent 
 to Congress. The District of Sonoma polled at 
 this election but five hundred and fifty-two votes, 
 four hundred and twenty-four were for Burnett. 
 Of Representatives sent from Sonoma, General 
 Vallejo went to the Senate, and J. L. Bradford 
 and J. E. Bracket to the Assembly. 
 
 Some difficulty would appear to have arisen at 
 this election, for Mr. A. A. Thompson says: "Gen- 
 eral Vallejo's seat was first given to James 
 Spect, but on the 22d of December, the com- 
 
96 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 pany reported tbart the official returns from Lark- 
 in's Ranch gave Spect but two votes instead of 
 twenty-eight, a total of but one hundred and eigh- 
 ty-one against General Vallejo's one hundred and 
 ninety-one. Mr. Spect then gave up his seat to 
 General Vallejo. 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF SOME OF 
 THE EARLY LEGISLATORS. 
 
 DAVID F. DOUGLASS. 
 Born in Sumner county, Tennessee, Jan- 
 uary 8th, 1821; went to Arkansas, 1836; on 
 March 17, 1839, had a fight with Dr. William 
 Howell, in which Howell was killed; imprisoned 
 fourteen months; returned home 1842; immigrat- 
 ed to Mississippi; moved west with the Choctaws 
 as a clerk; left them for Texas in the winter of 
 1845; war broke out; joined Hays' regiment from 
 Mexico; immigrated to California, and arrived 
 here as a wagoner in December, 1848. 
 
 M. G. VALLEJO. 
 
 Born in Monterey, Upper California, July 7, 
 1807; commenced his military career as cadet, 
 January 1, 1825. He served successively in the 
 capacity of Lieutenant, Captain, Lieut-Colonel, 
 and General Commandant of Upper California. 
 In 1835 he went to Sonoma county and founded 
 the town of Sonoma, giving land for the same. He 
 was a member of the convention in 1849 and Sen- 
 ator in 1850. 
 
 ELCAN HEYDENFELDT. 
 
 Born in Charleston, South Carolina, September 
 15, 1821; immigrated to Alabama, 1841; to Louis- 
 iana, 1844; to California in 1849; lawyer by pro- 
 fession. 
 
 PABLO DE LA GUERRA. 
 
 Born in Santa Barbara, Upper California, No- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 97 
 
 vember 29, 1819; entered public service at nine- 
 teen years of age, was appointed Administrator- 
 General "de la rentas," which position he iield 
 when California was taken by the American 
 forces. From that time he lived a private life un- 
 til he was named a member of the convennou 
 which framed the Constitution of this State. 
 
 S. E. WOODWORTH. 
 Born in New York city, November 15, 1815, 
 served as a. sailor, 1832; entered the navy June 
 14, 1838; immigrated to California, across the 
 plains, April, 1846; elected to the first Senate of 
 California for term of two years. 
 
 THOS. L. VERMEULE. 
 Born June 11, 1814, in New Jersey; immigrated 
 CO California, November 12, 1846; represented 
 San Joaquin district in the Senate. Resigned. 
 
 W. D. FAIR. 
 Born in Virginia; came to California from Mis- 
 sissippi in February, 1849; settled in Stockton as 
 an attorney. 
 
 ELISHA O. CROSBY. 
 Left his native State, New York, for California, 
 December 25, 1848, aged thirty-four; Senator from 
 Sacramento district. 
 
 D. C. BRODERICK. 
 Born in Washington City, D. C, February 4, 
 1818; left for New York, March, 1824; came to 
 California April 7, 1849; killed in a duel. 
 
 E. KIRBY CHAMBERLIN, M. D. 
 
 President pro tem. of the Senate, from the dis- 
 trict of San Diego. Born in Litchfield county. 
 Conn., April 24, 1805; served as surgeon in the 
 United States army during the war with Mexico; 
 appointed surgeon to the Boundary Line Commis- 
 
98 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 sion, Februaiy 10, 1840; arrived in San Diego 
 June 1st, 1819, and in San Jose December 11!, 
 1849. 
 
 J. BIDWELL. 
 Born in New York, August 5, 1819; arrived in 
 California, 1841. 
 
 H. C. KOBINSON. 
 Educated as a lawyer; arrived in California by 
 the iirst steamship to enter the Golden Gate, the 
 "California;" a native of Connecticut. 
 
 BENJAMIN S. LIPPINCOTT. 
 
 Born in New York; educated a merchant; arriv- 
 ed in California, 1846; elected as Senator from 
 San Joaquin for two years. 
 
 On Saturday, December 15, 1849, the first Slate 
 Legislature met at San Jose, E. Kirby Chamber- 
 lin being elected President pro tem. of the Senate 
 and Thomas J. White, Speaker of the Assembly. 
 
 GEN. M. G. VALLEJO'S MEMOEIAK 
 
 In the year 1850, Senator M. G. Vallejo became 
 convinced that the capital of California should be 
 established at a place which he desired to name 
 Eureka, but which his colleagues, out of compli- 
 ment to himself, suggested should be named Val- 
 lejo. To this end the General addressed a memor- 
 ial to the Senate, dated April 3, 1850, wherein he 
 graphically pointed out the advantages possessed 
 by the proposed site over the other places which 
 claimed the honor. In this remarkable docu- 
 ment, remarkable alike for its generosity of pur- 
 pose as for its marvelous foresight, he proposed 
 to grant twenty acres to the State, free of cost, 
 for a State capitol and grounds, and one hundred 
 and thirty-six acres more for other State l)uild- 
 ings, to be apportioned in the following manner: 
 Ten acres for the Governor's house and grounds; 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 99 
 
 five acres for the oflSces of Treasurer, Comptroller, 
 Secretary of Stiate, Surveyor-General and Attor- 
 ney General, should the Commissioners de- 
 termine that their offices should not be in the 
 capitol building; one acre to State library and 
 Translator's office, should it be determined to sep- 
 arate them from the State house building; twenty 
 acres for an orphan asylum; ten acres for a male 
 charity hospital; ten acres for a female charity 
 hospital; four acres for an asylum for the blind; 
 four acres for a deaf and dumb asylum; twenty 
 acres for a lunatic asylum; eight acres for four 
 common schools; tw^enty acres for a State univer- 
 sity; four acres for a State botanical garden and 
 twenty acres for a State penitentiary. 
 
 But with a munificence casting this already long 
 list of grants into the shade, he further proposed 
 to donate and pay over to the State, within two 
 years after the acceptance of these propositions, 
 the gigantic sum of |370,000, to be apportioned in 
 the following manner. For the building of a 
 State capitol, |125,000; for furnishing the same, 
 f 10,000; for building of the Governor's house, 
 110,000; for furnishing the same, |5,000; for the 
 biiilding of the State library and translator's 
 office, |5,000; for a State library, $5,000; for the 
 building of the offices of the Secretary of State, 
 Comptroller, Attorney General, Surveyor Gen- 
 eral and Treasurer, should the Commissioners 
 deem it proper to separate them from the State 
 house, 120,000; for the building of an orphan 
 asylum, |20,000; for the building of a female char 
 ity hospital, |20,000; for the building of a male 
 charity hospital, .|20,000; for the building of an 
 asylum for the blind, |20,000; for the building of 
 a deaf and dumb asylum, |20,000; for the build- 
 ing of a State university, $20,000; for university 
 
 library, |5,000; for scientific apparatus therefor, 
 
100 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 |5,000; for a chemical laboratory therefor, |3,000; 
 for a mineral cabinet therefor, |3,000; for the 
 building of four common school edifices, |10,000, 
 for purchasing books for the same, |1,000; for the 
 building of a lunatic asylum, $20,000; for a State 
 penitentiary, |20,000; for a State botanical collec- 
 tion, 13,000. 
 
 In his memorial the General states, with much 
 lucidity, his reasons for claiming the proud posi- 
 tion for the place suggested as the proper side for 
 the State capital. Mark the singleness of pur- 
 pose with which he bases these claims: 
 
 "Your memorialist with this simple proposition 
 (namely, that in the event of the Government de- 
 clining to accept his terms it should be put to a 
 popular vote at the general election held in So- 
 vember of that year — 1850), might stop here, did 
 he not believe that his duty as a citizen of Cali- 
 fornia required him to sa}^ thus much in addition 
 — that he believes the location indicated is the 
 most suitable for a permanent seat of governuieut 
 for the great State of California, for the following 
 reasons: That it is the true center of the State, 
 the true center of commerce, the true center of 
 population, the true center of travel; that, while 
 the bay of San Francisco is acknowledged to be 
 the first on earth, in point of extent and navigable 
 capacities, already, throughout the length and 
 breadth of the wide world, it is acknowledged to 
 be the very center between Asiatic and European 
 commerce. The largest ship that sails upon the 
 broad seas can, within three hours, anchor at the 
 wharves of tlie place which your memorialist pro- 
 poses as your permanent seat of government. 
 From this point, by steam navigation, there is a 
 greater aggregate of mineral wealth within eight 
 hours' steaming, than exists in the Union; besides 
 from this point the great north and south rivers — 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 101 
 
 San Joaquin and Sacramento — cut the State long- 
 itudinally through the center, fringing the im- 
 mense gold deposits on the one hand and untold 
 mercury and other mineral resources on the other. 
 From this point steam navigation extends along 
 the Pacific Coast south to San Diego and north to 
 the Oregon line, affording the quickest possible 
 facilities for our sea coast population to reach the 
 State Capitol in the fewest number of hours. 
 
 This age it has been truly remarked, has merg- 
 ed distance into time. In the operations of com- 
 merce and the intercourse of mankind, to meas- 
 ure miles by the rod is a piece of vandalism of a 
 by-gone age; and that point which can be ap- 
 proached from all parts of the State in the fewest 
 number of hours, and at the cheapest cost, is the 
 truest center. 
 
 The location which your memorialist proposes 
 as the permanent seat of government is certainly 
 the point. 
 
 Your memorialist most respectfully submits to 
 your honorable body, whether there is not a 
 ground of even still higher nationality? 
 
 It is this: That at present, throughout the 
 wide extent of our sister Atlantic States, but one 
 sentiment seems to possess the entire people, and 
 that is, to build in the shortest time possible, a 
 railroad from the Mississippi to the bay of San 
 Francisco, where its western terminns may meet 
 a three weeks' steamer from China. Indeed, such 
 is the overwhelming sentiment of the American 
 people on this subject, that there is but little 
 doubt to apprehend its early completion. Shall 
 it be said, then, while the world is coveting oar 
 possession of what all acknowledge to be the 
 half-way house of the world's commerce— -the 
 great bay of San Francisco — ^that the people of 
 
302 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the rich possessions are so unmindful of its value 
 as not to ornament her magnificent shores with 
 a capital worthy of a great State?" 
 
 Upon receipt of General Vallejo's memorial by 
 the Senate, a committee composed of members 
 who possessed a thorough knowledge of t^e 
 county comprised in the above-quoted document, 
 both geographically and topographically were di- 
 rected to report for the information of the 
 President, upon the advantages claimed for 
 the location of the capital at the spot 
 suggested in preference to others. The re- 
 port in which the following words occur, 
 was presented to the Senate on April 2, 
 1850: "Your committee cannot dwell with too 
 much warmth upon the magnificent propositions 
 contained in the memorial of General Vallejo. 
 They breathe throughout the spirit of an enlarg- 
 ed mind and a sincere public benefactor,for which 
 he deserves the thanks of his countrymen and the 
 admiration of the world. Such a proposition 
 looks more like the legacy of a mighty Emperor 
 to his people than the free donation of a private 
 planter to a great State, yet poor in public 
 finance, but soon to be among the first of the 
 earth," 
 
 The report which was presented by Senator D. 
 C. Broderick of San Francisco, goes on to point 
 out the necessities which should govern the 
 choice of a site for California's capital, recapitu- 
 lates the advantages pointed out in the memorial, 
 and finally recommends the acceptance of Gen- 
 eral Vallejo's offer. This acceptance did not 
 pass the Senate without some opposition and con- 
 siderable delay; however, on Tuesday, February 
 4th, 1851, a message was received from Governor 
 Burnett, by his private Secretary, Mr. Ohr, in- 
 forming the Senate, that he did this day sign .m 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 103 
 
 act originating in the Senate, entitled "An Act 
 to provide for the permanent location of the seat 
 of government." In the meantime General 
 V^allejo's bond had been accepted; his solvency 
 was approved by a committee appointed by the 
 Senate to inquire into that circumstance; the re- 
 port of the commissioners sent to mark and lay 
 out the tracts of land proposed to be donated was 
 adopted, and on May 1st, 1851, the last session of 
 the Legislature at San Jose was completed; but 
 the archives were not moved to the new seat of 
 government at Vallejo then, the want of which 
 was the cause of much dissatisfaction among the 
 members. 
 
 The Legislature first sat at Vallejo on Janu- 
 ary 5, 18-52, but there was wanting the attraction 
 of society which would appear to be necessary 
 to the seat of every central government. With 
 these Sacramento abounded, from her proximity 
 to the mines. The Assembly therefore, with a 
 unanimity bordering on the marvelous, passed a 
 bill to remove the session to that city; ball tick- 
 ets and theater tickets being tendered to the 
 members in reckless profusion. The bill was 
 transferred to the Senate and bitterly fought by 
 the Hons. Paul K. Hobbs and Phil. A. Roach. 
 The removal was rejected by one vote. This 
 was on a Saturday, but never was the proverb of 
 "We know not what the morrow may bring 
 forth,-' more fully brought to bear on any consid- 
 eration. Senator Anderson, it is said, passed a 
 sleepless night through the presence of unpleas- 
 ant insects in his bed; on the Monday morning 
 he moved a reconsideration of the bill. The 
 alarm was sounded on every hand, and at 2 p. 
 m. on January 12, 1852, the government and Leg- 
 islature were finding its way to Sacramento by 
 way of the Carquiuez straits. On March 7, 1852, 
 
104 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 a devastating flood overwhelmed Sacraniento, 
 and where they had before feared contamination, 
 they now feared drowning. 
 
 The Legislature adjourned at Sacramento May 
 4th, 1852, the next session to be held at Vallejo. 
 On January 3, 1853, peripatetic government met 
 again at Vallejo, whither had been moved in May 
 the archives and State offices. Once more the 
 spirit of jealousy was rampant; Sacramento 
 could not with grace ask its removal thither 
 again, but she worked with Benicia; the capital 
 Avas once more on wheels and literally carted off 
 to the town for the remaining portion of the ses- 
 sion, when a bill was passed to fix the capital of 
 the State at Sacramento, and thereafter clinched 
 by large appropriations for building the present 
 magnificent capitol there. The last sitting of the 
 Legislature was held on February 4th, 1853, 
 when it was resolved to meet at Benicia on the 
 11th of the month. 
 
 During the first session at San Jose but little 
 was done beyond dividing the State into counties 
 and organizing their governments. Mr. Hopkins, 
 who with the Honorable George Pearce, had been 
 appointed a committee to visit the capital in or- 
 der to prevent if possible the establishment of a 
 boundary line which would include the Sonoma 
 valley in Napa county, was a resident lawyer cf 
 Sonoma. On arrival at San Jose, the question of 
 appointing a Judge for the Sonoma district was 
 attracting attention, and the only candidate was 
 W. B. Turner, who, though a gentleman of capa- 
 bilities did not reside there, and probably had 
 never visited the spot. Pearce proposed to Hop- 
 kins to run for the oftice; he allowed himself to 
 be put in nomination, and beat Turner, who knew 
 not of opposition, just as he was putting forth his 
 hand to seize the prize. The vote was unanimous 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 105 
 
 for Hopkins, and Turner received some otlier dis- 
 trict. Pearce went to San Jose to accomplish one 
 object and obtained another, while Hopkins came 
 back a full fledged Judge of a most important 
 district. 
 
 The State of California was admitted into the 
 Union September 9th, 1850, and January 6, 1851, 
 the second Legislature met at San Jose. Martin 
 E. Cook at this session represented the eleventh 
 Senatorial district, which was composed of the 
 counties of Sonoma, Solano, Napa, Marin, Colusa, 
 Yolo and Trinity, while in the Lower House 
 Marin, Napa, Sonoma, and Solano were repre- 
 sented by John Bradford and A. Stearns. 
 
 September 3, 1851, the first Gubernatorial 
 election was held under the new order of things, 
 in this contest John Bigler received 23,774 votes, 
 and P. B. Redding, his Whig opponent, received 
 22,723 votes. 
 
 From March 11th, 1851 to 1874 there were nu- 
 merous acts passed by the Legislature placing 
 Napa and adjoining counties in different judicial 
 districts. There was nothing material in these 
 changes only political, therefore the matter of 
 their record w^ould hardly justify the time and 
 space used for that purpose. 
 
 The first general election in and for Napa 
 county, was held April 1, 1850, with the following 
 result: John S. Stark, County Judge; H. H. Law- 
 rence, County Clerk; N. McKinney, Sheriff; II. 
 L. Killburn, Treasurer; J. P. Walker, Assessoi'; J. 
 E. Brown, Surveyor; B. F. E. Kellogg, Coroner. 
 Of these J. P. Walker filed his bond first, hence 
 his was the first official bond on record. 
 
 At the general election in 1855, Ihe question of 
 prohibition of liquors was submitted to the peo- 
 ple, and the result in Napa county was: Prohibi- 
 
1«6 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 tion — yes, 198; Prohibition — no, 205. It will be 
 seen from this that the temperance sentiment of 
 the people even at that early day was not so far 
 behind what it is now. In fact it is doubtful if 
 the vote w^ould be so close if it were submitted to 
 the people to-day. 
 
 The vote for Governor at the election of 1855 
 was as follows: for Governor, J. Bigler, 261; J. 
 Nealy Johnson, 519, making a total vote of 780 in 
 Napa county. At the election in 1863 the soldier 
 vote was nineteen, showing that some of the cit- 
 izens were battling for the maintenance of "Old 
 Glory." 
 
 In 1877 at a general election a large majority 
 decided in favor of holding a convention to frame 
 a new constitution for the State. During the 
 next session of the Legislature a bill was passed 
 providing for the election of ninety-two delegates 
 from the State at large, not more than eight of 
 whom should reside in any one congressional dis- 
 trict. This election was held July 19, 1878. 
 Hon. Robert Crouch was elected at this time to 
 represent Napa county in this convention. The 
 delegates convened in Sacramento City, Sept. 28, 
 1878, and continued in session one hundred and 
 seventy-live days, when the new constitution was 
 submitted to the people for their approval. The 
 day set for the vote was May 7, 1879, and was a 
 close contest. Napa county only giving a majori- 
 ty for the adoption of the new constitution of 
 eighty-three. 
 
 VITICULTURE IN NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 It will probably always be a questicm, who v.as 
 the first to introduce the foreign variety of vines 
 into California. It is known that a Mr. Stock of 
 San Jose, had several varieties growing on liis 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 107 
 
 place as early as 1858, which he had received 
 from his father, who resided in Germany. In 
 1861 Dr. Crane of St. Helena purchased cuttings 
 from the Stock vineyard at the rate of forty dol- 
 lars per thousand. There was one variety which 
 had no label, and Mr. Stock sold those cuttings 
 at half price, and they proved to be the now cele- 
 brated Riesling, and these cuttings were the tiist 
 of that variety ever planted in Napa county. 
 
 In 1861 Col. Haraszthy was appointed a com- 
 missioner by the Governor of the State to visit the 
 wine growing countries of Europe in the interest 
 of that industry in California. The result of his 
 visit to the old countries, was the importation of 
 some three hundred different varieties of vines, 
 many of which are yet great favorites with tlie 
 vineyardists of the State, and from which are 
 made the most valuable wines produced, Upon 
 the return of Col. Haraszthy from Europe in 1802 
 he was chosen resident of the State Agricultural 
 Society. In 1863 he organized the Buena Vista 
 Vinicultural Society to which he conveyed his 
 four hundred acres of land in Sonoma. 
 
 About this time he wrote a treatise on the cult- 
 ure of the vine and the manufacture of wine, 
 which was published by the State for gratuitous 
 distribution. This publication, thtis generally 
 circulated, called the attention not only of the 
 citizens of the State, but the people of the world 
 to California, as a wine producing country, and 
 gave to that interest its first impulse. He had 
 now given the matter a thorough test, and had 
 proven beyond a doubt that wine making could 
 and would be a success, and demonstrated that 
 he knew more than any other citizen of the coun- 
 ty about the subject, and took more interest in it 
 than any one. 
 
 In the winter of 1858, Col. Haraszthy planted 
 
108 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 about eighty thousand vines in a high tract of 
 land, east of the town of Sonoma, since known 
 as the Buena Vista vineyard, and the growth and 
 progress of this venture was very closely watched 
 by all interested in viticulture. The experiment 
 succeeded beyond the most sanguine expectations 
 of all, and was the beginning of a new epoch in 
 the culture of grapes in California. About this 
 period the securing of a wine finer in flavor, by 
 means of the introduction of foreign varieties of 
 grapes, began to be seriously canvassed. Con- 
 noisseurs had given their dictum, that the native 
 wines had not the excellence of the article pro- 
 duced abroad. Stating that it was either too 
 earthy or too fiery or too sour or too sweet and 
 insipid. This was doubtless owing to, in a great 
 measure, the rich quality of the soil, and the 
 irrigation of the vine, to which may be added the 
 lack of experience of the manufacturers, and the 
 crude manner in which it was made. 
 
 In 1861, Messrs. Haraszthy, Schell and Cil. 
 Warren were appointed a committee, to iuquire 
 and report upon the best means of promoting and 
 improving the gro^^th of the vine in this State. 
 The former visited Europe, as has been stated, 
 the latter reported upon the condition of the in- 
 terest in California, while jSIr. Schell gave a state- 
 ment of the culture of the vine in the South 
 American States. It is a noticeable fact, that 
 the Europe;! n vari(^ties, introduced by Col. Har- 
 aszthy at that time, held all their peculiar char- 
 acteristics after being introduced here, losing 
 nothing in any particular by the process of trans- 
 planting. 
 
 It is a very sim])le process to start a vineyard, 
 and no great amount of capital is required. The 
 land once purchased the vines may be planted. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 10;) 
 
 and half tJie time for the first three years will 
 suffice to care for them, while the remainder «>f 
 the time may be spent on the outside earning cur- 
 rent expenses. At the end of three years a small 
 return comes in from the vineyard, and at the end 
 of six years the man has a property that is yield- 
 ing from |100 to |200 per acre and, worth from 
 |350 to 1500 per acre. 
 
 The influence of climate is very great on the 
 wine crop, and that climate which is the most 
 even, dryest during the summer season, and es- 
 pecially free from frost during the summer 
 months, is the most desirable. The average rain- 
 fall of Napa county is not far from tw^enty-four 
 inches, while that of Malaga, Spain, is twenty - 
 three inches. The mean temperature of Sacra- 
 mento is about 67 degrees, while that of Malaga 
 is about ()8 degrees, Madeira is 65 and Bordeaux 
 is 57 degrees. It will thus be seen that much < f 
 tiie climate of California is very similar to the 
 best wine producing sections of the world. 
 
 It had been demonstrated that the richest soil 
 does not produce the fine quality of wine that the 
 lighter grades do. True the vines are thriftier 
 and the clusters larger and the yield of juice 
 more, and now, if the wines are not graded close- 
 ly they will sell for about the same price. But 
 the time will come when the line of distincti )n 
 will be carefully drawn between mountain and 
 valley production and the preference will always 
 be in favor of the mountain wine. 
 
 On the subject of soils. Col. Haraszthy says: 
 "When the planter resolves to plant a vineyard, 
 he should determine whether he is planting to 
 produce grapes for wine or for the fruit market. 
 If for the former he must look for soil which is 
 made by volcanic eruptions, containing red clay 
 and soft rocks, which will decay by exposure to 
 
110 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the air. The more magnesia, lime or chalk the 
 soil contains the better. This kind of soil never 
 cracks and keeps the moisture during the summer 
 admirably. Such a soil Avill produce a wine that 
 will keep good for fifty or one hundred years and 
 improve annually; is not liable to get sour or 
 when exposed to the air, after one ^ear old to get 
 turbid and change color in the bottle or glass. 
 For marketable table grapes, rich, black, gravelly 
 or sandy loam, exceedingly rich and well ma- 
 nured is the best." The total product of 1880 in 
 Napa county of all kinds of wines was 2,857,250 
 gallons. The yield has declined since that date 
 by reason of the phylloxera pest which nearly de- 
 stroyed the wine industry of France and for 
 which that government offered 300,000 francs for 
 an effectual and practical remedy, and which as 
 yet has not been earned. The ravages of this in- 
 sect have created universal alarm in Germany, 
 Austria, Spain, Portugal and Italy. (Pronounced 
 fillo-xee-ra, accent on second syllable.) 
 
 MINES AND MINING. 
 
 The only mines that have been profitable to 
 the operators in Napa county have been the 
 quicksilver mines. That there were a great 
 many mines of immense value we do not doubt, 
 but few if any stood the test of profitable work- 
 ing except as stated above. 
 
 The first mining excitement broke out in this 
 country in the winter of 1858-59, and is thus 
 graphically d(^scribed by Pvobert T. IMontgomery 
 in Menefee's "Sketch Book." In the winter of 
 1858-9, there arose an excitement really worthy 
 of the "good times" in the mineral districts. All 
 at once nobody could tell why, a great silver ex- 
 citement arose, which permeated the whole com- 
 munity. It was found by various parties that 
 
NAPA COUNTY. HI 
 
 the mountains on the east side of the valley were 
 full of silver ore of untold, because unknown, 
 richness. Simultaneous with this good dis- 
 covery, every unemployed man from Soscol to 
 Calistoga turned prospector. Blankets and ba- 
 con, beans and hard bread rose to a premium, 
 and the hills were lighted at night with 
 hundreds of campfires. Hammers and picks were 
 in great demand, and there is ocular evidence 
 even to this day that not a boulder nor a project- 
 ing rock escaped the notice of the prospector. 
 There was silver in Washoe, why not in Napa? It 
 was a question of probabilities which was bound 
 soon to harden into certainties. Indeed it was 
 only a short time before silver prospects were 
 possessed of a defined value. Claims were open- 
 ed, companies formed and stock issued on a most 
 liberal scale. Everything wore the color of the 
 rose, as usual on such occasions there was great 
 strife about claims. Some were "jumped" on the 
 ground of some informality twice in the twenty- 
 four hours. Heavy prices were paid for "choice" 
 ground, and it is quite safe to say that our mount- 
 ain sides and summits have never since borne 
 such enormous valuation. It seems as if the 
 whole country had been bitten by the mining tar- 
 antulas. 
 
 One man, whose name we withhold, in his per- 
 ambulations in the profound canyons of Mount 
 St. Helena, in company with his son, discovered a 
 ledge of solid silver. As neither had brought 
 blankets or grub, the old gentleman concluded to 
 stand guard over the precious discovery during 
 the night, while the son went down in the valley 
 for those indispensable supplies. When the 
 morning broke the old man was still at his post, 
 shot gun in hand, but tired, sleepy and hungry. 
 The son laden with food and other inner com- 
 
112 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 forts "toiled up the sloping steep,-' with his paok 
 strapped on his back, and both father and son 
 sat down in the gray of the morning by a hasti- 
 ly lighted fire, to discuss their rude breakfast and 
 the limitless wealth before them. It would not do 
 to leave such an enormous property unguarded. 
 It would be "jumped" in ten minutes, so the 
 shot gun was transferred to the son, while 
 the father, with an old pair of saddle bags 
 stuffed to repletion with the "silver," de- 
 scended the mountain. His mule soon 
 brought him to Napa, the denizens of which 
 town he was shortly to astonish with his 
 discovery. He Avalked into the Reporter office, 
 saddlebags in hand, opened the fastenings with 
 an excellent smile but a trembling hand, when 
 out fell some brilliant specimens of iron pyrites. 
 Alas, that it should be told, but such was the 
 scope of his great silver discovery. 
 
 But the opinions of the unskilled were of no 
 value. A regular assayer Avould of course tell a 
 different story. And, we suppose on the princi- 
 ple that the supply always et^uals the demaud, 
 there was discovered in San Francisco large 
 numbers of "assay offices" at which for the mod- 
 erate price of |15, a certificate of quantitative an- 
 alysis of anything from a brickbat to a lump of 
 obsidian could be had, showing silver anywhere 
 between |20 and |500 per ton. We were shown 
 numbers of these certificates, and probably gave 
 them all the credence they were entitled to. Tliere 
 were a few individuals here who had understood 
 from the beginning the character of the Avhole 
 excitement. One of these, G. N. C. (presumably 
 George N. Cornwell) was the recipient of a sam- 
 ple of a very dark ore of something, and being 
 fond of a joke, dissolved a two-bit piece in nitric 
 acid, and added the resultant to the powdered 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 113 
 
 ore. When the assayer's certificate got back 
 there was an enormous excitement. The speci- 
 men forwarded had yielded |428 to the ton. Of 
 course, when the joke hatl been duly enjoyed, the 
 secret was revealed, to the great disgust of tlie 
 lucky proprietors. 
 
 Judge John S. Stark, formerly sheriff of the 
 County, had been away up the vallej^ on biisiuess 
 in the muddiest part of winter, and on his way 
 back met a fellow on his way to the "mines." 
 "Have you been to the mines?" said the fellow. 
 "Yes," answered the sheriff, "but everything is 
 pretty nearly taken up — at least all the best 
 claims." "But, d — n it,'' said the would-be pro- 
 prietor, "isn't there anything left?" "Oh, yes;" 
 returned the sheriff, "you might, perhaps, get in 
 on some outside claim." Without waiting to 
 make any reply, the fellow clapped spurs to his 
 Rosinante, headed up the valley, and, as the, sher- 
 iff declared, "In less than two minutes you 
 couldn't see him for the mud he raised." 
 
 The excitement lasted for several weeks, and 
 grew better and better. Scores of men, laden 
 with specimens, thronged the hotels and saloons, 
 and nothing was talked of but "big strikes," and 
 "astounding developments." A local assay office 
 was started, for the miners could not wait the 
 slow process of sending to San Francisco. 
 
 It is probable that this local assayer, Mr. Frank 
 MclNfahon (since engaged about the Knoxville 
 mines), did more than any one man towards 
 pricking the great bubble of the time. His as- 
 says were less favorable than the imported arti- 
 cle, and it came to pass that his customers were 
 dissatisfied with the result of his experiments. 
 Finally, as these threw a shade of doubt over tbe 
 value of the argentiferous discoveries, some of the 
 
114 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 heavy operators concluded to consult some of the 
 most skillful assayers of the city— men whose de- 
 cisions were beyond the reach of suspicion, and 
 whose reputations were above cavil or doubt. 
 Several specimens, considered to be of the high- 
 est value, were forwarded. 
 
 The general disgust of claim-owners may be 
 conceived when the formal certificates of assay 
 were returned. Most specimens contained no 
 silver at all, and the very best only a trace. Noth- 
 ing of value had been discovered. Thereupon en- 
 sued a sudden hegira of prospectors to the valley. 
 The millionaires of a day left their rude camps 
 in the mountains, and, with ragged breeches and 
 boots out at the toes, subsided at once into de- 
 spondency, and less exciting employments. The 
 hotel and saloon keepers, say nothing of the edit- 
 ors, proceeded to disencumber their premises of 
 accumulated tons of specimens of all kinds of 
 shiny rocks to be found within an area of thirty 
 miles square, making quite a contribution to the 
 paving material of the streets of Napa city. Thus 
 subsided the great mining excitement. The re- 
 sult was that a few were a little poorer, but many 
 hundreds a great deal wiser than they hoped 
 to be. 
 
 Passing to a consideration of the mines wJiich 
 have been developed and worked in Napa County, 
 we find that quicksilver was first discovered in 
 the Maycamas system of mountains by A. J. Bai- 
 ley and J. Cyrus, in January, 1860. This discov- 
 ery was made to the northwest of Calistoga, and 
 near tlie Geyser Springs. When the rock Avas 
 broken here the native metal appeared. 
 
 It is stated that eight hundred men rushed into 
 the new El Dorado at once and staked off chiims. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. U5 
 
 In the May following Edward Evey and J. N. 
 Bennett discovered a ledge of cinnabar iu 
 Knights' Valley. Both of these discoveries were 
 outside of the limits of Napa county, but were 
 tributary to Mount St. Helena. 
 
 The only mineral which has been discovered in 
 paying quantities, in or near Napa County, is cin- 
 nabar, which, when roasted, yields quicksilver, 
 the vapor of which is condensed in a retort. The 
 Phoenix Mining Company was a successful cor- 
 poration eventually, after having considerable 
 discouragement, which may have been for want 
 of technical knowledge, for when an educated 
 gentleman undertook the management, it was at 
 once a financial success, but after costly improve- 
 ments were added to increase the output, the 
 price of the product dropped to so low a figure 
 that the profit did not pay to exhaust the mine 
 for the small margin above the cost. When the 
 price of the mineral again goes up the manage- 
 ment will again bring this mine to the top of th(» 
 list of producers. 
 
 The Redington Quicksilver mine is located in 
 the northeastern portion of Napa county, about 
 eighteen miles from Clear Lake. The story of its 
 discovery is an illustration of how many deposits 
 of valuable mineral has been discovered and also 
 demonstrates what is called luck: "In 1860 a 
 company of twelve was formed in Napa City for 
 the purpose of prospecting for mines and miner- 
 als, and two old pioneer prospectors, Seth Dun- 
 ham and L. D. Jones, were sent out to examine 
 Napa and adjacent couQties. What might be 
 found was doubtful, but the company informally 
 organized concluded to pay a small assessment 
 per month each, in order to find out what might 
 
11« NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 be the resources of the land. The prospectors 
 were wont to bring in, about once a month, the 
 results of their labor. The prevalent idea then 
 was that silver abounded in the mountains of the 
 county and accordingly all eyes were directed to 
 the discovery of the ores of that metal. The 
 company individually as well as the prospectors, 
 were equally ignorant of mineralogy, and the 
 'specimens' brought in, ranged from iron pyrites 
 to bituminous shale, all of which was supposed to 
 contain silver. Every newspaper office and hotel 
 bar was replete with the samples of the wealth 
 and value of the mineral resources of the county, 
 all of which economically considered, were only 
 inferior specimens of macadamizing stones- 
 glistening but valueless. At last Messrs. Jones 
 and Dunham, in their perambulations among the 
 hills, struck a new road, then recently built be- 
 tween Berr3^essa valley and Lower Lake, and, ou 
 ascending a hill at the head of Sulphur canyou, 
 just above the Elkhorn ranch, where the soil and 
 rock had been removed to permit the passage of 
 teams, discovered, on the upper side of the road, 
 at the turning point, that the rocky point, partly 
 removed by the road makers, was of a peculiar 
 color and texture. Fragments broken off were 
 very heavy and of a liver color. They were at 
 once brought to town, and pronounced by the (Ex- 
 perts of that time cinnabar. And such they 
 proved. The first discovery led to the rich mine 
 of which they were the indication. The ignorant 
 workman who constructed the road had rolled 
 down into the canyon below many tons of cinna- 
 bar, which would have yielded from fifty to sixty 
 per cent of metal." The products of this mine so 
 discovered were as follows: 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 117 
 
 Year*. Flasks. Pounds. 
 
 1869 4,683 358,244 
 
 1870 4,619 353,353 
 
 1871 2,055 157,077 
 
 1872 3,206 245,259 
 
 1873 3,369 257,728 
 
 1874 7,200 550,800 
 
 1875 8,080 618,120 
 
 1876 8,702 665,703 
 
 1877 9,447 723,695 
 
 1878 6,812 521,118 
 
 1879 4,516 345,474 
 
 1880 2,114 161,739 
 
 Total 61,808 4,958,315 
 
 The policy of the company is, at present, owing 
 to the low prices of quicksilver, to employ barely 
 enough men to pay the expense of keeping up the 
 mine, without exhausting the ore bodies at so trif- 
 ling a profit as can be realized at the present rul- 
 ing prices of quicksilver. Should the price ad- 
 vance the number of men would be augmented, 
 and the former large production of the mine 
 would soon be attained. 
 
 THE NAPA CONSOLIDATED QUICKSILVER 
 
 MINE 
 
 Is another instance where a return was made for 
 the money invested, but as a rule much more 
 money has been put into silver mines than ever 
 was taken out of them on the Pacific Coast, and 
 then if we include all that has been worse than 
 sunk in stock speculations we will have an 
 amount that exceeds their yield more than one 
 hundred per cent. How easy it is to get grand 
 fortunes figured out on paper, but how very hard 
 it is to get them realized. 
 
118 NAPA COUNTT. 
 
 OAT HILL QUICKSILVEK MINE. 
 
 This mine employs 150 Chinamen and 115 
 white men, and is equipped with the best modern 
 machinery. The mine is in some places 1,000 
 feet deep. The main shaft is 300 feet deep, out 
 of which the ore is hoisted by engines. The ele- 
 vation of the mine is 2,000 feet abo^e sea lev^el. 
 
 The little town which is created by the work- 
 ing of this mine numbers about 350 people. 
 There are no saloons, and the employes are in- 
 dustrious and thrifty, living in pleasant homes; 
 have a church and Sunday school is held every 
 Sunday. 
 
 The output of this mine is 450 flasks per month, 
 containing 76^ pounds of quicksilver. 
 
 There is one store kept by the company, but 
 no whisky is sold; Wells-Fargo Express offlce and 
 Postoffice. 
 
 B. M. Newcomb is the superintendent of Oat 
 Hill mine, and general superintendent of eight 
 other mines. 
 
 COAL MINES. 
 
 There is no probability of there being any coal 
 measures in Napa county, although here and 
 there are outcroppings which look favorable. 
 The convulsions of nature have been so violent 
 that the crust of the earth is so shattered that 
 the prospects for coal and oil in paying deposits 
 are not promising. A half dozen coal companies 
 with capital of from two to three millions of dol- 
 lars have been formed, but nothing was ever ac- 
 complished. 
 
 Should the price of quicksilver advance to a 
 dollar per pound, which is not impossible, we 
 would soon see the mountains of Napa full of 
 prospectors, and the busy hum of mining machin- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 119 
 
 erj would be heard all through them, for there 
 are many mines which would pay well at that 
 price. As to silver, time alone can tell what it^ 
 will develop into. As to gold there is none, nor 
 is there any coal. There is no reasonable liopr' 
 that capital will be tempted to prove to the 
 contrary. 
 
 FIEST SCHOOL. 
 
 The first school house in Napa county was built 
 by William H. Nash, near Tucker creek above 
 St. Helena, in 1849, in which a private school was 
 taught by Mrs. Forbes, whose husband had per- 
 ished with the Donner party in 184G. As late as 
 J 854 there was not a public school in the county, 
 although there was one or two private schools. 
 In 1855 the first public school in the county was 
 erected by subscription in Napa City. In LS57 
 there were only 911 children in both Lake and 
 Napa counties, which then were one. We give 
 below the school census for 1858 and 1881, so the 
 growth of the system may be comprehended. 
 
 SUPERINTE?fDENTS OF SCHOOLS FOR NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 1883 to 1887-J. L. Shearer. 
 
 1887 to 1891-F. C. Huskie. 
 
 1891 to 1895 --Anna E. Dixon. 
 
 1895 to 1899- Kate Ames. 
 
 1899 to 1903-John A. Imre. 
 
 Board of Education 1901-J. L.Shearer of Napa, 
 President; Jolm A. Imrie of Napa, Secretary; 
 Agnes G. C. Erb of Napa; Elmer L. Cave, St. 
 Helena; Dee T. Davis, Monticello. 
 
 No. of teachers employed in 1900 were, 12 male, 
 80 female. Value of school property, .f 133, 5 17. 
 No. of pupils attending school in 1900, about 900, 
 
19* 
 
 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 SCHOOL CENSUS FOR 1858 AND 1881. 
 
 Districts, 
 
 No. of 
 Childreu. 
 
 American Canon.. 
 
 Atlas Peak 
 
 Buchanan 
 
 Bennett 
 
 Berryessa 
 
 Caueras 
 
 Calistoga 
 
 Chiles 
 
 Cherry Valley 
 
 Chiles Valley 
 
 Conn Valley 
 
 Capelle Valley 
 
 Crystal Springs, . . 
 
 Cinnabar 
 
 Franklin 
 
 Fosb Valley 
 
 Gordon Valley. . . . 
 
 Hardin 
 
 Harmony 
 
 Howard 
 
 Howell Mountain. 
 
 High Valley 
 
 Jefferson 
 
 Liberty 
 
 Lodi 
 
 Lone Tree . 
 
 Mountain 
 
 Napa 
 
 Oak Grove 
 
 Oak Knoll 
 
 56 
 
 30 
 
 131 
 
 27 
 15 
 97 
 80 
 
 63 
 43 
 
 235 
 6b 
 18 
 16 
 31 
 25 
 24 
 47 
 55 
 22 
 40 
 25 
 65 
 64 
 34 
 15 
 32 
 56 
 27 
 19 
 22 
 
 978 
 18 
 41 
 
 Districts. 
 
 Oakville 
 
 Pope Valley 
 
 Putah " 
 
 Redwood 
 
 Soda Canyon 
 
 Soscol 
 
 Salvador 
 
 Silverado 
 
 ■-pring Mountain. . . . 
 
 St. Helena 
 
 Sulphur Springs 
 
 Summit 
 
 Tucker 
 
 Upper Pope Valley.. 
 
 Vineland 
 
 Wooden Valley 
 
 Yount 
 
 Zen Zen 
 
 Fischer's School Ho. 
 
 Brown's Valley 
 
 Hot Springs No. i.. . 
 Hot Springs No. 2.. . 
 Hot Springs No. 3.. . 
 Clear Lake No. i . . . . 
 Clear Lake No. 2 . . . 
 
 Monroe 
 
 Squatter Valley 
 
 Total 
 
 No. of 
 Children. 
 
 43 
 
 141 
 
 57 
 
 50 
 
 89 
 
 122 
 
 33 
 50 
 38 
 
 63 
 
 903 
 
 28 
 16 
 
 19 
 22 
 
 36 
 40 
 38 
 25 
 23 
 
 334 
 50 
 25 
 39 
 32 
 
 107 
 10 
 
 47 
 II 
 
 3202 
 
 LIFE AND KOADS IN NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 No State in the Union or conntj in any State 
 has better wagon roads than this county. In the 
 garden of the valleys of Napa, Pope, Chiles and 
 Berryessa, such roads are seldom equaled ner- 
 er surpassed. What would a. Board of County 
 Commissioners in Ohio think of sprinkling their 
 main public thoroughfares. Yet such is the case 
 here, an eastern dream in western reality. "^Vheu 
 this is told east of the Rockies the man will gaze 
 in wonder on his neighbor's face— But here is life 
 and comfort, from the lofty hills on either side 
 the eye is carried into the valleys below, and 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 121 
 
 under the soft sunshine and fields of green is mir- 
 rored back to us like an emerald sea of marble 
 sleeping without a wave. Such a sight will so 
 transfix you that you can hear the beating of 
 your own pulse. About your feet the languish- 
 ing red rose and the bride-like hyacinth droop- 
 ing as with shame. Beside the rock the ane- 
 mone whose flushed cheeks of flame is caught in 
 the golden embrace of the sun and its hour of 
 noon is passing beautiful. From a hundred 
 1 hroats swell up the notes of song, and lovely car- 
 ols and the wind harping over the hills and reeds 
 with dulcet strains, timbrel and harp. What an 
 anthem of a myriad voices lifted in one mighty 
 melody toward their Creator. In the spring this 
 conclave of birds is seen and their million notes 
 are heard on a thousand hills. The writer on 
 many occasions has beheld sights beyond the 
 power of the most graphic pen to portray. The 
 spring time when sunny summer flings its rosy 
 arms about the earth, the poppy each night get- 
 ting its dewy freshness from hill and plain. 
 Every jessamine and flower seems to have bor- 
 rowed some of its loveliness from the rainbow. 
 Here is the blush of the wild yellow^ rose and on 
 its cheeks the kiss of the beaming morn— and by 
 yonder prattling brook the water lily and in its 
 folds a sunbeam got entangled and from the birds 
 it gets its soft innocence— and from the water 
 the efflorescent tear that trembles on its fair face. 
 Now in climbing upward threading the weird 
 line coiled like a vine about the mountain side we 
 pass yawning chasms that coquette with death 
 and haughty cliffs that look defiantly from the 
 dizzy heights above. But upward we climb to- 
 ward the eagle's home above the fog beyond the 
 din of voices in the vale below. Into the sweet, 
 soft fragrant air where gray cliffs and the levia- 
 
122 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 than crag look upon each other through the twi- 
 light of ages, but voiceless, tongueless, uo 
 word low spoke but eloquent in age for 
 years hung about them and even centu- 
 ries over them ^^ith grace, while time 
 hung its drapery, ancient as the sun. What 
 thoughts came o'er me when I remembered that 
 on their cold brows Avas felt the kiss of a million 
 mornings. But upward we climbed to the level 
 of the summit where one of our neighbors had 
 come many years before and his touch was seen 
 in the magic of change. Tainted fences, waving 
 grain fields, modern buildings, improvements 
 everywhere. 
 
 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY. 
 
 One of the most profitable products in this 
 country is the Prune, and the world does not pos- 
 sess in all its markets a commodity so delectably 
 rich as our prune fruit. In Chicago, New Or- 
 leans and New York we found dried, withered 
 prune parasites raised in Ohio and South Caroli- 
 na with an unctuous label announcing "California 
 I'runes." The fair name and great fame of our 
 fruit is slandered and degraded to the world by 
 the riot of dwarfish and shriveled fruits of the 
 East contending for sale place and price under a 
 label that is famous for the luscious sweetness 
 and large full body of meat it contains. In St. 
 I^ouis we heai'd the vendor crying "Fresh Napa 
 county, California Grapes." To a question as to 
 where they were groAvn, he confided in confi- 
 dence^ that they were grown twenty miles fr<nn 
 that L-itj. On the shelves of the grocery stores in 
 Tampa, Florida, are "Sacramento Salmon." 
 When examined we found them to be Alaslva 
 steel heads. In Boston they sell I*orto Eico or- 
 anges as Riverside, California, navels and the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 123 
 
 fraud is apparent when the sale is carried on 
 three months before the California orange is in 
 the market and while it yet hangs in its green 
 state on the native tree. 
 
 Speaking of the financial returns from prunes, 
 we looked over a half dozen orchards where from 
 three acres as high as seven hundred dollars was 
 realized from the sale of its yearly product. 
 
 One farm here with ten acres devoted to 
 prunes will yield a better return than a quarter 
 section in Ohio devoted to w^heat and corn. 
 
 No county in this State is so well adapted to 
 the culture of olives as ours. As it is, thousands 
 of gallons of rich oil is rendered from this decidu- 
 ous berry each year. This green pepper-like 
 leafed tree, small, brisk, smart, handsome in ap- 
 pearance; easily kept, enduring, hardy, it de- 
 fies frost, resists cold, loves sunshine, never fails, 
 responds to kindness, and readily influenced. 
 Napa to-day has one hundred thousand acres 
 of hill land ready to be cleared and 
 planted to the olive. Here is an Eden for a 
 thousand new homes, land that will respond to 
 the farmer and give back a dual thrift in crop to 
 the husbandman. We have no product yielding 
 better and requiring less care than this sacred 
 olive, and it will pour countless sums of money 
 in the pockets of the homeseeker and bless his 
 fireside, clothe his family, feed them, pay his 
 taxes, furnish his house and place at every turn 
 of the new home the appearance of contentnient, 
 happiness, peace and plenty. 
 
 PIONEERS. 
 
 The Pioneers— In closing this chapter it is but 
 proper we should pay a tribute to the brave pio- 
 neers who led the van and sacrificed their com- 
 
1?< NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 fort and often their lives in order that civiliza- 
 tion should bless this land and their children 
 should enjoy the fruits of their fathers' sacrifices. 
 Heroic deeds do not seem so to the actors in the 
 great drama of Pioneerism. It has been their lot 
 to subdue the wilderness and change it into fields 
 of golden grain. Toil and privation such as we 
 would shrink from was their lot for many years. 
 Poor houses or no houses at all, but a 
 simple tent of Indian wickeup, sheltered 
 them from the storm or inclement weather, 
 the wild beasts of the woods their only 
 visitors, except when troubled by thieving 
 Indians; the game procured by the hunter 
 their only meat and bread was many times a 
 rarity. But all these conditions are now 
 changed. The Indian ranchero is supplanted by 
 beautiful villages and the war dance by the 
 Christian church. The children's bow and arrow 
 for the precious school books and at every mile 
 post almost are to be seen the bulwarks of our 
 liberty; the safeguards of our social life, the 
 school house from which springs the American 
 citizen who marches in the van of civilization 
 abreast with the leading nations of the world. 
 Pioneer mothers and fathers you have heard or 
 will hear the universal verdict of "Well done," 
 you have fought the battle bravely, now rest. 
 
 NAPA TOWXSHIP. 
 
 Geography.— Napa Township is bounded on the 
 north by Yount Township, on the east and south 
 by Solano county, on the west by Sonoma 
 county. 
 
 Topography.— The topograpliy of this town- 
 ship is fully as varied as that of any of the other 
 sections of Napa county. Beginning at the west- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 1*6 
 
 ern line, we find it on the summit of a range of 
 mountains. Passing to the east, we come to the 
 2\'apa valley, which in this township is much 
 wider than in the others to the northward. It 
 opens out into a broad open flat a few miles south 
 of Napa City, which is covered with tules. Pass- 
 ing on to the eastward, the remainder of the 
 township is very rough and mountainous, having 
 here and there small and fertile valleys inter- 
 spersed amid the mountain peaks, such as Foss, 
 Wild Horse, Capelle and others, 
 
 Soil.— The soil is very rich and productive in 
 the valleys and equally well adapted to the pro- 
 duction of all classes of fruits, vegetables and 
 cereals. The soil in the tule region is quite rich, 
 and is very productive when there is not too 
 much salt in the composition. The soil of the 
 mountains is the common red detritus from vol- 
 canic substances, and is well adapted to the 
 growth of the vine. In Brown's valley the soil is 
 adobe, having been formed by the decomposition 
 of limestone, but there is enough sand mixed 
 with it to make it friable, and fruits and vines 
 do well in it; which is not common in that class 
 of soil. 
 
 Geology.— Beginning on the we«t side of the 
 township we find that the mountains are formed 
 mostly of sand and limestone of the Tertiary pe- 
 riod. Passing to the mountains on the east side of 
 the valley we find the great masses of volcanic 
 ash and tufa deposited there upon the occasion of 
 some mighty eruption, and gradually, through 
 the action of ages, formed into solid rock, afford- 
 ing much valuable stone for economical pur- 
 poses. Farther eastward these mountains are 
 still of volcanic origin. 
 
 Climate.— The lower end of Napa Valley is 
 open to the breezes which sweep inland from the 
 
126 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 sea (luring the summer months, and serve to 
 lower the temperature to a remarkable degree. 
 The wind is greatly modified in its force and tem- 
 perature in passing over the warm surface of the 
 land, and its effects are less and less felt as it 
 penetrates inland. Probably the pleasante«t 
 climate is found in and near Napa City. The sea 
 breeze passing over the long stretch of level land, 
 loses its roughness, and keeps down the summer 
 heat and renders the winters mild. About Napa 
 City the thermometer rarely gets above eighty 
 degrees, although it has been in rare instances as 
 high as one hundred and five degrees but for a 
 short time only, the nights being cool and re- 
 freshing. In winter ice is sometimes formed at 
 night half an inch thick upon standing water. 
 Snow is a great rarity in this part of the valley. 
 None has fallen except in four or five instances 
 during the past twenty years,and then only to the 
 depth of a few inches. The surrounding mount- 
 ains sometimes put on a snowy mantle for a few 
 hours, but it soon disappears. The smaller val- 
 leys being shut out from the sea breeze are hotter 
 and colder than Napa valley. 
 
 Products. — The products of this township are 
 varied, extending to everything that can be 
 grown in a genial and semi-tropic climate. 
 Fruits and vines thrive in Brown's valley; cereals 
 in tlie lieart of Napa valley in the southern por- 
 tion of the township; vines, small fruits and cere- 
 als in the mountains and mountain valleys, while 
 vegetables grow everywhere. 
 
 Timber.— This chajyter will be very short for 
 there is no native timber left in this township 
 and none at all except what has been planted 
 thait is of any value. 
 
 Early settlement.— To Don Cayetano Juarez 
 belongs the honor of being the first settler in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 127 
 
 Napa Township, coming in as early as 1840, He 
 had stock in the vicinity as early as 1837, but his 
 family resided in Sonoma whither he went of 
 nights. In 1840 he built the small adobe house 
 still to be seen standing on the road near the asy- 
 lum. Here he resided continuously, enjoying the 
 fruits of a well spent life. He raised a large fam- 
 ily of children. 
 
 The next settler was Nicolas Higuerra, who 
 came in and located permanently in 1840. He 
 had a wicker house, on which was plastered a 
 thick coat of mud, giving it the appearance of an 
 adobe house at a distance. It was thatched with 
 tule and grass,and was a small structure not more 
 than twenty feet square. It was located on what 
 is known at the Patchett place not a great dis- 
 tance from the Calistoga avenue bridge. In 1847 
 he constructed an adobe house to the westward 
 of Napa City, which is still standing. But little 
 concerning this old pioneer is known, except he 
 was a Mexican and had a family, two of his 
 daughters being married to the Berryessa broth- 
 ers. 
 
 Don Salvador Vallejo came in very early and 
 erected an adobe house at the Francas and at the 
 ''Big Eanch," as it is also called. Both of these 
 houses are yet in existence, the one at Francas 
 is used as a residence. The one at the 
 '■Big Ranch," now the property of G. Barth, is a 
 very large one indeed, being about forty feet wide 
 and nearly one hundred feet long and two stories 
 high. It is now fast going to ruin and at a few 
 years at most nothing will be left to mark the 
 site but a mound of decaying debris. And so the 
 old landmarks are passing away and the links 
 which bind the present or American regime to 
 the Spanish-Mexican or past, are disappeai'ing 
 
128 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 one by one, and will be but matters of legend and 
 history. 
 
 It is not known who w^as the first Ameriean- 
 born settler in this township and it is not until 
 1848 we can learn of any permanent settlers. 
 
 In 1848, the following persons were in the 
 township: John Trubody, George N. Cornwell, 
 Harrison Pierce, Ealph Kilburn, William H. 
 Nash, William Eussell, J. P. Thompson, John 
 Custer, John Adams; in 1849, Peter D. Bailey, T. 
 G. Burton; in 1850, Dr. W. W. Stillwagon, Thom- 
 as Earl, P. D. Grigsby, T. F. Raney, H. N. Arms- 
 bury, E. G. Young, Jesse Grigsby; in 1851, J. If. 
 Rowland; in 1852, W. S. Jacks, A. W. Norton, 
 John M. Davis, John T. Smith; in 1853, W. A. 
 Elgin, J. G. Randall, B. Little, William Middle- 
 ton, Charles Robinson, C. H. Allen, H. Goodrich, 
 H. A. Pellet, W. A. Fisher; in 1854, Robert Miller, 
 John W^atson, and in 1855 Wm. E. Anderson. Of 
 course there were many others whose names have 
 been forgotten by our informant, then there are 
 others whose names will be found mentioned else- 
 where in this work. 
 
 NAPA CITY. 
 
 To the visitor at Napa City to-day the state- 
 ment that only one-half of a centurj^ ago the site 
 of the now beautiful city was nothing but a wild- 
 erness inhabited by none save the prowling beast 
 of prey and the no more to be wished-for Indian 
 is hardly credible; that length of time takes us 
 back to 1848— the year in which the first house 
 was built. Previous to this the site of the city 
 was a field of wild oats. The original town site 
 was planted in beans in 1847, the first touch of 
 civilization that was felt by Napa. What a con- 
 trast to the scene presented this evening. It is 
 Wednesday and the weekly concert by the brass 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 129 
 
 band is in progress. The beautiful court bouse 
 yard, or rather square, is brilliantly lighted up 
 by electricity. Hundreds of elegant carriages are 
 standing around the square, in some of which are 
 seated the occupants enjoying the music, while 
 the square in the vicinity of the band-stand is a 
 solid mass of citizens, but principally women and 
 children, handsome, well dressed in bright sum- 
 mer fabrics, while intelligence sits enthroaesl 
 upon their smiling faces, the cool breezes from 
 the sea fan the summer air, while the bright 
 moon floods the whole with her silvery light. We 
 ask, what could afford a greater contrast: civiliza- 
 tion, Christianity and soap. 
 
 In 1847 there was not a house in the county ex- 
 cept a few adobes, occupied by Mexicans and a 
 few hardy American pioneers, such as George C. 
 Yount and Julian Pope, who had penetrated the 
 mountain fastness which lay between the Missis- 
 sippi river and the Pacific ocean and were glad to 
 find a resting place from their journeyings in the 
 sweet valleys of this quiet section. 
 
 There was not a store, hotel, saloon, church, or 
 school within the limits of the county. There 
 were neither roads, bridges nor fences. There 
 were no buildings except two adobe houses, one 
 occupied by Nicolas Higuerra, and situated not 
 far from the present Calistoga avenue bridge, and 
 the other the residence of Don Cayetano Juarez 
 on the Tulucay rancho. The former has disap- 
 peared, while the latter remains as a tie binding 
 the present to the far away past. The first vessel 
 to arrive was General Sutter's schooner whicli in 
 1844 sailed up to the Embarcadero de Napa for 
 lime which he had purchased of Nicolas Hig- 
 uerra. 
 
 William Baldridge and others came to Napa 
 
130 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 valley from Sutter's Fort at that time on board 
 the schooner. 
 
 The first mention of what is now Napa City in 
 a newspaper was made in an article in the Cali- 
 fornian, then under the management of Brannau 
 & Kimble, in 1848, in which it is stated that the 
 ship "Malek Adhel" had passed up the Napa 
 river, and found plenty of water to a certain point, 
 and beyond that was the ''Embarcadero de Napa." 
 Early in May, 1848, the first building was erected, 
 which formed the nucleus around which the fjres- 
 ent city has grown; it was a saloon 18x24 feet and 
 built by Harrison Pierce. The building is still 
 standing, in good condition near the river on the 
 south side of Third street, and in the same en- 
 closure with the "Shade House." The lumber for 
 this building was sawed by Kalph Kilburn, Har- 
 rison Pierce and William H. Nash at Bale & Kil- 
 burn's mill two miles above St. Helena, and was 
 hauled to Napa by William H. Nash. Six build- 
 ings were framed the previous winter at this mill 
 and shipped to Benicia and San Francisco. The 
 town site was surveyed and laid out by Hon. Na- 
 than Coombs in the spring of 1848, and the origin- 
 al limits of the town only included the land lying 
 between Brown street and the river and extend- 
 ed six hundred yards from Napa creek to the 
 steamboat landing. Captain John Grigsby and 
 Nathan Coombs did the carpenter work on the 
 new adobe house of Nicolas Higuerra, and took 
 this tract of land for their work. Shortly after- 
 wards Capt. Crigsby disposed of his interest to 
 Nathan Coombs. They had a bond for a deed 
 from FTigiierra, but when the final papers were 
 made out Mr. Coombs purchased the additional 
 tract known for several years as the commons. 
 
 Since then several additioiis have been made 
 to the town plot by various owners of land ad- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 131 
 
 joining it, among whom are Thompson, Briggs & 
 Kussell, Hill, Hartson, Cornwall and Lawley. The 
 the town was formerly divided into sections 
 known as "Napa Alta" or Upper Napa, 
 and "Napa Abajo," or Lower Napa. The 
 latter consisted of Thompson's addition of 
 over one hundred acres. The embarca- 
 
 dero or landing was at the head of navigation, 
 and the ford just above it determined the location 
 of the town. There being no bridges in those 
 days, the ford was a place of much importance, 
 probably much more than the embarcadero. 
 
 When Pierce came to erect his building, he got 
 bewildered amid the forest of newly planted sur- 
 veyor's stakes, and placed the structure in the 
 middle of Main street. The effects of what the 
 building was destined to contain, certainly seem- 
 ed to have impressed themselves upon the projec- 
 tor very forcibly, or he may have had a stock 
 stored away under the wide spreading branches 
 of a neighboring tree, and took occasion to visit 
 it quite frequently to see if it was all there except 
 the quantity which he himself imbibed, but be 
 that as it may, the building was discovered to be 
 in the middle of the street by Nicolas Higuerra 
 and the proprietor, after the building had pro- 
 gressed nearly to completion, the rafters only re- 
 maining to be put on. It was then moved to its 
 present site. 
 
 During that year, 1848, Mr. John Trubody 
 mowed almost the entire townsite which was cov- 
 ered with a rank growth of wild oats, and sold 
 the ]iay to the government. On the 6th of May 
 gold was discovered, and by the time the Pioneer 
 building was completed the news had reached the 
 residents of this valley and on the 20th of the 
 month a party comprising Harrison Pierce, Will- 
 iam H. Nash, Ralph Kilburr, John Ivelley, 
 
132 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Frank Kellogg, William McDonald, Hiram 
 Acres and Benjamin Dewell, together with 
 an old Indian, Guadalupe and his wife, 
 who had been brought from Mexico by 
 William Gordon and Julian Pope, left Napa fur 
 the newly discovered gold fields, thus being about 
 the first to arrive there. It will be thus seen that 
 the newly contracted edifice was deserted even 
 before it had been initiated into the mysteries of 
 a saloon. 
 
 Pierce remained in the mines during the sum- 
 mer season, and that fall returned to Napa, to 
 find his building just as he had left it, and he put 
 in a stock of liquors and opened the "Empire Sa- 
 loon," a place well remembered by all old pio- 
 neers. The following summer it afforded accom- 
 modations in the shape of lodgings, "square 
 meals" of beef, hard bread and coffee at one dol- 
 lar each. The first election in Napa was held in 
 this building in 1849. It was subsequently oc- 
 cupied for various purposes. E. T. Montgomery 
 using it one time for a dwelling house. The old 
 sign "Empire Saloon," was still visible in 1857. 
 
 In 1849 a rude bridge was built across Napa 
 creek, near the line of Brown street, which fell 
 in the autumn of 1851, under the weight of a load 
 of wheat belonging to J. W. Osborne, killing two 
 horses. Another in its place was carried away 
 by a freshet in the winter of 1852-3 and the drift 
 and debris lodging against the trees, threw back 
 the waters and flooded the town. Another bridge 
 was thrown across the creek at First street the 
 same year; as stated, there was a ford just 
 above the head of navigation. There was a 
 ford also near the foot of Second street, which 
 was only passable at low tide. At high tide men 
 swam their horses across. In the fall and winter 
 of 1848-9 a ferry was established by William Bus- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 133 
 
 sell and a partner, at a point between Second and 
 Third streets. In 1851, a toll bridge was built 
 across the river just above the Vernon Mills, by 
 J. B. Howell, who obtained a franchise from the 
 Court of Sessions for the same. 
 
 During the fall of 1848, and the following win- 
 ter, other buildings, small temporary structures, 
 half canvas, half redwood "shakes," were erect- 
 ed. The first store was opened in 1848 by J. P. 
 Thompson, in a building at the foot of Main street 
 on the site of the Star warehouse. The next store 
 was located on the tongue of land lying at the 
 juncture of the river and the creek, and between 
 the two streams, on the present site of China- 
 town. In 1849, Messrs. Vallejo and Frisbie (Gen- 
 eral Mariano Guadalupe Vallejo and General 
 John C. Frisbie) had three stores; one in Napa, 
 one in Benicia and one at Sonoma, in which 
 George N. Cornwell was also interested, and had 
 charge of the one in Napa, which was the store 
 mentioned as being situated on the point between 
 iNapa river and Napa creek. 
 
 In the winter of 1848-9 there was another rash 
 to the mines and nearly all the male i)opulation 
 of the community proceeded to the "diggins"' to 
 seek a fortune. Messrs. Cornwell and Thompson 
 remained in charge of their respective stores, and 
 a few old men who did not care to brave the hard- 
 ships of a miner's life. 
 
 Some idea of the fabulous prices which com- 
 modities commanded at that time may be had 
 when we state that lumber at the Capt. Stephen 
 Smith mill at Bodega was worth |300 per thous- 
 and. The freight to Sonoma was |80 per M. and 
 it was brought thence by vessel at quite an addi- 
 tional cost. Mr. Cornwell paid John Wooden in 
 1849 |100 each for two stringers for a bridge, each 
 sixty feet long. In that same year he fenced for- 
 
134 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ty acres of barley, which was then growing on 
 what is now known as "Cornw^alPs addition,'' 
 with rails that cost him one dollar each. He paid 
 |400 for threshing the barley in Mexican style, 
 $400 for a fanning mill and |125 each for old 
 fashioned cradles. He did well, however, by the 
 venture, as he raised seventy bushels per acre 
 and sold it at fifteen dollars per cental. The next 
 store was erected by Capt. Brackett and E. L. Kil- 
 burn, which was located on Main street, below 
 the American Hotel, and will be remembered as 
 the office of the Reporter in 1856, then published 
 by Messrs. Montgomeiy & Cox. Within the next 
 few years several other buildings were erected 
 for business purposes, among them w^as Messrs. 
 Hart & McGarry's on Main street, near the site 
 of Messrs. Goodman's Bank. This structure was 
 erected by Archibald Jesse, and was originally 
 used as a dwelling. Jacob Higgins built a store 
 on the southwest corner of Brown and First 
 streets, now forming a part of the German Music 
 Hall. On the northwest corner was the store 
 owned and kept by J. Mount, and another sub- 
 sequently by Angus Boggs, and afterwards by J. 
 H. Howland. There was a dwelling house on 
 Main street, which was used subsequently for 
 mercantile purposes. 
 
 There were two other stores on Main street, one 
 on the southwest corner of Main and Second 
 streets, and another on the northwest corner of 
 the same stre<4s, occupied by Messrs. Penwell & 
 Walker. The McCoombs building, on the north- 
 west corner of Main and First streets, was occu- 
 pied by 11. M. Hill, as a meat market, and for sev- 
 eral years subsequently as a saloon. On the 
 southeast corner was a blacksmith shop, presided 
 over by Mr. Guthrie. Excepting a few buildings 
 on Coombs street, there were but few dwellings 
 previous to 1854, except mere shanties. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 1S5 
 
 The first of any considerable size or pretensions 
 was the dwelling of Major John H. Seawell, 
 which has since been remodeled, and is now one 
 of the buildings connected with the Napa Ladies' 
 Seminary. South of this street all was an open 
 common, with here and there a shanty, down as 
 far as Col. W. S. Jack's place on Jack's Point. 
 The first warehouse was erected on the south side 
 of First street, at the then steamboat landing, 
 but it was carried away by the flood of the follow- 
 ing winter. Another warehouse was put ujj in 
 1850 by John Trubody, near the foot of Main 
 street, on what is known as Short street, and di- 
 rectly on the river's bank. This building was oc- 
 cupied successively as a warehouse, store, saloon, 
 jjostofiice, church,Magistrate's office and boarding 
 house, and was still standing in 1871 as a relic 
 and a remembrance of the early days. Another 
 warehouse was erected by Angus L. Boggs in the 
 spring of 1851, a block north on the same street. 
 
 In consequence of the enormous price of labor 
 and lumber in those early days, buildings already 
 framed were often shipped to California, and 
 some of these are still standing in Napa City. 
 Three of them united formed Gregg & Seawall's 
 store and now constitute the German Hotel, on 
 the corner of Brown and First streets. The stone 
 building so long occupied by Messrs. A. J. Easter- 
 by Co., and the store opposite to it, which was de- 
 stroyed by fire many years since, a portion of the 
 old court house, the Napa Stable, the first build- 
 ing erectied at Oak Knoll, a small store erected 
 for Lawrence & Kimball and the building so long 
 occupied by Mr. George N. Cornwell as a resi- 
 dence on First street, were among these import- 
 ed buildings. 
 
 In 1851, the bark "Josephine," which had been 
 in Moorehead's expedition to Gila, was purchased 
 
136 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 by George N. Cornwell, and Captain Chadwick 
 sailed it up the Napa river to the embarcadeco for 
 the modest sum of (?) one hundred dollars. The 
 new proprietor proceeded to dismantle her, and 
 house her over. She was then anchored to the 
 bank of the river near the point of confluence 
 with the creek, east of First street bridge, and for 
 several years used as a wharf boat and storeship. 
 She was ultimately sold to William A. Fisher, 
 who used her for the same purpose. 
 
 The population of Napa in those early days 
 would have afforded a grand field for 
 the student of human nature, as it was 
 made up of a motley collection of sam- 
 j)les of all nations under the sun. The 
 new England Yankee elbowed the "Sydney 
 duck," and the Chinaman and Nigger stood cheek 
 by jowl with the Digger Indian. Napa was a 
 favorite resort for miners in the winter, whether 
 they were "flush" or "dead broke." The chief 
 places of business were the saloons, and gold dust 
 was the medium of exchange and gold scales 
 stood upon every counter. Very little United 
 States coin was in circulation, and as late as 1856 
 the medium of exchange was either gold dust, for- 
 eign coin, or a substitute for coin issued by the 
 assay office of Kellogg & Humbert in San Fran- 
 cisco. They issued gold pieces of five dollars, ten 
 dollars, twenty dollars and fifty dollars, which 
 were of full weight and equal fineness to the gov- 
 ernment standard. These were everywhere ac- 
 cepted as legal coin. All old settlers will re- 
 member the fifty dollar "slug" as it was called, 
 which were so common in those days. The French 
 franc and the English shilling passed freely for 
 a quarter of a dollar and the five franc piece for 
 one dollar. No change was used smaller than a 
 "bit" or a ten cent piece, and they were not reck- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 137 
 
 oned to be of much consequence. The prices of 
 everything, especially labor, were enormous. 
 Money was the only thing that was plentiful. 
 Alas, how things have changed since then! Gam- 
 bling was the most fashionable pursuit, and men 
 of all classes were engaged in it. San Francisco 
 saw itself repeated on a smaller scale in this em- 
 bryotic city. Fights were of hourly occurrence, 
 and practical jokes of all sorts were the order of 
 the day. A more rollicking and reckless set of 
 men were never seen. There were neither 
 churches nor schools, and practically there was 
 no law, each man being "a law unto himself," and 
 very few had settled habits. The mass of these 
 men had no family ties to hold them in check, and 
 there were no places of public resort excepting 
 bar-rooms, saloons and gambling houses. "It is 
 not strange," said one who had passed through 
 the ordeal, "that very many of the early pioneers 
 contracted ruinous habits, causing the premature 
 death of many and a life-long regret to those that 
 survived. They lived in a fever of excitement, 
 careless of the morrow and determined to enjoy 
 the present at all hazards to the full." 
 
 With the organization of the county in 1S51 
 came the necessity of erecting a Court House, 
 which was built on the corner of Coombs and 
 Second streets, and was a small two-story struct- 
 ure. The present Court House plaza was occu- 
 pied by Lawley & Lefferts as a lumber yard in 
 1 855. Previous to that it had long been a vacant 
 lot covered with tar weed. In November, 1849, 
 Captain Turner G. Baxter and Dr. Bracket ar- 
 rived in Napa City and the Captain immediately 
 embarked in the saloon and grocery business, 
 which he followed until the spring of 1850, when 
 he erected the "Valley House" on the site now oc- 
 
138 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 cupied by David Hass' book store, which he cou- 
 ducted for a short time. 
 
 The American Hotel was erected in 1850 by Na- 
 than Coombs, Lyman Chapman and Samuel Starr, 
 and the Napa Hotel by James Harbin in 1851. 
 Several lodging houses and restaurants had pre- 
 viously been opened as appendages to saloons. 
 In addition to the hotels mentioned above, there 
 were in 1854, a blacksmith shop on First street, 
 near the corner of Main; a butcher shop on the 
 corner kept by E. M. Hill, a restaurant just be- 
 low, kept by H. Sanderson; a saloon just below it 
 kept by J. M. Dudley, and a store kept by J, C. 
 Penwell and A. B. Walker, on the present site of 
 the Bank of Napa. On the east side of Main 
 street were Charles Hoit's store, the= Shade House, 
 and a few temporary buildings, mostly occupied 
 as saloons and restaurants. Archibald Jesse 
 built a dwelling, afterwards used by Messrs.Hunt 
 & McGregor as a store. The building stood upon 
 the present site of the Goodman & Co. Bank. 
 
 Mr. George N. Cornwell, who came to Napa in 
 1848, gives the following statement concerning 
 what was here when he came, and the progress 
 of the city for a year or two afterwards: "In 1847 
 Nicolas Iliguerra erected a new adobe house, and 
 Nathan Coombs and Capt. John Grigsby took the 
 contract of making and putting on the shingles 
 for which they received the tract of land which 
 comprised the original town site. In the fall of 
 that year, the services of Mr. James H. Hudsijeth, 
 now of Green Valley, Sonoma county, wi-re 
 brought into requisition, and the town plat was 
 surveyed. The first building was a store erected 
 by Southard & Sweezy, and it was located on the 
 bank of the river, just in rear of Uncle Sam's wine 
 cellar and vinegar house. This is tiie building 
 spoken of above as being built by Harrison 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 13» 
 
 Pierce, in fact Pierce had the house built but 
 Southard & Sweezy did the work. 
 
 The second building was also a store built by 
 J. P. Thompson, and was located at the foot of 
 Main street where the mill now stands. There was 
 a building also where the "O. P. C." store now 
 stands, on the corner of Main and Third streets. 
 Archibald C. Jesse had a building on the corner 
 of Second and Main streets, a little above where 
 the Goodman Bank now stands, it was then used 
 as a dwelling. A man by the name of Brown 
 had a little building, now occupied as a saloon, 
 on the northeast corner of Second and Main 
 streets. All of these buildings were here 
 in the fall of 1848. The next building 
 was the Vallejo & Frisbie store, at the junction of 
 the creek and river. Ralph Kilburn also con- 
 structed a dwelling in the fall of 1848. There 
 was a little saloon on the corner of Main and Sec- 
 ond streets, on the site of the Bank of Napa, 
 which was kept by two brothers by the name of 
 Johnson. Either in the fall of 1848 or the spring 
 of 1849, the McCoombs building was erected on 
 the corner of First . and Main streets on 
 the site of Alden & Co.'s store. The principal event 
 of those days of pioneer life was the lynching of 
 Hugh McCaully, an account of which will be 
 found in the chapter on homicides. 
 
 In 1850, N. McKimmey, afterwards sheriff of 
 Napa county, had a ferryboat near the foot of 
 Second street. Mr. Thomas Earl, who came in 
 that year estimates the number of inhabitants at 
 fifty, and the buildings at one dozen. The Napa 
 House was then conducted by Frank Juarez. Mr. 
 Earl was the first saddler in the place, and 
 Charles Allen the first tinner. What is known as 
 the "Lawley Addition," was purchased by Matt 
 Harbin from Nicolas Higuerra, and in 1853 xMr. 
 
140 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 P^arl bought it from him and subsequently sold it 
 to Mr. Lawley. A. W. Norton had a blacksmith 
 shop in the place at that time. 
 
 In the spring of 1855, the first brick building of 
 any character was erected by John S. Robinson, 
 and was a small dwelling house located in the 
 western part of town, then really outside the city 
 limits. Shortly after this Thomas Earl and Will- 
 iam H. James united forces, and purchased brick 
 in Sacramento and erected the first brick building 
 in Napa for business purposes. ^Ir. Earl pur- 
 chased the brick in Sacramento and they were 
 shipped to Napa on board the schooner "Susan 
 Owens." The building was located on the south- 
 west corner of jNIain and First streets, where it 
 still stands. Shortly afterwards, A. W. Norton 
 erected a brick blacksmith shop; and the "Revere 
 House," the second Court House, as well as some 
 other business houses built in 1856, were all of 
 brick. 
 
 From 1849 to 1854 the population of the town 
 increased very rapidly. During the latter year the 
 place could boast of about four hundred people. 
 As a matter of course, the business interests in- 
 creased proportionately, and in all about forty 
 buildings graced the town site with their pres- 
 ence. 
 
 In 1855 the first school house was erected and 
 the first church built, the Presbyterian church 
 being completed that year. The banks of the riv- 
 er were covered with a dense growth of willows 
 and alders. Tlie Indians at this time were about 
 as numerous as the white people. 
 
 J. P. Thompson laid out that portion of Napa 
 city known as "Napa Abajo," in 1853. 
 
 As late as 1856 very little effort had been made 
 to improve the streets or highways, and both were 
 almost impassable in the rainy season. There 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 141 
 
 were only two places ou Main street where a per- 
 son on foot could cross, one opposite the Ameri- 
 can Hotel and the other nearly opposite the Napa 
 House. The crossings were made with bundl3s 
 of straw, thrown into the mud until the bottom 
 was found. Woe unto the unlucky wight who 
 got belated, and had too much tanglefoot aboard, 
 for a single misstep would send him into the mud 
 up to his waist, to flounder out as best he could. 
 The streets in wet weather resembled mud canals 
 rather than thoroughfares for men and horses. 
 In the summer season they dried up and became 
 solid enough, but were full of undulations, which 
 to say the least, were not very gentle or regular 
 in their formation. Owing to the traveling of 
 heavy teams over them they soon became cut into 
 great ruts, and canopied with intolerable clouds 
 of dust through which people floundered over a 
 strange mosaic of rubbish, cast off clothing, emp- 
 ty bottles and sardine boxes. These were the 
 days in which every man wore heavy boots, into 
 the tops of which his pants were snugly stuffed. 
 In the winter season these great boots were cover- 
 ed with mud up to the very tops of them, while in 
 the summer the w^earer floundered as helplessly in 
 clouds of dust. Everybody laughed at these an- 
 noyances, knowing that they were common to all 
 and the usual concomitants of a new settlement 
 in a wild and unoccupied country. 
 
 On the fourth day of July, 1856, the first news- 
 paper ever published in Napa City or Napa coun- 
 ty made its appearance. It was a small sheet, 
 under the proprietorship and editorial control of 
 A. J. Cox, and it was named "Reporter." Eobert 
 T. Montgomery was its first subscriber and did 
 much in after years to shape and control its des- 
 tinies. 
 
 1856— Unfortunately, the Reporter was pub- 
 
 V 
 
142 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 lished in those days tri-weekly, that is, thej pub- 
 lished it one week and tried for another week to 
 get it out again-while some explain that tri-week- 
 ly means every three weeks, but be that as it may, 
 the newspaper is a valuable index to the state of 
 affairs in any community. There are extremely 
 few "tri- weeklies,"' in that sense of the word, in a 
 bright wide-awake, up to date business commu- 
 nity. As a rule the newspaper is generally in ad- 
 \ ance of all other enterprises in the process of ev- 
 olution. The first bound number of this paper 
 extant, is dated November 23, 1856, and is Vol- 
 ume 1, No. 19 of the issue. 
 
 To give an idea of the business interests of 
 the place at that time below find a list of the ad- 
 vertisers of that issue: 
 
 L. J. Walker & Co., drugs, etc.; J. M. Dudley 
 commission merchant and agent for Wells 
 Fargo & Co.'s Express; — Eaton, M. D.; Earl & 
 Parks, saddles and harness; Lawley & Leffertj 
 general merchants; N. Lawrence and J. Butter 
 field, general merchants; Gilmore & Taylor, Naps 
 Hotel; A. Wegl & Co. (Yellow House), merchants 
 Schultze & Co., Napa City Mills; Haller & Dorr 
 furniture; B. Gims & Co., successors to A. L 
 Boggs, warehouse and storage; John Strickland 
 master of fast sailing sloop "Kiturah," plying b> 
 tween Napa City and San Francisco; American 
 Hotel, by Thomas Alker and Philip Hunsinger 
 J. W. Smith, attorney at law and notary public 
 for Napa County; S. B. Uncles, M. D.; L. Bruck 
 notary public; -Tohnson Howell, attorney at lav 
 Henry Edgerton, attorney at law and district at 
 torney for Napa county; Robert R. Pierpont, at 
 toruey at law; W. W. Stillwagon, M. D.; W. E 
 Taylor, superintendent of schools; A. C. Latson 
 brick for sale; Patrick O'Brien, tailor; H. San 
 derson, restaurant; The elegant and fast steamer 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 143 
 
 Guadalupe; Capt. P. F. Doling, having newly re- 
 fitted, will leave Pacific sti'eet wharf, in San Fran- 
 cisco for Napa and way places, on Tuesdays, 
 Thursdays and Saturdays. 
 
 MARKETS. 
 
 The following prices current will show that the 
 cost of many things in 185G were much in excess 
 of the present rates: Flour, |9; wheat, $2 to 
 12.30; barley, |2.18; oats, |2.20; sweet potatoes, 
 3 1-2 cents per pound; onions, 6 cents; butter 50 
 cents; eggs, 60 cents; chickens, |7 per doz.; corn, 
 12.25; hay, |20; hams, 28 cents; coffee, 17 cents; 
 sugar, 17 cents; rice, 16 cents; lard, 27 cents; syr- 
 up, 11.25; dried apples, 16 cents; dried peaches, 
 40 cents; bacon, 12 1-2 cents; mess pork, 25 cents; 
 lumber, |40; shingles, |7.50 per M. 
 
 1857— New Year's Day— The following descrip- 
 tion of this occasion is taken from the Reporter, 
 and the introduction is characteristic of the times 
 in which it was written; Another year has rolled 
 around, and every animate being is one year old- 
 er than twelve months ago— a natural conclusion. 
 All we have to say of 1856 is, good bye, old Mug- 
 gins! many a hard tussle we have had together. 
 You are defunct now, good bye, old Mug! On New 
 Year's day in Napa, everybody became convivial, 
 even Joseph D. and Captain V. P. hugged each 
 other in the manner in which Damon and Pythias 
 are supposed to have done. The first day of Jan- 
 uary passed most pleasantly in Napa, for the peo- 
 ple in this place are proverbially distinguished 
 for sobriety (in a horn as big as that of Plenty). 
 Mr. Fuller gave a ball on Thursday night, and 
 Messrs. Baxter, Wolfe and "Uncle Tommy" and 
 others, did the good thing, and everybody wished 
 everybody a Happy New Year, long life, etc. We 
 were in luck that day. A good looking young 
 
144 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 woman condescended to say: "I wish the printer 
 much happiness." We touched our hat, and re- 
 treated under a shower of egg-nog. Such was 
 the day in Napa. 
 
 TRIAL OF NED McGOWAN. 
 
 One of the most interesting events of 1857 was 
 the trial of the then famous Ned McGowan. 
 
 All the old settlers of California will well re- 
 member what a great excitement there was over 
 the attempted capture of Ned McGowan, by a 
 vigilance committee in San Francisco. In the 
 course of time, after being hunted like a wild 
 beast from house to tule, and from tule marshes 
 to mountain fastnesses, receiving shelter and 
 food at long intervals at the hands of God's min- 
 istering angels — women, who let no man starve, 
 no matter what his crimes might be — he came 
 back to the city and demanded a trial at the bar 
 of Justice. This was granted him, and on the 
 29th day of May, 1857, his trial began in Napa 
 City, with the following gentlemen on the jury: 
 David Hudson, P. D. Bailey, R. C. Gilaspie, 
 Charles McBride, George Ware, Thomas Twist, 
 Ralph L. Kilburn, Harrison Hornback, and 
 Charles Stillman. The jury was out only ten min- 
 utes, when a verdict of not guilty was rendered. 
 
 NAPA GUARDS. 
 
 The first election of this military company oc- 
 curred November 23, 1857, and resulted in the 
 election of the following officers: Captain, F. S. 
 Vaslit; first lieutenant J. Bell; second lieutenant 
 A. J. Cox; third lieutenant, T. Moyer; surgeou, 
 W. W. Stillwagon; quartermaster, J. Darnies; 
 orderly sergeant, G. Dennison; second sergeant, 
 C. H. Clark; third sergeant, G. Crawford; fourth 
 sergeant, A. Raymond. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 145 
 
 I860— The Stone Bridge.— The stone bridge 
 across Napa Iliver on First street was con- 
 structed by Murphy. This bridge fell in 
 
 during the flood of January, 1881, and a fine truss 
 structure now spans the stream in its place. 
 
 1861- — Good Templars. — Franklin Lodge, No. 
 86, of this order, was in existence at this time, 
 and the following officers were elected, April 1st, 
 1861; Samuel Heald, W. C. T.; J. M. Hamilton, 
 W. V. T.; J. Van Doren, W. S.; Miss L. A. Willett, 
 W. T.; Martha C. Heald, W. F. S.; George W. F. 
 Carter, W. M.; Rev. P. V. Veeder, W. Ch.; D. B. 
 Magee, W. I. G.; R. T. Montgomery, W. O. G. 
 
 1862 — Academy for Boys. — Rev. P. V. Veeder 
 opened an academy for boys in March of this 
 year. 
 
 1863. — The Napa Register was launched upon 
 the sea of journalism August 10th, of this year. 
 It was a five column folio. Republican in politics^ 
 and under the management and proprietorship 
 of J. I. Howell. 
 
 Hanging of Charles Brittian. — This execution 
 was the crowning event of the year from a sensa- 
 tional point of view. The drop fell at twenty min- 
 utes past three, p. m., August 7th. The convict 
 manifested the utmost indifference to his fate to 
 the last moment, and obstinately refused all coun- 
 sel from the priest who visited him. This was the 
 first execution in Napa county. 
 
 Sanitary and Soldiers' Relief. — During the war 
 of the rebellion, quite an amount was raised in 
 various ways in aid of the above-named objects. 
 On Christmas eve., 1864, a fair and festival was 
 held in Napa for the benefit of the former, which 
 netted $516 in gold, equal to |700 in greenbacks, 
 at that time. For the latter there was raised 
 |100, equal to |140 in greenbacks. The Society 
 also shipped at this time four boxes of goods for 
 
146 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the Soldiers' Relief, and one for the Sanitary^ 
 Commission. 
 
 1864 — Napa Guard. — The annual election of 
 officers for this organization in January, 1864, re- 
 sulted as follows: Captain, E. S. Cheseboro; first 
 lieutenant, Jacob Blumer; second lieutenant, E, 
 Kimball; second brevet lieutenant, L. B. Kester; 
 orderly sergeant, J. G. Norton; second sergeant, 
 August Miller; third sergeant, Joseph Elliot; 
 
 fourth sergeant, Imrie; fifth sergeant, D. 
 
 Fairfield; first corporal, C. B. Walker; second 
 corporal, T. J. Dewoody; third corporal, W. R. 
 Cooper; fourth corporal, Oscar Steinback; treas- 
 urer, E. S. Cheseboro; investigating committee, 
 E. S. Cheseboro, J.Dukes, R. J. VanDoren,E. Kim- 
 ball and E. S. Smith; auditing committee, W. R. 
 Cooper, T. J. Dewoody and W. C. S. Smith; music 
 committee, E. Kimball, J. Haskins, and M. Dorr. 
 
 Artillery Company. — In 1864 Napa City boast- 
 ed the only artillery company outside of San 
 Francisco, in California. 
 
 Napa City— A Reminiscence. — The following 
 resume of Napa, as it appeared in 1854, was pub- 
 lished in the Register of Feb. 27, 1864: "This 
 town, by some aspiring genius of earlj^ days, mis- 
 named Napa City, has passed through great 
 changes during the past ten years. This city, ten 
 years ago, did not contain over forty buildings, 
 all of wood and mostly of the most primitive and 
 slovenly style of architecture. The streets were 
 just as nature made them, excepting the contin- 
 ually increasing upper stratum of old hats, 
 boots, broken bottles, and sardine boxes contrib- 
 uted by the pioneers of our civilization. Wheeled 
 vehicles, excepting for the transportation of 
 heavy freight, were rare, almost all the travel- 
 ing being done on horseback. It was a common 
 sight to see over one hundred horses tied to the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. I47 
 
 fence on First street on Saturday or Sunday, 
 waiting to take their owners home at nightfall. 
 Occasionally some hombre would get oblivious 
 and leave his Rosinante with nothing but red- 
 wood rail diet for twenty-four hours together. 
 Small as the place was, Napa was one of the busi- 
 est places in the State. A vast quantity of goods 
 were sold at high prices. The credit system was 
 next to universal, and seemed to work well, for 
 most men were not only willing, but able to pay. 
 The country around produced abundant crops of 
 wheat, which sold from three to four cents per 
 pound, cattle were worth five times their present 
 price, and the cost of raising them was nominal, 
 as one-half of the county was devoted to stock 
 ranges. About one-half the farmers were squat- 
 ters on other people's land, and so had neither 
 purchase money nor taxes to pay, hence it was no 
 wonder that money was plentiful — most every- 
 body had a pocket full of silver, or some other 
 California coinage,which came easy and went still 
 more so. The floating population was much more 
 numerous than at present. Scores of young men 
 engaged in various pursuits, crowded the ho- 
 tels. Among them were chaps of every shade 
 of character, but the spirit of merriment pervad- 
 ed them all. All manner of Jokes were perpe- 
 trated, and fun was the uppermost object of one- 
 half the population. They bucked ye tiger, 
 drank freely, worked hard, enjoyed themselves 
 hugely, and were ready for any semi-innocent 
 piece of devilment. There was more real amuse- 
 ment in a week then than in a year now. There 
 was, at one time, in full blast, a lyceum, a read- 
 ing room, a theatre, well attended, a company of 
 minstrels, a band of music, an agricultural so- 
 ciety, and a jockey club. Our streets were path- 
 less in wet weather, but we floundered through 
 
14S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 them cheerfully, caring very little for mud. or, 
 indeed, for anything else except present enjoy- 
 ment. Digger Indians of both sexes used to sun 
 themselves at the street corners by the score, in 
 all the dignity of dirt and drunkenness. Churches 
 we had none; schools only semi-occasionally. 
 The Court House was but a wooden shanty, and 
 we relied on other counties for jails." 
 
 Earthquake. — Several shocks of earthquake 
 have been felt at Napa, among the heaviest of 
 which was that on the 12th of March, 1864. 
 
 Freedman's Aid Fund. — The People of Napa 
 City have always sustained a reputation for gen- 
 erosity and liberality. No worthy charitable ob- 
 ject was ever presented to their consideration, 
 and allowed to be disappointed by a refusal to 
 assist in such charity. May 28, 1864, a subscrip- 
 tion of one hundred and forty dollars was raised 
 at the Methodist Church in aid of the Freedman's 
 Aid Fund. 
 
 Contributions to the Christian Commission. — 
 Asa further proof that the assertion made in 
 the last paragraph is true, we have it to record, 
 and with pleasure do we do it, that the total con- 
 tributions to this most worthy object amounted 
 to three thousand dollars on the 9th day of July, 
 1864. George Fellows subscribed two hundred 
 dollars, and several other citizens of Napa did as 
 well. It will thus be seen that the fire of patriot- 
 ism was burning brightly in the bosom of this 
 people at the hour of the Nation's direst need. 
 
 1867 — Gas. — Permission was given William 
 Smith and others. May 11th of this year, to lay 
 gas pipes in the streets of Napa. Nothing further 
 was done about this matter until about De- 
 cember 14th, when the Board of Supervisors is- 
 sued an order locating the street lamps of Napa 
 City as follows: One at each stone bridge, corner 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 149 
 
 of Main and First streets, corner of First and 
 Brown streets, corner of First and Randolph 
 streets, corner of First and Coombs streets, corner 
 of Second and Main streets, corner of Third and 
 Main streets, corner of Third and Randolph 
 streets, corner of the Methodist Church and Ran- 
 dolph street. The gas company was to receive 
 |9.00 per month each for supplying the lamps. 
 
 1868. — Napa City as It was Then. — Under date 
 of January 11th, of this year, the Register has the 
 following: To say that Napa, one of the few promi- 
 nent towns in the State that have from the first 
 maintained a progressive and healthful growth, 
 will be repeating a fact which is already known. 
 Our citizens have felt a just pride in the usually 
 thrifty appearance of the town, and of late have 
 given another substantial proof of their enter- 
 prise, by the introduction of gasworks, and liber- 
 ally patronizing the enterprise. The stranger 
 coming into our town after dark now finds a gen- 
 erous gas lamp at nearly every corner, and one 
 can hardly believe, though having witnessed the 
 transformation, that the Napa of to-day, with its 
 excellent and fine schools, churches and public 
 buildings, its streets and shops lighted with gas, 
 and its railroad facilities, to be the same hamlet 
 of a half-dozen years ago. But because we have 
 far advanced in modern improvements, and have 
 outstripped some of our neighbors, we must not 
 be idle while more remains to be done. Particu- 
 larly what Napa now requires is some kind of a 
 local government, some practical and economical 
 plan that will answer all the purposes of incor- 
 poration, without entailing the usual expenses of 
 such. The population is becoming numerous 
 enough to warrant this, and some system of street 
 improvement is needed, that can be reached 
 through a local government. Streets and side- 
 
150 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 walks are now allowed to become an abomination, 
 because there is no help for it, but if property 
 holders were compelled to improve their prem- 
 ises as the same should be, the value of the prop- 
 erty would be increased to such an extent as to 
 more than balance the extra taxes.'* 
 
 Incorporation. — Evidently the above article 
 had the desired effect and set the ball in motion 
 for incorporation in fine shape, for under the date 
 of February 29th we find the following: "Several 
 meetings have been held for the purpose of in- 
 corporating the town of Napa, but for some cause 
 no acceptable plan was hit upon. At one of these 
 meetings there was a committee of three ap- 
 pointed to draft a charter, but they could not 
 agree, and the result was, that there were three 
 reports brought in, one by each member of the 
 committee. Some are in favor of incorporation 
 under the general law, and others under a special 
 act of the Legislature." 
 
 1869 — Smallpox Epidemic. — Early in this year 
 the smallpox broke out in "Spanishtown," in a 
 virulent form, and had quite an extensive run. 
 A sanitary committee was appointed, who took 
 charge of the matter, and on the 20th of March 
 made the following report: 
 
 "To the Citizens of Napa: Your committee re- 
 spectfully report that they have discharged the 
 duties assigned them in such a manner as they 
 trust will meet your approval. The total number 
 of cases of smallpox in the county was 60, as fol- 
 lows: 
 
 Cases. Died. 
 
 In Spanishtown, whites 6 1 
 
 In Spanishtown, Spanish 46 7 
 
 In Spanishtown, Indians 1 1 
 
 In the Redwoods, whites 6 2 
 
 In the hills east of town, Spanish. .^ ^ 
 
 Total 60 11 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 151 
 
 "The total disbursements by the committee to 
 date amount to |7,681.04. Bills yet to be paid 
 will raise the sum in round numbers to |9,000.00." 
 
 The following is the financial statement of the 
 attending physician, Dr. W. W. Stillwagon: 
 
 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Dr. 
 
 To cash paid for Sun- 
 dries in Hospital. ... I213 oo 
 To cash paid for Nurses 303 00 
 To Medical Services.. . 1500 00 
 
 Total $2016 00 
 
 Cr. 
 
 By cash from S mitary 
 
 Committee I165 50 
 
 By cash from Father 
 
 De3'aert 5 00 
 
 By cash from J. Mc- 
 
 Kenzie 10 00 
 
 By order General Fund, 
 
 I922 EL 90 cents 829 00 
 
 By order Indigent Fund 
 
 (gold) 216 00 
 
 By greenbacks, $216 at 
 
 80 cents 172 80 
 
 Balance 616 90 
 
 Total |2oi6 00 
 
 Actual amount received for services, |883.10. 
 
 At a meeting of the citizens the following reso- 
 lutions were unanimously passed: 
 
 "Resolved, That, in the opinion of this meet- 
 ing the above amount of |883.10 is inadequate 
 remuneration for the invaluable services rend- 
 ered the county by saving it from the dreadful 
 scourge with which it has been threatened; 
 
 "Resolved, therefore, That this meeting con- 
 siders it inexpedient and illiberal to cut down the 
 moderate charges of the physicians and nurses, to 
 whose attention and skill this community is 
 mainly indebted for its present immunity from 
 disease. 
 
 "Resolved, That the Board of Supervisors be 
 respectfully requested to reconsider their action 
 in the premises, and to pay the county indebted- 
 ness to Dr. Stillwagon in full, he having been au- 
 thorized by the Sanitary Committee at the urgent 
 
152 NAPA COUNTT. 
 
 request of the citizens in mass meeting, to spare 
 no expense in fighting the disease/*' 
 
 1873. — The bridge across the river at Third 
 street was completed this year at a cost of |9000. 
 It is a draw-bridge, and a fine structure. 
 
 Old Indian Graveyard. — In cutting the cross- 
 ing of Franklin and Laurel streets, the workmen 
 came upon the bones of over one hundred skele- 
 tons, also a stone mortar, pestle, and other abor- 
 iginal implements. The place had doubtless been 
 a burial place of the aborigines. 
 
 Records of Napa City. — The "Town of Napa 
 City" was incorporated by a special act of the 
 Legislature, approved March 23, 1872. From the 
 minutes of the Board of Trustees we have com- 
 piled the following: 
 
 The first Board was composed of John Even, J. 
 A. Jackson, T. F. Raney, Henry Fowler, and L. 
 Bruck. The first meeting of the Board was held 
 May 9th. The officers of the Board were: Chair- 
 man, L. Bruck; Clerk, S. E. Smith, who was also 
 Treasurer. 
 
 May 10th, 1872, Trustee Raney introduced the 
 following motion: "That the trustees of this 
 corporation do not recognize the authority of any 
 contracts made by the Board of Supervisors of 
 Napa county for the supplying of gas for the town 
 of Napa City after the organization of the corpor- 
 ation." 
 
 It will be remembered that the Board of Super- 
 visors ordered street lamps to be erected at certain 
 places, and that an order was also promulgated 
 that the sum of nine dollars per month be paid 
 to the gas company. The motion quoted above 
 was the beginning of a war between the city 
 and the gas company, which ultimately resulted 
 in leaving the streets in darkness; and now the 
 stranger arriving in the city after night is sur- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 153 
 
 I)rised to find a place of this size with gasworks 
 within its limits, without a single light through- 
 out its length and breadth. 
 
 J. Even introduced the following motion May 
 10th, 1872: "That the Board of Supervisors of 
 Napa County be requested to turn over to this 
 corporation the engine house, together with any 
 other property paid for by the Napa City Im- 
 provement funds." The Board of Supervisors 
 complied with this request. 
 
 The second Board of Trustees was composed 
 of the same members as the first. The Chairman 
 of the Board was T. F. Kaney; Clerk, J. C. Pier- 
 son; Treasurer, C. Haller; City Marshal, Jesse 
 Grigsby, and City Assessor, C. E. Comstock. 
 
 . Sept. 29, 1873, a Babcock hook and ladder 
 truck was purchased by the city, for which |950 
 was paid. 
 
 The city officers for 1874 were as follows : Trus- 
 tees, George N. Cornwell, Z. W, Keyes, H. II. 
 Knapp, Dr. W. W. Stillwagon, and C. H. Allen; 
 Marshal, Thomas Earl; Clerk, John Kean; Chair- 
 man of the Board, George N. Cornwell, and City 
 Attorney, G. W. Towle. 
 
 August 19, 1874, it was ordered by the Board 
 that William P. Humphreys make a map and es- 
 tablish grades for the streets of the town, and 
 also establish a system of sewerage. The sum of 
 |2,200 was the price agreed upon for this service. 
 
 The officers were the same for 1875 as the year 
 previous, except that S. E. Smith was Clerk and 
 Treasurer. 
 
 December 6th, 1875, the office of Chief of Police 
 was filled by the vote of the Board, which result- 
 ed in the choice of J. B. Walden. 
 
 February 23d, 1876, J. C. Pierson was appoint- 
 ed Clerk and Treasurer vice S. E. Smith, resigned. 
 
 A law went into effect in 1876 by which three 
 
154 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 members of the old Board should hold over for 
 one year. This was determined by lot, and C H. 
 Allen, Geo. N. Cornwell, and Dr. W. W. Still- 
 wagon were the ones chosen. 
 
 The officers of the city for 1876 were : Trustees 
 for the long term, Dr. Benjamin Shurtleff and T. 
 
 F. Raney, and for the unexpired term of C. H. 
 Allen, S. B. Wilson, and these, together with G. 
 N. Cornwell and Dr. W. W. Stillwagon, formed 
 the Board; Treasurer and Clerk, J. C. Pierson; 
 Marshal and Assessor, Thomas Earl; Attorney, 
 C. B. Towle; Chairman of the Board, Dr. Benja- 
 min Shurtleff. 
 
 For the celebration of the Centennial Anniver- 
 sary of the United States, the Trustees appropri- 
 ated the sum of |200. 
 
 March 5, 1877, C. B. Seeley was appointed to 
 the position of Clerk and Treasurer, and on the 
 same date H. Fowler was appointed a member 
 of the Board, vice G. N. Cornwell. 
 
 The city officers for 1877 were: Trustees, (t. 
 Barth, Jos. Henry, W. E. Cooper, Dr. Benj. Shurt- 
 leff, and T. F. Raney; Chairman of the Board, Dr. 
 Benj. Shurtleff; Marshal, W. H. Halliday; Clerk 
 and Treasurer, J. N. Wallingford. 
 
 The officers for 1878 were: Trustees, Dr. Benj. 
 Shurtleff and J. H. Mallet, elected, and the hold- 
 over members of the previous Board; Marshal, 
 George Allen; Clerk and Treasurer, J. N. Wall- 
 ingford; Attorney, G. W. Towle. 
 
 The officers for 1879 were: Trustees — J. Henry, 
 AV. R. Cooper, and Geo. Barth, elected; Marshal, 
 
 G. W. Allen; Treasurer and Clerk, E. S. Gridley; 
 Chairman of the Board, Dr. Shurtleff. 
 
 The officers for 1880 were: Trustees — A. Samp- 
 son and H. H. Knapp, elected; Marshal, G. W. 
 Allen; Treasurer aud (Jlerk, J. N. Wallingford; 
 Chairman of the Board, H. H. Knapp. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 155 
 
 The officers for 1881 were: Trustees — C. B. 
 Seeley, Dr. E. Haun, and W. W. Thompson, 
 elected; Treasurer and Clerk, T. F. Kaney. 
 
 LEGISLATIVE ENACTMENTS. 
 
 The following acts of the Legislature have ref- 
 erence to Napa City, either specially or generally: 
 
 Bridge Across the Napa Biver. — March 5, 1852, 
 and act was passed to confirm the action of the 
 Court of Sessions of Napa County in relation to 
 granting a franchise to John B. Howell to erect 
 and conduct a toll-bridge across the Napa River. 
 We may state as a matter of history, that this 
 bridge was subsequently purchased by the pri- 
 vate contributions of the Napa people, and made 
 a free bridge. Thomas Earl circulated the peti- 
 tion, the late Hon. Nathan Coombs heading 
 the list with |200. 
 
 Wharf at Napa City.— March 9, 1857, a fran- 
 chise was granted to Brice Grimes to construct 
 a wharf at the foot of Fourth street, in Napa City, 
 said franchise to continue for ten years from 
 date. 
 
 Animals at large in Napa City. — April 10, 
 1862, the following Act was approved: From and 
 after May 1st, 1862, it shall not be lawful for any 
 horses, mules, cows or other horned cattle, goats 
 or hogs, to run at large in the streets of Napa 
 City. April 17, 1863, this act was so modified that 
 any resident or householder in Napa City "may 
 have and let run at large one cow, but he shall 
 be responsible for all damage done by said cow." 
 
 Napa City Improvements. — April 1st, 1864, the 
 following Act was approved: The Board of 
 Supervisors are hereby authorized and required 
 at their next meeting, to levy a tax of half of one 
 per cent on each |100 of the assessed value of all 
 taxable property, both real and personal, in Napa 
 
156 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 City and all its additions, which money shall be 
 under the control of the Board of Supervisors, for 
 the purpose of constructing cisterns, for building 
 a truck or engine house, for purchasing new hose 
 for the engine, and for repairing the engine. The 
 Board is authorized to construct one cistern in 
 the Court House yard in Napa City, and pay for 
 the same out of the County fund. 
 
 January 24, 1870, an Act was passed as fol- 
 lows: A sum not to exceed |2,500 shall be set 
 aside by the Board of Supervisors, which shall 
 be employed for the purpose of lighting the 
 streets, and supplying the cisterns with water, 
 and repairing the engine house. The Board may 
 also establish the grade of the streets, and a sys- 
 tem of drainage for Napa City. 
 
 Incorporation of Napa City. — The Act incor- 
 porating the "Town of Napa City" was approved 
 March 23, 1872. February 24, 1874, the city was 
 re-incorporated under the name of City of Napa, 
 the boundaries remaining as before. The Board 
 of Trustees was to be composed of five members, 
 whose remuneration shall be one dollar per year; 
 the pay of the other officers shall be such as 
 the Board may decide upon. 
 
 Street Railroad. — It is quite possible that but 
 few of the citizens of Napa now remember that 
 a franchise for a street railroad was ever granted, 
 and it will be news to many of them. It is a fact 
 that on March 8, 1872, a franchise vv as granted to 
 H. F. Barker, J. Even, A. B. Walker, J. F. Zoll- 
 ner, and E. N. Boynton to construct a railroad 
 in Napa City, beginning at Main Street and run- 
 ning on said street as far as practicable. 
 
 ORDERS OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS. 
 
 Cisterns for Napa City. — September 22, 1864, 
 an order of the Board authorizing cisterns con- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 157 
 
 strueted as follows: at the intersection of First 
 and Brown streets, also at the intersection of Di- 
 vision and Randolph streets, and at the south 
 corner of the Court House square. 
 
 Engine House. — The contract for erecting the 
 engine house was let to William Richmond, May 
 9, 1867, for the sum of |5,450.00. 
 
 WATER FOR THE CITY. 
 
 The City of Napa has a perfect system of water 
 works, its large mains being filled from an under- 
 ground stream two miles away, by means of 
 mammoth steam pumps and a three-million gallon 
 reservoir. The water comes into town with suf- 
 ficient pressure to guarantee efficiency in the fire 
 department, and the thorough flushing of sew- 
 ers. The works are owned by a joint stock com- 
 pany, in which citizens generally are interested. 
 
 LIBRARY. 
 
 The city supports a free library; also good 
 reading rooms are connected with the library. 
 The Council may levy a tax of 10 cents on the |100 
 for library purposes. 
 
 CHURCHES. 
 
 In the early days of Napa, before there were 
 any church edifices, there were several denomin- 
 ations represented which held occasional services 
 in the old Court House. Among these may be 
 mentioned the Congregationalists, Cumberland 
 Presbyterians, Universalists, and Unitarians. 
 
 Originally any itinerant preacher who hap- 
 pened along gave a sermon in the court room, and 
 those who desired to hear him attended. Those 
 were the good old days when the first man 
 who arrived at the building would act as janitor, 
 and take a broom and proceed to sweep the floor. 
 
15S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 usually covered with discarded quids of tobacco 
 and cigar stumps. If the services were at night, 
 each attendant would bring along a candle, and 
 whatever was left of it, after the service was 
 over, carried it back home. But a wonderful 
 change has occurred since those primitive days, 
 as will be seen by following the rise and progres- 
 sion of the various churches in the pages of this 
 history. 
 
 Presbyterian Church. — In 1853, Eev. J. C. Her- 
 ron was sent from Philadelphia to Napa Valley 
 by the Board of Missionaries of the Presbyterian 
 Church. Accompanied by his wife, he took up his 
 residence with Col. M. D. Eitchie, then living at 
 the head of the Valley, holding services when in 
 Nai)a, in the old Court House, which formerly 
 stood on the corner of Second and Coombs streets, 
 just west of the Revere House, that building then 
 serving as a hall of justice, a jail and church. 
 The interior of the court room, as it appeared on 
 the Sabbath, is thus vividly described by one of 
 the members of the church, who worshiped 
 there: 
 
 "The inside appearance of the court room was 
 rather sorry for a place of worship, especially 
 Avlien the Court had been held there on the pre- 
 ceding day. The furniture of the room consisted 
 of narrow slabs placed on roughly-hewn logs, no 
 work of a drawing knife or plane being visible, 
 which were arranged around three sides of the 
 room for seats. A plain board table and three or 
 four rickety and uncushioned chairs, graced the 
 center of the room, while in front of the judge's 
 stand, on a slightly raised platform, stood a desk. 
 'No carpet, no curtains, and no paint or finish of 
 any kind, had been wasted on this public hall. 
 No lamps, or even candle-sticks, were there — 
 empty black bottles, that evidently had done duty 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 159 
 
 in another capacity — were called into requisition, 
 and held the melting tallow candles, not very 
 erect sometimes, but nevertheless held them. It 
 A\ as the custom for the first ajttendant, on arriv- 
 ing, to procure a broom and sweep the room, and 
 otherwise arrange for the comfort of the worship- 
 ers, and it was not at all an uncommon thing for 
 the timid ones of the congregation, during the 
 service, to be annoyed by the rattling of chairs 
 and other discordant sounds proceeding from the 
 prisoners^ apartment." 
 
 It was amid such surroundings that the Pres- 
 byterian Church of Napa was formed in the fall 
 of 1853. Mr. Herron and family moved to Napa, 
 opened a school, and preached regularly, without 
 any church organization, until January 19, 1855, 
 when the Presbyterian Church was organized, 
 with the following named persons as organi zing- 
 members: J. M. Hamiton, W. S. Jacks, Hamlet 
 ffacks, Mrs. Anna P. Hamilton, Mrs. Annie L. 
 Jacks, Mrs. Kate A. Gilmore, Mrs. M. L. Ogden, 
 Mrs. C. M. Herron, Mrs. Amelia W. Jacks, Miss 
 S. A. Smith, and Miss S. A. Woodruff. They 
 adopted as their code of faith and rule of practice 
 the Westminster Confession of Faith. J. M. Ham- 
 ilton was chosen as ruling elder, and J. M. Mans- 
 field, James Lefferts, R. Pierpont, Fred Ogden, 
 W. C. S, Smith as trustees. Rev. J. C. Herron svas 
 engaged to fill the pulpit for one year at a salary 
 of .f 600. He remained until January 17, 1858, re- 
 ceiving enough during that time from his congre- 
 gation and the Board of Missions to make his sal- 
 ary amount to |1200 for the year. 
 
 After a proposition being made in the fall of 
 1857, to introduce instrumental music into the 
 service, to which Mr. Herron made objection, it 
 being contrary to the discipline of that branch of 
 the Church to which he belonged, he offered his 
 
160 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 resignation, which was accepted Jaunary 17, 
 1858. The church was without a steady pastor 
 until May 9th of the same year, when Rev. P. V. 
 Veeder, of Sacramento, was called, and began 
 his pastorate on the 16th of that month. The so- 
 ciety had, in the meantime, erected a comfortable 
 house of worship on Randolph street, which was 
 built by Mr. J. Howell in the winter of 1857-8, at 
 a cost of three thousand six hundred dollars. 
 Hon. N. Coombs donated the lot on which it was 
 erected. 
 
 In 1858 a debt was hanging over the church 
 like an incubus, when the trustees assumed the 
 debt, and assessed themselves one hundred and 
 sixteen dollars each, and freed the church from 
 all liability Mr. Veeder remained as pastor until 
 July, 1865, when he removed to Ban Francisco 
 to take charge of the City College there. Rev. 
 Richard Wylie was the next incumbent, but ill- 
 health compelled his retirement for a time, when 
 his place was taken by Rev. James Wylie until 
 his return on Nov. 17, 1871, when he resumed his 
 duties. May 18,1864, the church was self support- 
 ing. Of the original members, only one remains, 
 Genl. W. S. Jacks. 
 
 In 1874 the church was incorporated, and on 
 May 30th plans for a new church were executed 
 by Daley & Eisen, and adopted, and on July 9, 
 1874, a contract for the new church building was 
 let to J. W. Batchelor, of Vallejo. The corner- 
 stone was laid August 20th on that year, with 
 appropriate and interesting ceremonies. The 
 contract price for the building was |17,375, and 
 the painting cost |1,700. 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal Church.— Rev. S. D. 
 Simonds is said to have been the first Metho- 
 dist preacher who visited and preached in 
 Napa Valley. This was in 1851. In 1852 Rev. J. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 161 
 
 Brier was sent to this Valley by the Califoriiiau 
 Conference, and was succeeded after the close of 
 the year by Rev. E. A. Hazen. Napa Circuit then 
 embraced the whole of Napa valley, Hiu.suu 
 Valley, and much territory besides. Mr. Hazen 
 collected money and built the first parsonage 
 in Napa City. The house was erected on a lot 
 given to the Methodist Episcopal Church by 
 Mr. Nathan Coombs, and embraced what is 
 now the corner of Second and IJandolph 
 streets. This was afterwards sold and the pres- 
 ent site purchased. Mr. Hazen was reappointed 
 in 1854, the Conference being held in February. 
 At that time worship was held in a building 
 erected by the Cumberland Presbyterians, which 
 was the first church house built in Napa City. It 
 has been used as a paint shop, and still stands, a 
 dingy relic of the early days of Napa. In 1855 
 Revs. James Corwin and J. J. Cleveland were 
 appointed to the Napa Circuit. The year folloAv- 
 ing Mr. Corwin was reappointed, with Rev. Calvin 
 Anderson as colleague. 
 
 In 1857 Sonoma and Napa City were united 
 and called Sonoma Circuit, with Rev. James 
 Corwin in charge. During that year Mr. Corwin 
 built a saw mill on what was known as the Kel- 
 logg ranch, hauled his lumber to town and built 
 the first Methodist Church house in Napa City, 
 which was dedicated June, 1858. The Confer- 
 ence was held this year in September, at which 
 time Napa City was made a station, with Rev. Dr. 
 Morrow in charge. In 1859 Rev. Wm. B. May 
 was appointed preacher in charge. During that 
 year a good parsonage was built. Mr. May was 
 reappointed the following year, and he was fol- 
 lowed by Rev. Nelson Reasoner. Rev. P. L. 
 Haynes was appointed to succeed Mr. Rea^^ouer, 
 and remained two vears. 
 
162 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 lu 1864 Rev. W. J. Maclay was appointed to 
 Napa station. A few days after his arrival the 
 parsonage caught fire from an adjoining building 
 and was consumed, with its entire contents, in- 
 cluding the church records. Mr. Maclay was ap- 
 pointed to this charge for three successive years, 
 during which time the present church house and 
 parsonage was built at a cost of fifteen thousand 
 dollars, on the site of the former building. The 
 old church house was sold to the colored people 
 and removed to its present position, and the pres- 
 ent house dedicated in August, 1867. Kev. D. A. 
 Dryden succeeded Mr. Maclay. In 1868, J. L. 
 Trefren was appointed Mr. Dryden's successor, 
 and was reappointed to the charge the year fol- 
 lowing. He w^as followed by Kev. Wesley Den- 
 nett for two years. Rev. T. S. Dann was ap- 
 pointed Mr. Dennett's successor in 1872, and Sep- 
 tember, 1873, Rev. S. Bowers was appointed. 
 In September, 1874, Rev. W. R. Gober was sent to 
 Napa and remained three years. In September, 
 1877, Rev. E. S. Todd was detailed to this field 
 until September, 1880, when Rev. A. J. Wells 
 received the appointment. 
 
 The first Methodist class ever organized in this 
 city consisted of Mr. and Mrs. Stjuibb, Mrs. Judge 
 Horrell, Mrs. Judge Hartson, Mrs. John Horrell, 
 and Mrs. Dr. Stillwagon. 
 
 The first Methodist Sunday school in Napa City 
 was organized in 1858; Rev. Dr. Morrow superin- 
 tendent, and Mrs. Judge Horrell assistant super- 
 intendent. Mr. Morrow and Mrs. Horrell visited 
 from house to house, and secured the attendance 
 of twenty-one children on the day of organization. 
 This number was largely increased before the 
 end of the year. The following gentlemen have 
 acted as superintendents: Rev. Dr. Morrow, J. 
 E. Pond, D. Squibb, J. F. Lamdin, W. S. Turner, 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 163 
 
 T. Smith, A. Taylor, Mr. Oliver, F. A. Sawyer, 
 J. R. Coe, B. F. Sawyer, and W. C. Damon. 
 
 Christ (Episcopal) Church. — The following 
 historical sketch was kindly furnished by Rector 
 Rev. W. Leacock: 
 
 The parish of Christ Church was organized San- 
 day, August 29th, 1858. A meeting was held with 
 Rev. F. C. Ewer, of Grace Church, San Francisco, 
 in the chair and Thos. P. Stoney as Secretary, and 
 the following declaration signed: 
 
 We, whose names are hereunto affixed being de- 
 sirous of establishing the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in this place, do consent to be governed by 
 the constitution of the Protestant Episcopal 
 Church in the United States, and by the constitu- 
 tion and canons of this diocese. R. D. Hopkins, 
 James McNeil, E. B. Gibbs, R. T. Montgomery, J. 
 B. Smith, A. Coles, Richard Budding, James Lef- 
 ferts, C. M. Nichols, Thos. P. Stoney, C. W. Lang- 
 don, A. I. Donzel, J. L. Egleston , C. B. Eaton, 
 George Fairfield, Wells Kilburn. 
 
 The first vestry was composed of Richard Dud- 
 ding, R. D. Hopkins, Wardens; James Lefferts, 
 Thos. P. Stoney, Wells Kilburn, James McNeil, 
 R. T. Montgomery, Vestrymen. 
 
 September 13, 1858, Bishop Kip gave his can- 
 onical consent to the organization. At a regular 
 meeting of the Vestry in September, 1858, the 
 Rev. E. W. Hagar, was called as Rector, who en- 
 tered upon his duties on Easter Sunday, 1859. Mr. 
 Hagar resigned and Rev. Wm. Goodwin took 
 charge of the parish in December, 1S59. On Feb- 
 ruary 28th, 18G0, a building lot eighty feet square 
 was purchased from Richard Dudding for the 
 sum of |400, Messrs. Hopkins and Sterling, being 
 appointed a building committee, reported a plan 
 and specifications. The contract for building was 
 given to John Horrell. 
 
164 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 The making of the pews was given to Messrs. 
 White & Bradts; pulpit and altar to Barnes Bros. 
 The building was ready for use in 1861. Eev. A. 
 S. Nicholson, was Rector for a year and a half, till 
 the summer of 1868. The Associate Mission and 
 College Faculty of St. Augustine at Benicia, sup- 
 plied services after Mr. Nicholson resigned. The 
 summer of 1871, the Rev. William Leacock of 
 Louisiana, after officiating for three months, took 
 charge of the parish and following him as Rectors 
 from 1874 to 1880, were the Rev. George D. Silli- 
 man, Walter H. Moore and R. H. Kline. Novem- 
 ber 1880, the Rev. W. Leacock assumed charge. 
 The value of the church property at that time was 
 —church, |3,000; lot, |1,000; school building, 
 1800. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 This denomination was organized in Napa as 
 the "Baptist Church of Napa," on the 18th day of 
 August, 1860, with some eig-^hteen members. Rev. 
 J. B. Morse, Pastor; John Lawley and L. W. Will- 
 iams were chosen Deacons, and Lyman Chapman 
 as Treasurer, and Thos. B. Coghill as Clerk. The 
 brick church at the junction of Franklin street 
 and College avenue, was then built. Rev. Morse 
 was here six months when he was followed by 
 Rev. Lyman Carpenter. This gentleman's pastor- 
 ate extended over a period of four years. Rev, G. 
 W. Ford, succeeded him in November, 1865, and 
 served as pastor until 1873, when he resigned. 
 Rev. J. E. Barnes took charge early in 1874. Dur- 
 ing his pastorate there occurred a division in the 
 church, one party with Rev. Barnes as leader, 
 purchased the old Presbyterian building, and 
 moved it to its present site, April 4, 1786; and it 
 was dedicated as the First Baptist Church. In 
 1876, Rev. Barnes was succeeded by Rev. J. A. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 165 
 
 Gray on February 2d, of that year. During his 
 stay the original society was reunited as one body 
 again, under the old name, he was succeeded the 
 same year by Rev. H. A. Sawtille, when he receiv- 
 ed a call from one of the Eastern States, and the 
 pulpit was filled by H. H. Rhees of Southbridge, 
 Alassachusetts. 
 
 ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST (Catholic) CHURCH. 
 
 On September 20th, 1856, the lot on which this 
 church building now stands was donated to Bish- 
 op Alemany by Geo. N. Cornwell. The old brick 
 building was erected in 1858, and dedicated by 
 Bishop Alemany, November 6th, 1859. The first 
 pastor was the Rev. Father Rousche, assisted by 
 Rev. Father Larkin. In June, I860. Rev. Father 
 Deyaert took charge of the parish, and so remain- 
 ed until his death, January 1st, 1876, at the age of 
 58 years. He was a man much beloved by his 
 parishioners and his death was greatly mourned 
 by them. Through his labors the church was 
 furnished and the lands adjoining owned by the 
 church made into beautiful grounds. 
 
 Rev. Father Mulville was the next pastor, and 
 he was succeeded by Rev. Father M. D. Slattery, 
 November 20th, 1877. 
 
 On the 7th day of January, 1881, the new Cath- 
 olic church in Napa City was begun under the su- 
 pervision of Father Slattery. 
 
 On March 1st, the corner stone was laid by 
 Most Rev. Alemany, Bishop of this diocese, cele- 
 brated by all the ritual which the Roman Catholic 
 church uses on such occasions. 
 
 NAPA AS A MANUFACTURING CENTER. 
 
 Napa is destined to be one of the most import- 
 ant manufacturing centers in the State. If the 
 best of reasons cannot be assigned in support of 
 
166 NAPA COUNTT. 
 
 this staJtement then let us be classed on the side of 
 error. In the first place, the distance from San 
 Francisco is only about forty miles. It has a splen- 
 did railway service as well as a first class steamer 
 line making daily trips to and from the metrop- 
 olis. Freight service over these rail and water 
 lines is so cheap that nothing is left to be de- 
 sired from the most erratic pessimist. No better 
 evidence can be adduced of Napa's advantages 
 over San Francisco than to simply state that sev- 
 eral of the large manufacturing institutions of 
 the latter place have already made the change to 
 the city of Napa. Among them are the Williams 
 & Raymond Glove factory, employing about one 
 hundred hands; Kast's Shoe factory is another of 
 the big metropolitan concerns that have lately 
 located here, bringing their machinery and a 
 large force of trained factory men. Their pay 
 roll will run above one hundred men. The wool- 
 en mills; two large tanneries, planing mill, found- 
 ry, machine shop; several large canneries; marble 
 works, etc. These progressive! lines testify to the 
 merits of this county as a center for various lines 
 of industry. 
 
 Now, why are the large concerns moving away 
 from the metropolis? Two good reasons are 
 known, eithc^r of which might bc^ sufUcient; one is 
 'lower rents for employees and second, lower tax- 
 ation for the employer. Third, cheap freight rates 
 to the city over rail and water lines. Napa has 
 no expensive institutions to support by over tax- 
 ing her people or large industries. The city is 
 economically managed, the officials are honest 
 and in this way no exacting or needless drains are 
 made on the City Treasurer whereby if a contrary 
 condition of affairs existed, the city would be 
 obliged to make its collecting policy a vigorous 
 one and by imitating the bay city, drive her wage 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 167 
 
 producers from her midst. Now that the way is 
 broken, it will be no rash claim to state that in 
 ten years more the county seat of this county will 
 contain more than a dozen of the largest manu- 
 facturing concerns on this coast in addition to 
 those already located here. 
 
 PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
 
 Less than a third of a century ago there was not 
 a public school in Napa county. Private schools 
 were first organized, but the public system soon 
 came into practical use. Among the private 
 schools of those early days, the principal was the 
 Napa Female Seminary, opened in October, 1857, 
 by J. C. Herron. As late as March, 1862, we find 
 the private school used exclusively. An academy 
 for boys was conducted by Kev. P. V. Veeder. 
 Since that time a great advance has been made 
 in the public school system. 
 
 THE CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDINCx. 
 
 This school was completed in 1870. The lower 
 story contains two rooms 26x38, one recitation 
 room 15x25, two cloak rooms 8x6 and a hall 
 16x22. In this hall is a double stairway leading 
 to the second story. There are also in this hall 
 conveniences for washing. The second story is 
 divided into two main school rooms, each 26x.38, 
 with recitation and cloak rooms as on tht^ first 
 floor. The ceiling of the first floor is fourteen feet 
 high and that of the second story thirteen feet 
 in the clear. On the center of the roof stands a 
 cupola eleven feet square and sixteen feet high, 
 upon which stands a bell tower six feet square 
 and sixty-four feet above the ground. The total 
 cost of this building was |12,600. 
 
168 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 THE SOUTH CENTRAL SCHOOL BUILDING. 
 
 This is an elegant structure, costing |25,000, 
 and was completed in 1889. 
 
 This commodious structure contains ten rooms, 
 and at present has on its rolls over 400 pupils. It 
 is a monument to the enterprise and thrift of this 
 grovring city and shows the esteem in which edu- 
 cation is held by the people. 
 
 THE NORTH PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING; 
 
 Was completed in 1894, and is a credit to the 
 city and county, and a compliment to the skill of 
 the builders. It is two stories high and contain -j 
 six large, airy rooms. The building is surround- 
 ed by a park; the grounds are level and covered 
 with a velvet green lawn. It is the most attrac- 
 tive school ground in the city, and a fitting place 
 to gather the children together to commence the 
 impress of education on their young minds. 
 
 THE NAPA HIGH SCHOOL 
 
 Is now housed in the neat structure formerly 
 the "Napa Seminary Building." 
 
 It is surrounded by large, spacious grounds 
 with sufficient isolation to warrant that security 
 from disturbing noises, so necessary and import- 
 ant to successful study. 
 
 It contains three large rooms, well arranged 
 to afford comfort and convenience for the prose- 
 cution of study. The present attendance is eigh- 
 ty scholars, which means that great interest is 
 being given to higher education in Napa county. 
 
 NAPA COLLEGIATE INSTITUTE 
 
 Is beautifully situated in Napa city, on a high 
 point of land, commanding a fine view of the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 169 
 
 town and surrounding country. The campus of 
 live acres was purchased by Mr. A. H. Hamm, 
 who erected the main building. The college 
 building is a brick structure, four stories high, 
 containing chapel, recitation rooms, dining room, 
 and parlor, besides private rooms for the gentle- 
 men boarders, all well supplied with conveniences 
 for warming and ventilation. 
 
 This school opened in 18fi0, with Mr, Hamm as 
 proprietor and principal. A little less than a year 
 after this, the Eev. W. S. Turner, A. M., a gradu- 
 ate of Wesleyan University, purchased the prop- 
 erty. For nearly seven years the school was pros- 
 perous and had a good patronage. Mr. Turner^s 
 arduous duties were too much for his strength, 
 and he was compelled to seek a change of labor. 
 He leased the school to Mr, Smith, who conducted 
 it for about one year, after which it was closed for 
 some time, until it w^as purchased by six citizens, 
 viz: Hon. C. Hartson, G. Fellow^s, N. Coombs, \. 
 AV. Norton, G. Linn, and H. Fowler. These gen- 
 tlemen greatly imj^roved the building, added the 
 porches, covered the walls with cement, and 
 finished the fourth story. In August, 1870, it was 
 purchased by the Calif ornian Annual Conference 
 of the Methodist Episcopal Church. The Confer- 
 ence elected a board of fifteen trustees, the ar- 
 ticles of incorporation are dated November 22d, 
 1870. 
 
 In January of 1871, the school was opened with 
 Professor T. C. George, A. M., as principal, with 
 four assistants. Professor George acted as prin- 
 cipal until June of 1874, when he resigned in or- 
 der to rest and regain his health. The school 
 prospered under his management, and was well 
 patronized. 
 
 Professor L. L. Hodgers, M. A., was next elected 
 principal. During his administration of three 
 
170 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 years, two new buildings were erected, the prin- 
 cipal's cottage and the ladies' hall. 
 
 In July, of 1877, Professor A. E. Lasher, A. M., 
 of New York State, was elected. During the va- 
 cation of 1878, the buildings were refurnished 
 and put in good order. A commercial department 
 w^as organized, and a room on the first floor 
 furnished for this department. During the va- 
 cation of the next year extensive improvements 
 were made in new buildings and repairs. The 
 growling commercial department demanded more 
 room, and a fine building for the use of the pri- 
 mary department was erected. A fine gymnasium 
 and tank house were built. Water pipes were 
 laid to the different buildings, and on the Irout 
 campus. Bath rooms w^ere also made in each of 
 the buildings. In the spring of 1880, the grounds 
 were tastefully laid out in drives, walks, grass 
 plats, shrubs and flowers and to-day no grounds 
 in the city are more attractive or inviting. The 
 institute has a faculty of nine experienced teach- 
 ers, each chosen with special reference to his de- 
 partment. There are five regular courses of stu<ly 
 and seven distinct departments. A diploma is 
 given to students completing the course and pass- 
 ing the examination. The school has a most ex- 
 cellent library, which is read and used for daily 
 reference. No school of similar grade on the coast 
 has as much fine apparatus for illustrating the 
 principles of the sciences. The first class gradu- 
 ated in 1874, and each year the alumni has been 
 increased. 
 
 The institute was one of the first schools on the 
 Coast to proclaim its belief in co-education. More 
 than two thousand students have received in- 
 struction in its halls since its opening. 
 
j^ NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 THE NAPA LADIES' SEMINARY. 
 
 Was established under the auspices of Miss 
 Harris, and conducted by her as principal for a 
 term of four years. After her resignation the 
 school was conducted by Miss Maria S. McDonald, 
 through whose untiring energy it increased year- 
 ly in numbers from home and abroad. Miss ^Ic- 
 Donald assumed the position in 1864 and con- 
 ducted the institution for five years. After the 
 death of Miss Maria S. McDonald, which occurred 
 in 1869, her sister, Miss Sarah F. McDonald, as- 
 sumed the active management and retained the 
 same for ten years, when she was succeeded by 
 her nephew, who resigned after two years, May 
 25th, 1881. 
 
 The Seminary was then taken charge of by Prof. 
 D. W. Hanna, M. A., who, with his wife and 
 daughter, have had large experience in this class 
 of work In 1882, the year opened with a large in- 
 creased attendance, about reaching the limit; the 
 grounds are beautiful, having a large fountain in 
 the front yard, bath rooms renewed and gas ex- 
 tended throughout all the buildings, and every 
 effort made to increase the efficiency of the school, 
 which money can procure and brains can devise. 
 
 The Napa Ladies' Seminary and Napa College 
 have ceased to exist, though not for lack of sup- 
 port, but for business reasons they were consol- 
 idated with similar institutions at other points in 
 this State. 
 
 NEWSPAPER BIOGEAPHY. 
 
 Under this head the Napa Daily Gazette pub- 
 lished the following: "The first newspaper pub- 
 lished in Napa city, was the Napa County Report- 
 er, by A. J. Cox, in 1856. The next was the Week- 
 
172 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ly Herald, in 1858, which ran but ai short time as 
 a Democratic paper and then died. Next came 
 the Napa Sun, a small weekly paper by A. J. Cox, 
 in 1859, which lingered but a short time. In 18C1 
 the Pacific Echo, published by Alex. Montgomery, 
 came upon the stage. It was run as a Democratic 
 paper of the secession caste of sentiment until the 
 assassination of President Lincoln, when it wisely 
 folded up its tent and quietly stole away. In 1883 
 the Napa Eegister made its appearance, published 
 by Horrell and Strong as a Eepublican paper. In 
 1866, the Daily Reporter was started by Lank 
 Higgins and Frank A. Leach; Higgins withdrew, 
 leaving the management to Leach & Gregg, and 
 they managed very successfully for about a year. 
 They then sought a better field, and moved to 
 Yallejo, and established the Chronicle. And last, 
 but not least, comes the Daily ]Morning Gazette, 
 an independent paper, started March 1st, 1870, by 
 L. S. Barnes & Co., with W. J. Bowman, editor.'' 
 The Register copies the above and then adds: 
 "This biography is very well as far as it goes, but 
 it is incomplete, as it omits the Napa Times, and 
 to mention several newspaper men who have had 
 quite as much to do with the papers of Napa 
 county as the persons named, and perhaps a lit- 
 tle more than either of them, or all of them put to- 
 gether. It would seem to me that a newspaper 
 biography of Napa county without the name of K. 
 T. Montgomery and that of Mason D. Brownson, 
 must be about as deficient as Ilamlet with the 
 ghost left out, or Paradise Lost without the devil. 
 These men liave probably i)erformed more news- 
 paper head and hand work than all the rest com- 
 bined. K. T. Montgomery became half owner of 
 the Reporter in 1856, a few months after its estab- 
 lishment by Mr. Cox. The paper was then a small 
 affair of four columns. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 17$ 
 
 "The material consisted of four small fonts of 
 type, (second hand): an old Washington haud 
 press, whose platen was 14x17 inches; the whole 
 scarcely more than a dray load, and the paper was 
 in articulo mortis, without patronage or support. 
 Indeed, it could hardly claim to be a fully es- 
 tablished newspaper until the lirm of Montgom- 
 ery & Cox purchased new material and enlarged 
 the paper, began to publish it regularly instead 
 of semi-occasional ly, and made it a newspaper 
 instead of a sheet more than half full of dead ad- 
 vertisements, which no one ever read or paid for. 
 Not until February 1857, did the Keporter com- 
 mand anything like a decent circulation or even 
 make its expenses; from that time may be dated 
 its prosperity and influence as a public journal. 
 
 "In April, 1857, Lank Higgins began his ap- 
 prenticeship under Montgomery & Cox, and re- 
 mained in the office until 1860. On the (5th of 
 September, 1858, Mr. Cox left the concern, and, 
 in connection with Frank Farrell, since deceased, 
 started the Napa City Semi- Weekly Sun, which 
 was published less than six weeks. Mr. Cox re- 
 moved to Sonoma county, which ended his exper- 
 ience with Napa city journalism. Mr. Montgom- 
 ery, in connection with M. D. Brownson, A. M. 
 Parry and J. I. Horrell, as printers and co-edit- 
 ors, continued to publish the Eeporter until Oc- 
 tober, 1863, when it passed into the hands of Min- 
 er & Higgins, and finally, the latter became sole 
 proprietor. Mr. Brownson was connected with 
 the paper for more than five years, and was recog- 
 nized as an able contributor to its columns. In 
 1870 he was still doing yeoman's service on the 
 Daily Vallejo Chronicle. At the same date Mr. 
 Parry was editor and publisher of the Independ- 
 ent at Eureka, in Humboldt county." 
 
174 NAPA COUNTY. r. ^ 
 
 THE NAPA REGISTER. 
 
 The first number of the Napa Register was is- 
 sued August 10th, 1863; J. I. Horrell was its foun- 
 der. In October of the same year, L. Iloxie 
 Strong became associated with Mr. Horrell in its 
 publication. 
 
 Death of the senior partner dissolved this firm, 
 and January 2d, 1864, N. E. White (now and for 
 many years on the editorial staff of the Sacra- 
 mento Record-Union) bought an interest in "^he 
 paper and R. T. Montgomery was installed as ed- 
 itor. This management lasted until April 28th, 
 1866, when Mr. Montgomery came into full pos- 
 session of the property. He remained at the helm 
 until November, 1867, when the paper was turned 
 over to an association, Mr. Montgomery being re- 
 tained as editor. In January, 1868, Mr. N. E. 
 AAniite became again editor and proprietor. Three 
 months later he turned the plant over to Mr. 
 Montgomery and he sold the plant to R. D. Hop- 
 kins and John M. Coghlan (later member of Con- 
 gress), the business being conducted under the 
 firm name of R. D. Hopkins & Co., until Octob3r 
 29th, 1870, when G. M. Francis, its present pub- 
 lisher, purchased Mr. Coghlan's half interest, 
 shortly after enlarging the paper to 32 columns. 
 
 February 10th, 1873, G. W. Henning, in like 
 manner succeeded Mr. Hopkins as half owner. 
 
 May 17th, 1873, Charles A. Gardner succeeded 
 Mr. Henning; January 9th, 1875, Mr. Gardner 
 sold to S. M. Tool; May 8th, 1875, Mr. Francis 
 purchased Mr. Tool's interest and was alone in the 
 management of the paper to December, 1876, 
 when H. S. Spalding bought a half interest in the 
 property. This partnership continued until Feb- 
 ruary 1st, 1881, when Mr. Francis again became 
 sole proprietor, and since that date has been edit- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 or and owner. The Register is, and always has 
 been, a staunch Republican paper. It is issued 
 from one of the best and most modern equipped 
 offices in this State. 
 
 THE DAILY REPORTER 
 
 Was not the first daily paper issued in Napa 
 city. The Napa Daily Advertiser was the first, 
 started by R. T. Montgomery, on the 22d day of 
 September, 1866; but the publisher had the saga- 
 city to abandon it after two issues. The Reporter 
 was the first paper published in Napa county, 
 the first issue being on the 4th of July, 1856, by 
 A. J. Cox; R. T. Montgomery became joint propri- 
 etor the following December, and in February 
 next, new material was bought. When the paper 
 was first started Napa had neither business or 
 population to support it. 
 
 During the first six months it had a sickly ex- 
 istence. It was a small sheet of four columns, 
 with two pages constantly filled with dead adver- 
 tisements. The subscription list in 1857 did not 
 contain twenty paying subscribers. The office 
 was a rickety old shanty about 18 feet square, 
 next below the American Hotel on Main 
 street, it was neither ceiled, plastered nor 
 papered, and the floor was of rough lumber, 
 with cracks an inch wide. In the roof was a large 
 hole, apparently left for a flue or chimney, 
 through which the rain descended in torrents. 
 There were no windows, except a couple of sashes 
 nailed securely to the wall. It was with great dif- 
 ficulty in the winter, even when wood was obtain- 
 able, thait the place could be kept warm enough 
 to work in, and it often happened that wood could 
 not be had at any price, in consequence of the 
 horrible condition of the roads. In the winter of 
 1856-7, the publisher paid |5.00 for as much as 
 
176 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 filled the box of a buggy. It was hauled less than 
 twenty rods and the seller got "stalled" on Main 
 street, buggy and horse sinking in the mud, and 
 it cost him more in "treats" than the price of the 
 wood to get the outfit on terra firma. The editor- 
 ial lodging room was in the garret, and an iron 
 bedstead and a few blankets comprised the entire 
 furniture. 
 
 The material was on a par with the building. 
 It consisted, all told, of a Washington hand i)ress, 
 foolscap size, with a platen 14x17 inches, on 
 which the paper was printed, one page at a time. 
 There was no jobbing outfit whatever. This press 
 is now in the possession of the Sonoma Pioneers; 
 was brought to San Francisco from Mexico, at 
 the close of the war, and taken by Mr. Cox to So- 
 noma, where it was used three years in printing 
 the Sonoma Bulletin. He them moved it to Val- 
 lejo, and in the fall of 1855, in connection with 
 Dr. E. B. Eaton, published the Vallejo Bulletin 
 for a few weeks. In June, 1856, he brought it to 
 Napa, where the Reporter was printed on it until 
 February, 1857, when a new press was purchased, 
 and the office removed to the corner of Third and 
 Main streets, where Hartson's brick building now 
 stands. On the Gth of September, 1858, Mr. Cox 
 left the Reporter, and in the division of the ma- 
 terial, the old press fell to his share, and was used 
 for three months by Cox & Farrell in publishing 
 the Semi-Weekly Sun. Shortly afterwards Mr. 
 Cox removed his office to Healdsburg and us3d 
 the same press in printing the Review, of that 
 place. Thence the press went to Lakeport, Lake 
 county, and did service in printing one or two po- 
 litical papers, each of which died a natural death. 
 Probably its labors are now at an end, as in the 
 hands of the Pioneer Association it will be kept 
 as a relic of the olden times. 
 
;' NAPA COUNTY. 177 
 
 Of this press, 11. T. Montgomery says: '-The 
 writer (himself), has earued many a thousand dol- 
 lars, and performed many a hard day's work iq)- 
 on it, in the days of high prices, when very com- 
 mon cards and bill-heads were three dollars per 
 hundred, and small sheet posters were thirty <lol- 
 lars per hundred." 
 
 The Keporter was started as an independent 
 paper, and took no part in politics until the great 
 split occurred in the Democratic party on the 
 Kansas question, when it became the advocate of 
 the principles of Stephen A. Douglas. Mr. Mont- 
 gomery, in connection with M. D. Brownson, 
 A. M. Parry, and J. I. Horrell, continued to pub- 
 lish the paper till October, 1863, it being under 
 their management, a supporter of the Lincoln ad- 
 ministration, and an advocate of the principles of 
 the Union party. At this date it passed into the 
 hands of Miner & Higgins, and finally into the 
 hands of Lank Higgins alone. The political char- 
 acter of the paper was changed and it became a 
 vehement opposer of the Lincoln administration 
 In the winter of 1870, it was sold to W. F. Hen- 
 ning, who still continued it as a Democratic paper. 
 In October, 1871, R. T. Montgomery purchased 
 the establishment. Soon C. A. Menefee became a 
 partner, and in August following, became sole 
 proprietor. Shortly after this a half interest was 
 Bold to A. A. R. Nutting, and the paper was pub- 
 lished under the firm name of C. A. Menefee & 
 Co. During this administration the Daily Report- 
 er was established, and still continues to be is- 
 Bued in the morning. 
 
 In 1875, Captain G. W. Gift, purchased an in- 
 terest in the paper and continued its management 
 until he died in 1878. The paper was then con- 
 ducted by his wife, with John Walden as editor 
 and business manager and was very successful. 
 
178 NAPA COUNTY, 
 
 There was also a fine job printing department 
 connected with it. 
 
 NAPA HERALD. 
 
 In 1858 the Napa City Herald first made its ap- 
 pearance. It was owned by a stock company, 
 comprising the most influential Democrats in the 
 county, and was a strong advocate of President 
 Buchanan's administration and human slavery. 
 J. D. Lillard, a young lawyer from Kentucky was 
 its first editor. He was succeeded by Wm. H. 
 Townes and Thomas J. Tucker, but it died for 
 want of paitronage; the outfit then fell into the 
 hands of Frank Farrell and J. Wallace Higgins, 
 who tried to win out by calling it the Napa 
 Times, but in a few months it passed out. 
 
 THE ECHO. 
 
 July 20th, 1861, Alexander Montgomery com- 
 menced the publication of the Napa Echo, which 
 opposed the administration of President Lincoln 
 and every measure to subdue the Southern rebel- 
 lion. It died the day after the assassination of 
 President Lincoln. 
 
 NAPA DAILY AND WEEKLY REGISTER. 
 
 J. I. Horrell, on August 10, 1803, started the 
 Napa Valley Register; in October L. Hoxie 
 Strong became interested, but his death a few 
 weeks later left the founder of the sheet in sole 
 management; Januai-y 2, 1864, ^Ir N. E. White 
 bought an interest and the named changed to 
 Napa Register; on February 6th, AVhite became 
 sole owner and R. T. Montgomery, editor; m 
 April 28, 1866, Mr. Montgomery came into full 
 possession and continued so until 1867, the office 
 was turned over to an association, with Mr. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 173 
 
 Montgomery as editor; the association sold again 
 to Mr. White and Mr. White to Mr. Montgomery, 
 who sold out to K. D. Hopkins and John M. 
 Coghlan, October 30, 1869; on October 29th, 1870, 
 G. M. Francis purchased Mr. Coghlan's interest, 
 the paper was then enlarged to thirty-two col- 
 umns; G. W. Henning was purchaser of Hopkins' 
 half interest, and May 17, 1873, Chas. A. Gardner 
 bought Henning out, and he sold to S. M. Tool; 
 May 8, 1875, Mr. Francis became sole owner. The 
 ]\egister started as a Republican paper and has 
 ever advocated those principles and has been, as 
 it is to this day, a credit to the enterprising own- 
 er and the community it serves. 
 
 ROBERT T. MONTGOMERY, 
 
 The pioneer journalist of Napa city, was born 
 in Richmond, Va. He was apprenticed to the 
 printers' trade and followed it all his days, from 
 the case to the tripod. In the latter position he 
 was at his best, and in it he did a work in Napa 
 city that will be hard to excel. His was a mas- 
 sive mind, with a quick perception and good lang- 
 uage; his expressions were chaste and his teach- 
 ing always inculcated pure moral sentiments. 
 He knew whait was meant by the term gentleman, 
 and when himself was such. He came to California 
 in 1853, and taught school until 1856, when he 
 connected himself with the press. June 10, 1857, 
 he was married to Miss Sarah B. Cox, sister of his 
 partner. The paper was printed in red ink to 
 commemorate that event. Poor Montgomery! No 
 man was capable of holding higher or prouder 
 position, social or intellectual than he, but none 
 suffered themselves to fall lower. What a temper- 
 ance lecture. The demon alcohol possessed him, 
 and drove him from e^ory thing a man holds dear 
 in this life, to a vagrant's death in the county^ 
 
^80 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 hospital, on the charity of the people who had 
 seen him in all the glory of his intellectual man- 
 hood. 
 
 SECRET SOCIETIES. 
 
 FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 
 
 Yount Lodge, No. 12, F. and A. M., was organ- 
 ized January 24, 1851, with the following charter 
 members: W. D. Deering, J. M. Small, M. T. Mc- 
 Clellan, W. W. Stillwagon, George C. Yount, 
 Joseph Mount, B. Vines, Thomas Chapman, J. M. 
 Moody, M. H. N. Kendig. 
 
 The oflQcers IT. D. were: W. D. Deering, W. M.; 
 J. M. Small, S. W.; M. T. McClellan, J. W.; W. W. 
 Stillwagon, Secretary, and George C. Yount 
 Treasurer. Charter granted May 15th, 1851. 
 
 The following named members have filled the 
 position of W. M.: M. D. Deering, J. M. Small, J. 
 H. Seawell, Wesley Vaughn, Ed. McGarry, J. M. 
 Dudley, Robert Crouch, H. H. Knapp, W. B. Charl- 
 ton, F. M. Hackett, T. J. Tucker, Ralph Ellis, Wm. 
 Bradford, F. E. Johnson, C. R. Gritman, J. M. 
 Crow, F. N. Giles, A. J. Hull, P. S. King, D. S. 
 Kyser, N. Marble, and J. B. Stevens, P. G. M. 
 
 In 1900, the lodge had 92 members. The names 
 of the officers for 1900 are: E. Bonsall, W. M.; F. 
 M. Williams, S. W.; W. A. Bailey, J. W.; E. D. 
 Beard, Treasurer; I. J. Herron, Secretary; A.M. 
 Macenaig, S. D.; J. W. Parker, J. D.; E. W. Hot- 
 tel, Marshal; D. A. Dunlap, Steward; J. A. Cain, 
 Steward; M. H. Davis, Tyler; Auditing Commit- 
 tee: H. H. Knapp, G. W. Strohl and F. N. Giles. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 181 
 
 NAPA CHAPTER, R. A. M. 
 
 Napa Chapter, No. 30, R. A. M., was organized 
 U. D., November 10, 1860, with the following 
 charter members: 
 
 H. A. Gaston, H. H. Knapp, M. L. Haas, O. A. 
 Peck, E. E. Harvey, W. B. May, D. Spencer, G. C. 
 Yount, W. W. Stillwagon, and F. B. Gilmore. The 
 first officers were: H. A. Gaston, H, P.; D. Spenc- 
 er, K.; G. C. Yount, S.; H. H. Knapp, C. of H.; 
 W. B. May, P. S.; M. L. Haas, R. A. K.; W. W. 
 Stillwagon, G. M. of third Vail; F. B. Gilmore, 
 G. M. of Second Vail. The following members 
 have held the position of H. P .: H. A. Gaston, H. 
 H. Knapp, P. G. H. P.; R. Crouch, R. Ellis, W. 
 Bradford, C. 1\. Gritman. 
 
 The following is the list of the officers for 1900, 
 Napa Comiiiandery, No, 34, Knights Templar: 
 
 Sir George Washington Strohl, Commander; 
 Sir George Edmond Goodman, Generalissimo; 
 Sir Bethuel Merritt Newcomb, Capt. General; Sir 
 Henry Martin Meacham, Senior Warden; Sir 
 Daniel Sterling Kyser, Junior Warden; Sir Alton 
 Levant ^A'illiams, Prelate; Sir Theodore Roosevelt 
 Parker, Recorder; Sir James Mason, Standard 
 Bearer; Sir James Edgar Beard, Sword Bearer; 
 Sir Eli Washington Hottel, W^ardeu; Sir Morrow- 
 Henry Davis, Sentinel; Sir William Sewell Wells, 
 First Guard; Sir Louis Napoleon Buttner, Second 
 Guard; Sir Eli McYork, Third Guard. 
 
 Number of members 39. 
 
 INDEPENDENT ORDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 
 
 NAPA LODGE, NO. 18, L O. O. F. 
 
 Was organized November 26, 1853, with the 
 following: charter members: J. D. Stetenius, 1). 
 
182 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Mounett, Robert Hopkins, E. A. Hazen, J. H 
 Watterson, D. C. Tripp. The list of N. G.'s so far 
 obtainable is as follows: C. Pag^e, J. H. Watter 
 son, G. N. Corn well, J. M. Dudley, J. M. Wilson 
 T. Earl, K. D. Hopkins, J. Cosgrove, R. T. Mont 
 gomery, J. Horrell, J. Butler, P, Huntsinger, \V 
 H. Clark, A. B. Walker, G. N. Tuthill, J. Salmun 
 son, J. C. Pierson, G. F. Deeves, L. M. Corwin, I 
 Israelsky, W. W. Pendegast, J. N. Reynolds, W 
 R. Brown, E. N. Boynton, C. B. Clifford, A. Samp 
 son, R. N. Steere, A. G. Boggs, H. L. Amstutz 
 Robert Clark, H. T. Barker, W. Laughlin, L. Chap 
 man, Z. W. Keyes, D. R. McLennan, P. T. Gomer, 
 H. Christiansen, C. Levansaler, E. W. Hottel. J 
 :^. Wallingford, T. M. Moody, D. Smith, J. W 
 W^ard, Jr.; J. A. Kane, J. F. Hottel, D. S. Reiser 
 J. B. Newman. 
 
 The lodge own a splendid two-story, brick 
 building on Main street, which was erected in 
 1877. The lot is 44x90, and cost |5,000. The 
 building, 44x80, cost |12,000. The lower story is 
 used for stores, and the upper one for lodge pur- 
 poses. The lodge room is 36x50, with twenty-foot 
 ceiling, and is handsomely furnished. 
 
 LIVE OAK ENCAMPMENT, I. O. O. F., NO. 40 
 
 Was organized April 29, 1879, with the follow- 
 ing charter members: J. N. Reynolds, L. Chap- 
 man, E. Biggs, A. B. Walker, E. N. Boynton, W. 
 R. Brown, H. Christiansen, T. R. Parke, J. P. 
 Clark. 
 
 The first officers were: J. N. Reynolds, C. P.; \Y. 
 R. Brown, H. B.; A. B. W^alker, S. W.; L. Chap- 
 man, J. W.; E. N. Boynton, Scribe; E. Biggs, 
 Trensiiior. The following members have served 
 as C. P.: J. N. Reynolds, A. B. Walker, L. Chap- 
 man, J. C. Pierson, E. N. Boynton, C. Pearch, J. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. ISIi 
 
 O. Shafer, E. W. Hottel, C. Levansaler, Theo. 
 Ellis, C. E. Keifer, J. F. Hottel, H. Christiausen, 
 T. M. Moody, J. C. Rowley, F. Salmini, A. Miiller, 
 G. Bustelli, E. Biggs. 
 
 KNIGHTS OF HONOR. 
 
 Napa Lodge, No. 1,897, K. of H.,. was organized 
 November 28 , 1879, with the following charter 
 members: J. H . Boke, F. L. Coombs, Levi 
 Coombs, T. V. Chadbourne, T. H. Epley, L. H. 
 Fowler, G. W. Eraser, C. R. Gritman, H. C. Ges- 
 ford, Ed. Grogan, Z. W. Garfield, J. H. P. Gedge, 
 E. Hamm, J. W. Hostetler, F. M. Hackett, B. C. 
 Hartson, Wm. Imrie, H. Jansen, J. F. Laindiu, 
 T. Lane, O. P. Meyers, F. A. McDonald, T. Mc- 
 Bain, J. C. Noyes, T. R. Parker, I. N. Pearson, A. 
 J. Raney, J. T. Smith, Geo. C. Shurtleff, M, L. 
 Stillwagon, A. D. Stockford, J. P. Trubody, J. T. 
 Vanderlip, J. W. Ward, Jr., C. M. Walker, G. A. 
 AVright, W. West and J. N. Wallingford. 
 
 INDEPENDENT ORDER of GOOD TEMPLARS 
 
 Lodge No. 36, was in working order April, ISGl, 
 with the following officers: Samuel Heald, W. O. 
 T.; J. M. Hamilton, W. V. T.; V. J. Van Dorn, 
 W. S.; Miss L. A. Willett, W. T.; Martha C. Heald, 
 W. F. S.; G. W. Carter, W. M.; Rev. P. V. Veeder, 
 W. Ch.; D. B. McGee, W. I. G.; and R. T. Mont- 
 gomery, W. O. G. 
 
 AQUA PURA LODGE, NO. Ill, I. O. G. T. 
 
 W^as organized November 3, 1879, by Levy Le- 
 land, Grand Lecturer, with the following charter 
 members: James Mason, Ida Dennison, J. Moody, 
 A. T. Stanley, F. Harris, Z. E. Rowell, S. R. Dick- 
 ey, Flora L. Allen, E. H. Dennison, Millie Harris, 
 M. Storey, O. Pye, J. Davis, A. Chapman, Mrs. 
 
184 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Chapman, E. B. Todd, Stella Kerfoot, Margaret 
 McCaskell, and J. A. White. 
 
 KNIGHTS OF PYTHIAS. 
 
 Fidelity Lodge, No. 23, K. of P., was organized 
 August Gth, 1873, with the following charter 
 members : 
 
 D. M. McClure, J. F. Pugh, J. Kean, II. M. 
 Swain, W. Bradford, (J. Bustelli, S. Ileinertsen, 
 C. A. Menefee, K. Gudmuudsen, H. Christiansen, 
 E. Lane, J. S. Ilowlaud, C J. Carlsen, N. L. Niel- 
 sen, W. Overdick, Iv. N. Steere, J. Musburger, L. 
 N. Zubric, M. Begelspacher, A. MuUer, J. W. 
 Sharp, It. 11. Daley, 1. Gilchrist, L. N. Parsons, 
 G. W. Lawrence, F. M. Sherwood, J. J. Martin, L 
 Fancher, E. Newfelder, VV. H. Parsons, and L. M. 
 ('orwin. 
 
 ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN. 
 
 Fortuna Lodge, No. 13, A. O. U. W., was organ- 
 ized December 21st, 1S77, with the following char- 
 ter members: C. R. Gritman, J. W. Ward, Jr., E. 
 H. Bragg, E. S. Gridley, E. P. Mitchell, A. D. 
 Stockford, C. H. Wilson, D. A. Eraser, T. McBain, 
 J. Mitchell, C. Stuart, and J. W. Hosteller. 
 
 FRATERNAL BROTHERHOOD. 
 
 Napa Lodge, No. 131, of the Fraternal Brother- 
 hood, organized June 21st, 1900; meet first and 
 thin] Thursdays of each month at Masonic 
 Temple Hall. 
 
 Fraternal insurance is of very ancient origin, 
 but it is only within recent years that it has been 
 developed upon a basis that guarantees stability. 
 The age of exj)eriment has passed and co-opera- 
 tive insurance is now so firmly and secui*ely es- 
 tablished that failure is impossible. Profiting by 
 the experience of other similar societies. 
 
&y 
 
 3^ 
 
 NAPA COUNTY. 185 
 
 President, A. J. Kahn; Past President, Will- 
 iam Harlan; Vice-President, Addie M. Powers; 
 Chaplain, Augusta Collins; Secretary, Mary S. 
 Boggs; Treasurer, Theo. F. Willsey; Medical Ex- 
 aminer, Dr. A. J. Kahn; M. at A., Rosie Fisher: 
 Sergt., James Fisher; I. D., Richard Schulz; O. 
 D., Claud Harris. 
 
 INDUSTRIES. 
 SAWYER TANNING CO. 
 
 The tannery business now conducted by the 
 Sawyer Tannine,- Company-, was started in a 
 small way, on the t^iti^ now occupied by the con- 
 cern, by Frenc li A. Sawyer, hi 18(19. The follow- 
 ing year R. F. Sawye:- joined liiin and in 1872 they 
 associated v.itli them A. V\ . Norton, the firm 
 name being B. F. Sawwer & Company. 
 
 In 1879, B. F. Sawyer died and the following 
 year the concern was reorganized under the same 
 name and style with French A. Sawyer, A. W. 
 Norton, S. E. Holden and Emanuel Manasee as 
 partners. This partnership continued until 1886, 
 when the business was incorporated under the 
 name and style of the Sawyer Tanning Company, 
 with S. E. Holden, President; Emanuel Manasee^ 
 Vice President; A. W. Norton, Treasurer and L. 
 J. Norton, Secretarj-. 
 
 The business lias grown from a very small be- 
 ginning, when only two or three men were em- 
 ployed until the present time when its plant cov- 
 ers a large part of three city blocks. 
 
 Practically all of the leather produced by this 
 concern is used for the manufacture of gloves, 
 and one line of upper leather for shoes. The Cali- 
 fornia and Coast trade of this company is quite ex- 
 tensive, but a large proportion of its product is 
 
186 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 sold in the East. The present officers are: L. J. 
 Norton, President; J. D. Jamison, Vice President; 
 E. G. Manasse, Secretary and Treasurer. 
 
 NAPA GAS AND ELECTRIC CO. 
 
 This company was first incorporated under the 
 name of Thompson Houston Co., in 1890, and was 
 operated under this name until 1899, when a San 
 Francisco company bought it out, when it was 
 reorganized under the name of the Napa Ga.^, 
 Light and Heat Company, both plants being now 
 operated under the name of the Napa Gas and 
 Electric Company. 
 
 The plant consists of 245 K. W. Edison by-polar 
 dynamos— one 50 light, 12,000 candle power T. H. 
 arc light dynamo— which are operated or driven 
 by one 200 horse power, Ball cross, compound en- 
 gine, to which steam is supplied by two Atlas 
 boilers of 80 h. p. each. The company have in op- 
 eration fourteen miles of arch light lines, also 
 eight miles of Edison 3-wire incandescent lights. 
 Napa city is lighted with 35 arc lights, while the 
 commercial and house lighting is accomplished 
 by 800 incandesent and 35 long burning arc 
 lights. 
 
 The gas plant has a capacity of 50 M cubic feet. 
 The city is supplied with 60 gas lamps for street 
 lighting. The officers at present are: President, 
 Thomas Addison, of San Francisco; Vice Presi- 
 dent, J. L. Howard; Secretary and Treasurer, 
 J. G. Whittington, all in San Francisco; Manager, 
 O. E. Clark, Napa city. 
 
 GOODMAN & CO., BANKEFvS (Inc.). 
 
 Organized, 1858; incorporated, 1889; ca])i[al 
 1300,000; George E. Goodman, President; H. P. 
 Goodman, Vice President; E. S. Churchill, Cash- 
 ier; J. E. Noyes, Assistant Cashier; G. E. Good 
 
NAPA COUNTY. l87 
 
 maD, Jr., Teller; E. W. Churchill, Assistant Tel- 
 ler. 
 
 James H. Goodman, born in New York, 1820; 
 came to Napa, 1850; died 1888. 
 
 G. E. Goodman became partner in 1858, con- 
 tinued until 1889, when the bank became an in- 
 corporation. 
 
 The present President was married in Napa, 
 1858, to Miss Carrie A. Jacks. To this union the 
 children, G. E. Goodman, Jr., 1868, and H. P. 
 Goodman, 1860 were born in Napa. 
 
 H. P. Goodman is married and has four child- 
 ren, Claire, 15 years; Euth, 9 years; John, 7 years; 
 George, 5 years. 
 
 G. E. Goodman, Jr., was married in Napa in 
 1890 to Miss Florence B. Millard, from which 
 union there is one child, Marie, born in Napa, 
 1883. 
 
 The bank, in its early days occupied a small 
 building next to the fine brick edifice in which it 
 is now located. 
 
 BANK OF NAPA. 
 
 Organized September, 1871, with the following 
 trustees: J. F. Zollmer, W. C. Wallace, C. Hart- 
 son, E. Stanley, W. H. Nash, R. H. Sterling, E. 
 L. Sullivan, A. B. Walker, W. W. Thompson, G. 
 M. Fisher, R. B. Woodward, H. L. Davis, T. H. 
 Thompson, I. N. Larimer, J. Lawley, D. McDon- 
 ald, and D. L. Haas. At that time the following 
 officers were elected: C. Hartson, President; W. C. 
 Watson, Secretary and Cashier, and R. H. Stirl- 
 ing, W. W. Thompson, and T. H. Thompson, 
 Finance Committee. C. Hartson remained Presi- 
 dent of the bank until January 1, 1880, when L. 
 Lewton was chosen. W. C. Watson remained 
 Cashier until January 1st, 1881, when R. C. Grit- 
 man was elected. 
 
188 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 The capital stock at time of organization was 
 $250,000, The elegant and substantial structure 
 was erected 1872. Henry Brown Cashier. Capital 
 stock paid in (1900) |175,000; surplus |72,000; S. 
 M. ('hapnian, President. 
 
 LAUNDKY OF SAM KEE. 
 
 He was born in China; came to Napa about 
 twenty years ago, and has been in the laundry 
 business ever since. His laundry is situated on 
 N. Main street. No. 58, next to the Kysers' furni- 
 ture store. 
 
 Sam Kee has the oldest established laundry in 
 Napa county, and ever has given the greatest sat- 
 isfaction to his patrons. Sam Kee is married, 
 having a wife and one child in China. 
 
 He gives employment to six other Chinamen 
 in his laundry. The time is now rapidly ap- 
 proaching when Sam Kee will be able to sell out 
 his business and return to China with enough 
 American dollars to enable him to live the life of 
 a nobleman in his own land and at last lay his 
 bones down in the sacred soil of the Celestial 
 Kingdom. 
 
 KEAL ESTATE AND INSURANCE CO. OF 
 MOUNT & BOKE. 
 
 This insurance agency was established in 1881, 
 and is the oldest in the county and represents the 
 mosit reliable English, German and American 
 insurance companies. This firm is also the best 
 posted real estate firm in the county, having the 
 largest list of desirable properties for sale and 
 rent. They also take full charge of properties for 
 non-residents and make prompt remittances of 
 funds. The senior member of the firm, T. N. 
 Mount, has had considerable experi(mce as a rec- 
 ord searcher, and has provided himself with what 
 
T. N. MOUNT, 
 
 Napa. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 1S9 
 
 is known as a "Searcher's Portfolio Index," liav- 
 ing been a resident of Napa, since 1857. In 1870 
 he stood at the anvil and learned the blacksmith 
 trade; on account of failing health turned to 
 farming for three years. In 1878 he was elected 
 Constable of Napa township and served for three 
 years in that position, after which he entered his 
 present business. Mr. Mount was born in Toledo, 
 Ohio, August 12, 1840; came to California, 1853; 
 he married Emma V. Jenkins, 1876, a native of 
 Wisconsin; the children are Mable S., and John 
 N., Edith E. is now her father's assistant in 
 searching records; Mable is a graduate of Napa 
 Business College and John N. is attending school 
 as yet. 
 
 GANTER & GANTER, PHOTOG RAPHE KS. 
 
 This establishment is conducted b}^ two ladies, 
 sisters, who have established a reputation for ar- 
 tistic work which is recognized by the intelligence 
 of the surrounding country. Their elegant and 
 commodious parlors are situated on the ground 
 floor, so there are no stairs to climb, and are 
 furnished in a elegant manner, with all the acces- 
 sories of a first class photographic parlor. I'p to 
 about this time (1901), all places where photo- 
 graphs were made, that is to say portraits, were 
 called galleries on account of having to climb up 
 to the roof of the house where the sky-light was 
 in the operating room. Now, we are pleased to 
 say, such is no longer the case, in this instance. 
 The lady proprietors graduated in photography 
 in San Francisco, to which city they came when 
 quite young, with their parents from Wisconsin. 
 A good photograph is a valuable possession, but 
 a poor one absolutely worthless. Our advice is, 
 when one does have a picture taken, to have the 
 
190 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 best, and to get that in Napa, and to go to Gant- 
 er & Ganter. 
 
 NAPA MARBLE WORKS. 
 
 Messrs. Newman & Wing began in 1878, and 
 are successful; in 1881, thej erected a new build- 
 ing 28x40. The firm of Newman & Wing built 
 over thirty stone bridges and culverts, besides a 
 large number of vaults in the cemetery. Mr. 
 Newman has recently (1901), returned frjm 
 Europe where he has studied all the latest designs 
 in marble stone cutting, also all descriptions of 
 wreaths made of metal flowers. 
 
 THE MISSES BEST MILLINERY PARLORS. 
 
 The Misses Best have the choicest stock and the 
 most fashionable millinery parlors in the cit^^ of 
 Napa, and enjoy the select trade of the intelligent 
 and fashion contained in the adjacent country. 
 The Misses Best were born in Nevada, but have 
 resided in the city of Napa for more than twenty 
 years. 
 
 THE PALACE STABLES. 
 
 Were established in 1880, by Mr. Kelley, upon 
 the present site, opposite the Palace Hotel, t>n 
 Third street. These stables are now managed 
 and owned by F. S. Parker, the popular, genial 
 proprietor, who, for the last eight years past, has 
 successfully conducted the business; more than 
 fifteen head of fine spirited horses, well trained, 
 are kept for the accommodation of patrons. Mr. 
 Parker was born in Kansas; came to Napa in 
 1892. In 1889 he married Clara Gamble, born in 
 Ohio. The children are H. Stanley, 1892; E. 
 Ruth, 1894. 
 
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NAPA COUNTY. 191 
 
 PALACE HOTEL. 
 
 The leading hotel of Napa city has always been 
 recognized as having the best accommodations 
 for guests, containing 70 rooms with bath and all 
 modern conveniences, beautiful, large dining 
 room and an up-to-date bar and office, and has a 
 reputation for a menu second to none throughout 
 the State. 
 
 This valuable property was bought in 1900, by 
 George C. Trj^on, Sr., who was born in New York 
 city, 1828, and died in Napa, March 9, 1901, and 
 buried in Angels Camp, California. He was a 
 member of the society of California Pioneers and 
 was a progressive man during his lifetime, con- 
 tinually devising some improvement in his hotel 
 for the comfort and convenience of the guests. 
 
 George C. Try on, Jr., has, since his father's 
 death, succeeded to the management, and the 
 traveling public may feel assured that every at- 
 tention will be shown to every one who may pat- 
 ronize the Palace. 
 
 On March 5th, 1901, the Palace Hotel was pur- 
 chased from the Tryon estate by Mr. A. Zeller, 
 who is one of the most capable hotel keepers in 
 the State, having had a large experience in the 
 different parts of California; he is up-to-date in 
 every particular, and has already made improve- 
 ments greatly to the advantage of the hotel which 
 his practical eye saw was necessary. He was 
 born in Germany and emigrated to the United 
 States in 1883; remaining in the East about one 
 year, when he moved to California. He married 
 Miss Marie Gatje, in San Francisco, in January, 
 1889, and they have three children, Hertha, Hugo, 
 and Earnest. 
 
192- NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 CAREIAGE AND HARNESS REPOSITORY 
 OF CHAS. & EDWARD J. WELTE. 
 
 In 1880, the brother Charles, bought out the 
 business of George Beebe, who was then in the 
 harness business; in 1886, he added carriages to 
 the rapidly increasing business; his brother, Ed- 
 ward J., took an interest in the business, since 
 which time the firm's name has been Welte Bros., 
 and is now the largest business of its kind in the 
 county. 
 
 Mr. Charles Welte was born in Baltimore, Md,, 
 in 1858; came to Napa county in 1880, where he 
 began business. He married Miss Dadie Giles, a 
 Napa county girl, in 1884. Edward J. Welte was 
 born in California, 1860; came to Napa 1881. In 
 1894 he married Miss Marble of Napa, but who 
 was born in San Francisco. 
 
 :MANIi FACTORIES. 
 
 'Numerous thriving manufacturing enterprist^s 
 line the Avater front, among which are three tan- 
 neries, of glove, harness and shoe leather; a sh(ve 
 factoiy, glove factory, woolen mill, planing mill. 
 Hour mill, cannery, fruit driers, wineries and dis- 
 tilleries. 
 
 NAPA BOARD OF TRUSTEES. 
 
 The Napa Board of Trustees for 1900 are: John 
 A. Fuller, Mayor; E. W. Jaensch, C. B. Seeley, J. 
 A. Cain, John T. Even, Richard Cuff. 
 
 THE NAPA BUSINESS COLLEGE AND 
 SC^TTOOL OF SHORTHAND. 
 
 This enterprising and progressive institution, 
 is located in the business center of Napa city, 
 having a frontage of 75 feet on Main street. Its 
 main hall is by far the largest school room in this 
 
John T. £!,■< 
 
 J. A. Cain. 
 
 C. B. Seeley. 
 
 JOHN A. FULLER 
 
 Mayor of Napa, and Councilmen. 
 RicHard Cuff. 
 
 EL. W. Joensch. 
 

 
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NAPA COUNTY. 193 
 
 city, is well lighted anfl ventilated, provided with 
 modern furniture, desks and all the necessary ap- 
 pliances and facilities for giving an actual, prac- 
 tical business education. 
 
 Here may be seen, both day and evening, a busy 
 throng of ladies and gentlemen, vigorously prose- 
 cuting their labors, fitting themselves for an ac- 
 tive and successful business life. 
 
 The college vvas organized a little more than 
 six years ago and has steadily increased in effici- 
 ency, popularity and attendance of students. Last 
 year over 100 students were enrolled and the pres- 
 ent year bids fair to outstrip all former records. 
 
 Quite recently we had the pleasure of spending 
 a profitable day at this institution which convinc- 
 ed us of its merits and of the absolute necessity 
 of a business education for young men and 
 women. 
 
 The many advantages of this school impressed 
 me so favorably that we cannot resist giving our 
 readers the benefits of our experience. There are 
 two courses of study in the college. The business 
 course and the shor-thand course. In the business 
 course, bookkeeping, commercial arithmetic, 
 commercial law, business grammar and corre- 
 spondence, spelling and penmanship are taught. 
 In the shorthand course, shorthand, typing, letter 
 writing, legal forms, writing and spelling are 
 taught. 
 
 The business course consists of a theoretical 
 and practical department. After the student 
 understands the theory work sufficiently he is per- 
 mitted to enter the actual business practice where 
 he learns by doing business for himself. The 
 practice in this department includes every possi- 
 ble transaction that he would have in actual busi- 
 ness. The drawing of all kinds of business docu- 
 
194 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 memts: notes, drafts, receipts, partnerships, deeds, 
 leases and mortgages, checks, contracts, making 
 loans, purchasing stocks, depositing, discounting, 
 collecting and paying checks and notes, handling 
 and counting his own money. I wish I might 
 dwell upon the interesting features of this depart- 
 ment and tell of the various offices where mer- 
 chandise is bought and sold, where bankers hold 
 forth and what they do, of the commission and 
 express offices, the postoffice, real estate and the 
 stock and brokerage offices, but space forbids. 
 
 The shorthand and typewriting department 
 interested us greatly. We cannot too forcibly 
 impress upon the minds of our readers the neces- 
 sity of a knowledge of shorthand in the twen- 
 tieth century. The instruction in the Napa 
 Business College in this important branch is en- 
 tirely individual, until the pupil is far enough 
 advanced to enter the dictation classes. The op- 
 erating of the typewriter is a pleasant occupation, 
 when one has acquired the speed. I could tell of 
 the well-equipped printing office, where the Col- 
 lege Gazette is printed, also all the documents 
 and printed forms used in the business depart- 
 ment, of the energetic teachers and of its bright 
 and promising pupils, but time and space forbids. 
 You are invited to call and inspect them for your- 
 self. H. L. Gunn, A. M., is President, assisted by 
 Mrs. Viunie MacLean, Vice President, and who 
 is at the head of the shorthand department. The 
 rates are low, being but |6 per month in either 
 course. 
 
 STEAMBOATS. 
 
 Since 1850 steamboats have plied almost con- 
 tinuously between Napa City and San Francisco. 
 The first was the Dolphin, Capt. Turner G. Baxter, 
 master; her first trip was in 1850. She was not 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 195 
 
 much larger than a whaleboat, with a locomotive- 
 boiler and her passengers had to "trim ship" very 
 carefully to keep from upsetting. It is said, that 
 when coming up the river, the captain, who was 
 very tall, came in sight long before the smoke 
 stack did. General W. S, Jacks still preserves 
 the bell of the Dolphin as a relic. 
 
 The next steamer was the "Jack Hays," which 
 was run by Capt. Chadwick, who afterwards lost 
 his life on the "Brother Jonathan." The "Hays" 
 was brought around the Horn in pieces, in 1849 on 
 board the bark "La Grange," and was shipped 
 hence by a joint stock company of which -W. W. 
 Wilkins of Bolinas, Marin county, was 'a partner. 
 The steamboat was discharged from the vessel at 
 Benicia, where she was put together, and was the 
 lirst steamboat that ever made the trip from the 
 latter place to Sacramento. Upon its completion 
 it was called the "Commodore Jones," in honor of 
 Commodore A p. Catesby Jones. Her builder so^n 
 disposed of her, and her name was changed to 
 "Jack Hays," under which she got herself quite 
 a reputation. 
 
 In 1856 the steamer "Anna Abernatha" was 
 run in this trade by Captain Folger, In April, 
 1857, the steamer "Sophia" was run to Napa by 
 Captain P. F. Doling. The "Vaquero" was run at 
 one time by Captain Baxter. The steamer "Ex- 
 press" ran here for a number of years, and went 
 to decay at the old Soscol wharf. In 1859 the 
 steamer "Paul Pry" was on the route. She was a 
 speedy affair, making the trip in three hours. In 
 1864 the "Cleopatra" was run between Napa and 
 Soscol in connection with the "Amelia," which 
 ran from there to San Francisco. The steamers 
 "Ellen" and "Emma" were in the trade in 1881. 
 There have been other steamers but their names 
 are now forootten. In 1900 the fine steamers Zin- 
 
196 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 fandel and the Napa City were still busy in the 
 trade. 
 
 THE FIRE DEPAETMENT. 
 
 Pioneer Engine Company, No. 1, was organized 
 in April, 1859, by the election of Robert Crouch, 
 president; E. S. Cheseboro, foreman; J. H. Moran, 
 assistant; J. W. Henneway, second assistant; 
 Ilarvey Wilder, secretary; and B. F. Townsend, 
 treasurer. The first trial of the engine was on 
 the 6th of June, 1860. Since then a hook and 
 ladder truck and eight Babcock Extinguishers 
 have been purchased. The citizens realizing the 
 need of better fire protection are agitating the 
 question of a new company. It is the hope of all 
 concerned that their ambition will be realized. 
 
 NAPA STATE HOSPITAL FOR THE INSANE. 
 
 With a view of providing for further accom- 
 modations, for the care and treatment of the in- 
 sane in this State, the Legislature at the session 
 of 1869-70 passed an Act authorizing the appoint- 
 ment of a Commissioner to visit the principal in- 
 sane asylums of the United States and Europe for 
 the purpose of obtaining all accessible and relia- 
 ble information as to the management, the differ- 
 ent modes of treatment and the statistics of in- 
 sanity, especial attention being called to the asy- 
 lums of Great Britain, Ireland, France and Ger- 
 many. In jmrsuance to the provisions of the Act, 
 Governor Haight appointed as such Commis- 
 sioner Dr. E. T. Wilkins, who at once entered into 
 the duties assigned to him; and during his investi- 
 gations he visited one hundred and forty-nine in- 
 sane asylums. Forty-five of these were in the 
 United States, one in Canada, fifteen in Italy, 
 three in Bavaria, seven in Austria, eleven in the 
 German empire, two in Switzerland, thirteen in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 197 
 
 France, eight in Belgium, three in Holland, 
 twenty-four in England, ten in Scotland and 
 seven in Ireland. 
 
 During these investigations a number of plans 
 of asylums were procured, and from these the 
 plans of the Xapa asylum were selected, Messrs. 
 Wright & Sanders of San Francisco being the 
 architects. The Commissioner made his report 
 to the Governor, December 2, 1871, and on the 
 27th day of March, 1872, an Act was approved 
 providing for the appointment of a commission, 
 to select a site for the erection of an institution 
 for the care and treatment of the insane, and 
 making an appropriation of |237,500 towards the 
 erection of the building. 
 
 In the spring of 1872 Governor Booth appoint- 
 ed as the Commissioners to select the site of the 
 proposed asylum, Judge C. H. Swift of Sacra- 
 mento, Dr. G. A. Shurtleff of Stockton, and Dr. 
 E. T. Wilkins, of Marysville; and on the 2d day of 
 August of that year said Commissioners submit- 
 ted their report to the Governor, having selected 
 Napa as the site for the asylum. 
 
 At the session of the Legislature of 1873-4, a 
 further appropriation of |G00,000 was made for 
 the completion of the asylum, but that sum being 
 insufficient for the purpose, the Legislature of 
 1875-6 made a further appropriation of ij?194,000. 
 
 Section nine of the Act of March 27th, 1872, 
 provided that the plans and specification of this 
 asylum should be upon the basis of accommoda- 
 tions for not exceeding five hundred patients at 
 any one time. On the 31st day of May, 1878, there 
 were five hundred and one patients in the asylum, 
 and at the time of the meeting of the Legislature 
 on the 5th day of January, 1880, the number had 
 increased to eight hundred and eight, rendering 
 it necessary that further accommodation be pro- 
 
198 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 vided. Consequently at that session of the Leg- 
 islature an appropriation of |20,000 was made for 
 the purpose of fitting up and furnishing the attics 
 in the rear of the amusement hall and over the 
 laundry building, which work has been complet- 
 ed, giving accommodations for one hundred and 
 eighty patients. 
 
 At the session of the Legislature of 1881 a fur- 
 ther appropriation of |18,000 was made for fitting 
 up and furnishing the attics over the extreme 
 north and south wings of the building for the ac- 
 commodation of one hundred and for-ty-six pa- 
 tients. 
 
 The Asylum is locat-ed about one and a half 
 miles southeast of Napa City. The building faces 
 the west and consists of a central building with 
 wings extending on each side exactly alike, the 
 divisions for sexes being equal. The center 
 building consists of the oflice, library, Superin- 
 tendent's office, public sitting room, and officers' 
 apartments. In the rear of which are the amuse- 
 ment hall, drug store, trunk room, dining room, 
 kitchen and storeroom. 
 
 There are twelve wards on each side of the cen- 
 ter building, besides one on the fourth floor, and 
 one in the attic of the centei- building, two in the 
 rear of the amusement hall and one over the 
 laundrv' building. Each one of the wards, in-, 
 eluded in tlie wings, are divided as follows: At- 
 tendants" room, dining room, pantry, clothes 
 room, bath-room, wash-room, closets, one dormi- 
 tory intended for six beds, one room 10x10 in- 
 tended for two beds, and thirt^een rooms 8x10, in- 
 tended for one bed each, eveiy room being lighted 
 by a large window. 
 
 The corner stone of the building was laid in 
 the month of of Miirch, 1873, and the first j^atient 
 was admitted on the 15th day of November, 1875, 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 19,9 
 
 since which time, up to the flrsft of July, 1881, two 
 thousand niu-e hundred and fifty -five patients 
 have been admitted. One thousand four hundred 
 and forty-three have been discharged, four hun- 
 dred and fifty-eight have died and thirty-three 
 have escaped, leaving in the asylum one thousand 
 and twenty-one patients. The officers of the asy- 
 lum in 1881 were: Trustees, Benjamin Shurtlett, 
 M. D., President; J. C. Martin, A. G. Boggs, F. E. 
 Johnson and N. D. Rideout; Treasurer, C B. See- 
 ley. Resident officers, E. T. Wilkins, resident 
 physician; L. F. Dozier, assistant physician; F. 
 W. Hatch, assistant physician; J. B. Stevens, sec- 
 retary; J. M. Palmer, steward; J. T. Johnston, 
 steward's clerk; Mrs. E. F. Avey, matron; John 
 Hawkes, supervisor; Eliza Kennedy, supervisor- 
 ess; George B. Walden, druggist; A. M. Gardner, 
 medical superintendent for 1900. 
 
 The hospital was built at a cost of |1,500,000, 
 shelters over 1,400 inmates, and numbers upon 
 its pay rolls some 200 attaches, a large propor- 
 tion of whom are residents of Napa. The city re- 
 ceives from this institution, in salaries of em- 
 ployes alone, more than the county pays into the 
 State Treasury for taxes. 
 
 TULOCAY CEMETERY. 
 
 On the 24th day of December, 1858, a meeting 
 of the citizens of Napa was held for the purpose 
 of providing a burial ground for the accommoda- 
 tion of the public. James Lefferts called the 
 meeting to order, and W. S. Jacks was chasen 
 chairman and G. W. Towle, secretary. A com- 
 mittee of five was appointed by the chairman to 
 prepare a plan of organization of the Cemetery 
 Association; to find out as to the quantity and 
 price of ground that could be purchased; to sug- 
 gest a plan of laying out the grounds; the proba- 
 
200 NAPA COT/NT Y. 
 
 ble expense of doing so, and the expense of fenc- 
 ing the proposed cemetery. The members of the 
 committee appointed for this purpose were Will- 
 iam H. James, C, W. Langdon, A. L. Boggs, N. 
 Coombs and W. S. Jacks. The next meeting was 
 to be held on the 28th of the same month, at 
 which the committee appointed at the previous 
 meeting made their report, which was adopted. 
 A committee of three was appointed to solicit 
 subscriptions to be applied to defray the expense 
 of surveying and laying oft' burial lots, and other 
 incidental expenses that might be incurred, pre- 
 vious to the sale of lots. A committee of five was 
 appointed to draft a constitution and by-laws; to 
 report at the next meeting. This committee com- 
 prised, J. Lawley, R. Dudding, — Hamilton, A. 
 L. Boggs and J. Lefferts. The committee ap- 
 pointed at the last meeting for the purpose of pre- 
 paring a plan of organization, reported that they 
 had consulted with Senor Don Cayetauo Juarez, 
 the proprietor of land in the vicinity of Napa 
 City, and that gentleman had generously offered 
 to donate to the trustees, to be appointed for that 
 purpose, a quantity of land suitable for a ceme- 
 tery, the area of the whole amount to be twenty- 
 five or thirty acres. 
 
 The committee reoojnmended that, as soon as 
 the ground was laid off into lots, and before the 
 sale of any lots whatever, Don Cayetano Juarez 
 be permitted to select a lot for a family burying- 
 ground, and that a certificate of such location be 
 presented to him gratuitously. They also stated 
 that they had examined the land offered and 
 deemed it well suited for the purposes contem- 
 plated, said land being that known as the Tulocay 
 Cemetery The committee also recommended 
 that as a basis of franchise a subscription list be 
 provided, in which a sum of money not to exceed 
 
H H. THOMPSON, 
 
 City ClerK. 
 
 OLIVfd h „, 
 
 y Sur 
 
 veyoi 
 
 '°c'?:-;VoK„, 
 
 FRANn GIBBS, 
 
 CITY OFFICIALS OF NAPA. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 201 
 
 twenty-five dollars to each person be subscribed, 
 to be applied in defraying the expenses of survey- 
 ing, laying off burial lots and other incidentals; 
 that the amount- subscribed be returned as soon 
 as the funds are received from the sale of lots; 
 also, that the persons subscribing elect five trus- 
 tees to receive the deed, to be known as the 
 "Trustees of the Napa County Cemetery Associa- 
 tion." A ijortion of the cemetery was to be set 
 apart for the use of the Catholic church, which 
 was to be selected by Don Cayetano Juarez. The 
 committee also recommended that the trustees 
 procure a conveyance of the land, and that a sub- 
 stantial fence be erected around the cemetery. A 
 vote of thanks was then tendered to Don Cayetano 
 Juarez for his generous gift. 
 
 At the next meeting the committee on consti- 
 tution and by-laws reported: the constitution pro- 
 vided that the association be known as the "Tiil- 
 ocay Cemeter}^ Association;" that the business be 
 transacted by a board of five trustees to be elect- 
 ed by the owners of the lots; that as soon as the 
 lots were laid off a public sale of them take place, 
 proceeds of sale to be applied to necessary expen- 
 ses, which being paid, the balance of the mimey to 
 be expended in ornamenting grounds and keep- 
 ing them in repair. The trustees are to be resi- 
 dents of Napa county. None of the officers to re- 
 ceive a salary except the secretary, who on re- 
 ceiving and filing a deed to a lot, shall receive a 
 fee of fifty cents. The first board of trustees 
 elected consisted of N. Coombs, A. L. Boggs, J. 
 Lefferts, Smith Brown, and J. Lawley. Sixty-six 
 persons subscribed in sums ranging from five dol- 
 lars to twenty-five dollars, at the opening of the 
 subscription lists. On the 9th of April, 1859, 
 a public sale was held at the Cemetery grounds, 
 the price of each lot being previously fixed at |1(). 
 
202 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 June 14, 1859, the stone wall which had been re- 
 cently completed around the cemetery, was ac- 
 cepted, said wall being one hundred and eleven 
 and two-thirds rods long; and an order was 
 drawn on the Treasurer for the sum of |558.75, be- 
 ing at the rate of |5 per rod. The cemetery was 
 surveyed by N. L. Squibb May 30, 1865. A. L. 
 Boggs having removed from the county, J. F. 
 Lamdin was elected trustee in his place, and 
 George Fellows was elected in place of J. Leff- 
 erts resigned. 
 
 At a meeting of the ti'ustees held August 1st, 
 1873, the President was authorized to convey to 
 the Supervisors of Napa county the tract marked 
 "Poor" on the plat of the cemetery. 
 
 In the spring of 1877 a windmill was erected 
 and a tank constructed to contain three thousand 
 gallons, also laid 2,000 feet of pipe. The Inde- 
 pendent Order of Odd Fellows purchased block 
 one hundred and eleven for |237.50. The trus- 
 tees in 1881 were A. G. Boggs, J. A. McClellan, 
 W. C. S. Smith, G. Barth and Jesse Grigsby; T. F. 
 Kaney, Secretary. 
 
 ATLAS PEAK 
 
 Is a charming resort excelled by few. The re- 
 port of the "Committee on the establishment of 
 a State Hospital for Consumptives," says: 
 
 "This region, situated on the ridge of the Coast 
 Range of mountains east of Napa Valley, has of 
 late years attracted considernble attention, on ac- 
 count of its equability of temperature, its freedom 
 from fogs, or harsh winds, the dryness of the at- 
 mosphere, and its supposed advantages as a resi- 
 dence for the consumptive. Its elevation is about 
 fifteen hundred feet; its mean winter tempera- 
 ture is fifty degrees; its summer temperature is 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 203 
 
 seventy-four degrees, and its mean annual relative 
 humidity only forty-five per cent, or fifty-one in 
 winter and thirty-nine in summer. It is within 12 
 miles of the city of Napa, easily accessible from 
 the entire central portion of the State and from 
 the coast, and the soil is well suited to the culti- 
 vation of grain, fruit and vegetables. The climate 
 of this ridge is remarkable for its healthfulness; 
 no malarial diseases are known there; there is (.n 
 abundance of pure water; the atmosphere, 
 though sometimes warm for a short period at 
 noon, is never oppressive; the evenings are agree- 
 ably cool and invigorating. The winters are 
 mild, and excellent facilities for camp life and 
 outdoor exercise at all seasons of the year. 
 
 "Taking into consideration all the facts present- 
 ed and when other things are equal, the relative 
 accessibility of the different localities visited, the 
 committee feel justified in awarding a prefereni-e 
 to Atlas Peak." 
 
 Messrs. A. V. Evans and J. W. Harker each 
 have a fine place on Atlas Peak, and the former 
 has grown some of the finest fruits and vegetables 
 to be found in Napa county, while the latter has 
 an excellent young vineyard, and proposes to 
 plant very largely. The soil is very deep and rich, 
 being composed of volcanic matter chiefly. There 
 is an excellent mineral spring near the peak and 
 others may be developed. The view from the 
 Peak is unsurpassed, except from Mount St. Hel- 
 ena. Many have already reaped the benefits of 
 a sojourn at the place, and from year to year the 
 number will increase, and we are sure we are not 
 saying too much when we assert that it is des- 
 tined to be one of the chief sanitariums of Cali- 
 fornia. 
 
204 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 NAPA SODA SPRINGS. 
 
 The early history of these springs is full of con- 
 tention because of their possible value, but we do 
 not think the recital of these troubles is of any 
 value or even interest to the readers of this book 
 except it might possibly be for the mention of an 
 occasional pioneer whose name is almost certain- 
 ly to be found elsewhere in this book. The con- 
 test over this property was long, fierce and bitter, 
 and it is the greatest wonder that somebody was 
 not killed. Dr. Wood was shot at one night, so 
 it is reported, and the torch was frequently ap- 
 plied to the different improvements. 
 
 The present improvements, which are elegant 
 and substantial, have been placed there by Ool. 
 Jackson. 
 
 The most striking feature is the mammoth ro- 
 tunda which is constructed of stone roughly 
 hewn, and rests on the backbone of a ridge, which 
 puts out from the mountain side. It is two 
 stories high in front and four in the rear. The 
 front of the building is a facade while the main 
 part is circular. The entrance to the building 
 is through a wide hallway which leads to the 
 rear. On either side and adjoining the entrance 
 are elegant rooms intended for the use of the at- 
 tendants about the place. Beyond tliese we enter 
 into the circuhir body of the building, on the outer 
 edges of which are arranged eighty stalls, in 
 which there are three thicknesses of floor. The 
 upper one is of three inch plank, and the seams 
 are pitched and calked as tight as the deck of a 
 vessel. Near the center is a grate trap, the floor 
 being so lai<l that there is a slight declivity to- 
 AA-ards the trap. The mangers are self-feeders, 
 the supply coming from above, where the feed is 
 stored. Inside the stalls is a driveway, and inside 
 of that is a bank for saddles, serving also to sep- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 205 
 
 arate the driveway from the central area which 
 is designed for a receptacle for carriages. This 
 bank has four openings at opposite sides for con- 
 venience of ingress and egress. The upper story 
 has the halls and rooms in front similar to the 
 lower story. The space occupied below for stalls 
 and driveway will here be utilized as a storeroom, 
 while the inner circular jirea makes an excellent 
 skating rink. The water from the roof is con- 
 ducted in pipes to the sewers underneath the sta- 
 ble and serves the purpose of flushing them out. 
 We now descend to the first underground story, 
 which is used principally for stable purposes. We 
 descend again and find ourselves in the basement, 
 which is designed to be a wine cellar. The natural 
 declivity of the ground is such that the casks may 
 be placed in tiers one above the other so that the 
 wine may be drawn with a syphon from one to 
 another without disturbing the casks at all. The 
 painting and graining and all carpenter work 
 about this building has been done with as much 
 care and excellence as though it were a mansion 
 for human beings of noble birth. The next 
 brought to our notice is a large shed for the recep- 
 tion of the teams of transient visitors. It is open 
 to the north, but closed at the west, south and 
 east, so that the horses are thoroughly protected 
 from the winds and sun. Strong iron rods ex- 
 tend from the posts downward and are anchored 
 to large rocks at a depth of twenty feet. Next in 
 order comes a stone building, containing three 
 very large rooms which are elegantly furnishe<l, 
 each having a fireplace, while the walls are 
 adorned with handsome paintings. The next 
 building contains the kitchen and dining room on 
 the lower floor, which is on a level with the road 
 on the west side of the buildings. We ascend an 
 iron stairway and reach a greensward terrace, 
 
206 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 from which the upper rooms are entered, consist- 
 ing of a dining room, reading room, etc. On the 
 west side of this builiding there is a veranda from 
 which one of the most beautiful landscape views 
 in California may be had. The lower story of the 
 next adjacent building is used for bottling pur- 
 poses. As the water comes from the springs it is 
 passed under a gasometer, and the gas is retained 
 in that while the water passes on into a reservoir. 
 A hydraulic engine operates a compound pump, 
 which forces the waiter and gas together again, 
 one suction pipe leading to the gasometer and one 
 to the reservoir. The union is effected just be- 
 yond the pump and is led into two copper cylin- 
 ders each with a steam gauge to indicate the 
 pressure of the gas, and a water gauge to show 
 the amount of water. The gas remains so thor- 
 oughly incorporated with the w^ater that no agi- 
 tator is necessary in the cylinder as is often the 
 case w^hen mineral water is being bottled. From 
 the cylinders the water is conducted to the bot- 
 tling machine, where a bottle is filled, corked and 
 fastened with the patent wire cork fastener, and 
 the amount that may be bottled in a day is wholly 
 dependent upon the ability of the operator. In 
 the upper story of the building is a pleasant suite 
 of rooms, reached by the way of the terrace. 
 
 To the north of this building and within a few 
 yards are two of the soda springs from which 
 drinking water is obtained. A neat brick shelter 
 is erected over each of them, surmounted with a 
 dome-shaped ventilator. Between the last build- 
 ing and the first spring a wide stone stairway 
 leads to the garden, in which will be found al- 
 most everything that grows in a semi-tropical cli- 
 mate. Oranges and lemons thrive well, as is 
 evinced by the fruit laden trees to be seen there 
 now. In the garden there is a spring that comes up 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 207 
 
 through a fissure in the rock, just as nature left it. 
 A basin has been scooped out as a receptacle for 
 the water and the rock ledge has been hewn away 
 so as to leave a raised block of solid stone con- 
 taining the basin. 
 
 The grounds are artistically arranged and flow- 
 ers and shrubs grow in profusion. In the forks jf 
 a great oak there is a platform with seats and a 
 railing around it, which is known as "Lovers' Re- 
 treat." It is reached by a stairway, and is an 
 acoustic curiosity from the fact that the slightest 
 sound about the place can be heard in it. If it 
 were vice versa perhaps it might not be so named. 
 Some of the cosiest seats afford a prospect most 
 beautiful, comprehending in one view the foot 
 hills just below, the wide expanse of Napa's most 
 lovely valley, then the mountains beyond. Pierc- 
 ing the sky stands the lofty proportions of Mt. 
 Tamalpais, like a giant sentinel on the ocean bul- 
 warks of the continent. 
 
 The Club house, completed in 1881, is a para- 
 gon of perfection. The building being of rustic 
 stone work, presents a handsome appearance, 
 standing as it does on an elevation commanding 
 a view of the entire grounds. Wide steps lead up 
 to an open tower which serves the double purpose 
 of entry and portico. The outer corners are sup- 
 ported by stone pillars. The hallway is capa- 
 cious. Extending through the building to the 
 left after entering, are the bar and the bowling 
 alley which is eighty feet long. The balance of 
 the space down stairs is devoted to the leisure 
 hour, an apartment for ladies is reserved from 
 among the number. The upper part of the build- 
 ing is devoted to the accommodation of guests 
 and every appointment about this building is as 
 perfect as mechanical ingenuity can devise. Any 
 one who could not have good health in this place. 
 
208 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 TV'Ould have reason to feel despondent and those 
 who enjoy good health should be able to pass a 
 very happy and pleasurable time during the sea- 
 son at the Napa Soda Springs. 
 
 THE NAPA SANATORIUM. 
 
 This establishment has achieved a reputation 
 second to none in California. The manager, F. J. 
 Chapman has had a wonderful experience in mat- 
 ters pertaining to such institutions. The house 
 physician, S. E. Chapman has had a practice as 
 varied and extensive as any one of his age could 
 acquire, and is especially interested in electric 
 therapeutics and massage, in connection with the 
 restoration to health of chronic invalids. 
 
 Dr. E. Z. Hennessey, surgeon at the Sanatorium, 
 has a well established reputation as a skillful sur- 
 geon. 
 
 The Sanatorium is located in Napa, one of the 
 most beautiful towns in northern California. The 
 walks and drives are interesting and delightful, 
 no resort on the Coast affords more diversity. 
 Convalescents from sickness or surgical opera- 
 tion will find this establishment all that could be 
 desired, as every thing possible is done for the 
 benefit and pleasure of our guests, making a home- 
 like atmosphere, carefully avoiding all those fea- 
 tures common to ordinary hospitals. 
 
 The buildings are modern— beautiful within a id 
 without— surrounded by spacious and attractive 
 grounds; every room large and sunny. 
 
 Static electricity, the great value of this ele- 
 ment is demonstrated in this establishment, hav- 
 ing the largest and most powerful static electric 
 machine obtainable. This form of electricity 
 tends to equalize the circulation of the blood and 
 other fluids of the body, eliminating the waste 
 matter of the muscular system; is wonderfully 
 
Napa Sanatorivim 
 
 entrance to Hall 
 
 Parlor 
 
r~i 
 
 .2 
 
 'u 
 
 
 e 
 a 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 209 
 
 eflficacious in the treatment of neurasthenia, in- 
 somnia, rlieumatism, i;out, etc. The bath and 
 massage department is a special feature and no 
 expense has been spared to obtain attendants 
 having experience. It is unnecessary to expatiate 
 upon the wonderful recuperative eifects of mas- 
 so-hydro-electro therapeutics to those who have 
 had experience in that line, and for those who 
 have not, there is a pleasant surprise in store for 
 them in this course of treatment. The special 
 treatment for the promotion of flesh or the reduc- 
 tion of obesity is safe, pleasant and effectual. 
 
 Food and cooking is all that could be desired; 
 the bill of fare being made to fit the patient, in- 
 stead of the patient to the fare. 
 
 This valley is absolutely free from malaria and 
 those suffering from chronic malarial poisoning 
 cannot do better than to put in a few weeks at 
 this establishment. 
 
 We desire to notify all thait the room is limited 
 and that the rooms will not be crowded so as to 
 make it uncomfortable for any of the guests, so 
 make application in advance. Address, Napa 
 Sanatorium, Napa, California; or Room 74 Col- 
 umbia Building, No. 916 Market street, San 
 Francisco, California. 
 
 THE GEOKGE E. GOODMAN LIBRARY. 
 
 May 2d, 1901, was the date on which the corner 
 stone of the Goodman library building was laid 
 with impressive ceremonies. 
 
 The library is the generous gift of George E. 
 Goodman. 
 
 The presentation speech was made by John T. 
 York, and the speech of acceptance was made by 
 the Mayor, J. A. Fuller. Almost the entire popu- 
 lation of the city, including the pupils of the pub- 
 lic schools were in attendance, while between 
 
210 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 times beautiful music was rendered by the Napa 
 Parlor band and the Apollo Glee club. It was a 
 great day for Napa, in which the liberality of Mr. 
 Goodman was lauded and the general public re- 
 joiced that such grand advantages were made 
 possible to them. 
 
 The children sang "My Country 'Tis of Thee," 
 and Eev. Richard Wylie pronounced the benedic- 
 tion, after which the stores which had closed for 
 the occasion, opened, the assemblage dispersed 
 and the citizens returned to their daily business. 
 The beautiful stone building is rapidly approach- 
 ing completion under the supervision of architect 
 Turton and will be a source of pride to the city as 
 well as an ornament. 
 
 The event of this great ceremony was the mag- 
 nificent speech of the Honorable Mayor of Napa, 
 J. A. Fuller, which frequently drew forth enthu- 
 siastic cheers from the assemblage, and we would 
 be only too glad to reproduce it word for word did 
 space permit, as it was well worthy of preserva- 
 tion, being composed of such noble, lofty and 
 patriotic sentiments. At the conclusion of the 
 speech. Mayor Fuller then proceeded to perform 
 the ceremony of laying the corner stone. 
 
 YOUNT TOWNSHIP. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY. 
 
 Yount township is bounded on the north by Hot 
 Springs and Knox townships, on the east by Yolo 
 and Solano counties, on the south by Napa town- 
 ship and on the west by Sonoma county. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 The topography of the township is varied, as is 
 natural in a mountainous country. The western 
 

 js- "C ji^t '-^> . ,$ ^"H 
 
 Goodman Library, Napa 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 211 
 
 boundary line is located on the summit of a range 
 of mountains. Passing eastward we come to 
 Napa valley, which is much wider in this township 
 than in the one above. We then come to a range 
 of mountains lying on the east side of the Napa 
 valley and running parallel with it, but in this 
 township it is intersected laterally by Conn valley 
 and then we come to another range of mountains, 
 on the east side of which lies Chiles valley, then 
 east of this is another range of mountains east 
 of which lies the broad and fertile Berryessa val- 
 ley and the eastern boundary like the western lies 
 along the summit of a mountain range. 
 
 SOIL. 
 
 The soil of this township is generally very good 
 indeed. No better soil for the production of vege- 
 tables, fruit or cereals, need be desired than can 
 be found in the Napa, Chiles or Berryessa valleys. 
 
 The soil of the first named valley is better 
 adapted for fruit, perhaps, than for cereals, but 
 that of the last named, is exceedingly well adapt- 
 ed to the production of cereals, as is evidenced by 
 the enormous crops of grain which are annually 
 produced in that section. 
 
 All the mountain land in this section is of that 
 peculiar formation, which is so well adapted to 
 the growth of the vine, and the time is not far dis- 
 tant when extensive vineyards will cover all of 
 those mountain sides. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 The climate of this township is simply grand. 
 In the Napa valley it is somewhat cooler in sum- 
 mer than in Hot Springs township, as the trade 
 winds have freer access to the lower end of the 
 valley. In Chiles and Berryessa valleys, the days 
 are somewhat warmer than in the Napa valley^ 
 
212 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 portion of the township, during the summer sea- 
 son, but the nights are always cool and delightful. 
 
 EAELY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 To Yount township belongs the honor of having 
 the first white settler that ever located in Napa 
 county. That grand old pioneer of pioneers, Geo. 
 C. Yount, who came into the valley in 1831 
 and in 1836 built a small house on the tract of 
 land afterwards granted to him and known as the 
 Caymus Rancho. This was a peculiarly construct- 
 ed house, being two storie^s high aud being built of 
 logs. The lower story was about nine feet square 
 and the upper one was about fourteen feet square. 
 The lower part was used as a fort or blockhouj<e, 
 while he lived in the upper part. At that time 
 the valley and mountains were full of wild In- 
 dians; and how he managed to escape all their at- 
 tacks, and to live among them in that early day, 
 is decidedly a mystery. He ti'eated them with 
 uniform kindness, however, and soon had a band 
 of friends about him who would fight harder for 
 him than they would for themselves. 
 
 It is not known who was the next settler affer 
 George C. Yount, but in 1S49, the following per- 
 sons lived in Napa valley within the limits of tliis 
 township: Yount, of course, resided on the Cay- 
 mus TJancho, and he had constructed a fine, large 
 adobe house by this time. Bartlett Vines, a son- 
 in-law of Yount, lived at the upper end of the 
 township, and about one mile below Dr. E. T 
 Bale's place. Fie lived on the west side of the 
 valley, in a small redwood house. Charles Hopper 
 lived on the opposite side of tlie valley from the 
 Yount place. He had a family consisting of his 
 wife, one boy and several girls. eTames Harbin, 
 the locator of Harbin's Springs and father of 
 Matt Harbin, lived about a half a mile below Hop- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 213 
 
 pers' place. He had a family consisting of a wife 
 and several children, and they lived in a log 
 house. The Groezinger estate comprised part of 
 the Harbin place. Captain John Grigsby lived on 
 the east side of the valley and on the west side of 
 the river, and near it, and just about west of the 
 -Napa Soda Springs. 
 
 Passing over into Berry essa valley we find that 
 the first settlers there were Jose Jesus Berryessa 
 and Sisto Berryessa, two Spaniards, to whom this 
 whole valley was granted in 18i3. This tract 
 comprised eight leagues, and contained thirty-five 
 thousand, five hundred and fifteen and eighty-two 
 one hundredths acres. They built an adobe house 
 there at a very early date, the remains of which 
 could be seen in Mr. A. Clark's corral about 1881. 
 It had been razed to the ground long before the 
 Americans began to visit the valley, and its exis- 
 tence was unknown until Mr. Clark discovered it 
 when leveling down the hillock the debris had 
 made. They erected another house, part of which 
 is still standing, and in a good state of preserva- 
 tion, near Mr. Clark's house. Here may be seen a 
 grand contrast. On the one hand is the adobe 
 house of the Spaniards, which was the best they 
 had or desired to have. It was to them the ulti- 
 matum of buildings. On the other hand, and in 
 grand contrast to it, is the handsome, stately, and 
 elegant mansion of Mr. Clark. The first the culmi- 
 nating point of architecture of the Spanish regime 
 and the latter is the height of American genius. 
 
 The first settlers from the States in the valley, 
 were Captain Hardin, John Adams, William 
 Mooer, Edward Cage and Andrew Wester, all of 
 whom came in before the grant was divided. Fol- 
 lowing the adobes spoken of above, as being 
 
214 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 erected by Berryessa, there was one built by Mr. 
 (Wester, which is still standing, and one put up by 
 Captain Hardin. After the division of the grant 
 K. C. Gillaspie erected the first house for J. H. 
 Bostwick, and Ezra Peacock built the first house 
 in Monticello. 
 
 TOWNS. 
 
 There were only two towns in this township, 
 Yountville and Monticello. 
 
 YOUNTVILLE. 
 
 This place was originally known as Sebastopol, 
 and it retained that name until May, 1867. The 
 townsite w^as chosen on the south line of the Oay- 
 mus grant and the name of Yountville was given 
 to it, but a lot of houses were built outside of the 
 limits of the gr«^nt and the people who lived in 
 that portion of the town desired to have it called 
 Sebastopol. This will account for the two names 
 the place has had. The first place of business was 
 a store which was erected in the town, 1855. In 
 1856 the Sebastopol Exchange Hotel was erected 
 by Davis Wise, and — Clayton built the hotel 
 known as the White House. J. H. Robinson had 
 a blacksmith shop in the place also, at that time. 
 In 1856 W. B. Arnold built a store in the town. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 Was organized May 14th, 1874. Charles Hopper, 
 Francis Clark, W. T. Ross, Eliza Rector, Rosa 
 Mayfield, Elvy ('lark, C. Ross, V. E. Brown, Mar- 
 tha Forrester, F. Fawver, Ann Boston, J. H. 
 Patts, S. H. Hill, Louisa Hill, Wm. Upchurch, 
 Thos. Johnson and wife, E. Griffin and Louisa 
 Burkett were some of the first members. The 
 church in July, 1881, numbered sixty members. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 215 
 
 CHKISTIAN CHUKCH. 
 
 After the usual experience of pioneer churches, 
 this one is in a verj^ prosperous condition, out of 
 debt, and a flourishing Sunday school. Up to 1881 
 one hundred and seventy persons have been re- 
 ceived into membership. 
 
 VETEKANS' HOME ASSOCIATION. 
 
 This association was incorporated 1882. Dona- 
 tions were received sufficient to buy 910 acres of 
 land in Napa valley. The first building erected 
 contained officers' living rooms, library, hospital, 
 dining room, and kitchen. The dormitories were 
 built in 1884. All honorably discharged soldiery 
 of the Mexican and civil wars, who were in Alms- 
 houses and County Hospitals, and Asylums of this 
 State were then removed to this home, thus pre- 
 pared for them. In 1884, forty-two soldiers were 
 cared for; in 1885, eighty-one; in 1886, one hun- 
 dred and twenty-nine; in 1899 there were eight 
 hundred inmates. 
 
 The buildings now number forty-five, all steam- 
 heated and lit by electricity; water and sewer sys- 
 tem complete. This home cares for the largest 
 number of old soldiers except three, in the United 
 States; those who have a larger number are: New 
 York, Illinois and Ohio. The total cost amounts 
 TO a total over |320,000, of which |60,000 was ap- 
 l)Popriated by the State. 
 
 The home has been donated by the association 
 to the State. 
 
 OFFICEES OF ASSOCIATION. 
 
 Sidney J. Loop, President; S. W. Backus, Vice 
 President; John Jay Scovill, Secretary; John C. 
 Currier, Treasurer. 
 
216 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 OFFICIAL AND MEDICAL STAFF. 
 
 Col. Geo. W. Walts, Commaudant; Capt. Chas. 
 E. Graham, Adjt.; Capt. J. J, Lyon, Quarter- 
 master; Thos. A. Keables, M. D., Surgeon-in- 
 eharge; W. F. McAllister, M. D., Asst. Surgeon; 
 A. E. Phelan (S. F.), Consulting Oculist and Aur- 
 ist. 
 
 MONTICELLO. 
 
 To E. A. Peaiock belongs the lionor of biiilding 
 the first house in the tovrn of Monticello, which 
 he did in the fall of 1866. This was a dwelling 
 house; B. F. Davis put up another dwelling house 
 and also a blacksmith shop in the fall of 1866. 
 The blacksmith shop was the first place of busi- 
 ness in the town. In the spring of 1867, David 
 Tally erected a hotel building, which was known 
 as the Fitch hotel. In the same spring, I. N. Van 
 Neys started a store. In the spring of 1868, Robt. 
 Thompson built a hotel on the opposite side of the 
 
 street from the Tally house. In 1867, Beebe 
 
 started a blacksmith shop. 
 
 The population in 1881 was about one hundred. 
 
 The town is situated in the lower end of Berry- 
 essa valley 27 miles from Napa; has a union 
 church with a seating capacity of about 200 peo- 
 ple, in which services are held every other Sun- 
 day, and in the town are several secret, benevolent 
 associations; the Sportsman's Association of 
 Knox township and the "Mystic Workers of the 
 World." 
 
 The Justice is John Hunter; Constable, W. E. 
 Meagher. 
 
 There arc^ two general merchandise stores, one 
 butcher shop, one saloon and one hotel, two black- 
 smith shops, two wagonniaking shops, one harness 
 shop, one boot and shoe making and repairing 
 shop, one Chinese laundry, Wells-Fargo Express 
 
0) 
 u 
 
 
 
 X 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 217 
 
 Co., postoffice, and last but not least one physician, 
 L. K. Riley. 
 
 The town has a good public school house and 
 telephone. 
 
 PUTAH CREEK BRIDGE. 
 
 This bridge is the largest stone structure of its 
 kind west of the Rocky mountains; it is 298 feet 
 in length and cost |20,000. 
 
 Since 1894, fourteen different bridges and a 
 number of culverts have bf^en built by this county 
 at a cost of not less than |55,000. 
 
 The Putah creek bridge is on the Berryessa 
 road leading to Xapa, about one and a half miles 
 from Monticello. 
 
 BERRYESSA VALLEY. 
 
 As stated, this valley was named after the 
 Berryessas, to whom it was granted by the Mexi- 
 can government. It passed through several 
 hands, the history of which is not now known, and 
 linally, one Sholtz became proprietor, and he dis- 
 posed of it to Messrs. J. H. Bostwick, John Law- 
 ley and J. M. Hamilton. They decided to place it 
 upon the market in 1866, and had it surveyed into 
 sections for that purpose. In November, 1866, 
 Abraham Clark brought the first load of lumber 
 into the valley. There were over twelve hundred 
 feet of lumber on the wagon, which he brought 
 over the top of Wild Horse mountain with four 
 horses. He was moving in from Sonoma and he 
 concluded the road over the mountain was too 
 rough, so he brought the next load, consisting of 
 household goods, by way of Suisun valley. At 
 that time there were living in the valley, S. Butt- 
 off, J. Finnell, R. C. Gillaspie, McCall, H. 
 
 Marshall, J. Coleman, J. Smittle, and Hough- 
 ton. In 1867, the whole of the valley was taken 
 
218 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 up and the setitlers were more numerous than at 
 the present time. 
 
 The valley is about ten miles long and three 
 miles wide, and had been converted from the wild 
 pasture lands which the settlers found there in 
 1866, to one massive field of waving grain. There 
 were three adobe houses standing in the valley 
 when the settlers came in, the largest was ninety 
 feet long, twenty feet wide and contained five 
 rooms, and was located on the A. Clark's place. 
 One at Andrew Westen's place was sixty feet long 
 and twenty feet wide. *^>^ op^ at Grigsby's place 
 was smaller. 
 
 CHILES VALLEY. 
 
 This lovely little valley is high up in the moun- 
 tains, lying between Berryessa and Napa valleys. 
 It was named for Col. Joseph B. Chiles, who led 
 a party of thirty daring men across the plains in 
 
 1841, among whom was Charles Hopper, the Kel- 
 seys and many others, mention of whom will be 
 found elsewhere. Ben Kelsey's wife accompanied 
 the party, and was thus the first white woman 
 who ever came over the Sierra Nevada mountains 
 into California. Col. Chiles visited the valley in 
 
 1842, but the Catacula grant was not ceded to 
 him until November 9th, 1844. His first house, 
 which was the first house ever erected in the val- 
 ley, was built that year, and was made of rough 
 logs, and was 15x20 in size. It is still standing, 
 but housed in to protect it from the weather. The 
 Colonel guarded it with jealous care as a relic of 
 bygone pioneer days. William Baldridge was at 
 first a partner with him, and he built the mill in 
 the valley in 1848. The valley is now very thick- 
 ly settled, and with a very enterprising and intel- 
 ligent class of men, who have done much to de- 
 velop its resources. Col. Chiles was a vei'y large 
 man, over six feet in height and of a commanding 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 219 
 
 presence; he was born in Missouri; John Bidwell 
 of the famous Chico Kancho, was one of his com- 
 panions across the plains. 
 
 CONN VALLEY. 
 
 This is a lovely little dale lying to the east of 
 Napa valley, and in the range of mountains which 
 skirts the latter valley on the east. It is neither 
 very wide or long, but is indeed, a charming 
 place. It was named after John Conn, who came 
 into it at an early day, somewhere back in the 
 '40's. He was at one time very wealthy, owning a 
 large tract of land and much stock, but the habit 
 of intemperance made him a total wreck and of 
 his fine estate as well. His last days were spent 
 in the county hospital, and in May, 1864, the kind- 
 ly hand of death removed him to (let us hope) 
 brighter scenes. 
 
 GORDON VALLEY. 
 
 This is a small valley lying on the east side of 
 Napa county, and was named after William Gor- 
 don, a pioneer of 1843. Gordon first settled on 
 Cache creek, and his place was one of the land 
 marks of the county before and for several years 
 after the discovery of gold. It is not now know n 
 when he came to Gordon valley to reside, but cer- 
 tainly at a very early day, as he was the first set- 
 tler in it. He died in 1876, at his residence in 
 Cobb valley. Lake county. Gordon valley is a rich 
 and fertile section of the county and many most 
 estimable citizens reside there. 
 
 EEDWOOD FALLS. 
 
 Among the natural curiosities of Napa county, 
 probably none are more worthy of mention than 
 these falls. They are romantically located about 
 twelve miles from Napa, near the head of Mill or 
 
220 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Napa creek, in the redwood belt of Napa county. 
 Striking the stream a few hundred feet above the 
 upper fall and following it down, we find oursels'es 
 walking upon a solid body of stone, with a wall of 
 rock rising perpendicularly on either side to a 
 height reaching from ten to fifty feet and not more 
 than five feet apart. This rocky chasm leads to 
 the upper fall, which is a nearly perpendicular 
 descent of fifty feet, and it must make a magni- 
 ficent waterfall in the winter time when the 
 stream is swollen by the season's rains. The rocky, 
 precipitous walls tower high over the falls, and as 
 one looks up and down from the head of the falls, 
 he sees little but a clear cut rock forming the wall 
 of the deep abyss. Retracing our steps, and mak- 
 ing a detour down the line of the stream, its bed 
 is reached at a point a few rods below the lowest 
 of the three falls. This fall is some twenty feet in 
 height, and its head is reached by a little hard 
 climbing up a short circuitous path. We then 
 find ourselves at the foot of the middle fall in the 
 most picturesque little grotto imaginable, bound- 
 ed by precipitous stone walls, apparently from 
 thirty to one hundred feet in height. The middle 
 fall makes a descent of some twenty-five feet per- 
 pendicularly, and at the foot there is a pool some 
 six feet across and nearly twenty feet in depth. A 
 few square yards of solid rock constitute the floor 
 of this rocky chamber. A visit to this romantic 
 spot will repay anyone. 
 
 JOHANNISBERG. 
 
 This well known mountain summer resort is 
 under the able management of that prince of ca- 
 terers, Theo. Blanckenberg, Jr., and is situated in 
 the midst of the Napa redwoods, 1200 feet above 
 the sea level, at the foot of Mount Veeder, and is 
 noted for its ('xliilarating air, attractive scenery. 
 
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NAPA COUNTY. 221 
 
 and several mineral springs, hunting and fishing, 
 and swimming, there being a large lake on the 
 premises, wherein patrons can enjoy bathing and 
 boating. Johannisberg is only seven miles stag- 
 ing from Oakville station, on the Napa and Calis- 
 tioga railway branch of the S. P, Ey. Co. Patrons 
 leaving San Francisco at 7:30 in the morning, can 
 reach the resort at 12 m. over fine roads and beau- 
 tiful scenery, making a very pleasant and delight- 
 ful trip. The fare by stage from Oakville station 
 being but 50 cents per person. 
 
 The grounds contain over 300 acres, a fine vine- 
 yard, orchard, iron, sulphur and magneisia springs; 
 croquet grounds, lawn tennis and bowling alley, 
 are provided for the amusement of the guests; 
 dairy and vegetable garden on the grounds and 
 large rose garden, all add to the attractiveness of 
 this beautiful health resort. Many other features 
 that tend to make life pleasant are for want of 
 space, not mentioned. 
 
 The rates are reasonable; single person, per 
 day, |2.00; per week, flO.OO; special rates to large 
 parties or persons desiring to make a stay of ►sev- 
 eral weeks. Rooms for rent in cottages and tents, 
 send for circulars. Address, Johannisberg Resort, 
 Oakville, Napa county, California. 
 
 SAMUEL SODA SPRINGS HEALTH RESORT. 
 
 This place is said to be one of the finest health 
 and pleasure resorts in Napa county, and the wa- 
 ter is noted for many cures. The climate is un- 
 surpassed. Fine trout fishing and deer hunting 
 and small game in abundance. Hotel and grounds 
 have been splendidly improved and are nightly 
 illuminated by gas which is manufactured on the 
 grounds. Billiard and club rooms, with the con- 
 venience of daily mail and papers, also long dis- 
 tance telephone. What more could be desired? 
 
222 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 The physician iu charge is a regular graduate iii 
 mediciue, psychology and medical electricity, by, 
 name, J. W. Huckins, M. D., M. E. 
 
 Samuel Soda Springs was taken up as a govern- 
 ment claim, originally, by one named E. C. 
 Samuels, some twenty years ago, and became 
 widely known all over the country for its wonder- 
 ful medicinal properties, there being seven dif- 
 ferent springs of medical virtue at this resort, 
 both soda and sulphur, and large quantities of this 
 water is shipped to all parts of Oalifornia to those 
 who have become acquainted with its healthful 
 properties. 
 
 At this resort complete bottling works are oj)- 
 erated by a water power. This machinery was 
 made to order for this special purpose in Phila- 
 delphia and contains all the latest patents and 
 improvements up to date, the spring water being 
 bottled at the springs and contains its own natur- 
 al gas. Baths have been fitted up and improved 
 with accommodations for hot as well as cold min- 
 eral baths, most excellent for rheumatism. 
 
 At these wonderful springs the management 
 has accommodations for 125 guests to 150, in ho- 
 tel and cottages, while there are tents and cabins 
 to rent for those who desire or prefer them. A 
 nice dance hall, large and spacious, beautiful cro- 
 quet and lawn tennis grounds, while all around 
 is the romantic mountain scenery. The vege- 
 table and dairy are on the grounds, as is also a 
 wonderful cold storage capable of containing 
 about fifteen tons, the walls being lined with ice 
 two feet thick will be ample to keep all the dain- 
 ties fresh for the table. 
 
 Tlie proprietor, G. R. Morris, purchased this 
 property in 1891, and has since that time continu- 
 ously labored to make this beautiful spot the peer 
 of any resort in northern California. Mr. Morris 
 
Samuel Mineral 'Spring's. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 223 
 
 was born in Missouri, November 13, 1851, so lie 
 may be said to be a young man. After consider- 
 able trouble he chose this locality to enjoy his ex- 
 istence and preserve his health. In 1873 he mar- 
 ried Miss Maggie Bryan, who was born in Ken- 
 tucky. Their children are Mary G., 1882; and 
 William R., 1884, both born in Solano county. The 
 children are now attending school in Alameda. 
 
 WALTERS SPRINGS. 
 
 Many marvelous cures have been effected by 
 these waters and they are deservingly popular. 
 Dyspepsia, rheumatism, asthma and certain heart 
 diseases are cured. The waters have been analyzed 
 and are known to contain soda, magnesia, iron 
 and are heavily charged with carbonic acid gas. 
 The scenery is beautiful and romantic and all en- 
 joy a visit to these healthful waters. 
 
 The manager, and half owner, of this celebrated 
 health resort is Mrs. Laura Smittle. This resort 
 contains three distinct springs which are said to 
 contain more minerals than any other conducive 
 to the cure of diseases of the bowels, liver, stom- 
 ach and kidneys, especially the torpid and 
 sluggish actions of these organs and is also valu- 
 able as a tonic. There is a daily stage to St.Helena 
 (20 miles), daily mail, papers and telephone. 
 
 Improvements are continually going on and 
 more are projected. The waters of these springs 
 have been analyzed and all information can be ob- 
 tained from the management. 
 
 The leading physicians indorse these springs by 
 sending such of their patients that suffer from 
 chronic complaints, indicating the use of such 
 remedies. The visitor may be sure of kind and 
 considerate treatment as the management con- 
 stantly endeavors to promote the comfort and 
 well-being of all who visit this famous health 
 resort. 
 
224 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 HOT SPRINGS TOWNSHIP. 
 GEOGEAPHY. 
 
 This township is bounded on the north by Lake 
 county, on the east by Knox township, on the 
 south by Yount township, and on the west by 
 Sonoma county. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 The topography of this township is very simple 
 in its main features. In the center lies the beau- 
 tiful Napa valley, skirted on either side by a high 
 range of mountains. Piercing these ranges are a 
 host of lateral valleys and canyons. Napa river 
 runs through its entire length, affording an out- 
 let for its water-shed. 
 
 GEOLOGY. 
 
 This township presents many interesting geo- 
 logical features. The lava flows from Mt. St. 
 Helena came out quite early in the earth's history, 
 and the rocks formed under them are of very an- 
 cient origin. There is a great deal of volcanic 
 matter around St. Helena, of course, and all the 
 adjacent mountains on both sides of Napa valley 
 in this township. The action of ages, yes eras, 
 has entirely obliterated all evidences of a. crater 
 on the summit of St. Helena, but the lava and 
 scoria which it vomited forth all over the face of 
 the country is still visible on every hand. 
 
 SOIL. 
 
 The soil in the upper end of this township is 
 generally quite good. It is a loam in most places 
 near the center of the valley. It is largely made 
 up of volcanic products and therefore is white or 
 reddish. It is often cold and not veiy productive; 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 225. 
 
 gets hard in the summer, and in the winter is rath- 
 er impervious to water. South of the Lodi iant;h 
 the soil assumes a different character, and be- 
 comes warmer, lighter, more friable and more pro- 
 ductive. Here the valley is mostly a rich loam, 
 and is well adapted to all kinds of products. 
 Flanking the foot hills the soil is of a gravelly na- 
 ture, and of a volcanic formation, hence it is bet- 
 ter adapted to the growth of grape vines. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 The climate of this toAvnship is simply grand, 
 being mild, Marm and gentle. At the upper end 
 of the valley it gets quite warm during the sum- 
 mer season, still the heat is not oppressive, the air 
 being light and dry. Farther south, in the vicin- 
 ity of St. Helena, the weather gets quite warm 
 during the summer, but there is a breeze blowing, 
 which seems to make one feel more comfortable 
 than at Calistoga, although the thermometer may 
 indicate the same degree of temperature. In all 
 this section the nights are delightfully cool an<l 
 refreshing. The north wind is the disagreeable 
 feature and is like a sirocco, scorching and wither- 
 ing, but fortunately the fiery north wind comes 
 seldom, and only lasts a day or two. In the winter 
 it gets quite cold at the upper end of the valley 
 and snow is seen on the brow of Mt. St. Helena 
 for many days during the season. It does not get 
 cold enough to interfere with the growth of grape 
 vines, and it is claimed that there is frost oftener 
 at Napa than at Calistoga. 
 
 There is what is known as the thermal belt 
 about half way up the mountain sides, where it is 
 much warmer than it is either in the valley below 
 or on the mountain tops above; here figs, oranges 
 and delicate flowers grow undisturbed by the cold 
 of w inter. 
 
226 NAPA COUNTY. - 
 
 PRODUCTS. ' 
 
 The products of this township comprise fruits, 
 vegetables, cereals, berries and grapes; the soil is 
 especially adapted to the growth of the grape- 
 vine. The wines produced in this district sitand at 
 the head of the wine product of the world. Silver 
 and quicksilver are found; cord-wood and tan 
 bark are also exported. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 To that hardy old pioneer, John York, belongs 
 the honor of being the first white settler in Hot 
 Springs township. On the 15th of April, LS45, 
 he, with his wife and child, started overland for 
 California. At Independence, Missouri, he join- 
 ed a company of which the following were mem- 
 bers: Benjamin Dew ell, now^ of Lake county, John 
 Grigsby, Daniel Hudson, William Hudson, W. B. 
 Elliott (deceased), William B. Ide, Mrs. Delaney 
 and sons, Messrs. McDowell, Ford and John 
 Brown. This company arrived at Sutter's fort in 
 October of that year, under command of Captain 
 John Grigsby. Later, that same fall, Mr. York, in 
 company with Daniel and William Hudson and 
 W. B. Elliott, came to Napa valley and stopped a 
 few days at Yount's ranch. He then proceeded to 
 Calistoga where he erected a cabin, which was 
 the first building in that part of the country. He 
 also put in the first crop of wheat ever sown in the 
 vicinity of Calistoga, and north of Yount's place. 
 
 We do not know if William B. Elliott went into 
 Hot Springs township that fall or not, but he was 
 there soon afterwards. He had a familj'^ consist- 
 ing of his wife and several grown sons and 
 daughters. The experience of this pioneer family 
 would make an interesting book, if it were fully 
 written up. While at Calistoga in that early day, 
 with no neighbors but wild Indians, bears and 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 22T 
 
 California lions, it was no uncommon thing for 
 the wife and children to remain alone for days, 
 while the father and older sons were away on 
 hunting or other expeditions. They lived in a 
 tent, which, of course, afforded no protection from 
 the nightly intrusions of the grizzly. This brave 
 woman was not the one to succumb to the raven- 
 ous attacks of the huge monsters without adopt- 
 ing some expedient to escape an encounter from 
 them. At such times she would take the children 
 and veritably roost in the trees, high above the 
 reach of bruin. A scaffolding was prepared in the 
 forks of a mammoth oak tree, and on this she 
 would make her beds and she and the children 
 would sleep safely, if not soundly. The bears 
 would make nightly visits to the place and eat up 
 every scrap that could be found. She did not 
 fear the visit of the day time, for she could easily 
 mount to her perch in the tree, and fetch his bear- 
 ship to the ground with a well directed shot from 
 the rifle, which she could handle as well as a man. 
 Such was the life those pioneer women led, and 
 all honor is their due for the noble courage they 
 displayed in facing the dangers they did. 
 
 Among the other early settlers in this township 
 may be mentioned William Fowler and his sons, 
 William Jr., and Henry, Avho came there in 1846, 
 and purchased four thousand acres of the "Aqua 
 Caliente" grant, William Hargrave, who was a 
 partner with them in the stock which was put on 
 the place, John Cyrus, F. E. Kellogg, R. P. Tucker, 
 David Hudson, L. Keseberg, a survivor of the 
 fated Donner party. Col, M, G. Eitchie, A, Jesse, 
 William H. Nash, James Harbin, Enoch Cyrus, all 
 of w hom came there in 184G. In 1847, S. J, Tucker, 
 J, W. Tucker, and G. W. Tucker located about 
 three miles south of Calistoga, In 1850, William 
 Moore and William Dinning, and in 1852, Peter, 
 
228 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Teal settled near Calistoga. Through the kind- 
 ness of Messrs. J. H. McCord, John York and oth- 
 ers, we are able to give the names and locations of 
 all the settlers in this township in 1849. Begin- 
 ning at the head of the valley, the first settler was 
 John Cyrus, who lived in a log house about one 
 and a half miles northwest of Calistoga, on the 
 road leading to Knight's valley. He had a wife 
 and six children. 
 
 The next place was occupied by the Fowlers, 
 William Sr., William Jr., and Henry and their as- 
 sociate, William Hargrave. Theirs was a log 
 house, and stood at the foot of the mountain west 
 of Calistoga. Calvin Musgrove also lived on the 
 premises with his wife. The next place was own- 
 ed by Wells and Ralph Kilburn, and they lived 
 about one mile south of Calistoga. They both had 
 families and lived close together. 
 
 William Nash was the next settler that we come 
 to, passing down the valley, and his place was 
 about half a mile aonth of Owsley's. He had a wife 
 and fourteen children, and lived in a split board 
 house. M. D. Ritchie lived a half mile south of 
 Nash's place. He had a wife and five children, 
 and lived in a log house. Reason Tucker lived 
 across the road from Ritchie's place, in a. split red- 
 wood house, he had a wife and three or four boys. 
 Irvine Kellogg lived about a half mile south of 
 Tucker's, in a frame house. He settled there in 
 1846, and had a w ife and seven children. David 
 Hudson lived uj) on the hills, about half a mile 
 west of where the Berringer Brothers have their 
 vineyard, and also owned the land on which it was 
 planted. He had a wife and one child, now Judge 
 Rodney Hudson, of Lake county. His house was 
 built of split redwood and was located on the 
 north side of Hudson creek. 
 
 John York lived on the south side of Hudson 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 229 
 
 creek, and further iu the hills. He had a wife and 
 two or three boys, and lived in a split redwood 
 house. Dr. Edward T. Bale was the last settler 
 who lived in this township, going south, as we 
 have done. He had an adobe house, about three 
 miles south of where St. Helena stands now, and 
 on what is still known as the Bale place. It is 
 stated that he came to California in 1832, as a 
 ship carpenter on a whaling vessel, which he de- 
 serted. He was married to one of Nicolas Higuer- 
 ra's daughters and died in 1850. He received a 
 grant for the Rancho Carne Humana from the 
 Mexican government, and did much to start ihe 
 ball of improvement to rolling in Napa valley. 
 
 Among other characters who floated to the 
 surface in an early day in the vicinity of Calls- 
 toga, wias Peter Storm. This old pioneer was 
 born in Christiansend, Norway, in September, 
 1799. When he was fourteen years of age, he left 
 his home and followed the sea until he came to 
 California in 1833, having traveled over many 
 parts of the earth. His life in the early days of 
 California was full of adventure. While he lived 
 in this country, he followed hunting and trapping 
 mostly in this and Lake and Mendocino counties. 
 He was a member of the Bear Flag party, and 
 many believed him to be the man who made the 
 Bear flag, but such was not the fact. There is a 
 flag in existence which is known as the Storm 
 l?ear flag, which was made by him, but it was 
 made several years after the occasion of using the 
 first Bear flag, and was designed in imitation of 
 the original, and was used on the occasion of a 
 celebration of Admission Day in Napa or Sonoma 
 counties. 
 
 In November, 1873, Rev. Asa White of the Meth- 
 odist church, died in Calistoga. He was the pio- 
 neer preacher of California, coming here in 1849. 
 
230 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 He held his first services in a tent on Powell 
 street, San Francisco, and he built the first Meth- 
 odist church ever erected in that city, on Powell 
 street. 
 
 Col. M, D. Ritchie, came into the township in 
 1850. He was born in Pennsylvania, April 19, 
 1805; went thence to Indiana, at a very early day, 
 and thence to Illinois, where he engaged in the 
 Black Hawk w^ar, having command of a regiment 
 during that time, hence his title of Colonel. In 
 1846 he crossed the plains to California; there 
 came with him in the same train liis son-in-law, 
 Hon. John S. Stark, who was afterwards Sheriff 
 and County Judge of Napa county. Col. Ritchie 
 settled in Sonoma county, where he resided until 
 1850, when he came to Napa county and located in 
 Ritchie Canyon. He remained there until 1865, 
 when he moved to Napa city, where he resided 
 until August, 1874, when he died, being then in 
 his seventieth year. He was a Justice of the 
 Peace in Hot Springs township for several years, 
 and was also an Associate Justice for Napa coun- 
 ty at one time. 
 
 TOWNS. 
 
 The two principal towns in this township are 
 Calistoga and St. Helena, both of which are love- 
 ly, thriving places. 
 
 ST. HELENA. 
 
 St. Helena is the next subject to be taken under 
 consideration. It is much larger than Calistoga, 
 and next in size to Napa city, the largest town in 
 the county. It is eighteen miles north of Napa 
 and nine mih^s south of ("alistoga. 
 
 Harry Still, an Englishman, purchased one iiun- 
 dred acres of the Bale grant in 1852, which ex- 
 tended from Sulphur creek to Madrona avenue. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 231 
 
 He put up a store in a shanty built of redwood 
 splits; he also built a small house for a dwelling, 
 composed of the same material. 
 
 The store stood on the rear end of one of the lots 
 the Palace hotel stands on. He foresaw that this 
 being the heart of a rich agricultural section, that 
 a flourishing town might gather around the nu- 
 cleus of which his store might be the center. To 
 be certain to give the place a good start, he made 
 the liberal offer of a lot to those who would direct 
 a building on it, and in 1885, Mr. John Kister 
 erected two buildings on what is now the corner 
 of Spring and Main streets. In one of these build- 
 ings Mr. Kister kept a shoe store and a stock of 
 leather in which he dealt, and the other was his 
 dwelling. In 1855, A. Tainter built the first build- 
 ing used as a hotel in the town, it was a small 
 story and a half redwood building; in 1856 he sold 
 out to Hiram Louderback. Shortly after H. Dick- 
 son and John Howell put up and conducted a 
 blacksmith shop. Robert Calderwood opened a 
 wagon shop on the northeast corner of Spring and 
 Main streets. 
 
 The Englishman Still, dug the first well and 
 Kister the second, and his was the first lot fenced 
 with palings. 
 
 In 1856, Christianson Turkeldsen built the first 
 house on the east side of the street, and it was a 
 good, substantial building. 
 
 A. W. Elgin built a small store opposite the 
 termination of Spring street, in which he conduct- 
 ed business for some time. 
 
 In 1858, David Fulton erected a story and a half 
 building and opened the saddlery business. 
 
 In the Spring of 1857, H. Dickson erected a 
 dwelling house. 
 
 Mr. Kister relates that Mr. Henry Still and VVm. 
 Taylor named the town. A party was in Still's 
 
232 NAFa county. 
 
 store one night discussing the naming of the town, 
 and the name of St. Helena was suggested by 
 these gentlemen and adopted by the entire party. 
 
 In 1860 Tainter's hotel was destroyed by lira 
 
 The first school house was erected in 1858, and 
 was used until the erection of the present strut!- 
 ture. The first church was erected by the Bap- 
 tists in 1857. The second hotel was built by John 
 Wolf, on the same site occupied by the former and 
 met a similar fate, being destroyed by fire in 18615. 
 
 In 1865, Mr. Ramperdahl completed the Nation- 
 al Hotel, now the Van Tassel. In 1867, J. Vieh 
 erected the large and commodious brick building, 
 The St. Charles Hotel, now known as the Palace. 
 In 1881, the Windsor Hotel was built by Mr. Al- 
 strom. 
 
 The town of St. Helena was incorporated March 
 24th, 1876; on the second Monday in April, the 
 first municipal election was held and the follow- 
 ing officers were elected: Board of Trustees, David 
 Cole, H. A. Pellet, D. O. Hunt, W. T. Simmons 
 and G. C. Fountain; Treasurer and ex-officio Col- 
 lector, D. B. Carver; Marshal and Assessor, J. H. 
 Allison. The first meeting of the Board was held 
 April 17th, at which time H. A, Pellet was chosen 
 chairman, and Charles A. Gardner Clerk; N. M. 
 Bonliam Attorney and M. G. King, Engineer. The 
 city built a jail at a cost of |158, in June. The 
 charter to the city was granted by a special act 
 of the Legislature, is a well written document and 
 well calculated to advance and develop the best 
 interests of the town. Much work has been done 
 under city management and the town has emerged 
 from a country village into a beautiful city, with 
 all the concomitants of civilization up-to-date. The 
 Board of Trustees for 1900 are G. C. Fountain, 
 Mayor; P. S. Grant, E. G. Schuneman, B. Bruck 
 and H. G. Kamners. 
 
B. BRUCn 
 
 p. S. GRANT 
 
 G. C. FOUNTAIN 
 
 Mayor of St. Helena, and Board of Trustees. 
 
 E. G. SCHUNEMANN H. G. RAMNERS 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 23J 
 
 St. Helena is an attractive town, beautifully lo- 
 cated on the line of the Napa Valley railroad. It 
 is a town of about 2,000 inhabitants, and has a 
 large contributary population in the thickly settl- 
 ed valley surrounding it. The rich surrounding 
 valley is largely given up to vineyards of wine 
 grapes and dotted with extensive wineries, in 
 which hundreds of thousands of dollars are in- 
 vested. 
 
 The town is well kept and economically govern- 
 ed; it has good streets and an excellent sewer 
 system. The climate of this portion^p.f the valley 
 will compare favorably with any section of the 
 State for comfort and healthfulness. The educa- 
 tional advantages offered are first class— a graded 
 grammar school with six teachers doing thorough 
 work, and a newly organized but thoroughly es- 
 tablished High school offering superior advant- 
 ages in this line to home-seekers. Six or seven re- 
 ligious denominations own their church buildings 
 here, and have prosperous congregations. A free 
 public library is supported by the town and iH 
 constantly being added to and extended in useful- 
 ness. 
 
 From a business point of view, St. Helena is 
 well provided with enterprising representatives 
 of nearly every branch of trade, comfortably hous- 
 ed in substantial and commodious business 
 blocks. 
 
 St. Helena is the stage station for Aetna 
 Springs, Samuel Springs, and the St. Helena Sai- 
 itarium. The latter is located but three miles 
 from town. 
 
 Contributary to St. Helena are the productive 
 grain farms of Conn, Chiles and Pope valleys, and 
 the famous fruit orchards of Howell Mountain. 
 The trade from these sections largely falls to the 
 
234 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 town, making it a busy and prosperous trade cen- 
 ter. 
 
 As a place of residence, no more delightful sec- 
 tion can be found. The surroundings are pictures- 
 que and attractive, the climate all that can be de- 
 sired, and its proximity to San Francisco (two 
 trains each way daily), rendering it an ideal spot 
 for summer homes. Many wealthy residents of 
 San Francisco and Oakland have chosen St. 
 Helena and its immediate vicinity as a site for 
 beautiful and expensive residences. 
 
 BAPTIST CHURCH. 
 
 In 1857, Hiram I.ouderback donated a lot for 
 the purpose of a church site. John Cyrus, Henry 
 Owsley, and David Fulton were the first Trustees. 
 A suitable building was erected in 1872. The first 
 record is dated 1850. Stephen Eiley was Modera- 
 tor and James M. Case, Clerk. September 25th, 
 1852, a business meeting was held and W. A. Rec- 
 tor, was chosen Deacon, S. Riley, Moderator, and 
 J. M. Case, Clerk. May 22d, 1853 at another busi- 
 ness meeting it was agreed to send S. Riley, C. S. 
 (irigsby, Thomas Lensley, Bradis Williamson and 
 A. Rector to the Pacific Association. The follow- 
 ing persons united with this church September 
 10th, 1854: William Hudson, from Santa Rosa: 
 Enoch ('yrus, by letter; Mrs. Cyrus, by letter; T. 
 J. Porter, Henry Owsley, Mrs. Francis Owsley, 
 Miss R. E. Owsley, by baptism; W. H. Pendleton, 
 by letter; Lucinda York, William Rector, Mrs. 
 Rector, Stephen Broaddus and Mrs. Broaddus. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 In the year 1853, the White Church was built on 
 Father Tucker's farm, midway between Calistoga 
 and St. Helena. The church took its name from 
 the fact that it was the only painted church or 
 
NAPA COUNTY, 235 
 
 house in Napa valley. The church building is 
 valued at |2,500, and the parsonage at |600. 
 
 CUMBERLAND PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 
 
 Was a building 40x70 and an elegant structure. 
 On the 26th of July, 1873, an attempt was made to 
 destroy the building by fire. That it was the work 
 of an incendiary can not be doubted, for bags sat- 
 urated with coal oil were fastened all the way up 
 the belfry rope and then set fire. Fortunately l.he 
 tire was discovered and put out before any great 
 damage was done. But on February 15th, 187-1, 
 the building was completely destroyed by fire, 
 never to be rebuilt again by that body. They have 
 no organization now in St. Helena. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 Organized May 30th, 1874, with the following 
 members: J. I. Logan, Mrs. U. J. Logan, J. Cleg- 
 horn, Dr. C. F. A. Mitchell, Mrs. L. G. Mitchell, 
 Mrs. Mary Green, L. Spear, Mrs. Eliza Spear, 
 Mary A. Penwell, Mrs. Sophia Hunt, Miss Jennie 
 Carson, R. F. Lane, Mrs. Elizabeth C. Lane, Phillip 
 Elting, Mrs. Clarinda Mills, Mrs. Phoebe A. Wood- 
 burry, and Miss Mamie Gluyas. Rev. James 
 Mitchell presided. October, 1875, they began ':he 
 erection of their handsome structure on the lot 
 on which the Cumberland building had stood; it 
 was dedicated on June 30, 1876. The building is 
 34x52 in size and cost |4,000. 
 
 SEVENTH DAY ADVENT CHURCH 
 
 Was organized May 16th, 1874, by Elder J. N. 
 Loughborough, with twenty members as follows: 
 John Mavity, Amelia W. Mavity, James Creamer, 
 Hannah Creamer, Emory J. Church, Millard 
 Church, Hugh Hackney, Elizabeth Carter, Sarah 
 J. Anthony, Sarah Spencer, Ruth C. Cruey, Mary 
 
236 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Ann Stephenson, Anna Boyd, Margaret Cooper, 
 Martha Hudson, Emily H. Wood, L. Thomson, 
 James Barry, Samuel Jacks, Julia Jacks. They 
 have a property valued at |2,000 and are free from 
 debt. 
 
 CATHOLIC CHURCH. 
 
 About 1866, a building was erected here by Eev. 
 Father Peter Deyaert. This answered the pur- 
 pose until May 1877, when the present structure 
 was begun under the supervision of Rev. M. Mul- 
 ville. Rev. Father M. D. Slattery completed the 
 building and it was dedicated March 28, 1878. It 
 is 30x60 in size, and a very nice edifice, costing 
 13,500. 
 
 SCHOOLS. 
 
 The first school in St. Helena was held in a 
 small building erected for the purpose on the 
 banks of York creek, near the site of Mr. Ewer's 
 residence. About 1858, this building was moved 
 1o near the center of the town and still used for 
 school purposes. Since then a substantial struc- 
 ture has been erected, and there are now four de- 
 partments, which are under the supervision of a 
 competent and efficient corps of instructors.. 
 
 A beautiful two-story stone school house will be 
 built this year (1001), and will be the finest in the 
 county. 
 
 FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS. 
 
 St. Helena Lodge, No. 93, F. and A. M., was or- 
 ganized at Yountville, U. D. November 24th, 1855, 
 with the following charter members: S. Rosen- 
 baum, J. W. Deering George C. Yount, J. M. 
 Wright, J. J. May, S. S. Christman, William Bald- 
 ridge, and J. R. Hazelton. The first officers U. D. 
 were: S. Rosenbaum, W. M.; J. W. Deering, S. W.; 
 George C. Yount, J. W.; J. M. Wright, Treasurer; 
 
c 
 
 
 
 U 
 
 a 
 
 Z 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 237 
 
 J. J. May, Secretary. The charter was granted 
 May 8th, 1856, and the name of the lodge then was 
 Oaymus. The lodge was moved from Yountvilh? 
 to St. Helena, June 3, 1865, and the dispensation 
 to change the name to St. Helena was granted. 
 Just after receiving the charter the lodge erected 
 a building and the hall was dedicated with 
 appropriate ceremonies. The following gentlemen 
 have been honored with the position of Worship- 
 ful Master: S. Rosenbaum, J. J. May, Ed. Evey, 
 Ed. L. Levy, George C. Yount, William H. Holli- 
 day, James Allfrey, William J. Clayton, S. Mead, 
 F. D. Evarts, John H. Allison, D. B. Carver, C. F. 
 A. Mitchell and W. T. Simmons. 
 
 INDEPENDENT OKDER OF ODD FELLOWS. 
 
 St. Helena Lodge, No. 167, I. O. O. F., was or- 
 ganized January 31, 1870, with the following 
 charter members: Alexander Korns, S. C. Penwell, 
 H. A. Pellet, John S. Adams, C. E. Davis, H. O. 
 Wyman, and J. I. Logan. The first officers were: 
 S. C. Penwell, N. G.; Alexander Korn, V. G.; J. 
 S. Adams, Secretary, and C. E. Davis Treasurer. 
 
 The following gentlemen have filled the posi- 
 tion of Noble Grand: S. C. Penwell, H. A. Pellet, 
 J. C. Adams, C. E. Davis, G. W. Montgomery, P. 
 Hastie, J. Mavity, W. L. Wilson, J. K. Hall, W. xV. 
 C. Smith, J. E. Straus, C. T. McEachran, J. S. Kis- 
 ter, W. M. Morford, S. T. Hammond, F. E. Dick- 
 inson, P. G. Hottel, W. W. Lyman and F. Pellet. 
 The lodge is flourishing and they have a nicely 
 furnished hall. 
 
 INDEPENDENT ORDER GOOD TEMPLARS. 
 
 St. Helena Lodge, No. 271, I. O. G. T., was or- 
 ganized July 17, 1879, with the following charter 
 members: Mrs. A. L. Spire, Mrs. A. A. Inman, 
 Miss Allie Warren, Miss Jessie Elgin, Mrs. Mary 
 
238 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Howell, Mrs. Glara D. Mills, Mrs. Minnie Van 
 Deworker, Miss Kate McGeorge, Mrs. L. Cooper, 
 Miss Florence Mills, J. E. Lawson, M. L. McCord, 
 F. Mixon, W. H. Armes, B. F. Kittlewell, G. M. 
 l^arder, E. Bussenius, W. A. Mackinder, Rev. Jas. 
 Mitchell, Miss Lizzie Beach, Mrs. Elizabeth F. 
 Beach, William F. S. McG^eorge, W. H. C. Reese, 
 Miss Grant Elgin, Miss Annie Dixon, H. E. Con- 
 ver, J. O'Brien, Miss Mary Cole, Miss L. Bennett, 
 Miss Josie Risley and Rev. S. Kinsey. 
 
 ANCIENT ORDER UNITED WORKMEN. 
 
 Eureka Lodge, No. 15, A. O. U. W., was organ- 
 ized December 31, 1877, with the following chart- 
 er members: J. H. Allison, H. E. Alden, H. F. Mc- 
 (^ormick, G. H. Brown, Chas. Young, H. J. Lew- 
 elling, J. E. Straus, W. L. Phillips, H. A. Pellet, 
 Theo. Van Tassell, L. W. Eby, J. N. Faulkenstein, 
 T. Greer, J. Greer, W. W. Bradberry, George Lan- 
 der, A. C. Ramphendahl, J. S. Fruits, O. C. Blaney, 
 L. H. McGeorge, A. C. Simpson, G. W. Fisher, 
 James McGee, and J. Hall. 
 
 AMERICAN LEGION OF HONOR. 
 
 St. Helena Council, No. 431, A. L. of H., was or- 
 ganized February 17, 1881, with the following 
 members: J. I. Logan, C. E. Davis, J. H. Allison, 
 H. A. Merriam, Theo. Van Tassell, W. A. Mackin- 
 der, J. E. Straus, J. C. Mixon, F. E. Meilenz, F. E. 
 Dickenson, A. Patterson, James Cruey, Mrs. F. M. 
 Woodward, Mrs. M. E. Mixon, James A. Allison, 
 C. N. Hale, H. E. Alden, M. C. Cook, C. F. Rice, W. 
 J. G. Davison, W. W. Lyman and C. H. Butler. 
 
 FIRE DEPARTMENT. 
 
 St. Helena Hose Company, No. 1, was organized 
 August 28, 1878. The officers for that year were: 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 219 
 
 J. Haskins, Foreman, and E. J. Levy, secretary. 
 The appliances of the company consist of one hose 
 cart, six hundred feet of hose, hooks, ladders, 
 lanterns, axes, etc. There are ten hydrants in St. 
 Helena; the head of water is sufficient to force a 
 stream of water over the highest building. 
 
 THE ST. HELENA STAR 
 
 Is the leading paper of upper Napa valley. It 
 was established in 1874 by Dewitt C. Lawrence, 
 the first number being issued September 25th, of 
 that year. The first copy off the press sold for |2(). 
 Mr. Lawrence conducted the paper a little more 
 than a year, when he sold out to Chas. A. Gard- 
 ner, who looked after the destiny of the Star until 
 March, 1883 (with the exception of about six 
 months' lease to N. A. Morford) when W. A. Mac- 
 kinder purchased a half interest. The firm of 
 Gardner & Mackinder was at the helm ten 
 months. January 1st, 1884, Mr. Gardner retired, 
 leasing his interest in the paper to his partner. 
 The first of the year, 1885, W. A. Mackinder pur- 
 chased Mr. Gardner's interest and became sole 
 owner, Mr. Mackinder conducted the paper suc- 
 cessfully until October 1st, 1887, when it passed 
 into the hands of Jesse H. Diingan, now of the 
 Woodland I^Iail, and Frank B. Mackender, the 
 present proprietor. Dungan & Mackinder at once 
 improved the plant, and both being practical 
 printers, were successful from the start. On Oc- 
 tober 12th, 1891, Mr. Dungan sold his interest in 
 the Star to F. B. Mackinder, who has ever since 
 been the editor and sole proprietor. Mr. Mack- 
 inder has given careful attention to every 
 detail of the business and has always published 
 a good, clean, newsy, local paper, zealously devot- 
 ed to the best interests of Napa county. His 
 efforts have been rewarded by liberal patronage 
 
240 NAPA county. 
 
 and the Star has been very prosperous under his 
 management. In February, 1900, Mr. Mackinder 
 commenced the erection of a home for the Star. 
 The building is of stone, one story in height and 
 34x75 feet in size. It is centrally located and 
 presents a handsome appearance. Every atten- 
 tion was paid in the construction to conveniences 
 for dispatching business, and nowhere in Cali- 
 fornia will be found a better arranged or more 
 modern printing office. The building was occu- 
 pied June 1st, 1900, and has added one more to 
 the achievements of the Star in its constant 
 efforts to upbuild the town of St. Helena. Mr. 
 Mackinder is always adding to his plant and 
 never spares labor or expense in his efforts to give 
 the people all the news. 
 
 THE ST. HELENA SENTINEL 
 
 Was started in November, 1894, by Lewis & 
 Vallandingham. During the first year of its ex- 
 istence it suffered the usual vicissitudes of a new 
 country weekly, but at the end of that time the 
 paper was purchased by Lee Fairchilds, the gifted 
 orator and writer, who put a good bit of energy 
 into the enterprise. 
 
 In May, 1896, the plant was purchased by O. H. 
 Blank, who has been connected with the paper 
 ever since. 
 
 The Sentinel is well known as a fearless and 
 aggressive paper which never shirks a responsi- 
 bility or hesitates in exposing matters inimical to 
 the public good. 
 
 This policy has caused a steady increase in cir- 
 culation as well as a good name for reliability. 
 
 It is edited and published by Blank & Heath, 
 and is issued every Thursday. 
 
>IA , -. 
 
 ■^'*^ ^-'i 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 241 
 
 TAPLIN BKO'S. CREAMERY. 
 
 J. O. TAPLIN, JR., W. H. TAPLIN. 
 
 This creamery is located on the Taplin ranch, 
 two and a quarter miles from St. Helena, on Edge 
 Hill road to Napa, and receives daily from 4,000 
 to 6,000 pounds of milk, according to the season, 
 but generally makes about 200 pounds of butter 
 daily. The capacity of the churn is 375 gallons of 
 cream. The separator and all other machinery is 
 driven by steam power. The butter is shipped to 
 Napa and St. Helena. This creamery has a fine 
 reputation for a fine product and commands the 
 highest prices on the market. 
 
 The Taplin ranch was bought by J. O. Taplin, 
 Sr., of Jerome Wade, in 1871. Mr. Taplin, Sr., 
 was a Vermonter, born July 22, 1830; came to 
 California in 1859, and settled in Napa county in 
 1866. He died January 22, 1877. 
 
 He married Louisa B. Hunt, January 10th, 1861. 
 She was born in Massachusetts, 1834. Their 
 children are Wm. H. Taplin, born in San Fran- 
 cisco, 1864, and John O. Taplin, Jr., born in San 
 Francisco, 1865; Clara C. Taplin (Mayfield), born 
 in Napa county, 1868; Daniel O. Taplin, 1874. 
 
 This ranch contains 275 acres, 138 being culti- 
 vated. The principal business is dairy stock and 
 the firm expects to milk 100 cows of their own in 
 1902. W. H. Taplin married Clara A. Griffith, 
 
 1887, at St. Helena. She was born in Santa Rosa, 
 her children are Clara Louise, January 19th, 1887; 
 AYilliam H., February 1st, 1892; Alice E., March 
 4, 1894. 
 
 J. O. Taplin, married Francis St. Ores, May 15, 
 
 1888. She was born in Wisconsin. Their children 
 are John A. Taplin, born February 4th, 1889; 
 Laura M. Taplin, born November 8th, 1896; both 
 born on Taplin ranch. 
 
242 NAPA COUNTY. ; 
 
 ST. HELENA SANITARIUM. 
 
 The founders of this health home when looking 
 about for a location had in view, not only a place 
 for beauty, but one possessing in the very largest 
 sense the essentials that make for health. 
 
 St. Helena and' its environs is not surpassed 
 and seldom, if ever, equaled for health. Pure 
 water, picturesque mountains, lovely valleys. The 
 purity of the salt ocean, without its fogs and wind, 
 a dozen more good things can be said about 
 this locality. But one thing should not be omitt- 
 ed and that is, the good sense exercised by the 
 founders of this home in selecting a place com- 
 bining so many needful things, all of which add 
 so much to the prosperity and business side of its 
 life. Without being personal we could name fifty 
 places in this State where a similar institution 
 would have been a flat failure from a business 
 standpoint, simply because the doctors and 
 nurses could not build up as fast as the unhealth- 
 fulness of the climate tore down. Not to speak of 
 many places that possess health-giving climates, 
 but the outlook is so full of gloom and the scenery 
 so depressing that no good could come up out of 
 such a Nazareth. 
 
 It must not be forgotten that in this county and 
 but a few miles away, is located the site "selected 
 for the State Hospital for Consumptives." True, 
 the project was not carried out, but the truth is 
 left to us, showing that after a two years' close 
 investigation this county was put down as the 
 ideal home. Its dry air, freedom from fog, gravel 
 sub-soil, rolling country, pure water, freeness 
 from every taint of malaria, or disease of any 
 character or description. Now turning to the 
 Sanitarium proper. Its main building is a com- 
 modious, five story frame structure, with elevator, 
 steam heat, electric light, electric bells and every 
 
iFi r 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 243 
 
 modern conveuience. It contains over one hun- 
 dred rooms. The main structure is flanked by 
 many cottages, and near by is the gymnasium, 
 chapel, natatorium, dormitories for nurses, etc. 
 
 This successful institution is under the patron- 
 age of the Adventists, and what more need be said 
 when we are reminded that their sanitarium at 
 Battle Creek, Michigan, is the largest of its kind 
 in the world. These people seem educated to look 
 not only after the spiritual needs but also the 
 health of all people, and it is not saying too much 
 to assure this pious and God fearing people that 
 their work in all parts of our land is being won- 
 derfully blessed, and one reason for this is the 
 good they are doing in leading the whole world in 
 pure health foods, and temperance coffees and 
 table drinks. Our readers can see the scope of 
 their business and wide influence for good, when 
 assured that probably nine out of ten groceries 
 in our Union carry on their shelves some article 
 of pure food, manufactured by the Adventists at 
 Battle Creek, Michigan, St. Helena, California, 
 and many other places where they own similar 
 establishments. God will own and bountifully 
 bless any people or organization that has for its 
 object the elevation of man, promotion of tem])er- 
 ance and building up of health. Most creeds lose 
 sight of the body in their anxiety to help the spir- 
 itual nature of man. But it is the mission of this 
 church to do both and we need only turn to the 
 pages of history to learn how well they are suc- 
 ceeding in their great work. 
 
 Then, too, it must not be overlooked, that they 
 have a corps of the very ablest surgeons and 
 physicians, trained nurses and a large retinue of 
 helpers and attendants. The doctors are broad, 
 capable, scholarly, and experienced. Specialists 
 are on hand at all times to meet any emergency; 
 
244 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 that may arise, and in looking over the ledgers, it 
 is readily learned that they have successfully 
 treated nearly every form of disease, and with 
 marked success as will be, and is testified to by 
 the thousands of happy people who have been 
 cured at the "St. Helena Sanitarium." 
 
 It is the hope of the writer, and the prayer of 
 all good people that God's infinite blessing may 
 continue to rest on this honored institution, and 
 on all the good people connected with it and with 
 the church to which it owes its existence. 
 
 THE OLD BALE MILL. 
 
 This old mill, an old relic of pioneer days, stands 
 on the county road between St. Helena and Cal- 
 istoga, in Napa valley. It was built by Dr. Ed- 
 ward T. Bale, in 1846, an Englishman by birth. 
 He came to California sometime in the 30's, mar- 
 ried a Spanish wife and obtained from the Mexi- 
 can Government a grant of tw^o leagues of land 
 in the upper end of Napa valley. During the 
 years 1844 to 1846, there was quite an emigration 
 from the middle and western States, much of 
 which settled in and around Napa valley. To some 
 of these settlers Dr. Bale sold land, and with the 
 proceeds built the mill. I crossed the plains 
 in 1846 and came to Napa valley in 1847. This 
 mill was running when I came here; I set- 
 tled about a mile from the mill and here I have 
 spent fifty-one years of my life. I cannot say 
 who did the millwright w^ork, but F. E. 
 Kellogg did the blacksmith work. The first over- 
 shot wheel was twenty feet, but afterwards was 
 enlarged to forty feet. The water was conveyed 
 to the mill from a mountain stream by cutting 
 redwood logs about fifteen or twenty feet long, 
 and about two feet in diameter, forming troughs 
 of them by hollowing them out so as to contain 
 
c 
 
 ffl 
 
 c 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 245 
 
 the water; these were elevated on pins made of 
 redwood rails and the ends of the logs nicely 
 litted together, so that the water would flow to 
 the wheel at the mill in the troughs thus arrang- 
 ed. The cogs in the wheel were all made of wood, 
 and while running made quite a racket. The 
 millstones or burrs were taken out of the hill 
 back of the mill and worked out by John Conn. 
 The first miller was a man by the name of Harri- 
 son Pierce. We raised the first crop of grain in 
 Napa county in 1848, about fifteen acres; we 
 hauled it all up in one pile, Spanish fashion, and 
 built a fence around it in a circle, then drove in 
 thirty or forty mustang horses, "wild as deer," 
 then went in on horseback with a long whip and 
 sent them around at the top of their speed until 
 the straw was j)ulverized into chaff, then tossed 
 it up with forks and shovels until the wind would 
 blow away all the chaff and straw; then before 
 taking the wheat to mill, put it into big troughs 
 and filled them up with water, stirring the wheat 
 until the grit and gravel had all settled to the 
 bottom. We then took out the wheat and spread 
 it out in the sun to dry, all of which operation oc- 
 cupied two or three days to prepare a grist of 
 wheat generally of ten bushels. 
 
 During the summer of 1851, L. G. Lillie built a 
 threshing machine at the Bale mill, and threshed 
 all the grain in the neighborhood. We then 
 thought we had made a great advance in civiliza- 
 tion and were progressing rapidly. In November, 
 1849, Dr. Bale died, and by his will the mill went 
 to his oldest daughter, who rented or leased the 
 mill from time to time to different parties until 
 sometime in the 60's Ralph Ellis bought the mill, 
 and he put in new machinery and an engine, and 
 when the water was low, ran the mill by steam. 
 After several years he sold the mill to the present 
 
24C NAPA COT/NTT. 
 
 owner, W. W. Lyman. But the old Bale mill 
 furnished flour for the inhabitants of upper Napa 
 valley for more than twenty-five years, but has 
 lain idle for many years past. The old water 
 wheel, although much decayed, stands intact, 
 covered with a foliage of ivy vine. I do not think 
 the wheel has turned for at least twenty years. 
 
 There are but few left at this time that know 
 anything about the history of the old Bale mill, 
 but it stands there a monument to the skill and 
 industry of the men of the pioneer times in this 
 county. 
 
 Most of the photographers, when passing, stop 
 and take a shot at the old mill. Should it acci- 
 dentally take fire and burn down, one of the grand- 
 est historical monuments of the early days in 
 Napa county would be lost, and which never could 
 be replaced, a calamity we hope may be averted 
 for some time to come. 
 
 G. W. TUCKER. 
 
 Calistoga, May 1st, 1901. 
 
 MOUNT ST. HELENA. 
 
 At the head of Napa valley stands this majes- 
 tic monarch of the Mayacamas mountains and a 
 history of Napa county would not be complete 
 without a mention of this most prominent portion 
 of the landscape. Forty years ago a party of Rus- 
 sians, under Commander Ratscheff, visited Mount 
 Mayacamas, as it was called at that time, and 
 upon the summit left a copper plate bearing an 
 inscription in their own language. 
 
 In 1853, this plate was discovered by Dr. T. A. 
 Hylton, and a copy of it is preserved by Mrs. H. L. 
 Weston of Petaluma. The metal slab is octagonal 
 in shape and bears the following words in the 
 Russian language: 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 247 
 
 "Eussians, 1841, June. E. L. Voznisenski iii, E. 
 L. Chernich." 
 
 This inscription was referred to Mr. Charles 
 Mitchell Grant, of Oakland, a gentleman long a 
 resident in Siberia, who said: "iii means that Voz- 
 nisenski is the third of the name in his family, the 
 other two being still living, when he was born. 
 Evidently two Russian sailors; the first is a Polish 
 name, while the second name is common in Little 
 Russia." 
 
 The mountain was named St. Helena in honor 
 of the Princess De Gagarin, the commander's 
 beautiful wife, and in this connection a romantic 
 incident has been related by General Vallejo. 
 He said: "The beauty of this lady excited so ardent 
 a passion in the heart of Prince Solano, Chief of 
 all the Indians about Sonoma, that he formed a 
 plan to capture by force or stratagem, the object 
 of his love; and he might very likely have succeed- 
 ed had I not heard of his intention in time to pre- 
 vent it." 
 
 The mountain is supposed to be an extinct vol- 
 cano, from which was at one time poured the 
 lava in which the petrified forest lies buried, to- 
 gether with the range of basalt dividing the Peta- 
 luma and Sonoma valleys, and there remains two 
 summits, one of which is four hundred feet above 
 the other. Viewed from different points the 
 change in appearance is somewhat striking. 
 Viewed from Santa Rosa, the shape is not unlike 
 that of a huge elephant, while from Fulton, it is 
 called the Giant in bed. From Litton Springs, 
 the outlines resemble those of St. Peters at 
 Rome. From Napa valley, St. Helena presents a 
 gorgeous panorama of shifting colors with a cap 
 of pearly gray; while from Diablo, it makes a 
 magnificent long outline against the sky, like 
 some lofty monument of ancient story. Like 
 
248 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Diablo and Shasta, St. Helena is largely isolated 
 from its surroundings, and is the presiding genius 
 of the section in which it is located. 
 
 CALISTOGA. 
 
 Calistoga, the third town in size in the county, 
 is the terminus of the railroad which traverses 
 the entire length of Napa valley. It is 27 miles 
 north of Napa. Here stages connect with the cars, 
 carrying passengers farther north over Mt. St. 
 Helena into Lake county. Calistoga is noted for its 
 numerous springs of hot water, and for the gold 
 and silver and quicksilver found in the mountains 
 in its vicinity. 
 
 It has become famous on account of its medi- 
 cinal springs, its mining resources, fine scenery 
 and lovely climate. To Samuel Brannan belongs 
 the honor of being founder of the place. The fol- 
 lowing biographical sketch of this gentleman is 
 from Menefee's "Sketch Book." Samuel Brannan 
 was born in Sa.co, Maine, in 1819; in 1833 he mov- 
 ed to Lake county, Ohio, and learned the printing 
 business. 
 
 In 1859, Mr. Brannan came to Napa county 
 and purchased of Capt. Ritchie, a square mile of 
 land at Calistoga, on which tract are located the 
 famous Hot Springs. Soon after he purchased 
 other lands from Messrs. Fowler & Hargrave, till 
 his landed possessions about Calistoga exceeded 
 two thousand acres. It was his design to make 
 this place, called by him "the Saratoga of the 
 Pacific," a great watering place. His expendi- 
 tures for buildings, laying off of grounds and 
 other improvements at this place has probablj^ 
 not been less than half a million dollars. Mr. 
 Brannan has spared no efforts to make his chosen 
 town of Calistoga and the whole upper part of the 
 county prosperous. He has, since permanently 
 
ANTHONY HUBBS. WM. SPIERS. 
 
 C. AV. ARMSTRONG, 
 President and Board of Calistoga Trustees. 
 A. D. ROGERS. M. A. MACLEAN. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 249 
 
 locating there, added largely to his landed pos- 
 sessions, and has ever been liberal to actual set- 
 tlers and those desiring to carry on trade and 
 business, calculated to enhance the value of prop- 
 erty by making the community more prosperous. 
 The name, Calistoga, was given to the place by 
 Mr. Brannan in the fall of 1867. It was his boast 
 that he was going to make the place the Saratoga 
 of California, so he spliced the names and called 
 it Cal.(is)toga, the middle syllable for euphony. 
 The place had previously been called Hot Springs 
 by the few Americans, and Agua Caliente by the 
 Spaniards. 
 
 While Messrs. Gettleson & Friedberg may 
 justly claim the priority of doing business in the 
 town proper; a man named Woodward was the 
 first to open a place of business in that part of the 
 county. He had a small store and kept the ■ ^- 
 office near the Fowler House, when the iv. 
 gentlemen arrived there. 
 
 Then the railroad reached the place and a num- 
 ber of business places sprang into existence. At 
 the time of the completion of the railroad there 
 was a great excursion which brought up about 
 three thousand people, and Mr. Brannan tendered 
 the visitors a grand reception. J. M. Finley, an 
 old miner, was the first to discover quicksilver in 
 this section, and he located the Great Westei'n 
 Quicksilver Mine, but as usual, the locator never 
 reaped any benefit from his discovery, as he fell 
 from a bridge and was drowned shortly after, dy- 
 ing a poor man. The first hotel in the place was 
 ^uilt by Mr. Deloch, called the Mountain House. 
 
 PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH. 
 
 The Presbyterian church at Calistoga was or- 
 ganized by Rev. Thomas Eraser, Synodical Ageat 
 on the Pacific Coast for that denomination. The 
 
2B» NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 organizing members were: A. Safely, Mrs. Mar- 
 garet Safely, Miss I. G. Safely, Miss A. R. Safely, 
 Thomas F. Towle, Mrs. Josephine Towle, J. I. 
 liOgan, Mrs. IT. J. Logan, Mrs. Ann M. Fairfield, 
 J. G. Eandall, M. Garnett, Mrs. Catherine A. Mc- 
 Donald, Mrs. Lizzie McCrory, John McCausland, 
 Mrs. Rachael E. McCausland, Mrs. Annis F. Wass, 
 Miss Lizzie R. Wass, Gallen M. Fisher, Mrs. Susan 
 F. Fisher, Miss Florence Fisher, John Wass, Mrs. 
 Eliza A. Wass, J. R. Wright, Mrs. E. Wright, 
 Austin J. Roberts, Mrs. Mary A. Tavor, Miss E. 
 Tavor. June, 1873, Rev. James Mitchell took 
 charge of the church in connection with the 
 church in St. Helena. The building is 54x82, 
 erected in 1872 and cost |3,000. 
 
 METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH. 
 
 In 1868, under the efforts of Rev. W. S. Bryant, 
 the foundation of the church was laid in Calis- 
 toga. Soon after the railroad company needed 
 the lot and purchased it. Then Sam Brannau 
 gave another lot, and in 1869 the church was com- 
 pleted. The value of the church and lot is |1,0()0. 
 The building will seat one hundred and fifty per- 
 sons. The society in 1881 numbered sixty per- 
 sons. The first Trustees were: William McDonnell, 
 Peter Teale and Alonzo Hopkins. 
 
 CALISTOGA SCHOOL. 
 
 The building was erected in 1873, at a cost of 
 $6,000, and is a model of neatness and good taste. 
 There are two departments and in 1881 there was 
 an attendance of two hundred and thirty. 
 
 MAGNOLIA HOTEL. 
 SPREEN & POWELL, PROPRIETORS. 
 
 Since the year 1859, the Hot Mineral Springs of 
 Calistoga, Napa county, Calif., have been wide- 
 

 
 
 
 c 
 
NAPA COUNTY. »1 
 
 ly known for the curative powers and an attrac- 
 tive point of interest. This is nature's cure for 
 rheumatism, gout, dyspepsia, and permanent 
 cures by the natural hot mud baths are frequent. 
 From time immemorial the Indians knew and 
 availed themselves of this wonderful power to 
 cure rheumatism and its kindred diseases. In a 
 short article like this it is impossible to give any- 
 thing like justice to this fine establishment, so 
 those interested will send to the address above 
 and obtain printed literature, giving all particu- 
 lars concerning this great sanitarium. 
 
 NEWSPAPERS OF CALISTOGA. 
 
 The Tribune was the first to appear in 1871. In 
 1873 the editor died and the paper also. 
 
 In 1874 O. P. Hoddy bought the outfit and pub- 
 lished the Weekly Free Press from the 18th of 
 April of that year until Oct. 16, 1875, when the 
 paper suspended and the plant moved to San 
 Buenaventura, Ventura county. 
 
 In 1876, J. H. Upton, on the 6th day of April, 
 issued the first number of the W^eekly Calistogian, 
 but he discontinued in four months and the plant 
 was moved to Hollister, San Benito county. 
 
 On the 21th of December, 1877, the first number 
 of the Independent Calistogian was issued by J. 
 L. Multer, who published a satisfactory paper and 
 was well appreciated by the people. 
 
 In 1892 he sold out to G. B. Douglass and I. N. 
 Bennett, who named it Independent Calistogian, 
 its politics being independent. In 1895 it was 
 purchased by C. A. Carroll; its politics were 
 changed to Republican and the name to the 
 Weekly Calistogian. 
 
 HOT SPRINGS. 
 
 These springs are located at Calistoga, and were 
 known to the Mexicans and Indians as the aguas 
 
252 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 caliente or hot water and were visited for their 
 curative qualities. The springs are situated in 
 the level valley and are surrounded, excej)t on the 
 south side, by high and picturesque mountains. 
 After the purchase of the property, Mr. Brannan 
 commenced improvements at once, on a very large 
 scale, intending, as he said, to make this the Sara- 
 toga of the Pacific Coast. He set to work at once 
 furnishing all the comforts necessary to make 
 these springs the most attractive place of resort 
 for tourists and invalids in the State. The main 
 grounds belonging to the springs proper, consist 
 of about one hundred acres, near the center of 
 which stands a small hill, to which he gave the 
 name of Mount Lincoln. On the summit he placed 
 an observatory, from which a fine view of Cal's- 
 toga and of the surrounding country could be ob- 
 tained. On this hill he also put a reservoir, which 
 held ninety thousand gallons, the supply of water 
 for which he procured by a steam pump out of 
 Napa river. 
 
 At the foot of Mount Lincoln, on the western 
 side, were the hotel's cottages, and pleasure 
 grounds, as well as most of the springs. There 
 were about twenty-five neat cottages on these 
 grounds, for the accommodation of guests, and 
 some were owned by private individuals. The 
 grounds were laid out into walks and ornamented 
 with choice selections of trees, flowers and shrub- 
 bery. To the west lies the town of Calistoga and 
 between the two passes the railroad. In the days 
 of its full glory this was truly a grand place, up- 
 on w^hich over three hundred thousand dollars 
 were sunk. 
 
 Tlie servants about the place were all liveried 
 and moved about with a more consequential air 
 than the guests themselves. Oil paintings valued 
 at tliousands of dollars hung upon tlie walls of 
 
r NAPA COUNTY. 252 
 
 the parlors. But the glory of the place has de- 
 parted with Mr. Brannan, and in 1875, it could not 
 be sold at private or public sale for any reason 
 able figure at all, and since then it has changed 
 hands several times at nominal figures compared 
 with the amount of money invested there. 
 
 The waters of the springs hold in solution, sul- 
 phur, iron, magnesia, and various other chemical 
 properties. Several years ago a hole was bored 
 to the depth of seventy feet, when solid rook 
 was struck and prevented further penetraiion, 
 and water stood in this w^ell at the uniform tem- 
 perature of 185 degrees. A Eussian steam bath 
 was formed by having a bath room built over a 
 spring having a temperature of 195 degrees with 
 a contrivance to let the steam up into the room. 
 
 There are a host of springs, each differing from 
 the other; one of them has a small summer house 
 built over it with the suggestive sign "The Devil's 
 Kitchen," over the door. The water of this spring 
 is highly charged with sulphuretted hydrogen 
 and gives to this water a taste much resembling 
 chicken broth, and with the addition of a little 
 salt and pepper, is a good imitation of 8oup. 
 Nearly every one samples a plate of bogus chicken 
 soup. During the four months of 1872, from April 
 1st to August 1st, guests to the number of three 
 thousand and twenty registered at the Hot 
 Springs Hotel. 
 
 CLAY CAVE. 
 
 Among the places of interest in this township, 
 mention must be made of the Clay cave, which is 
 situated about one mile from Crystal Springs. 
 But little attention has been paid to it so far, al- 
 though it has been explored to a depth of eight 
 hundred feet, and numerous beautiful rooms dis- 
 covered. 
 
554 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 PETRIFIED FOREST. 
 
 Aside from the curious petrifications of whole 
 trees, some as large as ten feet in diameter, the 
 Petrified Forest has many attractions . Charles 
 Evans, better known as Petrified Charley, lived 
 there many years, the life of a hermit, busy fenc- 
 ing, digging and clearing up the land. It is situ- 
 ated on the range dividing Santa Rosa from Napa 
 valley, among rounded hills, some of which are 
 white with ash rock. 
 
 Near the scene of the wonderful prostrate trees 
 rises a sharp ridge with perpendicular walls of 
 black tufa, crested with rock as white as chalk, 
 apparently the remains of a crater where lava 
 and ashes were belched forth with torrents of 
 scalding water on the surrounding woods. Evi- 
 dences of the fact are found in the piles of scoriae 
 scattered about, and in the circamstance that 
 nearly all the trees turned into stone lie north and 
 south, as though they had only fallen in the 
 throes of an earthquake, after ashes and rock had 
 piled ten or fifteen feet around them. 
 
 There are redwood trees yet growing there, 
 showing that they have existed hundreds of 
 thousands of years in this locality, and that our 
 fears of their becoming extinct are groundless. 
 
 Poor Petrified Charley (immortalized by Stev- 
 enson in his "Silverado Squatters"), went to San 
 Francisco about 1880 and fell down the stairs of 
 the hotel, from the effects of which he died (what 
 a fate for a man that had sailed every sea and un- 
 dergone a thousand dangers), and the haunt on 
 the mountain top which knew him so long will 
 know him no more. The visitors of bygone days 
 will remember the quaint genius which presided 
 over the forest and the goat for which he was al- 
 ways ready to beg tobacco. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 2SS 
 
 KNOX TOWNSHIP. 
 
 GEOGRAPHY. i 
 
 Knox township is bounded on the north by 
 Lake county, on the east by Yolo county, on the 
 south by Yount township, and on the west by Hot 
 Springs township. The boundary of this town- 
 ship is very crooked. 
 
 TOPOGRAPHY. 
 
 The surface of this township is very uneven. 
 On the eastern boundary line we find ourselves on 
 the summit of a large range of mountains; passing 
 west, Sulphur canyon is reached, which is quite a 
 little valley. We then come to a division of the 
 range of mountains between which are several 
 little mountains, such as Sanel. Passing over 
 these mountains we come to Pope valley, which 
 is a level, fertile section of ground, considerable 
 in extent, reaching from Aetna Springs on the 
 north, to Wardner's store on the south, a distance 
 of six miles, and having a width of three miles. 
 West of this lies the Howell mountain range, di- 
 viding this townsliip from Hot Springs. One does 
 not wish for a lovelier sight, than that to be had 
 of Pope valley from the road over Howell moun- 
 tain. ,^,, ,,. 
 
 ^OEOLOGYi*^ 
 
 The ridge of mountains which forms the east- 
 ern boundary is formed of tertian sandstone. The 
 range of mountains immediately west of Knox- 
 ville is composed of sand and limestone over 
 which there is a thick coat of volcanic rock and 
 serpentine. On the western side of this ridge the 
 ontcroppings are all sand and limestone. There is 
 a ledge of limestone which runs northeasterly and 
 southwesterly entirely through this township and 
 extends northward far into Lake county. Good 
 
356 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 lime has been found on Mr. G. Earth's place lu 
 Sanel valley, which is on the ledge spoken of 
 above. In the vicinity of the Oat Hill Mine, the 
 entire formation is of tertian sandstone and the 
 remarkable fact of cinnabar occurring in that 
 rock is to be found in that mine. 
 
 SOIL. 
 
 The soil of this township is as varied as the 
 kind of rock from which it is formed. Owing to 
 this spotted character, it is almost impossible to 
 get a tract of any considerable size of any one 
 characteristic, but it is decomposed volcanic for- 
 mation and adobe from decomposed limestone. 
 
 CLIMATE. 
 
 It is much warmer on an average in the sum- 
 mer time than in Napa city, but about the same as 
 the temperature in the upper end of the valley. 
 Here the days are bright, the air fresh and light, 
 while the nights are cool and refreshing. In the 
 winter season it is much colder than in Napa city 
 on account of the elevation and snow is not an un- 
 common thing. Altogether it is hard to find a 
 more congenial climate for health and comfort. 
 
 PKODUCTS 
 
 Are more diversified, as the mountain ranges 
 admit of stock raising, as well as grain and fruit. 
 Everything belonging to the temperate zone 
 flourishes in this locality, vegetables and berries 
 grow splendidly on the soils best suited to them. 
 
 TIMBER 
 
 The only timber left is fit for firewood and other 
 economical purposes. The day of extensive lum- 
 bering is over. The redwood of Howell mountain 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 257 
 
 is nearly gone, therefore the chapter might an 
 well close on this subject. 
 
 EARLY SETTLEMENT. 
 
 To Julian Pope belongs the honor of being the 
 first white settler in this township, other than the 
 Spanish-Mexicans. It is in evidence that, he 
 was a visitor here before 1841, for in that year a 
 grant was ceded to him by the Mexican govern- 
 ment for that land known as Pope valley, and he 
 without doubt had explored and was acquainted 
 with its character before making the selection. 
 
 Julian Pope was granted two leagues of land 
 September 13, 1841, by Jimeno, acting Govern- 
 or of California, and said grant was called the Lo- 
 coallomi grant, and contained eight thousand, 
 eight hundred and seventy-two acres. In 1843 he 
 went to Pope valley and began the erection of a 
 house and while hewing timber for it he accident- 
 ally cut his leg, from the effects of which he dit^l 
 in the latter part of that year. His wife was a, 
 Californian and they had five children. William 
 Barnett afterwards married Mrs. Pope and lived 
 there for several years. An adobe house was built 
 by Joseph Pope, and is still standing and is 
 spoken of as the Pope adobe. This is calculated 
 to mislead a stranger, who would naturally infer 
 that the house was built by the man for whom the 
 valley was named. The place where Julian Pope 
 built his house was on the old Pope or Juan Bur- 
 ton place. 
 
 In 1854 Jesse Barnett, the son of the man who 
 married Mrs. Pope, came to Pope valley and from 
 him we get the list of settlers who were in Pope 
 valley at that time. 
 
 James Daley lived at the lower end of the val- 
 ley, and had a family. Philander Hunt, a bachel- 
 or, lived on the creek just above where Mr. Jesse 
 
2««. NAPA COUNTY. ^ 
 
 Barnett resides. S. McWilliams, with his wife 
 and children, lived where the Duvalls reside. 
 John Newman, with his family, lived in the upper 
 end of the valley. Thomas Anderson did live 
 here but moved out of the valley by 1854. Joseph 
 Halterman and Joshua Hardman, with their fam- 
 ilies, were residents of the valley in 1854. Eobert 
 Hardin's family came in with his brother in 1 85(3. 
 
 KNOXVILLE 
 
 Is a nice little village, with a triweekly stage 
 for Napa city,— via Monticello. 
 
 SPRINGS. 
 
 The medical springs of California have a great 
 future and deserve the attention they attract. 
 Some bear a close resemblance to the most fam- 
 ous springs of Europe, so that a. publication of 
 the compared analytical tables of their solid con- 
 tents is all that is necessary to prove their high 
 value and the diffusion of this information 
 through the Eastern States would attract thous- 
 ands of invalids. 
 
 AETNA SPRINGS. 
 
 These springs are sixteen miles northeast of St. 
 Belena, in Napa county, in a charming little val- 
 ley at the northern extremity of Pope valley and 
 separated therefrom by a range of low hills. 
 There are two springs of considerable capacity 
 that flow to the surface, and one large spring that 
 discharges itself into a shaft one hundred and 
 twenty-five feet below the surface. 
 
 The spring that supplies the shaft and the bath 
 house was discovered while mining for cinnabar, 
 and is of a temperature of 106 degrees at the 
 spring, and is so heavily charged with gas, the 
 heat so great that the mining operations had to be 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 259 
 
 abandoned. The two springs that flow to the sar- 
 face are of a temperature of 98 degrees, blood 
 heat, and contain fifty-eight cubic inches of car- 
 bonic acid gas to the gallon. The lower spring 
 contains more heat and gas. There are also two 
 soda springs, which contain a considerable quan- 
 tity of iron, about eighty rods from the thermal 
 springs on the Aetna grounds. The valley in 
 which these springs are located, has an elevation 
 of one thousand feet, and is warm and dry, with 
 the most picturesque and charming mountain 
 scenery around. 
 
 The waters are pleasant, purifying, exciting 
 and exhilarating, and many assert that they are 
 heavily charged with electricity. Although these 
 springs have been known to and visited by white 
 men for the past thirty years, no efforts were 
 made to bring them into the notice of the public 
 until 1878. 
 
 In 1877 the proprietor, Hon. Chancellor Hart- 
 son, decided to make the necessary arrangements 
 for accommodating visitors and to throw the 
 springs open to the public. Accordingly in that 
 year Mr. W. H. Lidell took charge and began the 
 erection of buildings, and from time to time their 
 number has been increased in order to accommo- 
 date the increasing flow of guests. 
 
 Many cures have been effected by these waters 
 and a trial of them costs little in time or money, 
 and the trip is delightful. 
 
Biographies 
 
BIOGRAPHIES 
 
 Our lives like pendulums swing from sun to sun, 
 We weave the fabric till the thread is run. 
 Some lives come up through sweeted joys to years, 
 While others grieve and feel the tyranny of tears. 
 
 Why strive for place, high rank and power, 
 Or long to be the applauded hero of the hour ? 
 Why not our journey take though slow we plod. 
 To work in gladness and to walk with God? 
 
 CHARLES W. ARMSTRONG 
 
 Was born in Vancouver, Washington, Novem- 
 ber 5th, 1859, and came to California at an early 
 age, and has been a resident of Calistoga since 
 1886, during which time he has been actively en- 
 gaged in the drug business. Other enterprises of 
 varied character have claimed a share of his at- 
 tention. Being an active partisan he has given 
 much time to politics; was appointed Postmas- 
 ter in 1895 by President Cleveland and conducted 
 the office for four years in a creditable manner. 
 He was married in 1878, and again in 1900, and 
 his family consists of his wife and a daughter by 
 the former marriage. 
 
 He was one of the first persons to recognize the 
 possibilities of oil mining in northern California, 
 and is the pioneer operator in that industry in this 
 locality, having founded the Calistoga Oil and De- 
 velopment Co. He has extensive and varied in- 
 terests in oil lands, and is an officer and stock- 
 holder in many oil companies. 
 
 Since the building of the telephone lines in this 
 vicinity he has been the manager of the Sunset 
 and local companies. 
 
264 NAPA COUWTY. 
 
 He is at the head of the town government, hav- 
 ing been elected President of the Board of Town 
 Trustees in April, 1900. 
 
 Being of a progressive chai'acter and broad- 
 minded in his ideas, he encourages the improve- 
 ment and advancement of the town in every pos- 
 sible way. 
 
 ANTOINETTE AIKEN, 
 
 Owner of Eancho de la Jota, was born in New 
 York, 1835; came to California in 1877 and located 
 on her rauch on Howell Mountain, 1884; this con- 
 sists of 110 acres, of which 35 acres are in grain 
 and orchard of apples, pears, almonds and other 
 fruits; her children are Florence, William C, and 
 Charles S., all born in Ohio. There are mineral 
 springs of iron on the place. 
 
 OLIVER H. BUCKMAN 
 
 Was born in the State of Maryland, near Balti- 
 more, December 14th, 1847. His parents were 
 Quakers and belonged to a sect of which William 
 Penn was a well known leader. 
 
 In 1855, with his parents, he moved to Iowa, 
 where he lived on a farm until the age of 25 years, 
 after which he entered the State University of 
 Iowa, from w^hich he graduated in 1876, in the de- 
 partment of Civil Engineering. 
 
 In 1877 he came to California and settled in 
 Napa, where he has resided ever since. He has 
 held the office of City Engineer of Napa since 1880, 
 excepting a few months in the winter of 1880-7. 
 
 He was County Surveyor of Napa county from 
 January 1st, 1885 to January 1st, 1895, and since 
 the last named date has been a deputy in the 
 County Surveyor's office. His history since 1880 
 speaks volumes in praise of his fitness and splen- 
 «lid qualifications for the responsible place of En- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 265 
 
 gineer and Surveyor. He is still unmarried.. We 
 hope he has still before him many years of use- 
 fulness. 
 
 R. J. BLOWER 
 
 Was born in Wales in 1847; came to California 
 in 1869 and moved to Napa county in 1870; in 
 1875 he married Rosalie Ward, to whom has 
 been born two children, Sumner J., 1877; Richard 
 M., 1892. Mr. Blower's ranch is 2,500 feet above 
 ihe sea level upon Howell Mountain; it is 156 
 acres in extent, of which 30 acres is in cultiva- 
 tion, althouj^h 100 acres can be plowed; he has a 
 small vineyard, and 100 acres in orchard. The 
 name is Blower's Mountain View. The scenery is 
 perfect; on the top of Howell Mountain is a per- 
 fect flat of 75 acres. The water is very good and 
 healthy. 
 
 CHARLES E. BELL 
 
 Was born in Darien, Connecticut, February 
 7th, 1827. He married Catherine J. Mills, Feb- 
 ruary 15, 1857, in Connecticut. They crossed the 
 plains in 1859 by wagon. When they reached 
 Nevada the oldest son, Charles Humboldt, was 
 born on the Humboldt river, aft|»r which he was 
 named. The family finally came to San Francisco 
 where Mr. Bell worked as a shipwright; then to 
 Mare Island, where he worked for seven years 
 while his family lived in Vallejo. 
 
 In 1876 he moved to Bell's valley, situated at 
 the base of Mount Howell on the west, a vale en- 
 tirely surrounded by hills with a mountain 
 stream running through the center. Of the 
 children, Edward S, was born during a. sojourn 
 in Trinity county, Oscar F. was born in San 
 Francisco, Lillian May was born at Vallejo, is 
 married to R. Miller, now of Sacramento. Thomas 
 A. Bell was born in Vallejo, is now living in Napa 
 
an NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 «ity and is District Attorney. Henry C. was lK)rn 
 in Vallejo and has been in Alaska for three years. 
 Evelyn Bell was born in Bell's valley, she is teach- 
 ing school in Diamond Mountain District. B(4rs 
 valley consists of 240 acres, 30 acres vineyard, 100 
 walnut trees and small orchard. This place was 
 first settled by Gesford, the father of Henry (Jes- 
 ford, 1850. The Bell family came to Connectirut 
 in 1640, and during the Revolutionary war both 
 father and grandfather were taken prisoners by 
 the British and confined in an old sugar ho\ise; 
 grandfather was 90, in full possession of all Ids 
 faculties; had six children, thirty eight grand- 
 children and seventy-eight great grand children. 
 
 B. BRUCK 
 
 Was born in Napa city, September 7th, 1870; 
 the youngest son of Louis Bruck and Loleta Bale, 
 who was the daughter of the late Dr. E. T. Bale; 
 she was one of the first settlers born in Napa val- 
 ley. Mr. Bruck came to St. Helena, 1881, and has 
 resided there since. He became Superintendent 
 of Krug place in 1894, and still remains there. 
 His father, Louis Bruck, was chosen chairman of 
 the first Board of Trustees of Napa county. 
 
 DOCTOR E. T. BALE. 
 
 This gentleman was an English physician. Avho 
 was born in London, England, 1811. He was 
 wrecked on a British man-of-war, 1833, picked up 
 by a whaler and landed on the Coast of Calif orida 
 at Monterey. In 1838 he married a daughter of 
 Mariano Soberanes, and Lolita Vallejo, a sister of 
 the late General Vallejo. Dr. Bale received a 
 large grant of land in Napa valley from the Mex- 
 ican Government; in 1839 this grant included all 
 of Napa valley, north of Bale slough. In 1843 
 Dr. Bale settled in the valley; in 1845 he built a 
 
JOHN S. BRTANT, 
 
 TaKen at tHe A-ge of 92 Years, May 20, 1901. 
 Calistoga, Cal, 
 
NAPA COUNTY. iff 
 
 mill in the valley on Napa creek, at the foot of the 
 place now known as the Krug place, this was a 
 saw mill. In 1846-47, he built the first flour mill 
 in this county, the machinery was brought here 
 by the way of China, at an enormous expense. 
 The Bale adobe house and flour mill are in a fair 
 state of preservation on this date (May, 1901). The 
 adobe is now owned by Capt. Niebaum and the 
 mill by W. W. Lyman; Dr. Bale died October 9th, 
 1849, at the age of 38, leaving a wife and live 
 children, of which three are now living, being 
 Mrs. S. Bruck, Mariano and Ed. T. Bale. 
 
 JOHN S. BRYANT, 
 
 The oldest man now living in Napa county, is 
 the father of Mrs. Martha A. Hubbs. He was 
 born in Kentucky in 1809, and after some years 
 in Missouri came to California in 1852, and for 
 seven years last past he has lived in Calistoga. 
 He has lived with his daughter since the death of 
 his wife some fifteen years ago and notwithstand- 
 ing his extreme age, 92 years, is in full possession 
 of all his faculties and enjoys the daily papers. 
 
 Mr. Bryant was a cabinet maker by trade and 
 worked at gold mining. He has two children, 
 three grand children and five great grand child- 
 ren; all in California. 
 
 F. BORREO 
 
 Has been a successful merchant, having in an 
 early day made some money mining in Virginia 
 City, and on the Ruser river, Nevada. In 1806 he 
 came to Napa county and engaged in merchandiz- 
 ing and built up a nice business, he also farmed 
 the old Crowey ranch of 110 acres, and also owned 
 a number of other farms in Napa county. Mr. 
 Borreo still works the "Bay View" vineyard, rais- 
 ing olives, making olive oil, and in lesser degree, 
 
*68 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 grapes, fruit and grain. His sons meantime, un- 
 der the firm name of Borreo Bros., conduct the 
 mercantile business in the warehouse, selling hay, 
 feed, wood, coal, etc. In 1865 F. Borreo married 
 Marv^ Arata, a native of Italy. She died May 21 st, 
 1886, in Napa county. They had five children, all 
 born in Napa valley, except Josephine, who was 
 born in Virginia city, Nevada. The others are 
 Nellie, Mary, William and Ernest. 
 
 AUGUST BERETTA. 
 
 Born in Switzerland in 1850, came to Napa in 
 1871, and located on the Alsip ranch, and has 230 
 acres, of which 50 acres is grain land, orchard, 
 etc.; has a fine wine cellar built. He is now en- 
 gaged in raising stock principally, formerly he 
 was in the wine business for tweuty-seven years 
 and was also in the grocery and bakery business 
 in St. Helena for two years. On this ranch was 
 built John Conn's house, the first in Conn valley, 
 and it stood about one hundred yards from what 
 was then known as Conn Hollow creek. 
 
 EDWARD F. BUBDICK. 
 
 The first house in Conn valley was built on this 
 ranch, but has since been torn down. The ranch 
 consists of 240 acres, 100 being in cultivation, the 
 products are grain and grapes. 
 
 Mr. Burdick was born in 18(53; married Miss 
 Olive Whales in 1886, she died in 1895. Their 
 children were three in number, Edna M., 1889; 
 Willie F., 1893; Olive L., 1894. In 1896 he mar- 
 ried Mrs. Pedixmi, whose maiden name was Ma- 
 tilda Musgrave. She came to Napa county in 
 1884. The raising of fancy fowls is a specialty on 
 this ranch. 
 
, NAPA COUNTY. 2«f 
 
 f W. H. BROWN 
 
 Is what might be termed the Village Black- 
 smith, only our little city has progressed beyond 
 the village period, but he is a general blacksmith, 
 wagonmaker and repairer and sells all kinds of 
 farming implements, wagons and buggies and 
 has done so for the past ten years, having started 
 in 1891. He was born in Sonoma county, Califor 
 nia, and was married in Calistoga in 1889, to Miss 
 Lillie Butler, who is also a native daughter, as he 
 is a native son; she was born in Napa county. 
 Their children are: Irma Lillie Brown, born in 
 Calistoga, 1890; Lauren, 1892, and Frank Walton 
 Brown, 1897. 
 
 WILLIAM H. BRADLEY. 
 
 Born in Napa county, 1867, and married Ireua 
 Edgerton, 1890; who was born in Napa county, 
 1869. Their children are: Roy E. Bradley, 1891, 
 Napa county; Oakley Bradley, 1893; Pauline 
 (Dorris) Bradley, 1898. Mr. Bradley Sr., is a 
 great hunter and delights to hunt with the 
 hounds. He is in San Bernardino county for his 
 health. 
 
 S. E. CHAPMAN, M. D. 
 
 The doctor was born August 6th, 1847, in 
 Cleveland, Ohio. At the early age of seventeen 
 years he enlisted as a volunteer in the 124tti Ohio 
 volunteer infantry in 1862, to serve his country in 
 her hour of peril. After three years of bloody 
 war and privation in the famous Army of the 
 Cumberland, he was discharged at the end of the 
 war. He at once entered Baldwin University at 
 Berea, Ohio, and after completing a course in that 
 institution of learning, he entered the Cleveland 
 Homeopatliic College, from which he graduated 
 in March 1874. He then began the practice of 
 medicine in Perrysburg, Ohio. During March, 
 
AT* NAPA COUNTY. ! I' 
 
 1S74, he married Miss Florence A, Boyer, of Clyde, 
 O. While residing in Perrysburg, Miss Ivose Chap- 
 man, his oldest daughter, was born, Sept. 2Tih, 
 1875, and Miss Grace, July 24, 1877. After a res- 
 idence of four years in that place he removed to 
 California, 1877, locating in Forest Hill, Placer 
 county, where he practiced medicine for twelve 
 years, and Ida W. Chapman was born, June 24th, 
 1879, when he removed to Watsonville, Santa 
 Cruz county, and practiced for seven years: here 
 two more children were born, Florence A., and 
 i.ionel Brooks, February 27, 1893, After this a 
 year was spent in San Francisco, but in 1895 
 laryngeal and bronchial trouble necessitated an- 
 other move and Napa was chosen, on account of 
 its fine climate and other advantages. 
 
 After having permanently located in Napa, in 
 May, 1896, there was one son born here, S. E. 
 Chapman, Jr., August 4th, 1898. 
 
 The doctor is a member of the State Medical 
 Board of Examiners in Insanity, also of the City 
 Board of Health and contributes continually to 
 the leading medical and literary publications. 
 
 Dr. Chapman is the House Physician of the 
 celebrated Napa Sanatorium, an institution which 
 has a most favorable reputation throughout the 
 State. 
 
 JOHN CONN 
 
 Was born in Ireland, 1807; came to Napa coun- 
 ty in 1844, and settled in Conn valley which was 
 named after him, and consisted of 6,000 acres of 
 valley and mountain land, being a grant from the 
 Mexican Government. 
 
 John Conn and John Banchford were partners 
 in 1844, and applied for a grant of land which 
 was given settlers under the Mexican Govern- 
 ment. The grant was made, but before the legal 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 3W. 
 
 requirements were completed, war broke out be- 
 tween the United States and Mexico, both of the 
 claimants fought under the Bear Flag. This was 
 in 1846. After the war, the land grant was yet 
 incomplete, when Jack Ranchford died. He was 
 a patriot and declared his only desire before he 
 died was to see this beautiful land occupied by 
 Ihe Americans and that he would live to see the 
 stars and stripes wave over these mountains and 
 valleys. He did live to see the flag raised amid 
 much rejoicing, and the next morning he expired. 
 The flag was raised September 10th, 1846. John 
 Conn was a bachelor and the valley was named 
 after him. The grant is now cut up into many 
 beautiful farms and homes. 
 
 CONNOLLY CONN. 
 
 This settler was born in Ireland, 1832; came to 
 iMapa in 1855, and bought 160 acres in 1859, in 
 partnership with Frank Stratton. They extended 
 their purchases until they owned nearly a thou- 
 sand acres and made a business of raising stock, 
 and opened a butcher shop in St. Helena to dis- 
 pose of the product. In 1867 Frank Stratton died 
 and Conn was then the owner of 960 acres; since 
 he has sold 300 acres which left him 660 acres 
 which comprises the ranch at present, about 250 
 acres are in cultivation. There is a marble quarry 
 on the ranch which has never been developed as 
 yet. 
 
 Mr. Conn married Mary McCall in 1864; she was 
 born in Illinois, 1845. They had two children, 
 Annie L., 1865, died in 1894 in Conn valley; Em- 
 ma, 1868; married to George Hobson, 1886. Their 
 children were five in number as follows: Iva L., 
 1888; Grace, 1890; Myron, 1893; Roy 1896; George, 
 1899. 
 
272 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 0. A. CARROLL, 
 
 Editor and proprietor of the Weekly Calis- 
 togian, was born at Noyo, in Mendocino county, 
 California, April 11th, 1873. His father died 
 when he had attained the age of two years, lie 
 went to school at Mendocino City, where they had 
 moved, and at the age of fourteen he became an 
 apprentice for three years in the office of the Men- 
 docino "Beacon," after which he served two years 
 as foreman, after that he was editor for eighteen 
 months, making a stay of seven years in 
 said office. He was then connected with the news- 
 papers of Ukiah until the first of 1895, when he 
 made a trip East as far as Washington City, vis- 
 iting the larger cities enroute, returning the same 
 year to engage on the San Francisco "Chronicle," 
 until the arrival of the linotype machines which 
 displaced so many of the typographers. He then 
 visited Calistoga and purchased the "Independent 
 Calistogian," which had been established by J. L. 
 Multer, who ably conducted this paper for fifteen 
 years. When purchased by Mr. Carroll it was 
 owned by I. N. Bennett and G. B. Douglass. Up to 
 this time this paper had always been independent, 
 as its name implied. This was changed by him in- 
 to a Republican pajjer, and the name changed to 
 the Weekly Calistogian. Under the able manage- 
 ment of Mr. Carroll it became a newsy and attrac- 
 tive sheet; the office much improved and equip- 
 ment the best. On August 0, 189G, he married Miss 
 Mertie Bennett, and on September 25th, 1899, a 
 daughter came to gladden the home. Mr. Carroll 
 is a native son and a member of the A. F. and A. 
 M., standing high in the good opinion of the citi- 
 zens of Napa valley. 
 
 For many years Calistoga was considered quiet 
 but for sometime past, and since Mr. Carroll's ad- 
 vent, the town is lively, thrifty and a large 
 
C. A. CARROLL, 
 
 Editor Calistogian, Calistoga. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 273 
 
 amount of business is now carried on. Much of 
 this change in the town is due to the stirring ed- 
 itorials and quiet booming of the town in the 
 weekly paper. Mr. Carroll believes in building 
 up a town, and he has done so in this instance. 
 
 J. A. CAIN 
 
 Was born February 24th, 1844, in East Tennes- 
 see; w^as a trooper in Gen. Pleasanton's cavalry 
 brigade during the civil war for the Union and 
 served three years; came to California in 1866, 
 and drove stage on the Idaho road for two years, 
 he then came to Napa county and engaged in 
 draying business which he has followed 
 ever since. Mr. Cain was elected Councilman of 
 Napa city in 1899, and which position he now 
 holds (1901). He married Elva Grigsby, a daugh- 
 ter of John Grigsby (one of the men who raised 
 the Bear flag in Sonoma county); she was born 
 and raised in Napa county. They have had two 
 children, Ida and Laura, Ida is married to J. W. 
 Lyons and Laura to Chas. Grady, both of Napa. 
 Mr. Cain is quite an owner of city property as well 
 as a nice farm of about 30 acres near the town. 
 
 COLONEL JAMES CLYMAN. 
 
 Many historical associations cluster around the 
 '*01d Clyman Place," in Napa county. 
 
 James Clyman, born 1794, was one of the early 
 pioneers of California, having settled in Sonoma 
 county in 1848, where he lived until 1861 when he 
 and his family came to live in Napa county on 
 what is known as the "Old Clyman Place." 
 
 In 1848 Col. Clyman piloted a train of emigrants 
 across the plains, the motive power being oxen. 
 This was the occasion of his first arrival in Napa, 
 then a small place of three or four adobe house* 
 
274 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 and one log cabin. Soon after this he left for the 
 gold mines. (Among the emigrants were McCombs, 
 Hardman and Broadhurst.) After meeting with 
 modest success at the mines, Col. Clyman built a 
 home in Sonoma county, where he lived until 1861, 
 when he moved to Napa county, where he married 
 in 1849, Hannah McCombs, a native of Ohio. The 
 result of this union was the birth of the following 
 children, all born in Napa county: Martha Cly- 
 man, 1850, died in 1855; Mary J. Clyman, 1853, 
 died in 1869; James L., 1854, died in 1863; Lydia 
 A. and P. Lambert, twins, 1857, of which the lat- 
 ter died in 1863. 
 
 The good wife and mother mourned the death 
 of her gallant husband in 1882, but she still re- 
 sides on the old homestead, enjoying good health, 
 nearly 70 years of age. 
 
 KICHARD CUFF 
 
 Was born in Ireland, March 18, 1846; emigrated 
 to the United States, landing in New York in 1866 
 where he worked in a store for two years. In 
 1868 he came to San Francisco, from there to 
 Napa county; engaged in farming and mining un- 
 til 1876, when he engaged in the iivery business 
 on Main street, until 1886, when he bought the 
 Central Hotel, of which he is now proprietor, and 
 is owner of considerable city property. He mar- 
 ried May 15th, 1875, Miss Winnefred Duane; they 
 had seven children of whom six are now living as 
 follows: Thomas, Bridget, John, Winnefred, Mary 
 and Lizzie. 
 
 ALONZO C. CLARK. 
 
 In 1848, Alonzo C. Clark was born in Ohio, and 
 he moved in 1864, with his parents to Napa coun- 
 ty and now resides on the old Buttoff place (be- 
 longing to the Phelan estate), which consists of 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 27S 
 
 690 acres, all of which is under cultivation ia 
 grain and hay. 
 
 In 1877 he married a native daughter of the 
 Golden West in the person of Miss May Stafford 
 at Berry essa; Miss Stafford was born in California 
 in 1858. Their children are: Roy V. Clark, 1878; 
 Clifford N., 1880; Ora O., 1882; Mallie E., 1883; 
 Howard C, 1886; Irma A., 1889. 
 
 REUBEN CLARK. 
 
 The subject of this sketch crossed the plains 
 with horse teams in company with his parents 
 when he was but nine years of age, he having been 
 born in 1855, in the State of Iowa, and arrived in 
 California in 1864. In 1883, he married a native 
 daughter, Miss C-ordelia Stovall and the result 
 was the birth of the following children: Elmer 
 R., February 26, 1884 and H. Foster, March 30th, 
 1886; shortly after the birth of her second son the 
 wife and mother died, June 1st, 1886. In 1898 
 Mr. Clark married for his second wife. Miss Lulu 
 Darner. Mr. Clark rents the ranch known as the 
 "Adobe" which belongs to the Phelan estate and 
 consists of 750 acres in grain, etc., and about 
 3,500 acres in pasture, devoted to stock raising, 
 consisting of 150 head of graded "short horn" 
 cattle; 250 horses and 200 hogs; fine placer gold is 
 found on this ranch, but not in paying quan- 
 tities. 
 
 Mr. Clark has been elected to the State Assemb- 
 ly to represent the counties of Colusa and Teha- 
 ma, from 1870 to 1874, when he returned to Beis 
 ryessa valley in Napa county. 
 
 R. W. CLAYTON 
 
 Came to Napa county about 1880 and bought 
 his ranch in 1898, which consists of 80 acres, all 
 
278 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 of which is in a high state of cultivation, includ- 
 ing a vineyard of fifty acres. 
 
 Mr. Clayton was born near the Napa county 
 line, October 13, 1859, in Suisun valley. He found 
 his wife about the same spot, for in 1880 he waci 
 married there to Miss Elizabeth J. McKinley, a 
 native of Napa county, and Gordon valley. Their 
 children are: Pettis O., 1891 and Edna L., 1893, 
 
 M. A. CHAMBLIN 
 
 Is a son of Illinois, born in 1847; came to Napa 
 county April, 1875 and bought a ranch consisting 
 of eighteen acres on the St. Helena road, about a 
 mile from the Postoffice, but within the corpora- 
 tion; raising fruit, garden vegetables and chick- 
 ens. He married Mattie R. Shoup, 1872, in Illin- 
 ois where she was born; their children Chester 
 W. Chamblin, born in Illinois; Lottie J. Chamblin, 
 born in Napa county, Cal.; Ernest W. Chamblin, 
 born in Calistoga, and Violet Chamblin, also born 
 in Calistoga. Lottie J. married Rev. J. C. Bolster 
 and is now living in Fairfield ; Ernest is attending 
 school in San Jose. 
 
 JAMES B. CLAYTON. 
 
 A native son was born in Napa county, October 
 28, 1865, and lives on the "Old Combs" ranch 
 which contains 1,389 acres, only 300 acres being 
 in cultivation, all in grain, except a small orchard 
 the balance of the ranch is pasture land on which 
 stock is raised, having from 300 to 400 head of cat- 
 tle at one time. 
 
 This place was the old home ranch of Nathan 
 Combs. Mr. Clayton married Miss Emma Hulen, 
 in Vacaville, Solano county, December 26, 1890; 
 she was also a native daughter having been bom 
 in Solano county, November 3, 1868. 
 
 Their child is: Fay Allen, October 17, 1893. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 277 
 
 JOHN W. COLEMAN. 
 
 Was born in the blue grass region of old Ken- 
 tucky, in Versailles; came to California in 1853, 
 and for some time was connected with the West- 
 ern Union Telegraphic Co. The mines attracted 
 his attention until 1881, when he bought the 
 Lenose ranch in Napa county; for a time they 
 lived in San Francisco and Oakland, but at the 
 death of Mr. Coleman, the widow moved on to the 
 ranch, making her home there. It is a very fine 
 place, one mile from Monticello. Mrs. Coleman is 
 said to be one of the wealthiest women in the 
 county. 
 
 K. C. CRUEY 
 
 Was born in Ohio, 1825; came to California 
 in 1852, working in the mines; in 1855 he came in- 
 to Napa county and in 1865 he settled in Olive 
 Nook, which ranch consisted of 160 acres of which 
 30 are in grapes and olives, being located one mile 
 from St. Helena on the Pope valley road. Mr. 
 Cruey married Euth C. Epps of Conn valley, Napa 
 county, 1860; she was born in Missouri. Mr. 
 Cruey makes a specialty of raising chickens of the 
 Leghorn breed, having about 700 hens. The in- 
 cubators and brooders raise the young chicks on 
 modern methods. 
 
 D. J. CALLIZO 
 
 Was born in France, 1855; emigrated to the 
 United States, 1884; he arrived in Napa the same 
 year; is manager of Mrs. Parrot's place, known 
 as Mira valley; has been thus employed for nine 
 years; his wife Gunenez Valdesca, was born in 
 Spain; their children are: Salvadore Callizo, 1881; 
 Julius, 1882; both born in France; Sylveria, born 
 1887, in Napa county. Mr. Callizo owns a ranch, 
 of his own on Spring mountain. 
 
278 NAPA COUNTY. J ! 
 
 LOUIS COKTHAY 
 
 Was born in Switzerland, 1830; married Cathe- 
 rine Maria Rafferty, who was born in 1833; she 
 died in 1892. 
 
 Mr. Corthay had five children by his wife, three 
 of whom are dead, and he died in 1890. The ranch 
 was named after the owner and comprised 560 
 acres, of which 150 acres was in grain and 23 in 
 vineyard; two wine cellars are on the ranch, with 
 a combined capacity of 150,000 gallons. 
 
 The children, Louis D., 1863, died 1890; Emma 
 E., 1865, died 1867; Chas. W., born 1868; George 
 E. M., 1871; Henry M., 1874, died 1898. All these 
 children were born in San Francisco. 
 
 George E. M. Corthay took the ranch in 1893; 
 married in 1895 Pauline Kraft, born in 1871 in 
 California; two children, Emma, 1897; Pauline, 
 1900, born in Conn valley. On this ranch stood 
 the oldest hotel in the county and w^hich gave 
 shelter to the travelers from Napa to Lake coun- 
 ties, a part only now remains a "monument to 
 old memories;" there are also found mineral 
 springs, two sulphur and one iron and a sweet 
 water spring which runs into a large cemented 
 reservoir containing 10,000 gallons; large veins 
 of chrome and magnesia abound; there is also a 
 fine trout stream known as Goon creek which 
 never dries uj), tiowing tlirougli th(^ place; the 
 ranch is well timbered with oak and pine; a tine 
 quality of wine, called Mountain Sweet wine is 
 made on this ranch; this residence, built in 1885, 
 is 55x60, of a Swiss design; line herds of Jersey 
 and Holstine cattle dot the grazing lands. 
 
 LOUISE CROCITAT 
 
 Was born in France, 1854; purchased 
 present liome and ranch, 1897, containing 218 
 acres including 70 acres grain fiields; 10 acres of 
 

 
 
 
 
 r 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 37» 
 
 yineyard; has a wine cellar with a capacity for 
 30,000 gallons; the rest of the land is past-ire 
 land for stock raising; children by first husband: 
 Adolph Millet, born in France, 1879; Marie, same 
 1880; Germain, born on Atlantic ocean, 1882: Sec- 
 ond husband's children: Jules Crochat, born in 
 Kapa county, 1885; Leon Crochat, same, 1887; 
 this lady also owns two ranches in Conn valley 
 one of 140 acres the second haying 120 acres. 
 
 JOHN AND LOVINA CYRUS. 
 
 These two personages were the first pion- 
 eers who located in Napa county, coming from 
 the State of Illinois, arriying in this country in 
 1846. 
 
 Mrs. Lovina Cyrus was but twelye years of 
 age when she crossed the plains with her parents 
 who were with the unfortunate Donner party, 
 who, when lost in the mountains sent out a forlorn 
 hope to seek for relief, one of whom was her fath- 
 er. This forlorn hope consisted of seyenteen per- 
 sons, of which but six suryiyed to return Here 
 on the mountains in a dreadful storm, when the 
 snow was fifteen feet deep, Mrs. Graves her 
 mother, died. 
 
 John Cyrus crossed the plains just ahead of the 
 Donner party, and by taking the old and well 
 known route across the mountains, arrived 
 alright without anything of special moment 
 occurihg. On June 5th, 1855, they were married 
 and settled on the Cyrus ranch which was a 200 
 acre tract of the original Bale grant. They had 
 five children, Henry E., James W., Mary A., 
 Sarah G., and Elizabeth E. 
 
 On December 5th, 1891, John Cyrus departed 
 this life full of years and respected by all who 
 knew him. 
 
280 j NAPA COT/NTY. "1 
 
 CHRIS. CHRISTIAN 
 
 Was born in Denmark, 1850, and emigrated 
 to the United States 1859; arrived in California, 
 1872 and settled in Napa county in 1881. He 
 married Lovinia Hardman in 1885, who was born 
 in Napa county in 1854. The children were Mar- 
 tha Elizabeth, 1887; Maria Ann, 1892; Eltin R. 
 Apperson, a son hy a former marriage was born 
 in Napa county, 1879. Mr. Christian owns a 
 ranch of 115 acres, of which 20 acres is equally 
 divided betw^een orchard and vineyard, the bal- 
 ance being pasture land for stock raising. 
 
 W. O. CROFT 
 
 Is a partner in the stock ranch; he was born 
 in Wisconsin, 1870 and came to Napa county in 
 1896. The same year he married Edith Oswald, 
 who was born in Wisconsin also in 1878. Their 
 children are: C. Virgil Croft, born in Napa coun- 
 ty in 1897; Dunwood Croft, born in Napa county 
 in 1899. 
 
 E. DAFOE, 
 
 Proprietor of Peacock Hotel, was born in Cana- 
 da, 1838; arrived in California, 1869; he first set- 
 tled in Sononm county for a period of six years 
 and afterwards lived for 20 years, moving into 
 Napa in 1894. His first wife was a Can- 
 adian and died in 1876 in California. Mr. Dafoe 
 is now married to Emily Ryther since 1882. The 
 children are all by the first wife and born in Can- 
 ada, except the last, Sarah, Hattie, Erastus aad 
 Leon, born in Sonoma county in 1871. 
 
 H. S. DEXTER. 
 
 A native son of California, born August 29th, 
 1861; was of the wholesale liquor house of Heath- 
 cote & Dexter, San Francisco; came to Napa 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 281 
 
 county 1885 and bought "La Lantern," vineyard, 
 consisting of 200 acres, one half of which are 
 planted in vines and prunes. There is a splendid 
 residence on the place. Mr. Dexter married Jane 
 Andrew Buckler of Baltimore, ^Maryland. 
 
 LOUIS W. DUVALL 
 
 The deceased was born in Tenessee, 1824, mar- 
 ried Emma E. Butler, 1855, in Missouri. William 
 Thomas Duvall was born to them while in Mis- 
 souri, in 1850. In 1857 this couple, with their in- 
 fant son, made the long journey across the plains 
 with ox teams, arriving in Lake county where 
 they only remained a few weeks, removing to 
 Napa valley and shortly afterward to Pope valley 
 ■v\here the widow now resides. The children 
 born in Napa county are John, 1859; Mary Ann, 
 (Stanford), 1862; Robert Duvall, Josephine Du- 
 vall, 1867; Alexander, 1870. The oldest child, W. 
 T. Duvall, married Laura Walters, 1879; she died 
 in 1881, leaving two children, Lawrence, born 
 1880; Claude, 1881, both born in Napa county. 
 Their father died in 1897, and the two boys are 
 cared for by their grandmother. Mrs. Duvall owns 
 her ranch of 500 acres, 100 of which is in grain, 
 balance in pasture land on which she raises 
 stock. 
 
 JOHN F. EVEN 
 
 Was born in Green valley. El Dorado county, 
 California, September 29th, 1863, and came to 
 Napa county with his parents in 1867. For six- 
 teen years he has been a member of the firm of 
 Zollner & Even. On April 1st, 1901, a deal was 
 made whereby Mr. Even and his mother 
 purchased the interest of Mr. Zollner, in the old 
 established meat market. The new business as 
 now carried on is known as Even & Even, whole- 
 
m NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 »ale and retail butchers. Mr. Even was elected 
 to the City Council of Napa in 1899 and is still 
 serving in that capacity His sterling manhood 
 and honorable way of dealing in all business af- 
 fairs has for years commended him to the confi- 
 dence of the people in every place and walk of life 
 as well as when filling positions of trust; he has 
 been faithful to the people and loyal to liis 
 friends. Years are required to build up a gojd 
 name and it is the only monument that is endur- 
 ing for all time. 
 
 T. H. EPLEY, 
 
 Proprietor of "Cyprus Lawn Summer Resort," 
 and fruit farm, which is in Brown valley, consists 
 of fifty acres of which forty acres are in orchard 
 and vineyard, was born in Washtenau county, 
 Michigan; his parents were Harry K. and Rachel 
 (Moe) Epley; the former still lives on the old 
 home place; the latter died in 1885. 
 
 Mr, Epley's father was a locomotive engineer 
 and was so employed in 1840, when instead of 
 steel rails, the track was strips of iron spiked on- 
 to wooden stringers. Young Epley married Miss 
 Mary E. Robinson, in Michigan, 1858 and moved 
 west under the Pike Peak gold excitement and 
 fought in the Piute Indian war, afterwards set up 
 the first engine and sounded the first locomotive 
 whistle in Nevada. He came to Napa in 1874 and 
 after selling stationery for nine years bought and 
 settled on his ranch. They have three chiklren 
 living, Dora, a graduate of Napa Ladies' Semi- 
 nary, Myrtle and Carl. 
 
 ALBERT F. EISAN. 
 
 Was born in Bath, Maine, 1855; came to Cali- 
 fornia in 1868; married Jane Taylor of Oakland 
 in that city; they moved to Napa county in 1895 
 and bought a ranch of 160 acres; 60 acres are in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 283 
 
 cultivation, 30 acres of which is in vineyard and 
 small orchard; balance hay land; there are tine 
 magnesia springs on the ranch; Jersey and Dur- 
 ham dairy stock is raised, besides fancy pigeons 
 for sale. 
 
 Their children's names and date of birth are as 
 follows: Albert A., August 24, 1885; Ethel Jean, 
 October 8, 1887; Frank Bray ton, June 23, 1890; 
 Margarette, July 27, 1892; Kaymond Clarence, 
 September 3, 1894; all the above were born in 
 Oakland; James Henry, February 3, 1896 and 
 Alexander Ward, June 30, 1898, were born on the 
 ranch. 
 
 A. V. EVANS. 
 
 Cherry valley. New York, was the birth place 
 of this pioneer; the date was March 15, 1833. He 
 came to Napa in 1854 and owns 120 acres of land, 
 40 acres of which are in a high state of cultiva- 
 tion and on which is raised fruit, hay and grain. 
 This place is on Atlas Peak and has an elevation 
 of 1900 feet. Mr. Evans raised the first raspber- 
 ries in Napa and makes a specialty of Bartlett 
 pears. 
 
 Mr. Evans was married to Miss Susie Colbnrn, 
 
 This ranch was the place selected by the State 
 
 Board of Health of California as possessing the 
 
 greatest evenness of temperature except Camp 
 
 Yerd, Arizona, which stands first. 
 
 JOHN A. FULLER. 
 
 The present Mayor of the city of Napa, Avas 
 born on the east coast of England, in Lincoln- 
 shire, September 12th, 1828; his first appearance 
 in business was as an apprentice to the East In- 
 dia company, whom he served in Bombay, India, 
 and Australia After several voyages around the 
 world he arrived in California and went to the 
 
284 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 gold mines in wliicli he worked for seventeen 
 years, principally in Nevada county. In 186G he 
 went to Alaska on the John L. Stephens, in com- 
 I)any with the officers and soldiers under the com- 
 mand of Jefferson C. Davis, arriving October 8th, 
 1867, remaining there until the arrival of the U. 
 S. S. Ossipee, bringing General L. H. Rousseau, 
 U. S. A., who was sent as a commissioner to re- 
 ceive Alaska from Russia and who was the first 
 Governor of that territory. Our present Mayor 
 (1901), was a witness to the drawing down of the 
 Russian flag which had floated over the territory 
 for more than eighty years, and the raising of the 
 stars and stripes amid salvos of artillery. Alaska 
 thus transferred became a territory of the United 
 States for the price of |7,200,000. 
 
 Here Mr. Fuller lived for seven years and has in 
 his possession copies of the first newspaper ever 
 written in Alaska and the first ever printed; the 
 Sitka Times was the first written and the Alaska 
 Times the first printed, and Mr. Fuller contributed 
 the first poem printed in the first edition of that 
 paper. He also witnessed a total eclipse of the 
 sun at the head of the Lynn canal, from the obser- 
 vatory erected by Prof. Geo. H. Davidson, in com- 
 pany with W. H. Seward. 
 
 In 1870, he had the honor to entertain Lady 
 Jane Franklin and Miss Sophie Cracroft. He re- 
 turned to California in 1872 and purchasing prop- 
 erty of the late William O. Wallace, he settled in 
 Napa for good. 
 
 In 1884 he was elected City Trustee for one year. 
 In 1885 he was defeated by two or three votes, but 
 in 1886 he was re-elected and held the honorable 
 position of President of the Board of City Trus- 
 tees until 1897, when a new charter for the city 
 was voted upon and in 1899 he was elected Mayor, 
 which position he now holds. Mr. Fuller was mar- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 2» 
 
 ried in 1864 to Miss Kate Helmer of New York; 
 she died in 1887. On March 21st, 1889 he married 
 Miss Emma P. Waite of Vermont. 
 
 During the exciting times in San Francisco in 
 1850, Mr. Fuller was present, and the news that 
 California had been admitted into the Union was 
 received on October 18th of that year; he partici- 
 pated in the raising of the stars and stripes in that 
 city. Having just returned from the gold excite- 
 ment on Frazier river in the Cariboo Mining Dis- 
 trict of British Columbia, he was also present at 
 the raising of the flag over Oregon as a newJy ad- 
 mitted State into the Union in February, 1859. 
 
 Bancroft's history of the Pacific Coast records 
 him as being one of the first elected Councilmen 
 for the town of Sitka, Alaska, and he was also 
 elected Surveyor of that city in the fall of 1867, at 
 the first municipal election and surveyed the lots 
 that were given to the old employes of the Rus- 
 sian Fur Company as a reward for their past serv- 
 ices. At that time, as agent of the American-Rus- 
 sian Commercial Company, he directed all of their 
 operations in the fishing and lumber industries 
 during the term of his stay in that country and 
 shipped the first invoice of salmon to San Fran- 
 cisco after the transfer. He also erected a circular 
 saw mill which lessened the price of manufactur- 
 ed lumber so that the poor were enabled to buy it 
 and thus erect comfortable dwellings. All of the 
 logs were purchased from the Indiang. who man- 
 aged to keep the mill going, Mr. Fuller deal- 
 ing with them in such a manner as to retain their 
 good will and friendship. In 1869 he sawed 10,000 
 feet of yellow cedar as a present to Governor Sew- 
 ard to wainscoat his library in Auburn, New- 
 York, who was at the time on a visit to Alaska. 
 It seems that Mr. Fuller was capable of mastering 
 circumstances and of winning out in good form 
 
2S6 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 and now in the quiet contentment of his home 
 which is the acme of convenience and comfort, 
 fashioned, framed and decorated by his own 
 hands, adorned bj the curiosities picked up on his 
 extensive travels and which would be considered 
 a prize by any museum; he recalls the trials and 
 dangers of bygone days, honored and respected 
 by all, he awaits the summons which all must 
 obey. 
 
 GEORGE C. FOUNTAIN, 
 
 Son of H. K. and Eliza D. P\iuntain, was born 
 in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, on the 19th day 
 of January, 1826. When sixteen years of age lie 
 entered a mercantile firm as clerk, where he re- 
 mained five years. In 1847 Mr. Fountain located 
 in Wisconsin; returning home after a stay of two 
 years. In 1850 he started from New York, via 
 Panama, for San Francisco, arriving at the latter 
 place in May, 1851. He soon after entered into 
 the hay and grain trade and continued in that line 
 until 1856. In the fall of 1870 he moved to Napa 
 county and purchased fifty acres, where he now re- 
 sides, the location being a charming one on the 
 borders of St. Helena. He was married July 3d, 
 1858, to Miss Sarah Sidgreaves, a native of St. 
 Louis, Missouri. They have four children, Maggie, 
 George, Bud and Alice. At the present time Mr. 
 Fountain occupies the honorable place of Mayor 
 of St. Helena, and no worthier man could be found 
 in this lovely city to exercise this function than 
 he. 
 
 GEORGE M. FRANCIS 
 
 Was born in Pontiac, Mich., May 28th, 1844. He 
 lived on a farm and went to district sch6ol in his 
 early boyhood. At the age of 14 he entered the 
 Grant County Herald oflSce in Wisconsin, as an 
 apprentice, and was foreman of that oflftce, when 
 
G. M. FRANCIS, 
 
 ELditor of Register, Napa. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. SSf 
 
 in August, 1862, he enlisted in Company C, 25tlii 
 Wisconsin infantry, and served in the department 
 of the West to the end of the war, being with 
 Sherman on that General's famous march to the 
 sea. His first newspaper was the Butler County 
 (Iowa) Argus, which paper he started in 1865. The 
 venture was not a paying one as he sold the plant 
 and went to La Crosse, Wis., where he was con- 
 nected with the Daily Republican three years, 
 when in September, 1869, he came to California 
 and settled in San Francisco. In that city he 
 lived until August, 1870; he acquired an interest 
 in the Register, a weekly paper published in 
 Napa, M^hich paper he bought a few months later, 
 and built up into a daily and weekly journal. He 
 served as postmaster of Napa under President 
 Arthur and again in April, 1898, entered upon the 
 duties of postmaster under commission issued by 
 President McKinley. While he has been active in 
 politics and held various positions in that connee<^ 
 tion, his heart is, and always has been, in journal- 
 ism. His paper is his pride, and will be doubtless 
 to the end of his life. 
 
 June 14th, 1866, he married Miss Eliza H. Hor- 
 ton, in Lancaster, Wisconsin. He has three child- 
 ren, Mildred, Ethel and George H., the last named 
 is a graduate of Stanford University, married and 
 settled in Napa and associate editor of the Reg- 
 ister. 
 
 CHARLES HUGO FARMAN 
 
 Was born in Linkoping, Sweden, June 5, 1861. 
 When but eleven years of age he came to San 
 Francisco, arriving there in 1872. For three years 
 thereafter he pursued his studies in the public 
 schools of the metropolis. When fifteen years of 
 age he entered the ofiice of Dr. Birge and co n- 
 menced the study of dentistry, and after several 
 years of preparation entered the Dental College 
 
288 ' NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 of the University of Michigan, where he graduated 
 in 1890. In the spring of 1891, he located in Napa 
 city, where he has resided ever since, pursuing 
 meanwhile the practice of his profession. For 
 years past he has enjoyed the distinction of being 
 the foremost dentist in Napa county and one of 
 the very best and most competent and skilled 
 dentists in the State. Financial success has, from 
 the start, attended his work. He is the owner of 
 the Farman block, corner of First and Randolph 
 streets, a splendid structure that was designed by 
 Mr. Turten, the skilled architect. He also owns 
 his own residence, which is one of the best in the 
 county; the house is in the center of large, spac- 
 ious grounds and is studded about with large 
 evergreen and other beautiful trees. 
 
 Dr. Farman married Miss Emma W. Shogren in 
 1892; she is an accomplished and talented woman 
 with scholarly inclinations and a strong leaning 
 toward a literary life; a splendid help and assist- 
 ant is she to her husband. They are a happy 
 twain, with a home that is always full of sunshine. 
 They are both devoutly religious and valued mem- 
 bers of the Methodist church, within the circle of 
 which they are very active in all church work. 
 They have three children, Margaret Anna was 
 born in 1894; John Shogren in 1896 and Philip 
 Charles in 1899. 
 
 GEO. L. FIRESTINE 
 
 Was born in Canada in 1853, and emigrated to 
 San Jose, Calif., in 1892. In this classical and 
 prosy town he engaged in the grocery business, 
 but after a short time sold out and removed to the 
 present growing city of Napa and at once entered 
 into the boot and shoe trade in which business he 
 is still engaged. By attention to business, and 
 being scrupulously honest in all business affairs, 
 
L 
 
 Dr. Farman's Business BlocK, Napa 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 289 
 
 lie has built up a large trade. Mrs. Firestine is 
 gifted with a voice of great eompat-s and marvel- 
 ous sweetness, and is one of the leading singers in 
 the Methodist church choir. They are most esti- 
 mable people and honored citizens of the cit}^ of 
 their adoption. Mr, Firestine is a man of quiet 
 demeanor and modest in the extreme. 
 
 ARTHUR FRUS 
 
 Was born in New Zealand, 18(17; came to Cal- 
 ifornia 1872, and to Napa countj^ in 1898; owns a 
 ranch of 40 acres, of which he has improved 10 
 acres, devoted to grain, fruit and berries. 
 
 He makes a specialty of raising pure bred chick- 
 ens, of which he gives the preference to Minorcas 
 and Plymouth Rocks; in 1889 he married Carrie 
 Wai'n, in San Francisco, where she was born in 
 1871. They have two children Edna R., 1893 and 
 Rose, January 1st, 1900, both in Napa county. 
 
 ISAAC FITCH. 
 
 Clark county, Illinois, was the place of his birth, 
 and April 11, 1846, the date; he came to Califor- 
 nia in 1864 and arrived in Napa county in 1868. 
 
 There he married a lady from the same county 
 and State as himself, which I suppose brought 
 them together somewhat. They now live on the 
 first farm at the entrance to Wooden valley. He 
 was roadmaster for seven years and clerk of 
 school board for five years, which shows his neigh- 
 bors had confidence in him to a degree. 
 
 Mr. Fitch raises horses, cattle and hogs. They 
 have had seven children born and still living, 
 >Nancy E., 1872; Charles H., 1877; Isaac N., 1880; 
 David B., 1882; Cleveland B., 1884; Sadie B., 1887; 
 Edgar S., 1891. We cannot follow the lives of the 
 children further than to say that Nancy gradual- 
 
290 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ed out of the Napa High school, obtained a teach- 
 er's certificate of the grammar grade and is a 
 teacher in the public school in East Portland, Ore. 
 
 FERDINAND FISCHER 
 
 Was born in Switzerland in 1859, emigrated to 
 California, 1887; settled in Napa county the same 
 year; he has a nice place of 15 acres, half of which 
 is in grapes and grain. When he first came to 
 America he stayed a year in Washington, after- 
 wards coming to Pope valley, where he has lived 
 since. 
 
 P. FOSTER 
 
 Was born in Illinois, 1827; came to California 
 1852, and settled on the Foster ranch 1898; there 
 are 152 acres of which 50 acres are in crop, orch- 
 ard and vineyard, balance pasture land; married 
 Mary J. Foster in 1852, in Salt Lake; she was born 
 in Illinois, 1837; the children of this couple are: 
 Ida, 1862, born in California; Charles, born in 
 1879, in Missouri; Hattie Foster, 1867 (died 1892), 
 Carrie, 1874, born in Missouri; Luie Hancher was 
 a grandchild, being the son of Ida Hancher, nee 
 Foster. 
 
 WILLIAM FARLEY 
 
 Was born in Wooden valley, February 15, 1867, 
 and has since that time lived there. He married 
 Leonora Sweitzer in Napa, February 4, 1890; she 
 was born in Sonoma county, 1870, and they have 
 three children, Cleo Emil, 1891; Harvey Deuzil, 
 1894 and a baby not yet named. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Farley live on their own land and 
 are independent, happy and content; the yield of 
 their grain fields and orchards are ample to pro- 
 Tide for all which they may wish for. 
 
11 
 
 c. c. ross 
 
 St. Helena 
 
PROF. H. L. GUNN 
 
 Napa 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 291 
 
 C. C. FOSS 
 
 Was born in Albany, New York, December 10, 
 1856; came to California when but two years of 
 age with his parents; in 1886 he arrived in Napa 
 county and located at Calistoga; Mr. Foss has 
 been in business with his father in Healdsbur^-, 
 who started the first stage line in 1863 and in 1882 
 he was associated with his father, driving the 
 stage when but sixteen years of age. Mr. C. C. 
 Foss drives the daily stage to Geyser Springs; the 
 stage is drawn by six horses, and is known as the 
 Phenix route; a tourist trip over 26 miles of wild 
 and beautiful mountain scenery. 
 
 H. L. GUNN 
 
 The President of the Napa Business College, is 
 a native of Minnesota; came to California in 1869. 
 He received a business education in Heald's Busi- 
 ness College, San Francisco, and graduated from 
 the University of the Pacific, receiving the degree 
 of Ph. B., and three years later the degree 
 of A. M. Most of his years have been spent in 
 teaching. He taught one year in the public 
 schools of Minnesota; after coming to Califor- 
 nia he organized the commercial department in 
 the University of the Pacific, teaching there three 
 years; he then took up public school work, but be- 
 fore his first year was completed he was elected 
 principal of the commercial department of Napa 
 College, which department he organized and di- 
 rected for sixteen years. 
 
 He held the responsible position of Financial 
 Secretary of Napa College for ten years and has 
 had more or less experience with the accounts of 
 numerous business firms, and has served over six 
 years as Deputy County Clerk of Napa county. In 
 1894 he organized and established the Napa Busi- 
 
2S2 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ness College, whicli has been a progressive and 
 aggressive institution from the start and has suc- 
 ceeded far beyond the most sanguine expectations 
 and has splendid prospects for the future. 
 
 PRESTON GREEN GESFORD. 
 
 Among the foremost citizens of Napa county, 
 was Preston Green Gesford, who came of pioneer 
 stock. His father, who fought under General 
 Jackson at the battle of New Orleans, emigrated 
 from Virginia to Casey county, Kentucky, in 1802, 
 where the subject of this sketch was born April 
 IT, 1820. From there Mr. Gesford moved to Jack- 
 sonville, Illinois, where he lived until manhood. 
 On June 30, 1840, he was married to Louisa Jane 
 William, then settled near Galena, Illinois, where 
 he lived until the gold excitement of 1819. In the 
 spring of that year, crossed the plains with an ox 
 team to California, and settled in the upper Napa 
 valley, near St. Helena. In the spring of 1850 he 
 returned to Illinois for his family and brought 
 them to California by the way of the Isthmus, ar- 
 riving in San Francisco on the eighth day of Jan- 
 uary, 1851, and continuously^ since that time and 
 until his death, on the thirteenth day of Novem- 
 ber, 1896, he was a resident of Napa county, hav- 
 ing moved from St Helena to Napa city in 18.57, 
 and there purchased a farm. His widow, hale and 
 hear-ty, now aged 81 years, still resides upon the 
 old homestead near Napa city, and there are still 
 living seven of their children, all being residents 
 of this State Mr. Gesford served on the first trial 
 jury ever empanelled in Napa county. He took a 
 deep interest in public affairs, but notwithstand- 
 ing he was often solicited to become a candidate 
 for oflfice he preferred private life to public sta- 
 tion. He died as he lived, a good man. 
 
PRESTON GREEN GESFORD, 
 
 April 19tH. 1590. Aged 70 Years. 
 
A 
 
 i/ 
 
 "^^'Tff.-f, 
 
 Mk 
 
 m^ 
 
 HENRT C. GESrORD. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 293 
 
 HENRY C. GESFOKl) 
 
 Is the youngest son of Preston G. Gesford, one 
 of the earliest pioneers of Napa county, he waa 
 born near St. Helena, June 19, 185G, and obtained 
 his early education in the public schools of Napa 
 city and afterward took an extended course in 
 Napa College. After teaching two terms in the 
 county, he attendeil the State Normal school at 
 San Jose, where he graduated in 1876, after which 
 he was elected Superintendent of Schools in Napa 
 county, and held the office for two years. In 
 1881 he graduated from the State University of 
 Iowa, and then attended the law school of the 
 University of Michigan, taking a two years' course 
 in one and graduating therefrom in 1882. Upon 
 graduation from the University of Michigan, he 
 took up the practice of law in Napa city, and in 
 1887, he represented Napa and Yolo counties in 
 the State Senate, then the Ninth Senatorial dis- 
 trict, and he represented Napa and Lake counties 
 in the State Senate, then the Seventh Senatorial 
 district during the sessions of 1893 and 1895. Mr. 
 Gesford also served as District Attorney of Napa 
 county during the years of 1891 and 1892. He is 
 a man who stands high in fraternal circles, being 
 Past Grand President of the N. S. G. W., in which 
 order he takes great interest; is also a member of 
 the Masonic fraternity and the 1. O. O. F. Mr. 
 Gesford's home is in Napa city; his family consist.^ 
 of a wife and a young daughter. At the bar Mr. 
 Gesford occupies an eminent position, not only in 
 his native county but throughout the State. 
 
 P. S. GRANT 
 
 Was born in San Francisco, December 1st, 1867; 
 moved to St. Helena in 1873, where he attended 
 school until 1886. In February he went to work 
 
294 NAPA COUNT y. 
 
 as a fireman for the Southern Pacific Railway, and 
 after a time was promoted to engineer; continued 
 working on the railroad until June, 1894; he then 
 came back to St. Helena and started a cyclery and 
 machine shop in 1895 and has continued this busi- 
 ness ever since that time.; was elected to office as 
 City Trustee AjDril, 1898, and which he now holds 
 and also is foreman of Hose Co. No 1. In 1891, 
 April 15, he was married to Miss Mamie Hall, and 
 their children are three girls, aged 9, 6, and 2 
 years, respectively. 
 
 WILLIAM GORDON 
 
 Was the man Gordon valley Avas named after, 
 for he bought and owned it in 1851. He was born 
 in 1801, in Adams county, Ohio, and died in 1876, 
 at Cobb valley. Lake county, California, at the ad- 
 vanced age of 75 years. He was the father of nine 
 children, of whom three are now living. It is 
 readily seen he was one of the first American set- 
 tlers in California. 
 
 WILLIAM GORDON, JR. 
 
 W^as born in New Mexico, February 29, 1833; 
 came to California with his parents in 1840, and 
 Gordon valley was named after his father. The 
 subject of this sketch has a ranch of 1,200 acres, 
 of which 200 are in grain and fruit; stock raising 
 provides his income, principally horses, cattle and 
 hogs. He married Julia Chapman in 18«)0, at 
 Napa; she was born in Connecticut in 1840; (heir 
 children are as follows: Safronia, 1861, who died 
 1897; George, 1865; Frank L., 1867; William H., 
 1872; Loretta, 1878. There are at Mr. Gordon's 
 place many cui'ious Indian relics, also an Indian 
 buiying ground. Frank L. Gordon lives with his 
 father on the ranch; Mrs, Julia Chapman Gordon 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 295 
 
 died in 1897, and Mr. Gordon married again in 
 1898, October 30th, Miss Alice A. Gosling, in Ber- 
 ryessa valley. 
 
 JOSEPH GORDON 
 
 Was born in New Mexico (Taos), December 5, 
 1835; he has a ranch of 325 acres, of which 100 are 
 in a high state of cultivation; balance being pas- 
 ture land, and always has been a farmer and stock 
 raiser. 
 
 His wife is Ruth A. Glascock, of Woodland, 
 California, where they were married, but her 
 birthplace was Hannibal, Mo., and date 1842; she 
 crossed the plains with her parents by means of 
 horses and wagon. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Gordon have had three children: 
 James, Nellie and Joseph of whom Nellie alone 
 survives. 
 
 J. GRIMM, 
 
 Proprietor of Grimm's vineyard and wine cellar, 
 which was built in 1888, and has a capacit}' of 
 140,000 oak cooperage; the land conlains 405 acres 
 of which 75 acres are improved, 70 acres being in 
 vines and five acres in orchard; in 1899 there was 
 40,000 gallons of wine made here; there is also a 
 distillery for the manufacture of brandy, also a 
 bottling establishment; these goods generally are 
 sold to the retail trade of San Francisco. 
 
 NELSON GAUTHIER 
 
 W^as born in Canada, 1833, emigrated to the 
 United States, 1849; came to San Francisco, 1872; 
 arrived at Napa Soda Springs 1876, working at 
 the stonemason's trade; it was he who built Bell- 
 view building at the springs, without help, except 
 occasionally, and has done all the mason's work 
 about the springs; he married Emily Kincade at 
 
2S6 NAPA COUNTY. : 
 
 Yallejo in 1874, who was born in Kentucky, 1859; 
 their children are Agnes Gauthier, 1876; Hattie, 
 1879 (married Hewell.) 
 
 LOUIS M. GIAUQUE, 
 
 Born in Switzerland, 1835; came to California 
 1840; to Napa county 1870; married Louisa Hohns 
 1865; live children were born to them, Louis Ed- 
 ward, 1867, Sacramento; William H., 1870; born 
 same city; Mary, 1875, Napa county; Ida, 1879^ 
 Napa county, George, 1882, Napa. Mr. L. M. 
 (jiauque owns what is known as the old Sage 
 ranch, located on the corner of Chiles canyon and 
 consists of 160 acres. A fire destroyed their home 
 in 1899; W. H., son of L. M. Giauque, married Etta 
 Chinette, bom in Portland, Oregon, in 1880 and 
 has one child, Elsie, born in 1898; he owns 40 acres 
 of the old ranch. 
 
 H. K. GliOTEGUTH 
 
 Was born in Germany, May 11th, 1847; emigrat- 
 ed to America when 10 years of age; settled in 
 Illinois; started for California in 1859; came to 
 Sacramento and from there to Napa county where 
 he has lived ever since; owns a farm of 200 acres, 
 of which 125 are in cultivation; has a small vine- 
 yard, five acres of prunes, three acres of pears and 
 raises cattle, horses and hogs; maiTied Alice 
 young, 1886, she was born in Iowa; the children 
 are Lelia BeUe, 1888; Edna May, 1890; Azelia 
 Alice, 1893; Harry E., 1895; Virlee E., 1898; all 
 born in Pope yalley. 
 
 JACKSON GRIDLEY 
 
 Was born in New York, 1832; settled in Napa 
 county, 1852; in 1864 he bought the "Old Gridley 
 Ranch" on Dry creek, where he died, 1882; ho 
 
SAMUEL E. HOLDEN 
 
 Napa 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 297 
 
 married Placida Hardman, 1855, who was born iu 
 Jndiana^ 1840; the children are Jane A., Minnie; 
 M., Etta M., Eugene J., Laura A., Reuben A. The 
 widow still resides on the home place with her 
 children Minnie, Reuben and Eugene. 
 
 Jackson Gridley crossed the plains with an ox 
 team and was the first person to introduce bees in 
 Napa county; he obtained |100 for each swarm 
 and ever enjoyed the presence of the humble but 
 industrious bee. Minnie Gridley is married to Mr. 
 West of Napa. 
 
 SAMUEL E. HOLDEN 
 
 Was born in West Concord, New Hampshire, 
 February 3, 1845, nearly fifty-six years ago. Ver- 
 ily, he has fallen with the sun still high. When 
 the dark days of the civil conflict came on he was 
 still a young man pursuing his studies in the New 
 Hampshire Conference Seminary. Hearing the 
 call of his country he laid aside his books and pat 
 <jff his school garb for the soldier's rifle, and the 
 ''army blue," tramping, sleeping, fighting under 
 the Stars and Stripes, an enlisted soldier of the 
 Sixteenth New Hampshire Volunteers, serving 
 the full term. After the "muster-out" he resumed 
 his studies, graduating from Wesleyan Universi- 
 ty, Middletown, Connecticut, in 18(50. He then 
 studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1872. 
 In the year of his graduation he married Miss 
 Mary E. Taylor, of Saubornton, New Hampshire. 
 In the spring of 1875 they came to California, and 
 on April 11th were received on certificate into the 
 Napa Church. On the 4th of the following month 
 Mrs. Holden "died in peace." In 1879 Brother 
 Holden was married to Miss Anna Smyth, of 
 Mount Vernon, Iowa. She and three sons sur- 
 vive him. One son, Robt. S., is getting his educa- 
 tion in his father's Alma Mater. Harold and Phil- 
 
29S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ip are at home in Napa, the former a student in 
 the high school, the latter in the grammar school. 
 One little girl, Gracie, preceded the father to the 
 better land. For twenty-five years Brother Holden 
 has been one of Napa's most prominent and pub- 
 lic-spirited citizens. He has been extensively en- 
 gaged in the manufacturing and tanning busi- 
 ness. Twice he was elected a member of the City 
 Council, and no more faithful, capable, upright 
 servant ever sat on its board. His fellow towns- 
 men speak of him with great respect, and tell of 
 his interest in all that was for the city's welfare. 
 During the stress of hard times a few years ag(i, 
 for the sake of his employees and their families, 
 he stood financially under business concerns that 
 were run at a continuous loss. It was the pres- 
 sure of many business cares and the attendant 
 strain of numerous responsibilities that caused 
 his physical breakdown about two years ago; and, 
 although he seemed better at times, he made no 
 permanent gain but gradually grew worse and 
 weaker, until he entered into rest. If his useful- 
 ness as a man and public citizen were measured 
 by his business activities, his would be a life of 
 much value. But he gave to his generation other 
 varied and valued services that make his life of 
 greater worth than had he simply been an ener- 
 getic and successful business man. As President 
 of the Board of Trustees of Napa College he did 
 his best for the welfare of that institution. As a 
 Trustee of the University of the Pacific he was 
 not wanting in interest in its success. He was 
 also a prominent and useful member of the Lay 
 Association of the California Conference, Mr. 
 Holden departed this life on December 31st, 1900 
 —the last day of the twentieth century. "Immor- 
 tality o'ersweeps all time, all tears, all pain, all 
 fears, and peals like the eternal thunders of the 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 29^ 
 
 deep into my ears this truth, 'thou liveth for- 
 ever.' " 
 
 E. D. HAM. 
 
 E. D. Ham was born in Alabama in 1839; to- 
 gether with his parents, moved to Arkansas in 
 1854; here he worl^ed on his father's farm in sum- 
 mer and attended school in winter. 
 
 In 1857, entered Arkansas College, where he 
 pursued a course of study, after which he took 
 up the study of law, and in due course of time 
 entered upon the practice of his profession. But 
 his career at the bar was short, as the flames of 
 rebellion had now broken out and this young 
 spirit was one of the first to rally under the ilag 
 in defense of its honor. 
 
 The people of Napa County should be proud to 
 honor a man who had the courage to leave the hot 
 bed of disunion in the heart of the South, and go 
 North, as Judge Ham did when but a young man, 
 and on February 15th, 1862, joined the Union 
 army under General Curtis. 
 
 At the battle of Prairie Grove young Ham 
 showed such bravery, coolness and good judgment 
 that he was soon after made a major and was 
 transferred to the staff of General John M. Scho- 
 field, afterwards commander-in-chief of the United 
 States army. On October 13th, 1862, General 
 Schofield, at Cassville, issued his famous order 
 directing all commanders in the Army of the 
 Frontier to furnish Captain Ham, chief of scouts, 
 with as many men as he might require at their 
 hands. Any soldier will assure our readers that 
 the bravest of the brave are selected and required 
 for the position of scouts, as we have recently 
 learned from the exploits of Colonel, now General, 
 Punston in Cuba and the Philippine war. 
 
?00 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Major Ham was undoubtedly one of the nervi- 
 est, coolest and bravest men that ever faced death 
 on any field. His selection as captain and chief 
 of scouts is eloquent in its evidence of what was 
 thought of him by the officers of the Civil War, 
 most of whom are long since gone to their ftnal 
 rest. In every place to which young Ham was 'ail- 
 ed to act durng the war he did his duty well yes, 
 nobly, and at the close of the war returned to 
 private life and re-entered the field as a legal 
 practitioner. 
 
 In 1864, while Major Ham was serving with his 
 regiment, his people at home elected him a State 
 Senator for the countie^i of Benton and Madison, 
 in the State of Arkansas, which place he held 
 until 1865, and during this period was chairman 
 of the Judiciary Committee, a fitting testimonial 
 to his ability as a lawyer from the Legislature 
 of that great State. 
 
 In March, 1865, President Lincoln, in order to 
 reward Major Ham in a slight degree for his dis- 
 tinguished services on the field of battle, appoint- 
 ed him United States District Attorney for Ar- 
 kansas. In 1868 he was appointed Judge of the 
 Circuit Court for the Fifth District of Arkansas 
 and filled this place with credit and honor until 
 April 1st, 1874, when he resigned to remove to 
 California, and soon after settled at Napa, where 
 he commenced the practice of law. In 1890 he was 
 elected a Republican Superior Judge of Napa 
 County. In 1806 he was re-elected, and is now fill- 
 ing the position he has so long graced with his 
 ability and integrity. He has a wife and three 
 grown daughters. 
 
 Through the judicious and enonomical man- 
 agement of the court, over which he presides vast 
 sums of money are saved each year to the people 
 and county. His decisions are, with very few ex- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 301 
 
 ceptions, always sustained by the Supreme Court 
 He is fair, honest, tender-hearted, a good father, 
 kind neighbor, and good citizen, and probably the 
 best judge Napa County ever had or ever will 
 have. Long may he live. 
 
 ANTHONY HUBBS 
 
 Is a son of the late Colonel Paul K. Hubbs, 
 and was born in Lyons, France, of American par- 
 entage, April 4th, 1834. He was educated in the 
 public schools of Brooklyn, N. Y., and Holems- 
 burg. Pa., graduating from the grammar schools 
 of the latter place at the age of 14 years. 
 
 During the gold excitement of 1849 he came to 
 California, Vvith his parents, around Cape Horn 
 in the ship Susan G. Owens, from Philadelphia, 
 arriving October 12th, 1849, after a passage of 158 
 days. 
 
 Soon after his arrival he obtained employment 
 as roller boy in the office of the Alta Californian, 
 where he remained until after the fire of May, 
 1850, when the building and contents were en- 
 tirely destroyed. He then went to the mines of 
 El Dorado and Tuolumne counties and mined with 
 ^ arying success until 1852. He then came to Val- 
 lejo, the then capital of the State. The Legisla- 
 ture being in session he obtained a position as 
 copyist in the office of the Governor, Bigler. In 
 1854 he held a clerkship with General J. W. Den- 
 ver, Secretary of State, at Sacramento, until ill 
 health caused hira to resign and return to Solano 
 County, where, in 1857, he was elected County 
 Treasurer, and re-elected in 1859, holding this 
 office two terms. In December, 18G6, he was ap- 
 pointed license clerk by the Hon. Robert Watt, 
 State Controller, and afterward promoted to the 
 position of bookkeeper in the office of Controller, 
 holding that position for four years. In 1876 he 
 
302 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 was re-appointed and held the same position under 
 J. W. Mandeville and W. B. C. Brown, and also for 
 a time by D. M. Kenfield and J. G. Drum. 
 
 He afterwards served five years as navigation 
 clerk and clerk of equipment stores at the Mare 
 Island Navy Yard, being appointed by the Hon. 
 AV. C. Whitne}^, Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 On November 21, 1861, he was married at Fair- 
 field, Solano County, to Miss Martha A. Bryant, 
 of Suisun, They are the parents of five children, of 
 whom three are now living. Coming to Calistoga 
 in September, 1893, he bought the stationery, 
 variety store and news depot of L. Haeckl, which 
 business he is now engaged in conducting. He is 
 a member of the Masonic Fraternity, the Ancient 
 Order of United Workmen, and a past vice-presi- 
 dent of the Vallejo Society of California Pioneers. 
 In politics he is a life-long Democrat. 
 
 His early ancestors on his father's side were 
 Quakers, who came to America with William 
 Penn in 1682. On his mother's side his grand- 
 father. Captain Andrew Hedelius, served as an 
 officer with Captain John Paul Jones on the ship 
 Bon Homme Kichard, which captured the British 
 ship Seraphis in that desperate naval battle off 
 the British coast in 1779. 
 
 Anthony Hubbs is now serving his second term 
 as trustee of the town of Calistoga; in 1896 he was 
 elected to serve four years; on September 5th, 
 1899, he was made president of the board; on May 
 1st, 1900, he was appointed to fill a vacancy for 
 the unexpired term occasioned bv a resignation, 
 and has been, and is now, (1901) the chairman of 
 the finance committee 
 
 GEORGE HEAD. 
 
 This pioneer was born in 1837 of German par- 
 ents. He learned the trade of manufacturing 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 303 
 
 boots and shoes in New York. In the year 1858 
 we find him in battle with Indians at Pyramid 
 Lake in company with Benj. V. Hagan, sheriff, 
 in which they lost one man. The Indians being in 
 ambush, they left the job of subjecting the red- 
 skins to the regular troops which soon came upon 
 the scene. Geo. Head was the youngest volunteer 
 in the company. In those days the volunteers that 
 went out to fight the Indians had the pleasur.ir 
 of furnishing their own horses, guns and amuni- 
 tion, as well as food, blankets, etc. In 1863 George 
 Head opened up the shoe store in Napa, and was 
 always a successful merchant, and was the pioneer 
 in that line in Napa City, having the oldest shoe 
 store being the first. About five years ago he re- 
 tired from business, his son George now being the 
 manager. 
 
 Mr. Head was married January 1st, 1860, at 
 New Orleans Flat, Nevada county, to Miss Mary 
 Miller, of St. Louis, and they had nine children, 
 five boys and four girls, in the following order: 
 Agnes, 1861, Nevada County; Charles, 1863, (died, 
 1895); William, 1865; George, 1870; Pauline, 1871; 
 Flora, 1873; Mabel, 1876; Floyd, 1883; Ralpli, 1887. 
 
 M. M. HAAS 
 
 Was born in Napa in 1871; attended grammar 
 school and finished his education in Napa Busi- 
 ness College. The business in which Mr. Haas 
 is engaged is in stationery, books, toys and varie- 
 ties, which business was established 35 years ago 
 by Mr. Haas' father, Mr. D. L. Haas. The present 
 owner has incorporated the business and is the 
 manager and one of the largest stockholders. Mr. 
 Haas married Miss Madeline Manser in Napa, 
 November 24, 1899, and they have one child, 
 Thelma, born in Napa, August 24, 1900. Mr. Haas 
 
204 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 is past president of Napa Parlor, N. S. G. W., and 
 a member of the I. O. O. F. 
 
 PROF. GEORGE HUSMAN 
 
 Was born in Germany in 1827, and came to 
 California in 1850; returned East, but came baik 
 and settled in Napa County in 1876; mai'riei 
 Louisa Kielmaun in Missouri in 1852. fc^he was 
 born in Penns3iyania in 1836. 
 
 The children born to this couple are as follows: 
 Louisa, 1854; Amelia W., 1859; Geo. C., 1861; Jo- 
 hanna C. and Josephine L., 1865; F, L., 1868; all 
 born in Missouri. 
 
 Geo. C. and F. Ia Husman run a ranch con- 
 sisting- of 181 acres, of which 50 acres are vine- 
 yard and 38 acres in grain, balance pasture and 
 timber land. They liave a large stone wdne cel- 
 lar with a capacity of 25,000 gallons. They have 
 a fine stone building on the place and raise a va- 
 riety of grapes, which are made into a variety of 
 wines of high grade for family use. 
 
 JOSEPH W. HARRIS. 
 
 Joseph W. Harris is a native Californian, hav- 
 ing been born in Napa County on the 18th of 
 April, 1858, and, excepting about six years of his 
 childhood, has always lived in tliis County. 
 
 He owns a splendid ranch of 1,600 acr.^s, 
 of which about 400 acres are sown to grain, the 
 balance lai'gely being pasture land, on which are 
 to be seen some fine specimens of Durham cattle, 
 standard breeds of horses, hogs, etc. 
 
 On this ranch are found great indications of 
 coal oil, for the development of which a company 
 has been formed for sinking wells, etc., and active 
 operations will be made in 1901. Tn 1881 he mar- 
 ried Henrietta (^lark, who was born in Iowa, on 
 INovember 4th, 1860, and the children are as fol- 
 
03 
 
 < 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 305 
 
 lows: Lorenzo L., April 8, 1889; Clifford C, July 
 ]4, 1895; Electa E., Sept. 28th, 1896; Albert A., 
 October 16, 1898. 
 
 I. B. HARDMAN 
 
 Is a native son, being born in Pope Valley, Napa 
 County, in 1856. He owns his own place of 360 
 acres, 40 being in grain, orchard and vineyard, 
 balance in pasture land, on which stock is raised. 
 A flock of full-blooded Minorca chickens is 
 found here. Rebecca Ellen Hardman lives with 
 her brother, I. B. Hardman. She was born in 1851 
 in Napa County, where she has always lived. 
 
 E. HOPPE. 
 
 This man was one of the celebrated, but un- 
 fortunate Donner party. He was born in Missouri 
 in 1844, came to California in 1846, and his family 
 came in 1886. He owns his fine ranch of 160 acres, 
 of which he has 10 acres improved, and raises 
 stock on balance. 
 
 In 1880 he married Ida Caler, who was born in 
 San Francisco in 1860. The children are three in 
 number, Charles Edwin, 1883; Norma O., 1886, 
 and John W., 1888, all born in San Francisco.' 
 
 ELIZABETH HILL 
 
 Was born in East Tennessee, 1815, and her hus- 
 band, Wm. R. Hill, was born in 1814. He canie to 
 .California in 1850, returned East, and again, in 
 1854, went back to California, accompanied by 
 his son, Thomas H. In 1856 Thomas returnedy 
 and with his mother and her five children crossed 
 the plains in 4 months and 22 days. 
 
 While crossing Nebraska a band of hostile In- 
 dians stole sixteen head of cattle and eight head 
 of horses. Thomas Hill, her son, and some other 
 young men pursued the Indians, endeavoring to 
 
306 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 recover their property. The Indians ambushed 
 the young men, and when they came within shot 
 opened fire upon them, two fell dead, one of whom 
 was Thomas, the others escaped with wounds, 
 and managed to return to the train. His mother 
 said he was such a good boy, and it nearly broke 
 her heart to see one she loved so dear lying dead 
 and scalped, who but a few minutes ago was well 
 and happy. But such is life on the plains. 
 
 Mrs. Hill is the mother of Kant Hill, of Napa 
 Soda Springs, and who is well-known throughout 
 this county. Mrs. Hill had six children, three of 
 whom are dead. When Mrs. Hill came to Napa 
 City in 1856, it consisted of a small town of 
 shanties. "There was no Catholic Church, no 
 Court House, nor any good buildings." Mr. Will- 
 iam Hill, her husband, died in Napa County Jan- 
 uary 16, 1891. 
 
 ALFRED C. HILL, 
 
 Known as "Rant'' Hill, was born in Missouri, 
 May 20, 1843. He crossed the plains and came to 
 Napa in 1856, taking six months with ox 
 teams to reach this place from Missouri. In the 
 said train there were about 50 persons and 1000 
 head of stock. After an adventurous life at stock 
 herding and gold mining he finally settled down 
 near Napa Soda Springs on a ranch, and has re- 
 mained there ever since. 
 
 Mr. Hill is now, and has been for 20 years past, 
 foreman of the bottling works at Napa Soda 
 Springs. He was married to Miss Lena Leon- 
 hardt July 23, 1876. She was born in California 
 in 1859. Their children are: Minnie L., May 6, 
 1877; William C. Hill, Doc. 20, 1878; Angela Hill, 
 May 4, 1883; Jessie Hill, May 5, 1887; Albert Hill, 
 April 14, 1891. 
 
 Mr. Hill's family moved to Napa from the Soda 
 
NAPA COUNTY. i " 307 
 
 Springs in 1890, to enable the children to enjoy] 
 the educational adantages of the city. 
 
 CHARLES F. HOBSON 
 
 Was born in 1866, and arrived in Napa County; 
 in 1869; married Marie L. Gressot in Napa County 
 in 1888. She was born in California in 1867. They 
 have four children, born and named as follows: 
 Iven L., 1889; Arthur M., 1890; Carrie A., 1893; 
 Marshel F., 1896. 
 
 This place was originally known as the Clag- 
 horn ranch, owned by a relation of the former 
 queen of Hawaii. There are 240 acres of which 
 20 are in cultivation. A specialty is made on this 
 place of fowls and turkeys. 
 
 THERON INK 
 
 Was born in the State of New York, and mar- 
 ried Harriet Groodrich ; died in 1894 at St. Helena. 
 The children born were May I. Ink and J. G. Ink. 
 Mr. Theron Ink owned more than 10,000 acres in 
 Napa County, and was engaged in stock raising. 
 
 J. G. INK. 
 
 Born in Marin County, California, 1872; came to 
 Napa in 1874, and since that time has made his 
 home here. He owns 600 acres, farms and raises 
 stock, 80 acres being in cultivation. In 1895 he 
 married Edith L. Sweitzer, who was born in Ber- 
 ryessa valley in 1874. They have one child, The- 
 ron Herbert, born on the Ink ranch, February 19, 
 1898. 
 
 E. W. JAENSCH 
 
 Was born in Germany February 6th, 1837; emi- 
 grated to the United States in 1863; came direct to 
 Napa County and engaged for the first few years 
 in farming and mining. In 1866 he opened a gen- 
 
308 ' NAPA COUNTY., 
 
 era! mercliandise business on First street, near 
 Main street, and from 1870 to 1880 he was engaged 
 in the same business on the corner of First and 
 Main streets. In 1880 he built a structure on the 
 corner of First and Brown and moved his business 
 into it, and in 1888 he sold out and retired from 
 active business. Mr. Jaensch owns several busi- 
 ness buildings in Napa City. In 1897 he was 
 elected councilman, and still holds the same office. 
 He married Miss Helen Schultz in 1879, in Lon- 
 don, England. Their children consist of one son 
 and two daughters, Cora and Elsie. The son, Ed- 
 win, is a student in the University of California 
 at Berkeley. 
 
 COL. JOHN P. JACKSON, 
 
 A native of Ohio, came to California in the six- 
 ties. While in the East he resided in Covington, 
 Kentucky, but practiced law across the river in 
 Cincinnati, Ohio. This profession was followed 
 for a period of fifteen years, during which time 
 he took a very active part in the politics of both 
 Ohio and Kentucky. 
 
 While in the East he served as a Presdential 
 elector and held many places of trust. In 18G4 he 
 was nominated for Governor of Kentucky on the 
 Republican ticket. He was tendered the place of 
 first assistant Secretary of the Treasury under 
 Grant's administration. He was also tendered 
 the nomination of congressman in his Kentucky 
 district, but declined, as he had contemplated 
 going west. 
 
 After settling here he built the California Pa- 
 cific Railroad, and afterward became its presi- 
 dent. He subsequently built the Stockton and Cop- 
 peropolis road, and also the Stockton and Visalia 
 Railroad. As an orator he was one of the best in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. ' 309 
 
 the State. Under the administration of President 
 McKinley he was made Collector of the Port of 
 San Francisco. 
 
 For many years past he has managed the Napa 
 Soda Springs, from which source he received a 
 large revenue by the sale of the water, which is 
 bottled and shipped to all parts of the State. He 
 was married to Miss Anna Hooper, a Kentucky 
 belle, in 1857. They have nine children, seven 
 boys and two girls. Nearly every child possesses 
 in a large sense, the urbanity and kind disposi- 
 tion of the father. A noble man, honored by all. 
 In the winter of 1900-01, while undergoing an 
 operation for gravel, he suddenly expired. His 
 death was unexpected by his own family, and a 
 great surprise to the people of the State. His gen- 
 eral health was good up to the hour when he 
 yielded himself to the mercy of the surgeons. 
 His sudden death was a public calamity, and a 
 great loss to this county. 
 
 THOMAS JACKSON 
 
 Was born in Ohio, in 1853; came to Napa 
 County in 1855, and married Kansas Bonham in 
 Napa County in 1880. There are seven children, 
 Ade E., 1882; Reba L., 1884; Cora, 1886; Nancy J., 
 1888; Martha L., 1891; Maggie A., 1893, and Amy 
 E., 1897. 
 
 This ranch is in Chiles Valley and comprises 
 188 acres, of which 75 are in cultivation, includ- 
 ing a small orchard. Mr. Jackson has been 
 road-master for about 12 years, and is a super- 
 visor for district No. 5, which commences in Conn 
 Valley, going up Sage Canyon and through Chiles 
 Valley. The altitude at the home of Mr. Jack- 
 son is about 1000 feet. 
 
 This is the only family having seven children, 
 
310 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 all of whom are girls, that could be found in Kapa 
 Valley. 
 
 THE OLD JACKSON KANCH 
 
 Was a part of the Chiles Grant, bought in 1889 
 by Dawson Jackson, and contains 388 acres, of 
 which 100 acres are in cultivation, mostly grain, 
 including orchard. 
 
 In 1847 he married Josephine Gaffany, in Iowa. 
 She was born in Ireland in 1830. Their children 
 are as follows: Sarah Jackson Moore, born in Iowa 
 1848; Mary Jackson Cathcart, born in Iowa, 1851; 
 Thomas Jackson, born in Iowa, 1853; James Jack- 
 son, born in Napa County, 1855; Charles Jackson, 
 born in Napa County, 1857; Margaret Jackson 
 Gilson, born in Napa County, 1860; Robert H. 
 Jackson (died, 1864), born in Napa County,1862; 
 Martha Jackson Raney, born in Napa County, 
 1864; Eveline A. Jackson McLaughlin, born in 
 [Napa County, 1866; Andrew Jackson (died, 1875), 
 born in Napa County, 1873. 
 
 James Jackson rents his mother's place. 
 
 D. S. KYSER 
 
 Came to Napa in 1875 and worked at the State 
 Hospital. On October 14, 1876 the firm of J.Giles 
 Furniture Company was formed, and Mr. Kyser 
 was of this corporation, known to be the oldest 
 and most complete furniture and undertaking es- 
 tablishment in the county. The present location 
 is known as the "Williams Block," situated on 
 North Main street, next to the post office, and has 
 a frontage of 80 feet. It presents a first class ap- 
 pearance, besides having the largest display of 
 up-to-date furniture, unequalled in any town out- 
 side of San Francisco. 
 
 October 14, 1876, Mr. Kyser married Nettie 
 Giles, who was born in Boston, Mass., but who 
 
NAPA COUNTY. f :/' sn 
 
 died in March, 1901, leaving three children, James, 
 Frankie and Margie. Mr. Kyser was born in Penn- 
 sylvania, April 9, 1852, and left his home for 
 Napa, California, where he arrived August 1, 1875. 
 
 PHILLIP KEENE. 
 
 This gentleman was born in England in 1851, 
 arriving in America in 1893, came direct to Napa 
 County, where he purchased the Bungalow Fruit 
 Eanch, principally devoted to prunes and peaches, 
 and makes a specialty of fine chickens. 
 
 He married an English girl, Mary E. Mason 
 (who was born in 1853), in 1878, and the issue of 
 the marriage were Ivy S., 1881; John, 1883; Kuby, 
 1885; Warren, 1887; Maude, 1889; Eonald, 1892. 
 
 KEV. ENSIGN H. KING. 
 
 Thfis gallant old hero was born in 1838 in 
 Pennsylvania and emigrated to California in 
 1871, to Napa in 1883. He married Fidelia C. 
 Wilson, of Ohio, in 1845. November 4, 1861, he 
 enlisted in the Fifteenth regiment of Iowa Vol un- 
 teers as a private, was promoted to first sergeant, 
 again to second lieutenant, and again to first 
 lieutenant, as adjutant, afterwards chaplain. 
 During this time he participated in the following 
 bloody battles for the preservation of the Union 
 and our national life: Pittsburg Landing, or 
 Shiloh; Corinth, Vicksburg, Atlanta, and marched 
 M'ith Sherman to the sea— a glorious military 
 career. 
 
 Since these stirring scenes he has been an active 
 minister of the gospel in the Methodist Church 
 until 1888, since which time he has been superan- 
 nuated. 
 
 The children of his union with Miss Wilson 
 are as follows: Percival S. King, 1866; Lyman 
 
212 NAPA COUNTY. 1 
 
 M., 1869; George C, 1872, Mary M., 1874; Delia 
 W., 1883, who died in California in 1889. 
 
 Daughter Mary King graduated from Napa 
 College in 1886, and has taught school from 1897 
 to 1899. 
 
 Pereival King was a member of the National 
 Guard at the time of the great railroad strike- 
 now attorney at law. Lyman is also practicing 
 law. 
 
 HENRY LANGE 
 
 Is proprietor of the Grand Hotel in St. Helena, 
 which contains thirty rooms, with good accommo- 
 dations, large dining room, with good table de 
 hote, free bus to and from the depot. The fact 
 that this house has enjoyed a good patronage for 
 the past twenty j^ears, demonstrates that the pub- 
 lic are well pleased with the service obtained here. 
 
 Mr. Lange is also the owner of Olive Hill vine- 
 yard, situated near Zinfandel station, on the west 
 side of Napa valley, and consists of twenty-one 
 acres in vineyard, olives and orchard of assorted 
 fruits. He also has a fine wine cellar, with a ca- 
 pacity of 30,000 gallons and manufactures both 
 white and red wines. 
 
 Mr. Lange was born in Germany, and emigrat- 
 ed to the United States in 1857, and came to Napa 
 county in 1878, and settled on the ranch he still 
 owns. Mr. Lange is one of the best posted men 
 on viticulture, having had tweuty-three years 
 experience, and having made as much as 80,000 
 gallons of wine in one season, and gives it as his 
 opinion that Napa county will lead in viticul- 
 ture, and produce the best wines of any other 
 county in the State, especially as to quality, as 
 from past experience we know just what vines to 
 plant. He has been Trustee of Vineland District 
 
m^ IRf^ 
 
 HENRY LANGE, 
 
 St. Helena. J 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 313 
 
 for nine years, resigning to remove to St. Helena. 
 He is also the agent for the German Hospital in 
 San Francisco and one of St, Helena's most ener- 
 getic business men. 
 
 He married Sophia Huber in San Francisco, in 
 1875; she was born in Germany; this couple have 
 nine children, Charles, Carrie, Henry, Philip, 
 Sophia, William, Henrietta, Chester and Eliza- 
 beth. 
 
 J. O. LEVA, 
 
 Of Sage canyon, was born in Portugal, 1855; 
 emigrated to California 1873; came to Napa coun- 
 ty 1882; bought his ranch 1887. When he lirst 
 visited this ranch on his way there he met a bear 
 in the road, saw deer on the place and on the sur- 
 rounding mountains. This was what was then 
 known as the old J. Hall's place in Sage canyon, 
 and is celebrated for the fine mountain stream 
 which runs through the place, affording trout 
 tishing. 
 
 S. T. LAKE 
 
 Was born in New York; came to Napa county 
 1853 and settled on what is known as the Buhu- 
 man Dairy ranch, which was then owned by S. 
 T. Lake's father-in-law. He married Francis A. 
 Mount, in New Jersey; their children are: Han- 
 nah Lake, (died in Yallejo); Theodore, born in 
 New Jersey, 1852; John, born in New Jersey, 
 1851; Napa Lake, W\ H. Lake, Carrie Lake 
 (married Boutcher); Amelia (married Stork); Lil- 
 lian (married Belknap). W. H. Lake married Ora 
 B. Horn, 1883, who was born 1864, in Napa coun- 
 ty; their children are: Edith Lake, 1884; Edna 
 Lake, 1887; Lola, 1893. 
 
 Mr. Lake owns his own home and lives in iSapa 
 city and works at the carpenter trade. 
 
214 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 I WALTER ADELBERT LEONARD 
 
 Was born in Napa county on the old Leonard 
 ranch; is now living on the John Martinelli ranch 
 which contains 150 acres, all of which is under 
 cultivation, including five acres of orchard. This 
 citizen has always lived a farmer's life and enjoys 
 it. In 1893 he married Miss Carrie Straube who 
 was born in 1876, in Napa county. They have one 
 child, Edna Irene Leonard, born 1894. 
 
 CHARLES L. LEVANSALER 
 
 Was born in Maine, 1845, and came to Califor- 
 nia; he then left for Oregon, where he mined for 
 gold on the John Days river three years; visited 
 Portland in 1862, when it was a new town and one 
 of the principal blocks in that city now could then 
 have been purchased for a trifle. He returned to 
 Napa in 1871 and engaged in the draying business 
 in which he is still engaged, having associat- 
 ed himself with the People's Express Company." 
 
 He has been lessee and manager of the Napa 
 Opera House for the past fifteen years. He mar- 
 ried Mary Eggleston 1873, who was born in Napa 
 and died there in 1888. Their children are: 
 Joseph E., 1876; George, 1878; Mary Francis, 
 1880; Hazel, 1882; Bover, 1885. In 1892 Mr. Lev- 
 ansaler married Mrs. Lyettie Phelps, a native 
 daughter; the chihlren by this marriage are: 
 Edith, Olive and Russell J. 
 
 FRANK BENNETT MACKINDER, 
 
 Editor and proprietor of the St. Helena Star, 
 was born in Young America, Washington county, 
 AVisconsin, September 28, 1866. With his parents 
 he came to California, when only three years old. 
 The family made its home in Healdsburg, Sonoma 
 county, a short time and then moved to Windsor^ 
 
r. B. MACniNDER, 
 
 Elrditor of St. Helena Star. 
 
:' NAPA COUNTY. 315 
 
 where the subject of this sketch attended the pub- 
 lic school. When but fourteen years of age the 
 serious illness of his father made it necessary for 
 him to quit school and assist in the conduct and 
 care of the large blacksmithing and wagonmak- 
 ing business which had become too great a bur- 
 den for an invalid to carry. He attended to near- 
 ly every branch of the business and all his sjjare 
 time worked at the blacksmith trade. When his 
 parents later made an extended visit to the East 
 he managed the entire business, although not yet 
 sixteen years old. In 1884 the business was sold 
 and the family moved to St. Helena, Napa county. 
 Here the subject of this sketch, at the age of 17, 
 entered the office of the St. Helena Star as an ap- 
 prentice in the mechanical department. The 
 work of the "devil," such as washing rollers and 
 carrying papers, fell to his lot and his first salary 
 was $10 per month. He gave such careful atten- 
 tion to his duties that he was soon promoted. By 
 diligent study and hard work he had in less than 
 three years worked himself up to foreman of the 
 office and was such when, at the age of 21 years 
 he associated himself with J. H. Dungan, of 
 Genoa, Nev., in the purchase of the Star. After a 
 partnership of four years, Mr. Mackinder pur- 
 chased Mr. Dungan's interest in the paper and has 
 ever since conducted the business alone. As a 
 newspaper man Mr. Mackinder has met with sig- 
 nal success. He has never sought to build himself 
 up by tearing others down, but by close attention 
 to business and with the exercise of care in the 
 conduct of his paper, he has built up a splendid 
 business and has greatly prospered. He has al- 
 ways been identified with every movement for the 
 up-building of the town and county and is in 
 every particular a part of the community in which 
 he has so long resided. In 1900 he erected a hand- 
 
316 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 some stone building in the business center of 
 town and. it now houses the Star, the postoffiee, 
 and the W. A. Mac-kinder Co., real estate and in- 
 surance agents. Mr. Mackinder has always taken 
 a live interest in the affairs of the California Press 
 Association and in 1900 was elected a member of 
 the Executive Committee. In politics Mr, Mack- 
 inder has always been an ardent Republican and 
 an enthusiastic worker in the ranks. He has sev- 
 eral times been selected as a delegate to the State 
 conventions of his party and in 1898 was chair- 
 man of the County Republican convention. In 
 January, 1899, Mr. Mackinder was appointed by 
 President McKinley, postmaster of St. Helena. 
 He has fitted up a handsome office, one which 
 postal inspectors pronounce a model in every re- 
 spect. Mr. Mackinder is a self-made man in the 
 fullest sense of the term and in all his undertak- 
 ings has met with marked success. He was unit- 
 ed in marriage to Miss Lucy Martin of Browns- 
 ville, Illinois, October 30th, 1889. Their home is 
 a pretty cottage on Oak avenue. 
 
 W. A. MACKINDER. 
 
 Willis Adelbert Mackinder, the well known 
 real estate and insurance agent, of St. Helena, 
 was born March 18th, ISfil, in Young America, 
 Washington county, Wisconsin, and is the son 
 of George Mackinder, now deceased. The family 
 came to California in 1868 and settled at Windsor, 
 Sonoma county, where his father engaged in the 
 blacksmith and wagon making business. After 
 spending his boyhood days in attendance at the 
 public school in Windsor and later at the Acad- 
 emy at Healdsburg, the subject of our sketch 
 came to St. Helena in 1878, entering the private 
 banking house of W. A. C. Smith, as a clerk. He 
 
\Sr. A. MACniNDER, 
 
 St.' Helena. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 317 
 
 was with him one year, when he entered the em- 
 ploy of Beringer Brothers, wine makers, as a 
 bookkeeper, with whom he remained for a year 
 and a half. For the succeeding two years he was 
 with E. W. Woodward, the real estate dealer, dar- 
 ing the "boom times" in Napa valley vineyards, 
 and in 1883 he purchased a half interest with 
 Chas. A. Gardner in the St. Helena Star; on Jan- 
 uary 1st, 1884, he leased Mr. Gardner's interest in 
 the Star and on the first of the succeeding year 
 purchased this interest, becoming sole proprietor; 
 on November first, 1887, he sold the paper, and 
 since that time has devoted his energies exclusive- 
 ly to the real estate and insurance business. Dur- 
 ing this period he has been part of the time alone 
 in the business and has for short periods been in 
 partnership with others, but has always been 
 looked upon as the dominant spirit in the busi- 
 ness, and it is to his energies alone that the pres- 
 ent large and important real estate and insurance 
 agency owes its existence. In February 1900 Mr. 
 Mackinder incorporated his business under the 
 name of The W. A. Mackinder Co., with a capital 
 of |10,Q00, of which corporation he is the Presi- 
 dent and active business manager. His company 
 has the largest insurance business (fire, life and 
 accident), in the county, representing some twen- 
 ty-five of the best fire insurance companies and 
 being district agents for the Travelers' Insurance 
 Co. (life and accident), of Hartford, Conn. Mr. 
 Mackinder has been a Notary Public for fifteen 
 years past and is also known as the leading auc- 
 tioneer of the county. His firm makes a specialty 
 of real estate and publishes for free distribution, 
 a neat 8-page, illustrated paper the "Napa 
 County Viticulturist," containing reliable infor- 
 mation about the county and a list of property 
 
318 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 for sale. In municipal affairs Mr. Mackinder has 
 served at different times as Town Clerk, School 
 Trustee and Library Trustee; in politics he has 
 always been an ardent and consistent Republi- 
 can; has attended State and county conventions, 
 served on State and County Central Committees 
 and acted several times as chairman of county 
 conventions. He is at present a member of the 
 Union League Club of San Francisco. Mr. Mack- 
 inder is an active and enthusiastic member of the 
 order of Knights of Pythias, being a Past Chan- 
 cellor and member of the Grand Lodge of that or- 
 der. In April, 1885, Mr. Mackinder was married 
 in Oakland, California to Miss Minnie Meredith; 
 they have two daughters, Ruth and Irene and a 
 son, Willis Mereditb. 
 
 HON. J. M. MAYFIELD. 
 
 This pioneer of Napa county was born in the 
 State of Alabama, on July 3d, 1833, and came to 
 California in 1859, settling in Napa county the 
 same year. In 1862 he married Miss Rosalia 
 Chapman, a native of Connecticut, where she was 
 born in 1843 and the following issue was the re- 
 sult of their union: Thomas E., June 9th, 1864; 
 Samuel L., July 9th, 1866; Leonidas M., March 
 8th, 1870; William E., February 7th, 1872; Lovina 
 E., April 1st, 1875; Amy R., May 12th, 1880; Lilly 
 A., June 30th, 1883. 
 
 Mr. Mayfield is the owner of 296 acres of land 
 in Napa valley; the home place consists of J6 
 acres on which he has a good house and barn; of 
 the land 85 acres are in grain, balance being 
 mountain land. The Oakville ranch is all in grain 
 and improved, and contains 200 acres. 
 
 The right to the prefix Honorable, to his name 
 was granted by the votes of the people of the dis- 
 
NAPA COUNTY. g^^ 
 
 trict in which he has been so long an honored res- 
 ident-having been elected to the membership of 
 the State Legislature for the years 1877 and 1888; 
 now surrounded by his children, he enjoys the 
 evening of a well spent life still blessed by the 
 companionship of the wife of his youth. What 
 more in this life could one ask? 
 
 M. A. MACLEAN. 
 
 Marcus Alexander Maclean was born in San 
 Pablo, Contra Costa county, California, Septem- 
 ber 9th, 1860. He is of Scotch parentage, the old- 
 est of a family of two boys and two girls. His 
 father, W. S. Maclean, being one of the pioneer 
 settlers of Contra Costa county. Mr. Maclean, Jr., 
 worked on his father's farm until he was nineteen 
 years of age, when he went on the railroad and 
 has been in continuous service for over twenty- 
 one years. For three years past he has been con- 
 ductor of the passenger train in Napa valley. So 
 popular is he with the public that he has friends 
 by the hundreds. No more pleasant, agreeable 
 or affable man is to be found in the employ of the 
 S. P. R. R. Co. In October, 1884, he married Miss 
 Eva Millington, a native of Alameda, and the 
 daughter of James Millington, a pioneer of forty- 
 nine. 
 
 They have three children, Donald M., aged 12; 
 Ernest K., aged 10, and Myrtle E., aged 4. 
 
 In April, 1900, Mr. Maclean was elected Coun- 
 cilman of the town of Calistoga and is now serv- 
 ing in that capacity. It has no better friend or 
 more earnest supporter than he. Our subject is a 
 jolly good fellow, honest, trustworthy, a good 
 husband, kind father and good citizen. May his 
 shadow never grow less. 
 
320 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 CHRISTIAN MOSER 
 
 Lives in Foss valley; was born in Germany, 
 February 26th, 1836; came to the United States, 
 1853, and to Napa 1870, and in September of the 
 same year bought the ranch where he now resides. 
 This property consists of 700 acres, of which 300 
 are in grain and grapes. Mr. Moser's principal 
 occupation is stock raising. In 1892 he was elect- 
 ed Road Supervisor in his district and faithfully 
 he has performed his duties as such. Mr. Moser 
 was married to Georgia DeBurk, who died April 
 24th, 1900. The children were Louisa, born 1867, 
 died 1888; Henry, born 1871; Belle, 1873; Chris- 
 tian, 1875; Lola, 1880. 
 
 M. MAST 
 
 Was born in Germany, in 1845; emigrated to 
 the United States in 1865 and first lived in Minne- 
 sota and then tried Ohio for two years, but in 
 1867 arrived in California and settled in Napa 
 county, after living in Yolo county for sixteen 
 years. He owns 612 acres and has 280 acres in 
 grain, a small orchard and vineyard. In 1872 be 
 married Bertha Freitag while in Yolo county; 
 she was born in Germany 1855; the children born 
 of this union were Ernest F., 1874; Emma Pau- 
 lina, 1875; Alfred, 1877; Mathias, 1879; Dorothea 
 E., 1881; Hermann, 1883; Anna M., 1884; Caroline, 
 1887; Bertha, 1889; Martin, 1891 and James D., 
 1894. Ernest Mast is now bookkeeper for Norman 
 Bros., in San Francisco; Mathias is attending a 
 business college in San Francisco; Hermann is at- 
 tending the Berkeley High school. 
 
 C. D. MOONEY 
 
 Was born in New York, 1861, and emigrated 
 to Napa valley in 1879. The name of his ranch is 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 32i 
 
 the Soda valley fruit farm. Mr. Mooney was for- 
 merly engaged in the mercantile business in St 
 Helena, but his health failed so he moved out on 
 his ranch, where he enjoys perfect health. He is 
 also the owner of Liberty fruit dryer about one 
 and a half miles from Rutherford; has the latest 
 improved machinery; all of his goods, the product 
 of his dryer are sold in San Francisco. In 188t he 
 married Anna McArrow by whom he had six 
 children, A. Jennie, 1885; Charley, 1887; Milton, 
 1889; Ray, 1892; Isabel, 1895; Tyrell, 1898. Mr. 
 Mooney was deputy county assessor from 1895 to 
 1899. There has been a magnesia deposit dis- 
 covered on this ranch. A. Jennie the oldest daugh- 
 ter, died April 7, 1898 in Soda valley and was 
 buried in St. Helena; she was so well known and 
 beloved that her funeral was the largest attended 
 in St. Helena for a child. 
 
 C. S. MARCUM 
 
 Was born in Illinois, Jan. 29th, 1841, emigrat- 
 ed to California in 1876 and settled in Sutter 
 county where he engaged in farming for six years, 
 after which he resided in Tulare, Santa Clara and 
 Yuba counties. In 1885 he removed to Napa 
 county and settled about three and a half miles 
 east of Rutherford, where he owns a farm of 160 
 acres. He is engaged specially in almond culture 
 and has raised the finest quality of almonds to be 
 found in the county. Mr. Marcum was married to 
 Sarah Munger in 1867 and has one son Dewet 
 Marcum. The subject of this sketch is a typical 
 American of English descent, a man hale and 
 hearty, one of the respected and honored residents 
 of the county. 
 
 THOMAS MARK 
 Was born in Scotland, December 16th, 1861; 
 
322 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 emigrated to the United States and came on to 
 Napa county, where he at once began working at 
 his trade, that of a cooper. His work is all hand 
 made and is greatly in demand, being shipped as 
 far as New Orleans and New York. His specialty 
 is hand made oaken packages for wine, such as 
 5, 10, 25, and 50-gallon kegs and barrels; he em- 
 ploys seven or eight men continually and turns 
 out weekly from 200 to 300 pieces. 
 
 JOHN MARTINILLI 
 
 Has made Napa county his home since 1871 ; he 
 married Katherine Nanoni in 1880, in San Fran- 
 cisco; their children are: Silva, born July 14, 1881; 
 Ida, August 20, 1882; John, September 8, 1884; 
 Charles, September 2, 1886. He runs a fine ranch 
 of 160 acres in upper Brown's valley which he has 
 rented. He is principally engaged in stock 
 raising. 
 
 CONRAD MEYER 
 
 Was born in Switzerland in 1847; emigrated to 
 this country 1867, stopping at Toledo, Ohio, and 
 in 1872 came on to California, and in 1879 settled 
 in Napa county; lived in St. Helena for sixteen 
 years and worked at the carpenters' trade; in 
 1895 he came to Pope valley and settled in Ger- 
 mantown, on a place of 32 acres, which is highly 
 improved, having orchard and vineyard; he mar- 
 ried Maria Keller in St. Helena in 1880; she was 
 born in 1853 in Switzerland; their children were 
 born as follows: Henry Meyer, 1881, in St. Helena; 
 Emma, 1884, in Switzerland; Eda, 1888, in St. 
 Helena; Maria E., 1893 and Herman C, in 1897, 
 in St. Helena. 
 
 WM. E. MEAGHER. 
 This citizen was born in San Francisco, 1871; 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 323 
 
 came to Napa county with his parents; he moved; 
 to Berryessa valley and in 1896 opened up in the 
 meat market business. He v^^as elected Constable 
 of Knox tovv^nship and appointed under Sheriff; 
 sered as such since 1898, under Sheriff Dunlap. 
 In 1892 he married Ida MuUally, a native of Napa 
 city, born in 1872; the children are William E., 
 December 7th, 1896 and Gladys M., December 7th, 
 1899. 
 
 JOSEPH MITCHELL 
 
 Conducts the only exclusive paint, wall paper 
 and glass store in the county of Napa, which is 
 situated at No. 55 North Main street. Joseph 
 Mitchell was born in England, 1840; emigrated to 
 this country in 1849, landing in Illinois; after a 
 sojourn in Iowa, came to California and lived at 
 Chlco for one year; came to Napa county in 1865 
 where he engaged in wagonmaking. In 1892 Mr. 
 Mitchell first started his store of Paints, glass and 
 wall paper. He was married to Charlotte E. Web- 
 ster, 1860; their children are: Minnie, Edward, 
 and Katie E. The first named is married to 
 J. E. Newman; the second helps his father in his 
 business; the third and last, is now a teacher in 
 Central Grammar school in Napa. 
 
 W. F. MAECH. 
 
 This gentleman was or is, the genial proprietor 
 of the Villa Hotel at Rutherford and also of the 
 livery and feed stables of -that thriving little 
 town. 
 
 The hotel is well fitted and furnished, contain- 
 ing accommodations for about 25 persons. 
 A good table is set and every care taken to suit 
 the wishes of the guests. Under its present man- 
 agement it is popular as a summer resort, for 
 which it is well suited, both by the attractiveness 
 
324 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 of the house and the beauty and salubrity of this 
 portion of Napa valley. Regular stages leave zhe 
 house for Walters' Soda Springs and other moun- 
 tain resorts. Its convenience of position to the 
 railroad at Rutherford is not the least of recom- 
 mendations, permitting easy access to the city. 
 Mr. March is a native of Scotland county, Mis- 
 souri, born May 3, 1849, but came to this county 
 with his parents when but six years of age. His 
 father, R. B. March, was engaged in mining at 
 different times and also ran a livery stable at 
 Elmira, Solano county, which he still owns, but 
 now retired from active business, caring only for 
 his orchard. He was assisted by his son, Mr. W. 
 F. March, until the latter moved over into this 
 county. It should be further stated, however, 
 that the family resided for sometime in the earlier 
 years in this valley, coming here in 1857, when 
 Mr. March, Sr., carried on farming, so he is no 
 stranger to the beauties and capabilities of this 
 section. Mr. March was married at Rutherford 
 in 1887, to Miss Mary Cavanaugh; they have one 
 child, William Raymond March, born June 14th, 
 1887, in Solano county, California. 
 
 GEORGE S. McKENZIE 
 
 Was born June 17, 1856, in Picton county, Nova 
 Scotia; came to Napa county April 1879. 
 
 He opened a carriage and wagon building es- 
 tablishment in May, 1879, and conducted it until 
 1885 when he bought out the general store of 
 Thompson & Beard, which was a branch of their 
 main store at Napa city. In 1893 he sold out his 
 merchandise business to Cook & McKenzie; next 
 year he was appointed Justice of the Peace for 
 Knox township. After serving two years as jus- 
 tice he was elected Sheriff of Napa county as a 
 Republican and served to the satisfaction of the 
 
GEORGE McHENZlE. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 325 
 
 people for a period of ten years. At a convention 
 of the Sheriffs of California he was elected to rep- 
 resent that body before the State Legislature in 
 the year 1897, to obtain necessary legislative ac- 
 tion. 
 
 Mr. McKeuzie married Alice M. Clark, May 1st, 
 1894; she was born in Berryessa valley and died 
 Oct. 2, 1899; the children born to them were: 
 Harvey, accidentally killed when one year old; 
 (i. Stanley, October 19, 1886, at Monticello; Cor- 
 delia, February 2, 1890; Ethel A., June 12, 1891. 
 Mr. McKenzie has taken up his residence in Napa 
 city, expecting to remain there permanently. 
 
 ALEXANDER McKENZIE. 
 
 This citizen was born in Nova Scotia in 1840, 
 and 1868 came direct to Napa county, California. 
 In 1870 he opened a blacksmith shop in Monti- 
 cello and resides principally in that town. Near 
 Sugar Loaf mountain he has a valuable ranch of 
 1()0 acres, especially so for its mineral prospects, 
 but which as yet, remain undeveloped. The 
 chrome iron croppings are good and also the pros- 
 pects for a magnesia mine which it is expected 
 will be developed in the near future. 
 
 In 1869 the subject of this sketch was married 
 to Miss Nancy K. Frazer, which lady was born in 
 Nova Scotia, 1843; the fruits of the marriage 
 were the following children: Bella, August 16th, 
 1870; Charles N., October 31st, 1871; Roderick, 
 May 26th, 1873; Nettie, January 17th, 1875; Abra- 
 ham, September 23d, 1877; William T., Febru- 
 ary 11th, 1880; Simon B., April 14th, 1882; Annie 
 R., January 17th, 1884; Alexander Thomas, Jan- 
 uary 27th, 1886; Frederick M., October 10th, 1887. 
 
 PERRY E. McMILLEN. 
 This respected resident was born in Missouri 
 
326 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 in 1853, and in the following year came to Cali- 
 fornia. In 1892 be moved to Napa county and 
 now resides in Conn valley. In 1878 he maiTied 
 Miss Mary Coffman, the daughter of Alihue Coff- 
 man, and old settler of Lake county. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. McMillen have seven children, all 
 native sons and daughters; Walter was born in 
 1879, Myrtle in 1880; Albert in 1882; Perry, in 
 1885; Reuben, in 1888; Olive in 1893 and Hazel in 
 1898. The oldest daughter, Myrtle is now the 
 wife of Edward Richardson, they were married 
 in 1898, and also reside in Conn valley. 
 
 Every man has his favorite sport, and Mr. Mc. 
 is no exception to the rulf. Hunting deer and 
 bear and smaller game is the joy of his life. Boone, 
 Carson or Crockett were at no time in their life 
 better marksmen, or more successful in the chase. 
 He has killed many deer, bear and elk and an 
 evening spent under his hospitable roof listening 
 to reminiscences of the gun and hound, both in 
 Lake and Napa counties where he resided before 
 coming to this county, is most enjoyable. 
 
 Mr, M. is not rich in this world's goods, because 
 his heart is too big and his impulse too generous. 
 But no man for many miles around has lived a. 
 happier life, or raised a better family of boys and 
 girls; this is a fortune in itself. Men of generous 
 impulse do not lay up fortunes for others to quar- 
 rel over, but have the good sense To set a good 
 table, rich with the necessaries and bounty of life. 
 Such is the case here in this home, and nothing 
 more creditable can be said of any man than is 
 comprehended in the old adage: "His latch 
 string always hangs out," a saying in all respects 
 true both of Mr. M. and his good wife. He is the 
 owner and inventor of a remedy, a part of which 
 is composed of snake oil, and is one of the best 
 repiedies in the world for rheumatism, sprains. 
 
C. H. NASH, 
 
 MarsHal, Calisto^a. Cal. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 327 
 
 etc. It has a wide sale among many people in 
 Lake and other counties, and if the merits of this 
 remedy were generally known it would make its 
 inventor a very rich man in a short time. Mr. ]\r. 
 is now, and has been, engaged in farming since 
 1873. 
 
 JAMES McCAFFEEY 
 
 Was born in 1850, on June 8th, in Ireland; emi- 
 grated to the United States with his parents in 
 1852, and settled in New York. In 1876 he came 
 to San Francisco, California, and in 1879 took up 
 his residence in Napa city. Mr. McCaffrey is a 
 blacksmith making a specialty of horseshoeing; 
 he also has a great taste for traveling and has 
 made several extensive trips throughout the 
 world. After visiting the different parts of the 
 United States, he revisited the place of his birth 
 and made a trip to China, returning again to Xapa 
 in 1896 he reopened his former business; he has a 
 reputation as a skillful mechanic and horseshoer. 
 
 SAMUEL E. McNeill 
 
 Was born in Illinois; came to California in 1857, 
 and to Napa in 1896, and is now conducting a 
 candy and ice cream factory; he also has a retail 
 department on Brown street, No. 17. He married 
 Miss Emma Stokes, in 1884, of San Francisco, 
 and has two children, Charles Edgar, 1885, and 
 Albert Earl, 1886, both born in Grass valley, Cal. 
 
 CORNELIUS H. NASH 
 
 Was born in Piatt county, Missouri, January 
 13th, 1845; came with his parents to Napa valley^ 
 California, in 1846 when they settled within three 
 miles of Calistoga and engaged in farming. This 
 young man served as a cowboy, and for many 
 years was stage driver from Monterey to Lake 
 
5M NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 county. Mr. Nash is now Marshal of Calistoga 
 and has been for the past thirteen years, and was 
 Constable for two years preceding the incorpora- 
 tion of the town. Mr. Nash married Hester I. 
 Hopkins, November 1st, 1867; she was born in 
 Illinois; their children are five in number, Hattie 
 May Nash Tamm (she was born in Calistoga, and 
 married W. H. Tamm); Geo. Emmet Nash was 
 born in Calistoga, May 22, 1870, and died Septem- 
 ber 14, 1898; Emma Nash Tapping now lives in 
 Sonora, California; Jason W. Nash was born in 
 Hadin Hill mining camp, November 23, 1876; 
 Frank E. Nash was born February 11, 1883. 
 
 JAMES B. NEWMAN 
 
 Was born in England in 1851; came to this 
 country in 1872, landing in Baltimore; after a 
 visit to Chicago he came on to Napa, where he 
 was employed in the State hospital at Napa after 
 which he opened business for himself near the 
 cemetery, in 1873. In 1888 he married Minnie E. 
 Mitchell in Napa, the place of her birth; their 
 children are: Raymond W., 1892; Harold M., 1894, 
 both born in Napa. 
 
 P. H. PALMER. 
 
 Philip Henry Palmer, whose portrait appears 
 in this book, was born in Kentucky, on December 
 8th, 1838. He was the son of Philip and Anna A. 
 Palmer, honored residents of the old Blue Grass 
 State, and possessed of those sterling qualities 
 that have made the people and State famous. 
 These characteristics have reappeai-ed in the sub- 
 ject of this sketch, making him the possessor of 
 enterprise, pluck and sterling integrity. 
 
 In 1848, together with his parents, he moved 
 to Johnson county, Missouri, where they resided 
 for six years; about this time the East was filled 
 
p. H. PALMER. 
 
 Pope "Valley. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 329 
 
 with glowing stories of the El Dorado toward the 
 setting sun. The brave father and mother, both 
 feeling the stirring impulse of the times, resolved 
 to go west with the enterprising Easterners that 
 made up the wagon trains across the plains, and 
 after an era of exciting episodes such as surround- 
 ed every caravan in that day, they arrived in Ne- 
 vada city, October 6, 1850, and here they resided 
 until 1852, when the family again moved to Sui- 
 sun valley, Solano county, where they resided 
 until 1867. However, Mr. Palmer, having arrived 
 at an age of responsibility, divided his time be- 
 tAveen the home of his parents and a farm near 
 Fort Eoss, Sonoma county, where he was engaged 
 in the stock business. On October 16th, 1867 he 
 moved to liis presi^nt farm in Pope valley, a splen- 
 did place, comprising over live hundred acres of 
 good land. He was married August 9th 1865, to 
 Miss Sarah E. Lewellyn, a most estimable lady, 
 who was born in Harrison county, Indiana, on 
 October 13th, 1841; this beloved companion of his 
 early life died in 1897. 
 
 In 1900 Mr. Palmer was married to Mrs. Ella 
 Jackson, a pleasant and good lady, who enjoys 
 the confidence and good will of all who know her. 
 The marriage has been singularly fortunate, and 
 their home life is a charming and happy one. 
 Every community has its leading man, and this is 
 verified in this instance. The writer learned from 
 outside people that our subject is the wealthiest 
 man in Pope valley, and one of its best and most 
 honored citizens. He is also an ideal farmer in all 
 respects, sociable, modest and of retiring disposi- 
 tion, ever shrinking from public attention, and 
 is always looking about for the humblest seat in 
 the most obscure corner of the hall. One source 
 of his success lies in the exercise of good judg- 
 ment of what is the coming commodity to raise on 
 
33« NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 the land, and the cereal or kind of stock likely to 
 bring the best returns for the service rendered. 
 Kentucky thrift and good taste crops out on all 
 sides, as may be seen by a visit to this home, 
 T\ here the house is always well painted and one 
 of the best furnished from top to bottom that can 
 be found in Napa county. Mr. Palmer is evident- 
 ly of the belief that luxury and comfort is as much 
 the privilege of a plain farmer as the prerogative 
 of the merchant or banker, and he has carried 
 this belief into practice, and will at least receive 
 some of the benefit himself from the long years 
 of toil to which he has been no stranger. The 
 dates as herein set forth were given to us as they 
 appear, but the facts as set forth herein are stated 
 on the authority of others, and on personal ob- 
 servation. He has long since realized that the 
 only enduring monument is raised, not by a biog- 
 raphy in a book, but such as is reared by a life 
 of industry, honesty and uprightness. "To live in 
 hearts we leave behind is not to die." 
 
 ANTON NICHELINI, (Sage Canyon) 
 
 Was born in Switzerland, 1862; came to Napa 
 county, 1882; married Katherine Corda, 1890, at 
 Santa Eosa, who was born in Switzerland in 1869; 
 they have had six children, all born in Napa coun- 
 ty, as follows: William, 1891; Joseph, 1893; Jose- 
 phine, 1894; Emma, 1896; Ida, 1897, Rosa, 1899. 
 
 Mr. Nichelini took up a Government claim in 
 1884, and moved his family on to it in 1890, it com- 
 prised 160 acres, and is known as the Nichelini 
 ranch. He was the first Swiss settler in Chiles 
 valley, and was here previous to any roads being 
 graded or improvements had been made, so with 
 brush, rocks, trees and rugged mountains the 
 country was almost impassable, since which time 
 he has seen the valley made to blossom like a rose 
 
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.' NAPA COUNTY. 831 
 
 under the patient labor and skill of the early set- 
 tlers. He also built the first wine cellar in Sage 
 canyon and is a skilled wine maker. 
 
 Mr. Nichelini has the prospects of two good 
 mines on his place, one of copper, which assays 
 $15 to the ton from crbppings; the other is chrome 
 iron, which goes 50 per cent to the ton metal; 'le 
 expects to develop these properties which are on 
 his homestead. On account of the mineral depos- 
 its, this farm is one of the most valuable in the 
 county. Mr. Nichelini is in the prime of life, 
 happy, contented, a kind father and husband, a 
 good neighbor and a pleasant man to meet. 
 
 THOMAS NEWTON, 
 
 An Englishman by birth, 1869, came to Napa 
 county in 1890 and located on the Dry creek roai, 
 where he, with his brother, William Newton, 
 owns Glen Dale, a ranch of 80 acres, of which 20 
 are in cultivation, in almonds and prunes. He 
 married Sarah Jackson in England in 1896, and 
 they have two children, John born in England, 
 and Mary Sawrey, on Dry creek, Napa county. 
 
 WILLIAM NEWTON 
 
 Was born in England, 1862; came to Napa 1889 
 and settled on his present home of 80 acres, most 
 of which is timber land; about 15 acres are in cul- 
 tivation. He married Charlotte Eaton in 1891, in 
 San Francisco; she was also born in England; 
 they have one child, W^illiam Eaton Newton, May 
 11th, 1900. 
 
 MRS. LOUISA NOLL, 
 
 The postmistress of Pope valley, was born in 
 Germany, 1841; emigrated to the United States 
 1866; came to California in 1869 and into Napa 
 countv in 1892. Her husband, Joseph Noll, was 
 
332 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 born in Germany in 1833; emigrated to United 
 States, 1849; to California, 1854, and settled in 
 Napa count}^ 1892; maiTied Louisa Eberspacher 
 in San Francisco 1880; he had two children by 
 a former wife: Lillie, born 1876 and Adolph 1879. 
 Joseph Noll owns a small place of 10 acres, most 
 of which is in cultivation, orchard and garden. 
 
 FRANK SUMNER PHILLIPS. 
 
 This citizen first saw the light in Wisconsin, 
 May 10th, 1858, and arrived in California in 1875, 
 and in Napa county in 1875, making his home in 
 Knoxville, driving team for a living. A year and a 
 half later he came into Berryessa valley and farm- 
 ed two years on Scribner's ranch, after which he 
 bought the carpenter shop and blacksmith shop 
 on the Knoxville mine road, which he operated 
 for two years or more, when he sold out to Mr. 
 Swift. Mr. Phillips then purchased twenty acres 
 in a high state of cultivation and on this property 
 he has his residence; he has other property, siich 
 as a small 16 acre ranch in grain, near the stone 
 bridge and an orchard of pears and prunes con- 
 taining eight acres. 
 
 At present Mr. Phillips is conducting the. car- 
 penter and blacksmith business, and devoting his 
 leisure time to looking after his farms. His wife 
 was Chilo L. Walker, being married in Woodland 
 in 1878; his wife's birthplace was New York, and 
 the date May 19, 1849. 
 
 J. J. PRIEST 
 
 Was born in Ohio, 1826; died in Napa valley 
 1897; he emigrated to California 1849, to Napa 
 county 1863, and bought the ranch 1869. In 1862 
 he married Sarah F. Foster in California; she was 
 born in Illinois in 1848; they have had ten child- 
 ren as follows: Katie, 1864; W. H., 1866; D. C, 
 
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 C 
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 -a 
 
 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 333 
 
 1867; James L., 1869; D. Q., 1871; Alonzo, 1874; 
 Chas. H., 1877; Geo. L., 1879; Marion W., 1882; 
 Eeuben F., 1884, of which two are dead, the old- 
 est daughter Katie, 1883, and James L., 1893. D. 
 C. Priest leases the farm from his mother and it 
 comprises 747 acres of which 150 is under cultiva- 
 tion. Priest Soda Springs is widely and favorably 
 known; at the bottling establishment 50 cases of 
 five dozen each are shipped daily; the altitude is 
 900 feet; Priest Bros, also have a bottling works 
 in St. Helena. 
 
 JAMES H. PARR 
 
 Was born in Canada, September 28th, 1840; em- 
 igrated to the United States and finally located 
 in Sacramento, California; here he married Mrs. 
 Mary H. Lea, on June 6th, 1896; after some time 
 they moved into Napa county and were so much 
 pleased with its broad and fertile fields and its 
 wonderful, healthful climate that they decided to 
 make their home here, and Mrs. Parr homestead- 
 ed the ranch known as Fair View Farm. 
 
 This land was pre-empted by the following per- 
 sons: Peter Fagin, Karl Kraus and Karl Klose on 
 the 2d day of January 1865; patented in 1SG7; 
 that portion of swamp land included in this farm 
 was patented by Broadw^ell & Sanderson, October 
 1886; the entire tract contains 1,275 acres and is 
 homesteaded to Mrs. Parr and her children; Mrs. 
 Parr came from England 1863 and lived in Sacra- 
 mento until October 1897; James H. Parr came 
 from Canada in 1869 and lived in Sacramento un- 
 til the same date, October 1897, when he moved 
 to Napa county to reside on this farm which is 
 specially adapted to the raising of stock and dairy 
 purposes, although 150 acres of grain is raised an- 
 nually; poultry raising is successful. Mr. Parr 
 
334 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 writes: "We are in religion and faitti of the reor- 
 ganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day 
 Saints." 
 
 S. W. POGUE 
 
 Was born in Honolulu, U. S. A., in 1849, emi- 
 grated to the State of California, Napa county, 
 J 881; he lives on the John Allman ranch of 550 
 acres, of which 40 acres are in grain, 20 acres in 
 orchard and small vineyard, rest pasture and tim- 
 ber land. S. Whitney, the grandfather of the sub- 
 ject of this sketch, was a pioneer missionary to 
 Honolulu in 1819, when it took seven or eight 
 months to go from Boston to Honolulu and it was 
 not until three years had passed that the relatives 
 heard of their safe arrival. Mr. Pogue's mother 
 was also born in Honolulu. 
 
 ANTON ROSSI 
 
 Was born in Switzerland, 1852; emigrated to 
 the United States in 1871, arriving in New York 
 in 1876. He arrived in Napa county and bought a 
 ranch of 160 acres, of which 60 acres are in grapes 
 and twenty acres in grain. He has a fine wine 
 cellar capable of holding 75,000 gallons of wine. 
 In 1900 Mr. Rossi made 15,000 gallons of wine. 
 
 In 1879 he married Ida M. Bacon in Napa; she 
 was born in Kansas, June 1st, 1861; their children 
 are: Fred B. Rossi, born August 1, 1880; 
 Charles L. Rossi, born October 31st, 1882, and 
 Arthur, December 23, 1887. 
 
 JAMES ROSEBERRY, 
 
 Of Roseberiy farm, was born in Pennsylvania 
 1836 and came to California in 1862, and to Napa 
 county in 1885. In 1871, on January 1st, he mar- 
 ried Emma Adamson who was born in Iowa, 1841 ; 
 the children born to them are: Eva M., 1871; 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 336 
 
 James W., 1874; Fred. T., 187G; Louis H., 1878; 
 Ada E., 1880 (died in 1882); Martin G., 1884. 
 
 This farm consists of 1,200 acres, of which there- 
 are cultivated 300 acres, vineyard six acres, orch- 
 ard, five acres, the balance is grain land. A tine 
 trout stream passes through the farm; stock is 
 raised on the pasture land, of which there are 900 
 acres. 
 
 EDWARD B. RICHARDSON 
 
 Was born in England, 1849, and came to Napa 
 in 1875; now lives on the Glendale ranch which 
 consists of 1,500 acres, of which 200 are in culti- 
 vation in grain, the balance is heavily timbered 
 and is used for stock raising. In 1877 he married 
 Mary S. Lumer; she died 1893; one child, George 
 Price Richardson, born in Conn valley in 1884. 
 In 1898 he married S. Myrtle and by her had one 
 son, 1899, Edward Price Richardson. 
 
 CALVIN REAMS 
 
 First saw the light on January 26, 1833, in 
 Knox county, Ohio; in 1853 he came to California 
 and engaged in mining. Having visited Solano 
 county, and sojourned in Lake county four years, 
 he came to Napa county in 1869 and has sin ^e 
 made his home in Napa. He married Louisa 
 Henderson in Solano county in 1857. Miss Hen- 
 derson was born in Indiana, March 11, 1837; their 
 union was blessed with children as follows: 
 James Manuel, Chas. A., Alice Maude, Luella, 
 Ben. F., Sherman Rainey. 
 
 The Calvin Reams ranch is partly in Napa and 
 partly in Solano counties, 207 acres in Napa coun- 
 ty which are divided into grain and pasture land. 
 The balance of the land is in Solano county and is 
 largely in fruit. Fine oranges are raised on this 
 part of the ranch. Mrs. Reams relates how, in 
 1853, she crossed the plains with her parents in 
 
336 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 wagons drawn by oxen. The names of her parents 
 are Ebenezer Henderson and Cynthia Henderson, 
 the latter lived with her daughter, Mrs. Reams, 
 and reached the great age of 96 years, 5 months 
 and 21 days; she was born in Louisiana and died 
 in Napa county January 7th, 1900. 
 
 JAMES WILLIAM REAMS 
 
 Is from the Buckeye State, having been born 
 in Ohio December 24th, 1837, and in 1875 came to 
 California and in January, 1878, arrived and lo- 
 cated on the ranch he now owns in Gordon valley. 
 His orchard is not only one of the first, but one of 
 the finest in the county, being rarely touched by 
 frost. This ranch contains 310 acres, of which 70 
 acres are in fruit, and lies at the junction of Sui- 
 sun, Gordon and Wooden valleys. The quantity 
 and variety of fruit and nuts raised here is won- 
 derful, as frost seldom touches the trees in this 
 vicinity almonds, oranges, prunes, cherries, figs, 
 and apricots are the principal. 
 
 In 1862 Mr. Reams married Martha J. Ralston 
 in Illinois, but she also was born in Ohio, near 
 Mt. Vernon. Their children are: Annie M., 1863; 
 Theodore Osgood, 1868; Montezuma B., 1870 (died 
 1884); Calvin U., 1872; James L. 1874); Daisy D., 
 1877; Grace G. 1879; Stowman, 1883. 
 
 W. J. RANEY. 
 
 This native son of Napa county was born in 
 Capell valley, August 19, 1860, and has always 
 lived in Napa county; he is at present clerking in 
 a store for J. Hunter, in Monticello, and has been 
 for the past twenty years. He also has been dep- 
 uty postmaster for sixteen years and postmaster 
 for four years. He is also roadmaster for Monti- 
 cello road district, and has been for six years past. 
 Mr, Raney owns property in different parts of this 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 8J7 
 
 State and is one of the directors of the Agricul- 
 tural Associaition. 
 
 B. F. REAMS 
 
 Was born in Napa county, November 20, 1871, 
 and has always continued to reside therein, but 
 conducts business in both Napa and Solano coun- 
 ties. His home is at present on the €oombs 
 ranch, where he has about 400 acres seeded to 
 grain; he also rents other farms in Solano county. 
 Mr. Reams is Trustee of the Gordon valley school. 
 He married Miss Mary Clark in Benicia, on April 
 18th, 1892, where she was born October 6th, 1873. 
 
 A. D. ROGERS 
 
 Was born in the town of Hampton, Washing- 
 ton county, N, Y. ; when but one year old the fam- 
 ily moved to North Creek, New York, where Mr. 
 Rogers resided until 1874, when he went to Iowa 
 where he resided for nine years, working at the 
 carpenter's trade. In 1877 he was married, and 
 while living in Iowa taught school during the 
 winter months. In 1883 he moved with his family 
 to South Dakota, where he staid two years; he 
 then moved to California, taking up his residence 
 at Calistoga and has resided there ever since. 
 
 JOHN A. ROTH 
 
 Was born in Germany in 1843 and in 1860 emi- 
 grated to California and came to Napa in 1873, 
 where he has always lived a farmer's life. While 
 in San Francisco he followed the butchers' trade 
 and before leaving the city married Miss Autte C. 
 Schmidt, 1868; she was born in Germany, 1848; 
 their children are: Annie L., 1869; Henry W., 
 1870; Charles J., 1871; Theresa, 1873; Augusta, 
 1875; Caroline, 1877; Emma, 1879; Edwin H., 
 
338 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 1881; Alfred H., 1888; George H., 1891. John A. 
 Roth lives on James D. Phelan's place of 100 
 acres all of which is in a high state of cultivation, 
 including orchard and vineyard. 
 
 THOMAS GEORGE ROGERS 
 
 Is a native of England, Kent county, born 
 1818; came to California 1848 and to Napa county 
 1849; at this time the Indians roved through the 
 valley, there being no roads, nothing but Indian 
 trails. The natives were peaceful, but would 
 steal anything they could lay their hands on. Mr. 
 Rogers came to this county in company with the 
 Conn and Cook families. Conn valley was named 
 after John Conn. 
 
 Mr. Rogers was married to Mary Hanson Chord 
 in Conn valley in 1881; she was born in 1835 at 
 South Bend, Indiana. 
 
 This ranch consists of 1,000 acres, 400 of which 
 is cultivated laud devoted to grain and stock rais- 
 ing. 
 
 Mrs. Rogers had four children by her fir^t hus- 
 band, Daniel Chord, as follows: Martha E. Chord 
 (married Swartout), born in Napa, 1853; John P. 
 Chord, 1855; Lydia A. Chord (married Tabor), 
 born 1859, in Conn valley and Frank S. Chord, 
 born 1863, same place. The grandchildren by 
 Lydia Anne Chord Tabor were: Lizzie, 1885; Clara 
 Irene, 1887, and Mable, 1890, all in x^onn valley. 
 
 In 1849, when the family first came to Napa 
 \ alley, large bands of Indians roamed through 
 the valley on the trails, there being no roads, ex- 
 cept one to Clear Lake, and although the Inclinns 
 would steal everything they could carry, they 
 were not bloodthirsty and were known as digger 
 Indians. Frank S. Chord has always made his 
 home on the Rogers' ranch and is a carpenter by 
 trade, he married Gertrude Grigsby in 1895 at 
 
r. H. SANDERSON. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 339 
 
 Napa; their children, Raymond, born 1897 and 
 Francis, 1S9S. 
 
 CHAUNCEY B. SEELEY 
 
 Was born in Kirkland, Ohio, Februaiy 11th, 
 1835; moved to Indiana in ItSlO; was educated in 
 the district schools and graduated from Delaney 
 Academy of Newberg, Indiana, and was a school 
 teacher previous to becoming a resident 
 of California. In 1865 he was elected County 
 Clerk of Napa county, which position he held for 
 five consecutive terms. In 1879 he became asso- 
 ciated with the late L. A, Bickford in conducting 
 a banking business under the firm name of Seeley 
 & Bickford, retiring from said firm in 1898. In 
 1880 he was elected Secretary and Treasurer of 
 the Napa State Asylum, a position which he now 
 holds; was elected a member of the Board of 
 Councilmen of Napa in 1895, re-elected in 1899, 
 the second term of four years, not yet expired 
 (1901). He is descended from Revolutionary stock, 
 his grandfather, Jonathan Seeley, having been a 
 soldier in the war of the Revolution. As a city 
 ofiQcer Mr. Seeley has taken more than ordinary 
 interest in the betterment of municipal affairs. 
 The chief traits of character as viewed by the 
 chronicler of events, and as seen in this man are 
 integrity, and a high sense of honor, industry and 
 the ability to meet life's emergencies as they 
 arise; to perform a duty uncomplainingly, and 
 leave behind the legacy of a well spent life. 
 Though ascending in years, his life is not now 
 filled with regrets. Virtue is its own reward. 
 
 FRANK H. SANDERSON 
 
 Was born in Herkimer county. State of Nevv 
 York, on February 4th, 1857. He is the youngest 
 son of Joseph and Marian Sanderson. On arriv- 
 
340 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 ing at the age of young manhood the subject of 
 this sketch attended the Herkimer Grammar 
 school, and later entered Fairfield Seminary, one 
 of the oldest, and best institutions of learning in 
 the State of New York. After a course of study 
 in this school he entered the Utica Business Col- 
 lege, where he graduated in 1877. 
 
 Like most young men of enterprise and spirit, 
 this young graduate was imbued with the desire 
 to go west where a larger field was open before 
 the young men about to enter on the duties of real 
 life. With high hopes, but saddened heart he bid 
 adieu to the loved ones at home and set his face 
 toward the setting sun, and after a trip full of 
 local interest, arrived in California on May 8th, 
 1877. After his arrival on this Coast, he gave his 
 attention to the teaching of penmanship for about 
 one year. 
 
 In April, 1878, he left for Wisconsin, and after 
 a Sftay of some little time with a brother, near 
 Madison, went to Janesville where he purchased 
 an interest in the Janesville Business College, one 
 of the most successful commercial colleges in the 
 west. In the fall of the year 1880 Mr. S. sold out 
 all his interest in the institution and returnevl 
 once again to California. 
 
 In March, of tbe year following, being 1881, our 
 subject married Miss Ida Hobbs of Vallejo, the 
 accomplished daughter of Isaac and Sarah Ilobbs, 
 two of the oldest and most respected residents of 
 Solano county. A few weeks after his marriage 
 Mr. S. purchased the Berry House farm in Ameri- 
 can canyon, northeast of Vallejo. After residing 
 there with his young bride for two years, he pur- 
 chased the Farmer & Rounds ranch, one mile 
 west of the Berry farm. This tract consists of six 
 hundred acres, and for richness and productive- 
 ness, is not surpassed by any farm in the county. 
 
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 ffl 
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 a. 
 
 (Ai 
 
NAPA county: S41 
 
 For many years past he has devoted his atten- 
 tion to raising blooded stock and his cows are not 
 surpassed by any stock in the State.. 
 
 Mr. and Mrs. Sanderson are surrounded by as 
 agreeable and intei'esting a family of children as 
 one would expect to see: Kalph and Harold are 
 already grown to manhood, with DeWitt and 
 Sadie at the half-way mark in life; with Marian 
 and Alice still young and possessed of bright and 
 happy faces, with as yet no knowledge of the 
 cares of this world. All in all no brighter or hap- 
 pier home can be found than here. Mr. Sander- 
 son's nature is retiring and modest, always 
 shrinking from notoriety, finding, as he always 
 has, the chieftest joy to be with his family and in 
 the quiet precincts of home. 
 
 WILLIAM SPIERS 
 
 Was born in Kentucky August 29th, 1853, af- 
 terward lived in Missouri four years and in 1876 
 came to Calistoga, Napa county; was first engag- 
 ed in teaming and afterwards started into the 
 livery business and became proprietor of several 
 stage lines. 
 
 He married Martha J. Simpson in San Fran- 
 cisco in 1891; the children are James W., April 
 26, 1892 and Mary G. Spiers, April 23, 1895; Al- 
 den M. Spiers, January 25, 1899. Mr. Spiers has 
 the following stage lines from Calistoga to Lake 
 county; the stages are named as follows: Texas, 
 California, Kentucky, Olympia, Oregon and 
 Maine, each having a seating capacity of from ten 
 to twenty passengers. He also has a large livery 
 trade, having sixteen two-seaters, ten three-seat- 
 ers, six mountain buggies, seventeen single bug- 
 gies and about twelve other rigs, with 120 horses. 
 The stable on Lincoln avenue is a large structure. 
 The stage office is at the Magnolia Hotel and 
 
342 ' NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 daily there are livelj scenes when the stages, per- 
 haps five or six in number, some of them with as 
 many as eight horses, are lined up in front of the 
 hotel for the passengers and their baggage. When 
 all are loaded then the whips crack and the spir- 
 ited horses bound away on their way over the 
 mountains to the various towns in Lake county. 
 
 ALBERT WILLIAM SISSON, 
 
 Born in San Francisco, 1872; came to Napa in 
 1900; now lives in Brown valley; has a ranch of 
 50 acres in grain and orchard; engaged in rais- 
 ing fancy fowls. When he left the city he was a 
 member of Sisson, Crocker & Co., and is now in- 
 terested in other ranches and also a salmon can- 
 nery in Alaska. 
 
 EDWARD G. SCHUNEMANN 
 
 Was born in San Francisco, December llth, 
 1866; he removed to St, Helena in the year 1873, 
 and has resided there ever since. He was elected 
 to the office of Town Trustee, and is chairman of 
 the Street Committee; this was his first public 
 office. He is a graduate of Heald's Business Col- 
 lege of San Francisco, in the year 1885, and is 
 now in charge of the books and accounts of the 
 Berringer Bros., a leading mercantile firm of St. 
 Helena. 
 
 H. SCHWARZ 
 
 Was born in Germany, 1848, and came to Napa 
 city in 1871 when he opened in the hai'dware and 
 agricultural implement business, which he has 
 conducted with signal success, having at the pres- 
 ent time the largest business of that character in 
 the county. His wife was Elizabeth Flieshman, 
 also a native of the Empire of Germany, and they 
 ^re the parents of three fine young men who, by 
 
NAPA COUNTY. S41 
 
 reason of their industry and business knowledge, 
 are engaged with their father in managing tlie 
 large and continually increasing business wnich 
 he established twenty years ago. The boys were 
 all born in Napa: William in 1875, David in 
 1877, and Max in 1881. 
 
 VINCENT C. SMITH 
 
 Was born in England; came direct to Napa 
 county and bought "Glen Olive," situated in the 
 Harmony district, three and one-half miles from 
 Napa city, and one mile directly east of the Napa 
 State Hospital, on the Wild Horse valley road, 
 and is 90 acres in extent, 10 of which are in olive 
 trees. Mission and other varieties; the balance of 
 the land is in pasture and hay land. 
 
 Mr. Smith was the first in Napa county to en- 
 gage in the manufacture of olive oil, with a guar- 
 antee for its purity. The oil presses have a capa- 
 city of one and one-half tons of olives and the 
 product is clarified by a process which is a pecu- 
 liar secret of Mr. Smith's, producing the most ele- 
 gant of pure olive oil found on the market. The 
 product of this place is sold in the different parts 
 of California and in the East, being much in de- 
 mand on account of its excc^llent flavor and abso- 
 lute purity. 
 
 Z. W. SMITH 
 
 Is a Napa county pioneer born in Canada, 1839: 
 came to the United States in 1845 and settled in 
 Illinois in May, 1893, he came to Napa and settled 
 on this place on the Dry Creek road, of about 80 
 acres, a large portion of which is corn, grain and 
 vineyard, orchard, etc. A sulphur spring is on 
 this place. He married Helen M. Hurd, Deceiu- 
 ber 28, 1868, who was born in Illinois, September 
 5, 1849; their children are Elmer M., February, 
 1871; Floris M., April 25, 1892. 
 
244 NAPA COUNTY. ! 
 
 LEWIS SLINSEN 
 
 Was born in the (lerman Empire, 1854; came 
 to the United States in 1880, to California, 1886 
 and to Napa county, 1894, and bought 40 acres, 
 which he named the O. K. ranch; the elevation of 
 which is 2,500 feet above the sea, lying on the 
 southeast slope of Mt. Veeder. The land is being 
 cleared for a vineyard, and at present six acres 
 are planted to vines. 
 
 ABRAHAM STAFFORD. 
 
 This pioneer was born in England, 1828; emi- 
 grated to the United States in 1837; arrived in 
 California in 1852, and settled in Napa county in 
 1870; he is the owner of Arcadian Heights, the 
 name of his place, on the northern slope of Mt. 
 Howell, about one and a half miles from Aetna, 
 Springs. It consists of 150 acres, of which 40 
 acres are in grapes, fruit and nuts, balance pas- 
 ture land. 
 
 In 1854 he married Mallie Padgett, in Indiana; 
 she was born in Kentucky, 1838; the children of 
 this couple are as follows: Ernest V., September 
 29, 1855, place of birth, Nevada city, California; 
 May v., February 28th, 1858, Chips Flat, Califor- 
 nia; Laura O., January 16th, 1863, Nebraska; Lin- 
 coln, May 25th, 1865, Nevada, Colorado; Ora J., 
 October 25th, 1866, Brownville, Neb.; Gordon, 
 January 13th, 1880, Colusa county, Calif. Ernest 
 V. Stafford owns a ranch adjoining his father's. 
 Mary V. married Alonzo Clark and lives in Berry- 
 essa valley; Laura O. married Robert Ross and 
 lives in San Francisco. Ora J. married C. R. 
 Feathers, and lives on the home place. Mrs. Mal- 
 lie Stafford is a correspondent of the St. Helena 
 Star, Rural Press, San Francisco Bulletin, Call, 
 Napa Journal and writes both poetry and prose; 
 
MRS. MARY H. SWEITZER, 
 
 Monticello. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 345 
 
 took prize for best article on Berryessa valley 
 offered by the San Francisco Call. Abraham. 
 Stafford died in 1901. 
 
 ERNEST V. STAFFORD 
 
 Is the proprietor of "Mount Olive," the name of 
 his ranch, which consists of 90 acres, 18 acres in 
 grapes, olives, apples, prunes, peaches, almonds, 
 chestnuts and other varieties of fruits. 
 
 He is a son of Abraham and Mallie Stafford 
 and on January 10th, 1898, he married Alice 
 Wright, in Napa county; she was born in Missouri 
 in 1869; Verbenia Josephine Stafford is their 
 only child, born December 5th, 1898. 
 
 Julia Ora Stafford, a sister to Ernest V., was 
 married to Chas. R. Feathers, January 14, 1888; 
 their children are Lorna, July 27, 1890; Mallie 
 Stafford, May 11th, 1892; Zina M., April 3, 1894; 
 Norval M., September 14th, 1897 and Evan Honor, 
 December 20th, 1899. 
 
 LOWERY SWEITZER. 
 
 The above was another of the pioneers of 1849, 
 having been born in Ohio, 1821. He arrived in 
 Napa county in 18G5 and took up his residence on 
 the ranch near the big bridge. On December 2d, 
 1856, he married Mary E. Post in Contra Costa 
 county, California. His life ended January 31st, 
 1878. 
 
 Mary E. Sweitzer, the widow of the above pion- 
 eer, was born in New York, September 13th, 1834. 
 She had two children, the eldest was Frank H. 
 Sweitzer, born November 2, 1857, in Contra Costa 
 and was accidentally killed by a snow slide, Jan. 
 4th, 1893, in British Columbia. The second son, 
 Chas. D. Sweitzer was also born in Contra Costa 
 on February 18th, 1859, and is now living with 
 his mother in Monticello. Mrs. Sweitzer own» 
 
34C NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 good property in town, such as her residence and 
 a block of 12 lots and a piece of land about 17 
 acres, with a house, which is the oldest in chis 
 city. 
 
 Once while reading the San Francisco morning 
 newspapers, Mrs. Sweitzer saw an account of two 
 young men being caught in a snow slide in Brit- 
 ish Columbia, and buried 150 feet deep in the 
 snow, and to her horror one of the names was that 
 of her oldest son Frank. The next spring his 
 body was found by his brother and buried at the 
 Freddy-Lee mine in the Kaslo-Slogan district. 
 
 HENRY STOKES 
 
 Was born in England, May 17, 1849; emigrated 
 to New York, July 4th, 1871. In 1880 he started 
 business in Chico, from thence he went to San 
 Francisco, and in 1898 came to Napa city where 
 he now resides. His place of business is No. 33 
 Brown street, and his stock in trade consists of 
 harness, saddles, carriage trimmings, robes, etc. 
 
 JOSEPH SASSELLI, 
 Postoffice Address, Chiles Valley. 
 
 Was born in Switzerland 1858; arrived in Cali- 
 fornia, 1888, and in Napa that same year. He 
 married in Switzerland, Frederique Arnand, who 
 was born there, 1879 was the date of marria<^e; 
 the first four children were born in Switzerland, 
 as follows: Victorine, 1880 (died in Napa county 
 1898; Victor, 1881; Josephine, 1885 and Alfred, 
 1888. The next three were born in Napa county, as 
 folloAvs: Frank, 1890; Garibaldi, 1895 and McKin- 
 ley, 1897. The place is known as Sasselli's ranch 
 and contains 92 acres. Victorine Sasselli, tlie 
 eldest daughter, was assassinated on the after- 
 noon of March 16th, 1898, near Horse Shoe Bend 
 
H. stohes. 
 
NAPA COUNTY, 347 
 
 in Sage canyon, by her would be lover, Julius 
 Bheud. This misguided zealot had for sometime 
 paid attention to this young lady, but at no time 
 did he ever receive any encouragement that his 
 suit was acceptable. The whole truth told in a 
 laconic sentence was: "He was not her equal,'' 
 and no one knew this better than the gifted young 
 woman, for she was a genius of high order and 
 possessed of talent rarely found, but always ap- 
 preciated. On the fatal afternoon, while Mr. Sas- 
 selli and his daughter were going home from Si. 
 Helena, they met the discarded lover, v/ho during 
 the day hired a livery rig in St. Helena and then 
 driving to the Sasselli residence and not finding 
 the daughter at home, he drove toward town on 
 the Sage canyon road where he met Mr. Sasselli 
 and Victorine in their buggy; after some talk, he 
 induced the daughter to alight from her father's 
 conveyance and take a seat beside him in his 
 buggy, whereupon Bheud turned about and drove 
 on passing Mr. Sasselli's carriage going in the 
 direction of their home. When near Horse Shoe 
 Bend he shot Victorine, who a short time after- 
 wards died in the arms of Mrs. Nicholini. 
 
 The murderer then shot himself, dying almost 
 instantly. The following note was found address- 
 ed to the dead girl's mother: 
 
 Chiles Valley, March IG, 1898. 
 
 Madame Sasselli: -I am writing to you for 
 the purpose of demanding your pardon for the 
 act that I have intention of doing. I would rather 
 die with her than be separated from her. I love 
 her too much to see ht^r in the arms of anoth.T. 
 
 Yours devotedly, 
 JULES BHEUD. 
 
 The address of my parents; Mr. Jean Bheud, 
 Macolin, Bienne Canton, Bern, Switzerland. 
 
 This letter tells the story of the mad passion 
 
«48 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 that impelled Bheud to crush the life out of an 
 innocent being. It may not be generally known, 
 but it is nevertheless true that this young woman 
 was probably one of the most intellectual and 
 gifted personages that ever lived in this county. 
 Some of her poetry and literary work has been 
 examined by the writer, as well as by several 
 other critics eminently able to judge of merit and 
 excellence, and it has been the concensus of opin- 
 ion that the poetry shows her to have had one of 
 the brightest minds on this Coast, the verse 
 equaling, if not surpassing that of Helen Hint 
 Jackson, the most brilliant poet that this Coast 
 has ever produced. 
 
 JOHN M. STALLINGS, 
 P. O. St. Helena, Calif. 
 
 This settler lives on the Weston ranch, he was 
 born in Indiana in 1846; came to California in 
 1897, to Napa county in 1899; he married Willhel- 
 mina Schuu, who was born in Indiana, 1844. They 
 have eleven children as follows: Fanny, born in 
 Indiana, 1872; William, 1874; Kate, 1876, both 
 born in Indiana. The next three were born in 
 Texas: Frank, 1878; John, 1880 and Fred, 1882; 
 Charles was born in Washington, 1884; Ella was 
 born in Texas, 1886; Iven, 1888; Ralph, 1890 and 
 Lillie, 1892 — the last three were born in Oregon. 
 This farm has 160 acres, of which 90 are in culti- 
 vation, a specialty is made of white and brown 
 leghorn chickens. 
 
 WILLIAM THOMAS SWIFT. 
 
 The subject of this sketch is a native son, he 
 having been born in Sonoma county in 1859, and 
 removed to Napa in 1875. Formerly he had a 
 carpenter and blacksmith shop but now is farm- 
 
, • NAPA COUNTY. 3t9 
 
 ing, being the owner of the celebrated Zem-Zem 
 ranch, containing 1,260 aci^s, of which 100 acres 
 are cultivated in hay for his stock. Mineral indi- 
 cations of quicksilver are found on the stock 
 ranch, also sulphur and salt springs. 
 
 Mr. Swift is also a stockholder in the Rocky 
 creek quicksilver mine which is said to be one )f 
 the most promising prospects in the State and 
 expects to be operated in full force the fall of 
 1901. 
 
 Mr. Swift resides in a comfortable home in Ber- 
 ryessa valley, five miles from Monticello. He mar- 
 ried Annie Laurie, 1881, who was born in 1862; 
 the children are: Ethelyn Irene, 1883; Gladys 
 Ferine, 1886; Marvin H., 1890; Juanita, 1893; Isa- 
 bella E., 1895. 
 
 ANDREW JACKSON SHARP 
 Was born in Pope valley, Napa county, in 1863; 
 now lives at Maple Knoll on Howell Mountain 
 grade; the land is mostly timbered and is being 
 gradually cleared and planted in vineyard and 
 orchard; he married Francisca Workover in 1886; 
 she was also born in Napa county, in 1866; thev 
 have one child, Thomas Benton Sharp, born on 
 Howell Mountain, in 1894. 
 
 PETER E. STONNAN 
 Was born in Germany in 1853. In 1872 he emi- 
 grated to the United States and located in Buff- 
 alo, New York for five years; in 1877 he came 
 west to California and finally settled in Pope val- 
 ley, Napa county, in 1894; that part of the valley 
 known as Germantown; he owns a ranch of 100 
 acres, of which 85 acres are improved, and on 
 which he raises grain; he married Anna Brann in 
 3894; she was born in Germany in 1863, but the 
 following children were all born in Napa county: 
 
350 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Peter P^ederick, 1894; Martin L., 1897; Carrie B., 
 1898 and George Dewey, 1900. 
 
 THOMAS L. SNIDER 
 
 Was born in New York, September 5, 1834, and 
 came to California in 1892; he has worked at har- 
 nessmaking since 1853, except three years he 
 served in the Union army during the war of the 
 rebellion, when he enlisted in the 32d regiment, 
 AVisconsin volunteer infanti'y, under Col. How- 
 ard, and was under Sherman at the taking of At- 
 lanta. July 14, 1866, he married Mary Clifford 
 (Felch), and came to Napa county in 1892 and 
 purchased his present home, where he continues 
 to work at harnessmaking and boots and shoes. 
 He is a son of Thomas Snider, the oldest man in 
 Napa county. 
 
 WILLIAM A. TRUBODY. 
 
 William A. Trubody is the son of John and Jane 
 Trubody, old and honored pioneers of this county, 
 who arrived in California in the fall of 1847. The 
 subject of this sketch was born in Lafayette 
 county, Missouri, December 5th, 1839, and resided 
 there until he came to this State in 1847 with his 
 parents. When eleven years of age he returned 
 East and for four years attended school at Mount 
 Pleasant Academy, New York, after which he re- 
 turned to this State and entered the University of 
 the Pacific, near San Jose, where he took a com- 
 plete course of study and then came to Napa 
 county, where he then bought a half interest in 
 184 acres of the farm he now owns. In 1867 he 
 was elected Supervisor and filled the place for 
 one term with great acceptance to the people. 
 On November 17, 1868, he was married to Miss 
 Laura Grigsby. They had the following children: 
 George A., born September 22, 1871; Frank E., 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 351 
 
 born November 8th, 1879; Clara, born October 30, 
 1877; Mary, born 18G9, died 1873; Lulu E., born 
 October 4, 1873; married Herbert Lawson in 1892 
 and died in 1893; one child Lowell T. Lawson, was 
 born in 1893 and now resides with its grandpar- 
 ents. Our subject has of late years filled the 
 office of Supervisor for the second term with 
 credit and honor to himself and the fullest satis- 
 faction to the people. On his retirement in the 
 winter of 1900-1 he was banquetted by his col- 
 leagues, who held him in high esteem. In every 
 place of trust he has proven to be a man of the 
 highest honor and sterling integrity, always faith- 
 fully serving the people, with whom he was 
 very popular. 
 
 LUTHER M. TURTON, 
 
 The architect, is an American, born iu Ne- 
 braska in 1862; came to Napa in 1876, and at 
 once established a reputation second to none as 
 an architect. A few of the buildings designed by 
 him will be here mentioned: The residences of E. 
 11. Winship, J. 0. Noise, Joseph Swartz, Robt. 
 Lamdin, the Central school building, North public 
 school building, the Winship block and the resi- 
 dent physicians' cottages on the grounds of the 
 State Insane Asylum. 
 
 The new Napa library building, now in course 
 of construction, is the design of this master build- 
 er, and when completed will be another monu- 
 ment to his skill. 
 
 It is well known that Mr. Turton could have 
 made more money as architect, had he moved 
 to San Francisco, but fidelity to home has kept 
 him at his post. Mr. T. believes that Napa county 
 is entitled to the best of everything and that 
 skilled mechanics or professional men owe a duty 
 to the place that started them in life, and if they^ 
 
3&S NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 have ability or fitness that it is a duty to remain 
 where good can be done for others, even though 
 it does not bring so large a financial reward. 
 
 Mr. Turton was married in 1878 to Miss Lillie 
 A. Bell, a most estimable young lady, who was 
 born in Canada in 1864. Both of these good peo- 
 ple are prominent in Methodist denominational 
 work and neither is so busy but what they ran 
 find time to help the church. The enterprise, life 
 and thrift of Methodism in Napa is due to a num- 
 ber of faithful workers, and among them will be 
 found the subjects of this biography. 
 
 SAMUEL TURNER. 
 
 Samuel Turner was an Englishman, having 
 been born there in 1834; emigrated to California 
 in 1872, arriving in Napa the same year and set- 
 tled on a ranch of 137 acres now known as the 
 Turner ranch, which is located on top of Howell 
 mountain, and has six acres of vineyard, a small 
 family orchard and about 20 acres grain. He 
 married Mary Ann Sutton in England, 1869; she 
 was born in 1846 and died in 1880, on Howell 
 Mountain; they had two children, Beatrice and 
 Samuel J., both born on Howell mountain, the 
 first in 1875 and the second two years later. 
 There is a celebrated spring in a canyon on the 
 farm; Mr. Turner has been clerk of Howell Moun- 
 tain school district since 1889 until this day 
 (1901.) 
 
 JOHN TOBIN. 
 
 The Lipanta is the home of John Tobin, who 
 was born in Michigan in 1843; came to California 
 in 1875 and settled in Napa county in 1882. Mr. 
 Tobin has a fine ranch of 100 acres, of which 20 
 is in orchard and 75 in grain land; he raises some 
 stock; has some timber land and a fine water sup- 
 ply of great force; he married Mary Owens in 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 35f 
 
 1871, in Kansas, and the children born there were: 
 William, 1870; Charles, 1874: In California, Lu- 
 lu, 1878 and Edward, 1880; Sarah was born on 
 Howell mountain in 1884. This house is one of 
 the oldest on the mountain, having been built 
 over thirty yeai's ago. 
 
 PETER TAIX 
 
 Was born in France, 1857; came to Napa coun- 
 ty in 1885. At San Francisco in 1888, he married 
 Idel Motier; the children of this union are four, 
 two girls and two boys, as follows: Peter Jr., 
 1889; John, 1891; Felecie, 1893; Alice, 1895. Mr. 
 Peter Taix was elected school trustee of Howell 
 Mountain school district; he is employed by Bram 
 & Chaix, proprietors of the Nouveau Medoc vin<v 
 yard, containing 135 acres of vineyard, with a 
 cellar of a capacity of 300,000 gallons, both red 
 and white wine is made; the total acerage is 180 
 acres; about 35,000 gallons of wine is made eacli 
 year, some years more, some less. 
 
 H. H. THOMPSON 
 
 Was born in San Francisco, January 26, 1866; 
 came to Napa with his parents in 1873 and set- 
 tled on a ranch on the Vallejo and Napa road 
 about three-quarters of a mile from the State 
 asylum. Mr. Thompson has been city clerk of 
 Napa since 1897 and has held other important 
 and responsible positions. Mr. Thompson was ed- 
 ucated in Oak Mound school in Napa city; he is 
 a member of the Native Sons of the Golden West 
 and also of the A. O. U. W. 
 
 M. W. THOMAS 
 
 Was born in Georgia in 1846; came to Califor- 
 nia in 1854, where he lived 13 years in Yuba 
 county; from there he moved to Colusa county 
 
354 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 where he married Edna Powell, 1870; she was 
 born at Sacramento, Calif., in 1852. Mr. Thomas 
 was city marshal in Sacramento for two years; in 
 1879 he moved to Napa county, opened a general 
 merchandise store and served as postmaster for 
 eight years in Pope valley; their children were: 
 Ruby, 1871 (married Sweitzer); Pearl, 1873 (mar- 
 ried Gibbons), and Wade Hampton, 1876. Owns 
 ranch of 250 acres, half grain and half pasture 
 land, and carries about |3,000 stock in merchan- 
 dise. 
 
 NICOLOS F. THOMAS 
 
 Was born in Maryland in 1837; emigrated to 
 California in 1851; settled in Napa in 1868; mar- 
 ried in 1872 to Miss Harriet Gillett, who was 
 born in New York in 1838 and the children born 
 to them were: N. S. Thomas, 1873; Harvey, 1877; 
 Charles, 1880 (died 1891); Walter, 1884. Harvey 
 Thomas married Miss Jacks, living in Napa coun- 
 ty 1899. The subject of this sketch was formerly 
 a miner and afterwards a cattleman, but since 
 1894 has been in the grocery business. The 
 ranch on which he formerly lived, on which all 
 the children were born, is located eight miles east 
 of Napa. For twenty-three years this was the 
 family home. 
 
 BEVERLY L. TALLMAN. 
 
 This pioneer was born in Iowa, 1852; arrived in 
 California in 1860, settling in Napa county, he de- 
 parted this life in 1895. His wife was Lydia A. 
 Clyman, whom he married in 1874; the children 
 were: James H. Tallman, 1875; W. Lamar, 1876; 
 L. Mable, 1879 (afterwards Mrs. Milton Van 
 Auken; E. Clyde, 1883 and Philip T., in 1891, all 
 of whom were born in Napa county. 
 
 Mrs. Lydia A. Tallman, the widow of the sub- 
 
R 'P. Tucni:R. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. J55 
 
 ject of this sketchy still resides on the old home 
 place, which consists of 80 acres of grain, walnut 
 and prune orchards. 
 
 A. J. TOWNSEND 
 
 Was born in Missouri in 1841; emigrated to 
 California in 1857, to Napa county in 1863, and 
 purchased Highland View ranch in 1893; this 
 place has 83 acres, of which 30 acres are cultivat- 
 ed in grain, orchard etc. This ranch is situated 
 on the southeast side of Howell mountain, north 
 of Conn valley, and is well timbered with fir and 
 oak. 
 
 In 1864 he married Mary A. Hooper, who also 
 was born in Missouri in 1848. They have two 
 children: James F., 1865; 8. Jackson, 1866, who 
 married Allie B. Aldrich in 1890 and have five 
 children, as follows: Gladys R., 1892; J. Earl, 
 1894; William Jackson, 1895; Annie F., 1897, and 
 Edgar J., 1898. 
 
 R. P. TUCKER 
 
 Came to California in 1846, to Napa county in 
 1847, and settled on the Tucker ranch of two 
 hundred acres. G. W. Tucker, the son of R. P. 
 Tucker, was born in Ohio, 1831; came with his 
 parents to California in 1846 and resides on the 
 ranch, of which 140 acres are cultivated in grain. 
 Mr. Tucker married in 1858, at the old mill place, 
 Angelina Kellogg; she was born in Illinois in 
 1837; children born to them were: Lila J., Mary L., 
 Jessie E., Charles L., George Henry, Martha R., 
 John A., Eda L.; Mary and Jessie are dead. Mr. 
 Tucker afterwards married Mary Sprustou, of 
 English birth; she died in 1887; children: Harry^ 
 L. and Eugenia E. 
 
356 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 FRANCIS VARTY 
 
 Was born in England, Dec. 25, 1837; came to 
 the United States in 1863, and to Napa county in 
 1880; has lived in Foss valley over twenty years. 
 
 Mr. Varty owns, in partnership with Mrs. 
 Dickey, about 2,300 acres, one hundred acres of 
 which is in grain, 30 acres in vineyard and five 
 acres in an orchard of assorted fruits. The bal- 
 ance is used for pasture, on which are raised 
 horses, cattle and hogs. Mr. Varty makes a spec- 
 ialty of heavy draught horses. The partnership 
 existing between Mr. Varty and Mrs. Dickey is 
 explained when it is known that when 3- oung men 
 Mr. Varty and Mr. Dickey, 30 years ago, were 
 business partners and when Mr. Dickey died, the 
 partnership was continued by Mrs. Dickey repre- 
 senting her dead husband's interest. 
 
 Mr. Varty was married in Sutter county, Calif., 
 in 1875 to Miss Emily Dickey who was a native of 
 California, and who died in Napa in 1894; the 
 <-hildren, the result of this union were as follows : 
 W. H. Varty, May 8th, 1874; Maud E., November 
 6th, 1876 (died Feby. 8, 1898); Francis R., March 
 14th, 1877; Cora R., December 29th, 1878; Daisy 
 E., I)e(^ember 10, 1881; Nettie, November 17th, 
 1883; May J., May 22d, 1886; Arthur H., May 
 ]4th, 1894 (died Feby. 22, 1899.) 
 
 CHARLES H. VOLPER 
 Was born in Switzerland in 1843; died in Napa 
 county in 1893; came to California iu 1870 and to 
 Napa county in 1871; married Marie Volper, also 
 born in Switzerland in 1845; emigrated to Napa 
 county in 1876; this couple had four children as 
 follows: Jules E., 1S76; Charles C, 1883; Louis H., 
 1886; Albert, 1888; all born in Coim valley. Mr. 
 Volper was one of the partners of the Franco- 
 Swiss ranch company and his farm was part of 
 

 ^.iMsmsmsm: 
 
 m 
 
 "m^ 
 
 
 m. 
 
 HON. OWEN WADE 
 
 St. Helena 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 367 
 
 that tract of land comprising 142 acres, one hun- 
 dred acres of which is now in a high state of cul- 
 tivation mostly being in grain. 
 
 HON. OVYEN WADE. 
 
 It is with pleasure we direct attention to the 
 short biography of this sterling character and 
 leader among men in his section, as it demon- 
 strate the irrepressible nature of the American 
 citizen. 
 
 The subject of this sketch lived with his parents 
 on a farm in Morgan county, Ohio, where he was^ 
 born in 1831, and in the spring of 1852, joined a 
 company of emigrants and crossed the plains 
 with ox teams, arriving in the Willamette valley, 
 Oregon, in October of that year. From 1853 to 
 1861, he was engaged alternately in teaching 
 school and mining in Oregon and Idaho. In 1804 
 he was honored by being elected a member of the 
 Oregon Legislature. On the 17th day of March, 
 1865, he was further honored by being appointed 
 liegistrar of the United States Land office at Ore- 
 gon City, Oregon, by President Lincoln, which 
 office he held until January, 1878, having been 
 reappointed by President Johnson and twice by 
 General Grant when President; he then resigned 
 the office and visited his friends and connections 
 in the East for the balance of 1878; the next year 
 he came west and settled in St. Helena, Califor- 
 nia, this was in 1879, and since that time he has 
 had his continuous residence there engaged in 
 agriculture. In 1883 he accepted the position as 
 cashier of the Bank of St. Helena, and has held 
 such ever since. In 1892 he was elected a member 
 of the State Assembly and re-elected in 1894 and 
 again in 1898, and still continues to enjoy life, 
 and is honored by the love and esteem of all who 
 have the privilege to know him. 
 
358 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 J. J. WALTERS 
 
 Was born in North Carolina, August 3d, 1825; 
 died March 16, 1898; he owned 2,200 acres of land 
 of which 650 acres are under cultivation. This 
 ranch contains rich magnesia deposits which have 
 been worked for two years and also contains the 
 famous Walters Mineral Springs. 
 
 Stock raising is the principal occupation >n 
 this ranch. 
 
 Mr. Walters man-ied Mary J. Grogan on Oct. 
 7th, 1850; she was born in Tennessee in 1838. 
 
 The children of this union are: Eve Walters 
 (married Giboney), born 1854 in Missouri; Alice 
 Walters (married Overhulser),) born 1856 in j\e- 
 braska; this child was born on the plains in a 
 tent, as the family were crossing the plains on 
 their way to California; she died November 3d, 
 1892; Fannie Walters (married Duvall), born 
 1858 in Napa county; Marcella Walters, born 
 1860 in Napa county; Laura Walters (married 
 Duvall) born 1862 in Napa county; she died in 
 1882, in Pope valley; John L. Walters, born in 
 Chiles valley, 1864; Olive B. Walters, born 1866 
 in Pope valley; Mary E. Walters (married TulJy), 
 born in 1868, Pope valley; Cora O. Walters (mar- 
 ried Donovan), born in 1870, Pope valley; Jordan 
 J. Walters, born in 1873, Pope valley. 
 
 Neva Overhulser, granddaughter of Mrs. J. J. 
 Walters, lives with her grandmother, was born 
 in 1885. 
 
 Mrs. J. J. Walters, on the 15th of March, 1901, 
 went to St. Helena in perfect health and next 
 morning at 7:30 was found dead in bed, having 
 passed away in the night of heart failure. 
 
 HANNAH WHITE 
 
 Was born in Berrin county, Michigan, on Jan- 
 uary 18th, 1839; she was the daughter of John 
 
NAPA COUNTTT. 359 
 
 ;Wooden and Elizabeth Smith Wooden; together 
 with her parents, came to Napa county in 1848. 
 The journey from the East was made across the 
 plains with ox teams; the startling incidents and 
 adventures of the journey wei'e one of the greit 
 events of the day and these people whiled away 
 hours in subsequent years by telling of this long, 
 six months journey through heat and dust and 
 months of patient travel in the white ships of the 
 desert. However, after residing in Napa valley 
 for two years, Mrs. White and her parents settled 
 in Wooden valley in 1850. This pretty valley tak- 
 ing its name from these early pioneers. 
 
 John Wooden was born in 1807 and died 
 in St. Helena, November 14th, 1887, after a career 
 full of years and it is needless to say, honored by 
 all who knew him. The subject of this sketch was 
 married to Benjamin F. White in 1878. 
 
 WIRT PENDAGAST WHITE. 
 
 Wirt P. White is the son of Benjamin F. and 
 
 Hannah White, and was born in Wooden valley, 
 
 Napa county, on January 9th, 1879. His entire 
 
 life has been spent on the farm, where he was 
 
 born, except one year, 1886, when he resided in 
 
 St. Helena. 
 
 C. A. WE SCOTT 
 
 Was born in New York in 1828, and arrived in 
 Napa county in 1851. He had lost his health when 
 engaged in mining and came to Napa endeavor- 
 ing to regain it, the result was he was immediate- 
 ly restored to perfect health. Mr. Wescott settled 
 on his ranch in 1857 and was one of the very few 
 pre-emption claims; it contains 160 acres, ol 
 which 20 acres are in a fine state of cultivation, 
 including a vineyard and orchard, the rest of the 
 farm is used as a stock ranch. Mr. Wescott was 
 deputy postmaster and postmaster for years in 
 
860 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Chiles valley, and has been school trustee and 
 also clerk of school district for the past twelve 
 years; married Mary Clark in Napa in 1868; she 
 "was born in 1851 in New York; they have three 
 children: Kate L., 1882; Susie R., 1884; May L., 
 1887; his oldest daughter died March, 1901. C. A. 
 Wescott Avas the first settler and is now the old- 
 est man in this valley; in his time a great hunter; 
 he killed a bear of 1460 pounds; Indians were nu- 
 merous when he first located in Chiles valley. 
 
 THOMAS WORKOVEE 
 
 Was born in Holland in 1837; emigrated to the 
 United States with his parents in 1843 and locat- 
 ed in St. Louis Mo.; he came to California in 1858 
 and settled in Pope valley, Napa county, the same 
 year and bought Mountain View ranch in 1868; 
 it is situated on the northeast slope of Howell 
 mountain, and consists of 320 acres; originally he 
 sold largely so that the part remaining 
 is but 74 acres of which 15 acres are 
 in fruit. In 1864 he married Sarah Franklin in 
 Pope valley; she was born in Missouri in 1845; 
 they have had eight children of which three died. 
 Those now living are as follows: Francisca, born 
 1866; Conrad, 1869; Helena S., 1871; Stephen E., 
 1879; Bertha A., 1890. 
 
 W. G. WINKLER 
 
 Was born in Cermany in 1869; came to Cali- 
 fornia in 1889; settled in Napa county in 1893; 73 
 acres in ranch, 20 acres in cultivation, as follows: 
 6 acres vineyard and 14 in grain, with a small or- 
 chard for family use. 
 
 In 1866 he married Louisa Dietrich, a native of 
 Illinois; their children are: Happy L. Winkler, 
 1896 and William B., 1899, both in California. 
 Freda Roessler, a child by a former marriage, was 
 
! ; NAPA COUNTY. 361 
 
 born in 1883 in Kansas; on this place a specialty 
 is made of black Minorca chickens, of which there 
 are a great many raised. 
 
 P. H. WALLACE 
 
 Was born in California in 1852; owns a fine 
 ranch of 320 acres, of which 300 are in cultivation, 
 7 acres of vineyard; horses and cattle are raised 
 on this ranch. Croppings of coal are found here 
 of good quality. He married Ella Wallace Janu- 
 ary, 1878, in Napa county; she was born in Mis- 
 souri; the children are Koy W. Wallace; Edgar 
 H. Wallace, Zaider A. Wallace, Volney H. Wal- 
 lace, Luella Wallace and Francis E. Wallace. 
 
 FRANK B. WAEREN 
 
 Is a native of Napa county, born 1870; is a 
 plumber by trade and now leases 2,200 acres and 
 does a generl farming and stock raising, has 50 
 head of cattle 10 horses and 125 hogs; he married 
 Annie Boyde at St. Helena, Napa county in 1895; 
 she was born in Napa county 1877; they have one 
 child, Oliver Warren, 1896. 
 
 THOMAS A. WASSUM. 
 
 This pioneer settler of Napa county was born in 
 Missouri in 1839 and emigrated to California in 
 1852, arriving in Napa county in 1855. Mr. Was- 
 sum is a successful man in his business, which 
 is stock raising, which he conducts on the Palmer 
 place of 320 acres, all pasture land located about 
 two and one-half miles from Monticello; besides 
 being the owner of this tract of land, he owns a 
 ranch of 37 acres on which he raises grain ind 
 also has a good house, orchard, etc., with bar)i 
 and outbuildings. On the Palmer ranch rich 
 
382 NAPA COUNTY. '' - - — 
 
 CToppings of iron are found. In addition to his 
 farming and stock raising business Mr. Wass mi 
 has been roadmaster of the district in which he 
 lives, for a period of twelve years. Mr. Wassuni 
 was married to Miss Amanda Stice in 1858 in 
 Napa county; she was born in Missouri in 1842 
 and the children which blessed this union are 
 Charles H., 1854; John P., 1861; Sarah E., 1863 
 Clarrissa, 1866; Thomas H., 1868; Jennie, 1871 
 Jacob W., 1874; all born in Napa county. 
 
 FOUNTAIN E. P. WRIGHT 
 
 Was born in 1837 in Tennessee; died in Mis- 
 souri September 27th, 1875; married Miss Ver- 
 lenia Suggs 1858, who was born in Missouri 1842; 
 the children of this union were: Martha J., born 
 1859 (married Wm. Howeth); James A., 1862 
 Hiram L., 1865; Laura B., 1867 (died 1874 in Mo.) 
 Mary Alice Olive, 1869; (married Ernest Stafford) 
 E. Barzilla, 1872. Hiram and E. Barzilla Wright 
 live with their mother on the ranch which con- 
 sists of 150 acres, including orchard of 6 acres of 
 assorted fruits.. 
 
 JOHN YORK 
 
 Was one of the notable pioneers of Napa coun- 
 ty; he was born in East Tennessee June5th 1820. 
 was married to Lucinda Hudson September 5th, 
 1841; she was born in Missouri June 20th, 1823; 
 they crossed the plains in 1845 with their first 
 child, William E. York and David was born ou 
 the plains during the trip; he died in Napa coun- 
 ty at the age of 25 years. W. E. York is still liv- 
 ing in Napa county. 
 
 John York and family arrived in Napa county 
 in the fall of 1845 and have always lived here and 
 are the oldest couple of pioneers yet living; they 
 had ten children, of which 6 are now living, be- 
 
MR. and MRS. JOHN.YORIA. 
 
 St. Helena. On THeir FiftietH "Weddine Anniversary. 
 TaKen in tKe Dooryard of XHeir Home. 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 365 
 
 sides the two mentioned above there are Heurj, 
 Dec. 26, 1847; John A., April 18, 1850; Nancy, 
 J. York, Aug. 12, 1852; P. S. York, Dec. 24, 1855; 
 Charles, Mai-ch 3, 1858; Caswell, Nov. 14, 1860 
 (died August 28th, 1894); Frank, Jan. 21, 1863 
 (died Dec. 19, 1889); Nellie, Feb. 13, 1867 (died 
 Dec. 28, 1884) ; all of the last mentioned were born 
 in Napa county; there are 15 grand-children ind 
 three great grand-children; the old folks are both 
 ;well and sprightly and able to work. The pres- 
 ent year (1901), they will have been married six- 
 ty years; they have lived on the old ranch since 
 1848. John York, Sr., served in the war with 
 Mexico, being one of the Bear flag party and he 
 also carried the first stars and stripes in Califor- 
 nia to Sutter's fort in Sacramento, and raised 
 "old glory" for the first time after taking down 
 the Bear flag. 
 
 JOHN T. YORK 
 
 Was born in St. Helena, Napa county, Calif )r- 
 nia, March 26th, 1869, and wais educated in the 
 grammar school of that place, Oak Mound school 
 and Oakland High school, finally graduating at 
 Hasting College of Law, with the degree of L. L. 
 D., on June 28th, 1892; was admitted to the prac- 
 tice of law in the State of California in 1891 and 
 began in Napa in 1892; was law clerk in the office 
 of Tilden & Tilden, San Francisco for four years; 
 since 1895 Mr. York has held the office of City At- 
 torney, and also has been Library Trustee; sin^'e 
 1900 has been chairman. 
 
 He is also Past Grand of Napa Lodge, I. O. O. 
 F., and Past Chief Patriarch of Live Oak Encamp- 
 ment. Mr. York has his law office in the Bank 
 block on Brown and Second streets and was a law 
 partner of Hon. Denis Spencer, from 1893 until 
 his death. 
 
364 NAPA COUNTY. ' „. 
 
 JOHN A. YOUNG 
 
 Was born in Ohio, March 2, 1849 and came to 
 Napa county in 1878; married Eliza A, Roberts in 
 California in 1876; she was born in Iowa 1856; 
 their children were William E., 1876; Thomas E., 
 1879; Pierce J., 1882; Ethel A., 1886; Harrison T., 
 1888; Clarence R, 1890; James N., Christmass, 
 1893; Ernest F., 1886; Wylie C, 1898. Mr. Young 
 lives on Dr. May Wells' place of 400 acres of 
 which 275 acres are in cultivation, mostly grain 
 land, with 6 acres of orchard. Black Minorca 
 chickens are a specialty. Gold was found on this 
 ranch in 1886, as also were salt springs. 
 
 HENRY ZOELLER 
 
 Was born in Germany 1838; emigrated to the 
 United States in 1862, landing in New York; mar- 
 ried Marcella Jahn in 1865 in New York city; 
 came to Napa county in 1878, and bought their 
 place near Calistoga on Napa creek, of 24 acres. 
 During the life of Mr. Zoeller he owned about 52 
 acres; Mrs. Zoeller was born in Germany in 1843; 
 Mr. Zoeller, during his life was noted for his kind- 
 ness to the poor and for his sympathy for those 
 who were suffering, consequently was well belov- 
 ed in both Napa and Sonoma counties, where he 
 lived 30 years; they had three children, all died 
 in infancy; they adopted four children from the 
 Protestant Orphanage, two of whom are still liv- 
 ing with the family, the other two having died. 
 

 
 
 To San Franci-ico 46 miles 
 
 To Sacramento 60 " 
 
 To Calisto^a. 
 
 To The Geysers 50 " 
 
 To Napa Soda Spr'gs.. 7 " 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 365 
 
 INDEX 
 
 Page 
 
 HISTORY OF NAPA COUNTY 5 
 
 Geographical Situation and Area 5 
 
 Topography 5 
 
 Geology 9 
 
 Soil 15 
 
 Timber 15 
 
 Water Courses 16 
 
 Climatography 17 
 
 Derivation of Name 19 
 
 Indians 20 
 
 MEXICAN GRANTS 24 
 
 Caymus Grant 24 
 
 Entre Napa Rancho 24 
 
 Rancho El Rincon de los Carnetos 25 
 
 Napa Rancho 25 
 
 Julius K. Rose 26 
 
 The Yajome 26 
 
 Locoallom Ranch 26 
 
 The Tulucay Rancho 27 
 
 Rancho Mallacomes 27 
 
 Rancho De I^a Jote 27 
 
 Las Putas Rancho 28 
 
 Huichica Rancho 28 
 
 The Catacula Rancho 29 
 
 The Chimiles Rancho , 29 
 
 Cayne Humana Rancho 29 
 
 GENERAL HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT 29 
 
 Short Biographies of Early Settlers 29 
 
 First Marriage License 37 
 
 First Mortgage Recorded 38 
 
 The First Election 38 
 
 Finances of County 1856 40 
 
 Republican Rally 41 
 
 Napa Agricultural Society 42 
 
 Finances of County 1864 45 
 
 Petroleum Discovered 46 
 
 Assassination of Abraham Lincoln 46 
 
 Mass Meeting 48 
 
 Resolutions 49 
 
 Obsequies of the President 52 
 
366 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 HEALTHFUL CLIMATE OF NAPA COUNTY 54 
 
 Rainfall and Temperature 58 
 
 COUNTY INFIRMARY 60 
 
 FINANCES OF COUNTY 1869 60 
 
 RAILROAD HISTORY 61 
 
 COURT HOUSE 70 
 
 LEGISLATIVE HISTORY 75 
 
 POLITICAL HISTORY 89 
 
 Biographical Sketches of Early Legislators 96 
 
 David F. Douglass 96 
 
 M. G. Vallejo , 96 
 
 Elcan Heydenfeldt 96 
 
 Pablo de 1 a Guerra 96 
 
 S. D. WoodvTorth 97 
 
 i hos. L. Vermeule 97 
 
 W. D. Fair 97 
 
 Elisha O. Crosby 97 
 
 D. C . Broderick 97 
 
 J. Bidwell 98 
 
 H. C. Robinson 98 
 
 Benjamin S. Lippincott 98 
 
 Gen. M. G. Vallejo's Memorial 98 
 
 Legislative Meetings 103 
 
 Admission of California as a State . 105 
 
 VITICULTURE 106 
 
 MINES AND MINING no 
 
 Quicksilver, Gold, Coal, etc 117 
 
 Oat Hill Quicksilver Mine 118 
 
 THE FIRST SCHOOL 119 
 
 Superintendents of Schools 1 19 
 
 Board of Education 119 
 
 Table of Scholars and Districts 120 
 
 Life and Roads in Napa County 1 20 
 
 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY 122 
 
 THE PIONEERS 123 
 
 NAPA TOWNSHIP 124 
 
 Geography 124 
 
 Topography 134 
 
 Soil 125 
 
 Geology 1 25 
 
 Climate 125 
 
 Products 126 
 
 Early Settlemeot 126 
 
 NAPA CITY 128 
 
 1856 The Reporter was Started 141 
 
 1857 Guards Organized 144 
 
 i860 Stone Bridge Built across Napa River 145 
 
 1861 Good Templars Organized 145 
 
 1862 Academy for Boys Opened 145 
 
 1863 Napa Register 145 
 
 1864 Napa Guard's Election 146 
 
 Early Reminiscence 146 
 
 Earthquake 148 
 
 Subscription Raised at Methodist Church 148 
 
 1867 Gas Pipes Laid 148 
 
 1868 Napa Incorporated 150 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 367 
 
 1869 Smallpox Epidemic 150 
 
 Old Indian Burial Ground 1 52 
 
 Records 
 
 152 
 
 Legislative Enactments 155 
 
 Engine House Built 157 
 
 Water Supply 157 
 
 Library 157 
 
 Churches 157 
 
 Presbyterian 158 
 
 The Methodist Episcopal 160 
 
 Christ (Episcopal) 163 
 
 Baptist 164 
 
 St. John the Baptist (Catholic) 165 
 
 Manufacturing Cbnter 165 
 
 PuBuc Schools 167 
 
 Central School 167 
 
 South Central 168 
 
 North Public 168 
 
 Napa High School 16S 
 
 Napa Collegiate Institute 168 
 
 Napa Ladies' Seminary 171 
 
 Newspaper Biography 171 
 
 The Reporter 171 
 
 The Napa Register 174 
 
 The Daily Reporter 175 
 
 Napa Herald 178 ■ 
 
 The Echo 178 
 
 Daily and Weekly Register I7g 
 
 Robert T. Montgomery . , , I7g 
 
 Secret Societies 180 
 
 Free and Accepted Masons 180 
 
 Independent Order of Odd Fellows 181 
 
 Knights of Honor 183 
 
 Independent Order of Good Templars 183 
 
 Knights of Pythias 184 
 
 Ancient Order of United Workmen 184 
 
 Fraternal Brotherhood 184 
 
 Industries 185 
 
 Sawyer Tanning Co 1 85 
 
 Napa Gas and Electric Co ^. . .,r.,. .^. . . . . . . . 186 
 
 Goodman & Co., Bankers * ij.;»s-.).r?j»^,.^^*,4..ii'..jS86 
 
 Bank of Napa v'W- sIbH-I-AL^ ydT87 
 
 Laundry of Sam Kee ^-z'^^H' tt-H • -jIJeSS 
 
 Real Estate and Insurance .^.,. j88 
 
 Ganter & Gauter .^':?.\ . "189 
 
 Marble Works 'r-JlliVjrj'^^igo 
 
 Best Millinery Parlors .'{'.-^. . .1 'tgo 
 
 The Palace Stables ....,;....... 190 
 
 The Palace Hotel r ; ; ;l : ; 191 
 
 Carriage Repository iq2 
 
 Manufactories 192 
 
 Napa Board of Trustees -i^Ma 'I* ♦ • ^^^ 
 
 Napa Business College ^.r^^^^.i^;..,,,^..^i92. 
 
 Steamboats .^^ ,,. . ^ ,:^^^ .Jj, ^.V^ .; i.v^v^/,^4 ^ 
 
 Fire Department .\,\i^-^f^iii. .s>PH.rtjiv ■i"?^^ 
 
 Napa State Hospital Jiiri.n'.^jf'.'S,'n.\iiBJi<)6 
 
368 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 TULOCAY Cemktbry 199 
 
 ATi,AS Peak 202 
 
 Napa Soda Springs 204 
 
 Thb Napa Sanatorium 208 
 
 The Goodman Library 209 
 
 YOUNT TOWNSHIP 210 
 
 Geography, Topography, Soil 210 
 
 Climate and Early Settlement 211 
 
 Towns 214 
 
 YouNTvii^LE 214 
 
 Baptist Church 214 
 
 Christian Church 215 
 
 Veterans' Home 215 
 
 MONTlCEIvI.0 216 
 
 Putah Creek Bridge 217 
 
 Berryessa Valley 217 
 
 Chiles Valley 218 
 
 Coun V-lley 219 
 
 Gordon Valley. 219 
 
 Redwood Falls 219 
 
 Johannisberg. . 220 
 
 Samuel Soda Springs 221 
 
 Walters Spring 2 23 
 
 HOT SPRINGS TOWNSHIP 224 
 
 Geography, Geology, Soil, Climate 224 
 
 Products and Early Settlement 226 
 
 Towns 230 
 
 St. Helena 230 
 
 Baptist Church 234 
 
 Methodist Episcopal Church.. 234 
 
 Cumberland Presbyterian Church 235 
 
 Presbyterian Church 235 
 
 Seventh Day Advent Church 235 
 
 Catholic Church 236 
 
 Schools, 236 
 
 Societies 236 
 
 Fire Department 238 
 
 Newspapers — Star and Sentinel 239 
 
 Taplin Bros. Creamery 241 
 
 St. Helena Sanitarium 242 
 
 The Old Bale Mill 244 
 
 Mt. St. Helena 246 
 
 Calistog A 248 
 
 Presbyterian Church 249 
 
 M. E. Church 250 
 
 School 250 
 
 Magnolia Hotel 250 
 
 Newspapers 251 
 
 Hot Springs 251 
 
 Clay Cave 253 
 
 Petrified Forest 254 
 
 KNOX TOWNSHIP 255 
 
 Geography, Topography, Geology 255 
 
 Soil, Climate, Products, Timber 256 
 
 Early Settlement 257 
 
 JEtna Springs 258 
 
NAPA COUNTY. 309 
 
 BIOGRAPHIES 
 
 Index. 
 
 Armstrong, Charles W 263 
 
 Aiken, Antoinette. 264 
 
 Buckman, Oliver H 264 
 
 Blower, R.J 265 
 
 Bell, Charles E 265 
 
 Bruck, B 266 
 
 Bale, Dr. E. T 266 
 
 Borreo, F 267 
 
 Bryant, John S 267 
 
 Beretta , August 268 
 
 Burdick, Edward F 268 
 
 Brown, W. H 269 
 
 Bradley, William H 269 
 
 Chapman , Dr. S. E 269 
 
 Conn, John 270 
 
 Conn, Connolly 271 
 
 Carroll , C. A 272 
 
 Cain, J. A 273 
 
 Clvman, Colonel James .... 273 
 
 CufF, Richard 274 
 
 Clark, Alonz"> C 274 
 
 Clark, Reuben 275 
 
 Clayton, R. W 275 
 
 Chamblin, M. A 276 
 
 Clayton, James B 276 
 
 Coleman, John W 277 
 
 Cruey, R. C. 277 
 
 Callizo, D. J ..... . 277 
 
 Corthay, Louis 278 
 
 Crochat, Louise 278 
 
 Christian , Chris 280 
 
 Croft, W. O 280 
 
 Cyrus, John and Lovina 279 
 
 Dexter, II. S , 280 
 
 Dafoe, E 280 
 
 Duvall , Louis W 281 
 
 Even, John F 281 
 
 Epley, T. H 282 
 
 Eisan, Albert F 282 
 
 Evans, A. V 283 
 
 Fuller, Johu A 283 
 
 Fountain , George C 286 
 
 Francis, George M 286 
 
 Farman, Charles Hugo 287 
 
 Firestine, Geo. L 288 
 
370 NAPA COUNTY, 
 
 Frus, Arthur 289 
 
 Fitch, Isaac 289 
 
 Fischer, Ferdinand 290 
 
 Foster, P 290 
 
 Farley, William 290 
 
 Fo38, C. C 291 
 
 Gunn, H. L 291 
 
 Gesford, Preston Green 292 
 
 Gesford, Hemry C 293 
 
 Grant, P. S 293 
 
 Gordon, William 294 
 
 Gordon, William Jr 294 
 
 Gordon, Joseph 295 
 
 Grimm, J 295 
 
 Gauthier, Nelson 295 
 
 Gridley, Jackson 296 
 
 Groteguth, H. K 296 
 
 Giauque, lyouis M 296 
 
 Holden, Samuel E 297 
 
 Ham, E. D 299 
 
 Hubbs, Anthony 301 
 
 Head, George 302 
 
 Haas, M. M 303 
 
 Husman, Prof. George 304 
 
 Harris, Joseph W 304 
 
 Hardman, I. B 305 
 
 Hoppe, E 305 
 
 Hill, Elizabeth 305 
 
 Hill, Alfred C 306 
 
 Hobson, Charles F 307 
 
 Ink, Theron 307 
 
 Ink, J. G 307 
 
 Jaensch, E. W 307 
 
 Jackson, Col. John P 308 
 
 Jackson, Thomas 309 
 
 Jackson Ranch 310 
 
 King, Rev. Ensign H 311 
 
 Kyser, D. S 310 
 
 Keene, Phillip 311 
 
 Lange, Henry 312 
 
 Leva, J. 313 
 
 Lake, S. T 313 
 
 Levansaler, Charles L 314 
 
 Leonard, Walter Adelbert 314 
 
 Mackinder, F. B 314 
 
 Mackinder, W. A 316 
 
 Mayfield, J. M ^ . . 318 
 
 Maclean, M. A 319 
 
 Moser, Christian 320 
 
 Mast, M 320 
 
 Mooney, CD 320 
 
 Marcnm, C. S 321 
 
 Mark , Thomas 321 
 
 Martinilli, John 322 
 
 Meyer, Conrad 322 
 
 Meagher, Wm. E 322 
 
NAPA COUNtT. 371 
 
 Mitchell, Joseph 323 
 
 M«rch, W. F 323 
 
 McKenzie, George S 324 
 
 McKenzie, Alexander 325 
 
 McMillen, Perry E 325 
 
 McCaflFrey , James 327 
 
 McNeill, Samuel E 327 
 
 Nash, Cornelius H 327 
 
 Newman , James B 328 
 
 Nicheliri, Anton 330 
 
 Newton, Thomas 331 
 
 Newton , William , 331 
 
 Noll, Mrs. Louisa 331 
 
 Palmer, P. H 328 
 
 Priest, J.J 332 
 
 Phillips, F. S 332 
 
 Parr, J. H 333 
 
 Pogue, S. W 334 
 
 Rossi, A 334 
 
 Roseberry, J 334 
 
 Richardson, E. B 335 
 
 Reams, C 335 
 
 Reams, J. W 336 
 
 Reams, B. F 337 
 
 Rogers, A. D 337 
 
 Roth, J. A.. 337 
 
 Raney, W. J 336 
 
 Rogers, Thos. G 338 
 
 Seeley, C. B 339 
 
 Sanderson, F. H 339 
 
 Spiers, W . , 341 
 
 Schnnemann, E. G 342 
 
 Schwarz, H 342 
 
 Sisson, A. W 342 
 
 Smith, V. C 343 
 
 Smith, Z. W 343 
 
 Slinsen, L 343 
 
 StaflFord, A 344 
 
 Stafford, E. V 344 
 
 Sweitzer, L 345 
 
 Stokes, H 345 
 
 Sf-sselli, J 346 
 
 Stallings, J. M 349 
 
 Swift, W. T 349 
 
 Sharp, A. J 348 
 
 Stonnan, P E 349 
 
 Snider, T. L 350 
 
 Turton, L. M 351 
 
 Trubody, W. A 350 
 
 Turner, S 352 
 
 Tobin, J 352 
 
 Taix, P 353 
 
 Thompson, H. H 353 
 
 Thomas, M. W 353 
 
 Thomas, N. F 354 
 
 Tallman, B. L 354 
 
 Townsend, A. G 355 
 
 Tucker, R. P 355 
 
372 NAPA COUNTY. 
 
 Varty, F 356 
 
 Volper, C. H 356 
 
 Wade, Owen 357 
 
 Walters, J. J 358 
 
 Wassum, T. A 361 
 
 White, H 358 
 
 White, W. P 359 
 
 Wescott, C, A 359 
 
 Workover, T 360 
 
 Winkler, VV. G 360 
 
 Wallace, P. H 361 
 
 Warren, F. B 361 
 
 Wright, F. E. P 362 
 
 York, J 362 
 
 York, J. T 363 
 
 Young, J. A 364 
 
 Zoeller, H 364 
 

 
 
 
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