The Town of Healdsburg
- Genealogy
- History of Cloverdale
- The Town Today
- Places of Interest
Table of Contents
When you long for small town charm, come to Healdsburg. Envision a town with the best qualities of turn-of-the century America, yet with the ambiance of a European countryside. Tucked between 3 lush valleys and surrounded by over 60 wineries, Healdsburg is nestled in the heart of the wine country. We're only 65 miles north of San Francisco on Highway 101. The city has a total area of 4.464 sq mi (11.6 km2), of which 4.457 sq mi (11.5 km2) is land and 0.007 sq mi (0.0 km2) is water. The total area is 0.15% water. It lies on the Russian River, near a point used as a crossing of the river since the 1850s that is now the site of the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge. Foss Creek traverses the city from north to south, flowing into Dry Creek near the U.S. 101 Central Healdsburg interchange. [1]
Genealogy
Gedcom Index for Healdsburg , CA. . . . Link . . . Link
Surnames: Beeman, Berry, Bobst, Cadd, Cake, Chatfield-Taylor, Cobb, Demostene, Derrick, de Tassan, Dirvin, Douglas, Enzenauer, Etchell, Grant, Guere, Hanna, Heald, Holloway, Lowrey, Mabee, Martin, Mc Farling, Rose, Shaw, Smyth, Spittler, Stine, Tatlow, Wagers, Werling, Wheaton, William
GenealogyOnline: About the Town Healdsburg . . . Link
Surnames: Allingham, Bennett, Bigler, Bouton, Brown, Cortelyou, Cotter, Dewey, Ferguson, Fraker, Goldstein, Gray, Green, Grove, Gunnink, Hess, Holmes, Hopper, Kellogg, Lowe, Martin, Meyer, Searles, Smith, Soules, Speers, Todd, Vaughan, Wells, Williams
LDS genealogy.com: TOWN . . . Link
Roadside Thoughts: Healdsburg California . . . Link
Sonoma County Genealogical Society . . . Link
The web site "The Cockrill Family of Sonoma County" [Link] has a wonderful collection of local genealogy including the following with ties to this town: John Chistopher Parmeter, (do a search and add names here)
People of Interest
A. L. S. Bateman, Rev. . . OurHistory.Com
Rev. A.L.S. Bateman, a pioneer Methodist minister, held his services in 1852 in the best room of Cyrus' adobe. Bateman built a church and Sunday school in the Valley the next year [1853]. That church also became the first regular day school, but when its location did not seem central enough, Cyrus built a schoolhouse on his own land. [11a]
Alexander J. Cox . . . Link. . . Cox launched the first newspaper, the Healdsburg Review in 1860.
Aquilla B. Aull . . . Link
Later that year Heald purchased 10 more acres from his brother-in-law, Aquilla B. Aull and another 55 acres from brother-in-law George T. Espy. Aull and Espy had purchased these lots at the original land auctions and it is on these tracts that the town of Healdsburg was mapped and recorded. [1]
August Knaack, a Wagonwright . . . OurHistory.com
August Knaack, a German wagonwright, built the third building. His shop adjoined the [Morse] blacksmith shop and provided all the wooden parts for items made there. Knaack also made chairs and repaired wagons. [11d]
B. B. Bonham, Dr., First Physician . . . Link
[Bonham] was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named. [4]
Bill Potter . . . OurHistory.com . . Among the earlier pioneers
Harrison Barnes and Bill Potter had put up a little store on the banks of the Russian River, a few miles southwest of Healdsburg, but the high water picked it up and carried the shanty downstream. After that the closest flour was in Petaluma, and that at $18 a sack. [11d]
Bill Thurgood, First Saloon . . Link . . Thurgood had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second one the same year. [4]
Charles E. Hutton, Newspaper Editor . . . OurHistory.Com
Matheson and another board member, Charles E. Hutton, had even secured the use of a printing press owned by local citizen, J.B. Boggs, and had gathered $400 in local subscriptions to support a newspaper to be published by the college [The Agricultural and Mechanical University of California]. [11c]
Clark Foss, Stage Coach Driver . . . OurHistory.Com [Full Biography]
Of all the great and daring stage drivers of that day, none was more daring or so famous as Healdsburg's own Clark Foss, who almost single-handedly put the stage route to the California Geysers on the world's map. [11e]
Cornelius Bice . . . Link
Another [pioneer] was Cornelius Bice, who settled in 1853 on what is now the Lewis Norton property, on Grove Street. It was here that his home was burned during the Squatters disputes in 1862. [4]
Cyrus Alexander (1805-1872), a trapper . . . Link . . OurHistory.Com [Full Biography]
H. D. Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful ranch; the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant. [2, 11a] [Source 11a: has mention of family members not associated with Sonoma County]
Family Alexander:
George Alexander [Son of Cyrus Alexander] . . . OurHistory.com [Site has lots of family history] . . . surviving sons, George and Thomas, stayed on at the original homestead.
Margaret Alexander [Daughter of Cyrus Alexander] . . . OurHistory.com . . [has a great description of early farm life in Healdsburg in abt. 1845-1855]
Rufina Alexander (1830-1908) [Wife to Cyrus Alexander] . . . OurHistory.com [Has lots of family history] . . . Rufina was the sister of William Gordon's Mexican wife, Maria. Born in Mora, New Mexico, to Pedro Lucero and Maria de la Luz Pinos in May of 1830, she had come with the Gordon's to California in 1841. Each trip from the Sotoyome Rancho to the Gordon's was about 200 miles round trip, so Alexander had to streamline his courtship. He [Cyrus] married Rufina, then just 14 years old, in December 1844. [11a]
Thomas Alexander [Son of Cyrus Alexander] . . . OurHistory.com [Has lots of family history]. . . . surviving sons, George and Thomas, stayed on at the original homestead.
David Bloom . . . Link
R. Hertel and David Bloom each open small dry goods stores on West Street and then came James E. Fenno with a watch and jewelry store. [4]
Ellen G. (Harmon) White . . . Link
One of the most important personages to reside in Healdsburg was Ellen G. (Harmon) White, one of the founders of the Seventh Day Adventist Church and its prophetess.
George T. Espy . . . OurHistory.com [11d]
Later that year Heald purchased 10 more acres from his brother-in-law, Aquilla B. Aull and another 55 acres from brother-in-law George T. Espy. Aull and Espy had purchased these lots at the original land auctions and it is on these tracts that the town of Healdsburg was mapped and recorded. [1, 11d]
H. M. Wilson . . . Link
H. M. Wilson came in 1853 and engaged in merchandising with Harmon Heald and served as Justice of the Peace for eight years. Both men were county supervisors, with Heald going on to become assemblyman, before he died in 1858. [4] H. M. Willson, who settled just to the southwest of Heald's Store in June of 1852, later recalled wading the Russian River near the current auto bridge when he first arrived. He found Mr. Heald's store already in operation. [11d]
Harmon Heald (1824-1858) . . . Link . . . Link. . . OurHistory.com [Full Biography] [11d]
In 1857, a fight named the “Westside Road Wars” commenced among the squatters. One of the winners of this colorful “conflict” was Harmon Heald, an Ohio entrepreneur. [2] Harmon Heald who had been squatting on the Sotoyome Ranch since 1850, purchased 100 acres, at the auction for $200. Later that year Heald purchased 10 more acres from his brother-in-law, Aquilla B. Aull and another 55 acres from brother-in-law George T. Espy. Aull and Espy had purchased these lots at the original land auctions, and it is on these tracts that the town of Healdsburg was mapped and recorded. Heald sold lots for $15 each and by 1860 Healdsburg had 500 residents and 120 homes. [4] Heald built a small general store and opened a post office in the store in 1854. . . Link
Heald Family:
George Heald ( -1853) [A Younger Brother of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com . . Samuel began his journey via ship through Panama in January 1851, and returned by wagon overland that same autumn. He brought with him his mother, Elizabeth, his brothers George and Jacob, Jacob's wife and child, his sister, Sarah, and his niece Mary. [11d]
George William “Billy” Heald (1854-) [Son of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com . . Harmon Heald's only surviving child, George William Heald, was only 4 years old at the time of his father's death. He was raised by his uncle, Thomas U. Smith, on Mark West Creek, and later at a ranch near Ukiah. . George T. Heald (always known as "Billy") was educated at Pacific Methodist College, first in Vacaville, then in Santa Rosa. [11d]
Harmon Heald, Jr. (1855-1858) [Son of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com . . As winter came, Harmon's younger son and namesake, just three years old, became ill with one of those merciless diseases that annually swept through town. [11d]
Harmon Wilfred Heald (1879-) [Grandson of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com . . Billy’s only one surviving son, Harmon Wilfred Heald, born in 1879. Harmon W. Heald grew up and married Florence Cranston of San Francisco (a relative of Senator Cranston). They had two children, a daughter and a son. Florence died two months after giving birth to her son in February 1908, at the age of 30. Her husband followed her into the grave three months later, at the age of 28. Their firstborn daughter Jessie was taken by meningitis in December of that year, leaving just one surviving son, Harmon Cranston Heald. [11d]
Jacob Gregg Heald ( -1895) [A Brother of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com [Has His Biography] . . Samuel began his journey via ship through Panama in January 1851, and returned by wagon overland that same autumn. He brought with him his mother, Elizabeth, his brothers George and Jacob, Jacob's wife and child, his sister, Sarah, and his niece Mary. He, like Thomas, settled on a farm in the vicinity of Healdsburg in 1852. [11d]
Sarah Smith (Heald) ( - ) [Wife of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com . . Samuel began his journey via ship through Panama in January 1851, and returned by wagon overland that same autumn. He brought with him his mother, Elizabeth, his brothers George and Jacob, Jacob's wife and child, his sister, Sarah, and his niece Mary . . . Sarah's death surprised everyone. A vigorous woman who had just celebrated her 27th birthday, she sank quickly after contracting pneumonia. [11d]
Samuel Heald ( -) [Oldest Brother of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com [Has His Biography] . . oldest brother, Samuel, who made his living building sawmills, did his very best to dissuade [Harmon & Thomas from heading to CA]. He rode along with them, [then] turned his horse back towards the Missouri farm. While enroute .. [he was persuaded by a neighbor headed to CA and], he rode quickly to catch up with his brothers. [11d]
Thomas Tobin Heald ( -) [A Younger Brother of Harmon Heald] . . OurHistory.com [Has His Biography]. . When the news of the gold discovery reached Missouri in 1849 Harmon and Thomas immediately made plans to head for California with two neighbors, Samuel Philpott and Daniel Darby. Together they managed to get together an outfit of three or four yoke of oxen, a wagon, and two saddle horses. They departed in early May. . . In 1852 he bought a ranch on the Russian River about eight miles below Healdsburg, where his niece and mother joined him. [11d]
Note of Friends of Heald Family: After 27 years of struggle in Ohio the Heald family set out for a more westerly frontier and better farmland in Missouri in 1844. There they established themselves in a two-story log cabin on Snei Creek in Jackson County. Many of their new neighbors in this place [Missouri], the Hudson, Patton, Espy, Bledsoe, Pool, Porter, and Freshower families among them, would later join them in Sonoma County. [11d]
Harrison Barnes . . . Link . . Among the earlier pioneers
Harrison Barnes, who operated a trading post of Eastside Road in 1851. [Source?] Harrison Barnes and Bill Potter had put up a little store on the banks of the Russian River, a few miles southwest of Healdsburg, but the high water picked it up and carried the shanty downstream. After that the closest flour was in Petaluma, and that at $18 a sack. [11d]
Harry Wetzel . . OurHistory.Com
Mr. and Mrs. Harry Wetzel restored and remodeled the Alexander Adobe home after they purchased the homestead from Cyrus' descendants in the 1960's. Their son and daughter, Hank Wetzel and Kate Murphy, now run Alexander Valley Vineyards and Winery.
Henry Delano Fitch, Capt. (1798-1849) [aka Enrique Domingo Fitch in 1827] . . . Link . . . OurHistory.com [Full Biography]
. . . The Russians built Fort Ross on the coast, and the Mexican government established the vast 48,800-acre Rancho Sotoyome here. This enormous land grant was awarded to sea captain Henry Delano Fitch in 1841. Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful ranch; the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant. [2] Captain Henry D. Fitch was given the 48,000-acre, Rancho Sotoyome land grant in two parcels, one eight league piece in 1841 and a three-league piece in 1844. [4, 11a, 11b]
Fitch Family [received land in Sonoma County between 1841-1844, Family did not arrive until 1850] :
Enrique Eduardo Fitch (1830 - ) [Son of Capt. Fitch]. . OurHistory.com
Josefa Carrillo (Fitch) (1810 - ) [Wife of Capt. Fitch] . . . Link . . . OurHistory.com [Site has her Biography] . . . In 1829, two years after Josefa and Captain Fitch met, it seemed that all of the preparations for the marriage were complete…but no, Josefa and Captain Fitch were finally wed, on July 3, 1829. . . After Captain Fitch's death in 1849, his widow, Josefa and her children came from San Diego to live on the Sotoyome Ranch. In 1856, Josefa was forced to auction parts of the land to pay the taxes. Harmon Heald who had been squatting on the Sotoyome Ranch since 1850, purchased 100 acres, at the auction for $200. [4] [Full name Maria Antonio Natalia Elijia Carrillo]
Henry Ferguson . . . OurHistory.com
Henry Ferguson remembered a church camp meeting on a lagoon in the autumn of 1858. Harmon Heald, now unable even to stand on his own power, was brought on a cot. [11d]
J. B. Boggs . . . OurHistory.Com
Matheson and another board member, Charles E. Hutton, had even secured the use of a printing press owned by local citizen, J.B. Boggs, and had gathered $400 in local subscriptions to support a newspaper to be published by the college [The Agricultural and Mechanical University of California]. [11c]
J. J. Piper, Dr., Physician . . . Link
Dr. B. B. Bonham was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named. [4]
James E. Fenno . . . Link
. . . each opened small dry goods stores on West Street and then came James E. Fenno with a watch and jewelry store. [4]
Jennie Brumfield Strong . . OurHistory.com
Mrs. Jennie Brumfield Strong's family arrived just before the early and very hard winter of 1852-53. She remembered that the Brumfields almost starved that year.
Jim Forrester, Saloon Owner . . . Link
Bill Thurgood had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second [saloon] one the same year. [4]
Lewis A. Norton, Attorney . . . Link
Captain Lewis A. Norton was the pioneer attorney of Healdsburg, settling in the area in 1857. He was instrumental in resolving the Squatter's War and became the town's first mayor in 1867. [4]
Louis Ridenhour . . OurHistory.com [Has his biography]
Although there was as yet no road on the west side of the [Russian] river, several settlers had preceded him [Thomas Heald], including the Gordons, the Porter brothers, William Potter (who would later settle in Potter Valley), and Louis Ridenhour,. Louis Ridenhour, had preempted some land near the present community of Hilton, but also rented some land from Thomas Heald and worked it on shares. That's how he became acquainted with Thomas Heald's niece, Mary, whom he married in June, 1856. [11d]
M. H. Hayes . . . Link . . . Hayes and W. A. Maxwell opened another drug store in 1860, which was destroyed by fire in 1861. [4]
Morse, the Blacksmith . . OurHistory.com
During the winter of 1853-54 Heald built an addition to his store. He was joined by a man named Morse who opened a blacksmith shop.
Moses Carson . . . Link
Cyrus picked Alexander Valley as his payment and moved there, at which time management was turned over to Moses Carson, half-brother of Kit Carson.
R. Hertel . . . Link
R. Hertel and David Bloom each opened small dry goods stores on West Street and then came James E. Fenno with a watch and jewelry store. [4]
Roderick Nicol Matheson, Colonel (1824 - 1863) . . . Link . . . . . OurHistory.Com [Full Biography] . . .1st California Regiment
Matheson was responsible for the first school, before he was killed in the Civil War, in 1863. [4] Roderick Nicol Matheson was born in Inverness, Scotland on May 28, 1824. At the age of 15 he emigrated with his parents, Thomas and Jane Nicol Matheson, to America, settling in New York City where his father became a businessman. [Roderick] became part of the first wave of adventurers to reach California via Cape Horn in 1849. He left New Jersey on board the ship Pacific on January 22, 1849. In San Francisco (1850’s?), Matheson lasted only a short time at the mines; his real gold lay in the infant town of San Francisco, which he adopted wholeheartedly. In 1852 he was appointed Comptroller of the City of San Francisco. Matheson moved his family to Healdsburg in 1856. That family now included his wife, Netty and his son, Roderick, Jr. (born in 1849 while his father was en route to California), and brother-in-law Jesse Seaman. These three had joined Roderick in San Francisco in 1853, and apparently lived with him at Washington and Leavenworth Streets in the Nob Hill section. Matheson taught in the first school built in Healdsburg, the Russian River Institute, beginning in March of 1858. [11c]
Matheson Family:
“Baby George” Matheson (1860-1887) [Son of Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . "Baby George" was killed in November, 1887, at the age of 26. [11c]
Jessee Seaman ( - ) [Brother-in-law to Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . . Jesse served as a Matheson's clerk in the Comptroller's office. [11c]
Maria Antoinette “Netty” Seaman ( - 1884) [Wife of Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . Matheson's wife, "Netty" was awarded a widow's pension and lived the rest of her life on the Healdsburg farm. She died there in 1884. [11c]
Maria Antoinette “Ninna” Matheson (1855 -1920) [Daughter of Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . . Marie Antoinette, always known as "Nina", Matheson's only surviving daughter, lived in Healdsburg for many years, marrying a prominent local rancher's son, Jirah Luce. They enlarged and remodeled the old Matheson home at 751 South Fitch Mountain Road in 1904. Nina Matheson Luce died in 1920. [11c]
Nina Rose Matheson ( - ) [Granddaughter of Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . . Roderick Matheson's grand-daughter, Nina Rose, lived in Healdsburg all her life. [11c]
Nina Von Tillow Matheson ( -1995) [Great-Granddaughter of Colonel Matheson]. . OurHistory.com . . Roderick Matheson's great granddaughter, Nina Von Tillow, lived in Healdsburg until just before her death in 1995. [11c]
Roderick “Rody” Matheson, Jr (1849-1870) [Son of Colonel Matheson] . . OurHistory.com . . (born in 1849 while his father was en route to California) Rody, the son that Colonel Matheson so wanted to attend West Point, never attended that academy. He was killed in a threshing machine accident at Davisville near Sacramento on July 27, 1870. [11c]
Samuel Philpott . . OurHistory.com
When the news of the gold discovery reached Missouri in 1849 Harmon and Thomas [Heald] immediately made plans to head for California with two neighbors, Samuel Philpott and Daniel Darby. Together they managed to get together an outfit of three or four yoke of oxen, a wagon, and two saddle horses. They departed in early May. . . . After surviving typhoid Harmon had become badly afflicted with scurvy by the time they reached Sacramento in September of 1849. Neither Samuel nor Harmon was strong enough to withstand the rigors of gold mining. . . Philpott set off to spend the winter with his sister, Mrs. Patton, living in Sonoma, and took the sickly Harmon along with him. [11d]
T. W. Husdon . . OurHistory.com
Another family, the T. W. Hudsons, who later settled on their own farm just south of the town site, at that time were still boarding with Mr. Heald, helping him to run the store. Thomas Hudson was an old boyhood friend of Harmon's from Missouri who had followed him to California. [11d]
W. A. Maxwell . . . Link
M. H. Hayes and W. A. Maxwell opened another drug store in 1860, which was destroyed by fire in 1861.
W. S. Canan . . . Link . . . William Macy had the first drug store. He died in 1859 and was succeeded by W. S. Canan.
William Dodge, Blacksmith . . . OurHistory.com
[After the winter of 1853-54] Soon William Dodge and William Dow, who moved their blacksmith operation from the Russian River, bought out [Morse’s Blacksmith] shop. [11d]
William Dow, Blacksmith . . . OurHistory.com
[After the winter of 1853-54] Soon William Dodge and William Dow, who moved their blacksmith operation from the Russian River, bought out [Morse’s Blacksmith] shop. [11d]
William J. March, Sawmill . . . Link . . . OurHistory.com
A mill was erected in the area by William March, who agreed to provide lumber for Fitch's ranch improvements. [4] William March and Samuel Heald established their pioneer sawmill on Mill Creek in 1850. [11a]
William M. Macy . . OurHistory.com
Matheson and two other local businessmen, William M. Macy and Ransom Powell, would later donate that same land and lay out the cemetery for public use. [11c]
William Macy, Druggist . . . Link . . . Macy had the first drug store. He died in 1859 and was succeeded by W. S. Canan.
William Melton . . . Link
Some of the earliest foreigners to settle or claim land in what we now call Sonoma County: George Yount, H.D. Fitch, Jacob Leese, Victor Prudon, John Wilson, James Scott, Mark West, John B.R. Cooper, James Black, James Dawson, Edward Bale, Edward Manuel McIntosh, and Timothy Murphy, all but one of these men married hijas del pais (daughters of the land). Three of them, Fitch, Cooper, and Leese, married daughters of the Joaquin Carrillo family of San Diego.
History of Healdsburg
Early inhabitants of the local area included the Pomo people, who constructed villages in open areas along the Russian River. Anglo-American and Russian settlement may have commenced in the mid-19th century, with a settlement nearby, established downstream along the Russian River near Graton, in 1836, and later the Rancho Sotoyome land grant, in 1844. [1]
In 1857, Harmon Heald, an Ohio businessman who had been squatting on Rancho Sotoyome since 1850, purchased part of the rancho—giving the city its official founding date. In 1867, Heald's eponymous small town was incorporated. Healdsburg is located within the former township of Mendocino. The San Francisco and North Pacific Railroad reached Healdsburg in 1872. The Healdsburg Carnegie Library, now the Healdsburg Museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as is the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge. The City Council of Healdsburg has identified 13 important Historic Structures and Districts. Farming, especially orchards and truck farms, was common within the present city limits from at least the 1890s to 1940s. [1]
Healdsburg
Captain Henry D. Fitch was given the 48,000 acre, Rancho Sotoyome land grant in two parcels, one eight league piece in 1841 and a three league piece in 1844. Fitch looked after trade in San Diego and sent Cyrus Alexander to develop the rancho, promising him 10,000 acres in return. Cyrus picked Alexander Valley as his payment and moved there, at which time management was turned over to Moses Carson, half brother of Kit Carson. After Captain Fitch's death in 1849, his widow, Josefa and her children came from San Diego to live on the Sotoyome Ranch. In 1856, Josefa was forced to auction parts of the land to pay the taxes. Harmon Heald who had been quatting on the Sotoyome Ranch since 1850, purchased 100 acres, at the auction for $200. Later that year Heald purchased 10 more acres from his brother in law, Aquilla B. Aull and another 55 acres from brother in law George T. Espy. Aull and Espy had purchased these lots at the original land auctions and it is on these tracts that the town of Healdsburg was mapped and recorded. Heald sold lots for $15 each and by 1860 Healdsburg had 500 residents and 120 homes. . . . [Archived Website. Link]
Among the earlier pioneers of Healdsburg were Harrison Barnes, who operated a trading post of Eastside Road in 1851. Another was Cornelius Bice, who settled in 1853 on what is now the Lewis Norton property, on Grove Street. It was here that his home was burned during the Squatters disputes in 1862. H. M. Wilson came in 1853 and engaged in merchandising with Harmon Heald and served as Justice of the Peace for eight years. Both men were county supervisors, with Heald going on to become assemblyman, before he died in 1858. Captain Lewis A. Norton was the pioneer attorney of Healdsburg, settling in the area in 1857. He was instrumental in resolving the Squatter's War and became the town's first mayor in 1867. Colonel Rod Matheson was responsible for the first school, before he was killed in the Civil War, in 1863. A mill was erected in the area by William March, who agreed to provide lumber for Fitch's ranch improvements. Dr. B. B. Bonham was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named. R. Hertel and David Bloom each open small dry goods stores on West Street and then came James E. Fenno with a watch and jewelry store. Bill Thurgood had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second one the same year. William Macy had the first drug store. He died in 1859 and was succeeded by W. S. Canan. Later Canan was joined by Charles E. Hutton. M. H. Hayes and W. A. Maxwell opened another drug store in 1860, which was destroyed by fire in 1861. Alexander J. Cox launched the first newspaper, the Healdsburg Review in 1860. . . . [Archived Website. Link]
Fitch Mountain Area History . . . Link
Fitch Mountain is a residential area partially within the city limits of Healdsburg, California, and has a heavily wooded undeveloped area. This is a historical area, originally developed for summer homes, and a recreational community. Now, a majority of homeowners live here year-round.
Healdsburg, California 1939 & 1950 [YouTube Video] . . . Link
Healdsburg's History [OurHealdsburg.com] . . . Link
Healdsburg's Legends, Rumors, and Miscellany [OurHealdsburg.com] . . . Link
Historical Society . . . Link . . . Sonoma County HS Info Page . . .
History of Healdsburg [City Page] . . . Link
"Neighborhoods: Five historical facts about Healdsburg" [Article & 11 Pictures] . . . Link
Sonoma County Permit Sonoma: Healdsburg . . . Link
TownSquare Publications: Healdsburg History . . . Link
**Check Sonoma Historian (SCHS) for articles about the towns. . . . Link
Historic Business & Industry
Alexander Academy . . OurHistory.com
Alexander had a foreclosed school property on his hands, and this he also transferred to the Presbyterian Church. For a few years thereafter it was run as the "Alexander Academy" in his honor. Understandably the Presbyterians, especially Reverend James Woods who eventually received a free farm from Alexander, viewed him as a great and generous benefactor.
Attorneys
a) Lewis A. Norton, Attorney (settling in the area in 1857)
b)
Blacksmith Shop [Morse] . . . Link
Morse [First Blacksmith]
William Dodge & William Dow (After the winter of 1853-54) [Bought out Morse's Shop] . . . Link
Cotati Company Number 2 (1969 - abt. 1971) . . . Link
Drug Stores
William Macy [First Drug Store] . . . Link W. S. Canan [Took over Macy's Store]
Hayes and W. A. Maxwell [1860-1861] opened 2nd Drug Store . . . Link
General Merchandise Stores . . .
Heald's Store (1852) [Harmon Heald, George Heald, H. M. Wilson, T. W. Hudson ] . . . Link
R. Hertel (small dry goods stores on West Street) . . . Link
David Bloom (small dry goods stores on West Street) . . . Link
Harrison Barnes and Bill Potter (a little store on the banks of the Russian River) . . . Link
Heald’s Store (1852) . . OurHistory.com [has full history of store] [11d]
It has often been recorded that in 1852 Harmon built a small addition to his cabin and stocked it with goods that he sold to the Indians and new settlers in the vicinity. His youngest brother, George, newly arrived from Missouri, apparently helped him in the store. This became the magnet and nucleus of the later town of Healdsburg. What is not often remembered is how Harmon apparently made the money to buy that first stock of goods. . . H. M. Willson, who settled just to the southwest of Heald's Store in June of 1852, later recalled wading the Russian River near the current auto bridge when he first arrived. He found Mr. Heald's store already in operation. . . [abt. July 1857] Heald would sell out his new enlarged store to Sondheimer and Engle, who had profited as grain merchants in the vicinity. [11d]
Healdsburg Carnegie Library [Now Healdsburg Museum] . . . Wikipedia
The Healdsburg Carnegie Library, now the Healdsburg Museum, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, as is the Healdsburg Memorial Bridge.
Healdsburg Review [Alexander J. Cox] . . . Link
Alexander J. Cox launched the first newspaper, the Healdsburg Review in 1860.
March & Heald Sawmill & Flourmill (1850) . . OurHistory.com [11a] . . OurHistory.com [11d]
William March and Samuel Heald established their pioneer sawmill on Mill Creek in 1850. Captain Fitch had originally contracted with William March for the construction of that pioneer sawmill in 1847. This was probably in order to provide wooden shingles and sawed lumber for his own large adobe house. [29] The mill was apparently still unfinished at the time of Fitch's death in 1849. Construction may also have been delayed because of the gold rush. [11a] Samuel [Heald], now recovered, was up on the Russian River, hired to build a combination lumber and flour mill for William J. March. This mill, the first lumber mill in northeastern Sonoma County, was built on the Upper Falls of Mill Creek (near the current Felta Road, just above the historic residence built by Perry Mothorn). [11d]
Methodist Church (1853) [then became the Presbyterian church] . . OurHistory.Com
Rev. A.L.S. Bateman, a pioneer Methodist minister, held his services in 1852 in the best room of Cyrus' adobe. Bateman built a [Methodist] Church and Sunday school in the Valley the next year [1853]. That church also became the first regular day school, but when its location did not seem central enough, Cyrus built a schoolhouse on his own land. . . When the Methodists could not repay their loan to Cyrus, who had since become friendly with the new Presbyterian congregation, Cyrus presented the Church to the latter group. [11a]
Physicians . . . [Bonham] was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named. [4] . . . . Link
1) B. B. Bonham, Dr.
2) J. J. Piper, Dr.
Pine Grove School (1870’s) . . OurHistory.com
That church also became the first regular day school, but when its location did not seem central enough, [Alexander] Cyrus built a schoolhouse on his own land. At his own expense he helped employ teachers and maintain the school that was known as "Pine Grove" in the 1870's. [11a]
Post Office (1854) . . OurHistory.com
In 1854 a post office was opened in Heald's Store, run as a private enterprise with most letters costing 25 cents to post. [11d]
Powell’s Theater . . OurHistory.com ( - 1877 - )
[In 1877] the crowd gathered in front of Powell's Theater on Center Street (near the southwest corner of Matheson and Center Streets) . . . [the starting point of ] the May Day procession . [11f]
Printing Press . . . [owned J.B. Boggs]
Charles E. Hutton, had even secured the use of a printing press owned by local citizen, J.B. Boggs. [11c] . . . Link
Russian River Institute (1859-1867) . . OurHistory.com
[later called “Agricultural and Mechanical University of California” then “Sotoyome Institute”]
Alexander also lent money to the first private school in the town of Healdsburg. This school, first known as the "Russian River Institute", became the "Agricultural and Mechanical University of California" in 1859 when it was taken over by an enthusiastic group of Healdsburg citizens. Throughout its history it had serious financial problems. It finally closed in 1867 with the name "Sotoyome Institute".
Saloons . . . .Thurgood had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second one the same year. [4] . . . Link
1) Bill Thurgood
2) Jim Forrester
Sotoyome House #1 ( -1857) . . OurHistory.com
An earlier "Sotoyome House" run by William Dorff, had been built on a lot just north of the Healdsburg plat. It was sold to Heald and Raney in March , 1857, but they chose to rebuild on the present west side of the 300 block of Healdsburg Avenue.
Sotoyome House #2 (1858-1859) . . OurHistory.com
The next year, 1858, Harmon's brother Jacob and John Raney completed a hotel named the Sotoyome House. [11d]
Wagonwright Shop [August Knaack] . . . OurHistory.com
August Knaack, a German wagonwright, built the third building. His shop adjoined the [Morse] blacksmith shop and provided all the wooden parts for items made there. Knaack also made chairs and repaired wagons.
Watch and Jewelry Store [James E. Fenno] . . . Link
Directory: Business directory of San Francisco and principal towns of California and Nevada, by L.M. McKenney & Co (1877). Healdsburg Industries: Healdsburg Enterprise,
The Town Today
American Towns . . . Link
Fitch Mountain Association . . . Link
Healdsburg Today [Niche] (has a map of location) . . . Link
Healdsburg Homepage . . . Link
"Native history exhibit in Healdsburg" [Article Sonoma County Gazette 2022] . . . Link
Sonoma County Life Opens Up: Healdsburg . . . Link. . . 48 Hours In . . .
Visit California: Healdsburg . . . Link
Wikipedia Page: Healdsburg . . . Link
WikiVoyage: Healdsburg . . . Link
Places of Interest
Healdsburg's Plaza - OurHealdsburg.com . . . Link
History of Dry Creek General Store (est. 1881) . . . Link
History of Healdsburg and the Camellia Inn (built 1871) . . . Link
History of Healdsburg's District Hospital (1905) . . . Link
History of Healdsburg's Seventh-day Adventist Church (1882) . . . Link
Events (Historic & Modern)
Healdsburg May Day celebration and jousting tournament (1857-1895)
OurHistory.Com . . . OurHistory.com [Full descript. of event]
Within a year [abt. 1856] Matheson established one of the first and most interesting of Healdsburg's early festivals, the May Day celebration and jousting tournament, first held on the part of his land now known as Oak Mound Cemetery. On May Day amid the mighty oaks, participants, dressed as medieval knights, tried to spear wooden rings with long lances while on horseback. Matheson and two other local businessmen, William M. Macy and Ransom Powell, would later donate that same land and lay out the cemetery for public use. [11c]
Maps
Map of Healdsburg, with boundaries [BingMaps] . . . Link
Map of Healdsburg [MapQuest] . . . Link
Photos
Image: California Telephone Directory 1898: List Of Subscribers Of The Pacific Telephone And Telegraph CO. And Sunset Telephone And Telegraph CO., March 1898 [Golden Nugget Library] . . . Healdsburg
Citations
[1] Wikipedia contributors. "Healdsburg, California." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Sep. 2022. Web. Viewed on 26 Sep. 2022. . . . Link
[2] Townsquare Publications Website. https://townsquarepublications.com/healdsburg-history/. Accessed 2022-09-08. 2022 Town Square Publications.
[3] City of Healdsburg Website. https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/411/Healdsburg-History . Accessed 2022-09-08. . . . Link
[4] McCann, Debra. "Towns of Sonoma County Past and Present." Sonoma County Welcome. Sonoma County Genealogical Site Archived Website, 2011. WaybackMachine Web. Viewed 19 Apr. 2023 . . Link.
https://web.archive.org/web/20071021085407/http:/users.ap.net/~chenae/socotown.html
[5] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch Book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino: Comprising Sketches of Their Topography, Productions, History, Scenery, and Peculiar Attractions", C.A. Menefee, 1873 . . . Link
[6] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch of Sonoma County, California" Robert Allan Thompson. L.H. Everts, 1877 - Sonoma County (Calif.) - 104 pages. [Healdsburg pp ???] . . . Link
[7] "History of Sonoma County: Including Its Geology, Topography, Mountains, Valleys and Streams ...."' United States, Higginson Book Company, 1880. (page ???.) . . . Link . . . Text at CAGenWeb
[8] "An Illustrated History of Sonoma County, California: Containing a History of the County of Sonoma from the Earliest Period of Its Occupancy to the Present Time", Lewis Publishing, 1889 . . . Link
[9] Hannah Clayborn's "History of Healdsburg: A Collection of Essays About A Rural Town in Sonoma County, California". 2021: Hannah Clayborn. https://www.healdsburgmuseum.org/hannahclayborn. .. . Or Link
[10] "Neighborhoods: Five historical facts about Healdsburg", by Susan Minichiello. Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-09-08 . . . Link . . . [with 11 pictures].
[11] Clayborn, Hannah. "Healdsburg’s History Home." OurHistory.com. Web; WebMaster Joad, Thomas. 2003. Viewed 20 Apr. 2023. . . . Link http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/historyhome.htm
[11a] Clayborn, Hannah. "Healdsburg’s History Home: Cyrus Alexander and the Rancho Sotoyome." OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 20 Apr. 2023. . . . Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/alexander.htm
[11b] Clayborn, Hannah. "Healdsburg’s History Home: A San Diego Landlord - Captain Henry Delano Fitch." OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 20 Apr. 2023. . . Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/fitch.htm
[11c] Clayborn, Hannah. "Col. Roderick N. Matheson: City Builder and Civil War Hero (1856)”. OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 21 Apr. 2023. . . .Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/matheson.htm
[11d] Clayborn, Hannah. "The Heald Family and the Town of Healdsburg”. OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 21 Apr. 2023. . . . Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/heald.htm
[11e] Clayborn, Hannah. "Clark Foss: the Most Famous Stagecoach Driver in the World”. OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 21 Apr. 2023. . . . Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/foss.htm
[11f] Clayborn, Hannah. "Clark Foss: the Most Famous Stagecoach Driver in the World”. OurHistory.com. Web; Webmaster Joad, Thomas, 2003. Viewed 21 Apr. 2023. . . . Link . . . http://www.sonic.net/janosko/ourhealdsburg.com/history/foss.htm
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