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
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)
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
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
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
People of Interest
Alexander J. Cox . . . Link . . . launched the first newspaper, the Healdsburg Review in 1860.
B. B. Bonham, Dr. . . . Link . . . was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named.
Bill Thurgood . . . Link . . . had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second one the same year.
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 . . . Link
Fitch promptly hired trapper Cyrus Alexander to manage his bountiful ranch; the magnificent Alexander Valley is named for this early tenant. [2]
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.
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.
Harmon Heald . . . Link . . . Link
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]
Harrison Barnes . . . Link . . Among the earlier pioneers . . . . Harrison Barnes, who operated a trading post of Eastside Road in 1851.
Henry Delano Fitch, Capt. . . . Link
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]
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]
James E. Fenno . . . Link . . each open small dry goods stores on West Street and then came James E. Fenno with a watch and jewelry store.
Jim Forrester . . . Link . . . Bill Thurgood had the first saloon and Jim Forrester opened a second one the same year.
J. J. Piper . . . Link . . Dr. B. B. Bonham was the first physician, followed soon by J. J. Piper, for whom Piper Street was named.
Josefa Fitch . . . Link
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]
Lewis A. Norton . . . 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.
M. H. Hayes . . . Link . . . Hayes and W. A. Maxwell opened another drug store in 1860, which was destroyed by fire in 1861.
R. Hertel . . . 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.
Rod Matheson, Colonel . . . Link . . . was responsible for the first school, before he was killed in the Civil War, in 1863.
W. A. Maxwell . . . Link . . . M. H. Hayes and W. A. Maxwell opened another drug store in 1860, which was destroyed by fire in 1861
William Macy . . . Link . . . had the first drug store. He died in 1859 and was succeeded by W. S. Canan.
William March . . . Link . . . A mill was erected in the area by William March, who agreed to provide lumber for Fitch's ranch improvements.
William Melton . . . Link
W. S. Canan . . . Link . . . William Macy had the first drug store. He died in 1859 and was succeeded by W. S. Canan.
Maps
Map of Healdsburg, with boundaries [BingMaps] . . . Link
Map of Healdsburg [MapQuest] . .
. Link
Photos
Citations
[1]
Wikipedia contributors. "Healdsburg,
California." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Sep. 2022. Web. Viewed on
26 Sep. 2022. . . . Link
[3] City
of Healdsburg Website. https://www.ci.healdsburg.ca.us/411/Healdsburg-History. Accessed
2022-09-08. . . . Link
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
"Neighborhoods: Five historical facts about Healdsburg", by Susan Minichiello. Santa Rosa Press Democrat. 2022-06-27. Retrieved 2022-09-08. Link with 11 pictures.
[2] Townsquare Publications Website. https://townsquarepublications.com/healdsburg-history/. Accessed 2022-09-08. 2022 Town Square Publications.
[4] Archived Link, "Towns of Sonoma County, Past and Present": 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
