Born in Hardin County,
Tennessee, January 13, 1825. Here he received a common school education, and
lived until seventeen years of age when he proceeded to Fayette County,
where he remained until the Fall of 1844, when he left his parents and
settled in Washington County, Mississippi, where he engaged in farming until
1849, when he started via New Orleans to Gorgons, and from here on foot
across to Panama, a distance of twenty-two miles. After remaining here five
weeks, he boarded the sailing vessel "Kingston," and after a voyage of
fifty-five days landed in San Francisco, March 25, 1850. From here he took
passage on the steamer Eldorado for Sacramento, thence on foot with blankets
on his back he proceeded to Mud Springs in Placer County, a distance of
forty-five miles - making the trip in two days. Here he mined with fair
luck, and not wishing to pay thirty-two dollars per week for board he soon
set up housekeeping for himself. Paid two hundred dollars for a barrel of
pork, seventy-five cents per pound for flour, and everything else in
proportion. He soon left this point and went to Eldorado County, remained
three months, returned to Sacramento City, purchased teams and began teaming
to Nevada City. In fall of '50 he turned out his teams, and followed mining.
In March 1851 he returned to Sacramento and found that twenty-five head of
his horses and mules had been stolen. After disposing of the balance of his
stock he returned to the mines, meeting with rather poor success, and about
the first of Oct. returned to Sacramento, thence to Dry Creek, Amador
County, near Volcano, and mined with good success until March, 1852, when he
again returned to Sacramento, from here to Sierra County. On Dec. 20th he
was on his way back to Sacramento. He found the city under water, and the
city found him with only five dollars in his pocket. But having an eye to
business, he hired a boat at ten dollars per day, and conveyed provisions to
Sutter's Fort, clearing forty dollars the first day. On the third day he
started for the mines; after mining, prospecting, etc., in many different
places until July, 1856, we find him in San Francisco where he took the
steamer "Golden Age," bound for the home of his childhood. Here he remained
until July 16, 1857, when he returned to California via New Orleans. After
mining in all the principal mines in this State and Idaho, in 1863 went to
Montana where he was successful; after traveling and prospecting for some
time, finally found a place where he took out ten thousand dollars in five
weeks time. He then returned to San Francisco, and in June, 1864, purchased
his present ranch on Bodega Bay which he now owns. Sep. 10, 1867, he
returned east, and on Dec. 12, 1867, married in Hardin County, Tennessee,
Sarah J. Hawk, she being born Oct. 12, 1843. He returned to this State in
February and settled on his ranch. In July, 1872, he and wife visited the
east, and returned in October. In 1877 he purchased a home at Bodega Corners
and retired from the farm. Mr. D. has been flat broke five different times,
but being well charged with that spirit that will not down, has succeeded
and his efforts crowned. He now owns not only his property in town, but a
fine farm of six hundred and eighty acres under good improvements. They have
three living children: William J., born Jan. 13, 1869; Josephine E., born
Oct. 16, 1870; George L., Jan. 15, 1877, and an infant child deceased.
Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley,
Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, pp. 486-487.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.
A native of Hancock
County, Maine, was born in November, 1822. His father was a ship carpenter,
and Robert was brought up on the sea, serving his apprenticeship to the same
trade under his father. On October 16, 1849, Robert sailed from Boston for
California. Rounding Cape Horn, he arrived at San Francisco May 16, 1850. He
remained in the city until his parents arrived, August 23d, the same year.
They then went to Antioch, Contra Costa County, where they remained until
the fall of 1851, when they all came to this county and settled in Petaluma,
being among the first who settled in the now prosperous city. Here the
subject of this sketch followed his trade, building the first hotel in the
city, where he resided until May 12, 1863, when he moved to Alpine County,
where he engaged in mining for two years, when he returned to Petaluma,
where he spent one Winter, and in the spring he went to Sonoma, where he
passed the summer, and in the fall moved to Bodega, where he followed his
trade until 1866, when he commenced farming, which business he has followed
ever since. In 1872, he settled on his present place, consisting of one
hundred and sixty acres, located in Bodega township, about one mile north
from Freestone. He married December 31, 1852, at Petaluma, Miss Hannah
Hathaway, a native of Washington County, Maine. This was the first wedding
in the city of Petaluma. Their children are: Emma J., born September 14,
1856; William L., June 25, 1858; George W., March 9, 1860. They have lost
two, Amelia and Heber G.
Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley,
Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, pp. 487-488.
Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.