Sonoma County Biographies

STEPHEN CORNELL FOWLER

Was born in Lakeville, Queen's County, Long Island, on the 3d day of January, 1797. His ancestors were among the early settlers of the island, and came from England a hundred years prior to the Revolutionary War. His father served with the militia in the War of 1812, and took part in the defense of the city of New York and vicinity. He was married to Martha Fowler on the 28th day of December, 1819, who died on the 25th day of November following, leaving a child six weeks old, named Martha Ann Fowler, who died on the 28th day of December, 1828. He married Rebecca Lawrence, December 31, 1821, who still survives. She was the eldest daughter of Whitehead Lawrence, who still survives. She was the eldest daughter of Whitehead Lawrence, who was also descended from one of the early settlers of Long Island, and counted among his ancestors the Lawrence who first settled that portion of Long Island known as "Lawrence's Neck," now called College Point. The fruit of this marriage were ten children: Mary Fowler, born October 12, 1822, died April 19, 1823; Stephen Lawrence Fowler, born January 31, 1825, died at Valley Ford, California, March 4, 1868; Cornelia Wykoff Fowler, born December 7, 1826; James Edgar Fowler, born December 28, 1828; Benjamin Fowler, born May 25, 1832, died June 14, 1833; Whitehead Fowler, born May 5, 1834; Sarah Ann Fowler, born February 14, 1837; John Henry Fowler, born September 14, 1839; Benjamin Fowler, born December 17, 1841; Nathaniel Darling Fowler, born October 15, 1845. The two eldest sons, Stephen and James, were among the first who left New York for California when the news of the discovery of gold in the country reached there. They took passage on the ship "Brooklyn," which sailed from that port on the 12th day of January, 1849, and arrived in San Francisco August 12, 1849. Cornelia and Whitehead soon followed. The subject of this sketch embarked with his wife and the remaining portion of his family - Sara, John, Benjamin, and Nathaniel - on board the clipper ship "Lookout," Captain John G. Joice, and sailed from New York on the 28th day of December for San Francisco, via Cape Horn, which port they entered safely, without encountering any serious mishap, on the 6th day of May, 1854, and on the 12th of May succeeding came, per steamer "Reindeer," to Petaluma. thence by ox-team to where the town of Valley Ford now stands. There he remained till the day of his death, a period of nearly twenty-five years, and there his widow still lives. At his home in Valley Ford, in December, 1871, was celebrated their golden wedding. He was always a lover of his adopted State, an enthusiastic admirer of her climate, and a firm believer in her destined greatness. Particularly was he attached to Sonoma County, and often declared, that if the finest residence in New York City was tendered to him a free gift if he would return and live there, he would not accept it. He took a lively interest in all that pertained to the welfare and prosperity of the State, and willingly assisted to the extent of his means in aiding every enterprise in the community in which he lived, that seemed to him to have for its object the promotion of the public good. The Rev. Thomas Fraser, synodical missionary, thus speaks of him in the Occident of January 1, 1879:"Your Fathers, where are they? and the prophets, do they live forever? He whose death was briefly noticed in a recent issue of the Occident, was one whom I dearly loved, the father of a large and most estimable family, and truly a father in Israel. My acquaintance with him commenced in the spring of 1860, when he showed himself, as ever after to the day of his death, a humble, sincere and consistent Christian. Thoroughly attached to the Presbyterian Church, he loved all good people, and was loved and respected by all who knew him. As a man, he was kind, just and true. As a Christian, he had remarkably clear perceptions of divine truth, with strong and positive convictions. His religious feelings were exceedingly warm, easily exited and not easily controlled. For this reason he seldom undertook to lead the devotions of others. As a friend of religion and supporter and officer of the church which he loved, all knew where Father Fowler stood. He was one of the original members and elders of the first Presbyterian church founded in his section of the country. As the work grew and it became necessary to organize another church, he was a member and elder of that till he died. During many years missionary work in Sonoma County, he was my warm and steadfast friend. In his last sickness, which was extremely painful and protracted, he waited patiently, with childlike trust in his Saviour, for the relief which death only could afford. His last words to me were: 'I am waiting for Christ to take me to Himself; you will soon hear that I am at home.'" He died just before midnight on the 27th day of November, 1878, at the advanced age of eighty-one years, ten months and twenty-four days, and was buried in the cemetery in Bloomfield. His life was a worthy example of patience, industry, sobriety, humility, and brotherly love.

Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, pp. 488-489.

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.

JAMES EDGAR FOWLER

The subject of this sketch is the son of Stephen C. and Rebecca Fowler, and was born in New York City, December 28, 1828, where he spent the most of his youth in acquiring such an education as was to be had in the public schools, until called upon to face the stern realities of life. His father being a builder and contractor, James chose the trade of a carpenter, though not exactly to his taste. He has often remarked how fortunate this was, as the practical ideas then acquired have been valuable all through life. On the receipt of the first news of the discovery of gold in California, he decided at once to go. With his elder brother, Stephen, they sailed from New York January 12, 1849, in the old ship "Brooklyn," a vessel of four hundred and fifty tons, to double Cape Horn, with two hundred and five souls on board. With the usual monotony of a four month voyage they reached the far-famed island of Juan Fernandez, visited the cave in which Alexander Selkirk spent four years, and formed the basis of the celebrated history of Robinson Crusoe. Sixty days out from the island found the ship a long way west of San Francisco, all hands on short allowance of water, and nearly every one affected with scurvy. After narrowly escaping shipwreck at the mouth of the Garcia River, they arrived in San Francisco August 12th, having spent seven months in dreaming of the wonderful Dorado they were about to visit. He pitched his tent in Pleasant Valley, San Francisco, where the Oriental block now stands, found work at his trade at twelve dollars per day, but soon discovered that contracting was more profitable. In company with his brother Stephen, they erected several frame buildings in the vicinity of Clay and Montgomery Streets, and also assisted in laying the foundation for the first brick building erected in San Francisco. As the oldest inhabitants predicted a hard winter, the Fowlers concluded to go to the mountains and build them a cabin. Taking passage on board the schooner "John Dunlap" for Sacramento, which place they reached after six days, and , in company with several others, they charter a team for Dry Town, Amador County, where they engaged in mining successfully until the first great fire occurred in San Francisco. With a prospect for fat contracts they decided to abandon canal-digging and return to San Francisco. Taking their blankets on their backs, wading through adobe, and fording streams, they reached Sacramento just in time to witness the first overflow. but left immediately on the steamer "McKinne," passage twenty-five dollars. On arriving in San Francisco they found the burnt district rebuilt, the city being overrun with mechanics; but put up a few small buildings for Sam Brannan to prevent squatters from jumping his lots. About February 1, 1850, took passage on the schooner "Eclipse" for Marysville, spent a month in getting up the river, and was engaged for awhile making quicksilver machines for saving the fine gold on the lower Yuba. Becoming interested in the city of Plumas, first laid out by Captain Sutter and G. H. Beach, and thinking it might be the head of navigation in a low stage of the water, removed there and continued work at his trade. June 1st, packed his mule and started in search of the gold lake, and spent the summer in mining in Downieville. Returned to Plumas in the fall and was taken down with the fever and ague. The spring of 1851 found him at Bodega raising potatoes. In the summer of 1852, he bought the land on which Valley Ford now stands, where he has made his home ever since. He has experienced the same turns in the wheel of fortune with most other California farmers. In the fall of 1855, in company with George F. Stanley, he opened the pioneer restaurant and bakery in Petaluma. The summer of 1857 he spent in the east, where he was married to Charlotte E., daughter of Jacob and Sarah Palmer, of Morris County, New Jersey; since which time he has been engaged in farming, merchandising, teaming and lumbering, keeping steadily in view the building up of his pet town, Valley Ford, of which he has been called the father. Mr. Fowler, during his residence in Sonoma County, has taken a leading part in bringing railroad communication into his part of the district, and has in many other ways proved his true value as a good and worthy citizen.

Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, pp. 490-491.

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.

JOHN HENRY FOWLER

The seventh child of Stephen Cornell Fowler and Rebecca Lawrence Fowler, was born at Little Neck, Long Island, on the 14th day of September, 1839. He came to California when he was fourteen years old, in company with his parents, who sailed from New York in the clipper ship "Lookout" on the 28th day of December, 1853, for San Francisco via Cape Horn. Arrived in San Francisco May 6, 1854, and immediately joined his brothers in Sonoma County, and has ever since resided in the locality where he first settled, now known as Valley Ford. He opened the first general merchandise business in said town. Married Sarah Ann Frisbie, the daughter of Zadoc and Chloe Frisbie, of Rutland County, Vermont, on the first day of June, 1864. His wife was born in the town of Pawlet. Rutland County, Vermont on the 25th day of July, 1843, and came to California via Panama. arriving in San Francisco in September, 1863. Four children have been born to them, namely: Irene Frisbie Fowler, born June 4, 1870; Cornelia Willoughby Fowler, born June 20, 1873; Rebecca Lawrence Fowler, born March 29, 1875; Stephen Cornell Fowler, born August 12, 1876. All of whom were born at Valley Ford.

Source: "History of Sonoma County, Cal.," Alley, Bowen & Co., San Francisco, 1880, p. 491.

Transcribed and submitted by Sally Kaleta, July, 2007.