Page:History of California (Bancroft) volume 6.djvu/39



coast are  the  tracts  of  William  Beniiz  and  Ernest Kufus, the  latter  with  a  grist-mill.**  Along  Russian River stretches  the  Sotoyome  grant  of  H.  D.  Fitch, with vineyards  and  raill/^  Cyrus  Alexander,  lately Fitch's agent,  had  occupied  Alexander  Valley,  and below him  now  live  Lindsay  Carson  and  Louis  Le- gendre«

The hilly  peninsula  between  the  bay  and  ocean, named after  the  Indian  chief  Marin,  is  indebted  for  a comparatively  compact  occupation  mainly  to  its  posi- tion relative to  other  settlements,  and  to  the  impulse given by  the  now  secularized  and  decaying  mission establishment of  San  Rafael. This lovelv  spot  was buddiug into  a  town,  and  contained  several  settlers,** besides Timoteo  Murphy,  in  charge  of  the  mission  es- tate. Above extend  the  tracts  of  Novato*^  and  Ni- casio, the  latter  owned  by  James  Black ,*^  and  adjoin- ing, those of  Ramon  Mesa  and  Bartolom^  Bojorques, Rafael Grarcia  and  Gregorio  Briones  are  located  on the  ranchos  of  Tomales  and  Bolinas,  owning  many cattle ; and  William  A.  Richardson  holds  that  of  Sau- zalito, which  is  already  an  anchorage  and  supply  sta- tion,** yet with  aspirations  cramped  by  the  closely pressing hills,  and  overshadowed  by  the  looming  me- tropolis.**

M Erected  by  H.  Hftgler  on  Walhalla  River,  which  is  now  uBoally  called GnalaU River.


 * ' Covering  the  present  site  of  Healdaburg.

^ Among  oUier  settlers  may  be  mentioned  Frank  Bedwell,  Mose  Carson, Fred. Starke, Hoeppner,  Wilson,  the  Piflas,  and  the  Gordons.

^* Among  them  Mrs  Merriner  and  sons,  Jacob  and  J.  O.  B.;  Short  and Mrs Miller  near  by. Ignacio Pacheco  was  justice  of  the  peace.

'^^ Obtained  by  F.  Fales  in  1839  and  transferred  to  Leese. ^ Who  had  obtained  it  from  J.  OTarrell,  in  exchange  for  his  grant  near Bode».

quently obtained the  Corte  de  Madera  rancho,  where  he  planted  orchards  and erected a  grist-mill,  followed  by  a  saw-mill  in  1843,  the  year  of  his  death. Angel Island  was  for  a  time  occupied  by  A.  M.  Oslo. Among other  settlers were Martin  and  Tom  Wood,  the  latter  a  famous  vaquero.
 * > The  earliest  settler  here,  since  182(5,  had  been  John  J.  Read,  who  subse-

giving the  rancho  only  when  the  actual  holder  is  in  doubt,  as  represented  by proxy  or  tenant,  or  claiminff  merely  by  virtue  of  grant. The preceding  mat- ter has been  drawn  from  official  documents,  books,  and  manoscripta,  with  no ■maU  sapplementiui^  by  the  moutha  of  iivi
 * On the  map  presented  I  mark  with  preference  the  names  of  settlers,