Marin County CA Archives History - Books .....History Of Tomales Township 1880
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Book Title: History Of Marin County

TOMALES  TOWNSHIP.

TOMALES.

  THIS township is situated in the extreme north-west of Marin, and is bounded
on the north and east by Sonoma county, on the south by San Antonio and Nicasio
townships, and on the west by the Pacific ocean and Tomales bay.

  STREAMS.-No section of country could be better irrigated, for water courses
abound. The largest of these is the Estero Americano on the extreme north, the
Estero San Antonio and Keys creek in the south, the latter of which empties
itself into Tomales bay.

  TIMBER.-There is little or no timber, but a considerable undergrowth is to be
found on many of the hills and in the deep ravines.

  TOPOGRAPHY.-The surface of the township is rough, and in many portions, but
more particularly in the south, it may be classed as almost mountainous, while
the valleys, which are found only on the Sonoma county line and near Tomales,
are small though well favored.

  MEXICAN GRANTS.-The ground now included within the township lines was
originally divided into three Mexican grants, namely, the Blucher in the north,
the Bolsa de Tomales in the center, and the Nicasio in the south. The first of
these comprised thirteen thousand five hundred and ninety-five acres and was
patented to Orton Hubbell; the second covered an area of no less than twenty-one
thousand three hundred and forty acres and was patented to John Keys and others;
while the last named, which contained ten thousand and seventy-seven acres, was
patented to H. W. Halleck.

  SOIL.-The soil is generally good, being a black, sandy loam, excepting that
along the sea-coast, where the sand predominates.

  CROPS.-The principal crops are oats, wheat, and potatoes, with some barley.
The great staple product of the county, however, is butter and cheese. No finer
grazing lands can be found than in Marin, on whose hillsides and in whose
valleys may be seen numerous herds of cows, which supply the milk, to be turned
into butter, and thereafter taken to market in immense quantities and never
failing regularity.

  SETTLEMENT.-The first settler, other than those of Spanish origin, who located
in Tomales township was Thomas Wood, but better known in the district as Tom
Vaquero. The exact date of his arrival is not now known, nor may it be
ascertained what were the motives which prompted him thus to isolate himself
from kindred and from friends. There are those who claim that he made his
domicile in these parts in 1846, and perhaps earlier, while others declare that
he accompanied Black, McIntosh and Dawson in 1835, but, leaving the country,
returned in 1849. Old settlers also vary in their opinions as to his
nationality, some claiming that he was of English origin; and others that he was
Scotch; it is presumed, however, that he was a native of the State of New York,
for he is so enrolled on the voting register, information indubitably
communicated by himself, while his stories as to whence he came and in what
manner of a ship it was from which he deserted, have considerable variance. We
are informed by J. P. Whitaker, a gentlemen of unquestionable veracity, that in
a conversation held with Wood, he informed him that he (Wood) came to the
Pacific coast in a whaling vessel in 1846; that he returned to the Sandwich
Islands in her, and there shipped in a man-of-war in which he came back, and, in
1849, in company with five others, deserted and settled here. So much for the
opinions of early settlers in regard to the early history of this well-known
character; this, however, is certain that he was brought up on the coast of
America, and that his youth had been passed within the sound of the tempestuous
Atlantic, that he had run away from home and shipped in a whaling vessel and
that he had clung to the adventurous life of a sailor until he finally settled
within the echo of the broad Pacific, somewhere between the years 1840 and 1846.
Wood is described as a man possessed of the frame of a giant and the heart of a
lion, with marvelous skill in horsemanship and unerring precision in hurling the
riata, while as a fearless and accomplished vaquero he stood unrivalled. Early
in his residence he took to wife a winsome mohala of the Tomales tribe of
Indians, who having died, he espoused the adopted daughter of that well-known
and much respected pioneer, James Black, in whom, we are told, he found a
princely benefactor and tried friend.

  So far we have been able to prosecute our researches into the days of '49; the
year 1850 was one of much moment to the township, for it was then that its
settlement may be said to have assumed shape. The first to come and locate were
John Keys and Alexander Noble. Mr. Keys, who lived and died in Tomales, was a
native of county Fermanagh, Ireland, and came to St. Louis, Missouri, in 1841,
from which city he moved to California in 1849, in company with a Mr. Agnew,
they bringing a stock of dry goods with them which they disposed of in San
Francisco on arrival. Mr. Keys, as was common with every one else, went to the
mines, but remaining there only a short time he returned to San Francisco and
established himself in the commission trade. These occupations he continued
until early in the Spring of 1850, when he left that city for Bodega, proceeding
by way of Sonoma, Petaluma and Tomales. On his journey he discovered the creek
which now bears his name, and made a mental note of the adaptability of the
Tomales country as a place of settlement. On attaining Bodega, he rented a
parcel of land situated on the point of that name from Captain Stephen Smith,
there raised a crop of potatoes, which, after maturity, he shipped in a small
schooner of fifteen tons to market. This vessel was named the "Spray," of which
we will hear more hereafter, as she is intimately connected with the early
history of the township. While sojourning at Bodega the suitableness of the
estuary of Keys' creek as a shipping point, and the advantages offered as a
farming country in the adjacent lands was again brought forcibly to the
recollection of Keys and his partner Noble; they therefore came to the
arrangement that they should return to that section and each take up land, with
the specific idea of founding a town and shipping port. This project they made
no secret of-indeed it was the common talk among the settlers, several of whom
concocted the scheme of going overland to the district of which Keys had spoken
and thus steal a march on him. That worthy old pioneer, Captain Smith, hearing
of the plot informed Keys and Noble of its existence, on which they started at
once in a small open boat down Bodega bay, thence into that of Tomales, came up
the estuary mentioned above and landed somewhere near the point afterwards made
famous by his schooner "Spray." The first night he passed under a tree, now
standing near the railroad, on the land owned by John Buchanan. We are informed
that Keys, in after life, was wont to refer to this adventurous voyage as one of
extreme risk and which he would not wish to repeat. On arrival Keys and Noble
delayed not in staking out their claims and taking possession; arrangements were
in progress for a permanent occupation; a tent had been but barely erected when
the jumping party from Bodega were seen approaching over the brow of the
ridge-which divides the sea coast from the back country-they "sigh'd and look'd
and sigh'd again" from very chagrin, and were forced to seek for fresh fields
and pastures new whereon to make their future homes.

  The Keys settlement, we are informed by Mrs. Clark, than whom there are few
more correct in their chronology, was made as early as the month of September,
1850. Keys and his partner at once erected a shake shanty on the east side of
the creek, a full description of which will be found in the history of the town
of Tomales, and both took up claims. A few weeks thereafter their provisions
gave out and none could be procured at a nearer point than San Francisco,
consequently it was incumbent that one of the men should proceed on that errand.
It was, however, deemed impolitic that the other should remain in solitude,
therefore William, the son of Edward Clark, then residing in the house of Jasper
O'Farrell, in Bodega township, Sonoma county, was invited to keep Noble company
during the absence of Keys. "This circumstance," says Mrs. Clark, "is what
brought my husband to this township, which took place in the last days of
October, 1850." The Clarks settled on the farm now owned by James L. Fallon. Mr.
Clark was born in Ireland in 1838; he moved to England, and in March, 1850,
sailed for California, arriving in San Francisco July 3d of that year. They
remained in that city but two days when they proceeded to the residence of
Jasper O'Farrell, and subsequently to Tomales township, as above stated. To Mrs.
Alice Clark, wife of Edward Clark, is the honor due of being the first
Anglo-Saxon female settler in the district. Her husband died July 15, 1868,
while John Keys died August 14, 1873.

  So far as we have been able to gather the above named were the only residents
of the township up to 1851. In that year the following persons took up a
residence, some only to remain a short time. A Mrs. King, with her two sons,
Daniel and Nathan, and two daughters, Mary and Hannah, settled at this time on
the ranch now owned by Mrs. Thomas McCune. Here the Kings remained only about
four years and then moved to the southern part of the State. The eldest
daughter, Mary, became Mrs. William Miller in the Spring of 1852, Mrs. Clark
thinks, which was the first marriage in the township, other than that of Tom
Wood alias Vaquero. Accompanying the King family at the time of their arrival
were two Missourians named John and Nathan Fletcher, who took up the land now in
the possession of Robert Bailey and where they lived until bought out by that
gentleman in 1856. They then purchased property in another portion of the
township, but a few years since moved to the southern part of the State, one of
them being now a resident of Los Angeles county. In this year there also settled
the Hon. Sanborn Johnson and his partner Lowell Webber.

  We now come to the most important epoch in the settlement of Tomales, namely
the year 1852. It is hoped that the reader will not infer that it is intended to
convey the idea that settlers were more numerous in this year than any other.
Such an inference would be at variance with our own feelings; what we wish to
convey is, that during this twelfth-month more was done by those who had already
settled to induce others to link their fortunes with those of the township (with
what success is best exemplified by the perfection of Tomales to-day) than at
any other time in it-history. In giving the names of these pioneers it is not
attempted to place them before the public in any kind of sequence as regards the
dates of their arrival-we simply reproduce the list as it was given us. First is
the name of Warren Dutton. He is a native of the State of New York; emigrated to
California in 1849, and came to this township, locating in Tomales in the month
of September, 1852. Mr. Dutton came to Tomales to visit one Thomas Garrett, who
had already located there. That he has been one of her most enterprising men
cannot be better illustrated than by referring the reader to the history of
Tomales. In this year there also arrived a German named Adolph Gericke, who
settled on San Antonio creek on land owned by James Black. With the exception of
seventeen months passed in Sonoma county Mr. Gericke has been a continuous
resident of the township. Paul Murphy, a native of Ireland, also came here in
1852, took up land, and has since been a permanent settler. He now resides in
the village of Tomales. Besides these came Hugh Marshall. Of the names of those
who have been residents, but who have left, we are told of William Devery, Dr.
Workman, and Mr. Goodman; while there was also Mr. Wheeler, who settled on the
ranch now owned by John Griffin, where he erected a blacksmith shop. which was,
without doubt, the first establishment of the kind in the township.

  Of the settlers who came in 1853 we have the names of Jeremiah Ladd Blake, a
native of Merrimac county, New Hampshire, who came to Tomales bay, accompanied,
both to the State and this township, by his friend, Thomas B. Cook, and camped
about half a mile north from his present farm. Mr. Blake, we are safe in
asserting, was the first saddler in the township, for on arrival he erected a
cabin sixteen by twenty feet, which he used as a saddle manufactory and dwelling
combined. N. J. Prince, a gentleman from Cumberland county, Maine, who now lives
on Tomales bay, settled on a ranch on the Bloomfield road, north-east of
Tomales, in February of this year. J. P. Whitaker, of Hamilton, Ohio, located on
his present ranch on the north side of the Estero San Antonio; while S. A. and
James Marshall came this year. John Buchanan, born in county Antrim, Ireland,
settled on the Dr. G. W. Dutton ranch in April of that year; he now resides at a
short distance west from Tomales. A native of Niagara county, New York, named
John James, whose land borders on Keys creek, south of Tomales, then took, up
his abode on land now occupied by A. Woodworth. H. P. McCleave, a native of
Nantucket, Massachusetts, settled on the ranch now owned by S. H. Church in the
Spring of this year, while his father-in-law, Joel Harvey, from Vermont, who
died in Sonoma county a few years ago, located near to the place now owned by
Mr. McCleave. L. W. Walker, from Madison county, New York, now of San Antonio
township, settled on that stream now known as Walker's creek; Joseph Huntley,
from Washington county, Maine, and L. Vanorsdel also came in this year. During
this and the following year (1854) farming became general, the raising of
potatoes being the principal crops produced by the settlers; other products
were, however, grown though only, to a small extent. Of the settlers who arrived
in the township in 1854, those with whom we have conversed are Alexander Bean,
Luke Fallon, George Bunn, and A. S. Marshall. Thomas Carruthers, who came in
this year, committed suicide by hanging himself in his barn on October 17, 1879.
He was a native of England, having been born there in 1829. He came to America
in 1842 and settled in Lockport, New York; leaving that State, however, he moved
to Peoria, Illinois, in 1853, but remaining there only a few days, he, in
company with John James and L. W. Walker, emigrated to California and settled,
first, on the farm now owned by A. Woodworth, and afterwards, in partnership
with Mr. James, under the firm name of "Tom and Jack," took the land now known
as the Carruthers ranch.

  In the Summer of 1855 James E., son of John C. Calhoun, accompanied by a son
of Governor Wise and District Attorney Haralson, paid a short visit to John
Keys, Warren Dutton and John Buchanan in the little shanty already described as
having been built by the first named gentleman on his coming to the township. It
would appear that Calhoun and Wise had formerly been acquainted with Keys, and
no doubt the strangers were made royally welcome by the three bachelor hosts in
their primitive dwelling. Of those who now reside in the township who came in
this year we are only able to record the names of Hon. George W. Burbank from
Massachusetts, and O. Hubbell from New York.

  In the year 1856 there came George Dillon, John Griffin, Andrew Manning,
Robert Bailey, Joseph Irvin and Aaron M. Turner. In 1857, T. A. Thornby, William
Vanderbilt, now county assessor, W. D. Freeman, James McCausland and William
McGreevy. In 1858, P. Norton. Abijah Woodworth, James McDonald, O. W. Turner,
Hans Guldager and William McCausland. In 1859, Hon. Thomas J. Ables, Andrew
Doyle,. J. L. Fallon, Michael Kirk, who, however, settled in San Rafael in 1851,
and D. B. Burbank. In 1860, Reed Dutton, G. W. Dutton, M. D., and William
Rowland. In 1861, J. H. Turner. In 1862, C. T. Thompson and Benjamin Harrington.
In 1863, Michael Hagerty and S. H. Church. In 1864, Louis Guldager, Peter
Morrissy, Robert Molseed and John B. Guay; and in 1865, Charles Howard, Henry
Lindeman and W. R. Fairbanks. In 1866, F. W. Holland.

  TOMALES.-This town was first settled by John Keys and Alexander Noble in 1850,
who both took up tracts of land; Noble, however, a few years later sold his
interest to Keys, and left for the Southern States. On September 1, 1852, Warren
Dutton located a claim adjoining that of Keys and Noble, where he commenced
farming. Mr. Dutton, who had previously been engaged in mercantile pursuits,
made a proposition to Keys that they should conjointly open a trading post, the
latter to furnish nine hundred dollars and the former to conduct the business.
The arrangement meeting with the views of both parties was duly consummated and
the first store in Tomales township opened in the Spring of 1854, while the
enterprise was carried on in a rough building, which had previously been erected
by Keys at the head of tide-water and navigation, being the site now occupied by
the new Keys' warehouse on the debouchure known as Keys creek.

  The first house built in the town was that of John Keys, and situated on the
creek near the residence of F. H. Lang. It was a small shake shanty, and in it
Keys and Dutton, after they had entered into partnership, kept bachelor's hall.
In the course of time, A. S. Marshall and wife came to keep house for them, and
were the first family to settle in the place. In June, 1865, Keys employed John
LaCrosse, a surveyor of San Francisco to plot out certain portions of his lands
as a town site, while a like duty was performed by County Surveyor, Hiram Austin
in April, 1868. The first house .erected on the addition made by Warren Dutton
was built in the Fall of 1856, and used as an hotel by William Davis, but
afterwards occupied by Mr. Dutton as a residence; it is now the dwelling of F.
W. Holland. In 1864, Dutton erected a store of stone, which was for many years
used as a place of business; the edifice is now in the occupancy of Kowalsky &
Co. The partnership between Keys and Dutton existed for three years and a half,
when the latter sold out his interest to the former.

  It has been shown that John Keys came to Tomales in the year 1850 in a small
boat, and that at that time he was the owner of the schooner "Spray." He erected
a small warehouse at the confluence of Dutton's and Keys' creeks, on what is now
known as Stony Point. Properly speaking this sheet of water is a small estuary
leading from the creek flowing into Tomales bay and running north, Stony Point
being a short distance to the rear of Mrs. Keys' dwelling. At present there are
all the indications of an old road as well as a few pieces of timber to mark the
spot.

  From this point did the "Spray" take on board passengers and whatever produce
there was to be shipped to San Francisco by the settlers, but this was not her
only route, foe we are informed on the most reliable authority that she also
made voyages to the adjacent port of Bodega, in Sonoma county; yet how long she
continued to perform this service, or what became of her, we have been unable to
gather. She was succeeded by a small vessel called the "Elk," built by Keys,
which was used to tow the laden lighters to a steamer, whose size precluded her
penetrating to the shallow point whereon the warehouse was situated. This craft
afterwards went on shore in the creek where she was purchased by Dr. McLean as
she lay in the mud, who sent her machinery to San Francisco and disposed of it
there as old iron. The "Monterey" made trips up the estuary as far as the point
where the railroad now crosses that body of water, about three miles below
Tomales, and where Warren Dutton had constructed a large warehouse. The present
residence of A. Huff, at Hamlet, was also built there and opened as an hotel; it
was, however, subsequently moved on lighters to the situation on which it now
stands.

  When the railroad made its appearance all traffic in that direction ceased, so
that to-day all that remains of the fomer places of shipment are a few pieces of
lumber, as well as some posts intended to indicate where these structures once
stood. Caused by the debris brought down from the mountain, the estuary is fast
filling up, and long ere another quarter of a century shall have come and gone,
naught but tradition will remain to point out the shipping, the harbor or Keys
creek.

  The first school was taught in 1857 by Henry Ashley, while the first
post-office was established as long ago as April 12, 1854, the incumbent being
Valentine Bennett.

  In August, 1878, a fire was discovered in a large building used as a hotel,
etc., on the corner of Main, and First streets. Before it could be stopped it
had devoured the hotel, together with the Bank of Tomales, Dr. G. W. Dutton's
store, a watchmaker's store, and a warehouse, the latter owned by Mr. Kowalsky.
The conflagration was supposed to be the work of an incendiary.

  The growth of the little town has not been great, yet, though small, it has
its advantages. It is possessed of a beautiful school building which stands on
an eminence overlooking the town; and the two churches, with their large
congregations, earnest and devout ministers, in themselves bespeak a refined and
desirable condition of society. The conterminous country is varied in its
scenery, while the drives in the environs, especially those following the bank
of the estuary to the bay, and that to the coast are such as should please the
most exacting reveler in scenic effect.

  TOMALES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH.-Prior to the year 1870 Presbyterian service was
held in Tomales at irregular intervals. In the beginning of the year 1870 many
persons expressed a desire to erect a suitable place for public worship; and, in
accordance with this desire, the work of building a house of worship was begun,
even before the formal organization of a society took place.

  Messrs. Warren Dutton, Thomas McCune, G. W. Burbank, and Robert Bailey acted
as trustees in charge of the work. During the year 1870 a fine church edifice
was completed at a cost of four thousand five hundred dollars. Unfortunately the
building took fire and was totally destroyed two days before the time appointed
for its dedication. This was a great loss but a noble, generous people were not
to be discouraged, and with a zeal and •energy worthy of the highest praise,
they set immediately to work to erect another building.

  The second building was erected upon the foundation of the former one, and was
completed in 1871 at a cost of three thousand five hundred dollars. On the 24th
of July, 1871, according to previous notice, the citizens of Tomales, Marin
county, State of California, met for the purpose of organizing a Presbyterian
church. The following paper was presented and read:-

  "We whose names are hereunto affixed having strong desires to see the -cause
of our Lord Jesus Christ prospering in our midst, and believing the above object
can be the better accomplished by the organization of a Christian church, do
hereby unite in requesting the Rev. C. H. Crawford to organize us into a
Presbyterian church, to be known as the First Presbyterian Church of Tomales,
under the care of the Presbytery of Benicia and Synod of the Pacific." The Rev.
R. McCulloch assisted in the above organization. The church consisted of
nineteen members-at the organization-John McCausland, Rachel McCausland, James
Raye, Elizabeth Raye, Mrs. Esther Allen, D. Stevenson, Mrs. Paulina Burbank,
John Holland, Mary Holland, Joseph Irvin, Anna Irvin, John Buchanan, Janet
Buchanan, John Wilson, Christina Wilson, Mrs. Mary G. Ables, Mrs. J. M. Dutton.
John McCausland and James Raye were elected Ruling Elders. Messrs. Warren
Dutton, Thomas McCune, George Burbank, Robert Bailey and Joseph Irvin were
elected Trustees. The first minister in charge of the church was Rev. C. M.
Crawford. He came September, 1871. He continued in charge until the Spring of
1874, when he was succeeded by Rev. H. R. Avery, who was called in May, 1874,
and remained one year. On November 21, 1875, the Rev. Robert Scrimgeour was
called as pastor, and served the church until the Spring of 1878. After his
departure the church was vacant until November, 1878, when Rev. James White took
the field and remained until August, 1879. After his departure the church was
left without either minister or elders until October 13, 1879, when Rev. J. M.
Dinsmore was called and continues in charge at the present time. In November,
1879, Arthur Patterson and Josias Rock were chosen Ruling Elders. The church has
a flourishing Sabbath School in connection with it, under the direction of
Arthur Patterson. They also erected a large and comfortable parsonage in the
year 1872. Such is a brief history of the First Presbyterian Church of Tomales,
and let us hope that her successes in the past may be but the harbingers of
greater successes in the future.

  TOMALES LODGE, NO. 233, I. O. O. F.-Was instituted July 1, 1875, the charter
members being John Cook, Warren Dutton, William Vanderbilt, John Parker, A.
Little, Thomas M. Johnson, and Thomas J. Abels. They have a large,
well-furnished room, situated over the store of A. Kahn, the same being on Block
__, Lot __, in Dutton's Addition to Tomales. The Past Grands are Thomas J.Abels,
Samuel M. Augustine, P. Burns, F. W. Holland, Thomas M. Johnson, O. F. Keim,
William Vanderbilt, John Wilson and A. Kahn. The total membership is
forty-three, while the officers for the term ending June 30, 1880, are G. W.
Dutton, N. G.; F. A. Plank, V. G.; P. W. Holland, Treasurer; L. Bonneau, Secretary.

  THE BANK OF TOMALES.-This institution was organized under the general
incorporation laws of the State of California, on June 30, 1875, by application
of E. H. Kowalsky, Warren Dutton, Thomas J. Abels, John Griffin, and George
Bunn, for articles of incorporation to carry on in the village of Tomales, Marin
county, California, a bank of discount, deposit, loan-in short a general banking
business-the authorized capital stock to be one hundred thousand dollars,
divided into one thousand shares of one hundred dollars each. The number of
shares subscribed for is as under:-Warren Dutton, sixty-eight shares; C. R.
Arthur, M. C. Meeker & Bro., ten shares each; T. J. Ables, Joseph Kidd, D.
Thrasher, A. P. Gaver and William Rowland, forty-four shares each; Thomas
Carruthers, fifty-eight shares; James McCausland and A. S. Marshall, forty-five
shares each; H. Hitchcock, seventy-five shares; John Griffin, G. W. Burbank and
H. E. Lawrence, fifty shares each; E. Newburg, fourteen shares; John Giberson,
twenty-nine shares; E. H. Kowalsky and L. C. Woodworth, seventy-three shares
each; B. F. Tilton and E. R. Harmes, thirty shares each. On September, 15, 1875,
six hundred and eighty shares had been subscribed for, and an assessment of
fifty per cent, upon the subscribed stock levied, with which amount the bank was
opened for business on September 27, 1875. Previous to this date a lot had been
purchased of W. Dutton, (lot No. nineteen, block five, of the village of
Tomales, fronting on Main street and adjoining the Metropolitan Hotel on the
south) and a contract let to Joseph Kidd for the erection of a wooden building
with vault, which, when completed and furnished with a safe and furniture, cost
the corporation four thousand nine hundred and sixty-three dollars and fifty-six
cents, which amount was paid out of the first assessment alluded to above,
leaving a balance of twenty-nine thousand and thirty-six dollars and forty-four
cents, with which amount the bank opened its doors to the public. The first
officers were Warren Dutton, President, and Thomas J. Ables, Cashier, who were
elected to their positions by the Directors.

  The Directors met for the first time in the bank on December 30, 1875. Thomas
J. Ables having been elected cashier, resigned his position as director, which
was accepted and an election thereupon held, to fill the vacancy, when Hollis
Hitchcock was duly installed. At this meeting an assessment was made of ten per
cent, upon the subscribed capital, making a total of sixty per cent. A special
meeting of the stockholders was held, April 1,1876, when a motion was made and
carried that the stock not already taken up, namely, three hundred and twenty
shares, be apportioned amongst those at present holding stock in proportion to
the amount of stock held by each, fractions arising from such divisions-eight
shares-to be taken, voluntarily, by those desiring such shares. Additional stock
was therefore issued in accordance with this motion, and an assessment of ten
per cent, levied upon it on the same day. The second assessment of ten per cent,
upon the new stock was levied May 2, 1876; the first regular meeting of the
stockholders was held June 3, 1876, at which the same Board of Directors was
elected, and at a subsequent hour, President Warren Dutton and Cashier Thomas J.
Ables were re-installed. At this meeting a third assessment of ten per cent, was
levied upon the new issue of stock; a fourth on October 28, 1876; a fifth on
February 24, 1877, and the sixth levy of ten per cent, on March 31, 1877,
bringing the new issue of stock up to the same figure as the old, namely, sixty
per cent., and making in all, the amount paid up to be sixty thousand dollars.
Since that time, no more assessments have been made, but the earnings of the
bank have been allowed to accumulate until now, March 15, 1880, the surplus
aggregates over thirty thousand dollars. The second regular annual meeting was
held June 2, 1877, when Warren Dutton, George Bunn, John Griffin, Hollis
Hitchcock and H. E. Lawrence were elected Directors. Messrs. Dutton and Ables
being again installed as President and Cashier.

  At 3 A. M. of August 17, 1877, the Metropolitan Hotel, the bank and three
other buildings were totally destroyed by fire, and so rapid was the
destruction, that of the effects of the bank, unenclosed in the vaults, only
three hundred dollars worth was saved. The books, papers, specie, etc., were
uninjured. At a special meeting of the Directors held, September 8, 1877, it was
decided that a new edifice should be erected, while the vault which had done
such good service in protecting its contents during the fire, was included in
the new structure. W. Dutton and G. W. Burbank were appointed a committee to
award contracts, superintend the construction and accept the building from the
contractor, when in their judgment it had been completed in accordance with the
plans and specifications filed for that purpose. It was then decided that the
bank buildings should be of brick, the contract for which was let to Joseph Kidd
at one thousand nine hundred and forty dollars, which was accepted by the
committee, December 25, 1877. The third annual meeting of the stockholders was
convened, June 1, 1878, and the old Board of Directors re-elected, when also
were re-instated, Messrs. Dutton and Ables in their offices of President and
Cashier. The same Directors were once more elected at the fourth annual meeting
held, June 7, 1879, when, by a statement made by the Cashier, the stock was
shown to be worth eighty-five dollars and nineteen cents per share. Messrs.
Dutton and Ables were again elected to the positions held by them since the
organization of the bank. No dividends have been declared by this institution,
and probably none will be until after the accumulations added to the paid up
capital bring the shares up to par value.

  NORTH PACIFIC COAST RAILROAD COMPANY.—Work was commenced on the above road in
this township immediately below the small tunnel west from the depot, the labor
being proceeded with in opposite directions. This was for the purpose of letting
out the produce from the town of Tomales, shipping via boats from Tomales bay,
which was done before the entire completion of the road to San Rafael. The first
train to take goods left the warehouse on December 3, 1874; the first consignor
was James Fallon, who sent to market three hundred sacks of potatoes. In the
Fall of this year, 1874, Warren Dutton had erected the present warehouse,
seventy by three hundred feet, through the entire length of which is a sunken
railroad track the floor being on a level with that of the car, so that goods
can be loaded on the cars with ease, and inside the warehouse. Mr. Dutton
afterwards sold the building to the railroad company. The first shipment other
than potatoes was made December 10, 1875, by P. Norton, and was one hundred and
forty sacks of oats. In January 1875, the telegraph line was completed, and on
the 16th of that month the first paid message was that of Miss Kate Griffin. The
first shipment made over the road to San Francisco via San Rafael was on January
8, 1875, by Kowalsky & Co, the freight being fourteen boxes of butter. The first
station-agent was Warren Dutton, with Frank Crawford as telegraph operator, both
entering on their duties on January 12, 1875. Dutton was succeeded by R. E.
Payne, and he by A. A. Sprague, who took charge in 1877. H. D. Polhemus, the
present holder, is the next in line, his record dating from May 10, 1877. In the
month of January, 1875, the residents had a grand dinner in the warehouse at the
depot, in honor of the advent of the railroad. The instigator of the fete was
said to have been Warren Dutton. Special trains were run from San Rafael on the
occasion, and people from all parts of the State were present to do justice to
the viands which had been laid out on a table the entire length of the
warehouse, three hundred feet—such were the inaugural ceremonies of the North
Pacific Coast Railroad at Tomales.

  HOTELS.— Union Hotel.—This hotel was built by Michael Hagerty in the year
1863, and is located on Block four, Lot fourteen, the same being on the corner
of Main and First streets. The main building is in the shape of an L, two
stories high, sixteen by sixty, and twenty-four by twenty-four feet
respectively. Mr. Hagerty has been the owner and proprietor from the start to
the present time.

  Plank House.—This establishment was erected and is still owned by J. Z. Worth,
who commenced operations on July 18, 1879. The main building fronts on First
street, and is two stories in height, with wings on either side one story high.
To the rear of the wing on the east is the kitchen. The building is situated on
Block five, and a portion of Lots nine and fifteen. F. A. Plank leased the
property from Mr. Worth and opened it as a hotel on November 1, 1879, and has
continued its proprietor to the present time.

  TOMALES CHEESE FACTORY.—This enterprise was established by J. Payne in the
Fall of 1875. The main building is thirty by sixty feet, with wings on either
side fifteen by sixty, and an engine-room at the rear fifteen by twenty-five
feet. The main building is two and a half stories high; directly in front of and
attached to it is a receiving-room. The first or ground-floor of the principal
structure is used as the-manufacturing and press-room, and on the upper floor is
the curing-room. The eastern wing is used for grinding feed, where there is a
mill for that purpose; and the western is divided into office and butter-room,
in the latter of which it is worked, moulded and packed. The engine is an
upright of six-horse power, with a boiler of ten-horse power. When the factory
is run to its fullest capacity it is capable of turning out two and a half tons
of cheese per day. In May, 1876, Mr. Payne relinquished his claim to the
instituton to a stock company, who conducted it till December, 1877, when F. H.
Lang and J. M. Haskins bought it, and in the following June disposed of a
one-third interest to Leslie Hoag. In November, 1879, Mr. Lang bought the
interest of Haskins and Hoag and has since been its sole proprietor.

  CARRIAGE AND WAGON MANUFACTORY—Louis Guldager.—This establishment is situated
on the corner of Fourth avenue and E street. Mr. Guldager commenced the business
in 1864 in the building which he now occupies. It is a two-story frame, facing
the south, and is used principally as the wood department, with Michael Murphy
as workman and proprietor. There is an L entending west from the main building
which is one story in height, of wood, in which the iron work is done, over
which Mr. Guldager presides and is the proprietor. Although the wood and iron
shops have separate proprietors, yet the manufactory is carried on as if it were
one concern. The enterprise gives employment to four men, and occasionally six,
during the entire year.

  PUBLIC HALL.—Was erected in the year 1874 on Block seventeen, Lot twenty-two,
by the Tomales Temperance Social Club. The building is of wood, thirty by
seventy feet, with a stage for the use of dramatic societies. The trustees of
the Club were—Dr. G. W. Dutton, Thomas Carruthers and S. C. Percival, to whom
the property is now deeded in trust, the remaining trustees—Dr. Dutton and
Percival—holding the deed notwithstanding the disbanding of the society. The
entire cost of the building was fourteen hundred dollars.

  MARSHALLS.—This town is situated on the line of the North Pacific Coast
Railroad, on the edge of Tomales bay, and at the base of the high bluffs which
rise behind its single row of houses. As will be seen on reference to the county
map it is located at the extreme southern portion of Tomales township.

  In the year 1867, John Wightman, Jr., established the first store at this
place, in a building on the Petaluma road, above the ground now occupied by the
village. By him the business was conducted for five years, at the end of which
he was succeeded by E. O. Stratton, who in turn gave place to J. S. Bellrude,
who transferred the interests to Ford & Kowalsky, by the latter of whom the
trade is now carried on. Charles Howard established a mercantile firm in the
town on May 17, 1877, which, with the establishment mentioned above are the only
emporiums in the place. There is one hotel, built by Marshall Brothers in 1870,
which, after having been rented at several intervals for store and hotel
purposes, is now kept as a hostelry by P. J. Peterson. A good and commodious
depot building was erected by the North Pacific Coast Railroad Company in 1876.
The first ticket agent was A. B. Bobbins, who was succeeded in 1876 by A. W.
Dutton, the present incumbent, who is also the first agent appointed here by
Wells, Fargo & Co. The town is represented by two stores, one hotel, one shoe
and blacksmith shop, and post-office, which was established February 6, 1872,
with Eugene L. White as postmaster.




Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF MARIN COUNTY, CALIFORNIA;
INCLUDING ITS
Geography, Geology, Topography and Climatography;
TOGETHER WITH
A Full and Particular Record of the Mexican Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the most Authentic Sources; Names of Original Spanish
and American Pioneers;

A Full Record of its Organization; A Complete Political History, including a
Tabular Statement of Office-holders since the Formation of the County;

Separate Histories of Bolinas, Nicasio, Novato, Point Reyes, San Antonio, San
Rafael, Saucelito, and Tomales Townships;

Incidents of Pioneer Life, and Biographical Sketches of its Early and Prominent
Settlers and Representative Men;
ALSO
An Historical Sketch of the State of California,
In which is embodied the Raising of the Bear Flag

ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL. 
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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