Napa County CA Archives Biographies.....Lemme, R. W. 1857 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com December 9, 2005, 3:53 am

Author: Lewis Publishing Co.

R. W. LEMME.—One of the most beautiful places in Napa County is that belonging
to Mr. R. W. Lemme, on Spring Mountain, at a distance of about three miles and a
half from St. Helena, The drive up the mountain side, with its ever changing and
ever beautiful succession of views over the hills and valley, is charming
enough; yet it hardly leads one to expect to find such a place as one comes upon
when he reaches Mr. Lemme's house and grounds. The estate consists of 282 acres,
and was purchased by Mr. Charles Lemme, in 1875, and its improvement immediately
begun. In 1877 was put up a concrete storage cellar of 80,000 gallons capacity,
there being another of slightly smaller capacity. The vineyard now covers
eighty-five acres of ground, the varieties planted being Zinfandel, Chasselas,
Eiesling and Burgundies. There is a very perceptible difference between this
mountain-grown wine and that produced in the valleys, altogether in favor of the
former, so much so that a very much larger price is obtained for the mountain
wines. There is upon the place a great abundance of water, it being piped all
over the grounds and to the houses. Mr. Lemme has dammed the creek that courses
down through the ranch for the double purpose of affording a head of water and
of providing a fish pond. But it is about the residence itself that the chief
beauty of the spot is found. A fine grove of young redwoods shades almost too
densely the grounds, under them being swung hammocks and easy chairs. These
redwoods are a feature of the place, and an object of great interest. A large
cement tank with German carp and trout, generously supplied by a spring near by,
is also shadowed by these trees. Oranges, walnuts, indeed fruits of every sort
are planted and do excellently well, better by far than in the valley, for the
place is within the thermal belt, and never knows damaging frosts. There are two
residences on the property, roomy and comfortable, surrounded with flowers and
shrubs, and the picture of country loveliness. In addition to making up his own
grapes into wine, Mr. Lemme purchases nearly all the grapes raised upon the
mountain and turns them into wine.

  He was born in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1857. He came to California in 1861
with his father, and received his education and upbringing in this State. His
father, Charles Lemme, died in 1886. Mr. Lemme was married in 1884, to Miss
Alice McPike, daughter of J. McPike, who lives near St. Helena. They have two
sons, stout, sturdy little fellows, and one daughter, the picture of good
health. They are named Charles and John respectively, after their grandfathers.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from

Memorial and Biographical History of Northern California.

Illustrated, Containing a History of this Important Section of the Pacific Coast
from the Earliest Period of its Occupancy to the Present Time, together with
Glimpses of its Prospective Future; Full-Page Steel Portraits of its most
Eminent Men, and Biographical Mention of many of its Pioneers and also of
Prominent Citizens of To-day.

"A people that takes no pride in the noble achievements of remote ancestors will
never achieve anything worthy to be remembered with pride by remote
descendents." – Macauley.

CHICAGO
THE LEWIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
1891.

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