Sonoma-Marin County CA Archives Biographies.....Case, A. B. 1823 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ca/cafiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 28, 2006, 6:55 pm Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880) Case, A. B. A native of Spencertown, Columbia county, New York, born April 6, 1823. When one year old his parents moved to Greene county, same State, where they resided for seven years; thence to Ulster county, New York, where the subject of our sketch received his education. After a residence here of ten years, they moved to Camptown, New Jersey. In 1844, he left his home and proceeded to Brooklyn, New York, engaged as teamster on the dry docks, where he continued until the administration of President Polk, when he went to New Hartford, Connecticut, where he followed house-painting for one year. He then accepted an invitation from his brother, H. T., who was engaged in the brush-manufacturing business at 36 Hanover street, Boston, as traveling salesman through the Southern and Northern States. In 1848, the business was removed to St. Louis, Missouri. Here the subject of this sketch remained one year, thence to Weston, Missouri. In the Spring of 1852, in company with his brother and two sons of Governor Boggs, he started across the plains for California, with a drove of cattle. As Governor Boggs, the father of the young men, was known to be a bitter enemy of the Mormons, and was instrumental in routing and driving them from the State of Missouri, this little party became somewhat alarmed when they neared the Mormon settlements, and Mr. Case and his brother came to the conclusion that it would not be safe for them to travel through the Mormon settlement with any one by the name of Boggs, who looked like Boggs, or had any of Boggs' blood coursing through their veins. Owing to this and a little difference of opinion arising in regard to Sunday travel, the brothers parted from their companions after traveling with them for a little over two weeks, and took the northern route via Fort Hall. Upon their arrival at the North Platte river, they found the stream very high, which was crossed by the subject of this sketch with little difficulty; but his brother H. F. in attempting to cross was drowned. All efforts made to recover the body proved fruitless, and the brother was obliged to proceed on his journey, bowed down with sorrow at his brother's untimely demise. This sad occurrence took place on June 29, 1852. Upon his arrival at Independence Rock he was joined by the Boggs brothers, and from this point they traveled together, arriving at Sonoma city October 1st. After dividing the property with his brother's widow, and disposing of his own interests, he returned to his native State via Panama, sojourned until the Spring of 1853, when he proceeded West and purchased another drove of cattle, and crossed the plains that year to Sonoma the second time. The following Winter, a younger brother, G. W. Case, returned with him to New York via the Isthmus, and in the Spring of 1854 went to Illinois and purchased another drove of cattle, and drove them across the plains to California, making the third trip, stopping during the Winter of 1854-55 on Cache creek. In the Spring they took their cattle into the valleys below, and there engaged in the manufacture of butter and cheese until late in August. He then went to Tomales, Marin county. In 1856 he disposed of his stock and once more returned East, where he married in Greene county, New York, on November 26, 1857, Miss Harriet, daughter of William and Catherine Crapser. She was born in Dutchess county, New York, October 6, 1825. In January, 1859, returned with wife to California, and settled on his farm in Marin county. In the Summer of this year he came to Petaluma, and soon after opened a crockery store, which business he followed till 1873, when he disposed of it to T. J. Haskins and Prescott, since which time he has lived a retired life. To him belongs the credit of building the Case block in Petaluma in 1868. Carrie B., born December 28, 1860; Hattie C, born March 31, 1862, are the names and births of their children. Additional Comments: Petaluma Township Extracted from: HISTORY —OF- SONOMA COUNTY, -INCLUDING ITS— Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams; —TOGETHER WITH— A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County; Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain Growing Interests, and Pisciculture; ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN; —AND OF ITS— Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc. ILLUSTRATED. SAN FRANCISCO: ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS. 1880. 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