Sonoma-San Francisco-Amador County CA Archives Biographies.....Fowler, James Edgar 1828 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 27, 2006, 7:56 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Fowler, James Edgar. 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 months 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 reach 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.

Additional Comments:
Bodega 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.



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1879, by ALLEY, BOWEN & Co.,
in the office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington, D. C.

PACIFIC PRESS,
Oakland, Cal. Printers., Stereotypers and Binders.


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