Sonoma-El Dorado-San Francisco County CA Archives Biographies.....Howard, William 1823 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 27, 2006, 9:25 pm

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Howard, William. This pioneer, whose portrait appears in this work, was born on
the island of Bornholm, in the Baltic Sea, October 23, 1823. He received a
limited education in the common schools of his country in his early youth. He
began his career as a sailor at the age of thirteen, on board the Danish brig
"Cecilia," then engaged in seal fishing on the coast of Greenland. One voyage,
though a successful one, cured him of all longings he may have entertained for
this kind of adventure. Shortly after his return, he shipped on board the Danish
bark "Concordia," at Copenhagen, bound for a whaling cruise in the north-western
sea. The voyage consumed about two years. At the age of sixteen Mr. Howard
engaged as a seaman on board an American ship at Elsinor, bound for Boston,
United States. They touched at Turks Island, where they found the American brig
"Norman," from the coast of Africa, homeward bound, in distress, having lost all
her crew, of African fever, the captain and mate being the only survivors. Mr.
Howard volunteered to assist in working the brig to New York. They sailed from
Turks Island with a crew consisting of five, all told. The captain (who was
convalescent from the fever), the mate, Mr. Howard, and two negroes, one
employed as cook, by almost superhuman efforts, this small crew managed to sight
the Sandy Hook lights, where they received on board a pilot. Before reaching New
York harbor they encountered a heavy northwester that drove them out to sea;
they were driven about for four days. A little before daylight of the fifth day
of the storm the brig went ashore on Barnegat. The day previous to their going
ashore one of the negroes died from exposure. Mr. Howard sewed his remains up in
canvass, preparatory to consigning them to a watery grave. When the vessel
struck they found they were on a sandy coast. The pilot and captain went ashore
in the "dingy," the mate and Mr. Howard commenced preparing to follow in the
long-boat. While gathering the ship's papers and instruments the surf, which was
constantly increasing, lifted the stern of the long-boat from the davits. This
mishap rendered it necessary to jump in and cut loose the bow at once. They had
hardly cleared the brig when their boat was swamped. This was the last that Mr.
Howard knew until he found himself under the shelter of the long-boat, where he
had been placed by the mate, who had rescued him from the surf. That evening
they were visited by a wrecker, who conducted them to his shanty, where they
were provided with such comforts as the place afforded. The mate and Mr. Howard
resumed to the vessel as soon as the storm had subsided sufficient to permit of
their again venturing into the surf, and brought off the surviving negro, whom
they were compelled to leave, also the corpse they had prepared to bury at sea.
With the assistance of wreckers, the brig was lightened and worked off the sand.
Mr. Howard, in company with the mate, returned to the shore to collect such
articles as they had left, and while thus engaged the brig was taken in tow by a
tug, sent out for that purpose, leaving them on shore. Several days after they
boarded a coaster bound for New York, but were again driven out to sea by
adverse winds; they finally succeeded in reaching Staten Island. Over-exertion
and exposure proved too much for Mr. Howard. On reaching Staten Island he was
taken down with lung fever, and went to the sailors' hospital. Not being
favorably impressed with the management of the hospital he remained but two
days; by representing himself much improved, he gained assent to his leaving,
and went immediately to New York. He barely reached the city when he lost
consciousness, and was conveyed to the city hospital, where his life was for a
long time dispaired of, but his constitution proved equal to the strain, and
brought him through. On recovering strength he entered the United States
service, on board the receiving ship "North Carolina." He was transferred to the
sloop-of-war "Preble," in 1844, then under orders to proceed to the African
coast. Immediately on their arrival in African waters they were ordered up the
river Besow to protect a Portuguese settlement from the natives. On reaching the
settlement they found there was not sufficient sea-room for working the vessel.
The guns of the "Preble" were transferred to an old hull lying in the river.
This proved a disastrous move for the crew of the "Preble." But a day or two had
elapsed when Mr. Howard and one other man were taken down with unmistakeable
symptoms of African fever. The surgeon ordered the sloop to vacate the river
immediately. They sailed for the Cape de Verde Islands. Before reaching there
between eighty and ninety of the officers and crew were taken down. Nearly
twenty fell victims to the terrible disease, and as many more were sent home
invalids. Mr. Howard in this case owed his life to the fact of being among the
first to contract the disease, thereby receiving more favorable attention than
could have been given a ew days later. At the expiration of his term of service
he returned and re-entered, the naval service, being assigned to the frigate
"Columbia," bound for the Brazilian station. This proved a rather uneventful
cruise. He was in Rio de Janeiro at the time of the arrest of two American
officers and two sailors for a trivial offense. Through the intercession of
Minister Wise all were soon released, but one seaman, who was kept in prison
until the "Columbia " returned from a cruise to Buenos Ayres. On entering the
port Mr. Wise ordered the "Columbia" to double-shot her guns and haul up within
easy range of the town. This demonstration, taken in connection with a notice to
release the American or prepare to receive the fire of the "Columbia," had the
desired result, and the man was soon at liberty. This occurring just previous to
the christening of Don Pedro the First, the American vessels were the only ones
in port that refused to dress ship in honor of the event. Mr. Wise also declined
to illuminate. These events, taken in connection with the Minister's remarks at
the time of the christening (on board the "Columbia" of the daughter of a
veteran of Palo Alta (born at sea), to whom Minister Wise stood godfather, that
"he would rather stand godfather to an American soldier's child than to Don
Pedro," resulted in Mr. Wise being called home. He took passage in the
"Columbia." An idea maybe formed of the impression Mr. Wise had made upon the
crew of the "Columbia" by his course in Brazil, and his gentlemanly bearing
while an honored passenger on board the " Columbia" frigate, when it is stated
that the crew, who were ordered aloft to cheer when he went ashore at Norfolk,
not only cheered with goodwill, but refused to desist when ordered, and even
went so far in their endeavor to demonstrate their esteem for the gentleman that
they threw their hats after him, thereby laying themselves liable to
chastisement for violation of orders. On reaching Norfolk Mr. Howard re-enlisted
on board the sloop-of-war "St. Mary's," bound for the Pacific station. They
anchored at Monterey, in 1848; from there they sailed to San Francisco bay,
where the vessel remained until Mr. Howard quit the service. On leaving the navy
he followed the course of all seekers after fortune or adventure at that
particular time, and went immediately to the gold mines of California. He
followed mining for two Summers on Beaver creek and in Hangtown canon, spending
the Winter in Sonoma county. He was moderately successful in mining, but lost
all he had accumulated in a cattle speculation. In 1850 Mr. Howard, in company
with Charles Roamer (a countryman of his) settled on Government land, where he
now resides. The two partners carried on the ranch, keeping bachelor quarters up
to the year 1855, when Mr. Howard found in a young lady (Miss Caroline Kolmer) a
more congenial partner. Mr. Howard and Miss Kolmer were married at the residence
of Alexander Duncan at Salt Point, October 5, 1855. Mrs. Howard was born in
North Carolina, December 31, 1838. She, with her parents, came to California in
1846. They spent the first Winter at Sutter's Fort, near Sacramento; the
following season went to Fort Ross; afterwards settled in Kolmer valley. In 1851
they moved to Timber Cove, where they resided at the time Mr. and Mrs. Howard
were married. On assuming his new relations he bought out his partner, who
returned to Denmark. Mr. and Mrs. Howard have had the satisfaction of seeing the
wilderness in which they commenced life together gradually settled and improved
until a railroad passes through their farm, and a station, around which quite a
village has sprung, bears Mr. Howard's name. They have been blessed with nine
children, all living, and who still reside with them. The following is a list of
the children, with the dates of their birth: Elizabeth, born December 10, 1857;
Charles, born April 13, 1859; Theodore, born July 11, 1861; Amelia, born May 31,
1863; Clara, born July 12, 1865; William, born January 24, 1868; Annie, born
September 20,1870; Emma, born December 31, 1873; Alfred, born December 21, 1877.

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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