Sonoma County CA Archives History - Books .....Sebastopol 1877
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 25, 2006, 3:52 am

Book Title: Historical And Descriptive Sketch Of Sonoma County, California

SEBASTOPOL.

   In 1855 J. H. P. Morris took up a claim of one hundred and twenty acres,
where the town of Sebastopol now stands; he was the first settler. Mr. Morris
came to Sonoma in 1853; he was in business for a while at Miller & Walker's
store on the road just south of the present town, then known as the Bodega
post-office. Miller & Walker's store was quite a noted place from 1849 up to
1854, as it was the post-office for all the coast and Russian River country, as
far north as population extended; J. N. Miller was the postmaster. Mr. Morris
moved a building from Miller & Walker's to his claim, and put it where Ben
Dougherty's house stands. The same year he deeded John Dougherty a lot to move
his store, which stood on the Levi Johnson place, to his claim. So the town took
a start. Mr. Morris called it Pine Grove,—a more appropriate name than that
which it now bears. The formidable name of Sebastopol originated in this way: a
man named Jeff Stevens and a man named Hibbs had a fight; Hibbs made a quick
retreat to Dougherty's store; Stevens in pursuit. Dougherty stopped Stevens, and
forbid him to come on his (Dougherty's) premises. The Crimean war was raging at
that time, and the allies were beseiging Sebastopol, which it was thought they
would not take. The Pine Grove boys, who were always keen to see a
fight,—chagrined at the result,—cried out that Dougherty's store was Hibbs'
Sebastopol. The affair was much talked about and from this incident the town
took its name.

   Captain Auser started the first hotel where Wilson's exchange now is; John
Bowman bought out Auser, and the late Henry Wilson succeeded him in 1859.
Sebastopol is eight miles west of Santa Rosa, on the west edge of Santa Rosa
valley,—at the foot of the low divide, between Santa Rosa and Green valley. Jt
has a delightful climate, and the view of the valley and Mayacmas range, from
the hills back of the town, is beautiful. Some day it will become a popular
place for villa residences.

   The Lafayette Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was installed January 8,
1855,—B. F. Branscom is worshipful master, and G. W. Sanborn is secretary. The
lodge owns a commodious hall over the Presbyterian church. The Cumberland
Presbyterian Church, known as the Sebastopol congregation, was organized in
1851, and was first known as the Bodega congregation; the pastor in charge is R.
P. Lemon. The Methodist Church was organized in 1866. The pastor of the Green
Valley Church holds service twice a month in the church at Sebastopol.

   The merchants of Sebastopol are J. Dougherty, Wilton & Andrews, H. Altmark
and G. H. Stowell. There is also a livery stable, kept by B. B. Berry; a hotel,
butcher-shop, blacksmith-shop and two physicians. There is a literary society, a
temperance society, and a Grange of the Patrons of Husbandry, with thirty
members, which was instituted in 1873. The present population of the town is two
hundred and fifty.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORICAL
AND
DESCRIPTIVE SKETCH
OF
SONOMA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
BY
ROBERT A. THOMPSON,
EDITOR OF "THE SONOMA DEMOCRAT."
PHILADELPHIA:
L. H. EVERTS & CO. 
1877.


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