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STEPHEN L.
FOWLER, deceased. -- Among the pioneers of California and early settlers of
Bodega Township, Sonoma County, was the subject of this sketch. His early
advent into this county and the prominent position he occupied in his section
entitles him to more than a passing mention in this historical work. Mr. Fowler
was born in New York, January 31, 1825. His parents, Stephen C. and Rebecca
(Lawrence) Fowler, were natives of the State of his birth, and his ancestors
were among the early settlers of Long Island, having emigrated from England to
the American colonies over 100 years prior to the Revolutionary war. Mr. Fowler
was reared in New York City, and received a good education in the public
schools, after which he served an apprenticeship as a carpenter, and as a
journeyman engaged at his trade in New York City and also at Sag Harbor. In
1845 he engaged as ship's carpenter on board the ship Huron, bound on a whaling
voyage on the northwest coast of the United States and Behring Sea. This voyage
did not terminate until the spring of 1848. Upon his return to New York he
engaged at his trade in Brooklyn until early in 1849, when the first news of
the discovery of gold in California reached New York. Young, ambitious and fond
of adventure, he promptly decided to seek his fortune in the new El Dorado of
the West, and on January 12, 1849, he embarked with his brother, James E.
Fowler, on the old ship Brooklyn, a vessel of but 450 tons, for a voyage round
Cape Horn to California. Slow progress was made by this old ship, and it was
not until four months after leaving New York that they reached the Island of
Juan Fernandez. After a brief stop at that island the vessel proceeded on her
way to San Francisco. There were over 200 people on board of the Brooklyn, and
when about sixty days from the island and a long way from San Francisco, all
hands were put upon a short allowance of water. There was much suffering on
board, as nearly all were affected with scurvy. The vessel also narrowly
escaped being wrecked at the mouth of the Garcia River, and it was not until
August 12, 1849, that they reached San Francisco, having spent seven months on
the voyage. Upon his arrival in San Francisco, he and his brother located in
Pleasant Valley, pitching their tents where now stands the Oriental Block in
that city. He readily found employment at from $12 to $16 per day, but deeming
it more profitable to engage in contracting and building, he went to work with
his brother in that enterprise. They were successful and erected several frame
buildings in the vicinity of Clay and Montgomery streets. They were also
engaged upon the first brick building ever erected in San Francisco. As the
winter approached the oldest inhabitants predicted a season of unusual
severity, and Mr. Fowler and his brother concluded it best to winter in the
mountains. They therefore took passage on the schooner John Dunlap, for
Sacramento, and from there, in company with several others, they chartered a
team and proceeded to Dry Town, Amador County, where they engaged in mining.
This enterprise was successfully conducted until the first great fire occurred
in San Francisco. The prospect for paying contracts in rebuilding the city
induced them to abandon their mining operations and return to San Francisco.
Upon reaching the city they found the rebuilding of the burnt districts nearly
completed. After erecting a few small buildings for Sam Brannan, they left San
Francisco February 1, 1850, taking passage on the schooner Eclipse for
Marysville. Upon their arrival they spent some time in making quicksilver
machines for saving the fine gold on the lower Yuba River, after which they
took up their residence in the new city of Plumas, a town laid out by Captain
Sutter and G. H. Beach. There he worked at the carpenter's trade and also
engaged in mining enterprises until the spring of 1851, when he came to Sonoma
County and located at Bodega, and in 1852 purchased land at Valley Ford and
commenced its cultivation and improvement. Mr. Fowler brought to his new
occupation the same energy, industry and sound business principles that had
characterized his other enterprises, and these soon assured his success, and
his find farm of 340 acres soon ranked as second to none in the country. This
is best illustrated by noting the fact that in 1860 Mr. Fowler was awarded the
first prize, a silver cup, by the Napa and Sonoma County Agricultural Society,
as having the best improved farm in the two counties. Mr. Fowler was a strong
believer in the future growth and prosperity of Sonoma County. Public-spirited
and progressive in his views, he was always ready to aid in any enterprise that
tended to develop the resources of that section of the country. In 1853 and
1854 he was a member of Sonoma County board of supervisors, a position that he
filled with credit to himself and his constituency. May 17, 1855, he was united
in marriage with Miss Ellisiffa Cockrill, daughter of Judge L. D. Cockrill, of
Bloomfield. Mrs. Fowler died August 22, 1860, leaving two children: Edgar J.,
born March 7, 1856, and William W., born February 17, 1858. Mr. Fowler's second
marriage occurred November 19, 1863, when he married Miss Phebe Elizabeth Ames.
She died March 10, 1871. No children were born to this marriage. In 1866 Mr.
Fowler's ill health induced him to seek relief in other climes, and he went to
the Sandwich Islands, and from thence around Cape Horn to his old home in New
York, after which he remained until his death, which occurred March 4, 1868. He
was a man universally respected and esteemed, and his death was sincerely
mourned by a large circle of friends and acquaintances. In political matters
Mr. Fowler always took an intelligent interest, and was a Democrat until
treason dared to assault the old flag that had protected him in so many foreign
ports, when with some regrets he abandoned the old party to join the new in
defense of the Union. |
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