*** Source: Thompson, Robert A., Historical and descriptive sketch of Sonoma County, California. Philadelphia: L.H. Everts & Co., 1877, 122 pgs. Notice: This data is donated to the Public Domain by TAG, 2004, and may be copied freely by anyone to anywhere. *** ---page 62--- year. The Crescent was Democratic in politics, and, in addition to it’s daily, issued a weekly paper. In July, 1872, the Petaluma Argus commenced the publication of a daily journal, which continued for one year and suspended publication. It was a well made-up daily paper, and its suspension was a surprise to its patrons. The Petaluma Courier was started in the fall of 1876 by W. F. Shattuck. It is Democratic in politics; the proprietor is a practical printer, who grew from boyhood and learned his trade in Sonoma county. He makes an excel- lent paper, in all its departments. The editor of the paper, E. S. Lippitt, is a leading lawyer of Sonoma county, in large practice. He is a man of fine education, and is a pointed and forcible writer. Mr. Lippitt has a thorough knowledge of the politics of the country. He is an old resident of the county, and knows its local needs. Under its present management the Courier can- not fail to become an influential as it is an able journal. BANKS. To I. G. Wickersham is due the credit of establishing the first bank in the county of Sonoma. Mr. Wickersham came to Petaluma in 1853. In 1855 he was elected district attorney, and served in that position to the satisfaction of his constituents. He foresaw that the growing city, Petaluma, needed and would support a commercial bank, and in February, 1865, put this idea into practical operation,--opening, on the corner of Main and Washington streets, the banking-house of I. G. Wickersham & Co. The result of this experiment proved that Mr. Wickersham was correct in his judgement,--the business increased every year, and in October, 1874, it was changed to the First National Bank of Petaluma, with a full paid-up capital of two hundred thousand dollars. The business of the new bank was commenced January 1, 1875,--I. G. Wickersham, president; H. H. Atwater, cashier. The trustees are the pres- ident and cashier above named, Jesse C. Wickersham, P. B. Hewlitt and H. L. Davis. The bank owns the building in which the business is carried on; it is conveniently located on the leading business street of the city. It is ele- gantly furnished, and well arranged for the prompt dispatch of business. THE BANK OF SONOMA COUNTY was organized in July, 1866. William Hill was the first president, and has held that position to this date. E. Sprague was the first cashier; he was succeeded by John S. Van Doren, who has served as cashier continuously since. The bank was organized with a capital stock of one hundred thousand dollars, which was increased in Janu- ary, 1877, to three thousand dollars. The bank building is on the northwest corner of Main and Washington streets. It was built in 1873 at a cost of almost twenty-two thousand dollars. The directors are E. Newburg, E. Denman, James Fowler, Warren Dutton and William Hill. PETALUMA SAVINGS BANK.--The capital stock of this bank is one hundred thousand dollars; it was organized in 1872. The first president was J. M. Bowles; he was succeeded by H. T. Fairbanks in 1873. Mr. Fairbanks has held the position continuously up to this time. The first cashier was O. V. Walker; the present is William B. Haskell. The directors are J. M. Bowles, *** end ***