*** 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 75 --- rented for that purpose. The supervisors followed the records at a slower pace, and on the 20th of September, 1854, at five o'clock P.M., the board convened in Carrillo's house, and at that meeting Barney Hoen gave bonds to have a court house put up in six weeks, on the lots which had been donated by Hoen, Hahman & Hartman. With the aid of a man named Pinnard, a French- man, he had the work done within the time, and the county government occu- pied it. This building stood where Ringo's store now is, and was afterwards removed. The county, in 1856, built the lower story of the present court house, and sold the old one and the lots upon which it stood. The first story of the court house was built for nine thousand dollars, by J. M. Phillips, a contractor from San Francisco. In 1859 the upper story was put on, at a cost of about twenty thousand dollars. In 1871-2 the recorders office was built at a cost of twenty thousand dollars. Hoen sold out his store to G. N. Miller in the spring of 1855. F. G. Hahman was the first postmaster; Hoen was the agent of Adams & Co.'s express, and Chil. Richardson started the first stage line between Santa Rosa and Petaluma. John Ingram built one of the first residences on Second street, now occupied by Mr. Lancaster; and Charley White built the first bridge across Santa Rosa creek. The lower story of the court house was the first brick edifice, and John Ingram built the second for Buck Williamson, next to the office of the Sonoma Democrat, and now owned by Gus Kohle. The first physician in the town was Dr. J. F. Boyce, and the first lawyers were Judge Jackson Temple and the late Colonel M. Ross. The first religious service was held by a Methodist minister in the open air, under a grove of trees which were near the present site of the court house. The Christian Church congregation was organized in 1854, with about twenty mem- bers, by the much-beloved Elder Thomas Thompson and J. P. McCorkle. On the site of the brick boarding-house, near the Pacific Methodist College, James Cockrill had a residence as early as 1852; it was a long way out of town when the first survey was made. Mr. Cockrill died of small-pox, which was epidemic in 1853. The merchants, in the order of their coming, were: C. Richardson, B. Hoen, Hahman & Hartman, Marks & Rosenburg, who opened on C street, on the lot opposite the Grand hotel, and formerly occupied by Carruthers. Miller, the county treasurer, bought out Hoen; he died, and Dr. Hendley bought the business. The first saddler was a man named Barnard, and T. B. Hood succeeded him in 1856. E. T. Farmer bought an interest in Hendley's business, and the firm carried on business under the name of Hendley & Farmer, on the east side of the plaza. B. Goldfish fought out Hahman & Hartman in 1856, and was joined by Henry Wise, and the firm of Wise and Goldfish are the oldest merchants in the town. E. T. Farmer succeeded Farmer & Hendley. The first school in Santa Rosa was kept in the old Masonic hall, and was taught by W. M. Williamson, now of Samoa, Navigator Islands. The first term of the court of sessions in Santa Rosa as held in Julio Carrillo's house, by Judge Frank Stattuck; Judge P.R. Thompson and James Prewett were associate justices. *** end ***