Index

The following excerpt was taken from the book "The Hobson Family Lineage -- Descendants of George and Elizabeth Hobson", 1994, Compiled by Jay W. Hobson from The Hobson Family Data Exchange.

"JOHN ADAMS"

During the 70's and 80's many lawless characters drifted into Mendocino County. Cattle and sheep were rustled and murders committed. One desperate character whom we will call John Adams, located near father's ranch. He was of huge stature, about 35 years of age. An expert two-gun man who was able to throw a can on the ground and keep it moving with his two revolvers until 12 shots were fired. It was afterwards learned that the man had been a member of 89 some notorious robber gang in Kansas and was out here in hiding from the law. Finally he was located by the authorities from Kansas City who arrested him and took him back to stand trial for murder. His brother being Mayor of Kansas City and a wealthy man, the man was cleared. Adams returned to California where he later killed a man escaping punishment. Later he was murdered from ambush. Before his arrest, Adams was known and dreaded as a desperate character.

One day father and I, when I was 14 years of age, were sitting in the shade of a tree near the cabin door. Near where father sat a small piece of fresh meat lay on the ground which attracted a swarm of yellow jackets. Father who was about 65 years of age picking up a flat stick began to slap the insects. Just then the big bulk of the arrogant bully came striding up. As ever seeking someone whom he might devour. Towering over the old pioneer in an insulting mood the desperado said, "killing such vermin as yellow jackets is a fit occupation for a North Carolinians. Father was unarmed. Boy that I was and knowing the desperate character of the man and that the aged man would be as putty in his hand, as far as a hand to hand encounter was concerned, I quietly stole into the cabin leveling the double-barreled shot gun charged with buck shot at the intruder thru the window. My precaution was useless. Father unruffled, both parties unaware of my move, father without moving from his seat, serene and unmoved looked the desperado squarely in the face. The steel gray eyes of the pioneer, gleaming like shafts of steel, resorted to his usual calm mood. "Yes, sir, I am a North Carolinian and you can have anything you want in any way you want its. That was enough. The audacity of the dauntless spirit of the pioneer quelled the arrogant bully who proceeded beaten on his way. All bullies are cowards at heart when they contact one who is their match.

ANDERSON VALLEY

During the early settlement of Anderson Valley there was a time two factions of cattlemen between whom there existed bad blood. Several men were killed. On one occasion both factions met in Boonville. Two members of the opposing factions engaged in altercation which was sponsored by the respective factions who forced themselves in battle array at close quarters. Henry Beeson, one of the members of the historic Bear Flag Party of Sonoma County, was a member of neither faction but a friend beloved by both. Before actual hostilities began, Beeson walked down between the two lines of men, shoving their presented rifles aside and admonishing them to desist. Beeson's bravery and loyalty to both sides carried unanimously, the men laid down their arms, shook hands and became friends. Henry Beeson averted a terrible tragedy.

At another time Beeson, with a companion, was riding thru a flat on Rancharee Creek on what later was the Hobson ranch near Boonville. An enemy of the companion fired from the grapevine-fringed creek bank, the ball shattering the man's arm. Beeson hurried home in time to give the wound first aid which was about all the aid there was to an unfortunate in those times. The pioneers certainly felt cramped for elbow room when later settlers began to come in for locations. When Henry Beeson settled in Anderson Valley, Mendocino and Sonoma Counties were all Sonoma County. His lifelong friend settled in Lake County. The friend in Lake County attempted to visit Beeson at his home in Anderson Valley. Enroute, the man encountered a settler erecting his log cabin on Russian River near the present site of Hopland. Being very much perturbed over the encroachment, on arriving at Beeson's, the friend said with an oath, "Henry, you and I will have to leave these parts, they are getting too thick for us. There is a son of a gun building a shack over on the river between you and 1. We want more room." The first settlers in Anderson Valley, like their brothers in other localities at the time, were a little clannish and adverse to strangers. When a new settler moved in, he was looked on with more or less distrust until such time as he had proven to their satisfaction his integrity.

July the fourth was held sacred to the pioneers; to allow that national day to pass without a fitting recognition would have been a sacrilege. The occasion was celebrated at the trading post of Boonville by a huge feast of barbecued elk, bear and venison with horse racing and games. A committee of mountaineers were appointed whose task it was to ride the trails in every direction to the isolated cabins, bidding the settlers attend the feast to be held on that great day. As the promoters and committee of the celebration sat on the fence or squatted on their haunches at the trading post whittling sticks with their pocket knives, as was the custom where men congregated at that time, they discussed the ineligibles who were to be blacklisted. A new settler had recently moved in on Con Creek at the lower end of the valley. Only one or two members of the acting committee had met the new settler. None knew what manner of man he was. Long they debated the responsibility of inviting one who had no sponsor. At last one of the committee said, "Well, boys, if the new settler is an eligible feller, we don't want to disappoint him, 'tweed be a shame. On the other hand, if he can't cut the mustard with his woman and passer of younguns, we don't want his kinds Well Bill, said another, how you gain' to find outed. "Wall, les' ask the varmint to come to the feed and see how the son of a gun will act." The man and family were bidden to attend the feast, the new settler was a seasoned pioneer who knew the ways of his kind. He made good at the feast and was unanimously accepted as one of their own.

Jasper McCracken, who is still living near Windsor, hale and hearty at the age of 88, the only surviving pioneer whom I can recall, lived in Petaluma in 1850, related to me a hunting trip which he took at the time with another white man and three or four Indians into what is now Mendocino County with the light running gear of a spring wagon drawn by three yoke of oxen. As there were no roads, the team was hard put to draw the light rig over the gulches and mountain ridges. The only building they encountered on the entire trip was the Baihache adobe, La Casa, one mile below the present site of Healdsburg. Camp was made by the McCracken party on what was afterwards the Hobson stock ranch in Mendocino County four miles south of Boonville, where they killed many deer and several grizzly bears.