Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
MADRONA MANOR
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The history of the towns in the wine country is intertwined. Indians first roamed the valley before
the explorers and settlers arrived from Spain, Russia, Mexico, Europe, and other areas of the newly
emerging United States. Soto, one of the leading chiefs of the Pomo Indian tribe, gave his name to
later inhabitants of the region of what would later be called the Fitch Mountains.
Captain Henry D. Fitch of San Diego had been granted 48,000 acres of land in the area by the
Mexican government in 1844. Fitch had hired Cyrus Alexander to survey the area and Alexander
stayed to manage his property there. For his efforts, Alexander was granted 8,800 acres in this valley
that would eventually bear his name.
The Fitch property was named Rancho Sotoyomi in honor of the Indian chief and the people
who first settled the area. Fitch had married Josefina Carillo and they moved to the new ranch to
enjoy the beautiful valley. When Fitch passed away in 1849, Josefina was forced to auction off part
of the ranch several years later to pay mounting taxes.
The Heald brothers from Missouri had come to the area to seek a fortune in the gold fields, but
quickly realized they were not going to get rich prospecting. Having occupied a squatters' cabin on
the Rancho Sotoyomi after Fitch's death, they purchased the property they liked when Josefina of-
fered it for sale, and set up a general store to serve the various miners and travelers in the area.
Healdsburg was named for these Missouri farmers who are credited with laying out the town.
Now a community of 9,500 in the Sonoma County wine country, Healdsburg is a picturesque city
with an historic town square dating back to the original town plan. The confluence of the Alex-
ander, Dry Creek, and Russian River Valleys attracted many people, who then also attracted the
Northwestern Pacific Railway in 1871. Rail service was a great step forward for the area.
John Alexander Paxton was one of the California Gold Rush success stories. He made a fortune
in mining, banking, lumber, and property. In 1879, Paxton created the Madrona Knoll Rancho on
240 acres west of Healdsburg and then built a 17-room Victorian mansion.
Known as the Madrona Manor, this beautiful structure served as his country retreat on week-
ends. Every Monday morning he traveled to San Francisco by train or horseback to oversee his busi-
ness empire, returning to the countryside on Friday evenings. Paxton established an early lifestyle of
commuting to and from the big city practiced even today by many wealthy Californians.
John Paxton died in 1887 while on a steamship headed for Liverpool. His remains were re-
turned to his country property, later to be moved to San Francisco when his wife passed away. The
manor remained in the Paxton family until the early twentieth century. It continued to serve as a
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