Philip
Bill Through the Ages
My interest in the Philip Bill lineage came about
because Philip C. Bill married Johanna E. Schuhmann. I currently live in the
old Schuhmann Hotel at 19550 8th Street East and have resided here
in the previous kitchen area of the first floor since October 2006. The hotel
was my first Sonoma history interest. (17) The opening up of this history led
to an interest in the Schuhmann extended family and German immigrants in
general with a focus on the east side of Sonoma Valley.
During my research into
the Schuhmann and Bill families I became interested in the Sonoma Mountain
Cemetery (12) from which other interests opened, specifically the
Wallman-Dolcini-Matsuyama family.
Johanna E. Schuhmann was the youngest daughter of
Otto and Clara Schuhmann, builders of this former resort hotel in 1912-1913. Otto
immigrated to California in 1907. On the 1910 Census Otto was a 52-year-old
farm labor hired man in the household of Carl Dresel. Other German and Chinese
farm labor immigrants were members of the Dresel household. At that time Otto
had been married for 28 years. Philip C. Bill is on the same census page as a
20 year old, unmarried, vineyard manager and a head of household, a good candidate
for a marriageable daughter. Otto must have taken note.
The remainder of Otto Schuhmann’s family came afterwards,
wife Clara, son Gerhardt, daughters Elsa Martha and Johanna immigrated to
California after the date of the 1910 Census. Johanna has an immigration year
of 1910. The Schuhmann family then began the process of piecing together
ownership of half of lot #513. When the final piece was acquired, the twelve
room hotel was built right near the railroad tracks along 8th Street
East. The Schuhmanns were in on the tail end of the resort era in Sonoma Valley.
The family owned the lot #513 property up until 1947. (13)
On 4/9/1912 Philip C. Bill married Johanna E.
Schuhmann, during the time the hotel was being built. Johanna probably never
had the hotel as her primary residence.
Otto and Clara Schuhmann are the grandparents of the
children of Philip C. Bill and Johanna E. Schuhmann; and so the Philip Bill
lineage intertwines with that of the Schuhmann family and hence this essay. I
would have liked to do a more thorough review of the Philip Bill lineage. This
essay represents my limited access to only a certain amount of information. I’m
still hopeful the current descendants of the family will come through with
pictures and other history regarding the immigrants and early family members.
The surname Bill is similar to Beal,
Bell, Bille, Billie, Bihl, Bihler, Bils,
Bills, Bilse, Bilsse, Bilss, Billsse, Billo, Billow, and
possibly others. This is an old Germanic surname. In early Germanic "bil"
means: sword or halberd.
The early Viking Age was a time when
all Germanic languages were similar. (9) As Germanic culture and language
groups such as the Angles, Saxons, Jutes, and later Vikings spread over northern
Europe, their languages differentiated and coalesced into the modern forms of
English, Dutch, German, Icelandic, Danish, Swedish, and Norwegian. Thus the
surname Bill is common to all German language groups. The surname spread from
the center of the proto-Germanic language area in northern Germany and southern
Scandinavia and out to the periphery. The surname does not appear to be an Anglicized
shortening of another name that means something else.
And so begins this story with a Philip
Bill or two in the early 1800s in the city of Darmstadt, state of Hesse and in
the town of Niederderweis in the Alsace-Lorraine/ Palatinate region of
German-speaking Europe. At that time there was no state of ‘Germany’. It was
not until 1871 that Germany became a unified country. Until that time the region
was a collection of independent German-speaking states and kingdoms.
It has been a challenge to differentiate all the different
Philip Bills and to craft a readable story. Clues have added up and gradually
an outline of the lineage has emerged. The easiest way to be clear will be to
number the different Philip Bills so the reader can tell who is who. There are
six and maybe more Philip Bills to keep straight.
Philip Bill #A is the first. He was born in 1804 in
Darmstadt. His son Philip Bill #1 was also born in Darmstadt, in 1923 when
Philip Bill #A was 19 years old. Philip Bill #1’s future wife Anna Margaret
Hanks was also born in Darmstadt. From anecdotal evidence I am confident to say
that Philip Bill #A and Philip Bill #1 were father and son. I have them in the
same city with the same name in early the 1800s. I’ll explain more of my
reasoning as I go along.
Philip Bill #1
was born circa 1823. He is the original adult Bill immigrant for
which there is a solid connection to the rest of the lineage. He and his wife Anna
Margaret Hanks Bill are listed (5) by
their son Philip Bill #2 as being from Niederweis, (alternate spellings:
Niederwisse, Niedervisse) a town in
the municipality of Irrel in the district of Bitburg-Prum, in
Rhineland-Palatinate, western Germany. This region is bordered by Belgium and
Luxembourg to the west, a transition zone between Dutch, Belgian, French and
German language areas.
Further research shows Nierderweis to be in Alsace-Lorraine
(Elsass-Lothringen,) from a map guide to German Parish registers. (1) Niederweis
is between Strasbourg and Verdun, in the Pfalz or Palatinate region of
Alsace-Lorraine.
1880 Napa Census records show Philip Bill #1 as being from Hessen
or the state of Hesse, Germany. Darmstadt is located in Hesse. Hesse is just to
the northeast of the Alsace-Lorraine, Palatinate region. So here we have: city
of Darmstadt, town of Niederweis, State of Hessen, the Palatinate region and Alsace-Lorraine.
I believe these locales are not contradictory. They merely represent pieces of
a geographic puzzle to figure out. The actors have given all the clues to solve
the puzzle; the likely solution: state borders have shifted over time but
Niederweis and Darmstadt have stayed in the same location. In the case of the
Philip Bills, their actual place of origin can be discerned. This is a lot more
than can be said about most of the early German immigrants to Sonoma.
The town of Niederweis is a specific location. The city of
Darmstadt is specific as well. That the family would list an actual town and
city lends credence to solid knowledge of place of origin. German-speaking
state borders were in flux at the time of Philip Bill #1’s coming of age. The
borders of the state of Hessen probably changed over time. Alsace-Lorraine is
well known as disputed territory with shifting borders through time.
My thesis is that Philip Bill #A had Philip Bill #1 in
Darmstadt, Hesse in 1823. There is solid evidence that links both to being born
in Darmstadt, Hesse. (4) Philip Bill #A immigrated to San Francisco at an
unknown date probably around the mid 1840s or around the Gold Rush of 1849. As
Philip Bill #1 came of age in Hesse he moved from Darmstadt to Nierderweis, in
the same general region, and from there he left with his family for California
in circa 1873. That one followed the other to the San Francisco Bay Area is
evidence of a founder effect and chain migration. People typically immigrate to
areas where friends, family and associates have established a beachhead. That
two Philip Bills were originally from the same city, have the same name, immigrated
to the same region, and were of the right age to be father and son is I believe,
enough anecdotal evidence to say they were father and son. (14)
It is fairly rare to have the name of the German-speaking state of origin listed on census or
other records, let alone to have the actual names of two towns or cities:
Niederweis and Darmstadt. There is definite evidence that the Bill clan came en
masse to the Bay Area from Darmstadt, Hesse. (14)
The only other particular cities mentioned in a canvas of
German immigrants to Sonoma between 1850 and 1880 have been Bremen and Hamburg.
The rest of the immigrants either list ‘Germany’ or a particular state within
the German-speaking language region. As mentioned, Germany as a unified state
did not exist until 1871.
On the 1860 Census from San Francisco, Philip Bill #A is 56
years old. His wife Catherine is 48 and there are two children Annie 17 and
Bertha 15. A short recap: Philip Bill #A was born in 1804, 19 years before
Philip Bill #1 who was born in 1823. Philip Bill #A is the proper age to have
been Philip Bill #1’s father.
The above-mentioned Catherine, wife of Philip Bill #A would
have only been 11 years old the year Philip Bill #1 was born in 1823. Therefore
the mother of Philip Bill #1 was a previous wife of Philip Bill #A who perhaps
died. Philip Bill #A later remarried and had a family in later years by wife
Catherine.
Now that I have addressed old country origins and other
preliminaries I can proceed with a more or less chronological account of the
Philip Bill lineage starting in the frontier era of California history.
1860 Census, San Francisco: Philip Bill #A was 56 years old,
from Darmstadt, Hesse. He was a bar, saloonkeeper with $7000 real estate and
$700 property. Wife Catherine is 48 years old; two children, Annie 17 and
Bertha 15. (11A)
An 1866 San Francisco voter roll had Philip Bill #A as 62
years old.
The 1870 San Francisco Census had Philip Bill #A at 66 years
old, retired liquor dealer, $8000 in real estate, $1400 in property, wife
Catherine Bill is 58. In the household are five Chinese: Wah Che 40, Tinn Ah
28, Kee Sing 22, Ge Ah 21, Wan Bah 18.
1873 Philip Bill #1 and his family, including Philip Bill #2
(age 9) immigrate to California. Perhaps first staying with father Philip Bill
#A in San Francisco, perhaps getting some financial assistance and then moving
to Napa.
The 1880 Census has a box to check if a person was
‘idiotic’.
The 1880 San Francisco Census has Philip Bill #A, 76, a
retired mechanic and wife Catherine Bill, age 68. (11B)
The 1880 Napa Census has Philip Bill #1 as a farmer, age 57
and from Hessen.
His wife Margaret Bill was 49 and from Hessen as well. They
immigrated to California in 1873. Their children were:
Henry 20, born Hessen
Philip #2 18, born Hessen
Louis 16, born Hessen
Conrad 12, born Hessen (various spelled Conie or Connie)
Louisa 3, born California
1889 Philip Bill #2 marries Johanna Brandt. Johanna Brandt
was born circa1868. She immigrated to CA in circa 1884 at age 16. Both of her
parents were born in Prussia (PreuBen). She is listed on one census as being
from Hessen. Johanna is approximately 5 years younger than Philip Bill #2.
There were many, many Brandts in California. They were all
over Gold Country in the 1860s. I’m glad Bill is less of a common name. No way
I’m going to chase down any Brandts!
In 1889 Philip Bill #2 and Johanna Brandt Bill have a son, Philip
Conrad Bill (#3). Philip C. Bill was born in Sonoma at Camp ranch, owned by
Wilbur L. Camp. Camp Road extended east from Napa Street East, starting at 8th
Street East, presumably to the Camp ranch where perhaps Philip Bill #2 was
foreman or tenant farmer. A number of older buildings at the end of the road
are candidates for being remnants of the Camp ranch. The Camp family was of
German origin.
The children of Philip Bill #2 and Johanna Brandt are Henry,
Philip C. Bill (#3) age 10 in 1900, Estella , Alina (Alma, later Elma) and
Florence.
10/12/1889 Cooperage! For sale in good condition, 269 wine
pipes/ 160 gallons each; 20 wine pipes/ 200 gal each; 10 wine tanks/ 1000 gal
each; 21 wine tanks/ 1500 gal each; Inquire of Philip Bill #2, Heller’s
Vineyard, Buena Vista Station. Heller’s holdings are shown on older maps of the
Buena Vista area as being in the vicinity of the Camp ranch.
The 1890 Census records burned. In between the time Philip
Bill #1 and family moved to Napa and 1900, Philip Bill #2 had moved and was
recorded in the 1900 Sonoma Census. Whether Philip Bill #1 moved to Sonoma as
well, is not known.
The Sonoma Index Tribune reported on 6/7/1900 that Philip
Bill Sr., (Philip Bill #1, age 77), had his and Margaret’s golden wedding
anniversary. Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bill (#2) Jr. were present, along with Phillip
C. Bill (#3) who was 11 at the time. The anniversary was celebrated at Bella
Vista Farm, home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry Bill, “the aged couple, who are the
parents of Phillip (Bill #2) and Henry Bill of this place, although having
passed the allotted three score years and ten, entered in to the enjoyment of
the festivity with their numerous progeny”,
“one of the largest family reunions ever known in Sonoma Valley”, in
attendance Phillie Bill and lots of people with German surnames.
Locating the 1900 Sonoma Valley property owned by Henry
Bill, brother of Philip Bill #2 will also then locate Bella Vista Farm.
The 1900 Napa Census, Philip Bill #1 is 76, wife Anna M.
Bill 68; she had 11 kids total. They have a son in the household, Conrad 31.
Philip #1 and Conrad’s immigrant status: Na for naturalized.
1910 Philip Bill #1 or #2 buys the ‘Shaw House’ property… “the
grandparents of Phillip Bill, Sr. bought
this property in 1910…and continued the orchard with apples, black walnuts,
crab apples, citrus…the west side of the property was sold in 1910 and became
the cemetery (Catholic cemetery).” A
tall green hedge fronts the current property to the east of the cemetery. The
property is at 680 Napa Street East, lots #510, #511, (3)
As an aside, a neighbor across Napa Street in the 1860s is
said to have been the first to bring English walnuts to Sonoma. This was
Coleman D. Smith, who owned the lot where the Ledson, Armstrong Estates are
now. Coleman Smith planted walnuts all along the entry to his property and
along Napa Street. He may have sold some trees to the owner at the time across
the street. In 2014 a few big heritage walnut trees remain on the north side of
Napa Street, one each to the east and west side of the Catholic Cemetery. (15)
1910: Philip Bill #2 was a winery foreman. He owned his own
home. He and Johanna M. Brandt Bill had 5 children, 5 living, three in the
house, Stella 18, Alma 14, Ray 8.
1910: Philip Bill #1 is 86 years old, widowed and lives in
Alameda/ Oakland in the household of his German immigrant son-in-law John
Burch. John Burch immigrated in 1885. He is a steamboat captain married to Philip
Bill #1’s daughter Louisa C.M. Bill; children Amanda J.C. Burch 8 b. 1902,
Anita M.R. Burch 4. Philip #1 only speaks German.
Philip Bill # 1 did finally move to Sonoma. He is buried in
the upper Mountain Cemetery in a plot behind the Batto crypt. There is no
headstone but the plot’s cement steps have an inscription stating simply
“Bill”. It is a large enough plot to hold 4 caskets so presumably Anna Margaret
and some of the children, perhaps Conrad, are buried there.
In 1910 Philip C. Bill was 24. He had an 8th
grade education and shared a household with Mike Gore, James Small and Ah
Janes. In his neighborhood on the east side of the valley was the whole Dresel
clan, Otto Schuhmann, Jospeph Schalhiter, Charles Nau, Henry Gundlach, Anita
Gundlach, John Echardt, Engelbert Kuner, Otto Kuner, Bertha Kuner, Otto
Belidag, John Gross and Trong H Von Der Emke. Seems like a strong enough
Germanic flavor.
Also, in 1910 Johanna E. Schuhmann, 20 years old, b.
12/12/1890, immigrated to US from Germany. She had an 8th grade
education. Her father Otto Schuhmann had immigrated 3 years prior. On the 1910
Census, Philip C. Bill lives in the next enumerated house to Otto.
4/9/1912 Philip C. Bill marries Johanna E. Schuhmann. Their
children were:
Phillip L. G. Bill born circa 1914
Hazel J. E. Bill (Schorch) born circa 1916
Eleanor L. M. Bill (Clark) born circa 1917 Sacramento
A 10/16/1915 I-T notes states, “Philip Bill, foreman of the
Hyde Estate, is a very busy man these days as grape picking is in full blast
and a large number of men are employed. Leave it to Phil, he’ll get there.”
5/4/18 Mr. and Mrs. Phillip Bill #2, daughter Florence comes
home from hospital in San Francisco. This is the same year the Spanish flu
killed between 50 and 100 million world-wide, the young and healthy were harder
hit than older people. Maybe she survived the flu epidemic.
By 1920, the Vineburg Census showed Philip Bill #2,
Otto Schuhmann and Otto Rufus among other German and Italian immigrant families
all living adjacent to each other in the Buena Vista neighborhood. The Vineburg-Buena
Vista axis was perhaps more the center of their world than downtown Sonoma.
The 1920 Census lists the household of Philip Bill #2 and
Johanna Brandt Bill; they owned their own home; Philip #2 was a foreman in
general farming. At home were two daughters, Alma 24 and Florence 16. Son
Philip C. Bill had left home, married and established his own household with
wife Johanna E. (Schuhmann) Bill.
10/20/1922 Mrs. Elizabeth Bill dies at age 29 and is buried
in Mountain Cemetery. This person is a mystery, this is the first and only
mention I found of her. She would have been born in 1893.
2/5/1923 farmer Philip Bill #2 dies. P. Boccoli and a Mr.
Trudgen helped pay the funeral costs. His residence is listed as Napa at his
death.
A 1929 phone
directory lists Florence Bill as an operator for Northern Cal Tel. Co,
Rt. 1 Box 233. Her Street address: 830 Napa Street East,
right where there is a thick clump of prickly pear and an agave sticking right
out into the street. Florence’s lot may be a remnant of the 1910 ranch land
purchase at 680 Napa Street by Philip Bill #2.
1929 phone directory: Philip C. Bill and Johanna E.
Schuhmann Bill: Box 363, Sonoma
1930 Philip C. Bill has a radio and is a laborer in the
building trades.
11/6/1931 Philip C. Bill ‘barbeque king’, helps put on a big
county event.
8/18/33 A mention of Philip C. Bill, “who resides on the
Hyde tract”; the William H. Hyde residence, 21545 Hyde Rd.
On May 11th 1934 Johanna M. Bill, i.e. Johanna
Brandt Bill, wife of Philip Bill #2 and her daughter Florence threw a party,
“and after a tour of the beautiful gardens surrounding the old home, all were
invited to be seated at the banquet table. A long table had been arranged under
the huge black walnut trees and tempting dishes of all kinds were placed before
the guests… Some of the older friends of the family told reminisces of
happenings years ago…. At 6:PM the guests were again invited to another repast.
This time the tables were arranged in the dining room and a regular banquet set
before those gathered for the happy occasion… Following the late dinner all
assembled in the large living room where contest games were played until a late
hour.” Children of Johanna Brandt Bill present: Mrs. Joe Gambetta (Estella),
Louisa McElroy, R.H. Bill (Roy) and also Florence’s future husband C. G.
Evert. Sonoma Index-Tribune
The old home referred to could have been the ‘Shaw House’
ranch property.
1936 Johanna E. (Schuhmann) Bill is treasurer Hermine Lodge.
All of these folks were in multiple lodges and orders, a carry-over custom from
when the immigrants participated in mutual aid societies that recreated the
cultural and socio-economic support networks that were well established in
their homelands. Her father Otto Schuhmann was in the Order of Redmen and also Hermann
Sons.
2/7/1936 Johanna M. (Brandt) Bill dies at 68 years old. 4/9/1867 - 2/7/1936
Her vocation “at home”, Protestant, born Germany, resided in
CA 48 years, immigrated circa 1888. (16) The funeral expenses were charged to
Florence Bill, daughter. Many of the women at this time had no occupation other
than “at home”. The headstones of these women most likely did not list their
maiden name; headstones typically say, “Tillie, wife of so and so”. This is
unfortunate. No family line is acknowledged. Discrimination against women was
similar to what was seen toward Chinese, blacks and Indians; they were second-class
citizens. This type of prejudice still exists in 2014.
1939 Philip C. Bill, farmer, worked 52 weeks, 35 hours a
week, made $1820 but had other income as well. Johanna E. Schuhmann worked 14
weeks and made $150.
1940 Philip C. Bill is a farmer; Johanna E. Schuhmann Bill
is a naturalized citizen.
5/7/1940 Buena Vista Primary Election, Index To the
Registration Affidavits of Sonoma County, California
Walter H. Nagle, County Clerk
The following gives a sense of who lived in the Buena Vista
neighborhood. The various other people have a direct tie-in to the subjects of
other essays in my collection. See also map of Town of Buena Vista (2)
Miss Florence M. Bill, telephone operator RFD Republican
Frank M. Burris, banker Republican
George Dolcini, gardener, Rep
Julius Dresel, electrician, Dem
George W. Matsuyama, farmer, Rep
Mrs. Georgiana W. Matsuyama, housewife, East Broadway, Rep
William D. Rambo, dairyman, Rep (sold Otto Schumann his
final piece of lot #513)
Mrs. Elsa M. Shuhmann, RFD, Rep
Otto Schulze, farmer, RFD, Dem (one time tenant of Schuhmann
Hotel)
Harold Thornsberry, Srl worker, Rep
Lee F, Thornsberry, farmer, Rep
Mrs. Bertha E. Von Sydow, houseweife, RFD, Buena Vista
Mrs. Annie S Wallman, housewife, RFD, Dem
George Wallman, farmer, RFD Rep
1942 Philip C. Bill’s WW2 draft registration has an address
of RFD Box 507 Sonoma, phone 2Y14.
2/18/1949 Philip C. Bill owes the city a January bill of
$180.60 for water and streets.
1949 Florence Bill retires as phone company operator.
Sometime after this date she marries Carl G. Evert.
8/29/52 Philip C. Bill and Johanna E. (Schuhmann) Bill getting
ready to move into their new house on 358 Patten Street. He died 13 years later
so presumably at this time he was retired from faming, ranching and the city.
10/29/1955 Carl G. Evert dies. 4/3/1879 -10/29/1955, from Sweden, an
engineer, cremated, $435. is total funeral, cost, service on Halloween. He was
married to Florence B. Evert, they lived at 830 E. Napa Street. They married
later in life. Siblings Philip C. Bill, Roy A. Bill, Elma Jorgensen and Estella
Gambetta (Guerneville), signed a relinquishment of right for Carl to be buried in
the Philip Bill #2 cemetery plot in the upper Mountain Cemetery.
1959 Florence Evert entertains Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pfalzgraf
for Mrs. P’s birthday.
4/9/1962 Philip C. Bill and Johanna E. (Schuhmann) Bill have
their 50th wedding anniversary. At the time they lived on 358 Patten
Street. They were referred to as a ‘pioneer valley couple’. Philip C. Bill, “the well known retired city
employee” who was a city maintenance man 20 years.
9/16/1965 Philip C.
Bill dies, see picture below. Born on Camp ranch east of Buena Vista 8/10/1889.
He was cremated and does not appear to be buried in the Mountain Cemetery,
although one headstone is missing from the Philip Bill #2 plot, to the far left
of the main headstone only a platform remains, to the left of Florence and Carl
Evert.
As a young man Philip C. Bill was a foreman on the McIntosh
ranch in Vineburg.
He farmed Hyde ranch “a valley landmark” for 40 years. He
worked for US Army Corps of Engineers before WW2, went to Midway Island in WW2
but was not listed as a veteran. With an 8th grade education he was
probably not an engineer. He worked on the dredge that filled Treasure Island
for the 1939 World’s Fair. Philip C. loved to barbeque and entertain along with
wife Johanna E. Bill. He was a member of multiple lodges.
“Mr. Bill was a Past Noble Grand of IOOF Lodge No. 28 of
which he was a member for over 50 years. He was also a 55 year member and past
president of Sonoma Parlor No. 111, Native Sons of the Golden West; a member of
Sonoma Grove United Ancient Druids No. 75 and Relief Encampment in Petaluma.” (8)
Philip C. Bill was survived by children: Phillip L. Bill of
S.F., Hazel E. Schorch of Alturas, Eleanor L.M. Clark, Sacramento. He was also survived
by 3 sisters and 1 brother: Estella Gambetta of Guerneville, Elma Jorgensen of
Redwood City, Florence Evert of Sonoma and Roy H. Bill of Santa Rosa
8/9/1967 Final Call, Florence Evert dies: see her picture
below.
Florence Bill Evert, 64, “never let her paralytic handicap
affect her good nature or good deeds…died suddenly at her home on East Napa
Street…for 26 years served as a Pacific Telephone operator here in the days
before the dial phones”. She retired in 1949 when the phone company moved its
headquarters to Napa. She married Carl Evert after her retirement when she was
in her mid 40s. She got the phone company job with the help of Frank Wedekind
Sr. I guess she did a little better than “at home”.
She was a Congregational Church member. There was a Florence
Evert Memorial Fund. She was a member of VOM No. 85, Order of Eastern Star and
former member Verdant Rebekah Lodge No.99, Sonoma. Florence was a student of
Jesse F. Prestwood for 2 years. She had a lovely garden. Funeral in full charge
to Mr. and Mrs. James Scholtz, 1170 Castle Road.
Florence is buried in the Philip Bill #2 plot with Carl
Evert. Elma Bill Jorgensen is buried there as well, along with someone named
Baines.
Johanna E. Schumann Bill dies 1972 or 7/1973; she was 82
years old. 12/12 1890 – 7/1973. She was
the youngest child of Otto and Clara Schuhmann. Emigrated from Germany in 1910.
Philip L. Bill inherited the Patten house upon Johanna’s death in 1972.
1/24/1989 Philip L. Bill (#4), son of Philip C. Bill (#3)
and Bernice Virginia Vagt celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. In
attendance, daughter Linda Batcheller of Woodland, son Philip Bill (#5) of
Hillsborough, Carolyn and Joe Bahrs of Walnut Creek. Three generations of
Philip Bills had their 50th wedding in Sonoma: Philip Bill #1 in
1900, Phillip C. Bill (#3)in 1962, Philip L. Bill (#4) in 1989. (8)
5/17/91 Philip L Bill (#4) and Bernice Bill plant marigolds
on the Plaza, for seven years they raised marigolds from seed, tended until
established, and then city gardener Dave Chavoya would take over.
2000 Philip L. Bill dies, see pictures below of him and with
wife Bernice. Graduated from Huichica grade school. Member Sonoma Lodge #28
Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Order dissolved 3/9/1962. “Lived in S.F. for
34 years after marriage, returned to Sonoma 1972 after Phil’s retirement from
S.F. Naval shipyard with 30 years of service as a planner and estimator”
And so I come to the end; all these lives. I find myself
driving down Napa Street, past Florence’s house, past the ranch, over on Patten,
in the cemetery on the way back from the Overlook Trail or down on Burndale
Road by the Hyde Ranch and I recall, here lived these former Sonomans. Their
lives were probably similar to mine in many ways; we go on about out business
while we’re here and when we’re gone, we don’t have to worry about the details
anymore.
Cast of Characters
Philip Bill #A, b. 1804 Darmstadt, Hesse
Catherine, (second) wife b. 1812
First wife, mother of Philip Bill #1 unknown
Philip Bill #1, b. @1823, Darmstadt, d. 2/5/1923 Sonoma
Margaret, wife b. Darmstadt,
children: Henry, Philip #2, Louis, Connie, Louisa
Philip Bill #2, 12/12/1861-2/5/1923, b. Niederweis,
immigration year 1871 or 1873
Johanna Brandt Bill, wife 5/9/1868-2/7/1936, b. Hessen, married
1889
-1920 Census says she is born in Prussia (PreuBen or
Preuseen in German) and that her parents were born in PreuBen (Prussia)
-children: Roy H., Philip C., Estella (Gambetta), Alma (Jorgensen),
Florence Bill (Evert)
Philip Conrad Bill (#3),
8/19/1889 – 9/16/1965 (8/10/1889
– 9/10/1965)
Johanna E. Schuhmann, wife 12/12/ 1890 – 7/1973
Phillip L. G. Bill born circa 1914
Hazel J. E. Bill (Schorch) born circa 1916
Eleanor L. M. Bill (Clark) born circa 1917 Sacramento
Son of Hazel Bill Schorch: unknown
Ex Wife of her son: Susan M Schorch 2727 K St. Apt C., Sacramento, CA 95816
-no longer on speaking terms with the son, her daughter
maybe interested in this family history, no bites yet
Florence Bill 1904-8/9/1967
Carl “Gus” Evert 4/3/1879 -10/29/1955
Philip L Bill (#4) d. 2000 at age 86
Bernice Bill, wife, dies 2013-2014, was still at Patten
house in 2012
children of Philip L. Bill:
Linda and Dave Batcheller 30613 County Rd. 28, Woodland, CA 95695
Philip K. Bill (#5) 297 Alta Vista Dr., South San Francisco,
CA 94080, wife is Elaine? Daughter?
Carolyn and Joe (Bahrs/ Behrs), Carolyn Bill of Sonora, CA,
then Walnut Creek
REFERENCES
(2) map Buena Vista, personal copy from County Recorder’s
Office available from Fred as .pdf by email upon request
(3) Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, 1978, 1998,
11/29/2008, Stephen Shaw House, 680 Napa Street East
Too many Philip Bills gets confusing even for a Philip Bill
expert. According to the League’s document, the Philip Bill who bought the
property was a grandparent of Philip Bill
Sr..
The oldest grandparent at the time the property was bought
was Philip Bill #1. He could have bought the property but he was 86 and widowed
at the time, and was living in Alameda with his daughter Louisa and son in law
steamboat captain John Burch. His son Philip Bill #2 could have worked it for
him. That would make the ‘Philip Bill
Sr.’ to be Philip. C. Bill #3.
If the grandparent who bought the property was Philip Bill
#2, then the ‘Philip Bill Sr.’ would have had to be Philip L. Bill, #4 and son
of Philip C. Bill, #3. Confused yet?
Philip Bill #2 was @49 years old in 1910 at the time the
property was bought. Philip Bill #1, at 86 years old in 1910 was a bit old it
seems to start a new farming venture but still possible. As mentioned, he could
have bought it and let #2 do the work.
At the time the League note was written in 1978, Phillip C. Bill
was dead, leaving only Phillip L. Bill to be referred to as ‘Philip Bill senior’. I know Phillip C. Bill did not buy the Shaw
House in 1910, he was working in Vineburg and at the Hyde ranch.
It likely that Philip Bill #2 was the one who bought and
worked the land. He is listed in 1910 as owning his own house while Philip #1
was lodging with his daughter and son-in-law. The only way to be certain would
be to go to the County Recorder’s office and do a title history.
(4) US Census records, accessed free at the county library
via Ancestry.com
Sonoma, Napa, San Francisco, Columa and other California
censuses 1860 and on
(5)
Bates and Evans
Funeral records, Sonoma, CA, records stored in Sonoma at Depot Park Museum,
second floor: Sonoma Valley Historical Society, 270 First Street West, PO Box
861, Sonoma, CA 95476 707-938-1762 depot@vom.com
-book #2 Jan
13/1937- 6/14/1941 for Otto Schuhmann
-book 1932-37
for Johanna Brandt Bill
-book #6 for
Philip Bill
-book : Aug. 26
1964- Aril 9 1966, p. 193 for Phillip C. Bill
(6) Map
of the Mountain Cemetery, prepared for the City of Sonoma from original
surveys, by Hayward C. McDonald, Registered Civil Engineer, June 1935,
resurveyed Feb 1950 by Richard M. Starns , Jr. , corrected to 7/1/66
-personal .pdf copy available upon request
(7) Sonoma League for Historic Preservation, 1978, 1998,
11/29/2008 William H. Hyde Residence, 21545 Hyde Rd.
(8) Index-Tribune historical archive and more recent
articles
(9) The Vikings,
Kennth W. Harl, Tulane University
The Great Courses, The Teaching Company, 2005
(10) California Death Index
(11A) Just to keep you on your toes, an 1865 Buffalo, NY
census had one Philip Billow, age 62, from Germany.
(11B) The 1880 Census from Erie, PA had one Philip Billo,
76, from Prussia. This Billo is probably the same Billow from Buffalo 11 years
prior.
(12) see Mountain Cemetery Walking Tour brochure by myself
and Scott Summers, available for free from the City of Sonoma cemetery webpage
and the Sonoma Ecology Center, Sonoma Overlook Trail web page
(13) see Fred Allebach Title History essay of lot #513
(14) Apropos of chain migration there are other Bills from
Darmstadt, Hesse. On the 1880 San Francisco Census there is a George Bill, age
26, butcher, from Darmstadt. There is also, in a separate household, a Jacob
Bill, 32, butcher, from Darmstadt. Jacob’s wife was from England but both her
parents were from Darmstadt.
Prior Bills in California include, on the 1860 Census, Coloma,
El Dorado County, Bill Bill 26 (there had to be one), brewer, from Baden. Same 1860
census, Jacob Bill 28, miner, from Prussia. On the 1870 San Francisco Census is
a Margaret Bill, 42, from Prussia.
This serves to illustrate a few things: One, there was a
definite founder effect and chain migration from Darmstadt to the Bay Area of
the Bill extended family. Two, the surname is common enough.
-Unrelated but of interest, there are many “Indian Bill”/
Bill Indian types on CA census records
(15) personal communication with Nancy Shober, descendant of
Coleman D. Smith and Benjamin Franklin Campbell
(16) There is always sloppiness in Census numbers and other
records across the decades. People forgot dates and said different things. I
figure if I have the family relations right and if I am close on other dates;
that’s the best I can do.
(17) Thanks to Bob Parmelee for getting me started on this
whole Sonoma history jag. After asking Diane Smith about the building here and
coming up dry for years, but not working too hard at it, a chance meeting with
Bob at the Depot Park Museum resulted in an “oh, that’s the old Schuhmann
Hotel” comment from Bob; the rest is history. Thanks again to Bob for
encouraging mw to continue working on local history projects.
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