Bloomfield is a census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, U.S. It is located in a rural area about 11 miles
(18 km) southwest of Santa Rosa at the junction of Bloomfield Road and Valley Ford Road. Americano Creek flows westward along the south edge of the town. The following towns were included in the Analy Township: Bloomfield, Forestville and Sebastopol.
Analy Township Justice Court and Analy
Judicial District Court records, 1916-1959 . . . Link
Bloomfield Cemetery:
Bloomfield Cemetery, outside Sebastopol, Sonoma County, California [internment.net] . . . Link
Index for the Bloomfield Cemetery, Sonoma County, California [usgwarchives.net] . . . Link
Bloomfield Cemetery, Sonoma County, California [usgwarchives.net] . . . Link
Historic Landmark . . . Link
GenealogyOnline: About the Town Bloomfield . . . Link
Surnames: Cannon, Cockrill, Craze,
Glasson, Minkler, Moulton, Wetzel
LDS genealogy.com: Bloomfield. . . Link
Roadside Thoughts: Bloomfield California . . . Link
The web site "The Cockrill Family of Sonoma County" [Link] has a wonderful collection of local genealogy including the following with ties to Bloomfield: Bruce Larkin Cockrill (1899 - ), Didamia Stamps Cockrill, Dr. Bruce T. Cockrill (1852 - 1923 ), Ella Lyndon Cockrill (1887 - 1888), Frederick Gustavus Blume (1815- ), James Travis Cockrill (1883 - 1908), John McReynolds (1823-1890), Larkin Davenport Cockrill (- 1886), Obadiah Haight HOAG (1837 – 1908), Obe Anson Cockrill (1881 - ), Olivia Goldsmith COCKRILL, Robert Lafayette Cockrill (1889 - ), William Aaron Cockrill (1878- ), William Henry Zilhart (1827-1899)
The first house was built in Bloomfield by William Zellhardt, in 1853. He soon afterward built a blacksmith shop. Larkin Cockrill built the next house here, also in 1853. In 1854 a man by the name of Horace Lamb opened a store at Mr. Cockrill's house. In 1856, a postoffice was established with Horace Lamb as postmaster. The same year, the town was laid out, C. and J. Hoag owning the western part of the site and Isaac Kuffel the eastern portion and from this time on the town flourished. By the late 1850's Bloomfield was the second largest town in Sonoma County. In 1860, a racehorse breeding business, along with a large racetrack drew people to the town. In 1864, Bloomfield had a population of 150 and by 1877 this number had grown to 250. During this time, Bloomfield had four hotels, the Washington, Stocking House, the Cline and the Big Valley House. By 1880, the growth of Bloomfield slowed and never regained its momentum. One of the reasons for this was failure to attract a railroad through town, which passed through Santa Rosa instead. . . . [Archived Website. Link]
In its prime, Bloomfield was known as the “potato capital” of California. It was said that “The Big Valley Spud” was even better than those from Idaho, as “the best spud in the U.S.A.” Gaye Lebaron states in, “Santa Rosa, a nineteenth century town”; that ”potatoes were the first cash crop in Sonoma County; thrust hastily into the scarcely plowed ground. Shipped downstream from Petaluma to the bay, they turned that rude hunting camp into a flourishing port and made it a big town, for a short time, of Bloomfield, the potato capital of early California.” [7]
Bloomfield was also known as an inland trading point and a stopping point on the stagecoach route between Petaluma and Gualala. It became a center for horse breeding and trading, even at one time having a racetrack. Although isolated from the roads and railways, Bloomfield had communication with the outside world by the North Pacific Coast Railroad telegraph, and by the U.S. and Wells Fargo & Co. mails. This community, as were many in that day, was virtually self-sufficient. Although business interests in Bloomfield provided for most of the resident's needs, and a doctor was eventually obtained, it seems that even the early residents of Bloomfield had some inkling of the decline of their town. Bloomfield was not included on the rail line, and Governor Haight in 1872 vetoed extending the Northern Pacific Railroad to Bloomfield from Petaluma. [7]
The Bloomfield School, was first established in the Big Valley School District, was taught under the charge of James Harlow, the present building (as of 1880) having been erected in 1866. There were two teachers, a library of more than two hundred volumes, and "of course, two grades in the school." The "Bloomfield Bell" that hung in the school's bell tower, and today is in the community bell tower, was brought to Bloomfield all the way from Boston in 1860 by William Hall. [10]
A Description of Bloomfield in 1877:
BLOOMFIELD. This town is situated at the head of Big Valley, or the valley of the Estero Americano. It was first settled by Judge Cockrill and Bill Zilhardt. A man named Lamb started the first store. Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag. There is a post, express and telegraph office in the town; two stores, one hotel, three churches, (Presbyterian, Methodist, and Advent), one Masonic hall, and a lodge of Odd Fellows; one harness and three blacksmith shops, one cooper shop, and a flouring mill. The population is about two hundred and fifty. There is an excellent public school with over a hundred scholars. This place is surrounded by as rich a farming and dairy county as there is in the State of California. [3]
Lets see if I can find all the names of the places listed in the above paragraph (1877):
Two stores [1. Horace Lamb (1854) 2. ], one hotel [ LeFebvre's: Bloomfield Hotel (?)], three churches [Presbyterian, Methodist, and Advent], one Masonic hall [ ], and a lodge of Odd Fellows [Valley Ford Lodge, I. O. O. F. (1875)]; one harness [ ] and three blacksmith shops [1. William Zellhardt (1853) 2. 3. ], one cooper shop [ ], and a flouring mill [Bloomfield Flour Mill (1873)].
Places listed in "History of Sonoma County", by J. P. Munro-Fraser (San Francisco: Alley, Bowen & Co., 1880):
One flour mill [Bloomfield Flour Mill (1873)], two hotels [1. 2. ], three blacksmith shops [1. 2. 3. ], two wagon shops [ ], one paint shop [ ], two general stores [1. 2. ], one saloon [ ], one meat market [ ], one livery stable [ ], one harness shop [ ], one shoe shop [ ], one millinery store [ ], one tin shop [ ], one lawyer [Justice of the Peace, L. D. Cockrill], and no doctor.
Found these names of businesses, but don't know when they came about:
The Model Store: Cockrill & Colburn (1900's), Bloomfield Saloon & Butcher Shop, Hub Saloon & Livery Stable, Dr. F. G. Blume's sawmill, The thrashing machine (run by Mr. Colburn), the steam-run mill (purchased by Mr. Purcival in 1873) & four brotherhood lodges: Valley Ford Lodge, I. O. O. F. (1875)
Bloomfield Today [Niche] (has a map of location) . . . Link
Bloomfield Wikipedia Page . . . Link
Highway 1, Bloomfield California [PDF of History] [7] . . . Link
Hoag House . . . Link
Short History of Bloomfield
(with good photos) [wendtroot.com] . . . Link
Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Alonzo Walker . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Bloomfield Flour Mill [8] . . . Link
Bloomfield IOOF Hall (Built 1880) . . . Link
Bloomfield Masonic Hall (Built 1906) . . . Link
Bloomfield School (See above for History of the School). . . Link
Cushing and Jared Hoag . . . Link
The same year [1856], the town was laid out, C. and J. Hoag owning the western part of the site and Isaac Kuffel the eastern portion and from this time on the town flourished. They were the owners the western part of the site of the town in the 1850's. There are several Hoag's buried at the Bloomfield cemetery, but no C. or J. that would have been an adult in 1850's.
E. C. Hinshaw, Honorable . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Frederick Gustavus Blume [From a History of Sonoma County, by J. P. Munro-Fraser] . . . Link
[Blume] remained in business at this place [in Sonoma City] till April 1, 1848, when he moved to the ranch Canada de Pogolome. He has since resided in the same house, situated on a slight eminence over looking the beautiful little town of Freestone. The town of Bloomfield was named in his honor, being located on the Pogolome grant owned by his wife. [8]
Genuine Firewood Brand Label, Bloomfield, California . . .
Henry Hail . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Horace Lamb . . . Link . . In 1854 a man by the name of Horace Lamb opened a store at Mr. Cockrill's house. In 1856, a post office was established with Horace Lamb as postmaster.
Hub Saloon & Livery Stable [8] . . . Link
Hugh Stockton . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Isaac Kuffel . . . Link . . At this meeting it is know that the streets of the town were laid out on a north to south basis, with Jared and Cushing Hoag owning the western half and Isaac Kuffel the eastern portion. [8]
James Harlow . . . Link
The Bloomfield School, was first established in the Big Valley School District, was taught under the charge of James Harlow, the present building (as of 1880) having been erected in 1866.
John Linchaugh . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
John Peters . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Larkin Cockrill . . . Link
Larkin Cockrill built the next house here [in Bloomfield], also in 1853. [6] The Cockrill family played a big role in the 19th century founding the town, and one of the original streets, Washington Street, was renamed Cockrill Street in the 20th century. [7] There is a L. D. Cockrill buried in the Bloomfield cemetery, but without further research I am not sure if this is Larkin.
The Cockrill family in Sonoma County [wendtroot.com] . . . Link
Larkin Davenport COCKRILL (4 Jan 1800 - 12 May 1886) [wendtroot.com] . . . Link
The Model Store: General Merchandise. Owned by William A. Cockrill & Raymond C. Colburn. [c. 1900] . . .
O. P. Hoag . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
W. C. Purcival: This [Bloomfield Flour] mill is at present owned by W. C. Purcival, who came into possession of it in May, 1873. . . .
W. H. White . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
W. P. Hinshaw . . . Among
the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877]
were W. P. Hinshaw,
W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John
Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh
Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P.
Hoag.
William (Bill?) Henry Zellhardt . . . Link
In 1853, William Zellhardt built a house on the site of present-day Bloomfield, which attracted other immigrants and led to plans for a town in 1856.
William Henry ZILHART (Abt. 1827 - 11 May 1899) [wendtroot.com] . . . Link
William Jones . . . Among the earliest settlers in the neighborhood [in/by 1877] were W. P. Hinshaw, W. H. White, L. D. Cockrill, Henry Hail, John Linchaugh, Alonzo Walker, the late John Peters, Hugh Stockton, Wm. Jones, Hon. E. C. Hinshaw, and O. P. Hoag.
Woodson
Family . . . Link [PDF]
An excerpt from the autobiography of William Aaron Cockrill supplied by Rebecca Aileen Cockrill states, "Another family by the name of Woodson, who also came from Bloomfield, Kentucky, was the first family to locate in Big Valley, but two miles from where the town was later surveyed and promoted. The Woodson family and the Cockrill family got together and named the town that was laterbuilt, Bloomfield, after their old native town, in spite of some stories."
George Woodson . . . According to, “A Short History of Bloomfield”, however, “it was her husband, George Woodson, who named the post office Bloomfield at a public meeting on July 12, 1856."
Rebecca Hildreth Nutting Woodson
Hotels (1860-1870's):
During this time, Bloomfield had four hotels, the Washington, Stocking House, the Cline and the Big Valley House:
The Big Valley House . . . Link
The Cline . . . Link
Stocking House . . . Link
The Washington Link
Maps
5 N, 9 W, Bloomfield: 1898,
David Rumsey Collection.
Col. lithographed map.
Relief shown by hachures. Shows Public Land townships
and sections, Blucher Rancho, Analy Township, landowners
with acreages, Bloomfield, drainage, etc. Inset shows
block numbers, owners of large parcels, etc.
. . . Link
Current Map of Bloomfield . . . Link
Map of Bloomfield [MapQuest] . . . Link
Bloomfield School, Bloomfield,
California, 1949 . . . Link
View of Bloomfield, California, looking north, 1955 . . . Link
Bloomfield, California, 1958 . . . Link
[1]
Wikipedia contributors. "Bloomfield,
California." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, 22 Aug. 2022. Web. Viewed on
27 Oct. 2022 . . .
Link
[2] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch Book of Napa, Sonoma, Lake, and Mendocino: Comprising Sketches of Their Topography, Productions, History, Scenery, and Peculiar Attractions", C.A. Menefee, 1873 . . . Link
[3] "Historical and Descriptive Sketch of Sonoma County, California", Robert Allan Thompson. L.H. Everts, 1877 - Sonoma County (Calif.) - 104 pages. [Bloomfield pp 103] . . . Link
[4] "History of Sonoma County: Including Its Geology, Topography, Mountains, Valleys and Streams ...."' United States, Higginson Book Company, 1880. (page ???.) . . . Link . . . Text at CAGenWeb
[5] "An Illustrated History of Sonoma County, California: Containing a History of the County of Sonoma from the Earliest Period of Its Occupancy to the Present Time", Lewis Publishing, 1889 . . . Link
[6] "Towns of Sonoma County". Archived from the original on 2007-10-21. Retrieved 2008-03-21. . . . Link
[7] "Highway 1, Bloomfield California", by Susan Teel, 2015. Rancho Bodega Historical Society. PDF . . . Link
[8] "History of Sonoma County", by J. P. Munro-Fraser. (San Francisco: Alley, Bowen & Co., 1880), pp. 484-486 . . . Link
[9] "Local History and Tales from Bloomfield, Sonoma County, California", essay by Mary L. Murphy ("Special Studies Eng. 495, Spring and Fall, 1974," Petaluma History Room 979.418 Murphy), p. 4. . . Link
[10] "History of Sonoma County, California", by Ernest L. Finley (Press Democrat Publishing Company, Santa Rosa: 1937), p. 203. . . . Link
[11] "Dirt Roads and Dusty Tales: A Bicentennial History of Bloomfield, Sonoma County, California", by Hannah M. Clayborn (Santa Rosa, Cleone Pub: 1976)