and then sold the property to ex-New Yorker William L. Johnson one year later. 

 Johnson developed a small dairy of six cows and a potato farm. According to 

 the 1860 census, Johnson lived with what was probably two young sisters and a 

 hired hand, N. W. Garrison. His land was valued at $1,530 and he owned three 

 horses, six milk cows and one other head of cattle, and twelve pigs, all valued at 

 $300. Johnson lived in a house on a small lake near Olema Creek. The 

 correspondent from The California Farmer visited Johnson and gave a detailed 

 description of his improved farm: 



Continuing our ride onwards after leaving the 

 pleasant home of Messrs. Karman [sic] & Baldwin, we 

 called on Mr. W. L. Johnson, who cultivates sixty 

 acres of farming land, and has a very neat and pretty 

 cottage in a truly rural spot, well sheltered from the 

 winds. The Home-garden is good land, rich, deep, and 

 well-cultivated, with a fine small orchard and neat 

 surroundings. A pretty lake for a fish-pond is nicely 

 situated in front of the cottage, and can be made 

 beautiful. The 60 acres is all planted in potatoes. We 

 found Mr. Johnson planting his potatoes on the high 

 rolling hill-tops, the soil dark rich deep loam. He has 

 leased another 70-acre lot, all for potatoes. The flood 

 involved him in a loss of 800 sacks of potatoes, which 

 were at the landing and swept away. Mr. J. has a fine 

 home and family to make his lot a pleasant one. 133 



Nelson Olds sold Johnson 146.36 acres in early 1866, but later that year 

 Johnson sold his property, now totaling 204.36 acres, to L. K. Baldwin and 

 moved away from the Olema Valley. His home was moved to Olema in 1883 

 and remodeled into a tinsmith's shop. 134 



By 1867 Levi K. Baldwin owned the former properties of Stephen 

 Barnaby, Zadock Karner and William Johnson, totalling 1,004 acres. Baldwin 

 was seen as a successful and generous member of the Marin County 

 community. Because his "sound judgement and business abilities were 

 recognized by his neighbors," Baldwin served for three terms on the Marin 

 County Board of Supervisors. Active in community affairs, Baldwin hosted 



133 The California Farmer. April 4, 1862, p. 1; Deeds Book C, pp. 48 and 87, MCRO; Population 

 and Agriculture Schedules, 8th U. S. Census, 1860. 



134 Deeds Book E, p. 532, and Book F, p. 171, MCRO; Marin County Journal. May 17, 1883. 



246 



