countrymen emigrate to the United States by paying for passage in exchange 

 for a year's work on his or other dairies. Dozens of Swiss got their starts in 

 Marin County at Codoni's ranch, including his younger brother Quinto Codoni, 

 who later became a major landowner and head of the local bank. 201 



Codoni built a new house on the ranch in 1884, attaching it to the small 

 original house rather than destroying the old one. The two-story house was 

 fancier than most in the area, having decorative trim, and appeared as a 

 mansion. The spacious home brought new comforts to the growing family; 

 Codoni believed in giving his children education and culture, and the house was 

 equipped with a library and piano. 202 



Codoni involved himself in local politics and community interests 

 throughout his life. He regularly served as an election clerk at Tocaloma 

 precinct, and became the postmaster at Tocaloma in 1899. Codoni ran for 

 county supervisor in 1884, when a newspaper described him as "a Republican, 

 the seeds of his sympathy with Republican principles are of Alpine origin . . . ." 

 Codoni was also active in the local grove of the Druids and served several terms 

 on the Tocaloma School Board. 203 



Codoni's dairy was considered by many to be a prominent one, no doubt 

 because of Codoni's careful stewardship. The San Rafael newspaper made note 

 of Codoni's operation in 1898: 



Mr. G. Codoni, the enterprising dairyman, is milking 

 over 120 cows at present and is making a box of 

 butter daily. His butter is well known and in great 

 demand in San Francisco, where he has the name of 

 being one of the best butter makers in the County. 204 



In mid-1901 Codoni reportedly milked 133 cows and made 4,500 pounds 

 of butter per month. By this time he had consolidated two dairies, the Felix 

 Garcia dairy ranch to the west and the home ranch; cows were herded across 

 the narrow bridge on the county road at Tocaloma daily for milking at the main 



201 Munro-Fraser, Marin County, p. 420; interviews with Rae Codoni and Don Mclsaac. 

 202 Interview with Don Mclsaac. 



203 Marin County Journal. October 17, 1881; Marin Journal. November 20, 1884, May 14, 1885, 

 April 27, 1899; San Rafael Tocsin. October 29, 1898. 



204 Munro-Fraser, Marin County, p. 420; Marin Journal. March 31, 1898. 



352 



