Napa County Biographies

W. H. Castner, Sr.

Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
W.H. Castner Sr., grape-grower and wine maker of Napa Valley, has been a 
resident of California since 1861, the last twenty years of that time having 
been spent in Napa County. Mr. Castner was born in Waldoboro, Lincoln county, 
Maine, March 8, 1829, his father being a ship-builder at that point. He was 
brought up in the business of shipwright, following that avocation until he went 
West, at the age of twenty-eight, to Wheatland, Rice County, Minnesota. There he 
followed farming for two years, and then until the spring of 1860 he followed 
his trade on the Mississippi, when he sailed for San Francisco via Cape Horn. 
After a tedious voyage of 162 days he reached his destination and immediately 
began to work his trade for the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, remaining with 
them until 1870. He then came to Napa County and purchased his present place. He 
owns a fine tract of fifty-one acres, thirty-five of which are set out in vines, 
adjoining Krug Station. His eldest son, W.H. Castner Jr., owns forty acres not 
far off, thirty of which is in vines. On this latter place is the winery and 
cellars conducted by the two, which are very solidly constructed of stone and 
have a tunnel into the side of the hill for the better storage of wines. The 
capacity is 70,000 gallons. Only dry wines, such as clarets and white wines, are 
manufactured, no distillery being connected with the establishment. For the 
purpose of securing the best market possible, the son conducts a wholesale and 
retail wine and liquor store at No.5, Ninth street, San Francisco, near Market.
            Mr. Castner was married in Lincoln County, Maine, to Miss Sarah C. 
Soule, a native of that county. They have five living children: William H., Jr., 
born October 1, 1856, in Maine, who is married and has three children, named 
respectively, John William, five years old; Ralph Waldo, aged three, and Elmer, 
aged one; Lewis Preston, born 1858, is married and has two children, and resides 
at Weaverville; Frank Ellsworth, now twenty-one years of age and is in 
Washington Territory; Albert Wendell, nineteen years old, in charge of the San 
Francisco store, and Mary A., fifteen years old and  residing at home.  
 
Memorial & Biographical History of Northern California The Lewis Publishing Co., 
1891, Page 800