California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 WILLIAM L. PUETT.� The earlier representatives of the Puett family in America lived in the east, but later generations, being of adventurous spirit, became identified with the development of the southern and western frontiers. Grown to young manhood in his native commonwealth of Indiana, Warren Puett then migrated to the southwest, served with bravery in the Mexican war, established himself on the plains of Texas as a cattleman and married Mary Clark, their later years being passed in Texas, where they died. One of his brothers, Alexander Puett, was a pioneer sheriff of Los Angeles county, Cal., and others of his kindred bore a part in early western history. Had he been spared to later years, in all probability he would have gained political prestige and financial success, but his death at the age of forty-two left his family with limited means and forced his children to earn their livelihood from tender years. The eldest of his four children, Sarah, was first married to Frank Nixon and after his death became the wife of George Miller; again widowed, she continues to make her home in Fort Worth, Tex. The second daughter, Josephine, widow of M. A. Spoonts, formerly an attorney of Fort Worth, is now living at Houston, Tex. The youngest daughter, Mary Jane, is the wife of S. B. Nobles, of Los Angeles. The third child and only son, William L., was born in Bell county, Tex., June 20, 1857, and by reason of an attack of measles that affected his eyesight he had little schooling. Through his work as a cowboy he became familiar with the entire frontier of Texas and with the Comanche and Apache Indians, large numbers of whom still lingered in the mountains and foothills of the southwest. As a deputy to the sheriff of Taylor county, Tex., it was his duty to assist in maintaining law and order and many an exciting and even dangerous experience fell to his lot in those early years. While yet making his headquarters in Texas Mr. Puett was married at Lampasas, that state, in December 1884, his bride being Miss Nettie Carson, a niece of the noted scout and pathfinder, Kit Carson. About 1888 they left Texas for California and settled in Los Angeles county, where Mr. Puett engaged in fruit-raising and kindred pursuits until 1900, the year of his removal to Lake county He has bought and sold a number of farms in this county and now owns and occupies ten acres in Big valley, where he is developing a very valuable property with pears, apples, prunes and alfalfa. Throughout the valley he is well known and universally honored. Long advocacy of Democratic principles makes him familiar with the work of the party and gives him prestige among its members in Lake county, who would honor him with local political offices were such his desire. Of his children the eldest, Guy V., is engaged in business in Los Angeles ; Irene J. married C. O. King, an automobile agent in Sacramento ; Leslie is also engaged in the automobile business in Sacramento; Winnie M. is a student in the Clear Lake Union high school ; Lindsay Carson and Doris D. are pupils in the grammar school. It is said that not only in facial features but also in mentality Mrs. Puett resembles her distinguished uncle. Kit Carson (or Christopher Carson, as named in infancy), who was born in Madison county, Ky., December 24, 1809, and died at Fort Lyon, Colorado Territory, at 4:25 p. m.. May 23, 1868, attended by H. R. Tilton, M. D., assistant surgeon of the United States army. On the 27th of April prior to his death occurred the demise of his wife, Senora Josepha Jaravilla, and their youngest child, Josephine, being an infant when orphaned, was adopted into the home of Thomas Boggs and given excellent advantages. The six other children of the Carson family were as follows: William, Charles, Kit, Teresena, Rebecca and Josephine. Kit Carson had a younger brother. Lindsay Carson, a native of Howard county, Mo., and a California pioneer of 1850, coming overland from Missouri and settling in Sonoma county. There he married Mrs. Maria Louise (Gordon) Williams, a widow with an only son, John S. Williams, now of Healdsburg, Cal. The Gordon family had come from Missouri as early as 1849 and had settled in Glenn county, where the daughter married Mr. Williams. After she became the wife of Mr. Carson they settled in Sonoma county and their eldest child, Mattie, now living in Healdsburg. was the first white child born in that county. The twins, Mary Ellen and Benjamin Harrison, as well as two other chil- dren, Lucilla and Ida M., were born in Sonoma county. In 1861 the parents returned to Texas and remained there until the close of the Civil war. Mean- while two children, Jennie Gordon and William B., were born in the Lone Star state. After their return to Lake county a daughter, Louise Antoinette, (commonly called Nettie) was born here in 1867. The youngest member of the family was a son, Lindsay, born in Lake county. When Mrs. Puett was thirteen years of age she accompanied her parents to Oregon and spent a few months at Eugene, but soon returned to California and settled in Mendocino county, where her father bought a large sheep ranch. Later the family re- turned to Sonoma county, but the failure of the health of Mr. Carson caused a return to Texas early in 1884 and there occurred the marriage of Miss Carson to Mr. Puett. Since then they have lived for the most part in Cali- fornia and for more than a decade have been identified with the horticultural advancement of Lake county, where they are developing a valuable and re- munerative fruit farm.