Several years ago, my mother was deep in an ancestral research dive and found out that, in 1865, a distant relative had died in the town that we now live in, Petaluma, California. Of all the river towns to pass away in, I found the coincidence quite interesting and decided to find out where he died and if he was buried here. I thought this endeavor would not be difficult as Petaluma is a small town and there were not very many residents in 1865. I was incorrect in my assumption.
Along with finding this ancestor’s name, Winfield Scott Ebey, my mother found a published book chronicling his westward emigration from Missouri to Whidbey Island. In this book, we found that Winfield had traveled to Petaluma to relieve his symptoms of consumption. He stayed with his friend and business associate, Daniel Shaw and it was in Shaw’s house that Winfield died. His body was then transferred to Whidbey Island to be laid to rest with his family members. Using these facts, I researched Daniel Shaw’s property records at the Sonoma County Recorder’s Office, reviewed historical documents with the help of Kathrine Rinehart at the Sonoma County History Room, and was assisted at the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum scanning through city registries and maps of the town at the time Winfield was here.
I also found that the Ebey family had a significant impact on the development of Whidbey Island and the Seattle area. The descendants had therefore donated many of the original documents to the University of Washington many of which had been scanned to microfiche. I was delighted to find I could have those films transferred to the Sonoma County Library where my mother and I spent many hours reading the journals, viewing photographs, reading correspondence, and ultimately gaining a better understanding of Winfield’s journey and what an amazing man he was.
Our journey was a three-year project that enabled us to locate the home he passed away in…it was, unbelievably, still standing. The homeowners allowed us to walk through it and gave us a chance to be in the same place as Winfield. It was a poignant moment and one that struck me emotionally realizing that he did not have family with him when he left. Only a few days before he died, he wrote about how he wished he could see them again. It was at this moment that my song “Winfield” began to seep through my creative pores.
Throughout the whole research journey, I gained an appreciation for Petaluma’s history and now devote much of my time to working on projects that focus on the people who established this wonderful town and how it evolved. Winfield Scott Ebey was the catalyst!
Here is a live version of “Winfield” recorded at Aqus Cafe, Petaluma, on April 12th, 2024 with Jack Hogan on guitar: https://www.amyhoganmusic.com/videos