Henry & Ruth Allegra Begin at Laurel Glen

Laurel Glen Main House Surrounded by fruit trees

Ruth Allegra was native to the Santa Cruz Mountains. She was born on the Adams Ranch December, 1889, officially known as Wrights, California. Others identify the ranch as at Skyland. Judging by the Skyland Community Church (est. 1887), which is about 1.1 miles south of San Jose - Soquel Rd and the same road on which the Laurel Glen was found, Ruth was born only a (very long) stones throw from where Henry was living at the time. It turns out that the Chamberlains attended that church while they lived on the Ranch. At the time it was Presbyterian. The Adams brothers were wealthy folks for whom Ruth's father, William Whitney Chamberlain (b1858 Damariscotta, ME), had worked in Fort Bragg when he first came to California from Maine in 1886.

The Adams brothers were friends of Whitney's in college (perhaps nearby Bowdoin College - famous for Whitney's relative Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain). When Whitney was told his ill health would likely be helped by living in California, Whitney took the Adams' advice and came to their Fort Bragg ranch. When they moved to the Santa Cruz Mts., Whitney, his wife and daughters, Alice (b1884) and Edith (b1886), born in Medicino, came with them as their ranch manager. It was at their ranch that Ruth was born. One of the Adams brothers later became the founder of the Common Wealth Club of San Francisco

When Ruth returned to the Santa Cruz Mountains it was like coming home in some ways. Though the rest of her family was back in Pleasanton or otherwise scattered in Northern California, Ruth was back to her roots.

Ruth Allegra holding Alice Irene and Henry trying to get the attention of a somewhat distracted Ruth Elizabeth (c1924)

The household was different than Henry had left it. His mother, Laura Jameson Dakin, had died in 1893 when Henry was 37, and still on the farm. But, Isaac was now 90, had failing eye- sight and would live only another three years. Clearly, Ruth was in charge of the household, while Henry commanded the farm.