The Hallengren’s settled the Rockpile area in the 1870s.  S.P. Hallengren, a native of Stockholm, Sweden, traveled from his homeland to New York in 1860.  He eventually traveled west and arrived in El Dorado County where he would meet his soon to be bride, Henrietta Brightenstein.  The two came to Sonoma County in 1866, settling near Geyserville and in the 1870’s the Rockpile area.  Henerietta already had a daughter, Emily (Emma), the eldest of all her children, born in 1855 in California.  Emma Hallengren would leave the rolling hills of Sonoma County for other pursuits in Montana.

Emma laid down roots in in Meagher County, Montana.  She married William J. Rowley and the two would give birth to Pearl.  By the time of Pearl’s birth, she had three older brothers, William Strom (a half-brother by Emma’s former marriage with William Strom, Sr.), Clayton Rowley and Walter Rowley.  In 1900, when Pearl was just six years old Emma passed away.  Left with only a father and three older brothers, Pearl was in need of a more fitting environment for a growing young woman.  So, her eldest brother William made a decision to send Pearl back to her mother’s homeland with her aunts and uncles in the hills of Sonoma County.

The trip for young Pearl could not have been easy.  At just six years old she was sent with others of all ages to move from town to town, slowly making their way west.  Alone, with no mother and surrounded by strangers Pearl eventually landed on Rockpile Road to reside with her aunts and uncles, the children of S.P. and Henrietta Hallengren.
 
The Hallengrens had five children residing on the Rockpile Ranch: Lottie, Lillie, Lind, Lenore and Lloyd.  All would remain in the area for the duration of their lives except Aunt Lenore, who would eventually make her way to Inyo County, California.
 
Life for the young Pearl could not have been easy on Rockpile Road.  All of the Hallengrens touted themselves as farmers, yes even the women.  With no electricity, no machinery, and little help, the work required of the family members must have been trying.  Despite the hard work at home, Pearl attended elementary school in Dry Creek Valley, at what is now the base of Warm Springs Dam.  She then went on to attend and successfully complete Healdsburg High School.
 
After graduation, her brother William Strom, asked Pearl to come back to Montana to help him homestead some property.  Seeing an opportunity she returned east.  There Pearl met William Mauritson, a farmer and native of Sweden, who arrived in the United States in 1904.
 
William and Pearl would stay in Montana for many years and raise two boys Walter and Edward Mauritson.  Edward would eventually go into the military during WWII.  He would return from service into Los Angeles, where he would meet the love his life, Glendene Ella Dixon, an Oklahoman who moved west to escape the great dust bowl.  Together the two, never having any desire to remain in Los Angeles and knowing there was little prospect to the east, decided to take a stab at Northern California, as Pearl had inherited several acres of farmland from her Aunt Lillie Hollengren.

Edward and Glendene Mauritson would build a home in Dry Creek Valley and raise three of their own children, Thomas, Chris, and Yvonne.  The couple maintained the Rockpile Ranch by farming sheep, a tough and unforgiving living.  In addition, the couple farmed winegrapes, a Rockpile tradition dating back to the Hallengrens.  Pearl would eventually leave Montana to join her son and daughter-in-law where she would live the remainder of her days until 1973.  Today she rests in the Healdsburg Cemetary.

More changes were occurring in the 1970’s.  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers became interested in the area surrounding the Mauritson home.  Eventually the property was taken by eminent domain and Warm Springs Dam was erected.  As a result, Edward and Glendene relocated and continued to farm throughout the Dry Creek and Alexander Valleys, all the meanwhile maintaining their presence on Rockpile Road.
Today, Edward and Glendene’s son, Thomas Mauritson, and his sons, Robert, Blake and Cameron have continued the Hallengren’s wine-grape growing tradition on Rockpile Road.  Pearl’s Vineyard is a reminder of the roots planted in the area long ago.  The path forged today could never have been possible without Pearl, who by unfortunate and tragic circumstances was forced to reunite with her relatives in Sonoma County in the early 1900’s.  Although a somber journey for young Pearl, fate would connect her and her children back to California, where her legacy will forever be remembered.