ANGUS M. HARDIE
The present Assessor of San Luis Obispo County, is a native of the “land o’ cakes,” having been born in Fifeshire, Scotland, September 3, 1840. He was the seventh child of Thomas and Ellen (McPherson) Hardie, there being ten children in the family, seven sons and three daughters, of whom nine are living at the date of this history. Until the age of eleven years he resided in his native land, and there attended school; but his education he acquired in the active life he has led, the necessities and opportunities of business, through the keen observation of men, and the natural good sense of himself, until he became a self-educated and well-educated man. In 1851 his parents emigrated to America, and settled in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where they remained four years. In 1856 Mr. Hardie came to California and located at Grizzly Flat, in El Dorado County, engaging in mining. Being young, enthusiastic, and vigorous, he was subject to the excitements often prevailing among miners when reports are made of rich mines discovered in some remote region; and when the tales were told of the great discoveries on Frazer River in the distant North, they found an attentive listener in Angus M. Hardie. The rush of Californians to Frazer River was one of the most remarkable, as one of the most disastrous, features of California history, so depleting the population and sacrificing the wealth of the mining counties that many have not recovered from the effects. Mr. Hardie was an early emigrant to that country, and one of the discoverers of the Cariboo Mines in 1859. Into that snowy and desolate region he carried the express from Lillooett, on Frazer River, a distance of 320 miles, carrying at times as much as ninety pounds of express matter on his back, going on snow-shoes the greater part of the journey. The danger, toil, and suffering attending such a journey few can realize who are accustomed to the genial climate of California, the solid earth for a foothold, the open highway, the easy coach and carriage, and the hospitable hostelries by the wayside. The extreme reverse of all these was experienced by Mr. Hardie in traveling over the hundreds of miles of snow-covered wilderness, of bleak plain, frozen lakes, mountain ranges, and matted forest lying between the frontier post of Lillooett and the distant region of Cariboo. But by such bold and hardy pioneering the rich countries of the North and West have been opened to mankind and their wealth made useful to the world.
After satisfying his adventurous spirit in the far North, he returned to El Dorado County, where he continued mining until 1867, when he removed to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since lived. Here he has a fine ranch of 380 acres, situated three miles from the town of Cayucos. While the ranch is his home he has not been a permanent resident upon it, being engaged in other business and leasing his farm to others. Being a practical miner, he has been largely employed by different mining companies as an expert to examine and report upon mining property, and has superintended the development and working of several mines.
Mr. Hardie takes an active interest in public affairs, and in politics acts with the Republican Party. In his political career he has been quite successful, being Road Supervisor of San Simeon Township in 1869; was Deputy Assessor under J. J. Scheiffarley in 1877, and in 1879 was elected on the Republican ticket as Assessor of the county, which office he still holds, having been re-elected in November, 1881, and is regarded as one of the ablest and most efficient Assessors in California. Of the social and secret societies, he is a member of San Simeon Lodge No. 196, of F. & A. M.; of the Royal Arch Chapter, No. 62, of San Luis Obispo; of the Knights of Pythias, and of the Legion of Honor, in all of which he takes great interest. He is fond of good society, of which he is a jovial and popular member, enjoying a joke and happy in repartee, making him a pleasant companion.
While his early life was venturesome and wandering, in his later years he has become the head of a happy family, marrying Miss Agnes Innis, October 4, 1866. This lady is a native of Fifeshire, Scotland, the birthplace of her husband. From this union has sprung a family of seven children, five of whom are sons and two daughters. A view of the dairy ranch and residence of Mr. Hardie at Cayucos is given in this volume. The full name is Angus McPherson Hardie.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p179. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
W. W. HAYS, A. M., M. D.
The name of Dr. Hays has been quite freely used in these pages, and a more extended mention of this learned scientist and gentleman would be a necessity in the completeness of any history of San Luis Obispo. His records of the meteorology of San Luis Obispo, brief extracts from which have been given, and his study of the archaeology of the county have been of invaluable benefit to science. Dr. Hays is a native of the State of Maryland, born some forty-five years ago, of one of the most prominent families of “The Old Line State.” In his youthful days he had aspirations for a military or naval career, like most ambitious youths, but political questions prevented their gratification. Entering college he in due time graduated with high honors, and obtained his degree of Artium Magester, and continued in the study of medicine and other sciences. He afterwards became a surgeon in the United States Army, and was for a number of years connected with the Smithsonian Institute at Washington. Declining health admonished him to relinquish these arduous duties and to seek the more genial climate of California, and good fortune—to San Luis Obispo—directed his footsteps to this county, selecting it as the most favorable for staying the ravages of the insidious disease, pulmonary affection, which threatened his life. Since 1866 San Luis Obispo has been his home, being one of the first physicians, and his family the pioneer American family of the county. In this salubrious climate and by his care and skill he has preserved his life, if not fully recovered his health, and bids fair for many years of usefulness to his fellow men and of comfort and prosperity to himself. Mrs. Hays is the daughter of Rev. Dr. Park, Rector of Trinity Church of New York. This eminent divine was a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he served many years as Chaplain and Professor of Ethics and Law to the Academy, retiring in 1847 to accept the rectorship of Trinity Church. The family of Dr. Hays is distinguished for high culture and accomplishments, and are pre-eminent in the society of San Luis Obispo.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, pp330-331. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
R. J. HAZARD
Was born at Greenwich, Rhode Island, August 1, 1826. His ancestry were among the first settlers of the colony, coming with Roger Williams, who, for his peculiar religious doctrines, had been banished from Boston in 1636, sought out a new region in the dead of winter, and located at a place he named “Providence,” and established the colony of Rhode Island. There these earnest and liberal men founded a Government on the most advanced principles of democracy then known, and which have had their influence on the subsequent political history of America. From that early period the Hazards have been a prominent family in Rhode Island. Thomas T. Hazard, an officer in the war of 1812, was the father of R. J. Hazard, and Esther L. Tillinghast, of another old and distinguished family of the State, was the maiden name of his mother. The children of the marriage were three sons, the subject of this sketch being the second in order of birth. Mr. Hazard spent his early years in the home of his ancestors, enjoying the educational advantages offered by the good school system of Rhode Island. When twenty years of age he removed to the great city of New York, where he remained two years. In 1850 he came to California, via the Isthmus of Panama, proceeding at once to the mines in Tuolumne. For a period of sixteen years he pursued the business of mining, in the meantime taking a trip to the mines of Australia and to Peru, in which expedition he spent two years, returning to his mining work in Tuolumne. In 1867 he concluded to seek other fields of enterprise, and first went to Visalia, making a stay of but six months, when he moved to San Luis Obispo County, where he arrived in the fall of that year, and there he has since lived. His ranch is located on Old Creek, five miles from Cayucos, where he has 500 acres of land. A view of the place is published in this book. Here he carries on the business of farming and dairying, milking some fifty cows and making butter.
Mr. Hazard was married in 1856, in Sonora, Tuolumne County, to Miss Elizabeth Fry, a native of Germany, and they have five children, two being girls and three boys.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, pp332-333. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
DANIEL HENRY
A native of Scotland, was born near Glasgow, in December, 1824. His father was Neil Henry, and his mother’s maiden name was Margaret Bailey. In the family were five children, Daniel being the fourth. When but one and a half years of age his parents removed to Nova Scotia, where he grew to manhood, receiving his education in the common schools of the country. His early life was spent on a farm, and thus being inured and skilled in the cultivation of the soil has made that his business through life. When twenty-four years of age he went to Massachusetts, and for the following fifteen years made that State his home, coming to California in 1867. Upon arriving in the “Golden State” he chose Sonoma County for his residence, remaining there and farming until 1869, when he came to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since lived. Mr. Henry was married September 9, 1850, to Miss Sabrina McKeen, a native of Nova Scotia, the family being members of the Presbyterian Church. Their home is located two miles from the village of Arroyo Grande, where Mr. Henry owns a fine farm , of which he is justly proud.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p353. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
HENRY HESS
Was born in Germany, September 8, 1842. His parents were John Hess and Louisa Pfeiffer, both natives of Germany; the family consisted of five children, all of whom were boys, Henry being the second. In his native land he grew to manhood, attending the public schools during his youth, and becoming familiar with the careful care of vine and grape growing, and the cultivation of the farm as practiced in the old country. In 1868, with his strict habits of industry and frugality well formed, he emigrated to America. June 7, 1868, soon after his arrival in New York, he married Miss Susan Schimpf, a native of Germany, and then, with his new family, he moved on to California, arriving in this State the same year. Mr. Hess selected Marysville, in Yuba County, for his home, and in the vicinity of that city planted a vineyard and cultivated a farm. Upon that location he remained until 1873, when he removed to Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo County, where he has since resided as a vineyardist and farmer. The farm of Mr. Hess is situated about one mile from the town of Arroyo Grande, contains fifty acres, well improved, with vineyards and orchards. Here he now lives with his family, consisting of wife and three children living, of whom two are sons and one daughter.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p353. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
In this connection it would seem proper to allude still further to those old and honored settlers whose exertions and good example have brought so much of prosperity to the county. Of these, it is proposed next to speak of J. C. Hill, Esq., a native of Missouri, and who has inhabited the region of Cambria for seventeen years.
JOHN C. HILL
Was born on October, 25, 1840, being the fourth child in a family of three daughters and four sons, children of John and Margaret Hill. No foreign lands or rich gold mines tempted him from the quietude of his native home until he had reached the age of twenty-two, when he made the journey via Panama to California. Having grown to manhood as a farmer, on arriving in this State, he sought the rural region of Marin County, and there for three years cultivated the soil. At the expiration of this period he went to Santa Barbara County, and there remained one year, when he came to San Luis Obispo, where he has since lived. He now has a ranch on the main stage road about half-way between Cayucos and Cambria, a view of it forming one of the illustrations in these pages. The ranch contains 360 acres, and is devoted to dairying, making butter exclusively, there being milked from forty to fifty cows.
Mr. Hill was married November 30, 1870, to Miss Marietta Buffington, a native of Iowa, and they have three children.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p339. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
HON. JOHN H. HOLLISTER.
Among the names conspicuous in the development of the agricultural interests of California, that of Hollister stands most prominent. Monterey, San Benito, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and other counties bear the marks of the great intelligence and enterprise of members of this family. The history of agriculture in California, in its various branches of improved stock, grain, and fruits, would be barren without chief reference to he works of the brothers, William Wells and Joseph Hubbard Hollister, the latter being the father of Hon. John H. Hollister, of San Luis Obispo. This gentleman is a native of the Buckeye State, born in Newark, Ohio, November 27, 1856, his parents being Joseph H. and Ellen (Mossman) Hollister. When he was a child of even [eleven] years, the family removed to California, his father having crossed the plains with thoroughbred sheep many years before, and acquired large property in California.
In this State the young man grew to manhood, acquiring an excellent education, and graduating at the State University at Berkeley. Since 1866 San Luis Obispo has been his home. His present residence is on the beautiful rancho, El Chorro—the waterfall—five miles northwest of San Luis Obispo, where upon his 2,000 broad acres he conducts the business of dairyman and farmer. A view of the place is shown in this book.
In 1879 he was elected Supervisor of the county, probably the youngest man ever chosen to so important position, and the duties were performed in so intelligent and faithful a manner as to draw commendation from all sides. Before the expiration of his term as supervisor, he was nominated by the Republicans as their candidate for the Assembly. The campaign of 1882 was a noted one, resulting in the great Democratic “boom,” but not to the exclusion of Hollister, as he was triumphantly elected. He made the canvass of the county, and his speeches were of marked ability, greatly exceeding what his most admiring friends had expected. All his pledges he kept.
The Assembly was largely Democratic, therefore a Republican was not expected to exercise much power, but Mr. Hollister was one of the foremost, notwithstanding his being in the minority. The Anti-Oleomargarine Law, the law to extirpate fruit tree pests, and to prevent diseases in fruit trees, and other measures of great importance to the agricultural interests, were introduced by him and pushed through by his energy and management.
Mr. Hollister was married April 12, 1880, to Miss Flora May Stocking, a native of Bloomfield, Sonoma County, California, and two children, a daughter and son, have been born to them. Col. J. H. Hollister, his father, died in San Luis Obispo January 5, 1873, and his mother, September 3, 1867, both being buried in the county of San Luis Obispo.
His three sisters, Mrs. Jack of San Luis Obispo, Mrs. Stowe of Santa Barbara, and Mrs. Banning of Los Angeles, are among the most elegant, accomplished, and admired ladies of the Golden State. Mr. Hollister is an active and respected member of the Patrons of Husbandry, of the Masonic Order, and the Knights of Pythias, and connects himself with all public matters in an intelligent and progressive manner. Although yet young, he has become prominent among his fellow citizens, who look with pride upon his advances and success.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, p48. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.
ELISHA W. HOWE,
Whose lovely residence near the town of Morro is shown on another page, is one of that proud body of pioneers, whose spirit of enterprise and love of adventure brought them at an early day to the Pacific Coast, and on whom devolved the responsibility and honor of organizing a new Government, and creating a new society far removed from the control and help of the General Government, or of established orders of society. Mr. Howe was born in Providence, Rhode Island, October 27, 1827. When three years of age, his parents moved to the city of New York, and four years later removed to La Salle County, Illinois, then a wild and comparatively unknown region in the extreme West. The broad prairies were then in their primeval wildness, and the beautiful Illinois River knew only the batteaux of the trapper and the occasional keelboat of the trader. The Black Hawk War had closed but a year or two before, rendering the country habitable to the white race. La Salle, Ottawa, and Joliet were settlements where the old French missionaries of 150 years before had reared the cross, or traded with the savages. Such was the home the parents of Mr. Howe sought in his early childhood, and it was a bold move to venture at that day from the extreme East to the farthest frontier of the West. While residing at La Salle, and before the subject of this notice had reached the age of thirteen, both his parents died. He then, at the age of thirteen, returned to his friends in Rhode Island. During his childhood and youth he attended the schools of the localities where he had dwelt, and thus acquired a fair education. Remaining in Rhode Island until eighteen years of age, he then set out to make his way in the world, choosing the life of a sailor on a voyage to the Pacific. His sailor life was not as pleasant as the story-books had made him believe, nor as his fancy had painted it, and after a two-years’ cruise he left his ship at the Sandwich Islands and made his way to California, whence had come the news of the discovery of gold. In 1848, he landed at the port of San Francisco, then commonly known as Yerba Buena, and proceeded at once to the northern mines. There he engaged in mining, and soon established a trading-post, continuing in the business for two years. Then gold was the great product of the country, and profits on goods were enormous, enabling a careful trader or lucky miner to quickly amass a fortune. In 1850, Mr. Howe gave up his mining and trading operations in the north, and moved to San Luis Obispo County, where he has since lived as stock-grower and farmer, following the advice of Horace Greeley, and “growing up with the country.”
Mr. Howe was married in 1853, to Señorita Gabriela Estudillo, a native of California. They have six living children, three of whom are sons and three daughters.
Source: History of San Luis Obispo County, California, pp92-93. Transcribed for the CAGenWeb Project by Cathy Portz.