WILLIAM HAWES, one of the leading and most influential ranchers of Shasta County, was born in New York, May 8, 1836.His father, Michael Hawes, was a native of Germany, born December 25, 1811, was an industrious farmer and blacksmith in the fatherland, and came to America in 1830, settling in the state of New York. He married Martha Hoffon, a native of Pennsylvania, and they had ten children, six of whom still survive.

The subject of this sketch was raised and educated in his native State, attended the public schools in winter, and in summer helped his father on the farm and in his blacksmith shop. When twenty-four years of age he decided to try California, and in 1859 reached the Pacific coast. He went to Shasta County and at Horsetown engaged in mining and cutting logs. A year afterward he removed to Oregon Gulch and worked in the mines eighteen months without losing a day, and received for his work $900. He then went to the American ranch and worked six months. April 20, 1862, he married Miss Rebecca Foster, they had six children, five of whom are living, namely: John L., Henry R., and Alice, all born in Shasta County. For a year Mr. Hawes ran the Anderson Hotel. That was before the farm of Anderson was started, and it was then called the American ranch, and many teamsters and travelers stopped there. Then Mr. Hawes came to his present locality, and purchased 120 acres of rich farming land for $700; and since then he has purchased 1,400 acres, 1,200 in one body. On this property he is carry. He grew in one year, from 400 acres of wheat, 7,200 bushels, and his smallest crop of wheat had been 3,000 bushels, but that year he did not have so much land sowed. He built a good ranch residence in 1876; has surrounded himself with fruit of nearly every description and is also turning his attention considerably to raising grapes. He has four year old vines, from which he has picked from forty to sixty pounds to the vine.

In 1875 it was his misfortune to lose his wife by death, and in 1876 he married Miss Henrietta Young, a native of Germany. They have one son Jacob. Mr. Hawes has belonged both to the Grangers and Odd Fellows. In politics he is a Republican. He has frequently been trustee of his school district, and in 1890 was elected a delegate to the Republican State convention at Sacramento, which nominated Colonel Markham for Governor. Mr. Hawes is a man full of enterprise, eager to help in every undertaking intended to improve and benefit his County, and he his one of its most successful ranchers.

Memorial & Biographical History of Northern CaliforniaThe Lewis Publishing Co., 1891 Page 806
Transcribed by: Bonnie Phelan