Individual Details
George Kirkham HOSTETTER
(14 Jan 1841 - 25 Jul 1921)
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County,California, Edited by H. S. Foote, Chicago: The Lewis PublishingCompany, 1888. This is a scanned image located at the Santa ClaraCounty USGENWEB site.
"George K. Hostetter, of the Eagle School District, is the owner of afarm of fifty-two and one-half acres, located on the Hostetter road,aboaut four miles northeast of San Jose. His original tract containedeighty eight and one-half acres, but in 1882 he sold thirty-six acres.A fine young orchard covers twenty-two acres, andcomprises 1,000apricot, 1,050 French and Silver prune, 400 peach, 100 cherry, 200apple, and 75 pear trees, besides a few fig and almond trees. Asshowing the productiveness of the orchard under Mr. Hostetter'sexcellent care, we mention a part of the crop of 1887. In that year,from seven and a half acres of trees (then three years ole) weregathered forth-eight tons of apricots, which netted $200 per acre. Inaddition to his orchard interests, Mr. Hostetter raises on theremainder of his land hay and grain, reserving a portion for pasturagefor his stock.
He was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, January 14, 1841, the sonof Francis and Catherine (Lonkard) Hostetter. He ws left an orphanwhen about six years old, and was taken into the family of hisguardian, Alden Farnsworth. He was reared to a farmer's life,receiving the education of the district schools. He was a member ofhis guardian's family for about seven years, leaving them in April,1854, to accompany his brother-in-law, O. W. Farnsworth, overland toCalifornia. In September of that year they came to Santa Clara County,and the brother-in-law settled on a farm. The subject of our sketchlived in his family for the ten years following, assisting in the manyduties of the farm management. In 1864 he started out for hiimself,going to Idaho, where he worked in the mines for several months, butwith rather unsuccessful results. Upon leaving Idaho he visited BakerCounty, Oregon, but remained only long enough to earn money to takehim back to Santa Clara County. This he accomplished in the fall of1865, and soon after his return rented a farm of his brother-in-law,which he operated for two oyears. During this time he married, in1866, Miss Margaret Rea, the daughter of James and Hannah(Hudsonpiller) Rea, who were natives of Virginia but residents of thiscounty. In the fall of 1867, in partnership with his father-in-l;aw,he entered into farming and dairy business near Gilroy. He spent fouryears in that work, and then returned to the Silver Creek District,where he rented and worked a farm belonging to T. H. Farnsworth for ayear, purchasing and establishing his residence upon his presentproperty in t he fall of 1872. The intervening time has been spent inthe improvement of his farm, with most encouraging results, as wehave already narrated. Mr. Hostetter has gained the confidence of hisassociates, as they have shown in one way by electing him as SchoolTrustee. In politics he is a member of the Republican party, butentertains conservative views.
Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have five children, viz.: Frank F., bornSeptember 30, 1867; George F., born February 14, 1869; Alvin M., bornJanuary 14, 1872; Rea Howard, born January 30, 1874; and Mary Amelia,,born November 11, 1875."
Copied page from a Tulare County History that I failed to copy thetitle page. Page 1025 says "Historical and Biographical Records" andcontains the following bio:
"GEORGE KIRKHAM HOSTETTER. Since a boy of but five years, Mr.Hostetter has been without father or mother, and while he hassucceeded it is the result of his own well-directed efforts. Hisfather, Francis Hostetter, was a native of Kentucky, but finallymigrated to Missouri where he followed farming up to the time of hisdeath, which occurred in 1844. He married Catherine Lankard, who diedtwo years later.
G. K. Hostetter was born in St. Charles county, Mo., January 14, 1841,and after the death of his mother he and two sisters made their homewith Alden Farnsworth near St. Charles until 1854, when the familycrossed the plains to the Pacific coast. The trip was made withox-teams, the party following the old Carson route. After a wearyjourney they arrived in California in October, 1854, and settled inthe beautiful Santa Clara valley where one of the party, O. W.Farnsworth, had previously lived. On arriving in the valley Mr.Farnsworth settled on a one hundred and sixty-acre ranch four milesfrom San Jose and Mrs. Hostetter remained with him until 1864, when hewent into the mines of Idaho. This trip proved a faillure and after afew months he went to Oregon, locating in the Grand Ronde valley,where he found employment for one year. In 1865 a return was made toCalifornia and farming was resumed in the Santa Clara valley. A yearlater, on December 11, 1866, Mr. Hostetter married Margaret Rea, whowas born in Illinois. She is a daughter of James Rea, who was born inthe western part of Virginia, March 9, 1799, of Irish and Scotchparentage. He made his home in the vicinity of his birth until earlymanhood, when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating in Galliacounty, and there he married Hannah Hudson-pillar. The latter, also anative of Virginia, was born the same year as her husband and with herparents removed to Ohio about the same years the Reas did, bothfamilies settling in Gallia county. James Rea engaged in farming forsome time after their marriage, being located near Gallipolis, Ohio.In 1833 he took his family to Hancock county, residing at Fort Findlayuntil the fall of 1838, when they removed to the vicinity of Decatur,Macon county, Ill. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California andlocated near San Jose, Santa Clara county, where his death occurred,at the age of eighty-three years.
From 1865 until 1891 Mr. Hostetter was engaged in farming andhorticultural pursuits near Berryessa. While there he improved anorchard of fifty-three acres,, meeting with marked success in hisbusiness ventures. In 1891 he disposed of his interests and located inSan Jose where he resided until March, 1899, when he located inLindsay, Tulare county, having purchased his present ranch in 1893.Upon his locating on his ranch in 1899 he set out an orange grove offifteen acres. He also owns two hundred and sixty-four acres a quarterof a mile north of Lindsay.
While Mr. Hostetter has resided in Lindsay but a few years he hastaken a prominent position in the affairs of the town, and aside fromhis own personal interests is now vice-president of the RochdaleCompany and is a director in the Lindsay Orange Growers' Association.In both of these concerns he is a valued member, his advice beingfreely asked on all important questions. He has made a success of hislife work and has overcome obstacles that would have discouraged many,being determined to win for himself a positionn of prominence. That hehas accomplished his aims all will admit, but in this battle for acompetency he has never neglected the duties of a citizen, and whencalled upon to assist he has always been willing to respond, both withhis advice and his means.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have been born five children, as follows:Frank F., George F., Alvin M., Rera H. and Mary A. They have beenreared amid the comforts of life and all have been given theadvantages of a good common school education. The family is liked byall and both Mr. Hostetter and his estimable wife are welcomed intothe best homes in the state. In Santa Clara county where they livedfor many years they have scores of friends who sincerely regrettedtheir departure."
"George K. Hostetter, of the Eagle School District, is the owner of afarm of fifty-two and one-half acres, located on the Hostetter road,aboaut four miles northeast of San Jose. His original tract containedeighty eight and one-half acres, but in 1882 he sold thirty-six acres.A fine young orchard covers twenty-two acres, andcomprises 1,000apricot, 1,050 French and Silver prune, 400 peach, 100 cherry, 200apple, and 75 pear trees, besides a few fig and almond trees. Asshowing the productiveness of the orchard under Mr. Hostetter'sexcellent care, we mention a part of the crop of 1887. In that year,from seven and a half acres of trees (then three years ole) weregathered forth-eight tons of apricots, which netted $200 per acre. Inaddition to his orchard interests, Mr. Hostetter raises on theremainder of his land hay and grain, reserving a portion for pasturagefor his stock.
He was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, January 14, 1841, the sonof Francis and Catherine (Lonkard) Hostetter. He ws left an orphanwhen about six years old, and was taken into the family of hisguardian, Alden Farnsworth. He was reared to a farmer's life,receiving the education of the district schools. He was a member ofhis guardian's family for about seven years, leaving them in April,1854, to accompany his brother-in-law, O. W. Farnsworth, overland toCalifornia. In September of that year they came to Santa Clara County,and the brother-in-law settled on a farm. The subject of our sketchlived in his family for the ten years following, assisting in the manyduties of the farm management. In 1864 he started out for hiimself,going to Idaho, where he worked in the mines for several months, butwith rather unsuccessful results. Upon leaving Idaho he visited BakerCounty, Oregon, but remained only long enough to earn money to takehim back to Santa Clara County. This he accomplished in the fall of1865, and soon after his return rented a farm of his brother-in-law,which he operated for two oyears. During this time he married, in1866, Miss Margaret Rea, the daughter of James and Hannah(Hudsonpiller) Rea, who were natives of Virginia but residents of thiscounty. In the fall of 1867, in partnership with his father-in-l;aw,he entered into farming and dairy business near Gilroy. He spent fouryears in that work, and then returned to the Silver Creek District,where he rented and worked a farm belonging to T. H. Farnsworth for ayear, purchasing and establishing his residence upon his presentproperty in t he fall of 1872. The intervening time has been spent inthe improvement of his farm, with most encouraging results, as wehave already narrated. Mr. Hostetter has gained the confidence of hisassociates, as they have shown in one way by electing him as SchoolTrustee. In politics he is a member of the Republican party, butentertains conservative views.
Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have five children, viz.: Frank F., bornSeptember 30, 1867; George F., born February 14, 1869; Alvin M., bornJanuary 14, 1872; Rea Howard, born January 30, 1874; and Mary Amelia,,born November 11, 1875."
Copied page from a Tulare County History that I failed to copy thetitle page. Page 1025 says "Historical and Biographical Records" andcontains the following bio:
"GEORGE KIRKHAM HOSTETTER. Since a boy of but five years, Mr.Hostetter has been without father or mother, and while he hassucceeded it is the result of his own well-directed efforts. Hisfather, Francis Hostetter, was a native of Kentucky, but finallymigrated to Missouri where he followed farming up to the time of hisdeath, which occurred in 1844. He married Catherine Lankard, who diedtwo years later.
G. K. Hostetter was born in St. Charles county, Mo., January 14, 1841,and after the death of his mother he and two sisters made their homewith Alden Farnsworth near St. Charles until 1854, when the familycrossed the plains to the Pacific coast. The trip was made withox-teams, the party following the old Carson route. After a wearyjourney they arrived in California in October, 1854, and settled inthe beautiful Santa Clara valley where one of the party, O. W.Farnsworth, had previously lived. On arriving in the valley Mr.Farnsworth settled on a one hundred and sixty-acre ranch four milesfrom San Jose and Mrs. Hostetter remained with him until 1864, when hewent into the mines of Idaho. This trip proved a faillure and after afew months he went to Oregon, locating in the Grand Ronde valley,where he found employment for one year. In 1865 a return was made toCalifornia and farming was resumed in the Santa Clara valley. A yearlater, on December 11, 1866, Mr. Hostetter married Margaret Rea, whowas born in Illinois. She is a daughter of James Rea, who was born inthe western part of Virginia, March 9, 1799, of Irish and Scotchparentage. He made his home in the vicinity of his birth until earlymanhood, when he accompanied his parents to Ohio, locating in Galliacounty, and there he married Hannah Hudson-pillar. The latter, also anative of Virginia, was born the same year as her husband and with herparents removed to Ohio about the same years the Reas did, bothfamilies settling in Gallia county. James Rea engaged in farming forsome time after their marriage, being located near Gallipolis, Ohio.In 1833 he took his family to Hancock county, residing at Fort Findlayuntil the fall of 1838, when they removed to the vicinity of Decatur,Macon county, Ill. In 1854 he crossed the plains to California andlocated near San Jose, Santa Clara county, where his death occurred,at the age of eighty-three years.
From 1865 until 1891 Mr. Hostetter was engaged in farming andhorticultural pursuits near Berryessa. While there he improved anorchard of fifty-three acres,, meeting with marked success in hisbusiness ventures. In 1891 he disposed of his interests and located inSan Jose where he resided until March, 1899, when he located inLindsay, Tulare county, having purchased his present ranch in 1893.Upon his locating on his ranch in 1899 he set out an orange grove offifteen acres. He also owns two hundred and sixty-four acres a quarterof a mile north of Lindsay.
While Mr. Hostetter has resided in Lindsay but a few years he hastaken a prominent position in the affairs of the town, and aside fromhis own personal interests is now vice-president of the RochdaleCompany and is a director in the Lindsay Orange Growers' Association.In both of these concerns he is a valued member, his advice beingfreely asked on all important questions. He has made a success of hislife work and has overcome obstacles that would have discouraged many,being determined to win for himself a positionn of prominence. That hehas accomplished his aims all will admit, but in this battle for acompetency he has never neglected the duties of a citizen, and whencalled upon to assist he has always been willing to respond, both withhis advice and his means.
To Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have been born five children, as follows:Frank F., George F., Alvin M., Rera H. and Mary A. They have beenreared amid the comforts of life and all have been given theadvantages of a good common school education. The family is liked byall and both Mr. Hostetter and his estimable wife are welcomed intothe best homes in the state. In Santa Clara county where they livedfor many years they have scores of friends who sincerely regrettedtheir departure."
Events
| Birth | 14 Jan 1841 | St. Charles Co., Missouri | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1850 | Dist. 78, St. Charles Co., MO, stamped pg. 23B; Geo. Hostetter, 11 (1838-39), born MO. He and 3 apparent siblings living with Alden Farnsworth. | |||
| Marriage | 11 Dec 1866 | Margaret REA | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1880 | San Jose Twp., Santa Clara Co., CA, ED 248 pg. 18; George Hostetter, head, 40 (1839-40), born MO both parents born KY, farmer. | |||
| Census | 1 Jun 1900 | Lindsay Twp., Tulare Co., CA, ED 60 Sh 4B; George K. Hostetter, head, born Jan 1841, married (wife not in household) 34 yr., born MO both parents born MO, farmer, owns with mortgage. | |||
| Census | 15 Apr 1910 | Lindsay Town and Twp., Tulare Co., CA, ED 193 Sh 35A; George K. Hostetter, head, 69 (1840-41), marriage 1 of 43 yr., born MO father born VA mother born IL, Orchardest - orange grove; owns free and clear. | |||
| Census | 1 Jan 1920 | Farm on Eucalyptus Ave., Lindsay City & Twp., Tulare Co., CA, ED 207 Sh 12B; George K. Hostetter, head, 78 (1841), married, born MO both parents born VA, farmer - orange orchard, owns free and clear. | |||
| Death | 25 Jul 1921 | Tulare Co., California | |||
| Reference No | 9270 |
Families
| Spouse | Margaret REA (1839 - 1925) |
| Child | Frank Fisher HOSTETTER (1867 - 1920) |
| Child | George Frederick HOSTETTER (1869 - 1943) |
| Child | Alvin Monte HOSTETTER (1872 - 1959) |
| Child | Rea Howard HOSTETTER (1874 - 1946) |
| Child | Mary Amelia Millie HOSTETTER (1875 - ) |
| Father | Francis HOSTETTER (1795 - 1844) |
| Mother | Catharine LANKARD (1800 - 1846) |
| Sibling | Harriet HOSTETTER (1826 - ) |
| Sibling | Joseph HOSTETTER (1834 - ) |
| Sibling | Catherine HOSTETTER (1835 - ) |
| Sibling | Christine HOSTETTER ( - ) |
| Sibling | Frank M. HOSTETTER ( - ) |