El Dorado County
Biographies
POWELL F. T. HART
Was born in Rotterdam, Holland, on the 10th day of April, 1825, and was one of a family of seven children of Ira Cornelius and Johanna Maria Hart. When young he learned the carpenter’s trade, at which he worked for over fifteen years in one shop. In 1854 he determined to come to the New World and left Amsterdam on the bark Bacon, bound around Cape Horn to San Francisco. He arrived October 27th, 1854, and went at once to McDowell Hill, where he began mining. He met with several accidents in the mines and abandoned them to resume labor at his trade. During the ten years that he worked at carpentering he was also engaged in improving his farm where he now lives, on the banks of the South Fork of the American river, consisting of 200 acres on which he grows all kinds of fruits and has about 12,000 grape vines. He was married in Holland on the 24th of March, 1850, to Maria S. Knight. To them were born seven children. Ira T., Michael T., Mary, Catherine, Sarah, Annie and Michael. Ira, Michael and Sarah are dead; Mrs. Hart died on the 6th of October, 1871, and he was again married to Mrs. Emma Sims, a native of Cornwall, England, and a daughter of Mathew and Martha Williams. She had two children yet living, viz.: John W. and Martha Francis.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 247
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
WILLIAM H. HOOPER
Was born in the city of Cincinnati, on the 16th day of January, 1832, and is a son of W. F. and Nancy (DeBreuler) Hooper. His father was born in the State of New Jersey, and mother was of French ancestors. His father was a potter by trade and William worked at the same until 1850, when he crossed the plains to California. His first work in California was on Mansfield Bar, near the present residence of Mr. Valentine. In the fall of 1850 he went to Centreville and in company with Thomas Hooper, an uncle, and John Sevier, a brother-in-law, erected the second house on the place, the first one having been built by Samuel Stevens. They opened a store here which was the first one kept at Centreville. In 1851 he went to Yolo county, and spent the summer, after which he followed mining continuously until 1869, when he purchased the Tunnel Hill vineyard of about 48 acres agricultural land, and an undivided two-third interest in 55 acres of mineral land. In November, 1876, he was married to Emma Davis. They have three children, viz.: Dorcas, William B., and Albert. Mrs. Hooper was a daughter of Luther Davis, who came from Boston to California in 1849, and kept a bakery and confectionery opposite the present store of John Price in Coloma. Mr. Hooper is a charter member of the A.O.U.W., and also of the Grange at Coloma.
Historical Souvenir of El Dorado County, California with Illustrations & Biographical Sketches of its Prominent Men & Pioneers - Oakland, Cal. - Paolo Sioli, Publisher, 1883. p - 247
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler