Lake County
Biographies
J. D. HENDRICKS
Was born in Henry County, Tennessee, April 24, 1833. In October, 1855, he went to Missouri, where the winter was spent, and in the spring of 1856 started across the plains for California. In September of the above year, Santa Rosa, Sonoma County, was reached. Here he spent two years at different occupations, and then went to Oregon, where farming was prosecuted for eight years. In December, 1866, he returned to California, and settled on his present place, consisting of six hundred and forty-seven acres, located about one mile south of Lower Lake, in Lake County. Here he is engaged in farming and wool growing. Mr. Hendricks married, October 21, 1857, Miss Mary F. Dillard, a native of Missouri. Their children are, Charles E., born July 26, 1858; Frank, born October 4, 1860; Addie, born January 9, 1863; Vina, born November 24, 1864; John, born May 1, 1870; Flora, born March 3, 1875; and Grace, born April 9, 1880.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 241
JAMES A. HARRIS
Is a native of Butler County, Pennsylvania, and was born October 30, 1839. When he was thirteen years of age his parents moved to Iowa. Here farming was prosecuted about five years, when he engaged in teaching school for about three years. We next find Mr. Harris in the gold mines of Colorado, where he remained about eighteen months, when he returned to Iowa and engaged in dairying. In July, 1862, he enlisted and served as a private for three years in the Northern ranks. At the end of this time he returned to Iowa and resumed his dairying business about one year; then, on account of failing health, he came to California. He came via Panama and arrived at San Francisco November 4, 1866. As health was the chief object, he sought the desirable climate of Lake County, and settled about three miles south from Lower Lake, where he now resides, being engaged in farming and stock raising. Mr. Harris married April 22, 1862, Miss Louisa C. Parker. She died January 2, 1873 leaving three children: Eugene, Erwin and Katie. He married secondly, April 14, 1875, Miss Lina Powell, by whom he has three children: Ralph A., Carl N., and Martha. She died September 5, 1881, leaving three children as above named.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 241-242.
J. M. HAMILTON
Was born in Philadelphia, December, 1820. His parents died when he was quite young, and most of his early years were spent at school. After finishing a collegiate course preparatory to applying himself to the study of medicine, he visited a brother-in-law in Delaware who was farming near New Castle, where he became so much pleased with the life of a farmer, he determined to adopt that as his own vocation. He lived with this gentleman, D.W. Gemmill, until his marriage in 1841, when he began farming on his own account. In June, 1846, he left Delaware for the purpose of visiting Texas, and spent the remainder of that year until December in traveling through the western part of the State, from Galveston to the Rio Grande, and returned to New York by sea. After his return to Delaware he decided upon reading law, and for a time was a student with Hon. J. M. Clayton. In 1850 he was appointed Assistant United States Marshal for Delaware. The succeeding winter he accepted a proposition from another brother-in-law, the late Captain A. A. Ritchie, to come to California and engage in farming on the Suisun Rancho in Solano County, then just purchased by Ritchie and Waterman. In April, 1851, he left Philadelphia with his wife and two children for California; and after a pleasant voyage of one hundred and thirty-five days around Cape Horn in the ship “Tartar,” Captain Webber, arrived in San Francisco August 22d. On his arrival, learning that settlers had taken possession of most of the land in Suisun, and not wishing to be drawn into any controversy with them, he bought a farm in Napa Valley, a short distance from Napa City, settled there, and engaged in farming until the fall of 1860, when he became interested in quicksilver mining in Pope Valley. In the fall of 1865 he moved with his family over to the stone house in Coyote Valley, and engaged in farming and general stock raising. At the organization of the State Grange Patrons of Husbandry, in Napa City, July, 1873, he was elected to the officer of Overseer. At the meeting of the State Grange in San Jose, in October of the same year, he was elected by an almost unanimous vote to the position of Worthy Master for two years. As representative of the Patrons of this State, he attended the meetings of the National Grange in St. Louis, in 1874, and Charleston, South Carolina, in 1875. In March, 1854, he assisted in the formation in Napa City of the first agricultural society in California, and was elected as its president. He came into what is now Lake County (then a part of Napa) for the first time, October, 1851. At that time there was not a white person making this his home. The old Kelsey adobe, and a log house near where the present stone house in Coyote Valley now stands, were the only buildings that had been reared by white men. Until the time he came into the county to make it his permanent home, business or pleasure called him here frequently, and he has not been absent from it for more than a few months at any one time since his first visit. He claims to be the oldest living resident of Lake County. In the fall of 1858 he was appointed County Superintendent of Schools for Napa County, which then included the whole of this territory. This position he held for several years. He divided this portion of the county into school districts, examined applicants, and gave certificates of qualification for teachers, and set the machinery of the public school system into operation. For more than twenty-five years he has been in some office of trust and responsibility, frequently holding several at the same time, in Napa and Lake Counties; and the satisfaction he has given in the discharge of his duties is evidence of his ability and integrity. He now lives near Guenoc, and is engaged in the practice of law.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 245-246
DAVID M. HANSON
Was born in Coles County, Illinois, December 21, 1840. He came to California with his parents in 1849. He received his education at the Pacific University, Santa Clara County, and at the Emery and Henry College, Washington County, Virginia. He studied law in the office of Zach. Montgomery, in Marysville, California, and was admitted to the bar in 1861. He was appointed Clerk of the United States District Court, under Judge G. N. Mott, and filled that position at Virginia City, Nevada, for three years. He then began the practice of law, associated with Judge Jesse S. Pitzer. In 1864, he moved to Clear Lake, purchasing the property now known as the Ritchie ranch in Long Valley. In 1866, in partnership with I. C. McQuaid, Esq., he went to Idaho and engaged in the practice of law. In 1867, he engaged in the publication of the Clear Lake “Sentinel”, at Lower Lake, and for a number of years, associated with his father, he continued in the newspaper business, publishing successively the Clear Lake “Sentinel,” Sutter County “Sentinel,”, Marysville “Evening Telegraph”, and Gilroy “Advocate.” He then retired from the business and located permanently at his home in Lake County, where he engaged in sheep raising and the practice of law. In 1878, he was elected to the position of District Attorney, which he filled with due credit to himself and the entire satisfaction of the people. Mr. Hanson is well and extensively known in Lake County, having canvassed it in the discussion of public questions. He now resides on his place which he has appropriately named the “Valley Ranch,” in Lake County, three miles east of the celebrated Sulphur Bank. From his residence a grand view is afforded of Clear Lake and Lakeport. He has a wife and two children, and with the favor of Providence lives contentedly with the promise of happiness and contentment in future store.
History of Napa and Lake Counties, California, publ. 1881 – pg. 246-247