Ventura County
Biographies
Samuel Hill
Samuel Hill is a pioneer of California and one of the prominent ranchers of Ventura County. He was born in England, March 21, 1816. His parents, Samuel and Mary Hill, were both natives of that country. Mr. Hill remained in England until nineteen years of age, and in 1835 went to Quebec, Canada. He soon afterward located in Toronto, where he was engaged in the milling business for a year and a half. From that place he went to Dubuque, Iowa, and worked in the mills for seven years. He then went back to England, but soon, however, returned to Iowa, and in 1850 came to California. He first worked in the mines at Placerville. At Fort John he had a small store of miners' supplies, was there two years, and then went to Amador County, where he engaged in quartz mining. At the latter place he lost all he had previously made. Next he went to Buckeye Valley, same county, pre-empted a farm of 160 acres and purchased 840 acres more. He also bought a large house that had been built for a hotel and located on the same land. One hundred and sixty acres of land he devoted to grain and sheep-raising, remaining on the farm twenty-five years. He then rented it, removed to Ventura County, and bought 5,368 acres of land in the Conejo grant, and moved upon it with his family in 1877. Has been engaged in raising sheep, horses and cattle, and has kept as many as 12,000 sheep at a time. His horses are principally roadsters, twenty-five head being used on the ranch.
Mr. Hill was married in 1865 to Mrs. Sarah Middleton, a native of England, and the widow of Thomas Middleton. By her former husband she had five children, all born in America. By Mr. Hill she has had one son, Samuel Hill, Jr., who lived to be twenty-four years of age, and his death was occasioned by an accident. His mules ran him against a fence, injuring him internally and causing his death soon afterward. He left a wife and son, Samuel H., Jr. They reside in Sacramento. Mr. and Mrs. Hill were reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Hill affiliates with the Democratic party. He has just built a comfortable residence, and here in the sunny climate of Southern California he expects to spend the evening of his life.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 349 Transcribed by Sandy Neder
P. J. Hobson
P .J. Hobson is a young business man of Santa Paula, who makes no pretensions to having a history worth writing; but, as he has, by his business fact, made himself a factor in the growth and development of his town, he is deserving of mention in the history of the county; for history is a record of the present as well as the past.
Mr. Hobson was born one mile west of the business center of San Buenaventura, on Ventura Avenue, January 10, 1863. His father, W. D. Hobson, was a business man of that town, - first as a farmer, and afterward extensively engaged in pork and lard packing, with his sons; is now in business in San Francisco. Mr. Hobson's grandfather, William D. Hobson, was born in America, of English ancestors. His mother, nee I. J. Winemiller, was born in Ohio. He is the seventh of a family of ten children, and had a twin sister who died. Young Hobson attended school in Ventura, and finished his education at a business college in San Francisco. For a time he was engaged in farming, and for seven years worked in the packing business. He came to Saint Paula in January, 1887, and bought lard in quantities, which he subdivided and sold at a gain, and also did some business for others in the same direction. He has built twelve dwelling0houses, and owns a half interest in a fine brick block, two stories high, containing three stores, on the best street in Santa Paula.
January 10, 1888, Mr. Hobson was united in marriage with Miss Olive Hink a native of Mendocino County, California, born April 18, 1870. She is a daughter of Samuel Hink, a resident of that part of the State. Mr. Hobson has been a Republican all his life.
BIOGRAPHICAL HISTORY OF THE COUNTIES OF SANTA BARBARA, SAN LUIS OBISPO, AND VENTURA, CALIF. by Ida Addis Storke, 1891, p 637 Transcribed by Sandy Neder