Zima Victor Hoskins

Zima Victor Hoskins

Zima Victor Hoskins, agricultural supervisor of the state veterans’ welfare board and an influential factor in the affairs of the American Legion, was born in Palouse, Whitman county, Washington, May 6, 1890. His father Henry C. Hoskins, was born in a covered wagon almost on the California-Nevada line, while the family were en route to the Pacific coast. The paternal grandfather Z. V. Hoskins first visited California in 1850, returning to the east not long afterward for his family, whom he brought to the Golden state by the overland route – a dangerous and difficult undertaking in those early days. He took up a homestead in the Woodbridge section of San Joaquin county, removing two years later to San Luis Obispo county, where he remained until 1862, and for two years thereafter made his home in Kern county. With his son Henry he pioneered in several counties of California and the name of the family is inseparably associated with the early history of the state. Henry C. Hoskins obtained his elementary education in the first school at Snelling, Merced county, where Judge Peck was also a pupil at that time. When a young man of twenty-two years Mr. Hoskins journeyed by wagon to the state of Washington, where he met Miss Martha M. Chambers, who had made the trip across the plains, and later they were married. Leaving Washington in 1891, the family returned to California and after spending some time in Fresno county they settled in Madera county, there remaining until 1898. During the following year they lived in Kings county and next made their home in Stanislaus county, California. Mr. Hoskins passed away at Sacramento in March, 1928, and for about six years had survived his wife, whose demise occurred at Turlock in 1922.

The educational advantages enjoyed by Zima V. Hoskins were those of grammar and high schools of Turlock and Madera. He first became a cowboy, riding the plains for a time, and next was identified with logging operations. Later he turned his attention to general farming and was thus engaged until 1918, when he joined the navy for service in the World war. After his discharge he became connected with the Kern county board of horticultural commissioners, thus continuing until 1927, when he was appointed agricultural supervisor of the state veterans’ welfare board, and has met every requirement of this responsible position, working at all times for the best interests of ex-service men. In the American Legion he has held high offices, becoming commander of the Kern county council and district commander of the fifteenth district, and is now commander of the Sacramento-Yolo bi-counties’ council and a member of the state executive committee of the Legion.

Mr. Hoskins was married in Minnesota to Miss Dora Gore, who was reared in Kern county, California, and a son, Jack, was born to them. Fraternally Mr. Hoskins is a Mason. He enjoys hunting and other outdoor sports. A young man of ability and high purpose, he has faithfully and satisfactorily discharged every trust reposed in him, following a course which reflects credit upon a name which has long been an honored one in this state.

Transcribed by Marla Fitzsimmons.

Source: History of the Sacramento Valley California Vol. III J. W. WOOLDRIDGE 1931. Page 267-68.

Sacramento County Biographies