Santa Clara County
Biographies
WILLIAM H. HOLLIS
After a long and useful career William H. Hollis is retired from the active cares of life, making his home in the evening of his days in San Jose. He was born in Louisville, Jefferson county, Ky., January 10, 1822, and was reared and educated in his native place. He learned the trade of a blacksmith, and when a young man located in Grundy county, Mo., where he followed the prosecution of this work for four years. While there he met and married Sarah Jones, a native of Kentucky. Attracted to the west by the great gold excitement, Mr. Hollis outfitted for the long and dangerous journey, and in 1850, with an ox team, he started for the El Dorado state, in company with twenty-seven other men. He was accompanied by his wife and only child, and on the journey Mrs. Hollis proved indispensable to the health and comfort of the others, for she was a resourceful woman, earnest, tender and sympathetic, and always willing to lend her aid in every emergency. Those who benefited by her care and attention have never forgotten her, and still recall her memory with tenderness and affection. The trip, full of hardships, dangers and privations, occupied five months exactly, and on their arrival at Nevada City, Nev., Mr. Hollis engaged in mining. Not meeting with the anticipated success, he then took his team and hauled logs, working at various occupations until his removal to Sonoma county, Cal. In Cloverdale, of that county, he opened a blacksmith shop and worked at his trade until the gold excitement in Nevada once more drew him back to that location. Taking his family with him he located in that state again, remaining three years, and there his wife died in 1864 at the age of thirty-six years. With his children Mr. Hollis then returned to California, locating in San Jose and opening a blacksmith shop at the corner of First and Virginia streets, conducting the same until 1884, when he retired from active work. He has made a financial success of his work and now owns considerable property in San Jose, besides his home, owning and renting two other houses.
Mr. Hollis married for a second wife Mrs. Emily Doliver, the ceremony being performed in Chico, Butte county. She died in 1878. By his first marriage he had eight children, two of whom attained maturity, namely: Alonzo D. and Mary M. The former is now deceased, leaving one son, William A., who is located in Idaho. The daughter married L. B. Cook, who is deceased. She has six children, and now makes her home with her father. In fraternal relations Mr. Hollis is quite prominent, having joined the Masonic order in Grass Valley, Madison Lodge No. 23, acting as senior warden of the same. In Sonoma he instituted the Curtis Lodge No. 140, and was its first, second and third master. He joined San Jose Lodge No. 10, F. & A. M., and was later demitted to Lodge No. 210. He is also a member of San Jose Lodge No. 14, R. A. M., and San Jose Commandery No. 10, K. T.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 988-989.
The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2016 Joyce Rugeroni.