San Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM HART
WILLIAM HART, a farmer of
this county, residing in Stockton, was born near New Lisbon, Ohio, January 6,
1826, a son of William and Elizabeth (Smith) Hart. Both parents died about
1830, leaving four sons who grew to maturity: John born about 1822, living in
Arkansas; Hiram, born in 1824, deceased in Indiana in 1863; Richard A., born in
1828, died in Arkansas in 1883; and the subject of this sketch. He was raised
by his grandfather Hart, a resident of Colombiana County, who moved to Indiana
in 1832. In that State William Hart received good schooling and was brought up
to farming, which has been his chief pursuit ever since. Mr. Hart came to
California in 1852 across the plains, reaching Placerville July 12, where he
mined a few months, when he went to work as clerk in a grocery store. He again
tried mining in the spring of 1853, in Weaverville, and a second time in
Placerville, but his three brief experiments in mining were alike
unsatisfactory. His next employment was on the construction of a reservoir at
Mokelumne Hill, at one hundred dollars a month, from June to November, 1853.
Here again he was unfortunate, the contractor having failed, owing Mr. Hart
$400, which was never paid. Late in that year he came to this county and began farming
on 160 acres. In 1855 he located 160 acres near Woodbridge, on which he raised
barley, finding a market at good prices by hauling to the mines. Several years
later he bought another quarter-section and has farmed the 320 acres to this
time, residing thereon until 1882, when he moved to this city. He still gives
personal oversight to the working of the ranch and his career has been simply
that of a farmer.
Mr. Hart was married in Volcano, Amador
County, in 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Turner, born in Missouri in 1832, a daughter
of Elias and Keziah (Barker) Turner. The father born in Massachusetts, left
Missouri in 1837, one of a party who prospered to take up land in Texas. With
another member of the party, a Mr. McFarland, he proceeded ahead of the main
body. Both were killed and their horses ridden off by two footpads named
Quarles and Carson. For that crime Quarles was hung September 28, 1838, about
one year after the murder.
The mother, born in Tennessee, March 3,
1803, came to California by the Panama route in 1853, her daughter, now Mrs.
Hart, coming the same year across the plains. The mother died in November,
1881; her daughter, Elizabeth Turner, by marriage Mrs. Silas H. Axtell of
Woodbridge, died in that city January 1, 1882, aged fifty-eight years.
Grandfather John Barker, a resident of Tennessee, was over eighty at his death,
and his wife also lived to an advanced age. Mr. and Mrs. Hart have six living
children: William Eugene, Edward Baker, Charles B., Laura Etta, Hiram Henry,
Libbie Eugenia. Mr. Hart has been a member of the Masonic brotherhood since
1850, having joined Darlington Lodge, No. 113, in Montgomery County, Indiana.
He is a charter member of Woodbridge Lodge, No. 131, F. & A. M., and the
two oldest sons are also members of that lodge.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 534. Lewis Pub. Co. Chicago,
Illinois 1890.
© 2009 Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
Biographies
Golden Nugget Library's San Joaquin County
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