San Joaquin County
Biographies
SAMUEL HEWITT
SAMUEL
HEWITT, deceased. The subject of this sketch was born at Lone Hill, County
Antrim, Ireland, in 1811, a son of James and Margaret (Meek) Hewitt. The father
died in Ireland, at an advanced age, and the mother in Illinois, at the home of
a daughter, Mrs. Margaret Crossley, also at an advanced age.
Samuel Hewitt received a good education
for that period, and learned both farming and merchandising, his father being
engaged in both pursuits in and near Lone Hill. He was married in 1832 to Miss
Nancy Madden, a native of the same county, born in 1811, a daughter of Roger
and Betsey (Hindman) Madden, both of whom lived to be over sixty. The father
was a farmer and manufacturer of linen cloth,--the great industry of that
section,--having at one time as many as fifty looms engaged.
Upon the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt,
they emigrated to America and settled in Londonberry, Jefferson County, Ohio.
Mr. Hewitt bought 160 acres, but farmed only a few years, his health giving
way. He then went to school-teaching for a time, and after selling his land
moved into Steubenville, and went into the grocery business.
Leaving Steubenville on March 3, 1857,
they spent seven months on the overland journey to California, meeting with no
disaster on the way. He settled twelve miles east of Stockton and engaged in
the freighting business, owning two teams. About 1855 he bought the homestead
where his aged widow still lives. The original purchase was enlarged from time
to time until he owned 1,080 acres in one body, mostly wheat-growing land. He
was essentially a farmer from the date of his first purchase of land in this
section. He went into the copper-mining speculation in 1872, owning stock in
the company, which proved an unprofitable investment. He was a director of the
Stockton Savings and Loan Society for two years.
Mr. and Mrs. Hewitt have had eight
children, four girls and four boys, all born in Ohio. Of these the first born
died an unnamed baby boy the day of his birth; another, Mary Ellen, born
October 19, 1849, died at the age of five, and those that grew to maturity are
as follows: Eliza Jane, born January 1, 1834, became the wife of Henry
Langworthy, a rancher of Stanislaus County, and died June 5, 1866, leaving two
girls and one boy. Sarah Ellen Hewitt, born December 3, 1835, became the wife
of C. H. Huffman, now of Merced, and died July 25, 1869, leaving two boys and
one girl. Matilda Margaret, born October 15, 1838, the wife of Robert McHenry,
a farmer of Modesto, has one boy. James Rodgers Hewitt, born July 15, 1841, has
remained on the home place all his life, but owns 740 acres adjoining. Martin
Luther Hewitt, born March 25, 1844, was married to Miss Florence Nevada
Harrold. They have one child, Arthur, born in October, 1878. M. T. owns 800
acres, separated from the home place by the Sonora road.
WILLIAM THOMAS HEWITT, born January 23, 1847, has been a farmer from his
youth upward, and is owner of the homestead ranch of 1,080 acres, on which he
has erected a fine residence of nine rooms at a cost of about $4,000, and a
barn costing half that amount.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Pages 651-652. 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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