San
Joaquin County
Biographies
MRS. MELINDA C. HILD
A native daughter with great
admiration for the land of gold and sunshine is Mrs. Melinda C. Hild, who was
born at Sonora, May 23, 1856, a daughter of Mark and Susan Hughes, natives of
Ireland. Her father learned the
blacksmith trade in Scotland. While still
in his latter teens he came to Baltimore, Maryland, and there met and married
Miss Susan Hughes, who had come with an aunt when a girl to the metropolis on
the Chesapeake Bay, and there she grew to womanhood, receiving an excellent
education. In 1850 Mark Hughes came
around Cape Horn on a sailer, and after a six months
trip he landed in San Francisco. He
found his way to the southern mines, locating at Sonora. In 1852 his wife and their first born joined
him, having made the journey via Panama.
Mr. Hughes established himself in the blacksmith business in Sonora and
continued until Cleveland was elected president, when he was appointed master
mechanic at Mare Island, but his health was not robust so could not accept and
was then appointed postmaster at Sonora, a position he filled ably until the
close of his term, when he lived retired until his death. His wife had preceded him many years before,
having passed on in 1875.
This worthy pioneer could were
blessed with five children, Melinda being the third oldest and the only one now
living. Her education was completed at
Mrs. Cooper’s Academy, Sonora, and there she grew to womanhood. She had an aunt residing in Virginia City and
while visiting her she met Mr. Charles Hild, the acquaintance resulting in
their marriage in 1875. Mr. Hild was
born in Alsace-Lorraine of the prominent family of Von Hild, but his father
dropped the title. Charles came to New
York City when a boy of ten years and there received his education in the
public schools. In 1872 he came to
California and was a successful traveling salesman for barbers’ supplies,
traveling over different portions of the state until his death in San Francisco
in December, 1894. Mrs. and Mrs. Hild
had five children. Susan is Mrs. Pardee
of Merced; Josephine is Mrs. Scally; William is an electrician; Maud is Mrs.
Kennedy, of Stockton; Pearl is dead. In
1897 Mrs. Hild purchased the residence in Stockton, where she has since
resided, surrounded by her children and numerous friends. She is not only a native daughter but is now
one of the pioneers of the state. She is
a member of St. Gertrude’s Church and politically, like her pioneer father, she
is a Democrat.
Transcribed by V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
1581. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
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