San Joaquin County
Biographies
ELIAS HILDRETH
ELIAS HILDRETH was born in
Gardiner, Maine, November 13, 1825. He spent his youth in his native State and
when seventeen years of age commenced learning the blacksmith’s trade. When
nineteen years old he went to Rhode Island, where he worked at his trade, which
he had so thoroughly mastered by this time that he was able to command good
wages. In 1849 he determined to come to California, took passage in the sailing
vessel Semaust, leaving New York on the 22d of March. He rounded the Horn,
stopping only twice,--at Rio Janeiro and Valparaiso, and landed at San
Francisco September 9, after a passage of six months. Mr. Hildreth was about
broke when he got there and worked at his trade until he had money sufficient
to take him to the mines. He worked in the mines at Hangtown till the spring of
1850. From there he went to Marysville, worked at his trade there, then went to
Trinity river, where he did some mining. Returned to Marysville in 1851, thence
to Stockton, working at his trade there for two or three years; next returned
to San Francisco, where he remained three or four years. In 1860 he again came
to San Joaquin County and bought the place where he now lives. It contains 354
acres, situated on Cherokee Lane, six miles northeast of Stockton. In 1886 he
bought another ranch of 240 acres on the Waterloo road, about five miles from
Stockton. The home place, when he bought it, was in an almost barren condition
and all the improvements have been made by its owner. It is now one of the
finest ranches in this section of the county, situated in the best
wheat-growing district of the State. Mr. Hildreth began life in California
without anything, has succeeded in overcoming all obstacles and to-day is one
of the most successful farmers.
Mr. Hildreth was married in Rhode Island
to Miss Miranda Chamberlain. They have two children: George F. and Wilmarth.
They lost a daughter, who died in this State.
Transcribed by: Jeanne Sturgis Taylor.
An Illustrated History of San Joaquin County,
California, Page 591. 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
Genealogy Databases