San
Joaquin County
Biographies
WILLIAM WILSON HURON
A venerable pioneer citizen, William
Wilson Huron has been a resident of San Joaquin County for almost half a
century. His life work and success have
been closely identified with this section of the state and the esteem of his
fellow-citizens reflects the industry and ability which he has displayed in his
career. He is living retired from active
business life at his home, 117 Olive Street, Lodi. He was born in Boone County, Kentucky,
September 6, 1844, a son of William Huron and his wife Lydia (Coleman)
Huron. The father was a carpenter by
trade and he and his wife were the parents of eight children: Elizabeth, Mrs. Farrell, deceased; Francis
Marion, deceased; Maria, Mrs. Bradford, resides in Boone County, Kentucky;
Madison, deceased; William Wilson of this sketch; Malinda and Nancy are
deceased; Thomas A. lives in California.
William Wilson Huron at the age of
eighteen entered the service of his country in the Second Kentucky Volunteer
Cavalry and served under Generals Morgan, Forest and Wheeler until April,
1865. After the Civil War was over he
removed to Virginia and on October 1, 1868, at Jeffersonville, now Tazewell,
Tazewell County, he was married to Miss Louise Thompson, a native of that
place, a daughter of James and Lavisa Thompson,
farmers in Virginia. Mr. Huron engaged
in farming in Virginia until 1874, when he came to California by train, the
journey consuming about ten days. He
settled first at New Hope, where he farmed for a year, then in 1877 went to the
Woodbridge section of San Joaquin County, where he purchased a quarter-section
of land three miles west of the town. In
1879 he bought another quarter section and farmed the 320 acres to grain until
he was obliged to give it up on account of the drought. He then took a contract to develop 160 acres
to vineyard for Mr. Thompson, receiving seventy acres for doing so. On this ranch Mr. Huron built a house and
lived until 1917 when he leased his vineyard.
In 1920 he disposed of it, and now lives in Lodi. Mr. and Mrs. Huron were the parents of one
son, James, who is how deceased. Mrs.
Huron passed away in 1901, and in Merced, January 3, 1914. Mr. Huron was married a second time to Mrs. Levisa (Smith) Thompson, a native of Tazewell County,
Virginia, a daughter of James and Rebecca Smith, prosperous farmers, of
old-time families of the South. Levisa Smith was first married to James H. Thompson and
they came to California in 1875 and in time came to own 640 acres six miles
east of Galt. There Mr. Thompson passed
away in 1911. They had twelve children,
ten of whom grew up. Rebecca and Mrs.
Bessie Thomas are both deceased; Mrs. Mary Connor lives near Wilton; Edgar H.
is a rancher near Clements; William of Acampo; Clarence served overseas in the
World War, being stationed in England, and now resides in Stockton; Reese is a
rancher near Elliott; Mrs. Josephine Chapdelaine of
Woodbridge; Mrs. Florence Galt of Stockton; Walter lives in Christian
Colony. After her husband’s death Mrs.
Thompson sold the ranch and resided in Stockton until her marriage to Mr.
Huron. Mr. Huron is affiliated with the
Masons and is a past master of Woodbridge Lodge and with his wife is also a
member of the Eastern Star; in politics he is a Democrat.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Page
928. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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