Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 314.
John Irwin
John Irwin is one of the business men of Santa Paula. A brief sketch of his life is as follows: Mr. Irwin was born in Cherry Tree, Venango county, Pennsylvania, May 4, 1841. His father, William Irwin, was a native of the same place, and his grandfather was one of the early settlers of that county, and lived to be eighty-seven years old. His great-grandfather, Richard Irwin, was born in County Armagh Ireland, in 1740, and immigrated to Pennsylvania in 1761, at the age of twenty-one years. In 1809 John Irwin built the first grist-mill in Cherry Tree, and the first saw-mill in the township was built by Ninian Irwin in 1823. Both John and Ninian Irwin were appointed justice of the peace and held the office for years. Most of this early history was obtained from Judge John Irwin, a judge and prominent citizen of Cherry Tree for many years in the early history of the county of Venango. Mr. Irwin's mother's maiden name was Eliza Stewart. She was a native of the same State, and was a daughter of Elijah Stewart, who was also born in Pennsylvania. When the subject of this sketch was nineteen years old his father died, and upon him devolved the care of the farm and his mother and six children. His early educational advantages were limited, and he is evidently a self-made man. He remained with the family until twenty-eight years of age. When John was quite a small boy his father kept a dairy, and the boys early learned to take charge of the stock. Mr. Irwin says that when he was only eleven years old he both bought and sold cows. he was thus inured to hard work in early life and also learned something of the management of the farm and stock; although he was a slight lad, at twenty-one weighing only 100 pounds. His birth-place was only four miles from the first producing oil well in the oil regions of that State, the Drake, which was opened in 1859. When his farm work was done, Mr. Irwin often worked at the oil wells for wages, and after a time purchased an outfit and took contracts to sink wells. The owner of the well furnished the boiler and engine and wood rig; the other material was furnished by the driller. After working in this way for twelve years, he took an interest in wells and became an oil-well owner. In speaking of productive wells, Mr. Irwin says the most productive well he had anything to do with was the "Old Sherman." It flowed 1,200 barrels per day, and it was estimated that it flowed 1,900,000 barrels, and it was then pumped for twenty years. This well was 600 feet deep.
Mr. Irwin had always taken an interest in stock-raising and in 1883 came to California, prospecting. Mr. Lyman Stewart came at the same time and together they looked the oil region over. After looking the country over they decided that there was a good opening for development. Mr. Stewart telegraphed Mr. W. L. Hardison, and at once they began to make roads to the localities of this work, of which Mr. Irwin was superintendent. Mr. Hardison came out and arrangements were made, and in May, 1883, he went back for machinery and men. Mr. Irwin made the preliminary preparations for the wells at Newhall and then came to Santa Paula Canon and engaged in preparations to drill and develop. When a man goes into new fields in this way, such work is called by oil men wild-cating. Mr. Irwin has done much of this work. He continued at Santa Paula until 1887, when he went to Sespe Canon, eighteen miles east of Santa Paula, where they now have wells, with a pipe line to the refinery. Mr. Irwin is superintendent of field work, having a complete supervision of the whole business of sinking the wells, of their production and of making the roads to them. This is the Sespe Oil Company. Thomas R. Bard is president and W. L. Hardison is general manager.
Mr. Irwin was married in 1868, to Miss Caroline B. Canfield, of Niagara County, New York. They have one son, Ralph, who was born in Cherry Tree, Venango county, Pennsylvania, September 9, 1874.
Mr. Irwin cast his first presidental vote for Abraham Lincoln, and has been a Republican ever since. He is the owner of property in Santa Paula and a nice cottage near the center of the town. Mr. Irwin is a well informed man, and has had a long experience in the oil business. His efforts in that direction in Ventura County have been crowned with success, and are resulting in the growth and upbuilding of Santa Paula.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 637.
P. J. Hobson [Editor inserted: Peter J. Hobson]
P.J. Hobson is a young business man of Santa Paula, who makes no pretensions to having a history worth writing; but, as he has, by his business fact, made himself a factor in the growth and development of his town, he is deserving of mention in the history of the county; for history is a record of the present as well as the past.
Mr. Hobson was born one mile west of the business center of San Buenaventura, on Ventura Avenue, January 10, 1863. His father, W.D. Hobson, was a business man of that town, - first as a farmer, and afterward extensively engaged in pork and lard packing, with his sons; is now in business in San Francisco. Mr. Hobson's grandfather, William D. Hobson, was born in America, of English ancestors. His mother, nee I. J. Winemiller, was born in Ohio. He is the seventh of a family of ten children, and had a twin sister who died. Young Hobson attended school in Ventura, and finished his education at a business college in San Francisco. For a time he was engaged in farming, and for seven years worked in the packing business. He came to Sant Paula in January, 1887, and bought lard in quantities, which he subdivided and sold at a gain, and also did some business for others in the same direction. He has built twelve dwelling0houses, and owns a half interest in a fine brick block, two stories high, containing three stores, on the best street in Santa Paula.
January 10, 1888, Mr. Hobson was united in marriage with Miss Olive Hink a native of Mendocino County, California, born April 18, 1870. She is a daughter of Samuel Hink, a resident of that part of the State. Mr. Hobson has been a Republican all his life.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 637.
P. J. Hobson [Editor inserted: Peter J. Hobson]
P.J. Hobson is a young business man of Santa Paula, who makes no pretensions to having a history worth writing; but, as he has, by his business fact, made himself a factor in the growth and development of his town, he is deserving of mention in the history of the county; for history is a record of the present as well as the past.
Mr. Hobson was born one mile west of the business center of San Buenaventura, on Ventura Avenue, January 10, 1863. His father, W.D. Hobson, was a business man of that town, - first as a farmer, and afterward extensively engaged in pork and lard packing, with his sons; is now in business in San Francisco. Mr. Hobson's grandfather, William D. Hobson, was born in America, of English ancestors. His mother, nee I. J. Winemiller, was born in Ohio. He is the seventh of a family of ten children, and had a twin sister who died. Young Hobson attended school in Ventura, and finished his education at a business college in San Francisco. For a time he was engaged in farming, and for seven years worked in the packing business. He came to Sant Paula in January, 1887, and bought lard in quantities, which he subdivided and sold at a gain, and also did some business for others in the same direction. He has built twelve dwelling0houses, and owns a half interest in a fine brick block, two stories high, containing three stores, on the best street in Santa Paula.
January 10, 1888, Mr. Hobson was united in marriage with Miss Olive Hink a native of Mendocino County, California, born April 18, 1870. She is a daughter of Samuel Hink, a resident of that part of the State. Mr. Hobson has been a Republican all his life.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 290.
Joseph Hobart
Joseph Hobart is a pioneer of the State of California and one of the most prominent horticulturists of the Upper Ojai Valley. His life history would make a book of most interesting reading, but in the short space allowed in a work of this character only a brief outline can be given. He comes of hardy New England ancestry; and in the early pioneer days of California, only the men of strong will power braved the dangers of the long journey to the far West and, once there, stayed and helped to make the country what it is to-day; and it is to their indomitable qualities that California owes the proud position she now occupies among the sisterhood of States.
Mr. Hobart is a native of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His father, Benjamin Hobart, was a native of the same town, was a graduate of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, later became a manufacturer and made the first tacks ever made in the United States. He was a member of the Congregational Church. His death occurred in 1875. Mr. Hobart's grandfather, Colonel Aaron Hobart, was born in the same town, and was a foundryman. He cast cannon to be used in the Revolutionary war. The original ancestor of the family in America landed at Hingham, Massachusetts in 1632, and was one of the first pastors of the Hingham Church. Mr. Hobart's mother, nee Deborah Lazell, was a descendant of the Huguenots, and was the mother of twelve children, five daughters and two sons still living. Mr. Hobart received his education at the Phillips (Exeter, New Hampshire,) Academy and at the Leicester Academy, Massachusetts. Being feeble in health and afflicted with asthma, he was advised to go to sea, and his second voyage brought him to San Francisco, in 1849. He returned to that city in 1856, and, in company with his brother, engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business, which proved a success and which they conducted until 1864. He then sold his interest and went to New York and Boston, and in 1871, health again failing, returned to San Francisco. Being troubled with asthma, he then came to Southern California, first to Santa Barbara and then to Upper Ojai Valley. Being delighted with the country, and finding it conducive to health, he purchased 441 acres of land on which he built and planted and on which he has since resided. The altitude of this land is 1,100 feet above sea level, and it is located four miles east of the village of Nordhoff. With him everything was experimental, and those who have not experienced the disappointments and failures know nothing of the difficulties under which the early settlers labored; but intelligent industry has gained the victory, and Mr. Hobart now has one of the finest fruit ranches in this beautiful valley. During his eighteen years' residence in the Ojai Valley he has never had an attack of asthma. He has 1,500 large bearing apricot trees, loaded with fruit; 1,000 French prunes in the same fine condition; 1,000 almond trees also bearing abundantly, and a large orchard devoted to a general variety of delicious fruits. He keeps his ranch in a most excellent condition, has his own fruit-dryer, and has a nuthuller of his own invention that makes hulling of the nuts quite easy. To give an idea of the productiveness of the land we state that, in 1888, from 285 almond trees, Mr. Hobart sold $784 worth of nuts, and the prospect is still better this year. Mr. Hobart has also given some attention to the raising of fine horses and cattle, principally for his own use.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson, a native of Philadelphia, a Quaker, and a lady of Scotch-English descent. This union has been blessed with two daughters, Margaret and Gertrude. Their cozy California home, embowered with trees and vines, at once denotes the intelligence and refinement of its inmates. Mr. Hobart is a gentleman pleasant in his manner and pronounced in his ideas on all subjects. He takes an active interest in educational matters, and is School trustee of his district. He is a decided Republican, and a man of influence in the county.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 290.
Joseph Hobart
Joseph Hobart is a pioneer of the State of California and one of the most prominent horticulturists of the Upper Ojai Valley. His life history would make a book of most interesting reading, but in the short space allowed in a work of this character only a brief outline can be given. He comes of hardy New England ancestry; and in the early pioneer days of California, only the men of strong will power braved the dangers of the long journey to the far West and, once there, stayed and helped to make the country what it is to-day; and it is to their indomitable qualities that California owes the proud position she now occupies among the sisterhood of States.
Mr. Hobart is a native of Abington, Plymouth County, Massachusetts. His father, Benjamin Hobart, was a native of the same town, was a graduate of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, later became a manufacturer and made the first tacks ever made in the United States. He was a member of the Congregational Church. His death occurred in 1875. Mr. Hobart's grandfather, Colonel Aaron Hobart, was born in the same town, and was a foundryman. He cast cannon to be used in the Revolutionary war. The original ancestor of the family in America landed at Hingham, Massachusetts in 1632, and was one of the first pastors of the Hingham Church. Mr. Hobart's mother, nee Deborah Lazell, was a descendant of the Huguenots, and was the mother of twelve children, five daughters and two sons still living. Mr. Hobart received his education at the Phillips (Exeter, New Hampshire,) Academy and at the Leicester Academy, Massachusetts. Being feeble in health and afflicted with asthma, he was advised to go to sea, and his second voyage brought him to San Francisco, in 1849. He returned to that city in 1856, and, in company with his brother, engaged in the wholesale boot and shoe business, which proved a success and which they conducted until 1864. He then sold his interest and went to New York and Boston, and in 1871, health again failing, returned to San Francisco. Being troubled with asthma, he then came to Southern California, first to Santa Barbara and then to Upper Ojai Valley. Being delighted with the country, and finding it conducive to health, he purchased 441 acres of land on which he built and planted and on which he has since resided. The altitude of this land is 1,100 feet above sea level, and it is located four miles east of the village of Nordhoff. With him everything was experimental, and those who have not experienced the disappointments and failures know nothing of the difficulties under which the early settlers labored; but intelligent industry has gained the victory, and Mr. Hobart now has one of the finest fruit ranches in this beautiful valley. During his eighteen years' residence in the Ojai Valley he has never had an attack of asthma. He has 1,500 large bearing apricot trees, loaded with fruit; 1,000 French prunes in the same fine condition; 1,000 almond trees also bearing abundantly, and a large orchard devoted to a general variety of delicious fruits. He keeps his ranch in a most excellent condition, has his own fruit-dryer, and has a nuthuller of his own invention that makes hulling of the nuts quite easy. To give an idea of the productiveness of the land we state that, in 1888, from 285 almond trees, Mr. Hobart sold $784 worth of nuts, and the prospect is still better this year. Mr. Hobart has also given some attention to the raising of fine horses and cattle, principally for his own use.
The subject of this sketch was married in 1860, to Miss Elizabeth Hutchinson, a native of Philadelphia, a Quaker, and a lady of Scotch-English descent. This union has been blessed with two daughters, Margaret and Gertrude. Their cozy California home, embowered with trees and vines, at once denotes the intelligence and refinement of its inmates. Mr. Hobart is a gentleman pleasant in his manner and pronounced in his ideas on all subjects. He takes an active interest in educational matters, and is School trustee of his district. He is a decided Republican, and a man of influence in the county.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Genealogy
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 308.
Thomas Harwood
Thomas Harwood, of Saticoy, is a California pioneer, who came into the State in 1850. He was born in Gibson County, Indiana, November 24, 1841. He was the son of Thomas Harwood, Sr., a native of New York, and the grandson of Ruthland Harwood, who came from England. His mother, Sarah Harwood, was a native of England, They had six children, only three of whom survive. Thomas Harwood obtained most of his education in California, as he was only nine years of age when he came to this State. For fifteen years he was engaged in the freighting business from Marysville to Virginia City, with a ten-mule team and a large wagon. The distance was 120 miles, over mountain roads; the round trip was performed in twenty days. They hauled five tons and cleared nearly $500 each trip. Some of the mountain sides were steep, and the road formed many loops to make the grade possible, and then the hind wheels were dragged down on shoes to keep them from revolving. From there Mr. Harwood went to Butte County, and engaged in ranching; he had 2,400 acres of land, on which he kept about 2,000 sheep. The net income while he was on this ranch was about $3,000. He continued in this business about twelve years when he sold out and came to Ventura, and bought a fine ranch where he now resides. The ranch contains 152 acres, for which he paid $18,000. There are twenty-five acres of bearing apricot trees, the fruit of which they market both green and dry, and a large orange and lemon grove and other citrus fruits; and he is now raising large quantities of beans and corn, both being a paying crop. In two years, at the present prices, the property will have paid all expenses and will have returned the purchase money. He raised 2,100 pounds of Lima beans to the acre, on forty acres of land, which are now worth five cents per pound; the land only cost him $70 per acre. He has raised ninety bushels of shelled corn to the acre, and it is now worth $1 per hundred pounds; he is also raising some Belmont horses.
Mr. Harwood was married in 1876, to Miss E.A. Mastin, born November 14, 1859, in Quincy, Plumas County, California; her parents were natives of Georgia and South Carolina. They have four children, three born in Butte County, California, as follows: Thomas F., born September 26, 1879; Oliver, December 4, 1881; Henry Irvin, October 9, 1883; and Frederick W., born in Ventura County, August 21, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood are members of the Congregational Church. In his political views Mr. Harwood is a Republican, and has frequently held the office of School Trustee. He is an intelligent California, and is alive to the interests of his State, and highly esteemed by his neighbors.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
"A Memorial and Biographical History of the Counties of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, and Ventura, California" (1891), page 308.
Thomas Harwood
Thomas Harwood, of Saticoy, is a California pioneer, who came into the State in 1850. He was born in Gibson County, Indiana, November 24, 1841. He was the son of Thomas Harwood, Sr., a native of New York, and the grandson of Ruthland Harwood, who came from England. His mother, Sarah Harwood, was a native of England, They had six children, only three of whom survive. Thomas Harwood obtained most of his education in California, as he was only nine years of age when he came to this State. For fifteen years he was engaged in the freighting business from Marysville to Virginia City, with a ten-mule team and a large wagon. The distance was 120 miles, over mountain roads; the round trip was performed in twenty days. They hauled five tons and cleared nearly $500 each trip. Some of the mountain sides were steep, and the road formed many loops to make the grade possible, and then the hind wheels were dragged down on shoes to keep them from revolving. From there Mr. Harwood went to Butte County, and engaged in ranching; he had 2,400 acres of land, on which he kept about 2,000 sheep. The net income while he was on this ranch was about $3,000. He continued in this business about twelve years when he sold out and came to Ventura, and bought a fine ranch where he now resides. The ranch contains 152 acres, for which he paid $18,000. There are twenty-five acres of bearing apricot trees, the fruit of which they market both green and dry, and a large orange and lemon grove and other citrus fruits; and he is now raising large quantities of beans and corn, both being a paying crop. In two years, at the present prices, the property will have paid all expenses and will have returned the purchase money. He raised 2,100 pounds of Lima beans to the acre, on forty acres of land, which are now worth five cents per pound; the land only cost him $70 per acre. He has raised ninety bushels of shelled corn to the acre, and it is now worth $1 per hundred pounds; he is also raising some Belmont horses.
Mr. Harwood was married in 1876, to Miss E.A. Mastin, born November 14, 1859, in Quincy, Plumas County, California; her parents were natives of Georgia and South Carolina. They have four children, three born in Butte County, California, as follows: Thomas F., born September 26, 1879; Oliver, December 4, 1881; Henry Irvin, October 9, 1883; and Frederick W., born in Ventura County, August 21, 1887. Mr. and Mrs. Harwood are members of the Congregational Church. In his political views Mr. Harwood is a Republican, and has frequently held the office of School Trustee. He is an intelligent California, and is alive to the interests of his State, and highly esteemed by his neighbors.
***
Ventura County Republican Project: History and Rootsweb Genealogy posted by Jon Miller and Tony Larson.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Republican Profession Development Opportunities Online:
Many opportunities exist, for online Republican Professional Development. Please review some of the following web-based resources:
"Are you talking to me?", A Guide to Reaching Young Voters, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics.
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/IOP_Voters_Guide.pdf
The Voter Registration and Mobilization Guide, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics (September 2006).
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/voter_registration_guide.pdf
A State-by-State Guide to Absentee Voting, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics (2008).
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/absentee_ballot_guide.pdf
GOPAC's 2004 Get-Out-The-Vote guide:
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/GOTV.pdf
GOPAC's "Precinct Leader Get Out the Vote Handbook":
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Precinct.pdf
GOPAC's "Money" (A Step-by-Step Guide to Raise the Necessary Capital for Winning Your Campaign):
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Money.pdf
GOPAC's "Winning Habits of Successful Legislators":
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Winning.pdf
"Are you talking to me?", A Guide to Reaching Young Voters, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics.
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/IOP_Voters_Guide.pdf
The Voter Registration and Mobilization Guide, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics (September 2006).
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/voter_registration_guide.pdf
A State-by-State Guide to Absentee Voting, from the Harvard University Institute of Politics (2008).
http://www.iop.harvard.edu/pdfs/absentee_ballot_guide.pdf
GOPAC's 2004 Get-Out-The-Vote guide:
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/GOTV.pdf
GOPAC's "Precinct Leader Get Out the Vote Handbook":
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Precinct.pdf
GOPAC's "Money" (A Step-by-Step Guide to Raise the Necessary Capital for Winning Your Campaign):
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Money.pdf
GOPAC's "Winning Habits of Successful Legislators":
http://grahamsgrassroots.tripod.com/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderfiles/Winning.pdf
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