Santa Cruz County Biographies

ALFRED JOSEPH HINDS

Submitted by Kathy Sedler

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm

 
" Seest thou a man diligent in business; he shall stand before kings."
 
        Energy and perseverance are the dominating traits of the man whose life 
this sketch briefly tells. There are few other men who know so little leisure as 
Colonel A. J. Hinds, and few who put their working hours to better use. Not only 
does he profit himself by his business activity, but his doings have done much 
to advance the prosperity of his fellow-townsmen. Colonel A. J. Hinds is one of 
the pioneer real-estate dealers of Santa Cruz, and after about twenty years of 
successful experience in the real-estate business, during which time he has cut 
up many a large tract into small holdings and placed them in the hands of 
settlers, he still stands at the head of his profession, and is still as active, 
still as full of business, and still as much as ever alive to the opportunities 
of the hour.
        Colonel Hinds is the son of an English Congregational clergyman. He was 
born in the old city of Chester, England, in 1845. His father moved to France in 
1848, and the same year came to America. After traveling through different parts 
of the United States, the State of Iowa was their home for two years, and in 
1850 they moved to California, the mother dying of cholera on the way, in Carson 
Valley, Nevada, on the 9th of September, 1850, the same day California was 
admitted into the Union. Mr. Hinds' father first went to San Francisco, where he 
remained nearly two years, and in 1852 took up his residence in Santa Cruz. It 
was in Santa Cruz that Colonel Hinds received his education and made his first 
business venture. In 1866 he engaged in the book and stationery trade, and 
continued it with good success for nine years. The real-estate business then 
attracted his attention, and in 1875 he entered the field of activity, combining 
that with the business of insurance. His signal success in this line of trade 
has already been noted. Among the large tracts subdivided and marketed by Mr. 
Hinds may be mentioned the Fairmount Addition, in East Santa Cruz, the Vista Del 
Mar Tract, the Blackburn Tract, and the Seaside Tract, of eighty-six acres, 
known as Garfield Park.
        On the 8th of June, 1869, Colonel A. J, Hinds was married to Miss Sarah 
Lee Howe. Mrs. Hinds is a native of the town of San Mateo, California. Colonel 
and Mrs. Hinds have had eight children. In 1876 the terrible scourge, 
diphtheria, took four of them away, leaving them childless. They now have three 
bright boys: Leland Foye, now twelve years of age, Wendell McPherson, four years 
old, and Theron Winfred, six months old.
        Besides Colonel Hinds' prominence as a business man, he has attained 
distinction in several fraternal orders. He is a prominent member of Santa Cruz 
Lodge, No. 38, F. and A. M,, a Past Grand of San Lorenzo Lodge, No. 147, I. O. 
O. F, also District Deputy in the same order. He was one of the organizers of 
Avalon Lodge, No. 89, K. of P., and was elected the first Chancellor Commander 
of that society. He was also the principal organizer of Avalon Division, No, 9, 
Uniform Rank, K. of P. On August 19, 1884, he was commissioned aid-de-camp under 
Brigadier-General Frank B. May, with the rank of Major, and on December 25, 
1888, received the appointment of Inspector General of the California Brigade, 
U. R, K. of P., with the rank of Colonel, under General H. Schaffner. Colonel 
Hinds was one of the first trustees of the Santa Cruz Public Library, largely 
influencing the successful organization of that institution.. He has also served 
as secretary of the Republican County Central Committee. For several years his 
executive ability in political affairs (in which he has always taken an active 
part) was seen in the election of many of his friends to positions sought by 
them.
        Colonel A. J. Hinds was one of the organizers of the Board of Trade, and 
is now its vice president. He has also been a trustee and secretary of the First 
Congregational Church since 1875.
 
HISTORY OF SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, CALIFORNIA.-  E. S. Harrison, 
Pacific Press Publ. Co., San Francisco, 1891