Sutter-Yuba County Biographies

JOHN HOESCH

Transcribed by: Kathy Sedler

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

    One of the most prominent state officials of California is this gentleman, 
who is occupying the position of deputy secretary of state, and the onerous 
duties that devolve upon him he discharges with marked capability, fidelity and 
promptness.  He is among the best known and most popular Republicans in the 
commonwealth.  Commanding the confidence of the leaders of the party, and richly 
endowed with the tact that makes and retains friends, he enjoys a well merited 
popularity.  Few men have been so long in active politics and created so few 
antagonisms, or awakened so little envious criticism; and he owes much of his 
success and signal freedom from bitter partisan animosity to his cheery bearing 
toward all with whom he has relations, either of a business, social or political 
character, and to his uniformly consistent honesty and integrity of character 
and through loyalty to friends and to principle.
    Mr. Hoesch was born in Louisville, Kentucky, September 28, 1848, and is a 
son of John and Josephine (Semonis) Hoesch.  His paternal grandparents were John 
and Rosina Hoesch, both of whom are natives of Germany.  The grandfather died in 
Indiana in 1831, and the grandmother died in Marysville, California, in 1871.  
The maternal grandparents of our subject were John and Catharine Semonis, and 
the former passed away in Louisville, Kentucky, in 1850, while the latter 
departed this life in San Francisco, in 1892.  John Hoesch, the father of our 
subject, was born in Germany, September 26, 1826, and became a capitalist of 
California.  When about five years of age he accompanied his parents on their 
emigration to America, the family locating in Indiana.  His father died when he 
was nine years of age and he was therefore forced to begin life for himself.  He 
secured a position as cabin-boy on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, and saving 
his money he was eventually enabled to engage in business for himself in 
Louisville, Kentucky.  In 1852 he started for California, making the journey 
across the plains to Sacramento.  After a year he removed to Marysville, where 
he conducted a restaurant and also engaged in other lines of business.  He made 
judicious investments in property and became the owner of considerable real 
estate, which gave him standing among the capitalists of the commonwealth.  His 
death occurred in Marysville, July 30, 1868, and his wife, who was born in 
Germany, April 9, 1830, departed this life in San Francisco, April 15, 1898.  
They were the parents of three children who are now living - Mrs. Mary Josephine 
Bodwell, Mrs. Annie Isabella Packard and John; and two sons and one daughter of 
the family are now deceased.
    John Hoesch, whose name introduces this review, resided in his native city 
of Louisville until 1859 when he came to California and took up his residence in 
Marysville.  In 1861 he became a student in Santa Clara College, which in those 
days was a leading institution of learning in the state.  There he continued his 
studies until the summer of 1865 when he returned to Marysville and engaged in 
the drug business, conducting a store that his father had purchased for him.  
After five years he sold the property and accepted a position in the United 
States land office, also, in addition to his duties there, acted as city editor 
of the Marysville Appeal, occupying that position until the summer of 1875, when 
on account of illness he returned to San Francisco.  There he engaged in the 
money brokerage business until 1880, when, through the influence of Governor 
George C. Perkins, he was appointed secretary of the board of health of San 
Francisco, continuing during the governor's administration.
    On his retirement from office he formed a business connection with the 
Merchants' Exchange Association, remaining there for a short time, after which 
he became an insurance agent and also did fraternal society writing for the San 
Francisco Chronicle.  His time was devoted to the duties of those positions 
until after the election of Governor Waterman, when he was once more appointed 
secretary of the board of health and remained in that office until the election 
of Governor Markham, during whose administration he also served for about a 
year.  He was then appointed financial expert of San Francisco, by Mayor L. R. 
Ellert, and filled that position until removal by a Democratic administration.  
Subsequently he was several times appointed the expert of the grand jury and 
held the position as outside deputy, for John D. Liebe, during his term as 
assessor of San Francisco.  In 1898 he filled the position in the county clerk's 
office at that place, and is now acceptably serving as deputy secretary of state 
in Sacramento.
    On the 2d of November, 1872, Mr. Hoesch was united in marriage to Kate 
Sinclair, and they now have three daughters, Mary, Josephine and Louise.  Mr. 
Hoesch is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen, the Maccabees and the 
National Union, and was recorder of Magnolia Lodge, A. O. U. W., for over twenty 
years and chairman of the grand lodge of that order for ten years.  He cast his 
first presidential vote  for U. S. Grant and has never wavered in his allegiance 
to the Republican party.  Where to find him on party or public questions is 
never a problem; he will be where a loyal citizen, with a keen sense of justice 
and the best interests of the government and the social organizations ought to 
be, and back of this constancy of elevated purpose he throws all his magnificent 
energy and the force of his intellecturality.

A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern 
California, Chicago, Standard Genealogical Publishing Co., 1901, pp 802-3