Santa Barbara County Biographies COLONEL WILLIAM WELLS HOLLISTER Submitted by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm COLONEL WILLIAM WELLS HOLLISTER, deceased. � Among the American settlers of Southern California, from the early pioneer days to the time of his death, perhaps there was none other so well known and prominent, and so universally respected, as was W. W. Hollister. He possessed in a high degree the qualities of the true pioneer and civilizer, with the ability to grasp the situation in a new country, and the strength of mind and character to turn his abilities to account. So interwoven is his name with the history of this region that something more than the mention of him in a historical capacity becomes essential, and a brief outline sketch of some of the salient points in his career is given in this connection. He was the second son of John and Philena (Hubbard) Hollister, and was born in Licking County, Ohio, January 12, 1818. His father had settled in that county in 1802, when it was a wild, unsettled region, and took an active part in its early development. Being a man of unusual intellectual power, splendid physique and commanding presence, he was an important figure in that portion of Ohio. There the Hollisters intermarried with the Welles family, which embraced among its members Gideon Welles, the well known member of Lincoln's cabinet, a near relative of the subject of this sketch, and the one in whose honor he was given his middle name. W. W. Hollister, with whose name this sketch commences, spent his early boyhood days amid the scenes and surroundings which usually attended the clearing up of a new district in Ohio, and after having received such educational advantages as the vicinity afforded at that time, he was sent to Kenyon College to complete his schooling. There he applied himself so diligently to his studies that he was attacked with inflammation of the eyes, which caused his retirement from college without having completed the course. The death of his father had left the farm without a head, and to this position the subject succeeded. The place consisted of a tract of 1,000 acres, but so successful was his management that the area was soon doubled, this being an example in early life of the splendid business qualifications of W. W. Hollister, afterward so well displayed in California. He also engaged in merchandising, and, in connection with farming, carried it on with varying success The prominence which California had obtained by reason of the discovery of gold naturally attracted his attention to that faraway land, and from the information gleaned from the many reports received, he felt that there was a favorable opportunity there for well-directed effort, and in 1852 set out over- land for the Golden State, reaching San Jose on the 3d of October. A glance over the country satisfied him that there was a good opening in the sheep business. In pursuance of the plan formed, he went back to Ohio, and in the spring of 1853 started again for California with a company of fifty men and driving 6,000 graded sheep. Such an enterprise, driving a body of such sheep across sandy plains, often destitute of water and grass, and often met by tribes of hostile Indians, seemed desperate, but the promise of the future, in case of success, seemed to justify the attempt. He was accompanied by his brother, J. H. Hollister, of San Luis Obispo, and his sister, Mrs. S. A. Brown. There were numerous obstacles to contend with, but the knowledge of the country obtained on his previous trip enabled him to overcome them successfully, despite of many predictions of disaster by others. The route lay from St Joseph to Salt Lake, thence to San Bernardino, by the old Mormon trail. When he begun the descent into California, at San Bernardino, less than a fourth of the sheep had survived the hardships of the trip, and the remnant, wending their weary way along the cactus hills and plains, gave little promise of the future. The grass, which was growing fresh and green at Los Angeles soon restored strength to the animals, which reached San Juan, Monterey County, not only without further loss, but with the addition of 1,000 lambs born on the way. It will be seen that the enterprise required nearly a year, and that the long drive involved the necessity of arriving at the time that grass should be growing: hence the choice of the southern route, which would admit of crossing the Sierra Nevada in the winter season. At San Juan he became associated with Flint, Bixby & Co. The first land purchased was that of the famous San Justo ranch. Other purchases soon followed, until the firm became perhaps the largest land-holders on the Pacific coast, holding at one time so much land as to admit of their offering the right of way to a railroad for eighty miles! Although a large land-holder, Colonel Hollister was the pioneer in breaking up the large holdings to facilitate settlement. The San Justo ranch was subdivided and sold to a colony of settlers for some $25,000 less than was offered by a speculator. The colony of Lompoc was also formed through his influence and liberality. When a hard season reduced the colonists to a condition of embarrassment, the Colonel came forward and relieved them, by throwing off principal and interest to the extent of some $25,000, thus enabling them to tide over the hard times. Colonel Hollister was married in San Francisco, June 18, 1862, to Miss Annie, daughter of Samuel L. and Jane L. James, the ceremony being performed by Thomas Starr King. To them were born five children. Soon after the sale of the San Justo ranch, Colonel Hollister made his home in Santa Barbara, to which place, until the time of his death, he gave most of his time and attention, having expended nearly $500,000 in and around the city. Every commendable enterprise had the benefit of his purse and judgment. The Arlington House was raised principally through his enterprise. The Santa Barbara College was also greatly indebted to him, as was also the Odd Fellows' Building and Odd Fellows' Free Library, now merged into the public library. On the occasion of dedicating the library to public use, the Rev. Dr. Hough, perhaps the most eloquent speaker that ever made Santa Barbara his home, made some very felicitous remarks which deserve to be preserved in a form more substantial than that of a newspaper. (Santa Barbara Press, September 17, 1875.) " Ladies and Gentlemen: I have the honor of presenting to your acquaintance this portrait of Colonel Hollister (here the veil was removed). If ever I was called upon to perform what our Catholic friends call a work of supererogation, it is in being asked to introduce Colonel Hollister to the people of Santa Barbara. There is not a Spanish muchacho in our streets; there is not a sheep-herder between this place and Point Concepcion who would not instantly recognize in that picture the representative man of California, the man who holds the plow or the pen with equal facility, the man who is equally at home in planting an almond orchard at Dos Pueblos, managing a rancho at San Julian, assisting to found a colony at Lompoc, or aiding to rear an Odd Fellows Hall and public library at Santa Barbara * * * I have entertained the idea that in the early days of the order there occurred, somehow, a mistake in the name, and that it was intended they should be known to the world not as the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, but as the Independent Order of Good Fellows. I do not know whether Colonel Hollister is an Odd Fellow or not. I know that he has sometimes been named, quite against his own taste, a " Pastoral Prince," but I am sure that neither he nor you will quarrel with me, if I combine the two, after the fashion that suits me best, and call him the Prince of Good Fellows. " Colonel Hollister's home place is called Glen Anne, in honor of his wife, and contains 2,750 acres of land composed of plain, rolling hills, long sunny slopes, and secluded, sheltered valleys. In one of these, which, though named a glen, is elevated enough to overlook the sea for a great distance, he has built an extensive cottage some 60 x 100 feet, with wide verandas overlooking a plantation of 2,000 or more orange and lemon trees in bearing. On this farm he has 30,000 almond trees, 1,200 oranges, 1,000 lemons, 500 limes, 350 plums, 200 peaches, besides other fruits, foreign and domestic variety. Roads winding under great oaks, around rolling hills, across rustic bridges, over deep glens, now coming in view of a farm-house for his workmen, or a fanciful barn for his stock, showing here a glimpse of the sparkling sea, now a field of grain, and now portions of his orchard, are among the attractions of the place. " In company with T. B. Dibblee he is the owner of the San Julian Rancho, situated in the western part of Santa Barbara County, which is as fine a piece of property as a prince might wish to own. It is composed of the ranches San Julian, Salsipuedes, Espada, Santa Anita. Gaviota, and Las Cruces, containing in all about 100,000 acres of land classed as follows: valley, 17,000; rolling hills, 50,000, most of which can be cultivated; strictly pasturage, 35,000. It carries from 50,000 to 75,000 head of sheep and 500 cattle. The sheep are pure merino, and the cattle thoroughbred. The annual sales are from $125,000 to $150,000, the expenses being from $25,000 to $30,000. The Gaviota Wharf is part of the property, though much produce is shipped from the Santa Ynez Valley by this wharf. It will be seen that the property pays an interest on at least $1,000,000. It is the intention of the proprietors to subdivide and sell it when it shall become worth more for agricultural purposes than for grazing. " Colonel Hollister has inaugurated some very extensive reforms. What is called the trespass law was enacted mainly through his exertions. In early days cattle were allowed to run at large, compelling every person to fence who wished to cultivate the ground. Though a stock-raiser himself, he insisted on not only the justice, but the policy of compelling every man to herd his stock under pains and penalties of trespass if they did damage. Public opinion was much divided on the matter, but one county after another came into the arrangement, until the justice and expediency of the � Trespass Law ' is now generally conceded. "The subject of Chinese labor is still under consideration. Whether the public will come to his way of thinking is doubtful. He wields a vigorous pen, and is evidently sincere and earnest. He is a great believer in the value of labor, and enforces his belief by being about the hardest worker in the State. As a public speaker he is to the point and lucid, never attempting to be ornate or poetical but is often humorous and sometimes sarcastic, though it requires great provocation to bring out the latter quality. In politics he is a Republican, earnest, but not rabid. A few extracts from his writings will give a better idea of his style than any description. " PRODUCTION BEFOEE COMMERCE. '' Antecedent to all trade is labor. England grows rich, not because she is smarter than other nations, but more industrious. France lives and thrives, and pays the frightful war indemnity because her citizens work. Did the care for the millions of coin paid out, and fear that thereafter. he would have no measures of values left inside her dominion? Not at all. She went to work, and so brought them back from all nations with whom she had commercial relations. " LABOR, MORALITY, AND CIVILIZATION MARCH ABREAST. � Labor is the sum total. Go to work and grow rich. If the nation continues idle, nothing can save it. If idle, it will be immoral. Poverty and crime go together. If you would have a moral community, make it prosperous. You can only do that by unflagging industry. " Labor is the penalty as pay for civilization. If there is an American who does not wish to work, let him don the scant apparel suited to the climate, go to the tropics, be a savage, and nature will feed him from a tree. If he wants the comforts and luxuries of a better life, let him take off his coat and go to work. " Without work there is no wealth. There is not a dollar added to the wealth of the nation without labor. Congress may make a promise, but it cannot create a dollar. The labor of the people alone can do that. When the Government issued its greenbacks, it simply promised to the world that the American people would create by labor a dollar's worth of property for every dollar of paper issued. That promise we must fulfill. When we have done that, greenbacks will be as good as gold, and not an hour before." History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California - by C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II. -Lewis Publ. Co., Chicago, 1917.