Santa Clara County Biographies


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



 
GEORGE K. HOSTETTER, 
 
of the Eagle School District, is the owner of a farm of fifty-two and one-half 
acres, located on the Hostetter road, about four miles northeast of San Jose. 
His original tract contained eighty-eight and one-half acres, but in 1882 he 
sold thirty-six acres. A fine young orchard covers twenty-two acres, and 
comprises 1,000 apricot, 1,050 French and Silver prune, 400 peach, 100 cherry, 
200 apple, and 75 pear trees, besides a few fig and almond trees. As showing the 
productiveness of the orchard under Mr. Hostetter's excellent care, we mention a 
part of the crop of 1887. In that year, from seven and a half acres of trees 
(then three years old) were gathered forty-eight tons of apricots, which netted 
$200 per acre. In addition to his orchard interests, Mr. Hostetter raises on the 
remainder of his land hay and grain, reserving a portion for pasturage for his 
stock.
        He was born in St. Charles County, Missouri, January 14, 1841, the son 
of Francis and Catherine (Lonkard) Hostetter. He was left an orphan when about 
six years old, and was taken into the family of his guardian, Alden Farnsworth. 
He was reared to a farmer's life, receiving the education of the district 
schools. He was a member of his guardian's family for about seven years, leaving 
them in April, 1854, to accompany his brother-in-law, O. W. Farnsworth, overland 
to California. In September of that year they came to Santa Clara County, and 
the brother-in-law settled on a farm. The subject of our sketch lived in his 
family for the ten years following, assisting in the many duties of the farm 
management. In 1864 he started out for himself, going to Idaho, where he worked 
in the mines for several months, but with rather unsuccessful results. Upon 
leaving Idaho he visited Baker County, Oregon, but remained only long enough to 
earn money to take him back to Santa Clara County. This he accomplished in the 
fall of 1865, and soon after his return rented a farm of his brother-in-law, 
which he operated for two years. During this time he married, in 1866, Miss 
Margaret Rea, the daughter of James and Hannah (Hudsonpiller) Rea, who were 
natives of Virginia but residents of this county. In the fall of 1867, in 
partnership with his father-in-law, he entered into farming and dairy business 
near Gilroy. He spent four years in that work, and then returned to the Silver 
Creek District, where he rented and worked a farm belonging to T. H. Farnsworth 
for a year, purchasing and establishing his residence upon his present property 
in the fall of 1872. The intervening time has been spent in the improvement of 
his farm, with most encouraging results, as we have already narrated. Mr. 
Hostetter has gained the confidence of his associates, as they have shown in one 
way by electing him as School Trustee. In politics he is a member of the 
Republican party, but entertains conservative views.
        Mr. and Mrs. Hostetter have five children, viz.: Frank F., born 
September 30, 1867; George F., born February 14, 1869; Alvin M., born January 
14, 1872; Rea Howard, born January 30, 1874; and Mary Amelia, born November I I, 
1875.
 
Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. - Edited by H. S. Foote.- Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 
1888.
Pg. 478-479