Kings County Biographies


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



P. A. HOY
 
of Hanford, Tulare County, was born in Randolph County, Illinois, in 1845.  His 
father, Bartholomew Hoy, was a native of Hoboken, New Jersey, and emigrated to 
Illinois in 1833.  There he engaged in peddling Yankee notions, gradually 
securing landed interests until he acquired 900 acres of land, where he 
successfully engaged in general farming and stock-raising.  Our subject lived at 
home until fifteen years of age, and was then apprenticed to learn the trade of 
carpenter, the agreement being that during the first year he should work for his 
board, the second year for his board and $1.50 per week, and the third year 
board and $2.50 per week; but should he lose more than three days in a year the 
time was to be made up at the end of the term.  Opportunities in those early 
days for learning trades were limited, and consequently the terms and conditions 
were exceedingly arbitrary.  After learning his trade Mr. Hoy earned a little 
money, which he devoted to a higher education, attending the University of Notre 
Dame at South Bend, Indiana.  In 1857 he engaged as a traveling salesman for a 
tobacco house in Chicago, with whom he remained until 1874, when he started 
westward.  Stopping at Salt Lake, he went to the mining camps at Ophir and was 
variously engaged until July, 1876, when, after passing the Centennial Fourth of 
July at Ogden, with three companions they started with a team for California.  
Crossing by the old emigrant trail, passing Lake Tahoe, through Placerville, 
they arrived at Fresno September 16, 1876.  Mr. Hoy then followed his trade 
until February, 1877, when he came to Hanford, upon the opening of the town.  He 
bought and improved town property, after which he resumed his trade and for many 
years was the leading contractor of the town.  In 1880 he went into the business 
of undertaking, which he has since continued.  In 1887 he took the agency for 
the Cyclone windmill, in the sale of which he has been very successful, retiring 
from his trade and giving this business his entire attention.
            Mr. Hoy was married in Hanford, in February, 1877, to Miss Clara A. 
House, a native of Illinois.  They have six children, namely:  Edwin A., Jessie 
A., Charles A., Henry H., Clara A. and John R.
            Mr. Hoy is a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge of Hanford, and takes a 
great interest in the progress and development of his adopted town.
 
Memorial and Biographical History of the counties of Fresno, Tulare and Kern, 
California
Chicago, The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892  p. 614
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler