San Joaquin County Biographies


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



 
JAMES A. HYMER.
 
        As sales manager of the Holt Manufacturing Company of Stockton, an 
establishment with an international reputation, James A. Hymer is making good 
and becoming firmly intrenched in the business world. A native of Nebraska, he 
was born at Sacramento, Phelps County, on January 10, 1882, and until his 
twelfth year was reared and educated at Holdredge, later finishing his schooling 
at Lincoln. Being of a mechanical turn of mind, young Hymer became an apprentice 
in the locomotive shops of the C. B. & Q. Railroad at Havelock, where he began 
the trade of machinist, finishing his apprenticeship in the shops of the C. & S. 
Railroad at Denver. He continued to follow his trade as machinist, later as 
foreman, and still later as division foreman with the Northern Pacific Railroad. 
In fact he had a wide experience in the various roads of the West. Afterwards he 
was in the employ of coal and gold mining companies in the northwest as master 
mechanic.
        Mr. Hymer decided to give up the branch of mechanical work he was 
following to take up the study of the internal combustion engines in the 
automobile world and in a short time he became proficient in that trend of 
mechanics. Being attracted to Los Angeles, he was employed in a large shop of 
that city. After a few years in the mechanical end of the automobile industry he 
concluded he could use his knowledge to very good advantage in selling machines, 
and going to Salt Lake City he became connected with the firm of Randall, Dodd & 
Company as a salesman. In spite of the fact that it was in December and that 
there was two feet of snow on the ground, Mr. Hymer sold three cars the first 
two weeks, thus meeting with success from the beginning. He remained with this 
company in Utah and Idaho until coming to San Francisco in 1911. Mr. Hymer soon 
entered the employ of Don Lee as a salesman, and under his leadership sold the 
Cadillac with success. From the retail department he was soon advanced to the 
wholesale department and remained with Don Lee four and one-half years.
        While engaged in the automobile industry he made a study of the Holt 
Tractors, and thinking there was a greater field for advancement in that line he 
considered making a change; at considerable sacrifice to himself, at the time, 
in 1916 he became connected with the Holt Manufacturing Company as their 
representative in Southern California, with headquarters in Los Angeles. In a 
short time his prophecy came true and he met with phenomenal success in handling 
the tractor in that territory. His thorough mechanical training well fitted him 
for his work and advancement came to him when he was called to Stockton and 
appointed assistant sales manager on December 31, 1919; just one year from that 
date he was made sales manager, the position he now holds in a concern that 
covers half the earth with their products from the Stockton office.
        At Los Angeles, in 1910, Mr. Hymer was united in marriage with Miss Eva 
Turner, a native of Indiana, and they have two daughters, Helen and Jane. Mr. 
Hymer is a charter member of University Lodge No. 394, F. & A. M., of Los 
Angeles, also holding membership with the Scottish Rite Consistory in Los 
Angeles, where he also is a member of Al Malaikah Temple, A, A. O. N. M. S. He 
is a member of the Yosemite Club and the Golf and Country Club of Stockton. All 
in all, it will be seen that in whatever field of activity Mr. Hymer has become 
active he has attained to an enviable success.
 
History of San Joaquin County, California � Los Angeles, Historic Record Co., 
1923
p   1603       
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler.