California Biographies Transcribed by Peggy Hooper This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm Source: History of the state of California and biographical record of the San Joaquin Valley, California. An historical story of the state's marvelous growth from its earliest settlement to the present time. Prof. James Miller Guinn , A. M. The Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago 1905 Notes: Missing Page: 865-866,983-984,1175-1176 ARCHIBALD YELL HINDS. Since boyhood Archibald Yell Hinds has been a resident of Tulare county, an eye-witness of the development of the country from its most primitive stages to its' present prosperous condition, and a participant in many of the movements calcu- lated to advance the general welfare of the community. When he first located in the county there were only a few houses upon the present site of Visalia, which city was then known as Four Creeks. Deer and elk were plentiful throughout the country and even bears were sometimes shot. The mail for the settlers was obtained at Fort Miller and their groceries were brought from Stockton, and all the hardships, privations and dangers incident to pioneer life made up the largest part of their existence. In reminiscence Mr. Hinds often goes back to those early days of the state, and gives to the younger generation a history replete with adventure and excitement. Born in Crawford county, Ark., November 8. 1837, Archibald Yell Hinds is a son of David and Margaret Ann (Maddox) Hinds, both of whom died in that state. Of their family of seven children, three sons and four daughters, two are living, of whom Archibald Yell is the fourth in order of birth. He was reared in Arkansas and trained to the practical duties which were his as the son of a farmer. April 15, 1852, when he was less than fifteen years old, he started to California with his brother Edward, who died in Exeter, in 1894. They were equipped with ox-teams, provisions and all necessary articles and after crossing the Arkansas river, set out through Texas, via El Paso, Tucson and Fort Yuma, to Los Angeles, and although the train consisted of but five wagons, known as the A-'an Buren Company, they came through safely without an attack from the Indians, although many atrocities were committed both in front and behind them. In the fall of the year Mr. Hinds drove to Gilroy, Santa Clara county, and engaged in farming for one year. In October, 1853, he came to Tulare county, the pres- ent city of Visalia being then known as Four Creeks, and having but three settlers, viz : Rich- ard Chattan, Abram Murray and S. C. Brown, names familiar to all who revere and honor the links which bind the prosperous present to the historic past. He located on what is known as Hinds' prairie, two miles east of Visalia, which land his brother had entered, and here the two resided and engaged in general farming and hog raising. In 1866 he removed to the place which has ever since remained his home, located within one and a half miles of Exeter, and a part of which is under the People's ditch. He purchased the property from C. A. Williston, a sheep grower, immediately after which he began improvements and cultivation, breaking the land and sowing it to grain. In addition to his one hundred and fourteen acres on sections 33 and 34, township 18, range 26, he rented land and carried on his operations on seven or eight hundred acres. He was soon numbered among the successful farmers and stock-raisers in this vicinity and has since continued to merit the prominence which became his in the pioneer days of the state. Mr. Hinds has been twice married, the first ceremony being performed on the Tule river and uniting him with Elizabeth Lewis, a native of Missouri, who died in Visalia. He was after- ward married at Outside creek to Sarah Earsley Buckman, a native of Union, Ky. She came of an old Kentucky family, her father, Clement E., being the son of John Buckman, both of whom were natives of that state. Both were farmers by occupation. Clement E. Buckman removed in young manhood to the vicinity of Fort Scott, Kans., where he followed farming for seven years. In 1865 he immigrated to California, crossing the plains with ox-teams. He brought a band of cattle with him, and his daughter Sarah, then only thirteen vears old, rode horse- back and helped drive them, her brothers and sisters also helping in the work. The winter was spent at Prescott, Ariz., after which they came on to Fort Rock, now Kingman, where the Indians stole their stock and started to drive them away. Mrs. Hinds and her brother, A. J., himself only sixteen years old, started in pursuit, and as the herder had killed two Indians the others were evidently frightened away, for the cattle were recovered and the party returned to Prescott. In the spring of 1866 they came to California and located in Tulare county upon a farm, where the father died at the age of fifty-seven years. His wife, formerly Savilla Shanks, a native of Kentucky, also died in this vicinity. They were the parents of four sons and four daughters, of whom all but one son are now living. Mrs. Hinds was reared to young woman- hood in Tulare county, where the balance of her life has been spent. Of the twelve children born to herself and husband, eight attained maturity, namely : Clement Emery, engaged in the butcher business in Visalia : Clara Josephine, the wife of D. J. Toomey, of Visalia ; Ollie Savilla. the wife of G. B. Simpson, of Stockton ; Joseph Orville, a farmer in the vicinity of Exeter ; James Robert, a butcher of Visalia ; Lawrence Buckman ; Sarah Margaret : and Mary. Mr. Hinds is a Demo- crat in his political convictions and has served as school trustee for many years. The family are members of the Catholic Church of Visalia.