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


WILLIAM A. HORSLEY. The firm of J. R. Horsley & Son, of Snelling, represents one 
of the largest and best-equipped mercantile establishments in Merced county. Its original es- 
tablishment is due to the energy and resource of J. R. Horsley, a pioneer of 1850, but its subse- 
quent successful management is to be attributed as well to an infusion of younger blood and am- 
bition in the person of his son and business partner, William A. Horsley. Joseph R. Horsley 
was born in Philadelphia, Pa., in 1828, and as a young man moved to Indiana, where he married 
Catherine Caldwell, of Ohio, and where his son, William A., was born January 11, 1853. The 
family is of English descent, the immigrating ancestor being the paternal grandfather, James 
Horsley, who sailed for the United States at an early day and identified himself with trade inter- 
ests in Philadelphia. 

Joseph R. Horsley left his family in Indiana in 1850 and crossed the plains with ox-teams, ac- 
companied by his brother, Washington, with whom he worked in the mines for a couple of 
years. Pleased with the climate and prospects, the brothers brought their hoard back to Indiana 
by way of Panama in 1852, and in 1857 the entire family came to California, William A. being at 
that time four years old. From Panama they sailed on the steamer Golden Gate, and arriving 
in California, located at Knights Ferry, Stanislaus county, where Mr. Horsley mined until 1859. 
He then took charge of the store of Mr. Reese, in Jeffersonville, Tuolumne county, until 1868, 
returning then to Knights Ferry, where he was employed as bookkeeper for the Stanislaus Mills 
for nine years. By this time his son William A. had grown into a strong and capable young man, 
had proved himself useful in the general merchandise store at Jeffersonville, and had gotten 
a good start as a farmer in Stanislaus county. Father and son joined their farming interests 
upon the former's resigning from the Stanislaus Milling Company, continuing to raise grain and 
stock on eleven hundred and eighty acres of land until disposing of their property in 1877. They 
then moved to Snelling and farmed for a year, after which they purchased the Snelling hotel and 
ran the same until 1884. During this time they also engaged in a general merchandise business 
in Snelling, which, because of its rapid growth, justified them in retiring from the hotel business 
and devoting all of their time to their store. In time they established another store at Water- 
ford, each establishment carrying at the present time a stock of about $11,000. They have a 
complete line of general merchandise, are moderate in their prices, and maintain uniform cour- 
tesy and consideration in dealing with their many patrons. They are among the popular and sub- 
stantial upbuilders of mercantile superiority in Merced county, and enjoy an extended reputa- 
tion for public spirit and enterprise. The elder Horsley has held a number of offices, among 
them that of justice of the peace; he is a stanch Democrat in national affairs, voting for the best 
man for local offices. 

William A. Horsley was educated in the public schools, and has pursued his entire business 
career in connection with that of his father. He married Anna Owens, a native of Pennsylvania, 
who came to California in 1878 with her father, J. M. Owens. They have two children, Earl A. 
and Samuel O. Mr. Horsley follows the family inclination politically, being a Democrat in na- 
tional politics, and is fraternally connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He is 
genial, able and painstaking, sharing with his father the honor of conducting a thoroughly up- 
to-date and growing business.