California Biographies, Santa Cruz County WILLIAM F. HORSTMAN. Transcribed by Peggy Hooper Source: History of Santa Cruz County, California Pacific Press Publishing Company San Francisco, Cal. 1892 By E. S. Harrison This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm WILLIAM F. HORSTMAN. So pronounced has been the success attendant upon the persistent, arduous and long-continued labors of Mr. Horst- man in the occupation of a vineyardist and fruit-rancher, that his name has become well known far beyond the confines of his home county of Santa Cruz and the reputation of his product extends into other states of the Union. The Table Mountain ranch on Two-Bar creek (formerly known as the John L. Rose tract) has been developed from a raw area of wild, moun- tainous country, into a rich, productive and attractive fruit farm, whose rich soil, with the aid of the warm sun and the genial breezes, responds to cultivation with an ardor and promptness amazing to men familiar with locations less for- tunately situated. The contrast between the original appearance of the tract and its i)resent cultivated condition proves the persistence with which the owner has labored through all the years of his residence here, and the productiveness of the land may be attributed to his wise judgment in selecting for cultivation only such fruits and such varieties of grapes as are especially adapted to the soil and climate. William F. Horstman was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 30, 1863, and at an early age accompanied other members of the family to Kansas, settling in Manhattan, whose excellent schools furnished him with desirable educational advantages. Upon coming to California he settled in Santa Cruz county, where ever since he has made his home. In those days moun- tain land was deemed undesirable and could be obtained at low prices, large tracts being still subject to the homestead laws. Going to the mountains near Boulder Creek, he took up two hundred and eighty acres of wild land and started to transform the property into a productive acreage. As a result of his unceasing labors he now has a vineyard of forty acres, which yields annually twenty thousand gallons of fine wine, representing an output of eighty tons of grapes. The vines originally were imported by Mr. Horstman, who will plant none but the very choicest qualities. While he has a va- riety of mixed fruits on the ranch, he makes a specialty of grapes and expects soon to increase the acreage in the vine- yard, having found by experience that this part of the country is particularly fitted to raise wine grapes of choice quality, due to the sun exposure on the hillside and also to the fine soil. The California Wine Association of San Francisco pur- chases the entire output of the vineyard. A man of prominence in Santa Cruz county, Mr. Horstman possesses a large circle of friends, whose confidence he has won through recognized business qualifications and through sturdy, virile qualities of mind and heart. As secretary and treasurer he is identified with the Santa Cruz Grape Growers' Association, in which from the time of organization he has been a leading member. He is identified with the Saw Mill and Wood Workers' Lumbermen's Union as vice-presi- dent and an influential worker. Upon the erection of the Union high school at Boulder Creek he was chosen a trustee and for three years gave faithful, energetic service in that position, in addition to which he filled a similar position with the Bear Creek school for a period of eleven years. Politically he has been a local leader of the Republican party and as its candidate made a strong race for county sheriff against Howard V. Trafton in the election of 1906. His marriage in 1883 united him with Miss Kate Frost, a native of San Francisco and a daughter of a gallant captain, who served with distinc- tion as an officer in the Civil war. There are four children in the family of Mr. Horstman, namely: Lorene, Stanley, Willis and Hazel. A number of fraternal organizations in the county have the benefit of his membership, among these being the Druids and the Ancient Order of United Workmen, but perhaps he has been most active in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, for in addition to the lodge work he has been influential also in Canton No. 33, Military Camp of Santa Cruz. It is to such men as he, energetic in action, determined in purpose, patient in the discharge of daily duties and un- daunted by hardships, that the county owes its high standing and its assured prestige throughout the state.