California Biographies Mendocino and Lake Counties, California 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 Mendocino and Lake Counties, California With Biographical Sketches History by Aurelius O. Carpenter And Percy H. Millberry Illustrated, Complete In One Volume Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1914 WILLIAM C. HUNTER.� Without doubt one of the most successful stockmen in Lake county, and certainly one of the live factors in the pro- motion of this business here, is William C. Hunter, whose broad acres and magnificent home five miles north of Upper Lake, in the West Upper Lake precinct, constitute one of the most valuable estates of this section. His business qualifications include all the necessary elements of the able manager, habits of perfect system, financial acumen and a tremendous capacity for v/ork, and the fact that his prosperity has been attained from humble beginnings makes it all the more creditable. Mr. Hunter's operations are on such a scale that they benefit the whole locality, stimulating all the activities of the neigh- borhood and affording employment to various people. The fact that he is a native of Lake county makes his life history the more interesting. James S. Hunter, the father of William C. Hunter, was a pioneer school teacher in Mendocino and Lake counties. A native of New York state, he came to California in the days when her mines were the principal attraction for settlers, and for two or three years worked in mines in Placer county. He then drifted to Lake county, locating near Kelseyville, where he married and remained for several years. After living about two years at Cloverdale, Sonoma county, he removed to Mendocino county, settling at first in Ander- son valley and later in the Ukiah valley, where they continued to reside for twenty-two years. His death occurred at the ranch of his son William, at Upper Lake, in 1908, when he was seventy-seven years old. Mrs. Hunter is still living, making her home at Oakland. Her maiden name was Harriet C. Hunt, and she is a native of North Carolina, where her parents died. When a little girl she came to California with her brother, Gaston Hunt, who settled at Woodland, Yolo county, this state, and became a wealthy man. She had four sisters, all of whom are now deceased, namely : Mrs. Wilson, who resided in San Francisco; Mrs. Dodson. who formerly lived at Kelseyville, but now resides at Red Bluff : Mrs. Judah, of Oakland, and Mrs. Bibb, of San Francisco. Eight children were born to Mr. and Mrs. James S. Hunter: Carrie, the widow of P. K. Faulds, of Mendocino county; William C, of whom we write ; Joseph, a tinsmith and plumber, who lives at Oakland ; Harry, a rancher, now residing at Oakland ; James S., who lives twelve miles from Stockton ; Fred W., bookkeeper in the American National Bank of San Fran- cisco, whose home is at Oakland ; Hattie, wife of George D. Cotton, yardmaster at San Jose for the Southern Pacific railway company; and Edgar, a railroad conductor, who lives at Oakland. William C. Hunter was born March 18, 1861, near Kelseyville. and was seven years old when the family moved to Cloverdale. When he was nine they settled in Mendocino county, and he was only twelve when he com- menced to work, in a drug store at Ukiah. His start was very modest, for during the first two years he received only $8 a month, but he was reliable and steady, and he remained with AW A. Hoffman, his first employer, for twelve years. He continued to live in L'kiah and work at the drug business for two years after his marriage, and then moved over to the ranch of his father-in-law, Mr. Waite, in Gravelly valley, where he began the cattle busi- ness. It has been his principal interest ever since. After three years expe- rience he bought a ranch in that valley which he subsequently, in 1906. sold to the Snow Mountain Water & Power Company, at that time buying his pres- ent property. His first purchase here consisted of twenty-four hundred acres. of the Dick O. Sleeper estate, and he has since added two hundred and eighty acres thereto � all being at the head of the celebrated Middle Creek valley. Everything on this immense ranch is in first-class order, a detail of economy which Mr. Hunter has never overlooked in the management of his affairs. One hundred acres is in alfalfa, all the crop being fed to the stock on the place, which usually include three hundred head of cattle and four hundred hogs. Mr. Hunter's activity, mental as well as physical, and his excellent judgment respecting the various branches of his special line of business, have gained him a reputation for intelligence and reliability which makes his opinion valued among all his business associates. Moreover, he has employed his ability for the furtherance of the general good as well as for his own benefit, having been especially zealous on the question of public educational facil- ities for his home neighborhood. He and his neighbors have been very suc- cessful in establishing an excellent public school and building a splendid schoolhouse in the Middle Creek district. Mr. Hunter's example and influ- ence, in view of the respect in which he is held, count for much. He has been treasurer of the school district two terms. Mr. Hunter was married at Cloverdale, Sonoma county, to Miss Parthenia M. Waite, a resident of that place but a native of Sierra county, this state. They have had four children, all of whom have had unstinted educational advantages, and his daughters have shown musical taste and ability which has added much to their attractive home life. Alice C, now a freshman at the University of California, at Berkeley, is taking a special English and German course ; Gertrude M. and Fannie S. are sophomores in the Union high school at Lakeport ; William W. is attending the grammar school in that town. The handsome residence Mr. Hunter has erected upon his property is up-to-date and conveniently arranged, a worthy dwelling for the estate it adorns. While located at Ukiah Mr. Hunter was engaged at different times as clerk in the post office and clerk in the assessor's office, and since coming to Lake county he has served one year as clerk under S. S. Russell, county assessor. However, he is not ambitious for office, but does his duty faithfully whenever he assumes such responsibility. Formerly a Republican in political connection, he is now in thorough sympathy with the Progressive party. His various associations in business and the other relations of life have made him widely acquainted in both Lake and Mendocino counties. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church South at Upper Lake, and is a member of the board of stewards. Fraternally he was made a Mason in Hartley Lodge No. 199, of Lakeport.