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 STOBIE. A man of great integrity, William Stobie enjoys the esteem and 
confidence of all with whom he has come in contact, either business or social. He is located 
on an extensive ranch of five hundred and eighty acres seven miles northwest of Visalia, where 
he is engaged in the cattle business, having one hundred head of cattle, and meeting with a 
success which names him among the prominent stockmen of this section. A native of Scotland, 
he was born near Dunse, Berwickshire, February 17, 1848, a son of Henry Stobie, a shepherd, 
whose birth and death occurred in the same place. His mother, Elizabeth (Wilson) Stobie, 
also died in that locality. Of their family of nine children, only three are now living, Will- 
iam Stobie being the only one in America. 

William Stobie was reared in his Scottish home, receiving his education in the private 
schools of that country. When ten years old he became dependent upon his own resources, his 
first employment being to herd cows. He remained so occupied for six months, after which 
he worked on farms in the neighborhood. He saved his earnings and in 1872 came to America, 
spending the first five months in Canada, and going thence to Texas, where he remained four 
months. In 1873 he came to California, going first to Sacramento, then to Stockton, working 
in the latter place for seven months. Locating in Tulare county in February. 1874, he found 
emplovment in shearing sheep through the summer, working with a sheep raiser in the moun- 
tains. In the same fall he bought a thousand head of sheep and herded them on the plains 
toward Portersville until 1879, when he purchased eighty acres of land a half mile north of 
Farmersville. He continued in this business in that location until 1890, when he sold out and 
bought one hundred and sixty acres on Cross creek and began the cattle business. He has 
added to his land until he now owns five hundred and eighty acres all in one body, parts of 
sections 2 and 3, of township 18, range 24, and section 32, of township 17, range 24. In addi- 
tion to this property he also owns twelve hundred and eighty acres on Stone river, on sec- 
tions 19. and 29, of township 16, range 26. With the passing years the changes which have come 
into the life of Mr. Stobie have been paralleled by those which the country has experienced. In 
1874, when he first came to this section, there were no fences, comparatively no improvements, 
and little cultivation, even within a distance of three or four miles of Visalia, farmers and 
stockmen riding at will throughout the country. Prosperity and progress have come to the entire 
section, the upbuilding and development of the country being the direct result of the efforts of 
such men as Mr. Stobie. 

In Scotland Mr. Stobie was united in marriage with Elizabeth Allen, a native of the county 
of Heddington, Scotland, and they are the parents of one son, Wilbur Jones. In his political 
affiliations Mr. Stobie gives his support to the Republican party.