Contra Costa County CA Archives Biographies.....Hook, William 1805 - 1882
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com November 27, 2005, 3:51 am

Author: W. A. Slocum & Co., Publishers (1882)

WILLIAM HOOK, (deceased).—William and Elijah were twin brothers and were born in
Salem, Botetourt county, Virginia, on February 14, (St. Valentine's day) 1805.
Their father died when they were quite young, and in 1819, when the boys were
fourteen, they moved with the family to Old Franklin, Howard county, Missouri,
where they engaged in building houses, etc. The forts built by the Government
for the protection of the settlers against the Indians were being abandoned. The
brothers were engaged in the building business until the year 1827. There were
expeditions fitted out in Missouri, for trading in Santa Fe. They purchased a
quantity of dry goods, bought and loaded their wagons, and joined an expedition
under the command of Capt. Whetmore, for Santa Fe. This was called a venture.
The expedition proceeded without any unusual occurrence until the night before
their arrival at Santa Fe, when they met some Mexicans bringing their families
out from the city. On inquiry, they learned that there was to be a massacre on
the following day, which took place and many were killed, among them Governor
Bent, father-in-law of Kit Carson. Finding themselves unable to dispose of their
goods in Santa Fe, Elijah took the wagons and glassware to Chihuahua, where he
sold them. William hired mules, packed the rest of the goods on them and carried
them over the mountains into Sonora, where Elijah joined him at Opesara. They
visited the principal towns in Sonora, sold what goods they could and returned
with the rest to Santa Fe, where they left them with a merchant. Learning that
the Indians were troublesome on the route home, they went to Matamoras, where
the brothers parted, Elijah taking passage in a vessel bound for Philadelphia.
He had about fifty thousand dollars with him, which he put in the safe, no one
but the Captain knowing that he had any money. After they had been at sea for
some days, a sailor, who pretended insanity, came up to Elijah, while he was
standing on the quarter-deck, looking over the side of the vessel, and saying,
"I shall not live to see Philadelphia," picked Elijah up and tossed him
overboard. The vessel was going about six knots an hour, and Elijah, being a
good swimmer, kept up with the vessel. The passengers suspecting foul play,
threatened the Captain that if he did not save him they would throw him into the
water. Boxes, chicken-coops and other articles were thrown overboard to try to
save him, and just as he was sinking the last time, he caught a rope with a
death-grip, and was pulled on board completely exhausted. A part of the fifty
thousand dollars intrusted to Elijah's care belonged to a merchant of Sonora,
and was to be paid to a merchant of Philadelphia, named Mr. Rockhill.

  On Elijah's arrival at Philadelphia he sought out this gentleman, who was one
of the wealthiest merchants of that city, and paid him the money. Mr. Rockhill
invited Elijah to dine with him, and made many inquiries concerning the Mexican
country. The result of the interview was that the brothers, with Mr. Rockhill,
chartered a brig and loaded her with goods for Guaymas. Elijah went overland to
Guaymas, sold the goods, and returned to Missouri. When William parted from
Elijah at Mata-moras, he purchased a drove of mules in company with a man named
N_____, and started for Missouri through Texas. On the way he was taken sick and
fell from his horse, and was taken to an Irish settlement in the northern part
of Texas, where he was kindly cared for. When he had sufficiently recovered, he
went on with his mules until he reached the mouth of the Red river; there he
sold them, and arrived in Missouri, ill in health, after a three months'
journey. After being engaged in merchandising for several years, the brothers
went into the steamboat business, and purchased a vessel called the Globe, and
made a trip to New Orleans. The cholera broke out on her after she returned to
St. Louis, and all her crew died except the two brothers, both of whom escaped.
They sold the Globe, and returned to Franklin, Howard county, where they built a
new boat called the Far West. On the second trip, while returning from New
Orleans, Elijah was taken sick with the yellow fever and died when about thirty
miles from St. Louis, during the last days of August, 1835. His remains were
taken to St. Louis and there buried. William sold the Far West, and went to
Saline county. There he engaged in merchandising, and also built a flour mill,
which was destroyed by fire. In this year, 1835, he married Miss Miranda Brown.

  In 1847 he went to Arrow Rock to reside; remained there until 1850, then
started with his wife and family across the plains, arriving at Placerville
about September 1, 1850—just before California was declared a State. His
daughter Emma was born the 15th of October, 1850. She was the first white child
born in Placerville. Remained in that place until the following Spring, selling
goods, building "Long Toms" and other mining machines, and then went to
Sacramento. After a few unsuccessful attempts at business in Sacramento, went
with his family to San Francisco and built some houses. Learning that the
Capitol was to be at Vallejo, and being advised by some influential persons to
move there, he rented his houses in San Francisco and went to Vallejo. Not being
successful in this enterprise, he went with his family to Martinez in 1853, and
there engaged in merchandising, owning one of the pioneer stores in that place.
In 1854, he bought his first piece of land in Contra Costa county, to which he
added by purchases in 1855 and 1856. Mr. and Mrs. Hook were much interested in
education, and sent their sons and daughters to the best institutions of
learning in the State. They had twelve children, six of whom are now living.
Their daughters Mary, Amanda and Ada, went to the Young Ladies' Seminary at
Benicia, where they graduated, the eldest being one of the first class of
graduates in the State. The oldest son, Elijah, graduated from the Santa Clara
College; the next two sons, Henry and John, graduated from Mr. Flat's College at
Benicia; two others, James and Vincent, graduated from the State University, one
in the Engineering, and the other [from the Agricultural Department; the
youngest son, Dr. Walter E., graduated in the State Medical College and also
from Bellevue. William Hook always had great faith in the purchase of land, as
the best investment for money, saying that it could neither burn up nor run
away, and has added to his purchases, from time to time, until he is in
possession of between two and three thousand acres, a part of which he has
lately divided among his children.

  Since the above was handed to us by Mr. Hook, the Fell Reaper has claimed him;
he died, at his residence near Pacheco, July 24, 1882. On the 29th, at the
meeting of Martinez Lodge, No. 41, F. and A. M., the following resolutions in
respect to his memory were passed:

  " WHEREAS, It has pleased Almighty God, in the dispensation of His providence,
to remove from our midst our brother, William Hook, who has been a member of our
Masonic Order for more than a quarter of a century, and after long suffering and
a tedious and trying affliction, has at last been called to rest from his labors:

  " Resolved, That in the death of our brother we are again admonished of the
uncertainties of life, and that we, too, are mortal, and must also soon go to
'that bourne from whence no traveler returns.'

  " Resolved, That in his death our Order has lost a genial and worthy brother,
and his family a devoted husband and father, and the community a worthy,
enterprising and useful citizen.

  " Resolved, That we heartily sympathize with the widow of our deceased brother
and his children in this their great bereavement.

  " Resolved, That as a mark of respect to the memory of our deceased brother,
this Lodge be draped in mourning for thirty days, and that these resolutions be
spread upon the records of this Lodge, and a copy be furnished to the widow of
our deceased brother by the Secretary of this Lodge.
                             "L. C. WITTENMYER, )
                             "THOS. A. BROWN,   )    Committee."
                             "JOS. P. JONES,    )


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY,
CALIFORNIA,
INCLUDING ITS GEOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY, TOPOGRAPHY, CLIMATOGRAPHY AND DESCRIPTION;
TOGETHER WITH A RECORD OF THE MEXICAN GRANTS; THE BEAR FLAG WAR; THE MOUNT
DIABLO COAL FIELDS; THE EARLY HISTORY AND SETTLEMENT, COMPILED FROM THE MOST
AUTHENTIC SOURCES; THE NAMES OF ORIGINAL SPANISH AND MEXICAN PIONEERS; FULL
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY; SEPARATE HISTORY OF EACH TOWNSHIP, SHOWING
THE ADVANCE IN POPULATION AND AGRICULTURE;
ALSO,
Incidents of Pioneer Life; and Biographical Sketches
OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
AMD OF ITS TOWNS, VILLAGES, CHURCHES, SECRET SOCIETIES, ETC.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO: W. A. SLOCUM & CO., PUBLISHERS
1882.

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