Sonoma-Yolo County CA Archives Biographies.....Hotchkiss, Benoni 1833 - 
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com March 3, 2006, 2:19 am

Author: Alley, Bowen & Co. (1880)

Hotchkiss, Benoni. Was born December 20, 1833, in the old Hotchkiss homestead,
known far and wide by the stately balm of Gilead trees, which, from their age
and growth, had long since hidden the topmost chimney from view. His parents
were among the first settlers of Kentucky, and Campbellsville, the place of his
birth and county seat of Taylor county, was founded by and received its name
from his grandfather, Andy Campbell. Benoni Hotchkiss senior, father of the
subject of this sketch, was one of the first merchants of central Kentucky, and
continued in that business up to the time of his death, which event took place
in 1849. Young Benoni, thus left to his own inclinations and an indulgent
mother, followed the divers pursuits which most settlers fancy until he became
of age and acquired his patrimony. On January 8, 1857, he was married to
Virginia, daughter of Jane and Barrett Edrington. With a number of others he
crossed the plains in 1860, and first settled in Yolo county, near Knight's
Landing, on the Sacramento river. Here he bought a farm, but soon after some
parties succeeded in floating a grant over his land, and he was compelled to
abandon it. He then moved to Woodland, and built the first hotel in that town,
which he kept until 1864, when he came to Sonoma county and bought of the Fitch
heirs the land on the lowest southern boundary of the Sotoyome Rancho, on which
he has since lived. Mr. Hotchkiss' farm comprises about three hundred and
seventy-five acres, one-third of which is in the Russian river bottom. The
principal products which he sends to market are corn and potatoes, being at one
time the largest producer of those articles on the river. His family consists of
two children, William Joe and Mary Jane, both born in Kentucky.

Additional Comments:
Russian River Township

Extracted from:

HISTORY
—OF-
SONOMA COUNTY,
-INCLUDING ITS—
Geology, Topooraphy, Mountains, Valleys and Streams;
—TOGETHER WITH—
A Full and Particular Record of the Spanish Grants; Its Early History and
Settlement, Compiled from the Most Authentic Sources; the Names of Original
Spanish and American Pioneers; a full Political History, Comprising the Tabular
Statements of Elections and Office-holders since the Formation of the County;
Separate Histories of each Township, Showing the Advancement of Grape and Grain
 Growing Interests, and Pisciculture;
ALSO, INCIDENTS OF PIONEER LIFE; THE RAISING OF THE BEAR FLAG; AND BIOGRAPHICAL
SKETCHES OF EARLY AND PROMINENT SETTLERS AND REPRESENTATIVE MEN;
—AND OF ITS—
Cities, Towns, Churches, Schools, Secret Societies, Etc., Etc.
ILLUSTRATED.
SAN FRANCISCO:
ALLEY, BOWEN & CO., PUBLISHERS.
1880.


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