YUBA COUNTY
Biographies
GLENWOOD J. HIATT
A native son who has made a pronounced success in his operations in the Northern California agricultural field, is Glenwood J. Hiatt, of Kirksville, where he was born on June 26, 1897. His father is Perry J. Hiatt, one of the well-known pioneers of the Sacramento Valley, whose father, Benjamin Samuel Jackson Hiatt, was born in Lincoln County, Ky., on February 10, 1829, a son of Elijah N. and Mary B. (Hill) Hiatt, and removed with his parents to Montgomery County, Mo., while yet a lad. Educated in the common schools of Missouri, where he was reared to young manhood, Benjamin S. J. Hiatt engaged in farming in Missouri. In 1857 he outfitted with ox teams and necessary provisions and on the 10th of May left St. Joseph, Mo., for California. On September 10, they arrived at Big Meadows, after the quickest trip across the plains ever made up to that time. Benjamin S. J. Hiatt and Sarah F. (Smith) Hiatt had four sons and four daughters, of whom Perry J. Hiatt was the youngest.
Perry J. Hiatt was born on the old B. S. J. Hiatt place in Sutter County, April 19, 1870. After pursuing the elementary studies, he completed his education at Heald’s Business College, San Francisco, and then engaged in farming and stock-raising on a 1000 acre ranch he had purchased, specializing in sheep-raising and running from 5000 to 10,000 head. He added to his holding until he had 2000 acres, besides leasing other lands; and he always farmed on a large scale. He has developed about 100 acres to orchard, seventy-five acres of which are in Bartlett pears, the balance being set to peaches and cherries. He married Miss Belle Clary, a native of Newman, Cal.; and they had five children, four of whom are living: Glenwood J., of this review, Leland, Charlotte, and Helen. Since 1915, Perry J. Hiatt has made his home at Woodland, while his son, Glenwood J., is in active charge of the ranching operations.
Glenwood Hiatt received his elementary education in the grammar school at Kirksville, and after that pursued the courses of study in the high school at Woodland. He has always been associated in farming with his father, whose 2000 acres of land near Kirksville they operate together. His father also leases from other owners about 1000 acres; and all this area they devote to the raising of wheat.
Mr. Hiatt was married at Sacramento, on September 9, 1919, to Miss Helen J. Boston, a native of Boston, Mass., and the daughter of Bradley and Helen J. Boston. She came out to California with her parents when she was four years old, and was reared at Sacramento, where her father was active as a builder, and where he still occupies a leading position as one of the most experienced and most enterprising of contractors. Mr. Hiatt is a member of Woodland Lodge No. 1299, B.P.O. Elks; Grafton Lodge, F. & A.M., of Knights Landing; and Woodland Chapter, R.A.M.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 833
HOMER L. DOBBINS
Yuba County has cause to be proud of the constructive work of Homer L. Dobbins, who has for years been prominently connected with the horticultural and viticultural development of this section of the State. He was born in White County, Ind., April 26, 1887, a son of Simon and Mary (Pefly) Dobbins, both natives of Indiana, and is the eleventh in a family of thirteen children born to his parents, both of whom are now deceased.
Homer L. Dobbins attended Wabash College, at Crawfordsville, Ind., and then entered Purdue University at Lafayette, Ind., and was graduated in the agricultural department with the class of 1908. He came to California in 1909 and homesteaded a quarter-section of land in Lassen County, where he lived until 1914. He then came to Yuba County and was here associated with development work in the olive orchards of the Erle district. In 1917 he organized the Yuba Vineyards Company, and its first purchase was a tract of 880 acres, known as the Toland property, which the company began to develop to vineyard. Next, 550 acres were purchased from C. F. Boardman; and then an additional acreage of 880 acres was acquired from Ernest Hutchinson; and the last tract secured was 160 acres purchased from William L. Vance. Of this land, 670 acres have been planted to Thompson Seedless grapes and Kadota figs; and about 500 acres have been sold to individuals who intend to locate on their property within the next few years. In order to get sufficient water to irrigate this extensive tract of land, Mr. Dobbins has brought water through the Bushby ditch for four and a half miles. Mr. Dobbins is the president and manager of this company, and through his efficient direction of its constructive program the growth and development of Yuba County have been carried forward in a most substantial manner.
The marriage of Mr. Dobbins occurred at Reno, Nev., in April, 1912, and united him with Claudine Wright, a native of San Francisco, and a daughter of Harry and Ethel C. Wright. Harry Wright is a tea importer, with headquarters in San Francisco. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Dobbins: Homer, Jr., Jean Elizabeth, and James Morton. Mr. Dobbins is a prominent Mason, being a member of the Royal Arch Chapter and Sciots of Marysville, and the Scottish Rite body of Sacramento. In politics he is a Republican.
History of Yuba and Sutter Counties, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, 1924
p 834
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