BENJAMIN F. HOBSON
PRUNE GROWER
Santa Clara County
Surnames:LANGENSEE, VAN HORN
BENJAMIN F. HOBSON.--Another interesting representative of a pioneer
family long recognized and honored for its part in building the great
commonwealth of California, is Benjamin F. Hobson, the rancher, who is
operating a large prune orchard on the Berryessa Road, about two and
one-half miles east of San Jose. he was born on the old Hobson ranch in
the same locality, on September 15, 1885, the son of David Hobson, who
left North Carolina, his native state, in the fall of 1849, crossing the
plains with oxen and reached California in the spring of 1850. He mined
for gold in the Sonora district for two or three years, and in 1853 came
into Santa Clara County. He purchased a tract of eighty-five acres on
the Berryessa Road, then devoted entirely to grain raising, and from
time to time he acquired additional land until he had 175 acres all in
one body. It was not yet under irrigation, and from this fact alone may
be gathered a cue as to the difficulties confronting the pioneer farmer.
He planted one of the first orchards designed for commercial use east of
the Coyote Ranch, and did wonderfully well with it, never dreaming of
the abundance of water now at the disposal of his son through a fine
artesian well sunk on the ranch.
David Hobson married Miss Mary E. Langensee, whose folks came from
Germany, sailing for New York when she was a little child. From the
metropolis they moved to Indiana, and then came on to California, where
Miss Langensee and Mr. Hobson were married. Eleven children were born to
this fortunate union: Anna lives on the home ranch and so do Phillip and
David; Ella is Mrs. Van Horn of San Jose; Edna and Alfred are also at
home; Benj. F. is the subject of this sketch; and Celesta is a popular
teacher at Markleyville; Charles, James and Ruth long ago joined the
great silent majority.
Benjamin F. Hobson commenced his schooling in the Berryessa district,
and then he continued his studies at the San Jose high school, where he
was graduated in June, 1905. From a lad he had made himself useful on
the home farm, assisting in planting and caring for the orchard, so
after his graduation he continued to help his father, and he has been
active on the home ranch ever since. In 1914 he took the special course
in agriculture at the University of California, attending the lectures
at the University Farm at Davis, and it is needless to say that all his
methods are the most progressive. His father, esteemed by all who knew
him, passed away in 1916, but he left his ranch of 175 acres intact, and
this has since been divided among the several heirs. Mrs. Hobson,
beloved by so many, breathed her last in 1912. Mr. and Mrs. Hobson were
devoted members of the Berryessa Methodist Church, and for many years
Mr. Hobson conducted one of the Bible classes best organized and best
maintained in the county. Inheriting his public-spiritedness and high
sense of civic duty, Benjamin Hobson is active in political affairs as a
leading Republican. The Hobson ranch is devoted almost entirely to the
raising of prunes, and the products rank among the finest of Santa Clara
County fruit.
Transcribed by Joe Kral, from Eugene T. Sawyers' History of Santa Clara County,California, published by Historic Record Co. , 1922. page 483
SANTA CLARA COUNTY PIONEER BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY AND GENEALOGY