Edwin Douglas Hosselkus

Edwin was born in Amboy, Oswego County, New York in October 19, 1828 from Nicholas Hosselkus and Lucretia M. Bryan. He married Mary Ann Tate 26 September, 1859 in Taylorsville CA. Together they had 4 children.

Frank Bryan Hosselkus

Here is a page out of the HISTORY OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD OF THE SIERRAS by Prof. J.M. Guinn, A.M.; the Chapman Publishing Co., Chicago, 1906

EDWIN DOUGLAS HOSSELKUS
In the list of prominent pioneers of Plumas county belongs the name of the late Edwin D. Hosselkus, an influential merchant, rancher and dairyman of the Genesee valley, who for years before his death held a leading position among the agriculturists of this section and as a monument to his industry left to his family a well-improved, valuable ranch accumulated through his arduous labors. Born in New York, he was a small child when he went to Illinois in company with his parents, Nicholas and Lucretia (Bryan) Hosselkus, natives of New York and pioneer residents of Ellisville, Fulton county, Ill., where the father transformed a tract of raw land into a valuable farm. Removing to California in 1864 he settled at Taylorsville and there passed from earth at eighty years of age, his wife dying in the same place when seventy-four. In politics he was a pronounced Democrat, but not a partisan nor active in public affairs. The lineage of his family was traced back to the colonial days of New York, when the founders of the name in this country immigrated from Holland; his wife also was a member of an old family, but her ancestors were of the Puritan stock.
A frontier farm in Illinois formed the environment familiar to Edwin D. Hosselkus in boyhood. Upon starting out to earn his own way he secured work as a clerk in a local store, but the prospects seemed discouraging and his eyes were turned toward the greater opportunities offered by the west. In 1852 he worked his way across the plains and secured employment on a ranch immediately after his arrival in California, but a year later came to Elizabethtown, Plumas county, where he engaged in the mercantile business for a few years. The next enterprise in which he became interested was mining in the Indian valley, after which he carried on a store at Susanville and next conducted a mercantile business at Taylorsville. Meanwhile his profits were invested in land, and during 1865 he left the store and settled on a ranch near Genesee in the valley of the same name. With an enthusiasm natural to him he began the development of the land and soon the results of his energy were apparent in the added improvements made on the ranch. In a few years he opened a small store near his house. Next he was appointed the first postmaster, a position that he continued to hold until his death. From time to time he added to his holdings until he had acquired about thirteen hundred acres, of which about eight hundred acres were in Genesee valley. Farming was the basis of all of his operations, but dairying was his specialty, and for several years there were about ninety milch (sic) cows on the farm. About six months before his death he was obliged to give up the management of the property and suffered from that time with increasing severity from heart trouble, which eventually caused his death, May 30, 1892, when he was sixty-three years of age.
During the Civil war Mr. Hosselkus became a stanch supporter of the policy adopted by Abraham Lincoln and ever afterward he supported the Republican party. For twelve years he served as a member of the board of supervisors of Plumas county, but with that exception declined to become a candidate for public offices. In 1859 he married Miss Mary A. Tate, a native of County Armagh, Ireland, but a resident of California from the age of sixteen years, and still living on the home ranch in the enjoyment of excellent health. Four children were born of their marriage, namely: Frank Bryan, who has been postmaster at Genesee since the death of his father; Allie J., wife of C. F. Barker, of Reno, Nev.; Mary L., who married W. E. Murray, a miner now living in Nova Scotia; and John of Plumas county. {prior to his death Mr. Hosselkus divided his property among his wife and children, giving the ranch to the two sons, the daughter Mary, and the wife, and leaving a bequest for Mrs. Barker. In 1903 a company was incorporated for the management of the ranch, which has been in charge of the older son since the father's death. Under his intelligent supervision the ranch is maintained in a high state of cultivation, a dairy of thirty cows is operated, and in addition there are about two hundred head of Durham cattle pastured on the ranch, the whole forming an important addition to the agricultural industries of the valley.

Here is another bio from the Fariss & Smith History on page 302.

Edwin Douglas Hosselkus, son of Nicholas and Lucretia Hosselkus was born Octover 19, 1828, at the town of Amboy Oswego county, New York. When he was eight years of age his parents removed to Peoria, Illinois, where they lived two years, afterwards residing a year at Meredosia, and many years in Fulton county. At these places Edwin received a good common-school education, and from 1848 to 1852 he was engaged as clerk in a general merchandise store in Farmington, Illinois. In April, 1852, he came across the plains, and arrived in Marysville the first of November. Here he was engaged in various persuits. In August, 1854, he opened a store at Elizabethtown, and remained about four years; when, in 1858, he removed the establishment to Taylorville, and continued in business at this point until 1865. In 1862 he had bought a ranch in Genesse valley from Boyd and Clark, and when he sold his store in 1865, he moved thereon. In 1875 he was elected a member of the board of supervisors, served three years, and was re-elected in 1878. September 26, 1859, he was married to Miss Mary Tate of Taylorville. Their children are Frank, born September 21, 1860; Elmira, August 19, 1862; Mary L., August 20, 1867; John, June 13, 1870. Mr. Hosselkus' ranch in Genesse valley contains 1,000 acres, and has a fine brick residence and many out-buildings. The Genesse post-office is here. He also owns a fine dairy ranch in Squaw Queen valley, which contains 520 acres of excellent grazing land.

This drawing appears in the History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra counties, California, 1882 by Fariss and Smith.

Built by Edwin Hosselkus in 1857, it is still standing today in Taylorsville, CA in its original floor plan. It was restored by Vena Pierce-Thompson. Photo courtesy of the Indian Valley Museum, Taylorsville, CA.

How the same house looks today. This house is the oldest original house in Taylorsville, CA that remains standing. Edwin Hosselkus, the builder and first owner, traded the house to James Wheaton for James’ property in Genesee Valley in 1886. On June 16, 1897, Wheaton gave the house to John Leland Pierce and Juno Evans-Pierce as a wedding gift. John and Juno’s daughter, Vena Pierce-Thompson, currently owns it, and is the person that restored the old house. It stands at 4484 Main Street. Photo courtesy of Richard McCutcheon, Taylorsville, CA.

Edwin Douglas passed away May 30, 1892 in Genesse, Plumas County, CA at the age of 69. He is buried in the Taylorsville Cemetery, Plumas County, CA.

The Taylorsville Cemetery itself does not have a sign.

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

Photo courtesy Elizabeth Bullard-Watson, Taylorsville, CA

                                                               _Nicholas Hosselkus___________
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                                _John Hosselkus_______________|
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                               |                              |_Unknown_____________________________
 _Nicholas Hosselkus___________|                
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|                              |_Polly Parks__________________|
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|--_Edwin Douglas Hosselkus_______
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|_Lucretia M. Bryan____________|                
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