Henry Hooker: Difference between revisions
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==Life== |
==Life== |
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Henry Clay Hooker was born January 10, 1828 in [[Hinsdale, New Hampshire]].<ref name="hooker">{{cite book |title= The Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hooker, Hartford, Connecticut, 1586-1908 |author= Edward Hooker |coauthors= Margaret Huntington Hooker |year= 1909 |publisher= [[Harvard University]] |pages= 360–361 |url= http://books.google.com/?id=r17mNhtcPRwC&pg=PA361 }}</ref> |
Henry Clay Hooker was born January 10, 1828 in [[Hinsdale, New Hampshire]].<ref name="hooker">{{cite book |title= The Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hooker, Hartford, Connecticut, 1586-1908 |author= Edward Hooker |coauthors= Margaret Huntington Hooker |year= 1909 |publisher= [[Harvard University]] |pages= 221–222, 360–361 |url= http://books.google.com/?id=r17mNhtcPRwC&pg=PA361 }}</ref> |
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His father was Henry Hooker, a descenant of early [[New England]] leader [[Thomas Hooker]] (1586–1647). His mother was Mary Daggett. He married Elizabeth Rockwell on December 23, 1837 at [[Erie, Pennsylvania]]. |
His father was Henry Hooker (1791–1885), a descenant of early [[New England]] leader [[Thomas Hooker]] (1586–1647). His mother was Mary Daggett. He was sixth out of 11 children. |
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He married Elizabeth Rockwell on December 23, 1837 at [[Erie, Pennsylvania]]. |
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In 1848 he traveled to [[New York]], and the [[Kansas City, Missouri]] in 1849. He worked for the Indian Department until 1852, then went to [[El Dorado County, California]] in the [[California Gold Rush]]. After trying his hand at mining, he became a merchant in [[Placerville, California]] until 1866.<ref name="hooker"/> |
In 1848 he traveled to [[New York]], and the [[Kansas City, Missouri]] in 1849. He worked for the Indian Department until 1852, then went to [[El Dorado County, California]] in the [[California Gold Rush]]. After trying his hand at mining, he became a merchant in [[Placerville, California]] until 1866.<ref name="hooker"/> |
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Revision as of 01:35, 2 February 2011
Henry Clay Hooker (1828–1907) was a prominent and wealthy rancher of the American Old West, and personal friend to lawman Wyatt Earp during the early 1880s.
Life
Henry Clay Hooker was born January 10, 1828 in Hinsdale, New Hampshire.[1] His father was Henry Hooker (1791–1885), a descenant of early New England leader Thomas Hooker (1586–1647). His mother was Mary Daggett. He was sixth out of 11 children. He married Elizabeth Rockwell on December 23, 1837 at Erie, Pennsylvania. In 1848 he traveled to New York, and the Kansas City, Missouri in 1849. He worked for the Indian Department until 1852, then went to El Dorado County, California in the California Gold Rush. After trying his hand at mining, he became a merchant in Placerville, California until 1866.[1]
Hooker, sometimes referred to as "Colonel Hooker", owned and operated the Sierra Bonita Ranch, located in Graham and Cochise Counties, first established in 1872. From the time his ranch was established it was the largest in Arizona, starting at 800 acres (3.2 km2). The ranch is now listed as a National Historic Landmark, due to it having been the first permanent ranch established in Arizona. Hooker first ventured into Arizona Territory in 1867, and quickly became the most important military beef contractor in Arizona. In 1872, when one of his herds of cattle stampeded into the Sulphur Springs Valley, near what would become Willcox, Arizona, Hooker was impressed by the valley, and chose it to erect his ranch. During that time, Hooker averaged 15,500 head of cattle. Shortly after establishing the ranch, Hooker erected a small adobe fort to fend off regular attacks and raids by the local Apache, which initially cost him numerous losses, both in personnel and equipment.
Hooker, for a time, employed Billy the Kid, who at the time was unknown, that being prior to the Lincoln County War. Hooker was a supporter of the Earp faction, and assisted them with allowing them the use of his ranch and supplies during the Earp vendetta ride. Hooker was a prominent figure in the events that played out in Arizona during the late 19th century. However, little is known of his life prior to the events involving the Earp-Cowboys clash. It is confirmed that he served during the Civil War, on the side of the Union, possibly as a Lieutenant Colonel, but the latter is not confirmed. He survived the disastrous drought of 1891, and shortly thereafter formed the Sierra Bonita Land and Stock Company, and extended his ranch to 250,000 acres (1,000 km2), supporting 20,000 head of cattle. He died December 5, 1907, on his ranch, and at the time of his death he was the wealthiest rancher in Arizona. The Sierra Bonita Ranch remains in the Hooker family to the present day.[when?]
His children were Ida M. Hooker born May 3, 1858, Edwin R. Hooker born February 27, 1861, and Josehp M. Hooker who married Laura Butler Coffin on November 14, 1906.[1]
Popular culture
In the 1993 film Tombstone, Hooker was portrayed by actor Charlton Heston. Hooker also had a book written about him, by author Lynn R. Bailey, titled Henry Clay Hooker and the Sierra Bonita.
References
- ^ a b c Edward Hooker (1909). The Descendants of Rev. Thomas Hooker, Hartford, Connecticut, 1586-1908. Harvard University. pp. 221–222, 360–361.
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