BIOGRAPHY: Samuel was born in Saratoga county, New York. He was living in Kalamazoo County, Michigan in 1839 when he purchased forty acres of public land from the federal government in Branch County, Michigan (see (a) below). This land was most likely in the same area of Branch county where the Demarest family was living and where he must have met his future wife Mary Ann, though the document is not clear as to exactly what county the property is in.
Acording to his marriage record from 1844, Samuel was living in Burr Oak, St. Joseph County, Michigan at the time.
He and wife Mary Ann had moved to LaGrange County Indiana by 1845 when their first child, John Jacob, was born. A deed for their farm property was recorded in 1847 showing it was purchased in March 1845. Mary Ann's father Jacob was a co-purchaser. The 1850 Census shows them living there. This property was later sold in a sherriff's sale on 15 July 1851, presumably due to bad debts.
Samuel's whereabouts between 1851 and 1860 are not known for sure. It is likely that after the 1851 sale of his Indiana farm, he went to California to seek his fortune. The 1860 Census shows his family living in Michigan with Jacob Demarest, while Samuel is living in New York (see below). Whether he went alone to California, or took his family, either way they had returned east by 1860. A profile of Samuel in an 1877 atlas of Sonoma county, California (see (b) below) indicates that he first came to the state in 1849. If that is true, it may be due to the discovery of gold in California, and may have contributed to the failure of the Indiana farm.
According to family stories (see (c) below), Samuel was a California pioneer and famous hunter and trapper. He trapped bear cubs in the mountains of northern California and took them to New York for sale to the Circus. His Civil War enlistment paper states he is a hunter and trapper. A published 19th century lithograph shows him battling a grizzly bear. The inscription on it is: "S. E. Hollister, the Great American Hunter & Trapper. His famous encounter with the enormous SHE BEAR while capturing her CUBS, in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, between the American and Mocosume Rivers, California, in March, 1853."
Samuel had apparently learned his grizzly bear trapping skills from James C. "Grizzly" Adams (see (f) and (i) below) and continued in the trade through the 1850's. The 1860 Census lists him living with John C. Adams in New York City, both listing their occupation as "trapper".
He was likely living in New York at the time of his Civil War enlistment (Company 'M', 1st New York Volunteer Mounted Rifle) on 28 August 1862. He is described as five feet ten inches, fair complextion, hazel eyes, and brown hair. He served throughout the war as a teamster (driving a wagon team) and was discharged on 12 June 1865 at Richmond, Virginia, as a Private. His regiment spent most of the war in Virginia, with some excursions into North Carolina.
In the early 1860s, it appears Samuel's family moved from Michigan to New York. His son George was known to have lived there while he was young, and daughter Margaret likely met her husband William Felix Dunbar in New York where they were married in 1864.
Samuel and his family moved to California for good around 1868, settling in the San Francisco area. In a book on California state fairs, there is a reference to "Mary Ann Hollister of San Francisco" at an 1868 state fair (see (d) below). The 1869-1870 San Francisco City directory lists Samuel as a "manufacturer North Star Washing Machine" (see (e) below). The 1870 census shows them living in San Francisco and lists "Patent Washing Machine" for Samuel's occupation. The 1877 atlas of Sonoma county, California (see (b) below) says that they came to that county in 1870. They had a farm outside of the town of Santa Rosa along the Sonoma road. The California voter rolls list him (and son John Jacob) in both places (see (g) and (h) below). His listed San Francisco residence on Hyde Street (between Green St. and Vallejo St.) is shared with his son John Jacob and son-in-law William F. Dunbar according to the same voter rolls.
----
(a) "Certificate No. 10.800. The United States of America.
To all to whom these Presents shall come, Greeting:
Whereas Samuel E. Hollister of Kalamazoo, Michigan has deposited in the GENERAL LAND OFFICE of the United States, a certificate of the REGISTER OF THE LAND OFFICE at Bronson whereby it appears that full payment has been made by the said Samuel E. Hollister according to the provisions of the Act of Congress of the 24th of April 1820, entitled 'An Act making further provision for the sale of Public Lands,' for 'the North West quarter of the North West quarter of section nine, in Township two South of Range ten West, in the District of lands subject to sale at Bronson, Michigan, containing forty acres' according to the official plat of the survey of the said Lands, returned to the General Land Office by the SURVEYOR GENERAL, which said tract has been purchased by the said Samuel E. Hollister. NOW KNOW YE, That the United States of America, in consideration of the Premisis, and in conformity with the several acts of Congress, in such case made and provided, HAVE GIVEN AND GRANTED, and by these presents DO GIVE AND GRANT, unto the said Samuel E. Hollister and to his heirs, the said tract above described: TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the same, together with all rights, privileges, immunities, and appurtenances of whatsoever nature, thereunto belonging, unto the said Samuel E. Hollister and to his heirs and assigns forever.
In Testimony Whereof, I, Martin Van Buren, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, have caused these Letters to be made PATENT, and the SEAL of the GENERAL LAND OFFICE to be hereunto affixed. GIVEN under my hand at the CITY OF WASHINGTON, the first day of May in the Year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and thirty nine and the INDEPENDENCE OF THE UNITED STATES the Sixty third.
BY THE PRESIDENT: Martin Van Buren. By A. L. Van Buren Jr., Sec'y.
Jos. G. Wilson, acting Recorder of the General Land Office."
----
(b) "Hollister, S. E., residence Sonoma Road, business Farmer, nativity New York, came to Cal. in 1849, came to county in 1870, P. O. Santa Rosa, 25 acres".
----
(c) A note written by Ethel Elizabeth Dunbar talks about Samuel and his family: "Samuel Hollister and his wife Mary A. Hollister were my grand father and grand mother. They had three children.
Samuel Hollister was the most famous grizzly bear Hunter of California and was in the civil war.
Samuel and Mary Ann had three children. John Jacob Hollister, he was never married, he was a miner worked in the mines, gold mines. George E. Hollister married Lanie Martin and they had five children born on the ranch and had an adopted one later. Margaret Ann Hollister was married to William Felix Dunbar, born November 19, 1840 at Williams Burgh, L. I. They had six children.
Their names are on the following paper. Mrs. Ethel Dunbar Gourlie."
----
(d) "Mrs Mary A Hollister of San Francisco, showed a knit shell-work bedspread, containing one thousand seven hundred and sixteen pieces, each piece being sewed together by an overhand stitch, and knit with common knitting needles."
----
(e) San Francisco City directory, 1869-1870: "Hollister, Samuel E., manufacturer North Star Washing Machine, bds N s Broadway between Larkin and Polk."
----
(f) "The Legend of Grizzly Adams: California's Greatest Mountainman" by Richard Dillon. Coward-Mcann, Inc., New York, 1966. University of Nevada Printing, reprint June 1993. Page 142-143.
----
(g) Great Register San Francisco County: "34847 Hollister, Samuel Emmons, 57, New York, Carpenter, resides Hyde b Green & Val., ward 2, regist'd May 3 1869"
----
(h) Great Register Sonoma County: "8151 Hollister, Samuel Emmons, 59, New York, Farmer, resides Santa Rosa, regist'd Aug 21, 1871"
----
(i) New York Times, 5 Jan 1860: Story titled "San Francisco - Too Much Merchandise ..." states the ship Golden Fleece will sail from S.F. tomorrow with, among many things, a cargo consisting of a menagerie of California animals, including grizzly bears, accompanied by "Old Adams himself, the famous grizzly bear tamer." It further states he "has a half a dozen genuine grizzly bears, any one capable of chewing a man up, making but a coulple of bites of him for a meal. They weigh a ton or so each, and doubtless will 'astonish the Browns' when they are set up for exhibition. Adams is a very clever old fellow, a great liar, or of rather powerful imagination, and really believes himself a second Gerard or Van Amburgh."
BIRTH: Letter written by Ethel Elizabeth Dunbar Gourlie. Grave inscription from Sonoma Co. Genealogical Society.
MARRIAGE: Samuel and Mary Ann's marriage record, filed in St. Joseph county, Michigan states:
"Samuel E. Hollister to Mary Ann Deamenst [sic]. Married in the Township of Burr Oak. Samuel E. Hollister of the above place to Miss Mary Ann Deamenst [sic] of the Township of Bronson, Branch County, State of Michigan on the 23rd day of Jan 1844. Sworn under my hand this 25th day of Jan AD 1844.
John D. Sickles, witness. James Sickles, Justice of the Peace.
Filed April ,8th 1844."
The Demarest family genealogy incorrectly shows that it was at Bronson, Michigan. An affidavit filed for purposes of obtaining a Civil War widow's pension for Samuel's wife Mary Ann states:
"State of Michigan, Kent County. I John D. Sickles, having first duly sworn, state that I am a resident of Sand Lake in the aforesaid County and am aged 74 years. That I knew Samuel E. Hollister and Mary A. Hollister his wife.
That I was present at their marriage and know that the same was solemnized by my father James Sickles who was at the time a Justice of the Peace on the 23rd day of January 1844 at Burr Oaks. My said father is now dead. I have no interest whatsoever in the prosecution of his case. Subscribed sworn to before me this 26th day of Sept. 1890 at my office in Sand Lake, Kent Co., Michigan and I certified that I know the affiant to be the person he represents himself to be and is ??????? Also that I have no interest in this case. Wellington Rasco, Notary Public."
MARRIAGE: Marriage record filed 8 April 1844. Affidavit for widow's Civil War pension by John D. Sickles.
DEATH: An obituary entitled "Sudden Death" was published July 1, 1876 in the Sonoma County Democrat newspaper on page 5:
"Mr. S. E. Hollister who lived near Rincon, two or three miles east of Santa Rosa, came into town last Saturday in his usual health to attend to some business. About 9 o'clock as he was walking by the Court House, on Mendocino Street, he was taken suddenly with apoplexy. He called for Mr. Shattuck who was in the Clerk's office near the window, and told him he believed he was going to die. He was trembling from head to foot, and was immediately taken to the Sheriff's office and placed in a bed and Dr. Allen at once called in. Everything that medical skill could do was done for him, but he lingered in an unconcious state until 1 o'clock when he breathed his last. As Mr. Shattuck got to him he said: "If I die, tell my wife"--and here is speech failed him, and we learn he never uttered another word. Mr. Hollister was about 65 years old. He came from the state of New York, and has been living near Santa Rosa for seven or eight years. He was a good citizen, and we regret his death. He leaves a wife and two or three children. All his children are grown and none were living with him. Mr. Hollister was, we learn, a Knight Templar, and was buried with Masonic honors on Sunday evening."
DEATH: Sonoma Co. death record, 24 June 1876, book 41 age, #686: "age 59, nativity New York, cause [unreadable], Lived and died in Santa Rosa for several years".
Obituary in the Sonoma County Democrat newspaper, 1 July 1876.
BURIAL: The actual burial plot is identified as "Main Circle 188" though I was not able to find it when I visited there due to the overgrown nature of the cemetery. The Genealogical Society has made a plot plan for the cemetery which I have not seen. There are two Hollister graves together along with some Anderson graves.
BURIAL: MAJOR S. E. HOLLISTER
BORN APRIL 25, 1817
IN NEW YORK
DIED JUNE 24, 1876
BURIAL: Find A Grave Memorial 28708645, gravestone "Maj. S.E. Hollister, 'A native of New York', Apr 2?, 1817 (looks like 23 or 25), DIED June 24, 1876." Site gives a short biography that is of dubious veracity.
BURIAL: Sonoma Co. Genealogical Society information (24 December 1981). Obituary in the Sonoma County Democrat newspaper, 1 July 1876.
CENSUS: US Cennsus:
1850 Indiana, LaGrange Co., Town of Johnson - p. 27, 23(?) Aug 1850
Hollister Samuel E. M 33? Farmer 880 NY
Mary A. F 28? NY
John J. M 5? IN
Margaret A. F 2? 3? IN
George E. M 3/12 IN
1860 New York, New York Co, New York, Ward 15, District 3 - 9 Jun 1860
Hollister Samuel M 43 Trapper NY
Adams John C. M 53 Trapper 4000 ME
Cook James M 30 Stage Driver PA
1870 California, San Francisco Co., 11th Ward 2nd District - p. 53, 15 Aug 1870
Hollister Sam'l M 55 Patent Washing Machine 1600 NY
Mary F 48 Keep house NY
1880 California, Sonoma Co, Santa Rosa - p. 107 (rear) 23 June 1880
Hollister Mary A. F 58 Widowed, carpet weaver NY, NY, NY
Dunbar John M 6 Grandson CA, NC, Tenn?
George M 4 Grandson CA, NC, Tenn?
