Mrs. Amelia E. Hollenbeck has resided on her fine ranch of two hundred and thirty-six acres, near Stockton, on the Sonora road, since 1870, and is in all respects a representative citizen of California. She has manifested unusual skill and executive ability in the management of her business interests since the death of her husband, and one would be safe in saying that she has not her supeior as a rancher among the women of the state. She keeps her land under the highest state of cultivation, and gives her personal attention to most of the details of her property interests.

Mrs. Hollenbeck is a native of New York state, being born in Livingston county, March 8, 1840. She was a daughter of Ambrose D. and Rebecca L. (Everett) Taggart, her father a native of Pennsylvania and her mother of New Jersey. Her grandfather, William Taggart, was a Revolutionary soldier, and the Taggart family is said to be of Scoth-Irish lineage. The daughter, Amelia, was reared in Livingston county at the village of Danville, and through a portion of her child life lived in other sections of New York state until she was twelve years old, and she then accompanied her parents to Three Rivers, Michigan, where she grew to mature womanhood and where she became the bride of Josiah M. Griffin in 1862. By this marriage she had a daughter, Lenore B., who is now deceased. Her first husband volunteered his services to the Union during the rebellion and lost his life during the war.

In 1864 Mrs. Griffin (as she was then) accompanied her parents and other members of the family on their migration to California, the trip being made by the Panama route. From San Francisco they came to Alameda county, and thence after a short residence they moved to San Joaquin county in 1868, where her parents took up their abode near Stockton and lived there throughout the remainder of their lives.

In 1869 she was united in marriage with Mr. John Hollenbeck, who was born in New York state, December 12, 1849. After their marriage they located on the ranch where Mrs. Hollenbeck stills makes her home, and he was engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, which occurred in 1874. By her second marriage Mrs. Hollenbeck has four sons: William, Walter F., Howard T. and John A. Mrs. Hollenbeck is an attendant of the First Methodist Episcopal church at Stockton. She is well known in both business and social circles in the county, and is a woman whom to know is to respect and esteem for her fine personal character and pleasing attributes.

Source: History of the New California Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine