Bio-Pen Pictures
SURNAMES: MILIGAN, BOUGHTER
John A. Hornberger, grain dealer, No. 20 West Santa Clara Street, San
Jose, has been identified with the material and business interests of
the Santa Clara Valley for the past twenty years. He was born in
Lebanon County, Pennsylvania, in 1838, but was brought up in Lancaster
County in that State, his parents removing there when he was six years
of age. He attended school at that place for some years, and later
assisted his father in the iron-forging business, rolling mills not
then being in existence. This he continued up to the age of twenty-two
years. In 1860 he left home and came to California, settling
immediately in the Santa Clara Valley, where he engaged in farming,
which occupation he has followed almost continuously since that time up
to the last two years. During that time he passed one year, parts of
1863 and 1864, in mining pursuits in the mines of Silver Mountain, town
of Monitor, California. Not meeting with success in that venture, he
returned to Santa Clara County, purchasing a home at Mountain View, and
renting land. He engaged extensively in farming in that neighborhood.
In 1870 he added the occupation of grain-buying, continuing in both
lines of business until within the last two years, when he gave up
farming and has since devoted himself exclusively to his
grain-purchasing interests.
In 1869 Mr. Hornberger was married to Miss Kate Miligan, a native of
Ireland, whose parents removed to the United States, settling in New
York, when she was but an infant. To this marriage there have been born
three children, two of whom died in infancy. One, a son, John A., Jr.,
is about to terminate his school days and enter the grain business with
his father, taking charge of the grain warehouse at Mountain View,
California. The primary education of this son was received at the
public schools of Mountain View, after which he passed on year at the
Oakland Military Academy, and two years at the University of the
Pacific. Mr. Hornberger, while devoting his energies actively to his
business operations, and not taking an active part in political
matters, has yet found time to devote to the educational interests of
his district. He has represented the Mountain View District as School
Director for the past eleven years, and while much of his time is now
spent in San Jose he yet finds opportunity to fulfill the duties of
that office, which his friends still insist must rest upon him. A man
of magnificent physique, of massive brain and generous impulse, John A.
Hornberger has achieved a satisfactory success from his efforts in
life, his German ancestry and American instincts being prominent
factors of that end. his parents were John and Mary A. (Boughter)
Hornberger, natives of Pennsylvania, of German descent. The life of his
father was mostly passed in developing the iron interests of his native
State, where he died in 1867, being buried in Johnstone, Pennsylvania.
Mr. Hornberger's mother still lives in Marietta, Lancaster County,
Pennsylvania.
SOURCE: Pen Pictures From The Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, Illustrated. - Edited by H.S. Foote.- Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1888.Transcribed by Carol Lackey- page 233-234
SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIOGRAPHIES
SANTA CLARA COUNTY HISTORY