hermanhoeft
                                                                                    
                                                                                  Herman Hoeft
                                                              Numbered among Rogers City's most  successful
business men in the early days. Mr. Hoeft came to Presque Isle County in it's earliest years and engaged in handling forest products and operated a general store.  His scope of business was widened rapidly and he was ably assisted in its growth by his son Paul Herman Hoeft.  The firm of Hoeft and son lasted for many years.  Their operations extended to Crawford's Quarry in its boom times and in later years their mill was one of the main industries of the community.  Mr. Hoeft was active politically in early years and held the office of county treasurer for a long term.  He was also postmaster at one time.  In later years he moved to San Jose, California at a time when that state offered great opportunity for developement.  He was a great lover of the out-of-doors, had a beautiful home and ranch adjacent to San Jose and there passed his declining years.


The following article was supplied by Vicky Evenson of San Francisco [Herman Hoeft's granddaughter] on 21 January 2001. 
The account comes from the San Jose Mercury News in 1895 titled - 

                                                   SUNSHINE, FRUIT, and FLOWERS 
 

On page 260 is an article about Herman Hoeft. It states the following: 

"Herman Hoeft came to the Pacific Coast from Rogers City, Michigan in 1893 in search of a good climate.  After having visited
Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana, he decided to locate in California.  In Oakland he heard of Santa Clara County as
an educational center, and brought hither his four youngest children [Martha, Alfred, Dorothea, and Hermenia] that they might
avail themselves of the advantages offered.  After his arrival, he purchased a 20 acre orchard on the Steven Creek Road, about
two and half miles from San Jose." 

"Mr. Hoeft had for many years owned a general merchandise store in Rogers City, Michigan, had been extensively engaged in
getting out railroad ties [lumber company], and was also interested in a line of steamboats plying on Lake Huron.  He placed his
 interests there in charge of his eldest son [Paul Herman Hoeft], and prepared to enjoy life upon his Santa Clara fruit farm.  The
 trees are now from 10 to 12 years old, and are mostly prunes, of which there are 12 acres.  There are 4 acres of apricots, 2
 acres of cherries, and 2 acres of young prune trees, the latter not yet bearing." 

"Some fruits are biennial.  This is, if they bear very freely one year, the succeeding crop will be light.  This peculiarity is more
marked, perhaps, in the case of Moorpark apricots than in any other fruits, but is noticeable in all varieties.  The past two seasons have not been counted seasons of average production.  This year Mr. Hoeft took from the 12 acres of prune trees, 53 tons, which he sold for $28 per ton, or $1,484, making the gross income of the prune orchard $123.66 per acre.  In seasons when the  trees bear heavily, the crop is from 80 to 100 tons of prunes for the 12 acres.  Last year 180 trees bore 18 tons." 

"The apricot crop this year was light.  The crop was sold for $26 per ton.  In 1893 the 2 acres of cherry trees brought a gross
income of $420.  In 1894 the crop was sold on the trees, net, for $600.  This year the crop was very light.  The Black Tartarians  were sold for three and a half cents per pound, and the white cherries for 5 cents per pound.  The two acre tract produced $300 worth of fruit." 

"Mr. Hoeft paid for his place $15,000, or $750 per acre, in 1895.  Orchards in the vicinity in full bearing are now held at $1,000 per acre.  Upon this valuation they are paying from 8 to 10 per cent interest." 

There is a Medical Center built on the property today.  Some of Herman's gardens are still there.  Today, the property is in the
heart of the Silicon Valley. 


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