Correspondence, business records, and photographs relating to the Jack Family and San Luis Obispo, California.

Jack Family History Robert Edgar Jack, rancher who established the Jack family in San Luis Obispo County, was born near the Kennebec River, Maine, in September, 1841, member of a seafaring family for generations back. A graduate of Wesleyan Seminary, Kent’s Hill, Kennebec County, Maine, he became accountant for William J. Dewey and Company, New York City, a shipping and commission house, at the age of 21. A member of the New York militia, he joined the 56th New York Infantry during the Civil War and saw service in the New York City draft and in the Battle of Gettysburg. While with the commission house, however, Robert Edgar Jack had received a letter that shaped his career. Addressed to the business house, it stated that the writer, Colonel W. W. Hollister, of the San Justo Ranch, near the present location of the city of Hollister, California, had need for an accountant and secretary. At the close of the Civil War Robert Edgar Jack accepted Colonel Hollister’s offer and headed west. In 1858 Colonel Hollister and his brother, Joseph Hubbard Hollister, left their Ohio home, collected a band of 12,000 sheep in Missouri and had driven their flocks across the Plains to California, stopping for a short time in New Mexico. Robert Edgar Jack was associated with Colonel Hollister in operating the San Justo Ranch until subdivision of this property was begun. Together they then purchased the Cholame Ranch, mostly in northern San Luis Obispo county, with a portion in Monterey county. In 1870 Robert Edgar Jack married Nellie Hollister, daughter of Joseph Hubbard Hollister. They had four children: Gertrude M. Jack (married Charles K. Kaetzel), Ethel E. Jack, Howard V. Jack, and R. E. Jack, Jr. Following the death of Colonel Hollister, Robert Edgar Jack purchased the Hollister interest in the Cholame Ranch, which since this time has been more familiarly known as the “Jack Ranch,” and soon became known as the “largest” wool grower in Central California. Howard V. Jack operated the Cholame Ranch of 56,000 acres. As the county developed and commerce grew, Robert Edgar Jack, with William D. Beebee and others, organized the County Bank of San Luis Obispo and for some years was interested in banking in San Luis Obispo, Paso Robles, Santa Maria and Lompoc. Active in politics he served as councilman in San Luis Obispo and in 1892, was delegate to the National Republican Convention in Minneapolis which nominated Benjamin Harrison for President. A Spanish grant, the Cholame Ranch included 27,000 acres in use principally as stock range lands when it was taken over by Robert Edgar Jack and Colonel Hollister. During their operations it was increased to more than twice this acreage. Later, cattle replaced sheep and sections of the extensive acreage cultivated and planted to wheat and diversified crops. -- Source: History of San Luis Obispo County by Senator Chris N. Jespersen, Editor 1939

31 document boxes, monographs cataloged separately.

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