The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-02-03
KING OF BODEGA.
4 California millionaire and His
Strange History.
From the San Francisco Call.

From the San Francisco Call.
The story in the Call, yesterday, that
Hollis Hitchcock, the eccentric millionaire
of California, was sick unto death at Dr.
Lanes hospital, caused a great deal of
talk among the tens of thousands who
know him. Throughout the Sonoma val
ley the name of Hitchcock is good for
loads of gold He owns thousands upon
thousands of acres of rich land there, and
the seat of his residence is at Bodega,
where as the king of Bodega he was
master of the finances. But his domain
extends to a vastly richer region, and
his lands and possessions otherwise APP
pear on the tax lists of many counties
In Sonoma he owns in many banks-the
one in Tomales, all of those In Petaluma,
and in one in Santa Rosa; how many
others nobody knows. When it comes to
talking of Monterey, Fresno and other
counties, the old gentleman owns rolling
acres in them, reaching over many miles.
1t is hard to tell just what he has got.
Even his most intimate friends scarcely
know and his real wealth. therefore, can
only be guessed at. 1t is big, however.
AS a czer of Grizzly Island, in the Sac
ramento river, where the land financier,
a few years ago, secured 5000 acres, he
IS well known in that part of the country.
The 81, 900, 600 which he was at first quoted
to be worth is said to be much too low
a figure. If property were worth as much
now as it was four or five years ago In
100000 or $6,O0O,OOO. As it is. his estate
should approach 100000 or SO, 10000 so
thost who know him well aver.
His land is worth more than 81 900,
to say nothing about his other property"
said one of his neighbors, yesterday. BE
sides the land, he has $4,000 or 100000 in
the Donahue railroad, and interests in
the Tomales, Petaluma and Santa Rosa
banks. No doubt he has large areas of
land and other property also that know
nothing Of"
The old gentleman, who is now IS years
old, has neitherfwife nor children. After
he came here from EasteFuI Canada, in
1852, and had made some money he re-
turned home and brought out a wife.
There was a disagreement after a Few
years, however, and the wife went back,
and has since died. He never had any
children by this marriage Though he has
no immediate heirs, however, he has a
host of nephews. nieces, and other rela-
tiVes in California and Canada. 1t is said
the number will reach thirty or forty any
way, and these, or at least some of them.
ii is presumed, will fall heir to this great
patrimony The old man has become con-
WINGED that he cannot, in all probability,
survive the Brights disease Of the kid
neys, with which he is afflicted Accord
district attorney of Tehama county, came
down at his request in reference to his
will. This win has since been made, and
the designation of his millions Indicated
Dr. L. c. Lane, at whose hospital on
Clay and Webster streets the old money
king now is, said yesterday that the af-
HlCttu man cOulQ HOt pOSSlDiy get well.
"He may live a day or two" he said,
and it is possible that he may live long
er, but this kidney disease is fatal" 1t
it said that seven or eight relatives of
Hitchcock will. according to the will
get the fortune. Those who know him,
however, anticipate the not unusual dis
satisfaction among other relatives at such
a time, with a possibility of struggles for
portion of the property.
Hitchcock, who laid the foundation of
his fortune by driving beef cattle to the
gold mines, has lived an eccentric life for
many years. He would not spend a dollar
unless there was an absolute need of it,
He acquired in the course of his land ac-
cunuations, a large house near Bodega.
designated as a castle by his neighbors.
and here for a long time he lived alone
When he grew sick finally he was taken
to the family of his nephew at Valley
Ford, not far away. and they cared for
him till he was finally brought to the city
for treatment.
Then he went to DR.. Lanes hospitaI
Though having an income of from $35 900
to $4,000 year. he bewailed the expense,
and said the cost was liable to ruin him
Two small rooms there, with the auxili-
aries, cost 50 a day each. The money king