[HERITAGE QUEST ONLINE] A Memorial and biographical history of the coast counties of central California : illustrated : containing a history of this important section of the Pacific coast from the earliest period of its discovery to the present time, together with glimpses of its auspicious future, illustrations and full-page portraits of some of its eminent men, and biographical mention of many of its pioneers, and prominent citizens of to-day Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1893, 459 pgs. Pages 392. & 393. (MONTEREY, SAN BENITO SANTA CRUZ) J. A. STEINBECK a well known citizen of Hollister, is a native of Germany, having been born there November 27, 1832. He learned the cabinet-makers trade in his native country, and at the age of 17, with an older brother and sister, emigrated to Palestine, and he remained for eight years in the old city of Jerusalem, where he worked at his trade and acted as an interpreter of English, German and Arabic languages. In this far off land, June 1, 1856, our subject was married to ALMIRA, a daughter of WALTER A. DICKSON, at that time an independent missionary. In 1858, MR. and MRS. STEINBECK went to Massachusetts, which was the native place of the latter, she having been born in that state in the town of Grafton. (Note: error should be Groton) Soon after their arrival they went to Florida and located at St. Augustine. When the late war broke out our subject was pressed into service and served in the Confederate army for one year. He was taken prisoner, but paroled and joined his young wife and two children who had made her way to her Northern home. He remained in Massachusetts for ten years, engaged at his trade in a piano factory, and then came in November, 1872, to California and located in Hollister, where he has since lived. MR. and MRS. STEINBECK have had five sons namely: CHARLES, agent for the Southern Pacific Company, at Templeton. This son was born at Joppa, Palestine, April 27, 1857. The next child, HERBERT E., is an employee of the Central Milling Company, of Hollister, and he was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, August 6, 1859. ERNEST, the third, represents the interests of the Central Milling Company at King City, and was born in Massachusetts in 1862. (note: ERNEST was JOHN ERNST, b. April 20, 1862 Florida) WILHELM is the superintendent of the Victor Mills of Hollister, and was born in Massachusetts, February 4, 1865. HARRY, the youngest, is at Santa Margarita, and was born at Fitchburg, Massachusetts October 5, 1857. Our subject is regarded as a man of sound principals and good business judgment, a character that he has transmitted to his sons. He lives in one of the finest villas in the city of Hollister. =======================================================