c.1877 William Pettis Hinshaw

W.P. Hinshaw
Petaluma, Nov. 9
W.P. Hinshaw is dead. On the eve of his eightieth birthday he passed away at his home west of Petaluma. Mr. Hinshaw was one of the richest men in the county, owning several ranches in Bloomfield and Big valleys valued at $75,000, and business blocks in Petaluma worth a like sum. His large estate is left to his widow and three brothers. The deceased was a native of North Carolina and came to California and directly to Sonoma County in 1852.

Published San Francisco Call
November 10, 1900

Estate of W.P. Hinshaw
Petaluma, Nov. 14
A petition for letters of administration on the estate of the late W.P. Hinshaw, capitalist and rancher, was filed in the Superior Court today by George P. McNear and Henry Lawrence, acting at the request of the widow, Mrs. Sabry A. Hinshaw.

The estate consists of 3400 acres of land in Sonoma and Marin counties, valued at $100,000; real estate and business blocks in Petaluma valued at $50,000; personal property worth $27,500 and other items, making a total of $178,650. The petitioners say the estate does not exceed $300,000 in value.

The deceased left no will.

The heirs at law are the widow, brothers - E.C. and A.B. Hinshaw and several nephews and nieces.

Published San Francisco Call
November 15, 1900

Probable Litigation Over Hinshaw Estate, Brother of the Late Sonoma Capitalist Objects to the Proposed Distribution
The big estate left by the late William Pettis Hinshaw, the Sonoma County capitalist and rancher, seems destined to become involved in litigation. Mr. Hinshaw left no will and the courts were making preparations to distribute the estate to his heirs in the usual ratio, in accord with the nearness of kin. Now a brother of the deceased, ex Senator E.C. Hinshaw, comes forward with a demand for a different distribution, advancing rather novel grounds.

When W.P. Hinshaw was married, it is claimed, he was possessed of $20,000 in money and had landed property, and this sum formed the nucleus of his vast estate of $300,000. Ex-Senator Hinshaw says the estate was enlarged and increased to its present dimensions through the proper handling of the original sum, and that this portion of the estate is not subject to the usual division by which the widow would get the larger share.

Published San Francisco Call
December 19, 1900

Big Sale of Cattle
The Hinshaw cattle have been sold at last and sold at a price and under conditions which will make the sale one to be talked of for months to come. When the bids were opened a few days ago by the administrators they were all rejected, as they were all deemed too low. The highest bid was $41.56. Sat. afternoon the cattle were sold, after prolonged and persistent bidding, for $55.02 1/2 per head to William Evart. Six bulls were sold for $35.50 apiece. A. Bloom got the 200 head of hogs for $1080. There were 200 head of cows. The total sales figured up $12,298. With the cows goes a lease of 1600 acres of pasture until next October.

Published San Francisco Call
Jan. 5, 1901

Bitter Contest Probable
Miss Fannie Hinshaw, one of the heirs of the big estate of the late William P. Hinshaw, the Bloomfield capitalist, has filed opposition to the setting apart of valuable property as a homestead for the widow. It is believed there will be a bitter contest over the estate.

Published San Francisco Call
May 5, 1901

Old Man Cuts His Throat
Sick for fourteen years and rendered desperate and despondent because he thought he was going to be compelled to move from the place which he had known as home for so many years. George Taylor, an old man, cut his throat from ear to ear on the old Pet. Hinshaw ranch, near Bloomfield today. Taylor was a native of England and was aged 55 years.

Published San Francisco Call
Oct. 18, 1901

Brother E.C. Hinshaw

Hinshaw, William Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Petaluma Calif Nov 9 1900 Friday Page 1a

Hinshaw, William Petaluma Daily Morning Courier, Petaluma Calif Nov 9 1900 Friday Page 1b.

Interred in this family plot are:

William Pettis Hinshaw
Sabrey Ann Hinshaw
Edward G. Hinshaw
Mary A. Hinshaw
William Carter Hinshaw "Willie"
Louisiana J. Carter
J.M. Carter

Each person has their own individual tombstone as well as being inscribed on the center obelisk

The stoop is inscribed Carter.