John Hosking, the son of James and Jane Hosking, is a native of Cornwall, England, born February 22, 1839, and there reared a miner. He immigrated to California in August 1867, coming by the way of the Isthmus of Panama. He first worked in the mines in Tuolumne County, then in Amador County mines. In 1870 he was appointed foreman of the original Amador mines. In 1873 the Sierra Buttes Gold Mining Company appointed him foreman of the Plumas Eureka Mines. In 1883 he was appointed superintendent of the said mines, which position he now holds.
He was married to Catherine H., the daughter of Richard and Mary Floyd, August 22, 1863. Six children have been born to them: Richard Floyd, born in England, February 4,1866; Ada, born in England, February 10, 1868; Mary Jane, born February 27, 1872, at Amador City, died in July, 1872; John Ward, born at Eureka Mills, September 5, 1874, died December 16, 1877; James Earnest, horn November 19, t876, at Eureka Mills; Nettie Johns, born August 8, 1878. Mr. Hosking is a Past Grand of Mohawk Lodge, I. O. O. F., No. 292, situate at Johnsville; he is also a member of the Royal St. George, located at Johnsville.
In 1882 he bought twenty acres of land at Redlands, from Judson & Brown, and had it planted the following year as follows: five acres to orange trees and fifteen to raisin grapes. In 1887 he built a fine residence on his property and made other improvements. The family moved to Redlands, March 31, 1888. Mr. Hosking has achieved a high degree of success in his chosen calling, in which he is considered a thorough expert. He planned much of the new machinery now used at Eureka, such as pumping machinery, tramways, etc.