Albert H. Hoyt, one of the California pioneers of 1849 and for more than forty-five years, a resident of El Monte, was closely identified with its marvelous growth and prosperity. He was a native of New York, dating his birth in Orange County, in 1830. His parents were Reverend Albert and Gertrude (Lawrence) Hoyt, both natives of New York. In February 1849, Mr. Hoyt embarked on board the bark Clarisa Perkins, for the Golden State. He was one of a company of 120 men who had chartered that vessel for voyage around cape Horn to San Francisco. The vessel left New York Harbor, February 6, 1849, and it was not until September 16 that they entered the Golden Gate of San Francisco Harbor. He engaged unsuccessfully at mining for a few months, later taking up farming in Solano County. With his mother who came to California in 1853, he located in El Monte in 1854. There he purchased seventy-three acres of land lying just south of the village. In addition to conducting agricultural pursuits upon his farm, he also engaged as a teacher in the school at El Monte, and in the year 1855 taught in Los Angeles. His mother died in Los Angeles in 1863. As Mr. Hoyt cleared his land and brought his acres under cultivation, he abandoned his calling as a teacher and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits. Excepting about two acres, comprising a family orchard, he devoted his land to hay, grain, and stock. Alfalfa was grown without irrigation, yielding six or seven crops each year and averaging ten tons per acre per annum. The subject of this sketch was well and favorable known throughout the San Gabriel Valley and other sections of the county. He was one of those men who, in the earlier days, identified themselves with the best elements and enterprises of the section, strongly supporting the establishment and maintenance of schools, etc. During the dark days of the rebellion, he was a strong union man, and supporter of the Republican administration. Mr. Hoyt was an Independent, politically. He was unmarried and made books his companions and solace when not engaged in the active pursuits of life. Local records do not reveal the date of his death, however, it is said upon good authority, that he spent the last few years of his life in the Hollenbeck Home in East Los Angeles, and died in about 1900.
Source: C. D. Mayon, F. Brow, L. Stoddard, and C. Mudd; El Monte from the Pioneer Days. WPA Project No. N-5740, 1936. In record 19-187072. (California Historical Landmark No. 765: El Monte). On file at the SCCIC, CSU Fullerton.