Lester J. Hinsdale, an attorney and counselor at law of Sacramento, was born in Clarksburg, Yolo County, California, on the 18th of October, 1870. His father, Seymour S. Hinsdale, is a native of Vermont and a representative of an old Connecticut family that was founded in America by ancestors who came from England in the early part of the seventeenth century. Representatives of the name fought in the Indian wars during the colonial period and also in the war for independence. Through many generations the family was represented in New England, and Seymour S. Hinsdale continued to make his home in that section of the republic until 1861, when he came to California by way of the isthmus route, settling in Yolo County, where he is today engaged in farming. He married Miss Elizabeth Cave, who was born in Iowa and was of Scotch-Irish lineage, her early ancestors settling in Kentucky. Her great-grandfather emigrated to that state shortly after Daniel Boone made his explorations. Mrs. Hinsdale crossed the plains in a prairie schooner with her parents in 1850, and the Cave family home was established in Yolo County. Her father is still living in that county, where he settled in 1852, and is one of the venerable and highly respected residents of his portion of the state. He became one of the pioneer hop growers of California, actively associated with an industry which has become a very important one on the Pacific Coast. To Mr. and Mrs. Seymour Hinsdale were born two sons and two daughters, namely: Lester J., Walter G., who is a resident farmer of Yolo County; Etta, the wife of Charles A. Powers, of Sacramento; and Ardenia, who is with her parents.
Lester J. Hinsdale pursued his education in the public schools of Clarksburg, California, and in the high school of Sacramento, being graduated with the class of 1891. He afterward matriculated in the Leland Stanford University and was graduated in the class of 1895 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He afterward spent one year in San Francisco as a law student in the office of W. J. Herrin and subsequently returned to Stanford University, where he was an assistant in the law department for one term. On the expiration of this period, he came to Sacramento in June 1899, but in the meantime, he was admitted to practice in San Francisco in August 1896. On reaching this city, he opened a law office in connection with O. G. Hopkins in the state building on Fifth and K streets and is now engaged in a general law practice. Already he has secured a good clientage and has won a reputation that many an older representative of the profession might well envy.
During his college days, Mr. Hinsdale was president of his class and also president of the organization known as Associated Students. During his graduation year, he was treasurer of the Associated Students, a position of considerable responsibility. In politics he is a stalwart Republican, taking an active interest in the growth and success of his party and was chairman of the Republican convention held in Yolo County in 1898. He wields considerable influence in political circles and has been mentioned in connection with the office of assemblyman. While he is probably not without that personal political ambition which is a spur to good citizenship, he regards the duties of private life as eminently worthy of his best efforts, and never hesitates in the performance of any task that devolves upon him in this connection. Fraternally, he is a Mason and is also connected with the Native Sons of the Golden West. The latter organization under the stimulus of Mr. Hinsdale started an arbor club movement and he was made president of the club. This organization is doing magnificent work, and Mr. Hinsdale certainly deserves credit for what he has accomplished in this direction.
Source: Leigh H. Irvine; A History of the New California Its Resources and People, 2 Volumes; New York and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1903.