Citrus Roots Preserving Citrus Heritage Foundation VISIT OUR NEW WEBSITE Citrus Gold… A REFERENCE CENTER Indexes of: The California Citrograph Compelling others 1917 to 1951 Statistics: California Citrus Production from 1891 to follow Wolfskill Plus: Photos of Packers... Citrus Labels + More Richard H. Barker e have together covered the 1646 work of “Hesper- ides” (“The Golden Apple”) by Johannus Baptista WFerrarius, and William Wolfskill. Now let’s step back before we cover the men who followed Wolfskill. In the 1800’s, citrus was a compulsive interest to the California Franciscans. It is interesting to note that the friars were always calculating regarding the orange. They proffered that the tree only flourished within the sound range of the “silver bells” of the chapel. Bancroft’s remarks in “California Pastorial” were even more incisive: “... it is a singular fact that the padres discouraged the growth of oranges and lemons outside of the mission grounds, being apparently as jealous of monopolizing these, as Foothill Citrus Assn. What City? that of the whole king- dom of Christ should Question... Today AKA? be subject to their sole Donate to us your: Citrus Annual Reports, administration.” Books, Citrus Labels, Photos + Memorabilia & Credit is certainly due the Franciscans. LOWER YOUR INCOME TAXES... They had the cour- Check our website: www.citrusroots.com age, time and pa- tience to introduce Our “Mission” is to elevate the awareness of Califor- the orange, culti- nia citrus heritage through publications, education, vate it, and prove its and artistic work. adaptability to the climate and soil of Califor- We are proud of our accomplishments as a volunteer organiza- nia. Out of the mission gardens the citrus industry was tion, which means each donated dollar works for you at 100% [for we have no salaries, wages, rent, etc.]. All donations are tax de- to sprout through Wolfskill and others we will now cover. ductible for income tax purposes to the full extent allowed by law. Secularization accelerated the change. News passed from one town to the next in an easterly Citrus Roots – Preserving Citrus direction that Mr. Wolfskill was making more than $100 each Heritage Foundation from his bearing trees (1857). In 1858, a newspaper referred P.O. Box 4038, Balboa, CA 92661 USA to his orange trees as “...some (trees) have produced as many 501(c)(3) EIN 43-2102497 as 1,600 oranges in a season, and one of the trees not less than 2,000 which at 6 1/4 cents each, makes the handsome The views of the writer may not be the same as this foundation. May/June 2011 Citrograph 11 provided trees for 30 more acres. As earlier mentioned, other growers emerged with develop- ments of citrus (for profit). In 1857, L. VanLeuven started a citrus grove in old San Bernardino, and that same year L. F. Cram set out a grove in Highlands. In 1865, Myron H. Craft at Crafton planted 200 citrus seedlings, followed by Frank Kimball who in 1869 es- tablished a grove of oranges and lemons in National City (in San F. Kimball Diego County). Further, in 1873 Patterson Bowers developed a grove of orange seedlings near Orange [Orange County]. The first grove in Riverside County was planted in 1872 to 1873, and in Tulare County, Albert Henry in 1883 secured enough trees to plant a few acres of citrus in Porterville. The work of the early growers further proved the adapt- ability of the orange to their region or district on a commer- cial scale, and this accelerated additional entrepreneurial de- velopment. Little did these pioneers of citrus realize the foundation which each was establishing -- the continued growth of the California Citrus Industry. A man with a similar back- ground as Wolfskill became inter- ested. Benjamin Davis Wilson, a na- M. Keller and Dr. Halsey (seated), Gen. Phineas Banning tive of Tennessee, was a fur trapper (standing). and trader. He came to California in 1841 with the Workman-Rowland little sum of $125 as the product of one tree.” A lemon in a Party seeking passage to China. Be- mining camp would command one dollar. ing detained, he decided to stay. In Benjamin (Benito) Stories like this made widespread fame and stimulated 1842, Wilson purchased a key por- D. Wilson the desire to view firsthand this subtropical area. Further, tion of the Rancho Rubidoux. (Today, Rubidoux is part of reports of living and working in a subtropical climate with downtown Riverside.) In 1844, he married Ramona Yorba the fragrance of orange blossoms filling the air peaked an whose father, Bernardo Yorba, was the prominent Spanish interest. These mental images grew stronger as one was landholder of Rancho Canon de Santa Ana. He also assisted further reinforced by additional stories not only regarding with Indian affairs and became the Justice of the Peace of Wolfskill but Benjamin Wilson and others. the Inland Territory. In 1853, Matthew Keller and Dr. Halsey imported some In 1854, he purchased from the widow of Hugo Reid orange seeds from Central America and the Hawaiian Is- “Rancho Huerta de Cuati” and renamed the ranch “Lake lands. Keller’s property was across Alameda from Wolfskill’s Vineyard”. A portion of the property had the original or- property, and he started a nursery. His property was later chard of the San Gabriel Mission (and today is part of the purchased by Wolfskill. Dr. Halsey, a friend of Wolfskill, Huntington Library and Gardens; further, General George had planted his orange and lemon S. Patton was born in 1885 on the property and was the nursery on land of grantee Work- grandson to Wilson). man and Rowland along the San Through some lending of money to Manuel Garfias, the Gabriel River. Again, Wolfskill owner of Rancho San Pascual, Wilson came into possession purchased his land and nursery through some complicated land deals. In 1863, Wilson and Dr. in August 1855 for $4,000. John S. Griffin bought the entire rancho property outright, William was very proactive for both had lent funds on the same property. These two men and “street smart”. In 1854 on the had previously undertaken other business deals together. San Francisco wharf, a schooner On Dec.18, 1873, Wilson and Griffin subdivided their commenced to unload a cargo of land (Griffin getting two thirds of the property with Wilson Hawaiian oranges with high spoil- retaining some better land near his Lake Vineyard property, age. Wolfskill purchased the fruit east of Fair Oaks Avenue). Griffin then sold the property for next to nothing and extracted to the “Indiana colony” (later known as Pasadena). The M. H. Craft the seeds; thus, eventually this colonists paid $25,000 with $6,250 down for 2,576.35 acres 12 Citrograph May/June 2011 Lake Vineyard Tract. The water was routed from this collecting reservoir to the three division reservoirs (one shown here) which supplied water by pipeline to the five- and ten-acre plots.Photo circa 1878. (between Fair Oaks and the Arroyo Seco to the crest of Mis- which resulted in a loss of life and sion Hills, South Pasadena). Wilson and Griffin also threw supplies. In 1860, he purchased the in as a goodwill gesture a total of 1,386 acres which was the westerly part of Rancho Santa land known today as Altadena. Primarily the colonists’ land Anita, 2,000 acres, at $2 an acre, was planted to citrus and vineyards. and he named it “Sunny Slope In 1876, Wilson set out 2,500 acres immediately adjoin- Farm”. Here he planted a large ing the Indiana colony on the eastern boundary and called grove of oranges and lemons and it “The Lake Vineyard.” This land was surveyed into 5-, 10-, added olive trees. His vineyard, and 20- acre parcels and offered at $75 to $100 per acre with “Sunny Slope”, also made him water. Water was brought in from the Arroyo Seco. (Wilson prominent, and he eventually be- owned 7/10 of the water.) “Benito” D. Wilson continued to came a California senator. plant citrus, and by 1875 he had become a close competitor He was also very successful in of Wolfskill who had 2,000 trees while Wilson had 1,650 trees. breeding fast horses on his ranch, Leonard John Rose was a native of Bavaria, and his fam- Rose-Meade (now Rosemead). L. J. Rose ily immigrated to New Orleans when he was 12 years old. In His famous stallion “The Moor” was stabled there. Eventu- 1857, he with his wife, Amanda, and their two children struck ally, Rose subdivided part of his estate, platting the town of out for California with a party he organized. After crossing Lamanda Park, named for his wife. In Los Angeles, he built a the Colorado River, they were attacked by an Indian tribe, palatial home, named “Charity”, in the Bunker Hill area. But, Selling the GOLD History of Citrus Roots Series... Sunkist® and Pure Gold® SALE... THE SALE TAX IS ON US! Good for 6/01/2011 to 8/31/2011. Citrus Roots...Our Legacy - Volume IV Citrus Powered the Economy of Orange County CITRUS ROOTS . OUR LEGACY Volume I of III By: Rahno Mabel MacCurdy, V.A. Lockabey and others... for over a half century Induced by a “Romance” compiled and edited by R.H. Barker $1500 All donations are tax deductible for income tax Citrus Roots...Our Legacy - Volume I Our Legacy: Baldy View purposes to the full extent allowed by law. Selling the Gold - History of Sunkist® and Pure Gold® ENTREPRENEURS Citrus Roots...Our Legacy - Volume II For ordering information Citriculture to Citrus Culture visit our website Citrus Roots...Our Legacy - Volume III Our Legacy...Baldy View Entrepreneurs Including a fold out American Business Cycles from 1810 to 1978 time line chart of vs.