USA > California > Kings County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 8
USA > California > Tulare County > History of Tulare and Kings counties, California, with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the counties who have been identified with their growth and development from the early days to the present > Part 8
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forks of the Kaweah river, at a distance (by road) of about sixty miles from Visalia. There are within it over five thousand trees of a diameter of ten feet or more, together with many monsters whose diameter ranges from twenty-five to thirty feet. The General Sherman tree, whose circumference six feet above the ground is one hundred nine feet, is considered to be the largest in the world. Its age is estimated at six thousand years. Other large groves are the Dorst, situated in the northwest corner of the park, and Gar- field, lying a short distance southeast of the Giant Forest, and the Muir, which stands on the south side of the south fork of the Kaweah, about twenty miles above Three Rivers.
The Giant Forest was discovered by Hale Tharpe in the early '60s, and named by John Muir in 1890.
Camp Sierra, as the site chosen for hotel and camp grounds is called, is delightfully situated alongside a little meadow, amidst groves of sequoias and firs.
Among the nearby points of interest may be mentioned the Marble Falls, nine hundred sixty feet in height; Admiration Point, whenee precipices of two thousand feet on three sides confront; Sunset Rock, affording a beautiful open view of the valley, and Morro Rock, a monolith eighteen hundred feet in vertical height, which overlooks the canyon of the middle fork of the Kaweah. From its summit is obtained a near view of many snow-covered peaks, ranging from ten to fourteen thousand feet in height, a clear view of the Kaweah, almost a mile below, of the San Joaquin valley beyond, and of the coast range of mountains, visible for perhaps two hundred miles of their length.
Then there are the beautiful Twin Lakes, situated at an altitude of nearly ten thousand feet, distant eleven miles. Flanked at one side by banks of almost perpetual snow, overlooked by precipitons bluffs of granite, the crystal clear waters mirroring perfectly the bordering rocks and tamarack groves, they form a picture that lives long in memory.
Easy to visit are Log, Crescent and AAlta meadows, each having its peculiar charms; there is the "house tree," so called because in it Everton lived for five winters while engaged in trapping; Tharpe's log cabin, a hollow tree fitted with doors and windows and furnishings, formerly the summer home of Hale Tharpe; "chimney trees," hollow from ground to crown, etc., etc.
There are four caves in the park, as follows:
Cloughs cave, situated about thirteen miles above Three Rivers, on the south fork of the Kaweah river, was discovered by William O. Clough in 1885. Owing to its ease of access and its location on a main route of tourist travel, it is visited by greater numbers than
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any of the others.
Palmers cave, discovered by Joe Palmer, is situated near Put- nam canyon on the south fork of the Kaweah. Owing to the almost inaccessible position of entrance, it has never been explored.
Paradise cave is located on the south side of the ridge which separates the middle and the east forks of the Kaweah and was discovered in 1901 by II. R. Harmon. In 1906 it was explored by Walter Fry and C. W. Blossom, park rangers, and officially named.
OROSI
Due west from Dinha six miles and almost directly north of Visalia sixteen miles is situated the flourishing town and colony of Orosi. The foothills curve around the section immediately north of the townsite, a great deal of the colony lying in the cove thus formed.
Prior to 1890 grain farming was practically the only industry. There were few inhabitants. By reason of insufficient rainfall crops were not sure and there was no material progress. The extension of the Alta Irrigation district to this section and the subdivision of the lands into ten, twenty and forty acre tracts rapidly worked a marvelous change, and the district now is thickly settled and solidly planted to orchards and vineyards in small holdings. The avenues which criss-cross the tracts are well-kept, many of these are bordered by fig, almond, or other fruit trees of a different kind from that to which the orchard is set, and as fences have generally been removed both from the roadside and boundary lines, a very unique and pleasing effect is produced.
In 1890 or 1891, at the same time as the heavy initial planting of grapes and peaches, several small orange orchards were set. These only came into bearing and demonstrated the adaptability of the Orosi country for oranges. Quite recently large acreages in the vicinity have been planted to this fruit and there have been heavy purchases of land lying in adjoining coves for this purpose.
The town of Orosi maintains three general merchandise stores, many shops, two banks, handsome school buildings for both grammar and high school grades, a hotel and branch library.
It was quite a disappointment to the citizens of Orosi when the Santa Fe passed the town by leaving it a mile and a half from Cutler, the nearest station. The town and colony continued to grow, however, and it is now confidently believed by the residents that the "Tide Water and Southern" will be extended to pass through Orosi.
NARANJO
The name Naranjo (Spanish for orange tree) is given to the citrus district lying along the foothills north of Lemon Cove and
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across the Kaweah river. It was the first section north of the river to be set to fruit and is now a heavy producer of oranges and grape fruit. The orchardists have their own packing house and are served by the Visalia electric railroad. There is a store and post- office. Westward, Naranjo merges into the newer Woodlake district.
MONSON
Situated on the Southern Pacific's east side line and lying north of Visalia and southward from Dinnba is a small village with one general merchandise store, a few shops, etc.
It is quite an important watermelon shipping point. Farming and dairying are the principal occupations of the neighborhood on the sonth, and raisin growing and decidnons fruit enlture on the north.
ORIOLE LODGE
Some fourteen miles above Three Rivers on the northern flank of the east fork of the Kaweah, nestles beaneath the pines a lovely mountain tarn called Oriole lake. Its outlet forms a picturesque little stream which abounds in tront.
Near the lake is quite a bit of comparatively level land origin- ally the homestead location of "Uncle Dan" Highton. The location possessed such natural advantages for a delightful summer resort that a number of local residents, under the leadership of 1. G. Ogilvie, formed, in 1910, a stock company, purchased a site and are at present engaged in the erection thereon of artistic bungalows and other equipment. They have installed a sawmill and are cutting the material on the ground. The new road to Mineral King, soon to be completed, will render the place easy of access.
VENICE
The town of Woodville had, in 1857, dwindled to almost nothing. when its revival was attempted by D. B. James under the name of Venice. The new town was not to be on the site of the old, but further north near the southwestern corner of the Venice hills, and on the north side of the St. John river. At that time the St. John river extended bnt a short distance further west, there sinking into a swamp.
By reason of the fact that in hanling freight from Stockton to Visalia, in order to avoid bogs and swamps, it was preferable to travel by this route to Visalia, the new town grew and prospered. In addition to James' store and postoffice there came to be a saloon, boarding house, blacksmith shop, chair factory, distillery, butcher shop and billiard hall.
In the flood of 1862, however, almost the whole of the town was destroyed, and a continuons channel was opened from the sink of the St. John to Canoe creek and thence to Cross creek, thus forming
-
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the St. John river of today. Just below the site of the town, where the cement rock formation in the bed of the river beeame thinner, a fall eight feet in height was formed. During the flood of '68 this tall was entirely channeled out, and the stream was so broadened as to occupy much of the former townsite.
No attempt was made to rebuild the town and the settlement in the neighborhood decreased until once again the region became almost abandoned, and remained so until very recent years, when the discovery of the thermal belt lying round these hills has placed growth on a substantial and permanent basis, and Venice Cove, still further north, became the center of the district's population.
KLINK
Northwesterly from Venice Cove, on the Southern Pacific branch line, is the station of Klink, lying between Taurusa on the north and Kaweah on the south. For many years it was only a spur from which occasional shipments of wood and fruit were made. The sue- cess of the orange groves at Venice Cove has stimulated planting in the similar soil abutting the railroad near Klink, so that now quite a district is embraced by the new planting of the neighborhood. A general store has been established and it is expected that the railroad company will soon erect a suitable depot and install a regular agent.
WAUKENA
AAbont ten miles southwestward from Tulare City was a noted stock grazing country known as the Crossmore ranch. Several years ago a syndicate of Los Angeles capitalists purchased this ranch of twelve thousand acres and arranged a great colony scheme. The lands lie in the artesian belt, and there are a number of flowing wells. Besides dividing the lands up so as to be sold in small hold- ings, a town was laid out with broad boulevards and parks. The place-this on-coming city-the proprietors named Wankena, the beautiful. The tracts did not sell as readily as anticipated. On the completion of the Santa Fe railroad from Tulare to Corcoran, passing through the tract, a depot was established, and a small village has grown up there. The soil in the vicinity is well adapted to alfalfa and the rapidly developing dairy industry is making for the increased prosperity of the neighborhood.
WOODLAKE
Woodlake, situated some fifteen miles northeasterly from Visalia, between Naranjo and Redbanks and near the north shore of Bravo lake, is a town whose growth during the three or four years of its existence has been so phenomenal as to merit especial mention.
The town is now solidly and substantially built. having a hand- some two-story hotel with pressed brick front; several shops, a large
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concrete garage, a general store, a newspaper, a bank and other features. During the present year an anction sale of town lots was held and quite high prices were realized. Cement sidewalks and graded avenues are in evidence here as in the suburbs of a large city.
Development of this district began in 1907, when Jason Barton, J. W. Fewell and Adolph Sweet purchased a large traet on the east side of Cottonwood creek, in Elder and Townsend school districts, and situated about three miles north of Bravo lake. These men commenced extensive development work with the view to selling off tracts for colonists. Abundant water was found and cement pipe built and laid to carry it to the subdivisions. A considerable acreage was planted. This colony was called Elderwood and a store and postoffice of that name was established.
Now appeared on the scene Gilbert Stevenson of Los Angeles. a man of means and of great enterprise who, greatly impressed with the showing the young trees had made in growth and the fact that they had remained untonehed by frost, purchased a large tract to the southward, started a colony and founded a town, calling it Woodlake. The two districts, which merge into one are now called by this name, although South Woodlake and North Woodlake are sometimes heard.
The entire section has developed with magical rapidity and the brown hills that a few years ago were held worthless except for a seant spring pasturage are now set to groves and handsome residences are building in great number.
CALIFORNIA HOT SPRINGS
The California Hot Springs, formerly known as the Deer Creek Hot Springs, were long used by the Indians, and have for many years been a favorite camping spot for people in quest of game or health.
These springs are located about thirty miles southeast of Porter- ville, and twenty-two miles from Ducor. The springs are large streams of water, clear and sparkling and hot, gushing out of the rocks. Thousands of barrels run off daily into Deer creek. The daily flow is estimated at 190,000 gallons. The springs are in the edge of the pine forest, and are surrounded by groves of live oak and pine. The waters are highly charged with minerals.
The lands surrounding the springs were originally taken np by the Witt family, early settlers in that section of the county. In 1898, it was owned by T. J. and N. B. Witt. In that year the prop- erty was sold to L. S. Wingrove, G. K. Pike and J. F. Firebangh. These men were from Lindsay and Exeter. In April, 1901, Dr. C. E. Bernard of Visalia, bought ont the Firebaugh Pike interests. and until 1904 conducted the property under the name of Bernard and 5
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Wingrove. Dr. Bernard having died, his interest was in 1905 pur- chased by S. Mitchell of Visalia, and J. H. Williams of Porterville. In the following June the owners incorporated under the name California Hot Springs, Inc. The present owners are Mrs. Edith H. Williams, of San Diego; S. Mitchell, of Visalia; L. S. Wingrove and Joseph Mitchell of Hot Springs.
The springs are far and widely known for their curative prop- erties, especially for relief from rheumatic troubles, and a host of other complaints. Some of the springs have a temperature of one hundred and thirty degrees, while others are cold. The waters are used for drinking and bathing.
The springs are reached by stages from Porterville or Ducor, or by automobile or any other vehicle. The roads are kept in good condition. Many from Visalia make the trip there by auto. Lying back in the mountains are fine streams for trout and ranges for deer. Not being in the National park, hunting is a luxury in which one may here indulge.
TERRA BELLA
Years ago, before the establishment of warehouses in various towns on the east side of Tulare county. Terra Bella was the largest wheat shipping point in the state of California. The country was farmed in immense traets, whole sections being included in a single piece of grain. The homesteaders had found this virgin stretch of country, but, later, many had deserted it, having experienced a suc- cession of "dry" years, several in number, much to their disappoint- ment. Wheat raising continued profitable in good years, but the possibilities of the fertile soil, extending for many miles in every direction from the station at Terra Bella (beautiful earth). appealed to the keen insight of the promoter, who, fortified with results ob- tained in a small way by citrus planters, appreciated the fact that with the development of water at reasonable cost, the entire area could be transformed into profitable orange and lemon orchards.
Accordingly, the subdivision of several sections of land in and about Terra Bella was taken up three years ago by the Terra Bella Development Company, which corporation later passed from the hands of P. J. S. Montgomery and associates to a coterie of wealthy Los Angeles men, including Marco H. Hellman. G. A. Hart, W. H. Holliday, F. C. Ensign, W. A. Francis, and others. Since that time rapid strides have been made, both in the planting and improvement of orange groves and in the building of a town, modern in every respect,-the pride of its builders and the envy of many ambitious contemporaries.
Several thousand acres of oranges have been planted in the Terra Bella district with very good results, and the planting is being continued every year, with many new residents coming in.
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Terra Bella as a town is, for its age, in a class by itself, having graded and oiled streets, cement walks and eurbing, circulating water system, septic sewerage system, electric power and lights, telephone, a fine new $15,000 grammar school building, a $30,000 two-story brick hotel, a two-story brick business block erected at a cost of $45,000, a two-story brick structure housing the First National Bank of Terra Bella, a growing financial institution managed by T. M. Gronen, cashier; a mission style passenger station on the Southern Pacific. perhaps the handsomest station on that line in the county; a weekly newspaper; Wells Fargo express, etc. The population is growing, and indications are favorable for a splendid town. Terra Bella is situated about eight miles southwest of Porterville and five miles north of Dueor, another growing town in the new citrus belt which is also being transformed from wheat fields to a prosperous little city.
DUCOR AND RICIIGROVE
The town of Dncor is on the line of the Southern Pacific, south from Terra Bella about four miles. It is the point of departure for stages to the California Hot Springs. The principal improve- ment at Dncor at this time is the construction of a large two-story brick building, in which will be housed the First National Bank of Ducor, financed by leading citizens of that community. A fine two- story hotel and a two-story school house have been built, street improvements made, two churches erected, a fine park laid out and planted in trees and shrubbery. Numerons fine orange groves have been set out in the vicinity of Ducor, with more planting this year, while several large tracts are now being subdivided for sale to citrus planters.
Both Terra Bella and Dneor are wideawake towns, with com- mercial organizations, and the planted area will demand shortly the construction of citrus packing houses in both places.
Sonth of Ducor, in Tulare county, is another rich citrus section, Richgrove, where extensive improvements are being made by the same people who are promoting Terra Bella. Numerous tracts are being set in orange groves this spring.
All of this territory has the benefit of reasonable water conditions for irrigation, thermal climate for the growing of citrus fruits, and olives, good transportation and power facilities.
There is every reason to believe that the country from Terra Bella south to Richgrove will be one of the most productive and most prosperous sections in the early orange belt of Tulare county.
FARMERSVILLE
Farmersville, seven miles easterly from Visalia, is next to Visalia the oldest settlement in the county.
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The early settlers naturally made their homes in clearings along the creek bottoms, and near Outside creek and Deep creek farming operations comeneed in the early '50s, and a larger number of farmers settled in this vicinity than in any other.
The townsite was located in 1860 by John W. Crowley, and a relative named Jasper established a general merchandise store. The overland stage passed through the burg and a postoffice was located in the store. T. J. Brundage sueceeded as manager of the store and as postmaster and has made this his home ever since, aiding by every means in his power all enterprises tending to increase the welfare of the community. One of his sons still condnets the store and is heavily interested in farm lands and active in the develop- ment of the surrounding territory.
The first great factor in Farmersville's prosperity was the construction of the People's ditch. The Consolidated People's Ditch Company had obtained water rights dating from the '60s, and early in the '70s their canal through this section was completed. At the time the town was established, thousands of acres of land were under irrigation, and the vicinity soon became known as one of the choicest garden spots of the county.
The name Farmersville somehow fits the place, not that here are more farmers than elsewhere, but that the typical old-time prod- nets of the farm, such as corn and pumpkins and potatoes grow to a degree of size and perfection seldom obtained. Chinese gardeners quickly selected the locality as best adapted to their purpose and as soon as the growth of the other communities warranted, established fine vegetable gardens here, distributing the product over a wide territory.
The Briggs orchard, some three miles west of Farmersville, was the first extensive one in the county to come into bearing, and its first erops of 1888 and 1889 brought such a phenomenal return that a veritable boom in deciduous tree planting resulted.
Pinkham & MeKevitt, large fruit paekers of Vacaville, with some associates, bought and set out the Giant Oak and California Prune Company orchards of several hundred acres each; scores of individuals planted smaller tracts and in '91 A. C. Kuhn, a San Jose dried fruit packer, purchased the Arcadia Ranch of abont one thousand acres and set the same to fruit. This orchard has since passed into the hands of the California Fruit Canners Association. and has become one of the largest, best and most profitable in the state.
Farmersville has become a fruit center of no mean proportion, Inmdreds of carloads of fruit going forward annually as the product of its groves. The Farmersville prunes have come to be recognized
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by dealers as of superior grade, second in size and quality to none produced in the San Joaquin valley.
The Visalia electrie road, which passes through this section and makes stops at nearly every cross roads, as well as at Farmers- ville proper, is a great convenience to the residents. One section of the town clusters at the old site on the county road, where are the stores and schoolhouse, but near the railroad station, about a mile north, another village nucleus is forming which soon, no doubt, will require trading facilities of its own.
CAMP NELSON
Above Springville about seventeen miles, between the south and middle forks of the Tule river, at an elevation of about 4500 feet is the delightful summer resort known as Nelsons. At present the place is reached by a trail about eight miles in length connect- ing with the wagon road at the forks of the river.
While the retreat is surrounded by pines, there is much tillable land and berries, vegetables and fruits are raised to perfection. The meadow land grows timothy hay and there is quite a large apple orchard. At this elevation the summer climate is cool and pleasant.
Not alone for the onting pleasures in the immediate vicinity, however, has Nelsons become noteworthy. By reason of its location on the route to the Little Kern, Big Kern, Kern Lakes, Mt. Whitney and other points of interest in the higher Sierras it has grown to be an equipping station for tourists. A hundred pack and saddle animals are maintained for this service.
CAMP BADGER
Away up in the Sierras, east of the Dinuba country and near the Fresno county line, is Camp Badger. This is a stage station and a small village surrounded by a fine grazing country. It is on the road into the high Sierras and to some of the big lumber camps. It is an important place for summer campers to spend a time in the cool mountain air away from the heat of the valley. Some of the wildest and grandest scenery in the world lies in the high Sierras beyond, points which are readily accessible from Camp Badger.
It lies in the edge of the pine belt and in the early days was a very important camp for teamsters and Imbermen. The first saw- mills in the county were set up in the pineries near Badger. At one time there were as many as two hundred and fifty teams hauling Inmber from the mills through Camp Badger and down the Cotton- wood ereek to Visalia.
There is little of the former glory left to Badger, a store, post office and school being the only industries of today. The surround- ing country is largely devoted to stockraising.
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AUCKLAND
On the old Millwood road, going np Cottonwood creek, the first station was Auckland. As early as 1866 Mr. Harmon preempted the lands where the postoffice and store are. Soon afterward James Barton preempted the adjoining place. Stockraising was the princi- pal business of the early settlers and is likewise that of most of the present settlers. General farming is carried on to a limited extent. A postoffice, general store and school make up the town.
Several thrifty apple orchards producing fruit of an excellent quality are in the vicinity and this culture is engaging the attention of a number of new settlers.
KAWEAH STATION
Kaweah is not yet a town, merely a railroad station without an agent, but so rapidly is a thickly settled community clustering to the north of this station that a store has already been established and a little town will probably result. If so, it will be very close- within a stone's throw almost -- of the site of Woodville, the historic village first founded in the county.
The school and voting precinct are called Venice and the district is well adapted to general farming, fruit and dairying. The reten- tion of several large tracts by wealthy non-resident owners' has here- tofore retarded development somewhat.
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