Orange County
Biographies
JOHN CUBBON
John Cubbon, deceased, was one of the earliest pioneers of Santa Ana, where he made
his home for sixty-tree years and figured prominently in many phases of
community life. He was born at Castletown, Isle of Man,
June 15, 1848, being the only child of Robert and Ann (Faragher)
Cubbon and a descendent of the old historic Manx
family. He acquired his education in
private schools and was a young man of about twenty years when in 1868 he
crossed the Atlantic to the United
States.
From New York he proceeded to Isthmus
of Panama and thence up the coast to San
Francisco, where he landed on the 8th of
May, 1868. He first obtained employment
as a farm hand in the Sacramento valley, taking
this opportunity to accustom himself to the ways of the new land, and in the
fall of 1869 went to San Diego,
there remaining for one year. It was in
1870 that he came to what is now Orange
County and began farming
here, but his first experience was not encouraging, for the grasshoppers ruined
his crops. In 1871, in partnership with
Robert McFadden, he established the first port packing industry in Santa Ana and also
conducted a dairy business on South
Main Street.
Undismayed by the failure of his first farming venture, Mr. Cubbon purchased land south of Santa Ana and while residing thereon bought
and improved two other ranches. In 1887
he sold the three ranches and bought his home place in Santa Ana.
In addition to this property he owned sixty acres nearby. He was one of the first to sow grain on the
San Joaquin ranch and raised barley on an extensive scale there and at El
Toro. Moreover, he was largely
instrumental in the organization of Santa Ana Walnut Growers Association, of
which he served as president for three years and was a director from the
beginning until the time when he quit ranching.
While Orange was still a part of Los Angeles County, Mr. Cubbon
was appointed deputy county assessor and served in that capacity for four
years, the two counties being separated during his last year in office. In the early days he rendered efficient
service as road overseer, opening up and building roads that have been
invaluable in the general development and growth of the county. In 1910, he was one of the organizers and
became president of the California National Bank of Santa Ana, which opened its
doors for business the following year.
At the time of Mr. Cubbons’ arrival in Santa Ana in 1870, the
town had been founded for little more than a year and contained but a few
wooden houses. With the passing years he
witnessed its growth to a city population of thirty-five thousand, and no
citizen of Santa Ana was held in higher esteem by his host of friends and by
those whom he benefited. He, with M. M. Crookshank and George Minter developed the south part of Santa Ana. He was one of the first to set out an orange
grove on Lemon Heights and develop that section, having
over eighty acres in oranges and lemons.
Besides his ranching interests, he accumulated several business
buildings which he developed into modern structures. A man of charitable and philanthropic spirit,
he rendered timely and generous assistance to many in a quiet, unostentatious
way and withheld his support from no movement or measures calculated to advance
the welfare of the community. Many years
ago Cubbon
Street was named in his honor, against his wishes,
by Ed Tedford, then city clerk.
In
September, 1875 Mr. Cubbon was married to Miss
Catherine Kelly, a native of the Isle of Man, who died in Santa Ana, California,
November 11, 1897. The four children of
this union were as follows: William R., of
Balboa, California;
Elmer B., a resident of Brawley, this state; Catherine Elizabeth, who is the
wife of Clarence Skiles and resides at 902 French
Street, Santa Ana, where she and her husband lived with her father for many
years prior to the latter’s death; and one son who died in infancy. Miss Margaret Ore, a niece of John Cubbon, also resides at the family home at 902 French Street. Mr. Cubbon also had
three grandchildren, namely: Mrs. Margaret
Ege, of El Centro, California; Mrs. Catherine Siegel of Newport
Beach, California, who has a son,
John Siegel, Jr.; and Hazel Cubbon, of Brawley, California. There are also relatives living in the Isle
of Man.
Mr. Cubbon was a republican in politics and fraternally was
affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, belonging to both the
subordinate lodge and encampment. He was
also a member of the Sunset Club of Santa Ana and the Episcopal Church, and was
one of the organizers of the Orange County Auto Club. He enjoyed the warm friendship and high
regard of all with whom he came in contact in the varied relations of
life. John Cubbon
died on the 2nd of February, 1933, in his eighty-fifth year. His passing was deeply mourned and his memory
will ever be cherished in the hearts of those who were near and dear to him.
Transcribed
By: Michele Y. Larsen on March 9, 2012.
Source: California
of the South Vol. II,
by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
167-169, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Michele
Y. Larsen.
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