Los Angeles County
Biographies
WILLIAM WOLFSKILL
An American pathfinder, backwoodsman, and pioneer of the West from the Mississippi river to the Pacific ocean, William Wolfskill arrived in Los Angeles pueblo in 1830. He was born in Madison county, Kentucky, on March 20, 1798, a son of Joseph and Sarah (Reid) Wolfskill. His grandfather was born in Germany and immigrated to the United States, settling in Pennsylvania, and later going to Kentucky. His maternal grandfather, John Reid, was born in Ireland, came to America, and served in the Revolutionary war. He settled in Kentucky. In 1808, the Wolfskill family went to Howard county, Missouri, where they were exposed to hostile Indians during the War of 1812. In 1822, William Wolfskill left for the Pacific coast and ten years later, was permanently identified with California. He hunted and trapped along the Rio Grande but soon his attention was directed to horticulture, he becoming especially interested in the growing of grapes which were to be the foundation of his success. He developed his homestead in what is now the heart of Los Angeles. The first orange orchard was planted by him in 1841, and he was known as the father of the orange industry in California. With his brother, John Wolfskill, he prospected over northern California and as a result acquired a grant of four square leagues in what is now Yolo and Solano counties. John Wolfskill remained in charge of that property and helped to develop that section of this state. There were five of the Wolfskill brothers in California, Milton being the last to pass away.
William Wolfskill married Magdalena Lugo, a native of Santa Barbara, born in 1841, and the daughter of Don Jose Ygnacio and Dona Rafaela (Romero) Lugo. She became the mother of six children and died in 1862. Juana, the oldest, died in 1863. Magdalena became the wife of Frank Sabichi. Joseph W. died in 1928 and Louis in 1884. Francesca (Mrs. Charles J. Shepherd), and Mrs. H. D. Barrows.
William Wolfskill died October 3, 1866, and was mourned by all who knew him. The family were members of the Catholic Church. Mr. Wolfskill was a human sort of man and loved simplicity and sincerity. He was sociable, but direct and sometimes blunt in his statements. However, in honesty and those sterling qualities that are held to be the measure of a true man, he had few superiors.
Transcribed
by Joyce Rugeroni.
Source: California
of the South Vol. V, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages
331-332, Clarke Publ., Chicago, Los Angeles, Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 Joyce Rugeroni.
GOLDEN NUGGET'S LOS ANGELES BIOGRAPHIES