Ventura
County
Biographies
JOSE FRANCISCO OBIOLS
A member of one of the old Spanish
families of California, Jose F. Obiols is well-known in the Santa Ana valley
and his industry and ability have placed him with its leading ranchers. He was born in Ventura on the 19th
of March, 1871, a son of Yisdio Obiols,
who was a native of Spain and came to California during the historic gold rush
of 1849. He was a pioneer settler of
Ventura, where he conducted a hotel, a saloon and a stage depot. In his community he was a man of prominence
and became the first justice of the peace at Ventura. He acquired large holdings of land in Ventura
County and ran sheep over the Santa Ana valley.
Sagacious and farsighted, he prospered in his various undertakings and
also contributed to the development of the district in which he long made his
home.
Jose F. Obiols acquired his
education in the schools of the Santa Ana valley and as a youth herded his
father’s sheep, thus becoming familiar with the topography of the valley. He
also acquired a practical knowledge of agricultural pursuits while working for
his father and on starting out for himself bought a portion of the Gibson ranch
in the Ojai valley, cultivating that tract for fourteen years. On the expiration of that period he sold the
property and in 1918 purchased his present ranch near Ventura in the Santa Ana
valley. His place originally embraced
six hundred twenty-seven acres and he had one hundred fifty acres in hay,
devoting eighty-five acres to the raising of fruit, mainly prunes, peaches and
apricots. He now has three hundred acres
under cultivation and eighty-five acres of this is planted to apricots and
walnuts. He has added many improvements
to the ranch and his farm and orchard are among the finest in this lovely
valley.
Mr. Obiols first married Miss Maria
Rodrigues, of Ventura, who died in 1913, leaving a daughter, Florence, now
living in San Francisco. Later Mr.
Obiols married Maria Lopez, a native of Spain, who passed ay in 1916. For his third wife he chose Victoria Botiller, of Ventura, and Evelyn, their only child, is attending
the local schools. Fraternally Mr. Obiols
is identified with the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, belonging to
Ventura Lodge, No. 1430. He lives up to
the beneficent teachings of the order and is esteemed for his genial nature,
his sincerity and kindness of heart. He
stands for improvement and progress and lends the weight of his support to all
movements for the benefit of his district.
Transcribed by
V. Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: California of the South
Vol. III, by John Steven McGroarty, Pages 385-386, Clarke Publ.,
Chicago, Los Angeles,
Indianapolis. 1933.
© 2012 V. Gerald Iaquinta.
GOLDEN
NUGGET'S VENTURA
BIOGRAPIES