California Genealogy

One of El Monte’s early settlers, a successful rancher and walnut grower, was Lewis Farmer, born in Harlan County, Kentucky, May 15, 1848. His parents were William C. and Catherine (Bronson) Farmer, natives of Kentucky; Lewis was the first-born of a family of ten children. Remaining at home until he was twenty-two years of age, Lewis Farmer obtained his education in the common school of his community and later by attending a subscription school in winder and working on his father’s farm during the summer. In 1872, he was elected county clerk of his home county and held the office … Read more

About a mile and a half southeast of El Monte may be seen one of the finest walnut groves of Southern California, the pride of its owner, William Elliott, until his death in 1913. When he purchased this property, consisting of seventy acres of wild, barren land, it gave little indication of its present beauty and productiveness. However, by a close application of the knowledge of California ranching, which several previous years had given him, Mr. Elliott made this farm one of the finest in the section. He owned three hundred and twenty-two acres all set to walnuts, which he … Read more

Alexander Elliott, a brother of William Elliott, a sketch of whom is found elsewhere in these pages, was born in 1862, in Paisley, Scotland, coming in 1867 to Ontario, Canada, with his parents, where he lived until 1884, when, with his brother William, he came to California and settled near El Monte. Mr. Elliott engaged in farming following several years employment together with his brother, William, as foreman on the E.J. Baldwin Ranch. He was successful as a walnut grower, having acquired land from the Baldwin estate and developed his holdings as the industry grew. He was for years a … Read more

James R. Durfee, successful rancher and realtor, and a native son of El Monte, was born January 22, 1874. He is the son of James D. and Diantha (Cleminson) Durfee, well known early pioneers of this district a sketch of whom is to be found elsewhere in this work. James R. Durfee, was educated in the La Puente district school, now known as the Temple School situated near the old family homestead. He remained at home until he was twenty years of age, when he married and engaged in farming for himself on about one hundred acres comprising a portion … Read more

James D. Durfee was one of the most successful farmers of this district. His fine farm is located on the Temple Road, about three miles south of El Monte. Mr. Durfee was born in Adams County, Illinois, in 1840. His father, James Durfee, was a native of Rhode Island, and his mother, Nee Cynthia Soule, was born in New York. The death of his parents occurring when he was quite young left him an orphan, and dependent upon his own exertions for support and education. He remained in the county of his birth until fifteen years of age, and then … Read more

Coming to El Monte in 1893 when twenty years of age, Afred C. Drake, has been an active worker in the development and growth of the walnut industry in El Monte. Born March 10, 1873, in New York State, he was an only son of James and Martha (Vincent) Drake, the former of whom was a native of New York and the latter of Ontario, Canada. On his arrival in California, Mr. Drake worked with his father on the latter’s ranch near El Monte, on Santa Anita Road, for a year or so, later buying a ranch for himself near … Read more