The mind can conjure no picture in the line of fruit-growing so beautiful or attractive as an orange grove, and this ęsthetic side of the culture of the orange appeals to the imagination of the Easterner as strongly, perhaps, as the millions that flow into the coffer annually from the sale of this delicious fruit.
Men from all states of the Union can be found among the successful orange grove owners of Southern California. Among these Joseph Elliot of Pomona Valley is entitled to mention. He was born in Allen County, Kans., October 12, 1874, and reared in the town of Colony, Anderson County, in the Sunflower State. In 1891, at the age of seventeen, he came to Pomona, and, like many other young men, worked in the orange groves of the Valley. He was in the employ of the Lindsey Brothers of Ontario, setting out orange groves, and helped set out many of the productive groves in Pomona Valley and was largely instrumental in the development of the industry.
For ten years he followed the barber's trade at Pomona and Covina, and in 1902 purchased his present five-acre place at the corner of Alexander and East Kingsley Avenue. He has a finely developed orange orchard, one-half of which is planted to Navel and the other half to Valencia trees. He has also fifteen twelve-year-old walnut trees and a family orchard. The property was undeveloped at the time he bought the land and he set out all the trees and developed the place himself. In 1916, his 192 Valencia trees produced 1,500 boxes of fruit, and 192 Navel trees produced 800 boxes of fruit. He has installed a fine cement-pipe system of irrigation on the property and is the owner of a manufacturing plant of cement pipes for irrigation purposes. He does this work in his spare time, and has installed a number of irrigation systems in the Valley. His wide acquaintance with and excellent knowledge of the orange industry, coupled with good judgment and industry, has enabled him to make a success of the business.
His marriage united him with Alva M. Robker, a native daughter of California, whose father was among the early pioneers in Mendocino County, who engaged in the lumber business. Their seven children are: Verna, Frances, Alfred, Margaret, Maxine, Ruth and Phyllis. In his fraternal affiliations Mr. Elliot is a Moose.
History of Pomona Valley, California, with Biographical Sketches
of The Leading Men and Women of the Valley Who Have Been
Identified With Its Growth and Development from the Early Days
to the Present
Published in Los Angeles, Cal., by the Historic Record Company
1920
Transcribed by Linda Jackson 10/07/08, Pages 526-527
Los Angeles County Biographies ~ Archive Biography Index ~ Archive Index
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