Dear lists; If anyone recognizes this family, Please contact :) Sincerely, Cathleen ORANGE COUNTY CALIFORNIA WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF THE LEADING MEN AND WOMEN OF THE COUNTY WHO HAVE BEEN IDENTIFIED WITH ITS GROWTH AND DEVELOPEMENT FROM THE EARLY DAYS TO THE PRESENT HISTORY BY SAMUEL ARMOR - 1921 979.496 H2a (El Vista Stake Center FHC) BLUFORD C. BAXTER. - An interesting example of one man's struggle toward success in this, his native state, and his unaided achievement of that end after many discouragements and ups and downs may be found in the life story of Bluford C. Baxter. Born February 25, 1866, in Mendocino County, Cal., he is a son of John and Mary (Taylor) Baxter, the former a native of Tennessee, and the latter of Missouri, both now deceased. The father crossed the plains to California in 1849, coming from Missouri, and cut timber n Mendocino County, later ranching in Los Angeles County in the early seventies, near Compton. He also took up Government land two and one-half miles south of Anaheim, and still later located at Wilmington, before the city of Long Beach was started. Bluford C. Baxter attended the country schools in Mendocino, and then at Little Lake, near Whittier, Los Angeles County, and also at Los Nietos. As a young man he worked for wages on ranches in Kern County. Locating in Los Angeles, he ran a transfer business for fifteen years in that city. He finally decided on the Placentia district for further endeavors, and rented land for ranching activities, and was the second man to plant and raise sweet potatoes on a large scale, cultivating as high as 150 acres of that edible and producing from 100 to 250 sacks to the acre. He was called the Sweet Potato King and had a spcial brand, of first quality, which sold readily at advanced prices, being shipped in carload lots to the mining district of Arizona. In 1906 Mr. Baxter bought twenty acres of raw land on East Orangethrope Avenue and raised sweet potatoes at first, then, in 1910, he planted his acreage to Valencia oranges, and now has a finely producing grove, improved with cement pipes and laterals for irrigating. He owns his own home in Placentia and is a stockholder in the Placentia Mutual Orange Association. Among his interesting reminiscences of the earlier days in the county is the fact that he helped haul the first load of lumber for the first oil derrick erected in Orange County; this was located at Olinda, and Doheny, the present oil king, was the man who drilled for oil, in the interests of the Santa Fe Railway. The present scope of the oil industry in this district was beyond the wildest dreams of those days and is but an instance of the wealth still to be unearthed in this wonderful county. The marriage of Mr. Baxter, which occurred Novermber 25, 1914, united him with Margaret Hurless, a native of Iowa, and one daugher, Phyllis, has been born to them; they also cherish an adopted daughter, Claudine. As a self-made man who has succeeded against obstacles, Mr. Baxter is a fine example of an American and Californian, and with characteristic loyalty he adheres to the theory that the man who grasps his opportunities can hardly help but succeed in this truly Golden State. Mr. Baxter is at present residing in Beaumont, Cal.. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Written 1921