Imperial County, CA Biographies

Transcribed by Sally Kaleta, January, 2007.

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm




JOSEPH A. ESTUDILLO
 
 
                    The life record of Joseph A. Estudillo is interwoven with 
the history of Imperial County. His parents indeed are of the true pioneers of 
Southern California, and his father, Hon. Francisco Estudillo, was one of the 
first men to locate in Southern California. He served as United States Indian 
Agent for a period of four years during Grover Cleveland's administration. Mr. 
Estudillo's father was the owner of fifty-five hundred acres of land where the 
town of Hemet is located. At present the family have a ranch of two hundred and 
fifty acres in Riverside County. Joseph A. was born in San Jacinto, July 12, 
1876. He acquired his education in St. Vincent's and Santa Clara Colleges. 
During the early period in Imperial County, C. R. Rockwood and Dr. W. T. 
Heffernan purchased of Mr. Estudillo's father thirty-eight head of stock to be 
used in the engineering department in Imperial Valley, and Dr. Heffernan went to 
San Jacinto and made his selection of horses, and Joseph A., the subject of this 
review, accompanied him to the Valley, where he has always remained with the 
exception of five and a half years, when he traveled extensively. Mr. Estudillo 
acquired one hundred and sixty acres of land near Imperial, and now has eighty 
acres under cultivation. He was married November 19, 1916, to Miss Ida Twelves, 
a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Orson Twelves. Mr. Estudillo is a member of the 
Native Sons, and both he and his wife are active members of the Catholic church 
of Calexico. Mr. Estudillo started the first drug store in Calexico. He also 
served as the first postmaster of Calexico for a period of four years under the 
Cleveland administration. After he disposed of his drug store in 1910 he looked 
after mining interests for a time. Mr. Estudillo has the good-will and 
confidence of all who are associated with him.
 
Source: "The History of Imperial County, California," Elms and Franks Publ. Co., 
1918, pp. 401-402.