San Diego County Biographies
 
WILLIAM NEWPORT

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


rancher near Menifee. The city of Chester, England, is one of the oldest cities 
of England. It still has its old walls that used to surround it to prevent 
invasion preserved. There is only one other city in England that has these 
ancient walls preserved. In this city was born and educated Mr. William Newport, 
the subject of this sketch. He was born June 5, 1856. His father, William 
Newport, was born in England in 1818, and his grandfather, Thomas Newport, was 
born in England in 1788. Mr. Newport's mother, Mary Newns, was also born in 
England in 1820, and married Mr. William Newport in 1854. They had but one 
child, the subject of this sketch. Mr. Newport's ancestors were all English 
farmers and he may be said to be a born farmer, as he loves the business and 
brings his great energy of character into the business of his choice. In 1876 he 
came to the United States for the purpose of buying a 2,000-acre farm and 
farming in this favored land. It was not luck but his wise judgment that sent 
him to the most favored and delightful portion of the United States�California. 
He landed at New York in 1876, and from there came to San Francisco County, and 
from there to Los Angeles, where he lived and farmed for nine years. He then 
came to Menifee and purchased 2,000 acres of land, nearly every foot of it plow 
land, and he is now farming on a large scale. When he moved to Menifee, although 
a young man, he resembled one of the patriarchs, as their were twelve wagons in 
his train, loaded with implements, provisions, lumber and his cook-house on 
wheels, a building one story high, 9x 18 feet. He had with him his men servants 
and his cattle and asses and horses. He found the valley very dry, with only a 
few poor people; but poor as they were they pitied the young man who, as they 
thought, was to make a failure of farming. When they unloaded their caravan he 
built a good ranch house and two large barns; he has planted ten acres to fruit 
and has laid out ample grounds and has planted and has many ornamental trees 
growing. He runs four gang plows and uses thirty-two work horses. They plow and 
sow twenty-eight acres of land in a day. He has his Chinese cook. This year he 
proposes to sow 3,000 acres of grain-1,600 acres of the best Australian white 
wheat and the balance in best brewing barley. He has 200 acres in alfalfa and 
intends to sow 100 more acres of it this year. He is going more fully into 
diversified farming. His lands are peculiarly well adapted to the production of 
blooded horses. He now has a fine drove of young horses and mules. He owns a 
fine thoroughbred horse from Hardwood the dam, by Richmond the sire. The animal 
shows fine breeding and will undoubtedly be very fast. Mr. Newport is also 
turning his attention to the breeding of Berkshire hogs and he has as the head 
of this a thoroughbred Berkshire that is as fine as any in the United States. 
Mr. Newport will not be satisfied with anything short of the best. He sows the 
best varieties of wheat and barley and makes it perfectly clean, and is able to 
make his own price on what he sells. His barns at one time this year contained 
20,000 sacks of grain. He has selected the site and adopted the plans for a 
palatial residence which is to go up in the near future. What a single man will 
do with such a house can only be conjectured. His present house in which he 
baches is capital, has a fine instrument in it and is full of costly pictures. 
He not only uses his brains, but muscle in his farming. He and his hands are up 
at half past four in the morning taking care of the stock, and the breakfast is 
eaten so that they go on the ranch as soon as it is clear. Some of his help have 
been with him from three to five years. He is a very genial gentleman and makes 
many warm friends. While others are complaining of hard times, this man of push 
and vim has barns full of grain and money in the bank. It is safe to say that he 
is a valuable factor in showing what his section of the country will do when 
judiciously tickled with the plow.
 
SOURCE:  An Illustrated History of Southern California:  Embracing the Counties 
of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower 
California� Chicago:  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890.  p.-  208-209