San Luis Obispo County Biographies

ARZA PORTER

Submitted by Peggy Hooper

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


ARZA PORTER was born in Lima, Livingston County, New York, March 28. 1838, and 
was there reared and educated. Livingston County, besides being famous for its rich 
soil, magnificent farms, trout streams, trout ponds, etc., is also famous for its schools 
with well developed and well defined systems of study. The Geneseo Normal School, 
located at Geneseo in the beautiful Genesee Valley, is perhaps the largest of these 
institutions; but the Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, located at Lima, is the oldest and 
probably the best known throughout the country. It was the latter institution that Mr. 
Porter attended for a time, being engaged in his studies there up to the time the family 
decided to move West. On account of the delicate health of Mr. Porter's father, who 
was threatened with consumption, the family home was now moved to Morris, Grundy 
County, Illinois. Here Mr. Porter lived for four years on a farm, owned by his father. He 
then made up his mind to go further west and seek new fields of labor. Hearing of the 
military excitement at Salt Lake City, in 1858, he crossed the plains with ox teams to that 
point. Finding nothing there to interest him, he planned to return home; but, owing to 
the heavy fall of snow, the trip across the plains was, of course. impracticable, and he 
decided to go to California, although he originally had no thought of going so far. The 
party of which he was a member then packed their blankets and walked from Salt Lake 
City to Los Angeles, California, the entire trip across the plains from Illinois consuming 
six months and a half of time. 

Once in California, Mr. Porter has since resided here, only returning East once, in 1874, 
for a visit. Los Angeles was his home from 1858 to 1863. A part of that time he was in 
the employ of the Stage Company, as he was also subsequently, when he moved to 
Santa Barbara. Mr. Porter came to Santa Barbara in 1863, and with the best interests 
of this city and county he was very closely identified for many years. He was elected 
Sheriff of the county in 1865, and held the office for six years. For two terms he was 
also a member of the Common Council, commencing with the year 1873, or as near that 
as can be recalled. 

It was in Santa Barbara that Mr. Porter was so fortunate as to meet Mr. Isaac J. Sparks 
and his family. Mr. Sparks, a sketch of whose life appears elsewhere in this publication, 
was then well advanced in years, but apparently strong and hearty. Mr. Porter was 
married in 1870 to Miss Rosa Sparks, and up to very recent years continued to make 
Santa Barbara his home. At present Mr. and Mrs. Porter reside with their family, 
which consists of six children, in the Huasna Valley, San Luis Obispo County. Their 
ranch consists of two square leagues of land (something over 10,000 acres), and is a part 
of the original grant of the Mexican Government to Mr. Sparks. This splendid property is 
situated in as healthy a spot as there probably is in the world. No damp winds and no 
fogs are to be found in this valley. The soil, as might be expected, is rich and productive, 
and for fruit purposes apparently cannot be excelled. Mr. Porter has recently set out an 
orchard of twelve acres, near his house, containing a grape vineyard, and peach, prune 
and apricot trees � a model in its way. The trees are only four to six years old and, 
without irrigation, the yield this year (1890) is something enormous, the peaches being 
especially large and of rare quality. As this was the owner's first experiment in fruit culture 
on the place it . illustrates well the remarkable fertility of the soil and its special adaptability 
for fruit raising. Mr. and Mrs. Porter are universally popular; their home is distinguished 
for its hospitality, the visitor being welcomed with the kindness and attention so 
characteristic of the Californian. 

Since making his home in San Luis Obispo County, Mr. Porter has held public office on 
one occasion. In 1884 he was elected Assemblyman, defeating Judge D. R. McVenable, 
his opponent, who was the following term elected to the same office over H. M. Warden. 

History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California  - by 
C.M. Gidney, Benjamin Brooks, Edwin M. Sheridan, Vol I, II.  -Lewis Publ. Co., 
Chicago, 1917.