Los Angeles County, CA, Biographies

This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives 
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JOHN VILLINGER 
 
is the owner of one of the most complete nurseries to be found in the San 
Gabriel Valley. His ten-acre tract of land is located about four miles south of 
Azusa, in the Azusa school district. Mr. Villinger purchased this land and 
started his nursery in May, 1887, and his success is best shown by stating that 
at this writing (April, 1889), he has 40,000 Washington Navel orange trees and 
80,000 seedlings which are ready for budding. The most of his attention has been 
devoted to citrus fruits, but he is now entering into the production of 
ornamental trees and floral products. He gives a personal attention to his 
nursery, and is constantly studying to gain the best results to be obtained. His 
improvements consist of a substantial cottage residence and well-ordered 
out-buildings, etc., besides two cottages for his employ�s. Mr. Villinger is a 
native of California, dating his birth at Stockton, May 16, 1852, the son of Leo 
and Mary Villinger. His father was a native of Germany, who in early manhood 
emigrated to the United States, and followed the occupation of a jeweler in 
various cities in the East until 1849, when he came to California and located in 
Stockton, where he established himself in business. After some five years there 
he took up his residence ten miles from Stockton and engaged in farming, which 
he continued until his death, which occurred in 1874. The subject of this sketch 
was reared as a farmer, upon his father's farm, until he reached his majority. 
He then went to Butte County and located at Briggs Station, where he engaged in 
agricultural pursuits until 1878. In that year he returned to San Joaquin 
County, and took up his residence at Lodi, engaging in trading, real-estate 
business, etc. In 1883 Mr. Villinger located at San Jacinto, San Diego County, 
and opened a real-estate business which he conducted until March, 1887, when he 
came to Los Angeles County and located about two miles south of Azusa. The next 
two months were spent in seeking a desirable place in which to establish his 
nursery, and finally selecting his present location, he entered heartily into 
carrying out his design of establishing a really representative nursery of 
Southern California. It is not a large amount of trees that he is seeking to 
produce but an approved variety of a thrifty and hardy growth that shall be free 
from disease or scale. Mr. Villinger is a strong believer in his section as one 
of the finest and most productive fruit-growing sections in Los Angeles County, 
and is ready to aid any enterprise that will develop its resources and invite a 
desirable class of settlers. He is a stockholder in the Azusa Water Development 
and Irrigation Company, which company supplies his land with water. In political 
matters he is an ardent Republican. He is a member of Lodi Lodge, No. 259, I. O. 
O. F. In 1879 Mr. Villinger married Miss Belle Lewis, a native of Washington 
Territory. Her parents, Gabriel and Louise (Carroll) Lewis, were from Indiana, 
but were among the pioneers of Washington Territory. There is but one child born 
from this marriage, Arthur Delay. Mr. Villinger's mother is now residing in 
Santa Ana. His sister, Mrs. Catherine Goodwin., and his brother Leo are also 
residents of that place. His brother Asa is in his employ and living upon the 
nursery farm. His other brother, Lucien, is a resident of Hollister, California.
 
An Illustrated History of Los Angeles County, California �  Chicago, The Lewis 
Publishing Company, 1889   Page 824
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler