California Biographies 

Source:
History of Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo and Ventura Counties, California
by: C M Gidney - Santa Barbara. Benjamin Brooks - San Luis Obispo. 
Edwin M Sheridan - Ventura
Volumes II - Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, ILL., 1917

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


HORACE J. CRINKLAW. For a man who was thrown upon his own resources when about ten 
years of age, the achievements of Mr. Horace J. Crinklaw of Santa Susana in Ventura County, 
are sufficiently satisfying and indicate that he possessed a great deal of energy, sterling 
business sense and ambition. He is one of the largest property owners in that section of the 
county.
He was born in Franklin County, New York, August 18, 1859, a son of Andrew and Lucinda 
Crinklaw. He lived at home and began his education in the public schools, but his father dying in 
1868 be had to earn his own way. After that he lived with William Clarke and while working on 
his farm had further advantages in the way of education.
Mr. Crinklaw first came to California in 1878, locating in Ventura County. At Springville he 
rented 320 acres, which he farmed for a couple of years, and then entered the service of the 
Southern Pacific Railway at Los Angeles as a locomotive fireman, being promoted after two 
years to locomotive engineer. After two years of handling the throttle he resigned and did team 
contracting work in Los Angeles for a couple of years. Following an experience of another two 
years in mining at Julian in San Diego County he returned to Los Angeles County and spent six 
years as a renter of the Laguna ranch of 550 acres. From that time forward his operations took 
on an increasing scope. After giving up the Laguna ranch he rented 2,500 acres owned by I. W. 
Hellman, Judge Bicknall and Mrs. Stephen M. White. He occupied that property for thirteen 
years. Returning to Ventura County Mr. Crinklaw took up his home on 130 acres he had bought 
near Santa Susana in 1905. Beginning with that purchase his holdings have been increased from 
time to time. He bought a 160 acre and a 143 acre ranch, giving him all told 433 acres which 
he has planted to beans and grain. Another purchase was 330 acres at Somis in this county, and 
that is also a bean plantation. His interests have extended to the Village of Santa Susana, where 
he owns a two-story building rented for a general merchandise store, a one-story garage, a 
one-story blacksmith shop, a one-story barber shop. Besides he has his own beautiful two-story 
home.
Mr. Crinklaw is a member of the Christian Church and in politics a republican. He was married 
at Springville, Ventura County, April 23, 1883, to Miss Eva Mahan. They have five children. 
Violet Mead lives at Redlands, California; Rena and Lou are both teachers at Santa Susana; 
Harry is attending high school at Hollywood, California ; Eva is in the public schools at home.