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


 
FRANKLIN E. KELLOGG. There is much interest attaching to the vigorous and prolific career of 
this sterling citizen, who is a native of California and a scion of one of the early pioneer 
families of the state, where his father established residence prior to the ever memorable 
discovery of gold. Both father and son made records of splendid achievement in connection 
with the civic and material development and progress of California, and he whose name 
introduces this review is known as one of the most liberal, loyal and public-spirited citizens of 
Santa Barbara.
 
Franklin Erwin Kellogg was born in Napa Valley, Napa County, California, on the 22d of 
September, 1851, and is a son of Florentine Erwin Kellogg and Rebecca Jane (Williams) 
Kellogg. His father was born at Batavia, New York, and was a child at the time of the family 
immigration to the wilds of Morgan County, Illinois, in 1818. Florentine E. Kellogg was reared 
to manhood under the conditions and influences of pioneer life in Illinois, and in 1846, as a 
well fortified frontiersman, he made the weary and dangerous trip across the plains to 
California. He settled at a point about midway between St. Helena and Calistoga, where he 
engaged in farming and also found demand for his services as a skilled mechanic. After the 
discovery of gold in California he shared to a certain extent in the excitement and became 
concerned with mining operations in the gold fields, but his larger and greater success was 
that which he gained through his activities as a farmer and fruit grower. In 1848 he planted 
the first English walnuts in the northern part of the state, and in the same year he planted the 
first vineyard of commercial importance. To him was due also the planting of the first peach 
and apple orchards of any importance, and he was the first man to ship grapes, apples and 
peaches to San Francisco. He was a man of indomitable energy and public spirit, and his name 
and that of his noble wife merit high place on the roll of the honored pioneers of California.
 
Franklin E. Kellogg acquired his early education in the schools of California and his broader 
academic training was gained in Illinois College, at Jacksonville, Illinois, in which he was 
graduated on the 6th of June, 1872. On the 15th of the following August was solemnized his 
marriage to Miss Sarah Frances Foster, and for a year thereafter Mr. Kellogg was engaged in 
the study of law, at Hannibal, Missouri. In June, 1873, he returned to the old home in Napa 
Valley, and for the ensuing fourteen years his attention was given principally to teaching in the 
schools of his native state, his record in the pedagogic profession having been one that was 
most successful. In February, 1877, Mr. Kellogg and his wife established their home at Goleta, 
Santa Barbara County, where for the ensuing ten years he continued as the successful and 
popular principal of the Goleta grammar school. His removal to that place had been prompted 
mainly by his desire to assume the active management of the sixty-acre farm which had been 
presented to him by
His father, the same having been purchased at a cost of $150 an acre.  Mr. Kellogg planted the 
tract principally in English walnuts, and with the exception of four acres, he retained this farm 
in his possession and made it his place of residence for more than thirty years.  He made it one 
of the model places of Santa Barbara County and when he finally disposed of the property on 
the 24th of April 1897, he received $1,000 an acre for the same During the last eleven years of 
his residence on this fine homestead Mr. Kellogg was a director and secretary and manager of 
the Santa Barbara county Walnut Growers’ Association, his retention of his official positions 
with which was compassed by the unanimous vote of the members of the organization.  After 
selling his farm Mr. Kellogg resigned his position as secretary and was succeeded by his son 
Erwin A.  Two years later the son resigned the office and the father was again elected 
secretary of the association, which he continued to serve in this capacity for the ensuing seven 
years.  Within the eighteen years of his incumbency of the position of secretary the 
association’s sale of nuts brought several millions of dollars in return, and under the effective 
regime of Mr. Kellogg every dollar was collected.
 
On the list of March, 1907, Mr. Kellogg was elected secretary of the Santa Barbara Chamber 
of Commerce, and in his six years’ incumbency of this important position he made a 
characteristically vigorous and effective administration.  During his administration of the 
office the Chamber of Commerce exerted powerful influence in effecting the erection of the 
new post office building in Santa Barbara, in the founding in this city of the California Normal 
School of Manual Arts and Home Economics, and in the construction of the viaducts along the 
Rincon beach between Santa Barbara and Ventura.  For the support of the last mentioned 
enterprise the Chamber of Commerce collected by popular subscription nearly $50,000.
 
Mr. Kellogg has been a valued leader in both civic and industrial advancement in his native 
commonwealth, and while residing on his farm he was for many years retained as one of the 
corps of lecturers for the State Farmer’s Institute, his addresses, always vigorous and practical, 
having been mainly on the subjects of the English walnut, dairying, transportation facilities and 
needed legislation.  He was specially insistent in his
Advocacy, through the public addresses of the initiative and referendum policy in popular 
elections and also the policy of recall of incompetent or otherwise undesirable public official.  
In 1882 he established the Goleta Dairy and in 1889 he amplified his enterprise by founding 
the Goleta Creamery, both of which were continued in operation under his effective direction 
until July 31, 1907.
 
Mr. Kellogg assumed a position of leadership in connection with the movement for the 
construction of the tunnel aqueduct to supply Santa Barbara with water, and the project 
reached its culmination during the time he was serving as secretary of the Chamber of 
Commerce, which body has fostered the important undertaking from the time of its inception.  
On the recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. Kellogg was appointed a member 
of the board of water commissioners of Santa Barbara, of which position he has been the 
incumbent for several years.  He has been an ardent advocate of the building of storage 
reservoirs for irrigation purposes, and in behalf of this cause he has delivered many effective 
public addresses.  By the Chamber of Commerce he was appointed to report on the best 
system of water service for Santa Barbara, and after careful investigation he reported that in 
his judgment the most effective method was to impound the water of the Santa Ynez River and 
to bring the water by tunnel to the city.  He was not the first to make this recommendation but 
he ably emphasized that which had been made previously George F. Wright, the city engineer.  
This system was eventually adopted, and in the various bond elections for procuring funds for 
constructing the tunnel Mr. Kellogg was untiring in his efforts, which were represented in 
personal activities, in vigorous newspaper articles and public addresses.  Nine years were 
required to complete this great public-utility improvement, and the tunnel is 19,560 feet in 
length.  The incidental project was the largest ever attempted by so small a city as Santa 
Barbara.  To accomplish the purpose the city issued bonds to a total of $600,000, and up to the 
time of this writing, in the autumn of 1916, the revenue from the sale of water has brought 
more money into the city treasury than the amount of the bond payment and interest.
 
Mr. Kellogg maintains an independent position in political affairs and supports the men and 
measures meeting the approval of his judgment, irrespective of strict partisan lines.  He is one 
of the popular and appreciative members of Santa Barbara Parlor of the Native Sons of the 
Golden West.
 
In conclusion is entered brief record concerning the children of Mr. and Mrs. Kellogg: Elmer P. 
is proprietor of the Pottery Daily Farm, in Santa Barbara County.  Minnie L. is the wife of Fred 
L. Hogue, a representative farmer of Santa Barbara County and a member of the firm of 
Hogue Kellogg Company engaged in the seed and bean business at Ventura.  Mary R. is the 
wife of R. C. Watson, head bookkeeper for the above mentioned firm of Hogue Kellogg 
Company.  Erwin A. is the mayor of the City of Ventura and partner of the firm of Hogue 
Kellogg Company.  Clarence F. is Federal veterinary inspector at the plant of the Cudahy 
Packing Company in the City of Los Angeles.  Leonard F. is a prosperous young farmer near 
Lompoc, Santa Barbara County.