Luther C. Tibbets facts for kids
Luther Calvin Tibbets (born June 26, 1820 – died July 21, 1902) was an important pioneer in Riverside, California. He started as a merchant and farmer in Maine. During the American Civil War, he supplied goods to the government from New York City. After the war, he had a store in Virginia. In 1870, he moved to California. Luther and his wife, Eliza Tibbets, became famous for growing the very first two Washington Navel orange trees in Riverside around 1875. The success of these special oranges helped the California citrus industry grow very quickly.
Early Life and Learning
Luther C. Tibbets was born in South Berwick, Maine. He grew up on a farm, learning a lot about farming from a young age. He also went to local schools and later started working in stores as a clerk.
Working and Moving West
Luther Tibbets began his career in the grocery business. During the American Civil War, he worked from New York City. He sold large amounts of grain and cereal to the government. After the war, in 1867, Luther and Eliza moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, where he opened a store. They faced some difficult times there.
In 1870, Luther Tibbets moved to California, becoming one of the first settlers in Riverside. He died in 1902 and is buried with his wife Eliza in the Evergreen Memorial Park and Cemetery in Riverside.
In 1873, Eliza Tibbets received two special orange trees. These trees were sent by William Saunders, a botanist who was the Director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Washington, D.C.. He had gotten the original cuttings for these trees from Bahia, Brazil.
These new oranges were called Washington Navel oranges. They were very popular because they didn't have any seeds! Since these oranges are a special type, they can only be grown by taking a small piece (a graft) from an existing tree. The Tibbets family sold these small pieces to other growers at a fair price. They didn't want to make a lot of money from a gift from the government. Their efforts helped spread this amazing orange throughout California.
Family Life
Luther Tibbets had a family with five children: Harriet, Francis J., Joanna F., Luther Calvin, Jr., and Minnie. Harriet married Eliza's son, James B. Summons. Luther and Eliza, along with some of their children, moved to Fredericksburg, Virginia, for a few years after the Civil War. Later, in California, they helped raise a granddaughter.
