Thomas Henry Blythe facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Henry Blythe
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| Born |
Thomas Henry Williams
July 30, 1822 |
| Died | April 4, 1883 (aged 60) |
| Burial place | Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California |
| Monuments | City of Blythe, California |
| Nationality | United States (naturalized) |
| Occupation | Capitalist |
| Known for | Obtaining primary water rights to the lower Colorado River, and using that water to develop the Palo Verde Valley in eastern Southern California, and leaving an unsettled estate worth millions of dollars that became a sensational story over 25 years with numerous competing claims filed. |
Thomas Henry Blythe (born Thomas Williams; 1822–1883) was a successful businessman from Wales who moved to the United States. He became a very rich capitalist, which means he invested money to start and grow businesses. Blythe is best known for buying and developing a large area of land in southern California called the Palo Verde Valley. He also made sure that this valley had enough water by getting important rights to the Colorado River. The city of Blythe, California, is named after him.
About Thomas Henry Blythe
Thomas Henry Blythe was born on July 22, 1822, in Mold, Wales. He later moved to San Francisco, California, in the United States.
Blythe was a very smart and hardworking person. He became a "self-made" capitalist, meaning he built his wealth and businesses himself. One of his biggest achievements was buying and developing the Palo Verde Valley in eastern Southern California. This area needed water to grow crops and support towns. Blythe worked hard to get the main rights to use water from the lower Colorado River for the valley. This was a huge step in making the valley a good place to live and farm.
When Thomas Henry Blythe passed away suddenly in 1883, he was very rich. His estate was worth about four million dollars. He did not have a will or any instructions for his money. Because of this, almost 200 people tried to claim they were his rightful heirs. The legal fight over his estate lasted for more than 25 years. In the end, all of his money was given to his daughter, Florence Blythe.
Places Named After Thomas Henry Blythe
The city of Blythe, California, was originally named Blythe City by Thomas Henry Blythe himself. It still carries his name today.
Other places and organizations that are named after Thomas Henry Blythe include:
- Blythe Airport
- Blythe Heat
- Blythe Intaglios
- Blythe Intake
- Blythe Mesa Solar Power Project
- Blythe Photovoltaic Power Plant
