The herald., 1897-05-11
A PIONEER GONE
DR., Kelta Davis Shugart of Riverside
Dead

RIVERSIDE, May 9.-(Special Corre-
spondence). DR.. K. d. Shugart, the only
resident member of the original South-
ern California Colony association, which
founded Riverside, died at his home at
II o'clock this forenoon. Up to two weeks
ago the doctor was In the best of health,
but at that time he was attacked by a
fever which proved too much for his
advanced years. He passed away very
peacefully, with his faithful wife and
loving children and grandchildren at his
bedside.
The funeral will take place Tuesday
afternoon at the Universalist church,
Rev. DR.. Deere officiating, assisted by
Rev. E. +. Goff and Rev. Charles Button.
DR.. Shugart was born in Randolph
county, Indiana, April 13, 1929, of
Quaker parents-pioneer settlers in In
diana from North Carolina. When IL
years of age he went with his parents
to Cass county, Mich. He studied med
icine at Miles, Mich, and there entered
into practice. Subsequently he practiced
his profession and engaged in develop
ment and mining enterprises in Iowa
and Colorado. He took post graduate
courses in the Iowa Medical college at
Keokuk, and at Cooper Medical college,
San Francisco. He was married in 1852
to Miss Bertha T. Reams, native OF
Michigan.
In 1869 DR.. Shugart was resident OF
Belle Plain, Iowa, and at that time was
desirous of establishing his residence
in some portion of Southern California.
EARLY the next year he associated him
self with Judge ]. w. North, DIR. James
p. Greves, Sanford Eastman, G. N.
FELTON,, Captain Broadhurst and others
and formed the Southern California
Colony association. The object of the
association was to purchase some de-
sirable tract of land in Southern Califor-
mia and establish horticultural colony.
Some months were spent by members Of
the association in seeking suitable loca-
ton. but they were unable to decide upon
any place. The doctor became impatient
at the delay, and in August of 1870 came
to California and joined his associates.
Judge E. G. Brown, who had Joined the
company, and DR.. j. P. Greyes visited
the Riverside valley in June and made
partial examination of the lands. water
supply, ETC., and strongly recommended
the purchase Of lands by the associa-
tion, but nothing was done. On August
20, l6tU, DT. SuuSdIl, dCCoHipdAiCu Ny
DIR. Greves, Messrs. Luther of San Fran
cisco and Stewart of San Bernardino,
visited the lands and made thorough
examination of the location as adapted
to their purposes. The hearty endorse
ment Of DIR. Shugart was strongly backed
by his associates, and September 13, 1870,
Judge North, the president of the asso-
citation, who had not yet seen the lands,
purchased from the Silk Center asso-
citation the land now occupied by the
city and colony of Riverside.
AS soon as the purchase was made
DR.. Shugart started for Iowa after his
family and returned with them in Decem-
ber, 1870, accompanied by Mr.. L. c,
Waite The doctor at once purchased
the block of land now bounded by Ninth
and Tenth, and Mulberry and Lime
streets, being the second piece of land
sold by the company. AS soon as he could
get house built his family (who had
been staying in San Rernardino sincs
their arrival from Iowa) moved into 1t
January TO- 1871, being the fifth family
to come to Riverside. On March |, 1871
Or. Shugart planted the first orange and
lemon trees ever planted in Riverside