Bartholomew County , Indiana
What was the residence of William H. Spurgeon from 1830 to 1840?
William H . Spurgeon William Henry Spurgeon , also known as Uncle Billy , ( October 10 , 1829 - June 20 , 1915 ) is credited with founding the city of Santa Ana , California . Spurgeon was also the first mayor of the city . Early life and frequent travel . William Henry Spurgeons father was Granville Spurgeon , a farmer from Henry County , Kentucky . Spurgeon was born in October 1829 . The family left Kentucky to relocate to Bartholomew County , Indiana in 1830 . In 1840 , the family relocated to Clark County , Missouri . The family continued to farm and Spurgeon attended school . When he turned 16 , he worked as a store clerk in Alexandria , Missouri . He expressed strong interest in relocating to California when the California Gold Rush happened . He left Missouri and traveled to New Orleans . From there , he traveled to the Isthmus of Panama before arriving in California . While in California , he worked in the gold mines . He fought in the Rogue River Wars . He left California in 1856 , after making decent money in gold mining . He traveled back through Panama and ended in New York City . He then returned to Missouri , settling in Athens . Spurgeon married Martha Moreland at some point during his life outside of California . Life in Santa Ana . In 1864 , Spurgeon helped his family relocate from Missouri to Solano County , California . In 1867 , he went to Los Angeles . His wife died in Los Angeles . He went back to Clark County , Missouri . He went back to California in 1869 . He settled in the area now known as Santa Ana . He founded the city with approximately $1,000 . He acquired 76-acres of land from the Rancho Santiago de Santa Ana . From there , he designed and founded the city of Santa Ana . He remarried , Jennie English , on April 14 , 1872 . He was frustrated with the lack of trees and excessive amounts of high growing mustard plants throughout the area . To rectify the problem , Spurgeon purchased sycamore trees for Santa Ana . In order to transport the trees , he built his own road , cutting through the mustard plants . After that , he built the first general store in Santa Ana , out of redwood lumber . The general store started out with a very small inventory , but over time , as the population grew , the store became larger and more successful . The store and starting area of Santa Ana made Spurgeon a well-known figure in the region . Spurgeon worked as an agent for Wells Fargo and also was postmaster for the town . Eventually , the first board meeting was held for Santa Ana . Spurgeon was chosen as the president of the board . Spurgeon founded the First National Bank of Santa Ana . He served as president of the bank , the Santa Ana Gas Company , and the Santa Ana Valley Irrigation Company . He donated the land for the depot where the Santa Ana Regional Transportation Center now exists . He had a walnut farm . He was a Democrat . He represented Los Angeles County on the California State Assembly for the 78th district from 1887 to 1889 . He was also county supervisor , prior to the founding of Orange County . After the creation of Orange County , he served as supervisor for that county , too . Later life and death . On February 24 , 1909 , Spurgeon incorporated his properties as W.H . Spurgeon Realty Company . The company created the W.H . Spurgeon Block in downtown Santa Ana . That building was the largest building in Santa Ana at the time . He served as president until his death . He died on June 20 , 1915 . External links . - Google Books Early Santa Ana By Marge Bitetti , Guy Ball , Santa Ana Historical Preservation Society