The historical background of the Williamson, Rindge and Hole families begins in the late 1800s in Southern California. These families would have a profound historical affect in many areas of Southern California and influence everything from farming, land development, initiation of many businesses some of which are still in existence and developing and fostering a long legacy of philanthropy.
Willits J Hole
Willits J. Hole came to California in 1893 looking for better weather to help with his wife’s health condition. Before coming to California, Mr. Hole had been involved in the lumber business and would later own chair factory in Indiana. In time he would become a contractor and a builder. Mr. Hole began buying properties in Southern California, one land track that he purchased and later sold consisted of 3500 acres and is was known as Rancho La Habra. He is often referred to as the “Father of La Habra”.
In 1897 Mr. Hole became the resident agent for Stearns Rancho Company of San Francisco which owned 180,000 acres. One of these properties was Rancho La Sierra track of 17,000 acres which would become the Hole ranch. 1922 he sold 400 acres to the Seventh-day Adventist Church to be a school. Today it is know as La Sierra University which named one of its wings after Mr. Hole. He also had extensive land holdings in Mexico.
In the early 1920s Mr. Hole took up boating, he had several yachts built. The Samona which was a 115 foot motor yacht and later the Samona II. The Samona II a larger 147 foot yacht sailed all over the world.
Among Mr. Hole’s other accomplishments he had controlling interest of the Arden Plaster Company, owner of the largest gypsum mine in the United States, Directorship of Bank of Los Angeles, Citizens’ National Bank and the La Habra Valley Bank. His painting collection that was donated to a museum was one of the largest in the country at that time.
La Habra Residence of Willits J Hole
Mr. Hole had one daughter Agnes Hole who would marry Samuel Knight Rindge who later would become director of Crocker Bank. Mr. Hole passed away in 1936 at the age of 78 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
After Mr. Hole’s passing, Samuel Rindge and Agnes Hole Rindge took over operations of the Hole Ranch. In 1942 The U.S. Army purchased 1239 acres of the ranch property and set up Camp Anza, a large World War II disembarkation facility.
Fredrick Hastings Rindge moved to California for health reasons in 1887. In 1892 he purchased the 13,000 plus acre Spanish Land Grant of Rancho Malibu. He would later purchase another 4,000 acres. Mr. Rindge’s property would extend from the shoreline to about 3 miles inland from Santa Monica north for about 15 miles to just south of Oxnard. Mr. Rindge’s property would become a working ranch, everything from farming to cattle. He also had extensive land holdings in Stockton and Sinaloa, Mexico.
Before Mr. Rindge’s early and untimely death in 1905 at the age 48, his list of accomplishments are remarkable. President of the Conservative Life Insurance Company which is now Pacific Mutual Life Insurance Company, President of he Sinaloa Land Company, Vice President of the Union Oil Company and a director of the Edison Electric Company. He was also the Founder of Ocean Park and also Contributed land and money to his hometown of Cambridge, Mass. Founding the Rindge Training School, and funding a large portion of the Cambridge City Hall and a library. Mr. Rindge’s collection of Northwest Indian artifacts was the largest collection of its kind in the country at that time and was donated to the Peabody Museum.
Frederick H Rindge
After Mr. Rindge’s untimely death his wife Rhoda May took over the running of the ranch. She ran into eminent domain issues early on. Southern Pacific Railroad wanted to build a railroad through the center of the ranch. Southern Pacific Railroad applied to the Interstate Commerce Commission to be able to build the railroad. Mrs. Rindge was able to beat Southern Pacific Railroad at their own game. A little know law prevented duplication of railroad lines. So Mrs. Rindge built her own railroad. It was about 15 miles long from Las Flores Canyon to Yerba Buena Canyon. The Rindge Railroad was built with standard gauge track at the cost of one million dollars. It was completed in 1908 and ran until the early 1920s.
Mrs. Rindge’s next battle was a right of way the State of California wanted to put a highway through her property. This proposed highway was originally the Roosevelt Highway- It would eventually to become Pacific Coast Highway. This battle took 22 years to decide, including 4 cases before the California Supreme Court and 2 cases before the United States Supreme Court. Mrs. Rindge finally lost her battle to protect her private property as well as bankrupting her in the process.
During the same time she was looking for other business ventures to provide income. One was the creation of 44,000 square foot Malibu Potteries in 1926, a venture which included of the best architects, ceramists, chemists, engineers, artists, and salesmen. Wind driven Santa Ana fires and the depression lead to the its ultimate closing in 1932. However, original Malibu tile can be found world-wide in churches, government buildings and residences. Locally the Adamson house and the old Rindge Castle in Serra Retreat contain wonderful examples of Malibu tile. A very successful venture was the creation of Adhor Stock Farm, which would become Adhor Milk Farms. The best of stock was brought in from all over the world to create the best dairy herd possible. Adohr dairy products were distributed throughout Los Angeles City and County and is still in existence today.
Fredrick Hastings and Rhoda May had 3 children, Samuel Knight, Rhoda Agatha, and Fredrick Hastings Jr., of which Samuel Knight Rindge had 3 children, their only daughter Ramona Rindge leads us to the next stage the Williamson Family.
Hole Ranch House Riverside
The Williamson Family moved to Riverside in the early 1900s. Their son Martin Williamson became a prominent architect in town. After Mr. Hole’s passing and with Samuel Knight Rindge and Agnes Hole Rindge assuming operation control of the ranch their daughter Ramona Rindge was looking to build a small rancho on the old Hole Ranch. In 1950 she was looking for a architect to design her hacienda, she not only found a architect but also met her future husband. The rancho became Rancho Del Valle and is still in existence today. It is the last remaining property of the original Hole Ranch that is still in the family. Ramona Rindge Williamson passed away in 2010 and is buried at Evergreen Cemetery.
Before Ramona passed, she and her son Ted created several charitable trusts and a family foundation which is now the Williamson, Rindge and Hole Family Foundation, so that the family could continue their philanthropic work. Loma Linda’s Children’s Hospital, Mary Robert’s Pet Adoption Center, Boy Scouts of America, Make A Wish, La Sierra University, Evergreen Memorial Cemetery, Malibu Lagoon Museum (Adamson House), Wounded Warrior Foundation, Festival of Trees, Hugs Love, Riverside Public Library, Riverside Art Museum, The Archeology Conservancy and the Riverside Fox Theater are just a few that have benefited from their generosity.