A SHORT HISTORY OF NATHAN EMMOR TRUEBLOOD
AND THE HOUSE HE BUILT
© 2021 by Norma Storrs Keating and Yorba Linda Preservation Foundation (ylpf.org)
Nathan Emmor Trueblood
born: 20 April 1868 in Highland, Washington County, Indiana died: 18 April 1944 in Whittier, Los Angeles County, California son of: Thomas Hollowell Trueblood & Clorinda Hobbs Marriages: married 1) about 1896 to Phebe Furnas probably in Indiana born: 20 May 1868 in Ohio died: 25 March 1898 in Lafayette, Stevens County, Kansas daughter of: Robert & Bethia Furnas married 2) about 1903 to Ada McClure probably in Kansas born 25 November 1868 in Levin Township, Jackson County, Illinois died: 3 July 1956 in Whittier, Los Angeles County, California daughter of: William Perry McClure & Louisa Mariah Rolens Children: Robert Furnas Trueblood born: 21 March 1898 in Lafayette, Stevens County, Kansas died: 16 January 1987 in Richmond, Wayne County, Indiana |
The Trueblood Family were/are Quakers and can be traced from Symon’s Creek Monthly Meeting in Pasquotank County North Carolina to Orange, Washington and Wayne County, Indiana Monthly Meetings between 1681 and 1868.
Documentation shows they were associated with the Nixon Family during that time, including the 1778 marriage between Jemima Nixon and John Trueblood. The families of Nathan’s two wives (Furnas and McClure) are also in the same records.
Nathan lived with his parents in Salem, Washington County Indiana, until his marriage to Phebe Furnas about 1896. They had moved to Lafayette, Stevens County, Kansas by 21 March 1898 when their son Robert Furnas was born. Sadly, Phoebe died a few days after the birth of her son.
By 16 June 1900 Nathan had moved back to Washington County, Indiana with his young son and was living with his widowed father, Thomas, and his sister Loran. He was a farmer there. According to his son Robert, Nathan moved back to Kansas between 1900-1903 and married Ada McClure.
In late 1909 the family decided to move west- to Los Angeles, California. An entry in the diary of 11 year old Robert Furnas Trueblood reads “after a few months in Los Angeles we decided to go pioneering in Yorba Linda.”
The first story of the house had been built for the family on Park Avenue by the time Ada’s sister Ella Eidson arrived in Yorba Linda on 6 October 1910. Since Nathan was a carpenter, he was involved in the construction of many homes, businesses, churches and civic buildings in Yorba Linda between 1910-1919.
The Trueblood Family was very instrumental in helping to establish some of the early organizations in town. In 1912 Ada became a charter member of the Yorba Linda Woman’s Club and the entire Trueblood family joined the Friend’s Church as charter members. They were also involved in establishing the local PTA and public library.
On 9 January 1912 Ada’s sister Ella Eidson went from the Trueblood house across the “ditch” to the Nixon home to help with the birth of a baby- Richard Milhous Nixon- who later became a US President.
In 1919 the Trueblood family moved to 110 Painter Avenue in Whittier, California to be closer to their son Robert who was enrolled as a student at Whittier College. Nathan and Ada lived in Whittier until their deaths.
Son Robert married Helen Margaret Craig in 1923. They had a daughter Margaret in 1925. She is the granddaughter who has assisted with the history of the house and the family. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband.
Documentation shows they were associated with the Nixon Family during that time, including the 1778 marriage between Jemima Nixon and John Trueblood. The families of Nathan’s two wives (Furnas and McClure) are also in the same records.
Nathan lived with his parents in Salem, Washington County Indiana, until his marriage to Phebe Furnas about 1896. They had moved to Lafayette, Stevens County, Kansas by 21 March 1898 when their son Robert Furnas was born. Sadly, Phoebe died a few days after the birth of her son.
By 16 June 1900 Nathan had moved back to Washington County, Indiana with his young son and was living with his widowed father, Thomas, and his sister Loran. He was a farmer there. According to his son Robert, Nathan moved back to Kansas between 1900-1903 and married Ada McClure.
In late 1909 the family decided to move west- to Los Angeles, California. An entry in the diary of 11 year old Robert Furnas Trueblood reads “after a few months in Los Angeles we decided to go pioneering in Yorba Linda.”
The first story of the house had been built for the family on Park Avenue by the time Ada’s sister Ella Eidson arrived in Yorba Linda on 6 October 1910. Since Nathan was a carpenter, he was involved in the construction of many homes, businesses, churches and civic buildings in Yorba Linda between 1910-1919.
The Trueblood Family was very instrumental in helping to establish some of the early organizations in town. In 1912 Ada became a charter member of the Yorba Linda Woman’s Club and the entire Trueblood family joined the Friend’s Church as charter members. They were also involved in establishing the local PTA and public library.
On 9 January 1912 Ada’s sister Ella Eidson went from the Trueblood house across the “ditch” to the Nixon home to help with the birth of a baby- Richard Milhous Nixon- who later became a US President.
In 1919 the Trueblood family moved to 110 Painter Avenue in Whittier, California to be closer to their son Robert who was enrolled as a student at Whittier College. Nathan and Ada lived in Whittier until their deaths.
Son Robert married Helen Margaret Craig in 1923. They had a daughter Margaret in 1925. She is the granddaughter who has assisted with the history of the house and the family. She currently lives in Pennsylvania with her husband.
THE HOUSE |
|
Early July - 6 Oct 1910 |
construction of the first floor of the house |
6 October 1910 |
“...the house (one room and a screened porch kitchen...” according to Ella Eidson’s Diary |
1910- Fall 1913 |
second story of the house is added |
19 Jan 1917 |
Nathan Trueblood purchases property for $10.00 |
1920 |
property described as “Park Avenue corner Lemon Drive” |
8 July 1936 |
Garland and Leona House buy the house at 244 Park Avenue |
1936-? |
Address changed to 4801 Park Avenue |
Occupants:
1910-1919: Nathan Emmor Trueblood Family 1919-1927: various changing renters 1927-1931: Luther Janeway Family- renters 1932-1933: Edwards Family- renters 1934-1969: Garland and Leona House- renters & owners 1969-2003: various business renters 2003-2021: various business renters/ unoccupied for several years/ renovation 2021: Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce- renter Owners: 1910-1936: Nathan and Ada Trueblood 1936-2003: Garland and Leona House & heirs 2003-present: The City of Yorba Linda |