L. Byron Culver to speak Sunday of family and Irvine history | culver ...

For most Irvine residents, Culver Drive is a main transportation artery that crosses the city from the Santa Ana Foothills to UCI.

For L. Byron Culver, it's personal.

Culver Drive was named for Fred Culver, one of the most successful farmers on the Irvine Ranch. Even though he was a hunchback, he was one of the most skilled mule handlers on the ranch.

THE CULVER FAMILY COLLECTION

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The busy road was named for his family, specifically his great uncle Fred Culver who was one of the most successful farmers on the Irvine Ranch. Long before Irvine was a master planned community of more than 200,000 citizens, it was an agricultural powerhouse. In 1918, there were 11 members of Byron Culver's family farming there.

"My Dad always had a great love for Orange County," Culver said recently. "He didn't talk much, but when he did, he shared his stories with me."

Culver along with his cousin Dottie Haskell will tell stories about their family from their book "The Culver Family: Then and Now" from 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Irvine Historical Museum, 5 San Joaquin. There is a suggested $30 donation for the lecture which includes membership to the Irvine Historical Society.

Born in 1926, Culver was part of a large, extended family. Money was tight on the Northern California farm where his family had settled.

"As soon as there were children in the family, we started getting together; for birthdays and holidays, for everything."

During these family gatherings, Culver was treated to stories from his many relatives, stories that remained with him for life.

He learned about his Great Uncle Fred who, despite being a hunchback, was one of the best mule handlers on the Irvine Ranch. Fred "Humpy" Culver treated his mules like beloved pets and was never happier than when he was harvesting lima beans behind a 30-mule team. He farmed more than 3,000 acres on the ranch, and when he died at 31, he left behind a sizeable inheritance.

In those days, Fred Culver's impressive home and windmill was known as Culver's Corner, a local landmark that could be seen from as far away as Tustin. Today, Culver's home would be near the intersection of the 5 Freeway and Culver Drive. Culver's Corner was a notoriously dangerous crossing. Many collisions occurred in front of the house which acted as a makeshift hospital for the injured.

Then there were the stories of Byron's own grandfather, Fred's brother Willard, who bravely joined a local posse in 1912 as they chased after the Tomato Springs Bandit. Nearly 200 men followed drifter, Joe Matlock, into the foothills north of today's OC Great Park. When the gun battle ensued, Deputy Sherriff Robert Squires became the first Orange County law officer killed in the line of duty. Willard Culver lost his leg below the knee. For the rest of his life, Willard "Gimpy" Culver was remembered for his part in one of "Orange County's bloodiest battles."

Willard Culver ran the blacksmith shop on Central Avenue, now known as Sand Canyon. There he kept farm machinery in good repair and made horseshoes and wagon wheels. He lived nearby with his wife and nine children, including Byron, Culver's father.

"My aunts and uncles told me all of the old Irvine Ranch stories," Culver explains. "And since I seem to remember everything since I was 3 years old, I decided to write them down."

With the help of his cousin Haskell, Byron Culver embarked on a 3-and-a-half-year journey to preserve his family's history in California. His relatives helped him on this quest by providing pictures and memorabilia from their various family cedar chests. The most valuable treasure was a meticulous diary kept by the first Culver to come to California, Byron's Great, Grandfather Francis.

Transcribing this lengthy document was both a challenge and a joy for Haskell.

"I came to love my Great-Great Grandfather Francis." She explains. "He never complained; he was never judgmental. He was a nice man. I feel like I know him now."

The result of their hard work is an 820-page hard cover book, "Culvers: Past and Present." This impressive volume is filled with Culver stories, images and family trees. But interspersed among the personal material is the rich history of California itself, making it a valuable research resource for anyone; even if their last name isn't Culver.

This Sunday, before Culver and Haskell speak at the Irvine Historical Museum, they will have lunch with three generations of their family at Knowlwood's Restaurant in Old Town Irvine. It's only fitting after all, since the historic building was originally Willard Culver's blacksmith shop.

When asked if he minded that his family's memories are part of a restaurant, Byron Culver responded,

"I think it's wonderful. I blow up like a balloon when I walk in there. I'm very proud of my family's history, and I love to see that it's being maintained."

Information: 949-786-4112

Source: http://www.ocregister.com/news/culver-375799-family-irvine.html

adam shulman