by Conchita Marusich
Conchita Thornton Marusich has been interested in storytelling from a young age when her mother recounted tales about their ancestor, William Wolfskill—mountain man, adventurer and important figure in early California history. In her book In Search of William Wolfskill: Journey to Find the Legacy, Conchita writes about the thrilling adventures of her trailblazing great-great-grandfather, William Wolfskill. His historic journeys over the Santa Fe Trail in 1822 and the Old Spanish Trail in 1830 are packed with exciting stories as he made his way westward towards California. He settled in the small town of Los Angeles in 1831 and became a leading citizen. Famous for his Wolfskill citrus orchards, William is recognized as the founder of California’s citrus industry.
