The Olinda Oil Field and Samuel C. Graham

In previous posts on this blog connected to the Olinda oil field, which was opened in 1897 with the successful completion of a well on the Santa Fe lease by famed oil tycoon Edward Doheny, mention has been made several times to one of the early firms to drill in the area: the Graham-Loftus firm with some biographical detail on the two principals: William Loftus and Samuel C. (Cam) Graham.

Last spring, Bruce Graham, a great-grandson of Samuel C. Graham, got in touch and sent some photos and additional information.  It only took about nine months to get this post together, but belated thanks are expressed to Bruce for sharing the photos.

"Cam" Graham was a native of Pennsylvania, born there in 1862 (a previous reference here stated 1861) two years after oil was found there and marked the beginnings of the American oil industry.  Graham was a pumper, tool dresser and driller in that state until he moved west to Los Angeles in 1888 (1882 was a date given on this blog before.)

Samuel C. (Cam) Graham.

Graham worked in the Santa Paula area for Torrey Canyon Oil Company initially and then for Union Oil, another early and later very prominent company, and married Mamie Hardison, a sister of a couple of the firm's founders.  When he and William Loftus, who also married a Hardison and worked closely with Graham in Torrey Canyon and Union, went into business together, Loftus lived on the Olinda land held by their company, while Graham lived in Los Angeles.

In his 1965 study Oil, Land and Politics, W.H. Hutchinson wrote that Graham and Loftus worked with Torrey Canyon head Thomas Bard, a powerful figure in Ventura County business and politics and a former United States Senator, on "an attractive power play" with an oil company controlled by the uber-wealthy James Flood of San Francisco and which had undeveloped property near Union in the Olinda area (commonly referred to as the Fullerton field in the early days).

Graham, Loftus, Bard and two others acquired the land for $10,000 and Bard offered his quarter share to Union for reasons unknown, though the company declined.  The new Graham-Loftus company immediately brought in a producing well, acquired more land, and did very well financially.

Graham on the Tapo oil property in eastern Ventura County, west of Santa Clarita and northeast of Simi Valley.

In addition to his work in oil, Graham, a former Los Angeles Police Commission member, was a significant figure in Progressive-era politics in Los Angeles, most notably serving as chairman of the committee that organized the recall of Mayor Arthur C. Harper (he resigned before the spring 1909 mayoral election).  Graham also headed a "Non-Partisan Committee of 100" which battled to reduce the influence of the mighty Southern Pacific railroad company in Los Angeles politics.  This led to the creation of the Lincoln Republican Clubs, which played a major role in reform activities.  Hutchinson and Martin Schiesl, in a fine article on Reform mayor George Alexander, who won the 1909 campaign and then reelection two years later, discuss Graham's role in Los Angeles politics.

As covered by William L. Kahrl in an interesting article on early 20th century water development and politics, Graham, who served on the Los Angeles Public Service Commission, proposed a plan to sell surplus water from the Los Angeles Aqueduct, an engineering marvel of its time which allowed for massive development in the region.  The plan, adopted by Los Angeles County voters in November 1912, allowed for nearby areas to buy this water at the rates charged by the City of Los Angeles, but it also provided for return of such supplies "whenever the public service desired" and rates could be raised to do so.

Graham's concept had the opposition of Aqueduct impresario, William Mulholland, the chief engineer for the city and Mulholland and his allies managed to get their plan, which called for surplus water buyers to have their own distribution systems, put on the ballot when it came time to vote for the bonds issues for the surplus matter.  Mulholland's side won the day in the April 1913 election.  With outlying areas practically unable to build their own distribution systems and needing water to survive, this allowed for the City of Los Angeles to embark on a massive annexation process that greatly enlarged the metropolis.  The Aqueduct then opened its water supply from Owens Valley in November 1913.

Graham with a grandson.

He was also a land developer, with one of his major projects being his service as treasurer of the Laguna Maywood Company, which developed the city of Maywood, southeast of Los Angeles.  In fact, he was said to be the "Father of Maywood."  His social connections, tied in with good government reformers, included being vice-president of The City Club in Los Angeles.

Graham contracted pneumonia on Christmas day 1933 and battled the illness for a month, succumbing to it in late January 1934.  His obituary in the Los Angeles Examiner stated that "in his business contacts he was noted for his kindly response to every request made upon him, even as was the case in his civic work."

Thanks again to Bruce for providing this further information and, especially this trio of photos, of a key figure in the development of the Olinda oil field, which is gradually ending its lifespan as we speak.