UNCLE BILLY RUBOTTOM owned and operated a stage coach stop on Foothill Blvd. in Rancho Cucamonga before 1850. It is now the site of the Cycamore Inn, 8318 Foothill Blvd. (old Route 66). This was also known as the Butterfield Trail in the 1840's. His Grandson, Kewen Dorsey, kept a hand written diary of everyday life in Southern California in the late 19th century. These Diaries, known as the Dorsey Collection are located at the Honnold/Mudd Library in the California Collection. This is located at the Claremont College. It contains a total of 25 diaries. Kewen was born in El Monte in 1857 and grew up with his grandfather, recording his stories from 1879-1904, (Early Spadra resident, by D. R. Clark).
William W. Rubottom would possibly never been remembered as a resident of Spadra, Arkansas if he had remained there after he came from Missouri in 1842. He and his brother, Ezekiel, led a wagon train of over 100 Families to California in 1852. He was prominent in the growth and development of the Pomona Valley in Southern California. His grandfather, Thomas Rubottom was born in Wales, and came with his uncle to the US and died in North Carolina. He was a surgeon in the Revolutionary War. His father; Ezekiel Rubottom SR, was born in North Carolina and came to Wayne County, Missouri in 1806. He help the office of County Judge, County Commissioner, and County Treasurer, and was later elected to the Legislature. He was a member of the First General Assembly of Missouri held in 1820. Billy (W.W,) was born in 1808 in Wayne County. In 1829 he married Sarah Ann Edwards who was a native of Kentucky. They had two children, James and Civility. In 1842, he moved his family including his wife's mother and his four slaves, to Spadra, Arkansas, a growing river town in western Arkansas. He purchased land along the creek, north of Spadra, built a home and engaged in farming. He was later joined by his brother Ezekiel and his family. The Rubottoms soon became popular members of the community, and Billy became a leader in community affairs. After they had lived in Spadra for 10 years, they began hearing rumors from newcomers to the area about fertile farm lands that could be had almost for the asking in the valley of Southern California. They heard of the mild climate, and the long growing season that made it attractive for farming. This stirred the pioneer block of the Rubottom brothers, and they set about organizing a wagon train of settlers who wanted to make the trip to California, and had the courage to undertake the long journey across the southwest plains. Early in 1852, Billy and Ezekiel, together with their families and their slaves, headed out of Spadra, with a train of over 100 oxdrawn wagons, loaded with families from Johnson County and other parts of Arkansas, and the South, who had come to Spadra to join the caravan. Almost nine months later, weary from the long arduous journey, they arrived at "Willow Grove", an expanse of willow covered land extending several miles east of San Gabriel River, in the Pomona Valley of southern California. Settlers from the east who had arrived there the year before had already built a community of adobe houses, and were engaged in farming. Years later, this tiny settlement became the City of El Monte. Billy purchased land on the Cucamonga Rancho, and built a hotel and tavern there on the road from Los Angeles to San Bernardino. He later bought more land on the Large San Jose Rancho, where he built another hotel and tavern. Families who had come with him on the wagon train from Arkansas, followed him to his new location, and the title community became known as "The Rubottoms". A post office was secured later, with the help of Ben Truman, owner and editor of the Los Angeles Star, the first newspaper in L.A. County. On the petition of Billy and his friends who had come with him from Spadra, Arkansas, the town was officially named Spadra. The post office was located in Billy's tavern, and he was appointed postmaster at a salary of $2.00 per month. When Billy first came from Arkansas in 1852, he brought with him some young pecan sprouts that he had dug up along the banks of Spadra Creek. He nursed these young trees on the long journey across the plains, and among arriving at Willow Grove, he planted them on the bans of the San Gabriel River. They young trees grew and flourished into the first pecan trees in Southern California, if not the state. When Billy first crossed the plains in 1852 a member of the party brought with him a parcel of nine Negro slaves. Whether these Negroes were rented, or loaned to him, to be returned at a later date, is not known. But after they had been in California awhile, they became independent and refused to be sent back to Arkansas. When the plantation owner learned of this, he was furious, and accused Rubottom of selling them and pocketing the money himself. This almost cost Billy his life when he returned to Arkansas. At the urging of the ranch owners in the valley, Billy and Ezekiel returned to Arkansas to organize another wagon train to bring settlers back to Pomona Valley. On the day of their arrival in Spadra, Arkansas, they were standing on the street, talking with a friend, when they were approached by the owner of the slaves, and a friend of his. He made the direct charge that Rubottom had sold his "Nigros", and demanding payment. In the ensuring argument, he pulled a pistol, firing a shot at Billy. The ball passed through his hand almost tearing off two fingers, passing clear through his body. Believing himself to be mortally wounded, but with incredible stamina he drew a silk handkerchief through the bullet hole to stanch the flow of blood. Then in a frenzy of pain and rage, he dashed after the two men. With his good hand, he drew his knife from his belt and pulled off the sheath with his teeth. Then following the men into a nearby tavern and to a room upstairs where, it is said, that he fell upon them so furiously the he literally cut them to pieces. A large ransom was offered by friends of the dead men or his capture, dead or alive. He was carried to the mountains by his brother, Ezekiel, where he cared for him until his wound had healed, for it did not prove to be fatal after all. Although a warrant was issued for his arrest for murder, they managed to get back to California.
Many years later when Billy was past seventy years old, and had only a few more years to live, a letter came to the postmaster at Spadra, California inquiring about William Rubottom. The first letter from sheriff Mc Connell in Johnson County, Arkansas, stated that Rubottom was wanted in Johnson County for the murders of two men at Spadra, Arizona. As a result of the correspondence, which was carried on for sometime, sheriff Mc Connell wrote the postmaster that he was coming to California to get Rubottom. The Postmaster, being a friend of Billy's, had of course, informed him of the letters, and told him that he had also learned that the sheriff was a second generation relative of the dead men, and determined to avenge his death. Friends of Billy, urged him to go north to Los Angeles until the trouble was over. They knew that he would never let the sheriff take him back alive. But he refused to leave. When the sheriff arrived in Spadra, he was told where he could find his man. Billy had already learned of his arrival, and was waiting for him. Seated at a table on the patio, he watched the sheriff as he approached. When he got within a dozen feet, he ordered him to halt. "Don't come any farther", he said. "Are you William Rubottom?" the sheriff asked. "yes, I'm William Rubottom, who are you?" Billy replied. "I'm the sheriff from Johnson County, Arkansas and I have a warrant for your arrest." "Sheriff, you are plumb off of your jurisdiction out here, you better go back to Arkansas!" With this warning he pulled the gun that he had been holding beneath the table, and held it on the top of the table, and pointing it at the sheriff. Undecided as to what to do, the sheriff hesitated a moment, then turned on his heels and walked back to the street. "I'll be back", he promised, "and I'll bring a marshal with me". Billy's friends, who had been waiting anxiously in the street, rushed to where the old man was seated, relieved that the meeting had passed without blood shed. The sheriff didn't return, and he caught the next train east.
Billy wasn't bothered again, and he continued living in his home in Spadra until his death at the age of 77. The following account of his death appeared in the Pomona Weekly Progress on Page 1, October 15, 1885. W.W. Rubottom, who was affectionately called "Uncle Billy" by his many friends, died suddenly at his home Tuesday. His grandson, Kewen Darsey, lived with him and took care of him. Mr. Rubottom came from Spadra, Arkansas in 1852. He settled on the San Jose Rancho, where he founded the town of Spadra. He operated the Spadra hotel there for many years. He was a member of the Pomona Lodge No. 246 F. and A.M. He was buried Wednesday under it auspices. A large number of Masonic brethren, and other long time friends attended the funeral.
Source: Frank Brackett's History of Pomona Valley, is the source of this biographical sketch. It was furnished courtesy of the Pomona Public Library, Pomona, California.
Note: The above was found in a manila folder marked Rubottom at the Missouri State Historical Society Library, Columbia, Missouri. Children of WILLIAM WILEY RUBOTTOM and SARAH EDWARDS were:
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