The Swarthout Family

George Swarthout

George Swarthout arrived in the San Bernardino area in 1847, as part of the Daniel Spencer Company wagon train group. George W. Swarthout reached the area later known as Swarthout Valley, where he ran scattered amount of cattle from the Swarthout Valley, now known as Wrightwood, over the ridge of Table Mountain and unto the Mohave desert floor to the outskirts of the Llano and Victorville. In 1857, Almon Clyde acquired the Swarthout Ranch on Lone Pine Canyon, where he ran a few cattle and grew fruit.

Almon Clyde made an agreement with George Swarthout that he could live the rest of his life on Clyde Ranch if he wanted. He was true to his word, and George Swarthout lived in the place that he obviously loved. Swarthout lived in a line shack that he built when he developed his ranch. The line shack was approximately ¼ mile to the east and down canyon from the present day main house of Clyde Ranch. The cabin is no longer there, but if one would look hard enough, they might find it’s old foundation. There he lived, until he passed from this life. According to California death records, George W. Swarthout died in December 27, 1872.

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