Resources
KUMEKUCHI ISHIBASHI FAMILY
RANCH SITE HISTORY
The Kumekichi Ishibashi Ranch site gained "Point of Historical Interest" status in Sacramento on May 1, 1992. On August 27, 2005, a large bronze plaque facing the Pacific Ocean was dedicated at Founders' Park, Rancho Palos Verdes. Beautifully engraved images of the early Palos Verdes farming era surround the Ishibashi family narrative written by Mary Roderman, President and Founder of the Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society. "It honors Kumekichi Ishibashi, who built the first Japanese American farm house in 1906. The original farm house and small structures were built of wood… During World War II, the original farmhouse was demolished and the land lease broken." Today the original Ishibashi ranch site is situated behind the Trump National Golf Course clubhouse.
"The area was called the "Bay of Smokes" by both the [Tongva] Indians and Cabrillo". Property ownership and progressive subdivisions passed from Mexican grantee Juan Sepulveda & sons to Jotham Bixby (1882) who sold 16,000 acres to Frank A Vanderlip, Sr. (1913), the Palos Verdes Project investors (1923-) and subsequently to the Palos Verdes Land Cooperation prior to World War II.
KUMEKICHI ISHIBASHI FAMILY ENGRAVED NARRATIVE
[JAHMP slightly revised version]]
"Kumekichi was born in [Wakayama], Japan and arrived in San Francisco in 1895. Taking odd jobs, he worked his way through difficulties to the Palos Verdes Peninsula, saving gold coins until he could lease land. When he reached Portuguese Bend, Kumekichi felt that he found the perfect area. However, the ground was covered with sagebrush and huge boulders…not ideal for cultivation. He was told that he could plant as far as he could clear. The work was devastating. There was no electricity and no water during three years of drought, he had to haul water from over the hill from nearby ranches. Kumekichi introduced "dry farming" techniques to the Peninsula for the first time.
Kumekichi sent for his young bride, Take. On her first arrival to the new land she wondered why she left her beautiful homeland to come to this wilderness. It was a barren place as far as the eye could see. But the courage and foresight of Kumekichi reassured her, so they started a family of four sons: Masaichi, George, Kay and Aki and a daughter named Yasuko.
In 1910, Kumekichi brought his younger brother, Tomizo, to join him at the farm. Tomizo was married to Umeno. Two workers also came, K. Ozaki and C. Hayashi. who only remained a brief period of time. As the family grew, Mas, (Masaichi) took over many of his father's duties. There was a time when sixty acres were farmed.
In [January] 1942, the company from which their land was leased ordered the Ishibashi family off the premises. On February 1, 1942, Kumekuchi was taken to a [detention] camp for Japanese in Bismarck, North Dakota. The rest of the family moved to central California to start farming again. In July, 1942, Mas, his wife, Miye, and his brothers, George and Aki were interned at Poston, Arizona. In a little over one year, Kumekichi was able to reunite with his family in Poston. They then moved to Utah to farm for the duration of the war. Mas' brother, George and Kay, served in the 442nd Regimental Infantry Combat Unit. This unit received more citations than any other outfit [of its size].
After World War II, the Ishibashi family decided to return to Palos Verdes Peninsula and eventually, leased over 500 acres of farm land. In 1928, Take Ishibashi passed away. Her husband, Kumekichi, died in 1954. Mas recalls his father farmed mostly string beans, tomatoes and cucumbers—all without water. The water was used several times---for human use, washing vegetables and finally for the two horses that were used to cultivate the earth. There were also tales of hardship in his trek to reach the Peninsula. One time Kumekichi was walking to the point of exhaustion and was terribly hungry. He found a castor bean and consumed the bean thinking them to be edible. Extremely ill, he fell upon some cucumbers and in desperation ate them. They saved his life.
Mas was married in 1937. For years, his wife, Miye, worked side by side with her husband, selling fresh vegetables and flowers. Masaichi in his 80's, still farmed a few acres of land not far from the original farm house location. When asked why he followed in his father's footsteps as a farmer, he answered, "Farming is hard work, but it is a clean life."
Tomizo, Kumekichi's brother, had four farming sons: Ichiro, James, Tom and Daniel and two daughters, Yukiko and Naomi. James Ishibashi's farm is several miles down the road. His wife sold vegetables at "Annie's stand," serving the community for forty years. Tom Ishibashi farms on city-owned property next to Torrance Municipal Airport. [retired in 2006].
The Ishibashi family motto states:
"Life's obstacles can be overcome by earnest endeavor and patient endurance."
It is obvious that the entire Peninsula has benefited from this courageous pioneering family's decision to make farming a way of life"
By Mary Roderman,
President of Rancho de los Palos Verdes Historical Society
and Museum founder.
Mapping
Exciting Google views of San Pedro Vegetable Growers Association and West San Pedro hills, White Point ranch sites soon to be added.
References
References, photo credits and related website references forthcoming.