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 adventures of her trailblazing great-great-grandfather, William Wolfskill. His historic journeys over the Santa Fe Trail in 1822-1828 and the Old Spanish Trail in 1830-1831 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 and vineyards, William is recognized as the founder of California's commercial citrus industry and is also seen as an important figure in the growth of California's early wine business. His marriage to Magdalena Lugo united him with the prominent Lugo family of Santa Barbara and Southern California. Already a Mexican citizen from his trapper days in Taos and Santa Fe, New Mexico, William lived through tumultuous times as Los Angeles changed from a small Mexican settlement into an American town after the Mexican-American War. During those transition years, he served as a bridge between the old California under Mexico and the emerging California under the United States. The book combines two stories. The first part of every chapter is Williams's story, which recounts his amazing life. The second part of every chapter tells about Conchita's journey of discovery as she and her husband, Rich, retraced William Wolfskill's footsteps through Kentucky, Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, Nevada and California. They wanted to meet William in his environment which meant going to where he had lived, trapped and traveled. Throughout the book, Conchita includes information that helped her dig deeply into her family's roots and find pieces of her genealogical puzzle. She also includes tips for the readers who are investigating their ancestors. Her journey of discovery further transformed her and her family into lovers of genealogy and history. In Search of William Wolfskill: Journey to Find the Legacy contains 40 illustrations and photographs, including rarely seen photos of Wolfskill family members as well as pictures from Conchita's and Rich's research and travels. The book is a fascinating, in-depth look at William Wolfskill-western pioneer and legend of early California.
