"Yucaipa's Orchard Man" traces the history and heritage of one of Yucaipa's most respected pioneer orchard men, Ellis Pitt Beasley, back to his great-grandfather, John Pitts Beasley, in the southeastern Piedmont area of Amelia County, Virginia in the 1700's. His son, also named John Pitts Beasley, was among the first wave of frontier settlers after the Revolutionary War and War of 1812, to endure dangers and hardships to emigrate with animal-drawn wagons to the edge of a rugged frontier in Middle Tennessee. By 1817, John and his family lived in the Leiper's Fork community on Bear Creek in Williamson County, Tennessee. John's grandson left Tennessee for California in the early 1900's to go into business with his brother, John W. B. B., as a commission merchant selling fresh fruit for farmers in the Los Angeles Produce District. Ellis' first son, William, was his father's pride and joy. At little more than 2 years of age, he stayed with his father in the Yucaipa Hotel where he awoke before his father, dressed, and ran downstairs to order his own breakfast. As a three-year old, he memorized his father's office number, Main 825, and surprised him by calling frequently at the Los Angeles Produce Market. He played in his father's orchards in Yucaipa, where the family finally moved during the summer of 1919. High moral ethics characterized Ellis' life: truth, candor, fidelity, courage, manners, courtesy and responsibility. "Perhaps his extreme sense of responsibility to provide a better life for his family led to his early death." Although a young child when Ellis died, William had many fond memories and admiration for "Yucaipa's Orchard Man."
Judith A. Beasley is a social historian with a B.B.A. in Finance and a B.S. in Economics who has expanded her education in American History and genealogy. Five years of extensive research into the 1700's John Pitts Beasley family and descendants went into the development of "Yucaipa's Orchard Man," written in a family history context with great attention to detail. Ms. Beasley began the book as a family history project at her father's request. The book became a reality to recreate her ancestors' past for future generations. Other literary accomplishments include published technical works on Renewable Energy sources and Conservation in conjunction with the Department of Energy. Ms. Beasley lives in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
