Kester Ranch or Bust - Story in Diary Form by Isaac Frazee

Isaac wrote a diary about his time as a cowboy at the Kester Ranch.  Always wanting to show some sort of illustration to go along with text, I found an expansive research article on the history of the Kester Ranch and a little bit about the owner John Hamilton Kester.  But the most interesting thing I found is this photo in that article. Isaac has several anecdotes of this man in his diary:

There are also quite a few mentions of the ranch foreman, Mr. Alvard, of whom Isaac isn't very fond,  I found both a William and Charles Alvard in Los Angeles County around 1880, but they both come from the mists of history and disappeared back into the same mists after that point.  I suppose he just materialized long enough to vex Uncle Ike.

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Yosemite Or Bust

Johnson Ranch

June 22, 1881

This evening at five o'clock I leave "Home, Sweet Home" for a trip to the Kester Ranch in San Fernando to get work.

The first part of my journey is across the San Jacinto Plains.  These plains are brown and sear this time of year, but it was very pleasant riding over them this evening.  In the Winter and Spring these plains are covered with luxuriant grass and wild flowers and bands of antelope may be seen grazing contentedly over them.  The sun was just kissing the snowy brow of "Old Grayback" (San Gorgonio Mountain ) when I reached the "Box Springs" hills and by 8:30 I arrived at friend Johnson's where I spent a very pleasant evening with the young folks--and a basket of apricots--after which we retired for the night.

Thursday, June 23, 1881

This is a delightful morning and as I have my genial friend, Will Johnson, to escort me in his mammoth prairie schooner (I hitch Antelope on behind) I enjoy the trip very much.

The seat of this wagon is 8 or 10 feet from the ground and as we whirl on toward the enterprising little colony of Riverside, scaring tufted quail and timid rabbits from the roadside, I cling with a death like grip to my high perch and look with disdain at the world below!

The complete trip there and back are at Kester Ranch or Bust