Empire Ranch Foundation

10/15/2026

Settling the Estate—1908-1909

To settle Walter’s estate a detailed inventory of all his property and other interests were conducted. Arizona territorial probate law required a ten-month timeline. On May 25, 1908, the court direct a final disbursement of the estate. Because Walter Vail left no will, one-half part passed to his wife, Margaret N. Vail, and one-fourteenth part each to his seven children: Nathan Russell, Mary E., Walter L., Jr., William Banning, Mahlon, Edward N., and Margaret R. Vail. [Gregory Dowell, History of the Empire Ranch, 1978]

By late 1909, in an amicable settlement, Gates deeded to the Vail heirs his interest in the Empire Land and Cattle Company, the Pauba Ranch Company, all land scrip in the name of Vail and Gates, his one-fourth part of the Crittenden Cattle Company, all interest in Warner’s Ranch, and half-ownership of a California land development company. In exchange, the Vails gave Gates their 4,034 shares of the Chiricahua Cattle Company stock, all interest in the Panhandle Pasture lands extensive real estate holdings in Kings, Kern, Fresno, and Los Angeles Counties, all 52,556 of the Vail shares in the Huntington Beach Company, and a cash settlement of $64,375. [Gregory Dowell, History of the Empire Ranch, 1978]

Photo caption/credit: Map of Empire Land & Cattle Co. lands in Arizona, ca. 1909. ERF archives.

10/13/2026

Margaret and the children regroup--1907

“Dusty” Vail Ingram, Walter & Margaret's granddaughter: “I remember Dad [William Banning Vail] telling me that after his father’s death, Nana Vail, she was wonderful. She evidently had a keen business sense, and she understood a lot of these things. And I think that, from what I gather from what Dad said, she sort of advised Walter. I mean, they discussed things. It wasn’t just that he did it, and that was it. Dad said that he can remember, after his father’s death, they had to do something, and so they formed this company, or developed it, so that Nana Vail had 50%, and then the other 50% was divided between the seven children. And he said he can remember that Russ [Nathan Russell Vail], who was the eldest, would be there stretched out on the floor hours and hours and hours into the night, working there on his stomach, as they were trying to figure out this, and figure out that, with what had to be done, and how they could manage, and so on. Because I guess Dad was still in high school at that time…” [Dusty Vail oral history 1993]

Photo caption/credit: Margaret Vail, ca. 1910. Margaret always wore black after Walter’s death. ERF archives: A530-77a

10/13/2026

After all he lived through!

Walter Vail Dies—December 1906

Ironically, after surviving the Apache wars and the hardships of remote ranching life in Southern Arizona, Walter Vail’s life was cut short when he was killed by a streetcar in Los Angeles in 1906. He was injured on November 30th and died on December 2nd. He was 54 years old.

Walter did not have a will. His partner, Carroll Gates, took over as general manager of the Empire Land and Cattle Company, the Pauba Ranch Company, and other miscellaneous investments previously held in partnership with Vail. until its ownership under Walter’s estate could be settled. [Gregory Dowell, History of the Empire Ranch, 1978]

Photo caption/credit: Los Angeles streetcars on Broadway, ca. 1908. Courtesy of University of Southern California Libraries and California Historical Society.

10/12/2026

Purchase of Santa Rosa Ranch, June 1906

In June 1906 Vail & Gates purchased the 47,000 acre Santa Rosa Ranch. Newspaper reports noted: “with headquarters in Los Angeles, had special reasons for desiring the ranch, for ho already owned the Pauba and Temecula ranches, covering about 38,000 acres, and joining the Santa Rosa property. The combined ranches now give him 85,000 acres of land.” [San Bernardino County Sun, 6/17/1906] The combined properties became known as the Pauba Ranch.

Walter Vail's family guided this business enterprise effectively for over a half a century before the eventual dissolution of the holdings in 1964.

Photo caption/credit: Map of the combined Vail ranches. Courtesy of Tim Vail

10/12/2026

Pat and Kate were an important part of the Empire Ranch for many years. We cannot express how grateful we are for their stewardship of the ranch buildings and land. Pat kept the headquarters visitor-ready and was always there to help answer a question or fix a problem. The Empire Ranch Foundation and our volunteers send our love and support to Kate and will remember Pat with gratitude for all he did for the Empire Ranch and San Pedro House.

Adíos, Pat

We are sad to announce that Pat Jacobsen has left us. He was collapsed and died after a morning of hard work at the San Pedro House, where he and his wife Kate were working as volunteer site hosts for the Bureau of Land Management.

Pat and Kate have been site hosts at the San Pedro House and also the Empire Ranch off and on for the last six years. Pat was tireless in his efforts to keep these sites looking good and helping the public enjoy their visit.

Pat was also a real partner to the Friends of the San Pedro River volunteers working at the San Pedro House and in the gardens. He kept things working and helped us every day. He was a quiet, friendly, dependable presence.

Thanks for your work and friendship, Pat. You will be missed. Photo of Pat doing trail maintenance at the San Pedro House.

10/11/2026

Los Angeles Refugee Committee—April 1906

Citizens of Los Angeles mobilized after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake to aid those affected. Walter Vail was appointed as chair of the “Refugee Committee” and set about establishing camps for those displaced at various locations. The first camp was set up in Agricultural Park (now called Exposition Park), a 160-acre tract near Exposition Blvd. and Figueroa St.

The Agricultural Pavilion was equipped to house 500 women and children. Sufficient cots for 1,000 men were placed under the grandstand. Other camps were established at Fiesta and Ascot parks. By the end of April Walter had organized all the volunteers assisting refugees into departments and was managing the camps, food distribution, and dealing with concerns that the camps were attracting undesirables who were taking advantage of the city’s generosity.

Photo caption/credit: Entrance to Agricultural Park. Courtesy of Los Angeles Public Library

10/10/2026

When it rains, it pours and that's not good if you're having a movie ourtoors. Unfortunately, we have had to cancel the showing of Red River tonight at the Empire Ranch on 10/10/26.

We hope to reschedule for next May. In the meantime, come and see us for the Cowboy Festival and Steak-Fry in November.

https://empireranchfoundation.org/ranch-events/cowboy-festival/

10/09/2026

Walter’s accident at Warner Ranch—October 1905

The round up season was in progress on the Warner ranch, San Diego county, in which Mr. Walter Vail is part owner. His presence was due to a desire to recuperate from an attack of illness. He entered Into the spirit of the occasion, and while in me Tuesday afternoon was riding rapidly, both cinches of his saddle either broke or slipped in such a manner that the saddle turned and Mr. Vail was thrown violently to the ground. He tried to save himself and his horse becoming frightened, he was dragged a considerable distance before he let go his hold on the horse.

Walter G. Martin of Los Angeles, who is also a part owner of the ranch, happened to be nearby in a buggy and the injured man was brought to Warner Hot Springs, a distance of only four miles. It Is known that several of his ribs were fractured by the fall and it is believed he also sustained internal injuries. Upon arrival at the springs a telephone message was sent to Mrs. Vail at Los Angeles, and she replied that she would leave at once on a special train accompanied by the family physician. The train was run to Temecula and from there it was necessary for her to take a forty-mile drive.” [Arizona Daily Star, 10/6/1905]

Photo caption/credit: Los Angeles Express newspaper headline, October 4, 1905

10/09/2026

Purchase of Pauba & Temecula Ranches, 1905

“The great Pauba ranch, located in the southeast corner of Riverside county, has passed into the hands of a young Arizona cattleman, Harry L. Heffner, who will restock the ranch with thoroughbred cattle and horses.” [Los Angeles Herald, 7/15/1905] Though Heffner was the purchaser of record of the 39,000 acre ranch the funding was provided by Vail & Gates. “Immediately after the purchase…I [Harry Heffner] deeded the same, as a single man, to the Pauba Ranch Corp. in which I held a 1/8 undivided interest, for services herein mentioned.” [Harry Heffner].
Later that year Vail & Gates purchased the adjoining 2,200 acres Temecula Rancho and the townsite of Temecula.

Photo caption/credit: Pauba Ranch cowboys by the railroad tracks south of the Murrieta Creek in Old Town Temecula, ca. 1900. The main building in the background, the two-story, is Hotel Temecula, which is still standing. Courtesy of the Temecula Valley Historical Society.