Thomas Henry Blythe

Thomas Henry Blythe
Born	Thomas Henry Williams July 30, 1822 Mold, Flintshire, Wales
Died	April 4, 1883(1883-04-04) (aged 60) San Francisco, California, U.S.
Burial place	Woodlawn Memorial Park Cemetery, Colma, San Mateo County, California 37.680°N 122.467°W / 37.680; -122.467 (Woodlawn Memorial Park)
Monuments	City of Blythe, California
Nationality	American (naturalized)
Occupation	Capitalist
Known for	Obtaining primary water rights to the lower Colorado River, and using that water to develop the Palo Verde Valley in eastern Southern California, and leaving an unsettled estate worth millions of dollars that became a sensational story over 25 years with numerous competing claims filed.

Thomas Henry Blythe (born Thomas Williams;^ 1822–1883), was a Welsh-born American businessman; he became a successful self-made capitalist and tycoon after emigrating to San Francisco in the United States. Blythe is most remembered for purchasing, developing, and subdividing the Palo Verde Valley in southern California, and obtaining primary rights to Colorado River water to irrigate the valley. The city of Blythe, California, the largest city in the Palo Verde Valley, is named for him.

Biography

Blythe was born on July 22, 1822, in Mold, Flintshire, Wales.

The city of Blythe, California, the largest city in the Palo Verde Valley, is named for him.

Blythe died in San Francisco on April 4, 1883 at the age of 60. At the time of Blythe's death his estate was estimated to be worth around four million dollars. He died suddenly, and unexpectedly, without any family in the United States, and without a will or other instructions regarding his estate. Almost 200 people initially claimed to be his legitimate heirs, including three women each professing to be his wife. Litigation of the estate spanned more than 25 years, but ultimately the entire estate was awarded to Blythe's illegitimate daughter, Florence Blythe.

Honors and tributes

• The city of Blythe, California, originally named Blythe City by Blythe himself, still bears his name.
• Other places and organizations bearing Thomas Henry Blythe's name:
  • Blythe Airport
  • Blythe Heat
  • Blythe Intaglios
  • Blythe Intake
  • Blythe Mesa Solar Power Project
  • Blythe Photovoltaic Power Plant

See also

• Colonia Lerdo

References

Bibliography

• Brown and Boyd, (John Brown Jr and James Boyd), History of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties, The Western Historical Association, 1922, Copyright: The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill.
• Gunther, Jane Davies. Riverside County, California, Place Names; Their Origins and Their Stories, Riverside, CA, 1984. LOC catalog number: 84–72920.