In August, 1906, Mr. Eltiste came out to California and settled in Orange County; and being still in his teens, he continued his schooling, topping off with a thorough course at the Orange County Business College at Santa Ana. Then he commenced to work for J. C. Williams in his implement store, and after that in a blacksmith shop, where he learned the trade. He next formed a partnership with Chris Ruehle, under the firm name of Ruehle & Eltiste, and they conducted their business very successfully at their shop on North Glassell Street.
ELTISTE, GEORGE PAUL -- A far-seeing and optimistic young man of remarkable energy, whose "hustling" spirit of enterprise, contagious to others, has brought well-merited success, is George Paul Eltiste, the well-known horticulturist. He was born in Phillipsburg, Phillips County, Kans., on September 7, 1892, the son of M. Eltiste, and the eldest of six children, all of whom are living. He was reared on a farm in Kansas, and attended the local public schools.
Selling out his interest, Mr. Eltiste engaged in ranching and took care of his father's ranch of twenty-three acres. It was then only partly set out, and he finished the planting; and he conducted it for four years. Then he bought three acres of Valencia oranges on East Walnut Street, to which he added by purchase two acres adjoining and later ten acres more, making him owner of fifteen acres in a body. The ten acres he has planted to Valencia oranges, and the five to lemons. He uses an International tractor in the operation of the two farms, and otherwise employs up-to-date machinery and methods. He belongs to the Central Lemon Association, and is an equally live wire in the Santiago Orange Growers Association.
At Orange, on June 14, 1916, Mr. Eltiste was married to Miss Bertha Schmetgen, a native of Orange and the daughter of George Schmetgen, the local orange grower now retired. Two children have blessed the union--Clarence and Evelyn; and with their parents they attend the Lutheran Church. Mr. Eltiste is a member of the Lutheran Men's Club. In national politics, he is a Republican, but locally is independent and is always interested in promoting the highest American civic ideals.
