Edward Colver traveled from England to Massachussetts in 1635. Some of his descendents retained that spelling and others, like our city founder’s family, transitioned to a variation, with a u, “Culver.” Culver City was the site of the Colver/Culver family reunion in 1988.

Harry Hazel Culver, who established Culver City, was the middle child of five (four boys and a girl). His father was Jacob Hazel Culver, who served as a drummer boy in 1861, at the age of 16. According to Pat Culver Battle, Harry Culver’s only child, Jacob “served in three wars without a scratch.” Jacob Culver and his wife, Ada, raised their five children on a farm in Milford, Nebraska. Pat Culver Battle also referred to her grandfather, Jacob, as “a strong disciplinarian who taught his children the work ethic.”

There is an early entry in Harry Culver’s autograph book that offers insight into the Culver family philosophy. One of Jacob Culver’s sisters, Aurilla Lucinda Culver Lueben, wrote to her eight year old nephew, “Dear Harry, Always aim to be truthful and generous and loving while a little boy and then you will grow to be a good and noble man…..As the twig is bent, the tree is inclined.”

Clearly, Jacob Culver taught his sons to work, and in fact was Harry’s partner in a bottled water business during Harry’s college years…cutting edge in 1898! Harry also took in laundry to work his way through school.

Harry Culver respected his father and admired him as a mentor. In fact, after establishing Culver City, Harry founded the Pacific Military Academy in Jacob Culver’s honor.

Father’s Day is upon us and it presents most of us with an engaging opportunity to look back…enjoy.