William Newport emigrated from Chester, England in 1876 at age 20. In 1885 he purchased 2,000 acres in Menifee. By 1906 he was farming wheat on 15,000 acres. This was the approximate location of his house, barns, grain storage buildings, and a ranch house for the 30 men he employed. Newport raised prized Berkshire hogs and owned 120 full-blooded horses.