Elisha Packwood built his home here in 1852 after crossing the plains from Missouri as leader of a wagon train that included his brother Samuel and two brothers-in-law, Joseph Prothero and Jabes Smith. This was the first family group to settle, farm, and run livestock along the Tule River in the area that is now Porterville. The Packwood House stood on high ground on the east side of the river, which then ran north along present Second and Third Streets before turning west into the valley at present Henderson Avenue and the Southern Pacific Railroad tracks. Elisha and Samuel Packwood acquired 3,000 acres between 1850 and 1852, and Packwood cattle of the Durham breed ranged over that land. The stylized Elisha Packwood brand was the second brand registered in Tulare County on April 9, 1853. The Elisha and Samuel Packwood families, along with the Protheros, prospered until severe financial losses in the drought year of 1864 decimated much of the San Joaquin Valley. Elisha then moved to San Jose and became successful in the dairy and cattle business. Samuel remained in Tulare County and farmed for many years in the Visalia-Exeter area. Prothero moved to Visalia, and Smith had moved to the gold mines near Strawberry in 1856 before later returning to the White River Mining District in Tulare County.