One of the ongoing responsibilities of working historians is to annotate and correct previous historians' misapprehensions. An example of this is demonstrated by the biographical page about Santa Ana founder and mayor, William H. Spurgeon found on the L.A. County Supervisors website. Spurgeon served on the Board for less than a year apparently, from 1877-78.
The biographical information states that Spurgeon died in 1915 and was survived by his second wife, Jennie, and children, Grace, Lottie, Mary, William H. Jr., and Granville.
That said, the Daily Alta California newspaper of July 16 1890 reports that a huge freak wave off McFadden's landing carried several early bathers out to sea, including Lottie Spurgeon, who was sixteen. Lottie Spurgeon was drowned as was Lt. C. V. Donaldson who tried to save her.
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