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NYPL RESEARCH LIBRARIES 3 3433 08178127 4
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HISTORY OF Riverside County CALIFORNIA
LC
2441
WITH
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF
The Leading Men and Women of the County Who Have Been Identified With Its Growth and Development From the Early Days to the Present
HISTORY BY ELMER WALLACE HOLMES AND OTHER WELL KNOWN WRITERS
ILLUSTRATED COMPLETE IN ONE VOLUME
HISTORIC RECORD COMPANY LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA 1912 P
13
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ASTOR, LENOX AND TILDEN FOUNDATIONS 1914 L
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER I.
INTRODUCTION 5
Prehistoric California-The Spanish Explorers-Spanish Colonization- Colonel de Anza's Expedition-The Indian People, Their Characteristics and Habits-The Myths of the Cahuilla Indians-The Riverside Indians and Their Relation to the Missions-The Spanish Land Grants-Louis Rubidoux-Battle of San Pasqual-Old Fort of Jurupa-The Flood of 1862-The Silk Culture Craze.
CHAPTER II.
COLONY DAYS 24
Location of the Colony-Judge North, the Promoter and Organizer- The Co-Operative Plan-The Committee's Search for a Home-Early Settlers-First Irrigating Canal-Hartshorn Tract-Consolidation of Water Interests-First Tree-planting and Irrigating-Water Wars- First Building Erected-Interesting Pioneer Experiences-First School- The Grasshopper Plague-Introduction of the Washington Navel Orange-Horse Thieves-Claim Jumping-Experiments in Horticulture -First Orange Trees Planted-Riverside in 1873.
CHAPTER III.
DAWNING OF A NEW ERA 48
8 * Consolidation of the Colonies-Impetus to Growth-Settlers of 1875 and 1876-New Canals-Valley Transformed-Magnolia Avenue Laid 1 Out-Thousands of Acres Planted-New Hotels-First Profits From Oranges and Raisins-First Bridge Across the Santa Ana River- Pio- neer Newspapers - Original Citrus Fairs - Valley Prospering - New Churches Built.
CHAPTER IV.
DAWNING OF A NEW ERA (Continued) 64
Citrus Fair Pavilion-Amateur Theatricals-Increased Orchard Values- A Real Snow-storm-Gage Water System Built-Birth of Highgrove- First Public Park-Coming of the Railroads-Heavy Shipment of Oranges-Early Subdivisions-Growth of Street-car Facilities-River- side Made a City-Drought of 1883 and Flood of 1884-Fruit Packing Houses Established-Honors Won at the New Orleans World's Fair- Great Fruit Exhibits at Chicago and New York-State Citrus Fair.
CHAPTER V.
DAWNING OF A NEW ERA (Concluded) 79
Progress in the Early '80s-Newspaper History-Banking Institutions- Excitement Over the Disappearance of T. W. Cover-Temperance Move- ment Inaugurated-A Saloonless City-Growth of the City Due to Unnamed as Well as to the Conspicuous.
CHAPTER VI.
RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL RECORDS
87
Present Population and Assessed Valuation-Officials Who Have Served
the City-Bonds Issued for Roads.
CHAPTER VII.
RIVERSIDE'S PARKS
92
Street Ornamentation-Albert S. White Park-Fairmount Park-Evans Athletic Park-Huntington Park-Chemawa Park.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER VIII.
RIVERSIDE PUBLIC LIBRARY 96 Story of Its Making-Made a Public Library-The Carnegie Building- Library Serves County as Well as City.
CHAPTER IX.
RIVERSIDE SCHOOLS
100
Primitive District Schools-Growth of the District Schools-High School Created-Schools Under City Government.
CHAPTER X.
CHURCHES OF RIVERSIDE. 107
First Church Undenominational-First Methodist-First Baptist-Mag- nolia Presbyterian-All Souls' Universalist-All Saints' Protestant Epis- copal-Swedenborgian-First Christian-Calvary Presbyterian-St. Fran- cis de Sales-Trinity Lutheran-Scandinavian Lutheran-Grace Metho- dist-First United Brethren-Christian Science-Arlington Methodist- Highgrove Methodist-African Methodist-Second Baptist, African- Arlington Christian-Free Methodist-United Presbyterian-Seventh Day Baptist-Other Religious Organizations.
CHAPTER XI.
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION 117 Organized in 1884-Has Generous Support-Provided With Magnificent Building-Young Women's Christian Association-Organization Splen- didly Managed.
CHAPTER XII.
SHERMAN INSTITUTE 119
. Indian School Named in Honor of Vice-President Sherman-Laying of Cornerstone-Contributing Causes to Success of the Institution- Courses of Study.
CHAPTER XIII.
CALIFORNIA FRUIT EXCHANGE 121 Inefficiency of Early Marketing Methods Leads to Inauguration of Exchange Growers Previously at Mercy of Commission Men-Growth of the Exchange-The Test of Two Decades Proves It a Success- Officers.
CHAPTER XIV.
FRATERNAL ORGANIZATIONS
124
Odd Fellows-Masonic Order-Eastern Star-Knights of Pythias.
CHAPTER XV.
THE WOMEN'S CLUBS 127
Women to the Fore in All Movements for Improvement of City-River- side Woman's Club Takes Tangible Form-Founders and Charter Mem- bers-Growth of the Organization-Building of Club House-Wednesday Morning Club-Tuesday Musical Club.
CHAPTER XVI.
RIVERSIDE'S MILITARY HISTORY .13
Riverside Post, G. A. R .- List of Post Commanders-Union Veterans- Confederate Veterans-National Guard-Company Organized for Service in the Spanish War.
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CONTENTS
CHAPTER XVII.
ORGANIZATION OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY. 133
Territory From Which Riverside County Was Made-Minerals and Horticultural Wealth of County Compared-Topography of the County- San Diego County Contributes Territory Willingly-San Bernardino County's Bitter Opposition-Reason Which Led to Separation of River- side From San Bernardino County-Bill for Division of Counties Passes Both Houses of Legislature-Assessed Valuation of New County-First Board of Supervisors-Officers Who Have Served the County Since Its Organization.
CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PERRIS VALLEY 139
Romance Associated With the Valley-Location of the Valley-Mining and Dry Farming First Attractions-Experiences of Early Settlers- Postoffice and General Supply Store an Impetus to the Settlement- Other Indications of Growth-Population Doubles-First White Child Born in Perris-Prominent Pioneer Settlers-Introduction of Irrigation and the Controversies Which It Entailed-Perris Has Her Ups and Downs-Incorporated as a City.
CHAPTER XIX.
MORENO VALLEY 168
The Transformation of the Valley From a Sterile Plain-The Bear Valley Reservoir Contributory to Development-Citrus Fruit Raising Begins-Town of Moreno-Prosperity of the Valley Has a Setback- Dry Farming Now Being Followed.
CHAPTER XX.
SAN GORGONIO PASS. 174
Location of the Pass-Early Days in the Pass-Exploration and Survey Parties-San Gorgonio Rancho Grant-Coming of White Settlers-Days of the Stage Coach-Changes Wrought by Coming of Railroad-Indians of the Pass-Towns in the Pass-Banning-Beaumont-Cabazon-White- water-Palm Springs.
CHAPTER XXI. 218
SAN JACINTO VALLEY Early Records of the Valley-Early Settlers and Reminiscences of Their Journey Overland-Later Experiences-Hemet-Indians the First Inhabi- tants-Smallpox Among the Mission Indians-Indian Government- Legend of the San Jacinto Valley-Historical Sketch of the San Jacinto Indians-Legend of Tauquitz-Threatened Eviction-The Eviction Plot -Soboba Indian of Today-San Jacinto Valley of Today-Winchester- Lakeview-Valle Vista-Indian Village of Soboba.
CHAPTER XXII.
253
CORONA Town First Known as South Riverside-Survives the Boom-Devel- opment of Water-First Building Erected-Early Settlers-First Hotel -Advent of Railroads-First Child Born in the Colony-Tin Mine- Schools-The Colony Grows-Dissatisfaction With Name of Settlement- -First Satisfactory Results to Orange Growers-Churches-Library- South Riverside Died and Corona Born-Board of Trade-Town Con- tinues to Grow. CHAPTER XXIII. 288
ELSINORE
Exceptional Location and Climatic Conditions-Resources of Elsinore Valley-Lake Elsinore-Clay a Resource of the Valley-Wildomar- Murrietta-Temecula.
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INDEX
A
Adair, A. Aird
480
Aguirre, Miguel A
590
Alderman, Alton L.
495
Alexandrian, Nazareth, M. D.
514
Allen, John A.
378
Allen, John D.
711
Allison, John L.
572
Amstutz, John W.
722
Arlington Supply Company
336
Ayers, Wilbur W
717
B
Backstrand, John F
517
Bain, Hugh A 733
Baird, Fred M 651
Baird, James G., M. D. 623
Baldwin, John H
644
Ball, James H.
667
Barnett, Eli E 334
Barnett, Thomas D 772
Battles, Daniel 483
Bertramson, Paul
678
Bird, Stephen
731
Bizler, Frank A 681
Black, Samuel
504
Blair, George M
686
Blodgett, Fred P.
716
Bloom Brothers
634
Bollinger, P. Jerome.
579
Bonfoey, Edward
626
Bortz, August E
635
Bowen, Archer
660
Bowman, Menno S
704
Bridson, Edward
457
Brown, Ebenezer G
374
Brown, George
444
Browning, D. M 691
Brunmier, Henry
666
Brunson, Robert L
652
C
Camp, Mrs. Julia
348
Campbell, Albert P. . 428
Campbell, James L.
693
Carlton, Karl S.
620
Carnahan, Herschel L.
588
Carroll, James W
735
Castleman, John S 530
Cawthon, Charles R 771
Chase, Ethan
562
Christern, Abraham C.
522
Clapp, James D.
363
Clark, Hugh A 730
Clark, Lewis D 705
Clarke, E. P.
358
Clatworthy, W. C
687
Clayson, Walter S
721
Clayton, John W
768
Clements, George P., M. D 479
Clements, W. D.
553
Clough, Emery A
671
Cochrane, David
534
Colburn, Jefferson M., M. D
583
Coleman, M. L.
509
Collier, Emerson B
Cook, Jamison E
571
Coplen, John B 505
Copley, Edward
592
Corkhill, William
696
Cornelius, Nels M
594
Cornwell, Joseph W
625
Craig, Hugh H
437
Crane, Edmund D
543
Crane, James
A
392
Crawford, Robert D.
739
Crimmins, John T
336
Crosby, Chester
339
Crow, Ben H.
697
Cundiff, Robert P
709
Cunningham, George D.
542
Cutter, John
770
D
Daniels, Henry
641
Daniels, James G
762
Darling, William V
700
Davenport, Terry W
670
Davis, Eli
756
Dawson, Daniel J.
649
Deputy H. E. and Anna W
627
Dinsmore, Pembroke S
489
Dinsmore, William T
340
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,
-
763
x
INDEX
Dole, George H
639
Drinkwater, Thomas P.
471
E
Edmiston, Rev. Berry
738
Estudillo, Miguel
345
Evans, Samuel Cary
445
Evans, Samuel C
449
Eyer, Clarendon B
665
F
Farmer, Thomas
747
Farr, Frank J.
701
Ferguson, J. F.
.
612
Fink, George W
646
Flaherty, Thomas F.
601
Fletcher, Thomas I
661
Ford, Rupert E.
489
Fountain, Joseph R
682
Fraser, Mrs. Floretta
685
Frazier, William H
630
Freeman, Moses D
549
French, George A
356
French, Sanger E
482
G
Gallwas, William E
513
Gamble, Austin A
464
Gantt, Abel T
650
Garcelon, George W
400
Gard, Howard E
657
Gardner, Charles N.
779
Garner, John T.
618
Gibson, Carlisle
446
Gill, Lafayette
529
Gilman, James M
463
Glenn, D. W
672
Graham, Alexander
757
Green, William H
673
Grotzinger, Ferdinand
680
Grout, Harry F.
510
Guffey, Daniel W
659
Gulliver, Thomas C
741
Gunsolus, Philip A.
744
H
Hall, John and Dorothea S
402
Hall, Priestley
396
Hamner, John T
555
Hampton, Samuel B
568
Hanna, John F.
406
Harford, Henry M
609
Hargrave, Alla
616
Hathaway, Walter S
679
Hauverman, C. D. 539
Hazard, Margaret 319
Hennessy, Thomas M 589
Herbelin, Marcel N
753
Herrick, George F
567
Hewitt, John J.
361
Hewitt, Theodore D. 674
Hibbard, J. M
450
Hill, Stetson L.
367
Hinde, Harry H.
613
Hoffman, A. Theodore
645
Holmes, Elmer W.
383
Holmes, Henry H. 475
Hoover, Martin
742
Howe, Stedman M
710
Humbel, John W
648
I
Irving, Robert M
608
.J
Jarvis, John
405
Jensen, Henry
523
Jensen, John
578
Jensen, Jose
485
Jessup, Ray H
732
Johnson, Frank S
394
K
Keegan, Thomas E
714
Keith, Walter E
576
Kelly, James A
689
King, Jesse A
675
Kingman, Edward F
407
Kingman, George A
636
Kise, Thomas A
728
Kishlar, John W
748
Knight, Herbert D
355
Kumler, Abram N
752
Kyes, Henry P.
557
L
Ladd, Zaccheus E.
490
Laird, Henry K
676
LaRue, Scott
421
LaRue, Seneca
585
Lewis, David
W
478
Lewis, Frank
D
575
Logsdon, Joseph M
537
Lord, Daniel
699
M
McCarty, Alva R.
782
McCarty, John E.
417
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xi
McDonald, Charles 455
Mackey, Alexander M 640
Main, Charles W 617
Martin, Achilles
434
Potter, Sidney E.
734
Powers, Pleasant A 637
Prince, N
556
Provensal, Peter 569
Puffer, Clark
423
Puls, Henry A.
427
Putnam, Nathan T
501
R
Randall, Melvin M 766
Rankin, David
560
Record, Ellington H 765
Rector, Jason L.
497
Reed, John H
411
Reeve, Charter 764
Reynolds, George N.
726
Mitchell, David G
718
Moore, Isaac H.
638
Moore, William C.
307
Morris, William P.
466
Morse, Bradford
596
Mueller, Fred J.
300
Murray, Isaac S.
643
Mylne, John M
496
N
Nevins, George
580
North, John G.
311
North, J. W.
305
North, Richard L.
342
0
Ogden, Frank P
415
Oldendorf, Joseph M
760
P
Parker, Henry T
369
Pattee, H. Gordon 499
Patton, Archibald G
433
Paulson, Hans H.
774
Pearson, George M
533
Peck, Leonard B
506
Pedley, Francis X 598
Penprase, Edward E 662
Perley, John Q.
715
Pettes, Fred D.
313
Pew, Thomas H
603
Phelps, William W
536
Pilch, Arthur B
519
Pillar, Seeley L.
531
Plaisted, Mark H
614
Polkinghorn, William 622
Poole, W. W. 775
Potter, Harvey 501
Martin, Frederick C.
399
Martin, Hugh R., M. D
416
Martini, Otto
600
Matthews, Abram L.
440
May, Harry M
777
Meharg, John
698
Meier, Martin
599
Merriam, John L. 713
Miles, Eusebius M
758
672
Miller, Capt. C. C.
332
Miller, Frank A.
389
Miller, Harvey
663
Miller, Henry L.
526
Milliken, Peter
368
Reynolds, Thomas J.
301
Rich, Joseph J.
632
Ricker, J. Wesley
Riddell, William
694
Robbins, Harwood
750
Roberts, Fred H.
544
Roberts, George T.
584
Robertson, Oswald M
761
Roe, James H
373
Rogers, Roswell M
778
Roulston, Robert J.
552
Rouse, Gaylor
512
Rumsey. Cornelius E
351
Russell, William P.
683
Russell, William R.
754
Ryan, James W
353
S
Sallee, Frazier M
607
Sanborn, Kingsbury 548
Sanders, Frank A 708
Sanders, Will H
422
Sargent, William H.
654
Savery, Barnabas E. 664
Schaefer, Glenn A
602
Schain, John H
749
Schneider, Joseph
695
Schoneman, August H
624
Seares, Edwin C
611
Sewell, William A.
668
Shaver, John
604
Shaw, Martin R
418
Shepherd, Benton L.
595
Shiels, John
476
Shryock, B. Roscoe
541
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.
559
Millbank, Joseph
INDEX
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INDEX
Shugart, Kelita D., M. D. 329
Simms, John A. 781
Simpson, Joseph
395
Small, Charles L. 725
Small, Henry K.
736
Small, Warren D.
574
Smith, Sylvester K
653
Smoot, Kenneth R
633
Snidecor, George E.
565
Speich, Fred H
605
Spining, Joseph M
755
Spooner, Lemuel
493
Stanley. Will H
688
Stephenson, Homer
723
Stobbs, John, Jr
658
Stone, Casper P.
528
Strain, Robert
767
Streeter, Henry M
323
Streight, Charles F. 469
Strickler, Mark M
692
T
Tetley, Frank A
546
Thayer, George R 376
Thompson, Frank F.
554
Thompson, H. L.
769
Thresher, Albert E.
610
Thursby, Nathaniel M. M 619
Tilden, Adelbert D., M. D
642
Tilson, Walter N.
647
Tucker, George E., M. D 451
Tuthill, Arthur B
581
Twogood, Adoniram J.
297
Twogood, Daniel C.
330
U
Unholz, F. E.
336
V
Vosburgh, Capt. C. H.
655
W
Waite, Charles E.
391
Waite, Lyman C.
317
Ward, George F. 564
Ware, Andrew J
550
Webb, Holton
516
Whiffin, M. R 745
White, Albert S.
299
White. James R
584
White, S. A.
487
Wilkinson, Cicero P.
587
Wilks, Richard
439
Wilks, Thomas H.
677
Wilson, Charles S.
591
Wilson, Frank P.
580
Wilson, Lycurgus S. 456
Wolever, E. F. 385
Woodford, Asa W
384
Wright, Samuel L.
703
Y
Yates. John
379
Yong, George J
780
Z
Zinn, Lloyd W
707
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HISTORICAL
CHAPTER I. INTRODUCTORY TO HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY By E. W. Holmes
Within the limits of what is now the county of Riverside there are few points definitely known to have been the scene of Mission activities or of other important action worthy of record; and yet across these broad valleys, these mountains and deserts, have toiled, in the long centuries before the American era, a people whose history belongs as much to this section as to the state as a whole. As an introduction to the more exact history of Riverside and the county of which it is the capital, it seems proper to dwell briefly upon the indefinite past and hint at causes which have made this region one of the most attractive which the world now knows.
What this land is, with its beautiful valleys and magnificent mountains, its equable climate and fertile soil, is due to causes shap- ing it in ages so distant as to be almost incomprehensible to the human mind. Before man was, these grand mountains stood mas- sive and silent, guarding the valleys from the cold of a northern clime. For centuries innumerable the lofty summits have caught the moisture from the inflowing ocean winds, and sent in the down- flowing streams to the slowly forming valleys below the elements of fertility which the disintegrating rocks supplied.
That animal life existed here long before the mountain's up- heaval the discoveries of the scientists is convincing proof, for the fossil remains so plentifully found indicate that even further back in the far distant past, when, perhaps, our mountains hardly showed above the level of the sea, the climate must have been humid and tropical in character, and many monstrous creatures, no longer liv- ing upon the earth, ranged amid a very jungle of vegetable growth, which, deeply buried for millions of years may have created the im- mense deposits of oil now being utilized by man as a source of wealth. Even within the limits of the city of Riverside the bones of some of these prehistoric animals have been discovered.
When did man first appear upon these shores? And why did
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he not-under climatic conditions so nearly identical with those which made possible his advancement around the shores of the Med- iterranean, and the resultant civilizations of Egypt and Greece and Rome-reach a higher state of development? Was he indigenous, or did his ancestors drift across the sea from eastern Asia and down along this coast! The ruins found in the southwestern part of the continent seem to warrant the belief that a civilization might once have existed far superior to that found by Cortez and his followers. Those at Mitla and elsewhere, to the southward, prove some earlier race to have reached the stone age, and to have been fully equal in advancement to that stage of development in the old world. Are our present Indians their decadent descendants, or are they of a later and more barbarous people who swept down upon and destroyed the more advanced race which preceded them? Since our govern- ment has reversed its former brutal treatment of the American In- dian, and provided training schools such as we now have in River- side, where the Indians are given education and a kindly environ- ment, we have reason to change our former belief in their mental inferiority. Who that has seen the self-respecting and well-dressed Indian student alongside a squad of Japanese youth has failed to notice the resemblance between them, and when he remembers that only half a century has enabled a nation of barbarians to acquire the wisdom of the ages, and use it successfully in war and commerce against the white race, his foolish prejudice must be greatly modi- fied and the conclusion reached that these dark-skinned people are not naturally so greatly inferior in intelligence as has been assumed, and may fairly claim to be of those whom God "created in His own image."
Into this long undeveloped land, which nature has so wonderfully fitted for the highest human use, has now come a new race, bringing energy and the most approved modern methods for its development. The olden days, veiled in mystery, when the unsophisticated savage roamed in happy freedom over its flower-bedecked valleys, are gone. The centuries of the Spanish era, with its records of cupidity and crime on the part of a brutal soldiery, of the generous hospitality of the better class among their leaders, and of the self-sacrificing devo- tion of the noble missionaries under Junipero Serra, leave a misty glamour of romance, which the entrance upon the scene of the gold- seeking and matter-of-fact American has not lessened. It is little
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HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
over half a century since the Mexican was dispossessed, and already the few rude pathways he had made over mountain and valley and desert have been transformed into many great railway and trolley lines, over which has swept a continually increasing tide of popula- tion, to utilize for business and home-making the wonderful natural resources of Southern California. Orchards and vineyards and fields of grain furnish immense quantities of freight for trans-conti- nental railways and create wealth for the people who possess them. The waters of the once idle mountain streams are no longer wasted in the desert sands, but are made to generate electric power for the manufacturer and the transportation lines and light for the cities, and finally supply, through innumerable canals, the irrigating water which makes possible the productiveness of the once barren mesas. It is the history of the steps by which this change has been wrought that is the purpose of this publication.
The name of California was derived from a Spanish romance, published about 1510. In that work the "Island of California" is described as "on the right of the Indies" and "very near the ter- restrial paradise." It was reputed to be settled by a "race of Ama- zons, without any men among them." It is very evident that the first explorers of the Pacific coast were largely influenced by the same sort of mythical tales regarding the strange new land as were those who, under Coronado, braved the deserts of Arizona and New Mexico in search of the reputed wealth of the "seven cities of Cibola," which proved to be but the adobe-built villages of the Pueblo Indians.
[ It was only fifty years after Columbus discovered America, and seventy years before the landing of the Pilgrims at Plymouth, that the Spaniards sent out from Acapulco, on the west coast of Mexico, their first exploring party along the coast of Alta California. This expedition was in charge of Juan Cabrillo, a Portuguese by birth, and he was given orders to explore the northwest coast of America. On the 28th of September, 1542, he found a "safe and land-locked harbor," which he named San Miguel-now San Diego. Sailing northward five days later he discovered the islands of Santa Catalina and San Clemente. It is quite certain that white men had set foot in what is now a part of Riverside county some two years earlier than this, for when Coronado started with his little army in search of Cibola he sent an auxiliary force by sea, under Hernando de
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