A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 153

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234

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EMILE VACHE. The success achieved by Emile Vaché, one of the old and honored resi- dents of Redlands, has been entirely the result of his own efforts, for with nothing but ability and industry to presage a success he started out in the world for himself in young manhood. round by round worked his way up the ladder. and to-day holds without question a high place among the business men of this city. He was born in France, in the department Chavente Inferetire, February 24, 1834, a son of Jean Vaché, a manufacturer of cognac and cream of tartar, until his death, which occurred in that

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location. His mother was in maidenhood Jean- nette Malieta, France being also her lifelong home. They were the parents of six children, of whom three are now surviving:

The eldest in the family of his parents, Emile Vaché was reared in the paternal home and after leaving the common schools was instructed in his father's business. He had not much more than attained his majority when he decided to try his fortunes in the western world where re- latives of the family had already located, and accordingly in August, 1855, he took passage on a sailing vessel, the Washington, bound for San Francisco via Cape Horn. In January of the following year they anchored in the harbor of the Golden Gate, and Mr. Vaché at once went to Monterey, where an uncle was located and engaged in a mercantile enterprise, and there he found employment in his store as a clerk for the ensuing year. He then returned to San Fran- cisco and thence journeyed to the mines in Sis- kiyou county, and because of illness a year later returned to Monterey county. With $10 in his pocket he came to Los Angeles in 1859 and for a year worked at his trade, in 1860 establishing a business for himself on Alameda street as a manufacturer of cream of tartar and in the conduct of a distillery. Later he purchased a place on Alameda street and there built up a distillery, winery and warehouse. In 1879 he came to San Bernardino county and leased the vineyard owned by Dr. Barton and there con- ducted a winery for the period of six years. In the meantime he purchased his present ranch, consisting of one hundred and fifty acres in the San Timoteo canon, adjoining Redlands, then wild land with cacti growing over it, and no promise of its present luxuriant cultivation. Water for irrigation is secured from the Bear Valley Company, he having a reservior on the hill, with a capacity of seven hundred thousand gallons and a pressure of one hundred and sixty- two feet to his place, and he is also connected with the San Timoteo Cañon Water Company. He has developed a beautiful ranch, setting out thirty-five acres in grapes, ten acres in oranges, and otherwise improving the property, and has built a winery with a capacity of two hundred thousand gallons, and is engaged in the manu- facture of brandy and sweet wines. In 1902 he incorporated the E. Vaché Company, which own the Brookside Winery only, the ranch of that name being an individual interest. In 1891 he was instrumental in the building of the Brook- side Wholesale Liquor House in San Bernar- dino, but later disposed of his interest to his partners, Ingersol & Esler.

In San Francisco Mr. Vaché was united in marriage with Miss Corinne Lukon, a native of Montreal, Canada, and their home is now on

the beautiful ranch in Southern California. Mr. Vaché is a member of the French Benevolent Association of Los Angeles. He is independent in politics, reserving the right to cast his ballot for the man he considers best qualified for the discharge of official duties.

ROBERT LINDSAY TRITTON. As a suc- cessful veterinarian Robert Lindsay Tritton has firmly established himself in his line of work and in the friendship and esteem of the people in Redlands although but a brief time has elapsed since his residence here. He is a native of England, his birth having occurred in Ox- ford Seven Oaks, in Kent, December 9, 1850; his father, Robert Tritton, was also born in England, a son of Robert , a banker of London. He graduated from Oxford in young manhood and became a clergyman in the Episcopal Church and was so occupied until his death. He married Charlotte Lindsay, a native of Surrey, England, and a daughter of Sir Alexander Lindsay, a member of Parliament. Mr. and Mrs. Tritton became the parents of three daughters and two sons, of whom one daughter is deceased, the other son, Arthur, being a banker in London at the present writing.

Robert Lindsay Tritton was the eldest in the family of his parents and was reared in his native place. He received his education at Harrow School and King's College, London, from which institution he was graduated in 1871. In 1873 he came to America and purchasing a farm in Virginia engaged in the raising of tobacco and stock, making a specialty of thoroughbred saddle horses. Through this connection he became in- terested in veterinary surgery and accordingly entered the New York College and graduated therefrom in March, 1891, with the degree of V. S. He still owned his farm in Virginia but disposed of it at this time, and locating in Rich- mond, Va., began the practice of his profession. He remained in that city for about ten years, when he removed to Boonton, Morris county, N. J., and there engaged in the practice of his pro- fession. He was attacked by rheumatism, how- ever, and in search of a milder climate came to California in the following year, spending the first three months in Los Angeles, when he came to Redlands and has since made this city his home. He established a practice here in his profession and later founded a veterinary hospi- tal, the only one in the county, located at the corner of Fourth and Central streets, where he is now conducting an extensive business. He is active in the Southern California Veterinary Medical Association, of which he is a valued member.

In Virginia Dr. Tritton was united in marriage

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with Miss Lillian Ogden, a native of that state, and a woman of rare culture and refinement and an addition to the society of Redlands. Dr. Tritton is identified fraternally with the Masonic organization, having been made a member in Amelia Lodge in Virginia; he is also associated with the Eagles of Redlands. He is a member of the Episcopal Church in religion, and politi- cally adheres to the principles embraced in the platform of the Democratic party. He is a mem- ber of the Board of Trade of Redlands and active in his efforts to further all movements tending toward the advancement of the general welfare of the community.

·GEORGE CLINTON THAXTER. The up- building interests of Redlands have in Mr. Thax- ter one of its most important factors, the greater part of his time and attention being given to the advancement of the city through his connection with the Board of Trade as its secretary. He is the representative of an old New England family of English and Irish descent, his birth having occurred in Bangor, Me., October 14, 1842; his father, Joshua, was born in Limington, Me., and in manhood became a marble manufacturer in Bangor, where his death eventually occurred. His mother was before marriage Joanna Hayes, a native of Maine, and daughter of Captain Hayes, who participated in the Aroostook war in that state ; she is now surviving and makes her home in Redlands at the advanced age of eighty- five years. They were the parents of four chil- dren, of whom two attained maturity.

George Clinton Thaxter, the only son of his parents now surviving, was reared in Bangor and educated in its public and high schools, at the age of fourteen years beginning to work in his father's marble yard. In June, 1858, he en- tered a drug store to take up the work of a pharmacist, remaining so occupied until August, 1862. Resigning from this position he enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Regiment Maine In- fantry, and was made the company's hospital steward on arriving at the front and joining the Army of the Potomac. They participated in the second battle of Bull Run and the Peninsula campaign, where they met with such awful dis- aster that no regiment was left of the name. Later Mr. Thaxter was stationed at Yorktown, Va., where the regiment was' recruited. It was there that his health broke down and because of physical disability he was honorably discharged in November, 1862. Upon returning to New- port. Me., he engaged in the drug business for himself, and succeeded in building up a large custom, to which he catered until February, 1868. In the last named year he disposed of his busi- ness interests and removed to Iowa, locating in

Moingona and engaging in a similar occupation. When the Transcontinental railroad was com- pleted in June, 1869, he removed to Carson City, Nev., and engaged as a lumber manufacturer with a brother-in-law, the firm being known as the Glenbrook Mill & Lumber Company. They built a steam sawmill on the shore of Lake Ta- hoe, with a large capacity, having made a run of 150,776 feet of lumber in a day of eleven and a half hours. Their finished product was sent to Virginia City, at first by means of teams and later by flume and rail. Their enterprise was de- stroyed by fire in 1878, when Mr. Thaxter re- turned to Carson City and established a drug business, continuing in that location until the spring of 1893, when he came to California and in Palo Alto engaged in a mercantile enterprise. Disposing of these interests in June, 1896, he came to Southern California and in Redlands purchased the drug store owned by Dr. D. W. Stewart on Orange street, and conducted the same for two years, when because of impaired health he sold out and has not since engaged in active business. In 1901, on the 7th of January, the organization of the Redlands Board of Trade was perfected, in which enterprise Mr. Thaxter was one of the most prominent citizens, and of which he became secretary, being re-elected each year to the present time. He has had entire charge of the work and has arranged a most ex- cellent and complete display, having made up and sent a magnificent exhibit to the expositions at Buffalo, St. Louis and Portland. To no one is more credit due than to Mr. Thaxter for the suc- cessful upbuilding and development of this organ- ization.

In Newport, Me., Mr. Thaxter was united in marriage with Miss Mabelle Davis, a native of Dexter, Me., and born of this union are the fol- lowing children: Homer D., an electrical engi- neer who is superintendent of the Edison electric power house at the corner of Fourth and Los Angeles streets ; Harry C., a graduate of Stan- ford University and an electrical engineer now located in San Francisco; Berta, wife of Paul T. Carroll, of Oakland ; and Curtis H., in charge of the machinery in the establishment of J. R. New- berry, of Los Angeles. Mr. Thaxter was made a member of the Masonic organization in April, 1860, in Jordan Lodge No. 158, at Moingona, later became a member in Carson Lodge No. 1. F. & A. M., and now affiliates with Redlands Lodge No. 300. He was raised to the degree of Royal Arch in Carson, being a member of Lewis Chapter No. 1, R. A. M., and also belongs to the Knights of Pythias and the Uniformed Rank of the K. of P. Politics have had more than the 11stial interest for Mr. Thaxter, as a Republican taking an active interest in the advancement of his party's interest. While a resident of Ne-

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vada he was appointed by President Harrison receiver for the United States Land Office, having previously served as an alternate delegate to the National Republican Convention in Chicago, in 1888, where Harrison was nominated for the presidency. He is likewise prominent in the Grand Army, having served as aide-de-camp on the staff of the national commander, General Palmer; he has been a member of Custer Post No. 5, G. A. R., of Carson, and is now a mem- ber of Bear Valley Post No. 162, of Redlands.

WILLIAM J. TENCH. Prominent among the old settlers of Mentone, San Bernardino county, is William J. Tench, who has been a res- ident of Southern California since 1888 and one of its practical upbuilders. He was born in Buf- falo, N. Y., the eldest in a family of nine chil- dren, of whom six are now living. His father, William E. Tench, was born in Dinard, France, the grandfather, Capt. Humphrey John Tench. being an Englishman and an officer in the Fifty- seventh Regiment of the Horse Marines. İn 1834 he located in Ontario and in Queenstown passed away in 1852. His wife was formerly Maria Caruthers, a daughter of Major Caruth- ers, of the Fifty-fifth Regiment of the Horse Marines. William E. Tench was reared in Can- ada and in manhood engaged as a conductor on the Great Western Railway between the suspen- sion bridge and Detroit. He continued in the railway service for about twenty-five years, when he engaged in the real estate business in Niagara Falls, where he died in 1893. Fraternally he was a Mason and in religion belonged to the Episco- pal Church. His wife was formerly Ellen Mur- ray, who was born in Clifton, England, a daugh- ter of John Murray, a general in the English army, until his retirement, when he came to Ontario, Canada. The maternal grandfather was a captain under Wolfe at Quebec and at one time was governor of Demerara.

William J. Tench was born December 16, 1858, and reared at Niagara Falls, where he re- ceived his education through the medium of the public schools. He first followed farming and then began railroading, in 1881 being employed in the construction of the Detroit, Mackinac & Marquette R. R .; later he worked on the North- ern Pacific, and then returned to the first named company, and engaged as purchasing agent with headquarters at Marquette. He was next lo- cated in St. Joseph as general purchasing agent for the St. Joe & Grand Island Railway. Com- ing to California in 1888 he located in San Ber- nardino and acted as assistant purchasing agent for the Santa Fe for one year, and in the mean- time bought a ranch of waste land and moving upon it began its improvement and cultivation.

During the dry years he prospected for water, sinking a shaft one hundred and ninety feet deep, striking water at a depth of one hundred and sixty-three feet. He now has an abundant sup- ply of water, it being within one hundred and thirty-nine feet of the surface. He has a twelve horsepower gasoline engine with an Osborn pump with a capacity of fourteen inches. This furnishes water for his ranch and also for the tanks of the railroad company, and for five years supplied Mentone with water for domestic pur- poses. He has eight acres in navel oranges and the balance of the land under cultivation to vari- ous products. He is also serving as agent for the Santa Fe Railroad at Mentone.

In Chippawa, Ontario, Mr. Tench was united in marriage with Miss Florence Ellen Allen, born in Pembrokeshire, Wales, and daughter of a Welsh squire who came to Niagara Falls in childhood, where she attained maturity. They are the parents of two sons and two daughters. Mr. Tench is identified fraternally with the Mod- ern Woodmen of America, the Ancient Order of United Workmen, of Ontario, and belongs to Redlands Lodge No. 341, I. O. O. F. He is a member of the Episcopal Church of Redlands and in his political convictions votes the Repub- lican ticket.

NEWTON WELLS BEST. The success achieved by Newton Wells Best has been the re- sult entirely of his own efforts, for he brought nothing to bear in his work but energy and abil- ity, and a determination to win for himself a position of financial independence as well as prominence in the citizenship of whatever section he made his home. That he has succeeded none can deny and he now owns valuable residence and business property in Redlands, in which city he makes his home and is rounding out a well spent and prosperous career. He was born in Corn- wallis, Kings county, Nova Scotia, October 12, 1838, the second in a family of six children, of whom all attained maturity and three are now living. His father, Elisha Best, was born in Horton, Kings county ; the paternal grandfather was a purser in the English army and came from the Isle of Wight during the Revolutionary war and after the close of that historic struggle lo- cated in Nova Scotia to spend the balance of his days in retirement. He died there as an ad- vanced age. Elisha Best became a farmer in Nova Scotia, where he made his home until his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-two years. His wife, formerly Mercy Ann Bishop, was a native of that province and a daughter of Silas Bishop, of English descent, and who en- gaged as a farmer until his death at the ad- vanced age of ninety-two years. The Bishop

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family came from the North of England orig- inally and were United Empire Loyalists. Mrs. Best survived her husband and in her old age came to California and died in Santa Ana in September, 1905, at the age of ninety-five years.

Reared on the paternal farm and educated in the district schools, Newton Wells Best remained at home until attaining his majority, when he en- gaged in farming on his own resources. In 1868 he decided to come to California and accordingly took passage on a vessel bound for Panama, thence to San Francisco, where he arrived on the 19th of April. His first summer was spent at San Jose, after which he came to Southern Cal- ifornia with the intention of establishing a home, and in San Benito county he entered one hundred and sixty acres of government land and improved and cultivated it until 1873, when he sold out and removed to Guadaloupe, Santa Barbara coun- ty, and purchased a farm. A year later he dis- posed of this purchase and bought a squatter's title to one hundred and sixty acres, proved upon it, and farmed for five years in that section. After disposing of this farm he located in the vicinity of Santa Ana, Orange county, here purchased a farm three miles from the town, and farmed this for a period of seven years. In the fall of 1883 he returned to Nova Scotia on a visit and on his return west brought his mother with him. In the fall of 1884 he traded his farm for a ranch near Beaumont, and there later purchased another farm, and continued to purchase adjoining land until he owned three hundred acres in one body and one hundred and sixty acres in the vicinity. He improved the property, set out orchards, etc., and engaged in grain and stock-raising. He con- tinned there for fourteen years, and in 1898 rented the ranch to a son and located in Red- lands, purchasing property at No. 217 East Citrus avenue, where he now makes his home. Later he purchased a half interest in the feed and fuel de- partment of the Redlands Commercial Company on Orange street, and helped to improve and build up a large business. He took an active in- terest in the work and served as manager of that department of the enterprise. In 1901 he sold his interest, when he became identified with the real estate operations of the place, and then purchased a grocery store of the Dunn Brothers and con- ducted the same for one year, and then sold out to F. A. Morgan. He owns with his son an eight hundred acre ranch eight miles north of Beaumont, of which seventy acres are devoted to the raising of apples, and there is a small cherry orchard on the place; of this fruit acreage his son, W. H., owns one-half interest in forty acres. He is also interested in the dry goods business in Corona, the firm being Austin & Best, and likewise owns property in two residences in Newport Beach, besides a

twelve-room flat building and the building known as the Armory block in Redlands.

Mr. Best has been twice married, his first wife being Emma Smith, a native of Nova Scotia, where she died. In the same place he married Miss Annie Holmes, a native of Hansport, Nova Scotia, and a daughter of Capt. Kendall Holmes, whose ancestry can be traced back to the May- flower. Born of this union are the following children: William H., a farmer in Imperial val- ley ; Frank S., a dairyman near Holtville; Fred N., in Newport Beach; Charles E., conducting a feed corrall in Redlands; Arthur L., died at the age of fourteen years; Maude, Mrs. Austin, whose husband is a merchant of Corona ; Pearla M., Mrs. Hively, of Los Angeles ; Lluella, wife of H. H. Moore, of Redlands; and Joseph, who died at the age of two and a half years. Mr. Best is a member of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and is a mem- ber of the priesthood. Politically he is a stanch advocate of Prohibition principles.

R. C. ANDREWS. The Bixby dairy ranch at Clearwater consists of eleven hundred acres, devoted to the raising of alfalfa, beets and corn, and the pasturage of hogs and cattle, and is un- der the personal supervision of R. C. Andrews as manager, assisted by a force of fifteen em- ployes. A specialty is made of the dairy in- dustry and for this purpose a herd of one hundred and fifty milch cows are kept, the revenue from the same forming the principal source of income from the estate. He also owns a ranch improved with substantial buildings and said to be one of the best farms in this section, this property being under the management of a brother.

The Andrews family is of eastern ancestry. W. H. and Martha (Curtis) Andrews, natives of Ohio, came to California via the ocean route as early as 1865 and settled in Northern Cal- ifornia, where he followed the trade of machinist and also became interested in ranching. During the year 1884 he came to the southern part of the state, where he died in March of 1904. During all of his active life he was a firm believer in the principles for which the Republican party stands. Since his death his widow has contin- ued at the old home, affectionately cared for by her children and esteemed by acquaintances. In religious belief she is a sincere member of the United Brethren denomination and in her life has exemplified the doctrines which she sup- ports. Of her eight children all are living ex- cept one daughter and the entire seven are resi- dents of California.

While the family were living at Sacramento, Cal., R. C. Andrews was born September 27. 1870, and as a boy he spent a number of years

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in Colusa county, but at the age of fourteen accompanied his father, W. H., to Southern Cal- ifornia, where he has since made his home. About 1894 he first became connected with the Bixby lands, being then made an employe on a ranch where grain, hogs and cattle were raised. The property comprised eight thousand acres and about 1896 was sold to the sugar beet corporation. At the same time Mr. Andrews was transferred to the ranch of eleven hundred acres near Clear- water. A large portion of the land was covered with willows and it was an enormous undertaking to clear the ground and remove the timber, but, · with a large corps of workmen, Mr. Andrews at once set about the task, and at this writing has eight hundred acres cleared and in fine condition for pasture or for cultivation. The successful prosecution of so large an undertaking proves the manager to possess exceptional business qual- ifications and untiring energy. The transforma- tion of the tract into a profitable ranch may be attributed largely to his perseverance and ju- dicious oversight.

The marriage of Mr. Andrews in 1895 united him with Miss Viola M. Aken, who was born in Ohio, the birthplace also of her father, John Aken. The family was large and now has num- erous representatives along the Pacific coast. Mr. and Mrs. Andrews have four daughters, Elta, Dora, Josie and Nellie. The family attend the Presbyterian Church and Mrs. Andrews is a mem- ber of the same. In national politics Mr. Andrews has always been a stanch advocate of Republican principles, but in local matters he considers ques- tions affecting the national prosperity are not vitally affected, hence he supports the candidates whom he considers best qualified to represent the people. Always interested in educational mat- ters, he has proved helpful to the local work through a long service as school trustee. In fraternal relations he is connected with the In- dependent Order of Foresters.

RICHARD J. FARQUHAR. Located at the corner of Fifth avenue and F street, in Red- lands is the home of Richard J. Farquhar, one of the enterprising and substantial horticultur- ists of this section of Southern California. He is a native of Ohio, his birth having occurred in Coshocton county June 12, 1865, next to the youngest in a family of three sons and two daughters born to his parents, William R. and Marion (Renfrew) Farquhar, whose personal history appears at length on another page of this volume. He received his education in the public schools of Ohio and after the close of his schooldays engaged in general farming in his native state. He came to California in 1891 and in Redlands began the improvement and culti-

vation of a ranch, with his brother engaging in horticultural pursuits. They first improved for- ty acres of raw land, setting out an orchard of oranges, and after four years thus occupied, Mr. Farquhar returned to Ohio, and there managed the home farm for his father. Three years later he disposed of the property in Ohio and in 1899 located permanently in Redlands, where he now owns twenty-six acres devoted to navel and valencia oranges, and has improved the place with a good residence, barns and necessary out- buildings. He is interested in the Crafton Orange Growers' Association, and the packing house at Mentone, of which he is acting as di- rector and vice-president.

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A history of California and an extended history of its southern coast counties, also containing biographies of well-known citizens of the past and present, Volume II, Part 153

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1907 Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company Number of Pages: 1234

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1907
Publisher: Los Angeles, Cal., Historic record company
Number of Pages: 1234