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 161

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

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a loyal American citizen and has spent the great- er part of his life in the state of California. His first experience with agriculture was not en- couraging, for during his initial season (the year 1893, there occurred a drought) with de- vastating effects, but he did not allow himself to become discouraged by the losses resulting therefrom; instead, he put added determination into the work and had the gratification of win- ning success from his venture on a ranch. Now he ranks among the most prosperous farmers in his vicinity and owns and manages large tracts of valuable land.

The ancestry of the Eastwood family is traced back to a member of the famous West India Company. The third generation in descent from that illustrious ancestor was represented by George John Eastwood, a native of London, Eng- land, and a manufacturer in that city. There he married Felicita Whitling, who was born and reared in London. They became the parents of twelve children, of whom five sons came to the United States. Their third child, Ernest, was born in London, July 2, 1865, and was four years of age when the parents came to America, set- tling in Colorado. Coming to California in 1875, he and his wife now reside at Elrio, Ven- tura county.

While still a mere boy Ernest Eastwood be- gan to aid his father in ranching pursuits and he also worked at the builder's trade. On leav- ing home he began to work at the carpenter's trade and continued at the occupation for sev- eral years, but in 1893 he abandoned the build- ing business to enter upon agricultural pursuits. For a time he engaged in raising beans and barley on the Colonia. Later he bought a ranch of nearly nine hundred acres in the Conejo dis- trict, where he has since engaged in raising grain, cattle and hogs.

The marriage of Ernest Eastwood and Miss Mary McGlinchey was solemnized August 25, 1891. Mrs. Eastwood was born in county Done- gal, Ireland, and in 1884 came to America with her parents. In religion both Mr. and Mrs. Eastwood are earnest members of the Santa Clara Catholic Church. Measures for the bene- fit of his neighborhood receive his stanch sup- port and he has been especially interested in edu- cational work, which he has promoted in his dis- trict by serving as school trustee. Throughout the entire community he is known and honored as an influential man, progressive citizen and a capable and energetic agriculturist.

J. HENRY MILLIGAN. As a self-made man who has achieved considerable prominence in San Bernardino county, J. H. Milligan, the general superintendent of the San Bernardino

County Hospital, is recognized as one of the ablest citizens of this section of the state. His grandfather, James Milligan, was born in Ire- land and immigrated to America with his father, they becoming pioneers respectively of Illinois and Des Moines, Iowa. Harvey Newton, the son of James and the father of J. H. Milligan, was said to be the first white male child born in the present limits of the city of Des Moines. Harvey Newton Milligan was in Texas when the Civil war broke out and was forced to join the Confederate army, but his health failing just before activities commenced in that section he was released and picked up as a straggler by an Iowa regiment stationed there at the time and returned to his native state. His brother, Will- iam Henry, belonged to the Seventh Regiment of Iowa Infantry and after the war the two brothers went to Memphis and established a newspaper. Removing from there to Nashville they engaged in a similar enterprise and after disposing of their interests at that point went to Jackson, Tenn., and engaged in the lumber business for a time.

While located here Mr. Milligan married Miss Addie C. Hutchinson, who was born in Jackson, her father being a large planter at that place. After his marriage Mr. Milligan traveled con- siderably, made trips to northern California and Montana, engaged in mining for a period, and then located in Dallas, Tex., where he conduct- ed the largest job printing office in that city at the time. In 1890 he came to San Bernardino county, purchased a ranch of one hundred and five acres, improved it and engaged in horti- cultural pursuits for five years, then made his home in the city of San Bernardino for one year, after which he engaged in farming at Highland and remained there until his death in 1901. He was prominent in Masonic circles, having at- tained the Royal Arch degree. Mrs. Milligan is living and resides in San Bernardino.

The birth of J. H. Milligan occurred March 22, 1876, at Jackson, Tenn., he being the young- est of three children. His childhood was spent in different places until his fourteenth year, when he came with his parents to San Ber- nardino. While his father owned the printing office in Dallas, Tex., he worked there and learned typesetting, and after coming to San Bernardino assisted him to improve the ranch which was purchased. In 1897, knowing that he had his own way to make in the world, and recognizing the need of an education, he re- solved to attend high school. At that time his parents resided at Highland and as there was no electric car connection with San Bernardino, he began casting about for a way to get back and forth from home. Accordingly he decided to purchase a bis and contracted to convey the

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high-school students from Highland to San Ber- nardino and attend school at the same time. In this way he made his way through, attaining great popularity among his classmates and achieving an enviable record in his studies. He displayed especial talent as a speaker and was called the boy orator of the school. He was selected as first president of his class and was active in all of the high school organizations. After three years of this work his health became impaired and he was obliged to give up further study.

Deciding to try a change of location Mr. Mil- ligan went to San Francisco, secured passage on the steamer San Pedro for Nome, Alaska, and engaged in prospecting for a time, later be- ing employed by the Nome Nugget Dredging Company. In the fall of 1900, his health having been fully restored, he returned to his home at Highland, and as the death of his father oc- curred shortly afterward he remained on the farm for a time to care for his mother. Later he went to Arizona and secured employment in the mines as hoisting engineer at the headquar- ters of the Rio Del Monte mine. May 28, 1903, he came to San Bernardino on a vacation and June 15, 1903, was appointed by the board of supervisors to the position of general superin- tendent of the County Hospital and Farm, which position he still occupies. The farm comprises twenty acres of ground located in the city limits and has been improved from its original condi- tion as an area of sand dunes to a veritable garden with the help of the electric pumping plant which has been installed. The ground is devoted to the raising of hay for fifteen head of

The marriage of Mr. Milligan to Miss Mary E. Rennahan, who is a native of Las Vegas, N. Mex., occurred February 8, 1906. They own a residence in San Bernardino. Fraternally Mr. Milligan affiliates with several lodges, being a member of the Knights of Pythias; Court No. 447, I. O. F., and is past grand deputy of the High Chief Rangers of California ; also a mem- ber of Knights and Ladies of Security. His in- fluence is always exerted on the side of good government in public matters and at one time he was sent by the Highland district to repre- sent them as an independent delegate to the county convention. The agitation in this conven- tion resulted in the nomination of a group of in- dependent candidates chosen from the different parties, who were eventually elected by the peo- ple, the politics of the county being changed and

at the same time a revolution being accomplished whereby the liquor element was eliminated. Mr. Milligan's interests are in the upbuilding of the community in which he lives, he lends his influ- ence toward the furthering of all elevating and progressive enterprises, and he is accounted one of the most valuable citizens of San Bernardino county.

STEPHEN A. MARLETTE. Long identi- fication with the interests of a certain locality brings to a man a feeling of oneness with that section of country, and thus we find that Mr. Marlette, after a continuous residence of more than thirty years in San Diego county; feels him- self to be intimately associated with his home district, which has been the scene of his activities during almost the entire period of his residence in California. Descended from eastern ancestry, he is a son of Joseph H. and Catherine (Brady) Marlette, natives respectively of New York and Vermont. His father engaged in railroading throughout much of his active life, and while filling the position of brakeman he ran on the first train over the newly-built road that forms a part of the present Rock Island system. On resigning as roadmaster in the east he came to California in 1875, and since then has made his home in San Diego county. Though quite ad- vanced in years, he still retains his physical activ- ity and is engaged in carrying the mails from all the trains running into the city of San Diego. His wife died in 1896, at the age of sixty-six years.

dairy stock, and vegetables and fruits. The . of Joseph H. Marlette was Stephen A., who was place is improved with all necessary outbuildings and one large main building, which now has a capacity of over one hundred and fifty inmates, the usual number, however, ranging from sev- enty-five to one hundred and twenty.

Among the six children comprising the family born in Peoria, Ill., November 9, 1860, and re- ceived his education in the schools of Laporte, Ind., the family having removed thither in his boyhood. After his arrival in California he for a time worked for wages on ranches, and mean- while saved his earnings until finally he was in a position to buy property. At this writing he owns a ranch near Julian consisting of two hun- dred and fifty-five acres, on which he raises hay, corn and grain, also fruit of the principal varie- ties. In his work he has shown himself to be energetic, determined and industrious, and his standing among neighbors is excellent. By dint of wise management he has made substantial im- provements on his land and has converted it into one of the valuable homesteads of the district.

The marriage of Mr. Marlette united him with Miss Nellie McKurnan, who was born in Rhode Island. Her parents for a time were neighbors of the Marlette family in Illinois, but they moved east to Rhode Island and the others to Indiana, so that they became separated for a time. Later the children became acquainted, and in 1883 Mr.

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Marlette married the young lady, who like him- self was reared in the Roman Catholic faith and always has heen a sincere member of that church. Their children are named as follows: Patrick H., Rose, Robert, Leo, Mabel (who died in in- fancy), Nellie, Francis and Blanche. Fraternally Mr. Marlette hoidis membership with the Order of Foresters, while in politics he votes the Demo- cratie ticket in national elections and locally supports the men he deems best fitted to repre- sent the people, irrespective of their party plat- forms and personal opinions concerning the tariff and other national problems.

WILLIAM J. PHILLIPS. The records of the Phillips disclose the fact that they descend from English ancestry and have been represent- ed in America ever since the year 1703, their original location being in New England, where successive generations held positions of honor and trust and wielded extensive influence among their fellowmen. From the Atlantic coast they drifted across the Hudson river into the then frontier of New York, and from there, Jo H., a native of the Empire state, removed to the wilderness of Michigan in 1836. Taking up a traet of land he devoted himself to transform- ing the raw prairie soil into fertile fields. Eventually he acquired two hundred acres com- prising as fine a farm as could be found with- in the limits of Macomb county. The sub- stantial residence and large farm buildings were erected under his supervision, and all of the other improvements represented his energy and laborious application. The farm was stocked with cattle and horses of the best breeds and stock-raising was one of his specialties. Be- sides being active in all questions pertaining to agriculture, he took a leading part in local poli- tics, was stanchly devoted to the Republican party, and contributed not a little to its local success. For his integrity and sterling quali- ties he was esteemed by a large circle of ac- quaintances throughout his section of the state. His death in 1878 occurred twelve years after the demise of his wife, who was Clarinda Briggs, a native of New York and a descendant of an English family identified with the colonial his- tory of our Atlantic coast country.

At the home place near Armada, Mich., Will- iam J. Phillips was born March 29, 1859, being a son of Jo H. and Clarinda Phillips. His early life differed little from the lives of other farmer boys of his day and locality. During winters he attended the district school and in the summer he tilled the soil of the home farm. After com- pleting the studies of the country schools he was sent to Romeo Academy, where he took a thor- ough course of study. Upon leaving school he

secured employment with an agricultural imple- ment firm. As their special agent for thresh- ing machines and traction engines he exhibited engines at county and state fairs in Michigan, Indiana, Ohio, Illinois, Iowa and Missouri, con- tinuing in this business for a period of twenty years. The year 1895 found him a resident of San Bernardino, where now he makes his home. Though not one of the early settlers of the county, he is well known throughout this sec- tion and has many warm friends among people of all classes. Soon after his arrival here he entered the Santa Fe railway shops, where he had charge of the tool department. During the seven years of his identification with that work he rendered efficient service and proved himself to be eminently trustworthy.

While not displaying any offensive partisan- ship in his preferences, Mr. Phillips has always been known as a decided Republican in his po- litical opinions, and he has been active in local councils of the party. Though firm in his own convictions, he is nevertheless liberal and es- teems men none the less though their ideas may be the opposite of his own. From his party in 1903 he received the nomination for city treas- urer and later was duly elected to the office for a term of four years. At this writing he de- votes his attention to the work of the office, in which he is making a record for efficiency and trustworthiness. His home at No. 969 Fifth street is presided over by his wife, who was Estella Dav, of Oxford, Mich., daughter of R. A. Day, an honored citizen of that place. They are the parents of one child, Fileda May. In fraternal connections Mr. Phillips still retains membership with Anchor Lodge No. 278, I. O. O. F., at Oxford, Mich., and with Oxford Lodge No. 108, K. of P., also of that town.

WILLIAM KINKEAD. Occupying a firm position among the honored citizens and the substantial and well-to-do farmers of San Diego county is William Kinkead, of Moosa. Settling here nearly four decades ago, he has from the uncultivated soil built up a valuable homestead which will remain as a monument to his indus- try and enterprise for generations to come. He has been wise in his investments, making the best of his opportunities, and while laboring for his own welfare has in nowise been unmindful of the interests of his community. Coming here at an early period of the settlement of the place, he knows all about the hardships and privations of life in a new territory, his varied experiences forming a rich storehouse, wherein he has gath- ered much from his observations of human life and of the ways of the world. A son of David Kinkead, he was born, October 27, 1834, in

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Guernsey county, Ohio, where he was brought up and educated.

David Kinkead was a native of Ohio, and un- til 1855 he made that state his home. Text- books and school training were practically un- known to him, for he attended school only two days in his whole life. During his boyhood he learned the shoemaker's trade, and at the same time studied law. At the age of twenty-one he formed domestic ties by his marriage with Miss Lydia Haines, of Hendrysburg, Ohio. Five miles east of Cambridge, on the Steubenville road, he bought land, and also laid out the town of Centerville, where he opened a hotel and a store. Besides managing these enterprises he continued his farming and stock-raising inter- ests, and for a number of years practiced his profession and also served as justice of the peace. Leaving Ohio in 1855 he moved with his family to Knoxville, Marion county, Iowa, where he purchased a residence, one hundred and sixty acres in close proximity to that city, and also fourteen hundred acres in Galloway county. He was admitted to the bar of Iowa. He died in 1866, and according to the terms of his will his fourteen hundred acre farm was equally divided among his children. He was a man of marked ability, an active member of the Democratic party, and was quite prominent in Masonic circles. His wife survived him many years, passing away in Knoxville. The parental family comprised seven children, as follows : Eliza Jane, Calvin, Sarah Anne, Maria, William, Alexander and Lemuel.

Leaving home in 1854, William Kinkead came to California, and the following fourteen years was engaged in mining pursuits, locating first at Spanish bar, on the middle fork of the Ameri- can river. Subsequently, in company with his brother, he located claims at Folsom, posting no- tices on the best lots in the place on Christmas day, 1856, and immediately afterwards erected the first dwelling in the town, a house which he had no difficulty in renting for $75 a month. In 1858 he went to the great Fraser river mines in British Columbia; not meeting with sufficient success in the mines of the north, in 1860 he went to Nevada and carried on mining at Vir- ginia City and Gold Hill until 1863. He also participated in the Reese River excitement. Near Newpass, Nev., he located hay lands, having found water in the vicinity. and also established a station known as Gopher Hole. In May, 1865, he joined a party of thirty-two who went through the Death Valley country to Arizona. Return- ing to California in May of 1866 Mr. Kinkead stopped in San Bernardino until May of the fol- lowing year, and in the same month of 1868 came to San Diego and took up government land a short distance from where he now re-

sides. After making a few improvements he sold the land and homesteaded one hundred and sixty acres now included in the home ranch, taking it up from the government, besides which he bought one hundred and sixty acres of state land. Improving his property, Mr. Kinkead be- came extensively engaged in stock raising, for many years making this his principal business, but more recently he has devoted his time and energies to bee keeping, meeting with satisfac- tory results.

In 1882 Mr. Kinkcad married Nancy Welty, who was born in Iowa, a daughter of Jonathan Welty, who came to California in 1851. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Kinkead six children have been born, namely: Alice, Katie, Myrtle, Ellen, Josie and Ruskin. In politics Mr. Kin- kead has not been very active, but he is a firm believer in the principles of the Socialist party, which he uniformly supports by voice and vote.

PHILIP H. REED. One of the most tho- roughly competent architects and mechanical en- gineers in this section of the state is Philip H. Reed, who has been located in Colton for the past five years. He received a comprehensive education in technical schools and has also edu- cated himself by practical work in the different lines in which he is interested professionally. Besides architectural and mechanical drafting he carries on a planing mill and pattern works, and designs both interior and exterior house fur- nishings. He is a native Englishman and was born in London, June 13, 1864, the son of Henry S. and Eliza (Brown) Reed, who came to live in London, Canada, in 1869 and stayed there until they died, the father at the age of sixty-eight years, and the mother at fifty-four. By trade the father was a manufacturing confectioner, and fraternally he belonged to the I. W. O. F. of Lon- don, Canada. Both parents were members of the Baptist Church. There were eight children in their family, of whom one daughter and Philip H. live in California; Arthur is engaged in the leather business at Richmond Hill, N. Y .; Henry is a farmer in New York; and Fred is an of- ficial of the Grand Trunk Railway of Canada.

When brought by his parents to Canada Philip H. Reed was about five years old, and it was there that he spent his boyhood days and re- ceived his education. He attended the public and high schools, and the school of technology, in the latter taking a complete mechanical course. Going to Chicago he took up architectural stu- dies at the Athenaeum and then returned to Can- ada and followed the trade at the bench in order to gain practical knowledge of the work. When twenty-four years of age he again went to Chicago, this time becoming superintendent

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of the Chicago Gas Stove Company, and during the three years thus occupied still continued his architectural studies. From there he went to Denver and engaged in architectural practice with offices in the McPhee Building, where he made plans and superintended buildings until 1894. He then turned his attention to the me- chanical departments of work and began pattern making, continuing at this in Denver and Pueblo, Colo., until 1901. He then went to San Fran- cisco and was employed in the Risdon Iron works as patternmaker for three months, after which he located in Colton, which has been his home ever since. He has been very successful in all of his work here and has had a hand in the planning, erection and furnishing of many of the business blocks, apartment houses and pri- vate residences in this city. He received and carried out the contract for the building of the Home Telephone building and the Gilbert flats, and has been engaged as architect by the Colton school board to draw plans for any buildings they may erect for educational purposes.

In 1887 occurred the marriage which united Mr. Reed to Miss Gertrude M. Mabie, who was born near Rockford, Ill., and this union has been blessed by the birth of three children, one daughter. Mabel, and two sons, Howard and Philip. The parents are active members of the Baptist Church and Mr. Reed is politically an adherent of the Republican party. As a leading citizen of Colton he takes a prominent part in the furthering of all plans for the upbuilding and development of his home town, and exerts an elevating influence upon the social life of the community.

OLIVER ATWELL ALLEN. The thriving blacksmith shop and carriage manufactory con- ducted by Mr. Allen in San Bernardino is with- out question the largest enterprise of the kind in Southern California outside of Los Angeles. It is plainly evident from this statement that Mr. Allen must be a thorough workman in all de- partments of the business in order to success- fully manage so large an undertaking. This is true and justly so, for throughout his life he has been employed along this line, besides which he inherits a predilection for the business from his father, who followed the blacksmith's trade during his entire life. The structure occupied by Mr. Allen is one which he purchased some years ago and remodeled to suit his special busi- ness. The building is 44x80 feet, located on a lot which extends back three hundred feet, thus furnishing ample room for storage of material. In the blacksmith department three fires are necessary. In the woodworking department the material is prepared for manufacturing the fine

line of carriages and wagons which bear the name of Allen & Son, for he has the assistance and co-operation of his eldest son, Byron W.

Oliver A. Allen is a native of Ohio, born in Geauga county October 5, 1850, the youngest but one in a family of ten children born to his parents. Six of the number were daughters, but only one of them is now living. Both par- ents, Ira and Rebecca (Calkins) Allen, were na- tives of Vermont, where their marriage oc- curred, and some time later they removed to Ohio. In 1851 Mr. Allen removed to Michigan with his family, settling in Homer, where as in Vermont and Ohio he continued to work at the blacksmith's trade. After his death his shop was continued by his elder sons, and it was under the training of his brothers that Oliver A. became proficient at his trade. He continued with them until securing a position in Albion with the Woolcott Windmill Company, remain- ing with them for three years, or until coming to San Bernardino in 1884. After working at his trade here for three years a desire to see the old home and his relatives induced him to return to Michigan, where he fully intended to remain, having in the meantime secured the position of foreman with his old employers, the Woolcott Windmill Company. Six months later, however, he was seized with an equally strong desire to return to the west a longing which he satisfied immediately by returning to San Ber- nardino. As he was a first-class workman he had no difficulty in securing employment, and for about four years was in the employ of C. E. Lehman, at the end of that time, in 1891, buy- ing out his employer and continuing the busi- ness at that location until the growth of his trade made larger quarters a necessity. It was at this juncture that he bought and remodeled his present structure on Third street, where he has built up one of the largest enterprises of the kind in this part of the state outside of Los Angeles.

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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 161

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