An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 107

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 107
USA > California > San Diego County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 107
USA > California > Orange County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 107
USA > California > San Bernardino County > An illustrated history of Southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of Lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time; together with glimpses of their prospects; also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 107

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

EORGE A. WILBUR, an enterprising citi- zen of Chino, is the founder and sole pro- prietor of the Chino Store, opened to the public in February, 1888, since which time he has conducted one of the most prosperons enter- prises in that section. His large and commodi- ons store is well appointed in all respects, and is well stocked with a choice selection of goods. He deals in provisions, groceries, dry goods and everything in the general merchandise line, fur- nishing goods, boots and shoes, crockery, tin- ware, hardware, cigars, tobacco, etc. He is thoroughly competent in his business, and justly merits the liberal patronage bestowed upon him by the residents of Chino and vicinity. He is also Wells, Fargo & Co.'s Express agent, and the Postmaster of Chino. Mr. Wilbur is a native of California, dating his birth in 1865, near Redwood City, San Mateo County. His parents, John and Hannah W. (Pratt) Wilbur, are natives of Massachusetts. They came to California in 1864 and located in San Mateo County, where they resided until 1874, and then moved to Riverside, where they have since resided. The subject of this sketch was reared and schooled in that enterprising colony, be- coming a practical horticulturist in his youth. When eighteen years of age he entered into mercantile life as a clerk in his brother's store at Riverside, and in 1885 engaged in business under the firm name of Wilbur Brothers. He continued that business until 1887, and then located in Los Angeles, where he engaged in the real-estate business under the firm name of George A. Wilbur & Co. He was one of the founders and incorporators of the Los Angeles

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Real Estate and Stock Exchange. Mr. Wilbur continued his business in Los Angeles until he established his present enterprise. In addition to his mercautile operations he is also engaged in horticultural pursuits upon a ten-acre tract in Chino, upon which he has a choice variety of walnuts, prunes, pears, and other deciduous fruits. He is confident that citrus fruits can be successfully and profitably cultivated in that section, and is devoting considerable attention toward establishing that fact. Politically Mr. Wilbur is a Democrat, but is liberal and con- servative in his views. He is a member of Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112, K. of P., of River- side. He is an energetic and progressive citi- zen, and a supporter of any enterprise that will develop the resources of his section.

A man of sound business principles and straightforward in his dealings, he has gained the respect of his associates and of the com- munity.

September 15, 1887, Mr. Wilbur married Miss Minnie Saunders, a native of Utah. There is one child from this marriage, viz .: Hazel Elsie.

BRAHIAM A. SULCER, M. D., a success- ful physician of Riverside, during the few years of his residence there, has taken a pre-eminence in the medical circles of that city that strongly attests not only his skill as a physician and surgeon, but the respect and esteein awarded him by the community. He was born in Butler County, Ohio, in 1839, his parents being Henry and Catherine (Van Horn) Sulcer, the former a native of Virginia, who spent his life in pioneer farming in Ohio and Indiana, dying in Arnold County; the latter, born in Kentucky, was a descendant of one of the most prominent families of that State. When A. A. Sulcer, the subject of this sketch, was a year old his parents removed to Indiana, settling in Carroll County, where he passed his

boyhood and young manhood on a farm. In 1850 he located in Vermilion County, Illinois, and there entered upon a course of medical studies under the tutorship of Dr. John Mc- Elroy, a prominent physician of that county, and later the Surgeon of the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteers. Dr. Sulcer continued his studies until 1862, when he threw aside books, abandoned his life's project, and offered his services to his country. He enlisted in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Regiment Illinois Volunteer In- fantry, and was promoted to be Sergeant. His cominand was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland, and he participated in the battles of Champion Hills, Chattanooga, and others. After serving a year in the ranks his abilities were demanded in the Medical Department, and he was promoted to be Hospital Steward and placed on duty in the Field Hospital Corps. His efficiency and skill were noted and promo- tion offered. In 1864 he went before the Illi- nois State Medical Board of Chicago, and passed their examination with honor, was com- missioned as Assistant Surgcon, and assigned to duty in the Department of the Gulf. Dr. Sulcer continued his services until the close of the war, receiving his honorable discharge June 20, 1865. He then returned to his studies and entered the Rush Medical College of Chicago, graduating from that institution in 1866, when he established himself in the practice of his profession in Vermilion County. For the next twenty years the Doctor was engaged in a suc- cessful practice, and made his residence in Dan- ville, that county, where he took a prominent stand, professionally, politically and socially. In political matters he is a sound Republican, an eminent worker in the ranks of his party, but not an aspirant for political honors. He was a member and president of the Board of Trustees of Danville, and was besought to accept other positions of honor and trust. In 1886 he decided to seek a residence upon the Pacific coast, located in Riverside, and estab- lished his office in the Oppenheim block. His

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

residence is on Almond street, between Tenth and Eleventh.

Dr. Sulcer has interested himself in real estate dealings and horticultural pursuits, pur- chasing a ten-acre tract of land on Iowa avenue in the Whitney tract. Upon this he planted Washington Navel orange trees in 1888. Dr. Sulcer is a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R., and is prominent in other fraternal societies. He is a member of lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic order, and was for many years Master of his lodge in Dan- ville. He is also a member of ihe Methodist Church. The Doctor was married in 1870 to Miss Mary .I. Durham, a native of Illinois. They have two children-Cullen Bryant and Henry Durham.

RED. T. PERRIS, chief engineer and su- perintendent of construction and bridges of the California system of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railway Company's lines, and resident at San Bernardino, was born in England fifty-three years ago. He went to Australia in his yonth, and was educated for his profession of civil engineer in the city of Melbourne. Coming to America in 1853, he did a large amount of professional work on the Pacific coast for the United States Gov- ernment and the State of California, in the capacity of Deputy United States Surveyor, and Mineral Surveyor. His first railroad work in this country was done in the '60s on the Union Pacific, under Samuel B. Reed, during its construction. Mr. Perris settled perma- nently in San Bernardino in 1874, and has been actively and prominently identified with South- ern California and San Bernardino County in both a professional and official capacity for fif- teen years. He has served San Bernardino as City Engineer, and the county as County Sur- veyor, and is now (1889), a member of the City Board of Trustees. When the question of se- curing a railroad into this valley and city was

agitating the public mind, Mr. Perris was cho- sen at a mass meeting of the citizens a delegate to go to San Diego and meet G. B. Wilbur and L. G. Pratt, of Boston, and representing Eastern capitalists in railroad matters, to learn their in- tentions, and invite their attention to this part of the State. The result of his mission was a visit of those gentlemen to San Bernardino and an investigation of the city and valley, which was the inceptive step to securing the present fine railroad facilities.

Over nine years ago Mr. Perris entered the employ of the California Central Railroad Company and built its entire lines, embracing 264 % miles of road; he also built the Califor- nia Southern Railroad from Barstow to San Bernardino, 210 % miles, besides building and equipping the large shops at San Bernardino, and the shops at other points on their roads. Since the completion of the line, he has had charge of the entire California sub-system of the Santa Fé, of which these lines are a part. The excellent condition of these roads and their equipments comprising this system, demon- strate beyond question Mr. Perris' superior qualifications for the position lie occupies and the faithful discharge of its great responsibili- ties. He is an active and zealous worker and thorough master of the situation.

OHN CONGREVE, one of the well-known business men of Riverside and San Ber- nardino County, with which he has been identified for many years, is the general mana- ger of the Riverside branch of the Pioneer Lumber and Mill Company, one of the largest and best known lumber enterprises in Southern California. The Riverside branch was estab- lished in Jannary, 1886, under the firm name of William H. Perry Lumber and Mill Com- pany, and continued until January 1, 1887. The present company was then organized with M. A. Murphy as president, and S. H. Moot, sec- retary, and at that time Mr. Congreve took

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

charge of the Riverside yards as manager. Mr. Congreve is a well trained business man, who came to Southern California more than thirty years ago, after a long business career in the Eastern States, and ever since his arrival has been connected with the lumber interests of Southern California. There are few, if any, men in that business that are better qualified to meet the growing demands of the trade than he. The few facts obtained of his earlier life are of interest. Mr. Congreve was born in Waterford County, Ireland, January 3, 1827. His parents were in indigent circumstances, and from early boyhood he was dependent upon himself for support and education. At fifteen years of age, when more favored youths were pursuing their school studies, he started in life as a boy before the mast, in a seafaring life, following that occu- pation for the next seven years. By his attention to his duties and quick intelligence, lie mas- tered the details of his calling and rose to a po- sition among the subordinate officers of his ves- sel. In 1849 he found himself in the Southern States, and he located first in Florida, engaged in steamboating on Tampa bay, and thence to Charleston, South Carolina, in 1852, and there engaged in mercantile pursuits. He was suc- cessful, and in the years that followed ranked among the solid merchants of the city. The war of the Rebellion, that was inaugurated in that city in 1861, found him conducting a pros- perous and profitable business, but the block- ading of the Southern ports that soon followed produced a general stagnation, and eventually broke up his business, and left him financially ruined.

Mr. Congreve, though a strong opponent of the secession movement, and a Union man, was compelled to take a part in the stirring events of that date. He was a member of the Mont- gomery Guards, and when they were called out at the commencement of hostilities, shouldered his musket and appeared for duty. His com- mand was stationed at Cummings Point, on Morris Island, and he saw the first gun fired upon Fort Sumter, April 12, 1861, the report

of which inaugurated one of the greatest civil wars of modern times, and at the sound of which hundreds of thousands of America's most gal- lant sons rushed to a combat that did not end until more than four years later. Mr. Con- greve's strong Union sentiments were known, and he was subjected to many annoyances, and almost persecutions, made with an object of compelling him to enter the Confederate service. He escaped entering the ranks, but was em- * ployed in a civil capacity with the sutler's de- partment of the army. In 1864 he managed to secure a position, which his former seafaring life had fitted him for, upon a blockade runner, bound for Nassau. The voyage was successfully acccomplished, and from that port he proceeded to New York, and there engaged in mercantile pursuits until 1868.

In that year he came to California and lo- cated in Los Angeles, and soon after entered the employ of J. G. Jackson & Co., in establishing the first lumber yard ever opened in that city. In 1875 he was the agent for Perry & Wood- worth, and established a lumber yard at Spadra, and had charge until 1875, when he established the Colton yard for the same firm. Mr. Con- greve was the first business man locating in that city, and established the first business conducted at that point. A year or so later he returned to Los Angeles, and with the exception of the time spent in an extended tour through the Eastern States and Europe, was engaged in the Inmber business in that city until coming to Riverside in 1887. He did not come as a stranger, the old colonists of Riverside had known him for years. As the railroad had ad- vanced in the direction of their colony, he had followed with the lumber to meet their increas- ing demands, and his arrival in their midst, with the well-stocked yards of the Pioneer Company, was hailed with pleasure, and con- sidered by all as a most desirable acquisition to the city. Mr. Congreve promptly identified himself with Riverside and her interests. In political matters he is a Republican. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

M., of Riverside, and still retains his member- ship with Solomon Lodge, No. 1, of Charleston, South Carolina, the oldest chartered lodge in the United States, having received its charter in 1735.

MIL ROSENTHAL, a well-known citizen of Riverside, is a pioneer of that colony, and since 1872 has been one of the lead- ing business men of the city. Mr. Rosenthal is a native of Germany, born in 1845. At the age of twenty years he started in life, casting his fortunes with the New World. In 1865 he came to the United States, and located in New York; was employed in business pursuits for the next four years. He then crossed the continent, and established himself in San Fran- cisco, but later came to Los Angeles, and thence, in 1872, to Riverside, where the rich and populous city now stands; there being then but a straggling hamlet. Mr. Rosenthal early saw what would be the result when the rich and prolific soil of the valley should be brought under cultivation. He established a general merchandise store, the pioneer store of the val- ley, on the west side of Main street, near the corner of Eighth, under the firm name of Lyon & Rosenthal. Their business increased with the growth of the colony, and they erected the Lyon block, on the corner of Main and Eighth streets, which the firm occupied. This firm took the lead in mercantile enterprises, and re- tained it throughout. Mr. Lyon died in 1882, and Mr. Rosenthal conducted the business until 1886, when he sold out to Frankenheimer & Lightner. During his years of mercantile operations, he had also conducted an extensive insurance business, and upon his retirement from merchandising, he formed a partnership with J. T. Jarvis, under the firm name of Rosen- thal & Jarvis, establishing a real estate and insurance business. This enterprise, under his successful management, ranked as the leading real-estate firm in Riverside. Mr. Rosenthal

was the prime mover in the business, and was one of the largest operators in Southern Cali- fornia; the placing upon the market and the sale of the lands of many additions to River- side were entrusted to him. In public improve- ments and enterprises he has taken an active part; among the incorporations that have added so much to the building up of the city, and with which his name is associated as a stockholder, are the Citrus Fair Association, Riverside & Arlington Railway, Riverside Gas and Electric Light Company, Rubidoux Hotel Company, and others. He is a director of the Riverside Land and Irrigation Company. Besides his extensive business pursuits, he has for years been engaged in horticultural enter- prises, and placing upon the market some of tlie finest groves in the colony. His home place, of ten acres, is one of the representative orange groves of the city. It is located on Pine street, corner of Eleventh, where he has a beautiful residence. The orange trees of his grove are of budded fruit, planted in 1881 and 1882, and his success as an orange grower is best attested by stating the fact that his orange crop of 1889 sold for $3,000.

Mr. Rosenthal is well known throughout the city and county. His years of association with the leading business men have been character- ized by honesty and integrity, and have gained him a large circle of friends. In political mat- ters he is a Republican. In 1886 he was ap- pointed a Notary Public, and has since retained the office. He is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., and also of Riverside Chapter, No. 67, Royal Arch Masons.

OHN A. SIMMS, one of the early settlers of the Riverside colony, ranks among the leading horticulturists and nursery men of Southern California. He came to Riverside in 1875, without capital other than young and vigorous manhood, energetic disposition and industrious habits. Having been reared in ag-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

ricultural pursuits, he sought work among the orchardists and found employment with Mr. P. S. Russell, one of the pioneer nurserymen of the city. He was employed with him for the next three years, and during that time became skilled in the business, and in 1878 established a nursery in Brockton square, upon a ten acre tract which he had purchased. This place is now (1889) owned by P. S. Klinefelter. He was successful in his nursery enterprise, and also improved his land, planting orange groves, vineyard, etc. He sold that land in 1880, but continued his nursery business, known as the Simms Nursery, upon other lands, until 1887. In that year he formed a partnership with L. C. Waite, and under the firm name of Waite & Simms established the Sweet Stock Nurseries, of Riverside. This is one of the largest nurs- ery enterprises in Southern California. The years of experience which both Messrs. Waite and Simins have had in Riverside, combined with their well-known sound business princi- ples, has made their business one of the most successful in the State. Their nursery stock in Riverside alone occupies twenty acres, contain- ing 120,000 trees that will be ready for the market in 1890. They produce nothing but the best, and of the most successful and approved varieties, seventy-five per cent. of their stock being Washington Navels. The character of their stock can not be excelled, if equaled, by any on the Pacific coast. Their reputation for integrity and straightforward dealing is un- impeachable. Mr. Simms is a native of Henry County, Kentucky. He was born in 1851. His father, Albert D. Simms, was a farmer by occupation, and Mr. Simms was reared to that calling. He received a good common-school education, and entered upon life's stage upon his own account, a trained agriculturist.

In 1875 he decided to scek his fortune in a new country, and came to California and located in Riverside, and entered upon his successful career as a horticulturist. Since the establish- ment of the Sweet Stock Nurseries, he has had the immediate supervision of the planting, bud-

ding, cultivation, etc., of the stock. The credit for producing the finest trees in the county is largely due to his untiring and intelligent efforts. Mr. Simms is a strong supporter of Riverside enterprises, and a liberal subscriber to the Citrus Fair Association, Loring Opera House Company, etc. Politically he is a straight Republican. He is member of the Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112, Knights of Pythias, and also of the Uniform Rank of the same order. He has been a successful man, and won not only a fair competency, but his consistent and manly conrse in life has gained him the respect of the community.

He married, in 1879, Miss Jennie Patton, the only daughter of James Patton, a well- known pioneer of Riverside. The only child from that marriage was born in 1881, and died in 1887.

EORGE J. CHARLESWORTH, M. D., one of the prominent professional men of Riverside, who is a Canadian by birth, dating that event at Chatham, Kent County, Ontario, in 1858. His parents, George and Ann (Scott) Charlesworth, were natives of Yorkshire, England, who emigrated to Canada abont 1833. His father was a prominent civil engineer, employed in the engineer department in the construction of the Great Western Rail- way and other works. Dr. Charlesworth was given the advantages of a good schooling, closing his classical studies in Toronto. At the age of twenty years, he entered upon his medical studies at the Trinity University, at Toronto, and graduated from the medical de- partment of that institution in 1883. In that year he went to England, and entered the hos- pitals of London for study and surgery prac- tice. He devoted a year to that, and entered the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh, Scotland. He graduated and received his diploma from that college in 1885. In the summer of that year he returned to Canada,

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

and entered upon the practice of his profession. After some months spent in Canada, Dr. Charlesworth decided to try his fortunes in the United States, and located at Lexington, Ne- braska. There he soon gained a successful and lucrative practice, but his failing health admon- ished him of the necessity of seeking a more congenial climate, and in May, 1888, he came to Southern California and established his residence in Riverside. Upon his arrival the Doctor opened his office in the Dyer block, on Main street. His constantly increasing prac- tice well attests his skill as a physician and surgeon, and his popularity as a citizen. He is a thoroughly educated gentleman, and a grad- uate of the higher schools of medicine and surgery in Canada and Great Britain, and well merits the confidence given him by the com- munity. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, of Riverside, and also a member of the Masonic order, affiliating with the Thistle Lodge, of Lexington, Nebraska. The Doctor was married in 1885, wedding Miss Alice Brad- berry, a native of Canada. There are two bright children from this marriage: Edith and Frederick.

OHN SUVERKRUP, senior partner of the firm of Suverkrup & Hook, manufacturers of and dealers in lumber at San Bernardino, has been sixteen years on the Pacific coast and twelve years in San Bernardino County. Prior to locating here he was engaged in the grocery business in Sacramento; and after settling in San Bernardino he for a time devoted his atten- tion to farming. In 1887 he and his partner, John Hook, built the mill known as the Suver- krup & Hook mill, on the mountains north of the city, which has a cutting capacity of 20,- 000 feet of lumber per day, and giving employ- Inent to eighteen or twenty men. The firm . owns two sections of choice timber on the moun- tain, consisting of yellow, black and sugar pine, and cedar, which will require fourteen years to

manufacture into lumber at the present rate of cutting, 800,000 to 1,000,000 feet a year. They own and conduct a lumber yard in San Bernard- ino for the purpose of handling the lumber cut by their mill exclusively, and in which they carry a stock of 500,000 to 600,000 feet of lum- ber. The product of the mill is transported down the mountain into the valley on heavy wagons drawn by six mule teams, which haul 2,000 to 3,000 feet at a load. This lumber, con- sisting of everything in the line of building material, finds a market in San Bernardino County. The firm is doing a prosperous busi- ness and has about $17,000 invested in the mill and teams, besides the land, which is worth about $10 an acre, or $12,800.

Mr. Suverkrup is a native of Germany, where he was born thirty-eight years ago. He immi- grated to the United States eighteen years ago and spent two years in the city of Brooklyn, New York.

HOMAS D. NICHOLS, M. D .- Among the leading physicians of Riverside, inen- tion should be made of the subject of this sketch. Dr. Nichols was born in Marshall County, Mississippi, in 1840. His parents were Asa and Priscilla O. (Duty) Nichols, both descendants of Sonthern California. His father was a planter by occupation, and gave liis son the advantages of a good education. In 1859 Dr. Nichols entered upon a college course in the Florence Wesleyan University. The seces- sion movement and the establishinent of the Southern Confederacy, aroused his patriotism, and his love for the South and her institutions induced him to abandon his studies, and in the winter of 1860-'61, he entered the military service of his State, and upon the commence- ment of the civil war promptly enlisted in the Confederate army; from that time until the sur- render of Johnston's army at Greensboro, North Carolina, in 1865, Dr. Nichols never faltered in his loyalty to his Southern home and country.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company Publication date: 1890 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1038

Author: Lewis Publishing Company
Publication date: 1890
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : The Lewis Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1038