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 109

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 109
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 109
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 109
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 109

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).

January, 1887, when he purchased the paper and printing office and has since conducted its publication as the sole proprietor.

Mr. Studabecker is a self-educated and self- made man; one who has acquired a practical knowledge that has enabled him to engage iu pursuits of life above that of his trade. He belongs to the Democratic party, but is conserv- ative and liberal in his views. He is a member of Chorro Lodge, No. 168, I. O. O. F., of San Luis Obispo. February, 1888, he married Miss Clandina L. Wood, daughter of Thomas J. Wood (a sketch of whom appears in this vol- ume). They have but one child, Hale A.

AMES FLEMING, a prominent Inmber manufacturer and dealer at San Bernardino, came from Canada to San Bernardino Conn- ty. California, in June, 1880, with the intention of spending a year on the Pacific coast and then returning to the British Dominions; but, being highly pleased with the country and climate and favorably impressed with the prospective future of Southern California, he has passed ten pleas- ant and prosperous years in the county for which he has formed such an attachment, and has ac- quired such extensive business and property interests that his permanent residence is assured. For several years after his arrival he was engaged in varions vocations, a portion of the time as salesman in a store. In 1886 he started in the milling and lumber business with his uncle, W. S. Lapraix, and upon the accidental death of the latter in May, 1887, by injury received at the mill in the mountains, Mr. Fleming assumed entire control of the business as executor and principal legatee of his uncle's estate, and has carried it on ever since. This estate owns 1,700 acres of timber on the mountains north of the city, where their saw-mill is located, which Mr. Fleming estimates will require ten to twelve years to exhaust at the present rate of consump- tion : 600,000 to 1,000,000 feet per annum. Mr. Fleming's lumber yard is situated on the corner

709

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of E and Fourth streets in San Bernardino, where the product of the mill is kept in stock and sold, the chief market being San Bernardino County, though some of it is shipped to San Diego and Los Angeles counties. The timber, which consists of mountain and sugar pine and cedar, is cut into all classes of building lumber, of which about 500,000 feet is kept in stock in the yard. The cost of the lumber cnt at the mill is $5 to $6 per 1,000 feet; and the cost of freighting down from the mountains to the city, a distance of some fourteen miles, is $6.50 to $8 per 1,000 feet. This hauling is done by large six-horse (or mule) teams, on immense lumber wagons, which carry from 3,000 to 4,000 feet at a load. Mr. Fleming's uncle, Mr. Lapraix, was one of the pioneers in developing the mount- ain-lumber business, and was one of the build- ers of the mountain toll-road, and a stockholder in it at the time of his death. Mr. Fleming was born in Canada in 1857, and resided there until he came to California. He is recognized as one of the representative and successful busi- ness men of the county. Besides his extensive milling and lumber interests, he owns a fine tract of very choice citrus fruit land in High- lands of great value.

OSEPH E. SHIELDS, of Riverside, was born in Cook County, Illinois, in 1853. His parents were James and Honore (Ward) Shields. His father was a native of Indiana and his mother of New York. In 1855 his father came with his family to Cali- fornia and located in Sierra County. He was a civil engineer by occupation and engaged in mining enterprises. At a later day he moved to Yuba County, where he engaged in farming, and in 1861 settled at Marysville. Mr. Shields was reared and schooled in that city, graduating at the high school. After graduating he cn- gaged in work on his father's ranch, which was located in Yuba County. In 1875 he established a meat market and livery stable near Marysville

and conducted them until 1876. For the next four years Mr. Shields was engaged in various pursuits until he entered the service of the Cen- tral Pacific Railroad Company. He entered that employ as a laborer, but his abilities and strict attention to his work soon gained him promotion and he was given positions of trust and respons- ibility. He was for many years a clerk in the shipping department. In 1885 his health com- pelled him to seek some other occupation and he came to San Bernardino County and located at Riverside. He first opened a meat market and was in that business until 1887. He then be- came associated with the Riverside Daily En- terprise as a reporter, and later, in the same connection with the Riverside Chronicle. In June, 1888, he accepted the position as editor of the Riverside Enterprise, and has held that position to the present time. Mr. Shields is an enterprising, self made man, and has risen to his various positions by his own exertions. In po- litical matters he is a Republican, and has always taken a deep interest in the political questions of the day. He is a member of Ori- ental Lodge, No. 45, I. O. O. F., of Marysville, and of Red Cloud Tribe, No. 4, 1. O. R. M., of Sacramento. In 1879 he married Miss Josie Labadie, a native of California. Her father, Anthony P. N. Labadie, was a native of Canada. They have three children: Edward E., Elsie T. and Mabel.

ILLIAM J. GUTHRIE, one of San Ber- nardino's brightest and most successful business men, was born in Detroit, Michigan, and was there brought up and edu- cated, and started out in life as an employé in a mercantile agency, where he obtained a thorough knowledge of business customs and methods. His connection with that branch of business continucd for years, during which time he rose from a reporter to joint partner in the McKillop Mercantile Agency. In 1878 he came to California and spent a year in the Ohio

703

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

valley, Ventura County, when he was made su- perintendent of the Dunn Mercantile Agency at Denver, Colorado. At the end of two years he resigned that position to return to Ventura County and engage in private business. A year later, in 1882, he came to San Bernardino, and, in partnership with a Mr. Gilbert, opened a grocery and crockery store combined. In 1884 they closed out the grocery feature and Mr. Gilbert retired from the firm, leaving Mr. Guth- rie sole proprietor of the crockery business, which he conducted prosperously until Novein- ber, 1889, and then sold out, retiring tempo- rarily from active business. His was the only exclusively crockery-house in the city, and he carried a large stock of high grade and common wares, in which he had a fine trade. Mr. Guth- rie owns 160 acres of valuable land, on the Colton terrace, on which is an eight-acre orange grove just coming into bearing. He has scarcely reached the high noon of life, and, with his ac- tive mental temperament and his superior busi- ness training, a future of bright promise awaits hinı.

AMES PORTER GREVES, M. D., de- ceased, was familiarly known as the · Father of Riverside," and well he deserved the title. He was the real founder of the Colony Association, the first to visit and select the land, and the first to occupy them, camping upon the desert plain now occupied by the city of Riverside, September 19, 1870. For nearly twenty years his life and life's efforts were inti- mately interwoven with the history of Riverside and the colony. No man in the community was better known or more universally respected and esteemed than he. His death was sincerely mourned and left many an aching heart among his old friends and associates. Dr. Greves was boru in Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York, September 6, 1810. When a youth he was apprenticed to a printer in Utica, New York, and served four years. In 1828 he began the

study of medicine under the tutorship of Dr. Batchelor, a well-known physician of that city, and at the age of twenty-one graduated from the Fairfield Medical College, and commenced the practice of his profession. In 1833 he marr'ed Miss Helen Sandford, a native of Ovid, New York, and moved to Marshall, Michigan; there he followed his profession until the summer of 1845, when he removed to Milwaukee, and fol- lowed his profession there until 1859; then he went to St. Louis. Late in the fall he went to New Orleans, and spent the winter of 1859-'60; thence to Baton Rouge, with his brother, Sam- uel I'. Greves, a lawyer, where he remained until June, 1860; thence to New York city. He remained there until March, 1862, when he went to Beanfort, South Carolina, in the employ of the Government. having charge of the sick of the colored race, until August of the same year, when his health failed, and he returned to New York. His health not improving, he sailed, in October, via Nicaragua route, to San Fran- cisco, and went thence to Virginia City; in January, 1863, to Reese river, and stayed there until April, 1864. During his residence in Nevada the Doctor was engaged in mining en- terprises and compiled one of the most valuable abstracts of titles of mines of the Reese river district ever published. His health being much improved he returned to New York, and lived there until he located in Washington, in 1867. Froin there he went to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 1869, where he was engaged as the general agent of the Equitable Life Insurance Company, of New York. During all this time he was in pursuit of health.

On leaving New York, he and Judge J. W. North conceived the idea of a colony in South- ern California. He spent the winter of 1869-'70 in Marshall, Michigan, where he got up an ex- cursion trip to California in April, 1870, con- posed of nearly 100 persons. Judge North, Dr. Sandford Eastman and wife, E. G. Brown, A. J. Twogood and Dr. Greves proceeded direct to Los Angeles and explored that region for a snit- able location of a colony. Not being satisfied,

701

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

E. G. Brown and Dr. Greves visited the present site of Riverside, and being pleased, induced Judge North also to examine it. This was the 24th of June, 1870. Negotiations were com- meuced for the purchase of about 8,000 acres of land from T. W. Cover and others, and was con- cluded September 13, 1870, and on the 19th of the same month Judge North and Dr. Greves arrived on the ground, and camped in the open air west of the present location of Burt Bros.' store.

Having found the long-sought for healthı resort, the Doctor turned his attention to fruit- growing, and was one of the first to enter into horticultural pursuits. He purchased and occu- pied a two and one- half acre tract on Orange street, between Tenth and Eleventh streets, and also fifteen acres of land two miles south of town. He was successful in his enterprise and the sale of his lands eventually secured him a modest competency. He was the secretary of the Southern California Colony Association for the first five years of its existence, and was identified personally with the establishment of the colony, survey aud sale of the lauds, and perfecting its admirable system of irrigation. Ile was the first Postmaster ever appointed in Riverside, receiving his appointment in Sep- tember, 1871. He filled that office until De- cember, 1881. For eleven years, from 1875 to 1886, he was Notary Public. IIe was also a mem- ber of the first Board of City Trustees elected in the city. In political matters he was a strong Republican.

The Doctor conducted his business enter- prises until 1887, and was then compelled on account of ill health to retire from active pur- suits. His life was always characterized by public spirit and liberality, ever foremost in anything for the public welfare-ready to spend and be spent for the public good. In private he ever lent a helping hand to the poor and needy. " never letting his right hand know what his left hand did;" and if such actions can be accounted as laying up " treasures above," then to-day he is rich indeed. In his private life he was singularly free from animosity. No matter

how he had been treated he had no ill-feeling in the matter. It was his nature to speak kindly to every one. Dr. Greves died in Riverside, September 25, 1889. He left a wife and two sous,-James S. and Lewis S. Greves, who are established in business New York city, and two sisters, -- Mrs. A. McCallum and Mrs. Clark, who reside in Marshall, Michigan, and one brother, Samuel P. Greves, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, to mourn his death.

ETER SUMAN, one of the most success- ful horticulturists of Riverside, came to this place in December, 1880, and estab- lished his residence on Vine street, between Second and Third streets, purchasing the two and one-half acre block. In the spring of 1881 he bought a ten-acre tract on the west side of Brockton avenue, about a mile south of the busi- ness center of Riverside, and since that date has devoted himself to horticultural pursuits. In 1885 he erected a substantial and well-or- dered cottage residence upon this place, and has since occupied it with his family. His orange grove is a noticeably fine one and well worthy of mention as a representative place. He has four acres of seedling orange trees, nineteen years old, and from twenty-two to twenty-five feet in height, with strong body and spreading branches, trees forming a head nearly twenty feet in diameter. As an illustration of the yield from these four acres, the amounts re- ceived from the sale of oranges during the past four years is given: In 1885, $1,300; in 1886, $900; in 1887, $1,350, and in 1888, $1,400. This is an average of over $300 per acre for a series of years. In addition to his scedlings there are 230 Mediterranean Sweets, 150 Wash- ington Navels and 60 Australian Navels and St. Michaels in his grove,- all remarkably fine trees, but varying in age from two years old to those in good bearing. He also has lemou and deciduous fruit trees, such as are required for family use.

THE PICTURESQUE AND BEAUTIFUL HOME OF O. T. DYER, ESQ .- Riverside.

CARSTEN

705

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Mr. Suman makes orange-growing a study, constantly experimenting in budding, prun- ing, fertilizing, etc, and rarely makes a mis- take; but his success is a matter of comment in horticultural circles. He brought to his new calling as an orange-grower sound business principles and habits of inquiry and research acquired by a long and varied business in the East. These, with a natural love of horticult- ure, have insured his success.

Mr. Suman was born in Madison County, In- diana, October 29, 1832. His father, John Suman, was a native of Maryland, and was among the early settlers of Indiana. His mother was Elizabeth Van Matre, a native of Ohio. Mr. Suman was reared and schooled in his native place until nineteen years of age; then located in Delaware County, and for the next twenty years was actively engaged as a farmer, mill owner and merchant. In 1870 he retired froni his active business pursuits and established his residence in the town of Dale- ville, in the same county. He was prominently connected with the interests of that section, holding a directorship in many incorporated en- terprises, and was also trustee in town and dis- trict councils In 1880, desirous of a more genial climate, he visited Southern California and selected Riverside for his future residence.

Mr. Suman has for many years been a mem- ber of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. In political matters he is a Democrat, but is conservative and liberal in his views. He is a strong supporter of the Prohibition move- ment. Mr. Suman wedded Miss May J. Pugs- ley, a native of Delaware County, Indiana, born in 1854. The only child living from this mar- riage is their daughter Ida Belle.

TIS T. DYER .- No historical work claim- ing to be a true record of the growth and prosperity of Riverside for the decade of years preceding 1890, and claiming to record the establishment of many enterprises, industries

and incorporations that have been the leading factor in placing her in the ranks of the leading cities and colonies of Southern California, could be considered as anything but glaringly incom- plete without a more than passing mention of the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His association and connection with Riverside's leading enterprises form an interesting chapter in the annals of the city and county. Mr. Dyer's life, since Riverside received its first impetus, has been closely interwoven with every import- ant enterprise or movement that tended to bene- fit the city and add to the welfare and prosperity of the community. The few facts obtained re- lating to his life and successful career are of interest. He was born in Portage, Genesee County, New York, in 1844. His parents were Leman W. and Philena (Green) Dyer. His father was a native of the Green Mountain State, and was a mechanic, a marble and granite worker by calling. When the subject of this sketch was four years of age his father moved to New London, Connecticut, and it was there where young Dyer received his early education, in the public schools. In the winter of 1857- '58, his father becoming dissatisfied with his success in the East, moved to Illinois, where he located in Stark County. The family were commencing to get settled and accustomed to their new home, and everything progressing in an even tenor, when the father, in obedience to the Divine will, departed this earthly sphere, leaving a wife and six children,-three boys and three girls. Mr. Dyer then abandoned all pros- pect of further schooling and engaged as an apprentice at the blacksmith's trade. He toiled arduously and advanced rapidly in mastering the details of his calling. Then came the clouds of war and the call of his stricken country for the aid of her patriotic sons in saving a nation's honor. The call was not in vain. Thousands abandoned their quiet and peaceful pursuits and offered their lives,-should the Goddess of Battle so decree,-as a sacrifice that the glori- ous Union might be preserved, and but one flag wave over the nation. Mr. Dyer was one of

706

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

those volunteers. In 1863 he enlisted for mili-

ninth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and served tary service in the One Hundred and Thirty-

in Company B, Thirty-third Regiment Illinois his term of 100 days, after which he re-culisted

Volunteer Infantry, under command of Captain

Generals Canby and A. J. Smith, and partici- the Department of the Gulf, under command of ments. His regiment was assigned to duty in the Union, besides a number of minor engage- which chronicled signal victory for the canse of gaged in several of the severely contested battles fought faithfully for his country and was en- side), and later under Captain N. G. Gill. He C. J. Gill (now a prominent physician of River-

pated in the siege of Mobile and the capture of Fort Blakeley,-the last battle of the great war. At the close of the war in 1865 he was lionor-

in Toulon. His health had been greatly im- first established himself in business at his trade ably discharged and returned to Illinois. He

paired during his army service, and he was un- able to undergo severe manual labor. He there-

fore sought other occupations and established a

nois. In 1869 he entered the banking-house of hardware store at Wyoming, Stark County, Illi-

that it became an absolute necessity that he sus- until his severe labors had so broken his health Farmers' Bank of Wyoming, which he conducted to general manager. In 1876 he organized the rapidly from clerk to cashier, and from cashier execute, he seemed born for a banker. He rose active mind, bold to conceive and prompt to A. B. Miner & Co., as a clerk. Of a quick and

His banking experience in Illinois was one of pend liis efforts and seek a change of climate. unqualified success, and the institutions under his admirable management ranked as second to none in the county. In 1880 he came to the

Pacific slope, and after considerable search for a

desirable place to open up a banking business,

he settled upon Riverside as the most eligible location, and opened up the Dyer Bros.' Bank, with a capital of $30,000. In this enterprise lie was associated with his brother, W. H. Dyer. In 1885, desiring to enlarge his operations, he

Banking Company was organized. (A history It was promptly accorded, and the Riverside sought the support of the Riverside capitalists.

of this company is included in this volume.) Mr. Dyer was elected a director of the bank and

promptly placed at the head of its affairs as

original incorporator and director of the First tion in San Bernardino County. He is also an ment ranks as the soundest moneyed institu- general manager. . The bank, under his manage-

National Bank of San Bernardino. Mr. Dyer was one of the first movers in the incorporation of the city, during the time when the discussion as to the advisability of incorporating was rife, and he was foremost in the organization of the Citizens' Water Company, which never ceased its endeavors for two years to arbitrate the

differences between the old Irrigation Company and the people, and he was afterward elected a

side Water Company which succeeded the old member of the board of directors of the River-

elected treasurer of the water company, and was Irrigation Company in interests. He was instrumental in placing its bonds and conduct- ing its financial affairs. He was also chosen to represent the water company on the board of

was one of the original incorporators of the directors of the Riverside Land Company. He Riverside & Arlington Railway and the Califor- nia Marble and Building Stone Company, and

was one of the first to place the products of the

Slover Mountain marble quarries before the peo-

ple of the Pacific coast, and add another source he is a strong Republican, and may always be of wealth to San Bernardino County. Politically found allied with the best elements of that party. In religious worship, Mr. Dyer is a Baptist. He of the different Christian denominations, and has for a number of years been superintendent

is a hearty supporter and advocate of churches of the Baptist Sunday-school and a trustee of

the church. He is a strong supporter of the fraternal societies, and is a member of the Masonic lodge, chapter and commandery of Riverside, also the Odd Fellows lodge and en- campment, lodge and Uniform Rank Knights

707

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of Pythias, and Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. Mr. Dyer has large real-estate interests in River- side and other sections of the county. His different tracts at this writing, under successful cultivation in the valley, will aggregate 160 acres, about equally divided between oranges, grapes and deciduous fruits. His residence, which is on Main street, between Eleventh and Twelfth streets, in the second block below the bank building, is a model of neatness and beauty. A passerby cannot but be struck by the care and taste displayed in the trimining and arrange- ment of the thick cypress hedges which sur- round the house. His home, embowered in orange trees and adorned with all the beauty which the combined powers of nature and art can devise, looks the embodiment of comfort and domestic felicity. Mr. Dyer's family con- sisting of his estimable wife, nee Miss Mary Weed, whom he married in Neponset, Illinois, in 1870, and four children, viz .: Fannie E., Leman W., Gracie G. and Mary J.

HOMAS JEFFERSON WOOD is one of the earliest pioneers of Riverside and has been identified with Riverside city and colony since, and even before, the first soil was turned, or the first nail was driven in the building improvements. In 1870 Mr. Wood was living near San Bernardino, en- gaged in farming, and also at his trade as a car- penter and builder. In September of that year at the solicitation of Judge North and Dr. Greves he came to the lands now occupied by Riverside and erected the first building ever built upon the Riverside colony lands. This building was the office of the Southern Cali- fornia Colony Association and was occupied by Judge North, the president, and Dr. Greves, the secretary, of the association. Mr. Wood was made acquainted with the projects of the colony association, and early saw the possibili- ties of the future and became a warm supporter of the scheme. He purchased a block of land

between Sixth and Vine and Mulberry streets. Upon this block, at the corner of Seventh and Vine streets, he built his residence. This was the first home established in Riverside. Octo- ber 28, 1870, Mr. Wood installed his family in his new home. Mrs. Wood was the first white woman to reside in Riverside and her advent was not allowed to pass without a fitting recep- tion. Welcoming speeches were made and a cordial reception extended by the gentlemen present, among whom was the Rev. Mr. Higbie, who indulged in depicting the glorious future that awaited the colony, saying, " within fifteen years the iron-horse will be plowing through the valley, and Riverside will be furnishing the Eastern States with oranges." How little of those present realized what wonderful changes were to be wrought, even in less time than predicted by Mr. Higbie. Mr. Wood from the . very first took a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of his chosen colony. He was engaged in building and there were tew of the first cottages erected that were not the work of his hands. He identified himself with all en- terprises that tended to establish the colony on a sound basis and advance the welfare of the settlers. He was the first school trustee of the district, receiving his appointment from the board of supervisors of the county, and at the first election held was unanimously elected to succeed himself in that responsible position. He was the principal mover in establishing the first school and erecting the first school-house in Riverside, and contributed liberally toward the establishing of churches, etc. Mr. Wood was energetic and progressive and fully im- proved liis land, planting some of the first orna- mental trees in Riverside and also citrus and deciduous fruit trees and vines. A thoroughly practical man, of sound business principles, he was employed by the colony association as a foreman, and superintendent in the construction of the canals by which the colony lands were irrigated. A large portion of what is known as the upper canal was constructed under his supervision. Mr. Wood kept pace with the

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

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