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 112

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 112
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 112
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 112
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 112

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).

IMEON COOK, of Redlands, is a native of Richmond, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, born April 14, 1821; his par- ents being Simeon, Sr., and Rachel (Holman) Cook. Both parents came of old New England families, and the father of our subject went with his parents from Billinghamn, Massachusetts, to New Hampshire, when he was but three years of age. He was born December 8, 1770, and died March 18, 1859. Our subject's mother was the danghter of Elijah Holman, who lived on the line between Winchester and Richmond, New Hampshire, and before her marriage to Simeon Cook, Sr., was the widow of Ebenezer Barnes. She died March 18, 1839. Simeon Cook, whose name heads this sketch, spent his early boy- hood days on the farın at his native place. He attended public schools at Richinond, and pri- vate schools at Winchester and Swansea, after which he attended the Academy at Amherst. When twenty years old he went to Boston, where he was engaged for seven months as a clerk in the grocery store of Robert Cummings. He next went to Waltham, where for a year he was in a general store with Robert Cuminings, in Old Rminford Hall. From there he returned to Boston, and engaged in the grocery business on Chambers street at the head of Poplar, in part- nership with a nephew. After three years there he sold out to his partner and went back to Richmond, where he conducted an old-fash-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

ioned country store for some eight or ten years. He then disposed of that business and engaged in manufacturing hogsheads for the Cuban mar- ket. He originated this business at Richmond, New Hampshire, then removed to Ashburnham, Massachusetts., and next to Keene, New Hamp- shire. At the two latter places he was in part- nership with his brother George; and in 1856 they established another factory at Troy, New York. In 1859 he commenced making trips to Canada, buying staves for the cooperage estab- lishments of the firm, but after a year he com- menced manufacturing lumber in Canada, as well as carrying on his other business there, and set- tled down at Ingersoll, Ontario. He resided there until 1881, when he wound up his business interests in Canada, and removed to California. He was at Riverside from May until Christmas, 1881, and then removed to Redlands. Here he helped finish up the Prospect House, the first hotel, and when it was finished he carried it on for about a year. He then commenced improv- ing the place where he now resides, one of the most desirable tracts abont Redlands. There are twenty acres on the place, and of this amount six acres are in Muscat raisin grapes. Some five acres are devoted to oranges, abont equally di- vided between Washington Navels and seedlings, and nearly all the trees are in bearing. The re- mainder of the trees in his orchard are divided about as follows: lemons, 75; apricots, 250, and peaches, 30; a few nectarines and Bartlett pears. About an acre and a half is devoted to alfalfa. Mr. Cook has set about improving his place in a systematic manner, and it shows the results of much care and labor.

Mr. Cook was married to Miss Ellen Mur- dock. He has six children, viz .: Silas P., a clergyman of the Congregational Church, at Northfield, Massachusetts, and connected with Moody's schools there; Leroy, who resides at Worcester, Massachusetts, and is a draughtsman in the Washburn-Moen wire-works; he is a graduate of the school of Technology at Worcester; Clara Josephine, wife of Her- bert Aldrich, who is connected with his

father in an insurance establishment at Keene, New Hampshire (firm of Herinan C. Aldrich & Son); Charles Sumner, who is professor in the Northwestern University at Evanston, Illi- nois, and was formerly a tutor at Hanover, where he finished his education; William and Frank, who reside with their parents.

Mr. Cook is a Republican politically. He is an active, enterprising mnan, and takes a com - mendable interest in the welfare of the com- munity.

AVID H. WIXOM, the tenth of a family of twelve children of Nathan J. and Betsy (Hadlock) Wixom, was born in 1848 in Council Bluffs, Iowa. In 1850 his parents started with their family, consisting then of ten children, to cross the plains to California. They loaded three ox teams and one horse team with their effects, and brought fifty cows, ten head of horses and a small flock of sheep over as far as Salt Lake, where they spent the winter, and there their eleventh child, Charles W. Wixoin, was born. In the spring of 1852 they resumed their journey to the Golden State, and settled in Monterey County, near San Juan Mission, and lived there two years, Mrs. Wixom and her daughters carrying on the dairy business with their cows, making butter and cheese, which they sold at very high prices, to go to the mines. They also kept a public-house for the entertain- ment of travelers. Mr. Wixom devoted his attention to mining. In the spring of 1854 they removed to Los Angeles and two years later came to San Bernardino, and settled on a half block of land they purchased on the corner of Ninth and F streets. In 1857 Mr. Wixom sold out and took his family to Salt Lake, but re- turned to San Bernardino in August, 1858, having been gone ten months. IIe bought two acres between Sixth and Seventh on D street, and they lived there several years, then sold and bought two acres on the northwest corner of Third and D streets, where the First National

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

Bank is now situated. There the family resided at the time of Mr. Wixom's death, which oc- curred July 29, 1867. He was a farmer by occupation, and after coming to Southern Cali- fornia devoted his attention mainly to that pur- snit. He and Mrs. Wixom were both born in New York State, he in 1806, and she in 1811. They both came to Ohio in childhood, his par- ents settling at Columbus, and hers near Ports- mouth, at which place they were married in November, 1827. The widow resides in San Bernardino, and is quite active for a lady of her advanced age. Their lineal descendants now number 168 souls, more than 100 of whom arc living. Their children, in the order of their ages were named as follows: Renben, Clarissa J., now Mrs. Ferguson; Mary A., now Mrs. Crandall, widow of L. D. Crandall; Willard A., Elizabeth, Mrs. R. Mathews, deceased; Julia, deceased; Jasper, Eliza, widow of Charles Pur- cell; Cynthia, now Mrs. Payne, of San Diego; David H., Charles W. and Channcy, deceased.

David H., the subject of this sketch, in former years engaged in teaming and farming. In December, 1866, he married Mary A. Stuchbury, a native of Australia; he came to California in 1858. In 1882 he was elected City Marshal of San Bernardino, was re-elected in 1883, and declined to be a candidate for the office the next year.

During his second official term Marshal Wixon arrested William R. McDowell, the murderer of Maggie O'Brien, on information of McDowell's wife, who was cognizant of the crime when committed, and revealed it to Mr. Wixom on the plea that her own life was threat- ened by her husband. He was a gambler by occupation. McDowell was convicted and hanged, and his wife committed suicide some time after his execution.

In 1884 Mr. Wixom was a candidate for Sheriff on the Democratic ticket, and though the county ticket was carried by the Republicans by several hundred majority he was only beaten forty-nine votes.

In 1886 Mr. Wixom erected their fine house

on the southeast corner of D and Fitth streets. The lot, which is 105 x 128 feet, cost him $3,000, and the house cost $3,500. He also owns the brick block known as the Wixomn block, on Third and D streets, save the portion sold to the First National Bank. There are three stores on the first floor, and the second story is devoted to offices. Mr. and Mrs. Wix. om are the parents of five children, four liv- ing. Their two danghters are married. For two years past Mr. Wixom has served as Dep- uty Assessor of San Bernardino County.

ENTON O. JOHNSON, one of Redlands' best known and highly respected citizens, is a native of Connecticut, born at Betlile- bem, April 20, 1855. His parents were David and Sophia (Stone) Johnson, both of whom came of old Connecticut families, and the father a merchant. B. O. Jolinson was but two years of age when his parents removed to the South. They resided at various places throughout the Southern country, among them New Orleans, Matamoras, Brownsville, etc., and the outbreak of the civil war found the elder Johnson carry- ing on the dry-goods business. In 1863 the family left the South and returned to Connec- ticut, trade being much interfered with on account of the war. They located at Middle- bury, whence they afterward removed to West Haven. At the last named place and at New Haven, the subject of this sketch was educated. He commenced his business career as a drug clerk with Dr. Shepherd, at West Haven, with whom he continued for five years; then went in business for himself at Deep River, Connecticut. There he remained until 1883, when he came to California, locating at Red- lands. He followed ranching two years, but then gave it up to resume mercantile life. He purchased the store formerly conducted by George A. Cook, in Lngonia, and was in busi- ness there until February, 1889, when he sold

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

out to V. L. Mitchell, with whose establishment he is now connected.

He was married at West Haven, Connecticut, September 14, 1880, to Miss Minnie R. Brown, sister of F. E. Brown, of Redlands. They have two children, viz .: Hazel and Walter.

Mr. Johnson has built two residences, which are a credit to Redlands. The first one is now the property of R. J. Waters. Mr. Johnson's present residence was built in 1888, and he moved into it in June of that year. It is a very handsome and well constructed building, and occupying, as it does, the most command- ing site in Redlands, presents a striking and beautiful appearance from almost any point of view in the city.

Mr. Johnson is a member of Annawan Lodge, No. 115, F. & A. M., West Haven, Connecti- cut, and of Burning Bush Chapter, R. A. M., of Essex, Connecticut. He also belongs to Webb Lodge, I. O. O. F., Deep River, Connect- ient. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Congregational Church.

ARRY G. CRAFTS, one of Redlands' most enterprising horticulturists, was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1853. His father, Myron H. Crafts, was the first settler in Crafton, California, which place was named after him. The subject of this sketch is extensively en- gaged in farming and fruit-raising, and lives four miles west of Redlands.

ENRY A. KELLER is a " native son of the Golden West," born in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, in 1859. At fourteen years of age he entered a telegraplı office as messenger boy, with the purpose of learning telegraphy. At sixteen he was in the Agent's office as operator, and when eighteen years old was train dispatcher on the Central Pacific Rail- road. Later he was in the employ of the Oregon

Railway and Navigation Company; and for six- teen months was train-dispatcher for the Atchi- son, Topcka & Santa Fé Railway Company at San Bernardino. He has filled that difficult and responsible position nine years altogether. In May, 1888, Mr. Keller was appointed chief deputy tax-collector of San Bernardino County by Mr. Stetson, and is now serving his second term in that capacity. He has charge of the official correspondence chiefly, and does a large share of the book-keeping.

Mr. Keller married Miss Willard, a Sacra- mento lady, the present year-1889. His par- ents were natives of Germany, and immigrated to America to escape the revolutionary troubles of 1848. His father, who was born in 1828, now resides in Idaho; his mother died about eighteen years ago.

OHN E. CUTTER, of the firm of Twogood & Cutter, nurserymen, Riverside, was born in Webster, Androscoggin County, Maine, in 1844. His parents were Dr. Benoni Cutter. born in New Hampshire, and Olive S. (Drink- water) Cutter, a native of Maine. The death of his mother occurred in 1847, and of his father in 1851; and he was then reared under the care of his grandfather and step-mother. His boy- hood and youth were spent npon the farm and in the schools. In 1862 he entered the mili- tary service of his country as a private of the Twenty-third Regiment of Maine Volunteers, and served for nine months in the defense of Washington. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of enlistment, re-en- listed in the Twenty-ninth Volunteer Infantry, and shared in all its campaigns and battles. After hard service he was promoted to be Cor- poral, ;and then Sergeant. His regiment was assigned to duty in the Nineteenth Army Corps in the Department of the Gulf, and took part in the Red river campaign, and, with the Twen- ty-ninthi Wisconsin, built the dam at Alexandria that saved Admiral Porter's fleet. The regi-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

ment (with most of the corps) was then ordered north and joined General Phil. Sheridan's army. in the Shenandoah valley and participated in the battles of Opequan, Fisher's Hill and Cedar creek. Mr. Cutter remained in the service un- til the close of the war, and after his discharge returned to Maine. He then entered the Wes- leyan Seminary and Female College at Kent's Hill, and spent two years in study in that insti- tution. After graduating he engaged as a teacher in the public schools until 1870. In that year he emigrated west and located in Murray County, Minnesota. There he home- steaded land and occupied himself as a teacher for over two years, and then returned to Maine, and was engaged as a teacher and principal of academies until 1878. He then decided to es- tablish himself on the Pacific coast, and in March of that year came to California and lo- cated in Riverside. He continued his calling as a teacher and was principal of the Riverside Gramınar School for a year, and later elsewhere. He also engaged in horticultural pursuits, hav- ing in 1879 purchased an eight-acre tract on Cypress avenue formerly owned by Dr. Emory. The improvement of this place had been coin- menced with orange trecs, to which he added vineyard and other planting. Mr. Cutter soon became an expert in horticultural industries, and writer on the same, contributing papers to the societies of his own State and also to the American Horticultural Society. In 1885 he associated himself with Messrs. John Edwards and Twogood Brothers, under the firm name of Twogood, Edwards & Cutter, and entered largely into the nursery business. They estab- lished nurseries east of Riverside, and also imported trees from Florida. In 1888 Mr. Cutter sold his orange grove on Cypress avenue and purchased nnimproved lands, some of which he has planted. Among these is a ten-acre tract in orange trees, about one mile east of Riverside railroad station, under the Gage canal system; he has also properties in Palın valley and at Long Beach, and an interest in a ten-acre lot one-half mile south of the city. His resi-

dence is on Prospect avenue, where he has a half-acre tract.

Mr. Cutter is well known in Riverside as an energetic and progressive man, taking a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of the colony. His interest in schools and churches is well attested by his support of the same. Hc is a member of the Methodist Church, and of the board of education in the city of River- side. He is a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. In political matters he is an independent, of Republican antecedents. In 1877 Mr. Cutter was united in wedlock with Miss Annie L. Dinsmore, a native of Maine. She is well known as a teacher in Riverside and elsewhere in the county. They have one child : Charlotte M.

No apology need be offered for giving here an excellent specimen of Mr. Cutter's poetic ability and good humor:

POEM OF WELCOME.

BY J. E. CUTTER.

Delivered before the American Horticultural Society at its seaaion in Riverside in February, 1888.

What strange invasion pours down the glen, And whence such troops of frozen-bearded men ? Say, watchman, ho !- way up in the Cajon ! Who may they be, and whither are they bo'ne ?

"Seven daya and nights they've fled the blizzard's wrath, And west-sou'-west have kept the hopeful path : So far they came it seemed too like a sin To bar the pass; and so I let them in."

Right, worthy watchman. These our luck shall share; But keep old Zero t'other side with care. So, friends, you're welcome each to what may suit. Now doff your fure and have a little fruit.

Old Bacchus, wiser than our modern day, Hand-squeezed his grapes and sucked their juice away ; Nor atill nor saccharometer had he, And never got his wine by chemistry.

But Bacchus' bowl and chemiats' fizzing tun Have here no place. Beneath the kindly sun In aweet profusion down the laced lines We dry the fruitage of our sheeny vines.

The orange ? Yea, it rules the vale no doubt. Just cut transverse and turn it inaide out. The cost you'd know? You've nothing, gents, to pay. Put in your bills and taste. There, that's the way !

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

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LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

THE ABORIGINES.

HE valleys of California, on the arrival of the Spaniards, were found to be densely populated with Indians, the tribal charac- teristics varying in relation to the different sections, yet with strong general similarities. Some of the dialects were commonly understood by various tribes, while others were completely isolated by lack of a common medium of com- munication. They had many liquid sounds, and even the gutturals were so softened as to be agreeable to the ear.

The government was in the hands of the chiefs, each captain commanding his own lodge; this command was hereditary. Laws in general were made as required, with the exception of some few standing ones. Robbery and thieving were unknown among them, and murder, which was of rare occurrence, was punished by shoot- ing to death with arrows. This form of exe- cution was practiced as a penalty for certain offenses against morality, which they held in as deep abhorrence as does our civiliza- tion. Intermarriage between kindred was for- bidden; a husband had the right to put to death his wife, if adulterous; party quarrels were decided by the chieftains, on the testimony produced; and there was no appeal from their decision. Whipping was never resorted to for a punishment; restitution for damages sus- tained was made in money, food, and skins. Their money was shell-beads, flat, and about one-third of an inch in diameter. Chiefs had

one to three wives, at inclination; their subjects, only one. The men wore no clothing; the wo- men of the interior wore a short waist-skirt of deerskin, while those of the coast wore otter- skin. Rabbit-skin coverlets were used for bed- ding. The women wore earrings, the men passing a piece of reed or cane through the ear- lobe. The earrings of the women were made of four long pieces of whale's tooth, ground smooth and round, about eight inches in length, hung with hawk's feathers, swung from a ring of abelone shell. Their necklaces were very large and heavy, and consisted of their money beads, or other beads made of a dark greenish- black serpentine, and of pieces of whale's tooth, ground round and pierced. They used brace- lets of very small shell beads, worn on both wrists. The shell beads were usually made of Haliotis and Trivialola. Most of the shells re- quired for use were obtained at Santa Catalina, which, as well as the islands opposite Santa Barbara, abound in these shells at the present time. The serpentine used in making beads, ollas, and large rings was also obtained at Santa Catalina.

After the birth of a child, it and the inother were subjected to processes of purification, com- prising steaming, fasting, etc. Funeral ob- servances were marked by howlings and wailings of dirge-like charcter. The body was kept nntil signs of decay appeared. Its disposal was by inhumation. If the deceased was the head of a family, or a favorite son, his hnt, and all

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

his goods and chattels were burned, save only, perhaps, some article with which to make a feast at the end of twelve months. In some in- stances, gravestones were erected. They had " shamans " or medicine men, rain-makers, etc. Nearly all the tribes between the Pacific ocean and the Rocky mountains had more or less knowledge of plants, insects, or other material substances, which enabled them to produce sep- ticaemia in persons or animals wounded by them. That the shamans prepared arrow poison, there is no doubt. The medicine men were es- tecmed as wizards or scers; for they not only cured disease, but also caused or created illness, poisoned people, brought rain at need, consulted the Great Spirit, and received his answers, changed themselves into the forms of divers animals, and foretold coming events. They pretended to know not only poisons which de- stroyed life if taken, but also others whose con- tact alone was fatal; again some that were instantaneous and others which took effect only after weeks or months subsequent to their ad- ministration. Rheumatism was the principal ailment; syphilis was nnknown until introduced by the Spaniards. Toothache seldom troubled them. Rheumatism was treated by the appli- cation of rows of sinall blisters to the affected parts; the blisters were made from the fur off the dry stalks of nettles, rolled up, compressed, applied with saliva, and fired, it burning like punk upon the skin. They employed sweatings, and bedding in hot ashes, for lumbago; fever was treated by the administration of wild to- bacco, mixed with lime of shells, as bolus, to produce vomiting, besides the administration of other herbs, and manipulation somewhat like massage. Local inflammation was scaritied with pieces of sharp flint, to draw as much blood as possible from the part. Paralysis, stagnation of the blood, etc., was treated by whipping for a long time the affected part with bunches of nettles, and by producing drunkenness with the juice of thorn-apple. Shell lime was well known, but none made from limestone. For an emetic, lime was given as a bolus, mixed with wild to-

bacco. Snake-bites were cured by the application to the wound of ashes and herbs, with the in- ternal remedy of the fine dust found at the bottom of ants' nests. To prevent the hair from splitting, red clay was applied, covering it all over for twenty-four hours. For baldness, chilicotes (a small wild bean, of a bright scarlet color) were burnt to charcoal, and applied morning and evening. They had few games, and these were of a gambling order; football was played by children, or by the swift of foot, and the spectators bet on the result. They had many legends and traditions on various subjects, some of which were very ingenious, and even poetica). Many of these Indians developed, under the instructions of the padres and other contact with the Spaniards, faculties of a sur- prising order.

THE EARLY SPANISH EXPLORATIONS

AND MISSION SETTLEMENTS. SAN GABRIEL.

The first white man who ever saw, if he did not tread, the soil of Los Angeles County, was Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, a Portuguese naviga- tor in the service of Spain, who in 1542 sailed up the coast of California. Leaving San Diego bay on October 3, three days later he discovered the islands of San Clemente and Santa Catalina, and a few days after, he was at San Pedro bay, which he named " The Bay of Smokes or Fires," from what he saw thereabonts. He described this as a good port, with good surronnding plains, groves, and valleys. On October 9 he anchored in Santa Monica bay, and the next day sailed on, northward; but before the conclu- sion of the voyage he died, and was buried ou the island of San Miguel. The expedition was continued as far north as latitude 42.

In 1603 came sailing hitler Sebastian Viz- cayno, who staid at San Diego bay from No- vember 10 to 20, and then went to San Pedro, which he named for the Bishop of Alexandria. At that time, Catalina Island had a large Indian population, who lived with some degree of comfort.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

As it is not known positively whether Cabrillo or Vizcayno actually set foot on the soil here, the credit of that achievement must be given to Gaspar de Portolá and his party, who arrived within the present limits of this county on July 30, 1769.

Partly to guard against the encroachments of the Russians, on the north, and the possible at- tempted occupation of it by the English, the Spanish Government had at last decided to ocenpy Alta California, and so instructed the viceroy, who put the management of the mat- ter into the hands of Don José de Galvez, the Visitador-General. This official, from the penin- snla of Baja California, arranged for two expedi- tions to go to Monterey, one by sea, the other by land. Accordingly, the two detachments duly set ont, and in July they were united at San Diego, whence, leaving Padre Serra to found a mission, Portolá pushed on by land, northward, to re-discover, if possible, the bay of Monterey, described by Vizcayno, 166 years earlier. Following the shore, they turned inland at about the present town of San-Juan-by-the- Sea, and came along the way where now is the Santa Fé Railway. On July 28 they passed the Santa Ana river, which they named Rio Jesus de los Temblores, from several sharp shocks of earthquake felt there. They came on the first day of August, to the place where now stands the city of Los Angeles. The next day was the feast of the church dedicated to " Nuestra Señora Reina de Los Angeles " (Our Lady of the An- gels), and accordingly mass was celebrated, and the place named in her honor. Such was the origin of the name of the present city. On August 3 Portolá continued his journey in search of Monterey bay (which he then failed to find, it may be remarked, en passant). In 1771 two of the projected missions, San Diego and Monterey, had been established, and on the re- ception of the news in Mexico, it was immedi- ately determined that five more than the three originally contemplated should be established at once. A re-enforcement of missionaries was sent to Monterey, and on June 7, Friars Angel

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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