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 64

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 64
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 64
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 64
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 64

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).

went on with the other party. As soon as this project became known in Los Angeles, a mes- senger was despatched to warn the Lugos. On May 30, Irving, with eleven others started from the Laguna Rancho, across the plains towards San Bernardino, expecting to reach the rancho by nightfall, and thence proceed to Warner's by way of San Jacinto. He was not acquainted with the country, so that day only succeeded in reaching the Jurnpa, eight miles from the San Bernardino. Before the start, the next morn- ing, Rnbidonx, of the Jurnpa, had sent a mes- senger to warn the Lugos. Thus Irving's party, when they arrived at the house, found that the family and the servants had departed, while the horses were on the way toward the rodeo ground, where there were some thirty vaqueros ein . ployed in branding cattle. Some time before this, a company of rangers, commanded by Lieutenant J. A. Bean, had been raised on the warrant of an act of the Legislature, for the defense of the frontier against Indian depre- dations. They made their headquarters on Lugo's rancho at San Bernardino, but it hap- pened that they had gone on a scont that day to the Mohave. José del Carmen Lugo was in charge of the rancho. He sent one vaquero riding post haste to inform Bean of Irving's arrival, and another to Juan Antonio, chief of the Cahuilla Indians, bidding him raise all the Indians in the valley, and follow Irving's party until overtaken by the rangers. Irving went from the first ranch-honse to old San Bernard- ino, where his party broke open and looted the dwelling. When they saw the Indians approach- ing, they mounted, and proceeded toward San Jacinto, but were soon overtaken by the Indians, under one of Lugo's vaqueros, named Uribes.

Irving, who had been a cavalryman in the Mexican war, had his men drilled like dragoons, and as the Indians came up, his company wheeled, formed in line, and charged in regular cavalry form, firing their pistols as they came. The Indians replied with a volley of arrows, having no other weapons. This skirmishing continned all day, as fresh bands of Indians

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

presented themselves before Irving's men, no matter which way they turned. No one was hurt, from either party, until late in the after- noon, when the Indians charged and came to close quarters, and a brother of the chief was mortally wounded by Irving. Finally the Irving party took a wood road, leading back toward the Laguna Rancho, but terminating in a narrow ravine filled with underbrush, and quite impassable for horses, it being on the west side of Timoteo valley. Here the Indians, to the number of about 100, surrounded Irving's party, and shot down 11 of thein, one while concealing himself under a bush until night- fall, when he escaped to the Laguna Rancho. A member of the Sepulveda family (joint owner with Lugo in Rancho San Bernardino), saw this man, Evans by name, in hiding in the bush, but felt compassion toward the solitary survivor, and so rode on, and allowed him to escape, pretending not to see him. This fugi- tive took a mule he found hitched at the first house on the San Bernardino Rancho, which belonged to the posse of the Los Angeles sher- iff, who had just arrived there in pursuit of the maranders, and, mounting this mule, he overtook the rest of the party who had remained on the Laguna Rancho, they having moved on to San Felipe.

The officials proceeded to San Bernardino to investigate the affairs and hold an inquest. The testimony given before Coroner A. P. Hodges, and County Attorney Benjamin Hayes, resulted in a verdict that Edward Irving and ten other white men, names unknown, came to their deaths at the hands of the Cahuilla Indians, and that the killing was justifiable. The Indians had divided among themselves the spoil of the dead men; bnt, ont of the twelve horses and saddles, nine were proved away by their right- ful owners, from whom Irving and his party had stolen them.

In September of that year, Evans, the sur- vivor of the party, returned to Los Angeles, and called on the editor of the Weekly Star, and gave an account of the whole affair, which was

published at the time. He said that the party went to the San Bernardino Rancho, designing to drive off Lugo's horses, and they were pur- sned as above stated. He said that soon after entering the ravine where his companions were killed, he slipped off his horse and crept away among the bushes; lic watched Sepulveda as the latter rode toward his hiding place, and had his pistol cocked ready to shoot the Mexican down on the least sign of discovery; but Sepul- veda rode on and thus both lives were saved.

A FIGHT WITH INDIANS.

By Stewart M. Wall, Esq., of San Bernardino.

In March, 1864, Mr. Binkley and myself, with two pack horses, started for the Arizona gold mines, crossing the Colorado desert and reach- ing the river, a distance of some 200 miles, in nine days. Hearing of the Indian outbreak in the territory, we decided it best to remain at Bradshaw's Ferry, near La Paz, for a time, nutil we thought it safe to venture farther, to work the placer claim located by Bradshaw and Binkley in 1863, some forty miles east of Walnut Grove, and which was then considered, as it afterward proved to be, a very rich mine. While stopping at Bradshaw's Ferry, some three weeks, we en- joyed ourselves by hunting deer, fishing and prospecting. Finding three gentlemen who wislied to join us, we started for Bradshaw's Cañon, traveling up the Colorado river sixty or seventy miles, then leaving the river we went up William's Fork to Weaver's placer mines, and from there to People's valley and over to Walnut Grove. We remained at White's and Bradshaw's ranch for some time, waiting for the Indians to quiet down, and finding our provis- ions getting short, failing to secure an escort, and being anxious to reach the mines, five of 118-Fred Henry, Samuel Herron, Mr. Binkley, Scott and myself-with three pack animals, ventured to start. As we had been several times over the same trail we proposed to travel for a distance of twenty miles while ont hunting, and had seen no signs of Indians, we thought we could possibly reach the mines without any

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

tronble. We had made a practice of guarding our animals day and night up to this time, but the first and second nights ont we omitted this precaution. Reaching our camp, near Turkey creek, about thirty miles southeast from Pres- cott, and twenty miles east of Walnut Grove, abont 2 o'clock in the afternoon, the second day, Mr. Herron and myself made a circnit of our camp to ascertain if there were any fresh signs of Indians having passed along the trail, and found none; so we ate our supper and retired. Our animals exhibited some nneasiness abont nine o'clock, but we paid little attention to it. We all slept soundly until about an hour before daylight, when we were suddenly awakened by the Indian war-whoop and a shower of arrows falling on our beds. All our party arose and seized their arms. Mr. Binkley being the first, served as a target for the savages, and was dis- abled by their first fire, receiving a half-ounce ball through his left breast, an arrow wound in his left eye and another in his tongue. He was able, however, to retreat a short distance to the rear. „By this time I had made one shot, and had received an arrow in my breast. A few moments later Mr. Herron and Mr. Scott were each wounded several times, and about sunrise were compelled to retreat on account of their wounds. One arrow cut the main artery of Mr. Herron's arm, causing severe loss of blood; another penetrated his stomach, which caused his death four days later by tetanus (lock-jaw). Mr. Scott received a rifle ball in his right elbow. Mr. Henry was also severely wounded, but he and I held the camp until about nine o'clock, when the conflict grew so hot that I suggested .a retreat. Mr. Henry thought we had better " stay with them " a while longer, and I remained a short time, receiving one wound after another until I had fourteen wounds in all. I then told Mr. Henry good-bye and made my way up the hill as fast as I could go some fifty yards, where I found Binkley, Scott and Herron in a horrible condition and covered with blood. A few moments later Mr. Henry came running up to where we were, receiving one more wouud on

the way up. The savages had killed two of onr horses, and mine was severely wounded. A hasty consultation was held, and as Mr. Binkley and Mr. Heury were able to travel on foot, the rest of us requested them to leave us and make their way to Walnut Grove, which they, after much nrging, consented to do, and started off through the brush, avoiding the trail. The Indians watched the trail hoping to cut them off, but failed. When the Indians found they were foiled in this, they returned to the rest of their party, who were standing guard over us, and who were so close as to throw stones at us. We were at this time about a hundred yards froin our camp under a clump of small oak trees Here we were again attacked, the fight lasting abont an hour and a half, and I received three wounds and Scott two. Our last two shots did good work, and our assailants left us, and took possession of our camp. They built sixteen different fires, and in plain sight of us butchered two of our horses and had a feast, eating all of our provisions except what they packed away on my horse, Old Joe. The number of Indians were variously estimated by our party at from 200 to 300, composed of parts of four or five different tribes, including Apaches and Mojaves. After the Indians left the camp, we remained at the last battle-ground until dark, though we suffered greatly for water, but were afraid to go to the spring, which was only twenty-five yards from our camp, and was all the time held by the Indians, and we feared they were waiting in ambush to entrap us at that point. We moved under cover of the darkness a little farther up the hill and camped under a large juniper tree, under which was a great many dry leaves that we utilized as a covering. We covered Mr. Herron up with the leaves and Scott and I guarded till daylight. With much difficulty (on account of the soreness of our wounds) we then reached the spring, and after slaking onr thirst crawled down the ravine and hid among some willow brush, where we remained until three o'clock in the afternoon, when to our great surprise and delight we heard the sound of horse's feet ap-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

proaching down the trail from the direction of Walnut Grove. It proved to be a party of fifteen men headed by Jack Swilling coming to rescue 118. Messrs. Binkley and Henry had reached Walnut Grove in safety and sent us aid. The kindness shown us by those men is beyond description. Mr. Binkley, my brother-in-law, lost an eye, and he is the only one of our party that has had the satisfaction of retaliating, for he was one of the party who, at Schull valley, Arizona, were attacked by a band of Indians, of whom they killed over sixty. Mr. Swilling and party examined the battle-ground and found about seventy five yards east of our camp somne fifty oak clubs, which, no doubt, the savages ex- pected to use on us in case we liad retreated in that direction. The bones of some twenty-six Indians were afterward found, covered with brush near the battle-ground.

RUFFIANS.

Among the notorious characters who contrib- uted to the disorder in this section in the early days, were Bill Marshall and Juan Verdugo. It is said that Bill Marshall was from Provi- dence, Rhode Island, and that he came to this country in 1844, in a whale-ship, from which he deserted. He married a daughter of an Indian chieftain, and was instrumental in binding the tribes together for hostilities against the whites.

The trial of these men took place by court- martial, at " Oldtown," San Diego, in December, 1851. They were convicted of inciting the Indians to an outbreak, to burning the town of Agua Caliente, and to destroying the rancho of Hon. J. J. Warner, and committing murders and ontrages upon the whites. These men were executed at 2 o'clock P. M., December 11, 1851, on a scaffold erected near the Catholic burying- ground. Verdugo acknowledged his guilt, but Marshall protested his innocence.

In the latter part of December, 1851, Major Heintzleman ordered a " council of war," for the trial of Francisco Mocate, chief of the Ysidro; Luis, Alcalde of Caliente; Jacobo or

Onisil, and Juan Bantista. The council, after a patient hearing, adjudged them guilty, and sentenced them to be shot on the morning of Christmas day, and the sentence was dnly carried into effect.

On Jannary 11, 1852, was executed by sen- tence of military court-martial, Antonia Garra, an educated and talented Indian chieftain, con- victed of theft and murder at the insurrection of Agua Caliente. These executions did much to reduce the lawlessness and disordered condi- tions proceeding from Indian depredations in San Bernardino County.

MORMONS.

In the year 1851 began the third period or chapter in the history of the section-that of Mormon occupation. Brigham Young, the head of the Mormon church, desired the establish- ment of a colony on the Pacific coast, as an out- fitting post for the church, and as a pacific port where European converts might be landed, instead of disembarking them at New York harbor, to travel overland across the continent. The journey overland to Salt Lake could be shortened two-thirds in this way. It is said that the great Mormon leader favored the pur- chase of the Chino Rancho, but the leaders of the expedition were of a different opinion.

Leaving Salt Lake on March 14, 1851, the Mormon band on June 11, 1851, reached the Cajon Pass, the first fifty wagons, he having returned to Salt Lake after some time spent in the mines of El Dorado. There were 800 or 900 Mormons arrived within a few days after the first installment. The Mormons were not idle while in camp at the Cajon Pass, but they busied themselves in repairing the wear and tear of the journey, and in preparation for the labors of the future. They also had schools for the children in session while there. Most of these immigrants had come with ox teams. They had on arrival some $700 altogether, which was reserved for the purchase of food.

In September, 1851, they bought from the Lugo family the Rancho de San Bernardino.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

agreeing to pay therefor $77,500, the sale being made on credit.

The surviving Mormon pioneers deelare that, by the terms of purchase, they acquired twenty- seven leagnes of land, but that the laws were so construed as to restrict them to eight leagues, which they were feign to accept, rather than contest the case with the odds against them; and this the more readily, that they were allowed to choose their own portion, thus obtaining, as they say, "the very cream of the cocoannt," when the lands were surveyed, and the eight leagues confirmed to them. Their contract with the Lugos included seventy-five cattle for food purposes, the Mormons having only their draught cattle. The remainder of the great herds of the Lngos was removed by the follow- ing spring.

The sale was made on credit, the Mormons relying on their ability to secure the purchase money by the proceeds of their prospective grain crops. It is usnally stated that the pro- eeeds of the grain raised by each family was turned over to Rich & Lyman as a payment fund for the land at large; but the surviving pio- neers state that each man was credited with the amount he turned in, as purchase money on the tract he should seleet as his own individual holding, after the survey.

Soon after the Mormons took possession of their purchase, an Indian war was threatened, and they hastened to build a fort for protection and defense, moving from the quarter now known as " High Lands," down to the edge of the bluff or bench overlooking the low ground. The limits of the fort were about as follows: the western boundary at about D street, the sonthern, at Third street, the eastern side abont B street, and the northern near Fourth street, where the old school-house now stands.

The log houses of the settlers followed these lines, and the gaps between the houses were filled in with stuekading. Within the enclosure . was built a large "arbor "-the ramada of the Mexicans, covered with the boughs of trees, rushes, etc., which was used as a place of wor-

ship, and also as a sehool house. One of the old Lugo raneh-houses was included within the fort's limits.

The first teacher here was William Stout, who is well remembered by a number of prominent inen of the San Bernardino of to-day, who were under his charge.

In this fort, built in the spring of 1852, took refnge the Mormons, as well as the other fami- lies living in the valley and also a number of Mexicans from Agua Mansa, who came to ask for protection and shelter, either entering the fort or camping elose beside it. The stoek of all parties was left outside where it could be pastured and herded.

In this fort, which covered some ten aeres, lived the Mormons until 1853, when they scat- tered over the lands then surveyed for the first time.

A serious war with the Indians was appre- hended at this period of fortification. At that time, a dozen soldiers stationed at the Chino Rancho composed the entire military force in the county. Volunteer companies were organ- ized throughont Sonthern California, and arms procured as speedily as possible, all possible forces combining for strength to repel an attack. Perhaps intimidated by these preparations, the Indians for the time desisted from further dep- redations, except as they committed isolated murders upon miners, prospectors and rancheros.

As soon as the Indian difficulties were regu- lated the population began to increase.

In March or April of 1852 the first timber road was built to the forests on the summit. The able-bodied workers assembled to the number of 100 to 120, and in thirteen days they completed this wagon road fifteen or sixteen miles long. So well built, too, was it, that it served as the thoroughfare for the entire lumber traffic for twenty years. A saw- mill was then built on the summit, followed before the winter of 1853 by two others, which were kept busy sawing ont lumber for use be- low in the valley.

No time whatever had been wasted by these

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

energetic, iudnstrious colonists. They had set bravely to work from the very day of their ar- rival, in earnest endeavor to develop the re- sources of the situation. Even before they received the title to the land they began to plant vines and fruit trees; the first spring the Seeley brothers and others planted to orchard and vineyard some ten acres, in what is now known as " the old Barton vineyard " The fall of their arrival witnessed the sowing of 3,000 acres of grain, which the next season yielded a large crop. Som- barley was planted but the crops were wheat for the most part. One wheat-field on the plains of Old San Bernardino contained 1,600 acres. There was a very large " mountain field " also on the Muscupiabe Rancho, to the left of the Waterman Cañon road.

The Mormons received as much as $5 per bushel for their wheat, as there were now many settlers at Los Angeles, where flour sold at from $15 to $18 per hundredweight. Thus, it must be seen that the Mormons made admirably com- mendable settlers, and their industry and thrift not only promoted rapid growth of the town, but developed the surrounding country. They purchased and brought under cultivation large tracts of land that hitherto had only nurtured sheep and cattle. Large fields of grain they sowed by their usual system of joint labor on the mesa lands near the base of the mountains, on what is now known as the Muscupiabe Rancho. On these lands, now barren from the lack of water, may still be seen traces of that earlier cultivation.

Lyman and Rich, who afterward associated with themselves in the ownership of the prop- erty Ebenezer Hanks, managed the affairs of the colony on a wise and liberal basis. They subdivided the entire rancho into tracts of varying size, ranging from five to ninety acres, and these lots they offered for sale at low prices and on easy terins of payment. In this way many settlers not of the Mormon faith were attracted into the valley.

Thus it was, too, that while many other fine

ranchos of Southern California were given over to exclusive use as ranges for large bands of cattle and horses, this settlement was already divided by long lines of fences, dotted with cottages and covered with orchards and vine- yards.

The Mormons were, too, a peaceable and law- abiding element, and as long as their party was in the majority they maintained good gov- ernment.

It was not long, however, before the Gentiles were attracted to this beautiful valley in con- siderable numbers, coming from neighboring counties and from a distance; and between these and the Mormons hard feelings were soon engendered owing to disparity of tastes and customs, as well as to the conflict of mutual interests.

In 1852 came to San Bernardino the first physician, Dr. Ira Burris, who was shortly fol- lowed by Dr. Ainsworth. The settlement was always very healthy.

Up to this time all the territory to the Colo- rado river on the east had been comprised with- in the limits of Los Angeles County, and for the transaction of all business of a legal charac- ter the residents in the San Bernardino district were under the necessity of journeying to Los Angeles, the county seat, a distance of sixty miles. The State Legislature was now peti- tioned to ordain a division of the county, and accordingly on April 26, 1853, the Legislature of California passed an aet separating from the county of Los Angeles a new county to be known as San Bernardino. This act appointed Isaac Williams, H. G. Sherwood, David Seeley and John Brown members of a board to desig- nate election precincts, appoint inspectors, re- ceive returns, and issne certificates of election.

The first county election was held in January, 1853, resulting in the election of the first offi- cers of San Bernardino County, as followss County Judge, D. N. Thomas; County Attor- ney, Ellis Amnes; Clerk, Richard R. Hopkins; Sheriff. Robert Clift; Treasurer, David Seeley; Assessor, William Stout; Surveyor, H. G. Sher.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

wood; Justices of the Peace, John Brown and Andrew Lytle. These officers entered upon their duties, and the new connty assumed her portion of the debt of Los Angeles County, and moved forward under the new organization. The town of San Bernardino had been appointed as the county seat, by disposition of the act be- fore mentioned, and in the spring of 1853 it was surveyed and laid off. The town as then platted was one mile square, and this was abundantly ample for the business needs of the time.

Among the first buildings erected upon the town site was the old Mormon Council-House, which was long a landmark of the town. This structure, which stood at the corner of Third and Graftou streets, was razed in July, 1867, to make way for a large, new brick building.

In 1856 was celebrated for the first time the Fourth of July.

At this time the friction between the Mor- mons and the Gentiles had grown to such a point as to menace serions difficulties, which were averted, in all probability, only by the circumstance that the Mormon population of San Bernardino was recalled to Utah, in conse- quence of causes as follows: President James Buchanan, in 1857, had sent out Alfred Cum- ming to take the office of Governor of Utah in place of Brigham Young, and to enforce the authority of the National Government a mili- tary force of 2,500 men was sent with Cum- mning. The chief of the Mormons attempted to oppose force of arms by armed force in resist- ing the mandate of the President, and to con- centrate all his strength to that end he called in to Salt Lake all his distant followers from the outlying colonies of the church. The blindly faithful obeyed, and submitted to the sacrifice of their happy and fruitful homes and valuable lands, in exchange for the lesser attractions of Utah and a very fair prospect of death at the hands of the United States soldiery. These obedient ones took their departure, having sold to eager purchasers, and at nominal prices, their rich lands and careful improvements.

Others there were who resisted the manifest injustice of the sacrifices demanded of them, and 80 elected to remain in California and defy the thunders of the "prophet's" wrath. Among these independent spirits were the leaders, Messrs. Lyman, Rich, Hanks, and many others.

The departure of the majority of the Mor- mons relieved to a great extent the strain of feeling between their party and the other fac- tion, although the animosity continued to exist for long thereafter.

In the fall of 1859 there took place in the town of San Bernardino a difficulty of local origin, that had somewhat the aspect of a civil war on a small scale. There were in the place two rival physicians, Dr. Ainsworth and Dr. Thomas Gentry. They met one day at a livery stable, and Ainsworth returned fire on Gentry, who fled, and sent word to his friends at El Monte that he was "corralled by Mormons." Impartial testimony on either side goes to show that the affair was purely personal, and that no faction or party question was concerned. But Gentry's friends at El Monte rallied to his sum- mons, and, led by a rough named Frank Green, they set forth, 100 strong, prepared to capture the town if necessary. On arriving at San Ber- nardino, and learning the circumstances as they actually existed, the more rational of the in- vaders, comprising about one-half of the party, returned home, but the rest remained, being in a frame of mind disposed toward disorder. Ainsworth and his friends had intrenched themselves in an old adobe house on the corner west of the Sonth Methodist Church. As night came on, with no indications of the ap- proach of the hostile party, the to-be-besieged, who were well armed with rifles and revolvers, went forth and dispersed themselves over the cornfield surrounding the house. It was not until a late hour that Green's gang was seen approaching the house, upon which all the party of defense lay down, leveling their guns npon the enemy. The party from El Monte formed in line of battle on the opposite side of the road as quietly as possible, but they retreated

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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