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 81

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 81
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 81
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 81
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 81

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).

Mr. Haight was married in 1862 to Miss Betsey A. Green, a native of New York. Her father, Nelson Green, is now a resident of Riverside. He was a prominent and well- known man in the early days of Michigan; was a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1850 that revised the constitution of that State; later was a member of the Assembly and Senate in the Legislature of Michigan, and before re- moving to that State he was a member of the Assembly of the State of New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Haight are the jarents of five children, viz .: Edward M.,' Bertha E., Jessie M., Nellic and Ralph W. Mr. Haight's parents, Peter and Ada (Crawford) Haight, were natives of New York. His father was a veteran of the war of 1812-'14, and was a farmer by occupa- tion, and reared his son in that calling.

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K. HENDERSON, a young and enter- prising horticulturist on Base Line, five miles east of San Bernardino, was born in Benton County, Iowa, Angust 18, 1858. His father, Robert H. Henderson, of Indiana, was for fourteen years successfully engaged in farm- ing in Iowa. In 1875 he came to California and first bought ten acres of land in Riverside and put it out in finit. It cost him $100 per acre, and after eight years he sold it for $9,600. He had one of the best vineyards in the State, which at three years from planting netted him $341 per acre. He afterward moved to San Jose, where he died in October, 1888. He had a family of ten children, of which the subject of this sketch is the seventh. He had the advan- tage of a good common-school education, and came with his father to Riverside, California,

in April, 1875. He subsequently bought land in Redlands, which he sold after two years. In 1882 he bought the land on which he now lives on Base Line. Mr. Henderson was united in marriage to Miss Lnlie Annabel, in 1878, at Riverside. This lady was born in Jackson, Michigan, and is a daughter of Ira Annabel. They have two bright little children, Earle and Claude. Both he and his wife are members of the Congregational Church.

OHN B. CRAWFORD is one of the pio- neers of California, dating his first arrival on the Pacific coast early in 1849. His first visit to Southern California was also in that year. Mr. Crawford was born in York Township, County of Peal, Canada, in 1826. His parents, James and Eliza (Beatty) Craw- ford, were natives of Ireland, who cmigrated to Canada in 1810. His mother was a daughter of Rev. John Beatty, a well-known pioneer of the Methodist Church. She is now eighty-five years of age and a resident of Riverside. His father was a prominent business man of York, owning and conducting Inmber mills and woolen factories. Mr. Crawford was reared and schooled in his native place, ending his studies by a course at the Victoria College at Coburg, Ontario. He then went to Montreal and was engaged in the hardware business until 1847.

In that year he emigrated to the United States and located in New Orleans. In 1848 the gold fever swept over the country and he decided to seek his fortunes in the new El Dorado of the West. In December, of that year, he left New Orleans and proceeded to the Isthmus of Panama. Crossing that he embarked on board the steamer "California" for San Francisco. This was the pioneer steamer of the Pacific Mail Steamship Company, and the first ever placed on the route from Panama to San Francisco. Her first voyage upon a route and in a service that afterward became historical, ended in San Francisco, February 28,

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

1849. San Francisco was then a hamlet, built mostly of board shanties and canvas tents. Mr. Crawford was limited in means but had a small stock of personal clothing which he proceeded to sell, establishing this " store " by setting up an old crockery crate upon one of the main thoroughfares, and displayed his stock to the public view. His stock was soon disposed of and he then decided to try his fortunes in the miines. His first efforts were at Murphy's diggings on the Tuolumne river, and later in other sections. In the fall of that year lie decided to embark in a stock speculation. Ac- cordingly he came to Southern California, and making his headquarters at San Diego pur- chased a band of mules. These he wintered at Ensenada, and the next spring drove them overland to the northern counties. This was a fortunate venture. His animals, that cost him $20 a head in Southern California, sold in the mines at $200 to $500 per head. He then returned to his inining occupations and con- ducted them until 1853. In that year he estab- lished a store on the north fork of the Yuba

river, and was engaged in mercantile pursuits

until 1855. His six years upon the Pacific coast had not been without profit, and he decided to return to his home. Upon his arrival in Canada he entered into mercantile pursuits, establishing dry-goods stores at Brant-

ford, and later at Ingersoll and Dundas. He conducted these enterprises until 1875. In

that year he made his second trip to California, deciding to establish his home and pass the remainder of his life in its genial climate. After visiting many sections of the State he settled

of soil, climate and water. His energy and upon Riverside as affording all the requisites

personal efforts would do the rest in building np a model home. How well he has succeeded the present record will show. Mr. Crawford

has a forty-acre tract, located on Magnolia

avenne, at the corner of Adams street, nearly all of which is in oranges, comprising budded trees of the most approved varieties, such as Washington Navels and Mediterranean Sweets.

He also has a family orchard of deciduous fruits, in which he has nearly every variety of fruit grown in this section. His residence is a model in beauty and comfort. It is a fine two- story edifice of modern architectural design and finish, and in it has combined the comforts and luxuries of a well-ordered home; nor has he neg- lected his surroundings. IIis spacious grounds, bordered by trim cypress hedges, abound in ornamental trees, palins, and flowering. plants. This home is fast approaching a realization of his dreams of a dozen years ago. Nature does Inch for mankind in Southern California, but results, such as Mr. Crawford has attained, have required years of energetic and well-directed labor. In 1875 his tract was a wild and deso- late waste. He erected his little cottage, the first built in the Arlington district, planted a few ornamental trees, and, with his family, established his residence and went to work. In 1876 he sowed his lands to grain. It was a failure, and the next year he started in horti- cultural pursuits. His experience was that of many early horticulturists of the colony-their mistakes were many and cost years of labor and valuable time in correcting. Acres of compara- tively valueless or non-producing deciduous trees had to be rooted out and their place snp- plied by the orange tree, As late as 1887 he destroyed 700 lemon trees, ten years old, that were non-paying, and supplied their places with budded orange trees. Experience is the best of teachers, and he is making no mistakes at this date. Mr. Crawford has not confined his efforts entirely to his home place. In 1875 he purchased a ten-acre tract four and a half miles east of his home, and during the ten years before selling it built up one of the representative groves

of that section. He has also been interested in real estate in San Diego County, acerage and business property in Elsinore and Perris, erect- ing blocks, stores, etc; nor has he withheld his

support and encouragement to the many public enterprises that have been such important factors in building up Riverside and giving her that standing and position she so justly occupies

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY

in Southern California. He is a stockholder in the Riverside Water Company and was for two years vice president, and for four years a director of the same.

Mr. Crawford has during his years of residence ranked high in the estimation of the community as a good citizen and a kind neigh- bor. He has for many years been a member of the Presbyterian Church and a former trustee of the Arlington Presbyterian Church. In politics he is a Republican, but has for years been a strong supporter of the Prohibition principles and party.

In 1856 Mr. Crawford married Miss Annie P. Schooley, a native of Canada. Her mother, Julia A. Higson, was born at Glens Falls, New York. This union was blessed with four children, viz .: Jennie E., J. Harry, Stanley A. and Vie- toria Ina. Jennie married J. J. Evans, of Riverside; Harry married Miss Luey A. Hume, and is now residing at Perris, San Diego County; Stanley is engaged with his father in conducting the affairs of the home place; Vic- toria is also a member of her father's house- hold.

ENRY RABEL, deceased, formerly pro- prietor of the celebrated springs which bear his name, and which are now the property of his widow, was born near Hanover, Germany, on August 2, 1826. In 1845 he emigrated with his parents to America, and settled in Lebanon, Illinois, where his father and mother both died within a year. After their decease Henry went to St. Louis, Missouri, and on October 8, 1849, he married Miss Eliza- beth Holadway, a native of Tennessee, a de- scendant of Scotch ancestry on her father's side, and English on her mother's. Early in May, 1850, Mr. Rabel and bis young wife started from their home in Missouri to eross the plains to California, as part of a train comprising a hundred families, nearly all of whom came with ox teams, though Mr. Rabel had horse

teams. The trip was a trying one to Mrs. Rabel, as their eldest child, a daughter, was born en route, at Fort Laramie. They reached Salt Lake on September 17. Having lost one of their horses, and being advised that an at- tempt to continue their journey over the Sierra Nevada mountains so late in the season would be attended with great risk, Mr. and Mrs. Rabel stopped in the Salt Lake valley, and remained there eighteen months, during which time they both worked hard to try to get a start in life. While there they at times suffered of privation, being unable to obtain some of the necessities of life, for though they had money to buy pro- visions with they were not to be had at any price. On leaving the valley in the spring of 1852, they were fitted out with three pairs of oxen, a thousand pounds of flour, and an abund- ance of other provisions. They crossed the crest of the Sierras July 10, and a few days later arrived at Shingle Springs-now Placer- ville. There they found friends in Mr. Chase and family, whom they had known in the East: and Mrs. Rabel says she never was happier than when they reached their destination after being so long on the way. Mr. Rabel procured ein- ployment with a mill and lumber company at Diamond Spring under contraet for a year for which he was to receive $3,000, but the company was not successful financially, and he lost about half his wages. At the end of the year Mr. Rabel tried his fortune at mining a year, in which he was very successful, averag- ing $25 to $30 a day. On leaving the mines he engaged in the live-stock business several years, in which he also made money. In the spring of 1857 they came to Southern Califor- nia, arriving in San Bernardino about the first of July. Mr. Rabel bought forty acres adjoin- ing Rabel Springs, of Messrs. Rich & Hanks, the Mormon leaders, who had purchased the Lngo Ranch, erected a house on it and occu- pied it with his family that same year, they being the first to settle in that neighborhood. A year or two later he bought the eighty acres on which the springs are situated, from Mr.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Copewood, and devoted the remainder of his active life to farming and stock-raising. About 1870 Mr. Rabel purchased 888 acres of land in the San Jacinto valley, for a stock range, and the family lived on it for a year and a half, then returned to Rabel Springs. He bought 106 acres three miles from the city of Santa Ana, and two years later he removed the famn- ily upon it and they resided there some eight or ten years, he buying some more land in that vicinity in the meantime. This homestead Mr. Rabel improved from a wild state, converting it into a fine farın. At the suggestion of an East- ern physician who had received great benefit from the use of the water, Mr. Rabel began to improve Rabel Springs, erecting the first bath- honses in 1882. The following year he built a two-story hotel of eleven rooms at the Springs, and he and his family occupied and conducted it as a public house for the entertainment of persons visiting and wishing to remain for a time at the springs, until a short time before his death. Early in the eighties he made a visit to his old home in Illinois, and while there had a severe spell of sickness, from the effects of which he never fully recovered, and in the spring of 1885 he became so ill that Mrs. Rabel took him to Los Angeles, where the best medical skill was employed; but he gradually failed, and on the 8th of July, 1885, he passed away, sin- cerely mourned by the community of which he had so long been a highly respected citizen. Mr. Rabel was a man of unquestioned honor and integrity of character, and noted for his generosity and kindness of heart. The widow and six of their seven children survived him, one of whom has since died. Their youngest child, a son, had previously been killed by the kick of a mule. The five living children are all married and settled in this part of California. The names in the order of their ages are as fol- lows: Mary M., now Mrs. Webster; Emily R., Mrs. Carter; Isabella A., Mrs. T. J. Wil . son; Frederick H., Timothy D., deceased, Hiram D., and S. J., deceased.

Mr. and Mrs. Rabel, by industry and econ-

omy, had accumulated a valuable estate. Be- sides assisting the children to start in life, the widow has several pieces of very valuable prop- erty, including two farms in the new county of Orange, near Santa Ana, one of eighty-nine acres, and the other 106 acres, and also the Rabel Springs property, 100 acres. These springs are situated at the terminus of the motor railroad, about five miles north of east from San Ber- nardino, and are a remarkable series of large springs of warın and cold water in close prox- imity --- in the space of a few square yards-dis- charging a volume of water sufficient to form a good-sized creek or arroyo as clear as crystal, and, as the chemical analysis shows, holding in solution, magnesia, iron and other mineral and medicinal salts in such proportions as to render the water very valuable as a remedial agent for bathing and other uses in a great many diseases both chronic and aente. The temperature of the waters as they boil up from the surface of the earth ranges from about 55° to 120° Fah- renheit, and in such quantity as to be prac- tically inexhaustible. A year or two after Mr. Rabel's death, the hotel was destroyed by fire, but Mrs. Rabel has erected a large wooden building, which is used for a dancing, amnse- ment and refreshment hall, and besides a large swimming pool there are a number of bath houses into which flow both hot and cold water, and which are furnished with apparatus for tub, shower and mud baths, the temperature of which can be regulated to snit the desire of the bather. The country and scenery about the springs is almost matchless in beanty; the soil very fertile and productive, with the pure mountain air descending from snow-covered, cloud-kissed peaks on the north and east, and the ocean breezes, fragrant with briny breath from the west, render the climate well nigh ideal in perfection-the invalid's sanitarium. With the additional investment of a few thon- sand dollars in buildings and other improve- ments, Rabel Springs may become one of the most attractive and best sanitary resorts on the continent. Mrs. Rabel is desirous of disposing

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of the property to some person or persons who will develop its possibilities. She resides in her comfortable cottage home in San Bernardino.

UDLEY R. DICKEY, M. D., is a Cali- fornia pioneer of 1850, and the longest in the medical practice of all physicians in San Bernardino County. He is a Buckeye by nativity, born in Washington County, Ohio, January 11, 1829. His paternal grandfather, who had been a soldier in the Revolutionary war, settled in Athens County in that State soon after the birth of our republic, and there the Doctor's father, Thomas Diekey, was born. He moved from Washington County and settled in Fairfield, Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1836, when that State was a part of Wisconsin Terri- tory. Dr. Dickey was educated in the schools of Iowa; studied medicine and graduated from Me- Dowell Medical College, University of Missouri, in 1849. His father having come to California the previous year, the Doctor started from Fair- field in the spring of 1850 to eross the plains, and arrived at Hangtown in July of that year. From there he went to Oskaloosa bar, on the middle fork of the American river, where he joined his father in some mining interests. In the spring of 1851, he went to Rough and Ready mine near Shasta City; that summer lie went to Monterey, and in the fall eame down to Los Angeles, reaching there in October, 1851. He settled in El Monte and there di- vided his time between the practice of his pro- fession and farming until October, 1855, when he located in San Bernardino, which has been his home ever since. The first two years of his practice here was largely among the Mor- mon settlers, a majority of whom returned to Salt Lake in 1857 in obedience to a summons from Brigham Young. Since settling in San Bernardino Dr. Diekey has alternated the prac- tiee of medicine with other lines of business. He has considerable land interests; owns a raneh three and a half miles east of the city on

City creek, and owns a half interest in what is known as the Harrison ranch, of 113 acres, about six miles north of the city and a mile from Arrow-head springs. This place is in the warm or therinal belt, and is admirably adapted to the cultivation of semi-tropic and small fruits. Bananas flonrish and bear with- out extra attention, and the Doctor and Mr. Harrison are trying the experiment of growing pineapples, with promise of snecess. A portion of the place is being cultivated to strawberries, and ripe fruit is picked from the vines every month of the year. Mr. Harrison reports that there has been but one killing frost there in twelve years.

During the war of the Rebellion Dr. Dickey was an nltra Union man, and to his shrewd tac- tics and timely action more than any other man's, perhaps, was due the averting of a bloody civil war on the Pacific coast, by exposing and thwarting the plot laid by the Knights of the Golden Circle for precipitating an outbreak on the 9th of May, 1862, the avowed purpose of which was to rob and pillage all Union men and turn over the property to the authorities of the Sonthern Confederacy. Dr. Dickey and a few loyal men who possessed the courage of their convictions averted this calamity by a timely effort and at considerable expense, especially in the Doctor's ease, as the exposé cost him be- tween $400 and $500. His radical loyal senti- ments and active interest in behalf of the Union cause came near costing him his life, as a des- perado named Henry watched his house six nights for the purpose of assassinating him. This Dr. Dickey learned afterward from a friend of Henry, who advised the latter to de- sist from committing the bloody deed. Henry was afterward killed while resisting his arrest by the sheriff for some crime of which he had been guilty. During the early part of the war of the Rebellion Dr. Dickey was employed by contract as assistant surgeon for the troops sent down to San Bernardino to avert the threatened outbreak. He was relieved by the arrival of Dr. Prentis, the regular army surgeon.

527

HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Dr. Dickey married Miss Crandall in El Monte in 1854. Her father, J. W. Crandall, cune to California and settled in San Diego in 1851. Four children, three sons and a daugh- ter, comprise the Doctor's and Mrs. Dickey's family. Their eldest son, Dr. Clarence Dickey, is a practicing physician in company with his father, having been graduated M. D. from Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, in 1886. He is now filling the office of county physician. The subject of this sketch expects to retire from active practice the coming year and take life easier. He is a fancier of fine horses, and owns a number of promising thoroughbred colts. In 1887 Dr. Dickey built the elegant brick residence the family occupies on Fifth street between B and C streets. It is one of the finest dwellings in San Bernardino.

OHN ABERDEIN established his resi- dence in Riverside in 1880, and in 1881 purchased the block between Fifth and Sixth and Lime and Lemon streets. His block contained two and one-half acres, and was devoid of any horticultural or building improvements. Mr. Aberdein immediately commenced the planting of citrus and decidnons fruit trees and the erection of his residence, and has now one of the representative homes of Riverside. His orange grove contains the choicest varieties of bndded fruits, Washington Navels, Mediterra- nean Sweets and Malta Bloods. He also has a variety of deciduous fruits for family use. A well-arranged two-story residence and suitable out-buildings, surrounded by ornamental trees and beautiful flowering plants, render his home one of the most pleasant and attractive charac. ter. Mr. Aberdein is a native of Scotland, born near Aberdeen, in 1821. His parents were John and Mary (Leighton) Aberdein, natives of Scotland. His father was a farmer by occupa- tion and reared his son to that calling, giving him the advantage of a good education in the

public schools. Mr. Aberdein also devoted considerable attention to landscape gardening.

In 1853 he decided to try his fortunes in the new world and emigrated to the United States, locating in Knox County, Illinois, where he was engaged as a book-keeper and clerk in a mer- cantile business nntil 1861. In that year he responded to the call of his adopted conntry and entered the military service as a private in Company C, Forty-second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, under the command of Captain Wal- worth, Colonel Webb commanding the regiment. Mr. Aberdein's good conduct and soldierly qualities gained him promotion to the non- commissioned staff, and he was made a Sergeant. He participated in many of the hard-fought battles of the West, among them the battles of Corinth, Island No. 10, Nashville and Stone river. In the latter engagement he was se- verely wounded, being struck no less than four times. His wounds were of a serions character and disabled him for further service, and in the spring of 1863 he was honorably discharged. He then returned to Knox County and was employed in the drug business until 1864. In that year he was elected clerk of the Circuit Court of Knox County, and held that important office for four years. He then engaged in mer - cantile pursuits until he came to California in 1880.

He has belonged to the Republican party ever since he cast his first vote in this country. He is a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. In 1868 Mr. Aber lein wis united in marriage with Miss Candace M. Johnson, a native of Ohio. Of their four children only two are living. viz .: Blanche and Genevieve.

SHMAN P. COMBS is one of the well- known business men of Riverside. He is in the real-estate and insurance business, and has one of the best established agencies in Riverside, representing some of the strongest insurance companies issning policies on the Pa-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

cific coast. Mr. Combs came to Riverside in 1876 and was first employed among the orange groves as a hortienltnrist in pruning, etc. In 1877 be started a nursery business on Mulberry street between Seventh and Eighth streets. The next year he purchased a two and one-half acre block between Vine and Mulberry, and First and Second streets, and in the same year erected a cottage and planted his land to oranges. Mr. Combs has, since his arrival, been engaged in horticultural pursuits, in addition to his other business enterprises, and has been one of the most successful orange growers in the colony. His two and one-half acres between Mulberry and Lime and Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets is in budded orange trees, of Washington Navel and Mediterranean Sweet varieties. As illns- trating what may be done in the orange culture in Riverside under intelligent care and cultiva- tion, it is worthy to note that in 1887 these two and one-half acres gave a yield that sold for $1,800, an average of over $700 per acre. The trees at that time were nine or ten years old.

Mr. Combs is a native of Canada and dates his birth in Wentworth county, in 1829. His father, John Combs, was a native of Pennsyl- vania; his mother, Sarah (Cowell) Combs, was also from that State, and both were descended from old Colonial families. Mr. Combs was reared to farm life, receiving such an education as could be obtained in the public schools. At the age of eighteen years he learned the carpen- ger's trade, and when he reached his majority he engaged as a carpenter and bnilder and a farmer until 1871. In that year he entered into mercantile pursuits in Hamilton, Went- worth County, and conducted the same until he came to California in 1876. Mr. Combs is an enterprising and progressive citizen, and has always been a strong supporter of the public enterprises that have built up the city of River- side. He was one of the incorporators of the Riverside and Arlington Railway. In his real- estate dealings he has done much to attract a desirable class of settlers to the colony. He is a consistent member of the Methodist Church

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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