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 89

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 89
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 89
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 89
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 89

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. and Mrs. Lord are the parents of two sons and a daughter, the latter deceased. The sons, George Lord, Jr., and Joseph S., are both men of families, and reside in the immediate vicinity of the city of San Bernardino. Their father started each of them in life with a fine homestead. Mr. and Mrs. Lord reside happily in their pretty cottage home on D street, where, and on an adjoining street, they own several other nice pieces of improved property, the rents of which furnish them a comfortable in- come. Mr. Lord, though in his ninetieth year,

is remarkably well preserved, physically and mentally. Few men of sixty five have as much vigor and activity of mind and body as he now possesses. Notwithstanding his meagre early educational advantages, he is a well-informed man; he is endowed with a natural gift for extemporaneous speaking; ready in thought happy in illustration and expression, he never fails to entertain his anditors. He has always led a temperate life, using neither alcoholie liquors nor tobacco. Kindness of heart is a prominent trait of his character. Unswerving in his adherence to his convictions, his con- science is his guide, and to do right his re- ligion.

EORGE W. GARCELON is one of River- side's pioneer settlers, and ranks among the leading practical horticulturists of the county. He was born in New Brunswick, in 1832, and reared and schooled in his native place until twenty years of age. In starting in life on his own account he decided to estab- lish himself in the United States. In 1852 he located in Lewiston, Maine, and was there em- ployed as elerk in the drug business. His close attention and studies enabled him to master his calling, and he became skilled as a druggist and chemist, and in 1856 he established himself in business as a druggist in that city. He mar- ried in that city, in 1858, Miss Mary Tobie, daughter of Edward P. Tobie, a well-known cit- zen of Lewiston, who for more than thirty years held the position of town and city clerk.

Mr. Garcelon was successful in his business pursuits, and condneted them until 1872. In that year he sought a home in California, and located at Riverside. Soon after his arrival he purchased a two-and-one-half acre block be- tween Vine and Mulberry and Sixth and Seventh streets and entered upon horticultural pursuits. He also purchased a twenty-aere tract on Brock- ton avenne, at the corner of Bandini avenue. Mr. Garcelon entered heartily into his new call-

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ing, growing his own nursery stock and planting citrus and deciduous trees. His experience was that of all pioneers in the fruit-growing of Riverside. Many of his deciduous trees in later years were nprooted and replaced by orange and leinon trees. He now has one of the finest groves in the colony. He also had unbounded faith in citrus fruit-growing in Riverside, and spent time and money in advancing the in- dustry.

The history of the citrus fairs of the world dates its first effort in the spring of 1877, when the orange groves of Riverside submit- ted their products to the inspection of the horticultural world in the parlor of Mr. Garce- lon's modest home. It was the birth of the Citrus Fair Association, with such men as Mr. Garcelon, A. S. White, H. J. Rudisill and other public-spirited citizens as its chief promoters. Mr. Garcelon early saw the possibilities of the lemon-growing industry. The great problem to be solved was the proper curing and pre- serving to enable the producers to successfully compete with the foreign lemons imported into the country. He spent years in study and experimental research, and after ten years of time and labor his efforts have been rewarded by success, and he has added another source of untold wealthı to the citrus-fruit growers of Southern California. He has erected a storage warehouse and lemon-cnring establishment of a capacity of 3,000 boxes on the corner of Brock- tou and Bandini avenues. His process and means of curing are not known to the public, but it is worthy of note that his lemons, in 1889, after nine or ten months storage in his establishment, were perfect, and were valued in the San Francisco market at $10 per box-$2 more per box than first-class foreign lemons commanded.

Mr. Garcelon has not allowed his horticultural industries to lessen his interest in other indus- tries that have built up the city and colony, and meritorious enterprises have found a liberal supporter in him. In political matters he is a stanch Republican. Although never an office-

seeker his ability and worth has commanded attention. In 1888 he was prevailed upon to submit himself as a candidate for Supervisor from his district, and was elected for four years. He is a member of the Board of Trade, and in 1886 was one of Riverside's representatives to the Chicago Fair. A strong supporter of schools and churches, he has for many years been a member and trustee of the Congrega- tional Church. He is a member of Riverside Chapter, No. 68, Royal Arch Masons, and Riv- erside Commandery, No. 28, Knights Templar.

RRIN BACKUS, a horticultnrist and business man of Riverside, was born in Columbus, Ohio, March 16, 1822. His father, Andrew Backus, and mother, Bathsheba (King) Backus, were natives of Massachusetts, and representatives of old colonial families. Andrew Backns was a soldier of the war of 1812-'14; he enlisted twice, first under Captain Chase, again under Captain Greenleaf Pratt; he received 160 acres of land and a pension, by act of Congress. Mrs. Hannah Alden, the mother of Andrew Backns and grandmother of Orrin Backus, was sixth in lineal descent from John Alden, of Mayflower pilgrims. Andrew Backus emigrated to Columbus, Ohio, in 1816, one of the pioneers and first to engage in the manufacture of furniture.

Orrin Backns received a good schooling, com- pleting his studies at the Granville College, of Ohio. His young manhood, aside from secur- ing his education, was spent in assisting his father in his business. In 1846 he was appoint- ed assistant clerk and visitor guide in the Ohio Penitentiary at Columbus. He remained on duty during two cholera seasons, when about 113 prisoners and three physicians died. In 1850 he and his brother, Lafayette, engaged in mercantile pursuits in the grocery business in Columbus, Ohio. In 1862 to 1865, during the Rebellion, was captain in charge of the steamner Diadem, and was employed on the Ohio and

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Mississippi and its tributaries by the United States Government in the transportation of troops, commissary stores and munitions of war, and it was one of danger and hardship. He took part iu military expeditions, and ran the gauntlet of Rebel batteries, on the Tennessee, Yazoo, Mississippi, and np Red river with General A. J. Smith's Sixteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps, with Colonel Gilbert's Twenty-seventh Iowa Regiment. The steamer Diadem was the flag-ship, post of honor and danger, taking the lead of thirty-five transports from Vicksburg.

At the close of the war he resigned liis posi- tion and returned to Columbus to his family and business, with his brother. In 1867 he located in Cleveland and engaged in the whole. sale and retail jewelry trade until 1874. He was then elected secretary and treasurer of the Cleveland Boiler Plate Company, where there were 200 men employed. In 1876 he was elected secretary and treasurer of the Atchison Bridge Company, the office being in Cleveland.

June 16, 1854, Mr. Orrin Backus was mar- ried to Miss Ella V. McGaw, of Fairfield, Iowa. In 1879 his wife's ill health decided him to re- tire from business and to accompany hier to a more genial climate, seeking a restoration of her health; but the changes only gave temporary relief. She died February 4, 1882, in Cleve- land.

December 4, of the same year, Mr. Backus started with his son, W. H. Backus, and family for Riverside, California, where they located and bought an orange grove of thirteen acres, and engaged in horticulture, and they have one of the representative orange groves and raisin vine- yards of his section; also bought a ten-acre ranch on Magnolia avenue. W. H. Backus cures and packs his raisin crop.

Mr. Backus is one of the original incorpo- rators of the Riverside Banking Company, and has been a director of the bank since its organ- ization in 1885; he was also an incorporator and director of the First National Bank of San Bernardino. He owns a one-fifth interest in a large stock ranch, Las Penisquitas, about 7,000

acres. Politically he has been a stanch Repub- lican since the party organization in 1856. He is a member of Arlington Presbyterian Church, and served some years as one of its trustees. He is also a member of the I. O. O. F. and Cap- ital Encampment, Columbus, Ohio. His wife and three children have died. His son, W. H. Backus, married Miss Ida J. Cronenberg in 1881; they live in Riverside, and have two chil- dren, a son and daughter.

OSEPH HOLMES, one of the representa- tive horticulturists of Ontario and progress - ive citizens of San Bernardino County, came to California in 1883 and located in the Ontario colony as one of its early settlers, and has ever since taken a leading part in building up his chosen section and advancing its inter- ests. His home is on the corner of Fourth street and Campus avenue, where he has erected a substantial two-story residence, well furnished and fitted with modern conveniences. He has surrounded his home with ornamental trees and rich floral plants. His twenty-acre tract is lo- cated between Third and Fourth streets and east of Campus avenue. Upon this tract he has, for the past six years, been engaged in horticultural pursuits. He has now twelve acres in oranges, also a choice variety of lemons, and a family orchard of deciduous fruits. Seven acres are devoted to vineyard, producing raisin grapes of the Muscat variety. All af his trees and vines have a remarkably fine growth and attest the intelligent care bestowed upon them.

Mr. Holmes is a native of Trenton, New Jer- sey, and dates his birth November, 1819. His parents, Samuel and Hannalı (Jackson) Hohnes, were natives of England. His father came to the United States in 1816, and his mother in 1800. When Mr. Holmes was about six years old his parents located at Kensington, near Phi- ladelphia, and there he was reared and schooled for the next ten years. In 1835 the family moved to Illinois and settled in Putnain County,

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

and engaged in farming. The subject of this sketch remained with his parents, engaging in farming, until 1846. In that year he married Miss Avis F. Taber, who was born in Massa- ehnsetts May 21, 1825. Her parents, Benjamin and Merab (Folger) Taber, were also natives of that State. After his marriage Mr. Holmes started in life for himself and located in the town of Henry, Marshall County, where he fol- lowed the occupation of a farmer until 1868. He then moved to Lodi, Iroquois County, where he resided until he moved to his present resi- dence. In whatever section Mr. Holmes has resided he has always gained the respect and esteem of the community, and has been called upon to fill positions of honor and trust. In his Illinois home lie was twice elected as super- visor of his township, and was also twice elected as assessor and commissioner of roads. In On- tario he is a stockholder in the Ontario Water Company, and one of its former directors. He is now one of the regents of the Chaffey College. He has for years been a consistent member of the Swedenborgian church. In political matters he is a straightforward Republican and may al- ways be found taking a deep interest in his party and allied with its best elements. Of the chil- dren born to Mr. and Mrs. Holmes but five are living, viz .: Saralı T., now Mrs. Stephen P. Weaver; Mary, Joseph II., who married Miss Angelica Veder; Avie M. and Samuel J. Jo- seph A. Holmes is a resident of Phoenix, Ari- zona, where he is engaged in the milling busi- ness. The rest of the children are residents of Ontario.

OHN BROWN, SR., was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1817, and when but a boy came to St. Louis, Missouri, with his parents, where they died. He began rafting on the Mississippi and then went to New Orleans, and thence by ship to Galveston, suffering a shipwreck on his route. He returned to Fort Leavenworth by the Red River ronte. Was at

the battle of San Jacinto, and first saw Santa Ana when taken prisoner. Remained two years at Fort Leavenworth; and then went to the Rocky Mountains and for fourteen years hunted and trapped from the headwaters of the Colum- bia and Yellowstone, along the mountain streams southward so far as the Comanehe country in northern Texas, in company with the following named mountaineers: James Waters, V. J. Herring, Kit Carson and others. Was engaged sometimes with the fur companies and at other times as a fur trapper among the Kio- was, Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Apaches, Utes, Mandans, Reese River, Sionx, Crows, etc., and helped to build several forts. During this period of his life he had many encounters with bears and Indians, with hairbreadth escapes, which, if properly written, would make a book fully as interesting as Kit Carson's travels or Irving's Captain Booneville.

When the gold fever reached the mountain- eers in 1849, Messrs. Brown, Waters, Lupton and White joined one of the emigrant trains bound for the source of the world's excitement, arriving at Sutter's Fort, September 1, 1849, and first beginning to mine on the Calaveras river. In November Mr. Brown moved to Monterey, California, and passed the winter; and with Messrs. Waters and Godey opened the St. John's hotel and livery stable at the Mission of San Juan. Was twice elected Justice of the Peace. His health becoming impaired he was advised by Dr. Ord and other physicians to go south. In April, 1852, he went to San Francisco, boarded the schooner " Lydia," Captain Haley commander, and after a week's voyage down the coast, landed with his family at San Pedro. After two weeks' search he decided on San Ber- nardino as his place of residence, arriving here in May, over thirty-five years ago. At this point there was then but a small fort erected as a protection against Indians. The town and valley furnished pasturage for thousands of cattle and horses owned by the Lugo family. North of town was one vast wheat-field. In 1853 Mr. Brown moved to the Yneipa ranch

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

and began stock-raising. At that time Los Angeles County extended on the east to the Col- orado river, and the site of Los Angeles, then bnt a village, was the county seat; and all busi- ness of a legal character had to be transacted there, sixty miles distant. Experiencing this great inconvenience, Mr. Brown was the first to propose a division of the county; and for this purpose recommended Captain Jefferson Hunt as a proper person to represent the people in the eastern section at the Legislature, which passed an act dividing Los Angeles County and organizing San Bernardino County. By said act Mr. Brown, Isaac Williams, H. G. Sherwood and David Seely were constituted a board to designate election precincts, appoint inspectors, receive returns and issue certificates of election. According to the act the election took place in June, 1853. The business of the county was done by a conrt of sessions, consisting of the county judge, Andrew Lytle and John Brown, justices of the peacc.

In 1854 Mr. Brown discovered the first gold in Bear valley, and in 1856 moved to San Ber- nardino from Yucipa, where he had been a res- ident for some time. In 1861, seeing the diffi- culty of an outlet from his adopted town to southern Utah and Arizona Territory, he pro- cured a charter from the Legislature for a right to construct a wagon road through the Cajon pass, now occupied by the Santa Fé railroad; and he soon had a way open for the traveling public, bound to the various mining camps north of the mountains, furnishing thereby a gateway to San Bernardino until the completion of the Santo Fé railroad. In 1862 he went to Fort Mojave and established a ferry across the Colorado and was instrumental in getting troops stationed at Cape Cady to protect the mail. When a donation was required to connect San Bernardino with the outside world, Mr. Brown headed the list with $100. Again, when $100,- 000 was required to build the Southern Pacific road to San Bernardino, he headed the list with $4,000, and asked for ninety-nine others to do the same; but as $25,000 was all that

was subscribed, the road was located through Colton.

In 1875 he assisted in procuring mail service to Bear and Holcomb valleys; and during the winter of 1873-'74 he delivered the mail to those mining camps when the snow was two to three feet deep.

Mr. Brown has taken an active part in the political field. Ever since 1860 he has been a stanch Republican. In that year, in company with six others, he organized the Republican party in his section, under circumstances not the most flattering, and after a vigorous canvass carried the district for Lincoln. Since 1876 he has lived in comparative retirement, having raised and educated a large number of children, all of whom are highly esteemned citizens.

M ISS ANNA L. FULLER, of Azusa, is the daughter of Harrison Fuller, of Azusa, Los Angeles County. She is a native of Maryland, from whence her parents moved to Iowa, and from thence to California in 1883. Miss Fuller took an interest in music from earliest childhood, and studied it whilst yet in her teens, under excellent teachers in Philadelphia and New York. She was first soprano at St. Stephen's church in Philadelphia, three years, which position she resigned in 1886, to go abroad to study music. In Florence, Italy, she studied under Vannncini; in London, under Randegger (oratorio), and in Berlin, with Mine. Artot. At present she is the favorite pupil of the eminent operatic singer and teacher, Mme. La Grange, of Paris, who prophesies for her a brilliant future in opera. Miss Fuller, when a mere child, showed the mimetic faculty in connection with her strong liking for music. Good judges who have heard her discover in her singing a flavor of Materna, the great German dramatic soprano. Miss Fuller saug in concert, in Berlin and London, with success last year, winning the conimendation of the severest critics of those great centers of art. She has

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

a pure, magnificent soprano voice, of great power, the developing of which has been under some of the best masters in Europe.

She is now devoting herself, under the guid- ance of La Grange, exclusively to preparation for her appearance in grand opera, and expects to make her debut in the opera of Aida, in the near future. Her friends have every reason to expect that she will achieve a brilliant success.

EORGE L. HISOM, County Clerk of San Bernardino County, came into the office in January. 1883, as a depaty under W. F. Holcomb, and in the fall of 1886 was elected on the Republican ticket, as Mr. Holcomb's successor, and assumed the duties of office in January, 1887. His obliging and affable nature and his previous training made Mr. Hisom a very popular and efficient officer, and in the fall of 1888 he was re-elected as his own successor by 600 votes majority; consequently lie is serv- ing his second term, since January, 1889.

Mr. Hisom is a Pennslyvanian by birth, but passed his childhood and school days in Elmira, New York. In 1875 he came to California, a youth of seventeen years; since that time he has made his home in San Bernardino County. He was employed from 1880 to 1883, as a member of the engineering corps which was surveying and locating the California South- ern Roilroad from Barstow to San Diego, nn- der Fred T. Perris, as assistant engineer.

Few men in San Bernardino County are as well informed upon the county, its resources and people as Mr. Hisom, who is one of its intellgent and progressive citizens.

SAAC W. HAZELETT, M. D., one of the longest in practice in San Bernardino, and a leading member of the medical profession in this county, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Octo- ber 6, 1855; was reared from infancy till seven-

teen years of age at Zanesville, Ohio, and re- ceived his early education in the public schools of that city and in the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- versity. He prosecuted his medical studies in Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, Penn- sylvania, gradnating therefrom in March, 1879, having been resident house physician in the hos- pital for a year previous. After graduation he spent two years in the hospital, eight months of the time in the Philadelphia Marine Hospital. Locating in Wilmington, Delaware, Dr. Haze- lett soon attained a very large practice, suffi- cient to have earned a competent fortune in a few years; but overwork and exposure in that trying climate induced hemorrhage of the lungs, and after six severe attacks, in which he came near losing his life, he aban- doned his prosperous business and left the city to seek a more congenial climate. After spending a few months in Philadelphia, and suffering from further hemorrhages, he started for California. Arriving here he visited the principal points in the southern part of the State, practiced three months in Los Angeles, was compelled to leave on account of the moist- ure; finally he selected San Bernardino as the best location for him, and settled here in Au- gust, 1883. His health rapidly improving, he has been actively engaged in his profession ever since, and now he and his partner, Dr. J. N. Bayliss, do a practice among the largest in this county. His lung trouble has been fully arrested, and he enjoys good physical healthı.

Dr. Hazelett was instrumental in bringing Dr. Bayliss to this coast from the East, and their partnership dates from the latter's arrival, over three years ago. Dr. Bayliss was educated for his profession in the University of Pennsyl- vania, and after spending a year in St. Mary's Hospital, came directly to San Bernandino. They are both members of the Southern Cali- fornia and San Bernardino County Medical societies. Dr. Hazelett is also a member of the State Medical Society.

He married Miss Irwin, in Philadelphia, her

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

native city. Of their three children, two sons and a daughter, the latter only survives, and is now nine years of age.

APTAIN NELSON GREEN GILL, Post_ master of San Bernardino, came to Cali- fornia from Toulon, Illinois, in March, 1849, with a team composed of four oxen and two cows. He came by way of St. Joseph, Fort Laramie, Fort Hall and Lassen's cut-off, with a train composed of twenty two wagons. They brought with them a ferry-boat, which they used in crossing the North Platte and Green rivers, afterward selling it for $100. They arrived in Sacramento valley, September 26, 1849. Leaving his ox teamns at Bidwell's ranch, Captain Gill started for the mines on Feather river. After he had been in the mines a few months, provisions ran short, and he and a fellow miner started with their oxen and wagon for Sacramento to lay in a supply. The Sacramento river was swollen to a flood, and, becoming involved in the flood, they lost their wagon and oxen, and Mr. Gill's companion lost his life. Three months elapsed before Mr. Gill got back to camp; he had lost everything he started with, including $600 in gold. Not being snecessfnl at mining and being troubled with scurvy, as were many others, he, accom- panied by a mining companion, started for Los Angeles, walking to Marysville on foot. They took a row boat to Sacramento, thence, by steamer, to San Francisco; then, not having money enough to buy two tickets, they walked all the way, 500 miles, to Los Angeles, arriving in November, 1850. He and his friend rented twenty acres of land about twenty miles from Los Angeles, from John Reed, sowed ten acres of it to wheat and ten to barley during the winter of 1850-'51. They had an extraordinary crop, the yield being 400 bushels of clean wheat and about the same quantity of barley. This wheat was ground in John Rowland's mill and hauled to Los Angeles and sold; it was prob-

ably the first wheat grown in California for market. Mr. Gill then returned to the mines and spent the years 1852-'53 mining with in- different success. Returning to Los Angeles he engaged in herding stock and shipping Mis- sion grapes (the only variety then known here) to San Francisco. Returning to mining he spent some two or three years on Feather and Trinity rivers, and in 1857, went East, via Ari- zona and Texas, driving a six-mule team for the overland mail company, and reaching home in January, 1858.

In Angnst, 1861, he entered the Union army as a private in the Thirty third Illinois Infantry, known as the "Normal" Regiment, being com- posed largely of students from the State Nor- mal School. He served four years in the army and rose by successive promotions to Captain, having command of a company nearly two years before being mustered out. After the war he settled in Holly Springs, Mississippi, where he took an active part in politics, and filled a num- ber of important local offices. He was first appointed Postmaster by President Grant; subsequently was appointed by the Governor, President of the Board of Supervisors; and was twice elected to the Mississippi Legislature, serving four years in that body. Fearless in advocating his political convictions and enter- ing into each campaign with a will and energy that brooked no defeat, Captain Gill was recog- nized as a power in that State. In 1879 he removed to Kansas, settling near Emporia; while there he was a delegate to the county convention two years. also a delegate to the convention that organized the State Farmers' Alliance, and elected first vice-president of the Alliance. In the spring of 1882, he removed to California and settled at Ontario, San Ber- nardino County, his being the first family in that place. He plowed the ground and planted ont seventy-three acres of raisin grapes and oranges and they are now bearing. In 1884, he was elected Sheriff of that county and served two years. In March, 1886, he bought twenty- two acres on the north border of the city,

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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