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 92

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 92
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 92
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 92
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 92

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).

OHN BOYD, a well-known citizen of Riv- erside, though not a pioneer, has been a resident of the city since 1876, and there are few men who have been more closely iden- tified with the real interest and improvements of the city than John Boyd. He arrived at a time when the first named commodity at least was needed and appreciated. Heerected a sub- stantial building on Main street, and entered into business; and as the demands of the city increased he was ever to the front with his improvements. The present magnificent Boyd block, with its frontage of 111g feet on Main street, is one of the results of his enterprise .. He erected spacious warehouses and store-rooms on Eighth street and Pachappa avenne, and es- tablished a commission and storage business. This was in 1885, and in 1887 he formed a partnership with Frank B. De Vine, purchased the first packing business of the German Fruit Company, and under the firm name of Boyd & DeVine combined the two enterprises and founded one of the most substantial and largest business establishments in the county. Mr. Boyd is a self-made man, one who started in life handicapped with obstacles which when not pur- sned with his rugged energy and perseverance would be deemed insurmountable. The few and brief facts gathered regarding his life before his advent in Riverside are as follows:

Hc was born in Montreal, in 1833. His father was an Indian trader, having his stations scattered along the Canadian shores of the great

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

lakes of the northwest. From his early boy- hood Mr. Boyd was the companion of his father, sharing in the hardships and dangers of a bor- der life, gathering such learning as could be gathered from an occasional attendance at the pioneer schools, established in the half-civilized settlements that preceded the westward march of the Canadian empire. This life did not turn him ont as the graceful and accomplished scholar of classics; but it did better: it early taught him the stern relations and obstacles to be encountered in life. Through his associa- tion with his father and his trading operations, Mr. Boyd became a quick, shrewd trader, with thoroughly trained business principles; straight- forward, honest dealing has ever been his policy. In 1859 Mr. Boyd came by steamer ronte to the Pacific coast, and established himself in British Columbia. He found that country rich in natural resources, and for the next sixteen years was engaged in trading, establishing large sta- tions in the interior,-stock-growing and mining enterprises. There he found full scope for his well-known characteristics, and became one of the best known traders on the frontier. He was successful in a business point of view, but the hardships and exposures incident to years of frontier life told upon his strong constitution, and he found himself compelled to seek civilized life and a milder climate. In 1875 he closed his affairs in British Columbia and sought a home in California.

He spent nearly a year in visiting various sections of the State, and finally decided to cast his fortunes with Riverside. He is a public- spirited and liberal man, has been earnest in his support of Riverside enterprises, and was one of the incorporators. He was the treasurer of the Riverside Gas and Electric Light Com- pany, and a liberal contributor to the Citrus Fair Association, Pavilion Building, Odd Fel- lows Hall, and other public improvements. He is a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F. Politically he casts his influence and support with the Democratic party.

In 1879 Mr. Boyd was united in marriage

with Miss Margaret Bnrman, a native of Mary- land. They have no children.

JON. BYRON WATERS .-- Not a few of the persons who have so stamped their individuality upon their age and shaped the great events of their time that their names are inseparably interwoven in history, and whose lives and deeds stand out as milestones making the march of the world's progress, are self-made mnen. These characters, by their inherent strength, indomitable will, resistless energy and persistent industry, surmount obstacles and overcome opposition that would dishearten and crush lesser spirits and rise to the summit of human attainment. In this struggling with adversity are developed a power of mind and fertility of resource which inake them intellect- ual athletes in the arena of personal endeavor and enable them to outstrip their fellows reared amid more favorable surroundings. To this class belongs the subject of this memoir.

He was born at Canton, Cherokee County, Georgia, in June, 1849; and in his veins is mingled the best blood of the empire States of the North and the South, his father having been a native of New York and his mother of Geor- gia. While yet in his 'teens young Waters ex- perienced the horrors incident to the most gigan- tic civil war of modern times, and felt the devas- tating effects of Sherman's victorious invading armny on his memorable march to the sea. In 1867 Mr Waters came to California and lived for a time with his uncle, the late James Waters, Sr., on his ranch in Old San Bernardino. Decid- ing to enter the legal profession, he commenced the study of law in April, 1869, in the office of Judge II. C. Rolfe, and subsequently continued his studies with Judge H. M. Willis. He rapid- ly acquired legal knowledge, and was admitted to practice in the courts of California in Jan- uary, 1871, and so thorough had been his prep- aration that he at once took a high rank in his profession, which position he has maintained

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

with increasing honors and distinction as the years pass. The distinctive features of Mr. Waters' professional character which have won for him enviable success and placed him in the front ranks as a member of the Pacific coast bar, are his peculiar faculty to perceive at a glance and grasp those cardinal points and con- trolling elements in a legal problem upon which depends the issue in controversy; the thorough mastery of his case in all its details before en- tering the court-room ; his sonnd legal judgment; his habit of sharply contesting every legal point, for he is a forensic fighter; and his conscientious devotion to the interests of his client. Though not a great orator in the popular sense, he is a fluent, lucid and forcible speaker, carrying con- viction by the clear-cut logic of his arguments. As a counselor he has few equals and no supe- riors. Mr. Waters is an inveterate worker, performing more labor at the desk and in the conrt-room than most mnen could execute or endure. His practice is one of the largest and most Incrative in the State.

Though not an aspirant for political honors, his superior ability received early recognition in San Bernardino County by his election to the General Assembly in 1877, where from the opening of the session he was the recognized leader of the Democratic side of the House, and before its close stood at the head of that legisla- tive body. The State reputation, which he there gained for talent and unquestioned official integ- rity, made him the popular candidate for dele- gate at large to the Constitutional Convention, to which he was chosen the year following, re- ceiving the largest vote of all. Thongh one of the youngest members of that body of Califor- nia's most eminent men, Mr. Waters thorough knowledge of constitutional law, his exceptional powers as a debater and his intuitive forecast of the future growth and requirements of this great commonwealth, have given him a commanding position in the convention. His strenuous ad- herence to and advocacy of his opinions tempor- arily cost him some of his popularity, but time and the subsequent workings of the constitu-

tional provisions which he sternly opposed have demonstrated that he was right. In 1881 Mr. Waters organized the Farmers' Exchange Bank of San Bernardino, now one of the leading finan- cial institutions of Southern California, and was for several years its president, managed its affairs with the same marked success that has characterized his career as a lawyer. Retiring from the bank to resmine his profession, his legal business has been steadily on the increase, both in volume and importance, until he is one of the hardest-worked men in the California bar. In 1886 the Democratic party selected him as their candidate of the State ticket for Supreme Judge, for which office he was beaten by a small ına- jority. Mr. Waters' scrupulons honesty in all relations in life and his professional courtesy have won for him the highest respect and esteein of the people of the State and his brethren of the bar. Although one of the ablest and most successful men of his profession, he is modest and unpretentious in manner, entirely free from ostentation, candid, practical, self-poised and of strong individuality; a man who possesses the conrage of his convictions and defends his opin- ions fearlessly; he is a stern and persistent opponent, but a kind and magnanimous con- qneror and a true and constant friend.

In 1873 Mr. Waters was married to Miss Louisa Brown, a native of San Bernardino, California, and a most estimable lady. They have a bright and interesting family, who share with then their elegant home two miles south of the city of San Bernardino.

E. BUTTON, a rancher near San Ber- nardino, was born in Onondaga County, P New York, and moved to Ohio when he was twenty-three years old and engaged in farming. There, in 1834, he was married to Miss Mary Bittles, also from York State, the daughter of Thomas and Ann (Spence) Bittles, both na- tives of Ireland. They had six children, and moved to Geanga County, Ohio, when Mary

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

was seventeen years of age, where he engaged in farming until his death, which occurred in 1889. Mr. Button lived two years at Salt Lake, where he stopped on his way to the Golden State. He left Salt Lake in March, 1850, and arrived here in June of the same year. When he first came he purchased fitty acres of land and some city lots. He sold out after four years and subsequently purchased fifteen acres where he now resides, three miles southeast of San Bernardino. He has had ten children, viz .: James, who died at the age of twenty-three; Jetsan, now fifty-two years of age, and married to Ellen Taylor; Louisa, died at the age of twenty-five, the wife of Reuben Anderson; Samuel, died young; Charles, who now lives with his parents and has charge of the ranch; the rest of the children died in infancy. Mr. Button is a Mason, and belongs to the Demo- cratic party. He and his faithful wife are now among the oldest people in the county.

AMES H. ROE, a member of the firm of Holmes, Roe & Pierson, the publishers of the Riverside Daily Press and Weekly Horticulturist, is classed among the pioneers of Riverside, and for the sixteen years preced- ing this writing has been prominently connected with the interests and industries of the colony. The brief facts gathered relating to his life are of interest: He was born in Birmingham, England, in 1843, his parents being the Rev. Charles Hill, a native of the north of Ireland, and Mary (Steadman) Roe, a native of England. His father emigrated with his family to the United States in 1851, and located in Boone County, Illinois, where he was engaged in his ministerial duties until the breaking out of the civil war, when he entered the United States service as a chaplain, and later was the superin- tendent of the Freedmen's Aid Commission, having jurisdiction of the affairs of that associ- ation in the southwest. He was a sincere Christian, a philanthropist and able orator, and

visited England delivering lectures, and obtain- ing aid for the suffering freedmen of the Sonth.

Mr. Roe was reared and schooled in Boone County until 1859, when he entered the Uni- versity of Chicago and was diligently pursuing his course of study in that institution when the breaking out of the war induced him to abandon his college studies and tender his aid. In 1862 he accompanied his father, who was chaplain of the Fifty-sixth Regiment Illinois Infantry, to the field, and participated in the campaign of the Shenandoah valley under Geu- eral Banks, and later was at the siege and sur- render of Harper's Ferry. This closed his military career until 1864. In this year he was commissioned as a lieutenant in Company D, One Hundred and Thirty-fourth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, and served with his com- mand in Kentucky and Missouri. At the ex- piration of his term of service he was honorably discharged. He then re-entered the Chicago University and completed his college studies, graduating in 1865. He sought employment and accepted a position as clerk in a drug store in that city, and the next year-1866-estab- lished a drug store in Marshalltown, Iowa, under the firin name of Mabie & Roe, which he con- ducted until 1868, when he moved to Belle Plain, Iowa, and engaged in the drug business under the firm name of Roe & Co. In 1873 he decided to try life in Southern California, and located in Riverside, where he purchased a twenty-acre tract of land on the corner of Cen- tral and Riverside avenues, and established himself as a horticulturist, planting oranges, grapes and a large variety of deciduous fruits. Although successful in horticultural pursuits he sought other avenues in which to employ his talents, and in 1874 he engaged in teaching in the public schools of Riverside, and the next year taught the old Spanishtown school in the Trujillo school district. In 1876 he decided to engage in his old business, and he established a drug store in Riverside, the pioneer drug store of the colony, and successfully conducted the same for the next ten years, during which time

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

he also engaged in newspaper enterprises, and in 1878 also published the Riverside Weekly Press, which paper he afterward sold to L. M. Holt in 1880. Early in 1886 he sold his drug store, the well-known City Pharmacy, to J. C. Hardman, and the same year bought the Valley Echo, and conducted it as editor until 1887, when the paper was consolidated with the Press and Horticulturist, and the firm of Holmes, Roe & Pierson was formed. For the year pre- ceding that consolidation the Echo had been issued by Roe & Pierson.

Mr. Roe is city editor of the Daily Press and of the Weekly Horticulturist, a history of which papers will be found elsewhere in this volume. He is an educated gentleman and an able writer, with sound practical knowledge of life, trained business principles, and is success- ful in his newspaper enterprises, as in other industries. He has ever taken the greatest interest in the schools and churches; for years he served as school trustee, and in 1884 was the clerk of the board. He is a member of the Baptist Church, and has for many years been a deacon and the treasurer of the society. Polit- ically he is a straight Republican, but never an aspirant for political honors.

Mr. Roe was married in 1870 at Marshall- town to Miss Vina Price, a native of Illinois, danghter of the well-known pioncer, Owen Price, of Iowa. They have had two children: Robert P. and Mary Edna.

AVID (). WILDER, proprietor of the Pio- neer Meat Market, the largest and best ap- pointed market in the city of Riverside. The liberal patronage and support his enter- prise receives from the community, is well merited, for he is a thorough master of his business, and prompt in meeting the demands of his customers. Mr. Wilder is one of the earlier settlers of Riverside, who came to Cali- fornia in 1874, and after a year spent in Bakers- field established himself in Riverside. Upon

his arrival he purchased land and engaged in horticultural pursuits, and also established a bee ranch at Temescal, which he conducted for a year or two. He was also for some years in the employ of the Riverside Land and Irrigation Company, in constructing ditelies and opening avennes upon their land. In 1879 he engaged in work for Thomas Stone, in the Pioneer Meat Market. Ile was employed by Mr. Stone until 1883: during that time he mastered the details of the business, and in the latter year became, by purchase, the proprietor of the market, which he has since conducted. Mr. Wilder in his hertienltural pursuits improved a ten-acre lot about three miles south of Riverside, by plant- ing it with raisin grape-vines, which he sold in 1888 to C. T. Rouse. He was also interested in city property, and was formerly the owner of the lot upon which the Castleman block now stands, and lias now a desirable residence prop- erty on Seventh, between Orange and Lemon streets.

Mr. Wilder was born in Winnebago County, Illinois, in 1852. His father, Chauncey Wilder, was a native of Vermont, and an early settler in Illinois, where he engaged in farming; his mother, Mary E. (Hurlbert) Wilder, was born in New York. Mr. Wilder was reared on his father's farm until fourteen years of age. The death of both his parents in 1866 left him an orphan, and dependent upon his own exertions for support, which he obtained by farın labor- He remained in his native county until 1874, and then struck ont for the Golden State, and located in Bakersfield, and a year later came to River- side. During his years of residence in the colony, he has thoroughly identified himself with the interests of Riverside and her people. He has grown with the city and colony, in- creased in worldly goods, and has proven a desirable acquisition to the community. He is a member of Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112, Knights of Pythias, and the Uniform Bank of the same, also a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F.

Mr. Wilder was united in marriage witlı

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Miss Belle Robb, a native of California. Her father, Harvey Robb, came to the State in 1852. From this marriage there are two children, Chauncey H. and Lois Isabelle.

H. SINCLAIR, Redlands, was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1858. He at- tended the public schools of that city, and afterward went to Cornell University, and was a member of the class of 1880. Subsequent to this he practiced law in New York city for two years. Then he engaged in the shipping busi- ness for awhile. His health failing he came to California, and has since given his attention to his fine orange orchard in Lugonia. He is a member of the city council of Redlands, and was a member of the first board. He is also a member of the executive committee of the Board of Trade. He is secretary of the Lugonia Water Company, also of the Sunnyside Ditch Company .. He is secretary and director of the Redlands Fruit Growers' Association. In his early life he followed the sca for three years, from the age of fifteen to eighteen years, and was made second mate. In 1882 he was mar- ried to Agnes Rowley, of New York city. Mr. Sinclair has the largest and oldest orange orchard in the valley, and is still enlarging its borders.

ERRY D. COVER is one of Riverside's early settlers, and has been associated with her various industries for the past fifteen years. He is a native of Richland County, Olio, dating his birth in 1843. His parents were Daniel Cover, a native of Frederick County, Maryland, and Lydia Cover, nee Stevenson. Mr. Cover was reared to agricultural pursuits on his father's farm until 1862. He then volunteered in the service of his country and en listed as a private soldier in Company D, Eighty- seventh Ohio Volunteers. His regiment was sent East, and after some time in camp at Balti-

more, was placed on duty at Harper's Ferry. During Lee's invasion of Maryland, in 1862, he was on duty at various forts on the Potomac river. At the surrender of the Union forces at Harper's Ferry, his regiment was so unfortunate as to be included in the surrendered troops. He was then paroled, and in October, 1862, his term of service having expired, was discharged the service. The next year he decided to seek the Pacific coast, and he came overland with a drove of horses belonging to Samnel Crinc. Upon his arrival in California he located in San Fran- cisco, where he stopped for nearly a year. He then went to the mining districts of Nevada and Montana, and was for about four years engaged in mining and other enterprises. In Montana, he was with his brother, Thomas W. Cover, at Alder's Gulch. He was one of the pioneers of Bozeman, and was engaged in building the first house ever erected at that place. In 1868 Mr. Cover settled at Fort Scott, Kansas, and for the next four years he was engaged in mer- cantile pursuits. In 1872 he established him- self in Chicago, and was there engaged in the grocery business until 1874. At that time the health of his wife became so impaired that a complete change of climate was necessary, and he decided to make his home in Southern Cali- fornia, and in the spring of that year he came to Riverside. Upon his arrival here he pur- chased a twenty acre tract of wild, uncultivated land on Jnrupa avenne, two miles south of Riverside and entered into horticultural pur- snits Mr. Cover was a successful horticultur- ist and built up the orange groves upon his land. In 1882 he sold ten acres of his tract, and in 1886 sold the balance and established his residence on the corner of Orange and Eighth streets. In 1885 he entered into the drug busi- ness on Main street in partnership with J. D. Sebrell, under the name of Sebrell & Cover. He was in that business until April, 1889, when Mr. Sebrell purchased his interest. He was also engaged in real-estate dealing and other enterprises. He was one of the incorporators and the president of the Eighth Street Improve-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

ment Company, and was at the head of that company during the time the magnificent Ar- lington Hotel, one of the company's improve- ments, was erected. He was a member of the well-known firm of Stewart, Chamberlain & Cover, and was an incorporator and president of the Mound City Land and Water Company. This company purchased 500 acres of land and founded Mound City, perfecting a fine irriga- tion system by piping water from Bear valley, built a $30,000 hotel, etc. Mr. Cover is quite largely interested in improving lands, planting orange groves, etc., at Mound City. He has a firm faith in the future wealth of the city of his creation. He is also the owner of valuable business property in Riverside, and never fails in his support of Riverside enterprises. His support of churches and schools is well-known. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and was for many years a school trustee of the Ar- lington district. In politics he is a Republican, and has been called upon many times to serve as a delegate in county conventions. Of the fraternal societies, he is a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. (). F. Mr. Cover has been twice married: His first marriage was in 1869, when he wedded Miss Mary E. Fowler, a native of Indiana, the daughter of Colonel A. Fowler, a well-known citizen of that State, and a veteran of the Mexican and civil wars. She died in 1877. In 1882 he married Miss Julia E. Fowler, a sister of his deceased wife. Mr. Cover is the father of two children, viz .: Charles A. and Grace E.

ARVEY HEWITT, residing three miles northwest of Redlands, was born in Cleve- land, Ohio, in 1859. His father, Isaac L. Hewitt, was a native of New York, and for fifteen years was senior member of the firm of Hewitt & Schofield, petroleum commission. At one time he owned a line of steamers on Lake Erie. He is now retired from active life. He had five children, the subject of our sketch

being the fourth. He was educated at the Poly- technic Institute at Brooklyn, New York. He was connected with the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad, on the engineer corps, for two years. He came to Lugonia in 1881 and purchased 240 acres of land, 100 of which he now has under cultivation. At present he is deputy surveyor of San Bernardino County.

- ALTER FREMONT GROW, one of the young and enterprising horticult- urists of San Bernardino County, living on Base Line, six miles east of the city, was born in Maine, July 19, 1856, the son of Lo- renzo and Harriet (Currier) Grow. His father was born in Hartland, Windsor County, Ver- mont, March 11, 1806. His parents were Sam- uel and Jerusha (Stowell) Grow; the former was a native of Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire, and the latter of Pomfret, Connecticut. Their ancestors were owners of large tracts of land and were of English origin. Lorenzo Grow was the third of a family of seven children. He was educated at the common schools of Vermont and Maine. While a boy he worked in a saw-mill at Queechy Falls, Vermont, and later went to Penobscot County, Maine, where he engaged in the lumber business, at which he continued eight years. Then he went to farın- ing and sheep-raising in Kennebec County, at which he continued for fifteen years. In 1865 he moved to Monroe County, Iowa, and bought a quarter section of land in Lincoln Township, also town property in Onawa City, which he still owns. Mr. Grow farmed in Iowa until 1883 when he left the farm in charge of his son, Wallace D. Grow, and came to California to spend the evening of his life with the wife of his youth.

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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