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 97

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 97
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 97
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 97
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 97

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).

that year he came to Riverside, and purchased a twenty-acre tract of land on the north side of Bandini avenue, about one-half mile west of Brockton avenue. He spent two years in River- side, clearing and improving his tract, and then returned to Connecticut, where lie was engaged in business pursuits until 1880. In that year he established his permanent residence upon his land, and has since devoted himself to horticul- ture. Mr. Moore has a rich and prospective tract, and has each year advanced his improve- ments until at this date he has one of the rep- resentative groves of the colony. Ten acres are devoted to oranges, eight acres are in bud- ded fruit, and two acres in seedlings. He has also a fine vineyard of three acres in extent, which yearly produces a large crop of raisin grapes. A noticeable production upon his farm are his apricots, of which he has 160 trees in good bearing, which in the years of 1888 and 1889 gave an average yield of $400 per acre. He has a large and choice variety of deciduous fruits and berries for table use. Everything about Mr. Moore's groves and vineyards be- speak the thorough horticulturist, and he is justly entitled to the magnificent return he se- cnres. Mr. Moore is a good neighbor, an ex- cellent citizen, and a credit to any community. For years he has been a constant member of the Methodist church, and a trustee of the church in Riverside. He is a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. In politics he is a life-long Republican.

In 1861 Mr. Moore wedded Miss Jennie R. Ridley, a native of Connecticut. No children have blessed this union.

ENJAMIN H. MILLIKEN, senior mem- member of the firm of Milliken & Jaques, proprietors of the Riverside Paint Store, one of the leading business houses in the city. The subject of this sketch was born in McCracken County, Kentucky, in 1847. His father, Judge John Milliken, was a native of North Carolina,

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who came to Kentucky in his youth, and was reared in that State. He there married Miss Harriet L. Hord. He was a lawyer by profes- sion, and prominent in political and judicial circles. He lost his life in the cause of the South, meeting his death in 1861, while serving as a quartermaster in the Confederate army.

Mr. Milliken was reared and schooled in his native place, and, like his father, was loyal to the sunny South and her cause. At the commence ment of the war his youth prompted his enlisting in her armies, but it did not deter him from devoting himself to the service of the Con federacy as a volunteer aid and scont. Upon one of his visits to Paducah he was captured by the Federal troops, tried as a spy and condemned to be shot. The defective evidence upon which he was condemned and his youth enlisted the justice and sympathy of General Halleck, and lie set aside the sentence and ordered his release from confinement. Mr. Milliken then rejoined the Confederate army and participated in the battle of Shiloh and other engagements, being employed in the army operations on the Missis- sippi and Tennessee rivers. At the close of the war he accepted the position and returned to Paducah, and there entered into mercantile pursuits, and later into manufacturing enter- prises, establishing flour-mills, etc. He was successful in his undertaking and was actively engaged in business in that place for some twenty years. In 1886 he decided to seek a home on the Pacific coast, and in June of that year located in Riverside, first entering into horticultural pursuits upon a twenty-acre tract west of the city, planting budded orange trees and lemons. He also invested in residence and business property in the city. In January, 1887, in connection with George H. Jaques, he es- tablished himself in mercantile life, and opened the Riverside Paint Store on Eighth street, near the corner of Orange street, and has since con- ducted the enterprise. Mr. Milliken is a thor- ough business man, prompt and straight in his dealings, and has secured a liberal patronage from the community. Politically he is a Demo-

crat, and a strong supporter of his party. He is a member of the executive committee of the Democratic county central committee, and has taken a leading part in the conventions and councils of the party.

In 1870 Mr. Milliken married Miss Mary B. Wells, a native of Kentucky. She is the daugh- ter of William and Mary (Porter) Wells. From this marriage there are five children living, viz .: Louis R., Mary L., Carrie G., William Horace and Lillian Hord.

ENTON M. SLAUGHTER is one of the well known and prominent men of San Bernardino County. A brief review of his life is one of interest in the annals of Southern California. Mr. Slanghter was born Jannary 10, 1826, a descendant from an old colonial family of Virginia, who emigrated from Eng- land in 1616. His father, Robin Lewis Slauglı- ter, was born in Culpeper County, Virginia, April 25, 1779, the son of Robin and Ann Slaughter. October 25, 1803, he married Miss Elizabeth Gillem, a native of Rockbridge County, Virginia. He died in 1834, leaving a family of eleven children for his widow to care for. In 1835, when the subject of this sketch was nine years old, his mother moved the family to Mis- souri and located in Callaway County, and in 1842 settled in St. Louis. Previous to this date Mr. Slaughter had spent his time in agricult- ural pursuits, receiving at the same time such schooling as was afforded by the common schools.

Upon the arrival of the family in St. Louis, he entered the shops of McMurray & Dorman, to learn the trade of mechanical engineer, and after serving an apprenticeship was employed as an engineer upon river steamers between St. Louis and New Orleans. Upon the first call for volunteers for the Mexican war in 1846, Mr. Slaughter abandoned his work and enlisted for a year's service in Company B, Second Reg- iment Missouri Mounted Volunteers, Captain John C. Dent commanding the company, and

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Colonel Sterling Price commanding the regi- ment. He served his full terin of enlistment and was discharged at Santa Fé, New Mexico, in 1847. During his wild and arduous service his command was engaged principally in sup- pressing the Indian outbreaks in New Mexico. He participated in the battles of Taos and the Canadian Fork of the Red River with the Navajo Indians. In the latter engagement he was taken prisoner and held by his captors for twenty-two days. The Indians had by that time somewhat relaxed their watchfulness, and one dark night Mr. Slaughter secured a mule and fled. His wild ride did not terminate until he reached Albuquerque, 125 miles from his place of es- cape. In 1847, shortly before his discharge, he was wounded in a skirmish with the Indians at Sevedas Ranch in the valley of the Rio Grande.

At the termination of his military service, Mr. Slaughter returned to St. Louis and there resumed his calling as an engineer until 1849. He then came overland to California and spent a year in El Dorado County in mining, return- ing by the Panama route and New Orleans to St. Louis. In the spring of 1851 Mr. Slaugh- ter started upon his second overland trip to California, and again located in El Dorado County. While there he was the engineer of the first steam saw-mill ever erected in the Sierra Ne- vada mountains. He also engaged in mining. In March, 1853, he went to Mariposa County, and in the fall of that year entered the employ of General Beal, Superintendent of Indian Affairs of California, and was located at the San Joaquin River Reservation, and also at the Tejon Reser- vation in Los Angeles County. Not snited with this ocenpation, in 1854 he came to Los Angeles and worked at his trade, and soon after engaged in wool-growing on the Puente Ranch in the San Gabriel valley, with John Rowland. Mr. Slaughter was for many years largely engaged in the wool and sheep business in Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties, and was one of the first to introduce the thoroughbred Spanish and French Merino stock that tended so much toward building up that industry in Southern

California. He also, in 1854, established the first blacksmith shop ever opened in San Gabriel, and the same was conducted by him for many years. Mr. Slaughter was successful in his en- terprises, and in 1868 he purchased the Buena Vista, of Raymondo Yorba Ranch, of Rincon, San Bernardino County, and transferred his herds to these fine grazing lands. In 1882 he sold off his sheep and closed ont his stock busi- ness and rented most of his lands. Three years later he sold off his ranch lands, reserving the old homestead place and 1,000 acres of land. This fine ranch is located in the Chino School District, four miles south of Chino, and consti- tutes one of the model farms of the county.

Mr. Slaughter is engaged in general farming in its broadest sense. He is a thorough agri- culturist, horticulturist and stock-grower, and aims for the highest in each branch. The stock of the ranch is of the best. He raises no other. His cattle, comprising about fifty head, are thoroughbred Durhamn stock, and among the fine horses are to be found the well- known " Joe Hamilton," " Exile," " Bob Mason," " Peri," " Pinole," " Dublin Boy," " Poyle," " Fandan- go," and many others. He is the pioneer in the thoroughbred stock business in San Ber- nardino County. Upon his ranch is a vineyard of forty acres in extent, containing the most ap- proved varieties of wine grapes. The products of his vineyards are cared for by himself. In 1887 he built a winery with a capacity of over 20,000 gallons, and manufactures wine with a snecess that is well attested by the fact that his wines find a ready market at remunerative prices. His hay and grain-raising is chiefly confined to such as is needed for home consump- tion. Aside from his general farming and stock business, Mr. Slaughter lias been connected with other important interests in the county. He is a public-spirited and progressive man, taking a great interest, and often a lead, in en- terprises that will build up Southern California. In politics he is a stanch Democrat, and though of Southern birth and family he was a strong Union man and supporter of the Government

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

during the war of the Rebellion. He is promi- nent in the councils of his party, and has for years been chosen as a delegate to county and State conventions. In 1870 he was elected member of the Assembly from San Bernardino County, and served in the State Legislature of 1871-'72 with credit and distinction to both himself and his constituents. In 1885 Mr. Slaughter was appointed by Governor Stonenian as Supervisor of District No. 2, San Bernardino County, vice E. H. Gates, deceased. So well did he meet the requirements of the office that his party in 1886 placed him in nomination to succeed himself. His district and county is strongly Republican, but party feeling weighed as nothing against his popularity and sterling qualities, and he was elected by a good round majority. In 1873 he was appointed Postmaster uf Rincon, and held the office until he resigned. A strong supporter of schools, he has for years been a school trustee of his district. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and affiliated with the lodge at San Bernardino; he is also a member of California Pioneers and Veterans of the Mexican war.

In December, 1860, Mr. Slaughter was mar- ried to Miss Dolores Alvarado, a daughter of Francisco and Juana Maria (Abila) de Alvarado, of San Gabriel, and they have had nine children, viz .: Senovia, now Mrs. Louis Meredith, of Po- mona; Florisa, Julia, Robert F., Joseph J., Do- · lores B., Fenton, Lorinda and Floren P.

HOMAS P. DRINKWATER .- There is probably no section of Southern Califor- nia that can produce such thorough horti- eulturists as the Riverside colony, and it is noticeable that some of the most proficient of those are men who have spent their previous lives in the counting house or factories of the East; men who have had no previous opportun- ity of studying the marvels to be found in nature's horticultural productions; but it is equally noticeable that such mnen have been

ranked to pursuits that have called for skilled labor or inental work. Some of the finest work in horticulture of this date is being done by that class of men. The subject of this sketch is a fair example of that class, who came to Riverside in 1879, and first located on Ban- d'ni avenue and purchased seven and one-half acres of land, which he improved and planted in orange trees. This place he sold in 1882, to M. S. Rowell; he then purchased from B. W. Handy, nine acres on Cypress avenne, and later, the ten acres adjoining this on the south. There were but inferior improvements on these places, but Mr. Drinkwater raised nursery stock for new trees, budded the old trees, fertilized the soil, thoroughly cultivated and irrigated, and in a few years produced some of the finest groves in this section. In 1886 he sold the south ten acres to H. Jaracki. It is now owned by D. P. Chapman and J. S. Koethen. In 1887 he sold the balance of his land, after which he engaged in horticultural pursuits for others, in the plant- ing, care, etc., of their orange groves. His skill and well-known ability readily found employ- ment, and he often has as much as 200 acres of orange groves under his care. In March, 1889, he purchased thirty-one acres of land on Bandini avenue, one-half mile west of Brock- ton avenue; this purchase was from C. Flentje. There are six acres of this in oranges, three acres in grapes, and the balance in alfalfa; abont twenty-five acres is bottom land, and has a water-right from Spring brook; the upland is watered from the Riverside water system.

Mr. Drinkwater was born in Penobscot Coun- ty, Maine, in 1851. His father, Isaac Drinkwa- ter, is a native of Massachusetss, and is a veteran of the war of the Rebellion. Mr. Drinkwater's mother, Betsey Waterman, is a native of Plyın- onth, Massachusetts. When seven years of age his parents moved to Brockton, Massachu- setts, and there he received his schooling, and also learned the trade of shoemaker from his father. Ile learned the mason and bricklayer's trade, at which he worked for about three years. Mr. Drinkwater was engaged in the mannfacture

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of boots and shoes in the factories of Brockton, and also established a shop in that city, which he conducted until his emigration to California. He married Miss Mary F. Brickford, a native of Massachusetts. There are three children from this marriage, all born in Riverside, whose names are: Mary S., Alfred T. and George H. Mr. Drinkwater is a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., of Riverside, and a supporter of the Universalist Church. In political matters he is a stanch Republican.

OBERT S. CROMBIE, the senior member of the well-known firm of Crombie & Crombie, wholesale and retail grocers, of Riverside, came here in 1886, and in October of that year entered into mercantile pursnits, estab- lishing his present business under the firm name of Newberry & Crombie, with Mr. J. R. New- berry as his partner. This firm continued until March, 1888, when his brother, Mr. G. M. Crombie, bought the interest of Mr. Newberry, and the firm of Crombie & Crombie was forined. The business was enlarged and extended and a branch house established by the firmn in Arling- ton. Mr. Crombie is at the head of one of the most substantial business honses in Riverside, which will compare favorably with any business enterprise of its character in the county. His success is not the result of chance or speenla- tion, but has been secured by a strict attention to the wants of the community and a prompt supplying of them with first-class goods at rea- sonable prices.

The subject of this sketch was born in Rich- mond, province of Quebec, Canada, in 1860, the son of William and Mary J. (Montgomery) Crombie. His father was a native of Scotland, his mother of Ireland. Mr. Crombie was reared upon his father's farm, but given the ben- efit of a good education, graduating from the St. Francis College of Richmond in 1879. In that year he came to the United States and was first located in Dakota, where he was for a

year or more employed in Government surveys, after which he engaged in the lu nber business at Larimore, Dakota, until 1883. He then went to Mexico, and was prospecting and mining, and later entered the employ of the Mexican Na- tional Railroad Company. In 1886 he returned to his old home, and after a brief stay returned to the Pacific coast and located in Riverside and established himself in his present business.

Mr. Crombie's interests are fully identified with Riverside and her people, and he is a sup- porter of her enterprises. He is the owner of his residence on the east side of Orange street, between Thirteenth and Fourteenth streets, and also residence and business lots and store at Arlington. He is a member of the Episcopal Church, and united with the society at River- side. Politically he is a Republican. Mr. . Crombie married in 1888, wedding Miss Ella E. Guilder, a native of Wisconsin.

OHN B. TAYS is one of the early set- tlers and enterprising and progressive cit- izens of Ontario. He is the owner of forty acres of land in that colony and has for years been building up the horticultural in- dustries of his section. His place is located on the south side of Thirteenth street, east of Euclid avenne. Mr. Tays purchased this land in 1883 and immediately commenced its im- . provement, planting trees and vines. He is justly ranked among the pioneer horticultur- ists of Ontario, and has produced one of the representative places of his section. He now has twenty acres in citrus fruits, of which fifteen acres are in oranges of the Washington Navel and. Mediterranean Sweet varieties; five acres are in lemons. His fine vineyards con- tain twenty acres, -- fourteen acres being devot- ed to wine grapes of the Zinfandel, Berger and Riesling varieties, and six acres to Mus- cat raisin grapes. There are also 400 olive trees upon his land, three years old. The products of his vineyards are cared for upon

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

the ranch. He dries, packs and ships his raisins, and to dispose of his wine grapes has built a well-ordered and complete winery for distilling the brandies necessary to fortify his sweet wines. He is successful in this indus- try and his products find a ready sale at good prices. A neat and comfortable cottage resi dence, suitable outbuildings, etc., attest the well-ordered home. Mr. Tays has also been identified with building up the town of On- tario. Among his improvements in that respect was the improvements on the villa lot on the corner of D and Euclid avenues, where he lived for the first three years of his residence in On- tario colony. He has ever been a public- spirited citizen and a strong supporter of schools and churches, notably so in donating the lot upon which stands the Methodist church. No enterprise is started in the colony that has the merit of advancing the interests of the com- munity that does not find a supporter in Mr. Tays. The subject of this sketch is a native of Nova Scotia, dating his birth in 1842. He was reared and schooled in his native place until twenty years old, and then started in life by crossing the continent to British Columbia, where he engaged in mining in the Cariboo and Koolama districts until 1869. He then came to the United States and spent the next two years in the mining districts of Montana, after which, in 1872, he went to Texas and lo- cated at El Paso, where he spent several years as a miner, stock-grower, hotel-keeper, etc. The years of 1881 and 1882 he passed in Mexico, engaged in mercantile pursuits and packing sup- plies. His enterprises there proved successful and in 1883 he concluded to seek a more desir- able occupation and place of residence, and therefore chose the Ontario colony. In 1878 Mr. Tays married Mrs. Amelia St. Vrain, a native of Illinois. No children have blessed this union, but Mr. and Mrs Tays are rearing two children,-Amelia and Mary Roman,-the daughters of a brother of Mrs. Tays. Most people, in visiting Ontario, are struck with the so-called gravity car upon the Euclid avenne

line, whereby the innles or horses are trans- ported from the heights to the lower terminus of the road. This effective and labor saving ar- rangement is the invention of Mr. Tays.

UTHER C. TIBBETS was born in South Berwick, York County, Maine, June 26, 1820. His father, James Tibbets, was a native of the same State and a farmer by occn- pation. The subject of this sketch was educated in the public schools and reared a farmer until seventeen years of age. He then located in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, first engaging as a clerk in mercantile honses, and later estab- lished a general merchandise store at Great Falls, New Hampshire, which enterprise he conducted until 1844, when he sold ont the es- tablishment to his brother. It is worthy of mention that the mercantile house he estab- lished nearly half a century ago is still in existence, conducted by his brother and descend- ants, under the firm name of E. A. Tibbets & Son. Mr. Tibbets continued his mercantile pursuits, establishing himself in Portsmonth, and later transferring the scene of his operations to Bos- ton, Massachusetts, where he opened a whole- sale grocery business. He remained there un- til 1852, and then seeking a broader field of operations located in New York. The next ten years were spent in a large wholesale grocery business. In 1862 he entered into produce and grain dealing, and became one of the heaviest grain operators in the city. At that time the war was in active prosecution; bread-stuffs and cereals were being "cornered," and the Govern- ment as well as other consumers was a special inark for the greed of the speculators. Mr. Tibbets declined to enter into "rings," and especially did he decline to combine against his country in meeting the provision supply for her immense armies. This excited the enmity of his rivals, and through the manipulations of the Produce Exchange in its rulings upon his contracts, etc., he lost a fortune and became se-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

riously crippled financially. In 1866 he left New York city and took up his residence in Glens Falls, New York, and the next year moved to Virginia and located at Fredericks- burg. There he entered into the general mer- chandise business. The late war had terribly embittered the Southern people against the Northern men, and Mr. Tibbets became a mark for their persecutions. His strong Union sen- timents were never hidden, nor did he stek to palliate or excuse any action of the Government in its prosecution of the war. fle was not that sort of a man. The consequence was that he was compelled to leave that country in order to save his life. In doing this he sacrificed his all. He then went to Washington, thinking the strong arm of the general Governinent would extend its protection and something miglit be saved from the wreck of his business.

His call was in vain, and in 1870 he gathered his scanty means together and sought a home on the Pacific coast. Upon reaching California he located in Riverside and established his residence upon sections 31 and 32, and bought a claim for 160 acres on section 34. This tract is now the location of Arlington on Center avenne, west of Magnolia avenne, well known as Tibbet's tract, or Tibbet's station. Later he sold the northern eighty acres and purchased sixty acres on section 32, one and one-fourth miles west of his home place on Magnolia avenue. For many years Mr. Tibbets devoted his land to general farming and stock-raising, engaging in horti- cultural pursuits only to the extent of planting a fine family orchard and vineyard. In alfalfa growing he has led the colony, having each year nearly 100 acres devoted to that product. During the years of 1887 and 1888, the demand for villa and town lots induced Mr. Tibbets to subdivide aud plat his eighty-acre tract. Broad avenues were laid out. Parks reserved, and the land placed on the market. Many of the lots were sold and improvements made, until the depression in the real-estate market caused him to suspend further sale until the demand was inore marked. He has some of the choicest

land, located in one of the most desirable spots in Riverside colony, and the near future is des- tined to see them occupied by beautiful and pleasant homes. Mr. Tibbets has been identi- fied with Riverside from the foundation of the colony in 1870, and has been a supporter of any enterprise that tended to build up his section. The establishment of schools and churches found a liberal contributor in him, as in fact, did any enterprise that would, in his opinion, add to the welfare of the community.

Mr. Tibbets has been twice married. In 1848 he married Miss Johanna Twoinbly, a na- tive of Maine. She died in 1858, leaving four children, but two of whom are now living, viz .: Frank J., a resident of Washington, District of Columbia, and Luther C., who resides in New York city. One of his daughters, Harriet E., married Mr. James B. Summons, a well known pioneer resident of Riverside, and died in 1875. Mr. Tibbets was again married in 1863 to Mrs. Eliza M. Lovell, a native of Ohio. No chil- dren have been born from this marriage.

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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