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 99

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 99
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 99
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 99
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 99

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).

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

Riverside portion of the Southern California exhibit to the Chicago fair in the spring of 1886, and performed a similar service for the county at New York in 1890. Ile has always taken the greatest interest in the growth and prosperity of his chosen city, and has been repeatedly called upon to hold positions of honor and trust. Since 1880 he has been a member of the board of school trustees, and was chair- man of the board for many years. At present he is the efficient clerk of the board. In this connection it is but just to state that to the strong advocacy and untiring efforts of Mr. Holmes more than to any other man in the community, is due the erection of the magnifi- cent high-school building, which, being one of the of the best in the entire State, may well be the boast and pride of Riverside. He has, since 1884, been a member of the board of city trus- tees, and president of the board since 1888. He was one of the founders of the Riverside Library Association, and has been a trustee of the same since its organization, and is now clerk of the board of library trustees. In political matters he is a Republican, and has taken a lead as a worker in the ranks of his party is a member to both State and county conventions. In 1888 he was nominated by his party as their candidate for the Assembly from the Seventy- ninth Assembly District, and was elected by a majority that fully proved his personal popular- ity. In Riverside, where he is best known, his majority was thirty-seven over the majority se- cured by the head of the ticket upon which he was elected. As a legislator Mr. Holmes did not disappoint his constituents. He was a men- ber of several important committees, and de- voted himself earnestly to his work. Among his labors, mention should be made of his intro- duction and management to a successful passage of the act that gives to the State the present admirable county horticultural law. Mr. Holmes is a member of the following societies of River- side: Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F .; Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., and Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. In Septem-

ber, 1887, he became identified with the news- paper interests of San Bernardino County as the editor of the San Bernardino Index, which after a time he relinquished to attend to the care of his maturing orchard.

In the fall of 1888 he again took up news- paper work, and, associated with R. J. Pierson, and J. H. Roe, purchased the two leading dailies and the two principal wecklies of the city, and consolidating them has since published them as the Daily Press and the Weekly Press and Horticulturist.

As the editor in-chief he has placed these journals in the ranks of the leading newspapers of Southern California.

The few facts gathered regarding the life of Mr. Holmes previous to his association with the Riverside colony are of interest. He was born in Plymonth County, Massachusetts, De- cember 8, 1841. His youth, until the age of thirteen years, was spent in the public schools. At that time the death of his father occurred, leaving his mother and five children dependent upon themselves for a living. Mr. Holmes was the eldest of the children. He left his studies and sought work that he might aid his wid- owed mother in the support of the family. This he did by obtaining work in a printing office, and from that day became a man in all buą years. The remaining portion of his boyhood was spent in unceasing labor. He became a thorough and skilled workman in the printer's trade, and followed that occupation until 1862, when he felt it his duty to enlist as a soldier. He entered the United States military service as a private in the Thirty-fifth Regiment of Massa- chusetts Volunteer Infantry. His regiment was attached to General Reno's Brigade, Second Division of the Ninth Army Corps, and took part in the Maryland campaign, participating in the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. In the fall of 1862 Mr. Holmes was compelled to leave the field on account of sickness, brought on by over-exertion, but returned to his com- mand after the battle of Fredericksburg. He served until the fall of 1863, when another

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

hemorrhage of the lungs so incapacitated him that he accepted a discharge from the service. He returned to his home, and, after a year's rest, his health being restored, he again enlisted for the war. Entering the artillery service in the fall of 1864, he was assigned to the Sixth Massachusetts Battery. His strict attention to his duties and soldierly qualities soon gained recognition, and he rose through the successive non-commissioned grades to be First Sergeant of the battery, and after holding that responsi- ble position for some months, was in June, 1865, promoted to a lieutenancy, and discharged as such at the close of the war. After his dis- charge he returned to Massachusetts and was employed as foreman in the office of the Nor- folk Register, at Randolph, which paper he subsequently purchased and conducted as its editor and proprietor until 1869. In that year he returned to Brockton and entered into part- nership with A. T. Jones, in the publication of the Brockton Guzette, in connection with which lie conducted a large job-printing business. Mr.

ness until completely broken in health, which Holmes was successfully engaged in that busi-

compelled him to abandon it and seek rest and a change of climate. In 1875 he came to Cali- fornia and established his residence in River- side. In 1864 Mr. Holmes married Miss Ruth C. Nickerson, of Harwich, Massachusetts. She died in January, 1868, leaving one child, Elmer Elwood, who is now in the United States postal

Holmes' second marriage was in 1871, when he service and a resident of Los Angeles. Mr.

married Miss Alice E. Odell, a native of Ran-

dolph, Massachusetts. From this marriage there are two daughters-Anne Lucia and Alice Bertha, the latter a native of his adopted State.

LFRED PIDDINGTON was born in

the son of George and Elizabeth (Fifield) Warwickshire, England, in 1829. He is

l'iddington, both natives of England. Mr. Pid dington was at a very early age (when twelve

years old) apprenticed to a trade, and was al- most entirely deprived of the advantages of a schooling, but he schooled himself to a certain extent. His early life was one of severe toil and he became a man in thought and action at an age that more favored youths devote to boy- ich occupations. In 1854 he emigrated to Toronto. There he commenced work as a book- binder, a trade he had taken up as an amateur. His strong will and determination to succeed soon enabled him to become a practical work- man, and in 1859 he started a small business of his own as a bookseller and binder. This he gradually increased by his sound business prin- ciples, coupled with his untiring energy, until he gradually rose to be the sole proprietor of one of the largest book establishments in To- ronto. These years of close application to bnsi- ness pursuits had so impaired his health that, in 1883, Mr. Piddington recognized the absolute necessity of suspending his labors and seeking a southern climate. In that year he came to California, visiting many places in search of health. He finally visited Ontario, and so pleased was he with its climate, soil, etc., that he purchased a thirty-acre tract on the corner of Euclid Avenue and Sixth street. In 1884 he commenced improving the lands, planting trees and vines. Some three or four acres he planted in oranges; ten acres in vines, and the remainder in prunes and other deciduous fruits.

Finding the cares attendant upon the proper cultivation of such a place more than he was

willing to devote to horticulture, in 1887 he sold that place, and the same year erected his present comfortable home. This home is upon a comfortable villa tract, corner of Euclid avenue and First street, and is one of the mnost desirable and beautiful residence properties in Ontario. His two-story house is of pleasing architectural design and fitted with the conven-

iencies and luxuries of a modern home. Orna-

mental trees and rich. floral productions add

beanty and comfort to the place, while his grounds of one and one-half acres in extent provide a large variety of citrus and deciduous

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

fruits for family use. He is a believer in On- tario, and has considerable real-estate interests there, besides his home. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity and also of Ontario Lodge, No. 345, I. O. O. F. Mr. Piddington was mar- ried in Toronto, 1858, to Miss Jane Burns, a native of Ireland, but of Scotch descent. She came to Canada in her childhood, in 1840. Her parents were James and Eliza (McAdams) Burns. By this marriage there are the follow- ing children, all residents of Ontario: Eliza J., now Mrs. Oliver Holmes; Alfred A., Martha and Willie W.

APTAIN C. C. MILLER is one of the early settlers of Riverside and has for fif- teen years been identified with its growth and improvement. He is a native of Oneida County, New York, dating his birth in 1824 His parents were Chauncy and Alice (Reney) Miller, both natives of that county. His grand- father, Grant Miller, was a pioneer of Oneida County, settling there in the days of the colo- nies, and built the first house erected in his section. Captain Miller was but four years of age when the death of his father occurred. His mother then married Judge Aaron Burley. The subject of this sketch received the advan- tages of a good education. He was in attend- ance upon the public schools in New York until nearly twenty years of age, and then went to Ohio, joining the family, who had preceded him two years before. There he entered the Ober. lin College, and after two years' study in that institution, entered the Cleveland University and graduated in 1852. He made civil engin- eering a specialty in the college course and started in life in that calling as his profession, devoting himself to railroad construction, and was employed for the next two years on the Illi- nois Central and Atlantic & Ohio railroads, In 1854 he located at Tomah, Wisconsin, in Mon- roe County, and was for the next ten years en- gaged in the construction of inany of the

railroads in that State and in Minnesota, and ranked among the leading engineers in locating and constructing the Milwaukee & St. Paul, and Chicago & Northwestern railroads. He also established himself as a land surveyor. Mr. Miller was one of the early settlers of Monroe County and was prominently identified with the building up and growth of his section. In 1864 he entered the military service of the United States, receiving a commission as Captain in the Forty-ninth Wisconsin Volunteer In- fantry. Ilis regiment was assigned to duty in southwest Missouri, under General Dodge. There Captain Miller's professional knowledge and skill was called into action and he was appointed chief engineer of the district. He served until after the close of the war, being honorably discharged from the service in November, 1865. After his discharge he returned to civil pursuits and engaged in constructing the West Michigan & St. Paul Railroad, as assistant chief engineer, and later was the chief engineer in locating and constructing the Wabasha & Lake Superior Railroad. In 1874 the ill health of his wife inade it necessary that he seek a milder climate, and he brought his family to Southern California. He established his residence in Los Angeles, and in June of that year came to Riverside valley, as the engineer and superin- tendent of the El Sobrante de San Jacinto Ranch, and later was engaged in the construc- tion of the upper canal of the Riverside water system. In October of 1874 he brought his family to Riverside and the next year purchased the block between Main and Orange and Sixth and Seventh streets, and established his home. Captain Miller entered heartily into horticulture and the building up of the town. His beauti- ful grounds and desirable location induced him to open his residence as a hotel, and " Glenwood Cottage " and its genial host soon became noted among the traveling public. He was compelled to enlarge his building to meet the demands of his ever increasing guests. Year after year he added to his cottage and from that sprang the noted Glenwood Hotel, of Riverside, during this

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IIISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

time Captain Miller did not neglect his profes- sional duties as an engineer, but was engaged in many of the large enterprises of Southern Cali- fornia and Arizona, and was the engineer-in- chief in the construction of some of the most noted canals and irrigation systems in the country, among which is the Gage canal of Riverside. He was also interested in real-estate dealings and other interests that have tended to build up the section. In 1881 he retired from the management of the Glenwood, selling the property to his son, Frank A. Miller. There is no man in Riverside better or more favorably known to the general public and to Riverside than Captain Miller; nor is there one who has the respect and esteem of a larger circle of friends and acquaintances. He is prominent in Masonic circles, being a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., Riverside Chapter No. 67, R. A. M. and Riverside Commandery No. 28, Knights Templar. He is also a member and the Post Commander of Riverside Post, No. 118, G. A. R. Politically he is a stanch Republican, and has been a strong supporter of that party ever since its organization in 1856. Captain Miller was married in 1852 to Miss Mary Clark, danghter of Dr. Clark, a prominent physician of Lorain County, Ohio. They have four children living, viz .: Emma, Frank A., Alice and Edward S. Emma is now the wife of Mr. G. O. Newman, a prominent citizen and engineer of Riverside; Frank A. married Miss Belle Hardenberg; Alice is now Mrs. Frank W. Richardson; Edward E. married Miss Hopkins. All the children are residents of Riverside.

HOMAS BENTON HUTCHINGS, re- siding five miles east of San Bernardino, on Base Line, was born in Ray County, Missouri, in 1852. His parents, Hovey and Amanda (McQuiston) Hutchings, had a family of five children, of whom the subject of this sketch is the youngest. His mother died when

he was but six weeks old, and his father married a second time and had six children by his last marriage. He was a farmer, owning several farms, also a dry-goods merchant and owner of a large saw-mill, but lost nearly all of his prop- erty by the late war. He made a trip to Cali- fornia as early as 1849 and mined for two years, and then returned to Missouri. In 1865 he crossed the plains with his family. Thomas Benton Hutchings, then a lad of fourteen, drove an ox team all the way from the Missouri river to California, and though but a boy he paid very close attention to what took place on that mem- orable journey. They crossed the Missouri river at Plattsmonth and traveled on the south side of Platte river until within three miles of Denver. At that time there were a number of forts-one at Fort Laramie, Fort Junction, etc., -and soldiers were stationed at each. They were some 400 miles apart and the Indians were troublesome. The train crossed the Platte river eighty miles north of Denver, and con- tinned the journey through the Black Hills to Utah. There they lay over on the public square for three days. Then being rested they continued south through the Mormon settle- ment and camped out at various times for two or three weeks. They had no serious trouble in camp until they got to Muddy river. At Virgin river they camped ten days to recruit their stock, and then began the journey across the American Desert. They traveled two days and two nights and hauled water a distance of seventy miles. After crossing the desert they hired the Indians to take charge of the stock, which was to be returned next morning at day- light. Early the next morning they started to cross the next descrt. They reached Las Vergas at night and stayed there three days. They then came to Mofano river, then to Cajon Pass, and camped at Cucamonga ranch one day (the last day of September). They reached El Monte, in Los Angeles County, October 2. They had a good deal of sickness on the journey and buried two children on the way. The train consisted of eleven wagons. The father of the subject

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

of this sketch had two ox teams and two horse teams. He was beaten by Indians at Anaheim who mistook him for another man, and he went insane from the effect of his wounds. He died in Napa in 1878.

Our subject came from Los Angeles County in 1888 to San Bernardino, where he bought and took charge of the American Feed and Livery Stables, which occupied his attention for two years. Ile still owns valuable property in San Bernardino, and has recently bought the residence property on Base Line, where he now lives, at a cost of $5,000. IIere he has one-half acre of oranges, one acre of Muscat grapes, three fourthis of an acre of alfalfa and the re- mainder in deciduons fruits.

Mr. Hutchings was married in 1883 to Miss Mary Shay, a native of California, daughter of W. A. Shay, one of the earliest pioneers of California, and has two children: Eliza B. and Clayton W.

LARENCE STEWART, a well-known business man of Riverside, is a native of Rockford, Illinois, dating his birth in 1848. In 1849 his father, John N. Stewart, came to California and engaged in mining. In 1851 he returned East, and the next year brought his family to the State and located in Sacramento for about three years, and then moved to Sono- ma County, where he engaged in farming until he came with his family to San Bernardino in 1865. The subject of this sketch was reared in California and schooled in her public schools. Shortly after his arrival in San Bernardino he went to Arizona and was there employed by Indian Agent George W. Beihy as his deputy on the La Paz Reservation. He spent a year in that territory and then returned to San Ber- nardino and learned the trade of a wagon-maker, after which he spent a winter in Wickenberg, Arizona, and in 1869 established himself on the old Jurupa ranch, about one and one-half miles west of the present site of Riverside. He pur-

chased fifty-five acres of that ranch and en- gaged in agricultural pursuits and stock-growing. Mr. Stewart has a fine orchard of deciduous fruit, forty acres in extent, upon his ranch that in 1888 yielded over 250 tons of green fruit; also a large vineyard of raisin grapes. A large portion of his land is of a character that renders artificial irrigation unnecessary.

For nearly a quarter of a century Mr. Stewart has been a resident of San Bernardino, and has been engaged in many of the enterprises that have built up Riverside and other sections. In 1885 he established his residence in Riverside and entered into real-estate operations under the firm name of Stewart & Kingston. At a later date the firm established themselves in the carriage business. In 1887 Mr. Stewart purchased the interest of his partner and greatly enlarged his operations, establishing a branch house in San Bernardino. He was successful in building up one of the largest business in- dustries in the county, and in September, 1888, sold his San Bernardino establishment to Mont- gomery, Grant & Co., and in November of the same year sold his Riverside works to Thayer & Peters.

He conducted a large business under the firm name of Stewart, Chamberlin & Cover. He was an original incorporator and secretary of the Eighth Street Improvement Company, and was an incorporator and the treasurer of the Mound City Land and Water Company. He is also vice-president of the Stewart Hotel Asso- ciation of San Bernardino, and was the principal promoter of that enterprise. He is also con- nected with banking interests and a stockholder in the Farmers' Exchange Bank of San Ber- nardino.

Mr. Stewart is well-known throughout the country, and his various enterprises have al- ways been characterized by sound business principles and straightforward dealing that have gained for him the confidence and respect of the community. In political affairs he is a sup- porter of the Republican party and an earnest worker, but not an aspirant for political honors.

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

In 1886 he was appointed a notary public, and has held the office since that date. He is a member of the Independent Order of ()dd Fel lows and affiliated with the lodge in Riverside, and Encampment and Canton of San Bernard- ino, and is also a member of Sunnyside Lodge, No. 112, Knights of Pythias, of Riverside. He is a supporter of the religious denominations, and is a member and steward of the Methodist Church.

In 1872 Mr. Stewart was united in marriage with Miss Rachel C. Ables, the daughter of Benjamin and Maria (Pulley) Ables, well-known residents of Riverside. From this marriage there are two children: Mary Estella and IIenry B. Mr. Stewart's parents, Jolın H. and Char- lotte (Tucker) Stewart, were natives of Massa- chusetts. His father was a pioneer of California, well known in San Bernardino County and also in Northern California. He died at San Ber- nardino in May, 1884. Mr. Stewart's mother is now a resident of that city, as is also his brother, Richard Stewart.

LEXANDER MCCRARY was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1825, son of Alex- ander and Mary (Summers) Mccrary. His father was a native of South Carolina and his mother of Kentucky. Mr. MeCrary spent bis youth upon a farm, receiving such an education as the common schools afforded and was early inured to the hard labor of pioneer farming. His natural mechanical tastes and ideas prompted his taking up a trade, and at the age of twenty-one years he started ont in life as a carpenter, and later as a bridge builder and millwright. In 1856 he moved to Iowa and located in Muscatine County, engaging in farming and also as a car- penter and builder. In 1866 he continued his pioneer life by locating in Cherokee County, Kansas, and was engaged in railroad con- struction and various other enterprises until 1874. In that year he continued his westward march and located in Los Angeles County, Cal-

ifornia, where he was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company in bridge building, etc. In August, 1875, he moved to Riverside, and first located on a twenty-acre tract on the north side of Center street one-half mile east of Magnolia avenue, on the Government tract, and commenced horticultural pursnits. At that com- paratively early date in tree planting in the Riv- erside colony, no guide was given as to what would finally result in profit and he, like scores of others, lost both time and labor in planting a large variety of deciduous trees and vines, and in 1882 dng most of them ont and put in citrus fruit trees. Mr. McCrary sold that place in 1886, and moved to a five-acre tract on Cy- press avenue one mile sonth of Riverside, where he built a comfortable cottage residence and es- tablished himself in one of the pleasantest homes in that section. His present lands comprise two and a half acres of oranges, and about the same acreage in raisin grapes, which under his intelli- gent care and cultivation yield him a handsome profit. He is also engaged in contracting, honse moving, etc. Mr. McCrary is a hale and hearty man, fast approaching his " three score and ten " years in age. He is enthusiastic in regard to Riverside and its wonderful climate; and boasts that for ten years neither he nor any member of his family has needed the services of a physi- cian. His long residence has made him well known to the people of Riverside, and his suc- cess in life and his pursuits are the result of his untiring energy and straightforward deal- ings.

For more than fifty years, he has been a consistent member of the Methodist Church, and a strong supporter of the same. In politics he is a Republican, uniting with that party upon its organization in 1856.

In 1848 Mr. McCrary married Mrs. Martha Slater, a native of Pennsylvania. There are now five children living, from this marriage, viz .: Mary, now Mrs. James Rogers, of Dnarte, Los Angeles County; Willlam H., who married Miss Edith Ball; Isaac A., who married Miss Laura Graves, residing at Monrovia, Los An-

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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.

geles County; John, who married Miss Julia Pugh, and Letta, now Mrs. Jacob Mann.

ENRY JARECKI, a prominent business man and mannfacturer of Erie, Pennsyl- vania, has been induced by the genial cli- mate of Southern California to select Riverside as his residence. He came to Riverside in 1885 and purchased a ten-acre orange grove on the west side of Brockton avenue, abont one mile south of the business center of the town, upon which he erccted a two-story residence of mnod- ern design and finish. There he has since re- sided with his family, receiving great benefit from the health-giving air and pure water for which Riverside is so noted. His leisure hours are devoted to directing the care and cultivation to be bestowed npon his fine orange grove and beautiful grounds. He has one of the finest groves and residence properties in the colony.

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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