Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 178

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366

USA > California > Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century > Part 178

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).

J. A. SIMMS is numbered among the early settlers of Riverside, as he came to this locality in 1875, and during the intervening years has labored to promote its welfare. Born Septem- ber 20, 1851, near Port Royal, Henry county, Ky., and from his sixth year reared in In- diana, J. A. Simms received a good education and thorough training for the practical duties of life. In 1875 he came to Riverside with his uncle, Dr. W. H. Ball, one of our pioneer phy- sicians and horticulturists. At once becoming intensely interested in the subject of fruit-rais- ing, Mr. Simms entered the employ of P. S. Russell, the pioneer nurseryman of this district, and during the three years of his service with him learned the business thoroughly.

In 1878 Mr. Simms commenced to develop an orchard on a ten-acre tract of land situated on Brockton avenue, and in connection with it carried on a small nursery. In 1886 he entered into partnership with L. C. Waite, under the style of Waite & Simms, and planted the first nursery along the line under the Gage canal. Devoting twenty acres to oranges, they soon had a large line of trees ready for the market and in 1890 and 1891 made their most extensive sales. They continued in business until 1895, when they allowed the remainder of their grove to become a bearing orchard, and recently dis- posed of the property, which had become very valuable.

B. G. BALCOM. The genealogy of the Bal- com family is traced back seven generations, to one of the passengers on the historic May- flower, Edward Doty, 1620, who left his native country, England, to establish a home on the bleak Atlantic shores. At Cumberland, R. I., B. G. Balcom was born August 31, 1847. He was reared principally in Attleboro, Mass., where he attended the public schools and acad- emy. When the war began he was only four- teen years of age and his youth alone prevented him from being one of the first to enlist in the Union army. However, before the war closed he was accepted into the service, becoming a member of Company C,Forty-second Massachu- setts Infantry, in July, 1864. His regiment was assigned to the army of the Potomac and was

1191

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

sent to Virginia, remaining there until the ex- piration of the period of service and receiving an honorable discharge at Boston. After the war Mr. Balcom resumed his academic studies. On starting out for himself, he decided to come to the west, as offering a field of opportunity for young men far greater than that afforded by the over-crowded east. The year 1868 found him in Quincy, Ill., and the following year he spent in Missouri. Desirous of going still fur- ther west, in 1870 he joined a prospecting party and went to Salt Lake, spending several years in Utah and Nevada.

During 1874 Mr. Balcom arrived in Cali- fornia, where he became the managing agent for one of the large ranches in San Mateo county for two years and then was employed by the Southern Pacific Railroad Company as their agent at Williams, Colusa county. The im- mediate object of his removal to Southern Cali- fornia was to enter upon his duties as the newly appointed agent of the Southern Pacific Rail- road at Santa Ana, which position he filled from 1881 until 1888. On resigning as agent he be- came bookkeeper in the Bank of Orange and later was promoted to the position of cashier. From 1892 until 1895 he acted as cashier of the Commercial Bank of Santa Ana. During the latter year he established, incorporated and opened the Fruit Growers' Bank of Fullerton, of which he was chosen president and which be- gan business with a capital stock of $25,000. The establishment of a bank at that place was a wise decision, as in the vicinity of Fullerton oranges, lemons and walnuts were being cul- tivated profitably, and shipped east in large quantities, which helped to develop the general prosperity of this region. The increase in the business transacted by the bank after a few years demanded a reorganization, which was effected in January, 1900, with an increase of capital stock to $50,000 and a change of name to the First National Bank of Fullerton.

THOMAS BAKEWELL. Of the many who have come from the east to spend the evening of their lives in the sunlit brightness of Cali- fornia, none is remembered as possessing more sterling worth than Thomas Bakewell, who died at his home in Riverside, January 22, 1898. Prior to his removal to the west in 1886 his youth and manhood had been spent in Pitts- burg, Pa., where he was born April 12, 1836. He received superior educational advantages, and studied at St. James College in Maryland. His first independent undertaking was as a clerk with a salt company with whom he remained for many years. Towards the close of the war he became identified with the Lippincott Axe Company (later Hubbard, Bakewell & Co.). manufacturers of edged tools, axes, saws, etc., and in the capacity of commercial member of the

firm traveled extensively through many states of the Union.

In Riverside Mr. Bakewell purchased twenty acres of the Hartshorn tract on Magnolia ave- nue, and for twelve years was an interested worker and observer along horticultural lines. He instituted many improvements in his land, erected a cottage, and raised a fine grade of navel oranges.

JOHN N. DUNLAP. Since coming to Riverside in 1887, Mr. Dunlap has given his attention to the study of plant life, particularly as exemplified in the growing of citrus fruit trees. For nine years he was connected with Waite & Simms, in the nursery business. In 1899 he purchased seven and one-half acres on Linden street, near Iowa avenue, and here he makes his home. In addition to the manage- ment of his own property, he is employed to superintend orange tracts for others, and at this writing has the care of thirty acres belong- ing to other parties; indeed, until very recently, he had the supervision of. more than seventy acres. Among those for whom he acts as superintendent of land, is L. C. Waite, whose twenty acres on Linden street he set out in orange trees and has since had the supervision of the same. He is a member of the Fruit Growers' Association.

In Adams county, Ohio, January 18, 1861, John N. Dunlap was born to James R. and Mary C. (Taylor) Dunlap, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. His education was obtained in schools of the home neighborhood. He was twenty-six years of age when he cast in his fortunes with the horticulturists of Southern California, and since then he has been in- dustriously devoted to his chosen occupation.

BRADFORD MORSE, mayor of Riverside, was born May 4, 1848, and was reared on a farm, mean time attending the public schools and the English high school. When nineteen years of age he went to Brockton and until 1881 was employed in a shoe factory. In the mean time he served for eleven years in the Third and First Regiments, Massachusetts Na- tional Guard, passing through all grades, be- ing captain of Company I, First Regiment, for four years, resigning and removing to California in February, 1881, and here it may be mentioned that since coming to this state he assisted in organizing a company at Riverside, first known as Company C of the Ninth Regiment, Cali- fornia National Guard. Joining its ranks, he was chosen first lieutenant, and was later made battalion adjutant, resigning after six years of service. Various enterprises have engaged the attention of Mr. Morse since he arrived in Riverside, and at the present time he owns a ranch of one hundred and sixty acres, situated

1192

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

near Box Springs, and there carries on general farming. Mr. Morse was a member of the first county board of horticultural commissioners of San Bernardino county, resigning after one year to attend to other duties.

From 1886 to 1892 Mr. Morse was city mar- shal and tax collector, serving three terms. In 1893, when Riverside county was created, Gov- ernor Markham appointed him as president of the commission having in charge the organiza- tion of the county in all of its details. He was one of three members of the Riverside county division executive committee, who prepared and presented the bill for the creation of the county, to the legislature of California, for enactment. The work of organization of the county by the commission was successfully carried forward. A special election was called, and in May, 1893, county officers were elected, among them being Mr. Morse, who was chosen as county assessor. As city marshal he had made a creditable record, and made a sturdy fight against the saloons, suc- ceeding in winning fifteen out of the sixteen cases prosecuted m the corporation limits. From 1884 to 1893 he was one of the Republi- can central committee of San Bernardino county, and from 1886 to 1893 was on the ex- ecutive committee. Upon the organization of Riverside county in 1893 he was made chairman of the first county central committee, and since that time has been a member of the state Re- publican central committee two years, from 1894 to 1896. He was appointed expert for the legislative assembly committee on revenue and taxation in 1895. The bill for the revision of those laws which he had aided in preparing was reported by the committee, and passed both houses without a dissenting vote. In April, 1894, he was elected city trustee, serving as such for four years; in 1898 was re-elected, and in April, 1900, was chosen as president of the board.

JUDGE J. W. NORTH. Not only Riverside county, but Southern California as well, owes a great debt to the late Judge J. W. North, for his efforts and indefatigable labors in the found- ing of Riverside and the aiding and directing of the little colony during the '7os accrued much to this entire region, as colony after colony of substantial eastern people, encouraged by the success attending this enterprise, poured into this then sparsely settled and arid territory, which soon was converted into a paradise. This was the greatest accomplishment of his long and useful life, and knowing that this tribute to his memory will be sincerely appreciated by his multitudes of friends, the following has been compiled from authentic records:

Born in 1815, in Rensselaer county, N. Y., Judge North was reared upon a farm, attending the district school for three months in the

winter, as was the custom. Though thus limited in educational advantages, he early manifested exceptional ability, and after pursuing studies at a select school for three months commenced teaching. Subsequently he went to Cazenovia Seminary for a few months, and entered the Wesleyan University at Middletown, Conn., for it may here be said that his parents were active members of the Methodist Church. About 1845 he was admitted to the bar and commenced the practice of law at Syracuse, N. Y. The wife of his youth, Emma Bacon, died some eighteen months after their marriage. In August, 1848, he married Ann H. Loomis, daughter of Dr. George S. Loomis, of Dewitt, N. Y., and four sons and two daughters were born to them.

In 1849 the judge settled at Minneapolis, Minn., and there acquired a fine practice, which he was obliged to abandon on account of poor health. In company with others he became 'a pioneer at Faribault, where he built the mills and started numerous industries. Then, dispos- ing of his interests, he founded the town of Northfield. In 1851 he was elected to represent his district in the territorial legislature and served as president of that body.

In 1860 he was elected as a delegate to the national Republican convention at Chicago, and was made chairman of his delegation. In that notable convention, after Lincoln had been nom- inated, Mr. North was appointed one of the committee which went to Springfield and offi- cially notified him of the results of the political assemblage. Subsequently, the judge was so thoroughly recognized as a party lcader that it was generally considered entirely right and proper when Lincoln appointed himn as sur- veyor-general of the territory of Nevada. Soon after locating his family in Nevada, he set about the building of a quartz-mill. When the office of surveyor-general was abolished lie resumed the practice of law, and soon was appointed judge of the supreme court of Nevada, by Presi- dent Lincoln, who had been recommended to this action by the bar of the territory in ques- tion.

At the close of the Civil war Judge North located in Knoxville, Tenn., where he estab- lished a large iron foundry. Unfortunately, it was a failure. He then turned his attention to Southern California, at that time almost unde- veloped. There were no railroads in the state south of Stockton, save a twenty-mile stretch between Los Angeles and its seaport, San Pedro. Believing that with a good system of irrigation semi-tropical fruits could be profitably raised in the district now included within Riverside county, he succeeded in enlisting the influence and capital of Hon. Charles N. Felton, and pro- ceeded with his plans. A portion of the old Ju- rupa rancho was selected, and it was divided into blocks of two and a half acres, at the town-

1193

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

site, while in the neighboring country little fruit farms of twenty acres each were laid out. These tracts were sold with water rights, the ditches to be constructed by the heads of the colony. For a decade he labored indefatigably, and at last witnessed at least a partial fulfillment of his fond hopes. In 1880 he disposed of his property here and removed to Oleander, Fresno county, Cal., where he lived a very active life for nearly ten years, dying at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. C. Shepard, in Fresno, loved and hon- ored by all.

NOAH PALMER. When the Isaac Owen missionary train made its slow way over the plains, with wagons and teams, spending six months in their westward journey, one of the young men who accompanied them was Noah Palmer. In all the dangers and hardships of that memorable trip he shared, and when finally California was reached he settled at San José. Later, however, he removed to Santa Clara, where he carried on agricultural pursuits for years. At the same time he became identified with local politics and was a leader in the Re- publican party. For four years he was tax col- lector of Santa Clara county and for a term rep- resented his county in the lower house of the California state legislature.

To the then small hamlet of Santa Ana Mr. Palmer came in 1874. He secured seven hun- dred acres comprising a portion of the Santiago de Santa Ana grant, which had originally con- tained sixty-two thousand acres. On this prop- erty he has continued to reside, although, through sales made at various times, the size of the homestead has been reduced to two hun- dred and fifty acres. Perhaps in no way has Mr. Palmer been more closely identified with local history than through his banking interests. For two years he was president of the Orange County Savings Bank. In the incorporation of the Commercial Bank of Santa Ana he was ac- tively interested and he is now president of the same, having served in this capacity for a num- ber of years. He was also a promoter and in- corporator of the Bank of Orange in the city of that name and the office of president has been filled by him ever since the institution was founded. Nor do these two banks represent the limit of his activities in financial circles. for he is also interested in the Bank of Tustin and has officiated as a director for some years. When the Santa Ana, Orange & Tustin Railway was projected, he was one of its principal promoters and aided in its construction, being chosen as its first president and holding the office for some years.

The life-record of Mr. Palmer shows that he was born in Lewis county, N. Y., September 3, 1820, a son of Ephraim and Hannah (Phelps) Palmer, natives of New York. His father, who

was of Quaker ancestry and English lineage, lived to be eighty-eight years of age, but the mother died when her son, our subject, was seven years of age. The boy was then taken into the home of a sister in Jefferson county, N. Y., and there he remained until eighteen, mean- time attending local schools. His first occupa- tion was that of a school teacher, which he fol- lowed about ten years, first in New York and then in Indiana, where he settled in 1840. From the latter year until 1849 he made his home in Franklin county, Ind., and it was from there that he started upon his journey across the plains at the time of the discovery of gold in California. While living in Indiana, in 1843, he married Susan Evans, a native of Franklin county, that state. They became the parents of five children, of whom three daughters are living, namely: Mrs. R. E. Hewitt, of Los Angeles, Cal .; Emma A., wife of George J. Mosbaugh, cashier of the Commercial Bank of Santa Ana: and Lottie E., who resides with her parents.

WILLIAM H. PETTIBONE. The attri- butes that individualize Mr. Pettibone have al- ways been his faithfulness to every duty and his purpose of will. It was in 1856 that, a youth of sixteen, he left his home in western New York and secured employment on grade work with the Erie Railroad Company. At the expiration of seven years he was made eastern passenger agent, at No. 233 Broadway, New York, which position he held for two years. His next posi- tion was as master of transportation for the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad in Ohio, in which capacity he continued for one and one-half years, resigning to accept an appointment as superintendent of the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis Railroad, at Rock Island, Ill. During the two and one-half years he filled that position he had charge of the building of the road from Rock Island to St. Louis. From there he went to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, as general superintend- ent of the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railroad.

The ability displayed by Mr. Pettibone in his various positions had attracted the attention of one of the greatest railroads in the world, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe, by which com- pany hé was tendered and accepted the position of superintendent of their lines west of Eni- poria, Kans.

When the railroad had been built as far as Rattoon, N. M., he resigned his position, and accepted the general superintendency of the Chicago & Grand Trunk road from Chicago to Port Huron, Mich., in which capacity he con- tinued for five and one-half years. Next lie was called to the position of general superintendent of the Toledo, St. Louis & Kansas City Railway. There was then a narrow gauge from Toledo to

1194

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

St. Louis, but under his management the road was changed to standard gauge.

On the organization of the San Francisco, Clear Lake & Humboldt Railroad by an eastern syndicate, Mr. Pettibone was elected vice-presi- dent and general manager, and, accepting the office, came to California to assume the con- struction and management of the same. On the completion of seventy-five miles of grading, the company sold out to the Southern Pacific Com- pany and work was abandoned. Mr. Pettibone thereupon returned east and joined Dr. W. S. Webb as general superintendent of the Adiron- dack & St. Lawrence Railroad. This post he filled for two years, at which time he retired from railroading.

While connected with railroads Mr. Pettibone had made various trips to California and the charm of the climate had woven its spell over him. Believing it to be the Italy of America and the fairest spot found in all of his travels, he determined to establish his home in Southern California. In 1895 he bought twelve acres at Highgrove, Riverside county, and employed a man to work the same for three years, when he located upon the place and has since made it his home, enjoying the comforts of an attractive home and a fine grove of navel oranges.

MARTIN W. ROSE. The family to which Mr. Rose belongs was founded in this country by his great-grandfather Rose, who came from the Netherlands and settled in Orange county, N. Y. The name was originally Roos, but was Americanized to its present form. At Greene, Chenango county, N. Y., M. W. Rose was born April 9, 1832. In 1848 he went to Albany, N. Y., where he began merchandising. In 1854 he de- cided to follow Horace Greeley's advice and go west. During the year 1860, when at the Tre- mont house in Chicago, he had the pleasure of meeting this famous statesman and editor, whose advice he had followed six years before.

While on a visit to his brother, Charles Rose, in Illinois, in 1854, Mr. Rose entered the employ of the Galena & Chicago Union Railroad, then in process of construction. On its completion he was made operator and station agent at Afton, Wis., and while there became acquainted with W. B. Strong, then the agent at Milton Junction, and afterward president of the Santa Fe system. His next locations were Elgin, Ill., and Beloit, Wis., and he built the first telegraph line between the latter place and Belvidere, Ill. In 1869 he became connected with the chief engineer in the survey and construction of the Chicago & Michigan & Lake Shore line (later the Chicago & West Michigan) and opened the stations on the new road. After a time in the general offices of the company, he was made general agent and then assistant general freight agent, which position he filled from 1886 until

1898, on the Chicago & West Michigan, and what is now the Pere Marquette lines, having his headquarters in Grand Rapids.

On resigning his position with the railroad, in 1898, Mr. Rose came to California, which he had visited for the first time three years before, buy- ing a tract of more than one-half block on Mar- ket and Eleventh streets, Riverside. This he subdivided and sold for building purposes. Among his other purchases was that of forty acres on Colton avenue, of which he has sold nine acres. About one-half of the remainder is in oranges, forming a fine orchard of bearing trees that is said to be one of the healthiest groves in Riverside. In 1901 he erected a resi- dence on Colton avenue, where he has an at- tractive homestead, with the surroundings that add to the comforts of life.

W. B. SAWYER, M. D., was born November 22, 1854, at Easthampton, Mass., and is one of three living children. Reared at his birthplace, he received a fine education, attending Williston Seminary four years and being graduated in Amherst College in 1875, with the degree of Bachelor of Arts, his alma mater conferring upon him the degree of Master of Arts three years later. From 1875 to 1879 he was a stu- dent in the medical department of Harvard Col- lege, receiving his degree in the last-named year. Then returning to his birthplace, he prac- ticed his profession for eighteen months, and subsequent to his marriage determined to locate in the west. Until 1882 he lived in Kansas City. then removing to Los Angeles, Cal., where he remained for about two years. The great at- tractions of Riverside drew him to this point in 1884, and ever since he has carried on the prac- tice of medicine and surgery. Like most of the citizens, he has been engaged in horticultural pursuits to some extent.

For eight years Dr. Sawyer served as a health officer here and has been local surgeon for the Santa Fe since it was constructed through this district. Prior to the organization of Riverside county, when the territory was more than double in size (including San Bernardino county), he acted in the capacity of deputy cor- oner for four years. Besides being a liberal and valued contributor to medical literature, and magazines east and west, he has the honor of having been the editor of the first magazine pub- lished hereabout, its title being the Southern California Monthly. He also edited the River- side Tribune for a short time, this being the first paper here which published daily reports of the associated press. Feeling the need of such a journal, the business men of Riverside, includ- ing Dr. Sawyer, enlisted in this enterprise, and they induced him to become one of its editors. Eventually the plant was sold to the Press and Horticulturist.

1195

HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.

JOHN HENRY REED has been a leader in horticultural affairs of Riverside county and a liberal contributor to modern ideas on the sub- ject of fruit culture. The first meeting of the Riverside Horticultural Club was held in his house and his influence was strongly brought to bear upon the organization of the society. He is rightly called the "father" of the South- ern California Society of Farmers and Horti- cultural Clubs, of which he is serving on the executive committee, and at whose last annual meeting forty clubs were represented. The Riv- erside Club was the first organized. Mr. Reed also belongs to the Southern California Pomo- logical Society.

The birth of John H. Reed took place June 18, 1833. After attending the Marlborough Academy he commenced teaching in his county. He completed his education at the Southwestern Ohio Normal at Lebanon, Ohio, where he made the acquaintance of Miss Kate Morris, whom he married in that city July 19, 1858. From 1854 to 1859 both taught in Lebanon Normal School, and then Mr. Reed became superintendent of the Mansfield (Ohio) schools. In 1865, owing to impaired hearing, he resigned his position in the schools of Mansfield, and during the next eleven years devoted his attention to merchan- dising and manufacturing in that place. From 1876 to 1890 he was a grain and stock farmer of Columbus, Neb., owning and cultivating an en- tire section of land. At length, becoming an in- valid, he came to Riverside and engaged in orange and lemon culture, of which fruits he now has forty-five acres in bearing, from his own planting. He is financially interested in La Mesa Packing Company. His two children. Mrs. Lois R. Pickett and Fred M., reside in Riverside.

Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.

Historical and biographical record of southern California; containing a history of southern California from its earliest settlement to the opening year of the twentieth century, Part 178

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918 Publication date: 1902 Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co. Number of Pages: 1366

Author: Guinn, James Miller, 1834-1918
Publication date: 1902
Publisher: Chicago, Chapman pub. co.
Number of Pages: 1366