History of Riverside County, California, Part 29

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 845

USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 29

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).

ELSINORE

In this semi-tropic, pleasant clime,

Where breezes from the ocean's shore,

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Though they do not waft the sleigh-bells chime, Temper Sol's rays, at Elsinore.

Romantic scenes, and lofty mountains ! Rich mines of precious golden ore, Life giving springs and healing fountains, All bless the vale of Elsinore.

Here sunny springtime lingers ever, Around the lakelet's sylvan shore; And blossoms lose their fragrance never, On hill and dale, at Elsinore.

Mystic mirror! Thy limpid waters, With fairy scenes are penciled o'er; Thou fairest of Pacific's daughters, We hail thee, Queen of Elsinore!

In winter, fields are robed with flowers, And song-birds tune their grand encore, In orange grove and olive bowers, Throughout the vale of Elsinore.

Plenty of the finest fruits "and to spare" Are raised where sage-brush grew before; The apricot, prune, peach, plum and pear, Adorn the vale of Elsinore.

Here, too, lemons, figs and walnuts grow And all vegetables galore; As choice grain as the earth can bestow, Is harvested at Elsinore.

A more healthful place cannot be found, Though we may earth's domains explore, Or search the whole world through and around, Than Elsinore! Fair Elsinore!

Including the lake there are thirteen thousand acres in what is known as the Elsinore Colony; from its northern boundary it

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extends southward about nine miles to where the southern boundary line crosses the Elsinore valley. Following this valley southward from the city of Elsinore the first town we arrive at is Wildomar, seven miles distant, situated on the Santa Fe Railroad. It contains one hundred inhabitants, has one church, the Methodist Episcopal, and one school. The character of the soil surrounding it is a sandy loam and is especially adapted to raising grain, alfalfa and deciduous fruits. It will be interesting to some to know why so peculiar a name as Wildomar was adopted and what gave rise to it. In explanation I will state that William Collier and Donald Graham were two of the original purchasers of the Laguna grant. Mrs. Margaret Graham, the wife of Mr. Graham, also being interested in the enterprise, was given the honor of manufacturing a name for the new town, which she did by using the first syllable or part of each of the three given names mentioned, thus Wil-Do-Mar.

Proceeding southward the next town arrived at is Murrietta, about ten miles from Elsinore. It contains one hundred and fifty inhabitants, has three churches (Methodist Episcopal, Holiness and Episcopal) one hotel and one school. The surrounding soil is good and well adapted to raising grain, alfalfa and deciduous fruits. The indications are favorable for the development of a sufficient amount of water for all practical purposes. The hot springs are about three and one-half miles east of the town and are quite extensively patronized, especially for remedial purposes. The tilable soil in that vicinity yields good grain and would doubtless grow fine . eucalyptus timber.

Six miles from Murrietta southward, at the terminus of the valley, the town of Temecula is reached; it is four miles north of the San Diego county boundary line. It contains two hundred and ninety inhabitants, has one school and one hotel. The soil in this part of the valley is quite productive and yields grain and alfalfa in abundance. Water seems plentiful and is flowing on the surface in a number of places. Lake Elsinore is the basin for the surface flow from a water-shed extending east one hundred miles or more; sooner or later, however, it sinks below the surface but continues to flow underground. About one and a half miles south of the lake on the east side of the valley a syndicate recently purchased a tract of two thousand acres. This company, known as the Superior Land and Water Company, made a test to learn what the prospect was 19

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for obtaining water in that locality and were highly pleased with the result; at a depth of from one hundred and thirty-five to four hundred and fifty feet they tapped a vein which yields six hundred inches of pure water from five wells. This certainly looks favor- able for there being an undercurrent flowing throughout the entire valley which will doubtless be tested at no distant time, and if found in sufficient quantity will be utilized throughout this pic- turesque and fertile valley.

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BIOGRAPHICAL

ADONIRAM JUDSON TWOGOOD

An association with the development of Riverside covering a period of more than forty years entitles Mr. Twogood to a rank among our early settlers. In the early era of his residence here. he accomplished much pioneer work and labored with such incessant activity and such intelligent application that financial independence rewarded his exertions. The comforts that are his, the friends that surround the afternoon of his existence and the high standing he has attained in social and commercial circles, cause him to experi- ence a profound satisfaction in the impulse that led him to the west and especially that brought him to Riverside as a permanent citi- zen. Upon the occasion of the eightieth anniversary of his birth, February 17, 1911, he was treated to a surprise party by a number of other pioneers and a delightful time was experienced by the entire group in relating anecdotes concerning early days and in renewing associations that always had been congenial and uplifting.

The Twogood family traces its genealogy to the colonial history of the new world, its first settlers having become identified with the north. Simeon Twogood, a native of New York state, was born near the city of Albany December 17, 1792, and throughout his entire active life he engaged in farm pursuits. In young man- hood he took up a raw tract of land in Onondaga county, N. Y., and the development of the same into a productive farm occupied his industrious attention for many years. Agriculture continued to be his sole occupation until he died in the year 1870. Among the chil- dren born to his union with Harriet Hoag there was a son, Adoni- ram J., whose birth occurred in Onondaga county, N. Y, February 17, 1831. From childhood he displayed mental alertness, which led to advantages being given to him superior to those enjoyed by most farmer boys of the period. After he had completed the studies of the common schools in 1849 he was sent to an academy and there diligently prosecuted the regular course of study for three years. His excellent education enabled him to teach school with consider- able success and for a few years he followed that profession in the winter months, while the intervening summers were devoted to work on the home farm.

Coming as far west as Iowa, in the year 1855, Mr. Twogood took up an undeveloped tract of land in Benton county and began the difficult pioneer task of transforming the area into a productive

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farm capable of profitable cultivation. The months passed rapidly as he followed his chosen work and nothing was allowed to inter- rupt his agricultural activities until the Civil war brought its storm of anxiety and concern to the people of the entire country. Offer- ing his services to the Union cause in 1862, he was accepted and be- came a private soldier in Company I, Sixth Iowa Calvary. During the three years he was in the service he acted as commissary ser- geant and at different times commanded his company. With his regiment he went to the front and took part in various engagements decisive in character and perilous to the participants. It was during his enlistment that he went home on a furlough and while there he sold his farm and engaged in the grain business with his brothers and after he had received his discharge he returned to Benton county, Iowa, and took up the business with his brothers and continued there until he came to California.

It was as a tourist that he first came to California in 1870 with Judge North and Dr. Greves. They were looking for a location for homes and townsite and their choice fell on Riverside. Return- ing to his home Mr. Twogood disposed of his holdings and in the spring of the next year. 1871, we find him a pioneer in the new col- ony and engaged in farming. With others he raised the first crop of wheat in this district; he then engaged in horticulture, although the first steps were purely of an experimental character. In 1873 he set out almonds, walnuts, limes and oranges, but the latter were the only fruitful trees and the others were dug up as unprofitable. They would grow to be fine trees, but were not producers. He met 'with success in the orange business and owned one of the finest groves in this section. Ile was interested in the first packing house that was operated for the public and connected with the pioneer orange growers' associations. With others who had the good of the locality at heart he experimented with various kinds of oranges to see what would be the most profitable to raise and those best suited to the local conditions. With his brother-in-law, D. C. Two- good, he made a specialty of packing oranges for market in San Francisco and their fruit always brought the best prices in that market, from $1 to $1.50 more than many others.

During the year 1886 with former Governor Merrill of Iowa and S. II. Herrick, Mr. Twogood founded the East Riverside Land Company and became one of its directors and he is still connected with the enterprise as vice-president and general manager. This is one of the leading concerns of its kind in the vicinity. Mr. Two- good has always been ready to foster any movement that has had for its ultimate object the development of the interests that advance Riverside with its sister cities of the state. Realizing the devel- opment of water has ever meant prosperity he has aided those who

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have devoted time and labor to that end and feels well repaid for his efforts thus expended.

While a resident of Benton county, Iowa, in October of 1866, Mr. Twogood was united in marriage with Miss Alice Coddington. They are the parents of an only son, Fred, now engaged in the kodak and curio business in Riverside. Their only daughter, Louie M., died in 1908, aged thirty-nine years. The Baptist Church. re- ceives the generous support of the family and its doctrines have their warm allegiance. By no means a politician and never dis- playing partisanship in his opinions, Mr. Twogood yet has positive convictions concerning public questions and is an earnest supporter of the Republican party. The Grand Army of the Republic has in him an interested worker in the local post and its philanthropies receive his liberal contributions, his interest never waning in those veterans who, like himself, served faithfully in the great war, but who, unlike himself, have been defeated in the stern battle of life.

ALBERT S. WHITE

A native of New England, Albert S. White was born in Belfast, Me., in 1840, was reared and educated there, after which he located in New York and there engaged in mercantile pursuits. Some years later he was associated with Capt. George W. Gilchrist in the ship chandlery business and his keen business tact and energetic man- agement rendered him valuable, and under the firm name of Gil- christ, White & Co. it became one of the best known establishments of their line in the city. In the spring of 1875 Mr. White had a severe attack of pneumonia, and, failing to rally from its effects, was advised to seek a milder climate and a trip to Europe was recommended by his physician, but Mr. White preferred California. In January, 1886, he crossed the continent and visited many well- known resorts of the Pacific coast in a vain search for health. Finding no relief on the coast he decided to try the interior with higher altitudes and dry climate. With this view he visited River- side and found the long-looked-for relief, passing the winter here and rapidly regaining his health. In the spring of 1886, before going back east, he bought forty acres four miles south of the city, then nothing but a bare plain covered with sage brush and cactus.

Closing out his business in New York that summer Mr. White returned to Riverside in the fall, bringing with him some of the choicest varieties of trees and vines, and with his customary zeal began the improvement of his ranch. He soon became an expert

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in horticulture and built up a productive industry in the colony, having his tract set out to oranges. He entered into every enter- prise that tended to advance and build up the interests of Riverside, his new home. He was one of those who organized the first citrus fair ever held in the United States, the Citrus Fair Association, and the erection of a pavilion was the result of their labors.

Mr. White was connected with the erection of the Presby- terian Church and the Arlington school house; with the founding of the Library Association; the Citizens Water Company and its successor, the Riverside Water Company, serving as a director ; and was vice-president of the Riverside Land Company. Upon the organization of the state board of horticulture he was appointed by Governor Perkins to represent Southern California on the board. He was one of the original incorporators and a director of the Riverside and Arlington Railroad Company, also of the River- side Railroad Company. In 1887 he was one of the promoters of the Riverside Improvement Company and also was president and prin- cipal owner of the Arlington Heights Water Company, and a director in the Loring Opera House Company. He was a member of the Library Association and of the Board of Trade and served as a member of the board of trustees. Politically he was an earnest Re- publican and always allied himself with the best element of his party. He was a member of the board of supervisors four years, from 1884 to 1888; was a member of the county central committee for some years, and was a member and trustee of the Universalist Church. Among other things which Mr. White accomplished was the laying out and piping of White's addition to Riverside, and for some time he was also engaged in the real estate business with Frank Miller. He was counted one of Riverside's most public spirited citizens and his name is perpetuated in White's Park, which he donated to the city.

Mr. White passed away June 21, 1909, at the age of sixty-nine years, the victim of chronic bronchitis.

FRED J. MUELLER

The value of a good education as a means of forwarding the ambitions and raising above mediocrity the man with exceptional abilities can scarcely be over-appraised even in this progressive age, when the systematic training of both the moral and the intel- lectual faculties is receiving wider attention than ever before. By means of exceptional educational opportunities, united with innate perseverance and ambition. Mr. Mueller has thus far made the

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most of his life, ranking today among Riverside county's most able and successful young business men.

A son of Jacob and Frances (Warner) Mueller, whose births occurred in Germany, Fred Mueller was born December 28, 1882, in New Ulm, Minn., where his parents located in the early '60s. Upon his graduation from public school in 1896 he entered the Shat- tuck Military School at Faribault, Minn., completing his studies in 1901. He thereupon matriculated in Cornell University, graduating in the civil engineering class of 1905, and shortly thereafter located in Indianapolis, Ind., where he engaged in the practice of his pro- fession in the engineering department of the Big Four Railway Company. Two years later he resigned his position with the in- tention of seeking a location in the west, and to that end visited various sections of California and neighboring states, subsequently settling in Corona, Riverside county, his choice of the many beauti- ful valleys he had surveyed and where he is engaged in fruit raising. Later he became cashier of the First National Bank and a director of the Citizens' Bank of Corona, the able discharge of his duties having amply proven his efficiency for the work.

Mr. Mueller married, in Indianapolis, Ind., December 9, 1908, Miss Flora Keely, a native of that state, the young people residing in a charming home at No. 124 Kendall street, Corona.

Fraternally Mr. Mueller is affiliated with Temescal Lodge No .. 314, F. & A. M., and also holds membership in the Phi Gamma Delta Society. He is a stanch Republican, maintaining a keen interest in political issues, as well as in national developments in general.

THOMAS J. REYNOLDS

Adversity furnishes the final test of character. With discour- agements on every hand to retard progress, only the man of deter- mination rises supreme over every obstacle and achieves success in the face of seeming defeat. It was the fate of Mr. Reynolds to meet discouragement in youth and whatever of success he has achieved, whatever of prominence he has gained, may be attributed to his own indomitable perseverance. Destiny gave him to an old southern home, impoverished by the Civil war, sunken in fortune, but retaining in the midst of poverty the refined tastes of the aris- tocratic class. In a brave struggle to attain independence he had many obstacles and more than once lost his little all, which forced him to start anew in the world. It was as a day laborer that he earned his first money after he came to California and even after

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he had risen to a more responsible position he still found the path- way of progress strewn with difficulties. Eventually he became one of the leading business men of Arlington and here he still remains, honored and esteemed for the persevering industry with which he has labored.

Born in Dooly county, Ga., June 8, 1861, Thomas J. Reynolds is a son of Fielding and Mary P. Reynolds, members of old south- ern families. On account of the impoverishment of the community by the Civil war he had meager educational advantages and he left school in order to help his father on the home farm. In 1884 he started out to make his own way in the world, his first location being Eustis, Lake county, Fla., where he bought an orange grove. Untimely frosts, however, made the venture an unprofitable one and in 1889 he disposed of the property, after which he came to California to start again in the world. For two years he was em- ployed as a laborer with Frost & Burgess and for three succeeding years he had charge of a large ranch at Palm Springs, Cal., from which place he returned to Riverside and assumed the manage- ment of the Home Nursery Company's property at Highgrove, a suburb of Riverside. After resigning that position in 1893 he se- cured employment with other parties and for a time was employed by the late Hon. J. J. Hewitt. Going next to Redlands, he had charge of a ranch owned by George Frost of Riverside and for two years continued in that capacity.

Upon his arrival in Arlington, Riverside county, Mr. Reynolds secured employment as a clerk in the Ormsby retail grocery and continued in that position until 1900, when he bought out his em- plover. From that time he was prospered until, through no fault of his own, he suffered a heavy loss. On the 12th of July, 1910, the explosion of a lamp in a neighboring shoe-shop burned down that building and his own as well, leaving him a heavy loser by the catastrophe. Since then he has engaged in the hardware business at Arlington. A large circle of friends bears testimony as to his hon- orable dealings in business, his courtesy as a neighbor, his accom- modating spirit as a friend and his enterprise as a citizen, while in the Methodist Episcopal Church, to which he belongs, he is regarded as a conscientious Christian and a generous helper in all religious measures. The cause of prohibition has appealed to him with especial force and has induced him to give support to the party pledged to its enforcement, for he believes the indiscriminate sale of liquors to be one of the greatest detriments to national advance- ment. His family consists of wife and daughter, the latter, Blanche, now a student in the Riverside high school. His wife, Ella (Tis- dale) Reynolds, a lady of genial manner and unfailing tact, is a na- tive of Ware, Mass. She came to Riverside prior to her marriage, which occurred on June 1, 1892.

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JUDGE J. W. NORTH

The real founder of Riverside, the man who conceived the idea of building a city out of the desert lands and who became known as the leader in all public affairs of this locality, was Judge North. He was born in Sand Lake, Rensselaer county, N. Y., January 4, 1815, a son of Jonathan North, a man of clear mind, equable temper and great firmness and a local Methodist preacher. His mother was of French descent and an emotional warm-hearted woman, and both were affectionate, upright and conscientious.

The Norths originated in England, where several of the name were distinguished statesmen and lawyers. In America they were usually found in the middle class, although there were several who became very prominent in educational circles and the law. The progenitor of the family in the United States settled in Hartford, Conn. After the Revolution the grandfather of J. W. North re- moved from Litchfield county, Conn., and settled in Rensselaer county, N. Y.

At the age of two years J. W. North was taken by his parents to a farm near Sand Lake and here he was sent to the common school and later, upon the removal of the family back to the village, attended the school there and still later was privileged to attend a select school in that town. He was of a very studious nature and anxious to improve every opportunity offered him for an education and when but sixteen years of age he was selected to teach the school in the district where he had first attended. He received the princely sum of $10 per month and "boarded round." Later he taught near Albany for a time. He entered Cazenovia Seminary for a course of study and in 1841 he was graduated from the Middletown College, where he had paid his way through a three years course by working and teaching. Thus equipped he was en- abled to enter upon the duties of manhood and make his own way through life and that he succeeded later events show for them- selves.

Judge North was a strong abolitionist and the last two years in college developed that belief so strongly in him that he attracted the attention of the leaders of the party and was engaged for the two years following his graduation in lecturing throughout the state of Connecticut. In 1843 he located in New York City, having determined to study law, and entered the offices of John Jay and later those of Benedict and Boardman. Ill health compelled him to relinquish his studies and he joined his father on the farm in Preble, Cortland county, where he remained until he had regained

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to some degree his normal condition, after which he went to Syra- cuse and entered upon the study of his chosen profession in the offices of Forbes and Sheldon. He was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the state of New York and at once opened an office for practice, forming a partnership with Hon. Israel S. Spen- cer, of Syracuse, and they continued successfully until 1849, when Mr. North withdrew and disposing of his holdings went to Minne- sota.

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History of Riverside County, California, Part 29

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841- Publication date: 1912 Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co. Number of Pages: 845

Author: Holmes, Elmer Wallace, 1841-
Publication date: 1912
Publisher: Los Angeles : Historic Record Co.
Number of Pages: 845