History of Riverside County, California, Part 36

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 36


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).


Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74


In the fall of 1887 Mr. Thayer purchased the carriage business of Clarence Stewart, Riverside, and one month later sold a half interest to William L. Peters, the two continuing together until 1891, when Mr. Peters became sole owner. Since that period Mr. Thayer has devoted his energies to his other interests, having also bought and sold several residence properties in Riverside. His own home, which he purchased in 1887, is situated at No. 234 East Eighth street, besides which he owns a cottage at No. 224 East Eighth.


In March, 1863, Mr. Thayer was united in marriage to Miss Sarah E. Spear, who died in April, 1898. Two years later, Novem- ber 29, 1900, he wedded Miss Grace MacNab, a native of Halifax, Nova Scotia, who has been a resident of Riverside since 1888. Mr. Thayer is one of the oldest members of Riverside Lodge No. 282, I. O. O. F., having served in every local official position offered by that organization. He is also a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., Riverside.


Digitized by Google


---


---


378


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


JOHN A. ALLEN


Notwithstanding a long absence from Maine and a prolonged association with the genial environment of Southern California, memories of the busy and eventful years spent in the rigorous cli- mate of the northeast linger pleasantly in the mind of Mr. Allen, without, however, arousing any desire to return to that region for permanent residence. Intimate as were the friendships there, use- ful as were the years and fruitful as was the work, the stern winds of winter sweeping through the dense pine forests and dashing along the rock-bound coast; the storms that endangered human lives and imperiled the stock; the isolation of the winter months when deep snows rendered travel unsafe; all these formed in- fluences that attracted him to the land of sunshine and have made of him a devoted admirer of the western country. Prosperity has been the reward of his intelligent efforts and he is now living re- tired from business cares, enjoying in the afternoon of existence the comforts that so greatly enhance the joys of life.


The first representative of the family in the west was Benja- min F. Allen, brother of John A., and a native of Maine. The father, John Allen, was born in Franklin county, Me., December 10, 1800. During the early prime of manhood he engaged in the mercantile business in his native county, but in 1841 he removed to Aroostook county, Me., where he became interested in farming and lumbering. When eighty years of age he sold out his interests in Maine and came to Southern California, settling at Riverside, where he bought forty acres on Colton avenue. Later he retired and his death occurred in 1886. The large tract which he pur- chased was originally an orange grove, but more recently part of it has been subdivided into town lots, representing an enormous in- crease in value over the amount paid for it by the early owner.


In Franklin county, Me., near the Canadian boundary, John A. Allen was born November 19, 1836. From there at the age of four years he was taken to Aroostook county in the upper end of Maine. Schools were few in that isolated, sparsely-settled region, but he was ambitious and made the most of every opportunity. Whenever possible he attended the schools of the county. At the age of eighteen years he went to Foxcroft and became a student in the academy, later attending the Bloomfield academy, from which he was graduated in 1857. Entering upon the work of a teacher, he had charge of a school at East Corinth, Penobscot county. Next he was elected to take charge of the school at Norridgewock, Sumer- set county, thence returning to teach in Aroostook county. On discontinuing the work of a teacher in 1862 he turned his attention


Digitized by Google


379


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


to agriculture and devoted himself with such energy and application to the calling that a fair measure of success came to him, notwith- standing the obstacles caused by unfruitful soil and rigorous cli- mate. While living on the farm he served for fifteen years as a member of the school board in Aroostook county. On disposing of his interests in Maine he came to Riverside in 1883 and took up the management of his father's property, at the same time studying orange culture. Eventually he became one of the most extensive growers and shippers of oranges in the district, but in 1910 he sold his business interests and retired to an enjoyment of a leisure abundantly merited by years of laborious application.


During the period of his residence in Somerset county, Me., Mr. Allen met Miss Eliza A. Heald, a native of that part of the state. They were united in marriage November 17, 1860, and for years lived on their farm in Aroostook county, but now own and occupy a beautiful residence in Riverside. They are the parents of four children, namely: Mrs. W. A. Purington, wife of one of the lead- ing attorneys of Riverside; Mrs. Vida A. Bixby, of Pasadena; Mrs. J. E. White, of San Francisco; and John W., who is engaged in the growing of oranges at Loma Linda, this state. The family holds membership with the Congregational Church. At no time in his life has Mr. Allen been a leader in politics, his only part in public affairs being the casting of a Republican ticket at all elections. For years he has been a stockholder in the Citizens National Bank, of Riverside, of which he was one of the organizers, and of the Se- curity Bank, also of Riverside, and in both of these well-known financial institutions he now serves as a director. Throughout all of his life he has been interested in education. Its importance, in his opinion, cannot be overestimated. In addition to his service in promoting the free schools of Maine, he served as a member of the Riverside school board from 1885 to 1888 and still retains a warm interest in every movement for the advancement of the schools.


JOHN YATES


A resident of San Jacinto valley since January, 1891, Mr. Yates has aided materially in the development of San Jacinto and vicinity, where he has held many positions of trust and honor, his good judgment and progressive methods having been of incalculable bene- fit to the community.


A native of Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire, near Strat- ford-on-Avon, England, Mr. Yates was born September 11, 1857, and until the age of thirteen years remained with his parents, Robert


Digitized by Google


380


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


and Lucy (Smith) Yates, who were born in England. Courageously determined to make his way in the world, the son took passage for Quebec, Canada, going thence to Flint, Mich., where for a time he worked on the Flint and Pierre Marquette Railroad. Later he journeyed to Toledo, Ohio, where he engaged in railroad bridge work, going thence to Poplar Bluff, Mo., in the service of the Iron Mountain Railroad Company as a switch and sidetrack builder. In 1873 he located in Chicago where for four years he followed team- ing, going thence to York county, Neb., where he bought eighty acres of railroad land which he improved and later sold. He then moved to Holt county, that state, where he had a timber culture of one hundred and sixty and a homestead of one hundred and sixty acres. He resided upon this for seven years or until selling the property, when he came to California, subsequently settling in San Jacinto valley. In addition to fifteen acres of alfalfa land he owns ten acres which he devotes to fruit and eucalyptus trees, and upon which tract is located his comfortable home, surrounded by many ornamental trees, shrubs and plants.


Mr. Yates was united in marriage in San Jacinto October 3, 1894, with Miss Ophelia Kaley, a native of Lucas county, Ohio, where for some years she taught in the public schools prior to join- ing friends in San Jacinto in 1892. Mr. and Mrs. Yates were blessed with two children, Lucy Elizabeth, who passed away in in- fancy, and Margaret Lenore, who is a student in the Hemet high school.


A lifelong Republican, Mr. Yates has ever maintained a deep interest in both civic and national political issues and as a stanch friend of education, served four years on the school board, and was also president of the high school board one year. Since 1904 he has acted as treasurer of the San Jacinto Cemetery Association, of which he has been a trustee for about fifteen years, and has been connected with the San Jacinto Valley Water Company since be- coming a resident of this place. This was the first institution of this character to be formed in the locality, and he served in some capacity in the organization through subsequent changes of owner- ship, its various appellations having been the San Jacinto & Pleas- ant Valley Irrigation District, the San Jacinto Valley Water Com- pany and, finally, the Citizens' Water Company of San Jacinto.


An active member of Hemet Lodge No. 190, I. O. O. F., having passed through the chairs of the San Jacinto Lodge, Mr. Yates like- wise holds membership in San Jacinto Camp, W. O. W., the local chairs of which he has filled at various times. Mrs. Yates is also identified with Pine Cone Circle No. 486, W. O. W., and Comfort Lodge, Daughters of Rebekahs, in both of which societies Mr. Yates holds membership.


Digitized by Google


.


TUL NEW Yoit FULLIC LA RARY


-


-


-


i: !


1


Digitized by


Google


1


:


Elmerthistohner .


Digitized by Google


383


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


ELMER WALLACE HOLMES


Riverside has reason for pride in the many citizens who have given long years of gratuitous public service in her behalf. To the faith and enthusiastic devotion of her pioneers is due the trans- formation of an unattractive colony into one of the most beautiful and progressive of California cities. There are few among these whose record is more creditable than is that of E. W. Holmes. He was born at Brockton, Mass., December 8, 1841, of Pilgrim ancestry. His father, who attained a creditable standing as a professional musician and band master, died suddenly in 1851, leaving his mother with small means and five children dependent upon her, Elmer being the oldest. The mother's struggles to main- tain the family finally resulted in her loss of health and compelled her oldest son to leave school at thirteen and apprentice himself to a printer. While yet a boy the entire support of the family came upon him. Graduating as a journeyman printer at eighteen, he was given a foreman's position. The outbreak of the Civil war at this time tempted him to join the first volunteers who went for- ward, but the increased wages he was earning enabled him to save enough to purchase the time of his younger brother, who had been "bound out" to the shoemakers' trade, and when he had turned over the support of his mother to this younger brother he promptly enlisted in the Thirty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry. He shared the hardships and dangers of its campaigns with Reno's brigade of the Ninth Corps until after Fredericksburg. The organization was ordered west, when he was sent to the hospital near Fortress Monroe and in the fall of 1863 given his discharge. A year at home so restored his health that he again entered the army as a recruit for the Second Massachusetts Battery, from which, after a few weeks he was transferred to the Sixth Battery, located at New Orleans. Upon its reorganization he was appointed first sergeant, and just before the close of the war received a lieutenant's com- mission.


Returning to civil life he obtained a foreman's position on the Randolph Register, which paper he subsequently purchased, and successfully managed. Being offered a partnership in the larger establishment where he had learned his trade-the Brockton Gazette -he returned in 1869 to his native city, where the business proved both profitable and agreeable. But the death of all the rest of his mother's family from consumption during these few years and the declaration of the physicians that only an out-of-door life could save him from the dread disease, compelled him to sell out in 1874 and move to Southern California.


For a few months he held a foreman's position in the Los Ang- 23


Digitized by Google


384


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


eles Herald office, but a severe illness compelled him to surrender this and seek a less humid climate. Coming to Riverside in April, 1875, he purchased a considerable tract of land on Brockton avenue, near which so many of his fellow townsmen settled that the street was later given its name out of compliment to them.


Everything was experimental in those days, and, like others, Mr. Holmes planted many varieties of trees and vines for himself and non-resident owners. Many of these proved unprofitable, and were in after years dug up to give place to those which promised better. Raisins were among the first to prove successful, and were for years the main source of income. But when the young orange trees began to fruit, it was Mr. Holmes' privilege to be one of the little committee of horticultural students who gathered to pass upon the qualities of the first Riverside oranges in comparison with specimens from Europe and Florida. The result of these tests proved to all that the Riverside grown navel orange was the best in the world, and that the soil and climate were unequalled anywhere for producing citrus fruits. Out of this grew the citrus fair associations which did so much to aid in the horticultural devel- opment of the state.


In 1886 he was selected with Messrs. Garcelon and Waite to represent Riverside at the great citrus fair held in Chicago, which more than any other influence started the great immigration move- ment into Southern California. Two years later he was sent to take charge of a similar exhibit held in New York as a means of introducing our fruit into that great distributing market.


Elected a school official when the city had but a single school building, he was successively chosen by an almost unanimous vote, and held the position of executive officer of the school board for some fifteen years. He organized the Riverside high school, and was the author of the Union District High School law by which a single district or a combination of small country districts may pro- vide preparatory schools, and thus enable the children to be edu- cated at home.


He was chosen to fill a vacancy on the board of city trustees in 1884, and unanimously re-elected in 1886, serving altogether over six years, during the last two of which he was chairman. Sub- sequently he was chairman of the city's "street ornamentation committee" for seven years. He was the principal organizer of the Riverside Library Association in 1879, and it was through his efforts while acting mayor that the library was presented to the city and made a free public library. He was later one of the library board which selected the plans for and located our beautiful Car- negie library building.


In 1887 Mr. Holmes became managing editor of the San Ber- nardino Index, a morning daily owned by a syndicate of county


Digitized by Google


1


385


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


Republicans, but after a year's experience he found the work upon a morning daily too severe and resigned. The following year he associated himself with R. J. Pierson and James H. Roe and pur- chased the two daily and two weekly papers of the city. These were consolidated and published as the Daily Press and Horticulturist, Mr. Holmes being in editorial charge. Seven years later he sold out to the Press Publishing Company, of which E. P. Clark is president.


In 1888 San Bernardino county elected Mr. Holmes as assembly- man, and his services in that position won him high commendation. The present horticultural law and the Union District High School law, both of his writing, have proved of great practical value to the state. In 1893 a vacancy occurred on the board of county supervisors, and Governor Pardee appointed him to the position His fellow citizens of the Second district have three times re-elected him to that office, which he still holds.


At the age of twenty-two Mr. Holmes was married to Miss Ruth C. Nickerson of Harwich, Mass. She died in giving birth to a son, Elmer Elwood, who grew up in Riverside, and was for years head mailing clerk in the Los Angeles postoffice, and died in 1903 leaving four children. In 1871 occurred the marriage of E. W. Holmes and Miss Alice E. Odell of Randolph, Mass., who came with him to share the pioneer work in Riverside. Two daughters were the result of this union, both of whom graduated from the Riverside high school and the State University. Anne Lucia mar- ried Loye Holmes Miller of Riverside and is the mother of two sons; and Alice Bertha became the wife of Otis D. Baldwin of Riverside and has given her parents a grand-daughter.


E. F. WOLEVER


Among Riverside county's successful business men is E. F. Wolever, manager of the Sugar Loaf Orange Growers Association with offices at Highgrove. Since 1882 Mr. Wolever has been a resident of this section, his judicious and honorable business methods having secured him his present position of trust and re- sponsibility. He was born August 26, 1863, near Lafayette, Tippe- canoe county, Ind., where his parents, Elias and Esther (Brown- miller) Wolever, natives of Pennsylvania, located in 1855. In company with other brave pioneers of that period they worked with a will to bring into a more habitable state the wild country


Digitized by Google


386


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


in which they had chosen to build their home. To that end they cleared away the heavy timber which was an original characteristic of that section of Indiana, and erected a modest little house in which they passed the remainder of their lives, the father passing away in 1902 and the mother in 1905. The following children, all of whom attained maturity, were born to Mr. and Mrs. Wolever : E. F., Aaron P., a physician of St. Louis, Mo .; Joseph T., a business man of Monticello, Ind .; Rev. John E., who now has charge of the Medicine Lodge (Kans.) Presbyterian Church; and five daughters, all of whom are married.


After receiving an elementary course in the district school E. F. Wolever entered the high school of his native state, from which he graduated with class honors. He remained in the parental home until 1882, when he joined friends in Riverside, Cal., where he engaged in ranching for a few years, then entered a commercial college in San Francisco. Upon the completion of his course he became agent and operator for the Southern Pacific Railroad Com- pany, serving in various towns, including cities in Nevada. In 1904 he returned to California, where he became agent and operator for the Santa Fe Railroad Company, but after two years located on a ranch near Highgrove which he had purchased while in the service of the Southern Pacific. Upon the sale of this property he bought a highly improved orange tract of ten acres upon which his present artistic and modern home is situated.


Mr. Wolever was the chief promoter of the Sugar Loaf Orange Growers Association, which was incorporated in October, 1908, and of which he was chosen manager. This association controls approx- imately seven hundred acres of oranges and lemons, the packing and shipping of which are under Mr. Wolever's jurisdiction. The association is made up of selected foot-hill orchards and has an annual output of about two hundred cars of the finest quality of oranges, lemons and grape fruit.


The marriage of Mr. Wolever and Miss Hattie L. Newlen occurred in Riverside September 10, 1894, and they have one daughter, Anita Blanche. Mrs. Wolever is a daughter of August Newlen, a prominent business man of Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Wolever was one of the organizers and also a member of the board of directors of the Highgrove Bank, in which he is still interested. Politically he disregards partisanships and lends his support to the candidates whom he believes best fitted for the duties in question. Though many times urged to accept public office he has steadfastly refused, wisely choosing to devote his best energies to his business interests and to his home. Both him- self and his wife are active and consistent members of the High- grove Methodist Episcopal Church and are held in high esteem throughout the community.


Digitized by Google


=


i


Digitized by Google


.


-


Frankmiller


Digitized by Google


389


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


FRANK AUGUSTUS MILLER


It was the hope of the pioneers to make here an ideal com- munity, where all that Nature and intelligent human effort could contribute should unite to draw together the cultured and refined. Many there are who have contributed by their services or their wealth to aid in the furthering of this purpose. Some were ideal- ists, and some have been practical business men who realized that dreams alone could never bring about the end desired. The subject of this sketch seems to have possessed a combination of these quali- ties, and behind these an indomitable will and a capacity for win- ning the aid of others in pushing to success undertakings which to those not largely influenced by sentiment seemed almost chimerical. The success which has attended the many undertakings with which Mr. Miller has been identified was not due to himself alone. Indeed, in behalf of many of these he had, especially at the outset, little money of his own to contribute, and without the generous aid of others failure would have resulted, and he therefore shares with many other public spirited citizens the credit for the splendid re- sults obtained. And yet without his absolute faith in the future of the valley and the value of the various plans he advocated to further its advancement, and the possession of a never failing "nerve" to push forward his progressive plans, he never could have inspired others with the courage to risk their capital in undertakings that to the timid promised only failure. It is true that many of the projects his brain was so fertile in suggesting involved either directly or indirectly a probable benefit to himself, but there was not one of these that did not also bring a very certain benefit to every other citizen. To further the ends he sought he became active in political matters, and thereby often invited criticism; but a study of the larger projects he undertook in behalf of Riverside will show that it was through his political affiliations alone that some of the best things were secured for Riverside. The first of these was the vic- tory in the fight for county division, where the political influence he secured was the factor which gave ultimate success, and made Riverside the county seat of a splendid county. The same influence was powerful in securing the location in this city of the fine govern- ment Indian school-the Sherman Institute-with the expenditure of large government funds here, the beautifying of the Arlington sec- tion and a large increase in the city's population. So it was in obtaining the large appropriation for the government building now in process of erection on Orange street. Riverside citizens must in simple justice admit that political influences have been excel- lently used to her advantage.


Digitized by Google


390


HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY


But there are other accomplishments to his credit. When the original street car system to Arlington had proven a failure it was he who undertook the reorganization of the company, to make it an electric line, with Chemawa Park as an adjunct. Finding the load too heavy for him to carry and the line unproductive, he prevailed upon H. E. Huntington to assume the debt of over $50,000 and take the property. As a result Riverside has now a local electric trolley system superior to that of any city of her size in the state, and one which is a part of the great Pacific Electric system of Southern California and shortly to connect her with Los Angeles and all the other cities of this section of the state.


It was Mr. Miller who took the initiative and secured the finan- cial help required to build our two first business blocks, the Loring Opera House and the Rubidoux, and later devised the scheme and secured the assistance of H. E. Huntington and several of our own citizens in transforming Mount Rubidoux and its vicinity into Hunt- ington Park, with its wonderful drive to where at the summit stands a cross in honor of Father Serra, and where the beauty of the entire valley is shown from a single standpoint.


He is today deeply interested in having completed the group of fine buildings which shall give the city a civic center of excep- tional beauty, and to this end is aiding in the construction of what he likes to characterize as the "Riverside Church," to be built on the corner of Seventh and Lemon streets, and which he hopes shall be conspicuous both for its architectural beauty and for the work its occupants shall be able to accomplish for the public good.


But the crowning work of his life is the Glenwood Mission Inn, the central attraction which Riverside offers the tourist. In this undertaking he first sought and obtained the liberal financial aid of his fellow citizens and of outside capitalists whom he had con- vinced of the practicability of the undertaking. In this undertak- ing, too, H. E. Huntington evidenced his friendship by generous backing; and such men as Dr. David Starr Jordan gave their advice and support. Dr. Jordan says of the Glenwood Mission Inn, "It has been left for you, Frank Miller, a genuine Californian, to dream of the hotel that ought to be, to turn your ideal into plaster and stone, and to give us in mountain-belted Riverside the one hotel which a Californian can recognize as his own." Into it he put the unique features which he believed would enable him to secure pat- ronage which would never be given a conventional hotel located in a small city. In the forming of the plans so splendidly carried out he always had the loyal backing of his family as a whole, but the perfection of the plan in its details was made possible only by the aid of a gifted wife, whose good sense, thorough scholarship and love of the artistic furnished the particular influence needed to create the homelike resort which Baedeker stars as among the




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.