History of Riverside County, California, Part 37

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 37


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best in the world. He has here shown, with the help of his capable sister, Mrs. Alice Richardson, who has the management, what is a conviction with him, that people are governed largely by sentiment, and that a community which manifests its love for the beautiful by a systematic utilization of its natural advantages and a unity of action in regard to architecture, street and park making, etc., is sure to create an atmosphere peculiar to itself and attract to its citizenship the intelligent and moral. In other words, a city which Aristotle defines as "a place where men live a common life for a noble end." It is a credit to Riverside that Mr. Miller has won for himself a place in Who Is Who.


Mr. Miller is the son of Capt. Christopher C. and Mary (Clark) Miller. He was born at Tomah, Wis., June 30, 1859, and passed his early years amid the forests of that state, many of his playmates in childhood being the Indian children of the neighborhood. Of course only a few years of public school life were possible, but his mother was a well educated woman and gave her children instruction in their home. At fifteen the growing boy was strengthened physically by being permitted to accompany his father on surveying expedi- tions into the wilderness. He came to Riverside with the family, in 1873, his father having been employed in making surveys during the previous year. Frank was compelled to work at any honorable labor to assist the family, and had a varied experience in herding sheep, driving mules, budding trees, clerking and acting as zanjero.


His father was induced to accept the block of land where the Glenwood now stands in payment of a bill of $275 for surveying, and when it was decided to build the original little adobe hotel, now the tea room of the great Mission Inn, he undertook, with an Indian as a helper, to make the adobe bricks of which it was to be con- structed, working bare-footed in the wet clay. His first business venture was the purchase of a grocery store, which he ran suc- cessfully under the name of the "Blue Front."


In 1880 he was married to Miss Isabella Demarest Hardenburg, who was one of the first school principals of Riverside. She died in July, 1908, leaving one daughter, Allis Hardenburg Miller, who is now the wife of Dewitt V. Hutchings. Mr. Miller was again married on the 8th of December, 1911, to Miss Marian C. Clark of Riverside. E. W. H.


CHARLES F. WAITE


Among Riverside's most enterprising young business men is C. E. Waite, who is peculiarly fitted for his responsible duties as assistant cashier of the Riverside Savings & Trust Company. His father is L. C. Waite, who is well known as one of the founders


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of Riverside, and of whom an extended mention is given on another page of this volume.


The birth of Charles E. Waite occurred January 14, 1878, in Riverside, where he received a thorough public school education, graduating from high school in 1897 and immediately matriculating in Stanford University, taking an economic course. Upon com- pletion of his studies in 1901 he returned to Riverside, being elected in February, 1903, to his present office, which he has since filled with an ease and ability which have gained him the entire con- fidence of his associates.


Mr. Waite was united in marriage October 19, 1905, with Miss Gertrude Ferris, native of Illinois, the ceremony taking place in Galesburg, and since then their artistic home at No. 640 Second street has been open to their many friends.


Active in Evergreen Lodge No. 259, F. & A. M., Mr. Waite is also a Shriner and is affiliated with Riverside Lodge No. 643, B. P. O. E., (which he serves as treasurer) Riverside Parlor, N. S. G. W., and the Loyal Legion. He is a stanch Republican, well versed in affairs political, and is an active member of the Riverside Congregational Church, endeavoring at all times to ex- press in his daily life the principles of true fellowship.


JAMES A. CRANE


Among the leading citizens of Riverside county, none enjoys wider esteem than does J. A. Crane of Elsinore, whose untiring labors in behalf of that section have won full recognition in the field of his endeavors. He was born in Stanford, Monroe county, Ind., December 25, 1872, a son of John Crane, also a native of that state and who for many years was a prosperous farmer there. He and his wife, formerly Susan Fultz, born in Marysville, Ohio, have been residents of California since January, 1896, and are now living in San Dimas, where Mr. Crane is interested in orange grow- ing, banking and in the packing house business.


One of a family of seventeen children, James A. Crane received a common school education in the vicinity of his birthplace and in 1883 accompanied his parents to Nebraska, where, upon completing his high school course, he became a teacher in the public schools in that state, continuing for three years during the winter months, while during the summers he worked on the farm. Deciding to come to California to see if he could not better his condition he located


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in Glendora and found employment with the Santa Fe Railroad Company at section work and two years later he was given station work at Azusa. From there he was transferred to North Pomona in 1900, and the following year to Oro Grande, where he remained about eighteen montlis and in March, 1903, he was sent to take charge of the station at Elsinore. After three years of faithful service at this point, during which time he became closely con- nected with the interests of that locality, he resigned and accepted a position as cashier of the Consolidated Bank of Elsinore, of which he is also a large stockholder. During the time he was agent at Elsinore he also was engaged in the drug business, having pur- chased a store and continued the business for three years with suc- cess and until his many other duties made it necessary for him to sell out.


In March, 1910, at the earnest solicitation of his many friends and fellow citizens of the fourth district, Mr. Crane became a candidate for the office of supervisor and was elected by a large majority at the general election November 8, 1910. As a member of the board his duties are arduous and he resigned his position as cashier of the bank to devote his entire time and attention to the duties of his office. The territory included in his jurisdiction has three times as much road work to supervise as districts one, two and three combined, and more money is expended annually, and therefore the greater portion of his time is occupied in repairing and building permanent roads. He is also on the committee of the county hospital. Always active in politics, he has ever been a sup- porter of Republican principles. He has served as a delegate to county, congressional and state conventions, is a member of the Republican county central committee and served on the executive board of same for a number of years. He is the representative from Riverside county to the Southern California Panama Pacific Expo- sition Commission to arrange for displays at different expositions and fairs; is also one of the committee of seven on the Ocean to Ocean Highway Commission, and a delegate to the meeting held in Riverside May 10, 1912, of the trustees from different school districts throughout the county, consisting of all grammar and high schools, for concerted action on various phases of educational work. During the building of the Elsinore Union high school building, after the contractor had failed in carrying out the contract, Mr. Crane completed the job by day labor, spending about one hundred days without compensation. He is secretary and treasurer of the Elsinore Electric Light Company, in which he owns the controlling interest, clerk of the Elsinore Union high school board and secre- tary and treasurer of the Elsinore Land and Water Company.


On February 16, 1900, Mr. Crane was united in marriage with Miss Evangeline Wyman Tooker, a native of Dodge City, Iowa,


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who came to California with her parents, John F. and Eugenia Tooker, in 1890. They are natives of Nova Scotia and are now living in Santa Monica, Cal. Of the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Crane two children have been born, Laura Eleanor, born in August, 1905, and Susan Patricia, born in 1909. Fraternally Mr. Crane is a member of Elsinore Lodge No. 289, F. & A. M., Elsinore Lodge No. 140, K. of P., and Riverside Lodge No. 643, B. P. O. E. In all progressive movements for the general upbuilding of the county he is always found ready to lend his aid and in many movements he has taken the initiative. As a public spirited citizen he is held in the highest esteem.


FRANK S. JOHNSON


A progressive and prosperous rancher and stockman of the section in the vicinity of Arlington, where he is the owner of sixty- two acres of valuable land, is Frank S. Johnson, who has been a resident of Riverside county since 1902. He was born March 7, 1881, in Butler county, Iowa, where he grew to manhood on his father's farm. He received his preliminary education in the public schools of that locality, this later being supplemented by a year at Armour Institute, Chicago. He followed the occupation of station- ary engineer in that city and later in California, spending about five years in that calling. While a resident of Los Angeles he bought property and made many improvements upon it, later sell- ing out and coming to Riverside county in 1906. He then bought the property he now owns and occupies, erected suitable buildings for his needs at that time and placed most of his land under alfalfa, securing water from the Riverside Water Company for irrigation. He also set out some fruit for family use.


After he had located on his property Mr. Johnson returned east to attend school and while there was taken sick and confined in a hospital for some time. During this time he became acquainted with his nurse, Miss Mabel Hayward, who was born and reared in Michigan, where she also received good educational advantages. On April 24, 1906, they were married and soon after left for Cali- fornia, where Mr. Johnson's interests were located, and since that time have been residents of this county. Two children have been born to them, Franklin H. and Marian M.


In all matters of importance for the advancement of the inter- ests of the county and its citizens, Mr. Johnson has been a liberal supporter. In national politics a Republican, in his district he has


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served as a member and clerk of the school board and been inter- ested in matters pertaining to the education of the young. In Au- gust, 1911, he engaged in the dairy business, making a specialty of a first-class product, which he wholesales and retails at Corona. He erected a modern and perfectly sanitary dairy barn at a cost of over $1,000, with all of its appurtenances of a most up-to-date character. He also has branched out in raising Berkshire hogs for breeding purposes and it is his intention to gradually work into the high- grade stock business in the near future. In all of his dealings he endeavors to abide by the "Golden Rule."


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JOSEPH SIMPSON


ยท Well known as a successful business man and rancher of the Hemet section Mr. Simpson has been a resident of the San Jacinto valley since 1893. After coming to this locality he made other in- vestments, but it was not until after disposing of his interests in Seattle about 1906 that he was able to give his entire time to his San Jacinto valley property. Here he owns twenty-five acres, of which, during the year of purchase, he planted thirteen acres to olives.


Mr. Simpson was born June 18, 1846, in Vaduriel county, Que- bec, where he spent his youth. In 1867 he located in Nevada, where he engaged in lumbering and mining for about fifteen years. He removed to Seattle, Wash., in 1882 and was employed on a railroad and also worked in the timber until. 1893, when he came to San Jacinto valley and purchased the property upon which he now resides. In 1905 he erected a comfortable home and other buildings and continued to develop his tract, planting ten acres to apricots, one to oranges and a portion to peaches and other fruits, his orchard now ranking among the finest in the valley.


March 4, 1890, Mr. Simpson was united in marriage in Seattle with Miss Gertrude Marsh, a native of Wisconsin, whose parents came to California (where she was reared) and later located in Washington.


Mr. Simpson was one of the promoters and is a director of the Farmers' and Merchants' Bank of Hemet. He is conceded to be a man of conservative business methods and unquestioned honor. A Democrat, maintaining an active interest in political movements, . he has never cared for public office, preferring to devote his at- tention to his home and his business. Fraternally he is allied with San Jacinto Lodge, No. 338, F. & A. M., and Hemet Lodge K. of P.


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PRIESTLEY HALL


A resident of Riverside from his fourteenth year until his death, July 27, 1911, Priestley Hall, the only son of Dr. John Hall, a pioneer of Riverside, was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, May 15, 1859. One year later his parents located in New York City, where he was educated until fourteen years of age and in 1873 accompanied them to Riverside, Cal., where he completed his schooling in 1877, after which he engaged in horticultural pursuits with his father.


In 1880 Mr. Hall bought one hundred and sixty acres of un- improved land of Mrs. Annie Denton Cridge located east of his father's place. He later added another eighty acres to this and together with forty acres left him by his father made him owner of two hundred and eighty acres within the city limits of Riverside. The first twenty acres were subdivided in 1886, when some people were looking for property in his direction. This found ready sale and the following spring he placed forty acres more on the market. He then planted his whole tract and a part of his father's home- stead and formed Hall's Addition to Riverside. With characteris- tic energy he graded avenues and street, laid out parks and planted and cared for thousands of ornamental trees to enhance its value. Subsequently this was all sold off with the exception of twenty acres in his home place and yielded him a handsome profit.


The Gage canal system (of which for years he was assistant engineer under C. C. Miller) being completed and able to supply water, Mr. Hall, in 1887, incorporated Hall's Addition Water Com- pany and was made its president. Pipe lines were laid from their reservoir two and one-half miles to the addition and branch lines laid through the principal avenues, forming a complete supply for domestic and irrigation purposes. Sixty thousand dollars were expended in perfecting this system, which was later sold to the Artesia Water Company. In June, 1887, he incorporated Hall's Addition Railroad Company, was made president and general man- ager and built and equipped one and one-half miles of street railway, upon which were operated mule-cars, from Main and Tenth streets to a central part of the tract, thus placing the addition within easy access of the city and making this section unequalled for residence and horticultural purposes, and for scenic beauty it was unsur- passed. This car line was afterwards consolidated with the River- side-Arlington Railway, in which Mr. Hall became a director. He also organized and became sole proprietor of Hall's Addition Nursery Company, supplying stock of all kinds to Riverside and surrounding country. Other development enterprises in which he was intensely interested were the placing of many acres of thor-


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Printy Hall


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oughly developed alfalfa land on the market in the vicinity of Corona, this being one of the factors in the present prosperity of that section. He was also interested in land in the vicinity of Arch Beach extending as far as San Juan Point. In his home place he was engaged in growing oranges with considerable success.


July 29, 1890, in Riverside, occurred the marriage of Priestley Hall and Miss Agnes Overton, who was born in Avoca, Wis. At the time of their marriage Mr. Hall gave his wife a "deed of gift" to "Rockledge," which has been her home ever since. The death of Mr. Hall was a shock to his many friends in Riverside, where he was regarded as one of her most public spirited and enterpris- ing citizens. He was a straightforward, energetic business man, honest and liberal in all his transactions and justly merited the suc- cess he acquired in life. In politics he supported Republican men and measures at all times, although avowedly at heart a Prohibi- tionist and working wherever practicable for the success of prohi- bition principles. He was a member of Second Church of Christ Scientist of Riverside and his life was expressive of the true be- lievers in that doctrine. In fraternal relations he was a Mason, being a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., River- side Chapter, No. 67, R. A. M., and Riverside Commandery, No. 28, K. T. At the occasion of his death these lodges sent resolutions to Mrs. Hall that were very appreciative of his life and character.


FREDERICK C. MARTIN


One of Beaumont's best known citizens is Mr. Martin, who, for the past twenty-two years has been in the service of the Southern Pacific Railroad Company, having been employed as fireman the first five years, when he was promoted to the responsible position of engineer. His father, Russell C. Martin, who is also an engineer on the Southern Pacific line, is a son of Dr. Norman R. Martin, and was born in Vermont in 1848. At the age of but fourteen years his physique enabled him to enlist in the United States Cavalry, serving in the field until the close of the war. Later he went to New York, where he married Miss Sarah A. Gibson, a native of that state. For a time Mr. Martin manufactured lumber, but left this industry upon purchasing his father's drug store, which he ably conducted prior to his removal in 1881 to Los Angeles, where he has since resided.


Frederick C. Martin, who was born in Franklin county, N. Y., August 26, 1870, was eleven years of age when his parents


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located in Los Angeles, where he received his education. Upon completion of his studies he engaged in the grocery business, but after five years entered railroad work and has been thus engaged . ever since. Throughout his career he met with but one accident on the road, in which he received not the slightest personal injury. He is regarded as one of the most trusted engineers on the road, and for the past seven years he has been in charge of an engine used on steep grades.


For a time Mr. Martin owned property in Glendale, but later purchased in Beaumont lots upon which he erected a comfortable home, and he also owns several vacant lots in Beaumont. He was one of the promoters, as well as a stockholder and director, of the Beaumont Bank, and also assisted in organizing the Beaumont Gas Company, which he served as president and of which he is a stockholder. He has always been deeply interested in educational progress and 'for a time acted as chairman of the board of educa- tion, assisting materially in securing new school buildings and other improvements.


Mr. Martin married April 19, 1901, Miss Harriet M. White, who was born in San Francisco, her father having been a native of Massachusetts. After finishing her studies in the schools in the city of her birth she completed her education in Los Angeles, where she taught in the public schools until her marriage. She is chairman of Civics for the Southern District Federation and is a prominent and popular society and club woman of Beaumont.


A progressive Republican, Mr. Martin has never sought office, though he has always been closely identified with municipal de- velopments. For some years he enjoyed associate membership in the Young Men's Christian Association of Los Angeles and active membership in the Jonathan Club. He is well known as a musician and formerly was a member of the Philharmonic Society, as well as of other similar organizations. He is active in the Masonic fraternity, holding membership in San Jacinto Lodge No. 338, F. & A. M .; Chapter No. 83, R. A. M., and St. Bernard Commandery No. 23, San Bernardino, Cal., and with his wife is a member of La Victoria Chapter No. 241, O. E. S., San Jacinto.


GEORGE W. GARCELON


George W. Garcelon was one of Riverside's pioneer settlers and ranked among the leading practical horticulturists of the county. He was born in New Brunswick in 1832, and was reared


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and schooled in his native place until twenty years of age. In starting life on his own account he decided to establish himself in the United States, and in 1852 located in Lewiston, Me., and was there employed as a clerk in the drug business. In 1856 he estab- lished himself in business as a druggist in that city. He married, in Lewiston, Me., in 1858, Miss Mary F. Tobie, daughter of Edward P. Tobie.


Mr. Garcelon conducted his business until 1872, when he sought a home in California and located at Riverside. Soon after his arrival he purchased a two and one-half acre block between Vine and Mulberry and Sixth and Seventh streets and entered upon horticultural pursuits, and the following spring erected the first plastered house in the colony. He also purchased a twenty-acre tract on Brockton avenue, at the corner of Bandini avenue. He entered heartily into his new calling, growing his own nursery stock and planting citrus and deciduous trees. He had unbounded faith in citrus fruit growing in Riverside and spent time and money in advancing the industry.


The history of the citrus fairs of the world dates its first effort to the spring of 1877, when the orange groves of Riverside submitted their products to the inspection of the horticultural world in the parlor of Mr. Garcelon's modest home. It was the birth of the Citrus Fair Association.


Mr. Garcelon early saw the possibilities of the lemon growing industry in this section, but the great problem to be solved was the proper curing and preserving to enable the producers to successfully compete with the foreign lemons imported into the country. He spent years in study and experimental research and after ten years of time and labor his efforts were rewarded by success and he had added another source of untold wealth to the citrus fruit growers of Southern California. He erected a storage warehouse and lemon- curing establishment on the corner of Brockton and Bandini ave- nues, but his process and means of curing are not known to the public. Mr. Garcelon did not allow his horticultural pursuits to lessen his interest in other industries that have built up the city and county and meritorious enterprises found a liberal supporter in him. In political matters he was a stanch Republican. In 1888 he was prevailed upon to become a candidate for supervisor from his district and was elected for a four-year term. He was a member of the board of trade and in 1886 was one of Riverside's representa- tives to the Chicago fair and had charge of the exhibit. He was for many years a member and trustee of the Congregational church here; also a member of Riverside Chapter No. 68, R. A. M., and Riverside Commandery No. 28, K. T. Mr. Garcelon passed away on March 9, 1905.


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DRS. JOHN AND DOROTHEA S. HALL


The worthy couple whose names head this article will ever be remembered in Riverside for the good they accomplished to hu- manity by ministering to their well being, and by their many acts of philanthropy and kindness.


Dr. John Hall was born May 13, 1819, in Leeds, Yorkshire, Eng- land, and was there reared and educated, after which he learned the trade of printer. In 1885 he decided to immigrate to the United States, having in mind the better opportunities for advancement and money making than his native country afforded. He located in Wisconsin for a time, following his trade, and in 1848 went to Canada and found employment in Toronto. Working at the prin- ter's trade and studying medicine in the Toronto School of Medicine until 1857, he again came to the United States and entered the Western Homeopathic College in Cleveland, Ohio, from which he was graduated in 1858. That same year he was united in marriage with Miss Dorothea Stahl, a native of Darke county, Ohio, born May 14, 1824, and who had completed her medical course in the same class as Dr. Hall. The young couple located in Cincinnati and began the practice of their profession, later, in 1860, removing to New York City, where they continued successfully until 1873.




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