USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 42
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
The presence of a brother-in-law in Riverside caused Mr. Wil- son to gain considerable information concerning the country prior to his removal hither. After he had worked for others from 1886 until 1889 he then rented land and in two years netted $2600 over and above his expenses. Thus he was enabled to buy property and he then acquired the land at West Riverside which he still owns. Since then he has devoted his attention to the improvement of the tract. Ten acres are in oranges in full bearing condition and of the choicest quality. There are also peaches and apricots to some ex- tent, but he has found the deciduous trees less profitable than the citrus fruits, hence he specializes with the latter. The first house on the place was built of adobe and while it proved to be comfort-
Digitized by Google
457
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
able, its appearance was less attractive than the present modern residence, which with its environment of shade and ornamental trees delights the eye of the visitor.
In Platte county, Mo., October 9, 1870, occurred the marriage of L. S. Wilson and Cordelia I. Smith, who was born in Dearborn county, Ind., and removed to Missouri with her father, G. B. Smith, settling in Platte county. The young couple settled on a farm near Platte City and engaged in general farming there until 1886, the year of their removal to California. They are the parents of nine children, namely: Mrs. Alice Pulley, who lives on a ranch in San Bernardino county; Myrtle, wife of James Carrington, a business man of Riverside; James H., a rancher by occupation; May, Mrs. F. E. McBride, who lives on a ranch at West Riverside; Elva J., Mrs. Philip Smith, of Riverside; Roscoe, who is earning his own way in business; Lora, wife of Henry Davenport, a rancher at West River- side; Raymond S. and Oscar, who remain with their parents.
The principles of progressive Republicanism receive the stanch support of Mr. Wilson, who throughout his active life has main- tained a warm interest in public affairs and taken an active part in local politics. Besides a service, previously mentioned, of eight years as a justice of the peace in Waldron township, Platte county, Mo., he has officiated in Riverside county as a justice of the peace, also as deputy county clerk and deputy assessor. For twenty-five years he has made his home in Riverside and during twenty-three years of that time he has been identified with the Riverside Lodge, I. O. O. F., besides which he has taken a leading part in the work of the Encampment and Canton. Wonderful changes have been made in the city and county since he came here and in this transformation it has been his privilege to assist, so that he has become known as a man of tried integrity and worth and a citizen of progressive spirit.
EDWARD BRIDSON
Whatever degree of success may have been achieved by Mr. Bridson and whatever the extent of his prosperity, it may be attrib- uted wholly to his unaided exertions, for he lacked the prestige of influential friends or even a high school education to aid him as he started to earn his own livelihood in an indifferent world. Life to him was not a smooth-sailing ship gliding peacefully over the blue waters, but a storm-enwrapped vessel hurled to and fro by the somber tempests that darkened the vast ocean of existence. In spite of discouragements neither few nor small, he has worked his way forward to a comfortable position financially and an enviable stand- ing socially, while at the same time he is regarded as one of the
Digitized by Google
458
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
capable horticulturists of the community. When he came to West Riverside, his present location, the neighborhood was sparsely set- tled and the land that he purchased was covered with brush, pre- senting an aspect radically different from its present orderly and prosperous appearance. The change is due to his unceasing efforts and wise supervision which have made the wild land a productive estate.
The earliest recollections of Edward Bridson cluster around the city of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was born December 2, 1856, and whence he removed in 1867 to Detroit, Mich. Thrown upon his own resources for a livelihood, he was deprived of educational advant- ages and of the other opportunities enjoyed by more prosperous lads. For a time he lived in Oakland county, Mich., and for nine years he worked as an assistant to James Wilson, a farmer, whose daughter he afterward married. From Michigan he came to Cali- fornia and settled in Solano county, spending eight busy seasons in that region, and in Fresno county. His next step was to take up a land claim in Oklahoma. After he had proved up on the property he sold out and returned to Oakland county, Mich., where, March 27, 1891, he was united in marriage with Miss Elma Wilson, who was born, reared and educated in that county.
Immediately after his marriage Mr. Bridson brought his wife to California and settled at West Riverside, where he bought ten acres of raw land. Later he bought three acres adjoining, which he devotes to alfalfa and vegetables. Seven acres of the original pur- chase have been planted to navel oranges of the choicest varieties and all of these are now in bearing. One acre is under cultivation to lemons and an equal area is devoted to apricots. In 1909 he sold three tons of dried apricots and these he had gathered from ninety- seven trees, the whole forming a crop of unusual magnitude and value. The first cottage which he built was quite small, but it has since been remodeled and enlarged, so that it forms a pleasant home for the family, consisting of Mr. and Mrs. Bridson and their three children, Ruth C., James W. and Lois. The older daughter attends the Riverside high school. In religion the family are identified with the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Riverside. By precept and example Mr. Bridson gives the temperance cause his support, and politically he votes with the Prohibition party whenever a candidate is brought forward by that organization. While in Michigan he became a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and served his lodge in various official capacities, including noble grand, but since he came to Riverside he has not continued his fraternal activities. It has been his privilege to witness the development of his neighborhood, which at the time of his arrival was sparsely set- tled and wholly unimproved, but which now is a center of pleasant homes and prosperous horticultural activities.
Digitized by Google
7
k
L
Digitized by
:
-- -
James M. Gilman
Digitized by
Mrs. Martha B. Gilman.
Digitized by
THE NEW Y. IN
Digitized by Google
463
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
JAMES M. GILMAN
One of the honored pioneers of the San Gorgonio Pass country and a man who has aided very materially in the development of the agricultural resources of the country in the vicinity of Banning is J. M. Gilman, who was born in Meredith, Belknap county, N. H., June 9, 1842. He was a son of James and Susan (Mead) Gilman, both born and reared in that same county and of English ancestry. The great-great-grandfather Gilman, also named James, was the progenitor of the family in America. He had a son David, who was one of the respected pioneers of Belknap county, and was one of its first farmers. James M. is one of eight children born to his parents, and one of the four survivors: Granville B., of San Francisco; D. Frank, on the old home place in New Hampshire, where the par- ents spent their last years; and Lillie E., the wife of F. S. Prescott, of Oakland.
.
James M. Gilman received his education in the common district school and continued to make his home with his parents until 1863. He then journeyed to Oregon and secured employment as a clerk in a mercantile store at The Dalles. In 1869 he came to California and located on his present place, then but a wild tract of land, on which was a small adobe house. He pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres, bought eighty acres of railroad land and took up an additional eighty acres under the desert act; about one-half of the land was tillable and the balance pasture land. The thing he found of most value was a running stream of pure water from the moun- tains; this he has developed and now has an ample supply for all purposes, having a reservoir overlooking the lower land, and water is delivered to all parts of his ranch by gravity. On an eminence overlooking the entire valley he erected a comfortable house and set out trees for shade and ornamentation. He also has an orchard of fifty acres in prunes, plums, apricots, almonds and olives, as well as a vineyard, all in bearing condition and ranking well with any other orchard in the locality. In 1909 the property was incorpor- ated under the name of the Gilman Home Company.
On January 14, 1871, at Highland Home place, occurred the marriage of J. M. Gilman and Miss Martha B. Smith, a daughter of Dr. Isaac Smith, one of the pioneers of this section of the country, having brought his family to this part of what is now Riverside county in 1853, from their home in Iowa, where Mrs. Gilman was born. Mr. and Mrs. Gilman became the parents of eight children, one of whom died in early childhood. Those living are: M. French, married and in the service of the United States government, with headquarters at Sacaton, Ariz .; Herbert M., who is married, and
Digitized by Google
464
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
a well-known rancher of Trinity county, Cal .; Carrie A., in the employ of the government at Sacaton; James G., of Banning; Arthur F., also in the government employ at Sacaton; C. Mabel, at home; and Ethel S., a graduate from the Los Angeles Normal school and now engaged in teaching.
Mr. Gilman is a Democrat in politics and is deeply interested in the welfare of the party. For one year he acted as deputy as- sessor of San Bernardino county and after the county of Riverside had been created, retained the position for the next two years. He also was road master in the pioneer days. He has cheerfully aided to the best of his ability in the improvement of the community and is well known as one of the most progressive and devoted citizens of the county. When he first located at his present place herds of deer and antelope roamed the valley and grizzly bears often came down the mountains, and wild game of all kinds abounded. He has seen the country grow to its well-populated condition, the small villages grow to thriving cities, and the wild land that was cov- ered with sage brush and scrub timber develop into the finest farm- ing land in the state. He and his family are active workers in the Baptist Church in Banning, and at the time of the building of the new edifice was one of the liberal contributors towards its erection.
AUSTIN A. GAMBLE
An excellent type of our energetic, aggressive American man- hood, Mr. Gamble has met with unqualified success in the many well-directed business ventures which mark his life. He was born in Zanesville, Ohio, April 17, 1853, and at the age of fourteen years accompanied his parents to Lawrence, Kan., where he re- sided until his immigration in 1875 to California. As locomotive engineer for the California Pacific Railroad Company he served several years in San Francisco, going thence to San Bernardino in 1880 and a year later journeved to San Diego with a view to assisting in the construction of a new road by the California South- ern Railroad. Company from National City to Colton, Cal., a dis- tance of one hundred and thirty-one miles. Upon completion of this line he served thereon as engineer until July, 1883, having en- joved the honor of setting up the first five engines ever used on that system. Number four, the first to arrive, came overland as did also numbers seven and eight, while numbers one, two, three, five, six,
Digitized by Google
-
465
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
nine, ten, eleven, twelve and thirteen (the last two, now numbered thirty-six and thirty-seven) being at present in use on the Salt Lake Route.
In September, 1883, after resigning his position with the Cali- fornia Southern line, Mr. Gamble went to Los Angeles, where he became the pioneer engineer of the Los Angeles Electric Company, which has just completed the first electrical plant established in that city. In 1887 he accepted a position with the Santa Fe Railroad Company, and in 1894 took charge of the McFadden Railroad from Santa Ana to Newport. Later he served fourteen months on the Southern Pacific line running from . Bakersfield to Los Angeles and in 1900 abandoned railroad work to engage in the manufactur- ing business in partnership with J. K. Woodward who had patented a practical wire tree prop which has become almost universally em- ployed by orchardists. Under the name of J. K. Woodward & Com- pany the partners, upon the erection of their factory at No. 171 Vine street, Riverside, established a trade which under their man- agement grew rapidly. Two years later, retaining his interest in this concern, Mr. Gamble established with Fred Stebler, the Cali- fornia Iron Works, which business he conducted seven years, when' he sold his interest to his associate and joining C. A. Dundas in October, 1909, bought the garage business of the Glenwood Hotel Company. In this field, as in all others he had entered, he was most successful, his sales from October, 1910, to October, 1911, aggregating one hundred cars, due attention in the interim having been given the general repair and supply business operated in con- nection with the agency which handles three standard cars, the Buick, the Studebaker and the Kissel-Car, about twenty-five men being employed by them.
.
Mr. Gamble was united in marriage at Santa Rosa, Cal., in 1878 with Miss Mary V. Royce, who passed away in 1884 in Santa Rosa, leaving a son and daughter, Roy and Dora, both living in Riverside. Four years later, September 26, 1888, Mr. Gamble married Miss Alice E. Woodward, daughter of J. K. Woodward. Of the second union four children were born, namely: William Wood, Ralph Edward, Leon and Catherine C.
At a cost of $18,000 Mr. Gamble constructed at No. 1515 Sixth street a handsome new home which ranks with the finest in River- side and is one of the showplaces of the city. A Mason, he is a member of the Lodge, Chapter and Commandery of Riverside, the Council of Santa Ana and the Shrine of Los Angeles. He also holds membership in Riverside Lodge No. 643, B. P. O. F., Los Angeles Division No. 5, Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the Business Men's Association and the Chamber of Commerce of Riverside, in both organizations taking an active part.
Digitized by Google
:
466
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
WILLIAM P. MORRIS
Numbered among the pioneers of Riverside county and a man who has won the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens is W. P. Morris, a resident of the country adjacent to Banning, where he has made his home since 1869. He was born in Philadelphia, Pa., December 18, 1844, the second oldest in the family of Hiram and Elizabeth (Hart) Morris, both descendants of English ancestry and among the early settlers of Philadelphia.
W. P. Morris received a common-school education in his native city and after its completion there was not much time elapsed be- tween it and his enlistment for service in the Civil war in Com- pany C, First New York Cavalry, formerly the Lincoln Cavalry. composed of New York, Pennsylvania and Michigan men. This regiment served in the Army of the Potomac under General Mc- Clellan, and later commanded by General Sheridan, participated in numerous skirmishes and battles, including the seven days' battle in the Peninsula, the battle of Winchester and the encounter at Five Forks, and scouted in the Shenandoah valley, and was present at the surrender of General Lee. In 1864 Mr. Morris was wounded on the raid to Lynchburg by a shot in the right hip and was put into an ambulance, in which for two weeks he was carried about; finally he was taken to a hospital, and there he remained until his recovery. Rejoining his company thereafter he served until the close of the war and received his discharge July 7, 1865, in New York harbor.
Mr. Morris returned to his native city and soon after secured a position as street car conductor. One year later he enlisted in the United States Cavalry service and with other troops was sent to Wilmington, C'al., in 1867. Upon his arrival he was given a Cali- fornia bronco for a mount; the animal, not being thoroughly broken, threw his rider when he endeavored to mount, the fall breaking his collar bone. It was about a year before he was able to be about, then received his discharge from the service for disability. When he received his discharge he also received money for transporta- tion back to Philadelphia, via Panama, receiving about $300. At that time the sheep business was very profitable and Dr. Edgar induced him to invest his money in a band with himself, which he did, the doctor furnishing range and paying a salary to Mr. Morris for looking after them, he owning one-fifth of the band. He made an agreement for three years and faithfully kept it, at the end of which time he could have sold out and made a profit of about $2,000, but he entered into another agreement with Dr. Edgar to take the band on shares on another three-year contract, which he did, but the dry years intervened and the venture was a loss to Mr. Morris,
Digitized by Google
William Morris.
Digitized by Google
--
-
- -
TRF NEW YORK
1
Digitized by Google
469
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
after he had paid all expenses of the undertaking. Just before entering into the sheep business Mr. Morris was employed on the survey of the first railroad into Los Angeles from Wilmington. The outdoor exercise and the healthful climate of California re- stored him to normal health after a few months and he has been a stanch advocate of the country ever since.
Subsequently Mr. Morris filed on a claim located near his pres- ent home, but several years later was evicted by the Indian agent by orders of the government, claiming the property as a part of an Indian reservation. Mr. Morris left the premises and joined his brother, Thomas K. Morris, who had also served in the Civil war and was associated with his brother W. P. in the purchase of a ten-acre tract upon which they erected a comfortable residence and set the land to fruit. Mr. Morris had determined to seek redress when he had to leave his property and after a long and strenuous legal battle the homestead was restored to its owner and he was able to perfect his title upon the advice of President Mckinley. Mr. Morris' pleasure in his victory was shared by his many friends.
A stanch Democrat, intelligently interested in political develop- ments, Mr. Morris has been actively identified with the development of the community and has watched with interest its steady growth, laboring with others to secure various improvements. He served as one of the viewers during the construction of the Banning and Idyllwild road, costing in the neighborhood of $50,000. In 1889 he was elected justice of the peace of Banning and for the following fifteen years filled that office. He is conceded to be one of Banning's able and conscientious citizens and interested in promoting every worthy enterprise in the community, and as one of the pioneers he has seen many changes and has encountered many difficulties in the progress of the community.
CHARLES F. STREIGHT
Very early in the colonization of the new world the Streight family became identified with the rugged pioneers who from the sterile soil of New England wrested a livelihood by dint of unceas- ing labor. Tradition furnishes only vague information concerning their activities, but it is known that they were intensely loyal to the welfare of the colonies and aided the material development in every way possible. The first to migrate to the unsettled regions west of the Hudson river was Asa, a native of Vermont, born in 1800, who losing his parents at an early age, when six years old was bound
Digitized by Google
470
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
out to a man who lived near Elmira, N. Y. Here he grew to man- hood and in 1826 was married near Spencer, Tioga county, N. Y., to Miss Lydia Spaulding, a native of that village and together this young couple went to Steuben county and in Wheeler cleared and improved a farm from the heavy timbered land. Here they reared their family and Mr. Streight became a prosperous man for his day and locality. 'His death occurred at Bath, Steuben county, in 1883, and his wife passed away about 1872. Of their five sons the sole survivor is Charles F., whose name heads this article, and one daugh- ter, Miss Jennie, is still living at Bath, N. Y. The eldest son, well known as the late Gen. A. D. Streight, served as colonel of the Fifty-first Indiana Infantry and for a time was imprisoned in the historic Libby prison, from which he made his escape after having suffered all the horrors incident to confinement in that dungeon. He was later given a general's commission.
Born in the town of Wheeler, Steuben county, N. Y., March 10, 1839, Charles F. Streight received a common school and academic education and in young manhood started out to earn his own way in the world, settling in Indianapolis, Ind., where ultimately he be- came prominent and successful. For some time he carried on a retail lumber business, but later concentrated his energies upon the wholesale lumber business in partnership with General Wood and his brother, A. D. Streight, and specialized in hardwood. After a period of association with General Wood the brothers bought his interest and continued the business under the firm name of A. D. Streight & Brother. The firm operated in Pennsylvania, where they had a large plant, in getting out cherry lumber, also in Vicksburg, Miss., and in Nashville, Tenn., where they owned several sawmills for getting out all kinds of hard woods. These various interests were under the personal supervision of C. F. Streight, his brother having retired from the management on account of ill health. He died in 1892. To facilitate the business Mr. Streight maintained an office and his home in Albany, N. Y.
The extensive and usually prosperous business conducted by the two brothers met with an unexpected reverse when the financial panic of 1892 and '93 brought depression throughout the entire country. Prices were depreciated and losses came with such fre- quency that Mr. Streight decided to close out the business honorably and promptly. In 1894 he moved to Nashville in order to close out the business there and in Vicksburg, having already done so in Pennsylvania. From Nashville he came to California as a tourist in 1900, spending the winter in Riverside, which impressed him so favorably that he decided to make this his permanent residence and the following year he and his wife settled here; later he pur- chased a lot on West Seventh street and erected a modern resi- dence. Since his removal to this city he has bought and owned sev-
Digitized by Google
471
HISTORY OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY
eral orange groves and now is the owner of three. He was one of the founders and is president and manager of the Victoria Avenue Citrus Association, which began operations on a small scale with a limited acreage. The annual shipments now reach an average of four hundred and fifty cars and the capacity of the packing house is about a thousand acres. In addition he is now serving as vice- president of the Arlington Heights Fruit Exchange.
The marriage of Mr. Streight took place in Whitesville, Alle- gany county, N. Y., in October of 1862, uniting him with Miss Jennie J., daughter of Hiram Ensworth and a native of that county, where she received good educational advantages. No children blessed the union but they have reared to manhood a nephew, James Streight. In 1860 C. F. Streight cast his first presidential ballot for Abraham Lincoln, since which time he has never failed to support the Repub- lican nominees at all general elections. The years of his identifica- tion with Riverside have been filled with activity and have witnessed his increasing devotion to all local interests.
THOMAS P. DRINKWATER
Long identification with the horticultural interests of Riverside county coupled with habits of close and intelligent observation have enabled Mr. Drinkwater to acquire a knowledge of lands and soils surpassed by few people in this portion of the state. This informa- tion he utilizes in the prosecution of the business of a real-estate agent, which calls for thorough information in regard to the coun- try and the values of different tracts. While centering his activities largely in the vicinity of Corona and making a specialty of sales in this, his home town, he does not limit his transactions to the local- ity, but has on his list of realty a large number of fine places in other communities. For a time he has had a real-estate office in Los Angeles in the Byrne building, where he may be found in the intervals of his outside activities and where in his absence his youngest child and only daughter, Miss Mary L., the bookkeeper, takes charge of all business affairs.
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.