USA > California > Riverside County > History of Riverside County, California > Part 71
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Mr. Kishlar was married November 6, 1862, in Marshall, Mich .. to Miss Frances G. Cook, who was born in that city. A member of Goodland Lodge, K. of P., he also holds membership in the Masonic
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lodge at Goodland, Ind., and was a Republican, with well defined political opinions. Considerate and kindly with all who were privi- leged to know him, he was widely recognized as a man of high ethical principles and noble character, his memory being sacred to his many friends and associates. Mrs. Kishlar, a woman of rare attainments and womanly sympathies, resides in the home place at No. 475 Lemon street, surrounded by her friends, who find both help and inspiration in her companionship.
JOHN H. SCHAIN
One of the substantial and successful ranchers of the San Ja- cinto section of Riverside county and one who has ever had the best interests of the county at heart is J. H. Schain, who was born January 11, 1849, in Kur-Hessen, Germany, and accompanied his parents, Casper and Mary (Boath) Schain, both natives of that province, to America when he was four years of age. The family settled in Ohio in 1853, but in 1856 removed to Cass county, Iowa, where they resided until their deaths, aged seventy-three and sev- enty-five years, respectively. Three of their children reside in Cass county.
The oldest of the family of four children, J. H. Schain, was educated in the common schools of his home county in Iowa near . Lewis, and his boyhood was spent on the farm. After reaching man- hood he still continued farming but on account of ill-health he came to California in 1871, and during the following eighteen months remained in this state, returning then to Iowa and resuming farm- ing. However, in 1874, he again came west and was employed at ranching near Anaheim. He could not break the ties that bound him to the east and in 1877 we again find him in Iowa. It was not until 1881 that the call of the west became so strong that he decided to dispose of his holdings and take up a permanent abiding place in Southern California, when he located near the limits of San Bernar- dino city. Two years later he came to this section and located in. the San Jacinto mountains, where he engaged in raising cattle and hogs and 'in the growing of apples. So successful was he in the last-named business that in 1904 the exhibit he sent to the World's Fair at St. Louis (consisting of Parmains, Ben Davis, Smith Cider and Winesaps) received a gold medal for the finest display of Southern California apples. His industry and skill demonstrated the ideal soil and climate for the successful raising of fruit. Sell- 44
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ing this ranch in 1905 he bought twenty-four acres near San Ja- cinto, which he has improved and put into alfalfa, making his home in town. By well directed efforts he has placed his ranch among the best of the locality. It is watered by wells and they are equipped with a pumping plant with a capacity of thirty inches.
In 1874 Mr. Schain was united in marriage in Cass county, Iowa, with Miss Ann Sevilla Armentrout, a native of Iowa. They became the parents of eight children, viz: R. Paul; Nellie, wife of William Barton; Belle, who married Lee Pope; M. Fred; G. Carl; Frances; Allen C., and H. Stanley, the three eldest born in Iowa and all educated in the schools of California. The second marriage of Mr. Schain, in 1908, united him with Mrs. Ruby (Dillon) Hewitt, a native of New York state, as were her parents, who spent their entire lives there. Her first trip to California was made via Pan- ama and she located near Stockton, Cal.
Mr. Schain is a social member of the M. W. A., and maintains an active interest in all public enterprises of worth. He is deeply interested in educational matters and served as school director in the Benedict district. For many years he voted the Democratic ticket, but is now a believer in Socialism, and prompt to lend his aid in betterment of social conditions. When he first located in this place Hemet was not in existence and but few claims had been taken up between Riverside and San Jacinto. He has at all times advocated the fact that the best conditions are to be found here for all purposes and has done all in his power to induce settlers to come to this locality for homes.
HARWOOD ROBBINS
The same kindly Dame Nature that smiled upon the soil of Southern California and kissed the flowers into radiant beauty, gave also to this favored land the mountains with their mist-en- wrapped, snow-capped summits and with their picturesque foothills adorned with orange groves or exhibiting the presence of valuable ores and native metals. Diversity of products gives rise to variety of occupations, not the least important of which is that of mining. a pursuit identified with the history of the state from the period of the earliest American occupancy up to the present time. No occu- pation has presented greater fascination nor has any rewarded science and skill with larger returns, while withholding its secrets from the obtrusive curiosity of the uninformed. Many of the most capable and intelligent citizens of the coast country have been
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attracted to mining as a permanent occupation and have made good in its pursuit through the possession and exercise of the qualities of energy, sagacity and industry. Prominent among these mining men may be presented the name of Harwood Robbins, owner of the Crescent copper mine, president of the Continental Mines Devel- opment Company and manager of the Reliance gold mine.
A resident of Riverside since the year 1901 and a participant in mining activities for the same period, Mr. Robbins claims Ohio as his native commonwealth, Cincinnati as his native city and Jan- uary 18, 1868, as the date of his birth. Passing his boyhood years in the home of his parents, Edward and Harriet Robbins, and in attendance upon public and private schools, he learned the lessons of prudence and honor indissolubly associated with the truest success. When he had completed his schooling he entered upon the active duties of life and as early as the age of eighteen he was learning the principles of business. For a considerable period he engaged in the flour and grain commission business for himself in Cincinnati, where in 1899 and 1900 he owned and conducted a large book store. Upon disposing of the latter business he came to Riverside, where he now has his office in the First National Bank building. Throughout the entire period of his residence in the west he has engaged in the mining of gold, silver and copper. In the meantime he has come to be regarded as an authority on the subject. The Crescent copper mine, of which he is the sole owner, stands in the Ironwood range and comprises a vein of ore extending three miles. The product is of a high grade and brings from $50 to $100 per ton in carload shipments. It is the intention of the owner to add to the equipment an oil-burning reverberatory furnace for smelting the ore and blistering the copper. In these furnaces the ore is exposed to the action of the flame, but not to contact with any fuel. The method thus employed has stood the test of time and is regarded as almost ideal in its results.
Upon his removal from the east Mr. Robbins brought with him his wife and daughter and son. While living in Cincinnati he had been united, May 6, 1891, with Miss Maria W. Davenport, member of an old family of that city. Their only daughter, Harriet C., is now a student in Vassar College, and the son, Harwood, Jr., attends the high school in Riverside. The family hold membership with the Baptist Church and contribute generously to denominational activities as well as to general philanthropies. It has not been the policy of Mr. Robbins to identify himself with politics and he has taken no part in local campaigns aside from casting a ballot for Republican candidates. As a citizen, however, he displays a loyalty to the city and a devotion to local progress characteristic of public- spirited men, who deem no service onerous that will promote the
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prosperity of the home of their adoption and no duty irksome done in the interests of their community. Such citizens form the bone and sinew of every prosperous locality and their presence is suffi- cient indication of the stability of local enterprises.
ABRAM N. KUMLER
Well known as a business man and rancher of San Jacinto, Mr. Kumler has attained his present position by his own efforts, his ambition and perseverance having brought to successful fruition his careful plans for financial prosperity. A native of Ohio, his birth occurred December 29, 1843, in Butler county, where, until he reached manhood, he resided with his parents. In 1861 he enlisted in Company E, Thirty-fifth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and among the battles in which he participated were Chickamauga (in which about sixty per cent of Mr. Kumler's company were sacrificed and in which he himself received a slight wound), Look- out Mountain, Winchester and in the Atlanta campaign. Later. under Sherman, his battalion marched to the sea, a journey which still remains fresh in the minds of those who experienced it. Upon his honorable discharge Mr. Kumler returned to his home.
September 15, 1869, Mr. Kumler was united in marriage with Miss Mary A. Ross, a native of Hamilton county, Ohio, and to their union three children were born, two of whom are living: Alice, who is married and living in San Jacinto, and whose three children are Gretchen, Philip and Mary; and H. R., also married, who has three children, Carroll, Wanda and Bettie. The deceased daughter, Louie, who was a professional nurse, died October 28, 1906.
Two years after his marriage Mr. Kumler removed to McLean county, Iowa, where he farmed for eleven years, moving thence to San Bernardino county, Cal., and purchasing a tract of twenty acres, ten of which he planted to oranges, the remainder being devoted to Muscatel grapes. In the meantime the dwelling which he erected, also clothing and household goods, were destroyed by fire, and for a time, until his fruit came into bearing, hard times were experienced. However, upon the sale of his crop he was enabled to purchase an additional tract, which he set to grapes and oranges, erecting shortly thereafter a good concrete house, the walls of which he laid himself. In 1907 he sold his property for $28,000 and later located in San Jacinto, where he purchased the Holt ranch consisting of twenty-five acres-stock, implements, etc., being included in the transaction. Later Mr. Kumler installed a
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forty-five horsepower pumping plant, built a substantial barn and remodeled the dwelling, after which, in 1910, he disposed of the property at a good profit. He has also bought and improved other land, his good business judgment having been amply proven by his excellent management of his affairs at all times.
A Republican of influence, Mr. Kumler cast his first vote for Abraham Lincoln, whom he regarded with sincere admiration. He has served as delegate to numerous county conventions, main- taining at all times a special interest in local politics, and by virtue of service, holds membership in San Bernardino Post, G. A. R., which he joined upon his arrival in that city.
MARCEL N. HERBELIN
One of the most highly esteemed and prosperous young mer- chants of Riverside county is Mr. Herbelin, who since June, 1910, has been identified with the commercial interests of Elsinore. Born January 31, 1884, in New Orleans, La., he there received his early education and completed his studies in Biloxi, Miss. In 1900 he accompanied his parents to Los Angeles, Cal., where his father, Jules V. Herbelin, opened a mercantile establishment which he conducted until his retirement in 1907. Mr. Herbelin, who is a native of Alsace-Lorraine, France, came to America in the '60s and in New Orleans married Miss Lucy Huet, whose birth occurred in Paris, France, and who passed away in Los Angeles in 1909.
Shortly after his arrival in Los Angeles, Marcel Herbelin secured employment with Brownstein, Newmark & Louis, with whom he remained ten years, availing himself of every opportunity pre- sented to learn all phases of the mercantile business. This service, coupled with the training received in the store of his father, who for twenty years had been a leading merchant in Louisiana, Mis- sissippi and California, enabled him in 1910 to launch a similar enterprise of his own, his subsequent success having proven his ability and good judgment.
Mr. Herbelin was married in Los Angeles August 7, 1907, with Miss Mattie Switzer, a native of Flagstaff, Ariz., who came to California in 1897 with her parents, William and Lou (Offutt) Switzer. Both were natives of .Kentucky and the former is de- ceased, Mrs. Switzer making her home with her daughter, Mrs. Herbelin. During his residence in Los Angeles Mr. Herbelin be- came a member of the Golden State Camp, No. 7110, M. W. A., besides which he holds membership in the I. C. M. A., is a member
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of Elsinore Lodge, No. 289, F. & A. M., and with his wife is also a member of Elsinore Chapter, No. 243, O. E. S. Socially he is a member and a director of the Lake Elsinore Commercial Club. Though very progressive and alive to all questions of the day, de- voting his best attention to the welfare of his own section, he firmly refuses to allow politics to bear in any manner upon his busi- ness interests, and is well known as a man of conscientious and generous principles.
WILLIAM R. RUSSELL
One of Riverside's retired citizens, well-known for his generous principles and public spirit, is Mr. Russell, who was born October 9, 1838, in Holt county, Mo., where he spent his boyhood, receiving his education in the public schools of that period. In 1854, with his parents, he came to California and located in Solano county, where his father, John Russell, a native of Kentucky, and his mother, Margaret (Oiler) Russell, who was a native of Virginia, settled on a farm. That continued to be their home and ranching his father's occupation until his death in 1861.
William Russell attended school in Solano county and remained at home on the ranch until his twentieth year, when, on account of ill health, he required a change of climate. Going to Oregon he remained for a time in Portland and also in Canyon City, spending about eighteen months. Returning to California he managed the farm for his mother for some years and then concluded to see some of the world beyond the mountains eastward and after work- ing various places for several months, came back to California in 1875. At this time he was employed by a Mr. Allison of San Fran- cisco, to assist in driving a band of sheep to Arizona. En route they encountered so many discouragements in seeing thousands of dead animals of bands that had preceded them on their way to that territory that they decided to take the coast route and accord- ingly landed at "Old Baldy," where they made camp for a time. They started with six thousand head of animals, but when they had been in this section a time, the bears, that infested the moun- tain section where they were stopping, decimated their band till they had only about three thousand. During the time Mr. Russell was taken sick with fever and was unable to do any work and when Mr. Allison was ready to start and the Santa Ana river was reached Mr. Russell decided he would not go any further. He waited until his employer could find some one to take his place and then he started for San Bernardino, where he had made some
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friends. Arriving at Riverside he met an old acquaintance, George Carlton, and hired out to work in his nursery and soon afterwards he became a partner in the business.
The surroundings so attracted Mr. Russell that he decided to settle permanently and become a landowner. In 1878 he bought twenty acres on Arlington avenue, ten of which he planted to or- anges and the remainder to grapes. He also had ten acres on Riverside avenue. Later he disposed of these holdings and pur- chased some land east of the Santa Fe Railroad, near where he now resides and where he has a small orange grove. He is now living retired after many years' active work. In 1898 he was engaged by the El Cajon Vineyard Company to take charge of their vineyard at El Cajon, and later he spent two years at Santa Paula as manager of the great lemon orchard at that place, a position for which he was well fitted.
Mr. Russell has ever been a stanch Republican, though never an aspirant for official honors. He has never refused to discharge the duties of a citizen and has been a liberal supporter of all pro- gressive movements for the upbuilding of Riverside. He was united in marriage in July, 1881, with Margaret E. Hayes, who was born in Indiana. Four children have blessed this union: Mrs. Nellie M. Knight, of Riverside; Ralph R., a plumber by trade; Catherine, and Paul Muzzy, all living at home. There is no citizen in the city that has more friends and well wishers than Mr. Rus- sell, who had been an active worker in his younger days for the bet- terment of the whole community and now in the evening of his life he can look back on a life well spent and with no regrets, for he has tried to live by the "Golden Rule" in so far as has been possible.
JOSEPH M. SPINING
One of the well-known business men of Corona is Joseph M. Spining for the past six years manager of the Russ Lumber and Mill Company and a resident of this state since 1900. He was born in Kalamazoo, Mich., and from there his parents later moved to Ohio, where they spent eight years. They then came to California, and after residing here three years returned east and located in New York state. J. M. Spining had good educational advantages, attending the public schools and later the Centenarian College Institute at Hackettstown, N. J., graduating with the class of 1899. He came to California in 1900 and located in San Francisco, where he entered the employ of a lumber company, working in the office
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and in the yard as an all-round man. He later was head of the office force and cashier, having arisen to this position because of strict attention to duty and indefatigable desire to make progress. Leav- ing Northern California he came to the southern section of the state and located at Corona, where he took charge of the business inter- ests of the Russ Lumber and Mill Company. Mr. Spining is a man of fine business ability and has a wonderful fund of practical in- formation concerning his special business. He has worked up a fine trade in lumber and all building materials. In addition to his numerous business interests he is a member of the Chamber of Commerce and one of the most progressive and public-spirited citi- zens of Corona. He has built two nice residences in the city him- self and in other ways has been and still is identified with the growth of this fertile section of the county.
In San Francisco, Cal., Mr. Spining and Miss Alice Duncan, born and reared in California, were married April 21, 1906. Two daughters, Mary and Alice, were born to them.
Mr. Spining is a Master Mason, a member of Temescal Lodge, No. 314, F. & A. M., and is also a member of the Riverside Lodge of Elks. He has served as deputy county clerk and also as deputy sheriff since coming to Corona.
ELI A. DAVIS.
Since his location in San Jacinto in the early '90s Mr. Davis has been untiring in his efforts to assist in developing the commun- ity, his honorable principles and enterprising spirit having estab- lished him as a citizen of the highest worth. His father, Levi Davis, a native of Ohio, was a Civil war veteran, serving three years and eight months as a scout under General Sherman, with whom he marched and came within eight miles of the sea, his de- tachment going into camp and not coming in sight of the ocean. He married Miss Delila Hickle, of Noble county, Ohio, and in 1866 he took his family to Appanoose county, Iowa. Later he moved to Taylor county, where he followed carpentering and general farm- ing and raised stock. Upon moving to southwestern Iowa he found the country in its primitive condition, wild game of all kinds was plentiful and human habitations were few. His last years were spent in this locality.
Born October 19, 1862, in Noble county, Ohio, Eli A. Davis went to Iowa with his parents in 1866. He received but a limited education in the common schools of Taylor county, having to go
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three miles to school. Later he became a farmer. In 1888 he mar- ried Miss Ella M. Frazier, whose birth occurred in Illinois. Her parents, who were natives of Scotland and New York, respectively, are both now deceased.
In 1890 Mr. Davis, on account of ill-health, brought his family to San Jacinto, Cal., where for a short time he worked as a laborer. Later he went to Riverside, but returned to San Jacinto and engaged in ranching, purchasing in 1896 twenty acres three miles from San Jacinto with absolutely no improvements. Adding to his holdings from time to time, he owns today fifty acres, most of which is planted to alfalfa, and he also raises fine Belgian horses. During the twenty years he has resided in this locality he has lived in three counties, yet he has never been out of the confines of River- side county.
Mr. and Mrs. Davis have two children, Ruth and Dorothy Irene, both of whom are students in the Hemet high school.
While residing in Taylor county, Iowa, Mr. Davis became a member of the Masons, in which he maintained an active interest while a resident there. Broad minded and generous, he is always prompt to aid in municipal movements and with his wife and family enjoys the highest esteem of the community.
ALEXANDER GRAHAM
Among the substantial citizens of Elsinore none has been more interested in the general upbuilding or is held in higher esteem than Mr. Graham, who has been a resident of this section now embraced in Riverside county since 1883. He is a native of Ireland, having been born in County Armagh on December 1, 1841, a son of Jared and Margaret (Boyd) Graham, both of whom were born in Scot- land. In childhood they went to Ireland, where they met and were married. In 1847 the family came to the United States and settled in Long Island, N. Y., where the father was engaged as a landscape gardener for six years, after which he took his family to McHenry county, Ill. There he engaged in farming for six years, at the end of which time he moved to Anderson county, Kan., and here con- tinued farm pursuits. The parents finally settled in Pasadena, Cal., where they both passed away at advanced ages.
Alexander Graham received his education in the public schools in Illinois and Kansas and at an early age took up the trades of cabinet and wagon making. At the breaking out of the Civil war, he gave his services to his country, in 1861 enlisting in Company A,
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Second Kansas Cavalry, under Capt. D. J. Crawford. During the three years and seven months of his service he participated in num- erous important engagements and was on the skirmish line almost continuously. He was honorably discharged at Little Rock, Ark., whereupon he returned to Kansas and took up work where he had left it upon going to the front. He was married in 1866, in that state, to Miss Crissie Alvey, a native of Kentucky. Of this union four children were born, two of whom are living. Charles, residing in Elsinore, married Miss Mary Hamm, and they have six children; Perry C., also a resident of Elsinore and interested in the well- drilling business with his father, married Mrs. Emma Isenhart, and with their two children make their home with Mr. Graham. One son, James, met an accidental death when nineteen years of age. Mrs. Graham passed away in Elsinore in 1884.
Coming to California for his wife's health, Mr. Graham located in Elsinore and took up well-drilling and ever since that time has followed that calling, doing work in Riverside, Orange, San Diego and surrounding country, and has met with deserved success. He is a member of J. B. Stevens Post No. 103, G. A. R., and has held various offices in that organization. In political views he favors the Prohibition party platform and has always lent his aid to forward the movements put forth by that party. At no time has he ever al- lowed his name to be put forward for any office, but he prefers to give his support to those men for local positions whom he considers best suited for the place. Movements for the building up of River- side county have always had his hearty support and no man is more loyal to his adopted home place than Mr. Graham.
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