USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 23
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 23
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that of supposed malice. A crime that because of its brutality caused some excitement was the murder of one Brown, in 1874, who was killed with an axe wielded by a man named Bonner, at the latter's ranch in the Holcomb Valley. The murderer was given a life sentence in the penitentiary.
The first white man hanged in the county was N. M. Peterson, who had murdered a boy, George Barrett, in the most cold-blooded manner while the two were riding along the road near Banning. Peterson was found guilty and executed August 16, 1878. An interesting case was that of one Mitchell, who, during a dispute with his wife, in 1879, blew out her brains, and was subsequently arrested and placed in the county jail, from which he made his escape. Later he was recaptured at San Diego and brought back to San Bernardino, but this resourceful criminal again made his escape by overpowering the warden. He was never caught again as far as is known. John Taylor, in 1881, after shooting and killing his partner, John Peterson, at Brinkmeyer's Corner, San Bernardino, turned his weapon on himself and commited suicide. The men were miners from Calico.
One of the most atrocious murders on record in the crime annals of the county ended in the execution by law of William B. McDowell. At the trial it developed that McDowell and his wife had come to Colton and then induced a young girl, Maggie O'Brien, with whom he had been intimate, to come to Colton from Los Angeles. Mr. and Mrs. McDowell met her, took her into a buggy and carried her to a gulch at the foot of the mountains, where they killed her with some blunt instrument, afterward tied a rope about her neck, and hid the body in a hole in the side of a ravine. Nearly a month later, Mrs. McDowell, either because troubled by a guilty conscience and remorse, or because of a desire for revenge on her husband with whom she had quarreled, sent for an officer of the law and made a confession. McDowell was arrested and there was talk of lynching, but the man was speedily tried and as quickly sentenced, the date of his hanging being set for July 10, 1883. An appeal to the Supreme Court was taken by his lawyer, and while await- ing its session, McDowell made his escape. After an exciting chase he was recaptured, his sentence was sustained and he was duly hanged at San Bernardino by Sheriff Burkhart, March 28, 1884. In the following year one of the most terrible deeds ever perpetrated in the county was committed. While making preparations to cook his supper over a fire on the banks of Warm Creek, near San Bernardino, Thomas Stanton was attacked by four drunken Indians, held over his own fire, and so burned that he died the following day.
George Farris was shot to death in 1887 by Edward Callahan, at a lodging house in Court Street. Callahan, acknowledging his guilt, gave himself up to the officers, but there were mitigating circumstances, and he was acquitted at the trial. In the same year, Katie Handorff was murdered by her husband, Springer, at the Transcontinental Hotel at Colton, where the young married couple had taken a room the night before. In the morning Mrs. Handorff's body was found, with the throat cut from ear to ear and the head crushed in by some heavy instru- ment. Big rewards were offered and every effort was made to capture the criminal, but all to no avail. Some months afterward the body of a man was found at Little Mountain, and it developed under investigation that the remains, with the head pierced by a bullet, were all that remained of the wife murderer.
One of the most lamentable affairs ever known at San Bernardino occured December 15, 1888, when E. C. Morse, cashier of the San
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Bernardino National Bank, and an old and well-known citizen, greatly respected and esteemed, was approached by one Oakley, an insane man, who claimed that he had $3,000 in the bank and wanted it. When Morse refused to deliver the money the man drew a gun and fired, but while Morse drew his own revolver and returned the fire, he was mortally wounded in the abdomen and expired within a short time. Oakley was captured after a wild chase through the streets of the city, and was sen- tenced to life imprisonment, his insanity saving him from a trip to the gallows.
In 1890 William McConkey, a hotel keeper of Redlands, shot and killed Edward Gresham in the old Windsor House, and then committed suicide. Actuated by jealousy, in 1893, a Mexican, Jesue Furan, stabbed William Golfkoffer and a Mexican woman, Francesca Flores, to death, in the most brutal manner. A mob entered the jail April 17, took pos- session of the prisoner and lynched him, the first instance of lynch law in the county for many years.
CHAPTER XV
SAN BERNADINO, THE COUNTY SEAT
The earlier history of the City of San Bernardino, given in fore- going pages, demonstrated that the community was not lacking in any of the elements that make for the development of a prosperous center of trade and commerce, an abiding place for cultured and contented people and the home of the professions, arts and sciences. However, from the very nature of the contributing factors which assisted in its upbuilding and advancement, it was somewhat slow in its awakening, and it was not until about 1885 that there was noted a definite tendency on the part of the city to endeavor to take its rightful position among the leading municipalities of Southern California. From that year for- ward for the next decade the changes and advancements were startling. From a village which did not realize its own strength or importance, it grew, almost overnight, into an alert and energetic city. From a station on a stage line it emerged a full-grown railroad center, with an adequate water, sewage and lighting system, pavements, sidewalks, street cars and motor lines, big business houses, palatial residences, modern hotels and all the other improvements of a city of the first class.
The history of the city from that time forward is largely one of dates and occurrences, beginning with November 15, 1885, when the citizens turned out en masse with fireworks to greet the first continental train over the newly-completed California Southern extension from San Bernardino to Waterman (now Barstow), which completed the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe line between Kansas City and San Diego, at that time the terminus of the road. After this, progress was rapid, for visitors began to arrive in large numbers and capital began to be put to work. During 1885-86 several street car franchises were let. R. W. Button completed his steam motor line to Colton, and in February, 1887, the street cars began their service between the depot and the corner of Third and D streets.
In the meantime, May 15, 1886, San Bernardino, through re-incor- poration, had become a city of the fifth class, and J. G. Burt, Smith Haile, I. R. Brunn, John Anderson, Fred T. Perris and B. B. Harris were elected trustees, with the last named as chairman of the board. A most important event in the history of the new town was the erection of the California Southern car shops and depot, at a cost of $200,000, which gave employment to a large force of men, and another forward step in the progress of the community occurred at the election of March 26, 1887, when $100,000 in bonds was voted for the construction of a com- plete and very satisfactory sewer system, and $50,000 for general improve- ments in grading, graveling and macadamizing the streets, as a result of which a large amount of work was done in putting the streets in good order.
With the end in view of bringing the city to the front and in order to secure needed capital, more settlers and consequent added improve- ments, a board of trade was organized in October, 1887, and this body went to work enthusiastically. The Stewart Hotel was erected in the same year, this structure, the finest of its kind then south of San Francisco, being completed at a cost of $150,000. A four-story structure containing 400 rooms, it was the most elaborate building put up in the city up to that time, with the exception of the courthouse, and was a
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source of great pride to the citizens. It was later destroyed by fire. Other new buildings erected about this time which added greatly to the appearance of the city and indicated a new era of growth and prosperity were the $52,000, three-story brick Anderson Block on Third Street; the Katz, Ancker and Brinkmeyer & Waters blocks, the Richard Stewart Building, the additions to the Southern and St. Charles hotels, the Metho- dist Church, the Presbyterian parsonage, and the handsome and costly dwellings of James Waters, father and son, Mathew Byrne, Louis Ancker, Judge Willis, Judge Damron, and others.
During 1888 the Otis and Van Dorin blocks were added to the busi- ness section, and that year also saw the erection of a new postoffice building, located at the corner of E and Court streets. The Redlands and San Bernardino motor line began its service June 5, and this was followed, August 17th, by the completion of the San Bernardino, Arrow-
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THIRD STREET FROM D LOOKING EAST, SAN BERNARDINO, IN 1880
head & Waterman narrow-gauge line, and November 16th by the open- ing for traffic of the motor line to Riverside, by the same company which had previously built the motor line to Colton. The county seat was thus brought into direct communication with the surrounding towns by a regular and frequent service.
An early event of the year 1889 was the first Citrus Fair at San Bernardino, held in the Van Dorin Block, at which the exhibits were large and numerous. The first steps in securing an efficient and abundant water service were taken November 2d, when the citizens voted bonds to the amount of $150,000 to be expended in installing a municipal water system. In the same year the Society of San Bernardino Pioneers took up the matter of a pavilion for public purposes to be built in the city park, and through their efforts the city trustees were induced to vote $10,000 for the purpose, the building being erected during 1890, and dedicated with appropriate ceremonies January 1, 1891.
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In 1888 a proposition for the city to take in a larger area had been voted down, and up to 1891 the city had retained its original limits of one mile square, but January 17, 1891, the people voted to enlarge the boundaries to include a surrounding thickly-populated and well built up district which had been a part of the city in all but name, and the city was thus authorized to include territory which increased the area to six and one-half miles, and the population from 4,500 to nearly 10,000 souls. In June of the same year, bonds were voted to the amount of $60,000 for a high school building. This year the city was first lighted by elec- tricity, the San Antonio Electric Company putting in from 500 to 800 incandescent lights. The Episcopal Church was also completed and occupied during this year.
On January 1, 1892, the first City Library was opened, with Miss Ella Ames as librarian, and during the same year the Hall of Records was completed and work was commenced on the new courthouse. On Octo- ber 12th, one of the most unique events in the history of San Bernardino, or so it was considered at the time, occurred when the Woman's Non- Partisan Political Convention met, with sixty-five delegates from various clubs and societies in attendance. After due deliberation the delegates nominated a complete county ticket for the next election and those of the sterner sex were requested to give their support, but the county apparently was not ready for suffrage, as all of these candidates met with defeat. It was on November 5th of this year (1892) that the Stewart Hotel was destroyed by fire, with all the stores and offices located in the block, in spite of the brave fight made by the San Bernardino Fire Department, aided by fire-fighters from Redlands and other towns.
The Stewart Hotel was rebuilt in 1893, and while not as costly as the first structure, was substantial and handsome, and for years was accounted one of the most comfortable and best kept establishments in Southern California. On February 20th the annual state convention of Turners was held at San Bernardino, with a large and enthusiastic attendance. Other events of the same month were the passage of the Riverside County bill by the Legislature, creating Riverside County, and the opening of the Orphans' Home, when twenty children were brought from Los Angeles and placed as wards in the new institution.
The principal event of the year 1894 which had direct connection with the interests of the people was the closing of the doors of the First National Bank, in one of the worst failures which the city has ever experienced. At the time of the crash, depositors were notified that they would be paid in full, but after a long court fight, they were reimbursed only to the extent of 62 per cent, in 1899. In 1895 La Fiesta de San Bernardino was celebrated with a bull fight, races, a civic proces- sion, a Spanish barbecue, the attendance of 200 Coahuilla Indians and other features, in September. August was made sensational by the occurrence of a disastrous fire which destroyed some half dozen build- ings at D and Court streets. Another serious conflagration occurred in 1897, when Whitney's Mill, St. John's Episcopal Church and a num- ber of other buildings were destroyed, the loss being $50,000. An occasion for a great demonstration by the citizens occurred May 9, 1898, when Company K, National Guard of California, started for San Fran- cisco. During this year the famous artesian "gusher" which flowed 500 inches was struck and as a result many artesian wells were put down in the vicinity of the city. The courthouse was also completed in 1898, and the pavilion at Urbita Springs was erected. Electric street car service was instituted in the city December 19, 1899.
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The old Board of Trade, established under such auspicious conditions and amid so much enthusiasm, in 1887, passed out of existence after a few years of activity. Feeling that such an organization for the promo- tion of the city's interests was greatly needed, the representative business men of the city reorganized the body in 1900, electing the following officers : J. B. Gill, president ; John Andreson, Sr., vice president ; F. D. Keller, secretary ; C. Cohn, treasurer ; and Thomas Hadden, James Flem- ing, J. W. Curtis, H. L. Drew and Joseph Jonas, board of directors. The board became at once an active factor in the advancement of the indus- trial and commercial interests of the city and community, and among the numerous valuable activities which it has contributed to the city's advancement have been assistance in securing the Salt Lake Road for San Bernardino, pushing street improvements, securing the new water system and obtaining a revision of the city charter.
About 1910 the board of trade reorganized as a chamber of com- merce and continued to be an active force in all work that advanced the interests of the city. In 1911 it championed the Orange Show, in fact, the Orange Show is a child of the Chamber of Commerce and reports were audited and nominations for president had to be endorsed by that body, in executive session, to make them legal.
In 1918 L. A. Murray was elected president and during that summer many demands were made on the Chamber for help-always cheerfully given. In 1920 Judge Rex B. Goodcell was elected president, and in 1921 he was re-elected to that position with Fred M. Renfro, secretary, which place he had held for a number of years. On July 1, 1921, Mr. Renfro resigned and Royal H. Mack was elected to fill the vacancy. Then came an intense drive for membership, resulting in splendid returns of 1,200 names on the roll.
During the summer of 1920, a movement was set on foot, by the Chamber, promoting a Motor Harbor in Meadowbrook Park, which in 1921 was well established.
The Chamber also espoused the cause of a new municipal auditorium to be built in Pioneer Park, and issuing bonds for new bridges, both necessities of the time and both carried, and during the year 1922 will be finished. It has just endorsed and set its seal of approval on a new hotel, and many proposed industrial propositions.
The present officers are: Rex B. Goodcell, president; C. L. Cronk, first vice president ; Joe E. King, second vice president ; J. S. Wood, treasurer ; R. H. Mack, secretary. Directors: B. L. Homes, H. C. McAlister, R. D. McCook, B. L. Morgan, F. E. Page, J. N. Baylis, H. L. Williamson, J. Harold Barnum, R. C. Harbison, Dwight Towne, Wilmot T. Smith, Grant Holcomb.
A feature of the year 1901 was the holding of the first annual Street Fair, a most elaborate and enjoyable event, which drew visitors from towns all over this section of the country. The first service on the San Bernardino Valley Traction line was secured February 21, 1902. In December of that year, $231,000 bonds were voted for the acquire- ment of an adequate and modern water system for the city. In 1903 Andrew Carnegie donated $20,000 to San Bernardino for a public library, and December 5th of that year an election was held to choose freeholders to frame a new city charter.
The Carnegie Library was finished and put into use with appro- priate ceremonies early in 1904, in which year was also completed the new Masonic Temple, at a cost of about $35,000, which building was dedicated with fitting ceremonies. In 1903 the Southern Pacific Company had purchased land in the heart of the city for depot grounds and right-
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of-way, and in 1904 this company started the erection of a $30,000 depot and a broad gauge track. This was a big year in the building line, as nearly $500,000 was expended in the construction of modern structures. Among these were the Broadway Theater, the Dunn & Black Block, the Home Telephone Building, the Anderson Block, and the new Baptist Church. Work was also commenced on the installation of a new gas plant.
MUNICIPAL GOVERNMENT. On July 30, 1904, in pursuance of an order of the board of trustees of the City of San Bernardino, and under the provisions of the constitution of the state, a special election was held, by the qualified electors of the city, to choose fifteen freeholders, residents of the city, to prepare a city charter for submission to the voters of the city, for ratification or rejection. The freeholders so chosen were: John Andreson, Sr., H. M. Barton, I. R. Brunn, J. W. Cattic, M. L. Cook, George M. Cooley, F. B. Daley, J. J. Hanford, W. S. Hooper, L. D. Houghton, Joseph Ingersoll, A. G. Kendall, James Murray, W. M. Parker and H. C. Rolfe. They assembled accordingly and organ- ized a board, and within the ninety days as prescribed by the constitution, prepared and submitted a city charter, and on the 6th of January follow- ing, it was ratified by a vote of nearly three to one at a special election by the people. January 30, 1905, being subsequently approved by con- current resolution of both houses of the Legislature. it became the organic law or charter of the city. This charter provided for a mayor and common council, as the legislative and executive departments of the city government, in place of the former board of trustees; for a board of water commissioners as well as several other boards, and for a police department and a fire department.
In the spring of 1905, San Bernardino came under the new form of government with a new charter to try out ; naturally everyone was anxious to see results, long before time had a chance to send in a balance sheet. New offices were created, new methods tested, and those who were very much married to the old ways, finally agreed along with those who were espousing a change, that progress had come in to stay. There were lean years and fat years, as is wont the world over, but after a while the fat years had devoured the lean ones, and institutions thrived mightily, business increased, and prosperity marked the city as one of its favored holdings, and at the end of the year 1921, San Bernardino, the largest municipality and government seat of the largest county of the Union, was thrifty, happy, rich, with a population of 24,495.
In 1905 the first mayor was elected, and from that time to the present year of 1921, splendid men have been at the head of the city government.
PAST MAYORS
1905-H. M. Barton.
1915-G. H. Wixom.
1907 -- J. J. Hanford.
1917-J. W. Cattic.
1909-S. W. McNabb.
1919-J. A. Henderson.
1911-J. S. Bright.
1921-S. W. McNabb.
1913-J. W. Cattic.
City officers in 1921 : S. W. McNabb, mayor. Councilmen : Hender- son Pitman, W. H. Rogers, C. A. Rouse, Leo A. Stromee, W. H. Adkins. John H. Osborn, city clerk; S. C. Lawrence, city treasurer ; Witham Gutherie, city attorney ; L. R. Lathrop, street superintendent ; C. E. John- son, city engineer ; Dr. C. C. Owen, health officer ; Harry M. Rouse, city
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electrician ; H. F. Wegnori, building inspector ; Frank Jordan, sanitary inspector ; A. A. Burcham, chief of police. Water commissioners: A. M. Ham, W. O. Harris, G. M. McGillvary. Superintendent water works : William Starke.
The city purchased of the Farmers Exchange Bank its bank building for $40,000, to be paid for at the rate of $166.67 per month, for twenty years. The city hall, houses all general government officers, street depart- ment, police department included, also water department and United States Forest department. The city hall well answers the needs as an adminis- tration building, centrally located and convenient to the county offices.
Possibly nothing in a city's record is so definite a barometer of its growth as clearing house totals, which at the end of the year 1921 were $62,947,725.72. The combined resources of the banks of the city show $11,298,183.20. The postoffice receipts were $75,059.74.
Building permits reported by Building Inspector Henry F. Wegnori, are as follows :
1913
$ 336,244
1914
421,750
1915
317,196
1916
350,591
1917
474,517
1918
93,032
1919
296,425
1920
596,530
1921
1,019,560
MONTHS OF 1921
January
$ 94,165
February
32,229
March
94,638
April
83,036
May
148,188
June
80,843
July
42,660
August
82,945
September
71,860
October
78,825
November
128,525
December
87,600
Total
$1,019,560
L. R. Lathrop, superintendent of streets, reports : Approximately 50 miles of paved streets, 50 miles of sewers, and over a hundred miles of sidewalks.
Wm. Starke, of the water department: One hundred miles of water mains and eight drinking fountains.
From Harry M. Rouse, city electrician: Globes-single and in groups-of electric lights along every block in the city.
San Bernardino, the county seat of a county that extends eastward 240 miles to Needles, and westward 24 miles.
FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS OF SAN BERNARDINO. The Bank of San Bernardino, which began business under the name of Meyerstein & Com- pany, in 1874, was the first bank to be opend in San Bernardino County.
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At the start, Lewis Jacobs was made manager, and soon became pro- prietor. During the early days the bank, which was conducted as a private institution, purchased bullion, gold bars and gold dust, financed most of the important business deals of the county, and always had the confidence of the people. It first occupied a brick building later used as Sturges Academy, on Fourth Street, but later moved into a building built for its special use on Third Street. Mr. Jacobs continued as its proprietor until his death in 1900. It then closed up the business and paid, in full, all obligations.
The second bank of the county, the Farmers Exchange Bank, was organized in 1881, with Byron Waters, president; Richard Gird, vice president ; and E. H. Morse, cashier. H. L. Drew became president in 1884 and occupied that office until his death in 1901. This was the first incorporated bank in the county. On the death of Mr. Drew John Andreson, Sr., became president, and when Mr. Andreson died, A. L. Drew was elected president, who was followed by A. G. Kendall. Then came E. Seifkin. On June 1, 1917, Wilmot T. Smith, becoming a large stockholder, was elected as president, which position he still holds. In 1919 the bank sold its building to the city for a city hall, and moved to the corner of Third and E streets, where a most up-to-date and com- modious building was constructed. The bank enjoys the confidence of the public and is making an enviable and substantial growth. Resources in 1921, $2,222,533.58. Officers: Wilmot T. Smith, president ; J. Dale Gentry, vice president; S. E. Bagley, cashier ; Fred C. Drew, assistant cashier. Board of directors : A. G. Kendall, chairman ; Rex B. Goodcell, F. E. Page, John Andreson, Jr., C. A. Puffer, J. Dale Gentry, S. E. Bagley, Wilmot T. Smith, Edwin Wayte.
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