USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 48
USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume I > Part 48
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"Many who wish to join the colony have not the money in hand to defray traveling expenses and pay the full price for their land at once. We hope to make arrangements for the accommodation of all such, so that they can pay a part down and the balance in yearly installments with interest. Each subscriber will be allowed to purchase 160 acres of farming land and two town lots-or a less amount if desired. It is expected that every subscriber will reside upon and improve his property within one year of the time of subscribing, otherwise he will lose his rights as a member of the colony.
"All persons of good character, signifying in writing their wish to become members of the colony and sending ten dollars as a location fee will be regarded as subscribers. Those writing for information who are not subscribers will be expected to enclose one dollar toward defray- ing the expenses of circulars and correspondence.
"Those who wish to join the colony from New England are requested to write and send their names to the Rev. S. W. Bush, Bureau of Emigra- tion, 26 Chauncy Street, Boston.
"Those in the Middle and Southern States are requested to write to me at Dewitt, Onondago County, N. Y.
"Those in Michigan, Indiana, Illinois and Wisconsin will please write Dr. J. P. Greves, Marshall, Mich.
"Those who wish to join the colony from Minnesota and Iowa are invited to write me at Dewitt, Onondago County, N. Y., or to David H. Frost, Esq., Belle Plaine, Iowa.
"We hope to make up a party of subscribers to visit California in May next and determine on a location. It is desirable that the subscribers in each of the localities should be represented in that party. We wish to secure early and prompt action, with as little machinery and routine as possible. We wish to secure all the advantages of a good colony, with as few preliminary conditions and restrictions as is consistent with the best success. We invite the earnest cooperation of all good people who wish for homes in that land that the early missionaries thought 'fit for the abode of the angels.'
"All who wish to join us are requested to send in their names as early as possible and before the first of July next. Further arrangements will be made as soon as we can confer with subscribers.
"J. W. NORTH. "Knoxville, Tenn., March 17, 1870."
In the above circular we have about as perfect a document as could be written for the inauguration of a colony from a remarkable man-a man of vision, the first of the kind in the United States, without any precedent to guide him. This document marks the dividing line between the old era in California-the era of the missions, of great cattle ranges
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and of immense grain fields and scanty population-and the new era of small farms and homes of a few acres of fruit, where a dense population can live in comfort and ease with all the conveniences and advantages of the modern city at our very doors, where railroads and telegraphs and electric cars are everywhere and where the homes have electricity, gas and water and telephones and a thousand and one of the conveniences of modern life. We have all that Judge North foresaw and more than he could conceive of fifty years ago.
What will the next fifty years do for us?
That Judge North planned wisely the Riverside of today shows that the foundation was good or there could not have been built thereon the superstructure we now have.
A brief sketch of Judge North's life may not be out of place here.
Judge J. W. North, the founder of Riverside, was born in the Town of Sand Lake, in the County of Rensselaer, State of New York, on the 4th day of January, 1815.
The Norths were from England originally and settled near Hartford, Conn., where they lived for several generations. Judge North himself, like many of our most noted men, had an admixture of Scotch, Irish and French blood, which may well account for his versatile talents and his dogged perseverance to get an education and a position above the ordinary toiler with his hands. His relatives were inclined to be religious and his father was a local preacher in the Methodist church. He also studied for the ministry and might not have been ever heard of outside of the Methodist church but that in his younger days, especially his college days, the anti-slavery agitation began to assume a good deal of promi- nence and he took an active part in that. He was very much handicapped for lack of means to go through college, but he finally succeeded in getting the education he desired. The churches in his day mostly favored slavery and frowned down any anti-slavery agitation among its students and preachers. Mr. North had considerable difficulty in maintaining his position and soon became renowned for the talent he displayed in his ideas and the arguments he used in discussion with his opponents. He also taught school at odd times to add to his resources in attaining his education and had his physical arguments (?) with the boys bigger than himself, coming off victorious.
His fame as an antislavery speaker brought him into such prominence that during his studies and considering the prominent position of many of the advocates of slavery in the church he determined to abandon his studies for the ministry and study law.
It was during this transition period and while occasionally preaching in the Methodist church and at other times speaking for the abolitionists and the cause of anti-slavery, he had some very heated debates with some of the leading lights in the Methodist church, at college, in which he backed his arguments with quotations from John Wesley, Dr. Adam Clark and others, generally getting the best of the argument. As a result of his position on the question of slavery he was offered the position of lecturer for "The Connecticut Anti-Slavery Society" during the winter of 1838, a position which he filled very acceptably, the returns from which aided him in his studies very materially in a financial way. On account of his anti-slavery views he had more difficulty in graduating than he otherwise would have had. He graduated in 1841, but continued to lec- ture until the autumn of 1843, having some rough experiences from the opposition and mob violence.
Continuing his law studies in New York, he was admitted to the bar of the Supreme Court of the state. Failing health compelled him to "go Vol, I-23
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west" in 1849, where he practiced law in Minnesota at the Village of St. Anthony, now the City of Minneapolis, taking a prominent part in the political and legislative affairs of at that time the Territory of Minne- sota. In 1850 he was elected to the Territorial Legislature and during the session introduced and successfully managed the bill founding the Minnesota University.
For six years he was located at Faribault, where he again took a part in the affairs of the settlement, afterwards selling out and estab- lishing the town of Northfield, building at that place saw and flour mills, dwelling houses, etc.
In 1857 he was elected president of the Minneapolis & Cedar Valley Railroad Company, of which company he was one of the original promoters.
In 1860 he was chosen delegate to the Republican National Conven- tion at Chicago that nominated Abraham Lincoln for President and was a member of the committee that conveyed to Mr. Lincoln the notice of his nomination. He became personally acquainted with Mr. Lincoln and also Vice President Hamlin and was present at their inauguration in 1861. May 11, 1861, President Lincoln appointed Judge North United States Surveyor General of the Territory of Nevada. He then formed a law partnership with James F. Lewis (afterward Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Nevada) and conducted a very successful practice until appointed by President Lincoln judge of one of the territorial districts and the Supreme Court of Nevada.
His territorial district embraced Virginia City, where all the richest and most valuable mines were in litigation. The judge held his judicial position until the organization of the Nevada State Government, retiring from the office upon the establishment of the Nevada state courts. During his term on the bench he was elected a member of the first Constitutional Convention of Nevada and upon the organization of the convention was elected as its president and presided over its deliberations.
In the autumn of 1865 Judge North closed his business in Nevada and returned east and the next year (1866) settled in Knoxville, Tennessee where he engaged in the iron business, establishing foundries, machine shops, etc. He remained there until the spring of 1870 labor- ing under many disadvantages in conducting his business, for men of his prominent views were not popular in the South. Finally he concevied the idea of establishing a model colony in Southern California, in which he was aided by Dr. James P. Greves, and in March of that year issued his first circular from Knoxville and in that spring he sold off his prop- erty and with some other of the founders of Riverside, came to California.
CHAPTER X SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLONY
Dr. Greves, Dr. K. D. Shugart, E. G. Brown and A. J. Twogood were of the party accompanying Judge North in trying to select a suitable place for the proposed colony. After spending several months in an unsuccess- ful search all over, mainly from Los Angeles as headquarters, the main difficulty being the lack of sufficient water, the party was about to give up the search and Judge North went to San Francisco. The San Pasqual ranch was looked on favorably, but was not selected. This ranch was afterward selected as the site of Pasadena.
While they were deliberating T. W. Cover, who was connected with an association for the culture of silk, met the parties and offered to take them free of expense to see the lands that they had secured for a silk culture colony.
Previous to that time the legislature of the State of California had looked so favorably on the culture of the silk worm and the production of silk that there was offered a premium for the planting of mulberry trees and there was quite an active movement in and around Los Angeles in growing mulberry trees and in raising silkworm eggs and some money was made in that direction. Thomas A. Garey at that time and after- wards prominent in the nursery business, took an active part in the silk excitement, the result of which was that Mr. Cover, Mr. Garey and others along with a Mr. Prevost, formed a company called "The Silk Centre Association" for the culture of silk. Mr. Prevost being a practical silk man was the active head of the company and in the selection of a site pronounced the location where Riverside is now, an ideal one for silk raising, the result of which was that a portion of the Jurupa ranch was purchased from the Rubidoux estate and from Able Stearns. As the success of the silk business lay wholly with Mr. Prevost, (he was going to bring forty families from France used to silk culture) his untimely death, coupled with the fact that the premium on the growth of mulberry trees offered by the State was withdrawn, there was nothing else to be done by the "Silk Centre Association," but to sell out and disband.
Dr. James P. Greves, E. G. Brown and Dr. K. D. Shugart, represent- ing the proposed colony, went with Mr. Cover and as soon as they saw the land they immediately with one assent exclaimed in the language of the motto of the coat of Arms of the State of California "Eureka" (we have found it). In this way Riverside was founded by three men witli- out any other ceremony.1
About 6000 acres were bought and preparations were immediately made to commence operations. The Southern California Colony Asso- ciation was formed. The following comprised the stockholders at its formation, J. W. North, C. N. Felton, James P. Greves, Sanford East- man, John C. Brodhurst, G. J. Clark, T. W. Cover, H. Hamilton, M. W. (or Barbara) S. Childs, J. H. Stewart, Dudley Pine, W. J. Linville and K. D. Shugart. The officers were: President, J. W. North; Secretary,
1 In a previous chapter the founding of Los Angeles was described by bringing in a few sort of nondescript families of uncertain race and birth with elaborate cere- monies by the Roman Catholic Church, showing the difference between ancient and modern methods. A substantial subsidy in money and in other ways was also one of the conditions of settlement.
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James P. Greves; Treasurer, K. D. Shugart ; Superintendent of Canals, T. W. Cover. The following circular is a document of history :
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COLONY
"This colony, of which some notice was given by circulars, in March last, is finally located and organized. After several months of examina- tion, in company with gentlemen from New York, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Tennessee, a selection has been made, about fifty miles from Los Angeles, which combines the following advantages, viz: A plenty of good land, an abundance of pure, running water, a delightfully genial and healthful climate, a soil adapted to the production of all grains and vege- tables, as well as the common and semi-tropical fruits.
"In addition to this, we have, on the property purchased, excellent material for brick, and a small mountain of marble, that makes the best of lime, and fine material for building. A large amount of timber, suit- able for fencing and fuel, is growing on the property, and pine lumber can be purchased for twenty-five dollars per thousand. This location has been chosen by Mr. Prevost, ( the pioneer silk culturist of California) before his death, as the best locality in the State for silk culture. The company is incorporated under the laws of California, and named 'The Southern California Colony Association.'
"This location is twelve miles toward the coast, from San Bernardino ; is near the proposed line of the Southern Pacific Railroad, and on the line of railroad now being surveyed between the coast and San Bernardino. A telegraph line is expected to be constructed through the property the present season. Our post-office address, for the present, is San Ber- nardino.
"The climate is as genial and healthful as can be found in any coun- try. The winter is next to nothing; oranges ripen during the winter season, and yield their most abundant harvest in the spring. The summer heat is not so oppressive as that of New York ; sun stroke is only heard of through the Eastern papers. For those suffering from lung or bron- chial diseases, or asthma, this climate is all that could be desired. It is far enough from the coast to be free from the severe ocean winds and fogs, and near enough to feel an invigorating and refreshing sea breeze every day.
"The scenery is varied, picturesque, and some parts grand. Of course it lacks the verdure of Eeastern secenery, but that is to be expec- ted everywhere on this coast. The weather is so uniformly mild that very little fuel is needed, except for cooking. Stock require neither shelter nor fodder in winter. For this reason stock-raising and wool- growing are extremely profitable. On moist lands, or where water can be applied, two crops a year are common. The oranges and grapes raised in this vicinity are superior to those raised near the coast.
"In addition to the production of all the grains, fruits and vegetables of the East, which are here produced in double quantity, this soil and climate are peculiarly adapted to the growth of oranges, lemons, limes, figs, English walnuts, olives, almonds, raisin-grapes, wine-grapes, peanuts, sweet potatoes, and to silk culture. The sorghum and sugar beet are said to more than double the yield of the East. The net profits per year, from the semi-tropical fruits and silk culture, are estimated at as high as one thousand dollars per acre. Mining districts, within reach, furnish a ready market for all products. Ornamental trees, and flowering shrubs and vines, grow with wonderful rapidity. It is safe to say that as much can be done in ornamental gardening here in three years, as can be done
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in the East in ten. The Pepper tree, one of the cleanest and most beauti- ful of shade trees, grows with astonishing rapidity. The orange groves, in which may always be seen both fruit and blossoms, are unrivalled in beauty. The Pomegranate, always with fresh foliage, bearing fruit and flowers ; the Lemon and Lime, always ornamental, as well as profitable; the Oleander tree, wonderfully rapid in its growth, always green, and always ornamented with gorgeous blossoms ; and other flowering trees and vines, easy of cultivation here, are sights very inviting to Eastern eyes.
"A town site is now being surveyed. A few choice lots will be given to those who build and establish business on them before the 1st of Janu- ary next. Other lots will be sold at from twenty-five to two hundred dollars each, according to location and value. Lands in lots of from ten to twenty acres, adjoining the town, will be sold, for the present at twenty dollars per acre ; and other lands at two and a half to five, ten and fifteen dollars per acre, according to location. The company desire to furnish land and water at the lowest figure practicable, after covering the expense of purchase, water-ditches, etc. It should be born in mind that more can be accomplished on one acre of this land, with an ample supply of water, than on four, or even ten acres at the East; and that the land obtained now, at these low rates, can, within five years, be made worth one thou- sand dollars per acre. The company also propose to sell on time to those who are not prepared to pay in full for their lands at once. With a small payment in advance, those who improve their lands at once can have from one to three years time, at reasonable interest, if they desire it.
"We would not encourage any to venture so far who have not some capital to start with ; but when once started, a comparatively small amount of labor can not fail to produce large results. We invite especially to our settlement enterprising, cultivated and progressive people.
"We have promises of reduced fare on most of the railroads, already, and expect to obtain the same encouragement from the balance. The steamship companies at San Francisco have also given us reduced rates to San Pedro. Those wishing to avail themselves of reduced fare will need a certificate from the President of the Association, that they are going to settle in our colony. He can be addressed by mail at 'Dewitt, Onondaga County, N. Y.' until the middle of November next. About that time he will return with his own family, and such others as shall be ready to accompany him.
"It should not be forgotten that the Autumn, and not the Spring, is the commencement of seedtime in California. Plowing should be com- menced as soon as the rains soften the earth, and can be continued during the entire Winter. All who can should come on in the Fall. The best time for planting trees and vines is from December to the last of February.
"We would suggest to our friends the policy of buying only small portions of land. The great error is getting too much, and cultivating too little ; or cultivating large farms imperfectly. On large farms people must necessarily be widely separated; on small lots they can enjoy the society of near neighbors, and have all the advantages of town or city life. Besides this, ten acres of land, which can be made to yield an annual income of five hundred or one thousand dollars per acre, is enough to furnish a very reasonable income. Small farms, near neigh- bors, and a compact settlement are best for all. If any can improve larger tracts, lands lying farther back can be purchased for that purpose.
"Those coming from the East can obtain all necessary information of Rev. S. W. Bush, 26 Chauncey Street, Boston, or of John S. Loomis, President National Land Company. No. 3 Bowling Green, New York City, or of C. N. Pratt, Esq. 111 Dearborn Street, Chicago. At San
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Francisco, all needed information can be obtained of George Loomis, Esq. 712 Kearney Street, or at the office of the Northern Pacific Transporta- tion Company, Sansome Street. At Los Angeles, Milton Thomas, 101 Spring Street will furnish all information and provide for all wants, including conveyance to the colony, if desired.
"This hastily prepared circular is issued to give necessary informa- tion to many friends who are waiting for it. We hope to issue a more complete one after a few months.
J. W. NORTH,
San Francisco, Cal., Oct. 10, 1870 President & General Agent."
The land was surveyed by Higbie and Goldsworthy, including the gov- ernment lands south and east of the company lands. Most of the origi- nal settlers took up government lands. At first it was contemplated carry- ing the canal at a higher level than the present upper canal of the River- side Water Company. Should that have been carried through most of the government lands east of the canal would have been covered by water, but difficulties about the right of wav over in the bottom lands of the Santa Ana River were encountered and so the project was abandoned. As it was, there was some work done higher up and the remains of the canal were to be seen for some years after. The govern- ment granted the right of way over all public lands.
The town would have been named Jurupa after the Indian name of the ranch, but the difficulty in pronouncing the Spanish J like H was the one objection. The matter was left to Dr. Greves and he named it Riverside. Some have asked "Where is the river?" The Santa Ana River runs past the settlement, but at a lower altitude-sav seventy-five feet lower-and so situated that we can never have a flood that will carry away the town as has happened in some other places.
Miss North; an elderly sister of Judge North and D. C. Twogood, had each a nice house on the government lands east of the canal as now run- ning, but the abandonment of the canal as originally proposed, changed their plans and D. C. Twogood moved his house to his place on Prospect Avenue where he and his wife and two daughters ended their lives in Riverside. Miss North's house was bought and moved by Mr. Blair to his block on the corner of Fifth and Vine Streets, where with additions it now stands.
These years in the early days and for some years after were the happy times. Invalid women who were hardly able to help themselves in the East, when they came to Riverside were out bright and early attending to their flowers and roses and working hard. They literally ate great gobs of climate and drank of the bright sunshine while health poured in at every pore. They did their own work and enjoyed their own cook- ing and felt that life was a blessing. There was no bakery around the corner where you could buy a loaf of bread, a pie or a nice cake. If you wanted anything in the eating line you had to make it yourself. We were out of the world by weeks. The daily morning paper at the break- fast table was not known. In place of that you had the San Francisco Weekly Bulletin a week (or ten days sometimes) after it was published and it took you the following week to read it.
There was no telephone calling you from your breakfast on perhaps a trivial message or perhaps of a cold night calling you out of bed in your "what do you call ems" to tell the unwelcome caller he had got the wrong number. No telegraphic messenger ever interrupted your quiet meditations at any time. No electric lights to turn on instead of fumbling to get matches to light the lamp, no street lights shining in at
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the windows to annoy your slumbers, or light you on your way when calling on a neighbor. In the absence of these you were liable to step into a ditch or get mired down in the dark on a soft piece of ground caused by somebody's waste water.
Street railways or railways of any kind were days away, by the then methods of travel, the stage coach, or the lumber wagon. There were no. buggies by which you might travel in a hurry if you were going to Los Angeles or San Bernardino. The auto had not been thought of nor its motive power-gasoline. We were cut off from the great world by desert, and distance and when Christmas or the Fourth of July came round you could not go anywhere and we were all a happy family, enjoy- ing and celebrating these holidays by public gatherings. Everybody knew everybody else. There were no rich and there were no poor and we were all a happy family. We all had faith in the future and we never doubted. If anyone raised anything in the vegetable or fruit line suc- cessfully, everybody knew it and it was put on exhibition ot our frequent gatherings and so these meetings served us in place of the daily paper. That was the Golden Age of Riverside. But it could not always be so. The great law of evolution carried us on, and progress was being made.
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