USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 2
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 2
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
Ungava Chapter No. 106 Eastern Star, membership 300 organized in 1890.
There is also in connection, an order known as the Shriners, which appears to be more of a social institution, but stands high financially and otherwise, and is noted all over the country.
The Knights of Pythias have also a strong and well drilled body, organized in 1885. The Riverside branch had the credit of being the best drilled in the State.
Hardly any of the original members of these organizations are now alive, but their successors seem able to keep them up to a high state of efficiency.
The Knights of Columbus have a very strong and flourishing society, but as they seem to be more strictly secret than some of the other secret orders it is difficult to get any reliable information about them.
They took a prominent part in the great war, for which they had a very large appropriation from their funds.
THE ELKS. The Elks is one of the later organizations among the secret and benevolent organizations of Riverside, and one of the three that owns its own lodge building.
The lodge was instituted on February 4, 1901, and has a membership of 700, composed of some of the Best People of Riverside.
Lodge No. 643 has a very fine building on the corner of Main and Eleventh streets, built originally by the Women's Club at a cost of over $20,000 and looks with its ivy covered walls a very venerable building.
County Auditor Chas. O. Reid is present head of the organization which has had as its leaders some of the prominent society men of River- side.
Socially the Elks occupy a prominent position in the daily life of Riverside, and while ministering to some of the necessities of its people, seem to derive a great deal out of life.
OTHER ORGANIZATIONS. Prominent among the many benevolent orders in Riverside none seem to occupy a greater place than the Wood- men of the World, but possibly the Fraternal Brotherhood is fully as prominent, and as they admit women as well as men, they take perhaps a more useful place in the daily life of the community. How many deaths we hear of every day in which the only thing left for the support of those who are left is the insurance, and so from that standpoint if from no other, they are worthy of all praise, but the social brotherly, friendly features of all of them are beyond all praise, not only from their bene- ficiaries, but from the acquaintances formed and the brotherhood feeling that is spread throughout the community ?
611
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
There are so many organizations that it would be impossible to enumer- ate them all, even if it was possible for an outsider to get exact and reliable information as to their inner workings. Some appear to be purely social, while others like the Sons of St. George and the Cale- donians, enjoy at times at their meetings a whiff, as it were, of the old country which makes them none the less loyal to their adopted country. Some of the clubs comprise more of the out-door and athletic, but all have the general idea running through them to promote good citizenship.
PETER MILLIKEN was born in the city of New York on February 8, 1849, of Scotch parents, his father being a shipbuilder and a great traveler. He was educated in the public schools of New York, attended a business college, graduated from the grammar school, was admitted on examination to the college of the City of New York, took a five years' course including Latin, Greek and French and graduated in 1868 with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He delivered the third honorary oration in the Academy of Music on Commencement Day and was awarded first prize in deportment and second prize in mathematics.
After spending the summer near Flushing, Long Island, as private tutor, he left for San Francisco, Calif., via Panama arriving October 25, 1868.
Mr. Milliken soon secured employment as tutor in mathematics in Union College (an Espicopal School) and also as principal teacher in the large evening school of the Presbyterian Chinese Mission, San Fran- cisco under charge of Rev. A. W. Loomis, D.D.
Dr. Loomis and Mr. Milliken were authors of a book to teach the Chinese English. It was profusely illustrated with pictures, the Chinese and English texts being placed side by side. Mr. Milliken had a half interest in the book, which was duly published and used in the school. The American Tract Society of New York bought the manuscript, pub- lished the book and copyrighted it in 1872.
While teaching the evening school Mr. Milliken had entered the employ of the L. P. Pisher Newspaper Advertising Agency as accountant, and later accepted an offer to enter the employ of the San Francisco Bulletin. After many years he left the Bulletin to become business man- ager of the Evening Post, having accepted the offer of Col. Jackson, agent of Senator Jones of Nevada, the owner. Until that time Henry George, the famous apostle of the Single Tax, had been the editor.
In December, 1877, Mr. Milliken was married to Mary Julia Halsey, a native of San Francisco, and daughter of Judge Halsey of the Superior Court. No children have been born to them.
All his life Mr. Milliken has taken great interest in fraternal organiza- tions. He was Master of Oriental Lodge of Masons, San Francisco in 1885, and became member of the Grand Lodge. He was also Past Sachem of Pocahontas Tribe, Imp'd O. of Red Men, and member of the Great Council of the State and of Ivy Chapter O. E. S.
In San Francisco Mr. Milliken had invested his savings in vacant town lots, which he sold to invest in farm land in Winchester and Diamond Valley, then in San Diego County. In 1889 he decided to retire from the newspaper business and remove to his home which he had erected on his farm at Winchester. He at once took an active interest in public affairs and was urged to run for the legislature, but declined in favor of Mr. Casterline, who was duly elected.
When the legislature met, the bill to organize Riverside County was introduced. Mr. Milliken entered heart and soul into the fight, canvassed
612
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
his district, spoke at public meetings, including a large mass meeting in the Loring Theatre, Riverside.
He was elected justice of the peace of Diamond Township. Then he was Deputy County Assessor for Assessor Jarvis. At the next elec- tion he was urged to run for County Assessor which he declined.
At Winchester he helped to organize the San Jacinto and Pleasant Valley Irrigation District, was offered the position of chairman of the Board of Directors, which he declined in favor of Hon. Wm. Casterline. Later Mr. Milliken was appointed secretary of the succeeding board, the Hon. F. T. Lindenberger as secretary, and was also made superintend- ent of the Irrigation system. He was also director of the Florida Water Co. of Valla Vista, most of the water stock being owned by the irrigation district.
Toward the close of 1899 Mr. Milliken decided to quit grain growing, which had been unprofitable, and reenter the newspaper field. He there- fore purchased the Hemet News from the owner, Mrs Emma Kerr, and moved his family and household goods to that town. The paper had a remarkable growth in advertising, circulation and prestige. Hemet grew rapidly in population and wealth. Mr. Milliken led a strenuous life. He was member of the Republican County Central Committee, also of the Executive Committee, presided at two Republican County Conventions in the Loring Opera House, Riverside, was secretary of the District Sena- torial Convention which met at Orange when Senator Caldwell was candi- (late for re-election, was a member of the Congressional Convention at Hotel Coronado during Congressman Needle's time, a member of the Republican State Convention in San Francisco the year Gov. Johnson was nominated, etc.
Mr. Milliken was foreman of two grand juries and secretary of another, and he wrote two grand jury reports. He delivered the oration to the public at the laying of the corner stone of the new county court house at Riverside by the Grand Lodge of Masons, having been appointed to that honor by the board of supervisors.
When Imperial County was being formed by appointment of the board of supervisors, he went to San Diego with Pliny Evans to prevent the partition of Riverside County.
He is charter member of the Royal Arch Chapter of Masons of San Jacinto-he became charter member, Past Noble Grand and delegate to the Grand Lodge of Hemet Odd Fellows. He also joined the Rebecca Lodge and served as chaplain of the Maccabees.
Mr. Milliken helped to organize the Mission of the Good Shepherd (Episcopal) and to build the beautiful new church in Hemet. He also served as warden.
While in Hemet he started the Perris Progress and in course of time, H. M. Harford, a prominent citizen consented to become editor and busi- ness manager. The paper was a success, but the time came when Mr. Harford had too much other important business to attend to, and desired to retire from the management. Mr. Milliken had a good cash offer for the Hemet News from Mr. Wall, an experienced journalist. The offer was accepted and Mr. Milliken moved to Perris to edit and manage the Perris Progress. He soon joined the Perris Masonic Lodge and the Knights of Pythias. Of the latter lodges he became chancellor com- mander and delegate to the Grand Lodge, attending the annual meeting in Redding, Calif.
He served two years as president of the Perris Chamber of Commerce. During the period of growth and optimism, Perris secured a new water system and cement sidewalks, fine new grammar school, brick stores,
613
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
numerous modern homes, etc. While in Perris, Mr. Milliken was urged by former Supervisor Crane to purchase the Lake Elsinore Valley Press. He did so and engaged Mr. Taylor, city treasurer of Hemet, a very cap- able and industrious printer and writer, and employe of the Hemet News, to run the paper, at the same time selling him a half interest. In about two years Mr. Taylor moved with his family to Orange, having purchased a paper there. Mr. Milliken moved his family and household goods to Elsinore and proceeded to edit and publish the paper. H. T. Bott, a capable, artistic and industrious printer of Riverside bought a small interest and moved to Elsinore to manage the mechanical depart- ment of the newspaper and job plant.
In Elsinore Mr. Milliken was director of the Chamber of Commerce, worked for the splendid new street improvements, was interested in the fraternal organizations, etc., and was elected a member of the Republican County Central Committee. He helped to organize the Episcopal Mis- sion at Elsinore and served as warden. Through State Senator, S. C. Evans, he had been appointed speaker for the U. S. Government for the war for Perris, but could not serve owing to his removal from Perris.
After a busy life of over thirty years in Riverside County he wished to retire from the business, and the cash offer of W. J. Sergel ( secretary of the Elsinore Chamber of Commerce) for the Lake Elsinore Valley Press, was accepted and the firm dissolved. The Perris Progress having been leased for a term of years, Mr. Milliken and wife proceeded to Pasadena to rebuild, enlarge and improve a city property he has owned for many years, but hopes to return to Riverside County, as he still has interests at Perris and Hemet.
He greatly appreciates the good will and friendship of many prominent citizens of Hemet, Perris, San Jacinto and Elsinore, not forgetting the beautiful City of Riverside where so many good and prominent citizens have extended the glad hand and words of appreciation for the last thirty years.
For many years Mr. Milliken has been member of the Riverside Com- mandery of Knights Templar, also of the lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He is still a member of the Southern Cali- fornia and State Editorial Associations of California of Malaikah Temple, Los Angeles, Nobles of the Mystic Shrine and of the Asso- ciated Alumni College of the City of New York.
E. J. DAVIS. Among the early settlers whose name is now almost unknown, none were more enterprising than E. J. Davis. Coming in 1872 he bought the block of two and a half acres, now occupied by the Reynolds Hotel, and built his home where he lived as long as he lived in Riverside. He also, through his partner (who died shortly after) suc- ceeded to, and bought the block between Main and Orange streets and Seventh and Eighth streets. From 1872 to 1886 Mr. Davis was one of the most active men in Riverside, being a contractor and builder, and doing lots of work on the older buildings long since replaced by modern structures.
In the absence of any very commodious hotel in Riverside in 1886 he started, and put up what is now known as the Reynolds Hotel, between Main and Orange and Ninth and Tenth streets, fronting on Main. It had a frontage of 183 feet on Main Street and 100 feet on Ninth. It was a three story brick building, the lower story being devoted to stores. It was one of the best appointed hotels of its time. For some years it was rented, then Mr. and Mrs. Davis run it as a hotel themselves. The
.
614
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
upper story contained eighty-four rooms. The kitchen was entirely sepa- rated from the hotel proper.
Mr. Davis married in 1876, Miss Grace Cunningham, a native of Nova Scotia. There are two boys surviving the marriage. Mr. Davis was prominent among the Masons and Odd Fellows, and was one of the lead- ers in building the first part of the original Odd Fellows building.
Mr. Davis was born in England in 1844 and grew to manhood there, coming to the United States in 1868. His wife died a good many years ago and now he makes his home with his sons.
T. J. WOOD was the first settler in Riverside (who did not belong to the founders) to come here and build a home. He was living in San Bernardino at the time of the founding of the colony, and on hearing of what was proposed to be done, he came over and was, in reality, the first outsider to come and bring his family which was October 28, 1870. He built his residence on the corner of Eighth and Vine streets. Mrs. Wood was the first white woman to reside in Riverside and her advent was met with a public reception and speeches of welcome, which in glowing terms, depicted the future of the colony. Rev. Mr. Higbie, one of the surveyors engaged in platting and laying out the colony said that "within fifteen years the iron horse will be plowing through the valley and Riverside will be furnishing the eastern states with oranges" a prophecy which was literally fulfilled. Mr. Wood took an early and active part in school matters, but as a citizen and as a school trustee being first appointed by the board of supervisors and afterward by election. Being among the first carpenters, he took an active part in the erection of dwellings and also in the construction of the canal.
He also acquired property on Orange Street, and on that erected a fine three-story brick apartment house between Seventh and Eighth streets During his residence in Riverside, he took an active part with the Odd Fellows. He was born in South Carolina in 1830 and at his death left a widow and three children.
CHAPTER XXXIV
BUSINESS AND OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Riverside has never been as well served by live, well financed bank- ing institutions as now. There are two national banks, the Citizens' National and the National Bank of Riverside, and there are two state banks, the Security Savings Bank, which is owned by the stockholders of the Citizens' National, and has a commercial department, and the Hellman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank, a branch of the Los Angeles bank of that name.
All of these banks are officered by men of exceptional ability and standing, whose names mean much in the financial circles of Southern California and particularly in the upbuilding of the city and county of Riverside.
The directing influence in the Citizens' National and the Security Savings Bank, including their branch in Arlington, is W. B. Clancy, who entered the Citizens' Bank when it was organized and has been one of its dominant personalities from that time through its remarkable history of growth and prosperity.
The National Bank of Riverside has as its president a young business man who made a financial success of the contracting business in River- side and has stepped readily into this bank-William A. Johnson.
It was with considerable interest that the people of Southern Cali- fornia heard less than a year ago of the entrance of the Hellman fam- ily, well known bankers, into this field by the purchase of the People's Trust & Savings Bank. The management of the institution was placed in the hands of R. L. Webster, who came here from Spokane, Wash- ington, where he had enjoyed a successful banking career of many years. He has fitted readily into Riverside financial and business life and is recognized as a banker of sound judgment and substantiality. The fact that the institution has behind it the great resources of the Hell- mans has resulted in a steady growth in its business.
The banks are all officered by well known citizens and business men, the Citizens' National Bank and the Security Savings Bank being largely directed by S. L. Herrick, who has been a leading operator in connec- tion with the Citizens' National Bank, and, being a large orange grower, gives him the confidence of the patrons of the bank.
W. G. Fraser, president of the Security Savings Bank, is well and favorably known from his lengthy connection with the trust company under the Gage Canal system.
The National Bank is conducted by well known financiers and busi- ness men while the Hellman Commercial Trust & Savings Bank, which is one of the Hellman chain of banks of Southern California, with its great resources, gives the other banks greater confidence and support than ever.
RIVERSIDE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE. Riverside has had its Chamber of Commerce so long that it has existed almost beyond the memory of the "oldest inhabitants." At first it took hold in a very modest way and the annual dues were comparatively low and those who took an active interest in its workings had but little time to devote to its inter- ests and duties. But it has grown in its activities in every direction until it is an every-day matter, and not only that, every little settlement
615
616
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
and town has its Chamber of Commerce looking to every thing that will promote local interests in every possible way and when occasion requires we have a grand county meeting of associated chambers of commerce or maybe action on extraordinary occasion of the whole of Southern California.
When we read in the daily papers that on one train of three sections in one day 2,100 people arrive in Los Angeles and that 60 per cent of them came to make their homes in Southern California, we can see that there is work all over Southern California for all the chambers of commerce to place these people in such surroundings as may be con- genial to them, and, further, when we know that with these people we are getting the "cream of every State in the Union" and that it is the type of men and women that are here that are mainly instrumental in doing it we begin to see what is ahead of our chambers of commerce.
But let our Chamber of Commerce speak for itself through its secretary :
"The Riverside Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary association of men and women, interested in the development of Riverside in economics, civic and social ways. Its interests are not confined to the limits of Riverside but extend throughout the county. Primarily a business organization, it recognizes that today as never before civic and social matters are inextricably interwoven with business affairs and that in order to provide for a well balanced community all three phases of the city's life must be made to progress uniformly.
"Aside from the usual routine of Chamber of Commerce work, which, while quietly and unobtrusively done, is of tremendous impor- tance to the community, the Riverside Chamber of Commerce has the following accomplishments to its credit: The locating of the Citrus Experiment Station and School of Sub-Tropical Agriculture, a branch of the University of California, at Riverside; the establishment by the United States War Department of an army flying field at March Field, near Riverside; the purchase of a site for a school of agriculture, a branch of the University of California at Riverside. The Chamber of Commerce assisted materially in the establishment and development of the Southern California Fair.
"Consistently striving for those things which are in strict accordance with American ideals of government and business affairs, the Riverside Chamber of Commerce stands today as it has stood for thirty years, the leading organization in the City of Riverside, with the welfare of Riverside as its one great purpose.
"IRWIN HAYDEN, "Managing Secretary."
RIVERSIDE MUNICIPAL ELECTRIC LIGHT AND POWER SYSTEM. (By HORACE PORTER, Ex-Mayor of Riverside.) The founders of Riverside were thoroughly progressive men and women. They built the first city in history founded on horticulture alone in a desert. They first formulated the principle that in a desert country the land shall own the water that is used to irrigate it. Led by a woman, they pioneered the introduction and culture of the famous navel orange.
This same progressive spirit led the people of Riverside to begin to light their then desert village by electricity, as early as 1886, or at least to take the first steps toward electric lighting. Mr. O. T. Dyer and others petitioned the authorities, in May, 1886, to co-operate with certain private individuals for electric lighting of Riverside. The use of elec- tricity for power, now so essential and so greatly used for irrigation and
617
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
all industrial purposes, was then not even thought of. But so rapidly was the use of electricity being developed, that it was only two years later, or on March 12. 1888, that Ordinance No. 89, was adopted, granting a franchise to an "Electric Light and Power Company," to operate in Riverside.
But the high cost of electrical service thus provided led the people of Riverside to move for a municipally owned light and power system of their own. In June, 1894, the Board of City Trustees appointed a committee to report on the advisability of a municipal electric plant. In March, 1895, City Engineer James W. Johnson reported in favor of such a plant and estimated its cost. An election was held June 5, 1895, the city voting by an overwhelming majority to bond the city for $40,000.00, for the establishment of an electric light and power plant.
The first electrical engineer was appointed August 1, 1895, E. C. Sharpe being thus appointed. Immediately the electric plant at Mulberry and Ninth streets was erected, which has, of course, grown from the first small beginning, to the present large proportions. F. A. Worthley was made first superintendent, and Elmer Cutting, now and for many years superintendent, was "lineman and trimmer." The California Elec- trical Works of San Francisco, having furnished and set up the equip- ment, for $40,978.00, their contract price, a thirty days' trial was made, and on December 8, 1896, the plant was formally accepted and opened for business.
The city purchased its power wholesale, from the Redlands Electric Light and Power Company. This by contract for "ten thousand volts."
Here lies the weakness, it may be said, in Riverside's electric light and power system. We were content to contract for power, and did not proceed as we might so well have done in that early day, to generate our own electric current. The result has been that we have been placed to great disadvantage in all our history thus far, by having to purchase from private power companies, at cost far exceeding that of generating such power, had we done it ourselves. We tried to get away from this in 1899-1900, by erecting a steam generating plant at a cost of some $34,- 000.00. But this has proved only moderately helpful. It did no doubt get us better rates from the companies from whom we purchased the most of our power. But it has proved to us that hydro-electric power can be generated at very much lower cost than that by steam. Indeed steam electric generation is almost inexcusable waste of money and energy in California where hydro-electric power generation is so easy and so cheap, on our public domain, in the great mountains and streams.
Riverside having pioneered so many notable movements, it is worthy of record also that in municipal electrical development the city has done real pioneer work. Riverside was the first city in California to develop a municipal electric light and power plant, and one of the first cities in the United States to do so. In this Riverside blazed the way for the long distance transmission of electricity, by building the first long distance, high voltage electrical transmission line in the United States and, it is believed, in the world. This action by the City of Riverside was watched with great interest by the electricians of the world, to see whether such long' distance transmission was to be found practicable. Riverside brought this electric power over her long distance lines from Mill Creek, in the San Bernardino Mountains, hardly thirty miles away. But the experiment was a success and was a notable step in the great development of long distance high voltage transmission lines, by which the great elec- tric power lines of the world are made possible. The great municipal hydro-electric power system of the Province of Ontario, Canada, is made Vol. 11-2
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.