USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 36
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 36
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Walter A. Shay was educated in the public schools of San Bernardino, after which he went into ranching and freighting, devoting more time to the latter, in which occupation he continued for a number of years. He freighted between San Bernardino and various desert points, and also hauled lumber for many purposes from the mountains of San Bernardino. In 1898 he left this somewhat strenuous line of work and a year later
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went into the sheriff's office as a deputy. He was there four years in the same capacity. In 1903, after he left the sheriff's office, he was elected city marshal of the City of San Bernardino, and he held that office for two years. At that time he was appointed chief of police by Mayor H. M. Barton, and served for two years, when he decided to leave the employ of the city and did so, immediately connecting with the office of special agent for the Pacific Electric Railroad in its east branch. He kept this for two years, then took the office of chief of police of San Bernardino again, appointed by Mayor S. W. McNabb. He served another two years then went back to railroad work, this time as division special agent for the Arizona Division of the A. T. & S. F. Railroad of the Coast Line. He was there for four years, when he was again appointed again chief of police of San Bernardino, this time by Mayor George W. Waxon, and he served two years. Three appointments as chief of police by three different mayors is in its self some indication as to the character of his work in the position. Mr. Shay was then appointed chief special investigator to the district attorney of San Ber- nardino County and was in that position a year and six months. In 1918 he ran for sheriff and was, of course, elected, and is now filling that office to the peace and satisfaction of that commonwealth.
He married in March, 1892, Matilda McCoy, a native of San Bernardino County, California, and a daughter of W. W. and Elizabeth McCoy of San Bernardino. They have had five children, one of whom is deceased. Those living are: Weston W., a dentist living in Los Angeles ; Emmett .L., living in San Bernardino, as are the other two, George W. and Nellie. Weston W. was a lieutenant in the dental corps of the Army during the World war and Emmett L. served in the Navy, being assigned to the naval base at San Pedro. Weston married Helen Mewhart, and have one son, Robert. Emmett married Violet Wixom, and they also have one son, William.
In politics Mr. Shay is a member of the republican party. Fraternally he is affiliated with San Bernardino Lodge No. 348, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, with San Bernardino Lodge No. 290 Independent Order of Odd Fellows, with Moose Encampment No. 51. The family is identified with the Baptist Church.
GEORGE DIMOCK CUNNINGHAM needed only a few months more of life to round out forty-five years of continuous residence and active asso- ciation with the business and civic affairs of Riverside. He came to the town when it was five years old, and his business enterprise was exhibited in several important lines, and always in a constructive manner, so that the city owes much to him.
Mr. Cunningham, who died at his home, 386 West Ninth Street, January 22, 1921, was born in Nova Scotia, Canada, April 30, 1852. Cunningham is an old Scotch name, and when it first appears in records in 1023 the spelling was "Koningshame." The old coat of arms bore the "Shakeforth" motto, meaning, as is interpreted by Van Barsen's History "Kings of Scotland," "over, fork over." During the Colonial period in the eighteenth century three Cunningham brothers set out from the north of Ireland with Pennsylvania as their destination. Being wrecked on Sable Island, Nova Scotia, in 1769, they landed at Halifax and were induced to remain in that Province.
Herbert Robie Cunningham, father of the late George Cunninghanı, was a native of Nova Scotia, was a merchant and at the time of his death was serving as county treasurer, being succeeded in that office by his son, William H. The mother of the late Riverside citizen was Ellen McGregor, also a native of Nova Scotia.
Susan Elizabeth Cunningham
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George D. Cunningham acquired a common school education in huis native province. As a young man he set up in business at Merrimack, Massachusetts, as a manufacturer of carriages. He became a very skilled and expert worker in this line, and continued in merchandising until 1876. Through correspondence with relatives he knew something of the advantages to be found at Riverside, and arrived here April 22, 1876. For six months he was clerk in his cousin's general merchandise store, and then bought a wagon shop and continued the manufacture of wagons and carriages until 1883, when his plant was destroyed by fire. He soon afterward became a furniture merchant, but from 1889 to 1903 was in the crockery and hardware business, his principal part- ner during that time being A. A. Wood, under the firm name of Wood & Cunningham. He had great faith in Riverside's future and freely invested his surplus funds in the improvement of real estate. In 1883 he acquired the land and built a brick business block at Eighth and Main streets, where the Security Savings Bank is now located. He also owned and built the G. Rouse department store building. He was also the owner of (and which Mrs. Cunningham still retains) the business block on the northwest corner of Eighth and Main which is occupied by the Keystone Drug Store. While he was in the hardware business he took some part in the construction of nearly all the big blocks in the city.
Mr. Cunningham was not a politician, but was the type of citizen in whom people place implicit confidence, and he was frequently honored in the republican party, serving in county and state conventions and on committees, and during 1916-18 was a member of the State Central Committee. In 1903 President Roosevelt appointed him postmaster of Riverside. He took charge of the office April 1, 1903, and served throughout Roosevelt's administration and was reappointed by Presi- dent Taft. While he was postmaster the new Federal Building was completed, and he was postmaster there one year. In 1916 Governor Hiram Johnson appointed him a member of the Board of Managers of the Southern California State Hospital at Patton, and he was chosen vice president of the board. He was reappointed by Governor Stephens in 1920, and held that post at the time of his death.
Mr. Cunningham had been a director of the National Bank of Riverside from the time it was organized. He was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, the Pioneer Society, and Riverside Lodge No. 643, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was prominent in Masonry, having joined that order in Nova Scotia and demitting to become a charter member of and assisting in organizing Lodge No. 259, F. and A. M. at Riverside. He was past high priest of the Royal Arch and a past commander of the Knights Templar and a member of Al Malaikah Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Los Angeles. His funeral was conducted under Masonic auspices.
Mr. Cunningham is survived by Mrs. Cunningham and three mar- ried daughters, who have seven children, while the child of his only son makes eight grandchildren. At Riverside, February 20, 1879, Mr. Cun- ningham married Miss Susan Elizabeth Handy. She was born in Massachusetts. Her father, Captain B. B. Handy, was a sea captain, and Mrs. Cunningham as a girl once accompanied her father on a whaling voyage. She was liberally educated, being given opportunity to train her artistic talents. She is an artist of exceptional ability and the walls of her home are graced with a number of fine water color paintings, prominent among which might be mentioned one study "Mis- sion Arches," which has attracted much favorable attention. She spent the summer of 1921 at Lake Tahoe sketching the lake, mountains and trees. She loves the outdoor life and most of her studies are from na-
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ture. She is a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution and has taken an active part in club work at Riverside. The only son of their union was Jonathan Dexter, who died in 1893, his widow being a resident of Ocean Park. His daughter, Lucile Cunningham, is in school. The three surviving daughters of Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham are : Bessie, wife of Harry B. Sewart, of Riverside, their sons being Clarence and Byrl; Marjory, wife of Jules H. Covey, deputy county recorder, with children Jules Hailand, Jr., Elizabeth and George Dexter. and Dorothy Katherine, wife of Earl L. McDonald, of Prescott, Arizona, mother of a son, John Cunningham, and a daughter, Barbara.
MAJOR LEO ALBIN STROMEE, a veteran of the World war, is one of the progressive business men of San Bernardino, where he owns and operates one of the finest shoe stores in this part of California. He is a native son of the Golden State, as he was born at Los Angeles, April 3, 1890, a son of Gustaf Stromee, who was born in Sweden, August 9, 1845, and died at San Bernardino in 1911.
In 1867 Gustav Stromee came to the United States, and after landing in New York City, left it in July of that year for Chicago, Illinois. He had only $3.50 in his pocket when he reached Chicago, was friendless and could neither speak or understand the language. Because of this it was almost impossible for him to make himself understood when he applied for work, but finally he met a painter who could speak to him in his own language, and from him he obtained employment. How- ever, this employer took advantage of his helplessness and cheated him out of two-thirds of his pay. Further misfortune followed him, for he was taken sick, had his trunks, and even his clothing, stolen, but with the sturdiness which seems inherent with the Swedish people he managed to accumulate a little hoard of money, and then this, too, was taken from him by a dishonest land shark.
In the course of his work he journeyed westward, and in 1868 joined General Custer's army, participating in one engagement on December 24th of that year when Custer's men met 2,000 buck Indians, in which the soldiers killed 1,500 and took eighty squaws and papooses prisoners. During the time he was in the army he had many exciting experiences, saw murder committed, suffered for lack of food and water, but escaped the final fate of so many of General Custer's soldiers. Receiving his six-months' pay, he went back in 1871 to Chicago, and subsequently returned to the West, locating at Los Angeles. He was married at Highland, Illinois, November 6, 1875, to Matilda Seline, who was born at Brooklyn, New York, July 21, 1854. Mr. and Mrs. Stromee became the parents of the following children : Karl Otto, who was born October 27, 1876, at Highland, Illinois, married Elsa Hovander, born in Sweden July 10, 1883, and they have one daughter, Eloise, born September 2, 1918; William Frederick, who died in infancy; and Major Stromee, whose name heads this review.
Major Stromee attended the public schools of Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Military Academy, from which he was graduated in 1903. For one year thereafter he was associated with his father in his building and painting contracting business, and then entered the employ of Wells, Fargo & Company at Los Angeles, and in February, 1907, was transferred to the San Bernardino office of that company, with which he remained until 1908, when he left it to assume the management of a shoe store, and this position he held until in 1917, when he resigned to enter the United States military service.
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In 1908 Major Stromee enlisted in Company K, Seventh Infantry, California National Guard, and the following year was commissioned a second lieutenant. In June, 1915, he was commissioned a first lieutenant, and during 1916 served on the Mexican border during the troubles there, being stationed at Nogales, Arizona, from July to November, 1916. He resigned his commission in January, 1917.
On March 6, 1917, he enlisted as a private, and was called into the service March 25, 1917, and commissioned captain of Company K, One Hundred and Sixtieth Infantry. He received his training at Camp Kearney, California, and sailed with the Fortieth Division for France in July, 1918. Transferred from the One Hundred and Sixtieth Infantry to Company C, Three Hundred and Eighth Infantry, Seventy-seventh Division, he participated in the Argonne offensive, and as a member of the "Lost Batallion" was wounded, October 3, 1918, and sent to a hospital in France. Suffering from a disability, he was invalided home, and in 1919 was honorably discharged at Camp Kearney, California. He had been promoted to the rank of major, and was commissioned as such in the Reserve Corps, Infantry Section, United States Army.
At the time he was wounded Major Stromee held the rank of captain, but was second in command of the regiment. His wound, which was in the shoulder, was aggravated because it was not properly attended to for three days, and he was suffering because of the fact that for six days he and his men had been without food. When they were rescued they were subsisting on a little chewing tobacco and the leaves from surround- ing bushes. Their ammunition was almost exhausted, although they had kept a sufficient amount to insure their escaping capture by the enemy. they having agreed that rather than submit to that they would kill each other. While he was in the hospital recovering from his wounds Major Stromee contributed to the "Stars and Stripes" an account relating in thrilling language the sufferings of the "Lost Battalion," and the relief and rescue of the command, one of the greatest incidents of the war. They had repulsed, in spite of their weakness and insufficient ammunition, three attacks, and were gamely making ready to repulse a fourth when succor arrived.
Upon his return to San Bernardino Major Stromee established his present business at 521 Third Street, and here he is carrying on an up-to-date shoe store with gratifying results. During his long connection with the shoe business he became thoroughly acquainted with all of its details, and his success proves that he knows his trade and how to meet its demand.
He has served twice as commander of his post of the American Legion ; is past exalted ruler of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; belongs to the Masonic fraternity, the Native Sons of the Golden West, and the Disabled Veterans of the World war. A young man of public spirit, he belongs to the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the City Council from the Fourth Ward.
On January 1, 1913, Major Stromee married at San Bernardino Miss Ella Scott, and they have two children, Karl Gustaf, who was born at San Bernardino December 5, 1913; and Mary Jane, who was born March 31, 1920.
FRANK F. CORRINGTON has been a Riverside resident for twenty years, has taken up and developed some active business interests in Southern California, and has also devoted his ability and his leisure to the active welfare of the city.
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Mr. Corrington was born at Carrollton, Illinois, son of Stephen Fletcher and Susan (Francis) Corrington, both natives of that state. His mother is now living at Riverside. The Corrington family is of English ancestry and runs back to the Revolutionary period in America. Stephen Fletcher Corrington was a man of scholarship and long identified with school work in Illinois, and for sixsteen years held the position of county superintendent of schools at Carrollton. He was also at one time master in chancery. He was prominent in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.
Frank F. Corrington acquired a grammar and high school education at Carrollton, and as a young man took up the insurance business and later became an Illinois farmer. He followed farming in Illinois until 1902, when he came West, seeking a milder climate and other business opportuni- ties. His quest ended at Riverside, and at the present time he is associated in business with his son, Kent L. Corrington, operating an automobile transfer line. Frank F. Corrington was a pioneer in the auto transfer business in Riverside. He organized the Orange Belt Draymens Associa- tion in 1919, and has been its head and its president ever since. This includes the draymen in Riverside and San Bernardino counties and part of Los Angeles County.
When he came to Riverside in 1892 and for a number of years afterwards he was foreman of the Ables Transfer Company. He started in business for himself with one truck and now has five. He has always opposed the abusing of the highways by the overloading of trucks, and at the invitation of the Riverside County and Orange County supervisors, drafted the ordinances on this subject that are in force now.
Mr. Corrington is public spirited and, though not active in politics, was honored with the office of chief of police of Riverside, and per- formed those duties most acceptably under the administrations of Mayors William L. Peters and Oscar Ford. Mr. Corrington is a member of the Kiwanis Club and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows of which he is a past grand, having gone through the chairs while in Illinois. He is on the Official Board of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, in which both he and his wife are active workers.
In Illinois he married Miss Margaret Maberry. She was born in . that state, and her father, W. M. Maberry, lived for many years in Illi- nois and at one time was county supervisor. The only child of Mr. and Mrs. Carrollton is their son Kent L .. born in Carrollton, Illinois, in 1890. He is engaged in business with his father.
REDMOND A. LILLARD, one of the aggressive young business inen of Riverside, has been identified with this community of Southern Cali- fornia for the past six years.
He was born in Sevier County, Tennessee, in January, 1884, son of William and Angelette Lillard. His father died when the son was two years of age. Mrs. Angelette Lillard is still living and is of Irish ancestry.
Redmond Lillard made the best of his early advantages in the country schools, and as a young man he worked for a time as a salesman for the Singer Sewing Machine Company in the Atlanta, Georgia, district. Following that he did construction work at different points in the United States and Canada, and when he came to California in 1913 he was engaged in the cattle industry in the northern part of the state.
In 1913 Mr. Lillard came to Riverside, and soon afterward established the Bell Cleaning Company, which is now a flourishing industry, with modern facilities and with branch offices in Corona, Perris, Hemet and
John L, Eikelman
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Beaumont. Mr. Lillard is affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.
JAMES HARRINGTON, who died in San Bernardino some years ago, was regarded as one of the state's pioneers, for he came here when a young man, and while he did not live many years in San Bernardino he was there long enough to draw around him a circle of warm, true friends, to whom he is an everlasting memory. As he devoted his life to railroad work in positions of authority he was thrown in contact with all kinds and conditions of men, not only those who worked under him but many others, and with all he was popular, for with him it was once a friend, always a friend.
Mr. Harrington was born in Brantford, Canada, and was educated in the public schools, afterward being apprenticed to a tool maker, with whom he served eight years. When he was twenty-five years old he went to Port Huron, Michigan, where he followed the trade of machinist, being appointed foreman of the Grand Trunk Railway shops. In 1889 he came out to San Bernardino as general foreman of the California Southern Railway shops, and was so engaged until a year before his death, which occurred on March 28, 1895. He went into Eternity loved by his family and friends. He was a member of the Catholic Church, and politically, he was a member of the democratic party.
On May 27, 1868, Mr. Harrington married Isabel McArron, a native of Port Huron, a daughter of Michael McArron and Mary (Kinney ) McArron, her father being a native of Scotland and her mother of Ireland. Mr. McArron came to Port Huron in early days and conducted a hotel. Mrs. McArron was also a pioneer of that place. Mrs. Harring- ton was educated in the public schools of Port Huron. Mr. and Mrs. Harrington became the parents of the following children : Mary Josephine, wife of A. D. Griffith, of San Bernardino, who has two girls and one boy ; Kate, deceased wife of Clarence Rasor, and left two boys and one girl; and Gail and Lillian Harrington.
In 1895 Mrs. Harrington started an art shop in the old Opera House Building, and ran that for three years and then went into the millinery business at 441 Third Street. She successfully conducted this establish- ment for twenty-two years, and then opened her present place, December 15, 1919, located at Third and F streets. Mrs. Harrington has by her own skill and talent made this into the leading establishment of its kind in the county. Her business acumen and personality have united to make her one of the city's most progressive citizens, and also one of the most popular. She is always more than willing to take an active part in anything which will be for the good of the community. Mrs. Harrington has made herself by her own unaided exertions an influence in the life of the city, and her reputation for rectitude and integrity is second to none.
JOHN G. EIKELMAN-With the business and civic interests of San Bernardino the late John G. Eikelman was identified a number of years and was one of the substantial citizens, prominently interested in all movements looking to the advancement and progress of the city.
He was born at Quincy, Illinois, in 1864. His father, Henry Eikel- man, was a California forty-niner, having been a participant in the excit- ing days of the original discovery of gold. John G. Eikelman grew up in Quincy, had a public school education, and for a number of years was in the general mercantile business at Wichita, Kansas. In that city, October 22. 1891, he married Miss Viola J. Stewart. She was born
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in Indiana, of Scotch ancestry. Her father, John L. Stewart, was a graduate of De Pauw University at Greencastle, Indiana, and in early life was a well known educator.
On coming to San Bernardino Mr. Eikelman entered the wholesale and retail grain and feed business, and was still active as a merchant in that line when he died in 1909. His first home in the city was on the site of the old fort, at 357 C, now Arrowhead avenue. In this home all the children were born. The present handsome home occupied by Mrs. Eikelman and children, at 345 Sixth Street, was built in 1909. The late Mr. Eikelman voted as a democrat, but never put himself in line for political honors, though his interest was unfailing in matters of local welfare. He belonged to the Chamber of Commerce and was affiliated with the Masonic Order and the Elks.
Mrs. Eikelman is the mother of four children. All of their birth- days fell in the same month. The oldest, Miss Frances, during the period of the World war was a chemist in a munition factory in Amitol, New Jersey, and then resumed the work for which she was especially trained, the welfare work in the Glenn Mill School at Slayton Farm in Phila- delphia. Miss Nell Eikelman, the second daughter, graduated in 1921 from Columbia University with the Master of Arts degree, her major subject being English. The son, J. Albert Eikelman, finished his four- year college course in the Oregon Agricultural College. While there he distinguished himself as an athlete, and is now athletic coach for the high school at Hoquiam, Washington. He married Miss Eva Wheeler of Tillamook, Oregon. They have one son, John Albert Eikelman, Jr. E. Carlyle Eikelman, the younger son, is a member of the class of 1924 in the commercial course of the Agricultural College at Corvallis.
EDGAR T. HAM, county surveyor of San Bernardino and a citizen of San Bernardino City, just missed by one short year being a native son of California. He has spent his life since school days in surveying and associate activities, and he was the popular choice of the residents for the position he so adequately fills. He is a real Californian and a most loyal one, having spent his entire life, save for that one little year, in the state, and most of it in and around San Bernardino.
He was born in Waco, Texas, January 25, 1886, the son of W. H. Ham and Elizabeth (Tennant) Ham. His father was a native of Maine and his mother was born in Ontario, Canada. W. H. Ham was a jeweler in Texas, but in 1887 he came out to San Bernardino and bought an orange grove of ten acres near Highland. He has since added to his holdings until he has a fine property of thirty acres. With his wife he now lives at this home. They were the parents of two children, Mamie, wife of William Gutherie, city attorney of San Bernardino, and Edgar T. Ham.
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