USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 37
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume II > Part 37
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
Edgar T. Ham was educated in the public and High Schools of San Bernardino, and then worked for the Arrowhead Reservoir and Power Company until September, 1906. After that he was selected assistant engineer for the Rasor Brothers, mining engineers, and until February, 1907, was with them. From that time until January, 1909, he was an assistant in the county surveyor's office. He next went to the hydrographic department of the Arrowhead Reservoir Power Company, where he remained until May, 1909. Then, until January, 1911, was assistant city engineer of San Bernardino. In January, 1918, he was appointed deputy county surveyor, and in 1919 was elected county surveyor, which position he now holds to the satisfaction of all.
Mr. Ham was united in marriage on October 20, 1909, with Audrey D. Dresser, a daughter of Nathaniel A. Dresser, of San Bernardino.
857
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
They are the parents of two children, Margaret and Audrey E. Dresser. Mr. Ham is a member of San Bernardino Lodge No. 836, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and of the American Association of Engineers. In politics he is a republican, and in religious faith he is affil- iated with the Presbyterian Church.
GEORGE KINGSTON SHERLOCK, JR .- The importance of all communities are measured by the value of its different business houses and the men owning and controlling them. If a locality does not possess any sound commercial and industrial interests its rating is low, no matter how desirable may me its natural advantages. Therefore it is a matter of moment to secure and hold those concerns whose operations will add to the prestige and enhance the value of its realty. San Bernardino owes much of its recent remarkable expansion to the fact that it has become the home for some of the largest and most dependable establish- ments in Southern California, one of which is conducted by George Kingston Sherlock, Jr., at 529 Court Street, where he operates an auto top, tent and awning business with very gratifying results not only to himself but to all parties concerned.
George Kingston Sherlock, Jr., was born at Radersburg, Montana, November 14, 1895, a son of George Kingston and Hattie L. (McKay) Sherlock, grandson of Wigmore Sherlock, and great-grandson of Gover- nor Sherlock, who was a man of great importance at Bandon, Ireland, and proprietor of the landed estate of The Green. He was the father of four- teen children, one of whom, George Sherlock, although now ninety years of age, is still serving as Queen's Counsel in England. Another son, Wigmore Sherlock, married beneath his social station in life, was consequently disinherited, and went with his bride to New Zealand, where they resided for many years, and where their ten children were born. They then came to the United States, landing in California, from whence they went to Montana, driving a flock of sheep and homesteaded at Radersberg, and there he died two years later.
George Kingston Sherlock, Sr., one of the sons of Wigmore Sherlock and his wife, was reared and educated at Radersburg, and there he was married, his wife being of Scotch parentage. They lived at Raders- burg until after the birth of their son George Kingston Sherlock. Jr., and then moved to San Bernardino, and a daughter, Nellie, was born soon thereafter. Subsequently twin daughters, Elsie and Ethel, were born, and ten years thereafter their fifth child, Helen, was born. George Kingston Sherlock, Sr., established himself in business as a manufacturer of tents and awnings, and also carried on a carpet cleaning department, becoming one of the substantial men of his day and locality.
Growing up at San Bernardino, George Kingston Sherlock, Jr., at- tended its excellent public schools, and was graduated from its high school course in 1914. Immediately thereafter he entered his fathers' es- tablishment, and after he had acquired a full knowledge of it, the manage- ment was turned over to him. In 1915 Mr. Sherlock branched out to in- clude automobile trimming and upholstering, which rapidly grew until it became the most important part of the business. In the meanwhile there was such an expansion in all of the departments as to necessitate the securing of larger quarters, and in 1920 the plant was moved to the present new and commodious building, which is the largest establishment of its kind in Southern California. Mr. Sherlock has a model plant, for he has installed many new and valuable machines and devices for carrying on his business efficiently and expeditiously. He gives em- Vol. 11-17
858
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
ployment to fifteen skilled mechanics, and has the surrounding territory, including the desert, covered by experienced salesmen.
In addition to carrying on his own enterprise with commendable success Mr. Sherlock finds time and interest for different organizations which are engaged in promoting the welfare of the business life of the city, and served for two terms as president and a director of the Auto Trades Association; is a director of the Merchants Association; and belongs to the San Bernardino Chamber of Commerce and similar associations. Fraternally he maintains membership with San Bernardino Lodge No. 836, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, and socially with the Rotary Club and the Mutual Dancing Club. He is non-partisan in his political activities.
On September 19, 1914, occurred the marriage of George Kingston Sherlock, Jr., and Miss Daisy C. Peters, at San Bernardino, the young people eloping. They have a little daughter, Virginia Lois Sherlock, aged six years. In every particular Mr. Sherlock measures up to a high standard of citizenship, and stands as well socially as he does in business circles.
REV. RICHARD AINSLIE KIRCHHOFFER is rector of All Saints Episcopal Church of Riverside. This is one of the large and prosperous Episcopal Churches of the county, with over five hundred baptized members and three hundred communicants, and is an organization with great power and influence for good throughout the city.
Members of the Episcopal Church were represented in the pioneer colony that founded Riverside, and the services of an Episcopal minister were held there as early as June, 1871. Thereafter at occasional intervals the community was attended as a mission until October 5, 1884, when All Saints parish was organized from All Saints Mission, under the approval of Bishop Kip. Among the prominent members of the parish at that time were E. C. Brown, J. D. Brownlee, E. J. Davis, W. H. Hayt, John Jarvis, W. P. Lett, Ottley Papineau,, Dr. Woodill, B. B. Wright, L. M. Holt and Dr. Jenkins. The first resident rector was Rev B. W. R. Tayler, who in January, 1887, came from New Brunswick, Canada, to his new duties. The parish was greatly prospered during his adminis- tration, and the cornerstone of the present church was laid June 24, 1887. Rev. Mr. Tayler resigned in 1891, and early in the following year was succeeded by Dr. Milton C. Dotten, who served the parish as rector for twenty-six years, until May, 1918. His successor is Rev. Mr. Kirch- hoffer.
Richard Ainslie Kirchhoffer was born at Souris, Manitoba, Canada, June 28, 1890. His name is Dutch in origin, though his paternal ances- tors for generations lived in Ireland, which was also the home of his mother's people. The Kirchhoffers went to Ireland from Holland with William, of Orange. Rev. Mr. Kirchhoffer's parents were Richard Beresford and Mary Elizabeth (Young) Kirchhoffer. His father was born in Ballyvourney, County Cork, Ireland, was educated in England, and immigrated to Canada in 1880, being one of the pioneers in what was then the Canadian Northwest, now the Province of Manitoba. He was also a pioneer of the California settlement of Canadians known as Ontario, and is remembered in that city as one of the men responsible for the laying out of the ornamental and shade tree system. From 1904 until 1919 he was a member of the Los Angeles Stock Exchange, and his death occurred in December of the latter year.
Richard A. Kirchhoffer was educated in the Los Angeles grammar schools, graduated from the Polytechnic High School of that city in
859
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
1909, and received his A. B. degree from the University of Southern California in 1913. He then went East to New York City and in 1916 graduated from the General Theological Seminary and took his Orders in the Episcopal Church the same year. From 1916 to 1918 he served as assistant minister at All Saints Episcopal Church at Worcester, Massa- chusetts. In the interval following his duties at Worcester and the beginning of his rectorship at Riverside he was an army chaplain. From August 23, to September 26, 1918, he attended the training school for chaplains at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, and from September 26 until January 29, 1919, was chaplain of Headquarters Train and Military Police, 12th Division, Camp Devons, Massachusetts.
Rev. Mr. Kirchhoffer was formally installed as rector of All Saints Church at Riverside February 12, 1919. He has been chaplain since organization of Riverside Post No. 79, American Legion, is a mem- ber of the International Rotary Club of Riverside, and a republican in politics.
September 7, 1918, at St. Luke's Church at Anchorage, Kentucky, he married Arline Leicester Wagner, daughter of James R. H. and Mabel Monahan Wagner, now of Santa Barbara. Rev. Mr. Kirchhoffer and wife have one son, Richard Ainslie, Jr., born August 5, 1919.
MATTHEW GAGE was a man to whom all California may well pay a lasting tribute of honor, for he it was whose initiative and enterprise made possible the cultivation and development of the navel orange in the Riverside district, and incidentally led to the upbuilding of one of the most important productive industries of the state. A man of sterling char- acter, of marked civic loyalty and public spirit, his influence was ever one of helpfulness, and he commanded unqualified popular esteem. His work and service widened in beneficent angle, and made possible the winning of substantial fortunes by many other citizens of California. His supreme material interest in life was in the development and prog- ress of Riverside, and the canal which he constructed and which still bears his name is the main artery of the irrigation system that gives life to the magnificent orange groves of this favored section of Cali- fornia.
Mr. Gage was born in Coleraine, Ireland, January 11, 1844, and was a son of James and Margaret Jane (Orr) Gage. His father was a man of large business interests in his native land. He died shortly after his return to Ireland with his family after a year's visit to Canada. His mother died at Riverside, California, in January, 1892, at the age of eighty-two.
Matthew Gage was reared and educated in Kingston, Canada, and was there actively engaged in business until the year 1881. In that year he came to Riverside, which became his permanent residence.
Prior to his coming to Riverside he had purchased twenty acres of orange and deciduous groves on the corner of California Avenue and Jackson Street. Despite his earnest efforts this venture proved unprof- itable. Regardless of that fact, his faith in the possibilities of Riverside was not weakened, and he immediately directed his energies to other fields of development. On March 6. 1882. he filed a Desert Land entry in the office of the United States Land office, covering section thirty, lying east of the City of Riverside, and on the 20th of March, 1882, purchased 160 acres of land from W. F. Green in section thirty-two with the hope of developing water thereon by means of wells for the reclama- tion of section thirty. On the same date he also purchased Lot One of the Southern California Colony Association Lands from Hettie A. Green,
860
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
where he established his residence, and where he thereafter continuously resided until his death in 1916.
Failing to find water in sufficient amount on section thirty-two, he began negotiations with J. Alphonso Carit for the purchase of the Carit Tract (now known as Victoria) in 1885, and consummated the purchase of 1,000 acres of the same on March 1, 1886, for the sum of $175,000.00. Upon this tract he caused to be bored many artesian wells, some of which now constitute a part of the water supply of the Gage Canal.
On July 27, 1885, Mr. Gage purchased six-sevenths of the Hunt and Cooley Ditch from George Cooley, Ambrose Hunt, James Stewart and Peter Filaux, which carried with it the right to take all the water flowing in the Santa Ana River at the point of the intake.
It was with this water that Mr. Gage intended to reclaim section thirty. To convey this water to his lands it was necessary to construct a canal twelve miles in length. This required the boring of more than a mile of tunnels through the bluffs to the south of the Santa Ana River and the acquisition of rights of way over the lands of others. These rights of way were largely acquired by conveying to the owners water rights in the canal to be built and necessitated the development of water in amounts not only sufficient to reclaim section thirty, but also to irri- gate what was then known as East Riverside, but now called Highgrove. The Gage Canal was thereafter constructed and water therefrom supplied to the three thousand acres of land on the Highgrove Mesa, and con- veved to and upon section thirty. Unfortunately the time within which the law provides that desert land should be reclaimed expired before water was actually placed upon section thirty. The day after the expiration of this period four persons filed Homestead and Timber Culture entries unon each quarter section of section thirty, and thereby precipitated litigation in the United States Land Office and in the courts, which ulti- mately was determined in Mr. Gage's favor by the issuance of a patent to him on April 1. 1896.
In his efforts to obtain water for the reclamation of section thirty the vision of Mr. Gage grew until in his mind's eye he could see not only Highgrove flourishing with groves, but also the six thousand acres lying south of the Terquisquito Arroyo, now known as Arlington Heights. On June 13. 1887, he secured an option from S. C. Evans, Sr .. for the pur- chase of this tract, and enlarged the plans of the Gage Canal so as to permit the carrying of sufficient water not only for the irrigation of Highgrove and section thirty, but also for the thousands of acres of Arlington Heights. Unable to secure financial assistance to carry out this project, he proceeded to England in 1889, and there enlisted the aid of British capital. As a result of his efforts there the Riverside Trust Company, Limited, was incorporated December 13, 1889. which company purchased from Mr. Gage Arlington Heights and all of the stock of the Gage Canal Company, the latter company being organized in California for the purpose of managing and operating the Gage Canal and its water sources. Mr. Gage reserved a large block of stock in the Trust Company for his interests, and became its managing director. The Gage Canal, which had been in 1888 extended to cover Arlington Heights, was thereupon put into commission, and the lands planted under Mr. Gage's management ; streets opened and graded; and this develop- ment continued under his supervision until 1894, at which time he resigned as an officer of the company. being succeeded as manager by William Irving, his brother-in-law, who theretofore had been the engineer for the company.
-
1. Juni
861
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
For a considerable period after 1894 much of Mr. Gage's time was taken up with litigation connected with his varicd interests and in the development of section thirty, three hundred acres of which were still owned by him at the time of his death.
Mr. Gage was an earnest member of the Calvary Presbyterian Church, which he was instrumental in organizing and which in its early years was largely supported by him. In 1892 his wife presented to the church the beautiful organ which is at the present time in use, and which was given in memory of the children of Mr. and Mrs. Gage who had passed away at that time.
He was interested in all things that touched the civic and material welfare and progress of his home city and county.
In subdividing the lands of Arlington Heights, which prior to the construction of the Gage Canal were covered with sage brush and cactus, and having in mind the future development and beautification of the community, he caused to be laid out Victoria Avenue, a double road leading from Victoria Hill on the north to the lands of the San Jacinto Land Company, eight miles below. As managing director of the Riverside Trust Company he caused to be constructed the Victoria Bridge, which spans the Terquisquito Arroyo, and presented it to the city. He spared neither time nor effort to beautify the properties under his control. Widely traveled and deeply read in all forms of literature, with a deep appreciation and love of music, and with a keen and sparkling wit, Mr. Gage was both a delightful companion and a constant inspiration to all those who enjoyed his friendship.
Mr. Gage married on June 30, 1869, Jane Gibson, of Kingston, Canada, a daughter of James and Jane Gibson, both of whom were born in Belfast, Ireland. Mr. Gibson was the owner of many acres of farming lands in Ontario, Canada.
Mr. Gage left surviving him three children and one grandson, Gage, so named after his grandfather, the son of his second daughter, Maude Louise, now Mrs. W. G. Irving. The eldest daughter, Margaret Jane Gage, resides with her mother. His third daughter, Anna Stewart, is the wife of H. S. Montgomery, a mining engineer residing at Lompoc, California. Five children were lost to Mr. and Mrs. Gage. Katherine Mackenzie, Horace James, Robert Condit, Edith Anna and Francis Gibson.
Mr. Gage died January 22, 1916, and was interred in the family burial ground in Olivewood cemetery.
WILLIAM IRVING. Among the men whose efforts aided in the rapid development of Riverside during the late eighties and early nineties of the last century was the late William Irving. Mr. Irving was born near Annandale, Dumfries, Scotland, in 1833, the son of William and Eliz- abeth (Brow) Irving. At the age of twelve he came to Kingston, Canada, where he received his education as an architect and engineer. Until his father's death in 1874 he was associated with him in the designing and erection of many of the public and collegiate buildings, which distin- guish the City of Kingston among Canadian cities. In 1881 he organ- ized and became president and manager of the Kingston Car Works.
In 1887, on the invitation of Matthew Gage, Mr. Irving came to Riverside to act as engineer of the Gage Canal System. Under his direc- tion the Gage Canal was constructed from the Terquisquite Arroyo to its present terminus and Arlington Heights was laid out in its present form. Later, upon the organization of the Riverside Trust Company, Limited, in 1890, which company acquired Mr. Gage's interest in Arling- ton Heights, and in the Gage Canal he became the engineer of that com-
862
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
pany. Immediately following the organization of the Trust Company the planting of Arlington Heights was begun and continued until upwards of five thousand acres of desert were converted into prolific citrus groves. Mr. Irving in 1894 became manager of the company and continued to act as such until the year 1901; and thereafter as consulting manager until his death.
In 1901 Mr. Irving was requested by the United States Government to make an investigation and report upon irrigation practice in Southern California. Upon this work he was engaged at the time of his death, which occurred September 23, 1904.
Mr. Irving was widely read in all branches of literature. His chief pleasure, however, was found in philosophical and scientific studies, and in the discussion of such subjects. Of a clear and logical mind he fol- lowed the course of reason with relentless precision, regardless of the results to generally accepted dogma. The solution of the problems of life in the light of truth was everything to him, and no demand of expediency could cause him to hesitate in putting his decisions into action.
In 1867 Mr. Irving married Eliza Gage at Kingston, Canada, who still survives him. Mrs. Irving was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in 1839, the daughter of James and Margaret Orr Gage.
Mr. and Mrs. Irving had a family of six children, all of whom are still living. In 1897 their eldest daughter, Elizabeth Brow, married John M. Mylne, who succeeded Mr. Irving as engineer of the Gage Canal System. His second daughter, Margaret Eva, married Stewart E. Mal- loch of Hamilton, Canada, in 1901 ; and the youngest, Kathleen, married Edward W. Trevelyan.
Of his three sons, William G. is a lawyer practicing in Riverside ; Robert M. is engaged in horticulture; and J. Norman is a civil engineer of Los Angeles, California.
WILLIAM G. IRVING has been active in his practice as an attorney- at-law at Riverside for a number of years. His father was closely identi- fied with the constructive enterprises that developed the rich horticul- tural area around Riverside.
Mr. Irving was born at Kingston, Ontario, Canada, May 16, 1870, son of William and Eliza Irving. His father, William Irving, Sr., was born in Dumfries, Scotland, in 1833. He was a civil engineer, and for many years was president and manager of the Kingston Car Works Company. He also held the office of alderman in Kingston. In 1887 he came to California and thereafter continued his business and pro- fessional career as engineer and manager of the Riverside Trust Com- pany, Limited. He died in 1904. His wife was born in Coleraine, Ireland, in 1839.
William G. Irving was reared and educated in Kingston, Canada, attending the Collegiate Institute, and is a graduate Bachelor of Arts of the University of Queens College in that city. After finishing his uni- versity career he came to California and has practiced law in Riverside for nearly twenty-three years Mr. Irving was for five years by federal appointment referee in bankruptcy ; and for seven years was city attorney of Riverside.
During the World war Mr. Irving turned over his office force and his entire time to the Red Cross chapter of Riverside, of which he was chairman, and to the Food Administration, which he represented in Riverside County.
During his early youth he served as a private in C Company, Princess of Wales Own Rifles, in Canada. He is a democrat in politics, and a member of the Victoria Country Club of Riverside.
863
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
February 19, 1913, at Los Angeles, Mr. Irving married Maude Louise Gage, daughter of Matthew Gage, of Riverside.
JOHN ALEXANDER HENDERSON, the popular and efficient mayor of San Bernardino, from May, 1919, to May, 1921, is not only a native son, his birthplace the city of which he was mayor, and the son of a pioneer, but he is a man who experienced as many vicissitudes and led as strenuous a life in many ways as the earliest of pioneers. He took a man's part at a very young age and when he reached manhood he essayed various lines of work, generally ending by being placed in charge of the work, but at the same time he had many adventures and made many changes of occupation and of scenes. He managed to extract plenty of the joy of life as he went along, and always made friends. Mr. Henderson is of the West, a genuine westerner, and typical Californian. He is of the "salt that keeps civilization from decay." He can relate many tales of the early pioneer days which are more fascinating than any romance.
Mr. Henderson was, as stated above, born in San Bernardino, on May 29, 1857. His father was David Henderson, a native of Scotland, who came to San Bernardino in 1856. He was a merchant in the old country, and a stock raiser as soon as he located in California. His wife was Margaret Adam, also a native of Scotland. She died in 1900. They were the parents of ten children, of whom John A. was the young- est. Seven of them reached maturity.
Mr. Henderson was educated in the public schools of San Bernardino, and worked on his mother's stock ranch as soon as he was able to ride a horse, which was when he was nine years of age. He continued in this work until he was seventeen years old, at which period his mother moved to Juappa, which at that time was supposed to be Government land, but which later proved to be a part of the Stearns grant. The stock was moved to this district, as it was growing so fast the ranch near San Bernardino was getting overcrowded. They were notified to move off the property, but Mrs. Henderson had a will of her own and paid no attention to the notice. Later, however, she sold out all the stock and moved back to San Bernardino.
At this juncture Mr. Henderson, Jr., decided to work in a saw- mill, and did so, starting in one owned by Tyler Brothers, where he remained until the fall of 1875, when he went to one owned by Van Slack & Summers, where he worked several years. Real money was so scarce it was a curiosity, and he had to take his pay in lumber, which he managed to trade for his necessities. And, true to form, the necessities were-a six shooter and a watch. After two years' work at the last named place he was made head sawyer, and was so employed for two years. His original job at the mill was wheeling sawdust, and his promotions were won by sheer hard work and appli- cation. His keen eye made him an expert at settings the logs on the head blocks, and this was what decided the firm to give him the job of being in charge of the sawing.
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.