USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 4
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 4
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 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69
At this time this section was a splendid stock range, and land sur- veys were just being run and the surveyors were working on a plat of Chino townsite. Mr. Tebo soon traded his land interests for Chino lots, and built one of the first homes in the town, at the corner of B and Sixth streets. He has lived on this property for more than thirty-five years, and about ten years ago he built one of the most modern homes of the town. There has been no interruption to his work as a farmer in all these years. In 1891 work was started on the construction of the sugar refinery, and for about a year he did much of the hauling of material for that purpose. In 1892 he opened a feed, grocery and general merchandise store, operating it for two years and selling to B. K. Galbreath.
Mr. Tebo is the father of four children. The oldest, Mabel, who was born at Woodland, Yolo County, September 20, 1885, is a graduate of the Chino High School, is a graduate nurse, and followed that pro- fession until her marriage to William Cissna, who died leaving two children, Aletha and Robley. She is now Mrs. Rolf Lindner. The second
1070
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
child, Ethel, who was born at Chino June 28, 1893, is a graduate of the Chino High School and the Los Angeles State Normal School, is a trained nurse, and is now the wife of Stanley Goode, a graduate of law in Stanford University. Their two children are Betty and William. The third child is Frederick A. Tebo, actively associated with his father in business. The fourth, Genevieve, who was born at Chino July 16. 1897, is a graduate of the Chino High School and was married in 1919 to Grover Breselin, who died in 1920.
Frederick A. Tebo was born February 22, 1895, progressed with his education in the Chino High School, but on account of poor health left school and, though much under age, with his parents' consent joined Company D of the Pomona National Guard and was on border duty during the Mexican troubles. He was sent to the hospital and operated on for appendicitis, was invalided home, and in the World war was rejected and placed in Class 5. He was in the Edison Company's office at Chino until it was removed, and is now bearing some of the heavy burdens of his father's business. They lease and farm 1,200 acres, growing alfalfa, grain and sugar beets, operating one 75-horse power tractor and two smaller tractors, and all other modern equipment. They also do an extensive trading business, needing three heavy service trucks for transporting goods and commodities. They have established a whole- sale and retail feed, fuel, hay and grain business under the firm name of Fugate & Tebo at the corner of Seventh and D streets in Chino. Frederick A. Tebo married Miss Elizabeth Beach, who was socially prominent at Pomona.
Mr. William J. Tebo delivered all the material for the construction of the Edison high power line from Colton to Long Beach. In this and in many other ways he has kept in close touch with the progressive development of this section. He saw the valley when it was an immense stock range. Richard Gird owned an enormous herd of Durham and Holstein cattle and over 350 blooded Percheron horses which ranged all over the valley. There was no railroad, a trail going through the brush to Pomona. Later came Gird's dummy line from Ontario, and still later the present Southern Pacific road from Pomona to Ontario. Mr. Tebo was a member of the first City Council of Chino, and is still on the council. Chino in early times was noted for its saloons and brawls, and there were many instances of murders and fights. He was appointed deputy sheriff and later elected constable, has been in that office now for over twenty years and has made good his resolve to clean up the community. Although he has never called for assistance, he has again and again encountered and overawed bad men. It has been a hazardous duty and several times he has been shot at and was twice wounded by gun shot. He is known as the bad man's nemesis of the Chino Valley. Mr. Tebo was admitted to American citizenship in Judge Campbell's court at San Bernardino in 1890, and his citizenship has been of a positive character and one accompanied by usefulness and loyalty in every sense.
WILLIAM B. PAYTON, M. D .- With forty years of professional serv- ice to his credit Dr. Payton has been a physician and surgeon of high rank both in the Middle West and on the Pacific Coast. He is still in active practice at Riverside, and has also become financially and personally interested in constructive development work in the agricultural sections of this county and the adjacent counties.
Dr. Payton was born at Kokomo, Indiana, November 16, 1856, and is of Scotch-Irish descent. He was only six years old when his mother, Isabelle (Bailey) Payton, died. She was born in Indiana.
1071
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
His father, L. B. Payton, now deceased, was a native of Kentucky, and during the Civil war served as a non-commissioned officer in the 46th Indiana Infantry. He was a farmer by occupation.
Dr. Payton acquired a public school education, also attended the Indiana Normal School, and graduated in medicine from the University of Michigan in 1881. For ten years he practiced at Greentown, Indiana. About that time his wife developed tuberculosis, following two attacks of La Grippe, and he brought her to Riverside for the winter. She began to recover, and he determined to remain here permanently. His affection for the community dates from that time, and he found the people as well as the climate delightful and kind- ness personified. Going back to Indiana and adjusting his affairs he re- turned, and on the advice of Dr. Gill went to Perris on April 6, 1892. Mrs. Payton continuing to improve, he felt justified in going East in 1893 to attend the World's Fair in Chicago, and visit in Indiana. During this trip Mrs. Payton contracted a cold and died in December, 1894. Dr. Payton then resumed practice in the East, and remained there about ten years. For the past sixteen years he has been in active practice in Riverside. He has been honored with the office of president of the County Medical Society, is also a member of the California State and American Medical Associations, and his knowledge and long experience give him a high rank in his profession.
Dr. Payton while at Perris was a pioneer in the irrigation projects there. He now owns ranches in Kern County and Coachella, and has a date orchard at Thermal. He was formerly owner of some real estate in Los Angeles. While in Indiana he held the office of county coroner. Dr. Payton is a republican, a member of the Methodist Church, has filled chairs in the Masonic Lodge, and is affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Knights of Pythias and Wood- men of the World.
By his first marriage his only daughter, Mabel died at the age of twenty. On Novemer 16, 1898, at Perris, California, he married Grace Plimpton, a native of Chicago. Her father was the late Colonel H. A. Plimpton, prominently identified with fruit culture at Perris. Dr. and Mrs. Payton have two children: Harold, a student in the University of California, and Mary Lois, attending the Riverside High School.
JAMES A. BELL .- While he has not been a resident of the City of Riverside long enough to class as a pioneer he is a native son of California and possesses all the characteristics such fortunates are popularly supposed to have. He is the son of a pioneer and was educated in the Golden State, and when it came time for him to enter the business world for himself he chose Riverside for his business enterprise and as a home. In short space of time, as the years go, he has built up a good and ever increasing patronage, gained by square dealing, courtesy and strict attention to business ethics. Mr. Bell can surely congratulate himself upon his business and social standing in the city of his choice.
Well known and popular as Mr. Bell is in other ways, he has also made himself well known by his work in the Knights of Columbus organization here. He has headed it since August, 1920, when he was made grand knight of the order. Two years ago, when the order here had but forty-three members, Mr. Bell joined with Grand Knight Richard J. Welsh in making it popular, and they succeeded, for when Mr. Bell became grand knight the membership numbered two hun-
1072
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
dred, a larger percentage increase than in any other lodge in the state. Mr. Bell previously served as warden and as deputy grand knight. The membership is steadily on the increase all the time.
James A. Bell was born in San Francisco, April 9, 1880, a son of Henry and Rose (Boyle) Bell. Henry Bell was a native of Ireland and came to the United States when a young man, settling in Brock- line, Massachusetts. So quickly did he become a thorough, loyal American that in 1864, January 26, he joined Company A., Massa- chusetts Volunteers, under Major Henry Splaine, serving under him and engaging in many battles, until he was mustered out July 11, 1865. He came out to California in 1870, and followed his profession, that of landscape gardening, until his death in June, 1917. Mrs. Bell, who is also a native of Ireland, survives him and is a resident of Danville, California.
James A. Bell received his education in the public and high schools of Berkeley, California, his first work being in a drug store of that city, where he was engaged during his four years course in the high school. At the end of his school days, his graduation, he con- tinued in the drug business successively in Tracy, Newman and Los Angeles until 1909, when he determined to come to Riverside and start in business for himself, which proved a very wise move. He opened his store at 214 West Eighth Street under the name of the Salt Lake Store, and which he has conducted ever since and with ever increas- ing success. In addition to the Knights of Columbus Mr. Bell is a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks of Riverside.
On November 30, 1911, at Santa Ana, California, he married Miss Jennie M. Hansen, a native of Chicago and a daughter of Mrs. M. Hansen, who was one of the old pioneer families of Fresno, California. They are the parents of two children : James A. Bell, Jr., and Eugene J. Bell.
HARRY E. COURTNEY .- The vice president of the Riverside Abstract Company, Harry E. Courtney is one of those sterling citizens who is a distinct asset to the community in which he lives. Thoroughly equipped for the profession, he has steadily made his way from the bottom to the top, and there is no detail of the business with which he is not thoroughly familiar.
Although he has not been here for a long period of time, Mr. Courtney is an energetic member of the "booster club," and no task done for the good of the city of his choice is hard enough to make him shrink from working for its success. His progressive ideas are always expressed in no uncertain manner, and his intuitive sense of affairs has been of great assistance in many enterprises. His whole idea is simply to serve. This same dominant thought possessed him during the World war, service and yet more service, soliciting funds, working in all the drives and for the sale of Liberty Bonds. He "carried on" night and day, always ready for the next task.
Mr. Courtney was born in Delaware County, Pennsylvania, Sep- tember 14, 1878, the son of Henry C. and Letitia (Roberts) Courtney. His father was a farmer and served during the Civil war in the South- ern Army as a captain. He was captured and held prisoner in the North until the close of the war. He was descended from an old American family of English ancestry. His wife, now deceased, was a native of Pennsylvania.
Harry E. Courtney was educated in the public schools of Delaware County, Pennsylvania, and in a business college of that county. His
1073
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
first experience was as a clerk in a general store in West Gove, Penn- sylvania, and from there he went to Philadelphia and worked for the Supplee Hardware Company for four years. This was one of the largest jobbing houses in the country.
In 1904 he came to Riverside, and decided to make it his home, working for the Newberry Grocery Company for two years and a half. From this he went to his real life work, to the Riverside Ab- stract Company, and has continued with them ever since. He worked for them through the various positions until he is now its vice presi- dent.
The Riverside Abstract Company was organized in 1894, with a capital of $62,000, which in 1911 was increased to $100,000, fully paid and out of this company in 1920 was formed the Title Insurance Company of Riverside, in which Mr. Courtney is one of the stock- holders and directors, its president being Frank D. Troth, a sketch of whom appears elsewhere in this work. Under the laws of this state the company deposited with the state treasurer $100,000 as a permanent guarantee fund. In addition to this it is required to lay by ten per cent of every dollar collected, as premium or fees, as a special reserve fund for additional protection to its clients. The combined capital and surplus of the parent company and the Title Insurance Company is $215,000, including the guarantee fund de- posited with the state treasurer. The Title Insurance Company of Riverside, is the first organization of its kind in the county, and is a progressive movement in insuring titles to lands within its borders.
Mr. Courtney is a member of the Riverside Chamber of Commerce and is secretary of the Riverside Realty Board. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Present Day Club, and in religious faith he is connected with the First Methodist Episcopal Church. Politically he is a republican, and an active one, taking a live part in all the local elections, as well as in all others.
Mr. Courtney married Miss Anna B. Cook, a native of Ohio and a daughter of Augustus Cook.
SAMUEL C. PINE, SR., was one of the most rugged of the early pioneers that came into the San Bernardino Valley, and the family he founded here has proved typical of his virtues and hardy manhood.
He was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, July 30, 1825, and died at his home at Rincon, January 16, 1897. His father, Joseph Pine, was a native of Boston, son of Captain Pine, who participated in the battle of Lexington at the beginning of the Revolutionary war. Joseph Pine was a minister of the Congregational Church, and in 1883 moved to the Western Reserve of Ohio, where his son Samuel grew to man- hood. Samuel Pine in 1850 equipped an. ox team in Illinois and started across the plains to Fort Bridges, Wyoming. There for several years he remained operating a trading post. He then went on to Salt Lake, where he lived about four years, engaged in stock raising. He never became a member of the Mormon Church, though he paid tithing and while in Salt Lake punctually attended church.
In 1858 he left Salt Lake bound for San Bernardino, California. As he was leaving the authorities at Salt Lake demanded his best ox team, telling him the Lord needed it. However, the chief intention was to delay or restrain his leaving altogether. He had been frugal and had saved money, and he at once bought another yoke of oxen and joined the train. He first settled in the Yucaipa Valley, where he became a stock raiser. He and Frank Talmadge erected and operated the first
1074
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
saw mill in the San Bernardino Mountain, in Little Bear Valley. It was a water power mill. He moved to San Bernardino, then to Lytle Creek in 1865, next to Jurupa, and in 1867 he purchased a squatter's claim at Rincon, adjoining the Chino ranch. He had left the Little Bear Valley mill fearing Indian attacks, since the red men had already made hostile demonstrations against the mill plant. At Rincon he acquired 148 acres. The title was not clear, and it required several years to get a Federal patent. He improved the land, planting fruit and farming on an extensive scale there until his death in 1897.
Samuel C. Pine was a western giant, six feet four and a quarter inches tall, spare, large boned, weighing 235 pounds, and in pioneer days he never carried a pistol, as was the custom, being confident of settling all disputes with his bare hands, though it is said he could not run. He was an expert hunter and a sure shot. He became noted in the Yucaipa Valley as having the best brand of cattle in the district. He reared his family with the same honest, hardy principles as himself, and his sons readily followed his example as pioneers, helping improve the wilderness and bringing life into the barren desert.
Mr. Pine married Jane Morrison, daughter of John and Ellen Morri- son, of Buffalo, New York. She died Thanksgiving Day of 1913. The five sons of this union were all reared in San Bernardino County. The oldest, Samuel, was born in Utah, December 26, 1856. Edward and Edwin, twins, were born July 28, 1860, in Cottonwood Row at old San Bernardino. Myron was born May 22, 1868, and Dudley was born at Rincon, June 2, 1872.
SAMUEL PINE, JR., was almost a life-long resident of San Bernardino County. He came here with his father, the late Samuel C. Pine, Sr., in the manner described elsewhere, and he married here into another pioneer family, the Gregorys. The two families, from pioneer days to the present, have been among the most substantial citizens of this section.
Samuel Pine, Jr., was born in Utah, December 26, 1856, and was less than two years of age when his parents came from Salt Lake to San Bernardino in 1858. As soon as he was old enough he began taking part in the labors of the household, and was associated with his father until 1877, when he pre-empted 130 acres of Government land on Pine Avenue and Corona Road. This he developed and improved, and on it put down one of the first artesian wells in this section. He became prosperous as a general farmer and dairyman. On leaving the ranch he lived for some years in San Diego County, where he served as county road overseer. He then returned to his home ranch and in 1902 was elected a member of the Board of County Supervisors of San Bernardino County, representing the Fourth District, and proved an in- valuable member of that very efficient board. He was active in the republican party.
Mr. Pine died at the ranch home March 24, 1919. He added sub- stantially to his holdings and he prospered, though he never sought financial assistance from his father and needed none, and depended upon his strength and manhood to achieve success for himself and family. His wife, Beatrice Gregory, was born in San Bernardino October 13, 1859, daughter of John and Mary Ann (Dunkerly) Gregory. Her parents were natives of England, became converts to the Mormon Church there, and soon after their marriage they sailed for America, being six weeks on a sailing vessel from Liverpool to New Orleans. At first they tried farming in Mississippi. The leaders of the church ad- vised them that all Mississippi would sink and that Utah alone would
1
Samuel Pine
Mrs Samuel Pine
1075
1783746
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
be safe, and as good church people at that time they left Mississippi and drove a team, consisting of one ox and one cow, all the way to Salt Lake City. They milked the cow night and morning en route, and reached their destination after many dangers and hardships. They were, part of a large train made up of ox teams. . The men would drive the oxen, whip in one hand and rifle in the other, and frequently Indians rode about them in circles with bent bow and arrow in place. They remained in Salt Lake two years, undergoing a period of great stress and imminent starvation. Then, in 1851, they started for San Bernardino, locating there with the old Mormon colony. For a time they continued to pay tithing to the Mormon Church, but finally recognized the inherent paucity of the church organization and abandoned their affiliations alto- gether. John Gregory and wife had five children: Alice, Eliza, Beatrice (who is Mrs. Samuel Pine), John and Harriet. Mrs. Pine and her sisters all shared in the work of the home during the early days in San Bernardino and walked two miles to school. She and her sisters fre- quently drove the ox teams to haul wood, to the harrow in preparing soil for the sowing of seed, and even went to San Bernardino with ox teams. There were few horses at the time and no carriages.
Mr. and Mrs. Pine reared four children. The oldest, Rena Belle Pine, born November 24, 1883, is a highly respected and influential edu- cator and a teacher in the San Bernardino High School. Samuel John, born March 3, 1895, is a graduate of high school and is a farmer. Mark Pine, born January 15, 1897, enlisted in the navy at the time of the World war, made many trips across the Atlantic as a convoy of troop ships, and was in mid-ocean when the armistice was signed, and he and his comrades partook in the universal rejoicing at the news received over wireless. After leaving the navy he returnd home and is now a farmer and dairyman on the home ranch. Lorraine Beatrice. the youngest child, was born November 6, 1898, is a graduate of high school and the University of California, Southern Branch, and is now a teacher. She is the wife of Merle Haynes, who is now attending the Oregon Agricultural College.
Samuel Pine, Jr., at one time knew every resident in San Bernardino County when it comprised Riverside County. He was as well known and respected as this acquaintance would indicate. and he measured up to the best standards of good citizenship. Mrs. Pine and family are members of the Congregational Church, and all of them are republicans.
JOHN F. HANNA .- While he has made considerable investment, has been interested and is still interested in orange culture and has taken an active part in local affairs, John F. Hanna practically laid aside the heavy responsibilities of his business career when he came to Riverside more than fifteen years ago.
Mr. Hanna was associated with some of the greatest ranching and livestock enterprise of the Middle West, and has a very interesting family record. He was born in Crawford County. Ohio. September 18, 1847. His parents were Samuel and Catherine (Hofman) Hanna, hoth natives of Pennsylvania, his mother of Pennsylvania Dutch descent. His father was of an old American family of Scotch-Irish descent. established in the Colonies before the Revolutionary war. One branch of the family was represented by the great Ohio politician and party leader, Mark Hanna. Samuel Hanna was a youth when he accompanied his father to Ohio and settled in the timber and developed a farm out of the woods in Crawford County. Because of physical incapacitv Samuel Hanna could not qualify for service in the Civil war. He was a United Presby-
1076
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
terian, and for many years was closely identified with that sturdy sect. He was musically gifted, with a fine tenor voice, and sang in church and at many large conventions.
John F. Hanna was educated in private schools in Ohio and in the Savannah Academy in that state. His early life was spent on a farm, and after the death of his father he took the management of the old homestead. At the age of twenty-seven John F. Hanna married a daughter of David Rankin, who was one of the world's greatest farmers and stockmen. At that time David Rankin's interests were largely cen- tered in Illinois in the corn belt. John F. Hanna after his marriage be- came foreman of the Rankin ranch at Biggsville, Illinois, remaining there two and a half years, and then took charge of another Rankin farm twelve miles south, operating it in partnership with Mr. Rankin. After three years Mr. Hanna moved to Northwestern Missouri, where David Rankin had bought some thirty thousand acres of land. A large part of this was planted to corn, and the immense industry thus entailed made Rankin known as the "corn king of Missouri." David Rankin also became founder of the new town of Tarkio, and John F. Hanna was associated with him in the early days of that substantial old college town. He was associated there in the mercantile business with Mr. Rankin and Mr. Hunter. He also bought 1,280 acres four miles east of Tarkio, and farmed it for many years, and his sons still operate this tract. Mr. Hanna was identified with the first store at Tarkio, and this store sold ninety thousand dollars worth of goods the first year. David Rankin and family were among the most generous contributors to the United Presbyterian School, Tarkio College, and John F. Hanna for many years was a member of the Board of Trustees of the college.
Mr. Hanna came to Riverside in 1906 and bought an orange grove of nine and a half acres on Victoria Avenue. This grove he sold recently, but is still interested in other groves. He is a lover of Riverside both for its natural attractions and as a community. He has been a member of the City Council and acted as mavor for about six weeks while W. L. Peters was absent from the city. For three years he was president of the City Council. Mr. Hanna has been a determined opponent of the liquor traffic all his life. He became identified with the prohibition cause while living in Ohio, continued this interest while in Missouri. and after coming to California served as president of the Riverside County Dry Federation and was once its treasurer. He has been active in republican politics, and his personal patriotism is as deep seated as that of the family of which he is a member. As a vouth he ran away from home and tried to get into the Union Army. but his father took him back. He has been an elder in the United Presbyterian Church since he was twenty-one. and altogether has served as Sunday School superintendent twenty- five years and still teaches a class. He and Mrs. Hanna practically or- ganized the United Presbyterians at Riverside.
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.