USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 49
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 49
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
Mr. and Mrs. White entered heartily into the life of the community. acquiring both city and country interest, though their chief attention was given to the beautifying of the home place. Mr. White, while not active in political matters in the city of his adoption, advocated most sincerely the importance of clean politics, often expressing himself along this line in the newspapers. Clean business, clean living and clean politics were his hobby. Cheerful, considerate and charitable, he en- deared himself to all with whom he came in contact, and his death involved a real loss to a much wider circle than that of his family and immediate friends.
S. A. White was born at East Randolph. Massachusetts. February 21. 1845, son of Samuel L. and Silence Swift ( Adams) White. The genealogy of the White and Adams family antedates the Revolutionary period. Both families were of English descent, the Adams family being of a branch of the distinguished Adamses of Massachusetts. The late Mr. White was much interested in tracing the genealogy of his own lines and those of Mr. White, and prepared three exhaustive and interesting volumes on the subject. His father, Samuel L. White, was born at East Randolph in 1818. and lived there until his death in 1894. For many years he had charge of an express business between Fast Randolph and Boston.
S. A. White was educated in the grammar and high schools of his native town. He left high school to answer the call for volunteers dur-
I386
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
ing the Civil war, and at the age of eighteen became a member of Com- pany I, 42d Massachusetts Infantry. He entered the army in 1863, and served until his honorable discharge at the end of his term of enlistment.
Following the war he engaged in the boot and shoe business as an employe of the manufacturing firm of L. B. White of Brockton, Massa- chusetts. After two years as superintendent of the factory he went to Boston, and for seven years was traveling representative for the shoe- finding firm of B. F. Brown of that city. During this time he made a splendid record as a salesman, and having in the meantime acquired a broad and varied knowledge of the business in all departments, he re- signed from his engagement with Mr. Brown and in a small way began the manufacture of shoe-findings for shoe factories. Then ensued a period of rapid progress, resulting in the building up of a plant for shoe upper finishes that was the largest of its kind in the world, and besides the big plant in Massachusetts he conducted a factory at Montreal, Canada, a branch store at Leicester, England, and agencies in Germany, France and Australia. It was to this business that he gave his time and energies closely and with successful application for a quarter of a century, until he sold out to make his permanent home in California.
He enjoyed to the full the playtime that a busy life had earned, but would not have been wholly contented unless some small business claimed his attention. He bought and planted ten acres of oranges at Victoria and Van Buren Avenue, built a log cabin on the ground and named the place Log Cabin Grove. He invested in city property, one of his pur- chases being the Central Block and the Annex, which he remodelled.
During a business trip at Leicester, England, Mr. White became affiliated with the Masonic Order, and ever afterward manifested a deep interest in that fraternity. He became a member of the Knight Templar Commandery in Boston, subsequently demitting to the Riverside Com- mandery No. 28, and served as its eminent commander one year.
The first wife of Mr. White was Emma J. Burbank, of Lowell, Mas- sachusetts. By this union there was one daughter, Alice E. White, who died at Riverside in 1903. The only son, Arthur Burr White, is a grad- uate of the Boston School of Technology, and while a well-qualified civil engineer his time is being given to the more congenial vocation of rais- ing citrus fruits and nuts at Riverside. Arthur B. White is married and has five children: H. Cumings White, Lawrence Adams White, Arthur Burr White, Jr., Jane Amsden White and David Linfield White, the first three being students in the public schools of Riverside.
At Boston, Massachusetts, November 2, 1887, Mr. S. A. White married Miss Belle K. Sanger. She was born in Boston and represents one of the old and cultured families of that city. Her father, D. Otis Sanger, was a Boston merchant, was of English ancestry, and some of his forefathers fought in the French and Indian and Revolutionary wars.
GEORGE B. MACGILLIVRAY during the past twenty years has beenl associated with some of the most substantial of Corona's commercial affairs. For the greater part of this time he was one of the managing partners in the Corona Hardware Company and is still in the hardware business.
He was born at Smith Falls, Ontario, Canada, February 6, 1874, son of Alexander and Elizabeth (Brown) MacGillivray. After finishing a public school education at Smith Falls he remained with his father on the farm, and at the age of twenty-five came to California and located at Corona. For a time he was in the men's clothing business, and then
1387
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
became associated with Mr. Barth in the hardware business,, subsequently known as the Corona Hardware Company. Mr. MacGillivray in 1910 sold his interest in this establishment to Hough and Marsden. In 1917 he joined the Riverside Hardware Company, and two years later re- turned to Corona and has since been associated with the E. A. Weegar hardware business. Mr. MacGillivray is a public spirited citizen, inter - ested in community advancement, is a republican, a member of the Con- gregational Church and the Masonic Order.
February 22, 1907, he married Miss Daisy Brown, daughter of Colby Brown, of Glendale, Los Angeles County. Mrs. MacGillivray is a native of Orange County and finished her education in the public schools of Glendale. She is an active member of the Corona Woman's Club. They have two children, Ione and Donald.
ERNEST G. BUTTON-Riverside is not alone noted for its magnificent development in the fruit-growing industry, but is equally prominent because of the stability of its manufacturing interests, which compare favorably with any of those of the Southwest. The men connected with the carrying on of the multiform lines of business in this locality are thoroughly experienced and bring to their concerns a ripened judgment and wide knowledge of men and affairs. One of them worthy of ex- tended mention in a work of this class is Ernest G. Button, member of the firm of Button Brothers, whose connection with the sheet-metal industry and the automobile trade is one of long standing.
Ernest G. Button was born in Ontario, Canada, October 5, 1882, a son of William Button. A complete sketch of the Button family is given elsewhere in this work. Growing up in his native province, Ernest G. Button attended its excellent public schools and the Collegiate Institute of Clinton, Canada. Following the completion of his studies he engaged in the hardware business, in 1902, at Guelph, Ontario, Canada, and con- ducted it for two years. He then went to Moosejaw, Ontario, Canada, where he was occupied with clerking for two years, leaving there to go to Shelborn, where he bought a hardware business and was occupied with it until 1911. In the meanwhile his father had come to Riverside, California, and finding conditions here very desirable, he wanted his son to join him. Therefore Mr. Button disposed of his business at Shelborn and came to Riverside, where he has since remained.
With his brother, W. Stewart Button, whose sketch appears else- where, Mr. Button purchased the sheet metal business they still own, and at different times the young men had several partners, but finally bought their interests and are now operating under the name of Button Brothers. When they first went into the business the brothers manufactured or- chard heaters, which they shipped all over the country, but later added the production of canteens, ovens, gas furnaces and similar goods, and these are still manufactured and have a large sale.
In 1916 the brothers took over the Chevrolet automobile agency, and later the agency for the Scripps-Booth auto, and they have popularized these two makes in all parts of the county and have been very successful. Ernest G. Button manages the sheet-metal business, and his brother is in charge of the automobile branch of their activities. The brothers do a general contracting business in sheet-metal work in Riverside and San Bernardino counties, largely in heating and ventilating. Their plant is equipped with the most modern machinery, and they take care of all classes of work in their line. This plant, which is located on Fifth Street and the Santa Fe tracks, was erected by them and later. when they had need of them, they put up two more buildings as additions to their plant.
1388
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
Mr. Button, however, has not confined his operations to an industrial life, for he is largely interested in and is a director of the Arabic Date Company, which has 120 acres in the Coachella Valley, thirty-four acres of which are planted to dates. This producing acreage is being extended as fast as possible, for it has been demonstrated that the finest dates in the world can be raised in this valley, and the demand for them far exceeds the present supply.
During the world war a permanent organization was formed to carry on all drives for funds, and E. G. Button was the chairman of the Fac- tory Employes division. It was through this division of the organiza- tion that the work of raising money among the employes during the war was greatly simplified. In addition to his services in this connection Mr. Button also made himself valuable as a member of the National Guards and the Home Guards.
He is a republican in his sentiments, but Mr. Button has not been very active in politics since coming to this country, although in Canada, he participated quite extensively in public affairs, and on several occa- sions represented his party as delegate to the conventions from the riding in which he was residing. Raised a Blue Lodge Mason in Canada, he served his lodge as master, and now belongs to the Chapter and Com- mandery of Riverside, being past high priest of the former. Interested in local organizations Mr. Button maintains membership with the River- side Chamber of Commerce, in which he is chairman of the Industrial Committee, the Business Men's Association and the Rotary Club. The Presbyterian Church gives expression to his religious faith, and he has long been an earnest member of it.
On September 7, 1910, Mr. Button married at Wingham, Canada, Miss Edith Emily Gregory, a native of Canada and a daughter of Thomas Gregory, a grain merchant of Wingham. Mr. and Mrs. Button have one child, Gregory, who is a student of the public schools of River- side.
Mr. Button is not a man to be content with the attainment of success in the industrial life of his city, excellent and desirable as this is. The walls of his factory do not and cannot mark the boundaries of his visions, his interests, his affections, his purposes. He cannot become a mere business machine. Home, friends, the public welfare and matters of wide human interest call for his assistance and attention. The strong, high-minded business men of Riverside have been quick to admire his work and to admit him into the noble brotherhood of those who put conscience above gain, honor above self. He has always possessed high ideals of business honor and held close to them in all of his operations. Like many of the foremost men of this country and his own native land, he has made his way to an assured business success by untiring diligence, patient industry, sterling integrity and steadfast unswerving purpose. A man of public spirit, devoted to the public good, he has done much to advance the prosperity of his adopted city and country, and may be relied upon to always maintain his deep interest in promoting the effi- ciency of the different agencies for the development of better conditions and the upholding of the highest standards of morality and right living.
WILL HAMMOND HOLMES, M. D .- When he located at Riverside in May, 1919, Dr. Holmes brought with him a well-established reputation as a specialist in eye, ear, nose and throat diseases, and for a number of years his work has been practically confined to those lines.
Dr. Holmes was born at Burlington, Iowa, November 6, 1887. His father, S. Perry Holmes, is a native of Illinois, now living at Chicago,
1389
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
and until recently was in the fire insurance business. During the World war he was a captain in the American Protective League. The father of S. Perry Holmes was a United States deputy marshal in Southern Illinois during the Civil war. S. Perry Holmes is of Scotch Irish descent, of Revolutionary stock, and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, his son, Dr. Holmes, being eligible to the same patriotic society.
Will Hammond Holmes was educated in grammar and high schools, attended the Bradley Polytechnic Institute at Peoria, Illinois, and in 1911 received his medical degree from the Northwestern University Medical School of Chicago. He also did post-graduate work in Rush Medical College at Chicago. From June, 1911, to June, 1913, he was a hospital interne in the Pierce County Hospital at Tacoma, Washington. Dr. Holmes did his first professional work in California at Pomona, where he engaged in general practice in June, 1913. Subsequently he returned to Tacoma, where he confined his practice to the eye, ear, nose and throat. Then in May, 1919, he removed to Riverside. He is a member of the Riverside Community Hospital Association and has professional associations with the Riverside County, California State, Southern Cali- fornia and American Medical Associations. During his residence at Pomona he was health officer one term. He is a member of Pomona Chapter, Royal Arch Masons, a republican in politics and a member of the Congregational Church.
Dr. Holmes married Miss Louise Stone. Their marriage was cele- brated April 22, 1913, in the cloister of the Mission Inn at Riverside. Mrs. Holmes is a native of Michigan, daughter of Judge F. H. Stone. of Hillsdale, that state. She is of English ancestry and of Revolution- ary stock. Of the two children born to the marriage of Dr. and Mrs Holmes one survives, Mary Louise.
JOHN WESLEY DAY is remembered as one of the most commanding men of his day by the older residents of Riverside, with whom he stood exceedingly high, not only on account of his strong and pleasing per- sonality, but also because of the interest he always took in civic matters. Had he not been compelled to restrict his actions somewhat on account of ill health there would have been probably no limit to what he would have accomplished. Through a change in climate and the devoted care of his wife he was spared into a ripe old age, but he was forced to alter his plans because of a serious breakdown, and give up much that inter- ested him.
Born in Maine, October 23, 1832, John Wesley Day had the good fortune to belong to two of the fine old American families which were established in the American Colonies long prior to the Revolution by English ancestors, on both sides of the house. His parents, Leonard and Lois (Averill) Day, were both natives of Maine. Leonard Day was a manufacturing lumberman of his native state until 1854, when he was attracted to Saint Anthony, Minnesota, now a part of Minneapolis, and here he continued his lumber interests.
After completing his education in the public schools of Maine, John W. Day assisted his father in the lumber business in Minnesota and after the latter died, continued in that line with his brothers, Lorenzo D. and W. H. H. Day. until his health broke down from overwork in 1898, necessitating a complete change in his habits of living. During his long residence in Minnesota he took a very active part in different movements of public interest. During the Indian massacre in that state. which took place in 1862, Mr. Day served as a member of the expedition
1390
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
sent out to subdue the savages, and never forgot his experiences of that period.
Realizing that the climate of Minnesota was too rigorous for him in his state of health, Mr. Day came to California and bought a thirty- acre orange grove at Moreno, which he conducted until his death. In the spring of 1899 he purchased a homesite, 120x240 feet at 1024 East Eighth Street, Riverside, and made many alterations to the house until today it is one of the finest on the east side. He beautified the grounds with flowers and citrus trees. Here he passed the remainder of his life, dying July 27, 1910. In politics he was a republican, and while he was prominently identified with the party interests, he was too busy a man to entertain the idea of holding public office. For many years he attended the Methodist Episcopal Church.
On October 3, 1854, Mr. Day married at Minneapolis, Minnesota, Miss Lavinia Gray, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Benjamin Gray, a farmer of Maine. She comes of Revolutionary stock, and is, too, of English descent. Mrs. Day is now a great-grandmother, and leads a happy and quiet life in her comfortable home. She is a lady of unusual mentality, and with her husband created a refined home atmosphere which was reflected in the lives of their children from childhood. Mrs. Day is a member of the Advisory Board of the Riverside Community Hospital, and of the City Home League and the Wednesday Club, and takes an active part in many matters of civic importance. Mr. and Mrs. Day became the parents of five children, one of whom survives, Eugene H. Day, who is conducting a lumber business in Minneapolis and an orange grove at Moreno. He married Miss Mabel Conkey, a native of Wisconsin, and a daughter of DeWitt C. Conkey. Mr. Conkey was connected with the North Star Woolen Mill Company of Minneapolis. Three children have been born to Eugene H. Day and his wife, namely: Eugenia, who is the wife of John Paul Ganssle, of Minneapolis and they have one child, Jane Ganssle; Kingsley Day and John C. Day, both of whom are students in the University of Minnesota, Cora Day, now deceased, was the eldest child of John W. and Lavinia Day. She married David Willard, of Duluth, Minnesota, and. dying, left three children namely: Irma, who is the wife of Hope G. McCall, of Saint Paul, Minnesota, and has one child, Willard D. McCall; Paul D. Willard, who is a graduate of the Riverside High School and Columbia University, is a mining engineer, and Constance Willard, who lives in Riverside. Paul D. Willard married Miss Ada Adair, a daughter of A. A. Adair, a prominent attorney of Riverside. They live at Hibbing, Minnesota, and have two children, Jean Adair Willard and Paul D. Willard, Junior. Florence Day the second child of J. W. and Lavinia Day, married Frank J. Mackey formerly of Minneapolis, Minnesota. They afterwards moved to Leamington, England, where they resided for twenty years, until the death of Mrs. Mackey in April, 1912.
JOSEPH WILSON-Two of the first names identified with the be- ginning of civilization in the San Bernardino Valley were Wilson and Van Levven. A representative of both families was the late Joseph Wilson, who was born at Richmond, Ohio, March 18, 1837, and died in San Bernardino County October 26, 1899. He married Rhoda Van Levven who was born in Camden, Ontario, Canada, December 24, 1838, and died in California November 21, 1918.
Bushrod Washington Wilson, father of Joseph, was reared in the faith of the Mormons and was selected for missionary work. He
1391
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
spent a period in England and on returning found that Brigham Young had led his followers out of Missouri to Salt Lake. Going to Utah he became disgusted with the polygamous practice instituted by Young and burned his tracts and books secretly, disavowing Mor- monism, and after securing food and an outfit drove with ox teams into California, running the risk of death from Mormons as well as Indians. It was in April 1855, that Bushrod W. Wilson made this journey from Salt Lake. He had trouble with the Indians, his cousin, a doctor in the party, being shot and wounded. A daughter died of the cholera and there was untold suffering to all the surviving members of the company. The year preceding the arrival of the Wilson family Benjamin Van Levven with many others of the Mormon Church crossed the plains with ox teams in 1853, spending one year at Salt Lake to raise grain and food for their further journey, and thus continuing with wagons over the deserts and mountains to California. Mrs. Van Levven while driving a wagon ahead of the rest of the party was attacked by Indians, but two of her nephews came to her rescue. They traveled day and night until the stock was exhausted and reached California in 1854. It is said that Rhoda Van Levven as the party came out of the desert through Cajon Pass and stood by her father looking over the green valley of San Bernardino exclaimed that it was her wish to live and die in the beautiful region and she had her wish granted.
Joseph Wilson and Rhoda Van Levven were married January 1, 1857. and at once began housekeeping in Old San Bernardino near the Mission. Joseph had ten acres and his wife twenty acres given her by her father. This land was on the old Mission Road in what is now the West Redlands District. The ten acre homestead is just east of the Mission school. This land was improved through the planting of fruits and grapes, and the dried fruit was readily sold to the passing traders and miners. The Wilsons also raised alfalfa and grain, another profitable crop in pioneer times. Joseph Wilson in- creased his land holdings from year to year and was one of the very successful men of the valley. He was also a freighter, using teams of six or eight mules in hauling groceries and other supplies from Los Angeles to San Bernardino. This was before the first railroad was built, and his oldest daughter Catherine has a vivid recollection of the first train that came into the valley over the newly constructed Southern Pacific line. She was at that time in school and the teacher took all the scholars to witness the coming of the first train, consisting of an engine and flat cars. They were permitted to get aboard and rode to Colton and back home.
Joseph Wilson and wife were the parents of seven children. The oldest, Catherine, born October 25, 1857, was married February 12, 1882, to Horace J. Roberts and he died March 6, 1918. Of her four children Horace Leslie, born November 24, 1884, spent two years after leaving high school at Nome, Alaska, and is now farming at Beaumont, California. He married Margaret English and their two children are Horace Leslie Jr. and Dorothy. Carrie Roberts, the second child, was born September 21, 1886, and died June 24, 1899. Joseph Ernest Roberts was born April 22, 1888, is a salesman for the Union Oil Company at Beaumont, married Edna E. Sewell and has three children named Doris Josephine, Catherine Augusta and Edna Mae. Rhoda Irene Roberts, born June 5, 1891, is the wife of Royal T. C. Roberts, an electrician at Coalinga, California, and had four living children,
1392
SAN BERNARDINO AND RIVERSIDE COUNTIES
Marion, Edith, who died November 12, 1919, and Jewell who died at the age of sixteen months, and Royal Thomas.
Benjamin Wilson, the second child of Joseph Wilson was born June 12, 1859, and died October 6, 1867.
Caroline, third of the family, born March 12, 1861, is the wife of M. L. Frink, a prominent orange grower on the Mission Road, and she has five children: Lena, Watkins, Amy Murphy, Milton J. Frink, and Howard L. Frink.
Delbert Wilson, born June 1, 1866, died in infancy.
Zilpha Wilson, born August 13, 1867, is the wife of J. J. Curtis, a prominent orange grower at Redlands, and has two daughters, Mrs. Alice Hill and Mrs. Mabel Seavey.
Anna Wilson, born January 29, 1871, married B. G. Simons of Nevada Street, Redlands, and has one daughter.
The youngest of the family Rhoda Wilson, born April 15, 1878, is the wife of Gordon Smith, a native of Glasgow, Scotland, and a fruit grower at Redlands.
GEORGE D. HAVEN-Among the men whose courage, faith and fore- sight have contributed to the wealth and progress of San Bernardino County, one who is still held in respected memory is George D. Haven Primarily a mining man, perhaps his chief distinction lies in the fact that he was the first to grow grapes in desert land without irrigation, a move that led to the founding of a great industry and which added wonderfully to the resources and prosperity of the county.
Mr. Haven, a native of New York state, made the overland journey with the courageous argonauts of 1849, having joined the first great rush that occurred when the report was spread broadcast of the dis covery of gold in California. For many years thereafter he followed his vocation through the western states, making and losing several fortunes, with true miner's luck, but in the main being eminently successful. For years he was a resident of Salt Lake City, Utah, where he at one time built and lived in the city's showplace, the finest home at that time in the city. He and his partner were the owner of a portion of the famous Homestake mines, in South Dakota, con- sisting of seven original claims. They sold a portion of this property for $400,000, each taking half, and each received a dividend of $120,000, also.
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.