USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 5
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 5
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Mr. Hanna married Miss Nettie V. Rankin. who was born in Illinois. Her brother, John Rankin, is president of the Rankin Farm Corporation. Her youngest brother. W. F. Rankin. died several years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Hanna return to Missouri everv summer. drive about over the ranch and the district. and visit old friends and associates. The two sons of Mr. and Mrs. Hanna are Charles R. and John Winfield Hanna. Charles married Miss Winifred McCaughan, a native of Iowa. Her father spent his last days in Durango. Mexico. Mr. and Mrs. Charles Hanna have four children : Dorothy. Phillis. Charles Frederick and Robert. John Winfield, Ir .. who married Ella G. Gibson, a native of Iowa, has two children. John, Jr. and Patricia. The younger son of Mr. Hanna, John
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Winfield Hanna, is vice president of the First National Bank of Tarkio and vice president of the Rankin Farm Corporation. These sons live at Tarkio, are graduates of Tarkio College and Princeton University and they have the active management of the Hanna farms and also the portion of the great Rankin estate owned by Mrs. Hanna.
JUDGE HIRAM C. HIBBARD, well known and popular attorney of River- side, comes almost under the head of pioneer, for he has practiced con- tinuously in that city since 1886, and no one stands higher with the legal profession or the people of the district. He has also served twelve years as justice of the peace and has gained the soubriquet of the "marry- ing justice" on account of the many ceremonies he has performed.
Judge Hibbard has all his life been active in politics, and prior to re- moving to Riverside held many public positions, and since then has served his party well in various capacities.
He was born in Fulton County. Illinois. March 28, 1847. His father was James A. Hibbard, a native of New York, by occupation a farmer. He was for a time county commissioner of Johnson County, Kansas. where he moved after the Civil war. He comes of an old American family of pre-Revolutionary stock and of Scotch ancestry. The mother of Judge Hibbard was Jeannette F. (Webster ) Hibbard, a native of New York and descended from an old American family of English descent.
Judge Hibbard was educated in the public schools and high school in Kansas, and for a short time in the University of Kansas. Prior to going to the University he enlisted for service in the war of 1862, first as a teamster with the army in Arkansas and Missouri, but was home in 1863 on account of illness. On January 28, 1864, he joined Company I, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, and served until the end of the war, receiving his discharge in July, 1865. He was with the Army of the Potomac, under General Lew Wallace, engaging in the battle of Monocacy, which Wallace claimed prevented Early from getting into Washington.
Judge Hibbard returned to Illinois, and later joined his father in Kansas, on a farm near Olathe. He attended private and public schools then, and the University of Kansas at Lawrence. He taught school in Kansas for six years, and while so engaged was admitted to the bar in that state. and has followed that profession ever since. He practiced law in Kansas until the fall of 1886, and then came directly to River- side. He had been West during the summer of that vear on an exploring expedition, and Riverside came nearest to being what he was looking for, an ideal location for a permanent home.
Here he commenced practice on February 8. 1887, and for over thirtv-one vears had the same offices in the Central Block.
In politics he is a republican, and has always taken an active part. serving as a delegate in both state and county conventions in Kansas. on county conventions in California. and has served on the County Central Committees in both California and Kansas. He was superintendent of public instruction for five vears in Kansas. and was also county clerk for one term in Russell Countv. Kansas. With but a few intervals during his service he has occupied the position of justice of the peace of River- side County for twelve vears.
He is a member of Riverside Post. G. A R. of which he was com- mander in 1890. He has been a member of this post since coming to Riverside. He was also commander of the post in Kansas during his residence there. He is a Mason and is a past high priest of the Roval Arch Chapter. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. and has been through all the chairs of the local lodge. He was past
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grand of the Kansas Lodge with which he was affiliated. He is a mem- ber of the Improved Order of Red Men, and has been through the chairs of the local lodge and was great sachem of the state during the years 1912-13. Judge Hibbard is also a member of the Independent Order of Foresters, and has been through the chairs of the local court, of which he is a past chief ranger. He is a member of the Foresters of America and is a past chief ranger. He was a Maccabee until the age of retirement, and has been through the chairs of that order. He is a member of the Junior Order United American Mechanics, through the chairs, and is a past chief counsellor, and is also a member of the Fra- ternal Brotherhood, of which he has been through the chairs and of which he is a past president.
He married on September 18, 1878, in Russell, Kansas, Sonora L. White, a native of Indiana. She died in Riverside in January, 1889. They had one son, Duane Hibbard, a resident of Oakland, California.
Judge Hibbard married on July 15, 1908, in San Diego, Julia Yerger, a native of Kentucky and a daughter of Charles Stoessel.
JESSE LEE GRANTTHAM .- The life record of Jesse Lee Granttham in all its varied phases is one which reflects honor and dignity upon Riverside, where he is engaged in an active practice as an attorney, and upon his own capabilities, which are unrestricted. The history of no citizen of this region has been more fearless in conduct, more constant in service, and more stainless in reputation. He has a love for the city of his adoption which he manifests in many ways for the municipal develop- ment and welfare, and in return is accorded the respect and esteem of his fellow men.
The birth of Jesse Lee Granttham occurred in Jackson County. Flor- ida, September 2. 1873. He is a son of Jesse Jackson and Sally (Lane) Granttham, the former, now deceased, being a native of Georgia. He was a minister of the Missionary Baptist Church, and came of an old American family, which was founded in the American Colonies by an- cestors who came here from England and located in New Hampshire, where the town of Granttham was named in their honor. Representa- tives of the family fought in the American Revolution with distinction and courage, and others through the succeeding years have been equally steadfast as men of peace. The Granttham University of New Hamp- shire, named in honor of the family, proves that it was well represented bv men of letters. Mrs. Granttham, also now deceased. belonged to the old Southern family of Lanes, of English descent, and she, too, was born in Georgia.
When Jesse Lee Granttham was still a small child the Grantthams settled in the country near where Arabia, Georgia, is now located, and he was reared in an old fashion country home of cultured interests. where his ambition was stimulated and his intellect developed. He was sent to the grade and high schools of Arabia. and spent three years at the State Normal School and two years at the State University, both at Athens, Georgia, and then went to Mercer University at Macon. Georgia, from which he was graduated in 1906, with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. In order to secure the money to prepare himself for the profession he decided to enter, it was necessary for him to take the course at the State Normal School at Athens, Georgia, where he graduated, and then taught school at intervals until he completed his training.
Following his admission to the bar, which followed the securing of his degree, he began the practice of law in Randolph County, Georgia,
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and remained in that neighborhood for four years. Deciding upon going into a newer territory, he went to Guthrie, Oklahoma, and participated in some of the stirring events of the development of that city during one year. His attention was then turned to Riverside, California, and he came here, but his fame as an educator preceded him and he was in- duced to assume the duties as principal of the Riverside Business Col- lege, and he held that position for eight years. In 1919 he and C. W. Benshoff formed a partnership for the practice of the law, and remained together until December, 1920, when their association was dissolved and Mr. Granttham has since remained alone.
An ardent democrat, he was very active in party matters while residing in Georgia, representing it in county and state conventions and as a member of the Democratic County Central Committee. He is a Chapter and Commandery Mason, and also belongs to the Woodmen of the World. The First Methodist Church of Riverside is his religious home, and he is now superintendent of the membership board of that institution.
In September, 1900, Mr. Granttham married at Hartsfield, Georgia, Dora Red, a native of Georgia and a daughter of J. H. Red, now deceased, who was a farmer of Georgia, and during the war between the states served in the Confederate Army. Mr. and Mrs. Granttham have seven living children, namely : Verdie, who is the wife of Harold J. Mav, of Riv- erside, a soldier in the United States Army ; Otis J. and Olin Earl. both of whom are students in the Riverside High School; Jesse Lee, Llovd Zinn and Dora Emma, all of whom are students of the graded schools; and Theora Wilma, who is the youngest. They lost one son, James Gor- don Granttham.
In addition to his educational and professional labors Mr. Granttham has been useful in other directions. He has invested in several com- mercial enterprises at Riverside. and at one time was interested in agri- cultural matters, but has since disposed of his farm land. While his suc- cess in all these matters has entitled him to be regarded as a prosperous man, Mr. Granttham possesses, moreover, those traits of personal charac- ter which make him a popular man. Genial, courteous and kindly, no one is more welcome at any gathering than he. His ability as a lawyer was confirmed while he was still in practice in Georgia, and his services are now in great demand by those who desire one who will give to his client's cause all the vigor and earnestness, diligence and devotion in his power.
WILLIAM HENRY LINDLEY-The development of a new country is a task requiring men of real manhood, physical strength, endurance, per- severance, and a fortitude of character that is not deterred by any ob- stacle or discouragement. One of the true pioneers who measured up in every sense to these qualifications was the late William Henry Lind- ley of Ontario.
He was born January 22, 1853, at Mazomanie in Dane County, Wis- consin. His parents, Henry and Sarah (Bagnall) Lindley, were born and reared in Yorkshire, England, were married there, and after the birth of several of their children came to America in a sailing vessel. They were territorial settlers in Wisconsin, where they took up and improved a tract of Government land, and lived there when life was peculiarly trying and subiect to many hardships. The late William Henry Lindley was one of seventeen children. In such a large house- hold and in a section so recently redeemed from the wilderness he came face to face with the serious responsibilities of life and his lot was that of incessant toil from an early age. Only in later years did he Vol. 111-3
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acquire the education which characterized him during his life in Cali- fornia as a man of exceptional culture and refinement.
On January 29, 1879, in St. Barnabas Church at Mazomanie, Wis- consin, he married Miss Emmie Puzey. She was born at Madison, Wisconsin, September 20, 1857, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Mac- donald) Puzey, her father a native of England and her mother of Scot- land. She, with her parents, later lived in England for some time while she was a child.
After his marriage Mr. Lindley resorted to farming as a means of livelihood. He and his brother John early became associated as partners, and their relationship was one of extreme satisfaction as well as busi- ness success. In 1886 they spent a winter visiting Mr. Lindley's parents in California. They went back to Wisconsin, subsequently sold their interests, and on March 17, 1888, arrived to make their home at Ontario. William H. Lindley at once bought land on West A Street. where he erected a small home recently replaced by the large and elegant modern residence which is the, home of his family. The brothers as partners bought ten acres of unimproved land on I Street. With great determination and much labor they set it to oranges and then repeatedly, as they could finance their operations, they bought and devel- oped tracts of desert land. In order to meet expenses during this stage of their fortunes they took contracts for planting and caring for the orchards of non-resident owners, and in this way they bought additional tracts of their own and maintained the young orchards until they came into bearing. Later the income from their producing groves was employed to acquire other planted land, until finally a very large and valuable acreage of citrus fruit was credited to the ownership of these pioneer brothers, who altogether performed an enormous amount of the labor involved in making Ontario one of the leading horticultural centers of this state. The Lindley brothers also conducted a large nursery for the supply of orange and lemon stock.
In 1902 John Lindley, desirous of accepting a business opportunity in Azusa, sold his holdings to his brother, and this terminated the long, satisfactory and successful partnership. William Lindley then con- tinued the supervision of his orange groves and other holdings until his death, which occurred at Ontario June 10. 1918. He never inherited any money, and his life was an example of self-development of his powers and resources. As a vouth he had many rough experiences in the new country of Wisconsin. and the ability to work hard was an important factor in the success he achieved in California. He was a devout Catholic. and contributed liberally to the building and main- tenance of St. George's Church at Ontario. He was also a Knight of Columbus, as are his three sons. He was a life-long republican and devoted to the tariff principles of that party.
Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. William H. Lindley. the first three, one dying in infancy. born in Wisconsin and the younger ones in Ontario. Frances, the oldest. was graduated from Ramona Convent, and is the wife of Joseph C. Muehe, a prominent citizen and cashier of the First National Bank of Azusa. Angus Reginald was graduated from St. Vincent's College at Los Angeles, and later from the University of Southern California law school. He is now one of the prominent members of the Los Angeles bar. He married Miss Ida Botiller, member of an old Spanish and French family of Los Angeles. He was taking officers training at Camp Zachary Taylor, Kentucky, when the war ended. Mary Lindlev, who finished her education in Ramona Convent, is the wife of Charles Henderson Ripple, an account-
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ant for the Exchange Product Company of San Dimas and a resident of Pomona. Their two children are Charles Lindley and Mary Geral- dine Ripple. The fourth child in the family is Joseph Puzey Lindley, who was educated in Santa Clara College, now Santa Clara University, graduating Bachelor of Science, and is a law graduate of the University of Southern California. He had a profitable law practice for several years, but in 1914 determined to give up his profession and join his father, and took an active share in the management of the citrus or- chards. Since the death of his father in 1918 he has assumed the chief responsibilities of managing the splendid property. He married Miss Lucilla Wilson, a native of Ireland and member of a prominent family of Portland, Oregon.
William Rhoderick Lindley, born November 25, 1896, was educated in Santa Clara University. He volunteered for service in the World war and was assigned to Base Hospital No. 50. He was first in training at Camp Fremont at Palo Alto, and then went to France and was on duty for thirteen months in the hospitals at Nevers and Bar le Duc. After his return he was honorably discharged and is now a successful orange grower at Ontario. In July, 1921, he married Miss Mary Macan, a native of London, England.
The sixth and youngest of the family is Miss Jessie Lindley, a graduate of Ramona Convent.
WILLIAM L. PETERS, of Riverside, is one of the many substantial residents of Riverside County to whom this region owes a heavy debt, for back of practically every project of moment which has been pro- jected and carried through to a successful completion he has stood ready to contribute generously of his time, his mental equipment and his money.
William L. Peters was born at Columbus, Ohio, October 3, 1864, a son of George M. and Caroline L. (Krag) Peters. George M. Peters, a native of Ohio, died in 1897. He was the organizer and head of the Columbus Buggy Company. A self-made man, a carriage painter by trade, he learned the business of carriage manufacturing in the old-fashioned way. He was thus familiar with every detail of the business, so that when he began to manufacture buggies his suc- cess was certain, and he steadily progressed and built up a large trade. He was one of the first manufacturers in the United States to adopt the subdivision-of-labor plan, and to standardize his parts so as to make them interchangeable. A man of unusual character, he stood high in his community, was always active in the work of the Young Men's Christian Association and was a very active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. His family is one of the old-established ones of this country, and is of English origin and Revolutionary stock. His wife, a native of Ohio, died in December, 1915. Her family originated in Alsace-Lorraine, France.
William L. Peters attended the graded and high schools of Colum- bus, Ohio, and the Ohio State University, from which he was grad- uated in 1885, with the degree of Mechanical Engineer. During his university course he had military training, and at its close was rank- ing officer, his title being captain and adjutant.
Returning home, Mr. Peters entered his father's factory with the intention of learning the business in all of the departments from the bench up, so as to be able to supervise all of its operations when he would succeed his father in the course of time. After two years he found it was impossible for him to continue these plans, as his wife
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lost her health, and, acting under the orders of her physician, he came West and located at Riverside, California. He brought with him a carriage which was almost wholly of his own construction, and three days after his arrival he engaged in the carriage-selling business. In December, 1887, Mr. Peters and George R. Thayer formed a partner- ship and purchased the carriage and implement business of Clarence Stewart, one of the pioneers of Riverside. This enterprise prospered from the start, and to such an extent that in 1888 they opened a branch at San Bernardino, purchasing the business there owned by C. E. Lehman. The San Bernardino branch was continued until 1898. In 1891 Mr. Peters bought out Mr. Thayer's interest and continued the business alone. He acted as agent for the Columbus Buggy Com- pany and for other well-known manufacturers of buggies, and con- tinued the Riverside business until 1900, when it was sold to Thomas J. Wilson, who moved the stock to San Bernardino. Mr. Peters con- tinued in the bicycle business, which had been included with the car- riage and implement business, until 1902.
From 1900 until 1913 Mr. Peters was engaged with Senator S. C. Evans in the development of a large apple and cherry growing company, operating a tract of land in the Yucaipa Valley formerly owned by T. J. Wilson. This project was one of the pioneer develop- ments of this fertile valley, and the success of its promoters encour- aged others, and is cited to this day to stimulate present investors. This company owned about 570 acres, and put in about seventy-five acres in apples and cherries. They made a somewhat extensive water development for irrigation, and were the first to put out a commercial pack in the proper form under the name of "Old Grayback." Messrs. Peters and Evans, Andrew Brothers and several other pioneers are probably responsible for the development of the whole Yucaipa Val- ley.
In 1902 Mr. Peters with P. T. Evans, D. D. Gage, formerly of Riverside, the Chase Nursery Company and others developed eighty acres in oranges for the Oasis Orange Company in what is known as Oasis. They sunk artesian wells, and as far as is known this was the first commercial grove of oranges in the Coachella or Imperial Valley. He was also interested with D. D. Gage in the development of what was the Foothill Tract, and what is now known as the Alvord Ranch. This property consisted of 225 acres of oranges and alfalfa. Since the development of these various properties Mr. Peters has devoted his time to the care of his varied realty holdings and business interests at Riverside and elsewhere. In 1906 he was one of the or- ganizers of the National Bank of Riverside, and has since served it as one of its directors, and during 1918, one of the most critical periods in the financial history of the country, he was its president. Mr. Peters is now developing some properties in Tulare and Kern coun- ties, and still owns some orange and agricultural properties in River- side and San Bernardino counties.
In politics Mr. Peters is a republican, and has always taken an active part in local affairs. He has represented his party in city and county conventions, and served on the Progressive-Republican County Central Committee. His work in politics, however, has been of a still inore arduous character. In 1898 he was elected a trustee for River- side, and he served as such until 1902, and during that period a large part of the business of the municipal electric light plant was de- veloped. Many strong foundation policies were established and set- tled in those four years when the plant was poorly financed. Hard
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fighting was required to get any measure adopted which called for necessary funds, but the trustees were men who were capable of handling the situation, and before they left office had the satisfaction of seeing the plant in excellent condition, and a going and profitable city property.
In 1901 two pioneer contracts for electric light and power were made; one with Prof. C. G. Baldwin on Mill Creek; and one with Judge John F. Campbell of San Bernardino on Lytle Creek, by which the city would have been assured ample, low-priced electric power developed by modern Hydro-electric generators on these two streams, and by which the city in thirty years, without other payment, would become the owner and operator. The contracts were signed, but owing to the failure of parties to finance the project the deals were not consummated.
In 1903 or 1904 the Board of Trustees entered into a contract to acquire a water power electric plant on the Santa Ana River, just be- low Riverside, for $180,000. Mr. Peters was almost alone in his op- position to it, and fought it practically single-handed, making it an issue in the city election. The project was defeated, and the wisdom of his opposition was demonstrated when the plant was washed out and rendered worthless in later years.
From 1902 to 1907 Mr. Peters was trustee and secretary of the Riverside Public Library, and in 1906 and 1907 was secretary of the Board of Freeholders that formed the present city charter, and under that charter took office as a member of the Board of Public Utilities at its inception in 1907 and served until 1910, when he declined a re- appointment at the hands of Mayor S. C. Evans. It was during his incumbency in office that the Board of Public Utilities systemitized the accounting of the electric light department and placed it on a modern basis. This same board developed the present concrete posts for street lighting.
In 1912 Mr. Peters succeeded Mayor Evans as mayor of River- side, and served for one term, or until 1914. During this term as mayor the present municipal water system was acquired and plans laid for the acquisition, consolidation and extension of the three existing water companies. They were the domestic system of the Riverside Water Company, supplying the west side and the valley side of the city ; the Artesia Water Company, supplying most of the east side; and the H. P. Keyes Water Company, supplying the Keyes Addition. Bonds were issued for $1,160,000, and the city took over the three companies, consolidated them and made the necessary con- nections and extensions. Another feature of his administration was the stand he took with reference to prohibition. Through his earnest efforts and despite intense and bitter opposition the law was rigidly enforced. Threats of a recall were made, but came to naught. An- other public duty capably discharged by Mr. Peters was that of president of the Board of City Accounting, which office he held dur- ing 1907.
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