USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 56
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 56
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JAMES S. McNAIR-Of the use of cement as a building material in Southern California perhaps no one is better equipped by long ex- perience to stand as an authority on the historical aspects of the subject
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than James S. McNair, the veteran contractor and builder of San Ber- nardino.
Mr. McNair learned the use of plastic materials in Scotland as a boy under his father, but has been a resident and business man of Southern California for over a third of a century and most of the time in San Bernardino. His old friends know him as "Scotty" McNair. He was born at Torphichan, Scotland, July 4, 1862, son of Robert and Annie (Simpson) McNair, both natives of Scotland and now deceased. His father was a cement and plastering contractor. James S. McNair was educated in the schools of Scotland and from the age of twelve served his apprenticeship at his father's trade. At the age of sixteen, in 1878, he came to America and for a year did cement and plastering work in New York. On 'leaving New York he started west with California as his ultimate objective. Before reaching California he had put in an interesting and varied experience as a journeyman worker, stopping at nearly every town and city of consequence while passing over the continent. He reached San Francisco in 1883 and while living in that city he attended for a time the Lincoln Night School. He began contracting in cement and plastering work soon after establish- ing his home in San Francisco. In 1887 he removed to San Diego during the great boom in that city and did a vast amount of cement and plastering work there.
Mr. McNair moved to San Bernardino in 1890 and has kept his home and headquarters in that city ever since, though frequently han- dling large contracts outside. In 1890 he did the cement and plastering work under contract for the Patton Asylum, and for the San Ber- nardino High School. For one year he handled some large contracts in Salt Lake City. He has built every city resevoir at San Bernardino since coming here, has paved many of the city streets, paved Lemon Street from Fourth to Fourteenth in Riverside, built the roads, walks, and sewers at Fort Rosecrans and also worked on the 10-inch gun em- placement for the California Construction Company. Probably no other individual or firm could claim a greater volume of cement contracting in the county than Mr. McNair.
For many years much of his work has been done in the role of a capitalist for himself. He owns a number of cottages he built at San Bernardino and uses for rental purposes. The most modern apartments in the city are the Torphichan Apartments, named in honor of his birth- place, standing at 133 I Street. This is a three-story structure con- taining twelve apartments, steam heated and modern in every point of equipment. Another example of his building was the first cobblestone cottage in the city, which attracted great attention because of its artistic and ornate beauty. Mr. McNair owns five cottages and the business block at 241 H Street now occupied by the Alfred Company, and at one time had twenty acres of land on the Baseline.
One distinction of which Mr. McNair is properly proud is that he is one of the oldest members of the Naval Reserve of the State of California. He was one of the organizers of the Reserve at San Diego in 1888, this being the first organization of the kind in the state, and is still an honorary member. During the Spanish-American war he was ensign in charge of the crew of the U. S. S. "Pinto" in San Diego harbor. In politics he is a republican, and has been a party worker and a delegate to county and city conventions. He was superintendent of streets during the administration of Joseph W. Catick. Mr. McNair is one of the charter members of the San Bernardino Lodge of Elks, has been affiliated with the Woodmen of the World for thirty years, and
,
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is a member of the Fraternal Brotherhood. Through these organiza- tions, through his successful business career, and his fine public spirit, he enjoys a popularity and a following of loyal friends that make him one of the best known men in the entire county.
SAM P. COY-The professional intimates of Sam P. Coy, of Colton, unhesitatingly place him among the efficient and resourceful general prac- titioners at the bar of San Bernardino County, and he is equally at home in every department, whether civil or criminal, common law or chancery, real estate or corporation law. Because of this breadth of eminence he has earned a firm place as one of the leading lawyers of Southern California. Throughout his life he has been an associate of great lawyers and prominent business men, and is one of the ideal gentlemen in private life, a man of remarkable mental strength, and of unassuming courtesy. He is now acting as attorney for the Colton National Bank, in addition to carrying on his extensive general civil and criminal practice, and discharging the duties of a public spirited citizen which are somewhat onerous for he has a high sense of civic responsibility.
Sam P. Coy was born at Highland, December 28, 1887, a son of Louis I. and Mary J. Coy, the former of whom was tax collector of San Bernardino County, and died while serving for the third term in that office. After being graduated from the San Bernardino High School in 1905, Sam P. Coy attended Pomona College for a year, and then, from 1907 to 1909 he was a student of the University of California. His professional training was secured in the law department of the University of Southern California, which he attended from 1911 to 1914, and he was graduated therefrom in the latter year with the degree of Bachelor of Laws. From 1909 to 1911 Mr. Coy was in the employ of the Santa Fe Railroad at San Bernardino as timekeeper and bonus inspector, but with that exception his attention has been given to the law, in which he began his practice at San Bernardino in 1914 as a partner of Grant Holcomb. The firm of Holcomb & Coy was asso- ciated with Hon. Byron Watters in the practice of the law at San Bernardino from 1914 until 1917 when Mr. Coy entered the army in Young Men's Christian Association work. In September, 1919, he purchased the practice of N. L. Watt, at Colton, and since that date has been engaged in the practice of his profession in that city.
During the late war, Mr. Coy served as secretary in the Army Young Men' Christian Association, and was building secretary for the associa- tion at the United States Army Aviation Camp at North Island, San Diego, California. He has rendered an efficient public service, having been a member of the Board of Education of the city schools of San Bernardino during 1916 and 1917, and president of the Colton Chamber of Commerce during 1920 and 1921. An active republican, Mr. Coy was central committeeman for San Bernardino County during 1920. He belongs to the Native Sons of the Golden West, Arrowhead Parlor No. 110, San Bernardino ; Colton Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows ; San Bernardino Lodge No. 836, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks; Del Ray Club, University of California; Delta Chi Fraternity , University of Southern California, and is popular in all of these organiza- tions. Mr. Coy affiliates with the Congregational Church of San Bernardino.
Mr. Coy's success has been thorough and normal, but only a mind of unusual strength, backed by a persistent grasp and broad sweep of abilities can earn signal appreciations from the profession and public alike, in a field already crowded with keen competitors, and at the
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same time retain fresh and balanced faculties for the consideration and advancement of great public and social problems. The character of Mr. Coy is cast in no ordinary mould as is proven by the fact that he stands among the leading lawyers of his time and community, and has achieved a wide-spread reputation as a clear and broad exponent of many of the vital questions of the day now agitating thoughtful citizens.
SAMUEL ROGERS-Two localities responsible for a considerable part of the history made in San Bernardino County, and appropriately recounted on other pages, are Holcomb Valley and Victorville. One of the most interesting and active figures in these scenes was the late Samuel Rogers, and it is the purpose of this brief article to preserve an outline of his career for the benefit of future generations.
Samuel Rogers was born at Stockport at Muskingum County. Ohio, January 13, 1829, one of seven children, five sons and two daughters. He had a common school education, left home at the age of eighteen and thereafter he was responsible for his own life and his own success. He crossed the continent by ox team during the great gold rush of 1849. For a number of years he was profitably engaged in mining in Marys- ville and vicinity. It was the gold excitement in the Holcomb Valley that attracted him to this district of Southern California, and he shared in its excitement and victory for a time. In 1875 he bought the Old Huntington Stage Station, about one mile northeasterly and on the oppo- site side of the Mojave River from the site of the present Victorville. This old overland station was one of the points on the route of the stage and mail coaches and was also an outfitting place for freighters, mining men and prospectors. Mr. Rogers operated the station for six or seven years and was one of the first postmasters there.
In 1876 he also bought a squatter's claim to lands located at Victor- ville and Mojave River, and he took out the first water rights on that stream. A great deal of difficulty ensued before he could secure his title to the land. He had a contract to purchase from the railroad and it was twenty or thirty years before the titles were cleared and the railroad gave him his deed. He had one and a half sections of land. all virgin and wild, and many years of industry were required to make it productive. The level lands he cleared and prepared for irrigation, and the rough lands were retained for grazing. He was the first man to raise alfalfa in that valley. It was in this work and in the congenial surroundings of Victorville that Samuel Rogers spent his life. He died in San Bernardino April 22, 1914, when eighty-five years of age.
He married in 1880 Mrs. Jane (Arborn) Garner. She was born in 1849 in Australia, and came to California with her parents at the age of eight years. The family first lived at San Pedro and in the vicinity of Los Angeles when that city was a pueblo, the population being largely Mexican and Spanish. Her father, Robert Arborn, spent his last years on a farm in the Rincon Valley. By her first marriage to Freeman Garner, Mrs. Rogers had three children.
The only child of the late Samuel Rogers is Sam Knox Rogers, who was born August 29, 1882. He was born in San Bernardino on ground where the Ramona Hospital now stands. He acquired a common school education, and from boyhood worked with and became familiar with his father's farming operations. In July, 1920, he sold a portion of the old land, but still retains half a section. He has since lived with his mother at San Bernardino.
From pioneer times the efforts of the Rogers family have been impressed upon the developments in the vicinity of Victorville. Samuel
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Rogers was a pioneer who reached the high tide of his life when stage coaches were still running over most of the traveled routes in Southern California.
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JAMES ERWIN-For centuries there has lain between the fertile lands of the San Bernardino Valley, and the blazing sands of the Mojave Desert, the wonderful valley to which the name of Big Bear is now given, but until 1861 it was only known to the wild creatures of nature. In that year a prospector by the name of Holcomb discovered traces of gold in its sands, and there followed one of the typical gold rushes of the period, traces of which are still to be seen. When the gold was exhausted the valley was used for stock raising purposes, and this industry still flourishes.
As the years passed, here and there was found one who appreciated the wonderful natural advantages of the valley, but up to 1915 there were but two permanent camps within its confines. In the meanwhile the great European war had practically closed the playgrounds of the old world to tourists, and the slogan, "See America First" produced some remarkable results. Enterprising persons who recognized the possi- bilities of the valley began to pour in and establish permanent camps, erect modern hotels, build roads, and place upon the waters of Big Bear Lake fast-moving motor boats and other craft. Soon the automobile of the trans-continental traveler began to roll into the valley; the casual visitor was multiplied many times and today the valley accommodates upward of 8,000 people in the season from June to August, inclusive. This remarkable development has attracted to this region some of the ablest men and women of the country, and one who is making a remark- able success of his undertaking is James Erwin, proprietor of the widely- known Erwin's Camp on Big Bear Lake, one of the most complete and popular resorts in the valley.
James Erwin is a native son of California, having been born at San Francisco, January 10, 1891. After attending the public schools of his native city, and several private ones in the East, he completed his educa- tion in the University of Pennsylvania, and then began traveling all over Europe, his business interests in various lines taking him to far- distant countries, where he dealt largely in securities.
His extensive operations being interrupted by the progress of the war, as were those of so many people during that time of stress, he turned his attention to American undertakings, and becoming interested in Big Bear Valley in the spring of 1919, he assumed the management of Erwin's Camp at the close of that year. This valuable property is now owned by him and his wife, and consists of thirty acres of land where they have a most complete mountain camp, with an American plan hotel, store, housekeeping cabins, with an individual water and lighting system. Every kind of amusement is provided for as there is a commodious dance hall, saddle horses, sixty row and motor boats ranging from those forty feet in length to canoes. A private reserve is maintained for duck hunters, including 220 acres of land on Baldwin Lake.
In 1916 Mr. Erwin was united in marriage with Miss Constance Alden, a talented young lady, a member of one of America's prominent families, and the seventh generation in direct descent from John Alden. She was born at Boston, Massachusetts, was educated in the leading schools of the East, and finishing schools in Europe, and speaks Spanish fluently. Mr. and Mrs. Erwin have two children, namely, Henry B., and Con- stance A. Mr. Erwin is an ideal host, a most excellent business man, and
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since he became the owner of his camp has thrown himself enthusiastically into the work of further developing the valley, and improving its condition.
ELLA MAY (LOGSDON) FISH has been a resident of San Bernardino for twenty-six years, and the ties knit by residence have included a deep interest in the community's growth and progress and a participation in its social life.
Ella May Logsdon is a native daughter of California, and was born at Porterville. Her father, William Logsdon, should be remembered as one of the California pioneers who crossed the plains in 1848. He was an Indiana farmer, was a Union soldier in the Civil war, and represented an old American family of English ancestry. His wife was Gertrude Linebarger Logsdon. Her father was a soldier in the Indian war. Her mother, Maria (Brown) Linebarger, is still living at Oceanside at the age of ninety-four and is one of the few surviving pioneer women of California who crossed the plains with an ox team immediately follow- ing the discovery of gold. She is distantly related to the Daniel Boone family.
Ella May Logsdon Fish for a number of years was prominently asso- ciated with church work in San Bernardino and elsewhere in California. She is a member of the Methodist Church and the Eastern Star Chapter. She owns some valuable oil property in the Cajon district, and plans for the development of this property are now under way. Mrs. Fish's sister, Eva Logsdon, is the wife of Charles Kingman of Colorado and has three children, named Doris Gertrude, Barbara May and Helen Irene.
WILLIAM O. TAYLOR, optometrist, is one of the highly qualified men of his profession in Southern California, and for several years has prac- ticed in San Bernardino.
Doctor Taylor was born at Portage la Prairie, Manitoba, Canada. December 18, 1889, but the following year his parents, Richard and Anna Jane (Ashdown) Taylor, moved to California and located in Pasa- dena. His father, a native of Ireland, was a leading merchant of Pasa- dena for a number of years, also served on the city council, and died in December, 1912. The mother, now living at Vallejo, was born in Canada of English ancestry.
William O. Taylor attended the grammar and high schools of Pasa- dena and in 1913 received the O. D. degree from the Southern California College of Opthalmology and Optometry of Los Angeles. He has been engaged in the work of his profession for ten years, beginning at Pasa- dena, living at Los Angeles and at Long Beach, and then removed to San Bernardino, where in his place of business on Third Street, he has all the facilities to supplement his own training and broad experience to aid in the fitting and adaptment of glasses for the eyes. He is a member and former secretary of the Orange Belt Optometric Association.
During the World war Doctor Taylor enlisted in the Canadian army in the Depot Battalion No. 1, Company No. 1, and was connected with the Dental Corps at Vancouver, British Columbia. He is a member of the American Legion, the Chamber of Commerce at San Bernardino, is an independent voter, and is Past Chancellor Commander of the Knights of Pythias, is Past Prince of the Dramatic Order of the Knights of Khorassan, and is also affiliated with the Masons, B. P. O. E., Eagles, and the Y. M. C. A.
September 28, 1909, at Santa Ana he married Almeda C. I.yman. She was born in New York State, daughter of the late W. C. Lyman. Doctor and Mrs. Taylor have two daughters, Marjorie May and Barbara Ann, now students in the San Bernardino schools.
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ROBERT W. RUSSELL-The Riverside Blue Ribbon Packing Company was established in 1911. The company had an authorized capital stock of $10,000, and they began business by the purchase of the building at Casa Blanca from the Earl Fruit Company. The packing house affords 14,000 square feet of floor space, and the capacity of the plant is 150 cars of fruit per year. About fifty people are employed by the company which is a mutual company and handles the packing of oranges, lemons and grape fruit produced chiefly by the stockholders of the company. The first officers of the company were Harwood Hall, president, and Robert W. Russell, secretary and treasurer. The present executive organization consists of A. McDermont, president; E. T. Wall, vice president, and R. W. Russell, secretary, treasurer and manager.
Mr. Russell was one of the most active of the organizers of this business, being a practical fruit grower of Riverside, where he has had his home for the past fifteen years. Mr. Russell was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, March 15, 1875, son of James Alexander and Mary Anne (Willson) Russell, his father a Pittsburgh banker. R. W. Russell had a liberal education in preparation for his life's work. He attended public school at Pittsburgh and in 1899 graduated in the scientific course from Washington and Jefferson College. After leaving college Mr. Russell was in the undertaking business at Pittsburgh until 1907 when he removed to Riverside, and has since been closely identified with the fruit interests both as a producer and packer. He owns thirty-five acres devoted to citrus fruits. Mr. Russell is a republican, a York Rite Mason and Shriner, member of Pittsburgh Lodge No. 11, B. P. O. E., and a mem- ber of the Nu Sigma Nu fraternity.
January 17, 1899, he married Miss Ildrie Roberts of Braddock, Pennsylvania, but a native of Maryland. She completed her education in the Washington Seminary at Washington. Pennsylvania. The children of Mr. and Mrs. Russell are Dorothy, Edith, Robert W., Jr., and James L.
FRED BOSCH is an active and alert business man and rancher of the Victorville locality. He was unknown and moneyless when he landed in that community some ten years ago, and a remarkable degree of energy and application to the business in hand has been the lever by which he has raised himself to a considerable degree of fortune and esteem.
He was born in Hechingen, Hohenzollern, South Germany, March 2, 1872, one of the four sons and two daughters of William and Maxmiliana (Hoch) Bosch, natives of the same province. Both father and grand- father were butchers by trade and this was the occupation Fred Bosch learned after acquiring a common school education. He worked as a journeyman butcher in Germany until he came to New York and thence to Los Angeles, arriving in the California city in 1912. When he reached American shores Mr. Bosch had only $50 in capital. He followed the butcher's trade in Los Angeles, and on May 3, 1913, arrived at Victor- ville, where he found work in a meat market as a cutter and clerk.
His chief ally in his growing prosperity and independence has been Mrs. Bosch, who has shared with him in their mutual undertaking in every respect. He married Miss Annie Straub October 6, 1912. She was born at Lafayette, Indiana. When they were married they had only $5 between them, so that their prosperity today is an accurate measure of what they have accomplished in the ten years since their marriage. In May, 1914, they bought twenty-four acres of bottom land adjoining the town site of Victorville, the contract price being $125 an acre. The land was wild and unbroken, and one of their first improvements was the sinking of a well. They cleared the land of brush and since then
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have improved it to one of the very profitable ranches in the Victor- ville vicinity. Both Mr. and Mrs. Bosch worked long hours to achieve their ambition. In October, 1914, Mr. Bosch opened the meat market which he still continues. His business is a strictly home market. He buys local home grown stock, personally supervises the slaughtering, dressing and retailing, and has successfully met the heavy competitions of the packing interests and his service and the quality of his products have gained him the confidence and the patronage of a home people who favor his market over all others.
Mr. Bosch for a number of years has had a schedule of work that pays no respect to the standard working day. He worked long hours, usually slaughters his beeves on Sunday, while Mrs. Bosch has kept the oversight and to a large degree the work of the farm. Mr. and Mrs. Bosch are members of the Catholic Church.
CHARLES SUMNER HAMILTON, a prosperous orange grower at East Highland, has been identified with the citrus fruit industry in its various phases in this section of San Bernardino County since boyhood and is widely known over the county.
Mr. Hamilton was born near Quincy, Illinois, in February, 1886. and was about two years old when brought to California. His parents were John Watson and Charlotte (Edwards) Hamilton. His father was an Illinois farmer. The mother in seeking restoration of her health paid a visit to California, and this visit resulted in the family moving out to the State in the fall of 1888. John W. Hamilton acquired a ten-acre tract of wild land on Water Street in what is now East Highlands. He brushed and leveled this tract, set it to orange trees, half in seedlings and half in Washington navels. Later the seedlings were budded to navels and in after years John W. Hamilton enjoyed many successively profitable seasons from his efforts as an orange grower. He died in 1919, and his wife in 1905. He was a Knight Templar Mason. Of the three children Charles Sumner is the oldest. George Edwards, who was born in Octo- ber, 1888, married Miss Mollie Cram of the pioneer Cram family of Highland, where she was born, and they have two sons. The third, Miss Irene May Hamilton, was born at Highland in May, 1898, and is a graduate of the high school of Omaha, Nebraska, also of the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, and is now teaching in high school.
Charles Sumner Hamilton took his preparatory course in the Uni- versity of Southern California and spent one year in that university. since which time his efforts have been directed in the orange industry.
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