USA > California > San Bernardino County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 67
USA > California > Riverside County > History of San Bernardino and Riverside counties, Volume III > Part 67
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After the death of his first wife Mr. Vredenburgh married in 1880 Miss Violet Elizabeth Heckathorn. She was born June 17, 1835, in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth (Shaffer) Heck- athorn, also natives of Pennsylvania. In the Heckathorn family were the following children: David, Catherine, Violet, Jacob, James Harper, Mary and William Boyd Heckathorn. William Boyd Heckathorn was born March 9, 1845, died July 17, 1907. He married Martha Jane Hecka- thorn, and their five children were Florence L., Myra J., Delvinasia E., Halgerdia G. and Merrill E. The mother of these children died in June, 1884, and William Boyd Heckathorn subsequently married Sarah Jane Powell, and by this union had two children, Charity P. and Chloe.
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After his second marriage Levi Vredenburgh lived for several years in Buffalo, New York, then returned to Oil City, Pennsylvania, and sub- sequently had charge of a refinery in Cleveland. While in Cleveland he was selected by some capitalists to take charge of a placer mining prop- osition on the Colorado River in Arizona. He personally invested of his means in this venture, and when it failed to produce he lost both his in- vestment and salary.
In the meantime the Puente Oil Refinery of California had been built and was operating at a loss. Some of the interested stockholders learned of Mr. Vredenburgh's presence in the Southwest, sent for him and in 1897 he took charge as general superintendent of the plant. He remained as superintendent and manager for twenty-one years, and in that time brought the business out of chaos and made it one of the best managed oil refineries in California. Failing health finally compelled him to give up his post of duty, but he continued to draw his salary from the manage- ment until his death.
Mr. Vredenburgh was for a number of years the largest stockholder and president of the First National Bank of Chino. He had bought ten acres of the townsite, subdivided and sold that to great advantage, known as the Vredenburgh tract, and about 1910 he built one of the most attrac- tive homes, at the northwest corner of Seventh and B streets, the place now occupied by Mrs. Vredenburgh. Mr. Vredenburgh was a staunch republican, was a leader in the Baptist Church and for many years inter- ested in the Sunday School and superintendent of the school. He was public spirited in everything he did, and his memory is cherished in this community.
FRANK MUNDAY TOWNE .- Few men are living in San Bernardino who made the record "for all men to read" which was left by Frank Mun- day Towne, pioneer citizen and druggist. He lived in the city he loved so well for over forty years, fulfilling the highest ideal of American citizenship. His untiring efforts in behalf of the development of the city made him one of the most substantial, solid and trustworthy citizens. He spent his life in the one line of business, building up a clientele reach- ing all over the county, and attaining a business standing exceptionally high.
Like so many of the finest men of the county, Mr. Towne was a native son of the Golden State, being the son of one of the earliest pioneers. He gained his education and spent his entire life here. He was a true son of California, knowing that he was indeed fortunate to be one of her sons, and giving her service and love. His patriotism was deep and strong and inherent, not brought out for special occasions, but part of his life. During the World war no man in the United States, according to his opportunities, worked harder or to better advantage than Mr. Towne, for he gave time and money and ceaseless effort from the first to the last minute of those trying times.
Mr. Towne was adverse to standing in the lime light and could be prevailed upon only once to serve the county in a public capacity, but in doing so he did it as all things, in a manner above criticism. He was a comparatively young man when he passed on, loved and mourned by his family and friends and the city of which he had been such an integral part. So long as San Bernardino is standing and her history known the name of Frank Munday Towne will be honored as one of her most worthy, best loved men.
Mr. Towne was born in Petaluma, California, in October, 1860, the son of Smith D. Towne, who conducted a drug store in Petaluma for
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many years, and was one of that city's worth-while citizens. In the place where he was born Frank Munday Towne died.
He was educated in the public schools of Petaluma, and then in the Pharmacy School of the University of California, from which he was graduated. During the time he was acquiring his education he worked for his father in the drug store. Deciding to branch out for himself after his graduation, he located in San Bernardino, working at first for Mr. Waldrip, the druggist. In 1880 he bought a partnership with him, and the firm name was Waldrip & Towne. This continued for a short time, when Mr. Nickerson bought out Waldrip's interest and the firm name became Towne & Nickerson. This continued a few years, and then Towne bought out the Nickerson interest, and the name was F. Towne until 1895, when the firm became Towne & Lamb. In 1900 the firm of Towne, Seccomb & Allison was organized, and in 1911 the business was incorporated under this latter name. In the spring of 1919 Mr. Beverly Towne and Charles Lindner, Jr., bought out W. C. Seccombe's interest and the name was changed again, this time to the Towne-Allison Drug Com- pany. On December 20th Frank M. Towne died.
Mr. Towne married in March, 1884, Anna B. Fox, daughter of Daniel WV. Fox, one of California's earliest pioneers, who came to California around Cape Horn in 1852 from Connecticut. Like most of the pioneers of that time he was a gold seeker and settled in El Dorado County.
Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Towne were the parents of three children : Dwight, who was born in Garden Valley, El Dorado County, and mar- ried Amy McConnell, of New York, and has two children, Frank and Kathyrn ; Lean, born in San Bernardino ; Beverly, born in San Bernardino and married Hazel Bryan, of Redlands.
Mr. Towne was a member of Arrowhead Parlor 110, Native Sons of the Golden West, of which Dwight Fox was the organizer. He was also a member of the San Bernardino Lodge No. 836, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks. He was always independent in politics, be- lieving in the right man for the right place. He was at one time public administrator for San Bernardino County. Mr. and Mrs. Towne were members of the Episcopal Church. Mr. Towne was representative of the Shipping Board during the late war and enrolled a large number of men. The Towne family has in its possession the check for one dollar paid him by the Government for his services in enrolling men in the Merchant Marine. He was also a member of the various committees for the different drives of the war activities, and in every way aided any- thing and everything he could that would help the country.
RUBY FRANCES EASON MASCART .- Credit for the early development of the citrus fruit industry in the Crafton District of San Bernardino County belongs in an important degree to the members of the Eason family. A daughter of this family is Mrs. Mascart, whose husband, Montague Mascart, owns one of the fine rural plantations and estates overlooking the City of Redlands. Mr. Mascart is an educated English gentleman and came to Redlands about twenty years ago.
The parents of Mrs. Mascart were Abner and Anna ( Mobley ) Eason. Her father was born at Louisville, Kentucky, in 1837, and died at Red- lands in 1901. Her mother was born at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1852, and died at Redlands in 1885. Abner Eason was a contractor and build- er in the East, married in Tennessee, and to benefit his wife's health came to California in 1880, living in San Bernardino one year and in 1881 located at Crafton, then a wild and unimproved brush country with no railroad and practically no marketing facilities. Mr. Eason Vol. 111-31
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bought twenty acres of this wild land, cleared it, and planted it to apricots, peaches and raisin grapes. Up to that time seedling oranges had been grown in this section, and he was the pioneer in planting the navel oranges and was the first to give that industry an impetus in San Bernardino County. He hauled his oranges to Riverside for packing and shipment. That was before the City of Redlands was established. The old home- stead at Crafton is now known as the Leslie Gay place and was the home of the Eason family for ten years. Abner Eason after selling, having profited in his horticultural efforts, then bought thirty acres of the old Barton ranch. Here he developed a citrus nursery and later set out the land to apricots. He also made investments in town property and after selling his country property turned his holdings into city real estate. Though taking up the business comparatively late in life, he was regarded as an authority on orchard and nursery lands and was prominent among the early fruit growers of the county. He was a man of cultivated mind, high character and greatly beloved in his district. He was a deacon in the Congregational Church. His children were four in number. Ella, born October 27, 1873, is a graduate of the House of Good Samaritan, Los Angeles, and is a professional woman at Spokane, Washington. Albert Sidney, born September 9, 1876, graduated from the Redlands High School and is a builder and contracting engineer at Seattle, being manager of the Skagit River power project near the Cascades. By his marriage to Miss Mabel Rowe of Idaho he has two sons, Robert and Donald, twins, born May 16, 1910. Edna Laura, born November 18, 1880, was educated at Redlands and is the wife of Arthur T. Cromwell, a real estate man at Spokane, Washington, and has one son, Edward Eason Cromwell.
Ruby Frances Eason, the only child of her parents born in California, was born at Crafton January 13, 1883. She acquired her education in Redlands, and on June 21, 1906, became the wife of Montague C. Mascart.
Mr. Mascart was born in London, England, in 1880. His father, Emiel E. Mascart, was born in France but of a family of long English residence. He was a merchant at London, and the old establishment bearing his name at 75 Baker Street, London, West, is still continued under the Mascart name, the present manager having entered Mr. Mas- cart's employ when only eighteen years of age. Montague Mascart was educated in Emanuel College in London and in in Cressier College near Neufchatel, Switzerland, where he acquired a fluent knowledge of the French language. On returning to England he served an apprenticeship in the leather business. About that time he met many Americans of prom- inence, including members of the Morgan banking house, the Marconies and others, and from them learned much of America's opportunities. In March, 1902, he left London bound for Redlands, California, a place recommended to him by a relative who had been here. Mr. Mascart has revisited England four times. His first purchase was a twenty- two acre orange grove on Buckeye Street. Selling this, he bought another place on Alabama Street, which he sold three years ago, and then bought thirty acres on the Heights, named in honor of an old English district Angalia Ranch. This is one of Redland's most beautiful sights overlooking the valley and in the shadows of the mountains.
Mr. and Mrs. Mascart have four children: Montague Charles, Jr., born August 9, 1908, died in infancy : Barbara May, born July 9, 1910, attending the Kingsley School at Redlands; Mary Charlotte, born Sep- tember 3, 1912; and Elizabeth Frances, born November 19, 1914.
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ARTHUR NELSON ELLIS .- The owner of the Ellis Iron Works of San Bernardino, Arthur Nelson Ellis, learned the business thoroughly from the ground up before he went into it for himself. It was not a preten- tious affair at first but Mr. Ellis has improved it, added to it, gradually built it up until it is now an important factor in the business circles of San Bernardino. His clientele is not confined to his home district by any means but extends all over the territory adjacent, for he estab- lished a reputation from the first for square dealing, best of workman- ship and a careful attention to the minutest details.
Mr. Ellis is a native of that country which has given America so many worth-while citizens, Canada, being born on December 16, 1875, near Picton, Prince Edward County, Ontario. He is the son of Walter C. and Sarah (Fairbairn) Ellis, both being natives of Canada. His mother died when he was only seven years of age. His father was a farmer and carpenter and also a mining man; he came out to the west, located in Nogales, Arizona, but is now residing in New Westminster, B. C. Mr. Ellis has a sister, May Cecilia Ellis, born near Picton, On- tario, Canada, now residing at Bridgeport, Connecticut, and a brother Robert Wallace Ellis, also born near Picton, a millwright residing at Toronto, Canada.
Mr. Ellis was educated in the public schools near, Milford, Ontario, and later at Nogales, Arizona. From there he went to Guaymas, Mexico, where he thoroughly learned the trade of machinist. He was there for five years and then returned to Nogales but he only stayed two weeks, going to Los Angeles where he took a course in the Los Angeles Com- mercial School. From here he located in San Bernardino in June 1899, and worked there for a year and eight months for the Santa Fe Railroad. He next went to San Francisco where he worked for the Union Iron Works. His next move was to Winslow, Arizona, but he only remained six months, returning to San Bernardino. Here he started in business as the San Bernardino Machine & Bicycle Works, now the Ellis Iron Works. It was located under the Southern Hotel and he had a partner, C. C. Carter. Later Mr. Carter sold his interest to R. M. Middlemass, who in turn sold his interest to W. D. Anderson. This last partner- ship continued about one year when Mr. Ellis bought his partner's in- terest. When Mr. Anderson bought his interest the business was known as the California Iron Works, and it retained this name for some years when it was changed to the present one, The Ellis Iron Works.
The business was moved to its present location, 135 Arrowhead Avenue, about May, 1903. Mr. Ellis purchased the site for it and erected the building. A general machine, foundry and repair and pump works is conducted. The patronage is drawn from an area as far north as Victorville, as far east as Beaumont, and as far south as Riverside and west to Ontario. Such a business can only be secured by merit alone.
Mr. Ellis was wedded to Edith Agnes Baxter, on November 29, 1906, a daughter of James I. Baxter, native of Scotland who came to California in 1887, locating in Duarte, where he remained six years, and then moved to San Bernardino. In 1894 he started a livery business in that city on D Street between 2nd and 3rd. This he continued until 1915 and he had just completed a building on 3rd between F and G for the business when he was stricken with illness and had to retire. For some years he was humane officer in the city. He was a member of the Mac- cabees and in politics a republican. Mr. Baxter passed away July 5, 1921.
Mr. Ellis is a member of San Bernardino Lodge No. 348, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons. He became a naturalized citizen January
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23, 1915. In politics he gives his allegiance to the republican party. He is a member of the Methodist Church.
J. W. ROBERTS, of San Bernardino, was one of the prominent men of the city who had won success in the east before coming to California and from the first he occupied a prominent place in the community he chose for a home. Perhaps in no way was Mr. Roberts more closely identified with the city than through his banking interests, for he was a financier second to none. It made him an outstanding figure in the finan- cial world and he was often the court of last appeal on many matters relating to the mercantile, commercial and general business life of San Bernardino. No technicalities semed too perplexing for him to solve when they related to banking interests and he always dominated the situa- tion, and always he was a power to be reckoned with.
Yet with all his financial ability he was built on a large plan, broad in his views, wide in his charities, a kind neighbor and a loyal friend. With his passing San Bernardino lost one of its most useful citizens.
Mr. Roberts was born in North Wales, July 22, 1835, and came to America with his parents in 1841, the family settling on a farm in Lewis County, New York. He received the usual education available for boys on the farms at that time and in 1854 started out to make his own way in life, going west and settling in Columbia County, Wisconsin. He began in the general merchandising business and acted as express agent. It was not long before he made his office a general exchange and banking institution for the entire country around him although he was a very young man. Later he decided to go into the flour milling business and he sold out all his interests in Columbia County and purchased an interest in the Danville Flour Mills. He went to Philadelphia and was associated with the firm of H. H. Mears & Co. They handled flour and grain and Mr. Roberts built up a very large lucrative business, shipping products to all important American points and to many European points.
In 1873 Mr. Roberts disposed of his interests to some extent and went into partnership with J. A. Steele and for eighteen years they car- ried on a large wholesale flour business in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Being now an independently wealthy man Mr. Roberts decided to locate in California, and sold out most of his eastern business.
In 1892 he assumed the presidency of the First National Bank of Col- ton and took over the reins of government of the San Bernardino National Bank, buying a large interest and becoming its president. In this posi- tion he not only built up the bank but made its standing and business impregnable. It was, when he passed away, one of the solid and repre- sentative institutions of the South as it is today.
Mr. Roberts was married to Eliza Williams of Cambria, Wisconsin, a native of Wales, in 1860. They were the parents of two children, Mrs. J. W. Davis of Colton, California, and Edward David Roberts, who so successfully carried on his father's interests in the banking world. His wife died in 1867 and Mr. Roberts married again, Winnifred Evans, a native of New York. They had two children also, Walter and Richard.
Mr. Roberts died on January 19, 1903.
ROBERT ADDISON TODD, D. D. S., began the practice of dentistry in California about 1886 and was, at the time of his death a leading dentist at Corona, Riverside County, where he had resided for over twenty- three years.
Dr. Todd was born in Madison County, Indiana, May 16, 1852, and was young at the time of the family removal to Iowa, where he acquired
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his early education in the public schools and where also he began the study of dentistry, in the city of Des Moines. Later he practiced in Colorado and Montana. In 1885 he graduated in the Pennsylvania Dental College, in the city of Philadelphia, and after thus receiving his degree .of Doctor of Dental Surgery he came, in 1886, to Los Angeles, Cali- fornia, where he became associated in practice with his elder brother, Dr. Baxter Todd. He continued his professional activities at Los Angeles until 1891 when lie removed with his family to Aspen, Colorado, prac- ticing there until 1898, when he came to Corona where he built up a practice which attests alike his professional skill and his personal pop- ularity. Besides dental work he and his wife had various ranching in- terests and they took a very active part in the trials and hardships which attended the early growth of the orange and lemon industry in Corona. Dr. Todd continued his work until two days before the time of his death. He died at his home in Corona on December 21, 1921, of pneu- monia with complications of the heart.
Dr. Todd took an active interest in the affairs of his community but not in order to put himself forward publicly. If a matter of right or wrong was at stake he came forward and let his voice be heard for the right. First and foremost, he was a Christian. He was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corona and from boyhood he had been very active in Christian work.
January 10, 1881, recorded the marriage of Dr. Todd to Miss Emma Maria Butchers, who was born in New York City, being taken early in life to Minnesota. She graduated at the First State Normal School at Winona and taught in the public schools for eight years before her marriage. Dr. and Mrs. Todd became the parents of four children : Grace H., a teacher, resides in Los Angeles ; Robert A., Jr., is deceased ; Gordon B. is in the stocks and bonds business in New York City; and Harry Willard is a teacher.
CHARLES M. BROWN, of Redlands, San Bernardino County, has been actively associated with the fruit industry of California for nearly forty years, is one of its pioneer representatives in the Redlands district and has played an important part in the development of this important line of enterprise in the state. In short, his record is one the redounds to his credit as a progressive business man and loyal and public-spirited citizen.
Charles Milton Brown was born in the State of Illinois, on the 12th of February, 1865, and is a son of Andrew Jackson Brown and Susan M. (Wallace) Brown, who were born and reared in Kentucky, where the father became an extensive farmer and owned many slaves, besides being prominent and influential in political affairs in the Blue Grass state prior to the Civil war. He met with severe financial reverses incidental to this war and finally removed to Illinois, where he and his wife passed the remainder of their lives. Named in honor of the famed warrior and statesman, General Andrew Jackson, he ever held to the political faith exemplified by his famous namesake, and was a staunch advocate of the principles of the democratic party.
In the public schools of Illinois, Charles M. Brown continued his studies until he had duly profited by the advantages of the high school at Carrollton, while through reading, study of economic matters and public affairs and long association with the practical duties and responsibilities of a constructive personal career, he has rounded out what may con- sistently be termed a liberal education. His childhood and early youth were compassed by the influence of the home farm, and in 1880, at
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the age of sixteen years, he went to Pioneer County, Nebraska, in which state he passed three years on the great cattle range. Long hours of ardu- ous work were his portion in this connection, but the discipline gave him the hardiest of physical powers, the while the experience was one upon which he has since placed high value.
In 1883 Mr. Brown came to Riverside, California, and obtained em- ployment with the firm of W. F. Coleman & Company, extensive dealers in fruits, with special attention given to the shipping of raisins and other California dried fruits. In the autumn of 1886 Mr. Brown was made manager of the firm's newly established branch house at Redlands, and later he was for seven years manager at this place for the Earl Fruit Company. He then initiated an independent business in the buying, packing and shipping of oranges, and this business he has since con- tinued successfully without interruption. He is thus one of the pioneers in the citrus fruit industry in San Bernardino County, and the unsullied reputation that has ever been his constitutes a most fortuitous commercial asset. In addition to his individual operations in the buying and shipping of fruit Mr. Brown formed a partnership with B. W. Cave, under the firm name of Cave & Brown, and engaged in the buying and shipping of hay and grain.
In the handling of California fruits Mr. Brown has long controlled a large and prosperous business, and he has selling agents in the principal cities and markets of forty-three states of the union. The facilities which he has provided and the effective service which he has given in connection with the distribution of California fruits have contributed in large measure to the success of fruit-growing in the Redlands district, and proved of value in furthering the industrial and commercial precedence of the state. In the firm, Brown, Ford & Yerxa, Mr. Brown has alliance with Messrs. Ford and Yerxa, of Imperial Valley, and is exclusive selling agent for the early vegetables and melons raised and bought by these representative business men of the famed Imperial Valley, the enterprise being one of great volume. During the period of the nation's participation in the World war Mr. Brown had large productive inter- ests in the Imperial Valley and in response to the Government's call for cotton he there produced large crops of this essential product. He is one of the extensive orange-growers of San Bernardino County, as the owner of a fine ranch of sixty-four acres, with forty acres of pro- ducing Valencia orange trees and twenty-four acres devoted to the ever popular navel oranges.
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