USA > California > San Bernardino County > Ingersoll's century annals of San Bernadino County, 1769-1904 : prefaced with a brief history of the state of California : supplemented with an encyclopedia of local biography and portraits of many of its representative people > Part 43
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James Boyd became postmaster April 1, 1894 and held office until May 4, 1898, when he was succeeded by Stephen J. Kelley, the present incumbent. The office was removed June 1, 1903, to the Lloyd Block, corner of D and Fourth streets. It is now fully equipped with all modern conveniences for the rapid and economical handling of mail matter and business. One of the latest improvements is a specially constructed typewriter for money or- der business. Seven carriers are now employed. Much of the detail work is in the hands of the assistant postmaster, A. J. Eddy, who has been in this position since 1900. The mail order business has increased very rapidly the past two or three years and is an excellent indication of the strides which the city is making in population and wealth.
From Nov. 1, 1903, to Oct. 31, 1904, 16,071 Domestic orders were is- sued, amounting to $128,688.49, the fees for which were $985.25: 561 Inter- national orders were issued to the amount of $15,323.54, the fees equalling $134.85, making a total of money order fees, $1,120.10. 11,089 Domestic or- ders were paid, amounting to $116,290.89, and 53 International orders amounting to $1,894.32. The total of money order business was $262,197.24 for the year.
SAN BERNARDINO CITY SCHOOLS.
The first school in the city of San Bernardino was held in a brush struc- ture put up by the Mormons in their "Fort" and was taught by Rupert Lee, otherwise, "Lazy Lee." The school was then conducted in the large tent which also served as a church for the colonists and later a large frame build- ing, one of the first erected in the new settlement, was used as a school house and church. Here the school was taught by William Stout, a some- what erratic, but versatile man, who is still remembered by some of the pu- pils who gained their first book learning under his tuition. When the "Fort" was done away with, two adobe school houses, each a single room, were built on one of the lots that had been secured by the city for school pur- poses, the same lot where the present Fourth street school house stands. Here the first school bell, which is still in use, hung between the two rooms, which were named the Washington and the Jefferson, by Prof. Ellison Rob- bins who took charge of the schools in January, 1858. These rooms served until the erection of the brick school house on this same lot in 1871. March 20, 1871, the corner-stone of a four-room brick building was laid with appropriate ceremonies. This was built by a special tax of $4,000.00 and it was supposed at the time that it would be ample for the needs of the city
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for years to come. San Bernardino prided herself greatly on possessing the finest building in the country when this "new school house" was completed. In laying the corner-stone, a box containing school records and other infor- mation, as well as current newspapers, etc., was put into a specially pre- pared vault. When the structure was removed in 1902, to make way for the new school building, this box was found, but its contents had crumbled to dust,-not a fragment of the papers could be deciphered. The only memory of the "old" building is the fine pepper tree which has sheltered at least two generations of school children.
In less than five years after the erection of this building the trustees found it necessary to rent additional rooms for school purposes. But another school house was not erected in the city until 1884. Then, largely through the efforts of H. C. Brooke, and after much discussion and a good deal of op- position to such "extravagance" it was decid- ed to vote $25,000 bonds for the erection of a new school house.
In June, 1884, the corner stone for the Cen- tral School house on F street was laid with appropriate ceremonies. This was an eight- room building with a seating capacity of 400. and was considered a model of all that a school building should be at the time it was built. There was then but six departments in the school with six teachers. In 1884, Mr. N. A. Richardson began his long service in San Bernardino as the principal of the schools and soon afterward moved into the new build- ing. The "boom" largely increased the school population and the enlargement of the city in F. W. CONRAD 1890 added a large number of pupils to the roll. At this time five districts adjoining the city "were merged into the city schools and five buildings, ranging from $3,000 to $7,000 in cost, were added. These were Mt. Vernon, Metcalf, Riley, Ur- bita and Terrace districts. Since that time several new buildings have been added and the city now has ten school buildings, valued at $104.500. The census for 1903 shows 2,147 children, and forty teachers are employed. Mr. Francis W. Conrad is at the head of the city schools and the entire school system is well organized and San Bernardino may well be proud of her school facilities and the reputation she has gained as being thorough and up-to-date in educational matters.
Although the San Bernardino High School was not regularly organized at this time, Mr. N. A. Richardson began preparing a class for High School work as soon as he took charge of the schools in 1884. In 1885 this class
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
began regular High School work and in 1889, the first High School class in this city graduated.
The school was not regularly organized under the state law until April, 1891. The. same year the city voted $60,000 bonds for a High School build- ing, and in 1892 one of the finest buildings in Southern California was com- pleted at a cost of $75,000. In 1893, the school was regularly accredited by the State University, and it has always been noted for its effective work. The attendance for the year 1903-04 was 218.
The history of the San Bernardino schools would not be complete without some mention of the various private schools which have supplemented the work of the public schools. The first of these was the "San Bernardino Collegiate School," which was opened August 25, 1862, by Captain J. P. C. Allsop and con- tinued under his instruction until 1867. It was located on Fifth street between Grafton and Canal streets and many citizens still remember the tall, dignified and somewhat austere man who first initiated them into the mysteries of arithmetic.
In 1870 St. Catherine's Academy was estab- lished by the Catholic sisters. Soon after wards a brick building which was then con- N. A. RICHARDSON sidered "elegant and commodious" was erected for the use of the school. This has been enlarged and rebuilt and the school now has a well arranged building with beautiful grounds and is one of the oldest institutions of the city.
In 1873 Professor C. R. Paine opened "Paine's Academy and Business Institute," which gave San Bernardino pupils their first opportunity to acquire a business education. It was located in an adobe building opposite Jacob's store and was a successful school for several years. In 1883 Pro- fessor D. B. Sturges, who had been County Superintendent in 1881. estab- lished Sturges Academy, or the "San Bernardino Academy and Business College," a school which offered courses in commercial, normal and literary studies, and which aimed to prepare its students for business or for college. A brick building was especially constructed for this school, which was for years one of the best known institutions in Southern California.
Many will recall the private schools of Mrs. Nisbet, Miss Bennett and Mrs. Hicks, all of which did good service in supplementing the public schools and affording advantages which allowed children to be educated, for almost any sphere, at home.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Principals of San Bernardino City Schools.
1853 William Stout
1876-7-8 Charles R. Paine
1854 Q. S. Sparks
1879 Mary A. Bennett
1856 J. B. Norris
1880 C. R. Paine
1857 A. A. St. Clair
1881-2 H. C. Brooke
1858 Ellison Robbins
1883
Dr. T. H. Rose
1859-60 William R. Wozencraft
1884
J. N. Flint
1861-2 D. W. Davis
1884-90
N. A. Richardson
1863
W. S. Clark
1891-2
Alexis E. Frye
1864 J. H. Skidmore
1893-4
T. H. Kirk
1865 Harvey Green
1895-6
W. S. Thomas
1866-7-8 W. R. Wozencraft
1896-99
N. A. Richardson
1869-71 Henry C. Brooke
1900-OI H. L. Lunt
1872 John Fox
1902-03
Lulu Claire Bahr
1873 John Brown, Jr.
1874-5 H. Goodcell, Jr.
1903-
F. W. Conrad
PUBLIC LIBRARY.
During the seventies a Young Men's Literary Society flourished in San Bernardino. Regular meetings were held and debates and exercises were participated in by the members, many of whom became later prominent citi- zens of the town. H. Goodcell, Jr., John Brown, Wm. J. Curtis and many other familiar names were among the speakers of this society. It seems to have been the only provision for literary culture until the organization of the San Bernardino Library Association in 1881. Five directors were then chosen, of whom John Isaacs was president, Henry Goodcell, Jr., secretary and librarian, and Lewis Jacobs, treasurer. Each member was required to pay an admission fee of three dollars and quarterly dues of fifty cents, which entitled them to the free use of the library, taking out one book at a time for not longer than two weeks. Outsiders could procure books by deposit- ing the price of the book and paying a small fee. The membership soon reached about one hundred, and five hundred volumes, mostly standard works, were secured. One hundred dollars of the money used for the pur- chase of the books was the result of a play, "Waiting for the Verdict," ren- dered by a number of ladies and gentlemen for the benefit of the library fund. After three or four years, interest in the library seems to have lan- guished and arrangements were made for placing the books, which, accord- ing to the constitution of the association, must remain intact until the forma- tion of a public library in the city, when they were to be turned over to such library, and in 1885 the books were placed in the reading room of the Y. M. C. A. and remained there for several years. When the Y. M. C. A. Associa-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
tion ceased to exist the books were turned over to John Isaacs, who retained them until they were placed in the public library.
In 1891 a movement to secure a circulating library was set on foot, with Messrs. C. C. Haskell, F. W. Richardson, J. W. Stephenson and others as leading spirits. A paper was circulated asking for subscriptions, it being stipulated that these should not take effect until at least $1500 was subscribed. About $1200 was subscribed, but it was found impossible to secure the bal- ance of the desired amount. Mr. J. W. Stephenson then suggested that a Free Public Library be organized under the state law authorizing cities to levy a tax for this purpose. The city trustees at first declined to consider the matter, but upon presentation of a petition signed by a large number of the heaviest taxpayers in the community, the necessary action was taken and a free city library was established and opened to the public in January, 1892, with Miss Ella Lawson as librarian. The books collected by the old library association were turned over to this library, which was established in the residence of I. R. Brunn on Fourth street.
The first library board was appointed November 3, 1891, and consisted of J. W. Stephenson (chairman), C. C. Haskell, Mrs. Henry Goodcell, H. L. Drew and John Andreson.
During 1901 it was suggested that application be made to Mr. Andrew Carnegie for assistance in building a suitable library in San Bernardino. Judge Gregg and others corresponded with Mr. Carnegie, and as a result of this correspondence the Board of City Trustees, in January, 1902, made formal application for the funds. Mr. Carnegie accepted the application, and in July a certified check for $20,000 was placed to the credit of the Board of Library Trustees.
September 22, 1902, the Library Trustees called for competitive plans, which were opened November 25 and placed on file, the people of the city being invited to vote as to choice. Plans were adopted and January 28, 1903 the contract for the building was let for $19,266. Various additions to the original plans have been made, lots have been purchased, and the library, with heating apparatus and furnishings, represents an outlay of at least $34,000, aside from the value of the books. It is a one-story building with basement and contains five rooms-general reading room and stack room, librarian's room, children's reading room, work room and directors' room. A museum will be arranged in the basement.
The city owned the lot on the corner of D and Fourth streets; the ad- joining lot was purchased by subscription, and the Library Trustees pur- chased a corner to straighten the lines of the property. The new building was completed and opened to the public with appropriate ceremonies on August 10, 1904.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
NEWSPAPERS.
The first paper ever published in San Bernardino county was the San Bernardino Herald, which made its appearance June 16, 1860. It was man- aged by J. Judson Ames, an old newspaper man who is said to have started the first newspaper in San Diego and removed the plant to this city. He evidently did not make a fortune from his new venture, and in January, 1861, J. S. Waite assumed the paper. E. A. Sherman next tried his hand at pub- lishing it and re-christened it the San Bernardino Patriot, but in 1862 it died, leaving the city and county with no local paper, so far as the records show, until H. Hamilton put forth the first issue of the Guardian, February 16, 1867. This paper, too, led a precarious existence. In 1868, F. J. C. Marget- son and Sidney P. Waite were the team in management. In 1869 E. A. Nisbet became a part owner. At different times during his incumbency S. P. Waite, E. G. Harper and Joseph Brown were partners in the publication. October 31, 1874. the paper was sold to Arthur Kearney, who changed it to a daily publication January 1, 1875, the first daily. But the hard times of 1876 proved too much for it and the Guardian passed out of existence. Mr. Kearney, who was a well-known character in this city for many years, later became the editor of the San Bernardino Courier, which made its debut Octo- ber 10, 1886. It was owned by the San Bernardino Publishing Co., made up of leading citizens of the place, and was Democratic in politics. In 1892 J. H. Lightfoot was editor of the sheet.
The Gazette.
In 1887 The Gazette, an evening paper, was launched in San Bernardino, with Messrs. Nash, Buck and Jones as progenitors. At this time this city was rated as the best newspaper town on earth by the editor of the Times, who says: "San Bernardino has occasion to be proud of her enterprise in 'supporting' four daily papers. We have in our town some 4000 population, which would give one paper per thousand inhabitants. In the same propor- tion Los Angeles should have fifty dailies, San Francisco 300, New York 1300, and London 5000. Now, as none of these cities can boast the same proportion, it is safe to assume that San Bernardino ranks first in the world as a newspaper town." The papers were the Times, Index, Courier and Gazette.
The Free Press.
January 1. 1896, the Free Press was launched as a weekly paper, with Henry Clay Warner, as owner and editor. The following year it was made a daily, being a five-column folio, issued in the evening. It is Demo-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
cratic in national politics, but independent locally. Mr. Warner has contin- ued as editor up to the present time.
Various papers have run a brief career at some time in the history of the town and left not a ripple behind. But on the whole San Bernardino has proved herself a good newspaper town and has supported a fair quota of papers. As the county seat, her papers have always had a large circulation for their weekly editions outside of the city, which has been of great assist- ance in keeping up their patronage.
The Sun.
The Courier was succeeded by the Daily Sun, which dawned on Sep- tember 1, 1894, with A. W. Selkirk and N. J. Levison as sponsors. Selkirk retained his interest until April, 1896, when he sold out to a company at the head of which was E. N. Buck. August 1, 1896, R. C. Harbison, with R. E. Newton, assumed the responsibility of the paper, and in 1897 Harbison became the sole owner and continues so. The paper was then a seven-column quarto, with no Associated Press news. In 1898 Mr. Harbison installed a linotype machine and in- creased his plant largely, and in 1902 added another linotype. In 1903 the paper was elected a member of the Associated Press. In 1900 a ntw brick building was erected for the Sun, and in 1903 it was necessary to enlarge the structure. The Sun is an independent Republican jour- nal, wide awake and up to date. It has issued several elaborate extra editions which have given valuable information concerning San Bernardino R. C. HARBISON Valley and Southern California, as souvenirs of the street fairs which have been held in San Bernardino.
Robert C. Harbison is now proprietor and editor of the Sun. He has enlarged the paper and has greatly increased the plant, putting in improved machinery, and has one of the most complete printing offices in the county.
Times-Index.
In 1873 Will D. Gould began the publication of the Argus, a bright, well printed sheet of the old "blanket" style, which quite eclipsed the Guardian in size, if in nothing else. This sheet had a brief career and passed into the realms of defunct newspapers. In the fall of 1878 W. R. . Porter and F. F. Hopkins purchased the material of the Argus and began the publication of the San Bernardino Valley Index. In 1880 Warren Wilson, now proprietor of the Los Angeles Journal, purchased an interest in the publication. In
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
1881 he became sole owner and changed the paper to a daily. In 1888 E. W. Holmes, now of Riverside, became editor of the Index, and in 1889 it was merged with the San Bernardino Times and became the Times-Index.
In March, 1874, a small sheet known as the Advertiser and supported entirely by its advertising patronage, was issued by John Isaacs and F. T. Perris, being printed on a press brought from Salt Lake by Mr. Isaacs. Sep- tember 1, 1875, this paper was changed to the San Bernardino Times, daily and weekly, with John Isaacs as editor and proprietor. From this time until 1886, when the paper was leased to J. A. Studebacker, Mr. Isaacs ably and fearlessly conducted the Times and made it what he claimed for it, "a local newspaper devoted wholly to the interests of the county in which it is published." He established a solid reputation for the paper and always stood squarely for the interests of the people. In 1887 George F. Weeks was editor of the Times, and in 1888 L. M. Holt was in the editorial chair. In 1889 it became the "Times-Index," which is today the oldest paper in the county. Mr. Holt was succeeded by C. C. Haskell, who was followed by Col. W. L. Vestal and J. A. Whitmore, with F. W. Richardson as business manager. In 1900 it was owned and conducted by C. E. Dunscomb.
The Evening Transcript made its first issue May 6, 1898, a six-column folio, edited by H. B. Martin and owned by Mr. Martin and his H. B. MARTIN sons. Ernest Martin acted as city editor, Miss Winifred Martin was reporter, and Edwin G. Martin had charge of the mechanical department.
Editor Martin was an able and forceful writer, and an Andrew Jackson Democrat of pronounced but conservative type. He made the Transcript the representative of the Democratic party throughout Southern California.
In 1902 the Transcript was sold to Franklin Holbrook, who incorporated the Transcript Company with $25,000 capital; Horace Holbrook became editor of the Transcript. January 1, 1903, the Transcript Co. bought out C. E. Dunscomb, who owned the Times-Index, and the enterprises were merged under the name of the older paper-the Times-Index. April II, 1004, the Holbrook interests were purchased by L. S. Scott. The Times- Index Co. is now under the management of the following officers: L. S. Scott. president ; Ernest Martin, vice-president ; H. R. Scott, secretary and treasurer. Under this administration the paper, which was Democratic under Mr. Holbrook's regime, has been again made Republican. It is now in its forty-first year.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
CHURCHES.
St. Paul's Methodist Church South of San Bernardino is the pioneer church in the county, after the Catholic, as this denomination began to hold services in 1858 under the nministry of the Rev. Mr. Burns. He was followed by Rev. Mr. Taylor and Rev. Stewart. These men preached in the adobe school houses.
The church was regularly organized in 1863 and in 1865 purchased a lot and put up a building in 1866. This church was remodeled and refurnished under the minis- try of Father Glover, father of County Supervisor J. B. Glover, to whom far more ST PAUL'S METHODIST CHURCH SOUTH due the fervor and strength of the little church. than to any other man is For several years the Baptists worshipped in the M. E. church and some of the early members of the church were Baptists.
During the ministry of the Rev. J. B. John the old church was sold to the Christian church and the present edifice constructed. This has a seating capacity of about 400 and is centrally located. The last dollar of debt was paid off in 1903. The present membership is over 200.
Catholic Church. The first Catholic church in San Bernardino County was the "Little Church of Agua Mansa," built in the fifties. Early in the sixties the Catholics secured a half block of land in San Bernardino city and put up a small chapel. This was burned about 1867 and was replaced by another chapel the same year while Father Peter Birmingham was in charge of the church.
In 1870-71 a new brick church was built at a cost of $9,000. This was at the time of its dedication, June 25. 1871, one of the finest church buildings in the state. The means for its erection were furnished by Mrs. Quinn, widow of Aeneas Quinn, one of the pioneer merchants of San Bernardino. Father Donahue was in charge of the church at this period.
This church has recently been enlarged, repaired and re-dedicated. It has a large membership and is active in all good works. Adjoining the
FIRST M. E. CHURCH
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
church on the west is the rectory,and on the east stands the orphanage and academy under the charge of the Sisters of the Immaculate Heart. This academy was established in the sixties and has continued to be a strong factor in the church life since that time.
First Methodist Church. San Bernardino Mission Charge was formed at the annual conference of 1867 and the Rev. L. M. Leihy was appointed preacher for the charge. The same year he succeeded in organizing a church with the following charter members: Stephen Bookout, Martin Logsden, Mary Logsden, P. A. Logsden, John S. Leihy, Ruth Leihy, Rachel Pike, Wm. Rader, Sarah J. Sawyer and Clarissa A. Smith. At the first quarterly con- ference thereafter Rev. Adam Bland was made the presiding pastor. The next year Dr. J. C. Peacock presented the church with a lot and a small build- ing which had been erected for the "Old Fire Company," located on the west side of E street between Second and Third streets. This he fitted up as a chapel at his own expense. During 1870 the church was reorganized by the Rev. A. L. S. Bateman and the following were added to the original charter members: J. Y. Anderson, Dr. J. C. Peacock, Elizabeth Peacock, John H. Pettit. B. Valentine, Jane Pettit.
In 1876 Dr. Peacock and his wife deeded the lot and building in use to the church. Among the early pastors who guided the struggling little con- gregation were Rev. Will A. Knighten, A. L. Bateman, W. S. Corwin, G. S. Bovard, J. M. Campbell. About 1887 the church purchased the lot on which the present building stands and built a church which then cost some $30,- 000. It was at the time the most complete and elegant church building in the county. Later the parsonage was added to the church property. A fine pipe organ has also been added and the society has paid off all debts, and is now in a most prosperous condition.
History of the First Congregational Church.
By Mrs. E. P. R. Crafts.
The first work of the Protestant church in San Bernardino was begun by Miss Ellen Pratt, who gathered a few children into a Sunday school in a private house. In 1858 Ellison Robbins and his wife opened a union Sun- day school in the adobe school house on Fourth street. This school was made up of representatives from Protestant, Catholic, Mormon and Spiritual- ist families, and in 1864 had increased to 150 pupils, with twelve teachers.
In 1864-5 the Rev. Joseph Skidmore, the public school teacher, occa- sionally preached in the school house. In 1865 M. H. Crafts induced the Congregational Missionary Society to send a minister to San Bernardino. and the Rev. J. A. Johnson, who was appointed, held services in the old Court House until December, 1866. After several conferences and various delays,
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