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 65
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We had no oil, nor corn, nor wine.
San Bernardino leads the van With fruits delicious and we can But tell them what our hearts now feel, And wish them joy, long life and weal .- Cho.
The ladies and the children sweet, Who gladden us with smiles, and greet The veterans of '49. For them we ask for bliss divine .- Cho.
God bless the ties that henceforth bind Old Argonauts, and may we find This happy hour, in all our years, The pleasantest for Pioneers .- Cho.
So let us all, while gathered here Each Saturday throughout the year, In memory our friends enshrine, Who gave us corn, and oil, and wine .- Cho.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
The San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers was organized Jan. 21, 1888, at the Court House in San Bernardino, pursuant to a call published in the newspapers. The constitution of the society declares that the objects to be attained are :
First-To cultivate the social virtues of the members and to unite them by the bonds of friendship.
Second-To create a fund for benevolent purposes in behalf of its mem- bers.
Third-To collect and preserve information and facts connected with the early settlement of California, and especially of the county of San Ber- nardino, and with the history thereof from the time of settlement until its organization as a county and subsequent thereto.
Fourth-To form libraries and cabinets, and by all other appropriate means to advance the interests and increase the prosperity of the society.
Fifth-To create a fund for the purchase of a suitable lot and the build- ing thereon of a memorial hall to perpetuate the memory of the Pioneers whose sagacity, energy and enterprise induced them to settle in this country and to become the founders of a new state.
The following persons only are entitled to membership:
All persons who were citizens of the United States, or capable of be- coming citizens thereof, and who were residents of California prior to the 3Ist day of December, 1850 (since changed to 1860), and those who were residents of the county of San Bernardino at the time of its organization, April 26, 1853, and the male descendants of such persons.
At the first election the following officers of the society were elected : George Lord, president ; John Brown, Sr., David Seely, James W. Waters. William F. Holcomb and N. P. Earp, vice-presidents ; Henry M. Willis, cor- responding secretary; John Brown, Jr., secretary ; B. B. Harris, treasurer ; N. G. Gill, marshal.
The new Society at once met with hearty support, most of the citizens of San Bernardino who were eligible, becoming members. Thus it was made up of men who had borne their share in the stirring events of early California history and who had been largely instrumental in building up the city and county of San Bernardino. These men proved themselves not only Pioneers of the Past, but still Pioneers-of Progress. The Pioneer Society took an active part in all public affairs and often led the citizens along the iine of advance.
They energetically discussed all public questions and aided by influence and by hard work in securing many public improvements. Among the im- provements strongly advocated by the society was a free county road up the mountains-a long-felt need which, after years of agitation, is now in a way to be supplied. They were among the first to move in regard to a new court
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
house and jail; they joined with the Native Sons in moving for a public holiday on September 9th-Admission Day, and Governor Waterman, a member of the society, created this holiday. It was largely due to the efforts of the Pioneer Society that the pavilion was erected in the public park : they secured a change in the laws regarding the care and burial of the indigent poor : they aided in the preservation of the old cemetery ; they took a leading part in the steps that preserved Fort Sutter to the state as a historical relic.
From the organization of the society it took a very active part in all patriotic celebrations-Fourth of July, Admission Day, Memorial Day, the anniversary of Washington's Inaugural the fiftieth anniversary of the discov- ery of gold and of county organization, and many other occasions have been appropriately celebrated through the efforts of the Pioneer Society. The social life of the society has always been one of its most noteworthy features. At an early day it was decided to admit the wives and daughters of Pioneers. and since that time "Ladies' Day" has been an added feature of enjoyment and sociability. The spirit of good feeling, active sympathy and wide char- ity which has bound the members together has been most remarkable. The members of the Pioneer Society have been brothers in the highest sense of the word. Their regular weekly meetings, which have been maintained year after year, the happy observance of birthdays, wedding anniversaries, the annual picnics and camping parties, have all brightened and sustained the last days of many a patriarch. But they shared their sorrows as well as their joys: they have always been most faithful in their visitations to the sick and ready with practical aid for all members in need. The active interest and regular visitation of members in the county hospital has been the one bright spot in many a sad and broken life, and many an old pioneer otherwise friendless and forgotten has received a fitting burial at the hands of the Pio- eer Society. This organization deserves the highest credit for its faithful ministrations to the old pioneers who have fallen by the wayside.
In 1890 the Society entertained with elaborate ceremonies the New Eng- land Society of California Pioneers. The tragic death of one of their mem- bers, General Samuel Chapin, just after finishing an eloquent address at the opera house, will be remembered as one of the most dramatic incidents in local history, and it seemed to bind the two societies in a peculiarly strong fraternal feeling which has ever since remained unbroken.
Since the organization of the Society, some two hundred members have been enrolled. Many of the older members have already passed into the great beyond, and it is only a brief time now when the "old boys" will become a memory. In later years many sons of Pioneers have been received into the society, but they cannot fill the blank left by such men as George Lord John Brown, Sr., David Seeley, B. B. Harris and many another who has dropped out of the ranks.
JOHN BROWN, Jr.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
Three honorary members have been elected to the society-John C. Fre- mont, the Pathfinder ; Alexander Godey, who led Fremont through the paths, and Major Horace C. Bell, of Los Angeles.
The venerable George Lord served as president from the date of organ- ization until, at his own urgent request, he resigned in 1896, being then 96 years of age. Upon his withdrawal from active service, the office of Honor- ary Past President was created by the society and Mr. Lord held this office until his death. To the wise and kindly spirit of this grand old man, much of the good fellowship and success of the Pioneer Society must be attributed.
N. P. Earp, John Brown, Sr., R. T. Roberds. De La M. Woodward and C. L. Thomas have since filled the office, and Sheldon Stoddard is the incum- bent.
John Brown, Jr., has acted continuously since the organization came into existence, as secretary, and has kept a faithful record of all meetings. members and matters of interest connected with the society, and also of many matters of historical interest concerning San Bernardino. The society and the citizens of the county certainly owe Mr. Brown much for the preserva- tion of a large amount of material which is of increasing value to all who care for the things and the data of the past.
When the project and outline of the Annals of San Bernardino County was presented to the society, they passed a resolution most heartily endorsing the work. They have been of the greatest assistance to the editors, freely giving the use of their valuable archives and aiding in every way possible in the collection of material. The facts and reminiscences furnished by mem- bers of the Pioneer Society have been a most important factor in the comple- tion of the history of San Bernardino county.
CALVIN L. THOMAS
649
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
BIOGRAPHICAL.
MEMBERS OF SAN BERNARDINO SOCIETY OF CALIFORNIA PIONEERS.
GEORGE LORD, or "Uncle George Lord," as he was familiarly known in San Ber- nardino for many years before his death, was one of the best known and best beloved of the band of early pioneers, who were so closely associated in the San Bernardino So- ciety of California Pioneers. He served as President of the society from its organization in 1888 until his failing health in 1896 caused him to insist upon the acceptance of his resignation. The society then created the office of Honorary Past President, since they could not permit his relation to the society he had so loved and so faithfully served, to cease.
Born in New York City in 1800, this venerable man approached very closely the century mark, being 97 years, 10 months and 11 days old when he died, February 8, 1898. When a young man he left New York and went to Kentucky. Here in 1833 he became a member of the Odd Fellows, and he was, at his death, one of the oldest mem- bers of that organization in the United States. He joined the Masons in 1828 and was one of the oldest members of that society also. After an active life in a number of the Mississippi states. in 1849 he came to California and went to the gold fields. He met with success here and, returning to Iowa, was married to Miss Arabella Singleton. In 1851, he again crossed the plains and arrived in San Bernardino county in 1852, where he resided until his death. He was long engaged in ranching and was the first to produce marketable raisins, made from muscat grapes. He sent a box of these to the fair in Los Angeles in 1867 and received a prize for them.
Personally, George Lord was "a man without a stain," genial, kind-hearted, upright ; he filled many positions of trust and received many honors. As the President of the Pioneer Society, he guided it .with a steady and kindly hand, and retired from it with the sincere love and veneration of his con rades.
JOHN BROWN, SR., was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, December 22, 1817, and when a hoy started west to realize the dreams and fancies of youth. He stayed a while in St. Louis, Missouri, then began rafting on the Mississipip river, then went to New Orleans. While on a voyage to Galveston he was shipwrecked, and returned to Ft. Leavenworth by the Red River route. He was at the battle of San Jacinto and saw Gen- eral Santa Ana when first taken prisoner. He remained two years at Ft. Leavenworth, then went to the Rocky mountains, and for fourteen years hunted and trapped from the head waters of the Columbia and Yellowstone rivers, along the mountain streams south as far as the Comanche country or Northern Texas with such mountaineers and trappers as James W. Waters, V. J. Herring, Kit Carson, Alexander Godey, Joseph Bridger, Bill Williams, the Bents, the Subletts and others of equal fame. He engaged sometimes as a free trapper, at other times with the Hudson Bay and other fur companies, hunting the grizzly, buffalo, elk, deer, antelope, mountain sheep, and trapping the cunning beaver among the Arapahoes, Cheyennes, Apaches, Utes, Cherokees, Sioux, Crows and other
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
tribes. He helped to build Fort Laramie, Fort Bent, Fort Bridger and several other forts. This period is hastened over, for the bear and Indian encounters and hair-breadth escapes of the above named hunters would fill a volume fully as interesting as "Kit Carson's Travels" or Washington Irving's "Captain Bonneville." Suffice it to say that such brave and intrepid hunters and adventurers as Mr. Brown and his companions piloted General Fremont across the Rocky mountains on his exploration of the American continent, and if General Fremont had adhered more closely to Mr. Brown's advice, he would not have lost so many men and animals that dreadful winter in the snow. Still, General Fremont has gone down in history as the great Pathfinder.
The gold fever reached the mountaineers in 1849. Messrs. Brown, Waters, Lupton and White "fitted out" and joined one of the immigrant trains bound for the land of gold. They spent the 4th of July, 1849, in Salt Lake City; and arrived at Sutter's Fort, September Ist, and began mining on the Calaveras river. In November, Mr. Brown moved to Monterey, and, with Waters and Godey, opened the St. Johns hotel and livery stable at San Juan Missoin. Mr. Brown was here elected Justice of the Peace for two terms. His health failing him, he was advised to go to the milder climate of Southern California. In April, 1852, he went to San Francisco, and there, with his family, boarded the schooner Lydia, Captain Haley commander, and after a week's voyage landed at San Pedro, where he engaged Sheldon Stoddard to haul him to San Bernardino, where he arrived and settled with his family in May, 1852.
In 1854, Mr. Brown moved with his family to Yucaipe, where he went into the stock business, but returned to San Bernardino in 1857, and lived there until his death.
In 1861, seeing the necessity of an outlet to Southern Utah and Arizona for the productions of San Bernardino, Mr. Brown, with Judge Henry M. Willis and George L. Tucker, procured a charter from the Legislature for a toll road through the Cajon Pass, which he kept open for eighteen years, thus contributing materially to the business of the city in which he lived. In 1862, he went to Fort Mojave and established a ferry across the Colorado river, thus enhancing the business of San Bernardino still more. He was a liberal contributor to the telegraph fund when assistance was required to connect this city with the outside world, and favored reasonable railroad encouragement to place San Bernardino on the transcontinental line. At his own expense he enclosed the public square, where the pavilion now stands, with a substantial fence, and in many ways by his public spirit contributed to the advancement and improvement of this city. In the winter of 1873-4 he delivered the United States mail to the miners in Bear and Holcomb valleys, where the snow was three and four feet deep, thus showing that he still retained that daring and intrepid disposition that he acquired in the Rocky mountains.
In the world of religions thought, Mr. Brown had a wonderful experience. Born near Plymouth Rock on the anniversary of the landing of the Pilgrim Fathers, he seems to have partaken of their religious freedom and liberality of thought, and his years among the grandeur of the Rocky mountains aided in developing an intense love for nature. the handiwork of the great Creator,-here, as a child of nature, among the fastnesses of the mountain forests, or among the cliffs and peaks, he saw the Great Ruler in the clouds, and heard Him in the winds. Without any education except that derived from the broad and liberal books of nature, he was the author of a book entitled "Medium of the Rockies," in which kindness, gentleness, unselfishness, charitableness and forgiveness are set forth, dedicated to "the cause that lacks assistance, the wrongs that need resistance, the future in the distance, and the good that he could do"-the character that he acquired and lived all his life.
As old age began creeping on and many of the old friends were passing away, and the activities of life had to be transferred to others, Mr. Brown joined President Lord, William Heap, R. T. Roberts, W. F. Holcomb, De La M. Woodward. Major B. B. Harris, David Seely, Sydney P. Waite, Marcus Katz, Lucas Hoagland, Henry M. Willis, his old Rocky mountain companion, James W. Waters, his son, John Brown, Jr., and others, and organized the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers, believing that many hours could still be pleasantly passed by those whose friendship had grown stronger as the years rolled by and thus live the sentiment of the poet-
"When but few years of life remain, 'Tis life renewed to laugh them o'er again."
Mr. Brown raised a large family; six daughters-Mrs. S. P. Waite. Mrs. Laura Wozencraft Thomas, Mrs. Louisa Waters, Mrs. Sylvia Davenport, Mrs. Mary Dueber, now deceased, and Mrs. Emma Rouse; and four sons-John, Joseph, James and Newton Brown.
Mr. Brown outlived all of his Rocky Mountain companions, and all of the com-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
missioners appointed to organize this county, and all of the first officers of San Bernar- dino county ; he remained alone to receive the tender greetings of his many friends who held him not only with high esteem and respect, but with love and veneration. He was greatly devoted to the Pioneer Society; its pleasant associations were near and dear to him. Although feeble with declining years, he appeared at the meeting of the society on Saturday, April 15, 1899, and discharged his duties as President, and on the following Thursday, April 20, 1899, at 7 o'clock p. m., at the home of his daughter Laura, his spirit departed to that new and higher sphere of existence he so fondly looked to while in earth life. A large concourse of friends attended the funeral of their old friend, from the Brown homestead, corner Sixth and D streets, the present residence of his son, John Brown, Jr. The funeral services were conducted by Mrs. J. A. Marchant of the First Spiritual Society of San Bernardino, and also by Rev. White of the Presbyterian church of Colton. An excellent choir under the direction of Mrs. H. M. Barton and Mrs. Lizzie Keller discoursed appropriate selections. The floral offerings were profuse ; one, emblematic of the Pioneers, being a tribute from the Pioneer Society.
According to directions from the deceased. frequently given by him to his children, the casket, and everything else necessary for interment, was like his character and be- lief-as white as the mountain snow. The honorary pallbearers were among his oldest friends then living-Sheldon Stoddard, W. F. Holcomb, R. T. Roberds, Lucas Hoag- land, J. A. Kelting and Lewis Jacobs; and the active pallbearers were J. W. Waters, Jr., George Miller, De La M. Woodward, Randolph Seely, H. M. Barton and Edward Daley, Jr.
WILLIAM F. HOLCOMB, of San Bernardino, was born in Tippecanoe county. Indiana, January 27, 1831. His family moved to Illinois when he was but a few months old and settled near Chicago, where they remained for eight years. About 1840 they removed to lowa and located in Van Buren county. Here in 1843, his father died. In 1845 his mother removed to what was then known as "The New Purchase," in Wapello county, and here the boy began to support his mother by clearing land, making rails, fencing, breaking land, etc. When the gold excitement spread through the country the young man determined to seek his fortune in California. He left Ottumwa, Iowa, ?? May, 1850, outfitted with a wagon, three yoke of oxen and provisions. At the Green river crossing on the "Sublett cut-off" he lost his wagon and entire outfit. He continued the journey on foot and met with great destitution before he reached "Hangtown," now Placerville, California, in August, "dead broke." He spent about a year in mining at various points and with varying success, and then went to Oregon and looked over the country. He returned to California and spent some years in mining in the northern part of the state. In 1860 he came south and discovered gold in Bear Valley and "Holcomb's" valley, as detailed in his "Reminiscences" in another portion of this volume. After sev- eral years of mining in San Bernardino county and in Arizona, he was, in 1867, nomi- nated county assessor, but was defeated. In 1871 he was elected to the office, however, and held the office until 1879. In 1882 he was elected county clerk, a position he held for two terms.
In 1860. Mr. Holcomb married Miss Stewart, daughter of John M. Stewart, of Bear Valley. They have had a family of five sons and two daughters.
JOHN BROWN, JR., eldest son of John Brown, Sr., the famous Rocky mountain explorer, hunter and trapper, was born in a log cabin situated on the banks of Greenhorn creek, in Huerfano county, Colorado, then a portion of the territory of New Mexico, on October 3, 1847.
When about a year old, he experienced an almost miraculous escape from the Apache Indians, and owes his life to the sublime courage of his devoted mother. This section of the Centennial State was at that time a wilderness, inhabited mainly by various savage tribes, and an abundance of far less dangerous "big game." Mr. Brown's father and his fellow mountaineers, having accumulated a large quantity of buffalo robes and beaver skins, concluded to send a pack-train to Taos, New Mexico, their trading post at that time, from whence, after selling their peltries, they would return with provisions, Mrs. Brown with her child accompanied this expedition. and on the way the travelers were attacked by a band of Apache Indians, who captured the whole pack-train and killed some of its guardians. While fleeing on horseback from the painted fiends, some of the men shouted to Mrs. Brown, "Throw that child away, or the Indians will get you." but the warm-hearted mother indignantly exclaimed that when her child was thrown away she would go also. Fortunately, the pursued cavalcade soon reached a wide and deep ravine,
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
where they were safe from the arrows and bullets of the Indians, who did not approach further. The little child was still in the arms of his mother, who had risked her life to save her infant, thus adding to history another remarkable proof of the fathomless depth of a mother's love.
To show the dangers that the frontiersman underwent in this wild and unexplored country, Mr. Brown, when endeavoring to farm on the banks of the stream, often dug a rifle pit in the middle of his corn or wheat field, where he could escape and defend him- self from assaults of treacherous savages. He has often held his Kentucky rifle in one hand and a hoe or shovel in the other while at work.
Early in 1849, the news of the discovery of gold in California reached the mountain- eers, so Mr. Brown, James W. Waters, V. J. Herring, Alexander Godey and others made arrangements to cross the plains to the new El Dorado. July 4. 1849, was spent in Salt Lake City, and Sutter's Fort, California, was reached on September ist, Mr. Brown bring- ing his family with him. In 1852 the family removed to San Bernardino. John was but five years old at this time, yet remembers well the old fort, a balloon ascension, and other incidents therein. In 1854, the family moved to Yucaipe Valley, a few miles east of town, where Mr. Brown successfully engaged for three years in farming and stock raising. Returning to San Bernardino in 1857, they took up their residence at the old homestead, Sixth and D streets, where our subject grew to vigorous manhood, attending the public schools on Fourth street and Mt. Vernon avenue, and finally graduating from St. Vin- cent's College, Los Angeles, and Santa Clara College, in the north.
He followed the vocation of a school teacher for a number of years, served one term as county superintendent of schools, and presided over the board of education, in all of these honorable positions acquitting himself to the general satisfaction. He studied law under Judge H. C. Rolfe, and was admitted to practice in the Supreme Court of the state and federal courts. It can truly be said of him that his kindly disposition has ever led him to espouse the cause of the poor and oppressed, and to advise the settlement of all disputes, if possible, outside the court room. He is pre-eminently the friend of the aged. and is beloved by the children, who greatly delight in flocking around their chief patron- genial "Uncle John." Even the hapless, expatriated red man man finds in him a tireless and faithful champion, for, besides many preceding instances, when in May, 1903, the Warner's Ranch Indians were ordered to leave the homes of their "altars and their sires," and were hourly becoming more desperate at the threats of the government officers and the despicable conduct of supposed friends, it was he alone who responded to their almost frantic call for counsel and supplemented the excellent tact of Special Inspector Jenkins in securing a peaceful exodus to Pala reservation. Mr. Brown and his Washington friend accompanied the sorrowful procession of victims of heartless greed to their new home, which was reached without the loss of a single life, our subject aiding the deserving Indains to comfortably settle down at Pala.
On July 4, 1876, Mr. Brown was married to Miss Mattie Ellen Hinman. Nellie Hinman, their only child, was born in San Bernardino on June. 1, 1877, and on March 2. 1904, married Mr. Charles H. Wiggett, at present (October, 1904) a resident of Bellemont, Arizona.
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