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 66
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Mr. Brown has always been known as an ardent patriot; the American flag floats over his home on national holidays, and ever waves ahove his mountain encampment. With that veteran school teacher, Mr. Henry C. Brooke, he raised the "Star Spangled Banner" to its place at many of the school houses in the county, desiring to instill pa- triotism into the minds of the rising generation. He is indebted to his father for starting him aright in his political career. Although but 13 years of age, he, with his brothers Joseph and James, hanled wood to build bonfires which might arouse and enlighten the people to support Abraham Lincoln for the presidential office. This was in 1860, and in 1864 the same activity was manifested by the Brown family in defense of the Union. In 1868, Mr. Brown cast his maiden vote for the candidate of the Republican party for president-General U. S. Grant-and has ever since supported the nominees of that organ- ization, believing that by so doing he was contributing as a humble citizen toward the highest welfare of the happily reunited American people.
Mr. Brown is a great lover of the mountains, a trait inherited from his parents. The hunting-grounds of the San Bernardino range, eastward from Old Baldy-Job's Peak, Sawpit Canyon, Strawberry Peak, Little Bear Valley. Little Green Valley, Big Bear Valley, Sugar Loaf, Mt. San Bernardino, and Grayback-are all familiar to him and his associate nimrods, Bill Holcomb, Joe Brown. B. B. Harris, Syd. Waite, George Miller. Taney Woodward, Wm. Stephen, E. A. Nisbet, Richard Weir, Bart Smithson, Dave Wixom and others with whom he has undertaken the most enjoyed trips of his life.
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In the summer of 1882, he visited the Atlantic and Middle States, accompanied by Mrs. Brown and their little daughter Nellie-Fanueil Hall, Bunker Hill and Monument, Plymouth Rock, Mt. Vernon and Washington's Monument, Independence Hall, Niagara Falls and the large cities being the chief objects of interest during their protracted but very pleasant itinerary.
On January 21, 1888, Mr. Brown was present at the court house with his father and Messrs. J. W. Waters, George Lord, S. P. Waite, G. W. Snttenfield, H. M. Willis, N. G. Gill, W. F. Holcomb, R. T Roberts and De La M. Woodward, and aided in organizing the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers, which honorable body then elected our subject as secretary. This responsible position has been filled by him ever since-a period of 16 years-for his pioneer sisters and brothers have annually expressed their con- fidence and gratitude by unanimously voting that their beloved "Uncle Jolin" continue to serve them as secretary and sole guardian of the records and museum of the society. Nor have they failed in otherwise recognizing his valuable services, as especially evidenced by the substantial tokens of high esteem presented to him on his natal anniversaries.
Mr. Brown is to be scen at his post, in Native Sons' Hall, every Saturday afternoon, and, although solicitons about the comfort and entertainment of the children who attend the pioneer meetings, most particularly pays attention to the social needs of the venerable great-grandmothers and great-grandfathers who dignify the weekly Argonaut assemblage, holding that it is the privilege of the Pioneer Society to make their declining years happy All of these associations have developed in Mr. Brown a disposition to look upon the bright side of life, and "scatter seeds of kindness" among his innumerable acquaintances, a virtue which, like mercy, blesses both giver and receiver, and should he cultivated more and more by erring humanity. With the growth of philanthropy, of real fraternity, the noxious weeds of social and economic discordance would wane and wither to ultimate extinction, and Mr. Brown rejoices that the true Christian spirit is becoming stronger and stronger throughout the world, in obedience to the Divine message, "Peace on earth, good will to men.
R. THOMAS ROBERDS was born in Monroe county, Mississippi, April 9, 1837, the son of John and Martha T. Roberds, the one a native of Alabama and the other of Georgia. In 1846 the family started with ox teams and drove to the northwest through Missouri, and after many adventures with Indians, swollen streams, etc., passed the winter at Fort Pueblo, on the Arkansas river. The summer of 1847 they located on bottom land near Fort Pueblo and raised a crop. In the fall of 184; they moved to a fort called Hardscrabble and wintered in this vicinity, living largely upon the game which abounded in the country. In the spring of 1848 a party of twelve wagons with 200 head of stock started westward and reached Salt Lake in the fall. Here they built log cabins and passed the winter. In the spring Mr. Roberds, Sr., finding himself unable to properly outfit for the journey to California, put in a crop and raised enough so that in the spring of 1850 he was ready to proceed with his journey. In July, 1850, the family arrived at Hangtown, California, after four years of severe "pioneering." Mr. Roberds, with his father and uncle, found a spring near this place which they dug out and named "Diamond Spring" because of the sparkling white crystal by which it was surrounded. After several years spent in mining in various places in the northern part of the state, the family came to Southern California in 1857 and located near San Bernardino, where they have ever since resided. Here the father, John Roberds, died in 1878. Mr. Roberds has a fine ranch on Ninth street which has been his home for many years.
January 23, 1859, Mr. Roberds married Miss Harriet Bemis of San Bernardino. They have had a family of eight sons and four daughters. The children are William, Rosel, Nellie, who married J. W. Smith ; John T., Frances G., Mrs. Parley King, Albert F .. George R., Alvin N., Walter, Birdie M. and Eli. MIr. Roberds has served as President of the San Bernardino Society of Pioneers.
SHELDON STODDARD, of San Bernardino, was born near Toronto, Canada, February 8, 1830, the son of Nathaniel and Jane Mac Manigal Stoddard. His father was a carpenter by trade and a native of Massachusetts; the mother was born in Glasgow, Scot- land. The father died at Toronto, and the mother came to the United States about 1838 witht her four sons, and after a year in Ohio located at Warsaw, Illinois. She came to Salt Lake and to San Bernardino with the colonists of 1851, returning to Utah about 1875. Of the sons. Arvin and Albert came to California in 1849. They now live in Utah. Rufus died in Utah in 1904. Sheldon Stoddard started for California in 1848, coming via Council Bluffs and the North Platte to Salt Lake. Here a party of about thirty men, under the
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
guidance of Captain Flake, started for the placer diggings in 1849. Among the members of this party were Chas. C. Rich, George Q. Cannon, William Lay and Sheldon Stoddard. They rode pack animals and followed a trail as far as Mountain Meadows, expecting to take a northern route via Walker's Lake to the placer diggings. They traveled westward from Mountain Meadows for eightcen days without guides, compass or maps. They found no water and were saved from perishing by light showers when they caught water in their rubber blankets and drank it with a teaspoon. At last they turned eastward and struck the head of the Muddy river, which they followed down until they found a trail and soon afterward came up to Captain Hunt in camp with the seven wagons that had remained with him when the rest of his party had taken the route that led them into Death Valley. By the southern route they reached Chino Rancho, where they remained for a month to recruit their stock and were hospitably treated by Col. Williams.
After reaching the Mariposa mines the company disbanded, and Mr. Stoddard estab-
SHELDON STODDARD
MRS. SHELDON STODDARD
lished a trading post in the Carson Valley to supply incoming emigrants. At that time flour and bacon were sold for $I per pound and other things in proportion. Finally he and his party bought about 60 horses and 20 head of mules and returned with these to Salt Lake. In March, 1851, Mr. Stoddard married Miss Jane, the second daughter of Captain Hunt, and in April they started for California with the San Bernardino colonists. At Bitter Springs, Lyman, Rich, Hunt, Hopkins and Rollins started on ahead of the company on horseback, and Stoddard accompanied them with a mule team. They spent about twenty days in prospecting the country. In September Mr. Stoddard built the first log cabin within the town plat on what is now the Carter place, on First street west of I street.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
This cabin was later taken down and built into the west barricade of the fort. In 1853 he built an adobe house on the northwest corner of D and Fourth streets, now occupied by the Lloyd Block, the present postoffice. This house stood until about 1870. In 1857 Mr. Stoddard removed to a ranch on Warm Creek. For many years he was engaged in carry- ing mail and freighting between San Bernardino and Salt Lake and other points. He crossed the desert twenty-four times with mail to Salt Lake and return. His last trip, in 1858, was an adventurous one. He, with Dan Taft and Lonis Newell, started for Salt Lake with two wagons, four mules on each, carrying mail and freight. At Cottonwood Springs, 18 miles this side of Las Vegas, then a Mormon fort, they encountered an Indian and squaw at the point where they camped for dinner. They gave the Indians some bacon and biscuit and finally presented the buck with a cigar. They went on, leaving the Pintes in camp. The Indian, after smoking the cigar, was taken violently sick. The squaw, believing that the white men had intentionally poisoned her lord, started at once for a camp of about fifty Indians beyond Las Vegas. This party made a raid on the Mormon camp and told their story to the four men who were in the fort. The men with difficulty per- suaded them to wait until the mail party arrived and they could find out whether the Indian was dead. When the San Bernardino party reached the fort they found a threatening out- look, but the Indians finally agreed to take a white man with them and go back and find the sick Indian. They met him coming in, better but still squeamish, and the Indians were still not satisfied that he had not been poisoned. It was finally arranged that the mail car- riers were to give them six pairs of blankets and promise that if the Indian died they would give a horse. Then they were allowed to proceed, but they went on in much uneasiness, feeling that if the man should die it would furnish all the excuse the Indians wanted for an attack.
In 1865 Mr. Stoddard made the trip with a freight wagon to Nevada City, Montana, a distance of 1300 miles, the journey occupying six months. His last long freighting trip was to Pioche City, Nevada, in 1866. He continued to freight in Southern California' until 1882, when he entered the employ of the California Southern railway, taking charge of their teaming and quarry work. He remained with the railway company until 1899, when he retired from active life to enjoy the well-earned rest that is fitting for long and well spent years of labor. He has a comfortable old homestead, now a part of the city. His wife died December 26, 1899. Their children were: Mary, now the widow of N. Sleppy ; Eva; Mrs. Albert Rosseau, now deceased; Hattie; Mrs. S. P. Merritt, and Bell, deceased. In 1903 MIr. Stoddard was elected President of the Pioneer Society and he has always been one of its most active members.
DE LA MONTAIGNE WOODWARD was born in Monmouth county, N. J., No- vember 4, 1835. He was the son of James G. Woodward, a school teacher, native of New Jersey, and Mary A. De La Montaigne Woodward, a lady of French parentage. In 1850, the family removed from New Jersey to Utah, where the father was a leading men.ber in the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, and under the leadership of the Apostles Lyman and Rich, crossed the plains with the Mormon emigrants colonizing San Bernar- dino in 1851. Here he passed the remainder of his life and died.
De La Montaigne Woodward passed his youth in San Bernardino valley, pursuing the occupation of farming, hunting in the mountains, and later engaged in mining. He was a factor in many of the exciting events of early days in this town, and took an active part in the San Bernardino war, a detailed account of which may be found elsewhere in this work. Upon completion of the telegraphic system from San Bernardino to the outside world, Mr. Woodward, who had obtained a knowledge of telegraphy in San Francisco, was accorded the honor of sending the first message over the wires from this city.
Mr. Woodward married Miss Caroline Craw of San Bernardino. They have two daughters. Mr. Woodward has served as member of the board of education at various times, and was one of the organizers of the early school system. He was a member of and chosen president of the first city board of trustees under the first city charter. Mr. and Mrs. Woodward are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Mr. Woodward is a member of the San Bernardino County Society of Pioneers, and on Jan- uary 18, 1901, was elected president of that society.
JOHN BARTLEY SMITHSON is a native of Alabama, born at Parkerville, Marion county, October 6, 1841. He was the son of Allen F. Smithson, a native of Mississippi, a planter and slave owner before the war. His mother was Luticia Holliday Smithson, daughter of John Holliday, a wealthy cotton planter and slave owner of Parkerville. Allen F. Smithson became a convert to the Mormon faith, and, disposing of his property with
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the intention of settling in Salt Lake City, left Parkerville on the first day of March, 1846. The following year found them in Colorado, where they became acquainted with John Brown, Sr., James Waters, V. J. Herring and a portion of the party under Jefferson Hunt, who came into San Bernardino county June 24, 1851. Mrs. Smithson having died, the family at that time consisted of Mr. Allen F. Smithson, the father; John Bartley; Catherine, who had married Jack Crouch in Utah; James D .; Mary E., who became Mrs. Robert Smith. and Lehigh. Upon their arrival in San Bernardino they located on a piece of unsurveyed land near the present cemetery, and after the survey settled on land now at the corner of A and Seventh streets, in the city of San Bernardino. The family lived there until 1857, when they returned to Utah and located at Beaver, in the south part of the territory. Mr. Smithson afterwards received appointment as U. S. Postmaster at Pareah, Utah, where he lived the remainder of his life. He died in June, 1877, at the age of sixty years.
John Bartley Smithson accompanied the family when they returned to Utah, but early in the following year came back to San Bernardino. He went into the mountains where
JOHN BARTLEY SMITHSON
MRS. JOHN BARTLEY SMITHSON
he found employment in the saw mills of David Seely, John M. James and D. T.Huston, and worked in the mountains about eight years. He then went to Aurora, in Mono county, where he lived two years, and from there to Carresso rancho, in San Luis Obispo county, then owned by Charles Jones, where he was employed as vaquero to assist in taking a band of three hundred head of cattle and five hundred head of horses to City Rock, Idaho. He then came back to San Bernardino by the way of Salt Lake.
Mr. Smithson married Miss Jane Cadd, daughter of Thomas Cadd. Mrs. Smithson was born in Australia, July 5, 1841. She was a child of five years of age when her parents came to San Bernardino, and has passed nearly her whole life in this county. Mr. and Mrs. Smithson have raised a family of children, all of whom reside in this county; John Bartley Smithson, Jr., William F., Rose E., Lena and Charles F. Mr. Smithson owns a fine mountain fruit farm of one hundred and sixty acres, about eighteen miles from San Bernardino, and also a residence in the city where the family spends a portion of the year in order to give the children the advantages of the city schools. They are members of the Pioneer Society, and their home is a favorite visiting place for the pioneers during the summer. The Pioneer Society has been in the habit of using a portion of their mountain property as a camping ground for many seasons. In 1899, Mr. Smithson very generously gave the society a deed to this place as a Christmas gift.
EDWARD DALEY, SR., was one of the pioneers of San Bernardino. He was born in New York state, March 31, 1825. He grew to manhood in the then new state of Ohio. In 1844 he moved westward and spent six years in pioneering in the middle west. In 1846 he married Miss Nancy Hunt. In 1849 they started for California overland, but owing to delays did not reach San Bernardino until June 20, 1851. He was a prominent citizen of
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the community ; served as supervisor for four years, and was one of the most successful farmers of the valley.
He was the father of eleven children, Mrs. B. M. Wall, Mrs. J. S. Bright, Edward Daley, Jr., Charles J., Frank B., Mrs. F. R. Higgins, May G. and Mrs. George L. Bry- ant, still survive him and all reside in San Bernardino. He died at his residence in San Bernardino, January 25, 1896.
GEORGE W. SUTTONFIELD, of San Bernardino, was born at Fort Wayne, In- diana, Februarq 14, 1825. He is the son of Col. William Suttonfield, a native of Virginia, and Laura (Taylor) Suttonfield, a native of Boston, Mass. His father served in the Black-Hawk Indian war under Gen. Harrison. The family settled at Fort Wayne as early as 1814, and for some time after their arrival they made their home in the historic fort, built by order of and named for Gen. Anthony Wayne, in 1794. For some time Col. Suttonfield was a non-commissioned officer in the fort. He was engaged in recruiting service, and also employed in bringing provisions and other articles from. Piqua, Ohio, to the garrison. He also erected the first house in Fort Wayne-a substantial log cabin, in which the family afterward resided for many years. Col. Suttonfield died in 1841. Mrs. Suttonfield sur- vived her husband until 1883.
George W. Suttonfield received his education at Wabash College, Crawfordsville, Indiana. In April, 1849, he started overland from Fort Smith, Arkansas, for California, arriving in San Francisco in October of the same year. Their train was made up in the South, bringing with it a large quantity of fine stock. They lost heavily on the journey, arriving on the coast practically destitute. Many of them were compelled to cross the Colorado desert on foot, Mr. Suttonfield among the number. His provisions ran so low that at one time a pint of green coffee was all that stood between him and starvation, and he affirms that one of the best meals he ever ate was purchased from an In- dian, and consisted of grasshoppers and acorn meal, for GEORGE W. SUTTONFIELD which he paid well and was more than thankful. At San Diego he took passage on a coal bark for San Francisco, and his inherent honesty compelled him to give up his last cent of money for the transportation, although others in better financial condition obtained their passage free, and he arrived in San Francisco "dead broke." He was willing to work, however, and obtained employment wheeling dirt from an embank- ment and dumping it into the bay, for which he received one dollar per hour. Not being hopeful of accumulating a fortune by that method, he tried to better his condition by a few games of chance. In this he was successful, and also engaging to unload vessels at night at two dollars per hour. soon found his financial affairs "looking up." He suc- ceeded so well that he was able to establish a pie and coffee stand on the corner of Clay and Portsmouth Square. He took in $86 the first day and averaged $40 and $50 per day afterwards. An attack of gold fever seized him and he sold out on perpetual credit and went into the mines. From 1856 to 1861 he was in Mariposa county engaged in stock raising. In 1862 he went to Stockton and subsequently to Arizona, where he was in the stock raising business seven years. He came to San Bernardino in 1872 and engaged in the livery business. During later years he has operated gold quartz mines, buying and selling mines.
June 1, 1851, Mr. Suttonfield married Mrs. Sarah Chadwick Smith. This was the first marriage recorded in Mariposa county. They were the parents of five children. Mrs. Suttonfield died in 1870. In 1880 Mr. Suttonfield married Miss Sarah Foxall of San Bernardino
While in Mariposa county Mr. Suttonfield was judge of the first election cver held in the county. He is a pioneer in every sense of the word, and his experiences in the varied and exciting events in the early history of the state are exceedingly interesting. He may well be called the father of the San Bernardino County Society of California Pio- neers, as he was first to suggest the organization, and has been an active worker in the society since it was started.
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J. C. PEACOCK, M. D. Few names were more familiar in the earlier history of San Bernardino than that of Dr. J. C. Peacock, who was for eighteen years postmaster of this city from 1861 to 1879, and was fifteen years county physician. His many deeds of kindness and his manly, upright character endeared him to all who knew him. He was closely identified with every movement for the betterment of the community during his long residence in this county.
Dr. Peacock was born in Pennsylvania in 1809 and was educated as a physician. He came to California in 1850 and to San Bernardino county in 1860. He was one of the Slover Mountain Association, who founded the town of Colton and during his later years resided in that town. There he died January 24, 1896.
THE HON. DAVID AUGUSTUS SHAW, of Redlands, was born in Henshaw- brook, Lower Canada, August 4, 1826. His father was a native of New Hampshire, and his ancestors were among the earliest of New England settlers. His maternal grand- father, Capt. Garratt Barron, was a British na- val officer who served as commander of a battle- ship under Lord Nelson, and was granted a large tract in Canada on his retirement. His family returned to New England while David A. was a child, and in 1836 emigrated to Northern New York state. Here the boy attended district school and an academy, and in 1843 taught his first terms of school with a salary of $6 per month and "board around." The family in 1844 removed to Morengo, Ill., where David continued to teach, now receiving $12 per month for his services.
HON. DAVID A. SHAW
April 19, 1850, the young man, in company with four other ambitious young neighbors, started overland for California. The story of the inci- dents and dangers of the long journey Mr. Shaw has vividly told in his book, "El Dorado," re- cently published. More fortunate than many, Mr. Shaw accumulated some money in the mining country, and in 1852 he returned to the "states" by way of Nicaragua in order to procure a band of American horses for sale in California. He carried out this project and reached California the second time in 1853. In 1856 he returned east again and located in Minnesota, where his parents were then residing, and remained there until after the death of both parents. During this period he was a member of the Minnesota State Legislature, and was admitted to practice law in the district courts of the state in 1867. He was twice elected to a judicial office and was a postmaster.
In 1872, he returned to California to make his permanent home, and after four years spent in the northern part of the state, located in Los Angeles, where he engaged in the practice of law and was admitted to the bar under Judge Sepulveda. In 1879 he purchased the ranch of 160 acres in Lugonia, now occupied by himself and sons, and began the planting of orange trees. This place is now one of the finest properties in the vicinity of Redlands, although much of the original ranch has been disposed of.
Major Shaw has, since locating in the San Bernardino valley, taken an active part in citrus affairs. He was one of the representatives of the county at the Citrus Fair in Chicago in 1886, and did good service there. He has also aided in making known the advantages of this section with his pen, having for many years acted as a newspaper cor- respondent and writer of special articles. Major Shaw is a life-long Republican and stands high in the Masonic order, of which he has been a Past Master and a Royal Arch Mason since 1858.
January 19. 1854, he was married to Miss Anna Wormer, of San Francisco. She died in Redlands May 8, 1894. Six children survive this union-Viola May, Eva, Kittie M., June, Lester E., Clarence A. and Mathew L.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
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