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 68
Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).
Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 | Part 10 | Part 11 | Part 12 | Part 13 | Part 14 | Part 15 | Part 16 | Part 17 | Part 18 | Part 19 | Part 20 | Part 21 | Part 22 | Part 23 | Part 24 | Part 25 | Part 26 | Part 27 | Part 28 | Part 29 | Part 30 | Part 31 | Part 32 | Part 33 | Part 34 | Part 35 | Part 36 | Part 37 | Part 38 | Part 39 | Part 40 | Part 41 | Part 42 | Part 43 | Part 44 | Part 45 | Part 46 | Part 47 | Part 48 | Part 49 | Part 50 | Part 51 | Part 52 | Part 53 | Part 54 | Part 55 | Part 56 | Part 57 | Part 58 | Part 59 | Part 60 | Part 61 | Part 62 | Part 63 | Part 64 | Part 65 | Part 66 | Part 67 | Part 68 | Part 69 | Part 70 | Part 71 | Part 72 | Part 73 | Part 74 | Part 75 | Part 76 | Part 77 | Part 78 | Part 79 | Part 80 | Part 81 | Part 82 | Part 83 | Part 84 | Part 85 | Part 86 | Part 87 | Part 88 | Part 89 | Part 90 | Part 91 | Part 92 | Part 93 | Part 94 | Part 95 | Part 96 | Part 97 | Part 98 | Part 99 | Part 100 | Part 101 | Part 102
Later Miss Russell went to Louisiana, where she taught. Here, in 1854. she was
666
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
married to Ellison Robbins, and after a visit to their old home in New York state, they crossed the isthmus and came to California. Professor Robbins established a select school at Santa Clara, where they taught until 1857, when they came to San Bernardino and Professor Robbins took charge of the public school, teaching one room himself, while his wife had charge of the primary department. Mr. Robbins later became one of the first superintendents of schools in the county and was actively engaged in school work un to the time of his death in 1864.
Mr. and Mrs. Robbins were blessed with two children, a son who died in childhood, and Rosa Belle, who later became Mrs. Canterbury of Redlands. In 1865 Mrs. Robbins became the wife of Myron H. Crafts. One son was born of this marriage, Charles A., who died at the age of thirteen. Mrs. Crafts was an able helpmeet to her husband in all of his efforts both at home and abroad. Her warm heart, clear head and untiring energy made her the ideal pioneer woman and no one of the women who went through the trials and comradeship of early days is more loved and respected by the "old timers" than Mrs. E. P. R. Crafts. To Mrs. Crafts is due much valuable information concerning pioneer days in San Bernardino, Crafton, Lugonia and Redlands.
On November 25, 1904, the old friends and neighbors of Mrs. Crafts gathered at the family home on Palm avenue, Redlands, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of her arrival in California. A number of the members of the Pioneer Society of San Bernardino and many citizens of Redlands were present to pay their respects to this honored and loved pioneer. Poems were read, fitting words of appreciation were spoken, and the occasion was a memorable and happy one.
HENRY GOODCELL, Sr., the son of Thomas Goodcell, was born September 26, 1823. at Nonington, a county parish about ten miles north of Dover, England. At the age of sixteen he was apprenticed to a sea captain and the two years following served as a seaman before the mast, and the next six as mate of the vessel on which he had served as apprentice. His ex- perience and knowledge of navigation was of use to him all through life. He was skilled in making maps and charts and by position of the stars was able to tell the hour at any time of night when the stars were visible. In 1853 Mr. Goodcell, having became a convert to the Mormon faith, left England to make his home in Utalı. Upon arriving there he was grievously disappointed in finding that the doctrine as practiced was not as preached in England, and decided that as soon as possible he would sever his connection with them. This he found difficult. His property had been converted to the gen- eral fund and he was practically destitute of means. The first two years crops were failures and famine stared the settler in the face. The third year was better, and by exercising the utmost economy he was able to save enough of the produce to exchange for a team and a few necessaries for traveling, and in the spring of 1857 a train of ten wagons was made up, which Mr. Goodcell joined, and in spite of violent opposition, started for California. Even then they were not al- lowed to proceed on their journey without harrassing interruptions along the way. They stopped for a few HENRY GOODCELL, Sr. days' rest at Mountain Meadows, the last train that en- camped on that ill-fated spot prior to the massacre. The train reached San Bernardino in May, 1857. Mr. Goodcell purchased land and planted an orchard and vineyard. A series of misfortunes followed his first year's residence in the valley. One son was permanently crippled, an- other accidentally killed, and the floods of 1861-2 destroyed his improvements and ruined one-third of his farm. Notwithstanding all this Mr. Goodcell persisted and through his untiring energy and determination succeeded in conquering the many difficulties with which he was beset. He developed a fine ranch property of alfalfa, orange and other fruits. In 1867 he established a brickyard on his ranch and for many years supplied the town with brick.
Mr. Goodcell married Miss Harriet Birch in 1847. Their eldest son was for sev- eral years a teacher in the public schools of San Bernardino, and the first San Bernardino
667
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
county graduate of the State Normal School He is at present a practicing lawyer of San
Bernardino. Mrs. Goodcell died at San Bernardino, November, 1885; Mr. Goodcell died March 11, 1902, aged seventy-nine.
WILLIAM McDONALD, late of San Bernardino, was born of Scotch parentage, in Ireland, 1826. His parents emigrated to America while he was very small and settled in Philadelphia. Here the son was educated and learned his father's trade of cabinet-maker, also studying architecture, and worked as a contractor and builder in various places in the east until 1851. That year he crossed the plains to Salt Lake and there took a contract for building a mill, the first put up by the Mormons in that city. The fol-
1.
WILLIAM McDONALD
lowing autumn he came to San Bernardino, thus being among the earliest settlers in this city. Here he first found employment in a wagon repair shop located in the old Fort. He then began contracting and building in Los Angeles and in Southern California. Good mechanics were scarce at this time and he found a demand for his services at good wages. In 1857 Mr. McDonald moved to Los Angeles and was the first regular contractor and builder of that city.
In 1866 he returned to San Bernardino to live, and opened his furniture store, the first in the city. He manufactured furniture and carried on an undertaking business, building the first hearse ever seen in the country. He carried on a large business, his goods go- ing to Los Angeles and other towns. This business he continued up to the time of his death, in later years having two of his sons associated with him in the es- · tablishment. During his long residence in San Ber- nardino Mr. McDonald was closely associated with the business and social growth of the place. He was one of the organizers of the old fire company and was its foreman. He took an active part in the early poli- tics, although he never sought office. In 1854 Mr. Mc- Donald bought the lot and built the house in which he and his family lived in for many years.
Mr. McDonald married Miss Mayer, a native of Staffordshire, England, who came to this country in her childhood. They had five sons and four daughters, all but one of whom was born at the old homestead in this city and all but one residents of San Bernar- dino county. Mr. McDonald died January 18, 1901.
LUCAS HOAGLAND, of San Bernardino, was born in Oakland county, Michigan, January 27, 1827, the son of Abraham and Margaret Quick Hoagland. The family were of Dutch descent; his grandfather married a sister of Cornelius Vanderbilt and emi- grated with them to New Jersey. His father was born in New Jersey and was captain of a band of local militia that serenaded Lafayette on his visit to this country. In 1824 he emigrated to Michigan, traveling on foot with a knapsack on his back. In 1845 he re- moved with his family to Illinois and later went to Council Bluffs and thence to Salt Lake. He was a man of strong religious temperament and was a member of the Church of Lat- ter Day Saints, and became a Bishop of the church.
Lucas Hoagland was a member of the famous Mormon Battalion, but left it on ac- count of ill health at Santa Fe and went to Salt Lake. In 1849 he came to El Dorado county, California, and in 1852 came to San Bernardino, and bought a forty-acre ranch southeast of town which he still occupies.
Mr. Hoagland married Miss Rachael Hale of Mass., March 1, 1848. She died in 1854, leaving one child, Olive Hoagland. In 1862, Mr. Hoagland married Miss Harriet Wamford of Cambridge, England. They are the parents of six children, Emily. now Mrs. William Aldrich ; Luther, Monroe, Truman, Ernest and Mand.
BERRY ROBERTS, of San Bernardino, was born in Conway county, Arkansas, September 18, 1836. His father, Jesse Roberts, was of Welch descent, a farmer, and died while the subject of this sketch was an infant. His mother, Mary Appfin Roberts, was a native of Virginia. There were six children in the family-Harriet, widow of James Slinkard, who lives in Tulare county, Cal .; George Roberts, who came to California in
668
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
1850, lives in Solano county ; Ashley Roberts died near San Bernardino; Martha, wife of F. G. Morris, lives in Grundyville, Texas; William Roberts is a miner in Montana, 'and Barry Roberts.
Barry Roberts when sixteen years of age began mining on Scherlock creek, about six miles from the town of Mariposa, following that business with fair success until 1857, the year of the exodus of the Mormon colonists from San Bernardino county. At that date he purchased a farm three miles from San Bernardino, where he lived until January, 1862. He next purchased a ranch consisting of two hundred acres of land in San Timateo can- yon, a property he still owns.
Mr. Roberts married Miss Francis Thomas, daughter of E. H. Thomas. Mrs. Rob- erts died, leaving a family of ten children, all living at the present time : Wil- jiam. uzrow, Edward, Emma, wife of Albert Beach, lives in Mexico; Nettie, lives in Arizona; Ida, lives at Prescott, Arizona; Sterling, owns the Yucaipe ranch ; Earl, lives near Redlands; Archie, lives in San Timateo canyon. Mr. Roberts' second wife was Miss Martha Judson.
Mr. Roberts was the builder of the ditch bringing water from the Santa Ana river, three miles below the mouth of Mill Creek. This ditch was built in 1868 and brought water to the old San Bernardino rancho, to section 16, where Mr. Roberts owns one hun- dred and sixty acres of land. Mr. Roberts is a member of Token Lodge, I. O. O. F.
J. D. GILBERT, of San Bernardino, was born in Cattarangus county, New York, May 20, 1828, the son of Truman and Rebecca Fay Gilbert. The father was a native of New York state and the mother a descendant of one of the old Puritan families of New England. In 1836 the family removed to the "Western Reserve" and settled at a place that became Munson, Ohio. Here Mr. Gilbert passed his younger days.
In 1850 Mr. Gilbert crossed the plains to Salt Lake and settled in the Utah valley. Here in 1854 he married Miss Margaret Barney and the same year came to San Bernar- dino county with a train of thirty-two wagons, under the leadership of Captain Moberly. Captain Moberly was a Kentuckian by birth and a survivor of the ill-fated Gunnison party, massacred by the Indians in Utah in 1853; the captain escaped the fate of the others only bv having been sent to Salt Lake in quest of provisions for the party. The San Bernar- dino train was the first one through after serious uprisings of the Indians, and at one point an Indian came into camp, clothed in the uniform of one of Moberly's former comrades, It was with difficulty that Moberly was restrained from killing the Indian on the spot, al- though such an act would have brought disaster on the whole party.
Mr. Gilbert settled on Base Line, a half mile below his present home. At that time the townsite had just been surveyed and there were few houses outside the fort. In 1864 Mr. Gilbert sold his property with the intention of returning east; but after supplies were bought and all preparations made, it was found impossible to cross the plains with safety on account of the general uprising of the Indians caused by the withdrawal of United States troops from the west to participate in the Civil War, and the plan was abandoned. He then purchased 150 acres of land, of which his present ranch is a portion. The first fifteen years of his residence in the county were spent mostly in the mountains where he was em- ployed much of the time.
Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert have one son, James P., who has a fruit ranch near University, Los Angeles. There are four daughters-Ellen F., Mrs. Frank Mecham; Emeline, Mrs. Oscar Wees; Annie, Mrs. Edwin Pine of Chino; and Hattie F., wife of L. E. Veronee of Los Angeles.
JAMES ELLIS PRATT. of San Bernardino, was born in the town of Middlebor- ongh, Plymouth county, Mass., June 16, 1823; the son of John and Rebecca Shaw Pratt. He is descended from Plymouth Rock colonists on both sides of the family; his mother a near relative of Miles Standish. His father was a carpenter and wheelwright and fol- lowed his trade at Middlehorough, Taunton and at Cheshire in Berkshire county. In this latter place James E. Pratt passed his early boyhood. In 1833 the family removed to Fal- month, Mass., where the father filled a position as overseer in an underwear factory and where James E. was apprenticed to learn the baker's trade in Taunton. In 1837 James E. Pratt went to Peoria, Ill., and commenced going to school. Through accident he had suffered the loss of an eye, which so interfered with his studies that they were abandoned and he went to New Orleans and engaged in running a flat boat on the Mississippi river. He later returned to Plymouth, Mass., and shipped as seaman on a cod-fishing vessel, and for several years followed the sea as an occupation.
In 1849 he returned to Peoria, Ill., and married Miss Sarah Doty. They immediately
669
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
came west to Aspinwall, Neb., where he conducted a ferry across the Missouri river. In 1862, during the exciting times in the early days of civil war, that portion of the country was infested by a set of lawless desperadoes known as "jayhawkers." The ferry across the river was a point of frequent attack, and one morning Mr. Pratt awoke to find his boats stolen. This decided him to remove from that part of the country to Cass county, lowa, where he engaged in farming, and during his residence there was thoroughly identified with the growth and development of the county, serving on the board of supervisors and also as deputy sheriff of the county.
In 1873 Mr. Pratt disposed of his Cass county property and came to San Bernardino, where he engaged in the mercantile business, continuing it until about 1885. He has since filled the position of health officer for San Bernardino city. Mrs. Pratt died at San Ber- nardino in 1894. They have one daughter, Ada, wife of Daniel F. Hayes of San Ber- nardino.
LAFAYETTE MECHAM, of San Bernardino, was born at Hopkinton, St. Law- rence county, New York, September 20, 1829. He was the son of Stephen and Dolly Ransom Mecham, both descendants of families that settled in the Champlain valley, Vt .. before the Revolutionary war. Stephen Mecham, a hunter and trapper in the Adirondack Mountains, moved to IlInois in 1838 and settled at Springfield, where the family were well acquainted with Abraham Lincoln.
Lafayette Mecham started for California in 1849 via the North Platte and after win- tering in Utah, came by the southern route to San Bernardino, arriving in 1852. Early in 1853 Mr. Mecham went to San Francisco and remained six months, then ;returned south to Los Angeles and later went to Salt Lake. In 1854 he located in Los Angeles and purchased land which is now in the center of that city. He remained here until 1863, when he removed to San Bernardino, where he has since resided. In 1863 he took a gov- ernment contract for carrying the mails between San Bernardino and Los Angeles and put on a regular stage and carried the first daily mail between these points. Mail had previously been weekly delivered at San Bernardino. The same year Mr. Mecham brought the first pepper tree to San Bernardino by stage. One of these trees is now standing in front of the Fourth street school house. Mr. Mecham is the owner of a fine ranch near the city, where he has lived for many years. He has also been engaged in the "bee" business part of the time, and now has an apiary of over 200 stands, one of the first in the county.
Mr. Mecham married Miss Leticia Yager March 20. 1852, in Utah. They have the following children : William Edwin, George F., Charles, L., Ransom M., Stephen C., Issac, Alida and Denver, all but one born in California, and several of whom reside in San Bernardino.
DUFF G. WEAVER, one of the earliest American settlers of the San Bernardino valley, was born in Indiana, August 10, 1823. He arrived in California in the spring of 1849, coming overland from Indiana by the northern route and reaching San Bernardino valley, where his brother Pauline Weaver, was already settled, early in the fifties. He located on government land in San Timoteo canyon, about six miles over "the divide" from Redlands. His land was so situated that it controlled about 1000 acres, and he ranged a large number of cattle, horses and sheep. He died at his home January 2, 1869. He is descrimeb as having been a man of over six feet, strong and sinewy. He was intelligent and energetic, and was intensely patriotic. During the stormy days of 1860-61, when po- litical feeling was strong in this vicinity, he was "solid" for the Union, and it is said that he once stepped upon the balcony of the old Bella Union Hotel in San Bernardino and sang the "Star Spangled Banner" witr great effect, arousing warm enthusiasm in his audience. Later he was nominated for the State Legislature.
He was married in San Bernardino, about 1853, to Miss Amanda Applegate, step- daughter of Zina G. Ayers, who was then living in the "Old Fort." They had eight children, of whom five are now living-Warren Weaver, merchant tailor. San Bernardino; Augustus Washington, in Grant's Pass, Oregon; Abraham Lincoln, of Valdez, Alaska ; Patrick Henry, of Los Angeles; William Grant, Sunrise City, Alaska. The mother died in San Bernardino, February 22, 1900, aged 59.
WARREN WEAVER, the only one of the family now living in this county, was born December 9. 1855, at the old home in San Timoteo Canyon. He graduated from Heald's Business College, San Francisco. In 1893 he took a course at Salir's Cutting Academy, Chicago. For ten years he traveled for the wholesale tailoring trade out of San Francisco.
670
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Since that time he has established himself in the merchant tailoring business at 358 E street, San Bernardino.
He was married in 1896 to Maud A. Ver Bryck, in Denver, Colorado. They have three children-Raymond D., Thelma A. and Hazel E.
Mr. Weaver is a member of San Bernardino Lodge 146, 1. O. O. F., and of the Elks, and is also a member of the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers.
JOSEPH JOHNDREW, of Colton, was born in Kaskaskia, Randoph county, Indiana, in 1836. He spent his boyhood and youth in Randolph county, and came to California in 1852, and engaged in placer mining in Calaveras and other northern counties. In 1860 he went to Nevada and followed quartz mining; 1866-67 he spent in the mines of Montana, and then seven years in Utah. In 1880 he was engaged as superintendent of mines in New Mexico, and was then superintendent of the copper mines at Clifton, Arizona Territory, for a number of years. He came from Clifton to Colton, where he purchased property, but he was a typical miner and could not settle down to any other life. He soon located in Graham county, Arizona Territory, and in 1897 was caught by the Alaska gold fever and went to the Klondike, where he met with success. But his health failed and in October, 1898, he returned to Colton and refitted and opened the Transcontinental Hotel. Mr. Johndrew mar- ried Frances, daughter of Isaac Grundy, who located in San Bernardino in 1850.
AUGUSTUS KNIGHT, of San Bernardino, was born in Callias, Maine, March 3. 1830. He was the son of James and Isabella Elliott Knight. He has two brothers-Thomas J. Knight, of San Bernardino, and Andrew Knight, of Humboldt-residing in the state. His father was a lumberman.
AUGUSTUS KNIGHT, Sr.
Augustus received a common school education in Maine and removed with the family to Manito- woc, Wisconsin, in 1848. There they engaged in lumbering until 1852, when, with an ox team, they came to California by the northern route and lo- cated on Humboldt Bay, where they again entered the lumbering business.
In 1867 Mr. Knight came south to Los An- geles, and for four years worked in the tin mines at Temescal. He then came to San Bernardino and began freighting with an ox team between San Bernardino and Colorado river points. Later he started a stage line between San Bernardino and Ehrenberg, on the Colorado. He next went to Montana, where he engaged in the saloon business, hauling his liquor from San Bernardino. On his return, he entered into a partnership with Dr. Dickey and they built a saw mill in the mountains, which was later sold to William LaPraix. Mr. Knight next embarked in the cattle business, locat- ing at Resting Springs. He has had as high as 2500 head on his ranch, but is gradually going out of the business now.
He married Miss Elizabeth Thompson, of San Bernardino, in August, 1861. They have two chidren-Augustus Knight, Jr., who conducts a hotel in Bear Valley during the summer, and Isabella Knight.
ALVA A. WARREN was born in Oakland county, Michigan, in the year 1836. He is a lineal descendant of the Warren family of colonial and revolutionary renown. When he was six years of age his parents removed from Michigan and lived consecutively in Indiana, Illinois and lowa. From the latter state they started for California with ox team, traveling by the way of Utah and over the southern route to San Bernardino. Alva A. Warren soon after went into the northern part of the state and engaged in mining until 1862, when he returned to the family home beyond the Tehachapi mountains. In 1873 he purchased an attractive piece of land upon the south side of the Santa Ana river, near Colton, where he made himself a home. He also owns an interest in the large mountain orchard known as the Hicks apple ranch, situated a few miles southeast of Colton.
Mr. Warren married Miss Betsy Parks in 1865. Of their family of seven children.
671
HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Eleanor died in infancy ; Ella (Mrs. Green) was accidentaly killed in a railway disaster near San Bernardino; Olive, Selina, Christina, Charlotte and Alva reside with their parents. Mr. Warren is a valued and active member of the San Bernardino Society of California Pioneers.
ISAAC GRUNDY was a native of Virginia, born in 1814. He mined in the lead mines of Illinois and Wisconsin and came to California overland in 1850. He opened the first meat market in San Bernardino and formerly owned the ground on which the court house now stands. He was also interested in mining and discovered the Potosi mine in the Vanderbilt district. Mr. Grundy built the first smelter in Utah, located at the lead mines in Beaver county, Lincoln district. The Smithsonian Institution now has in its possession bars of lead bearing the stamp "I. Grundy." He married Elizabeth, daughter of Samuel Hendricks, a brother of T. J. Hendricks, former vice-president of the United States.
ALONZO E. JONES, of San Bernardino, was born at Council Bluffs, Iowa, September 18, 1848. In 1851 his parents removed to Utah, where they remained two years, then came to San Bernardino, reaching this valley June 11, 1853. They purchased a farm near this city and have ever since resided here. The father died April 4, 1904, at the age of ninety. The son, Alonzo, was educated at the public schools of the county. In 1864 he became a member of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, and in 1869 was ordained as a minister and was elected assistant pastor of that church in the city of San Bernardino. He resided on the old homestead until 1878, when he removed with his family to Los Angeles county and remained until 1884. He then returned to San Bernardino and in 1893 was chosen pastor of the Reorganized Church of Latter Day Saints, which position he still holds. He is also a member of the Pioneer Society.
November 6, 1871, Mr. Jones was married to Miss Elizabeth Catlin.
ROBERT POPPETT, of San Bernardino, was born in Shropshire, England, April 28. 1839, the son of Robert and Elizabeth Poppett. He had the misfortune to lose his mother when only three years of age. His father, becoming a convert to Mormonism, desired to come to America, and, not being able to provide passage for all of his family, placed the lad Robert, in the care of an acquaintance. The party landed at New Orleans and went up the river to Council Bluffs. Here the man who had the boy in charge died and Robert was left to the care of total strangers. He was taken to Utah in 1849 and, although but ten years of age, aided in herding and guarding the stock to keep the Indians from securing them. He lived with twelve different families before reaching his eighteenth year, taking his part, as well as a child could, in the burdens of each and trying to maintain himself. He came to San Bernardino county in 1854 and has since made this his home. For thirty years he worked on the desert, driving team and freighting with a twelve-mule team fromr. San Bernardino to Prescott, Ivanpah, Cerro Gordo, Fort Mojave, Ehrenberg, La Paz and other points. For the past twenty years he has lived on his ranch of 27 acres within the city limits. He also owns a 350-acre ranch in the San Jacinto valley.
Need help finding more records? Try our genealogical records directory which has more than 1 million sources to help you more easily locate the available records.