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 79
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He was twice married, his first wife having been Miss Rebecca Morton, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, by whom he had two daughters and one son, William Breed, now residing 'n Redlands. His second wife was Miss Emily, daughter of I. N. Judson. She still sur- vives him.
W. H. H. EASTON, of Bloomington, is a native of Ohio, born in Middlefield, Geauga county, February 21, 1845, the son of James Easton, a native of Vermont and one of the pioneer settlers of Ohio. As a young man Mr. Easton settled in Onawa, Monona county. Iowa, where he taught school. After a residence of sixteen years here, he came to Cali- fornia and was the first settler in the Bloomington district. He was a member of the first school board of Bloomington and served as such for six years. He has for the past twelve years acted as postmaster of Bloomington. He owns a ten acre tract where he has a comfortable home surrounded by fruit trees and shrubbery.
WILLIAM H. DELPHEY, of Chino, is a native of Monroe county, Michigan, being born in the town of Erie, September 27, 1871. His father was of English and his mother
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
of Dutch descent. There were in the family eight children, William being the youngest. His early life was spent in attending the district school and working upon his father's farm and in his mills. At the age of nineteen he came to California with two sisters who were seeking health and was at first employed on what is now known as the Boston ranch in El Cajon valley, San Diego county. In December, 1894, he located at Chino and a year later purchased forty acres of land adjoining the town. This is now one of the best al- falfa ranches in the locality.
In 1898, Mr. Delphey married Miss Flora, daughter of Charles Stine. They now have two sons, Calvin and William Jr.
JAMES CURTNER, Victor, was born in Texas, August 27, 1865, son of William and Mary McAllister Curtner. He was educated in the public schools of Clarksville, Texas, after which he engaged in stock raising for six years. He served in the Texas Rangers under Captain Jenks. He spent several years in Colorado, Montana, British Columbia and Arizona, lumbering and railroading. He came to California in 1887, made brick at Escondido, and in 1891 located in Victor. He has followed varions occupations, been a constable and now has a general merchandise store.
Mr. Curtner married Miss Rebecca Hood of Los Angeles, July 10, 1896. He is a mem- ber of the K. of P., and the I. O. O. F.
CHARLES LIVINGSTON CLOCK, of Redlands, was born in Painesville, Ohio, Lake county, May 10, 1841, and lived there until 1852, when with his mother and two brothers he moved to Warren, Joe Daviess county, . Illinois.
Mr. Clock was among the first to respond to the call for troops on the breaking out of the Civil War. He enlisted in May, 1861, in Company E, 15th Illinois Infantry, and served some time, when his health being poor, he was discharged for disability, but was soon appointed as forage master of the 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, and afterwards 2+ General Frank P. Blair's headquarters, 17th Army Corps, and continued there until the close of the war.
After the war he made his residence at Geneva, Franklin county, Iowa, locating on a section of unimproved land and continued farming until 1877, when he was elected County Auditor of Franklin county, and moved to Hampton, the county seat. So suc- cessfully did he conduct the affairs of the office that at the expiration of his term, he was nominated and re-elected to the same office; at the close of his second term he received the nomination for County Treasurer on the Republican ticket and so great was his pop- ularity he was given the entire vote of the county. At the expiration of his term as County Treasurer, he was tendered the nomination, but refused to be a candidate, his health being poor.
He and a brother, H. A. Clock, and a nephew, Eugene Clock, engaged in the mer- cantile business at Latimer, Iowa, and also dealt in grain, Inmber and coal. The firm did a very successful business. Later the business was conducted by C. L. Clock and three sons, F. H., H. L. and C. H. Clock, who were at Northwestern University, Evanston, Illi- nois. After this change Mr. Clock was appointed postmaster at Latimer which he held until moving to California. He was also elected supervisor of Franklin county, while at Latimer and served one term but declined the renomination. The Hampton Franklin County Recorder pays Mr. Clock a handsome compliment under date of January 6, 1899. stating he was the most popular man in the county. On account of overwork in office and store Mr. Clock moved to Redlands in the spring of 1895 purchasing the property where he now resides, a 20 acre Washington Navel orange grove, to which he added 5 acres making 25 acres, one of the most typical and productive orange orchards in Redlands. He and his sons also own 70 acres of fine trees, navels and valencias, in Lugonia.
Mr. Clock was married in 1867 to Rebecca Haskell, of Nora, Illinois. They are thic parents of three sons: Fred H., Harry L. and Charles H. Clock. Fred H. was married in 1895 to Jessie Satchell, of Wichita, Kansas.
They have four children: Fred L., Charles S., Dorothy Helen and Ruth Irene Clock. H. L. and C. H. Clock live at 51 E. Palm avenue.
C. L. Clock and wife have been members of the First Methodist Episcopal church since 1870, and have always taken an active part in its affairs. He has held the office of president of the board of trustees for the last seven years.
Mr. Clock has been a member of the Masonic Fraternity since 1862, and belongs to the Royal Arch degree. He and his wife are also members of the Eastern Star. He is one of the directors of the Redlands Board of Trade, and belongs to the Bear Valley Post, G. A. R., has always been considered a safe conservative man, prompt in business and very liberal according to his means in all public and private affairs.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
TROELS FREDERICK BENTIEN, of San Bernardino, was born in Denmark, April 18, 1858, the son of Daniel and Marien Jorgenson Bentien. There are two other members of his family now in this country, living in New York.
Mr. Bentien attended school in his native country and then worked on a farm. He came to America in 1881, landing in New York City, and going at once to Wheeling, West Vir- ginia, where he worked for six years in a nail factory. In 1887, he came to California and was employed by the Santa Fe company in San Bernardino until June, 1894, when he pur- chased his present ranch property of ten acres inside the city limits and started a dairy business which he is at present successfully conducting.
Mr. Bentien 'married Miss Carrie Hansen, at Wheeling, May 16, 1885. They have three children, Bertha, Mary and Clara. - Mr. Bentien is a member of the Independent Order of Foresters.
J. H. COX was born in Illinois, December 17, 1857, the son of John and Nancy Farmer Cox. His father was a farmer and active in political affairs, holding county of- fices most of the time. He has three brothers in the county, A. A. Cox and Emanuel M. Cox of Rialto, and F. L. Cox, of Victor.
Mr. Cox attended school in Fayette county, Illinois, and after leaving school went to work on his father's farm. He has followed the occupation of farmer all his life. He canie to California April, 1887, direct from Fayette county. He commenced work on a ranch by the month, but has since purchased a thrifty orange grove on Muscotte avenue, north of Base Line.
Mr. Cox married Miss Lucy Belcher, of Fayette county, Illinois, March 9, 1881. They have a family of five children: Omer Victor, Lloyd Edwin, Nellie, Fred and Mildred Edna. Mr. and Mrs. Cox are members of the Loyal Mystic Legion of America.
JOHN A. HOLDEN, of San Bernardino, was born in Lincoln county, Ohio, Decem- ber 23, 1823, the son of Mahlon and Ann Vance Holden. His father was born in Virginia but the family removed to Ohio when he was three years of age and were among the first settler in the Western Reserve. John A. Holden learned his trade of blacksmithing in Granville, Ohio, and worked as a journeyman through the middle states until 1856 when he came to California via the Isthmus of Panama and opened a shop at Grass Valley, near Sacramento. He then had a shop at North San Juan until 1862 when he went to Virginia City, Nevada, where for many years he carried on a shop and worked for the Bonanza Mining companies of that place. In 1877, he came to San Bernardino and pur- chased his present home of twenty-five acres.
He was married at Terre Haute, Indiana, in 1852, to Miss Theresa Doning, a native of Indiana. She died in San Bernardino about 1896. The children are also all deceased.
N. DAVENPORT, of Colton, was born in Mobile, Alabama, December 19, 1847, the son of Gorhanı Davenport, a merchant of that city and a member of an old Maine family. Mr. Davenport was educated at St. Joseph College, near Mobile and left school to enter the Confederate army. In 1868, he landed in San Francisco and for the first year acted as accountant for the wholesale firm of Sanderson & Horn. In 1869, he went to San Diego where he was engaged in business. He aided in the survey of the San Diego and San Bernardino Railway made in 1870 and later became interested in the Ivanpah and Panamint mines. In 1876, he located in Colton and entered the firm of Hathaway & Daven- port, the first general store in the town of Colton. He has since made Colton his home and since disposing of his interest in the mercantile business has been interested in min- ing and other developments.
Mr. Davenport was married December 25, 1874. in the San Bernardino Catholic church to Miss Sylvia, daughter of John Brown, Sr. They have four children living, John F., Marie L., and Noel J., residents of Los Angeles, and Daisy F., at home.
L. G. CURRIER, J. P., of Barstow California was born in South Bend, Indiana, November 9, 1843. He was the son of William Currier and Rebecca Chittenden Currier, and is the only one of the family in the far west.
Mr. Currier received a common school education at Bushnell, Illinois, where the family had removed in 1845. Soon after the breaking out of the Civil War, on August 2. 1862, he enlisted in Company "D" 102, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving three years until the close of the war, and was discharged at Washington, D. C. During service his regiment was with the 20th Army Corps under General Joe Hooker, most of the time in the west, but went with Sherman on his march to the sea. Mr. Currier was commended by the late Ex-President Harrison, who was commander of his brigade, for efficient service
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
rendered in handling 500 six-mule teams which were sent in 1862 into the enemy's coun- try along the Cumberland river, to forage for supplies. The three years after discharge from the army he engaged in lumbering in Mississippi and Louisiana; the next five as a contractor on the line of the Northern Pacific railway at Brainard, Minnesota. In 1876, he went to the Black Hills of Dakota, and engaged in putting up hay and mining for a couple of years. He was in the Black Hills during the Sitting Bull Indian outbreak and went through the campaign with General Nelson A. Miles. He afterwards settled at Miles City, Montana, and was employed as manager for a large mercantile and transporta- tion company, then as hotel keeper, and later as contractor; which was followed by fourteen years work as ferryman. He lived at Miles City twenty years.
Judge Currier came to Barstow in 1899, and has been engaged in prospecting and at house building ever since. He was appointed Justice of the Peace by the County Board of Supervisors, March 1, 1901 ; re-elected November, 1903, for four years more.
Mr. Currier married Miss Annie Egan, at Miles City, Montana, in 1884. They are the parents of one son. W. L. Currier, married to Miss Mary Josephine Phelps at Los An- geles, July 28, 1903, and a daughter was born to them August 6, 1904.
CHRISTIAN JESSEN, of Oak Glen, was born in Newton county, Indiana, April 5, 1864, the son of Christian Jessen, a farmer. He was reared on a farm and followed this occupation until he came to California in 1890. He located at Redlands and soon be- came connected with the Oak Glen Co. He was for a number of years connected with this company and has aided in their water developments He is at present one of the Horti- cultural Inspectors of the county. He owns a home at Oak Glen.
Mr. Jessen was married, January 19, 1903, to Miss Flora, daughter of John Stuart Harris, of Alhambra, California. Mrs. Jessen is a graduate of the Los Angeles State Normal, of the class of 1897 and has taught in Riverside and Los Angeles counties since her graduation until her marriage.
MRS. SUSAN C. BUFFINGTON was born at Adamsville, Muskingum, county, Ohio, November 1, 1846. She was the daughter of Dennison and Elizabeth Adams Ross, the first a native of Rhode Island, the latter of Ohio. Mrs. Buffington was educated in the public schools of Ohio and Illinois. After teaching for a time, she attended the Mc- Intyre Academy at Zanesville, Ohio, and then resumed teaching in Illinois.
In 1869 she was married to Moses C. Buffington, a native of Pennsylvania, born March 9. 1842. Mr. Buffington was the inventor of several important machines, among which was a wheel machine that was used in making buggy wheels. In 1878 he engaged in the manufacture of the Buffington Improved Sarven Wheel, of which he was the inventor at Burlington, Iowa.
Mr. Buffington's failing health led to the removal of the family to California in 1883. They located in North Ontario and engaged in fruit growing. Here Mr. Buffington died, September 21, 1886. He had for twenty years been a prominent member of the Methodist church, to which Mrs. Buffington also belongs.
Mr. and Mrs. Buffington had three children, one dying in infancy. Charles C. Buf- fington married Maud L. Mosgrove in 1896; they have one child, Elizabeth, and he is man- ager of a citrus packing house at Corona. The other living son is Frank C. Buffington.
H. H. DANIELS was born in West Point, Kansas, January 31, 1859. After com- pleting his education he went into business in Kansas and Nebraska, coming to Redlands in February, 1887. Soon after, in company with W. E. Sibley, he embarked in the real estate business.
In the fall of the same year Mr. Clark, who had been investigating business openings in other sections of the state, came to Redlands and the firm's name was changed to Clark & Daniels. This was at the time of the boom, and when the foundations of Redlands were being laid. Mr. Daniels was never an idle man. Energy and hard work seemed to be a part of his nature, and he at once prepared to do his full share toward developing the place which he had chosen for his future home. The Holden Villa Tract, bounded by Clark street and Fern avenue, Alvarado and Eureka streets; the Altadena Tract, lying east from Cajon street, between Fern avenue and Home Place; and the Bonnie Brae Tract, on the west side of Eureka street between Clark street and Olive avenue were all plotted and improved by him. He also developed acreage property at West Redlands in what was then known as Terracina, planted orange groves, constructed pipe lines, and there as well as elsewhere did good work in the upbuilding of Redlands and its surrounding territory. During the last few years of his life he was engaged in the real estate business almost
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
exclusively, which he prosecuted with his usual vigor and success. In all his labors he was ever actuated by a desire for the well-being of his fellow-men.
His death occurred February 10, 1899, twelve years after his arrival in Redlands, and it is safe to say that no one in that time did more than he towards the improvement and up- building of the city and community.
DAVID ROWLAND BROWN, of Rincon, was born in Nova Scotia, August 4, 1841, the son of James and Sarah A. Weaver Brown, both natives of Nova Scotia. His father was a ship builder and the son of Michael, a sergeant in a British regiment which served during the Revolutionary war. His mother was a direct descendant of the de Montcalm family of France, from which came General Montcalm. Mr. Brown was brought up on a farm and educated in the public schools of the day. He learned the carpenter's and build-
er's trade, which he followed for many years.
In 1865 he went to Boston, Mass.
He
then spent three years in the new state of Kansas, but returned to Boston and in 1876 came to California and located at Los Angeles, where he was occupied as a carpenter and builder for some time.' In 1878 he settled on a claim in what was supposed to be the Jurupa Grant, in the southwestern corner of San Bernardino county. When the final survey was made the land was found to be outside of the grant limits and on an odd numbered section, consequently the Southern Pacific Railroad Company laid claim to it. Mr. Brown was given a United States patent, but the railway company began suit to have it set aside and the case continued in the Federal courts for nearly sixteen years before it was finally set- tled in favor of Mr. Brown.
Mr. Brown was married in 1869 in the state of Kansas to Mary E. Lear, a native of England, who came to this country in her childhood. They have two children, William Lear Brown, who is a graduate of Stanford University and is at present principal of the San Bernardino city schools. He married Miss Minnie Lacey of Riverside, and they have two children, Laurence Lacey and Helen. The daughter, Miss Alena Brown, is a · graduate of the Riverside High School and a teacher in the public schools.
During his long residence in the Rincon District, Mr. Brown has served as constable and justice of the peace for several years. He is a member of the Masonic order.
EDWIN P. CHAFFEE, of Upland, was born December 1, 1851, at Tippecanoe City, Ohio. He is the son of John E .- a native of Connecticut-and Sarah Ann Chaffee of Pennsylvanian. He was brought up on a farm and received a common school education. Leaving home in 1873, he went to Toledo, Ohio, and engaged as locomotive fireman on one of the roads running out of that city, and afterwards went to Chicago, where he was em- ployed as a switchman. He came from Chicago to North Ontario in 1893. He first en- gaged in the business of general painting, but afterwards went to work for the North On- tario Fruit Exchange, where he is still employed.
Mr. Chaffee married Miss Eleanor D. Shober of Montpelier, O., May 5, 1881. They have had a family of seven children, only three of whom are now living: Harry A., Mabel G. and Edna B. Mr. and Mrs. Chaffee are members of the Presbyterian church. Mr Chaffee has been interested in politics since coming to this county, and was chosen delegate to the Republican County convention of 1900. He is a member of Euclid Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was a delegate to the Grand Lodge session at San Francisco, May 5, 1900. He was largely instrumental in the organization of Euclid Lodge; was a charter member, and is a trustee of the lodge. Mr.and Mrs. Chaffee are also charter members of the Rebekah Lodge, organized in connection with Euclid Lodge.
C. W. BRENELL, of Chino, is a native of Sweden, born near the town of Jonkoping, May 16, 1860. He learned the carpenter's trade and in 1881 came to America. He lived six years at Austin, Texas, and in 1887 came to California. After six months in Pasa- dena he came to Chino to work in the wagon shop for Mr. Gird. Here he did general carpenter and repair work, was a wheelwright, etc. In company with Mr. L. Sheld, he opened a blacksmith shop in the town of Chino in 1869 and in 1897 bought out his partner's interest. He conducts a successful business and owns valuable residence property.
In 1886 he was married at Austin, Texas, to Miss Matilda Marie Holmes, also of Swedish birth.
ALFRED T. CLOTHIER, of Chino, was born in Copperopolis, Calaveras county, Cal .. May 21, 1868, the son of Thomas M. and Anna Tower Clothier. The father was a native of Massachusetts, who came to California via the Horn in 1849 and was one of the first of the "49ers." He mined in various camps and lived in Copperopolis, Stockton and Cala- veras county until 1887, when the family located in Orange county, where the father died. The mother still lives with her son Alfred.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Mr. Clothier worked in the store of C. D. Sholl & Co., Santa Ana, for four years. He then came to Chino and for eight years was employed by M. Moyes. May 1, 1902, he opened a store and started in business for himself.
Mr. Clothier was married at Santa Ana in 1893, to Miss Maud L., daughter of A. D. Stine, now engaged in stock business at Chino. She was a native of Orange county. They have two children, Floyd and Alice. Mr. Clothier is a member of the Foresters and I. O. O. F.
CHARLES BURKHART, of San Bernardino, is a native of Ohio, born April 20, 1832, the son of Joseph and Mary Rockhoff Burkhart.
Mr. Burkhart received a common school education in the city of Cleveland, and there learned his trade of carpenter and builder. Upon the breaking out of the civil war he en- listed in Company "A," 23rd Ohio Infantry, and served four years and five months. His regiment was with the Western Virginia Army Corps and saw plenty of fighting. Mr. Burkhart himself received a bullet wound and two saber cuts. Upon his discharge he re- turned to Ohio and for twelve years acted as policeman in the city of Cleveland. In 1881 Mr. Burkhart left Ohio and came directly to San Bernardino, where he has lived and fol- lowed his trade as builder and contractor ever since. January 4, 1864, Mr. Burkhart mar- ried Miss Helen Smith, a native of Ohio. They have had a family of seven children, anly two of whom-Elva and Lillian-are now living. Mr. Burkhart is a member of the G. A. R. and I. O. O. F.
CORNELIUS G. H. BENNINK, of Ontario, was born in Holland in 1842. He came with his parents to America in 1845. They located at Cambridge, Mass.,and here he re- ceived his education and made his home for fifty years. During the civil war he served for three years in General Sickles "Excelsior Brigade," which took part in twenty-four battles, in numerous skirmishes, etc. This brigade was engaged in the battles of Williams- burg, Va., the Peninsular campaign, Second Bull Run, Chancellorsville, Antietam, Gettys- burg, the Wilderness. Out of 101 men enlisted only ten responded to their names for dis-
charge in front of Petersburg. Mr. Bennink himself was in the hospital having been wounded in the Wilderness fight. He was discharged as orderly sergeant.
After the war he returned to Cambridge, where he was engaged in a general merchan- dising business. He was for six years a member of the city council, the last year serving as president of the body. In 1866-67 he served as a member of the house in the Massa- chusetts legislature.
He first came to California with the national encampment of the G. A. R. in 1886 and was so favorably impressed with the country that he returned east with a strong desire to seek a home in this state. In 1894 he returned to California and soon afterward located at Ontario. Since his arrival here he has been active in public affairs and has served four years as a member of the City Board of Trustees, two years of that time acting as presi- dent. In September, 1900, he received the nomination and the November following was elected to represent the 78th District in the state legislature. In 1869 Mr. Bennink married Miss Lois A. Ellis, a descendant of one of the Pilgrim settlers of Massachusetts. They have had five sons, three of whom are living; two are now residents of California.
DANIEL J. CARPENTER, of San Bernardino, was born in Illinois, September 26, 1857. In 1870 he settled in Lyon county, Iowa, which was his home until he came to Cali- fornia in 1891. He first purchased a ranch at Santa Ana and remained there utnil 1898; he then came to San Bernardino and bought the book, stationary and notion stock of L. G. Allen, a business which he has increased and made successful. Later he became the owner of a large orange grove, comprising 150 acres, at Highlands, where he makes his home.
In 1876 Mr. Carpenter married Miss Mary L. Tillotson of Beloit, Iowa. They have a family of five children, Wilbur F., Jerome, Thankful, Isabel and Daniel J. Carpenter. Mr. and Mrs. Carpenter are members of the M. E. church and are both active workers. Mrs. Carpenter is a prominent and active worker in the W. C. T. U., having served as president of the County Union. Mr. Carpenter is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
CHARLES EDWIN BRINK, one of the early settlers of Lugonia, was born in Mara- thon, N. Y., April 39, 1846. In 1848 his family removed to Painesville, Ohio. There Edwin graduated from the High School and later attended the Chicago University, but was obliged to withdraw in junior year on account of failing health. In 1875 he came to California and after looking about, settled at Crafton on account of the freedom from fogs and winds. There he was joined by his family in 1876. He was a Baptist, but joined in all good work and was most helpful to the little band of Congregationalists which had been organized in 1876. When a Sabbath school was started in the Lugonia schoolhouse
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