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 80
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
he was the first superintendent. At his suggestion a society of Christian workers, some- what after the plan of the Y. M. C. A+ was formed, and he was elected its president.
Over fatigue and exposure in his work as chairman of the executive committee of the Sunnyside Ditch Company hastened his death, which occurred August 1, 1879. Mr. Brink was tactful, energetic and a natural organizer and leader. He had the respect and generally the liking of his opponents and his friendships were very strong.
December 28, 1870, he married Eulalia A., daughter of Gilbert S. Bailey, D. D., secre- tary of the Divinity School of Chicago University. They were the parents of four children, Irwin W., secretary of the Colton Fruit Exchange: Gilbert N., superintendent of schools in the Philippines; Edwin T., a student of medicine in San Francisco; Maisie A., the wife of Geo. W. Ogle, a prominent citizen of Pomona, Cal. Mrs. Brink after her husband's death removed to Pomona, where she was engaged as teacher for a number of years.
ALBERT A. COLLIER, of San Bernardino, was born in New York, in December, 1849, the son of John and Harriet Allen Collier. After leaving school, Mr. Collier's first work was on a farm in New York state. About 1869 he went to Charlotte, Mich., where he learned the painter's trade. He resided at different points in Michigan until 1884, when he came to California. On arriving in San Bernardino, in March, 1884. he first opened a shop with C. E. Lehman, carriage builder, now of Redlands. Later he opened a carriage paint shop on Winkler Alley, where he remained eleven years. He then removed to his
present quarters on Third street. He confines his business exclusively to carriage painting. He married, in Charlotte, Mich., August 20, 1873, Elizabeth S. Dolson. They have one daughter, Grace, the wife of George A. Young, who has one child. Mr. Collier attends the Presbyterian chruch and is a member of the I. O. O. F. and the Mystic Legion.
THOMAS R. BENNINGTON, formerly of Oro Grande, was born in Marshall county, Ill., February 26, 1855, the son of Joseph Bennington, a farmer. He grew up on the farm and in 1884 came to California and located in Los Angeles, where he engaged in fruit cult- ure. Later he removed to Santa Monica and took charge of the Santa Monica Hotel. In 1888 he came to Oro Grande with Colonel R. M. Moore and invested in the Oro Grand Re- duction Works, which had been built for the milling of ore. Owing to lack of patronage, this venture did not prove successful.
Mr. Bennington began prospecting and on the opening up of the Alaska gold fields went north and spent five years in that region. On returning, he began mining in Butte county, and by an accidental explosion of a stick of dynamite was killed September 8, 1897.
In 1876 Mr. Bennington married Margaret Ellen, daughter of Jacob Dorff, of Marshall county, Il1. They had three sons and one daughter, Clyde, William, Ethel, now Mrs. Clif- ford Wiggins, and Charles. Mrs. Bennington and her family live in Oro Grande.
JAMES I. BAXTER, of San Bernardino, was born in Scotland, November 13, 1852, the son of William and Elizabeth M. R. Ironsides Baxter, who are now living at Monrovia. Cal. There were fifteen children in his father's family all of whom are in this country. Three brothers live in Monrovia : one in Murietta and two are now engaged on the survey of the Salt Lake road. The family came to America in 1859, landing in Quebec, where the father engaged in the hotel and lumber business, remaining there ten years. They then removed to Tasewell County, Illinois, where James I. Baxter attended the Normal School in McLain County, Illinois. His first work after leaving school was farming, and for several years inning a threshing machine. He has since followed a number of oc- cupations, a part of the time engaged in railway work.
In 1888 he came to California, locating at Monrovia where several of his brothers engaged together in general railway construction contract work for two or three years. Later he began taking contracts on his own account. He has done considerable work for the Santa Fe Ry. and spent three years in the employ of that road putting stone in the riprap on the Los Angeles river. He came to San Bernardino in 1893, and shortly after established the livery stable he now owns and operates.
While in Livingstone county, Ill., he married Miss Agnes Thompson, March 2, 1872. They have had eleven children born to them but only seven of them living at this time. The family are members of the M. E. Church, North. Mr. Baxter is a member of the A. O. U. W .: Maccabees; Loyal Mystic Legion.
JOHN T. BENNETTE of Oro Grande, was born at El Monte, July 4, 1864, the son of David K. and Rebecca Ann Fears Bennette.
David K. Bennette was born in Boston, Bovie county, Texas, in 1836. He came to California with his mother. Mrs. Joseph Fountain, in 1853, and lived on a ranch near New-
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
hall and kept a stage station on the highway. He was married in 1859 to Miss Fears at Los Angeles. She was the daughter of James M. Fears, who was a well known pioneer, having come to California from Texas in 1858, and having resided at Warner's Ranch, San Diego county ; Visalia, Tulare county ; Arizona and the Cajon Pass, San Bernardino county. In 1874 he became one of the first settlers of Pomona, where he invested heavily and re- sided until his death in 1892. He was prominent in I. O. O. F. circles, having aided in or- ganizing lodges in Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Pomona.
David K. Bennette was engaged in the livery and freighting business at Los Angeles and El Monte until his death in 1867. He died at El Monte, aged 31. He left two chil- dren, John T. and Miss F. J. Bennette, now living in Los Angeles. Mrs. Bennette, after the death of her husband, moved into the Cajon Pass and pre-empted a piece of govern- ment land. Later she married Jeremiah Vincent, by whom she has one daughter, Mamie.
John T. Bennette in 1880 located a piece of land at the head of the Cajon Pass, opposite what is known as the old Mormon Hog Back. Mr. Bennette lived here and engaged in stock raising until 1894, when the Forest Reserve was created, which so limited his stock range that he sold out and removed to Redlands, where he opened livery and feed stables. Later he added to his business the Redlands baggage and transfer line. He sold out his interests here to G. H. Garretson and in 1903 located on his present ranch, which includes part of the town site of Oro Grande.
SETH MARSHALL, of San Bernardino, was born April 25th, 1850, in the old Marshall homestead, owned and occupied by his grandfather, who had emigrated from Colebrook, Conn., in the early thirties and settled on the Western Reserve in what is now the city of Painesville, Ohio. The family were of Puritan stock and Seth Marshall, Sr., father of the present Seth Mar- shall, then a young man of strong convictions, of energy and aggressive- ness, soon took a leading part in the upbuilding of that new country. He was first clerk on one of the large lake steamers, prior to the building of the Lake Shore railroad. He was later book-keeper for the old bank of Geauga, which later became the First National Bank of Painesville. He was then director and for many ycars president of this bank. He was always active and successful in mer- cantile affairs. Mr. Marshall was one of the leading anti-slavery workers in Northern Ohio and the Marshall home was one of the stations on the old "underground" railroad which aided in the escape from slavery of many negroes. He was one of the organizers of the Republican party in Ohio and a strong personal friend and co-worker with Ben Wade, Joshua R. Giddings, Salmon P. Chase, and other leaders of their time. He was a delegate to the National convention which nominated Lincoln for the second term and was one of the Presi- dential Electors from Ohio at that election. He died in San Bernar- SETH MARSHALL dino, at the home of his son, Seth Marshall, in 1880.
The present Seth Marshall attended school at Oberlin, Ohio, and began his business career in 1868 by entering the wholesale hardware business of his uncles, the Morley Brothers, of East Saginaw, Mich. He acquired an interest in the business and became the general manager of the concern. He remained here seven years when the arduous duties of his position necessitated a rest and change; he therefore started for California, taking ship at New York and crossing the isthmus and
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
reaching San Francisco in the spring of 1875. He received such benefit from the sea voyage and the bracing climate of San Francisco, that he concluded to remain in the state and, dis- posing of his Saginaw interests, he became a charter member of the Pacfiic Stock Exchange, which was organized in the summer of 1875. Later he traveled through the country and became interested in various mining properties from the Comstock, in Nevada, to Arizona. In 1877 he fitted out a prospecting party in Los Angeles and accompanied them overland via San Bernardino and the San Gorgonio Pass, crossing the Colorado at Ehrenberg and pros- pecting through the Salt River valley, and through central and southern Arizona, returning via stage to Yuma and to the end of the Southern Pacific railway. In 1880, having acquired mining interests in the Ord district, this county, Mr. Marshall located in San Bernardino since which time he has acquired large interests in this region and taken an active part in the development of our county.
In company with William H. Cheney, his brother-in-law,, and Mr. Cheney's uncle, John Cheney, one of the original Cheney Brothers who founded the Cheney Brothers Silk Works, at South Manchester, Conn., the largest in the world, Mr. Marshall purchased 1,000 acres of land, the eastern portion of the Muscupiabe grant. A suit brought to contest the patent to the Muscupiabe rancho delayed improvement of the Cheney tract. Mr. John Cheney died before the suit was settled and Mr. Marshall as administrator later formed an Eastern Syndicate which bought the tract and the water rights, and he later formed the Highland Ditch company for the purpose of building a canal from the east side of City Creek west, above the Cheney tract, and on to North San Bernardino where Mr. Marshall then owned another tract of 1,000 acres. The Highland Ditch company completed the canal to the Cheney tract, thus enabling the land owners along the foothills of Highland to put water on their lands and the Cheney lands were soon highly improved. Part of the water rights and the right of way in the canal for their entire water supply was sold to the state for the State Insane Asylum. After the completion of the canal to the Cheney tract it was sold to the Bear Valley company under a contract to complete it to North San Bernardino, which was done.
It was largely through Mr. Marshall's efforts that the "loop" line of the Santa Fe was built around the east end of the San Bernardino valley, he having contributed more than $3,000 in cash and right of way for over two miles through his own property. He was one of the organizers of the North Fork Water company and was for years a director and the president of the company. He was also largely instrumental in organizing the Highland Orange Growers' Association and is now president of the Association. He was one of the charter members of the Arrowhead Mountain Club, with Col. Wood and others, and was president of the Club for the first three years of its existence.
Mr. Marshall's latest achievement in conjunction with Dr. G. W. Tape and a strong local directorate, is the organization of the Arrowhead Hot Springs company which has secured and merged the Arrowhead Hot Springs and Waterman properties, and which will immediately proceed to extensively improve this Hot Springs resort, the greatest property of its kind in the world. The company is incorporated for $1,000,000 and has among its stockholders some of the leading men of this section and of the east. The development of these Hot Springs, with the natural advantages of scenery, climate, elevation and surround- ings will create a resort which will make the San Bernardino valley famous.
Mr. Marshall was married to Miss Francis Marie Moyle, sister of Mrs. Wm. H. Cheney of South Manchester, Conn., in San Francisco in 1878, Rev. Dr. Stebbins performing the ceremony.
Mrs. Marshall died at her home in San Bernardino February 15th, 1897. She was a woman of rare mental and social qualities, very active in all matters pertaining to the best life of San Bernardino, its charities and social upbuilding. She was broad in her sympathies, unselfish and ever ready to make the sorrows and joys of her friends her own. She was a devoted member of the Episcopal church and took great interest in all that pertained to its life and upbuilding in San Bernardino.
ALBERT C. BURRAGE was born in Ashburnham, Mass., in 1860. When three years of age he removed with his parents to California where he remained until he entered Harvard at the age of eighteen. After graduating from Harvard he began the study of law and was admitted to the bar in Worcester county, Mass. In 1885, he married Alice M. Haskeli of Roxbury, Mass., and she made a pleasant home for him on his modest salary and shared his poverty with cheerful content. Mr. and Mrs. Burrage first lived in Roxbury and later built a small home here, which was, however, heavily mortgaged.
Mr. Burrage owes the remarkable rise in his fortune first of all to his industrious reading of the newspapers. In 1891 he saw an account of the legal fight in Brookline, Mass., between Henry H. Rogers and Edward Addicks, who had conflicting gas interests in that town. Mr.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Addicks, in addition, had a large gas interest in Boston. Being interested in this fight as an outsider, Mr. Burrage looked up the old charter of the Brookline Gas company, merely as a matter of curiosity, and learned, to his surprise, that the company had, by legislative enact- ment, the right to extend the pipes into Boston at will. Mr. Burrage saw his opportunity. Hoping for much, but never dreaming of all that was to come from that little notice, he made himself known to Mr. Rogers and revealed his discovery, together with the statement that an option for the purchase of the Brookline Gas company, could be obtained.
Mr. Rogers was delighted. It gave him a weapon against Mr. Addicks, and the Brook- line Gas company passed into the hands of the Standard Oil company. To make matters clear it must be explained that Mr. Addicks enjoyed a virtual monopoly of the gas business in Boston, and the people were protesting loudly against the high prices charged. The contract for lighting the streets of Boston was about to expire and the Mayor invited Mr. Addicks to meet him and consider a proposition for the reduction of rates. This Mr. Addicks declined to do. When, therefore, the Brookline Gas company came forward and offered a much lower rate than the previous one, the offer was at once accepted. Mr. Addicks was thus pushed to the wall and gladly came to terms. As counsel for the Brookline Gas company and the Standard Oil company, Mr. Burrage was given the fee of $800,000, said to be the largest fee ever known in the history of the world at any time or place.
This was the beginning of his wealth. The Standard Oil people so appreciated his services that when the Amalgamated Copper company was formed, he was appointed to represent New England in the directorate. From this time his millions have accumulated. Today, Mr. Burrage owns a magnificent home in Boston, a beautiful Italian villa at Cohasset and the palatial home which is so well known in Southern California, at Redlands. He owns a steam yacht, the Aztec, which is one of the most complete and elaborate boats afloat. He resides in palatial style, at his different homes and passes much time on his yacht.
Mr. and Mrs. Burrage have identified themselves in many ways with the interests and society of Redlands. The liberal gift of Mrs. Burrage to the Episcopal church has resulted in one of the most beautiful chapels of this denomination in the state. Mr. Burrage was largely instrumental in the erection of the University Club House, and is a valued member of that organization. Their establishment is a fine example of the possibilities of Southern California. Built in a style that is becoming distinctive of California, surrounded by orange groves and shrubbery and flowers, such as could only be cultivated out of doors in our climate, and commanding views of valley and mountains, snow-capped peaks and the city of Redlands wreathed in orange groves and flowers, it is ideal in every respect.
ROBERT L. BOWLER, of Pomona, was born near Flora, Clay county, Ill., March 20, 1865, the son of William and Theresa Dye Bowler. The father's family came to Pomona in 1893 and settled there. Robert bought a tract of thirty-six acres on the Chino Grant, which is now a fine farm carried on with the latest, up-to-date methods.
He was married December 25, 1897, to Miss Minnie, daughter of C. W. Reiley, of Iola, I11. Mr. and Mrs. Bowler have two children, Roberta and Jessie.
SAMUEL J. BUNTING, of Bloomington, was born near Philadelphia, Pa. He was the son of John Burting, a member of one of the old Quaker families dating back to the time of William Penn. The family originally came from Derbyshire, England.
Mr. Bunting is a graduate of Cornell University from the Scientific Department. He was first employed as a civil engineer on a railway near Philadelphia. Later he engaged in the fire insurance business and was for twelve years accountant in the general offices of the Pennsylvania Railway in Philadelphia.
He came to California in 1888 in order to lead a freer and out-of-door life. After spend- ing some time at San Gabriel, he located at Bloomington and purchased thirty acres of land. He is secretary of the Citizens' Water Company of Bloomington and of the Rialto Irrigation District.
RUDOLPH A. BRUCKMAN, of San Bernardino, was born in Elgin, Ill., September 26, 1867, the son of Charles and Anna Bruckman. He received a common school educa- tion in his native city and there learned the barber's trade. In 1888 he came to California and located in San Bernardino, where he has resided ever since. He worked at his trade for a time and then opened a shop of his own. Later he took charge of a ranch owned by his father at the corner of Mt. Vernon and Highland avenues. He next bought out the establishment now known as the Palace Barber Shop, which he conducted from 1891 to I899. Mr. Bruckman's father still lives on the ranch north of the city. He has two brothers in California, one in charge of a large ranch of the South Riverside Land and
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
Water Company at Corona, and the other, Paul B. Bruckman, in charge of his father's ranch.
Mr. Bruckman married Miss Bertha M. Smith of San Bernardino and they have one son, Clyde Bruckman. He is a member of the I. O. O. F.
GEORGE W. DECROW, late of Halleck, was born in Lee county Iowa, August 8, 1842, the son of Isaac Decrow, a native of Vermont. His father imigrated to Iowa in the early days, and from there to Texas, where he farmed and engaged in stock raising. In 1861, George came to California, with his father and mother, where he located in the San Bernardino valley. He remained here until 1878, when he located on the Mojave river. Here he obtained 530 acres of government and railroad land, most of which is now under fence, and engaged in farming and stock raising.
In 1862 he married Miss L. J., daughter of Abraham Pollock. Her father died when she was two years old, and her mother later married Jesse Able, a pioneer of San Bernar- dino. Mr. and Mrs. Decrow had ten children, all living-Sylvanus W., of Oro Grande; Edward W., and family reside on home farm, he taking charge of same since his father's death, George A., of Oro Grande; Alva at home; Albert, Oro Grande: Ruby, graduate of Occidental College, Los Angeles : Ada 1, and Ida A, twins; and Jesse. Mr. Decrow died in February 1903.
ALBERT A. DECROW, of Halleck, was born in San Bernardino, August 29, 1876. He has been in the employ of the Red Star Lime Co., since the organization of the com- pany, and has been foreman for the company five years. He was married October 3, 1899 to Miss Effie, daughter of Benjamin May, for some years a rancher on the Mojave. They have one daughter, Alvaretta.
JAMES CARROLL, of Needles, California, was born in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, July 14. 1848. He received a common school education in Hamilton, and his first occupa- tion was as clerk in the employ of the Great Western Railway company, in the office of the chief engineer at Hamilton, and afterward in the Track Superintendent's office in Lon- don, as Assistant Track Superintendent, at Palmerston, Canada, working for the company eleven years.
Coming to the United States he enlisted in the 5th., U. S., Cavalry, General Merritt's old command-at Buffalo, N. Y. This troop saw much service fighting Indians. After en- listment they were stationed at Fort D. A. Russell, then at Fort Washakie, and Fort Sidney, Nebraska. During much of the time he was engaged in scout service. He received his discharge as Ist Sergeant, Dec. 1883, and at once re-enlisted in the 9th. Infantry, receiving final discharge from the service at Fort Mojave, Dec. 18, 1888. Mr. Carroll saw service in the Ute and Cheyenne Indian campaigns of 1879; and was with the troops sent to subdue the Indians after the Meeker massacre in Colorado. He was also with the troops under cammand of Major Gen. James F. Wade, then Lieutenant Colonel of the Tenth Cavalry, at the capture of the Chineckew Indians at Fort Apache.
After his discharge from service Mr. Carroll came to Needles, and in 1889, built the Cottage House. He has been engaged in various lines of business-real estate, lumber and as undertaker and embalmer, a business which he still conducts. Mr. Carroll was elected Justice of the Peace in 1893, serving until 1899. Mr. Carroll married Miss Ellen Furman, of Kingman, Jan. 1, 1890, who died March 3, 1903.
ROBERT F. BERRYMAN, of San Bernardino, was born July 21, 1859, in Providence, R. I., the son of David and Muriel Young Berryman. His father was employed as weaver in the cotton mills. During the sixties, the family moved to Illinois, and settled near Bloom- ington. In 1878, they again moved westward to Garden City, Mo., where Robert engaged in farming.
In 1886, Mr. Berryman spent a short time in Arizona, and then came to San Bernardino, where he has since lived. He worked first in Waterman's Dairy, then began boring wells, using hand tools, and taking contracts for boring two and three inch wells. Later he was employed in the grocery store of A. M. Ham, for a number of years. Mr. Berryman joined the Fire Department as "call man" in 1890, and has an exemption certificate. He has served two terms as foreman, and also served as assistant chief. In 1900, he was appointed Supervising Janitor of all the schools of the city, with headquarters at the High School, which he attends personally.
Mr. Berryman married Sarah C. Newman, at Garden City, Mo., about 1881. They have three children, one, Ira Clifford, being dead, the others, Adwra and Golden S. Berryman. Mr. Berryman is a member of the Knights of Pythias and of the Woodman of the World.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
PHILO R. BROWN, late of Redlands, was born in Norfolk, Conn., August 16, 1837. He was a son of Seth Brown, who was a direct descendant of Peter Brown, one of the original Plymouth Colony settlers.
Mr. Brown grew to manhood in Connecticut, and began life as a salesman in a grocery house in New Haven. He remained in business in New Haven, until on account of fail- ing health, he came to Lugonia, in Dec. 1881. At the first sale of land in the Redlands tract, he purchased through his sister, Mrs. Seymour, a ten acre tract on Center street, and another on Cypress avenue. He sold the Center street property the following year. The other land is now the home of Mrs. Brown, and is a fine orange grove. Mr. Brown was clerk of the first school board of Redlands, and took an active part in building the first school house. He was also an active member of the Congregational church, and for two years leader of the Bible class. He died May 8, 1888.
He married Miss Sarah A. Lewis, in 1868, a daughter of Enoch B. Lewis, who was a prominent man in state and local affairs. He was a member of the Connecticut State Legis- lature, and was prominent in educational affairs. Miss Lewis graduated from the Hampton High School, and took a course in the Connecticut State Normal School, at New Britain. She was at the time of her marriage, a teacher in the public schools of New Haven. Mr. and Mr. Brown had four sons, R. Quincy, now of Riverside; Lieutenant Lewis K., of Red- lands ; Cornelius S: and John P. E., at home.
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