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 87
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In 1886 he was married at Taylor, Texas, to Miss Barbara Blum. They have seven children,
CHARLES HENRY LINDNER, of San Bernardino, was born in Hoboken, N. J., in 1849, the son of Nicholas C. Lindner, a tin-smith by trade, and a hotel-keeper by occupation. Charles H. early showed talent for music, and was consequently carefully trained. For a number of years he played the alto cornet in the band of the 21st Infantry, U. S. A. He came to California in 1869, landing in San Francisco, where he remained for six months. Since locating in San Bernardino he has been engaged in the hotel and restaurant business, and also interested in connection with Judge H. C. Rolfe in orange culture on Colton Terrace.
In 1893, Mr. Lindner married Agnes Hortense, daughter of Hon. H. C. Rolfe. They have six children, two sons and four daughters.
A. G. HUBBARD was born in Northern Wisconsin in 1847. He acquired in his youth a knowledge of chemistry, metallurgy and mining engineering. He started to cross the plains in 1865, riding on horseback from the Missouri river to the City of Mexico and back through Texas to the Pacific coast, which he reached in the fall of 1867. He took charge of a copper mine for an English company in 1868. He followed mining in the capacity of superintendent of mines and reduction works and doing expert work, reporting on prospects, in Arizona, California, New Mexico and old Mexico, until he had accumulated money enough to engage in mining for himself, which occupation he followed until 1893. On one of his vacations in 1878 Mr. Hubbard visited this valley, his object being to build a flume to carry lumber from the San Bernardino mountains to the valley, the arrangement between Mr. Hubbard and his three associates being that each would put up $100,000 to carry out the enterprise. On in- vestigation Mr. Hubbard found that all the waters had already been appropriated and were in the hands of the Bear Valley company. Therefore Mr. Hubbard reported against the proposition, but was so much impressed with the beauty of the valley and its probable future that he invested about $150,000 in real estate on his own account, prophesying then that a great deal of money could be made in Redlands in growing oranges on account of the immunity from frost and from insect pests, but his love of mining made it impossible for him to change his modes of life entirely and to study an occupation entirely new to him, when he had spent a lifetime in the study of mines and mining engineering. Therefore, although leaving all of his investments here, not putting an acre upon the market, he went back to his old occupation, winding up with the purchase, development and sale of the Harqua Hala bonanza in Arizona, which he and his old mining partner, George W. Bowers, opened up at an expense of $273,000-a property from which they took over $1,100,000, and then sold to an English syndicate for $1,250,000.
Retiring from active mining life, Mr. Hubbard, not thinking it likely that he would be satisfied to spend the remainder of his days in Redlands, told his wife that before building a permanent home it would be advisable to travel for a year or two. After two years of travel, taking in the entire United States, Mexico and the islands of the gulf, a month after his return to Redlands he had specifications drawn and men at work demolishing the old Terrace Villa, one of his early investments, and transforming it into a comfortable country house. Mr. Hubbard spent his first night in Redlands in that old hostelry when it was but partly opened, and has retained the name for his present home.
ANDREW LEEDOM, of Del Rosa, was born near Zanesville, Ohio, Dec. 1I, 1822, the son of Thomas Leedom, a farmer, and native of Pennsylvania, and an early settler of Ohio. Andrew lived at Zanesville until about twenty-five, then went to Missouri, where he passed a couple of years, and in 1849 started for California, by the southern route and Salt Lake, driving about 9,000 sheep, belonging to an uncle, James Moore. He got through with about 1,000 of the animals. He teamed between Sacramento, Hangtown and other mining towns for several years, then returned east. He made two other trips to California and in
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1873 returned with his family to locate permanently, settling on a farm near San Bernardino. Later he took up 120 acres of land near Arrowhead Springs.
He married in 1860 in Lynn Co., Iowa, Miss Catherine, daughter of Levi Stearns, who was a jeweler by trade and pursued that business in San Bernardino, for a time before his death.
Mr. and Mrs. Leedom have six children, Charles, of Del Rosa, Jane, wife of Amos Bemis. Ethel, wife of Milton Canterbury ; Andrew J., of Del Rosa; Mary, Mrs. Frank Bradbury, of Del Rosa : John, at home.
Andrew J. Leedom, of Del Rosa, was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Jan. 10, 1873. He came to San Bernardino with his family as a child.
He was married April 18, 1901, to Miss Verbena Estes, daughter of Mrs. Emma Windle. They have one daughter, Grace Adel, and a son, Andrew LeRoy. They are members of the Methodist church of Del Rosa.
Charles Leedom, of Del Rosa, was born in Iowa, June 9, 1864. He was married June 10, 1903, to Miss Annie Leuschen. They have one son, John Donald Leedom.
WILLIAM M. MEREDITH, one of the American pioneers of the Rincon Grant, is a native of New York, born in Genesee county, in the town of Bethany, September 30th, 1833. His father was Stephen Miland Merideth, a native of Penn- sylvania, his mother, Mary Smith, a native of New York, and a daughter of Captain Elisha Smith, of Bethany. Steph n M. Meredith was brought up near Philadelphia, in the Society of Quakers, and was by occupation a mill- wright. He died in 1847, in New York, at the age of 51 years. William grew up in his native town, and when merging into manhood, started out as a traveling salesman, and collector, which occupation he pursued about five years. He left his home in 1865, with ahout 1400 head of sheep, which he drove to Clark county, Mo., where he en- gaged in stock raising for a period of ten years. Subse- quently he came to California, in 1875. and located on the Rincon Grant, which he made his permanent home. He married in New York, Maria, daughter of Dewitt Howard, a resident of Alexandria, in Genesee county. She died in 1878, leaving three children, Louis A., of Pomona; Edgar D., of San Francisco, and Maggie, the wife of Frank E. Slaughter of Rincon.
Mr. Meredith's wide and varied experience has given him progressive ideas, which he carries out in his daily avocation. He is comfortably situated at Rincon, where he expects to tranquilly pass the remainder of his days.
CHRISTOPHER MEYER of San Bernardino, was WILLIAM M. MEREDITH born in Germany, Jan. 19, 1850, the son of Herman and Dorothy Niedermeyer Meyer and one of a family of eight children. His father was a shoemaker. The family landed in New York July 4, 1862, in the midst of the National celebration. Not aware of the sig- nificance of the day, and hearing the report of cannon and the explosion of fire-crackers, the whole shipload of people at once came to the conclusion that a battle was in progress and were very much disturbed in consequence. The Meyers' went immediately to northern Indiana, and settled on a farm. where Christopher passed his youth. On leaving home, he was employed in a store in Chicago, and later opened a general merchandise store for him- self in New Cambria, Mo., where he also owned a farm. He remained in this state until 1878, when he removed to Kansas, and for the next ten years, was occupied as merchant, and in farming. In the fall of 1888 he came to California and purchased a ranch in Perris which property he still retains. In Dec. 1889, he opened a grocery store in San Bernardino, where he also buys and sells hay and grain, and has continued in that business with the exception of dropping the grocery business, substituting a line of fruits, plants, seeds and poultry supplies. He married Miss Stadtman in Missouri, and they are the parents of eight children, the eldest of whom is now studying medecine in the Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia. Mr. and Mrs. Meyer are members of the M. E. church, North.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY.
J. P. LINFESTY, Highland, is a native of the Province of Quebec, Canada, born Angust 17, 1848, the son of Abraham and Mary Bragg Linfesty. The father was a native of the Isle of Jersey, and the mother of Devonshire, England. Mr. Linfesty went to sea at the age of fourteen, serving as first cabin boy, and then before the mast. He followed sea- faring for about five years, and then became a lumberman, on the Ottawa river, which busi- ness he followed until he came to California in 1876. He located at Riverside when that town was still mostly vacant space, and lived there until 1887, when he removed to Highland, to take charge of a forty-acre grove, for L. C. Waite. He still has charge of this property, and also has a fine grove of his own.
Mr. Linfesty, was married at Riverside, Dec. 19. 1882, to Miss Emily Erickson. - They have nine children, eight sons and one daughter. The oldest, William, is in the U. S. Navy, now in Asiatic waters ; John, Charles, Fred, Harry, Lyman, Milton, Mattie and Ralph.
ABRAHAM B. LILES, of Rialto, was born in Tennessee in 1830. He was the son of Samuel Liles, a Baptist missionary. In 1842, the family removed to Missouri, where he received a common school education. In 1850, Mr. Liles came to California, and located at Humboldt Bay, where he engaged in the lumber business, and later stock-raising. He also mined in California and Montana, and was interested in the stock business in Idaho. He then engaged in farming and stock raising in Arizona. Texas and New Mexico. In 1896, he located at Rialto, where he is the owner of a fine orange grove.
Mr. Liles has been three times married. The present Mrs. Liles was Miss Anna T. Hunter of Philadelphia, widow of John J. O'Neill.
E. E. LEACH, of Ontario, was born May 13, 1826, at Barre, Vermont. He was the son of David Leach, a native of Chester, N. H., and of Drusilla Wood Leach, born in New York state. His father was a contracting millwright, and a practical thor- ough-going man in comfortable circumstances.
E. E. Leach was the eldest child. He was edu- acted in Vermont, and then removed to New York, where he learned his father's trade, and for a num- ber of years followed it, building flour and lumber mills along the Hudson river, and in Canada. About 1856 he located in Cedar Rapids, lowa, and engaged in the manufacture of agricultural imple- ments. He was for nine years a member of the City Council. He first visited California in 1877, spending the winter in Santa Barbara, for his health. In 1884, he came to California to locate, and in 1886 brought his family to Ontario, where he had pur- chased propertv, and he has since improved a valu- able residence and orchard property. He has taken an active interest in the sale of real estate and the improvement of his home town.
Mr. Leach married in 1860 Miss Sarah Elizabeth daughter of Dr. Van Dyck, of Oswego, N. Y. She is also a niece of Rev. Dr. Cornelius Van Dyck, who founded the mission establishment of Beyreut, Tur- key, and who first translated the Bible into the Arabic ABRAHAM B. LILES tongue. They have four children, Margaret L., wife of Thos. Landale, of Omaha, Neb. ; Henry W., man- ager of the California Citrus Union; Charlotte E .. wife of Fred E. Whyte, of Ontario, and James, who resides in Omaha. The family are act- ive members of the Congregational Church.
HENRY SANDOZ, is an esteemed citizen of San Bernardino county, and owns a fine fruit and vinyard property, located on the Chino Grant, about midway between Chino and Pomona. He was born in Canton, Neufchatel, Switzerland, Sept. 20th, 1837. His father, Frederick Louis Sandoz, was a successful farmer, and accorded the son a thorough education, whereupon he taught for a period of about ten years, in the higher schools of Chau-de-Fonds, and other places in his native country. He came to New York in the year 1870, and spent four years in Kansas, and in 1875 came to Los, Angeles, locating near Santa Monica.
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where he engaged in the bee and honey business. In 1881, he located his present place of eighty-three acres, forty-two of which are devoted to raising Mission, Zinfandel, and other wine grapes, which he makes into wine of excellent grades and quality. Mr. Sandoz has five sons and four daughters.
W. H. WRIGHT, of Colton, was born at Gloversville, N. Y., Sept 7, 1840, the son of William Wright, a farmer. He received his primary education in the public schools, and attended a college at Concord, N. H., On the breaking out of the Civil War, he enlisted in
W. H. WRIGHT
Co. K., 7th N. Y. Infantry, Volunteers, un- der command of Col. James B. Mckean, and was assigned to the army of the Potomac. Mr. Wright, during his service took part in twenty battles. He was wounded at the battle of the Wilderness, May 6, 1864. He was the first man on the captured defenses at Petersburg, where he received a wound in the leg. When Gen. Hyde came along and noticed his condition, he said ,"you should go to the rear," but the soldier re- plied, "General, I promised my captain to stay with him as long as I can stand." He received a commission as lieutenant in rec- ognition of his services on this occasion. For conspicious service at Gettysburg, he received a medal from the state of New York. At the close of the war, Mr. Wright took up his residence in Concord, N. H. In 1877, he came to California, and located first at San Diego. In 1880 he settled at Colton, where he has since resided. He has always taken an active part in religious work, and ministered without compensation, to the congregations of the Methodist de- nomination at Colton, Rialto, Highland and Highgrove, besides establishing a place of worship for members of this denomination at Perris, Riverside county. He has been a life-long Republican, and has taken active interest in political affairs. In 1889 he was appointed postmaster of Colton, by Presi- dent Harrison, and served four years.
In 1872, Mr. Wright married Miss Laura A. Turner, a native of Vermont. They have one son, Harry L., who, after graduating from the Colton High School, is now taking a course at Scranton, Pa. Mr. and Mrs. Wright occupy a beautiful home in the midst of their orange grove. Mr. Wright is the owner of other valuable property in the vicinity.
JAMES LA NIECE, of San Bernardino, was born on the Island of Jersey, May 8, 1840. He was the son of John and Pricilla LaNiece. His school days were passed in the old country, where he learned the trade of brick mason. He first came to America in 1861, arriving in New Orleans in Sept. of that year; but after five weeks stay re-crossed the Atlantic to Bordeaux, France, returning to America July 29, 1862, this time landing in Boston, Mass. After a few days spent in Boston, he took passage for San Francisco, via Cape Horn, arriving at his destination January 4, 1863. He obtained work at his trade continuing until June 1864, and then enlisted in the U. S. army, Co. "F", California Infantry, in which he served principally in patrol and provost duty in the state, and was mustered out of service at Benecia Barracks, October, 1865. After his discharge he went to work in the mines until 1868, then at brick laying in San Francisco, going from there to Los Angeles, where he lived until the latter part of 1870, when he was given the contract to build the Catholic church in San Bernardino, and removing to this city, has remained and worked at his trade since that date.
Mr. La Niece has been twice marricd. His first wife was Miss Mary McNally, of San Francisco, who died in San Bernardino, in 1872-In 1873, Mr. La Niece married Miss Mary Clews, of San Bernardino. They have a family of four children; three boys are
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
members of Co. "K," 7th Infantry, N. G. C. Edwin, W. D. and W. H., and a daughetr, Priscilla, Mr. and Mrs. La Nicce are members of the Methodist church of San Bernardino, and active in church work. Mr. La Niece is a member of the G. A. R. Post.
JULIUS MARK of San Bernardino, is a native of Switzerland, the son of Gabriel and Barbara Mark. His father was a maker of cutlery by trade, and was in the service of the Swiss government as postmaster prior to coming to America, in 1852. The family settled near Bethlehem, Pa., and the father also received appointment as postmaster in Pennsylvania, a position which he retained for several years. The family sold their property in Pennsylvania, and removing west, took up a homestead in Atchison county, Kansas, where they lived nine years.
Mr. Marks came to San Bernardino in 1887, and purchased their present ranch property, consisting of seven and one-half acres of land. He married in Bethlehem, June 27, 1865, Miss Francis Michel. They have a family of eight children, five of whom are still living --- Louisa V., the wife of George Scott, of Oakland; Florence, the wife of Arthur Rees, now residing in the East; Gabriel, deceased; Herman, employed in the mountains; Julia, Mrs. Huley Poppet ; Geo. W., at home; Edward, deceased; Eleanor Teresa, at home. The family are members of the Reformed church.
JOHN O. McDONALD, of Pomona, was born February 16, 1828, in County Kerry, Ireland. He came to America with his family when about twelve years of age. They lived in Quebec, Buffalo, Detroit and Chicago. Finally his father, Thomas, located on a farm near Dubuque, Iowa, where he lived for twenty years. John remained in Iowa about five years then worked in the lead mines at Galena, Ill. Here he met Grant, who was then liv- ing in this place. He returned to Iowa after about three years and in 1849 he fitted out and started for California overland via the northern route. He entered California hy Lawson's cut-off and reached the Sacramento river after a journey of seven months, arriving Octo- ber 7, 1849. He at once began mining and for several years mined successfully in Sierra and Nevada counties. Later he farmed in Merced county, and in 1887 located on his pres- ent place, where he has about 160 acres of land.
In 1848, Mr. McDonald was married to Miss Elizabeth Long, a native of Wayne county, Ohio. Their children are, William Thomas, of Merced county; Margaret, Mrs. James A. Crawford, of Pomona; Mary, Mrs. Thomas Stinnett, of Fresno county; Lizzie, de- ceased, was the wife of Herbert H. Bean. She left a daughter, Orisine Mary, who resides with her grandfather.
PATRICK HENRY LEAHY, of Victorville, was born in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, November 2, 1862. He was a son of Daniel Leahy, a locomotive engineer on the old Bos- ton and Albany railway. He learned the trade of stone cutter and remained in his native town until about 1882, when he removed to Green Lake county, Wisconsin. In 1887, he came to California and was first employed by the Hesperia Company. He came to Victor to get out paving blocks for street work in Los Angeles. Later he located quarries at Vic- tor and for a number of years took ont large quantities of paving and building stone, which he shipped for general building purposes. He furnished granite for the San Bernardino Court House and about $14,000 worth of material for the new Ferry House in San Francisco. In 1899, he leased his quarries and purchased the Turner Hotel. He has land holdings about Victor and in interested in water development.
In April, 1889, he married Miss Jennie B., daughter of Robert Turner, of Victor. They have two sons, Harold and Roy.
REIMER REIMERS, of Chino, is a native of Germany, born December 15, 1822. He was the son of Karleton Reimers, a man of many resources, as he was a brick-layer, a baler and also a farmer. The son was brought up on the farm and at an early age was put in charge of the farm work. When about twenty-two he, in company with two brothers, John and Frederick, came to this country and located in Pennsylvania, where they secured work on a railroad at Pittsburgh. Later Mr. Reimers went to Michigan, where he worked in lumber and brick yards and about the lumber camps of Northern Wisconsin. After this he purchased a quarter section of land in Nehama county, Nebraska, and engaged in farming. He added to this until he had 640 acres of land which he still owns. Later he came to Cali- fornia and located on the Chino grant. He now has 20 acres here which is devoted to various crops and fruits.
In 1849, Mr. Reimers married in Peoria county, Ill., Miss Sarah K. Jane, daughter of Louis Anderson, a farmer. She was born in Ohio. They have five children, Alonzo, in Chino; Louis and Lemuel, in Nebraska; Francis and Justus, at Chino.
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HISTORY OF SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
FRANCIS REIMERS, of Chino, was born in Nebraska, September 26, 1856. He came to California in 1881. He married Miss Chloe, daughter of John Ashley, and they have two children, Nora and Clarence. Mr. Reimers owns ten acres of land.
FRANK M. JOHNSON, of San Bernardino, was born in Missouri, February 22, 1844. He was the son of Alfred and Hulda Sanford Johnson, both natives of Kentucky. In 1844, the family removed from Missouri to Arkansas, locating about fifteen miles from Van Buren. In 1849, one of the Johnson boys came to California, returning in 1852 to Ar- kansas on a visit, and the same year Frank M. Johnson and his father with two married daughters, Mrs. Margaret James and Mrs. Lucy Russel; and two unmarried daughters, Hulda and Armenia, came to California. Hulda became Mrs. Pearl and is now a resident of San Bernardino. The family located on the Santa Anita rancho, and afterwards removed to El Monte, where the father died in 1855. The mother lived until 1880 and died at San Bernardino.
Frank M. Johnson engaged in freighting for a number of years; but since 1865 has made his home in San Bernardino. In 1879, Mr. Johnson was elected, on the democratic ticket, assessor of San Bernardino county and his long continuance in that official capacity is a test of his popularity. Mr. Johnson has held office as school trustee at various times and was, in 1900, a member of the City Board of Education.
Mr. Johnson married Miss Mary K., daughter of Alexander Kier, a pioneer of San Bernardino. They are the parents of three children : William A., Alexander K., and Mar- guerite P., widow of R. C. Gallaher. Mrs. Johnson has been prominent in the organization of the Society of Associated Charities, and largely interested and instrumental in the estab- lishment and prosperity of the Orphans' Home of San Bernardino.
Mr. Johnson has been for many years a member of Token Lodge, I. O. O. F., and was one of the charter members; also a charter member of Valley Lodge, Knights of Pythias. The Johnson residence on Waterman avenue, near Base Line, is one of the finest suburban homes in San Bernardino county.
DAVID C. MUEL, of Rialto, was born in Vevay, Indiana, in 1858. His father, Ed- ward Muel, was a steamboat owner, and carried on an extensive trade between points 011 the Ohio and upper Mississippi and New Orleans. He also had large farming interests in Ohio. He died about 1883, aged seventy-two. The mother, Millie Bray Muel, was a des- cendant of an old English family of wealth and standing.
David C. learned the trade of shoemaker. At the age of twenty-one he went to North Carolina and worked in the turpentine camps, for the benefit of his health. Later he went to Missouri and then to Kansas. There he lived for twelve years in Lyon county, engaged in stock raising.
In 1886, he was sent to California to look after two ranches of his employer, W. P. Martin and became one of the first settlers in this colony. At the time of the arrival there was no building except a board and canvas shack used by George Scagga as a boarding house for about one hundred men then employed by the Semi-tropic Land and Water Company. Mr. Muel completed the first residence built in the settlement. He began the manufacture of cement pipe at Rialto and is now extensively engaged in the business. He ยท has invested considerably in Rialto real estate and has been one of her leading citizens.
He married Miss Eliza Stephens in Lyon county, Kansas. They have five children living, Elizabeth, Nora, Clyde, Hazel, Theodore R.
JOHN W. LEAVENS, of Highland, was born at Ellisburg, Jefferson county. New York, April 20, 1833, the son of John and Tirzah Emerson Leavens, both natives of Ver- mont. They had two sons and three daughters. One of the daughters married Cyrus D. Haven, a well known pioneer settler of Highland who died in 1888.
Mr. Leavens spent his boyhood on the home farm. In 1859, he started westward and reached Pike's Peak, then returned to Wisconsin and later to New York. About 1870, he came to the Pacific coast, arriving at San Francisco. He spent four years in Portland, Oregon, then returned to San Francisco and in 1875, came south to Los Angeles. He lo- cated in Highland and purchased property which he has improved. Mr. Leavens was mar- ried in Vernon, Michigan, to Miss Alice Hovey. They have one son, Tilden.
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