George Cooley, President of the Board of Supervisors of San Bernardino County, is one of the pioneers in this valley. As a farmer he has been eminently successful. An Englishman by birth, and a sailor by occupation, he brought with him to America the push and determination characteristic of his country-men, and a practical knowledge of human nature gained by his experiences as a sailor on the “high seas.” He was born in Kent, England, in 1831, and served four years’ apprenticeship as a sailor. May 11, 1853, when eleven miles north of Monte Christo, in the West India Islands, aboard the ship Camillus, Mr. Cooley was married to Miss Ellen Tolputt, also of English birth. June 5, 1853, they landed safe in New Orleans.
The following is copied from a diary kept by Mr. Cooley: “June 6, started for St. Louis; arrived June 13; left for Keokuk the 14th and arrived the 15th; left for Kanesville, June 21, arrived there July 16; left for Utah, July 18, and arrived there October 16; lay over there three and one-half years, and had much trouble and annoyance from the Mormons; started from Nephi City, March 6, 1857, and arrived in San Bernardino valley May 11, 1857, and camped on the bank of the Santa Ana river.”
The following is a list of the names of the party known as the English colony: James Singleton, Captain Isaac Bessant, J. Rebbeck, W. Watts, W. Witby, A. Hunt, H. Goodsell, J. Witworth, Sydney Mee and George Cooley. At Santa Clara they were joined by a Mr. Williams with his family in a wagon. Mr. Williams ha I lived among the Indians and understood their language, and he conversed and treated with them, and thus the colonists got through safely, although threatened by the Mormons.
Mr. Cooley first purchased 200 acres of land on the Santa Ana River at $3.50 per acre, and in 1862 he bought seventy acres where he now lives in Washington school district. He has added to this from time to time until he now owns one of the finest ranches in Southern California, embracing an area of 400 acres, all in cultivation except some washed land near the river. Mr. and Mrs. Cooley have raised a very large family, sixteen in all, three of whom are now dead, viz.: Anna, who married William L. Miller, and died at the age of twenty three; George M., who is a leading hardware dealer in San Bernardino; John, who has been one of the most successful dairymen in the valley; Ed. M., who is a successful ranchman; Louisa, Charles Cammillus, named for the ship Cammillus and Charles R. Day, her captain, on which ship Mr. and Mrs. Cooley were married; Frederick, Ellen, Fannie, Frank, William A., Victoria, who died in infancy; Geneva, also died young; Rosa, Scott and Norman H. Mr. Cooley belongs to the Democratic party. For seven years he has held the office of Supervisor, and for the last three years has been president of the board.
His integrity and ability as an officer is unquestioned, and he has the confidence and respect not only of his own party but of all parties, and when elected to his present office ran ahead of his ticket. For twelve years before being elected supervisor he was road overseer in his district, and is perhaps as well acquainted with the affairs of San Bernardino County as any man within her borders. He has a fine residence two miles south of Colton, where, with the faithful partner of his youth, he is spending the evening of life.