Last Updated on September 22, 2011 by
Ottley Papineau, is a manufacturer and dealer in harness, saddles, buggy robes, etc., and also proprietor of one of the leading business establishments of Riverside. His products are well known in the county and his trademark “O. P.” is a sufficient guarantee for first-class material and workmanship. The subject of this sketch is a native of England, dating his birth in London, in 1846. The first ten years of his life was spent in that city and at Canterbury in attending school. In 1856 he went to Australia and joined his father, who had preceded him to that country in 1852. His father located in Sydney, and there Mr. Papineau engaged in schooling until the summer of 1858, when he removed with his parents to Melbourne, Victoria, and attended school there until seventeen years of age. He was then apprenticed at the harness and saddlers’ trade, and after serving his apprenticeship worked as a journeyman in that city until 1874.
In that year he immigrated to the United States, and upon his arrival in California located in Stockton. The next year he decided to seek a home in Southern California, and came to Los Angeles, where he obtained employment at his trade with Bell & Green, and later was manager of a well-known harness shop of William M. Osborne. In 1882, seeking a desirable location in which to establish himself in business, he came to Riverside, and in February of that year opened a harness establishment on Main street, between Ninth and Tenth streets. May 1, 1890, he removed to the new store on Eighth Street, in the Daily Press building, and Mr. Papineau, by the excellent character of his work and materials and liberal dealing soon secured a large patronage. Mr. Papineau is well known in Riverside and throughout the county as well as in Los Angeles. He is a thorough mechanic and first-class businessman, and by his industry has built up a profitable trade.
He is a progressive citizen and has proven a desirable acquisition to the business and social circles of Riverside. Mr. Papineau is a strong supporter of schools and churches and has for years been junior warden of All Saints’ Episcopal Church of Riverside. He is also prominent in the fraternal societies, being a member of Evergreen Lodge, No. 259, F. & A. M., also a member of the lodge, encampment and canton, I. O. O. F., and also a member of the Rebekah degree lodge of the same order. In political matters he is a supporter of the Republican Party.
Mr. Papineau is the owner of a pleasant residence on the corner of High and Ninth streets. He was married in 1880, wedding Miss Mary Hunt, the daughter of John and Mary (Rudd) Hunt, well-known residents of Los Angeles. Her parents are both natives of England.
From the marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Papineau there are three children living, viz.: Lou A., Alice H. and Glen. The first child died in 1884, at the age of two and one-half years. The parents of Mr. Papineau, John and Elizabeth (Richardson) Papineau, are of English birth. His father spent many years in business pursuits in Australia, but he is now a resident of Riverside.