California

Biography of Albert E. Payne

Albert E. Payne came to California in August 1883, and located upon a ten-acre tract in Ontario, San Bernardino County, which he purchased in 1882. Immediately upon his arrival he engaged in horticultural pursuits, and in September of the same year established a general merchandise store on the west side of Euclid Avenue. This was the first store established in the Ontario colony, and the pioneer store of the now thriving city of Ontario. Mr. Payne conducted his store and horticultural industry until October 1886, when he sold out both interests and located in Chino Township, in the Chino School … Read more

Biography of Duff G. Maynard

Duff G. Maynard, of the firm of Trowbridge & Maynard, is a native of California, dating his birth in San Francisco in 1865. His parents were Lafayette and Mary E. (Green) Maynard, natives of Virginia and representatives of some of the oldest families of that State. His father was an officer in the United States Navy, and participated in the Mexican War, after which he resigned from the service and located in San Francisco as a capitalist and real-estate dealer. He died in that city in 1874. The subject of this sketch was reared in San Francisco and educated in, … Read more

Biography of Charles C. Trowbridge

Charles C. Trowbridge, the head of the firm of Trowbridge & Maynard, was born in Detroit, Michigan, in 1864, and was reared and schooled in that city until 1876, when he came to San Francisco. The first five years in that city was spent in the University College and Trinity School, and at the age of seventeen years he entered into mercantile pursuits in the well-known house of Cunningham, Curtis & Welch, and remained in their employ until he came to Riverside in the fall of 1887, and the next spring entered into the present business. Mr. Trowbridge promptly identified … Read more

Biography of Horace Saunders

Horace Saunders, one of the representative orange-growers of Riverside, owns a ten-acre tract on Colton avenue, on the corner of Russell street, about one mile north of the business center of Riverside. This grove was planted with seedling oranges as early as 1872 by its then owner, W. P Russell, and later many of the seedlings were replaced by budded trees. The grove now contains 800 seedlings and 400 budded orange trees, besides a small variety of deciduous fruits for family use. Mr. Saunders purchased the place in 1880, and has since conducted its cultivation. He has made many improvements … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Amos Stiles

Amos Stiles, retired, San Bernardino, was born in Kennebec, Maine, in 1823. His father, Israel Stiles, a farmer, moved to the northern part of New Brunswick. In 1843 the subject of this sketch went to Ohio, where he remained four years, and then returned to New Brunswick, where he remained until 1819. He was married in Nova Scotia, in 1849, to Miss Rebecca O’Brien, and soon after his marriage he moved to Utah, where he lived four years. In 1860 he left with teams for California, and arrived in San Bernardino in December of the same year. Here he bought … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Thomas Thornton Cook

Thomas Thornton Cook, a citizen of San Bernardino County, was born near Nashville, Tennessee, March 29, 1830 His parents, James and Rhoda (Falkner) Cook, were both from Georgia and moved to Tennessee soon after their marriage. They had a family of twelve children, of whom our subject is the eleventh. His first experience in business for himself was a journey across the plains to California in 1851. He stopped for two years in Oregon, and then came on to California, in 1853, and mined in the northern part of the State for seven years. In 1860 he went to Virginia … Read more

Biography of Stephen Squire

Stephen Squire. The history of Riverside’s business enterprises could not be considered complete without mention of the well-known undertaking establishment conducted by the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. His undertaking parlors and warerooms are located at Perine Block, Eighth Street, and are the most complete in their appointments of all in the city. His enterprise is characterized by having the best to be obtained, among which is a $2,500 hearse of the latest and most approved style, and a large variety of caskets, metallic, natural and stained wood, cloth, velvet, silk and satin covered, etc. Mr. Squire is also … Read more

Biography of Edward Lester

Edward Lester was born at Covington, Kentucky, in 1829. His parents, Joseph and Elizabeth (Holmes) Lester, were natives of Yorkshire, England. They came to the United States in 1818 and settled in Indiana and later located in Covington. There his father was engaged in building, and later as an employee in the first cotton factory that was ever erected west of the Alleghany Mountains. In 1830 Mr. Lester’s parents settled in Hamilton County, Ohio, and engaged in agricultural pursuits. There the subject of this sketch was reared and schooled. His schooling was such as could be obtained in the common … Read more

Biography of James Boyd

James Boyd, a pioneer of Riverside, came to the colony in 1872, all his worldly goods consisting of a farm team of four horses, four cows, a lot of chickens and a few household effects, and eight dollars in cash; but he had a reserve capital of health, energy, intelligence, and a determination to succeed. He secured a squatter’s claim to seventy-three acres of Iand about two miles north of Riverside, and later an adjoining tract of eighty acres, upon which he camped with his family, his only shelter being a shanty 10 x 10, devoid of protection from the … Read more

Biography of Frank Petchner

Frank Petchner is one of Riverside’s pioneer settlers. He arrived in Riverside in December 1870 and has ever since been identified with her interests and enterprises. Mr. Petchner had spent many years in frontier life in the Territories, and had been engaged in mercantile and mining enterprises, and had made and lost fortunes; but when he located at Riverside he was without means, and dependent for the support of his family upon such labor as could be obtained. He was a blacksmith and opened a blacksmith shop on the corner of Sixth and Main streets; he also bought a block … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Joseph H. Kelly

Joseph H. Kelly, of Mission District, San Bernardino County, is known far and wide as the most extensive dealer and trainer of horses in the county. He has a fine ranch of 100 acres, on which he has recently built a neat and comfortable residence. For the past ten years he has given his entire attention to horses, and at present has about fifty head, some of them as well bred as any in the State. Last spring he sold a pair of trotters for $6,000. Mr. Kelly is a native of Quincy, Illinois, and came to California in 1861. … Read more

Biography of Dr. William H. Ball

Among the noticeable fine orange groves of Riverside is that owned by the above named gentleman. His grove, of twenty acres in extent, is situated on the southeast corner of Cypress and Bandini avenues, about one and one-half miles south of the business centre of Riverside. Dr. Ball purchased the land in 1875, and the next spring commenced its improvement, first planting 800 seedling orange trees and the balance to deciduous fruits: the last named he has since replaced with citrus fruits. At this writing his orange grove comprises 1,150 seedlings and 800 budded trees of the Mediterranean Sweets, Washington … Read more

Biography of John Down

John Down came to Riverside in 1874, his only capital being his trade as bricklayer, combined with an energetic disposition and a willingness to labor. He purchased block 2, range 7, on Main Street, between Second and Third streets, planting the same in oranges. The same year he commenced work for Mr. E. M. Sheldon, who had started the pioneer brickyards on the west side of Buena Vista avenue, north of town, and two years later he entered into partnership under the firm name of Sheldon & Down. The brick-yards were gradually increased to meet the growing demands, and conducted … Read more

Biographical Sketch of C. E. Owen

C. E. Owen, a pioneer of 1849, residing on the corner of Olive and Eureka streets, Redlands, was born in Sheffield, Ohio. March 16, 1840, he left Ohio for California, shipping his horses and wagons to Chicago. At St. Joe, Missouri, he traded his horses for oxen. He left Iowa Point, May 10, 1849, with a company consisting of 100 wagons, and September 10 of the same year they arrived in the Sacramento valley with eighty-three wagons, under Captain Dorland. Mr. Owen can tell some interesting incidents of the journey across the plains, and of his experiences as a miner … Read more

Biography of Thomas R. Cundiff

Thomas R. Cundiff came to California in 1874, and the next year located in Riverside. Upon his arrival he sought work as a nurseryman, and first worked for Mr. Carleton, and then Mr. Russell. He soon became familiar with horticultural pursuits, and purchasing a team and wagon engaged in improving and planting orchards and orange grove lands for non-residents. He worked for several years at this, and some of the now finest fruit groves in the colony were those he planted in the early days, among which may be noted the groves of Peter Suman and Henry Jaracki, on Brockton … Read more

Biography of Henry A. Puls

Among the older settlers and well-known residents of Riverside is the subject of this sketch. Mr. Puls came to Riverside in 1876, seeking a home, and in the same year purchased a ten-acre tract on Bandini Avenue, about one-half mile west of Brockton Avenue, and commenced his horticultural pursuits. In 1878 he purchased five acres adjoining his original tract. His was the first house built in this locality, and he may well be called a pioneer of that section of the colony. He has each year added to his improvements; taking up many of the deciduous trees first planted and … Read more

Biographical Sketch of James Bessant

James Bessant was born in England, November 5, 1817, and is a son of Isaac Bessant, a well-known pioneer of this valley. Our subject had to endure the hardships of the early days, but at this time he has for his labors and industry a pleasant home on Base Line, two and one half-miles northeast of San Bernardino. He has recently built a neat residence and with his family is enjoying the comforts of life. He was married December 25, 1874, to Miss Elsie Cline, born at El Monte, Los Angeles County, in February 1856. She is a daughter of … Read more

Biographical Sketch of John Bessant

John Bessant, one of the enterprising farmers on Base Line, three miles east of San Bernardino city, has a fine ranch and a neat residence in Warm Spring district, where, with his family, he is enjoying the pleasures of life as much, perhaps, as any man in the valley. By birth he is an Englishman. His father, Isaac Bessant, came to America at an early day and crossed the plains to California in 1853, when our subject was but two years of age. His boyhood was spent in hard work; hence his educational advantages were not of the best. May … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Isaac Bessant

Isaac Bessant, a farmer of San Bernardino County, was born in Barclay, England in 1816. He was married there in 1844 to Miss Mary A. Mitchell, and in 1853 they sailed from Liverpool and after a voyage of forty-two days landed in New Orleans. They went by steamer to St. Louis, and at the end of six weeks to Keokuk, Iowa. Here Mr. Bessant worked at brick-making and burning lime, etc. He then bought a team and went by land, 300 miles, to Council Bluffs, where he arrived July 4, 1853, and from that place crossed the plains to Utah, … Read more

Biography of Isaac V. Gilbert

Isaac V. Gilbert located in Riverside in 1881, seeking a desirable place of residence and safe investment of his capital. He purchased seven acres of land on Jurupa Avenue, in Brockton Square, from E. W. Holmes. Upon this tract he erected a substantial cottage residence, suitable outbuildings, etc., and also added beauty and comfort to his home by laying out roads, walks and lawns, and planting ornamental trees and floral plants. He has produced a beautiful and worthy specimen of a California home. His orange grove, of three and one-half acres, is composed mostly of seedling trees, about seven-teen years … Read more