California

Boyce, Leo Herbert – Obituary

Leo Herbert Boyce, 81, of Desert Hot Springs, Calif., died March 6, 2001, at Palm Springs, Calif., after a brief illness. There was a private service for Mr. Boyce. The Desert Hot Springs Mortuary was in charge of arrangements. Mr. Boyce was born on Dec. 13, 1919, at Baker City to John and Sophia Sinclair Boyce. He grew up in Baker City and was a 1940 Baker High School graduate. He married Florence Harrington on Sept. 11, 1973, at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. His grandparents were pioneers. They came to Oregon by wagon train in 1880 and settled in Baker Valley. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Judge George E. Freeman

Judge George E. Freeman, Recorder for the city of Santa Ana, was born in Hallowell, Maine, in 1829, and at the age of twenty-one years left his home for California, coming by steamer and landing in San Francisco November 16, 1851. For seventeen years he engaged in mining and lumbering in El Dorado County. In 1869 he moved to Alameda County, where he worked at contracting and building for a number of years, and in 1877 he moved into the Santa Ana valley and followed his trade there until about four years ago, since which time he has been a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of George W. Ford

George W. Ford, proprietor of the Santa Ana Nursery, is one of the first settlers of the valley, arriving here in 1876, with only $10. The previous year he had been working by the day in Santa Cruz County. Two years later he purchased five acres of land within the city limits, for $400, and to this he has since added twenty-five acres more, most of which he has cut up into city lots and sold at good prices. In his nursery may be seen all kinds of deciduous and semi-tropical fruits and ornamental trees and shrubs. He has recently … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Dorr B. Chaffee

Dorr B. Chaffee a resident of Garden Grove, was born in Kane County, Illinois, in 1841, a son of Eber and Anna (Davis)Chaffee, natives of Vermont, and of English and Scotch origin. His father was born in 1799, and died in 1877, and his mother, born in 1803, died in 1876. The subject of this sketch, the first in their family of twelve children, born in Illinois, was educated at Elgin Academy. Afterward he taught school in Kane County, and then engaged in the dairy business a number of years at Elgin. He came to California in 1881; has made … Read more

Biography of Jesse C. Thompson

Jesse C. Thompson, a prominent resident of Westminster, was born in Clay County, Missouri, February 17, 1829. His parents, John B. and Hannah (Clark) Thompson were natives of North Carolina, and had eleven children, five of whom lived to be grown. They moved to Missouri in 1825, where the children were educated in such schools as were common in those times. In 1840 they moved to Andrew County. In March, 1850, Jesse started, in company with his brother Samuel, with an ox team for California. His brother died on the road, July 26. Jesse arrived in Placerville on August 31, … Read more

Biography of Dr. J. S. Gardiner

Dr. J. S. Gardiner, Postmaster at Anaheim, was born in Maryville, Tennessee, in 1841. His ancestors were from Scotland formerly. He received his literary education at the common schools of his native county. In 1861 he entered the University of Pennsylvania, and continued there during one term. Then the war coming on in 1862, he entered the Confederate army. He enlisted April 13, 1862, in Company I, Thirty-seventh Tennessee State Volunteer Infantry, and served until September 4, 1864, when he was discharged on account of disability. He then re-entered the University and was graduated with the degree of M. D., … Read more

Biography of J. C. Hickey

J. C. Hickey, of Santa Ana, is a native of Knox County, Tennessee, and was an infant when his father died. He was reared by his step-father, who moved to Alabama about 1845. At the age of fifteen years he left his stepfather, on account of cruel treatment, and started for California. He traveled on foot through Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas. At San Antonia he joined Dr. Edwards and others who were starting to California with cattle, in 1854. After arriving in Los Angeles, Mr. Hickey worked by the day for two months, and then for seven years was … Read more

Biography of H. Titchenal

H. Titchenal, of Santa Ana, was born in Harrison County, West Virginia, January 2, 1817, a son of John R. and Rebecca (Harbertt) Titchenal, both natives of West Virginia. His father, a black-smith by trade, moved to Missouri in 1819, and in 1833 to the vicinity of Fort Smith, Arkansas, where he died January 16, 1831. The second of his nine children, the subject of this sketch, and a sister, are the only surviving members of the family. Mr. Titchenal was brought up to the life of a stock-raiser. From 1835 to 1852 he followed his calling, and also mercantile … Read more

Biography of Julias A. Crane, M. D.

Julias A. Crane M. D., of Santa Ana, is of New England parentage, and was born in Portage County, Ohio, January 21, 1846. His father, Rev. Eber Crane, was a clergyman of the Baptist denomination, born in Clinton, Connecticut (on Long Island Sound), May 3, 1808, and died at Mount Pleasant, Iowa, April 4, 1884. He was educated at the academy in South Reading, Massachusetts, and pursued his professional studies at the Newton Theological Institute, in the outskirts of Boston, at which time-honored institution he was graduated August 20, 1834. He was a zealous and life-long Abolitionist, a coadjutor and … Read more

Biography of John Shirley

John Shirley, one of Santa Ana’s most respected citizens, is a native of Hancock County, Ohio, born in 1835, and his parents were Daniel and Annie (Crow) Shirley, natives of Virginia. His father, a farmer and blacksmith, moved to Jackson County, Iowa, in 1850, and died there in 1872. When a lad the subject of this sketch drove an ox team across the plains to this State, and for the first several years here he followed mining at Placerville and other places till 1864, when he came with the soldiers to Southern California and Arizona. He enlisted in Company K, … Read more

Biography of J. H. Moesser

J. H. Moesser, one of the early pioneers of Southern California, who was a wanderer for many years over several States of the Union, began life in the city of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, February 21, 1835. His father, Frederick H. Moesser, was born in Hesse-Darmstadt, town of Altheim, Germany, and was a dry-goods merchant, baker and butcher, at different times. He moved with his family a wife and two children-to Ohio, where he remained a few years; then he moved to Missouri and subsequently to Nauvoo, Illinois. He died at Warsaw, Illinois, in 1853. His mother, Magdalena (Gundel before marriage) Moesser, … Read more

Biography of Judge Nathan Baker

Judge Nathan Baker, of Santa Ana, was born in Muskingum County, Ohio, March 10, 1817. His parents, Nathan and Mary (Blizzard) Baker, both natives of Virginia, had three sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch, the youngest and only one living, started west at the age of eighteen years, stopping first in Washington County, Iowa, and then in Lee County, same State, where he followed farming until 1849. In 1850 he was elected to the State Senate by that county, and at the close of his first term he resigned in order to come to California. He came … Read more

Biography of William M. Higgins, Dr.

Dr. William M. Higgins, pharmacist on Central avenue, Anaheim, was born in Monmouth County, New Jersey, June 18, 1826. He was educated at Princeton College, at which he was graduated in 1845, with the degree of A. B. He read medicine for a period of two years, and February 22, 1849, started for California on the bark St. Mary. He remained in Rio Janeiro ten months, then went aboard the ship William Brandt, bound for San Francisco, at which place he arrived in July, 1850, having been ship’s doctor during the voyage. After his arrival in San Francisco he was … Read more

City Officials of Riverside, San Bernardino, California

The following are the present officers of the city: Board of Trustees E. W. Holmes, president M. Hoover, W. P. Russell, W. A. Hayt, H. E. Allatt Library Trustees Rev. Dr. George H. Deere, Prof. N. C. Twining, E. W. Holmes, A. S. White, C. J. Gill. Board of Health E. W. Holmes, president C. C. Sherman, secretary W. J. McIntyre, Bradford Morse, J. W. Johnson City Clerk and Assessor, Ad. S. Alkire Marshal, Bradford Morse Treasurer, J. M. Drake Recorder, W. W. Noland City Attorney, W. J. McIntyre Superintendent of Streets, C. W. Finch City Engineer, J. W. Johnson … Read more

Officials of the County of San Bernardino

State Senator, W. W. Bowers, of San Diego; Assemblyman, E. W. Holmes, of Riverside; Judges of the Superior Court, C. W. C. Rowell and John L. Campbell; Sheriff, E. C. Seymour; County Clerk, George L. Filson; Recorder, A. S. Davidson; Auditor, W. L. G. Soule; Treasurer, W. H. Beattie; Tax Collector, R. H. Stetson; District Attorney, Henry Connor; School Superintendent, H. C. Brooke; Surveyor, W. C. Chamblin; Coroner, C. C. Wainwright; Public Administrator, James E. Mack; Court Commissioner, J. C. Christy; Supervisors, J. A. Johnson, Thomas Holmes, G. W. Garcelon, George Cooley, W. H. Glass; Board of Education, J. E. … Read more

County School Superintendents, San Bernardino County, California

1867 – W. L. Ragsdale 1868 – W. S. Clark 1869 – W. S. Clark 1870 – H. C. Brooke 1871 – H. C. Brooke 1872 – John Brown, Jr 1S73 – John Brown, Jr 1874 – Henry Goodcell, Jr 1875 – Henry Goodcell, Jr 1876 – No Incumbent 1877 – Chas. R. Paine 1878 – Dr. J. A. Rousseau 1879 – Dr. J. A. Rousseau 1889 – Dr. J. A. Rousseau 1881 – Dr. J. A. Rousseau 1882 – Dr. Rousseau and D. B. Sturges 1883 – H. C. Brooke 1884 – H. C. Brooke 1885 – H. C. … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry and Charles Kuchel

Henry and Charles Kuchel editors and proprietors of the Anaheim Gazette, took charge of this paper in 1887. They are the sons of Conrad Kuchel, a native of Germany, and one of the earliest settlers of Anaheim. For several years previous to his arrival in Anaheim he was engaged in the business of engineering in San Francisco. Henry Kuchel, the senior editor of the Gazette, was born in San Francisco, June 11, 1859. He received a high-school education at the Anaheim schools and, learned the printer’s trade in the office which he and his brother now own. He subsequently worked … Read more

White, Eunice Raye Welty Mrs. – Obituary

Eunice Raye Welty White, 89, a former Baker City resident, died July 2, 2005, at San Pablo, Calif. There will be a private family memorial service will at 3 p.m. Friday in Oakland, Calif. Chapel of the Chimes funeral home is in charge of arrangements. Eunice Raye Welty White was born at Baker City on July 18, 1917. She was a 30-year resident of Richmond, Calif., and a 20-year resident of Georgetown, Calif. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jesse White of Joseph. Eunice owned and ran The Knittery once located in the Shannon Knox House at Georgetown, … Read more

Goodrich, Donald Spencer – Obituary

Donald Spencer Goodrich, 79, a former Baker City resident, died Aug. 3, 2006. His memorial service was Aug. 13 at the United Church of Christ at Sun City, Calif. Don was born on Jan. 14, 1927, at Olympia, Wash., to Charles Spencer Goodrich and Hazel MacPherson Goodrich. The family moved to Baker City in 1935. Don was a 1945 Baker High School graduate. After serving in the U.S. Navy on the USS Iowa, Don attended Oregon State University at Corvallis where he earned a degree in forestry. While in college, he met Donna J. Drake. The couple were married for … Read more

Mack, Louise Perfetti Nolan Mrs. – Obituary

Louise Nolan Mack, 83, of Palm Desert, Calif., a former Baker City resident, died Oct. 4, 2007. A memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at the St. Francis of Assisi Chapel in La Quinta, Calif. Louise was born March 26, 1924, at Huntington to Belinda Perfetti. In the early 1940s she married Jack Nolan. They had one son, Jay. Jack died in 1987. In December 1989, Louise married John C. Mack in Baker City. She and John lived in Baker City until his death in 1998. At that time, Louise moved to Southern California to be closer … Read more