Biography of Edward Heller

Among the representative orange groves of that section of Riverside colony known as Brockton square, mention should be made of the one owned by Mr. Heller. His residence and land, ten acres in extent, is located on the south side of Rubidoux Avenue, about half a mile west of Brockton Avenue. Five acres of his tract is in oranges, about twelve years old from the seed; the balance, or three acres, is in budded trees of the Washington Navel and Mediterranean Sweet varieties; one acre of his land is devoted to raisin grapes, and one acre to alfalfa. At this … Read more

Biography of S. Taylor

S. Taylor. Among those who have contributed largely to the success and advancement of Redlands, none should receive more credit for untiring energy in the past than the gentleman whose name heads this sketch. He was a native of Canada, born at London, Ontario, October 8, 1854, his parents being John and Jane (Barter) Taylor, both of whom were born in England, the father being a contractor and builder. Our subject was reared and educated at his native place, and on arriving at a suitable age, commenced, as his first employment, clerking in a dry-goods store. After that he was … Read more

Biography of L. M. Holt

L. M. Holt was born August 9, 1840, in the town of Sylvan, Washtenaw County, Michigan, near where now stands the town of Chelsea. His parents, natives of Connecticut, immigrated to Michigan while this was still a Territory. In 1852 the father died at Hillsdale, leaving five children. From the age of fourteen the subject of this sketch depended upon his own resources for maintenance and education. Attending the Hillsdale College from 1856 to 1859, he then went to Iowa, where he learned the printing business in the office of the Eagle, Vinton, Iowa. In 1860 he was married to … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Abner McCrary

Abner McCrary is a native of Union County, Illinois, born in 1835. His parents, John and Mary (Kellar) McCrary, natives of North Carolina and South Carolina respectively, moved to Hancock County in 1844. Next they moved to Wash vine, Iowa, and in 1846 to Council Bluffs, where they remained five years. In 1851 he moved to Utah, where he remained two years, and June 5, 1854, came to California, and bought forty acres of land three miles northeast of San Bernardino, where he now lives. Mr. McCrary has dealt some in buying and selling land, and has today a fine … Read more

Miller, Louise L. – Obituary

Miller, Louise L. Union County, Oregon Obituary La Grande. Oregon Louise L. Miller, 91, of La Grande, died May 2 at her home. At her request, no services will be held. Loveland Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Louise was born March 1, 1917, to Hans Albert Larsen and Anna Marie Hansen Larsen in Dwight, Ill. Raised in Montana, she graduated from Harlowton High School and Eastern Montana Normal School in Billings, Mont. She attended the University of California at Los Angeles and graduated from Humboldt State University in Arcata, Calif. During her long career in education she taught … Read more

Biography of George J. Charlesworth, M. D.

George J. Charlesworth, M. D., one of the prominent professional men of Riverside, who is a Canadian by birth, dating that event at Chatham, Kent County, Ontario, in 1858. His parents, George and Ann (Scott) Charlesworth, were natives of Yorkshire, England, who immigrated to Canada about 1833. His father was a prominent civil engineer, employed in the engineer department in the construction of the Great Western Railway and other works. Dr. Charlesworth was given the advantages of a good schooling, closing his classical studies in Toronto. At the age of twenty years, he entered upon his medical studies at the … Read more

Biography of Emil Rosenthal

Emil Rosenthal, a well-known citizen of Riverside, is a pioneer of that colony, and since 1872 has been one of the leading businessmen of the city. Mr. Rosenthal is a native of Germany, born in 1845. At the age of twenty years he started in life, casting his fortunes with the New World. In 1865 he came to the United States, and located in New York; was employed in business pursuits for the next four years. He then crossed the continent, and established himself in San Francisco, but later came to Los Angeles, and thence, in 1872, to Riverside, where … Read more

Biography of George Cooley

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, … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Richard Stewart

Richard Stewart, the youngest son of John H. Stewart, was born in Rockford, Illinois, June 2, 1850; came with his parents to California in 1852, and to San Bernardino County in 1865, where he has resided ever since. His principal occupation has been stock raising and farming. His ranch of seven-two acres, situated two miles east of San Bernardino on the Harlem & Rabel Springs Motor Railway, is one of the finest agricultural tracts in the country, being especially adapted for alfalfa and grazing. It is valued at $14,-000. He owns a number of choice pieces of city property, including … Read more

Biography of John B. Tays

John B. Tays is one of the early settlers and enterprising and progressive citizens of Ontario. He is the owner of forty acres of land in that colony and has for years been building up the horticultural industries of his section. His place is located on the south side of Thirteenth Street, east of Euclid Avenue. Mr. Tays purchased this land in 1883 and immediately commenced its improvement, planting trees and vines. He is justly ranked among the pioneer horticulturists of Ontario, and has produced one of the representative places of his section. He now has twenty acres in citrus … Read more

Biography of John Brown, Sr.

John Brown, Sr., was born in Worcester, Massachusetts, in 1817, and when but a boy came to St. Louis, Missouri, with his parents, where they died. He began rafting on the Mississippi and then went to New Orleans, and thence by ship to Galveston, suffering a shipwreck on his route. He returned to Fort Leavenworth by the Red River route. Was at the battle of San Jacinto, and first saw Santa Ana when taken prisoner. Remained two years at Fort Leavenworth; and then went to the Rocky Mountains and for fourteen years hunted and trapped from the headwaters of the … Read more

Biography of Dr. Charles W. Packard

Dr. Charles W. Packard is a well known early settler of the Riverside colony and has for many years been identified with the horticultural interests that have made Riverside so well known. He came to this colony in 1876 and located at Bandini Avenue, about one-half mile west of Brockton Avenue; his twenty acres formed a portion of the Brockton Square. At that time but few improvements had been made in that section, but the Doctor entered heartily into clearing and planting his lands. He was one of the first to foresee the future profits in orange-growing, and planted fully … Read more

Biographical Sketch of David Meacham

David Meacham was born in Genesee County, New York, May 3, 1835, and was reared at Geneseo, learning the carpenter’s trade. In 1858 he came to California, crossing the plains with General Harney, shortly after the Mountain Meadow Massacre. He helped to gather up the bones of the murdered emigrants, and assisted in building the monument erected by the Government on the scene. Arriving in California, he located at Bloomfield, Sonoma County, where he followed his trade five years. In 1863 he came to San Bernardino, and here followed the building trade. He rode to Riverside on the first load … Read more

Biography of Hon. Henry Montague Willis

Hon. Henry Montague Willis, San Bernardino, was born in Baltimore, Maryland, September 21. 1831. His ancestors were among the first English settlers of the colony of Virginia and Maryland prior to the Revolution. His father, Mr. Henry H. Willis, was a captain in the merchant marine, with whom the subject of this memoir made a number of voyages before he was twelve years of age, alternating between school and the sea. At the age of twelve he adopted a seafaring life, and during six years’ sailing the briny deep he visited the ports of the Mediterranean, England, France, Ireland, Rio … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Henry Wozencraft

Henry Wozencraft, of Wozencraft & Co., compilers of abstracts of title, San Bernardino. Among the oldest and most reliable companies in the abstract business and searcher of records in San Bernardino County, is Wozencraft & Co. This company has been established about twelve years and has a complete set of hooks, maps and the finest property indexes in Southern California. Henry Wozencraft, the senior member of the firm, is an old resident of San Bernardino County, having lived there for the past twenty years, which makes him thoroughly acquainted with the real-estate business and topography of the country. This firm … Read more

Lanyon, Joseph “Bud” – Obituary

Joseph “Bud” Lanyon, 70, of San Bernardino County, Calif., and a former Baker City resident, died April 7, 2003, at Community Hospital of San Bernardino. His graveside service will be at 10 a.m. Thursday at Mount Hope Cemetery. Pastor Monte Loyd of the Baker Valley Christian Assembly will officiate. Military rites will be conducted by the Oregon Army National Guard. Bud was born on Aug. 17, 1932, at Baker City. He was a son of Joseph and Blance Hickerson Lanyon. He was raised and attended school in Baker City. He entered the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was honorably … Read more

Biography of Alfred Piddington

Alfred Piddington was born in Warwickshire, England, in 1829. He is the son of George and Elizabeth (Fifield) Piddington, both natives of England. Mr. Piddington was at a very early age (when twelve years old) apprenticed to a trade, and was almost entirely deprived of the advantages of a schooling, but he schooled himself to a certain extent. His early life was one of severe toil and he became a man in thought and action at an age that more favored youths devote to boyish occupations. In 1859 he immigrated to Toronto. There he commenced work as a bookbinder, a … Read more

Biography of Dward J. Davis

Dward J. Davis, born in Devizes, Wiltshire County, England, in 1844, son of Robert and Sarah (MacVittie) Davis, natives of that country. The subject of this sketch was reared and given the advantages of a common-school education in his native place, and when fifteen years of age was apprenticed to the trade of a carpenter and builder. He served a seven years apprenticeship and entered life as a journeyman, a thorough master of his calling in all its details, and established himself in London. He was also employed on the Government work at Woolwich, and later on the Paris Exposition … Read more

Biography of Alfred B. Miner

Alfred B. Miner, one of the leading and representative businessmen of Colton, and as the president of the Colton Packing Company is at the head of one of the most important industries of that city. Mr. Miner is a native of Michigan, dating his birth in Genesee County in 1842. His father, Pilo Miner, was reared in Genesee County, New York, and was an early settler in Michigan, and engaged in farming. Mr. Miner was reared to farm life, and given a fair education in the public schools. He was an energetic and thorough worker, but he was never intended … Read more

Biography of John B. Crawford

John B. Crawford is one of the pioneers of California, dating his first arrival on the Pacific coast early in 1849. His first visit to Southern California was also in that year. Mr. Crawford was born in York Township, County of Peal, Canada, in 1826. His parents, James and Eliza (Beatty) Crawford, were natives of Ireland, who immigrated to Canada in 1810. His mother was a daughter of Rev. John Beatty, a well-known pioneer of the Methodist Church. She is now eighty-five years of age and a resident of Riverside. His father was a prominent businessman of York, owning and … Read more