California

Whilkut Tribe

Whilkut Indians. The Hupa name of a small Athapascan division occupying the upper portion of the valley of Redwood Creek, north California. Their language differs slightly from that of the Hupa, from whom they were separated by a mountain ridge, and they might be considered a part of that tribe except that they seem to have had no political connection with them and differed in religious practices. The routes of the pack-trains lay through their territory, and the conflicts between the whites and Whilkut were frequent and bloody. The survivors were taken to the reservation at Hupa soon after its … Read more

Wappo Tribe

Wappo Indians (from Spanish guapo, ‘brave’). A small detached portion of the Yukian family of north California, separated from the Huchnom, the nearest Yuki division by 30 or 40 miles of Pomo territory.  They lived chiefly in the mountains separating Sonoma from Lake and Napa Counties, between Geyers and Calistoga.  A portion of them, called Rincons by Powers, occupied Russian River valley in the vicinity of Healdsburg.

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

Biography of Lucian D. Crandall

Lucian D. Crandall, senior partner of the firm of L. D. Crandall & Co., proprietors of one of the largest retail grocery houses in San Bernardino, is a native son, born in that city in 1857. As he grew to manhood he had a strong desire to visit other portions of the continent, and, wishing to combine business with travel, he joined his brother, W. N. Crandall, when about eighteen years old, in railroad contracting, and they were engaged in that business in Utah, Nevada, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana and the Dominion of Canada and the Northwest Territory about … Read more

Biography of George Jordan

George Jordan, proprietor of the largest jewelry house in San Bernardino County, has been in the business in California twenty-three years. Born in Germany forty-eight years ago, he immigrated to the United States when a youth of fifteen, and after stopping for a time in New York, went south into Georgia, where he remained during the late civil war. After the close of the conflict he returned to his native land and spent two years in business in Europe. Re-crossing the Atlantic, he came directly to the Pacific coast and opened a jewelry store in San Francisco, where he carried … Read more

Tübatulabal Tribe

Tübatulabal Indians (‘pine-nut eaters,’ Merriam). A small tribe which formerly inhabited the valley of Kern river, south California above the falls extending probably to the river’s source, but centering especially about the junction of the main and south forks. With the Bankalachi they constitute one of the four principal coordinate branches of the Shoshonean family.

Biography of Alma Whitlock

Alma Whitlock, the pioneer dentist of Southern California, first commenced the practice of his profession in San Bernardino in 1857, and has been continuously in practice in the city ever since 1859. He was born in Missouri in 1831. His parents, who were both natives of New England, were brought up from childhood in Ohio. His mother, formerly Miss Abbot, was a relative of the Garfield family. They started for California across the plains from Tipton, Iowa, in the spring of 1850, and spent the winter of 1850-’51 in Utah, and resumed the journey on the following spring, reaching Hangtown, … Read more

Tolowa Tribe

Tolowa Indians. An Athapascan tribe of extreme north west California. When first known they occupied the coast from the mouth of Klamath river nearly to the Oregon line, including Smith river valley and the following villages: Echulit, Khoonkhwuttunne, and Khosatumie of the Khaamotene branch, Chesthltishtunne, Tatlatunne, Ataakut, Meetkeni, Stuntusunwhott, Targhinaatun, Thltsusmetunne, and Turghestlsatun. They were gathered on a reservation in 1862, which was established on leased land, but it was abandoned in 1868, since which time the Tolowa have shifted for themselves. They are much demoralized and greatly reduced in numbers. Their language is unintelligible to the Hupa. In culture … Read more

Tachi Tribe

Tachi Indians. One of the larger tribes of the Yokuts (Mariposas) family, living on the plains north of Tulare lake, south central California. They held the country west of the Coast range. Powers puts them on Kings river, near Kingston. According to Alexander Taylor, members of this tribe were brought to San Antonio and Dolores (San Francisco) missions as neophytes. Tatché or Telamé is mentioned by Shea as the name of the tribe speaking the San Antonio language, a Salinan dialect. These Tatché and Telamé, however, are the Tachi and Telalnni who had been taken to the mission, and Taylor … Read more

Wendt, Florence Gillen Mrs. – Obituary

Florence Wendt, 88, a former Baker County resident, died Nov. 15, 2003, at San Rafael, Calif. There will be a memorial service celebrating her life with family and friends this summer. Florence was born at Carbondale, Pa., on April 24, 1916, to Mary and Charles Gillen. Florence moved to New York City during her adolescence and lived with her Aunt Kitty. Upon graduating from high school in New York City, she immediately entered medical school to pursue nursing. Upon her completion of Kings County Hospital’s nursing program, she received her credentials as a registered nurse and was stationed at Panama. … Read more

Reinecke, R. Douglas – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon R. Douglas Reinecke, 75, of Baker City, died Feb. 28, 2004, at his home after a lengthy illness. A memorial Mass to honor Doug’s life will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Friday at St. Francis de Sales Cathedral, 2235 First St. Graveside inurnment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. Friends are invited to join the family in the praying of the rosary at 7 p.m. Thursday at the cathedral. The Rev. Rob Irwin will officiate. There will be a luncheon after the funeral in the Parish Hall. Doug was born at Seneca, S.D., on Sept. 8, 1928, … Read more

Foersterling, Willis Emil – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Willis Emil Foersterling, 78, a longtime Baker City resident, died March 2, 2004, at his home. His funeral will be at 2 p.m. Friday at Coles Funeral Home, 1950 Place St. Private interment will be at Mount Hope Cemetery. The Rev. Susan Barnes of the First Presbyterian Church will officiate. Masonic Ritualistic Rites and military honors also will be conducted. Visitations will be from 9 a.m to 1 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Willis was born on July 30, 1925, at Baker City, to Willis Herbert and Zelda Mae Sparks Foersterling. He was educated at Sisley … Read more

Whittington, Christopher Michael “Mike” – Obituary

Baker City, Oregon Christopher Michael “Mike” Whittington, 31, a former Baker City resident, died March 13, 2004, at Pendleton. A memorial service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. at Burns Mortuary Chapel in Pendleton. Mike was born May 13, 1972 at Lodi, Calif., to Larry and Alice Whittington. Mike was a lover of the outdoors, and an avid hunter and fisherman. He had lived in Eastern Oregon since 1979. He graduated from Baker High School in 1990. After graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and was a veteran of Desert Storm. Afterward he returned home where he enjoyed … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Lyman Nelson Bedford, D. D. S.

Lyman Nelson Bedford, D. D. S., a leading dentist of Southern California, is a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1851. He began the study of dentistry with his eldest brother, Dr. E. Bedford, in Sioux City, Iowa, in 1876, was graduated at the Pennsylvania College of Dental Surgery in 1885. He practiced in Sioux City until 1886, when at the request of his brother, Dr. A. D. Bedford, he came to California and located in San Bernardino, since which time he has carried on an active and lucrative professional business. Dr. Bedford’s specialty is in fine operative dentistry, and the … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Reginald E. Mcdonald, M. D.

Reginald E. Mcdonald, M. D., has been in the active practice of medicine in San Bernardino since 1884. He is a native of the city of Toronto, Canada, born in 1856, and obtained his literary education in Victoria University and Upper Canada College. He spent one year studying for his profession in the College of Physicians and Surgeons in Toronto, and three years in the California Medical College at San Francisco, and was graduated at the latter in 1883. Before coming to California, Dr. McDonald spent a year and a half, 1881-’82, on North Georgian Bay, as surgeon for a … Read more

Biographical Sketch of Andrew B. Paris

Andrew B. Paris, attorney, San Bernardino, was born in Virginia, in 1839, and was educated in the Virginia Military Institute, at which he was graduated in 1860. Upon the breaking out of the war he enlisted in the Confederate army, served four years, rose to the rank of Colonel, and at the close of hostilities was chief of artillery of General Hoke’s division of General Joseph E. Johnston’s army. After the war closed he studied law in the University of Virginia, and was admitted to the bar in 1866. Locating in Charlotte County, Virginia, he practiced his profession till 1873. … Read more

Biography of John Andreson

John Andreson, prominent among the men whose business sagacity and enterprise have made San Bernardino an important railroad center, and one of the prettiest and most flourishing interior cities of California, was born in Schleswig-Holstein, near the border of Denmark, in 1834. He came to America, sailing around Cape Horn to the Peruvian Guano Islands, in 1850, and returned with the loaded vessel to London, England. While there he taw the grand pageant on the anniversary of the Queen’s birthday, and saw the Queen near Buckingham Palace. In 1852 he returned around Cape Horn to the Pacific coast, and, after … Read more

Biographical Sketch of J. H. Pierson, M. D.

J. H. Pierson, M. D., residing at Mission San Bernardino, is a native of New England, and came from a Puritan family on his father’s side, and an English Quaker family on his mother’s side. He is a son of Henry Pierson, a direct descendent of Abram Pierson, first president of Yale College, whose ancestors landed on Long Island in 1632. The subject of this sketch resided several years in Europe engaged in the study of medicine, and in 1861 he came back to America, and in 1866 went to Lake Superior as physician and surgeon for the Anglo-American Copper … Read more

Biography of Malcom Macdonald

Malcom Macdonald was born in Cumberland County, Nova Scotia, May 9, 1833. He left home and became self-supporting at sixteen years of age. He married in July 1859, and he and his estimable wife have a family of four children, three daughters and one son: John Monroe Macdonald, aged twenty-one years, who is studying for the medical profession. San Bernardino Artificial Stone and Improvement Company was organized in March 1887, with a capital stock of $250,000, divided into 2,500 shares. John C. King was elected president; A. M. Murphy, vice-president; M. Davenport, secretary, and Malcom Macdonald, manager. The purpose of … Read more

Biography of Edwin Chidsey Seymour

Edwin Chidsey Seymour, Sheriff of San Bernardino County, was born in Otsego County, New York, in 1845. His father, also a native of the Empire State, was a cabinet-maker by trade, and moved to northern Pennsylvania when Edwin was a lad of seven years. Here he grew up to manhood and learned the trade of cabinet-maker with his father. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he responded to his country’s call, entering the army as a member of the Seventy-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, and remained four years and nearly three months, chiefly in the Army of the … Read more