San Bernardino County
Biographies
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 Navel, Malta Blood, and Duroi varieties, besides his citrus fruits and grapes for family use: his fine groves show the care and attention of a thorough horticulturist, and his success is attested by the fact that his thirteen‑year-old trees, seedlings, in 1888 yield $300 per acre net. The other trees are of various ages and not in full bearing, but their proportionate yield is even larger than that above given. The Doctor took this land when in its comparatively wild state, and has just cause to be proud of the results of his year's labor. Dr. Ball also owns twenty acres of land about three miles south of his home place, located in section 32, south of Jurupa avenue. This land was purchased in 1890, and will in 1891 be planted with raisin grape vines, for which it is well adapted.
Mr. Ball is a native of Henry County, Kentucky, and dates his birth in 1828. His father, William D. Ball, was a native of Virginia, and was a descendant from an old colonial family. He came in his young manhood to Kentucky, and there he married Miss Barbara Hall, also a native of that State. Dr. Ball was reared and schooled in his native state, and at the age of twenty-three years commenced his medical studies in the Kentucky School of Medicine, at Louisville, and graduated from the medical department of the Transylvania University at Lexington, Kentucky, in 1856. After his graduation, he entered on the practice of his profession in Trimble County, Kentucky, where he continued until 1859. He then moved to Indiana, and spent two years in Tippecanoe County, and finally located at Brookston, White County, where he was in successful practice for over twenty years. Dr. Ball took a leading part, both professionally and socially, in the community in which he spent so many years of his life, but his failing health compelled an entire change of climate, and in 1880 decided to make Riverside his permanent home. He was for years a member of the County Medical School in his Indiana home, and is now a member of the San Bernardino Medical Association. The Doctor, although not a pioneer in residence, has for nearly fifteen years been identified with Riverside and its interests, and is well known to the community, among which he has a large circle of friends.
In 1857 Dr. Ball married Miss Martha Kennedy, a native of Indiana. She died in 1869. There are four children living from this marriage, viz.: Victor, who married Miss Alice Shigley; Fernando W., Clement L. and Seymour C. His second marriage was in 1871, when he was wedded to Miss Maria Babcock, a native of Massachusetts. No children have been born from this marriage.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 654-655
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
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. In the spring of 1862 he went to Holcomb valley, where he followed mining and teaming for a number of years. Fourteen years ago he was married, and bought the ranch on which he at present resides.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 655
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
EDWIN HART.
Among the leading horticulturists of Riverside colony none are more deserving of mention than the subject of this sketch. Mr. Hart is a native of Cortland County, New York, born in 1835, and reared and received his education in his native place. At the age of eighteen years he started for the great West, and located in Beloit, Wisconsin. His boyhood days, when not attending school, were spent in his father's store, and was somewhat schooled in mercantile life, but upon his advent in Wisconsin he engaged in farming. He spent eight years in that State, and in 1862 moved to Iowa, and settled near Belle Plain in Tama County. Mr. Hart settled down to farm life, but the war of the Rebellion, then raging, appealed so strongly to his patriotism that he entered the United States military service as a
private in the Sixth Regiment of Iowa Cavalry. The Indian outbreak of the Northwest was then at its height, and his command sent him in that direction. He participated in the Indian wars and campaigns that followed, and served faithfully, discharging his duties in a soldierly manner, and was promoted to be Sergeant. It was not until the fall of 1865 that he received his honorable discharge from the service. After this he spent a year in Wisconsin, and in 1866 returned to Iowa and continued his farming operations until 1873. In that year he came to California and settled in Riverside. Upon his arrival he purchased from L. C. Waite a squatter's right to an eighty-acre tract of Government land, three miles south of Riverside. Forty acres of this land, at that time, had been plowed, but no attempt had been made in tree planting; the balance was as it came from nature's hand. Mr. Hart took possession of this land and engaged in horticultural pursuits and general farming, which he successfully conducted for years. He now owns forty acres of land, fifteen acres of which are devoted to raisin-growing, three acres in lemons, and the balance, except that occupied by his residence, out-buildings and extensive grounds, is producing oranges. He is a first-class horticulturist, and conducts his enterprise on sound business principles. He packs and markets his fruits and raisins, and his name upon a fruit package is considered by dealers as a guarantee of a first class article. The building improvements upon his model ranch denote a successful citizen, and his fine two-story residence is a model of convenience and comfort, beautiful in architectural design and imposing in appearance. His spacious and well ordered grounds abound in shade and ornamental trees, rich floral plants and grassy lawns that add much to the beauty and comfort of his California home. A commodious fruit-packing house, substantial stables and outbuildings have also been erected. Mr. Hart has been a supporter of Riverside enterprises, a stockholder in the Citrus Fair Association, Arlington Riverside Railway, and other
incorporations. In politics he is a supporter of the Republican party. He is a consistent member of the First Congregational Church of Riverside, and also a member of Riverside Post, No. 118, Grand Army of the Republic.
Mr. Hart was twice married: his first marriage was with Miss Ruth Emma Woodward in 1865. She died nine years later, leaving two children: Effie D. and Mary L. His second marriage was in 1884, when he wedded Miss Anna Woodward: no children have been born from this marriage. His parents, Samuel and Sarah S. (Potter) Hart, were natives of New York. His father was engaged in mercantile life, and was well known in the business circles of Cortland County.
SOURCE: An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California… Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1890. p.- 655-656
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler