San Bernardino County
Biographies
EBENEZER GRIFFIN BROWN
(Judge Brown," as he is familiarly known) is one of Riverside's well-known pioneers. He was one of the original members of the Southern California Colony Association, and with the late Dr. Greves visited the lands now occupied by the city June, 1870, the first members of the association on the grounds. From the very first he was the strongest advocate in demanding the purchase by the association of these lands. His persistency was of little avail at first, but he was in earnest, and when Judge North, the president of the company, refused to act in accordance with his wishes, the judge returned to his home in Iowa and set about forming another colony association, with the express view of purchasing the Riverside lands. This move hastened the actions of the old association, and in September, 1870, the purchase was made and the colony established. That being the result desired by the Judge, he abandoned all further proceedings, never intending or desiring a rival to Riverside. He then settled affairs in Iowa, and in May, 1871, established himself and family in the new colony. He located upon Government land in sections 13 and 24, securing 104 acres lying one-half mile north and east of the Riverside town site on Colton avenue. His means were limited, but he commenced his new life and pursuits with that indomitable energy and perseverance so characteristic of the man, and which not even the fifty years that had constituted a life's struggle could abate. His little cabin 12 x 16 feet was erected; his ground cleared, and horticultural pursuits entered upon, and early in 1872 he planted vines and trees. He also planted seeds and started his nursery stock for an extended citrus-tree planting. He was successful in his enterprise and gradually increased his stock of this world's goods. His orange-groves gradually extended their area. His little cabin gave way to extended improvements, and from its site sprang his present home, the well-known "Anchorage." The Judge has a magnificent orange-grove of twenty acres, about one-half of which is devoted to seedling oranges, and the balance to budded fruit of the Washington Navel and Mediterranean Sweet varieties. He has also a large variety of deciduous fruits. The balance of 100 acres of land is utilized in general farming operations, and will soon be planted to oranges. The "Anchorage" that forms his home is a retreat for invalids and tourists seeking Riverside as a health or pleasure resort. It is a fine, two and three story building, affording accommodations for thirty guests, well ordered and complete in its appointments, surrounded by ornamental trees and floral productions. The grounds are unusually attractive, being fitted with appliances for outdoor sports, such as tennis, croquet and ten-pins; with a charming flower garden, lawns, rustic bridge, summer-house and awnings, great pepper trees with hammocks and easy chairs, forming altogether an ideal Southern California home, a beautiful monument to the Judge's labor, perseverance, taste and skill, and well deserves the name he has bestowed upon it. He is a man of most genial manners and cultivated taste, and has always been a devoted and self-sacrificing husband and father. The genial host and hostess seem to have but one object in life, and that is the comfort, the health and the pleasure of their guests. Mr. Brown is a native of Franklin County, Maine, born in 1821. He was reared as a farmer. His educational facilities were good and he closed his school-days by graduating at the Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Readfield, in 1842. Upon reaching his majority he went to New York and spent the next six years as a clerk in the mercantile establishments of Elmira and Rochester, and then, established a general merchandise business in Elmira, which he conducted for some years. He then moved to Iowa and established himself as a grain-dealer at Cedar Rapids, and in the warehouse business, under the firm name of S. C. Bearer & Co. In the fall of 1863 he closed out his business at Cedar Rapids and located at Belle Plain, Benton County, and was there engaged in mercantile life until he came to California in 1871. Judge Brown has always been one of the strongest supporters of Riverside enterprises and industries, and is well known, respected and esteemed. For many years he has been a consistent member of the Episcopal Church and a senior warden of the same. In politics he is a straight Republican, and has been an adherent of the party since 1856. In 1874 he was appointed Justice of the Peace, and was twice re-elected to the same position, holding the office until 1880. In 1850 Judge Brown was married to Miss Sarah Van Wickle, a native of New York, but a descendant of an old family of New Jersey. Though highly connected socially and drawing about her always the choicest people, she yet shared bravely in the trials of pioneer life, and was in every truest sense a help-meet. There were three children born to this marriage, two of whom are still living, viz.: Settie C. and Lyman V. W. His oldest daughter, Catherine L., married S. S. Sweet, of Belle Plain, Iowa. She died in 1872. Judge Brown's parents were Isaac and Sophia (Clifford) Brown, both natives of New Hampshire.
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.- 569-570
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
THOMAS HOLMES
is a well-known resident of Ontario, San Bernardino County. He has for the past thirty years been identified with the mining, mercantile, agricultural and horticultural industries of the Pacific coast. A review of his life is of interest. Mr. Holmes was born in Lancashire England, in 1834. His parents, James and Hannah (Mort) Holmes, were natives of that place. In 1844 his father emigrated to the United States and settled in Putnam County, Illinois, where he engaged in farming and stock-growing. The subject of this sketch received the benefits of a common-school education and became practically versed in the duties of a farmer. When twenty years of age he started in life for himself, and spent the next five years in farm labor and other occupations.
In the spring of 1859 he started on an overland trip for California. After undergoing the usual hardships and labor attending a trip of that character, he arrived in August of that year and located in El Dorado County. His first occupation was in the placer mines of that section. He followed the calling of a miner in the various counties of California until 1868. In that year he entered Nevada and located in Elko County. There he combined cattle-raising with his mining enterprises, and also established a general merchandise store at Truckee, under the firm name of Jones & Holmes. The various enterprises were conducted for several years. He was also engaged with the Central Pacific Railroad in the construction of bridges, buildings, etc. During the latter portion of his residence in Nevada, Mr. Holmes devoted the most of his attention to the stock business.
In the spring of 1884, he decided to seek a more genial climate, and he came to Ontario and located upon a twenty-acre tract on the east side of Euclid avenue, between Fourth and Fifth streets. This tract he had purchased in 1883. Immediately upon his arrival he commenced his improvements and heartily entered into horticultural pursuits. He also purchased the ten acres adjoining his land on the east. He has been eminently successful in his fruit-growing. His lands now present a fine appearance and are justly classed as among the representative groves of Ontario. He has ten acres in Washington Navel trees, planted in 1884, and ten acres in raisin grapes of the Muscat variety. His east ten acres is devoted to deciduous fruits, comprising about seven and one-half acres in French prunes and two and one-half in pears. Everything about this model ranch denotes the practical care and attention of the thorough horticulturist. He has applied to this, his latest venture, the same energy and sound business principles that secured his success in other enterprises, and justly deserves the magnificent results achieved.
He is a public-spirited citizen and has done much to advance the interests of Ontario. In political matters he has always been a stanch Republican, and though not an office-seeker has taken a part in the councils of the party, and for years filled positions of trust and honor. He was the Postmaster at Carlin, Nevada, from 1870 to 1884; from 1876 to 1880 he was the County Commissioner of Elko County, and also road supervisor and school trustee of his district for years, and many times was a delegate to both State and county conventions. He has served as a delegate in the conventions of San Bernardino County, is at present a member of the Board of Supervisors, and is a member of the County Central Committee. Mr. Holmes is a member of the following orders: Elko Lodge, No. 15, F. & A. M., of Elko, Nevada, and Brooklyn Lodge, No. 46, I. O. O. F., of Red Dog, Nevada County, California. In 1877 Mr. Holmes was united in marriage with Mrs. Marcia W. Barney, a native of Maine, and a daughter of Hon. George Whitney, of Pittsfield, of the same State. Bernice, her daughter, is the only child.
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.- 570-571
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler