San Bernardino County
Biographies
PETER J. FILANC,
residing three miles south of San Bernardino, is one of the
oldest and most prosperous pioneers in the valley. He was born in the southern
part of France, November 4, 1820, the oldest of a family of three children. When
a young man he went to Africa, and for nine years engaged in the slave trade on
the east and west coasts. In
1845 he sailed from Maca to China and took slaves, then from China to Salem,
Massachusetts. He followed the sea for fifteen years. In 1848 he sailed
from New York to New Orleans, and thence to St. Louis, from St. Louis to Council
Bluffs by steamer, and there wintered. In the spring of 1849 he crossed by ox
team to Salt
Lake City, where he wintered, and the next spring started across the plains to
California. Their train consisted of fifty-two wagons, under Captain
Foote. They had a very prosperous journey, and in September, 1852, they all
arrived safely in San Bernardino, when there was but one building (the fort) in
the place. His first
purchase of land was 225 acres, where he has since been engaged as a general
farmer and stock-raiser. He owned at one time 1,000 or more acres of land and
kept several thousand fine sheep and cattle. He paid $5 per acre for his land
and built the first house, an adobe, in the valley. For some years he was
successfully
engaged in the mercantile business in San Bernardino. At the present time he is
carrying on the dairy business. In 1859 be married Miss Elizabeth Luyhan, a
native of Los Angeles. She was the daughter of Joseph and Mary Luyhan, the
former born in Spain, and the latter in California. Her father was one of the
first settlers in Los Angeles, having crossed the plains at a very early day,
and one time was a general. He died in 1881, having had a family of ten
children. Mr. and Mrs. Filanc have reared three children: Louisa, now Mrs. S.
Lamber, of San Francisco; Enneas; and Peter, who still resides with his parents.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Filanc are members of the Catholic Church in San Bernardino.
Politically Mr. Filanc affiliates with the Democratic party, and as a citizen,
commands the confidence and respect of his fellow-citizens.
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.- 542
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
ALVA A. WARREN,
a citizen of Colton, was born in Oakland County, Michigan,
July 21, 1836. His father, Z. J. Warren, a pioneer of Oakland County, Michigan,
was born in New Jersey, August 31, 1801, and was for thirty years a teacher in
the public schools. He also took a leading part in political matters, and
held some important public offices. He moved from Michigan to Indiana, and from
there to Illinois; then to Missouri; then to Iowa, and in 1852 he crossed the
plains to California by ox team. He stopped in Nevada and Utah for seven years
and reached California December 24, 1859. His wife, Cornelia A. Pardee, was a
native of New York. They had
but two children, the subject of this sketch and a daughter. Our subject was
married January 29, 1865, to Miss Betsey Parks, born in Yorkshire, England,
April 20, 1845. Her parents came to America when she was but four years of age.
This union was blessed with seven children, viz.: Ellenor and Mary E., twins,
the oldest of whom died September 27, 1866; the youngest is now the wife of
Charles F. Green; Olive Susan, Celeena M., Alva P., Christina I. and Charlotte
G. Mr. Warren is an assayer by profession, and has traveled extensively through
many States and Territories, but since his marriage has settled down to farming.
He owns land in different parts of San Bernardino County, and is giving his
attention to general farming and stock-raising. He lives on a ranch of 160 acres
located one and one-half miles east of south of Colton. He has taken a leading
part in in the educational interests of his district, and has been a trustee for
fifteen years. In 1888 he received the nomination of the Democratic party for
tax collector, but was defeated. He is a public-spirited man, and is ever ready
to help along any enterprise which has for its object the good of the community.
He is an honest and upright citizen, and has many friends.
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.- 542-543
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler