San Bernardino County
Biographies
BENTON O. JOHNSON,
one of Redlands' best known and highly respected citizens,
is a native of Connecticut, born at Bethlehem, April 20, 1855. His parents were
David and Sophia (Stone) Johnson, both of whom came of old Connecticut families,
and the father a merchant. B. O. Johnson was but two years of age when his
parents removed to the South. They resided at various places throughout
the Southern country, among them New Orleans, Matamoras, Brownsville, etc., and
the outbreak of the civil war found the elder Johnson carrying on the dry-goods
business. In 1863 the family left the South and returned to Connecticut, trade
being much interfered with on
account of the war. They located at Middlebury, whence they afterward removed to
West Haven. At the last named place and at New Haven, the subject of this sketch
was educated. He commenced his business career as a drug clerk with Dr.
Shepherd, at West Haven, with whom he continued fur five years; then went in
business for himself at Deep River, Connecticut. There he remained until 1883,
when he came to California, locating at Redlands. He followed ranching two
years, but then gave it up to resume mercantile life. He purchased the store
formerly conducted by George A. Cook, in Lugonia, and was in business there
until February, 1889, when he sold out to V. L. Mitchell, with whose
establishment he is now connected.
He was married at West Haven, Connecticut, September 14, 1880, to Miss Minnie R. Brown, sister of F. E. Brown, of Redlands. They have two children, viz.: Hazel and Walter.
Mr. Johnson has built two residences, which are a credit to Redlands. The first one is now the property of R. J. Waters. Mr. Johnson's present residence was built in 1888, and he moved into it in June of that year. It is a very handsome and well constructed building, and occupying, as it does, the most commanding site in Redlands, presents a striking and beautiful appearance from almost any point of view in the city.
Mr. Johnson is a member of Annawan Lodge, No. 115, F. & A. M., West Haven, Connecticut, and of Burning Bush Chapter, R. A. M., of Essex, Connecticut. He also belongs to Webb Lodge, I. O. O. F., Deep River, Connecticut. In politics he is a Republican. He is a member of the Congregational Church.
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.- 722-723
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
HARRY G. CRAFTS,
one of Redlands' most enterprising horticulturists, was born in Jackson, Michigan, in 1853. His father, Myron H. Crafts, was the first settler in Crafton, California, which place was named after him. The subject of this sketch is extensively engaged in farming and fruit-raising, and lives four miles west of Redlands.
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.- 723
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
HENRY A. KELLER
is a "native son of the Golden West," born in Santa Clara, Santa Clara County, in 1859. At fourteen years of age he entered a telegraph office as messenger boy, with the purpose of learning telegraphy. At sixteen he was in the Agent's office as operator, and when eighteen years old was train dispatcher on the Central Pacific Railroad. Later he was in the employ of the Oregon Railway and Navigation Company; and for sixteen mouths was train-dispatcher for the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fé Railway Company at San Bernardino. He has filled that difficult and responsible position nine years altogether. In May, 1888, Mr. Keller was appointed chief deputy tax-collector of San Bernardino County by Mr. Stetson, and is now serving his second term in that capacity. He has charge of the official correspondence chiefly, and does a large share of the book-keeping.
Mr. Keller married Miss Willard, a Sacramento lady, the present year-1889. His parents were natives of Germany, and immigrated to America to escape the revolutionary troubles of 1848. His father, who was born in 1828, now resides in Idaho; his mother died about eighteen years ago.
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.- 723
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler