San Bernardino County
Biographies
GEORGE W. SUTTONFIELD
was born at Fort Wayne, Indiana, February 14, 1825. His father, Colonel William Suttonfield, a native of Virginia, was in the regular army, under General Harrison, in the Black Hawk war. He built the first house in Fort Wayne and lived there until his death, which occurred in 1841. His wife, Laura (Taylor) Suttonfield, was a native of Connecticut. They had six children, of whom the subject of this sketch was the fourth. He attended Wabash College at Crawfordsville, Indiana, for four years, and in 1849 came to California. He started from Fort Smith, Arkansas, in April, and in October of the same year arrived in San Francisco. Mr. Suttonfield can tell some interesting stories of how they had to eat dried pumpkins and beans for many days at a time. Their train was a wealthy one from the South. They had some very fine stock, but lost heavily and arrived on the coast with almost nothing. Many of them were afoot and out of provisions. At one time all that Mr. Suttonfield had was but a pint of green coffee. He crossed the Colorado Desert afoot and followed a trail to San Diego. From there he went to San Francisco on a coal bark, and didn't have a cent of money when he got there. He knocked around all day and got very hungry. At last he bargained to work for a restaurant keeper at $1 a day, digging and wheeling a bank of earth into the bay. He played a few games of cards and won $16. At night he unloaded vessels at $2 per hour. The boardinghouse man, seeing that he was industrious and honest, started him in business. He sold pies, cakes and coffee on the corner of Clay and Portsmouth Square, and took in from $40 to $50 per day. He then sold out his coffee stand on credit and went to the mines. Here, the first day, he took on $86. He continued in the mines for about three years, when he went to Mariposa County, and went into the stock business. This was from 1856 to 1861. In 1862 he went to Stockton, where he engaged in the livery business for a time, and subsequently went to Arizona and engaged in the stock business for seven years. In 1882 he came to San Bernardino and engaged in the livery business, from which he has recently retired and at present he is operating gold quartz-mines, 100 miles east of San Bernardino.
Mr. Suttonfield was married June 1, 1851, to Mrs. Sarah Smith. This was the first recorded marriage in Mariposa County. The union resulted in five children, and in 1870 the mother died. Ten years later Mr. Suttonfield married Sarah Chadwick. They now live on Mount Vernon avenue, southwest of the city two miles. While in Mariposa County, our subject was judge of the first election held in the county. September 28, 1866, he organized the Pioneer Society at San Bernardino, with twenty-two members. He is in the truest sense a pioneer and a highly respected citizen.
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.- 591-592
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
JOHN BOYD,
a well-known citizen of Riverside, though not a pioneer, has been a resident of the city since 1876, and there are few men who have been more closely identified with the real interest and improvements of the city than John Boyd. He arrived at a time when the first named commodity at least was needed and appreciated. He erected a substantial building on Main street, and entered into business; and as the demands of the city increased he was ever to the front with his improvements. The present magnificent Boyd block, with its frontage of 111½ feet on Main street, is one of the results of his enterprise. He erected spacious warehouses and store-rooms on Eighth street and Pachappa avenue, and established a commission and storage business. This was in 1885, and in 1887 he formed a partnership with Frank B. DeVine, purchased the first packing business of the German Fruit Company, and under the firm name of Boyd & DeVine, combined the two enterprises and founded one of the most substantial and largest business establishments in the county. Mr. Boyd is a self-made man, one who started in life handicapped with obstacles which when not pursued with his rugged energy and perseverance would be deemed insurmountable. The few and brief facts gathered regarding his life before his advent in Riverside are as follows:
He was born in Montreal, in 1833. His father was an Indian trader, having his stations scattered along the Canadian shores of the great lakes of the northwest. From his early boyhood Mr. Boyd was the companion of his father, sharing in the hardships and dangers of a border life, gathering such learning as could be gathered from an occasional attendance at the pioneer schools, established in the half-civilized settlements that preceded the westward march of the Canadian empire. This life did not turn him out as the graceful and accomplished scholar of classics; but it did better: it early taught him the stern relations and obstacles to be encountered in life. Through his association with his father and his trading operations, Mr. Boyd became a quick, shrewd trader, with thoroughly trained business principles; straightforward, honest dealing has ever been his policy. In 1859 Mr. Boyd came by steamer route to the Pacific coast, and established himself in British Columbia. He found that country rich in natural resources, and for the next sixteen years was engaged in trading, establishing large stations in the interior,—stock-growing and mining enterprises. There he found full scope for his well-known characteristics, and became one of the best known traders on the frontier. He was successful in a business point of view, but the hardships and exposures incident to years of frontier life told upon his strong constitution, and he found himself compelled to seek civilized life and a milder climate. In 1875 he closed his affairs in British Columbia and sought a home in California.
He spent nearly a year in visiting various sections of the State, and finally decided to cast his fortunes with Riverside. He is a public-spirited and liberal man, has been earnest in his support of Riverside enterprises, and was one of the incorporators. He was the treasurer of the Riverside Gas and Electric Light Company, and a liberal contributor to the Citrus Fair Association, Pavilion Building, Odd Fellows Hall, and other public improvements. He is a member of Riverside Lodge, No. 282, I. O. O. F. Politically he casts his influence and support with the Democratic party.
In 1879 Mr. Boyd was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Burman, a native of Maryland. They have no children.
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.- 592-593
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler