San Diego County
Biographies
JOHN DEWEY
is one of Elsinore's straight-forward business men and pioneers. He was born in New York State, August 19, 1845. His father, Levi Dewey, and his mother Jenette (Johnson) Dewey, and grandfather, George Johnson, all had their nativity in the State of New York. Mr. Dewey's maternal grandfather was a distiller of New York, and lived to be ninety-one years of age. He left a large estate; he bequeathed to each of his great-grandchildren $1,000, and to his grandchildren $2,000 each, and the balance of his large property was divided among his sons and daughters. Mr. Dewey was the youngest of six children. It was his misfortune to lose his mother by death when he was only two years of age. For a time he was cared for by his grandmother, but when his father remarried he made his home with him. He attended school in his native State and helped his father on the farm, and after he became of age he farmed on his own account for six years.
In 1867 he was married to Miss Celia Starkey, a daughter of George Starkey of New York. By this union he had one daughter, Berdella, born in Delaware, who is now the wife of Mr. Carl Merryfield, and resides in Los Angeles. Mrs. Dewey died in 1873, six years after their marriage, and Mr. Dewey was bereft of the wife of his choice, and the little daughter, Berdella, was left without a most affectionate mother. This change in his hopes and prospects was hard to bear. He broke up housekeeping and went to Leadville during the great mining excitement, and for two years devoted himself to making money. Hard work and exposure impaired his health to such an extent that he had to desist. During his stay at Leadville he was enabled to send money to take good care f his daughter. He at last decided to come to California, and he settled at Pasadena. Rest and the change of climate restored his health considerably, and he obtained a situation at $50 per month and board, which position he held for four years. While in Pasadena he bought and dealt in property, and was very successful in his venture. About this time Mr. Heald discovered Elsinore, and started the town by the beautiful lake, and excitement ran high. Mr. Dewey, with others, came to the new town site of Elsinore, and invested in 200 acres of land, all of which, except six acres, he sold at a great advance over cost. He then turned his attention to town lots and house building, and built seven good dwelling houses, for which he received rents at the rate of $90 per month. This continued for about a year and a half. He has the credit of building the first house that was painted in the town, thus taking the lead in the construction of the many tasty and attractive places that now adorn the place. He came when there was but one small house, and in the space of five short years (one of them without the help of the railroad) he has seen hundreds of pleasant homes constructed, dotting the valley in every direction. Mr. Dewey's political views are Republican, and his religious opinions favor the Universalists' creed. He has been conservative in his business transactions, buying only what he could pay for, and while he has not made as much money as some he has kept his business well in hand, and is able to smile at adversity. His neighbors speak well of him, and call him a one-hundred-cents-on-the-dollar man.
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.- 129-130
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler
R. H. McDONALD,
as the name indicates, is of Scotch descent, and of Presbyterian parentage. His father, James McDonald, of Pictou, Nova Scotia, was born in 1802, was raised there and still lives there, at the age of eighty-eight, hale and hearty.
Mr. McDonald's mother, nee Miss Catherine Gourley, was born in the same place. There were thirteen children in the family, of which the subject of this sketch was the youngest but one. He was educated at the Pictou Academy, in his native town, and went to learn the carpenters' trade at the age of eighteen, and has made it the business of his life since. He came to Southern California in 1881, and, with the exception of a few months spent in San Diego and Real del Castro, Baja California, lived in Los Angeles until 1885, about which time, his health failing him, he reluctantly left the city of his choice; going inland about 100 miles to San Jacinto, he found, after a few months' rest, together with enjoying the benefits of the hot springs at this place, that he became strong and hearty again. Business now calling him to Idaho and Montana, he remained north about eighteen months, and then returned to San Jacinto, bought property, built a neat house, and made other improvements: He is a conscientious man and an active, responsible house-builder and contractor.
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.- 130-131
Transcribed by Kathy Sedler