California Genealogy

Secularization, that practically razed the missions, was closely followed in San Bernardino by an epoch of speedier and more extensive advancement, in the opening of the section to general development. This period began with the division of the country into large ranchos, under the governorship of Juan B. Alvarado, who very practically made to such as would agree to occupy and settle their possessions in so remote and Indian-infested a district, the large grants of land necessary for the raising of horses and cattle, then regarded as the only available industry. The first of these grants in point of time … Read more

In 1853 or 1854 one Leonardo Serrano, a native Californian, applied to the Board of Land Commissioners, then in session in California, claiming a Mexican grant of five leagues of land, including that tract known as the Rancho de Temescal. After a careful investigation, his claim was rejected, and the land, like other Government land, lay open to settlement until 1859. Then tin was discovered near Serrano’s home, be having died in the meantime. On the announcement of this valuable discovery, Abel Stearns, of Los Angeles, purchased from Serrano’s widow her interest in the property. Litigation was now necessary to … Read more

Ontario founded by the Chaffey brothers, is the most western town in San Bernardino County, and the lands extend to within four miles of the county line. It is thirty-eight miles east of Los Angeles, and twenty-four miles west of San Bernardino and Colton. Cucamonga is the nearest place on the east, Pomona on the west, and Chino on the south. At the town the elevation is 980 feet, with a gradual rise to 2,000 feet at the base of the mountains, six miles away. The slope is gradual from the Cucamonga Mountains, 6,000 feet high, and the month of … Read more

The Mormons were, too, a peaceable and law-abiding element, and as long as their party was in the majority they maintained good government. It was not long, however, before the Gentiles were attracted to this beautiful valley in considerable numbers, coming from neighboring counties and from a distance; and between these and the Mormons hard feelings were soon engendered owing to disparity of tastes and customs, as well as to the conflict of mutual interests. In 1852 came to San Bernardino the first physician, Dr. Ira Burris, who was shortly followed by Dr. Ainsworth. The settlement was always very healthy. … Read more

In the year 1851 began the third period or chapter in the history of the section-that of Mormon occupation. Brigham Young, the head of the Mormon church, desired the establishment of a colony on the Pacific coast, as an out-fitting post for the church, and as a pacific port where European converts might be landed, instead of disembarking them at New York harbor, to travel overland across the continent. The journey overland to Salt Lake could be shortened two-thirds in this way. It is said that the great Mormon leader favored the purchase of the Chino Rancho, but the leaders … Read more

The timber belt of the Sierra Nevada, in this county, extending from Swarthout Canon in Cajon Pass on the west to Mount Grayback on the east, a stretch of some thirty miles, averages three miles in width. A few Mormons, in 1851, built the first road from San Bernardino valley to the summit of the Sierra Madre, this thoroughfare serving for the lumber traffic for some twenty years. In the earlier years, there were, probably, not over seventy-five families to supply with lumber. In 1859, a second road was built, in 1874 another, and in the ’80s still another. All … Read more

Lawlessness in 1859-60, politics ran high in San Bernardino County. There was a strong secessionist element, to oppose which John Brown rode over the country convoking the Union men thereof to rally at the old school-house ” to form a political organization. There were present at the first meeting John Brown, Charles G. Hill, William Heap, Moses Martin, and one other man and two ladies, Mrs. Highmoor and Mrs. Blackburn. The meeting was interrupted by the advent of nineteen roughs, armed with various weapons, from clubs to cheese-knives and guns, who cursed the speaker and made other violent demonstrations, but … Read more

John Brown, Jr., acting as court interpreter, supplied the following bit of early history to the San Bernardino Times, of January 22, 1876: For some days past the District Court has been engaged in hearing the case of Craig, Cave et at. vs. Craft et at., involving the right to use the water of Old San Bernardino. A number of early pioneers were heard in the case. Among them were Daniel Sexton, whose testimony dates as far back as 1842; James W. Waters dates back as far as 1844; S. P. Waite to 1849, and others of later times. Byron … Read more

The Indian Tribes that inhabited San Bernardino County were not a few, and several of them have representatives at the present day. There are the Yuma, who dwell along the Colorado River, from its entrance into Arizona to its outlet, occupying only the river bottoms; the Yuma are so far removed from the settled districts as to belong practically to Arizona. The Serrano and Cahuilla Indians have intermarried for so long a time that now the separate tribes can hardly be distinguished. They occupy divers fruitful valleys in the vicinity of San Bernardino. The Chimehuera and Pah-ute inhabit the sterile … Read more

This site is a county site for California AHGP, a state organization of the American History and Genealogy Project (AHGP). AHGP is a group of volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. You have apparently stumbled upon my contribution to this effort. Our name are Judy White and Dennis Partridge, and we are the joint CAAHGP county coordinators (cc) for San Bernardino County, California. If you would like to contribute data to this website please contact us, using the comment form! The county of San Bernardino … Read more