California Genealogy and History Archives
San Bernardino County and Riverside County
E. W. REID was a well qualified and successful practitioner of
medicine, but after coming to California did little or no professional
work, and the achievements that give him a high place in San Bernardino
County were in the fundamental development work in one of the county's
prominent horticultural districts, Alta Loma.
Mr. Reid was born in
Madison County, Illinois, December 16, 1852, son of William and Maria
(Cox) Reid, also natives of Illinois, where his father was a farmer. Dr.
Reid acquired a good education, graduating A. B. and A. M. from
Shurtleff College in Southern Illinois in 1875. In 1878 he received his
M. D. degree from St. Louis Medical College, and then for several years
enjoyed a growing practice in his chosen vocation.
It was to seek relief from
a chronic affliction of asthma that he came out to California in 1882.
After investigating a number of districts he bought twenty acres on
Hellman Avenue in the Alta Loma district. No development work had been
done in this section, all the land lying in a wilderness state. Dr. Reid
had the enterprise and the courage to go ahead with development for
which there were few precedents. He cleared and planted his land to
citrus fruits, and subsequently bought and planted another twenty acres.
When he located here the Southern Pacific Railroad was the only
transportation line available, and the nearest station was at Ontario.
The story of development along Hellman Avenue begins with his settlement
there. Dr. Reid in 1883 built a small home on his property, and he and
his family lived in this for eleven years. Then, in 1894, he erected the
more commodious and attractive residence where Mrs. Reid and her
Dr. Reid was not only a
worker on his own property, but was indefatigable in his efforts in
behalf of the general and prosperous development of the entire colony.
The community owes him much for his successful efforts in securing and
insuring reliable water rights for the colony. In politics he voted as a
democrat for a number of years, but was a sound money man and after 1896
joined the republican ranks. On that ticket he was elected county
supervisor in 1902, and he filled that office capably and faithfully
until his death ten yea^s later. He was not only one of the early
growers of citrus fruits, but was extremely interested in the handling
and marketing of the crop, and succeeded in organizing the first local
packing house in his district. While Dr. Reid came to California
primarily for his health, he was practically free from his affliction
thereafter, and lived usefully and in the enjoyment of his work and his
home here for nearly thirty years. He died September 2, 1912, and
because of his attainments and the wisdom and good judgment he had shown
in his relations with the community his death was a distinct loss.
November 18, 1876, Mr. Reid
married Miss Mary Jane Rennick. Mrs. Reid was born March 1, 1851, in St.
Francis County, Missouri, daughter of George W. and Priscilla (Barry)
Rennick. She is also a graduate of Shurtleff College of Illinois,
receiving her A. B. degree in 1876. Mrs. Reid has two daughters,
Gertrude, born at St. Louis, Missouri, January 13, 1878, was educated in
several public and private schools, graduated A. B. from the University
of California at Berkeley in 1902, and for a time taught in the High
schools of Whittier and Ontario. On her father's death she returned home
to assume the responsibilities of looking after the property, and she
has demonstrated unusual business ability and efficiency in handling the
forty-acre orchard, which is in a model and profitable condition.
The second daughter, Eunice
Reid, was born in Illinois, October 29, 1880, was educated in the same
schools with her sister, spent two years in Pomona College and graduated
from the University of California. She taught for two years in Santa
Monica. June 19, 1906, she was married to R. C. Owens. Mr. Owens is a
native of New York State, graduated from Pomona College in 1900 and from
the Hastings Law School in San Francisco in 1902, and is now a prominent
member of the San Francisco bar.
Mrs. Reid and family are active members of the Baptist Church, and for many years she was associated with Dr. Reid in civic and philanthropic undertakings, and is still prominent in church, club and civic matters.
Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011