Tag: san bernardino history

An Illustrated History of Southern California

“An Illustrated History of Southern California” is a historical volume published in 1890 by The Lewis Publishing Company. It is part of a larger series of regional histories from that era, each covering a different part of the United States. These books were often subscription-based vanity publications, meaning they included detailed biographies and histories submitted (and sometimes paid for) by the individuals or families featured.

Here’s what you should know about this specific volume:

Full Title:
An Illustrated History of Southern California: Embracing the Counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles, and Orange, and the Peninsula of Lower California
Published: 1890
Publisher: The Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago

Contents Summary:

  1. Early Exploration and Settlement:
    • Spanish exploration (notably Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo and Gaspar de Portolá)
    • Mission system and colonization under Spanish and Mexican rule
  2. Mexican and Early American Period:
    • Mexican land grants and ranchos
    • The transition to American governance post-1848 (Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo)
    • California statehood and its impact on the region
  3. Development of Counties and Towns:
    • Growth of cities like Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Bernardino
    • Railroads, agriculture (especially citrus and vineyards), and real estate booms
  4. Biographical Sketches:
    • Hundreds of pages of biographies of prominent settlers, businessmen, ranchers, and civic leaders
    • Often includes portraits and details about personal achievements, land holdings, and social connections
  5. Illustrations:
    • Engravings and lithographs of important buildings, early maps, ranch homes, street scenes, and individuals

Use and Value Today:

  • It serves as a primary source for historians, genealogists, and researchers
  • The biographies provide insight into settler perspectives, economic development, and social hierarchies of the late 19th century
  • The illustrations and engravings are valuable for understanding the visual landscape of the era

Note of Caution:
While rich in historical detail, the book reflects the biases of its time—including Eurocentric views, boosterism, and often omitting or minimizing Native American perspectives.

Toll Road Controversy

The controversy over John Brown’s toll road through Cajon Pass in the mid-19th century revolved around money, fairness, and public access—a classic tension in frontier development.

Two wagons at the summit. Mormon Rocks and the San Gabriel Mountains in the distance

1. Brown’s Toll Road and Franchise Rights
In 1861, San Bernardino County granted John Brown Sr. and his partners a franchise to build a toll road through Cajon Pass, a vital route connecting San Bernardino Valley to the Mojave Desert and beyond. They improved the existing wagon trail—grading it, clearing rock, and making it more passable for wagons—and charged tolls to those using it.

2. Public Frustration
While the improvements were appreciated, some settlers and freighters grumbled about the tolls. The road served as a major conduit for travel and trade; paying a toll on what many viewed as a natural thoroughfare didn’t sit well with everyone. The sentiment grew that Brown was profiting off a public necessity.

3. Competing Routes and Free Road Advocates
As traffic increased, alternate routes began to be explored, especially by those who wanted to avoid tolls. There were also pushes from the community and local government to establish a public road that would be toll-free. Some even attempted to create alternate trails that bypassed the toll gates, fueling the controversy.

4. Political Wrangling
Brown’s toll franchise became entangled in local politics, with supporters arguing it encouraged development and opponents seeing it as a private monopoly over a public passage. This debate sometimes reached county supervisors, and there were calls to revoke or revise the franchise.

5. Toll Road Decline
Eventually, as public roads improved and more options became available, the toll road’s importance faded. It’s unclear exactly when tolls stopped, but free passage eventually became the norm, and the road was absorbed into the public road system.

In short, the controversy was over the balance between private investment and public access, a theme repeated throughout Western expansion. John Brown wasn’t alone—toll roads were common in the 1800s—but he was one of the more talked-about due to its location and importance.

also see:

The Toll Road

Toll Road Through Cajon Pass