California Genealogy and History Archives
Biographies
of
San Bernardino County and Riverside County
| WILLIAM
LOEHR, SR., is one of the venerable
and honored citizens of Bloomington, San Bernardino County, and has
maintained his residence in California for more than forty years. He was
born on the Rhine River in Germany, September 5, 1847, and is a son of
Ludwig Louis and Catherine (Muller) Loehr, who passed their entire lives
in their native land. Mr. Loehr gained his early education in the
excellent schools of his native province and as a youth he there learned
the trade of cabinet maker. In accordance with the governmental
regulations of Germany at that time he served four years in the German
army, and in this connection took part in the Franco-Prussian war, he
having been wounded in the right arm at the battle of Haerient, and the
injury having prevented use of the arm for five years. His objection to
the military rule in Germany led him to immigrate to the United States
in 1880, and he worked at his trade in various cities, including Chicago
and Taylor, Texas, in which latter place, in 1886, was solemnized his
marriage to Miss Barbara Elizabeth Blum, who was born in Hessen,
Germany, and who was sixteen years of age when she came to the United
States, and whose death occurred at Bloomington, California, January 17,
1918. In 1889 Mr. Loehr came to Los Angeles, California, and engaged in
the work of his trade, besides which he developed a prosperous
contracting business. In 1890 he came to the Bloomington district of San
Bernardino County and purchased ten acres of desert land, on which
sagebrush, cacti and rattlesnakes were principally in evidence. Op this
tract, now at the comer of Larch and Bloomington avenues, Mr. Loehr set
out orange and pear trees, and with the passing years he developed it
into one of the valuable properties of the Bloomington district, in
which he is a pioneer. On his property he has erected five houses, which
he readily rents to desirable occupants. Upon coming to Bloomington he
paid $100 down on his land, this representing his entire cash capital at
the time. The little house which he erected was destroyed by fire, with
no insurance, but this was but one of many hardships he here encountered
in the early days. As a skilled workman he has erected all of the five
houses on his land, and their superior construction causes them to be
much in demand, even the doors and windows sash having been made by him.
Mr. Loehr has much inventive talent and has patented a process of making
fiber for the manufacturing of rope cordage from the Spanish digger or
corthis. He has spent years in the study of chemistry and has made
extended experiments in the production of a synthetic composition in
imitation of marble, a work in which he has been remarkably successful,
as his process produces an article equal to the best natural marble in
appearance and durability and of distinct commercial value, the cost of
production being remarkably low. Mr. Loehr is a man of broad mental
grasp, a natural student and scientist, and is one of the honored
pioneer horticulturists of San Bernardino County, where he has won
substantial prosperity through his well-ordered activities. Of his eight
children the eldest was Catherine, who was born at Taylor, Texas,
January 9, 1887, and who was educated as a trained nurse, in hospitals
at Riverside and Ramona. California. In a professional way she entered
Red Cross service when her native land became involved in the World war
and she was preparing to go to France in war service when her death
occurred, at San Bernardino, November 19, 1918. William, Jr., was born
at Los Angeles, February 8, 1889. June 21, 1911, he wedded Mary Belle
Wilson, who died November 5, 1918. September 2, 1919, he married Mary
McClaren, and they have three children : Elmer William, Walter Stanley
and Louise Mary. Louis was born in Los Angeles, April 29. 1891. On the
10th of October, 1917, he married Mary Baker, of Rialto, and they have
two children: Eleanor and Dorothy Marie. The family home is at Rialto.
John was born at Bloomington, January 19, 1895. July 27, 1921, recorded
his marriage to Miss Ruby Robert. He is a student in the State
Agricultural College of Oregon. Barbara, born November 27, 1898, was
united in marriage February 4, 1920, to Russell Davis, and they reside
at Victorville, San Bernardino County. Ferdinand, born October 7, 1900;
Frederick, born May 29, 1903, and Elsie, born December 13, 1906, remain
at the paternal home.
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Source: Transcribed by Peggy Hooper 2011 |