Ben Barton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ben Barton
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| Born | June 8, 1823 |
| Died | January 1, 1899 (aged 75) |
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| Occupation | Doctor, landowner, vintner, politician, settler |
| Spouse(s) | Eliza Barton (née Brite) |
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Ben Barton (born June 8, 1823 – died January 1, 1899) was an important person in the early history of Southern California. He was a doctor, a large landowner, and a white settler in the San Bernardino Valley. He moved to California in 1854 from the eastern United States.
Later, he bought a lot of land in an area called Rancho San Bernardino. Ben Barton also worked in politics for both the state and local governments. After he stopped working as a doctor, he became a rancher and a vintner (someone who makes wine). He built a big house, known as Barton Villa, for his family. His sons also became well-known in the area as politicians and business owners.
After Ben Barton passed away, his land was divided into smaller pieces and sold. This area eventually grew into the city of Redlands. Barton helped build some of the first buildings in Redlands and nearby San Bernardino. His old home, the Barton Villa, is now a historic site. Ben Barton was also a philanthropist, meaning he gave money and time to help others. He and his family were very important and well-known in the San Bernardino area during its early "pioneer" days.
Ben Barton's Early Life
Ben Barton was born in South Carolina in 1823. His family had lived in that area for many generations. In 1845, he moved to Lexington, Kentucky, to study medicine.
After finishing his studies, he worked as a doctor in Texas and Alabama. He met his wife, Eliza Brite, in Texas. They lived in El Paso until 1854. That year, they moved west to El Monte, California. Ben and Eliza Barton had two sons: John H. Barton, born in 1855, and Hiram Barton, born in 1856.
His Work and Public Service
In the late 1850s, Ben Barton bought a lot of land in Rancho San Bernardino. He bought it from members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were selling their land at low prices because their leader, Brigham Young, had asked them to return to Utah.
Barton bought 640 acres (about 2.6 square kilometers) of land for $5,000. This land was near the San Bernardino Asistencia, an old outpost from the late 1600s or early 1700s. He also bought other properties in the main part of San Bernardino.
Ben Barton was chosen to be the city's postmaster, which meant he was in charge of the post office. In 1858, he built a building in San Bernardino from adobe (a type of mud brick). This building held the post office, his doctor's office, and a pharmacy. His brother, John P. Barton, mostly ran the post office because Ben was very busy. Also in 1858, Barton was elected as the school superintendent for the new San Bernardino County. This meant he was in charge of the schools in the county.
In 1859, Ben Barton and his family moved to the Asistencia land and sold their home in San Bernardino. Around this time, Barton started focusing more on ranching and farming instead of medicine. Some people say he stopped being a doctor completely, while others say he still saw patients from a home office.
Ben Barton had the Barton Villa built for his family. This house is now the oldest standing house in the city of Redlands. In the early 1860s, he served as a member of the California State Assembly. This meant he helped make laws for California. Ben Barton passed away in 1899.
Lasting Impact
A road called Barton Road, which connects Redlands and Grand Terrace, is named after him. The large areas of land owned by Ben Barton and his sons were known as the Barton Ranch. Later, this land was divided into many smaller house lots and sold. This is how the city of Redlands grew and was officially formed.
