Ben Barton | |
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| Member of the California State Assembly from the 1st district | |
| In office January 6, 1862 – December 7, 1863 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | June 8, 1823 South Carolina |
| Died | January 1, 1899 (aged 75) |
| Spouse | Eliza Brite |
| Children | 5, including Hiram |
| Occupation | Doctor, landowner, vintner, politician, settler |
Ben Barton (June 8, 1823 – January 1, 1899), often erroneously referred to as Benjamin Barton,[1] was a prominent landowner and white settler of the San Bernardino Valley in southern California. Educated as a medical doctor in the Eastern United States, he migrated to Southern California in 1854. A few years later, he purchased a large tract of land in Rancho San Bernardino. He served various political roles in state and local government. After retiring from his medical practice, he became a rancher and vintner, and had a large mansion built for his family. His sons also became prominent local politicians and businessmen.
After Barton's death, his land holdings were split into lots and sold for development; the area eventually became the city of Redlands. Barton built some of the earliest buildings in Redlands and neighboring San Bernardino, and his villa is now listed as a historic site. Barton was also a philanthropist and social host. He and his family were well-known and influential in the San Bernardino area during its pioneer era.
- ^ Landis, Mark (2009-02-03). "Bartons were active in early development of SB Valley". The San Bernardino Sun. Retrieved 2016-08-23.