John T. Jarvis
Encyclopedia
John T. Jarvis was the sixth mayor of Riverside, California
, United States. Prior to the office of mayor, Jarvis was the Riverside County
Assessor, and a Riverside city councilman. A successful businessman, he helped establish many of Riverside's early business enterprises, particularly those in fruit-growing, fruit-packing, and real estate.
John and Matilda moved to Riverside, California
in 1881. Once there, he joined his brother, Dr. Joseph Jarvis, in a fruit drying business. He became a partner in the fruit-packing firm of Griffin & Skelley, serving as the buyer for the firm. Jarvis quickly became a prominent figure in the fruit growing and packing industry in and around Riverside. He managed many of his own orchards, operated a citrus nursery, and bought and shipped honey.
Jarvis was also involved in a number of other early Riverside business ventures. He organized the Royal Steam Laundry and served as president for 10 years, he helped organize the Citizens Bank, and he ran a dry goods store named J. T. Jarvis & Company, which later became Rouse's Department Store after he sold his interest to Gaylor Rouse. The Rouse's Department Store Building is now Riverside City Landmark Number 50.
In 1887, changing careers again, Jarvis went into real estate. In 1892 he founded J. T. Jarvis and B. B. Bush, which became a prominent real estate firm. In 1895, he initiated the People's Abstract Company, served for 12 years as president, and later sold the company to the Riverside Title Company.
The Jarvis house in Downtown Riverside, on Twelfth Street, was originally built in 1887 in the Victorian gothic
style, but Jarvis and his wife had the house remodeled in 1914 to reflect the more fashionable bungalow style. The Jarvis House has been designated Riverside City Landmark Number 78.
On January 3, 1932, John T. Jarvis died of a stroke and was buried at Riverside's Evergreen Cemetery
. His wife had died a year earlier.
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
, United States. Prior to the office of mayor, Jarvis was the Riverside County
Riverside County, California
Riverside County is a county in the U.S. state of California. One of 58 California counties, it covers in the southern part of the state, and stretches from Orange County to the Colorado River, which forms the state border with Arizona. The county derives its name from the city of Riverside,...
Assessor, and a Riverside city councilman. A successful businessman, he helped establish many of Riverside's early business enterprises, particularly those in fruit-growing, fruit-packing, and real estate.
Personal life
Jarvis was born in North Oxford, Ontario, Canada in 1847 to Jonathan and Eliza (Allan) Jarvis. At the age of 13 he left school and began work as an errand boy for a grocery store, and quickly worked his way up to manager. In 1869 he left the store and joined his father in the dairy and cheesemaking business. He married Matilda A. Dundas that same year.John and Matilda moved to Riverside, California
Riverside, California
Riverside is a city in Riverside County, California, United States, and the county seat of the eponymous county. Named for its location beside the Santa Ana River, it is the largest city in the Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario metropolitan area of Southern California, 4th largest inland California...
in 1881. Once there, he joined his brother, Dr. Joseph Jarvis, in a fruit drying business. He became a partner in the fruit-packing firm of Griffin & Skelley, serving as the buyer for the firm. Jarvis quickly became a prominent figure in the fruit growing and packing industry in and around Riverside. He managed many of his own orchards, operated a citrus nursery, and bought and shipped honey.
Jarvis was also involved in a number of other early Riverside business ventures. He organized the Royal Steam Laundry and served as president for 10 years, he helped organize the Citizens Bank, and he ran a dry goods store named J. T. Jarvis & Company, which later became Rouse's Department Store after he sold his interest to Gaylor Rouse. The Rouse's Department Store Building is now Riverside City Landmark Number 50.
In 1887, changing careers again, Jarvis went into real estate. In 1892 he founded J. T. Jarvis and B. B. Bush, which became a prominent real estate firm. In 1895, he initiated the People's Abstract Company, served for 12 years as president, and later sold the company to the Riverside Title Company.
The Jarvis house in Downtown Riverside, on Twelfth Street, was originally built in 1887 in the Victorian gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
style, but Jarvis and his wife had the house remodeled in 1914 to reflect the more fashionable bungalow style. The Jarvis House has been designated Riverside City Landmark Number 78.
On January 3, 1932, John T. Jarvis died of a stroke and was buried at Riverside's Evergreen Cemetery
Evergreen Cemetery (Riverside, California)
Evergreen Cemetery, or Evergreen Memorial Park is a cemetery in Riverside, California, United States. The first burial occurred in 1872, and the cemetery became the resting place of many historic figures of Riverside.-History:...
. His wife had died a year earlier.
Political career
| Office Held | Took Office | Left Office |
|---|---|---|
| Riverside County Assessor | January 5, 1895 | January 2, 1899 |
| Riverside City Councilman | November 22, 1915 | December 29, 1925 |
| Mayor of Riverside | January 1, 1926 | December 31, 1927 |