Colton Resident Jean Salazar Celebrates a Century of Life

Colton resident Jean Salazar recently enjoyed birthday party put on by her family in Riverside to celebrate a milestone birthday: 100 years of life. She was joined by family from California, Idaho, Arizona, and Nevada. During the festivities, Salazar and her sister, Helen, 91, got to pose with a 1916 Model T Ford, provided on behalf of the Riverside/Corona Chapter Model T Club of America. The car is owned by Don and Kerry Kirtley of Devore, Calif. The family thanks them for donating their time and effort to make this a memorable event, which took place May 16. Salazar was born to the parents Barnard and Ramona Bischof. Ramona was born on Aug. 13, 1890, in Santa Ynez. She was a part Chumash Indian, and was married in Santa Barbara on April 30, 1911, to Barnard Bischof, a vineyard worker. Barnard was a German immigrant who had recently arrived in California. Salazar was born in Santa Barbara on May 16, 1915. She had three brothers: Ray, Frank and Bernard (deceased), and two sisters, Pauline (deceased) and Helen Bischof Martinez. Salazar went to school in Santa Barbara, and her cousin, Fred Voight, told her there was work in Redlands, so she left Santa Barbara and went to work as a housekeeper for a doctor who had residence there. In Redlands, she met Eddie Salazar, who worked as an orange grove manager in 1925, in Escondido, Calif. and they were later married in Yuma, Ariz. in 1935. Eddie Salazar’s grandfather was given a land grant for working in 1860 in place of money, near the Santa Ana River, where the residence stands today. Eddie worked at the Kaiser Steel Mill in Fontana, the Griffin Steel Train Wheel Company, and others over the years. Jean Salazar has lived in Colton most of her life. In the early times at the ranch they had a milk cow, chickens, goats and sheep. They also kept honey bees and a pig named Adeline. Salazar had a light stroke at age 65, but with rehabilitation and care she was able to return to a normal life, with a great amount help of her family, whom she loves very much. The family extends our thanks to everyone who attended or assisted in this event.