Downtown Riverside in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

John G. Gabbert

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

1. John G. Gabbert Marker

Inscription.
Justice John G. Gabbert served as a deputy district attorney, a police court judge and a partner at Best, Best and Gabbert, now Best, Best and Krieger. In 1949 he was appointed to the Riverside Superior Court where he served until his elevation to associate Justice of the California Court of Appeal from 1970 to 1974. His reputation for integrity dedication, decency, professionalism and a common touch has set the highest example for all attorneys and judges.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • War, World II. A significant historical year for this entry is 1949.

Location. 33° 58.738′ N, 117° 22.573′ W. Marker is in Riverside, California, in Riverside County. It is in Downtown Riverside. It is at the intersection of Main Street and 11th Street on Main Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 4100 Main St, Riverside CA 92501, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles,

in the Inland Empire,

and in the Peninsular Ranges.

It is also in the American Southwest.

Globally, it is in North

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America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Riverside County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Riverside County Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); M. H. Simons Undertaking Chapel (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Riverside History Walk (about 400 feet away); Staff Sergeant Ysmael R. Villegas (about 500 feet away); Lerner Building (about 500 feet away); Riverside Military Wall of Honor (about 500 feet away); Riverside City Hall (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Riverside.

Also see . . .
1. Judge John Gabbert, one of UC Riverside’s Founders, Dies at 104.

Born in Oxnard, California in 1909, Gabbert moved to Riverside at the age of three when his father, John R. Gabbert, purchased a half-interest in the Enterprise newspaper. He attended Riverside-area
courtesy MJ Elderman and Riverside Lawyer Magazine, June 26, 2026

2. John G. Gabbert Marker
schools until his family moved to South Pasadena in 1925. He graduated from South Pasadena HS, then returned to Riverside in 1927 to attend Riverside Community College. From there he earned his bachelor’s degree at Occidental College, then went on to earn a law degree at the Boalt Hall School of Law at UC Berkeley in 1934.

(Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

2. Transcription of Videotape Interview with John G. Gabbert April 2, 1998. Well, my dad was out of the paper in the thirties. He was editor/publisher of The Enterprise from 1912 to 1930. But when he was active with the paper, of course, he would have editorials on occasion. I am sure, if one went back and looked through all the old files, you would find things like that in both The Press and The Enterprise, because there was a strong feeling in Riverside for such a program. But there were also people who thought that such a thing would interfere with the junior college that we had then which had been established, I think, about 1916. I attended there and enjoyed it there in 1929 when it had about 350 students. And, of course,

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

3. John G. Gabbert Marker

we know now what it is! (Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

3. Transcription of Oral History Interview with John G. Gabbert March 6, 1998.

No, I was born in Ventura County in Oxnard in 1909. Then we came to Riverside when my father purchased a half interest in the Enterprise newspaper in 1912, so I was three years old when we arrived. So, it makes me almost a native. My father was John R. Gabbert; nearly everyone called him Ray. My mother was Elizabeth Gordon Gabbert. My father was born in Iowa and came to California in 1883 when he was two years old with his family. I had a great grandfather, Anson Maxwell Peters, who came to California in the Gold Rush. He was a sailor, and he sailed around the Horn, and like so many others abandoned ship in San Francisco Bay. He hiked up to the Sierra2 where he mined for a couple of years on the American River. He and his partner made a good stake, so he was able to leave with $30,000 in gold in 1853. That was quite a bit of money in those days. He went back to Iowa by boat down toward Panama. He was going to try to cross the Isthmus, but the boat sank.
Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

4. John G. Gabbert Marker
They actually tried to beach it. He was the one who had discovered the problem and told the captain about it. They were on the beach for a few days and were picked up by a boat from the same shipping line. He hiked across the Isthmus of Panama, got a boat, went up the Mississippi and then went back to Iowa where he became a farmer in Madison County, Iowa, between Winterset and DeSoto. With his little stake of gold, he built the best house in the county. He married then, and he and his wife raised ten children. My grandmother was their first child. Her name was Ella. She married Thomas Gavin Gabbert in Iowa. My grandfather was a farmer, as everyone was. In 1883, my great grandfather, who had bought land in San Diego County, had looked all around California and thought the greatest place would be down in Fallbrook. He was about 120 years ahead of his time. He bought land before he went back to Iowa and paid the taxes. I don’t think they amounted to much, but he made arrangements with the bank in San Diego to pay taxes on the land. He continued to pay taxes on it for thirty years until he came

back in 1883.

(Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

4. Riverside Lawyer Magazine, December 2009 * Volume 58 Number 11.

Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

5. John G. Gabbert Marker

Page 12, John G. Gabbert Judicial Plaza

On Saturday, June 20, 2009, members of the community came to celebrate the 100th birthday of Justice John

Gabbert. The courtyard, between the Hall of Justice and Historic Courthouse in downtown Riverside, was dedicated in his honor as the John G. Gabbert Judicial Plaza. The Riverside County Bar Association would like to acknowledge the following individuals/entities for their generous donations ... [ see magazine for list] ... Justice John Gabbert, a past president of the Riverside County Bar Association, has devoted most of his 100 years to advancing and enhancing the quality of life in Riverside and the Inland Empire region, which he has served with such dignity and quality. He was appointed Judge in 1949 by Governor Warren to the Riverside Superior Court. In 1970, he was appointed as Associate Justice of the California Court of Appeals. Since his retirement from the bench some 35 years ago, Justice Gabbert has served as a volunteer leader for the many local organizations and charities. Through all his service and achievements, he has continued to be a role model as one of the most respected
Photographed by Volt Craft, June 26, 2026

6. John G. Gabbert Marker
judicial leaders in the

history of our region and state.

(Submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on July 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on June 26, 2026, by Volt Craft of Riverside, California. • Craig Baker was the editor who published this page.