John Andreson, Sr. was born in Schleswig-Holstein, Dominion of Denmark on January 28, 1834. He came to America by sailing as a cabin boy in 1850 around the Horn to Peruvian Islands and then he returned to England. He returned to America in 1871 and settled in San Bernardino where he bought Suverkrup's brewery on the northwest corner of Third and E streets. He ran the brewery until 1884. In 1887 he built the Andreson Building that contained eighty rooms which was occupied by the St. Charles Hotel. In 1888, Andreson built the Post Office Block on the corner of E and Court streets and he was also one of the owners of the Stewart Hotel. He was an organizer of the Farmers Exchange Bank, he served several terms as a county supervisor and city trustee and as a member of the Library Board. Andreson was one of five men who purchased the land where part of the Santa Fe Depot now stands. Andreson died on January 14, 1912.
Photo courtesy of City of San Bernardino Historical and Pioneer Society