USA > California > Los Angeles County > Los Angeles > A history of California and an extended history of Los Angeles and environs, Biographical, Volume II > Part 40
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Within the necessarily circumscribed limita- tions of a sketch of this order it is impossible to enter into the manifold details concerning the splendid achievements of Mr. Behymer in the city that he calls home, and in whose musical, literary and social activities he has been a promi- nent and honored factor. However, it is incum- bent that in this publication be given such an epitome of his career as shall bear some evidence of his earnest and fruitful endeavors which have been an honor to him and a distinct contribution to the finer amenities of Los Angeles.
Mr. Behymer finds a due amount of gratifica- tion in claiming the fine old Buckeye state as the place of his nativity. His paternal ancestors were Lutherans who were exiled from Germany at the time of the Reformation and fled to England, thence in 1650 to Virginia ; one of his ancestors, Jonathan Behymer, was a member of the Virginia Volunteers with Washington at Valley Forge, and Aaron S. Behymer, the father of Lynden E. Behymer, survived the Battle of Gettysburg after being wounded nine times. His mother, a daugh- ter of Philip and Matilda (Moyer) Leach, was of the same lineage as Dr. Edgar Leach, the famous surgeon and scientist of Edinborough, Scotland, and author of many medical works.
Lynden E. Behymer received his early educa- tion in the public schools of Shelbyville, Ill., where he graduated from High School in May, 1881, then entering a mercantile career in Highmore, Hyde county (Dakota Territory). The mar- riage of Mr. Behymer occurred in Highmore January 3, 1886, uniting him with Miss MeNettie Sparkes, the daughter of Harvey Harrison and Julia (Dunbar) Sparkes, and niece of Jared Sparkes, the historian. She is a native of Fre- donia, Chautauqua county, N. Y., born May 8, 1866. The children of this union are Glenarvon, a well-known practicing attorney of Los Angeles ; Enid Lynn, wife of Dr. Roy Malcom, of the University of Southern California, and Elsie Behymer.
It was in 1886, after losing all his possessions in the cyclone that swept Hyde and Hand coun- ties, Dakota, that Mr. Behymer came to Los An-
geles and entered the employ of Stoll & Thayer (book dealers, etc.), assuming charge of their book shelves, and he also did the literary review- ing for the Herald.
During the fall of 1886 Mr. Behymer assisted in bringing the first big operatic organization to this city, the National Grand Opera Company with Theodore Thomas conductor, and in old Hazard's Pavilion (where now stands Temple Auditorium), for the first time in Los Angeles, were sung the operas of "Nero," "Othello," "L'Africaine," "Tannhäuser," "Les Huguenots" and "Norma."
Early in 1887 Adelina Patti, then in her prime, came to Los Angeles and sang in Mott's Hall, over the Mott Market on Main street, and early in 1888 Henry M. Stanley delivered his famous lecture, "In Darkest Africa," and Sarah Bern- hardt presented "La Tosca" under the same man- agement.
Mr. Behymer soon became associated in busi- ness ways (needing evening work to augment a slender day salary) with Manager H. C. Wyatt, then of the Grand Opera House at First and Main streets, and with McLain and Lehmann, managers of Hazard's Pavilion, in the capacity at different times of press agent, house manager, treasurer, assistant and acting manager. In 1904 he became manager of Simpson's Auditorium, and in 1909 assumed the managership of Temple Auditorium, relinquishing it in 1914 to take over that splendid home of music and artistic endeavor, the Trinity Auditorium, Ninth street and Grand avenue, where his musical talent is being exer- cised amid charming and artistic surroundings, such as the former buildings could not supply.
For years Mr. Behymer has represented the leading musical agencies of both Europe and America, has been the confidential representative here of the Shubert interests, and the close friend and personal representative of the best known stars of the musical world.
With Harley Hamilton he founded and organ- ized the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra and was its manager for sixteen years, many times saving it in the financial stress of its early strug- gles. He has been the adviser and manager of the Los Angeles Woman's Orchestra for twenty- one years.
From 1899 up to the present time he has organ- ized the annual great Philharmonic courses for Los Angeles. During this period he has spared
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neither time, expense nor effort to secure for these events the highest talent in the musical and dramatic professions, and his selections have been marked by a wise discrimination as well as a high artistic appreciation. With unhesitating loyalty to his community and a steadfast faith that adequate support would be given the high artistic standards, his undertakings have fre- quently been conducted at a financial hazard that would have appalled others with less determined ideals. His resolve has been, if possible, to be- come the most useful citizen in Los Angeles.
His vision as a culmination of endeavor and dreams is a Fine Arts Building for the Southwest, including a Grand Opera House of ample dimen- sions, recital halls, a home for the Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra and the local musical clubs, studios for the members of the allied arts and a musical conservatory second to none in the world under one roof.
As a pioneer in his line of endeavor, Mr. Behymer has led the West, and in some instances has even outdistanced some of the far Eastern cities, all to the credit and undying fame of the Angel City.
Among the many he has been able to present to the public may be mentioned such celebrated individual characters as Mme. Adelina Patti, Mme. Marcella Sembrich, Mme. Luisa Tetraz- zini, Mme. Lillian Nordica, Mme. Nellie Melba, Mary Garden, Julia Culp, Mme. Johanna Gadski, Mme. Ernestine Schumann-Heink, Mlle. Fritzie Scheff, Mme. Jeanne Jomelli, Alice Nielsen, Mme. Emma Eames, Mme. Gerville-Reache, Mme. Emma Calve, Ignaze Paderewski, Josef Hof- mann, Vladimir de Pachmann, Josef Lhevinne, Harold Bauer, Mischa Elman, Jan Kubelik, Leo- pold Godowsky, Maud Powell, Fritz Kreisler, the Flonzaley Quartet, Eugene Ysaye, Mme. Car- reno, Ludvig Wüllner, Riccardo Martin, John McCormack, Emilio de Gogorza, Edward de Reszke, Alexander Heinemann, David Bispham, Enrico Caruso, Mme. Fanny Bloomfield-Zeisler, and among the celebrated dancers, Anna Pavlowa, Mikail Mordkin, Adeline Genee, Maud Allan, Ruth St. Denis and others; besides the Russian Symphony Orchestra, Strauss' Orchestra, Dam- rosch Orchestra, New York Philharmonic Orchestra, Sousa's Band, United States Marine Band, the Ben Greet Players in their classical dramatic interpretations, the Hading-Coquelin Company, the Passion Play, Everyman and other
outdoor pastoral plays, and the introduction of picture plays by Alexander Black, and illustrated travelogues by Burton Holmes, Dr. Stoddard and B. R. Baumgardt.
He also secured at various times for Los An- geles musical seasons the Metropolitan Grand Opera Company of New York City before grand opera was claimed by many of the Middle West cities of greater size; the Maurice Grau Grand Opera Company, the Chicago Grand Opera Com- pany, the Los Angeles Grand Opera Company, the San Carlos Grand Opera Company, also the Bevani Grand Opera Company which gave a four weeks' successful season of grand opera in Italian at top prices of one dollar, demonstrating that at least in one community it can be done in America as well as in Europe without subsidy or loss.
Through his influence the first presentation in America of "La Boheme" was given in Los An- geles in October, 1898, by the Del Conte Italian Company, and again the premier performance in America by the Metropolitan Opera Company of New York in 1901, with Mme. Nellie Melba in the role of Mimi. It was on the same occasion that Mlle. Fritzie Scheff made her debut in America as Musette. In 1904 he paid $10,000 to secure for Los Angeles a single performance of "Parsifal," and in February, 1913, secured the Chicago Grand Opera Company for a full week's season, eight performances, for which it was necessary to guarantee $88,000, presenting for the first time in the West the grand opera "Natoma," with Mary Garden in the title role.
In many of his efforts to secure artists and sometimes whole opera companies for a Los Angeles visit it has become necessary for him to assume the management of their tours west of the Rockies. As a development of this ex- perience he is now the producing representative, supplying talent for all Philharmonic courses sus- tained in towns and cities of the United States located west of Denver. The musical artists, both instrumental and vocal, invariably entrust their Pacific coast bookings to him, and especially their appearances in the Southwest. When, in 1906, the theatrical trust refused bookings to Sara Bernhardt, and she was forced to resort to the use of tents in which to produce her plays, Mr. Behymer managed a successful tour for her through California. He was a stanch friend of
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the late Mme. Modjeska, who entrusted to his management many of her affairs.
For almost thirty years the value of Mr. Behymer's career to the city of Los Angeles and its environs can best be described as "useful." Aside from his efforts to advance the artistic standards by bringing the best talent from a dis- tance he has, with equal enthusiasm. taken part in the promotion of fiestas, as well as entertain- ments given by fraternal bodies and charitable organizations with local talent, whether for a Chautauqua course, a Shrine minstrel, a benefit, a charity circus, or some equally serious effort. He has been relied upon as much for his practical knowledge of the best publicity methods and busi- ness management as for his valuable artistic suggestions. He has been a consistent supporter of civic improvement undertakings and has been especially active in the work of the Play Grounds Association and the Drama League of Los An- geles, and is the Western representative of the new order of historical pageantry. Incident to his personal work he has taken keen enjoyment in the collection of what is probably one of the most complete musical and dramatic libraries on the Pacific coast.
During recent years Mr. Behymer's influence has been most decidedly felt over the entire West. The Philharmonic courses are known for quality, and many of the cities of the West have four, five or six concerts of merit during the season. The managers are practically dependent upon him for their supply of additional talent, and they feel the greatest confidence in his ability to judge of the best and to deal fairly with them in all matters of detail in arranging dates, prices, pro- grams. etc., and to those who are intimately acquainted with the inner facts, it is well known that he considers their welfare with as much fore- thought and care as he gives to the management of a concert of his own in Los Angeles.
When the Federation of Musical Clubs of America desired to give a $10,000 prize for the best American Grand Opera and hold their Bien- nial meeting in the city that would raise the prize money, Manager Behymer, with Fred Blanchard. president of the Gamut Club, resolved that Los Angeles would be that city and obtain that pres- tige and become the Bayreuth of America. Not only was the sum raised, but an additional $40,000 to give it in an adequate and sumptuous manner. The prize was awarded to Horatio Parker, of
Yale, with Brian Hooker as librettist. Dr. Alfred Hertz of the Metropolitan Opera of New York City was engaged as artistic producer and a Metropolitan cast to sing the opera. The chorus and orchestra members were all selected in Los Angeles, and the scenery, properties, costumes, armor and all details for the production made in Los Angeles.
On July 1, 1915, in Temple Auditorium, musical history was made when the first Ameri- can Grand Opera, heralding a new school of grand opera, was successfully given. It was a stupendous task and Manager Behymer, with the associate board, was greatly responsible for its successful presentation, and Los Angeles marked another milestone in her artistic progress.
In recognition of his distinguished services in the domain of musical and dramatic arts, Mr. Behymer was elected an officer of the Academie des Beaux Arts of Paris, March 8, 1907, and six months later received from the French Minister of Public Instruction in like recognition the Decoration of The Palms.
Mr. Behymer's recreation has largely consisted in travel in connection with making arrangements for each successive season's productions, and the securing of talent, no distance being too great to travel to hear a talented vocalist or instrumental- ist whose artistic services will augment the artistic reputation of Los Angeles. His trips throughout Europe have been "personally con- ducted" ones, for his friends are legion and the artists vie in giving "Father Bee" a good time when in their native land, motoring or gathering historic and musical lore.
The Gamut Club of Los Angeles is his pet organization, and one in which he is an important factor as well as its vice-president, and it is through his efforts that this representative organ- ization of the male artistic life of the Southwest is enabled to meet and entertain so many of the world's most famous artists every year.
He is also a member of the Los Angeles Ath- letic Club and assists greatly in the social life of its entertainments. He is an officer of the Los Angeles section of the Drama League of America and has done and is doing much for the promotion of the best in drama for its purifica- tion and upbuilding. He is also the Dean of the Los Angeles theatrical and musical managers ; is an honorary member of the Savage Club of Lon-
Lewis blinger
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don, and a member of the Wagner Opera League of Bayreuth.
Mr. Behymer is one of the most popular members of the Los Angeles Lodge No. 99, B. P. O. E., and for nearly twenty-five years has been one of the most active and influential factors in the affairs of this organization. In the time honored Masonic order he has received the thirty-second degree of the Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite, and is affiliated with Los Angeles Consistory No. 3. His ancient-craft affiliation is with Hollenbeck Lodge No. 319, F. & A. M., and he also holds membership in Al Malaikah Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S., while the Golden West Com- mandery No. 43, K. T., of California holds him as a Templar Brother. Though never a delver in the mysteries of practical politics, he accords a stanch allegiance to the cause of the Republican party.
Mr. Behymer is a man of most buoyant and optimistic nature, genial and companionable, and it may be said consistently that his friends are legion, while Los Angeles loves and honors him.
LEWIS EBINGER. The vital connection of the Spanish race with the history of Los Angeles has received general recognition, but few realize the importance of the sturdy Teu- ton element in the material upbuilding of the city. Representative of the large number of German-American citizens whose efforts have aided in the general advancement, Lewis Eb- inger dates his residence here from October, 1868. Throughout this long period he has had interests of one kind or another and has been untiring in his efforts to promote local progress. Even of recent years, although re- tired from the business enterprises of earlier life and placed beyond the necessity of labor other than a general and always pleasant supervision of his valuable homestead at No. 3500 South Flower street, he has busied him- self with the improvement of fourteen acres near Burbank, which he has fenced and other- wise improved. One thousand fruit trees have been planted on the ranch and alfalfa also is grown. The main industry on the property, pending the growth of the trees into bearing condition, is the poultry business and there are now kept in the most sanitary
of surroundings a flock of three thousand chickens, some of pure White Leghorn stock, others of the Rhode Island Red strain. The business receives the most careful attention and its development has been a source of pride to the owner of the property.
One of thirteen children comprising the family of Jacob and Martha (Elwanger) Eb- inger, residents of Wurtemberg, Germany, Lewis Ebinger was born there August 30, 1844, and at the age of seven was bereaved of a mother's care. When fifteen he came to the United States to make his home with a married sister in Philadelphia. Leaving Bremen April 10, 1860, on the ship Elizabeth, he landed in Philadelphia after forty-two days. Soon he was apprenticed to the trade of baker, at which he served for three years. On the expiration of his time, in October of 1863, he was accepted as a volunteer in Com- pany F, Two Hundred and Fifteenth Pennsyl- vania Infantry. Going to the front with his regi- ment, he remained a soldier until the close of the war. On his return to Philadelphia he resumed work at the trade of baker. In 1866 he came via the isthmus to California and landed in San Francisco at the expiration of twenty-two days from Philadelphia. From April, 1866, to October, 1868, he remained in or near San Francisco, but since the latter date has been a resident of Los Angeles. Unable to find employment at his trade, he went to work in a brick-yard and assisted in making the brick used in the construction of the old Pico house. After a brief sojourn at Watsonville in 1871 Mayor Rowan appointed him foreman. An experience as foreman of the American bakery, occupying the present site of the Natick house, convinced him of the possibilities of the occupation. During 1872 he opened a bakery on Main street next the old round- house. A year later he removed the business to Spring street and for five years occupied the present site of the old Jevne store. On the corner of Spring and Third streets, where the Washington block now stands, he ran a bakery and restaurant for eighteen years, con- tinuing there until he sold out the business in 1902.
A number of experienced bakers stood at the head of thriving establishments at the time Mr. Ebinger conducted business on
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Spring street, but of all those pioneer masters of the trade he alone survives and for more than a decade he has been out of the busi- ness. The heads of the great bakeries of the present day are men of a younger generation than he and his energetic, efficient co-workers. Aside from the baking business, as previ- ously mentioned, he has acquired ranching interests. In addition he developed a borax mine at Lang's Station which he sold to the Stallings Borax Company. The mine pro- duces an average of two hundred tons daily and runs as high as sixty-eight per cent. It is the intention of Mr. Ebinger to ultimately develop other borax property which he still owns. Since casting his first presidential vote for General Grant he has been a pronounced Republican. At different times he has been active in the Frank Bartlett and Logan Posts, G. A. R., the Ancient Order of United Work- men, the Improved Order of Red Men, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Bakers' Association, a number of German societies in Los Angeles and the Society of Pioneers. Through his marriage to Miss Mina Boshard, December 2, 1875, eight chil- dren were born, six of whom are still living, namely : Mrs. Mina Burkhardt, the mother of one child, Gerald; Estella, Oscar, Arno, Lewis B. and Irwin.
ERNEST B. RIVERS. The president of the Rivers Brothers Company, Inc., located at Nos. 1300 to 1312 Produce street, Los Angeles, is Ernest B. Rivers, who was born in Redwood City, Cal., October 21, 1864, the son of Henry Rivers, a pioneer, who went to San Francisco at the time of the discovery of gold there, where he engaged in business as a carpenter until the year 1860, which year witnessed his removal to Redwood City. He followed the same occupation there until 1865, removing then to San Jose, Cal., where he continued the trade of carpenter, being en- gaged in work on the State Normal School at the time of his death in 1869. His widow, who was in maidenhood Amanda Schell, a native of Canada, made her home with their son H. L. Rivers, at Sixth and Valencia streets, Los Angeles, until she died, on April 5, 1915, at the age of eighty-four years.
Ernest B. Rivers attended the public and high schools until fourteen years old, at which time he engaged with J. C. Black in San Jose, as clerk in a retail grocery business, after six years remov- ing to Los Angeles to enter the employ of Burch & Bowl, engaged in the same line of business, with whom he remained for five years as clerk. The next engagement of Mr. Rivers was as clerk with H. Jevne Co., remaining with that company six years, after which he went to North Ontario, Cal., to open a grocery of his own. After three years he sold this out and returned to his old position as clerk for H. Jevne Co., continuing with the company for three years. It was at this time that he bought out a small general store at Broadway and Temple street, which he carried on alone for two years, then taking in his brother as partner, the company being known as Rivers Brothers Company. Gradually the business was enlarged by the purchase of other stores nearby, until finally the brothers had fifty feet of frontage and were doing a business in high class groceries and fruits and employing fifteen delivery wagons. This prosperous business they sold in 1904, buying at that time the Keystone Produce Company, located at Third street and Central avenue, which they incorporated as Rivers Brothers Company, Ernest B. Rivers being elected president and H. L. Rivers vice-president. At this time also E. B. Rivers was elected president of the Los Angeles Market Company, which is the largest market in the world, and it was through the advice and influence of Mr. Rivers that the business was moved from Third street to its present location ; it was also through his influence that the M. A. Newmark Company located at its present place. In 1907 the Rivers Brothers Company moved to its present location on Produce street, where the company possesses property with one hundred and forty feet frontage by a depth of seventy feet, the building being three stories in height, with a basement. Here the company does general buy- ing and selling of produce, having facilities to load and unload eight cars at one time, and has one hundred and twenty-five people in its employ. The place of business is one of the largest in the west, and the company does the largest express business in the west as well.
In his political interests Mr. Rivers is a Repub- lican, while he holds membership in the Jonathan and the Los Angeles Athletic Clubs. His mar- riage with Lulu B. Bedford was solemnized in
F. XEberly
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Ontario, Cal., August 13, 1888, and they are the parents of three children : Henry E., a graduate of Stanford University and now in business with his father ; Ernest Bedford, who is also with his father in business; and Narin, who attends the Monrovia high school. The family home is at Monrovia, where Mr. Rivers purchased an orange grove in the foothills.
FRANCIS XAVIER EBERLE. Coming to California at an early date, when the world was in the throes of the great California gold excite- ment, and engaging in mining in this state and in Nevada, Francis Xavier Eberle was one of those who "struck it rich" and made an appre- ciable fortune out of the mines. He invested his "stake" in real estate in Los Angeles city and county to such an advantage that today he holds some of the most valuable property in the city, property which has greatly in- creased in value since its purchase, the price paid being often merely a nominal sum.
Mr. Eberle is a native of Germany, born in Wittenberg, March 8, 1839, and is the son of Joseph and Marian (Keppler) Eberle, both natives of Germany. His father never came to America, but after his death the mother joined her sons in California, where she died several years ago. Throughout the greater part of his life the father followed his trade of brick mason, which yielded him a good income and enabled him to provide his family with the comforts of life. The sons received a common school edu- cation in the public schools of their native city. When he was fifteen years old Francis Xavier left school and was apprenticed to a tailor and when proficient worked at his trade for a num- ber of years in Germany. He was ambitious and restless, however, and at last he determined to seek greater opportunities in the New World. Accordingly he came to the United States, land- ing first in New York, in April, 1858, with but $1.50 as his entire capital. He remained there a year, and then, catching the "gold fever," which was at its height, he came to California, locating at Rabbit Creek, now known as La- Porte, in Plumas county, where he had a brother. There he bought several mining claims and endeavored to take out the gold, but the excessive charges for water compelled him
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