USA > California > Los Angeles County > An historical sketch of Los Angeles county, California. From the Spanish occupancy, by the founding of the mission San Gabriel Archangel, September 8, 1771, to July 4, 1876 > Part 10
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In 1851, '52, '53, appear Lazard, Arbuckle & Bauman, Lazard & Bauman, S. Lazard & Co., Lazard & Kremer; Douglass & Sanford, 1852; Childs, Hicks & Wadhams (O. W. Childs, horticulturist, since 1856); Thomas Brown & Prudent Beaudry; Myles & Hereford-Dr. Henry R. Myles; Bauman & Katz; Hoffman & Laubheim; P. Beaudry & Armand Lemaitre until Decem- ber, 1852, then P. Beaudry & Co .: Thomas S. Hereford; J. S. Mallard. January, 1853, there were three large dry goods' stores, and ten or more smaller houses that also kept a general assortment. Half a dozen others sold groceries and provisions exclusively. The liquor shop-its name was. "legion." John Schumacher was here in 1848, one of Colonel Stevenson's. regiment; went to the mines; returned in the Spring of 1853; put up a grocery and provision store. He is of Wirtemberg. In the same year he- introduced lager bier, from San Francisco. It was not manufactured at Los Angeles until Christopher Kuhn, of Wirtemberg, established a brewery, in the latter part of 1854. John Kays was a good baker, 1847; John Behn afterward, awhile. Confectionery was made in 1850, by Papier; Joseph Lelong followed with the Jenny Lind Bakery, February 14th, 1851. French bread was used altogether, until August Ulyard commenced his bakery, in 1853. Lorenzo Lecke arrived November 5th, 1849. He was born in Den- mark, February 25th, 1810; bought out John Behn, commenced a store in 1854, and perseveres in trade at the age of 66. The merchants of 1853, be- sides those already mentioned, were Joseph Newmark, Jacob Rich, and J. P. Newmark-Rich & Newmark; John Jones, who was the first wholesale liquor dealer, at the corner of Main and Commercial streets-Polaski & Goodwin's now; Jacob Morris, J. L. Morris and Morritz Morris-Morris Bros .; Felix Bachman, Philip Sichel and Samuel Laubheim-Bachman & Co,; Harris Newmark and E. Loewenthal-Newmark & Loewenthal; H. K. S. Labatt; Samuel Meyer and Loewenstein-Hilliard & Meyer; M. Norton and E. Greenbaum-Norton & Greenbaum; H. Goldberg, I Cohen, July 8th ; Charles R. Johnson and Horace S: Allanson-Johnson & Allanson; Heiman Tischler, Barrouch Marks and Loeb Schlessinger-B. Marks & Co .; Matthew Lanfranco; Douglass, Foster & Wadhams; Juan T. Lanfranco, Louis Phil- lips, H. Hellman, Casper Behrend. In 1854, Adolph Portugal, O. W. Childs,. Samuel Prager, Jacob Letter, M. Pollock and L. C. Goodwin-Pollock & Goodwin. 1855, Wolf Kalisher, Charles Prager, Potter & Co., Wm. Corbett, Geo. F. Lamson, P. C. Williams, J. G. Nichols, Dean & Carson, I. M. Hell- man, B. Cohen and Morritz Schlessinger-Cohen & Schlessinger; L. Glaser & Co., Louis Cohen. 1856, Calisher & Cohen, Henry Wartenberg-W. Kal- isher & Co., in 1857; Mendel Meyer, H. G. Yarrow. 1857, Samuel Hellman ..
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CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
1859, Isaias W. Hellman, eminent since as banker, L. Leon, Corbett & Barker, Wm. Nordholt, David Solomon, H. Fleishman and Julius Sichel-Fleishman & Sichel. 1860, Edward Newman and Isaac Schlessinger, Jean B. Trudell- in company with Lazards; Domingo Rivara. 1861, M. W. |Childs, Decem- ber 20th .- The mercantile link continues to the present day as follows: J. H. Still & Co., booksellers and stationery, 1863; H. D. Barrows and J. D. Hicks -J. D. Hicks & Co., 1864; Eugene Meyer and S. Lazard-S. Lazard & Co., 1864; PoĊaski & Goodwin, 1865; Thomas Leahy, Samuel B. Caswell and John F. Ellis-Caswell & Ellis, 1866; Eugene Meyer and Constant Meyer- Eugene Meyer & Co. Potter & Co, consisted of Nehemiah A. Potter and Louis Jazinsky. The latter gentleman soon afterward went into business at San Francisco. Mr. Potter was born in 1809, at Cumberland, Rhode Island ; he died at this city May 6th, 1868, leaving one son-Oscar Potter. George Alexander, in 1872, removed to Columbia, California. Francis Mellus was born at Salem, Massachusetts, February 3d, 1824; came to this coast, landing first at Santa Barbara, January 5th, 1839; died at Los Angeles City, Septem- ber 11th, 1864. He married Miss Adelaida Johnson; she survives him, with seven children. Mrs. Mellus is a daughter of Don Santiago Johnson, an Englishman who had lived in Sonora, and come to this Coast in the year 1833. He married Dona Maria del Carmen Giurado, sister of the wives of Don Manuel Requena and Alexander Bell. He died, at the age of 49 years, late in the Summer of 1846. Brought early in contact with men like A. B. Thompson, of Santa Barbara, David Spence, of Monterey, Abel Stearns, Alfred Robinson, W. D. M. Howard, and himself having received the ordi- nary Boston High School education of that day-which must have been good, for at 15 years he understood French and navigation, and was a neat draftsman-Mr. Mellus soon amassed the maxims of experience which fitted him to succeed in the California trade. His spirit and independence are worthy to be made a model by youth just entering among the currents and' shoals of commercial life. "March 4th, 1839,-The Bolivar arrived from the islands," we quote from his diary: "March 9th .- I went aboard as clerk for Mr. Thompson, at $300 for the first year and $500 for the next, which I think is a most excellent salary for me. I hope from this time for- ward to be a burden to nobody, but look out for myself."
Bachmau & Co. invested deeply in the Salt Lake trade. Merchants were the soul of every enterprise formed to develop the resources and expand the commerce of this country. Fortunes were rapidly accumulated. Some sped away to fatherland to spend the rest of their days. Solomon Lazard having once more beheld "la belle France," returned, March, 1861, to our sunshine and flowers. Mendel Meyer studied the Vienna Exposition and wandered the world over in gratification of a rare musical taste, "but to feel better at home," as he often says. John Temple made the European tour in 1858. He was born at Reading, Mass., August 14, 1796; came to California in 1828, by way of the Sandwich Islands; died at San Francisco May 30, 1866. Dona Rafaela Cota, his widow, is at Paris. Juan T. Lanfranco, of Italy, died May 20, 1875; his brother Mateo, October 4, 1873. Prudent Beaudry arrived at San Francisco, April 26, 1850, and settled finally at Los Angeles, April 26, 1852. Beaudry's Block, on Aliso street, finished in November, 1857, was at the time a surprise. What may we have said to "Beaudry Terrace" and its oranges and other magical fruits of his energy ? Edward Neuman, another merchant, in the bloom of youth, was murdered in 1863, on the Cucamonga plain.
In the explosion of the little steamer Ada Hancock, April 29th, 1863, near Wilmington, among many lost were, of our merchants, Wm. T. B. San. ford, Dr. Henry R. Miles, Loeb Schlessinger; with Capt. Thomas Secley, of steamer Senator, Capt. J. S. Bryant, Fred Kerlin, Thomas Workman, the young Albert S. Johnston, son of Gen. Albert Sidney Johnston. Miss Medora Hereford, sister-in-law of Mr. B. D. Wilson, soon after died of injuries in this deplorable calamity.
From a list of foreigners dated May 23d, 1836, in the Los Angeles ar- chives, we make an extract of the nativity, etc., of prominent persons who
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LOS ANGELES COUNTY
liave acted-one of whom remains-upon the theatre which this sketch con- templates :
Name.
Nativity.
Date of Arrival.
Age.
J. J. Warner.
United States
1831
28
N. Pryor
United States ..
1828.
30
R. Laughlin
United States.
1828.
34
S. Prentice.
United States.
1829
37
L. Carpenter
United States
1833
L. Bouchet.
France
1829.
49
L. V. Prudhomme.
France
1835.
27
J. B. Leandry .
Italy
1827
31
Santiago McKinly
Scotland
1824.
33
D. Ferguson.
Ireland.
1824.
30
Several of them were connected with large landed interests derived from the former Government. Poor Ferguson, old settler as he was, failed in 1836 to get even a town lot on his humble petition to the Ayuntamiento. Lemuel Carpenter bought Santa Gertrudes rancho from the Nieto heirs. He died November, 1859; Bouchet, October 23d, 1847; Pryor, May, 1850; Laugh- lin, December 6th, 1846; Prudliomme, May 8th, 1871. This is Nathaniel M.
Pryor, frequently mentioned with favor in the local annals. The diary of Mr. Mellus has an entry touching his first wife, and is illustrative of the fu- neral custom of those days: "On Friday, September 4, 1840, at about four hours A. M., M. Pryor, an American, was deprived of his wife, only about 17 years of age, after a long sickness. On Saturday morning she was buried in the Church, on the left hand side, facing the altar." In 1845 the mother
of Don Pio Pico was buried in the same manner. In 1847 the Priest pro- posed to pay this honor to Alfredo Flores, infant son of Gen. Jose Maria Flores, but the Ayuntamiento opposed it, and he was buried in the "Campo Santo," says the parish record. Pablo Pryor, of San Juan, is son of Nathan- iel M. Pryor. The families of Richard Laughlin, and Leon Victor, Prudhomme reside in this city. Of all the foreigners resident here in the year 1845, there are living as follows: French-Pierre Domec, Antoine La- borie, Jose Mascarel, John Taite; Canadians-Elijah T. Moulton, Matias Bourke; Irish-D. W. Alexander, Dr. Richard S. Den; English-Henry Dal- ton, Michael White; Americans-B. D. Wilson, F. P. F. Temple, George Walters.
The arrival of the emigrants in El Monte gave the first decided impulse to agriculture in this county, encouraged business in the city of Los Angeles, and ever since has aided it materially. This great farming tract lies along the San Gabriel river, twelve miles cast of the city. The soil in general does not need irrigation. There is much of interest in its history. Suffice to say, society is as well organized as in any part of the United States. The settlers of 1851, July, were Ira W. Thompson, Samuel M. Heath, Dr. Obed Macy and son, Oscar Macy, now residing in this city, F. W. Gibson, Nicholas Smith, J. Coburn, J. Sheldon,-Chisholm-and Mrs. John Roland, who now resides at Puente. Fifty odd families came in the year 1852, or early in 1853. We can mention but a few belonging to these two years : J. A. Johnson, William B. Lec, Samuel King and three sons (one of them Andrew J. King, Esq., of this city), Dr. T. A. Mayes, S. Bennett, A. Bacon, W. J. Willis, Ed- mond Tyler and two sons, John Thurman and seven sons, David Lewis, Wm. Rubottom, Ezekiel Rubottom, Samuel Thompson, Charles Cunningham, John Guess; Cudderback, Boss, the Hildreths. Jonathan Tibbetts came No- vember 27, 1853; in 1852, Thomas A. Garey, since become the great horticul- turist of this county. Adjoining El Monte, on the cast, lies La Puente rancho, of 48,790 acres, granted July 22d, 1845, to John Roland and William Workman. Only a few miles further eastward is the fertile valley of San Jose, Los Nogales ranchito, about 500 acres, granted March 13, 1840, to Jose de la Cruz Linares ; and next, San Jose de Palomares, of 22,720 acres, granted
50
CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
in the year 1837 to Ricardo Vejar, Ignacio Palomares and Luis Arenas. The grand railway trunk of the Southern Pacific runs through it to-day. It formed a connected settlement for several miles from near Roland's, chiefly of New. Mexicans. This was a colony which John Roland gathered at Taos, Albuquerque and other pueblos of of New Mexico, in 1841. Under the lead- ership of Don Santiago Martinez they accompanied Mr. Roland in that year to California. A portion of them under Don Lorenzo Trujillo planted them- selves at Agua Mansa, on the Santa Ana river, six miles south of San Bernar- dino, the rest in this valley. Time has made many changes since 1850, but has well tested the productiveness of its soil, upon which towns begin to flourish-Spadra, Pomona. Cha-huiste, or mildew, never affected the wheat of San Jose. Long after 1850, were to be seen the adobe ruins of the great granaries which the Padres built in front of William Workman's dwelling, to store the grain harvested on the plain of La Puente. The original settle- ment exists, missing many whose kindness memory cherishes-Ybarras, Al- varados, Martinez,
The foundation of the German colony at Anaheim in 1857,on what seemed a sandy waste, is an event, the magnitude of which we have not yet seen. Its founders designed the largest vineyard in the world. The first vines were set out in January and February, 1858, as indeed was perfected the whole plan, under the direction of George Hansen, Superintendent. It lies twenty-four miles south-east of this city. The first settlers were about fifty in number. The present population within and immediately surrounding it exceeds two thousand. It is the second town in the county. The colony was organized as above first mentioned as the "Los Angeles Vineyard Com- pany," under a Board of Trustees in San Francisco; President, Otmar Caler ; Vice-President, G. Ch. Kohler; Treasurer, Cayrus Beythien; Secretary, John Fischer. A ditch five miles in length, from Santa Ana, supplies water for all uses. While Anaheim was unconceived, Santa Ana, at Teodosio Yorba's gave the earliest grapes in the county; and .up the river to Don Bernardo Yorba's, presented a settlement of Californians, contented and happy. Their loss was great when the head and front of everything useful or elegant among them had gone-Don Bernardo. He died November 20, 1858, a very large number of children and grand-children surviving him. ITis estate in part consisted of 7,000 head of cattle, of all classes, valued at $84,000, and his real property at $30,625, May 1, 1859. Don Teodosio Yorba, his brother, died February 5, 1863 The first through train of the Southern Pacific rail- road, from Los Angeles to Anaheim, ran January 14, 1875 . Anaheim origi- nally was part of the rancho San Juan Cajonde Santa Ana, granted May 13, 1837, to Don Juan Pacifico Ontiveras by Gov. Juan B. Alvarado.
The extensive territory comprised within San Bernardino formed part of Los Angeles county until the passage of the Act of the Legislature, approved April 26, 1853, which created that new county. Its organization was perfec- ted under that Act by an election held according to notice of Messrs. Isaac Williams, David Secley, H. G. Sherwood, and John Brown. A colony of Mormons was established in the year 1851 upon the site of the present city of San Bernardino, which was then a part of a tract of land granted June 21, 1842, by Gov. Juan B. Alvarado to Jose del Carmen Lugo, Jose Maria Lugo, Vicente Lugo, and Diego Sepulveda, containing eight leagues, or 35,510 acres. In November, 1851, Amasa Lyman and Charles Rich, Mormon Apostles, having completed their first payment of $13,000, entered into possession, and it was deeded to them February 15, 1852. That county includes former ranchos of Los Angeles county, as Chino, Cucamongo, Jurupa and others. The child has grown up to a vigorous manhood. The people have always been remarkable for industry, enterprise, and good financial management in public affairs. The separation was not injurious to the city of Los Angeles. Until within five or six years past, a brisk and valuable trade was carried on between the two places, in lumber, general agricultural produce, hides and wool-three-fourths on cash; and still there is some trade. San Bernardino county possesses vast resources, mineral and agricultural, that remain to be developed. There is no real antagonism of interests between these two coun- ties, and the kindly sympathy of the past deserves to be fostered and pre- served in future.
60
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
The policy of sub-division of the Mexican grants, which has so much aided agricultural progress in Los Angeles county, commenced in earnest in the year 1865, although earlier efforts were made in that direction. May 21, 1851, Henry Dalton, of Azusa, published a project for dividing two leagues, near 9,000 acres, into small farm lots, to suit purchasers, on the most favora- ble terms, with "a beautiful site for a town," which he intended laying out as soon as the wants of trade and settlers might require; and also to have a merchant flouring mill near by. Long since the promising settlement of 6000 Duarte has grown up in his neighborhood. October 22, 1852, John O .. Wheeler offered in small farms of fifty acres, his rancho San Francisquito, near San Gabriel Mission. These proposals may have been premature, al- though there are some reasons to think that settlers might have taken them up more profitably than by wasting time, in some instances, upon supposed public land, the title to which is even now undetermined. In 1855, Don An- tonio Maria Lugo, owner of San Antonio rancho, nearly 30,000 acres, lying between Los Angeles city and San Gabriel river, and finally granted to him in 1838,partitioned the same-reserving a homestead for himself-among his- sons, Jose Maria, Felipe, Jose del Carmen, Vicente, Jose Antonio, and daughters, Dona Vicenta Perez, Dona Maria Antonia Yorba, and Dona Mer-
ced Foster. In 1860, Dona Merced Foster and Don Vicente Lugo sold their respective portions to parties who immediately resorted to sub-division and sales in small lots. The first deed is from Isaac Heiman, dated June 21, 1865, to David Ward; followed by several other sales in 1865 and 1866 to Jameson and others. But before this, Gov John G. Downey had commenced the sub- division of Santa Gertrudes rancho, lying along San Gabriel river and con- taining near 22,000 acres. His first deed is of date April 22, 1865, to J. H. Burke. Others followed to Neighbors and Hutchinson, and many after- ward. This last is the locality known as Los Nietos. It had a settlement of over two hundred persons in 1836, broken up subsequently. Here is Down- ey City, twelve miles south-east from Los Angeles-a newspaper, business houses, a happy circle of farmers, with good title, upon a soil as rich as can be found on the face of the earth. This, with all the river land, and into El Monte, is our "corn county," emphatically. It deserves to be mentioned that Mr. Dalton did complete his promised flouring mill at Azusa, Oct. 19, 1855, and from wheat raised on his own rancho made an excellent quality of flour.
From 1850 to 1860, and thereabouts, the cattle trade and shipment of grapes were the main reliance for money. The cattle sold to go out of the county, in the former year, were estimated at 15,000 head, at $15 per head. Subsequent years, until 1856, show a constant demand for stock, if not so great; in this year it was considered that $500,000 had been invested in cattle and sheep, to be taken away. In 1860, there were still 78,000 head of cattle, three-fifths of which belonged to native Californians, and, in part, distributed as follows:
Abel Stearns, 12,000; Juan Abila, 7,200; John Roland, 5,000; William Workman, 5,000; Williams' estate, 5,000; John Temple, 4,000; Ricardo Vejar, 3,500; Bernardo Yorba, 3,500: Ignacio del Valle, 3,500; Teodosio Yorba, 3,500; Leonardo Cota, 2,500; Vicente Lugo, 2,500; Pio and Andres Pico, 2,000; Agustin Machado, 2,000; Nasario Dominguez's estate, 2,000; Felipe Lugo, 1,000; Valdez family, 1,000; Enrique Abila, 1,000; Fernando Sepulveda, 1,000.
Making just allowance for defective assessments, the amount was prob- ably considerably-one third-beyond this estimate. The drought of the years 1863 and 1864, was more or less destructive throughout California. In Los Angeles County, 1865 began with 90,450 head of cattle, 15,529 horses, 282,000 sheep. In earlier times, sheep made little figure in the annual caleu- lations of gain. In 1875, the total of flocks was counted at 508,757. From 1860 onward, wool became a staple, added to wine and brandy, orange and other fruits, wheat and corn. According to the Report of the County Sur- veyor, January 15th, 1876, the product of the wool was 2,034,828 pounds. Horned cattle were reduced to 13,000; horses, 10,000.
All the oranges in 1850 were from the Mission orchard of San Gabriel, and the gardens of Louis Vignes and William Wolfskill. June 7th, 1851,
61
CENTENNIAL HISTORY.
Mr. Vignes offered for sale his "desirable property, El Alizo "-so called from the superb sycamore tree, many centuries old, that shaded his cellars. He says : " There are two orauge gardens that yield from five to six thousand oranges in the season." It is credibly stated that he was the first to plant the orange in this city, bringing young trees from San Gabriel, in the year 1834. He had 400 peach trees, together with apricots, pear, apple, fig and walnut, and adds: "The vineyard, with 40,000 vines, 32,000 now bearing grapes, and will yield 1,000 barrels of wine per annum, the quality of which is well known to be superior." Don Louis came to Los Angeles, by way of the Sandwich Islands, in 1831-, he was a native of France. One orange cul- tivator added after another, January 1st, 1876, there were in this county 36,700 bearing orange trees, and 6,900 bearing lime and lemon trees. The shipment of this fruit rapidly grew into a regular business. In 1851 there were 104 vineyards, exclusive of that of San Gabriel-all but 20 within the limits of the city. The San Gabriel vineyard, neglected since 1834, was now in decay. In Spanish and Mexican times, it had been called " mother vine- yard," from the fact that it supplied all the original cuttings; it is said to have once had 50,000 vines. In 1875, the grape vines of this county were 4,500,000.
In 1851 grapes, in crates or boxes, brought 20 cents per pound at San Francisco, 80 cents at Stockton. Through 1852 the price was the same. This shipment continued several years, in general with profit. Very little wine was then shipped; in 1851, not over a thousand gallons. Soon the northern counties began to forestall the market with grapes nearly as good as our own. Gradually the manufacture of wine was established. Wolfskill indeed had, at an early date, shipped a little wine, but his aim was to turn his grapes into braudy. Louis Wilhart, in 1849 and 1850, made white wine considered, in flavor and quality, next to that of Vignes, who could produce from his cellars a brand perhaps unexcelled through the world. He had some in 1857 then over 20 years old-perhaps the same the army relished so well in 1847, as before intimated. Among the first manufacturers for the general market was Vincent Hoover, with his father, Dr. Juan Leonce Hoover, first at the ' Clayton Vineyard," which, owing to its situation on the bench, produced a superior grape; then from the vineyard known as that of Don Jose Serrano. Some of the vines iu this last named, are stated to be 95 years old. This was from 1850 to about 1855. The cultivation of the grape too, about this time, took a new impulse. At San Gabriel, Wm. M. Stockton, in 1855, had an ex- tensive nursery of grape vines and choice fruit trees. Dr. Hoover was an emigrant of 1849, by the Salt Lake route. He died October 8th, 1862, after a life somewhat eventful. He was born February 11th, 1792, in Canton Argau, Switzerland; graduated as a physician at Lyons, France; was surgeon in the army of Napoleon, and was at the burning of Moscow. Mrs. Eve Hoover, his wife, died September 11th, 1853, at the age of forty-one, a lady held in high esteem, and at whose death by an accident, the whole community was deeply affected. Joseph Huber, senior, came to Los Angeles for health from Kentucky. In the year 1855, he entered successfully into wine-making at the 'Foster vineyard.' He died aged 54 years, July 7, 1866; leaving a widow and six children, who reside at Los Angeles. Louis Wilhart died November 6th, 1871. April 14, 1855, Jean Louis Sansevaine purchased the vineyard property, cellars, etc., of his uncle, Louis Vignes, for $42,000 (by the by the first large land sale within the city). Mr. Sansevaine had resided here since 1853. In 1855 he shipped his first wine to San Francisco. In 1856 he made the first shipment from this county to New York, thereby becoming the pioneer of this business. Mr. Matthew Keller says: "According to the books of the great forwarding house of P. Banning at San Pedro, the amount shipped to San Francisco in 1857, was 21,000 boxes of grapes, aver- aging 45 pounds each, and 250,000 gallons of wine." In 1856 Los Angeles yielded only 7,200 cases of wine; in 1860 it had increased to 66,000 cases. In 1861 shipments of wine were made to New York and Boston by Benj. D. Wilson and J. L. Sansevaine; they are the fathers of the wine interest, Sunny Slope, unexcelled for its vintage-and the orange, almond and wal- nut-was commenced by L. J. Rose in January, 1861. December, 1859, the wine producers were: Matthew Keller, Sansevaine Bros., Froliling & Co.,
62
LOS ANGELES COUNTY
B. D. Wilson, Stevens & Bell, Dr. Parrott, Dr. Thos. J .. White, Laborie, Messer, Barnhardt, Delong. Santa Ana precinct, Henry Dalton, P. Serres, Joseph Huber Sr., Ricardo Vejar, Barrows, Ballerino, Dr. Hoover, Louis Wilhart, Trabuc, Clement, Jose Serrano. The total manufacture of wine was about 250,000 gallons; in 1875, 1,328,900 gallons, according to the offi cial report of the County Assessor, January 1st, 1876.
Mechanical industry exhibits a progress slow and difficult for the first few years. May 24, 1851, carpenters mostly had gone to San Francisco, where they could get higher wages. Early in 1850 Capt. Alexander Bell commenced Bell's Row, which is a number of well known little stores on Los Angeles street, and an improvement which at the time made a sensation. This work was done by James R. Barton and William Nordholdt (a man of '49,) through that and the succeeding year. After the election of Barton to the Sheriffalty Nordholdt carried on the business of carpenter until 1859, when he established himself in his present store. Feb. 19, 1853, Anderson & Matthews advertised as carriage makers, carpenters and joiners. William Abbott came in 1853 from New Albany, Indiana. October 1855, he started the furniture business in a little frame house about ten feet back from the street, which has grown into the stately building next to the Pico House, and the upper story of which is the handsome Merced Theatre-so named in honor of his wife, Dona Merced Garcia. William H. Perry arrived Febru- ary 1st, 1853; in May 1855, he formed a partnership with Ira Gilchrist, as W. II. Perry & Co .; June, 1855, the firm was Perry & Brady-James D. Brady. June, 1858, Wallace Woodworth bought Brady's interest, under the style of Perry & Woodworth. Their business was inside, cabinet, etc. Sep- tember 6th, 1861, Perry & Woodworth, Main street, had matured their pio- neer saw and planing mills, with the manufacture of bee-hives, upholstery, etc., and were prepared for contracting, building and furnishing. In 1863 Stephen II. Mott entered into this firm. Eli Tayor, now of Los Nietos, was a carpenter in 1854. Others are as follows prior to 1859: George Stone, R. E. Jackson, George Leonard, Matthew Teed, Thomas Grey (a farmer well off now of the Cienega,) C. Perry Switzer, Peter Hendell, A. P. Bennett, Wil- liam Coburn, P. C. Williams, Harris Niles, John McLimond, Willis Stanton, George Edgerton, W. Weeks, Antomo Heomle, William Cover, Herman Muller, Herman Koop, Charles Plaissant. House and sign painters, prior to 1859 were Wm. Shanning, Moses Scarles, Charles Winston, Tom Riley, Forbes, Spilling, Viereck, Turnboldt ; plasterers prior to 1857, Joseph Nobbs, Thos. Stonehouse, Wm. Mckinney; Newton Foote came in that year. An- drew Lehman, shoemaker, set up business November 4th, 1852; it was three years before he began to "make a living." The stores engrossed the boot and shoe trade. He was born in the Grand Duchy of Baden, came across the plains by St. Joseph, and last from Cincinnati. One German shoemaker preceded him, but had left several months before. Afterward, prior to 1858 or 1859, came Morris and Weber. There was little to do for shoemakers until since 1860. B. J. Virgin was architect, 1855. Veireck, painter of po- litical transparencies in 1852, left next year for want of employment; it must have been for some other reason, he turned comedian at San Francisco. Jan- uary 17th, 1857, C. M. Kechnie was a portrait painter. IIenri Penelon af- terward was a distinguished artist.
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