An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day, Part 53

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092

USA > California > Los Angeles County > An illustrated history of Los Angeles County, California. Containing a history of Los Angeles County from the earliest period of its occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of its prospective future and biographical mention of many of its pioneers and also of prominent citizens of to-day > Part 53

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

mington, with that town as the port of entry, and Hueneme, San Buenaventura and Santa Bárbara as ports of delivery,-neither of these three places being in the same county with Wil- mington.

Until the extension of the railroad to San Pedro all the business of the port had to be transacted by means of lighters, for the convey- ance of merchandise between vessels and the landing places. The construction of a railroad from Los Angeles to the harbor in 1869 gave a fresh impetus to the development of agrieult- ural resources in the county as well as to busi- ness generally in the city. Better facilities for commerce were just what the people needed, and the completion of this short branch of the railroad was hailed with delight by every body having the least interest in the growth of the county.

In 1870 the anchorage for vessels touching at this harbor was nearly five miles from Wil- mington, in San Pedro Bay, and about one mile from Dead Man's Island. During that year, however, Government engineers examined the bay carefully, and reported to the Government. The result was the adoption of plans for the construction of a breakwater and other improve- inents, and for proper dredging, etc., to make an inner harbor. The inner harbor was known as Wilmington Bay, having an area of nearly 1,200 aeres, and a narrow entrance from the outer bay between the main land and Rattlesnake Island. From this island to the rocky pile called Dead Man's Island, one and a quarter miles, the Bay of San Pedro was comparatively shallow, except in a narrow channel near Dead Man's Island. Timms's Points was the nearest point to this channel on the main land.

The improvements decided upon by the Gov- ernment included a training wall from Rattle- snake to Dead Man's Island, closing the old channel; and another wall from Timms's Point to Dead Man's Island, establishing the channel

between the latter wall and the island. These walls form a channel 500 to 800 feet wide, con- necting the onter with the inner bay, the latter having an area of over 1,100 aeres. Lumber vessels, and all but two or three of the larger steamships coming to this port, reach the wharf at San Pedro at high tide. Vessels that cannot reach the dock find safe anchorage about two miles outside.

Further improvements at this harbor are greatly needed, and some are now in progress, carried on not only by the Government, but by railroad companies having important interests there. Congress recently made an additional appropriation of $500,000 for improvements at San Pedro IIarbor.

WILMINGTON.

The village of Wilmington was laid in 1858, by General Phineas Banning, and named by him in honor of his Eastern city, Wilmington, Delaware, It flourished until the Southern Pacific Railroad was completed to San Pedro, since which time it has not been able to com - pete with that point.

LONG BEACH,

a little further down the coast, is becoming a noted resort, and at present is specially adver- tised by the Methodists as a camping-ground. The village is located upon a smooth platean which slopes gently down to the water. From any portion of the town a charming view greets the eye. At low tide the beach is hard, smooth and level for seven or eight miles, constituting a perfeet boulevard upon which twenty teams can be driven abreast, and their hoofs heard to clatter as if on a solid turnpike.

Long Beach has an intelligent and refined class of citizens, excellent public schools, four church societies, no saloons, enterprising busi- ness men, and a live newspaper, the Long Beach Journal.

AN OCEAN VIEW FROM SANTA MONICA BEACH.

HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

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TOWNS.K

CHAPTER XXII.

SANTA MONICA.

HIS place is one of the most charming seaside resorts. The location of the town is on a level platean, between which and the ocean there is a perpendicular descent of about 100 feet. At the foot of the bluff stretches a long line of beach, well adapted to surf-bath- ing; and it is this delightfully invigorating pastime which makes Santa Monica so popular. The place is reached by a branch of the South- ern Pacific, and the new Los Angeles County Railroad between Los Angeles and Santa Mon- ica. The Santa Fé also is expected to throw a branch into the town soon. It is estimated that during the bathing season 2,000 people per day, on an average, visit Santa Monica, and on Sun- days the number is much larger. There are several hotels, the largest being the Arcadia, and the large bath-honses npon the beach. A wharf is also to be built. The permanent pop- ulation of the town is about 1,500. The sur- roundings of the place are exceedingly pictur- esque. From almost any portion of town one can enjoy a most delightful view of mountains, foot-hills, and plain and ocean. This town was founded, in 1875, by United States Senator John P. Jones and Colonel R. S. Baker. Three miles up the coast is the famons Santa Monica Cafion,

a very romantic spot, where visitors enjoy the wild beauties of nature.

THE SOLDIERS' HOME.

One of the great institutions of Los Angeles Connty is the National Soldiers' HIome, located abont fifteen miles from the city and four iniles from Santa Monica Beach, with both of which places it is in cominnnication by the Los An- geles County Railroad. It is a national home for disabled volunteer soldiers. When the man- agers appointed by the Government to locate such an institution on the Pacific Coast visited Los Angeles, they were hospitably received and entertained by the city conncil, the board of trade and others.

They had visited and inspected other counties in California, and received tempting offers from some of thein; but it remained for Los Angeles County to secure the coveted prize. A tract of 300 acres, with a sufficient water right (the water coming from the mountains), and thirty acres additional, for a reservoir, were offered free; and an adjoining tract of 300 acres was set aside for sale and guaranteed to yield $100,- 000 in cash, to be applied to the improvement of the grounds. Congress appropriated $190,- 000 for the erection of buildings, and the work

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was speedily begun. At this date they are com- pleted.

Here are four barracks, each 50x 200 feet, affording quarters for 125 men; a residence for the surgeons and other officials, an imposing building of two stories, with a lofty tower, and with accommodations for 2,040 men. The ar- rangement of this building is unique, the kitchen being in the second story, the pantries and serving-rooms on the ground floor, and sculleries in the basement, all connected by five elevators. The ground is a gentle slope toward the south, and this building crowns the emi- nence. Immediately in front is a large lawn, with music pavilion and flagstaff. On either hand are twenty-five barracks, so arranged as to secure the maximum amount of sunlight, while the porches are sheltered from the cool trade- winds. In a depression of thirty five feet below the general level of the slope are the boiler- honse and laundry, from which the other build- ings are heated by steam, and to which the sewage is conveyed, to be removed by steam pumps. A hospital in the shape of a cross, 450 x 50 feet and 200x50 feet, with accommo- dations for about 500 patients, occupies a con- spicuous position. There are also commissary and quartermaster's buildings, headquarters building, treasurer's residence, memorial build- ing and guard-house. A side track from the railroad runs to the laundry, boiler-house and commissary buildings, and a grand boulevard from Los Angeles to Santa Monica will pass through the grounds. The reservoir among the hills constitutes a charming little artificial lake.

COMPTON was laid ont in 1869, and named in honor of G. D. Compton, then the sole resident. It is eleven miles south of Los Angeles, on the Wilmington Branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. The distinctive industry is butter and chicese making. Deciduous fruits and ber- ries of many kinds are also raised successfully here, though it is not considered a first-class region for the culture of citrus fruits.

DOWNEY is the center of a rich farming land. In 1855, Don Antonio Maria Lugo, owner of

San Antonio Rancho, nearly 30,000 acres, lying between Los Angeles City and the San Gabriel River, and finally granted to him in 1838, par- titioned the same-reserving a homestead for himself-among his sons, José Maria, Felipe, José del Carmen, Vicente, José Antonio, and daughters, Doña Vicenta Perez, Doña Maria Antonia Yorba, and Doña Merced Foster. In 1860, Doña 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 Governor John G. Downey had commenced the sub-division of Santa Gertrudes Rancho, lying along the San Gabriel River, and contain- ing near 22,000 acres. His first deed is of date April 22, 1865, to J. H. Burke. Others fol- lowed to Neiglibors and Hutchinson, and many afterward. This last is the locality known as Los Nietos. It had a settlement of over 200 persons in 1836. broken up subsequently. Here is Downey City, twelve miles southeast 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 earthi. This, with all the river land, and into El Monte, is our "corn county," emphatically.

WHITTIER is a village founded by a body of Quakers from Indiana, Illinois and Iowa, who own around the town a large body of land. It is twelve miles east of Los Angeles, and has an elevation of abont 1,500 feet. AH kinds of fruit and grain known to Southern California can be raised here. There is a commodious Friends' meeting-house, a public school, and a prospective college that is to be under the con- trol of Friends.

SANTA FÉ SPRINGS is a neat village, with a Methodist Episcopal church, school-house, etc. This place has become famous on account of its iron-sulphur wells. There are a half-dozen wells here that contain water rich in medicinal vir- tues. This town is twelve miles from Los An-

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geles, and connected with Los Angeles by the San Diego branch of the California Central Railroad.

NORWALK, in this township, is a flourishing village, seventeen miles from Los Angeles, on the Santa Ana branch of the Southern Pacific Railroad. There are numerous artesian wells, alfalfa fields and corn-fields. Thoroughbred stock is profitably and extensively raised. Near this place is the site of the oldest ostrich farm in America, established by Dr. C. J. Sketchel in the fall of 1882, who brought about twenty- five of the birds direct from the Cape of Good Hope. Several other such farms have since been established in this State.

SAN GABRIEL is a very old town, nine miles from Los Angeles, on the Southern Pacific Rail- road. One mile from this town is the Sunny Slope Vineyard, which was sold to an English company for three-fourths of a million dollars. The place has long been noted for its salubrious elimate and aged people. For the mission, see under head of "Missions."

ALHAMBRA is also a beautiful place. It has an elegant hotel, a bank, a school house, several churches, and orchards of almost every variety of fruits-apricots, nectarines, apples, pears, plums, guavas, oranges, lemons and limes. Near Alhambra is the winery of the San Ga- briel Wine Company, said to be the largest building of the kind in the world.

LAMANDA PARK is a place with stores and other village accessories. This is the nearest station to the Sierra Madre Villa, a noted hotel for tourists. Kinneyloa, the ranch of the Hon. Abbott Kinney, is near this point. It contains one of the largest orange orchards in California.

SIERRA MADRE.

N. C. Carter, the god father of Sierra Madre, stood first at the christening, and, thus far, stands first in its history. Sierra Madre is a scion of the world-famous Santa Anita Rancho, belonging to the no less famous E. J. Baldwin, one of the several-times millionaire pioneers of California.

In February, 1881, Mr. Carter purchased 1,100 acres of the choicest portion of the beauti- ful Santa Anita Rancho, which was then in its original wild state, a tract sloping from the Sierra Madre Mountains gently to the south, partially covered by magnificent oak trees, and backed by numerous springs and streams of purest mountain water. It was immediately surveyed into smaller tracts of twenty, forty, and eighty acres, for the location of self-sustain- ing and healthful homes. From abundant springs in the mountains immediately north of the oft- styled "model colony," a large main brought a bounteous supply of the purest soft snow water to the tract, where distributing pipes received and conveyed it to the highest portion of every lot and building site. And it is in this matter of water supply that Sierra Madre claims prece- dence over many of her most enterprising sister settlements. The water right runs with the realty. Land at this early period sold at $50 to $65 per acre. The pioneers were John Rich- ardson, James Smith and Mr. Bailey. The first purchasers of land were A. D. Trussell, A. Gregory, Miss Fannie II. Hawks, Messrs. Bur- lingame, Cook, Hosmer, Pierce, White, Row- land, Clements, Seaman, Spalding, etc.

The next year, 1882, was a busy one. Mr. Carter, above mentioned, built and donated to the public a school-house; also erected the Ocean View House, which was opened for business by J. E. Richardson; and many other buildings were erected, and a postoffice was established. E. T. Pierce was the first teacher.

During 1883-'84 there settled here Mrs. C. B. Jones, previously City Superintendent of Schools of Los Angeles; Professor John Hart, a musician; W. B. Crisp, W. H. Robinson, Messrs. Andrews, Wilson, Hook, Jones and Hilton. The first marriage in the place was that of E. B. Jones to Miss Winona Trussell, March 7, 1883. This year at least twenty-five new cottages were built. In 1884 the present school-house was built, costing abont $3,000. And this year ar- rived Dr. F. C. Gresham and Messrs. Stein- berger, Ayles, Lewis and Davis.

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

During the winter of 1885-'86, Mrs. R. E. Ross erected and donated to the public a fine library building. Also, this season the town hall was built, at a cost of $5,000.

In 1886 the Santa Fé Railroad was completed to this point, and the boom went forward in earnest.

The community here is made up of citizens of intelligence, culture and enterprise, many of them of wealth. Some of their homes are pala- tial, as " Carterhia" of N. C. Carter, " Alta- mont" (P. T. Reed's), " Piedmont" (A. D. Trussel's), the residence of J. H. Outhwaite, etc.

THE SIERRA MADRE VISTA.

This paper was established and the first nuin- ber issued March 17, 1888, by Lucius T. Honse as editor and proprietor, and conducted by him until April, 1889, when his two sons, William M. and Ralph E., entered into partnership with him, and it has since been conducted by the firm of Lucins T. House & Sons. This paper is published every Friday at Sierra Madre, and is one of the brightest and best edited papers in the county outside of the city of Los Angeles. It is emphatically a home paper, a clean, moral and healthful publication, particularly devoted to the interests and welfare of Sierra Madre and vicinity. It is a marvel of typographical beanty in appearance, and shows a care and at- tention in its every detail that well merits the hearty support it receives.

Lucius T. HOUSE was born in Macon County, Alabama, June 6, 1844. His father, William H. Ilonse, a native of Tennessee, was a pioneer of Alabama, and identified with its early history. Ile served as a soldier under General Jackson in many of his campaigns, and was in his command at the battle of New Orleans. He was a political adherent and comrade of David Crockett and with him was a bitter oppo- ment (politically) of General Jackson. He was an Indian agent in the early days of Alabama, and at one time summarily executed a number of savages who had ambushed and slain a party of his friends and neighbors. Ile died in 1845.

Mr. Ilouse's mother, nee Nancy T. Franklin, was a native of Georgia. She died in Tennes- see in 1883. The subject of this sketch was reared upon a cotton plantation until about eleven years of age. He was then apprenticed to the trade of a printer; and at the age of six- teen years started in life as a journeyman in his trade. Upon the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion, although but seventeen years of age, he entered the Confederate service as a private in Company B, First Alabama Infantry. After one year of service in that regiment lie re-enlisted in the famous Robertson's Light Battery, commanded by Captain (afterward General) Felix H. Robertson. Mr. House served faithfully, and besides various unimpor- tant engagements near Pensacola and other places, was with his battery at the battles of Shiloh, Farmington, Stone River, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. In the latter battle he was taken prisoner and sent to Rock Island, Illinois, where he remained in confinement until the close of the war. Upon the restoration of peace, Mr. Honse concluded to try his fortunes in the West, and worked at his trade in Kansas, Colorado and other places until 1877. He then came to California and located at Los Angeles, where he remained nearly two years, after which he was engaged at his trade in San Francisco, and in Placer and Sacramento coun- ties until January, 1888. He then returned to Los Angeles County and established his resi- dence in Sierra Madre; and in March of that year commenced the publication of the Sierra Madre Vistu. He is a thorough master of his calling and has made a success of his enterprise. By his straightforward course and consistent mnode of life he has gained the respect of the community. Mr. Honse has been twice mar- ried and is the father of two sons and one daughter. The eldest, William M., was born in Ottawa, Kansas, February 28, 1867. He is a practical printer, having become a member of the Typographical Union at eighteen years of age. After spending about two years in Mex- ico in assaying and mining he returned home

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and is now (1889) in partnership with his father. The second son, Ralph E., was born in Lawrence, Kansas, October 28, 1872. He is also a member of the firm of Incins T. House & Sons. The danghter, Beatrice B., was born February 4, 1880.

EL MONTE. The arrival of the emigrants in El Monte gave the first decided impulse to agri- culture in this county, encouraged business in the city of Los Angeles, and ever since has aided it materially. This tract lies along the San Gabriel River, twelve miles east of the city. The soil in general does not need irrigation. There is much of interest in its history. Suf- fice it 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, Nicho- las Smith, J. Coburn, J. Sheldon, - Chis- holm, and Mrs. John Rowland, 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. John- son, William B. Lee, Samnel King and three sons (one of them Andrew J. King, Esq., of Los Angeles City), Dr. T. A. Mayes, S. Bennett, A. Bacon, W. J. Willis; Edmond Tyler and two sons, John Thurman and seven sons, David Lewis, William Rubottom, Ezekiel Rubottom, Samuel Thompson, Charles Cunningham, John Guess; Cudderback, Boss, the Hildreths. Jona- than Tibbetts came November 27, 1853; in 1852 Thomas A. Garey, since become the great horticulturist of this county. The people at El Monte and in the vicinity are mostly from the Sonthern States, and generally engage in raising corn, hogs and cattle.

Adjoining El Monte, on the east, lies La Puente Rancho, of 48,790 acres, granted July 22, 1845, to John Rowland and William Workman. Only a few miles further eastward is the fertile valley of San José, Los Nogales Ranchito, about 500 acres, granted March 13, 1840, to José de la Cruz Linares; and next, San José de Palo- mares, of 22,720 acres, granted in the year 1837

to Ricardo Vejar, Ignacio Palomares and Luis Arenas. The grand railway trunk of the South- ern Pacific runs through it to-day. It formed a connected settlement for several miles from near Rowland's, chiefly of New Mexicans. This was a colony which John Rowland gathered at Taos, Albuquerque and other pueblos of New Mexico in 1841. Under the leadership of Don Santiago Martinez they accompanied Mr. Row- land in t at year to California. A portion of them under Don Lorenzo Trujillo planted themselves at Agua Mansa, on the Santa Ana River, six miles south of San Bernardino, 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. Mildew never affected the whcat 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 settlement exists, missing many whose kindness memory cherishes-Y barras, Alvarados, Martinez and others.

ARCADIA is a new town that was platted and sold by Mr. Unruh. It is in the center of Mr. Baldwin's possessions, and is the scene of con- siderable activity. Much of the land contiguons to the village has been sold for small fruit farms.

SANTA ANITA is two miles west.

MONROVIA, two miles east of Arcadia, was founded by W. N. Monroe, and is a place of wonderful growth. It contains Methodist Epis- copal and Baptist churches, a school-house that cost $15,000, two lines of street-cars, large hotels nnder excellent management, two banks with large capital, large business blocks, in which merchants are doing a thriving business, and beantiful homes surrounded by semi-tropical plants and productive orchards. Monrovia is especially commended as a health resort. It is sixteen miles from Los Angeles, and lies close to the base of the Sierra Madre Mountains. It has an elevation of about 1,200 feet, but the victim of lung disease will do best if he can have

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HISTORY OF LOS ANGELES COUNTY.

his own cottage, flower garden and carriage, so that he may lead a life independent of hotels, and completely separated from other invalids.

GLENDALE, a pretty little town, with churches, school-houses, and other evidences of an intel- lectual population, is about eight miles north of the city of Los Angeles, with which it is con- nected by a " dummy " railway. In this village is one of the largest peach orchards in the State.

Iu West Glendale, adjoining the town of Glendale, is a large ostrich farın. The raising of ostriches has proved a very profitable industry in Sonthern California. There are large num- bers of these birds at this Glendale farm. They are kept for their feathers, and the revenne from each bird, in the sale of its feathers, is large. The young birds are hatched by " incu- bators."

NEWHALL, thirty miles from Los Angeles, has an elevation of 1,265 feet. The winters are cooler than in the southern part of the county, and the summers are somewhat warmer. While this region is not so generally known as the southern part, yet it is very healthful, and should be particularly sought by persons suffering from lung diseases. The atmosphere is so dry that vast quantities of fruit are brought here by rail to snn-dry. Grapes are successfully raised throughout this section, and there is little doubt but that it will ultimately become a raisin-grape producing country.

Not far from Newhall are extensive petro- lenm deposits, partly in Ventura County. The following historical sketch is from the report of Sutherland Hutton :

"The first effort that promised success toward the development of our petroleum deposits was made by a Pennsylvania company in 1862, headed by Tom Scott. This company bored a hole on the Camulos Ranch, in Ventura County, and at 800 feet secured a quantity of black oil, which they endeavored to refine in a still erected near the spot; at this time illuminating oil was worth from $2.50 to $3.00 per gallon in Los Angeles, and a chance for a handsome margin was excellent, but this operation failed princi-

pally for the reason of lack of knowledge for refining and the sudden drop in price of oil in Pennsylvania. From this time on until 1876 but little effort was made. What oil was pro- dnced from tunnels and shallow wells in small quantities found its way to the gas-works or was used for a lubricator. In this year the Star Oil Company commenced operations in the Pico Cañon, San Fernando district, and was soon followed by R. McPherson and C. N. Felton. These operations were rewarded handsomely, and the different companies soon after consoli- dated under the name of the Pacific Coast Oil Company.

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Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn Publication date: 1889 Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co. Number of Pages: 1092

Author: Lewis Publishing Company. cn
Publication date: 1889
Publisher: Chicago, Lewis Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1092